RTHK: N Korea fires missile ahead of South's election

North Korea fired a suspected ballistic missile on Saturday, Seoul's military said, continuing this year's record-breaking blitz of weapons tests with a launch just days before South Korea's presidential election.

From hypersonic to medium-range ballistic missiles, Pyongyang test-fired a string of weaponry in January and last week launched what it claimed was a component of a "reconnaissance satellite"  although Seoul described it as another ballistic missile.

Despite biting international sanctions over its nuclear weapons, Pyongyang has ignored US offers of talks since high-profile negotiations between leader Kim Jong-un and then-US president Donald Trump collapsed in 2019.

Instead of diplomacy, Pyongyang has doubled-down on Kim's drive to modernise its military, warning in January that it could abandon a self-imposed moratorium on testing long-range missiles and nuclear weapons.

South Korea's military said on Saturday it had detected a presumed "ballistic missile launched into the East Sea from the Sunan area around 08:48 am."

South Korea's National Security Council condemned Pyongyang's "unprecedented repeated firing of ballistic missiles", which goes against peace on the Korean Peninsula and the international community, the presidential Blue House said in a statement.

Seoul will "even more thoroughly monitor North Korea's nuclear and missile-related facilities, such as Yongbyon and Punggye-ri", the statement added.

Tokyo also confirmed the launch, saying the missile had flown "at a maximum altitude of approximately 550 kilometres and a distance of approximately 300 kilometres," Defence Minister Nobuo Kishi said.

He said the "extremely high frequency" of Pyongyang's weapons tests this year were "a threat to the region" and were "absolutely unacceptable."

The North's sabre-rattling comes just four days before South Korea votes for a new president, with the tests seemingly a means of Pyongyang conveying its "discontent" with outgoing dovish president Moon Jae-in, who brokered Kim's first summit with Trump, analysts said.

"Looks like Kim is feeling that Moon did not do much after the Hanoi summit collapsed," said North Korean studies scholar Ahn Chan-il, referring to the final meeting between Kim and Trump.

Pyongyang has clearly "decided to prioritise their own military agenda regardless of what South Korea thinks," he added.

Tensions with North Korea are no longer a major issue in South Korean elections, analysts say, with issues including domestic income inequality and youth unemployment top of voters' lists of concerns.

But if Moon's ruling Democratic Party loses on Wednesday, it could herald a shift in Seoul's North Korea policy.

One of the two frontrunners, dour former prosecutor Yoon Suk-yeol of the opposition People Power Party, has threatened a pre-emptive strike on South Korea's nuclear-armed neighbour if needed.

Analysts had widely predicted Pyongyang would seek to capitalise on the United States' distraction over Russia's invasion of Ukraine with more tests.

Ukraine, which emerged from the Cold War with sizeable Soviet-era nuclear weapons stocks of its own, gave up its arsenal in the 1990s.

"With these tests, North Korea seems to be saying North Korea is different from Ukraine, reminding the world that it has its own nuclear weaponry system," said Yang Moo-jin, a professor at the University of North Korean Studies.

"It's yet another demand for Washington to abolish the so-called 'hostile' policies against Pyongyang," he said.

North Korea last month accused the United States of being the "root cause of the Ukraine crisis" saying in a statement on its foreign ministry's website that Washington "meddled" in the internal affairs of other countries when it suited them but condemned legitimate "self-defensive measures".

Domestically, North Korea is preparing to celebrate the 110th anniversary of the birth of late founder Kim Il-sung in April, which experts say Pyongyang could use as an opportunity to carry out a major weapons test.

Recent satellite images analysed by specialist website 38 North suggest that the country may be preparing a military parade to showcase its weapons to mark the key anniversary.

"Pyongyang is likely to focus on testing its reconnaissance satellites and ICBMs until April," said Cheong Seong-chang of the Center for North Korea Studies at the Sejong Institute. (AFP)

This story has been published on: 2022-03-05. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
Chinese envoy calls for joint efforts to ensure safety of nuclear facilities in Ukraine

Xinhua) 08:15, March 05, 2022

UNITED NATIONS, March 4 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese envoy on Friday called on parties to the Ukraine conflict to act with caution and work together, with the assistance of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), to ensure the safety of relevant nuclear facilities inside Ukraine.

China pays close attention to the latest developments in Ukraine and expresses its concern over the relevant reports about the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, said Zhang Jun, China's permanent representative to the United Nations.

According to information the IAEA received from the Ukrainian nuclear authority, the main equipment of the nuclear power plant remains intact, and the level of radiation unchanged. China also takes note of the information and clarification provided by Russia on the relevant matters, Zhang told a Security Council emergency meeting.

Noting the Ukraine crisis is still undergoing complex changes, he said the most important thing right now is to ease tension, avoid more civilian casualties, intensify diplomatic efforts, and get back as soon as possible to the track of political settlement.

Russia and Ukraine have held two rounds of direct dialogue and negotiations and have reached preliminary agreement on setting up humanitarian corridors. China welcomes this and hopes that it can facilitate better protection of civilians and help with the safe evacuation of all foreign nationals, including Chinese nationals, Zhang said.

"We encourage Russia and Ukraine to remain committed to the overall direction of political settlement, and reach a negotiated solution that accommodates the legitimate concerns of the two parties and contributes to Europe's lasting peace and security," he said.

China welcomes all diplomatic efforts conducive to a political settlement, and China has played and will continue to play a constructive role to this end.

The international community should stay cool-headed and rational, and adopt a responsible, impartial and objective attitude in order to create a sound atmosphere and conditions for direct negotiations between the parties concerned, said Zhang.

"Any action must contribute to de-escalation and diplomatic settlement, rather than adding fuel to fire, leading to further escalation and deterioration of the situation."

(Web editor: Xia Peiyao, Du Mingming)
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People look at the gutted remains of Russian military vehicles on a road in the town of Bucha, close to the capital Kyiv, Ukraine, on Tuesday.

Russian President Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine isn't working out the way he had planned, said Stephen Quackenbush, an associate professor at the University of Missouri.

He's director of the Defense and Strategic Studies Program in the Truman School of Government and Public Affairs.

"I think he has made a terrible mistake," Quackenbush said of the Ukraine invasion. "It has been a terrible mistake to attack. He thought the Ukrainian people would welcome the advance and it would be an easy victory."

Instead Russian forces are meeting stiff resistance, taking control of just one major city as of Friday.

There have been large protests in Russia.

"This is very unpopular in Russia, especially among those who understand what's happening," Quackenbush said.

Stephen Quackenbush

Targeted efforts, sanctions against Russian oligarchs

If Putin loses power related to this, it will be because he loses the support of the oligarchs who back him, not because of public protests, Quackenbush said.

Sanctions announced this week by U.S. President Joe Biden are targeted at Russian oligarchs.

"These economic sanctions are devastating the economy," Quackenbush said.

More:The Ukraine crisis through the eyes of University of Missouri international students

NATO unified after Russian invasion

Putin wants a weak NATO, but the invasion has created the opposite result, he said.

"He wants a divided West," Quackenbush said of Putin. "He's done a remarkable job of unifying NATO."

Even Germany, which in the past has been hesitant, is involved now because the threat is real, he said.

"Former President Trump did a lot to undermine NATO," Quackenbush said.

The United Nations General Assembly this week voted to condemn the Russian invasion, further isolating the country.

More: Mid-Missouri Peaceworks and Fellowship protest Russian invasion of Ukraine

Is the Russian invasion the start of WWIII?

His students have asked him if this is the start of World War III, but Quackenbush tells them it's not.

Story continues

"I don't think China wants to get involved in this war," Quackenbush said, citing one factor.

Although Russia has a history of attacking its neighbors, that's not part of China's recent history, he said. China wants economic and political stability.

"China focuses on building a very strong economy," Quackenbush said.

More: Russia seizes site of Ukrainian nuclear plant fire; NATO accuses Russia of using cluster bombs: Live updates

How long will Ukraine be able to hold out against Russian forces?

Although facing unexpected defiance, the Russian military is large and powerful, Quackenbush said.

"My expectation is eventually  we don't know how long, maybe a month or two  Russia will be able to overwhelm Ukrainian defenses," he said.

He called Kyiv, the capital, Ukraine's "center of gravity." If Kyiv is captured, that will be key to the Russian effort, he said.

If Russia occupies Ukraine, it will face ongoing popular resistance, he said.

"There will be insurgency fighting," Quackenbush said.

There haven't been many good moments for the Russian military, he said.

"I think that so far, the Russian performance has been disappointing from a Russian perspective, I would suspect," Quackenbush said.

rmckinney@columbiatribune.com

573-815-1719

This article originally appeared on Columbia Daily Tribune: Mizzou professor says Russia's invasion of Ukraine 'terrible mistake'
Crowds have gathered in Rome to protest Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Demonstrations against Vladimir Putin's military action are taking place across Europe this weekend, with nations showing their solidarity towards Ukraine.

Protests also took place last night, with Volodymyr Zelensky appearing to address crowds via video call.

"If we win, and I'm sure we'll win, this will be a democratic victory for the whole world," the Ukrainian president said told crowds.

"This will be a victory of light over darkness, of freedom over slavery."

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Photo Illustration by The Daily Beast/Getty

While Russias war continues to devastate Ukraine, a different kind of tragedy is unfolding in Moscow, where Vladimir Putins cronies have banded together in support of a dangerous new law that has already prompted scores of Russian journalists to flee the country.

The law, which was approved Friday, will allow authorities to target anyone accused of spreadingor having already spreadso-called fake news about the invasion of Ukraine. In reality, the new rules could represent the final nail in the coffin of what little free press is left in the country, where any journalist who dares go against the official Kremlin war narrative could now face up to 15 years in prison.

One of the leading voices behind the bill, which was proposed and hastily passed in Moscows State Duma earlier this week, is Russian parliament member Oleg Matveychev, known as the Kremlins notorious spin doctor.

On the eve of the bills adoption, Matveychev was preparing for what he described as a new page in Russias history.

Tomorrow we are going to discuss at the parliament which commission will look into the coverage of the war by foreign press and see who does objective reporting and who does not, the statesman told The Daily Beast in a phone interview on Thursday. Previously we did not restrict foreign press but that was before bank accounts of our journalists were arrested abroad, before our Sputnik news agency was banned and censored.

Matveychevs labeling of independent Russian media as foreign press is part of the Kremlins strategy of cracking down on reporters by designating outlets that produce free journalism as foreign agents, all in an effort to demonize and alienate them from the Russian people. Targets of the foreign agent campaign include the Russian radio network Echo and the independent TV Rain, both of which have recently been shut down by the Kremlin.

These broadcasters have been the backbone of independent media in Russia for years, ensuring that Kremlin propaganda is not the only information pumped out on the airwaves.

Story continues

The invasion of Ukraine has offered the Kremlin an excuse to permanently silence dissenting voices. For someone like Matveychev this has been the dream for more than a decade. In 2010, he said he wanted to gather all critics and the media in a square, And when you are all out, a tank army would come out and wrap all the bastards, all the shit of the nation around the tanks tracks, burn you out.

For now, he will settle for extinguishing media freedom and closing down the loudest opposition voices.

Both Echo and Rain were not just opposition media, they were agents financed from abroad, Matveychev told The Daily Beast. The majority of Russians support our decisions and told us we should have shut them down earlier. Our boys are dying on the frontlines and they criticize our operation.

Well do like Churchill, who also restricted information during World War II, the politician added. That is normal.

Putin Isnt Just Insane. Its Far Worse Than That.

The new development has reporters across Russia considering whether to flee the country, especially as all flights to the European Union and the United States have been canceled as a result of Western sanctions. Russian journalists have since begun to fly to Turkey, Egypt, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Dubai, and even Mongolia to escape the Kremlins wrath.

Editor-in-chief of Rain TV, Tikhon Dziadko, escaped to Turkey on Tuesday with his family after receiving a series of threats. Some thugs introducing themselves as the mens state wrote to me [saying]: I will come to your house, Dziadko told The Daily Beast in a phone interview from Turkey. We packed a few suitcases and took off with a plan to regroup and see what happens in the country next.

The media is being throttled but the Kremlin is struggling to stifle news from Ukraine. Millions of Russians have friends or relatives in the neighboring country and they are sending back videos of missiles fired at their cities, of destroyed apartment blocks, burning villages and thousands of people sleeping in metro stations.

The messages describe near death escapes and families fleeing to the West of the country.

If President Putin is liberating Ukraine why are an estimated 1 million people running in the opposite direction towards the border of NATO and the European Union.

Even Russias elite have stopped posting glamorous selfies and instead share videos of war or offer to help their devastated friends.

Of course, all of this is being faked according to Kremlin insiders. Ukraine was staging and filming the fake videos to misinform Russians for six months, Matveychev claimed.

Very soon, it looks as though there will be no independent Russian media left to call out any falsehoods.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky participated in a call with a bipartisan group of more than 280 members of Congress on Saturday morning, during which the lawmakers said he laid out ways the U.S. could help his country's fight against Russia.

Over Zoom, Zelensky requested additional airplanes, a stoppage of oil purchases from Russia and the establishment of a no-fly zone over Ukrainian airspace.

Both Democrats and Republicans lauded Zelensky after their virtual meeting and pledged to do what they could to assist Ukraine.

"Honored to hear from @ZelenskyyUa as he takes every measure to defend Ukraine from illegal Russian aggression & Putin's indiscriminate attacks on civilians. Zelenskyy's resilience & commitment to the people of Ukraine inspire the world. Proud to stand with you Mr. President," the Senate Foreign Relations Committee tweeted.

Sen. Ben Sasse (R-Neb.), who sits on the Senate Intelligence Committee, confirmed in a statement that Zelensky had asked for either a no-fly zone over Ukrainian airspace or planes for Ukraine.

"Ukraine needs airpower urgently and America should send it. Zelensky's message is simple: 'close the skies or give us planes.' Let's be clear-eyed about our options: A No-Fly Zone means sending American pilots into combat against Russian jets and air defenses - in a battle between nuclear powers that could spiral out of control quickly," Sasse said.

"But Americans should absolutely send Ukrainians planes, helicopters, and UAVs. Let's resupply Ukraine's Air Force today and keep the Ghosts of Kyiv in the skies."

A no-fly zone is instituted to stop nations from carrying out attacks over groups of people or flying in certain areas.

The Biden administration balked at declaring a no-fly zone over Ukraine, arguing that the move could easily escalate a the Russia-Ukraine conflict into a wider war.

Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) also voiced support to supply Ukraine with planes.

Story continues

"President Zelenskyy made a desperate plea for Eastern European countries to provide Russian-made planes to Ukraine. These planes are very much needed. And I will do all I can to help the administration to facilitate their transfer," he said in a statement.

Several senators also noted Zelensky asked for the U.S. to stop Russian oil and gas imports to further cripple the country's economy. Russia accounts for 10 percent of the crude oil global supply, the third-largest producer behind the U.S. and Saudi Arabia.

"President @ZelenskyyUa said stopping the purchase of Russian oil and gas around the world would be one of the most powerful sanctions possible, 'even more powerful than SWIFT,' " Sen. Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) tweeted.

".@POTUS, enough is enough. Listen to this brave President and a growing bipartisan group of senators. Block imports of Russian oil and gas TODAY, and produce more oil and gas from America. #StandWithUkraine #BanRussianImports," he added.

Sen. Chris Coons (D-Del.), chair of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on State and Foreign Operations, called on Congress to pass millions of dollars in humanitarian and economic aid for NATO and Ukraine.

Zelensky "underscored the urgent need for more military support and humanitarian aid from his Western partners," Coons said in a statement.

"This call to action must lead to swift passage by Congress of the $10 billion in emergency supplemental aid that I have been calling for to give Ukraine and our NATO allies additional military, economic and humanitarian aid to respond to increasingly brutal Russian attacks on civilians and the rapidly growing humanitarian crisis in Eastern Europe," he continued.

The call with U.S. lawmakers comes over a week after Russia invaded Ukraine. Ukrainian forces have fought fiercely against the Russian military, slowing its efforts to capture the country's major cities.

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) said that Zelensky had detailed "numerous examples of war crimes" committed in Ukraine.

"There were numerous examples of war crimes provided by President Zelensky - mayors have been captured, imprisoned and murdered. There's wholesale attacks on civilian targets, random, indiscriminate, and the Putin war machine, in my view, is in full blown war crimes mode," Graham said in a video message posted on Twitter after the call.

"President indicated that labeling Putin a war criminal is the right thing to do, and he thinks would help tremendously."

The remarks come as roughly 1.3 million people have fled Ukraine since Feb. 24, according to data from the United Nations refugee agency. The conflict has sparked some leaders to consider waiving travel requirements in order to handle the serious humanitarian crisis.

--Updated on March 6 at 6:19 a.m.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy implored U.S. lawmakers on Saturday to do more to force Russian leader Vladimir Putin to the negotiating table and end the war on his country  including the establishment of a no-fly zone, additional direct aid and a ban on oil imports from Moscow.

In a private Zoom call with Senate and House members, Zelenskyy expressed appreciation for the actions taken so far by the U.S. and NATO allies as Russia continues assaulting Ukraine, including sanctions and weapons transfers, according to five people who participated in the call. But Zelenskyy made a direct appeal for more, those people said, including planes, drones and Stinger anti-aircraft missiles.

The Ukrainian leader also urged the U.S. to ban Russian oil imports  a cause with bipartisan support on the Hill but plenty of domestic political volatility  and target its sanctions regime directly at the Russian people, the people said. He called on lawmakers to pressure eastern-flank NATO partners to approve the transfer of planes that Ukrainian pilots are already trained to fly.

An emotional Zelenskyy told participants on the call, who numbered more than 300, that it might be the last time they see him alive. He sought to tie Russia's war on Ukraine directly to European security by noting that Ukraine has 15 nuclear plants, contending that continued bloodshed could cause a nuclear disaster with ramifications for the entire continent.

This will become Europes problem if the U.S. and NATO countries dont take additional actions, Zelenskyy said through a translator, according to two of the people who participated. One of the sources described Zelenskyys plea as a shift in the way he has been communicating about the threat of nuclear disaster.

Later in the call, Zelenskyy said U.S. and European sanctions  which have already effectively crippled Russias economy  should specifically target ordinary Russians, according to three of the people who participated. He said the Russian people need to feel the pain of the sanctions given how much Ukrainians are suffering and specifically mentioned cutting Russians off from Visa and Mastercard, a step that has already been set in motion.

Story continues

Both credit card companies announced later Saturday that they were suspending operations in Russia.

After the Zoom meeting ended, lawmakers praised Zelenskyy and reiterated some of his calls for additional military assistance.

President Zelenskyy made a desperate plea for Eastern European countries to provide Russian-made planes to Ukraine, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said in a statement. These planes are very much needed. And I will do all I can to help the administration to facilitate their transfer.

But Zelenskyys call for a no-fly zone has been met with stiff resistance from the West, even from Congress' most hawkish voices, because it would put the U.S. in a direct military conflict with Russia. Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), for example, recently said setting up a no-fly zone would start World War III because it would lead to the shooting-down of Russian planes by the U.S. and NATO allies.

Still, Zelenskyy has continued to press for such a move, arguing it would help alleviate the suffering of the Ukrainian people. On Friday, he said those who oppose a no-fly zone are weak and insecure. It was the biggest ask during his call with lawmakers on Saturday, according to those who participated in it.

The Biden administration has also resisted banning Russian oil imports, despite growing bipartisan support for the idea. White House officials have said implementing an embargo would reduce the global supply of oil and likely lead to higher gas prices for Americans. The U.S. got 3 percent of its oil imports from Russia in 2021, according to the American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers.

Zelenskyy spoke with President Joe Biden by phone later Saturday, the Ukrainian president said in a tweet. The White House confirmed the more than 30-minute call.

Nearly all of the hundreds of participants in the earlier Zoom call were lawmakers. One of them described Zelenskyy not as angry, but rather measured in expressing his huge appreciation for what the U.S. and European allies have already done in support of Ukraine.

According to another person who was on the call, Schumer told Zelenskyy he was inspired by you and the strength and courage of the Ukrainian people. He also vowed to work with Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell to deliver the Biden administrations recent request for $10 billion in military and humanitarian assistance for Ukraine, which is likely to materialize as soon as next week.

In addition to Schumer and McConnell, Zelenskyy was questioned by Sens. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Rob Portman (R-Ohio), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), as well as Reps. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.) and Marcy Kaptur (D-Ohio). Fitzpatrick joined the call from the Poland-Ukraine border, where he is on a bipartisan congressional delegation trip.

Burgess Everett and Alexander Ward contributed to this report.
Virginia State Police authorities say they will continue investigating sexual assault claims against a retired Spotsylvania County doctor who was found dead in Loudoun County on Thursday.

The death of Michael B. OBrien, 66, is being investigated by the Loudoun Sheriffs Office. OBriens body has been taken to the medical examiners office in Manassas for autopsy and examination.

State police Sgt. Brent Coffey said that as of Friday, there was no indication of foul play and that OBriens death appears to be self-inflicted.

OBrien was arrested last week following a raid at his home in Spotsylvania. He was charged with forcible sodomy of a child under 13, an offense that carries a potential life sentence. Court records show that the charge stems from 1987 during OBriens career as an orthopedic surgery specialist in the Fredericksburg area. At the time of his arrest, police said more charges were pending.

OBrien was placed in the Rappahannock Regional Jail and released on bond a few days later.

Coffey said authorities are still encouraging anyone with information regarding the investigation to call State Police at 888/300-0156 or email questions@vsp.virginia.gov.
The National Park Service will hold two online meetings this month to gather input on how to best manage use of the heavily visited Triple Crown of Appalachian Trail hiking in the Roanoke Valley  Dragons Tooth, McAfee Knob and Tinker Cliffs.

The Park Service announced Monday it will hold virtual meetings at 5:30 p.m. March 9 and 10:30 a.m. March 17 about the Triple Crown management plan.

The Appalachian Trail is a vertical national park that stretches 2,190 miles from Springer Mountain in Georgia to Mount Katahdin in Maine. The Appalachian Trail Conservancy manages the trail with the National Park Service, in collaboration with regional volunteer groups, such as the Roanoke Appalachiain Trail Club.

The three heavily visited beauty spots of the Triple Crown are all above the Catawba Valley, and all have prompted perennial concerns about overcrowded parking lots, safety at road crossings and negative impacts on the natural environment from so much foot traffic.

We are thrilled that so many visitors are enjoying this section of the AT. We have also noticed and heard from our stakeholders that there are real concerns about overcrowding that we want to address so that the Trail continues to be an accessible, enjoyable, and sustainable resource for the region now and into the future, said Wendy Janssen, superintendent of the Appalachian National Scenic Trail. In order to develop our plan for the future of this section of trail, the AT partners will take a look at strategies for managing high levels of visitor use.

The study will examine the feasibility of hiker shuttles, modifying or adding campsites, actively managing parking and rerouting trail sections.

To comment online, visit https://parkplanning.nps.gov/APPAVUM.

Heres how to participate in the virtual meetings:

March 9, 5:30 p.m., Virtual meeting

Join by internet: https://doitalent. zoomgov.com/j/1616663147, Meeting ID: 161 666 3147, Passcode: 466890

Or join by phone: 1-646-828-7666 US (New York), Meeting ID: 161 666 3147, Passcode: 466890

March 17, 10:30 a.m., Virtual meeting

Join by internet: https://doitalent.zoomgov.com/j/1619235175, Meeting ID: 161 923 5175, Passcode: 708055

Or join by phone: 1-646-828-7666, Meeting ID: 161 923 5175, Passcode: 708055
A mysterious story that is depicted with vibrant visuals that combine live-action with 3DCG and 2D animation.

High school student Aki wanders into a strange world created by the mysterious entity "Hitotsume-sama" in search of her friend Taki, who suddenly disappeared before her eyes. Guided by Takis voice, she finds a fictional Shibuya district that is neither dream nor reality. But what lies there? Netflix Film "Adam by Eve: A Live in Animation" is set for worldwide release on Netflix on Tuesday, March 15, 2022!
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New Delhi: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has slammed NATOs decision not to implement a no-fly zone over Ukraine amid the ongoing conflict with Russia.

A NATO summit took place today. It was a weak summit, a confused summit, a summit that shows that not everyone considers the fight for freedom in Europe the number one goal, Zelenskyy said in a video message, as quoted by Russias Sputnik. Zelenskyy accused the members of the military alliance of giving Russia the green light to start shelling Ukrainian cities and villages.

He said that NATO countries have created a narrative that closing the skies over Ukraine would provoke Russias direct aggression against NATO. This is the self-hypnosis of those who are weak, insecure inside, despite the fact they possess weapons many times stronger than we have, the Ukrainian President was quoted as saying by CNN.

Meanwhile, Singapore has introduced sanctions on the Russian Central Bank and some other Russian banks as well as imposed restrictions on the exports to the country over the Russian military operation in Ukraine, the Singaporean Foreign Ministry said on Saturday.

Check out some recent developments on Russia Ukraine War:

# Russia declares ceasefire in Ukraine from 06:00 GMT (Greenwich Mean Time Zone) to open humanitarian corridors for civilians, reports Russias media outlet Sputnik.

Russia declares ceasefire in Ukraine from 06:00 GMT (Greenwich Mean Time Zone) to open humanitarian corridors for civilians, reports Russias media outlet Sputnik  ANI (@ANI) March 5, 2022

# After days of ruthless attack, Mariupol is under a blockade by Russian forces, said Mariupol Mayor Vadym Boychenko on Saturday, according to a media report.

# Singapore has introduced sanctions on the Russian Central Bank and some other Russian banks as well as imposed restrictions on the exports to the country over the Russian military operation in Ukraine, the Singaporean Foreign Ministry said on Saturday.

# Another batch of 229 Indian nationals who were stranded in Ukraine arrived in New Delhi from Romanias Suceava on Saturday morning as part of the ongoing Operation Ganga in a special Indigo flight.

#WATCH | Indian students stuck in Ukraine return home on special flights and reunite with their families. Visuals from Delhi airport. #RussiaUkraineCrisis pic.twitter.com/INJYNrW6gM  ANI (@ANI) March 5, 2022
Nollywood actor, Olanrewaju James popularly known as Baba Ijesha testified in court on Friday March 4, as his trial for allegedly sexually assaulting a minor who is the foster child of his colleague and comedienne, Princess, resumed.

Testifying in court, Baba Ijesha who is facing six counts bordering on allegations of indecent treatment of a child, sexual assault, attempted sexual assault by penetration and sexual assault by penetration, claimed Princess was his lover and is after him because he ended his relationship with her.

Ijesha who was being led in evidence by his counsel, Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Dada Awosika, said;

We were dating, my lord; she always slept in my room. We slept together, I touched her, she touched me, she kissed me and I kissed her.

Recounting how he met Princess, the defendant claimed that he received a phone call from the comedienne while he was an on-air personality on Radio Lagos and LTV 8.

He added;

She said she was my number one fan and she asked me to promote her on my programme. That is how we started. She told me she wanted to join the Yoruba section because the English section is bad. She also asked me to introduce her to my producer.

The defendant said that in the course of the relationship, he met Princesss mother and apart from giving him a nickname, she also advised him to take care of her daughter despite her stubbornness.

He said;

I promised to promote her, I cannot allow anything to affect her career, I cannot hurt a woman, Ive never done it in my life

Narrating what transpired in 2014, the day he allegedly sexually molested Princesss foster daughter with a car key, he said that in October 2014, a day after he returned from visiting his wife in the United Kingdom, he received a phone call from Princess.

He said the comedienne informed him that she was battling ill-health and needed some fruits. According to him, he bought some fruits and took them to her home.

Ijesha said;

Immediately I opened the door to her house, I saw her half-naked and I told her that I was outside, your fruit is inside the car. A few minutes after, the young girl (Princesss foster daughter) came to pick the fruits from the car; she even met some area boys asking me for money. I gave her the fruits and she left.

While answering questions from the Lagos State Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Dr Jide Martins, the defendant denied defiling the minor with his car key during the visit. He, however, admitted that he had known the child since she was seven years old and also visited Princess at home seven years ago.

Ijesha said;

Princess is not my benefactor, she is the one who benefitted from me

The actor broke down in tears at some point during the cross-examination, claiming that the evidence he gave in court in his defence was not an afterthought. He described Princess as a jilted lover, insisting that much evidence existed to show that he and Princess were in a relationship, though such evidence was not tendered in court.

The case was adjourned till March 11 for continuation of defence.
The third batch of Nigerian evacuees following the Ukraine-Russia war arrived in Abuja late last night.

They were evacuated from Hungary and landed at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja at 11:25 pm on Friday.

According to the official figure from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the number of evacuees from Hungary was 174 in number and they were brought aboard Air Peace.

Earlier yesterday, the second batch of Nigerian evacuees from Ukraine arrived via an Air Peace flight carrying the 183 evacuees.

These evacuations follow the attack by Russia on Ukraine which has left scores of people killed and many displaced.

Over 5,000 Nigerians, the majority of whom are students studying in Ukraine have been caught up in the conflict.

Many of them have reportedly fled to neighbouring countries to Ukraine including Hungary, Poland, and Romania.

Also on Friday, the first batch of Nigerian evacuees, numbering 416 arrived in the country from Romania, aboard Max Air.

Meanwhile, as the country ramps up efforts to evacuate citizens stranded after Russias invasion of Ukraine President Muhammadu Buhari has vowed to continue to defend the interest of Nigerians wherever they may be.

On our part as a Government, we shall continue to defend the interests of all Nigerians wherever they may be. We have demonstrated this over time, as we have had cause to evacuate our citizens in harms way abroad, the President said.

We did it in Libya, South Africa and we have just commenced doing the same in Ukraine, where thousands of our citizens, especially students, are trapped by the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine, the President was quoted to have said in a statement signed by his Special Adviser on Media, Femi Adesina.
The Council Bluffs Schools Foundation will hold its Education Is Everyones Business Luncheon in person this year.

The event will run from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. on March 23 at the Mid-America Center, 1 Arena Way, Council Bluffs.

The luncheon is held each year in cooperation with the Council Bluffs Community School District to inform business and community partners of important things happening in the schools, according to the foundations website.

This years keynote address is Pathways, Partnerships and Progress: Developing a Future Ready Workforce in Council Bluffs.

With the support of higher education, business and industry, the school districts Diploma Plus One Initiative is developing pathways that provide students with the education and experience to meet the needs of the workforce of tomorrow, the website states.

The event will also feature remarks by foundation Executive Director Chris LaFerla and the presentation of the Community Impact Award. The award honors individuals working to improve the community through service or vocation.

The presenting sponsor of the event is TS Institute. Proceeds will help support the mission of the foundation  to provide financial resources and support to benefit the children, families and staff of the Council Bluffs Community School District.

Registration is $50 to reserve a seat or $500 to sponsor and reserve a table of eight with sponsors logo displayed at the table and event entrance. Other sponsorships are also available. To register, go to the foundations website at cbsf.org and click on Luncheon.

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Seven-term former U.S. Sen. Orrin Hatch of Utah died last weekend, and accolades came pouring in from both sides of the political spectrum. This is not any kind of testament to his character or ability to bring both sides together. Its just proof that the toxic Washington Swamp is run by 
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King Mohammed VI received on Thursday at the Royal Palace of Bouznika President of the Gabon Ali Bongo Ondimba, who is on a visit to Morocco.

The meeting between the two heads of state reflects the exemplary nature of Moroccan-Gabonese partnership, as well as the friendly relations binding the peoples of the two countries.

The Gabonese head of state arrived in Morocco last Friday, coming from Scotland where he took part in the 5th International Forum on Investments and in the Conference of the Parties on Climate Change (COP26).

The visit provides an opportunity to discuss, in light of the two countries perfect convergence of views, bilateral relations and topical regional and international issues, in particular concerning the issues of peace and security, sustainable development and climate among others, the Gabonese presidency had said in a statement announcing President Bongos working and Friendship visit to Morocco.
LUSAKA, March 4 (Xinhua) -- Zambia is targeting to put about 5,061,280 of its vulnerable population this year on a welfare program, a government official said on Friday.

Brenda Tambatamba, the Minister of Community Development and Social Services, said the government plans to scale the Social Cash Program this year by increasing the number of households from 973,323 last year to 1,027,000 this year, translating into 5,061,280 individuals in all the country's 116 districts.

In a ministerial statement delivered in parliament, the minister said about 8.9 percent of the households were with people with disabilities.

"The social cash program is a key social protection intervention. The program targets vulnerable and incapacitated people in communities in order to alleviate suffering and deprivation," she said.

According to her, the government has dealt with the various challenges the program was facing which resulted in siphoning of funds and forced cooperating partners to withdraw funding in 2018.

She said the cooperating partners were not supporting the implementation of the program after the government took a number of steps to strengthen the delivery systems which has enhanced accountability and transparency.

It is expected that the systems put in place will enhance program credibility and sustainability, she added.

The program, established in 2003, has in the past suffered through siphoning of funds meant for the vulnerable, resulting in donors pulling out in 2018. 
Moroccans prayed for rain after the Friday prayer as the country faces its worst drought since 1981.

Late and unevenly distributed rainfall has put a strain on Moroccan farmers who are bracing for a tough year that required the government to intervene.

The government has unveiled two weeks ago a plan to mitigate drought impact worth 1 billion dollars, geared to help farmers access funding and reschedule debt as well as subsidizing animal feed and water saving irrigation.

Water minister Nizar Baraka blamed the previous governments for the delay in the achievement of desalination plants and dams.

He said several cities could face water rationing in case of not sufficient rainfall in the upcoming two months.

Some Moroccan dams, such as Abedelmoumen and Massira which supply Agadir and Casablanca are almost depleted.

Currently, the filling rate in Moroccan dams is 32% compared with 34% last December, while underground water levels are increasingly depleted leading the government to ban the farming of watermelons in regions facing water scarcity such as Tata.
Moroccos General Directorate for the Surveillance of the National Territory (DGST) has provided Belgian authorities with specific information on a Belgian citizen of Moroccan origin suspected of involvement in inciting, planning and preparing imminent terrorist projects.

The information made available by the DGST to the Belgian security and judicial authorities allowed the arrest of the suspect, who was operating under the name of Abdellah Al-Beljiki, the Central Bureau of Judicial Investigations (BCIJ) said in a statement, adding that the individual has been detained by the Belgian judiciary which will conduct an investigation in the context of terrorism and violent extremism.

The Belgian citizen of Moroccan origin was identified and his direct involvement established in the incitement to the execution of imminent terrorist projects, as part of the investigation being conducted by the BCIJ, following the arrest on March 02 in Foum Zquid in the vicinity of Tata, of a supporter of Daesh, for his alleged involvement in the preparation of a terrorist plan with cross-border ramifications, said the statement.

The investigations carried out so far made it possible to detect a transfer of money in euros made by the detainee in Belgium to the suspect arrested in Morocco, at the beginning of March, as a first advance in the framework of progressive financing operations for the acquisition of compounds and chemical products used in the preparation and manufacture of explosives.

The investigations, supported by digital and technical expertise, revealed the involvement of the person arrested in Belgium in supporting the creation of a local terror organization to carry out subversive operations in Morocco, through content explaining to the individual arrested in Foum Zquid the modus operandi of recruitment and enlistment as well as how to choose the rear bases of training and the targets, the statement added.

The investigation also showed that the imminent targets of this terrorist plan include attacking foreign nationals, senior officials of governmental and security departments as well as military and security sites and prisons with a car bomb or a vehicle as part of individual terrorism operations, after downloading the location coordinates from the Internet, in addition to attacking bank and currency exchange agencies.

The findings and technical expertise have revealed that the suspect arrested in Morocco has conducted three attempts to manufacture explosives from chemicals seized in his familys farm, located near Tata.

The investigations and inquiries conducted by the BCIJ are underway into this case under the supervision of the prosecutors office in charge of terrorism and extremism to determine the ramifications and national and international links of this terrorist project, the statement added, stressing that the same is true for the coordination operations and international security cooperation between the services of the DGST and the competent Belgian security and judicial services.

This new operation is part of Moroccos efforts to fight extremist organizations and neutralize the terrorist threat at the international level, and reflects strength of Moroccan-Belgian security cooperation.
LEXINGTON  Kathleen Jourdan told a Cozad police officer Im sorry, I wanted out of the relationship with her husband, Joshua Jourdan, at the scene of a June 2020 shooting on Interstate 80 that resulted in his death.

The jury viewed footage from Officer John Pedans body camera during her second-degree murder trial in Dawson County District Court Friday.

The jury also saw interrogation footage and heard from a forensic pathologist on the second day of testimony in the case.

Jourdan, now 33, of Omaha is charged with second-degree murder and use of a deadly weapon to commit a felony in the June 2020 shooting death of her husband, Joshua. She has claimed she acted in self-defense.

The officer Jourdan was speaking to at the scene of the shooting, Officer John Pedan, testified alongside three other officers who assisted in the investigation. Pedan told the jury he was the first to secure the Glock pistol to make sure it had been emptied of bullets.

Dr. Matthias Okoye, a forensic pathologist, also took the stand telling the jury that Joshua Jourdans body was punctured by two rounds, one to the lower right side and one to the front center of his right chest.

He noted the first round, after entering the body, traveled downward and damaged the lung, the diaphragm, the liver and small intestine. Okoye testified that in his opinion, this was the first bullet that entered Joshuas body.

The second shot through the center chest traveled between the ribs, through the right lung and across the top of the heart, transecting the aorta, the largest blood vessel in the body.

Okoye testified that after reading the interrogation transcript, he was of the opinion that Kathleens telling of the events was not consistent with the findings of the autopsy.

Upon cross examination, Davis asked Dr. Okoye if he could be sure of the order of the bullets entering the body. Dr. Okoye said he was not speculating but basing his findings off of his experience and training in his field.

Nebraska State Patrol investigator Mike Dowling was called back to the stand as the jury viewed the Dowlings interview with Kathleen Jourdan.

In the tape, Kathleen expressed she had reached a breaking point after their relationship with Joshua had become strained since 2013. She said she had thought of killing Joshua as a curiosity thought at the time.

Dowling said Kathleen alleged Joshua had abused her in multiple ways, including physical abuse, verbal abuse and would pressure her to have sexual intercourse with him. If she would refuse, Kathleen said Joshua would accuse her of infidelity or being a bad wife.

In the video, when asked about what led up to the incident by Dowling, Kathleen said she had allegedly seen the same look Joshua showed on the side of I-80 as he had when he had strangled her in Grenada in 2015. As for the Glock pistol, Kathleen said her husband always had it there, at the ready, in case he felt he needed to use it.

After Dowling asked how she felt that Joshua was dead, Kathleen said, As horrible as it sounds, I am relieved, and noted she didnt have to fear for her or her childrens safety anymore.

The state will continue its case on Monday.
Two proposed ordinances on issues related to North Plattes Lee Bird Field annexation plan will be taken up at a special city Planning Commission meeting Tuesday.

Public hearings will be held on measures to establish a zoning overlay district at the Platte River forks and set the stage for the city to allow firearms hunting in various parts of the area to be annexed.

The planning panels special meeting will start at 5:30 p.m. in the City Hall council chamber, 211 W. Third St. Itll be livestreamed on the citys YouTube channel.

Residents who dont attend in person may follow the meeting remotely at ci.north-platte.ne.us/government/city-departments/development/planning-commission-agendas-minutes.

The proposed ordinances cover issues that have arisen since city officials began considering the Lee Bird annexation at the start of the year, said Planning Administrator Judy Clark.

City Council members gave second-round approval March 1 to the actual quartet of annexation ordinances, setting up final votes at their March 15 meeting.

Each annexation ordinance covers a different segment of the nearly 2,000-acre area, with the North Platte Regional Airports parcel being by far the largest.

Clark said the follow-up ordinances related to hunting and the Platte forks also will be considered by the council March 15. The Planning Commission first must decide whether to recommend approval, she said.

City officials started discussing overlay districts as comments on annexing the airport area started coming in at recent council and Planning Commission meetings.

Clark said an overlay district doesnt change its areas underlying zoning  residential, commercial, industrial or another type.

It does specify particular activities that can be conducted within that district despite its general zoning, she said.

Existing city codes forbid the firing of projectiles within city limits. That has led some local hunters to worry they wont be able to hunt along the North Platte River inside the annexation area.

One of the ordinances on Tuesdays Planning Commission agenda would change current city codes so the council could permit hunting in given areas, Clark said.

If the council adopts that ordinance, a specific overlay district addressing hunting within the annexation area could be adopted after that, she added.

The overlay district to be reviewed at Tuesdays special meeting would address management issues for the Tri-County Project diversion dam, just east of where the Plattes two branches join.

The smallest and southernmost of the four parcels to be annexed covers the dam and surrounding property owned by its operator, the Central Nebraska Public Power and Irrigation District.

Central officials have said they wont oppose bringing their land into the city but also want to ensure they can continue managing the dam and their property as they need to.

One of those issues also involves hunting. Central generally forbids it at the Platte forks but grants special permits to its employees and board members, natural resources and compliance manager Michael Drain said Feb. 15.

More by Todd von Kampen

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Take a look at a list of the best counties to retire in Nebraska using data from Niche.
Ivanka Trump is seen taking a walk with husband Jared Kushner and their children on June 12, 2021, in Miami, Florida. Photo: MEGA/GC Images

Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner may have spent years cultivating their image as the more polished, more presentable face of the Trump clan, but by the end of Donald Trumps presidency, theyd gained a reputation for being terrible neighbors. While working in the administration, Javanka took up residence in Washington, D.C.s, Kalorama neighborhood, where they annoyed locals by taking up an excessive number of parking spots, erecting a porta-potty on the sidewalk because they wouldnt let Secret Service members use their bathroom, and drawing hundreds of LGBTQ protesters to their block. (To be fair, this incident famously delighted at least one wine-sipping, fur-coat-clad neighbor.)

After Trump failed to prolong his presidency through extralegal means, Jared and Ivanka decided to leave Washington. But it became clear that the couple was not welcome in Manhattan anymore, and they opted not to cause a scene there. Instead, they rented a condo in Surfside, Florida, and are reportedly renovating a waterfront mansion in nearby Indian Creek. This is undoubtedly friendly territory; the luxury island, also known as Billionaires Bunker, has only 86 residents, and the district went for Trump by nearly 80 percent in 2020.

But for now, Javanka are stuck in Surfside, a town of about 6,000 people  most of them non-billionaires  that (narrowly) voted for Biden. And it seems the couple havent escaped neighbor drama  though this time, they might not be the real source of the problem.

Last week, Washingtonian published a piece on how the former First Kids are settling into Surfside. It seems that while the towns Trump-supporting mayor is a fan, theyve received a frostier welcome from other locals, such as Eliana Salzhauer, a town commissioner:

It was, Oh, good, the town is getting recognition,  says Salzhauer, a Democrat. Then it was, Oh, no, the psychos are coming. 

The last thing Salzhauer wants is to become an enabler of the couples reinvention act in South Florida, which makes the whole situation rather frustrating. As she puts it, What are they doing in our town?

Psychos is harsh, but Salzhauers sentiment is understandable, as few Democrats would be eager to have their small town serving as the backdrop to Javankas image-rehabilitation efforts. However, another neighbor quoted in the piece shared a lot of catty comments about the family that didnt seem to have anything do to with politics. This resident, who requested anonymity because she continues to live near the family, said she first encountered Ivanka with her dog on a pathway that leads to the beach, right next to a sign that says dogs arent allowed! Per Washingtonian:

The resident, a beach activist who finds high purpose in protecting Surfsides loggerhead sea turtles during nesting season, mobilized. I was speed-walking at her and yelling at her, she recalls. I just opened my mouth and said, You cant go out there with the dog!

When the startled owner turned around, her face was immediately recognizable. It was Ivanka Trumpaccompanied by her ten-year-old daughter, Arabella, and their ultra-white, blue-eyed pooch, Winter.

Oh-uh, I didnt realize, Trump said.

 Youre standing right next to the sign, the neighbor told Ivanka.

Look, it says No dogs.

Oh, Ivanka said again, retreating.

This was not Javankas only major offense. Months later, the same anonymous neighbor encountered the couple and their 5-year-old son, Theodore, on the beach. After some pleasantries were exchanged about fish, Ivanka demonstrated her subpar mothering skills (in the neighbors estimation) when she let the boy play in the ocean by himself:

Ivanka indicated she wouldnt be swimming, but Theodore hurried into the ocean. The neighbor was immediately concerned.

Im thinking, Why is this boy in the water alone on a boogie board with this moderate rip current? Im a mother, and I would never let my child alone in the water like that.

Sure enough, young Theodore began drifting from shore, prompting Jared to run in after him.

Slenderman moves quick, the neighbor quips.

The neighbor capped off her account with a superb backhanded compliment. Shes well put together, she said of Ivanka. Shes had a lot of work done, and its good plastic. Its Miami, and theres a lot of bad plastic here. She has good plastic.

Javankas reign of terror continued in the fall, when they were spotted taking two pumpkins from a childrens Halloween event, though families were only permitted to take one.

Jared and Ivanka have done plenty that warrants legitimate criticism, from flouting various ethical rules to enabling the Trump administrations terrible policies. But do they really deserve to be called out publicly for stealing gourds, not being helicopter parents, and (allegedly) having good plastic surgery? Probably not. Whether the criticism is fair probably doesnt matter to their former D.C. neighbors, who are presumably pouring themselves some wine, slipping into their best fur, and savoring this update on the petty indignities suffered by their least favorite couple.
Building a diverse workforce has become a key business strategy, especially in todays fast-paced, global marketplace.

But making profound shifts in the makeup of a workforce cannot be achieved overnight. There is also no one-size-fits-all approach to achieving a diverse workplace.

One key strategy is to examine how your current workforce feels  yes, feels. Marketing is about how a product or service makes you feel, and your employees are your best marketing tool.

When it comes to diversity and equity, it really doesnt matter what an employer communicates in their handbook, on their website, or as part of their mission statement  what matters most is what they do. And, what they do will either make their employees feel good or bad or worst of all, nothing. And, that is what they will remember and tell the world.

Data shows that when an employer does this right, it provides tangible and strategic benefits such as allowing the business to expand into new markets, cultivate new avenues of doing business, attract better talent or clients, and achieve higher profitability.

Therefore, diversity programs must be a part of your brand and embedded into every aspect of the companys vision, strategy, and most importantly experience.

A recent consumer survey in connection to brands and social justice or diversity programs reported that 50% of those surveyed believe brands should publicly speak out against racial injustice and systemic racism, and brands that are perceived (code for making you feel) as addressing racial issues well are three times more trusted than those that arent.

This notion is re-affirmed in a 2020 study published by McKinsey, Diversity wins: How inclusion matters, which concluded that companies that adopt systematic, business-led approaches to diversity and inclusion along with bold action on inclusion reflected a wider increase in not only profitability to their counterparts, but a higher retention rate of their employees and a better overall employee experience.

It is challenging to create a workplace that is led by inclusive leadership and accountability among management as well as openness and freedom from bias and discrimination. It is hard to cultivate this, but it is imperative in todays socially conscious, globally driven world.

Your employees are your number one asset, and also your best tool to achieve this. They not only work hard to meet the mission of the organization, but they are your marketing ambassadors to the world at large. And, if you create a talent brand that allows your current employees to feel seen and heard, that not only will allow you to attract the best and brightest diverse candidates, but also retain them. And that is the key. If your employees feel like they belong, it directly translates to better productivity and profitability. The data support this. Its a win-win strategy.

Tammy C. Woolley is Senior Counsel in the Opelika, Alabama, office of Constangy, Brooks, Smith & Prophete, LLP, and can be contacted at twoolley@constangy.com. This article is adapted from a recent post on the Firms blog, Sharpen Your Focus, by my colleague Punam Rogers.
In 1943, World War II came to Opelika in the form of a prison camp.

Camp Opelika was one of 500 POW camps in the U.S. It was constructed in Sept. 1942 on 800 acres of land located on what is now the John Herbert Orr Industrial Park off Marvyn Parkway and Williamson Ave.

In February, the Opelika City Council announced plans for the 22-acre vacant Ampex-Quantegy site on Marvyn Parkway, where Orr Distribution Center and the developer Porter Properties plan to develop multiple buildings designed for warehousing, distribution and commercial sales and service.

Camp Opelika was the second camp established in Alabama after Aliceville, and others were later built in Fort McClellan and Fort Rucker.

It held about 3,000 Nazi war prisoners, and the first to arrive were part of General Erwin Rommels Afrika Korps.

Glenn Buxton, director of the Museum of East Alabama in Opelika, said these German prisoners were caught in Tunisia, shipped into Boston and put on a train that brought them to Camp Opelika.

The camp was surrounded by a double barbed wire fence and was reinforced with 500 guards and towers controlling the narrow space between fences.

According to several newspaper articles, residents filled the streets to watch the prisoners get off the train and enter the camp. Residents were said to be surprised that the prisoners were German and not Japanese.

Buxon said the local residents were concerned when the prisoners first arriced, but they found out the Germans were young guys who werent much different from them.

An article published in the Opelika Daily News on June 5, 1943, described the first Germans that arrived in Opelika as appearing to be in good spirits.

Happy but bewildered Germans were described, as landings were made in Boston and train trips were completed through the eastern section en route to Alabama, the article said. Some of the prisoners expressed great surprise to find that New York City had not been totally destroyed by German bombs. And they were said to have been puzzled when assured that a United States Navy of real potence still existed. They said they thought that the Japanese had wiped out the American Navy.

Buxton said there was a section in the camp specifically for higher ranking officers, but the majority of the prisoners were young grunt soldiers and some of them were just old enough to hold up a rifle.

Life at the camp

The camp had 500 acres of farmland where the prisoners worked to produce vegetables. They were paid 80 cents a day for their work and 10 cents for their days off.

Aside from working, these prisoners spent their time learning, being creative and playing sports.

According to Mary Belk, a columnist for the Opelika-Auburn News, about 1,407 prisoners received graduation certificates in different classes taught by other prisoners. These classes included biology, bookkeeping, chemistry, commercial science, commercial calculation, English, French, geography, geometry and German literature.

Buxton said the hard core Nazis were not allowed outside the camp, but some of the other soldiers occasionally left the camp, either to work, play music or play sports.

The prisoners created a 32-piece orchestra that was allowed to play at a few places around town. They also wrote their own newspaper and their own plays for their theatrical club.

Buxton said the prisoners made art from different materials they could find including mud to make ceramics. One prisoner even made a ceramic piece as a wedding gift for one of the American guards.

The Museum of East Alabama is the only place that has a collection of artifacts from the WWII prison camp, and Buxton credits a Col. Albert Killian for everything that was saved.

The prisoners also formed their own track and softball teams, which competed against Opelika High School.

Newspaper coverage of one of the softball games said the Camp Opelika team was heavily beaten by OHS by a score of 11-4.

Other articles mention how the prisoners were fond of chewing gum and singing, appeared happy and were devout Catholics.

The efforts Adolph Hitler put forth to drive Catholicism from his army were in vain, judging by the demeanor of hundreds of young German prisoners recently incarcerated in the Opelika Interment Camp... a newpaper article said.

Buxton said many German prisoners seemed to enjoy their stay in Opelika because they were far from the war and they had good food to eat, which was the same food that American soldiers were given.

Prisoners knew that they had more food than their families did in Germany. One prisoner wrote to his family saying he would send them a package of food.

Buxton said he knew of a German woman who came to Opelika several years ago to visit family and whose father had been held at Camp Opelika. She was 11 years old at the end of WWII and said her family would have starved to death if the Americans hadnt showed up.

She said she had a warm place in her heart for American soldiers.

Escape

Col. G. Cronander, commanding officer of Camp Opelika, told a journalist that the prisoners hadnt given him the slightest troublw.

They are a good-natured set of young men, he stated in the article, and I dont believe we will ever have trouble with them.

While this seemed to be true for the majority of the time prisoners were at the camp, a couple of them escaped through the sewer system only to be caught shortly after.

One incident involved two escaped prisoners who were later caught in Montgomery and brought back to the camp. Another involved three prisoners who escaped, and a newspaper article described the capture of one who was found in Pepperell Village in the backyard of Mrs. Jack Jolly.

The article said she saw the German crouched near the wood shed in her yard when she called on her neighbors, including a man named Smith.

Armed with an axe, Mr. Smith moved in on the German who quickly rose to his feet and threw up his hands, the article said. He made no attempt to repel or escape his captors when apprehended in the Jolly back yard.

The POW camp was deactivated in Sept. 1945 and all the prisoners were shipped back to Europe. The site then became housing for returning American veterans, and in the 1950s it was developed into Orr Industrial Park.
Tim James, a Republican candidate for governor, said he decided to run because he believes the country is on the wrong track.

The nation today does not look like the America that we know, James said. We see so many things that are out of sorts, and I just believe if good people do not engage, were going to continue on this slide.

James, the son Fob James Jr., the former two-term governor of Alabama, is running against incumbent Gov. Kay Ivey. Its the third time hes run for governor.

Before speaking at the Opelika Public Library Thursday night, James said the two driving forces for his campaign include education and the gas tax from the Rebuild Alabama Act of 2019.

James said hes very passionate about improving education in Alabama, especially because the state is ranked at the bottom of the pack.

Its very simple, he said. Who do we care about? Do we care about the system or do we care about the children? We care about the children, so sometimes you have to do things that will make the system and the structure mad. Youre not trying to make them mad; youre trying to improve our childrens education.

James said its time to shake up the system. He wants Alabama to have the best principals in the schools and to pay them accordingly, and he wants parents to be able to take their children out of failing schools and send them to another.

While school boards have lifted the COVID-19 mask mandate, James is concerned that another flare-up will cause the mask requirement to be reinstated.

James is against requiring children to wear masks and believes its up to the parent to decide. He said only a governor can stop another mandate with an executive order.

Its caused untold damage to our children, he said. You have kindergartners, first, second, and third (graders) whove never been to class without a muzzle and theyre falling behind.

James said the mask requirement has hindered kids who are learning to speak and has taken an emotional toll on them.

Ive been very disappointed in the governor on many fronts, he said. I wish she had stepped in on this forced masking and stopped it a year ago and she refused to do that.

James said he thinks Gov. Ivey is overwhelmed.

You have these systems that are very powerful, they have a lot of money, they bring to bear weight on any governor and legislature, he said. It just takes a different kind of person to fight and resist and really push back and do it effectively.

Another topic James is passionate about is repealing the gas tax that was part of the Rebuild Alabama Act of 2019, which was created to help improve roads in Alabama.

I recognize that you got to fix your roads, but they lopped on this gas tax an escalation clause that is tied to an inflation index, which means that the gas tax will go up forever, James said.

He proposed only having this tax when gas prices are low and to establish a certain dollar amount when the tax would come off.

If James is elected, he said he will work towards bringing the nation back to its Judeo-Christian foundation and will protect the freedom of the people.

Freedom and liberty and all the things we love to talk about, theyre not cheap and they dont last forever, James said. Theyre like gold. If youre not very careful and treat them that way you can lose it and (they can) slip through your fingers like sand.

Were in a unique time in American history where were in a fight for the soul of America, the determination of who were going to be for them, for the next century, he said.
BEIJING, March 5 (Xinhua) -- China's national lawmakers and political advisors have gathered in Beijing for the annual sessions of the National People's Congress (NPC) and the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), also known as the "two sessions."

Chinese President Xi Jinping is expected to join in discussions to set the national agenda for the year. His remarks, including those he made in the previous gatherings of the "two sessions," can offer guidance for the international community to comprehend China's development path, and have resonated with many experts across the globe.

INNOVATION

Implementing a strategy of innovation-driven development will be fundamental in accelerating the transformation of China's growth pattern, solving deep-rooted problems concerning economic development and enhancing economic vitality, Xi said in 2013 while participating in a panel discussion with political advisors from the science and technology sector at the annual session of the CPPCC National Committee.

Speaking of innovation, Anna Malindog-Uy, a professor and researcher with Manila-based think tank Philippines-BRICS Strategic Studies, told Xinhua that China's push for high-quality innovation and entrepreneurship "is no doubt a phenomenal success," which has led to the rapid transition of China to a new economic development phase based on high-tech production and national breakthrough technologies.

Because of these steps, she noted, the Chinese economy has transitioned to a more technology-driven one, adding that the Philippines should learn from China to tap economic potential and enhance competitiveness.

Kiyoyuki Seguchi, research director at Japan's Canon Institute for Global Studies, pointed out that innovation capacity will be the driving force of China's macro-economy in the future.

COORDINATED, GREEN DEVELOPMENT

In March 2021, Xi joined discussions with fellow lawmakers from northwest China's Qinghai Province, saying that local authorities should promote coordinated development between rural and urban areas, advance rural vitalization on all fronts, improve people's well-being and build a new socialist countryside that is beautiful, prosperous and harmonious.

Nadia Helmy, an assistant professor of political science at Egypt's Beni Suef University, said that China has followed a positive path in improving education, eliminating poverty and boosting development and prosperity in all provinces and cities.

The living standards of the Chinese people have improved and their rights have become better protected, Helmy observed, adding that China also shared its experience with the rest of world and made a great contribution to the international cause of human rights.

In March 2015, Xi asked the Chinese people to protect the environment as if they were "caring for one's own eyes and life," while reviewing the work report of the State Council together with national lawmakers from eastern Jiangxi Province.

"Protecting environment is ensuring livelihood," Xi stressed.

British author and political commentator Carlos Martinez said that China, as a responsible country with significant economic strength and technological capability, has ensured the Beijing Winter Olympics as the greenest games ever -- with zero-carbon venues, zero-carbon transport, low-carbon artificial snow production, and the re-use of venues.

This has set a crucial example for the world to battle climate breakdown, he added.

OPENNESS

When joining a panel discussion attended by national political advisors from the economic sector in 2020, Xi called for unwavering efforts to make economic globalization more open, inclusive and balanced so that its benefits are shared by all, and to build an open world economy.

Cavince Adhere, a Kenya-based international relations scholar, said that China is a staunch supporter of multilateralism and economic globalization.

The Global Development Initiative, the Belt and Road Initiative and other initiatives proposed by China have shown that China is ready to build a new pattern of global cooperation with peace and development as its main pillars, said Adhere.

In the view of Serik Korzhumbayev, editor-in-chief of the Delovoy Kazakhstan newspaper, the international community has benefited from China's opening-up and gained experience in such fields as research and development of new technologies, information technology, industrial development and logistics.

SHARED BY ALL

In a deliberation with fellow lawmakers from Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region at the third session of the 13th NPC in May 2020, Xi stressed acting on the people-centered philosophy in every aspect of work.

He also stressed adhering to "people first" in coordinating epidemic control and economic and social development.

Jose Ignacio Martinez Cortes, a researcher at the National Autonomous University of Mexico, said China reached out a helping hand in time during the critical period of the COVID-19 pandemic to Mexico and other countries.

He added that China has provided solid support to others in fighting COVID-19 and helped them tackle the pandemic and shortage of vaccines.

Humphrey Moshi, director of the Center for Chinese Studies at the University of Dar es Salaam of Tanzania, pointed out that China's success in poverty alleviation has set a good example for other countries and China's polices are practical and effective.

In particular, China's targeted poverty alleviation strategy has brought real changes to poor households, he noted, adding that developing countries, especially African countries, can learn from China's experience. 
Ignorant lobby

As a United States history teacher Im appalled at the introduction of HB312 to the Alabama congressional session. When I made the decision to become an Alabama educator I made a commitment to educate. If Im forced by the government to whitewash the history of America and leave out divisive concepts Ill be doing a disservice. The notion that students could potentially lose the right to learn the truth about past events is insane. This country is required by its laws to offer children a free, public education. What good is that education if it is based on inaccuracies and omissions? We cannot change the truth about our past and will never be colorblind. Knowing the truth keeps future generations from making the same mistakes. I dont want to work in a state that doesnt recognize the importance of knowing the past. The limitations HB312 will place on educators is unethical to teaching and unjust to historians. Teachers are scrutinized enough without having lawmakers planning lessons. Mr. Oliver, spend your term in office focused on helping instead of lobbying for ignorance. I sincerely hope this bill does not pass. If they should fail, I pray Governor Ivey will support our students and protect them from this idiotic legislation. My students are outraged at the prospect of HB312 and were encouraged to exercise their rights as American citizens. I hope you will read and acknowledge their concerns.
Be objective

This morning, Im reading about Putin cracking down on Russian media trying to block information about war on Ukraine. Ironically, I then read in our newspaper an article entitled, Time to return to the facts. Amen.

The article was about the new chief at CNN saying he planned to return CNN to hard news, instead of todays liberal-bias reporting.

The point is that the line between activism and journalism has all but evaporated. Even the best publications now often struggle to provide straight news stories. Its even more difficult for local newspapers to find unbiased articles to print and I appreciate our editors challenge to do so.

Of course, Trump had to be mentioned in the article it implied that it was Trumps fault because he attacked the media with the fake news moniker and the media hit back by becoming his inverse. Personally, I think that our media had started leaning left way before Trump arrived. But, its irrelevant at this point who started it, it needs to stop and I hope and wish CNN luck in providing objective journalism.

The article ended with CNN needs to get back to its primary job. So do the rest of the media organizations, including Fox News.

Claude Fortin

Opelika

Urgent issue

Thank you for the March 1 stories about reports by the U.N. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Over the 34 years of the existence of this agency, their reports, created by thousands of experts from around the world, have become progressively more urgent in calling for aggressive actions to address our human caused problems resulting from burning of fossil fuels, i.e., coal, oil, and natural gas. Recall burning of fossil fuels produces heat-trapping carbon dioxide and other undesirable gases, which result in dangerous warming of the Earth.

While some states in the Southeast have taken steps to encourage, even require, the use of clean renewable energy, e.g., solar and wind, Alabama has not. For example, we are woefully behind our neighbors in creating solar energy jobs. (See website of the Solar Energy Industries Association.) Alabama voters should contact their elected representatives at all levels, including Washington, D.C., and Montgomery, and demand action. Contact information online: Guide to Your Government by the League of Women Voters of East Alabama; websites of the Alabama Legislature, Alabama Public Service Commission; climate.gov and climate.nasa.gov.

If we care about our descendants, other life forms, or the Earth, we should act without delay.

David Newton

Auburn
Now accepting hugs because I've cried twice today. I want to be informed but I think the constant reading about it is really affecting my mental health and panic disorder.

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Please take a break if you can :( take care of your mental health

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I agree! You said you were going to go touch grass last week and I legit went and did that the next day. I've seen a couple other users recycle the phrase. OP I know it can be a lot, and touching the grass/dirt may sound dumb but it is actually helpful!

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I had to take a break from the news the last 24 hours, it's really depressing. Look after yourself.

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Sending hugs. Take care of yourself. 

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I feel ya. My anxiety is all over the place. I feel ya. My anxiety is all over the place.

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(((hugs)))

Take care of you, friend.

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A large amount of mis- and disinformation has circulated on social media in multiple languages over the past few days regarding #Ukraine. Trustworthy information is as important as ever in times of crisis, so here are our top tips and tools   First Draft (@firstdraftnews) February 28, 2022 A thread for a thread

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First and foremost, be wary of the difference between MISinformation and DISinformation. While they can seem interchangeable, the difference lies in the intent. Precise language is important e.g. propaganda can fall under the umbrella of disinformation pic.twitter.com/jLLJ5gdmp8  First Draft (@firstdraftnews) February 28, 2022

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Second, visual misinformation gains a lot of attention. Weve seen time and time again old photos and videos recirculated during times of crisis, which can cause more chaos and confusion. Preventing this can be as easy as running a reverse image searchhttps://t.co/oHfpM8nU8e  First Draft (@firstdraftnews) February 28, 2022

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You can run reverse image searches on a few different search engines. We recommend using the browser extension RevEye, which puts all these searches just one click awayhttps://t.co/y8vC6NtxRr pic.twitter.com/sx3JnGH0U3  First Draft (@firstdraftnews) February 28, 2022

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Going deeper, you can run checks on all of our five pillars of visual verification. The more you can dig up about each pillar, the stronger your verification will be.



Some tools you can use: https://t.co/yMIvoVrBEI pic.twitter.com/4CPMJNiIYT  First Draft (@firstdraftnews) February 28, 2022

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Imposter accounts are also common, pretending to be trusted sources of information or a certain identity group. Heres a basic checklist for making sure youre getting information from a trustworthy account on social media: pic.twitter.com/39VwHIDNSP  First Draft (@firstdraftnews) February 28, 2022

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If you decide to share falsified visuals as part of a debunk, make sure to use an overlay to prevent the image from being recirculated out of context. This can be as simple as adding a watermark over the image labeling it unverified or out of contexthttps://t.co/VpdNSpxbhF  First Draft (@firstdraftnews) February 28, 2022

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Archiving the content you come across is important for historical and legal purposes: https://t.co/jFlInh1eW6  First Draft (@firstdraftnews) February 28, 2022

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For further reading: @bellingcat's earlier advice on how to report (and how not to report) on Russian disinformation provides guidance on how to use precise languagehttps://t.co/uZ8N1xoqn8  First Draft (@firstdraftnews) February 28, 2022

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Finally, you may come across distressing imagery during this time. Take breaks and refer to this guide from @DartCenter on how to reduce your trauma load: https://t.co/ucqkAbD8Ch  First Draft (@firstdraftnews) February 28, 2022

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Thank you so much for sharing this!

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Thank you so much for sharing this!

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What began as a trickle  with only two or three planes arriving a day  is now a steady flow, 14 loads from one airfield alone. U.S. & allies are pouring badly needed anti-tank and anti-aircraft missiles into Ukraine w/@helenecooper https://t.co/kusttPsrdy  Eric Schmitt (@EricSchmittNYT) March 4, 2022



I hope this really helps. I hope this really helps.

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the answer? no.

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The last post got weird wrt Putin. Just because his goal is irrational and ego-driven doesn't mean all his actions are. He's created one of the most systematic propaganda machines in the world and has consistently gotten away with escalating conflicts. I don't understand why people think if papers a signed that violence will stop he has no incentive for that.



Even in non-Russian examples, letting land be "claimed" doesn't stop the people from experience mass violence especially if they were fighting in the first place. It seems naive to believe otherwise.

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It was very weird and willfully ignorant at best, I think.

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Yeah, people saying that Ukraine should just be given to Putin was so wild. Crimea got annexed in 2014, so if we're going by the argument people are trying to give, then that should have had him be happy enough and stop. But, that wasn't enough so look at where we are now. Putin is trying to take over all of Ukraine and Ukraine won't be the last country he wants to take over.

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They're sending these kids with three days of training straight to their deaths on the frontlines. There's no consideration for their lives at all.



18 year old Ukrainian volunteers off to war in Kyiv. Three days training and they will be on the front line. pic.twitter.com/xWudDwhpXS  Jeremy Bowen (@BowenBBC) March 4, 2022 It's also naive to just completely ignore the human cost of fighting an unwinnable war with civilians. Fighting with your military is one thing but if you are at the point of desperation where you have to force people to fight and to rely on handing out guns to people with no training, you have to find an off-ramp.They're sending these kids with three days of training straight to their deaths on the frontlines. There's no consideration for their lives at all.

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I agree and disagree. My point is that there is 0 indication, particularly when Ukranians are willing to fight (not those being conscripted), that the conflict will end. Putin is a leader who has shown he's not above decimating his own if it means squashing dissent.

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I dont understand what you mean, those young men will not be safe under Putins rule either.

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Why do you think appeasement will work, when it didn't work with Hitler and when Putin has a double-digit of countries he wants besides Ukraine and when we already see that life under occupation will be awful for Ukrainians?

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I get the concern and if they are sent to regular service with no training thats not good. But they are in a desperate situation and its clear that Russia does not have the strength to keep this going forever. They must hold on.



One important thing is that the ukrainian people want to fight for their country, and many civilians have trained for years in home defence groups, so it is possible that these kids have little official training but still know what they are doing. Loads of ukrainians are teachers, lawyers, students and have spent every saturday for years training in urban warfare and how to use weapons.



Also you dont have to have official training to be useful, in my country many young people participated in the resistance with homemade bombs, riding bikes etc.



Edited at 2022-03-05 08:38 am (UTC)

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Bro these fucking typos are what i get for talking about politics this early in the morning, i cant

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for real tho op im gonna nominate you at the end of the year for these <3

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Russia is not cooperating on the proposed humanitarian corridor, says a regional Ukrainian governor. Ukraine readied 19 trucks, but they were not being allowed in by the Russians who "say that they will provide humanitarian aid themselves," governor says https://t.co/REYuYQ3RZq  John Hudson (@John_Hudson) March 4, 2022



wow, just as everyone predicted. probably waiting until the situation is completely dire before they can play heroes wow, just as everyone predicted. probably waiting until the situation is completely dire before they can play heroes

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that literally is so insane to even read. "we're invading and destroying your country, but we'll also provide humanitarian aid" wtf?????

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its some psychopathic abuse, thats for sure

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It's very poison and cure

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They're probably going to film it and use it as propaganda to further try to shut down anti-war sentiment.

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It goes on par with "we're here to save you guys and we come with guns for that".

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But yet we're somehow supposed to believe that Putin would honor any agreements if Ukraine were to surrender.

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The videos of Zelensky giving speeches to anti-war demonstrations that are happening all over Europe is pretty incredible. I really bet you anything that Putin did not think for a second that Zelensky would be this inspiring to people or that European countries would rally behind Ukraine like this.

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Putin is definitely enough of narcissist that he can't conceive of someone being more well liked than him and that people of Europe might rally around that person.

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Its amazing what hes doing with the responsibility thrust onto him. He really stepped up to the plate.

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he most likely expected Zelensky to flee at the first chance he got. and he definitely expected Europe to be indignant but ultimately shoulder shrug and go "eh, what can you do?" (like we did with crimea).

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Some creep on Reddit threatened to dox me because I said that Zelenskyy and the Ukrainian people captured hearts and minds the world over. If that gets under the skin of some shit-heel toady on the internet, I really hope it makes Putin seethe.

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Zelenskys transformation into a heroic symbol has definitely been interesting.

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Cometh the hour, cometh the man (or woman).

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the video of that skynews team getting shot at was harrowing, jeez.

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I just read about that. Fucking terrifying.

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According to Bellingcat, Russian supplies can only last until March 6. Unlikely to end the war but things will get interesting after that. Also heard that Ukrainian forces are attempting to push the Russians back to the border near Kharkiv.

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Russian supplies of what?

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Food and fuel most likely. Not sure about munitions.

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Military supplies, food, gas, clothes, etc.



They can always get more stuff but getting that stuff to Russian soldiers already in Ukraine will be difficult

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Makes sense. The troops outside kyiv are essentially sitting in traffic.

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Thank you for adding donation links. I had tried donating to a Ukrainian nonprofit but they only accepted wires and I couldnt verify the bank acct. number, I wasnt really comfortable with that.

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Yw and good for you to be cautious when donating. I tried to only include verified organizations, so they should be safe and cover a wide range of types of aid.

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I donated to the Ukrainian red cross (via credit card, no wire transfer). heres a link, in case youre interested: https://donate.redcrossredcrescent.org/ua/donate/~my-donation?_cv=1

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I was going to Tbilisi in May but since this war started I cancelled and also found out that Russia invaded there in 2008? I didnt even know that. Good to see protests happening over there.

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Yeah, Georgians are some of Ukraine's biggest supporters because they know what it's like.

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Biden could at least give Zelensky Sealteam or the like for protection

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maybe not any official military because that's basically declaring war



but like... maybe some of our shady American private military contractors? lol

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Yeah, one we don't know about the ones we do are sketchy aa hell.

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I think the Blackwater crew is more into the Wagner group than helping Ukraine tbh

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Blackwater is owned (and named something else) by a different company, but it was founded by Betsy DeVos' brother Erik Prince who is best buddies with some Russian oligarchs and met secretly with them in the Seychelles for Trump or something.





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Not to be glib, but isn't this what the CIA lives for?



Of course, they also excel at leaving power vacuums and providing weapons to the next villain so...

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The problem is letting them in. It's like the tanks and the artillery: how to get them in ? There's only three ways:  sea is blocked, russians have the control of it.  air is blocked, russians have the control of it.  land is blocked because of the massive exode on the borders of Poland, Moldavia and Romania. You can't pass anything yet there because it could potentially become a huge human target. Also physics, to get in you have to let it out.



It's blocked everywhere for now.





Edit: my English is crusty and it's too early in the morning, sorry 



Edited at 2022-03-05 05:42 am (UTC)

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Isn't Ukraine getting close to the time of year where the ground gets really muddy? It's going to be even harder for Russian tanks trying to travel through the country.

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There's footage out there of instances of this happening, but I haven't vetted yet, so I didn't want to link here. But by some accounts, yep, the mud is becoming a problem for Russian tanks.

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Yeah, I think Putin planned to invade earlier when conditions were thought to be more favourable, but Covid fucked that up.

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Covid fucked up an invasion under a Trump presidency. Suppopsedly China asked not to invade during the Olympics which fucked it up this year.

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so many policiy failures rn w/r/t russia. denying them internet?? who does that help?





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Benefits Putin and his warped view of himself as a strongman/hero. Can't have his people realising he's really just a loser bully who's stolen from them for decades.

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Someone's denying Russia internet?

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WTF Cogent? Cutting Russians off from internet access cuts them from off from sources of independent news and the ability to organize anti-war protests. Don't do Putin's dirty work for him. https://t.co/uqbgOFYWX9  Eva (@evacide) March 4, 2022

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i read that Russia is going to cut themselves off of the internet, as they did in 2019 to try it out because they want to have a domestic... internet? Have i understood correctly?

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Donnie was my fave as a kid but for obvious reasons not anymore. I guess Jordan



ETA: The song and video are really cute and everyone looks great!



Edited at 2022-03-05 07:01 pm (UTC)

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Danny is actually my fave now...my how the tides have turned!

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All I know is I have my VIP ticket for July. MY BODY IS READY, JOEY!!

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that thumbnail looks like a parody of an aging boyband, lol

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You might be on to something there.

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They were not an 80s boy band. They were 90s. Good lord.

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They were def late 80s lol but early 90s also

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The group formed in 1984. I'm over 40 now and was boppin' to them in the 80s, sooooo. \_()_/



Sorry if that makes you feel old.





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Prettttty sure I saw them perform in 1988 at Six Flags before my 8th b'day. 

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nah I'm a late 80s bb and I only knew about NKOTB because I had an older sister, they weren't a thing anymore by 1993

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They were def an 80s band but by a hair, I think they hit it big in 1988. I remember this because it was the first cd we bought and my mom like a damned Karen bragged about it to everyone that we had a cd player.

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You're probably like me and confused them with The Backstreet Boys.



IMHO interchangeably awful. Play me The Cure instead.

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They were dust by like 91.lmao

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[ Spoiler (click to open) ]













Their 1st album came out in 1986. Their biggest (8x platinum) was their 1988 album which spawned 5 top 10's and two #1' s on Billboard' s Hot 100, including "Hangin Tough". their 3rd album had the #1 "Step by step" in 1990. New Edition (without their success Maurice Starr would have never put NKOTB together) rose to fame from 83-85 with hit songs ( " Candy Girl", " Mr Telephone Man") and albums.

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My 1989 class photo disagrees.

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They look so old.



But that song is really catchy and cute. I really liked seeing Salt n' Pepa and En Vogue

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Like I told you before, I wanted more En Vogue! But the songs cute and Ill be adding it to my playlist!

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fucking BANGER

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ICONIC



but also this:





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Me singing along to this as a preteen not understanding the lyrics. Still a bop.

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i just realized they did a whole Grease thing.

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they were slightly before my time, but I did have a New Kids on the Block sleeping bag as a kid lol. this song is pretty catchy. I saw them once like 10 or more years ago because a relative of mine gave us free tickets. It was a pretty fun show. Jesse McCartney was the opening act.

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I had a beach towel as a kid and one day I was at the pool minding my business and these two teenage girls came up to me freaking out and asking me where I got it lol.

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Haha they had a lot of merch! My friend had a Fanny pack of theirs lol

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I still have my towel! It has squares with their faces in black and white.

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the song is cute, ngl

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their actual comeback album had some bangers - at least the singles at least but especially this one omfg









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Yes! Click Click Click and Twisted were my faves. They really came through with bops on that album.

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CLICK CLICK CLICK IS SOOOO GOOD... 2 in the morning also omg

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I barely know who these guys are but I was briefly into them in grade 5 when they dropped Summertime, another bop

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I barely know who these guys are but I was briefly into them in grade 5 when they dropped Summertime, another bop





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#old I can't stop cackling at this gif. I had to look up the song and saw it came out in 2008.

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It was wholesome bc my teacher was deeply amused at the fact that kids in her class were jamming to NKOTB

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WAIT YOOOOO I HAD TO READ THAT SENTENCE AGAIN!!!!! omfg the album came out my sophomore year of college 

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Oh fuck, I can't stop laughing...



God, I feel old.

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Ok i have no idea what any of the references are but its fun and cute!

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Are you that young?! am I this old?! (and yes, summertime was a bop!)

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I have tickets to that concert in July. I hope its fun!!!

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I just got my ticket for June. I've waited like 30 years to see them in concert.

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you're going to love it. I got into them in the late 2000s, and your inner kid will be on top of the world

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lisTEN to my tale of woe. I was in fifth grade and NKOTB were coming to my small town to perform. Literally EVERY girl my age except me had a ticket for the concert. My mom said that I was too young to be going to concerts and refused to get me a ticket or let any of my friends moms take me who offered to let me go along. Even a girl in 4th grade that I knew of got to go! The disrespect!



I made such a stink that my mom finally agreed to drive me down to the arena (it was outdoors) to see if if we could hear them play from outside. So there I was, in some kind of crap-ass, cream-colored station wagon desperately trying to hear the love of my life (Jordan Knight) sing. Of course we heard nothing and I went home as the only girl in my area who never got to see NKOTB. Even when I was in high school people who had never met were reminiscing over how fun the concert had been and I just had to be the loser who had no story to tell.

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I saw their last tour with Salt-N-Pepa, Naughty By Nature, Debbie Gibson, and Tiffany. Honestly the most fun I've had at any concert.

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I saw their NKOTBSB tour (backstreet boys were MY boy band after nkotb) with my sister about a decade ago and it was... the best gift I could've given the child within me. We had such a good time, and they put on shows with the same energy they did 25ish years ago. Howeverrrr after that they did a tour (I think?) with Boyz II Men and I didn't get to go and it's a huge bummer, I wish they would've done NKOTBSB2M just for me. I would've died.

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Jordan has long been my favorite.



My friend group's collective hatred of Danny is kind of an in joke with us. In fact, at one concert it was all of us plus my best friend and when they were doing something where Danny was spotlighted all of us were silent, except for my best friend. We all turned our heads and I said "we do NOT clap for Danny Wood!"



To this day, I can text them that line and we delight in the memories.



Of course, none of us actually hate Danny Wood, he's just our least favorite.

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I remember back in the day whenever you'd go to a market, all of the NKOTB merchandise would be sold out except for Danny's...it would just be aisles of his shirts, buttons, etc. lol bless his heart

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I believe it.

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Danny has the same birthday as me and the absolute embarrassment for that for 9 year old me was devastating. Everyone hated Danny.

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Sanctions on Russia are already leading to a rise in metals prices.

Asia is particularly vulnerable to the impact on commodity prices caused by the war in Ukraine.

The ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine is sending shockwaves through markets.

Many Asian economies are likely to be negatively impacted by the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict, including in the form of rising metal prices.

India, however, could be the Asian country that is most impacted.

Supply shortages, rising metal prices

Analysts are also almost unanimous that the metals and minerals that will either face supply shortage or see a price hike in Asia are nickel, copper, and iron. Russia and Ukraine are global leaders in these metals. In addition, they also lead the pack in the manufacture and export of neon, palladium and platinum.

Sanctions on Russia have already led to a rise in metal prices.

Aluminum and nickel prices have already surged to decade-high levels. The conflict has created fresh concerns over tight supply chains, which were just about recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to this report, the threat of an overall shortage of nickel, used for batteries for electric vehicles (EVs), also looms high.

Palladium is currently trading at about US$2,700 per ounce, which is up about 80% since December last. Palladium is used in automotive exhaust systems and mobile phones.

Impact on Asian economies

Analysts at the Japanese global financial services group Nomura outlined the impact of the escalating geopolitical crisis between Russia and Ukraine on Asian economies. The negative impacts on Asia are primarily because most economies are net importers of oil, Nomura explained. Nearly half of Asian consumption expenditures are on food and energy.

Indonesia, however, will benefit despite being a net importer of crude oil, the Business Standard. reported.

Indonesia is a net importer of crude oil. But the impact of higher oil prices will most probably be offset by surging prices of non-oil commodities, such as crude palm oil, coal and liquefied natural gas.

Indian steel production could face challenges

For India, the conflict could hamper steel production.

Both Russia and Ukraine are manufacturers and exporters of steel. In addition, they are suppliers of raw materials like coking coal and natural gas. Analysts say the conflict in Ukraine could affect Indian coking coal imports from Russia.

In the event that the Ukraine crisis affects the pact with Russia for mining and steel, with a particular focus on coking coal, it will pose a challenge to Indias aim of diversifying its supply chain.

In October last year, India and Russia signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for a strategic partnership in mining and steel, with a special emphasis on coking coal. The collaboration would have provided India with a pricing advantage for domestic steel producers. Furthermore, it would have assured supplies of one of the most critical inputs that accounts for 40% of the total steel production cost.

The MoU envisaged joint projects and commercial activities relating to coking coal. Those included the provision of high-quality coking coal to India over the long term. In addition, it included the development of coking coal deposits and logistics.

Today, India imports a majority of its coking coal from Australia. Australia has agreed to meet Indias demand for coking coal. Talks are also underway with Brazil and a few central Asian nations.

Nickel, aluminum impacts

Last Friday, the benchmark price of nickel on the London Metal Exchange (LME) surged to around $25,000 per ton, the highest in almost a decade.

Russia supplies about 7% of global nickel output. Furthermore, Russia accounts for 18% of Chinas nickel imports.

China, though, may not be very affected by the war because of two reasons. First, it has close strategic ties with Russia. Second, its imports from Russia mainly come in the form of nickel plates for stainless steel and alloy production, not batteries.

Global aluminum is another metal seeing impacts from the war. LME prices of aluminum have already touched the highest since 2008. Russia produces about 6% of global crude aluminum.

By AG Metal Miner

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JERUSALEM, March 5 (Xinhua) -- Israeli President Isaac Herzog will travel to Turkey next week for a state visit, the office of the presidency announced Saturday.

At the invitation of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Herzog will be in Ankara and Istanbul for two days. It would be the first Israeli president to visit Turkey since 2003.

Erdogan is a vocal critic of Israel. The two countries' relations began to sour in 2010 when a Turkish-led flotilla attempting to break Israel's blockade on the Gaza Strip clashed with Israeli forces, killing 10 Turks on board.

When Herzog entered office in July 2021, Erdogan phoned to congratulate him. The conversation "led to a resumption of dialogue between Israel and Turkey after a disconnect lasting several years," read the Israeli presidency statement.

According to the statement, the two leaders will "discuss various bilateral issues ... and the potential for expanding cooperation" during the planned visit. 
The West runs the risk of a further balkanization of the global economy if it cuts Russia from SWIFT.

Expulsion from SWIFT has long been one of the biggest weapons in the Wests arsenal, but this time around, Russia may be prepared.

The West has been quick to sanction Russian entities, but has stopped short of completely banning Russia from the SWIFT payment system.

Sanctions are intended to choke economies for decades. This week could be a sign that Russia is heading for the mire.

The intended effects of Western sanctions are already materialising.

This week, the rouble, Russias currency, collapsed around 40 per cent.

The Moscow Stock Exchange has been shuttered since Monday.

Concern about Russia being effectively frozen out of the global economy has sparked bank runs across the country.

However, for all the praise heaped on the UK, EU and US for swift action, their efforts could amount to nothing if Russia snakes past the roadblocks laid in front of them.

Swift expulsion

Expulsion from Swift has long been characterised as a heavy hitting sanction, and has prompted Russia to ready its financial defences.

Russias central bank rolled out its alternative Financial Message Transfer System (SPFS) in 2014, and the system has already been used by Russian banks to communicate with each other.

It currently boasts around 400 users made up of Russian lenders, with a smattering of Belarussian and Armenian firms who were admitted last year.

This is of course dwarfed in both quantity and reach by Swift, which has 11,000 financial institutions signed up across 200 countries and handles around $5 trillion in transactions per day  around $1.25 quadrillion dollars a year.

Payments systems existed before Swift. Banks used fax machines and telex tools to conduct transactions.

But, Swift enables lenders to move money faster and at lower cost. The banking sector is able to rapidly adapt its operations to maintain the flow of capital throughout the financial system, exhibited during the pandemic.

The intention of booting Russian banks out of Swift is to lock Russia out of global capital markets, making it more expensive for the countrys businesses, banks and central bank to borrow money.

The curbs will also shrink the number of investors willing and able to invest in Russian debt, making it harder for borrowers to find lenders.

Experts have said the Swift expulsion may result in SFPS pulling further breakaway states, or compel Russia to develop a new system altogether.

Charles Delingpole, Founder and CEO of regtech firm Comply Advantage said: In the longer term forcing Russia out of SWIFT could see a competing payments system develop to link China, Venezuela, Iran and other allied countries, adding to the financial balkanisation of the global economy.

The most likely implication of [kicking Russia out of Swift] is the sharp reduction in the number of financial transactions, without removing them all together, analysts at Goldman Sachs said.

Consumer trouble

For consumers too, Russias financial exile will have profound implications, but ones that Russia is ready to withstand.

Visa and Mastercard announced this week they would shut down access to their networks for sanctioned Russian banks, but the two payments giants gave Russia a taste of the payments freeze in 2014 when they blocked a number of lenders.

The sanctions prompted the Central Bank of Russia to roll out its Mir card payments system in response, which Russias biggest bank Sberbank began issuing cards with in 2016.

According to Russias Central Bank, the card accounts for 25 per cent of all card transactions in Russia and 32.3 percent of new card issuance.

If Mir is to fill Visa and Mastercards role, which make up around 90 per cent of payments outside China, it has some serious ground to make up.

Retaliatory strikes from Moscow

The biggest threat to Western economies resulting from spillover effects from the package of sanctions is not disruption to the financial system, but Moscow squeezing energy flows to Europe.

The Kremlin may impose restrictions on Russian energy giants trading with the West, which could prove potentially more damaging for the European economy than the direct risk of financial disintegration due to the sanctions, Goldman said.

Europe relies heavily on Moscow for gas supplies, with the blocs economic powerhouse, Germany, sucking in around 40 per cent of its gas inventories from Russia.

A scarcity of energy will curb activity in Europes industrial sector and raise costs for most businesses.

Although Britain is less reliant on Russia for energy supplies, oil and gas prices are set in European markets, meaning the cost of securing inventories will likely climb.

Investors brace for losses

Holders of Russian assets are facing the prospect of booking losses due to Russia responding to being frozen out of Swift with placing strict curbs on capital flows out of the country.

Funds invested in Russian assets have already frozen investor redemptions in a bid to minimize losses.

The Pitctet Russian Equities fund has lost around 300m, while BlackRocks BGF Emerging Markets fund has suffered similar losses.

Sanctions are intended to choke economies for decades. If this week is anything to go by, Russia is heading for the mire.

By CityAM

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This comes as China reduces state lending for infrastructure projects.

At the end of last year, China committed to boosting African imports further still.

Despite global supply chain challenges, trade between China and Africa rose to record levels in 2021. The increase partially reflects a shift in Chinese policy away from state-backed investments and towards trade and cooperation.

Data released recently by the Chinese Customs Agency show that Chinese trade with Africa increased by 35% last year, to a record high of $254bn.

This growth was largely driven by an increase in Chinese exports to the continent.

Going forward, volumes look set to continue growing, with trade constituting a key element in a joint plan released by Africa and China at the end of last year, during the meeting of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC).

FOCAC and trade

Launched in 2000, FOCAC has given rise to an ever-closer relationship between the Chinese state and the African continent, in both diplomatic and economic terms.

However, the coronavirus pandemic prompted a change in direction.

Held in Senegal in November, the 2021 FOCAC conference saw China announce a pivot away from the states role as a direct financer of African projects.

This was reflected in President Xi Jinpings pledge of $40bn to the continent  a 33% drop on the $60bn pledged at the preceding conference in 2018, and the first time that the sum committed by China every three years has decreased.

Notably, there was no concrete budget assigned to concessional lending, which has traditionally been the principal vehicle by which the Chinese state has invested in infrastructure projects.

It would seem that China envisages that trade and private investment will pick up the slack created by this downturn in state-backed funding.

The FOCAC conference also saw the launch of the 2035 Vision for China-Africa Cooperation, the first mid- to long-term cooperation plan jointly developed by the two parties.

Echoing the approach of Chinas own Vision 2035, this document lays out eight areas of cooperation, among them development, trade and industry.

In terms of trade, a key element was Chinas promise to work to close the trade gap by importing $300bn of African goods over the next three years.

This will be facilitated by the opening of green lanes for African agricultural exports, a speeding up of inspection and quarantine procedures, and a broadening of the number of products on which no tariff is charged.

This reflects a growing Chinese appetite for African products, with agricultural goods doing particularly well: between July 2020 and July 2021, exports of rubber, cotton, and coffee doubled.

Meanwhile, the second China-Africa Economic and Trade Expo took place in Changsha City, central China, in September last year, giving rise to the inking of projects worth some $22.9bn, according to government sources.

Nonetheless, $300bn in three years represents a relatively modest target, considering that in 2013 China imported $100bn of African goods, although totals have dropped since then. Furthermore, this figure is substantially less than that of imports from the EU.

Closing the infrastructure gap

Chinas reduction of state funding may be a source of concern to African governments, given the recent importance of China in developing infrastructure projects.

According to the Centre for Global Development, between 2007 and 2020 Chinas two main overseas development banks were among the three biggest lenders to the African continent.

The Export-Import Bank of China invested $20.1bn in infrastructure projects in that period, by far the highest figure. The next biggest lender was the African Development Bank (AfDB), at $4.5bn, followed by the China Development Bank, with $2.9bn.

The combined $23bn invested by the two Chinese banks is $8bn higher than the combined total of the eight other top lenders to the continent, among them the World Bank and the AfDB.

Total annual lending to Africa now stands at around $9bn annually. This is, however, still far below the amount of infrastructure funding that the continent requires.

According to estimates from the AfDB, Africas infrastructure investment needs come to $130-$170bn a year, with a financing gap of between $67.6bn and $107.5bn.

By Oxford Business Group

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KEARNEY, Neb.  When Carma Womeldorf was just 8 years old, she couldnt tell twins Allen and Alvin Edwards apart. Well, she said, exasperated. Ill just marry them both!

Thats exactly what she did.

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

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

The story begins on Feb. 23, 1931, the day Allen and Alvin were born on a farm 6 miles south of Dallas, South Dakota. Their mother told them apart by the small wart on Als left knuckle.

Like many identical twins, they developed their own language. They always dressed alike. They attended a one-room school.

We were inseparable growing up. All of my early experiences were as we, not I, Al said. That included meeting Victoria Carma Womeldorf, known as Carma, in Sunday school when they were 5 years old.

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

Carma was the only girl Allen ever dated. Their romance began in 1945, when Allen was a high school freshman, but Al often tagged along on their outings.

Wed ride in the pickup. Shed sit between us and listen as the two of us talked, Al said.

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

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

Al, then stationed with the Marines in California, had a strange feeling that afternoon and declined an invitation to go off base with friends that evening.

I waited in the barracks, where I received the call that Allen had passed away, he recalled. Within six months, Carma had lost her husband, her father and her grandmother.

A new life

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

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

He then joined Dr. Harold Seversons animal clinic in Winner, South Dakota, just 26 miles from where he had grown up. But within a few years, he was eager to establish his own practice.

The Marine Corps had given me backbone. Im a tough Swede. I wanted to be on my own, he said.

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

I bought a Super Cub in Ainsworth. I had just two lessons, but I had flown quite a bit with a friend, he said. His first landing strip was on an 18-acre alfalfa field next to his clinic.

I had clients 50 miles away across the Niobrara River. Id put skis on the plane in the winter so I could land on the Sandhills, he said.

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

Life was busy. He built an indoor arena because his children were active barrel racers who showed calves and horses at 4-H events. He wrote for a veterinary journal and spoke all over the Midwest. Initially, he turned down a job offer from Kansas State.

I was having too much fun. I loved to fly, and we were getting busier. I had two people working for me, he said.

After 13 years in Ainsworth, he accepted a job at Kansas States veterinary college. He taught while earning a doctorate in veterinary pathology. His research earned him an invitation to speak to the World Veterinary Congress. Carma went along. Al said, I dont leave home without her.

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

Al traveled extensively as part of his job, but never alone. Carma always went with him.

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

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

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

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

Alzheimers intrudes

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

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

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

He is grateful that he was able to keep her in their apartment as she declined.

I had friends who lost their wives, and for the last two years, they could see them just once a week in another facility. That just tore them up. We were all here, he said.

Their love was so amazing, daughter Janice Powell said.

Added daughter Linda Edwards, They will go on being a pair forever, like Romeo and Juliet.
The female mountain lion was wearing a radio collar, and her behavior in northwest Nebraska in 2018 was telling a story.

State biologists tracking her movements  and watching her repeatedly returning to the same area  could tell that she was building a den, that she was expecting.

And that August, in the Pine Ridge area near Chadron, they found her two kittens. They collected DNA samples and  because the animals were too small to be collared  they attached yellow ear tags.

The kitten wearing tag NE 78 grew up and, like most young males, set off, searching for a mate and his own territory.

Mountain lions leaving northwest Nebraska and the Niobrara River Valley often make the news when they head south and east, and are tracked in Norfolk, hit by cars near Fullerton and Arlington, or captured by trail cams and shot by poachers on the edges of Lincoln  all of which happened in the past six months.

But not all of them go south and east.

They can go in any direction, said Sam Wilson, furbearer and carnivore manager for the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission. They all dont go in the same direction.

Barbed-wire fences dont stop Nebraska cats from crossing the borders into South Dakota and Wyoming, and lions from those states visit Nebraska, Wilson said.

Its likely always been the case that males born in Nebraska travel hundreds of miles and that might take them out of state. We get lots of back and forth.

NE 78 headed north at some point, and he kept going. He crossed Interstate 90 and put the Black Hills behind him. He walked more than 250 miles, ending up near Ekalaka, Montana, in that states southeast corner.

Wilson knows this because his office was contacted last month by a biologist at the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks. NE 78 had been killed during Montanas hunting season, and officials there could tell by its ear tag that it was a Nebraska native.

That was a first for Nebraska  its mountain lions have been killed in neighboring states, but never in one more than a state away, Wilson said.

Still, its life and death dont add much to what his office knows about mountain lions. Without a radio collar, it has no idea how the 3-year-old ended up near Ekalaka, no path of its travels.

We have one piece of data, where the kitten was tagged, and they have one piece of data, where it was harvested. And thats the only thing we can learn from it.

It was also a first for Montana. Officials there have long suspected lions from other states  particularly the nearby Dakotas  have moved into the area. But the tagged lion confirmed that, said Emily Mitchell, a Montana wildlife biologist.

And thats important, she said, because it maintains biodiversity in the population.

Its good to see that lions are coming in.
An Omaha man was sentenced to federal prison for producing and selling 3D-printed devices that convert a semiautomatic pistol into an automatic firearm.

Riley Griffy, 29, was sentenced on Friday to four years and nine months in federal prison.

Griffy used a 3D printer to produce illegal devices known as Glock switches or converter switches, small attachments that convert a semiautomatic Glock pistol into an automatic weapon capable of firing five rounds of ammunition with a single pull of the trigger, according to a plea agreement.

U.S. Attorney Jan Sharp said in a press release that the attachment itself is considered a machine gun under federal law.

In April, Griffy sold a converter switch to a confidential informant. He continued to produce and sell the attachments until he was arrested in June. In total, he manufactured and sold nine conversion devices and one silencer, according to the press release.

Griffy was indicted on charges of unlawful possession of a machine gun, possession of an unregistered machine gun and evidence tampering, according to a court document. He accepted a plea deal and pled guilty to one count of unlawful possession.

There is no parole in the federal system. After completing his prison term, Griffy will begin a three-year term of supervised release, according to the press release.

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The quiet tension in the Douglas County courtroom erupted Friday in the courthouse halls.

Seconds after Douglas County District Judge Marlon Polk sentenced Jessie Sullivan to 65 years in prison for fatally shooting Charles Fisher, Sullivans relative by marriage, Fishers family began to react. Polk explained that due to state sentencing laws, Sullivan would serve 35 years in prison.

Thirty-five years, thats a life for a life, said Fishers older sister, Tasha Fisher.

That aint no (expletive) life, another relative responded.

And after the roughly dozen attendees from both sides filed quietly out of the courtroom, Fishers oldest brother erupted in anger and had to be escorted out by numerous Douglas County sheriffs deputies.

Thirty-five?! he yelled repeatedly. That aint enough!

Sullivan killed 32-year-old Charles Fisher on Dec. 20, 2020, after years of infighting between the two.

Authorities have said Sullivans sister, Donna Sullivan, called Sullivan and Sullivans girlfriend, Ciera Johnson, after a disagreement with Fisher, her former brother-in-law. At the time, Donna Sullivan was married to one of Fishers brothers, but they have since gotten a divorce.

Johnson drove the siblings to look for Fisher and then followed him when they spotted him driving in another car. Jessie Sullivan shot at Fisher, who crashed his car near 58th Street and Ames Avenue.

Sullivan initially was charged with first-degree murder and four other charges.

In January, he pleaded no contest to second-degree murder and a firearm charge. The other charges were dropped in the plea deal.

He knew he was going to take someones life when he took the gun down there, Tasha Fisher said after the hearing.

In court, Jessie Sullivan apologized to Fishers mother and the family and said he takes responsibility for his actions.

Tasha Fisher said, however, that the dispute between families has continued and Sullivan has not been truly forthright or sorry. Prosecutor John Alagaban said that in the presentence investigation report on Sullivan, Sullivan uses the word remorse but also talks about acknowledging that he is in trouble and he wants to get out.

Hes not remorseful, Tasha Fisher said, adding that she wished the sentence would have been life in prison but that it was fair. I dont think hell be rehabilitated.

Fisher said her brother was a great father  he had two daughters and a son, ages 15, 11 and 3 years old  and a provider for the entire family.

He could light up a room and is truly missed, she said.

Donna Sullivan, 31, and Johnson, 29, still are awaiting trial on an accessory to a felony charge.

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The University of Nebraska Board of Regents decision last month to eliminate the philosophy major at the University of Nebraska at Kearney falls in line with a trend that has been seen across the country.

Steven Volk, the co-director of the Consortium on Teaching and Learning with Great Lakes Colleges Association  an association of more than a dozen liberal arts colleges in Indiana, Michigan, Ohio and Pennsylvania  noted that the percentage of humanities degrees has been declining since the early 2000s and especially since 2012.

Volk, who is a professor of history emeritus at Oberlin College in Ohio, noted that less than 10% of all undergraduate degrees in 2020 were in the humanities. He added thats down by about 25% since 2012.

Were seeing particularly sharp declines in four major areas. That would be in history, English, philosophy and art history, he said.

The online publication Inside Higher Ed noted that Liberty University, Western Oregon University and Elizabethtown College have dropped philosophy as a major in recent years.

The impending elimination of the major elicited a passionate response during public comments before the regents Feb. 11 vote. About half a dozen people, including Thomas Martin, a UNK philosophy professor, spoke against the move.

Martin, who wrote an op-ed in The World-Herald after the vote, argued that the boards decision to eliminate the bachelor of arts degree in philosophy is further evidence of academia devaluing the humanities in favor of workforce development.

In his op-ed, Martin said the number of credit hours a UNK undergraduate student must take in humanities courses has decreased from nine to three  the equivalent of one class.

To Martin, the de-emphasis on humanities courses makes for a servile future workforce that will not be conditioned to understand what it means to be human and navigate life and relationships accordingly. That, he said, puts the state and the nation on a path akin to perhaps the United States greatest historical rival.

Were moving towards an education that the Soviet Union would have been proud of, he told The World-Herald. The student simply becomes a worker.  (Its) all about careers, careers, careers. Youve learned a means of life, but you dont know what the ends of life are.

The elimination of the philosophy major at UNK came down to the small number of graduates the program produced, said Charles Bicak, UNKs senior vice chancellor for academic and student affairs. According to documents provided to the regents, philosophy coursework will continue and a minor will still be offered.

Its a decision that comes  not without great thought, consideration and effort at improvement, Bicak said.

Bicak added that current philosophy majors will be able to complete their degrees.

At the regents meeting, NU President Ted Carter said UNK produced a five-year mean of 1.6 philosophy degrees. That number falls well short of the minimum mean of seven degrees as specified by Nebraskas Coordinating Commission for Postsecondary Education (CCPE).

Some exceptions are in place for degrees that dont meet that criteria to remain viable at their respective universities, said Michael Baumgartner, CCPEs executive director. Those include whether the program meets a unique need in the state or region, whether it provides access to underserved populations and whether an interdisciplinary program is critical to the role and mission of the institution.

But with the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and the University of Nebraska at Omaha also offering bachelors degrees in philosophy, the UNK philosophy program didnt enjoy those protections.

Over the past five years, UNL has added liberal arts majors such as emerging media arts and acting while eliminating other majors such as classical languages and medieval and Renaissance studies. It also has added and eliminated various majors outside of liberal arts in that time frame, although most of the added majors appear to be outside of the liberal arts spectrum.

The Nebraska State College System  which consists of Chadron State College, Peru State College and Wayne State College  actually has added four philosophy courses since 2012 for a total of 23 courses.

Jodi Kupper, vice chancellor for academic planning and partnerships for the state college system, noted that while philosophy is offered only as a minor at member schools, students can combine those courses with other liberal arts courses in pursuit of an interdisciplinary/liberal arts degree. The state college system has awarded a five-year mean of 49 degrees in that field.

Volk, with the Great Lakes Colleges Association, advocates integrating the moral and ethical questions posed by humanities courses such as philosophy into such programs as engineering and business.

My way of thinking about this: How do we build much more integrated higher education futures that both connect to careers and employment but that (also) connect to humanity and the ethical issues that humans face within those fields? he said. That, I think, is a much more successful way than saying we have to have a philosophy major because its necessary.

I would say we have to have philosophy because its necessary, he said. But it needs to be in every field and not just in philosophy."

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ADDIS ABABA, March 5 (Xinhua) -- Ethiopia has established a national committee to repatriate hundreds of thousands of nationals currently residing in Saudi Arabia, an Ethiopian official said on Saturday.

Dina Mufti, Spokesman, Ethiopia Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said a national committee headed by Demeke Mekonen, Ethiopia Deputy Prime Minister and acting Foreign Minister, has been established to repatriate and rehabilitate citizens living in difficult conditions in the middle eastern country, reported state media outlet Ethiopia Broadcasting Corporation.

"This committee's main purpose is returning home our people from Saudi Arabia in a short period of time and then resettling them in their respective home areas," Mufti said.

Mufti further said the national committee has various sub-entities in it, tasked with the successful execution of repatriation and resettlement of Ethiopian nationals currently living in Saudi Arabia.

Among the sub-entities in the national committee are the Ethiopia National Disaster Risk Management Commission, the Ethiopia Women and Social Affairs Ministry, the Ethiopia Labor and Skills Ministry and the Ethiopia Ministry of Health.

The Ethiopian government estimates there are currently about 750,000 Ethiopians living in Saudi Arabia of whom 450,000 are suspected to reside in the country without proper legal documents.

It is estimated that tens of thousands of Ethiopians are trafficked to Saudi Arabia as well as various other countries annually, where they are mainly engaged in the informal economy. 
Former Wahoo Police Chief Bruce Ferrell abruptly resigned in November after he was caught having sex with a Wahoo resident, two law enforcement officials say.

The way he was caught, according to the sources? His bodycam was recording.

Now Ferrell, who became Wahoos police chief after retiring from the Omaha Police Department, is under investigation by the Nebraska State Patrol, the sources said.

Asked a series of questions Friday  including why he resigned and whether he attempted to have the body camera footage deleted  Ferrell said: Im not gonna comment. He gave the same response when asked if he had an attorney.

Ferrell abruptly resigned Nov. 11 without giving notice. In an interview less than a week later, he told the Lincoln Journal Star that it was just time.

Nothing nefarious, Ferrell told the Lincoln paper. No smoke, no mirrors  nothing at all.

Turns out, there was a mirror, of sorts.

The bodycam footage showed Ferrell, partially clothed in his Wahoo police uniform, having sex with the woman who had called police about an estranged boyfriend, the sources told The World-Herald.

The patrol investigation is looking into whether the woman consented to the sexual activity or felt that she had the choice of whether she could consent. One of the sources said the woman has suggested that the sex with Ferrell was consensual.

Nebraska State Patrol spokesman Cody Thomas confirmed that an investigation of Ferrell is ongoing but declined to specify the nature of the investigation. He said results will be forwarded to Nebraska Attorney General Doug Petersons office to determine whether charges will be filed.

Other states have laws that make it illegal for an officer to have sex with a person while on duty, regardless of consent. The closest thing Nebraska has to such a law is a statute that makes it a felony for a jailer or prison guard to have sex with an inmate.

That prison ban and the other states bans on officers having sex while on duty operate under a simple principle: that a person may not think they have a choice of whether they can consent to an officer wearing a badge and/or a gun.

Nebraska prosecutors have charged officers before under normal first-degree sexual assault statutes. In a 2005 case, an Omaha police officer was convicted of first-degree sexual assault after he made a prostitute perform oral sex on him in his cruiser.

Absent a sexual assault charge in this case, Ferrell could face a felony charge of tampering with evidence, one of the sources said. A source alleged Ferrell deleted or attempted to delete the bodycam footage.

Authorities were able to preserve it. Under state law, any agency that has bodycams is required to keep the footage for at least 90 days.

Ferrell also is being investigated over his activity following up on the Wahoo womans claims that she was abused. A source said he hounded the man accused of the abuse.

Wahoo City Administrator Melissa Harrell declined to answer questions about the investigation into Ferrell, referring queries to the State Patrol. At the time of his resignation, she told the Journal Star that officials didnt have any indication Ferrell planned to resign before he did so, effective the same day, Nov. 11. In fact, she said, the city didnt receive his letter of resignation until the day after his departure due to the Veterans Day holiday.

The investigation into Ferrell is the second in a year involving a member of the Wahoo Police Departments upper brass. Wahoo, a city of about 4,800 people 40 miles west of Omaha, has a police force of about half a dozen officers.

Last year, Sean Vilmont, 51, was charged with two felony counts of sexual assault by touching and one felony count of unlawful intrusion after allegations were made of ongoing abuse of a preteen girl. Vilmont has pleaded not guilty and is awaiting a hearing.

Ferrell had promoted Vilmont to lieutenant in summer 2019.

Before Ferrell became police chief in Wahoo in February 2018, he worked for 23 years as an Omaha police officer. On the Omaha police force, he was one of the leading gang unit investigators and headed up national and regional coalitions of gang detectives. He later served as an investigator for Bellevue police and as a part-time officer in Valley.

Wahoo suspended its use of bodycams in January 2017 because then-Police Chief Ken Jackson said it was too expensive to meet the states requirements for storing the footage.

In May 2019, Ferrell went to the Wahoo City Council and discussed re-implementing the use of body cameras by the department, according to minutes of the meeting.

In turn, City Council members unanimously reinstated bodycams for Ferrell and each of his officers.

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KUALA LUMPUR, March 5 (Xinhua) -- The close cooperation between China and Malaysia in vaccine production bodes well for COVID-19 vaccine supply for Malaysia and the region, said drugmakers working on finalizing the localized fill and finish for Chinese company CanSino Biologics' COVID-19 vaccine.

The single-dose vaccine, based on the adenovirus platform, will complement other Chinese vaccines being used in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), especially as booster shots, Malaysian pharmaceutical company Solution Biologics deputy group managing director Mohd Nazlee Kamal told Xinhua in a recent interview.

Mohd Nazlee said it will be possible to fill and finish some 3 to 6 million doses of vaccines per month when production starts, with Solution Biologics aiming to work hand in hand with CanSino to tap into the ASEAN market and the world market as well.

Malaysia approved the use of the CanSino COVID-19 vaccine in June last year, adding it to its vaccine portfolio alongside Sinovac COVID-19 vaccine and Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccine.

In February, Solution Biologics received good manufacturing practices approval from the National Pharmaceutical Regulatory Agency to formulate and locally fill and finish the CanSino COVID-19 vaccine.

Several countries in ASEAN also use Chinese developed vaccines as part of their national immunization programs, including Indonesia, Thailand, Cambodia and the Philippines.

CanSino Biologics external R&D Vice President Xin Chunlin said both the injectable CanSino vaccine and its inhaled form, which is undergoing trials, would allow a more efficient vaccination for the public.

He said the inhaled form of the vaccine is more flexible, using one-fifth of the formulation of the injectable version, and can stay stable for almost a month under room temperature.

Xin, together with Wang Hongyi, vice president of CanSino's international business, has visited several countries including Mexico, Pakistan, Malaysia and Indonesia, countries which Wang said were eager to cooperate with China in obtaining the technology.

Elaborating on the significance of localized fill-and-finish production of adenovirus-based vaccines in Malaysia, Genome and Vaccine Institute director Ghows Azzam said the move would be a game-changer for Malaysia, which is seeking to develop and manufacture its own vaccines.

Ghows said the close cooperation between China and Malaysia has facilitated the country in building up its vaccine capacity.

"The support from the government and of course, the good relationship with the Chinese government will definitely help us to catalyze our innovation in vaccine development," he said. 
Emotions ran high during a meeting of the Nebraska State Board of Education on Friday as the board appeared to move closer to reviving the controversial health education standards.

Board members voted 6-1 to draft a policy that, if adopted, would express the boards intent to develop academic standards in all subject matter areas, including health.

The vote was the clearest indication yet that the board intends to revive the standards development, but how quickly that would happen is not clear.

Last fall, the board indicated it could bring them back after considering the state of the pandemic, the needs of children, schools and communities, and the readiness of local school stakeholders.

The drafting of the policy was among several steps recommended by a board committee that examined the states standards-writing process after the failed attempt at writing health standards last year.

The committee recommended defining what the boards role is in writing standards and hiring a consultant who will review the process used by the Nebraska Department of Education and suggest improvements.

Several board members have suggested that the failure of the standards was due, in part, to problems with the process. A state study found that 90% of the public input on the initial draft standards was opposed.

Board member Lisa Fricke said the steps the board is taking are so that failed process doesnt happen again.

Board member Kirk Penner voted against drafting the policy, saying it would lead to a revival of the standards he opposes.

Youre going to write them if this is approved, he said.

The initial draft of the standards proposed a year ago was praised by advocates of LGBTQ youths as inclusive. The standards contained language recognizing diverse family structures, gender identities and sexual orientations. Most of those references were stripped in a second draft, but the revised standards remained controversial, and the board postponed them indefinitely Sept. 3.

State law does not mandate that the Education Department write health standards, as it does with math and language arts, for instance. Without a mandate, any health standards adopted by the board would only be a recommendation for local schools.

Penner compared the draft standards to the so-called fairness ordinance thats created a backlash in Lincoln, saying the standards would put kids at risk and annihilate Title IX protections for women.

The Lincoln ordinance extends discrimination protections to include sexual orientation and gender expression, but critics have argued the ordinance, among other things, opens up bathrooms and locker rooms to those who identify as transgender.

Since youre teaching these ideas, the door is going to be literally open for grown men and boys who identify as females to use girls locker rooms and bathrooms, Penner said.

Supporters of the ordinance have argued that opponents have mischaracterized the ordinance, which they say puts protections spelled out in a U.S. Supreme Court ruling into local code.

The Lincoln Journal Star reported this past week that opponents gathered more than four times the necessary number of signatures to put the fairness ordinance before voters. The signatures must be verified before it can go before voters.

Im the one voice here, Penner said Friday. And Im here to protect our daughters, our sons, our granddaughters and grandsons.

Board member Deborah Neary, who has supported creation of health standards, said she wants Nebraska youths to be competitive on a national stage, to have all the skills to be able to work with all different kinds of people and to be able to do it in a respectful way.

I understand you have very strong advocacy positions for your children and grandchildren, Neary said to Penner. We also have a moral imperative to be thinking about all of the children in our state ...

Penner responded that he would protect anybodys daughter and granddaughter.

Im trying to protect women. Im not getting any support, he said.

Board member Jacquelyn Morrison responded, saying: Please, please, please do not insinuate that the women around this table do not stand up for girls and children.

Morrison said shes always been an advocate for women and children.

During public meetings on the proposed standards, she said, the board heard testimony from a lot of brave women and girls.

I had students email me privately about why they supported these standards and where we are today on the standards, she said.

Board member Patti Gubbels was absent from Fridays meeting.

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US gas prices are surging at pace drivers haven't seen since Hurricane Katrina in 2005.

The national average price for a gallon of regular gas stood at $3.84 a gallon Friday, according to AAA. That is the highest price since September 2012 and 11 cents higher than Thursday.

Gas prices have soared 18 cents since Wednesday and 29 cents since Russia's invasion of Ukraine eight days ago. Each of those increases marks the largest price hikes since Hurricane Katrina slammed into the US Gulf Coast in 2005, devastating the nation's oil and gas industry, according to the Oil Price Information Service, which collects data from 140,000 gas stations nationwide for AAA's price averages.

With prices rising so rapidly, a national average of $4 a gallon, as well as the record $4.11 set in 2008, will probably be reached soon.

"This is not the end of it. We're already up another 14 cents on wholesale gas prices this morning," said Tom Kloza, global head of energy analysis for OPIS. He said the wholesale gas price increases are likely to be passed onto consumers in short order.

"It's absolutely out of control," he said.

The average price a year ago was $2.75 a gallon, as prices were still recovering from the plunge that occurred early in the pandemic. Stay-at-home orders and business shutdowns slashed demand for gasoline.

The average household uses about 90 gallons a month, said Kloza, so a $1.09 increase in gas prices costs that household about $98 a month, or just less than $1,200 over the course of a year.

Kloza said he could see the average price rising to a new record of between $4.25 to $4.50 a gallon. He said the rapid rise in the price of gas is making a particularly strong impression on the public, compared to a slow but steady increase in prices.

"When you get increases this quick, and this dramatic, you really scald the public," he said.

California's statewide average jumped 13 cents overnight to $5.07 a gallon, making it the first state ever to have a average price above $5 a gallon.

There are now nine states -- California, Hawaii, Nevada, Oregon, Washington, Alaska, Illinois, New York and Pennsylvania, where the average price is already over $4 a gallon, with New York and Pennsylvania crossing the $4 mark with the latest reading.

Two more states -- Arizona and Connecticut, as well as Washington, DC, are only pennies away from that $4 average.

The average price of a gallon of diesel is now $4.26 a gallon. It hit $4 this past weekend. While relatively few US passenger cars use diesel, virtually all large trucks depend on it. And most trucking companies have a schedule of fuel surcharges that are based on average prices, meaning that the cost of transporting almost all goods is increasing for businesses, a cost increase that is also likely to be passed onto consumers in the form of higher prices.

The sanctions placed on Russia's economy following its invasion of Ukraine have so far exempted Russian oil exports. But traders have been reluctant to purchase Russian oil due to uncertainty about being able to close the transaction with the limits on the Russian banking sector, as well as concerns about finding oil tankers willing to to call on Russian ports to load any oil purchased.

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Each week The Pantagraph profiles a different community member. Know someone we should talk to? Email kheather@pantagraph.com.

Name: Mary Tackett

Position: Executive director at Western Avenue Community Center

1. What do you do in your role at the Western Avenue Community Center?

I am the executive director at Western Avenue Community Center, 600 N. Western Ave., Bloomington. WACC has been a place of hope, love and safety for the Bloomington-Normal community for 95 years. WACC provides individuals and families access to food, fitness classes and recreation programs that help to support meaningful relationships, educational opportunities, and provide information and support to navigate the Bloomington-Normal community.

2. What youth programs does the organization conduct?

We provide childcare, recreational and educational opportunities through our Teen Club, After School Club and Sisters By Chance Program.

Teen Club is held on Monday nights and the participants can come to the center to play in the gym, socialize, complete art projects and receive a free meal.

Our After School Club is for fifth- through eighth-grade students. After School Club participants receive tutoring and homework help from Illinois State University and Illinois Wesleyan students as well opportunities to go on field trips and participate in art and recreational activities.

Sisters By Chance is an empowerment program for eighth-grade girls. The girls meet once a week and work on social/emotional and career readiness skills. The girls have worked with Bloomington-Normal's Soroptimist International Chapter as well as Illinois State's School of Technology and Information.

An ESL (English as a second language) Kindermusik class will also be held for children ages 5 and younger. Kindermusik leads children through playful, interactive and developmentally appropriate music and movement activities.

3. Are there programs for seniors?

We provide recreational activities that work to minimize isolation for our senior citizen community and other community members who may lack resources to participate in traditional extracurricular activities or organizations that have a membership cost. We host movie days, exercise classes, bingo and card games, dinner dances and fitness classes.

Our senior activities provide a safe place for our seniors to go, as well as opportunities for them to socialize. We also have activities for the seniors in our Hispanic community. We hosted a loteria event. Loteria is a game like bingo, but uses images on a deck of cards instead of numbered ping pong balls. We have also partnered with Community Care Systems Inc. to support senior citizens and senior citizens with disabilities to navigate insurance, Medicare and Medicaid paperwork.

4. What other programs do you have?

Our Hispanic Outreach Program supports and provides assistance to the Hispanic and immigrant community. The program provides assistance to anyone lacking the cultural, linguistic or social capital to navigate the Bloomington-Normal area. We provide free bilingual family counseling for individuals, families, couples or children. These bilingual services eliminate the language barrier for individuals with limited English skills, the financial barrier for families that do not have insurance, as well as the access barrier, as our counselor will meet with families in their homes and in the evenings.

We also provide interpretation and translation services in American Sign Language, French and Spanish. We have partnered with Heartland Community College to provide adult ESL classes.

We support the community by providing a free computer lab where clients can search the internet, print and/or create documents for school or work.

We have also partnered with the Tinervin Family Foundation to provide nonperishable food boxes to the community to combat food insecurity.

5. Why is this work important?

Our clients often lack a variety of resources (transportation, income, child care, food, language skills), and our programs work to remove barriers and meet individual and family needs. Our programs have been vital in supporting the community.

Western Avenue promotes health equity by promoting access. Almost all of our services are free, which means they are easily accessible to our community no matter their financial situation, race, age or gender. Additionally, five out of our nine staff are bilingual in order to assure that individuals who speak Spanish or who are deaf have a place to safely communicate and receive resources that will support their physical, mental and emotional health.

According to the McLean County Health Assessment, west of Main Street in Bloomington is considered a food desert. Our food program assures that residents on the west side, regardless of race, gender or socioeconomic status, receive food. We have even delivered food to those isolated due to COVID.

In 2021, we gave out 3,309 nonperishable food boxes to individuals struggling with food insecurity. We have provided translation services to 1,164 clients as well as 1,1417 service appointments from our Hispanic Outreach Program. We provided mental health services via counseling to 67 clients including families, children and couples. We hosted educational and recreational programs for over 100 children and teens as well as health and recreation programs for approximately 70 senior citizens, including individuals from the deaf and Spanish-speaking communities.

Volunteers can help in a variety of ways. We always need help setting up and taking down at our fundraising events or social events like senior dinner dances. Volunteers are more than welcome to come to senior recreation events like bingo and the dinner dances to interact with the participants. We think it would be beneficial to have professionals in the community come to the center to talk to and share their experiences with the children and teens in our programs. We can also use the help of volunteers to unload and store the food boxes we use for our food program.

Contact Kade Heather at 309-820-3256. Follow him on Twitter: @kadeheather

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BLOOMINGTON  A trial date has been set for a Bloomington doctor accused of sexual assault, but a McLean County judge is weighing a motion that would limit a defense attorney from using evidence that he says shows a history of exploitation by the accuser.

This is something that she has done in the past; this isnt new to her, said Peter Wise, defense attorney for Shaun Kink, an orthopedic surgeon accused of sexually assaulting and abusing a patient. She has seized opportunities to exploit situations for money in the past. Thats what shes doing in this situation.

Kink, 38, was arrested and charged in January 2020 with aggravated criminal sexual assault criminal sexual assault, aggravated sexual abuse and criminal sexual abuse, charges that involve a physically disabled patient. He has pleaded not guilty.

At that time, he was employed at McLean County Orthopedics. Two weeks later a statement from the clinic said he was no longer a member of the staff.

According to an emergency order of protection issued Jan. 3, 2020, the patient, who is an adult woman, said Kink sexually assaulted her in her home on Dec. 6, 2019. Kink allegedly came to her home, helped her back to a couch and assaulted her.

Wise called the incident that led to the charges consensual and argued Friday the woman named in this case has a financial motive that will affect her testimony, noting she has filed a lawsuit related to this incident.

The defense attorney said presenting evidence that she exploits situations of her own making to get money would corroborate to the jury that is why she pursued charges in this case.

Wise said the evidence he wants to present is related to an incident in which the womans landlord gave her a credit card to fix up a residence but she used it to spend money on other things.

Assistant States Attorney Mary Koll said she objects to that line of questioning, calling such evidence improper and legally irrelevant.

She noted a rule allows for cross-examination to call attention to interest, bias or motive of a witness that would influence her testimony, and as this case is about the credibility of (the accuser), defense counsel can question her on those issues as they relate to this case.

However, the rule that allows cross-examination on issues of bias, motive and interest of a witness does not allow open season on witnesses on anything they have done that someone may think is improper in the past, Koll said, adding the defenses intent was to use this evidence as character evidence to make the woman look like a bad person.

It has absolutely nothing to do with this case and it has nothing to do with any bias, interest of (the woman) as she sits on the stand and testifies in this case, she said.

Related to other evidence, Wise agreed he would not cross-examine the woman about her opportunistic exploitation of another man who is now deceased.

Judge Casey Costigan said he needed additional time and would give a written ruling before Kink is due back in court.

A final pretrial hearing was scheduled for 11 a.m. June 9 and Kinks jury trial is expected to begin June 21.

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

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SPRINGFIELD  Sophia Faye Davis loved to eat noodles. She slept with a stuffed hippo that made soothing sounds and reflected stars on her ceiling. She sang and danced as she pounded on the keys of her toy piano.

These are the memories of her only child that Cassy Needham clings to  not the final month of Sophias life that was filled with child abuse allegations, failed investigations and ignored pleas for help that ended with a beating so severe the tiny, blonde, blue-eyed 19-month-old wouldnt survive it.

Sophia died Feb. 8.

Sophias fathers girlfriend Cierra Coker is charged in Logan County with first-degree murder and aggravated battery to a child, accused of beating the toddler to death.

But a month before she died, Needham reported her concerns that her baby was being abused to the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services. But DCFS did not intervene, Needham said. As of Friday, the investigation into those claims remains open.

On Jan. 2, Needham picked up her daughter from an overnight visit with the infants father and was shocked by the condition of her daughter.

Needham found scratches on her head, a black eye, cuts on her mouth, bruises on her face, and what appeared to be friction burns on her face. Sophia wasnt moving her left arm so Needham took her to HSHS St. Johns Hospital in Springfield. It was broken.

The doctor there told me they suspected child abuse and called DCFS, Needham said.

An investigation was opened and a DCFS worker came to her house the next day and asked to see Sophia, Needham said. She also checked Needhams home to ensure it was safe and Sophia had the essentials.

Another worker went to Sophias fathers home and spoke with the father and his girlfriend, Coker. It was relayed to Needham that Coker told the investigator that Sophia was injured accidently by other children in the home.

Her story kept changing, though. I was just very nervous about sending her back there, Needham said.

The investigator told Needham that she was going to unfound the case, meaning they would find the allegations not credible. Sophias father was ready to see her again.

I asked if we could put a safety plan in place, but DCFS told me that they were going to unfound the case, Needham said.

Facing pressure from Sophias father to resume visitation, Needham agreed to let him take Sophia for the night on Feb. 5.

The next afternoon, Needham received a call from Coker, telling her that Sophia was having trouble breathing and bleeding from her mouth.

I told her to call 911. I told her something was wrong, Needham said.

Eventually, Needham reached out herself to get help for her daughter. Paramedics arrived at the apartment in Lincoln that Coker shared with Sophias father. Emergency medical technicians transferred the baby to the hospital in Lincoln, but due to her serious condition she was airlifted to HSHS St. Johns Hospital in Springfield.

But it was too late, Needham said.

Sophia died Feb. 8. An autopsy would find that she died as a result of a traumatic brain injury, due to blunt force injuries of the head.

The DCFS investigation into the abuse allegations remains open.

Sophias the third child in as many months to die after reports of abuse or neglect. DCFS Director Marc Smith has been held in contempt six times so far this year for failing put children under the states care in proper placements. A DCFS investigator was murdered when checking on the welfare of six children.

The legislature has held hearings, but reform doesnt mean anything to Needham.

None of this should have happened. I did everything I could to protect her and the system failed me, Needham said.

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CHICAGO - A federal judge has dismissed Chicago radio host Melissa McGurrens defamation lawsuit against her former employer, Hubbard Radio Chicago, whom she alleged falsely branded her a liar while responding to her harassment claims against former co-host Eric Ferguson.

McGurren brought the $10 million claim in October in response to an email in which the company told staff it had thoroughly investigated her U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission complaint against Ferguson and did not agree with Melissas characterization of events.

McGurren alleged the statement attacked her credibility and integrity and that a thorough review was never conducted or, at a minimum, was a sham investigation, according to her lawsuit.

In his recent written ruling, Judge Ronald Guzman found Hubbard vice president Jeff Englands comments were non-actionable statements of opinion and did not fall into any of the five categories that Illinois law deems to be defamatory.

The judge granted Hubbards motion to dismiss McGurrens lawsuit on March 1. Her attorney, Carmen D. Caruso, said in a statement he is disappointed in the courts ruling and is reviewing the path forward. And we are confident of our clients underlying claims against Hubbard and look forward to our hearing in arbitration.

Attorneys for Hubbard, meanwhile, quickly seized on the ruling as a victory. On Friday, they asked another federal judge presiding over an earlier defamation lawsuit against Hubbard to adopt Guzmans reasoning and dismiss that claim as well.

In that earlier federal lawsuit, former assistant producer Cynthia DeNicolo alleged Hubbard defamed her in statements that it found no evidence to corroborate allegations of illegal workplace conduct after she accused Ferguson of coercing her into sexual acts in 2004.

DeNicolo also has filed a separate lawsuit against Ferguson in Cook County court. Ferguson was sidelined from the morning program he led for 25 years in late October, shortly after the Tribune reported that DeNicolo had sued him earlier in the year.

More allegations against Ferguson followed from three other women who used to work at The Mix, including McGurren, who said in court filings she left the show after Ferguson created an unbearably hostile work environment. She and the other women allege management protected him because of his popularity.

Ferguson has not spoken publicly about the allegations, but through his lawyers and in legal filings he has denied inappropriate workplace conduct.

Station management initially said Ferguson would be off the air through October. Then, in late October, a statement from Ferguson was circulated to station employees announcing he planned to step away from the show and felt confident that at the end of the day the courts will rule and the right outcome will prevail.

WTMX afternoon host Chris Petlak succeeded Ferguson as host of the morning show in January.

DeNicolo contends Ferguson orchestrated her dismissal in May 2020 using COVID-19 as a pretext. Her suit against Ferguson states that in 2004 she stopped providing oral sex in response to his demands, for which he allegedly used the code words I need a backrub. She said Ferguson taunted her with the phrase throughout her tenure at the station.

In her federal defamation claim, DeNicolo included a written statement from a former sales employee who said Ferguson groped the employee at WTMXs 2003 Christmas party in full view of her husband and co-workers.

McGurren worked for The Mix for more than two decades. Her abrupt departure from the airwaves stunned her fans in December 2020. When she left, Hubbard said in a public statement it was surprised and disappointed she had declined a contract extension  a comment McGurren disputes.

In court filings, McGurren said Ferguson demeaned, harassed and ridiculed her. She described him as a serial abuser of women and said management failed to respond, then forced her out when she demanded that the alleged harassment stop.

McGurren accused the company in the defamation suit of intending to injure her and jeopardize her new career. She now co-hosts a morning show on the Audacy-owned station WUSN-FM 99.5.

Her lawsuit included an affidavit from a former Mix colleague, Jennifer Ashrafi, who went by Jennifer Roberts on air and said Fergusons abusive behavior is open and known by all at The Mix.

McGurren argued Hubbard had ample notice of Fergusons alleged conduct and thus knowingly made the false statement that it disagreed with her characterization of events regarding her EEOC complaint. In granting Hubbards motion to dismiss the lawsuit, Guzman ruled the companys emailed statement to employees did not defame her.

Taken in context, a reasonable reader would not understand the internal email by England to have been made for the purpose of causing harm to (McGurrens) reputation or lowering her standing in the community, but rather to acknowledge the existence of the EEOC claim, convey to the radio stations employees that the matter is being investigated, and indicate that the radio station does not agree with (McGurrens) interpretation, the judge wrote.

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The Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC) has indicated that the negotiations between government and the leadership of the University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG) have ended successfully.



In a press release issued shortly after the final negotiations on Friday, March 4, the Commission expressed gratitude to all stakeholders for bringing finality and sanity to the matter.



Government also acknowledges and appreciates the patience and tolerance of parents and students, the press release concluded.



UTAG is, however, yet to come out with its position on the development.



Leadership had given government two weeks within which to meet their demands, having suspended their strike action on Monday, February 21.



They had, however, asked their branches to vote on the decision taken by the National Executive Committee (NEC) at an emergency meeting at the University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA)



All but two voted to reject the NEC decision, therefore calling for a resumption of the strike after the two-week ultimatum.



Fridays final negotiations had in attendance representatives from the Ministry of Employment and Labour Relations, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Education and National Labour Commission (NLC).



FWSC thanked the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) and Vice Chancellors Ghana (VCG) for their immense help during the seven-week strike.

Source: 3news









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The Director of Public Affairs of the Parliament of Ghana Kate Addo on Friday 03/03/2022 showered praise on one of her staff, Jonas Asare Menyah as he took a bow from the Parliamentary Service.



Jonas worked with the Parliamentary Service for twenty-four years, rising to become a Chief Technical Officer and working in other capacities before his mandatory retirement at the age of 60 in February.



The audiovisual unit of the Public Affairs department deals mainly with providing good quality sound from the Chamber during proceedings in the chamber and live sittings. They also provide broadcasting services to committees, Speaker and leader of the House.



Asare Menyah, during his stay, facilitated the broadcasting and production of many live coverages for notable events and personalities including Presidents of the Republic and other countries when they addressed Parliament.



The Director of Public Affairs, Kate Addo spoke about the selfless duty Asare and his colleagues continue to deliver and urged them to continue doing their best for the institutions and to Ghana. She mentioned the need for improved skills in videography and sound production for audiovisual professionals in this era of high technology.

Source: Peacefmonline.com/Ghana









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Madam Ophelia Dei Adubea, Nutritionist at the Nutrition Department, Ridge Hospital, says "waakye", a popular Ghanaian dish is not only nutritious but medicinal.



She said the meal was health-giving when cooked with the sorghum bicolor leaves and packaged or served in the "katemfe" leaves also known as the miracle plant or sweet prayer plant.



Madam Adubea said this in an interview with the Ghana News Agency on local dishes to commemorate Heritage Month.



She said sorghum bicolor leaves, also known as sorghum red leaves, were usually used as a colouring additive in the preparation of "waakye", - a meal comprising rice and beans boiled together, but the leaves add more than colour to the meal.



Madam Dei Adubea said the "sorghum bicolor leaves have chemical components that help the human digestive system and also helps in free bowel."



Those phytochemicals, especially antioxidants, which were extracted by adding a little saltpetre "kanwe" were critical for maintaining optimum health and wellbeing.



The antioxidants provide protection against diseases caused by oxidative stress such as cancer, diabetes, amongst others. It also prevents cell damage, according to health experts.



Research also shows that sorghum bicolor is used in the treatment of abdominal pain, epilepsy, and anaemia due to its high iron constituent.



The leaves contain calcium, which is good for bone health and has anti-inflammatory properties.



She urged the public to always add vegetables to the meal and use the saltpetre in moderation.



"Whoever is eating waakye should look out for saltpetre, too much of it can be harmful and they must always eat with vegetables," Mad Dei Addobea cautioned.



Hajia Latifa Kande, a food vendor adjacent to the Registrar General Department, told the GNA that the leaves contained nutrients that boosted the production of blood.



A lot of people love eating waakye and it is a good business to do but you must prepare it well to give your customers the best satisfaction, she added.



Miss Abena Serwaa Mensah, a public servant, after buying some waakye from Hajia Kande, said the "katemfe" leaves gave a good flavour to the meal and made one salivate.



She said the leaves could preserve foods for longer period, adding that she had on countless occasions preserved waakye in the leaves from afternoon till evening.



The leaves are from a plant species in Africa called Thaumatococcus daniellii, known for being the natural source of thaumatin, an intensely sweet protein.



In West Africa, the plant is mostly cultivated for the leaves. The lamina of the leaves is used for wrapping foods while the petiole is used to weave mats. The entire leaf is also used for roofing.

Source: GNA









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by Misbah Saba Malik

ISLAMABAD, March 5 (Xinhua) -- Hussain Ali, a local journalist in Peshawar city of Pakistan's northwest Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, was offering usual Friday prayers when he received a phone call about a blast in a mosque in the downtown city.

"I rushed to the site for coverage. I saw gruesome images...," Ali told Xinhua.

Suddenly, among the rescue workers and people who reached the mosque to find their relatives, "I saw my cousin hysterically sifting through the dead bodies and screaming in panic, and he also caught a glance of me and rushed to me to break the news that my uncle, also his father, came to offer prayer in the mosque and went missing after the explosion."

A few minutes after a failed search, they decided to go to Lady Reading Hospital where the bodies and the injured were being shifted and found out that the 55-year-old, was among the death toll which stood at over 30 at that time.

"He was a gentleman, always smiling and forthcoming in helping others. Everyone in the family and community liked him. I wonder why he and other innocent people like him were attacked? We are so panicked that even our own shadow scares us and we don't want to leave our houses in the fear of more attacks," Ali told Xinhua.

According to a spokesperson of the Lady Reading Hospital, 57 bodies were handed over to relatives on Friday, and six more succumbed to injuries at the hospital, raising the death toll to 63.

The spokesperson added that about 200 injured were also shifted to the facility, out of which 37 are still being treated, while others were discharged after treatment.

The Islamic State (IS) terror group has claimed the attack in a Twitter post.

In a press briefing on Saturday, Capital City Police Officer of Peshawar Muhammad Ijaz told media that a "well-trained" suicide bomber entered the mosque after shooting one policeman dead deployed on the security of the mosque and injuring the other, and blew himself up among the people who were gathering inside the prayer hall.

Security has been beefed up in the province and across the country, following the attack and an additional police force has been deployed at religious places.

Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan condemned the attack and said that he had been personally monitoring operations and coordinating with the counter-terrorism department in the wake of the terrorist attack.

"We now have all info regarding origins of where the terrorists came from and are going after them with full force," he added.

The country's Interior Minister Sheikh Rasheed Ahmad also said in a video message on Saturday that the handlers of the suicide bomber have been identified and the law enforcement agencies will be able to apprehend them.

Peshawar used to be a hotbed of militancy as it is located next to formerly restive tribal areas along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border, but the security situation remarkably improved after military operations in the tribal districts to eradicate militancy.

The attack also brought back the gory memories of past attacks to the rescue workers.

Sher Gul from the non-governmental rescue organization Edhi Foundation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa said "This level of havoc was wrecked after years in Peshawar. The terrorism was defeated and people were living in peace. The shadow of the painful past during which we lost thousands of people to terrorism was almost removed, but this fresh attack has once again sent shockwaves to the whole country and this wound will take a lot of time to heal." 
The National Democratic Congress (NDC) Member of Parliament (MP) for Sene West in the Bono East Region, Mr Kwame Twumasi Ampofo, has appealed to the government to provide adequate funding to the Community Water and Sanitation Agency ( CWSA) and the Ghana Water Company Limited for the provision of potable water in rural and urban communities.



He cited his constituency to buttress his point which he said experienced acute water shortages during the dry season of every year.



"The situation is so terrible during the dry season in some communities in my constituency where you would see residents competing with animals for water," he said.



Mr Ampofo made the appeal in an interview with the press at the Parliament House last Thursday.



He noted that when the two-state agencies were adequately resourced, they would be able to meet the demand for water supply in the country and resolve the rationing of water.



Adequate funding



Touching on the need for adequate funding for the CWSA to provide potable water in rural communities, Mr Ampofo said the agency must be given the power to go in for loans to expand water systems in rural communities to ensure that each and every person had access to clean and safe water.



The MP for Sene, who had filed for a question on the floor of Parliament to know the measures being taken by the Ministry of Sanitation and Water Resources to address rationing of water in the country, said the sector minister, Mrs Cecilia Abena Dapaah, answered the question satisfactorily but called for more resources for the ministry to enable it address the water and sanitation issues of the country that also have health implication for the people.



Mrs Dapaah, in her response to the question, said the government was implementing a number of water projects across the country which were at various stages.



These, she said, included the Upper East Region Water Supply Expansion project which had been completed and would be inaugurated soon, the Tamale and Damango Water projects, the GAMA Sanitation and Water Project in Accra which has been completed, the Wenchi and Keta Water Supply projects for which contractors are yet to go on site and the Yendi Water Supply project currently at the international bidding stage.



Other projects, she mentioned were the Sekondi/Takoradi Water Supply project, the Sunyani Water Supply project and Techiman Water Supply.



Apply the laws



Mr Ampofo, during the interaction with the press, also bemoaned the attitude of some Ghanaians who were into illegal mining and sand winning that had affected water bodies in the country.



He called for the strict enforcement of the laws and the punishment of those who engaged in illegal mining and sand winning.



He noted that if urgent steps were not taken to address the galamsey and the sand-winning menace that had destroyed some water bodies in the country, a time would come that Ghana would be importing water.

Source: graphic.com.gh









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Parliament is likely to consider the Electronic Transaction Bill (E-Levy Bill), 2021 next week.



Mr Alexander Kwamena Afenyo-Markin, the Deputy Majority Leader, announced that the E-Levy Bill falls under the programmmes proposed for consideration by the House next week.



Presenting the Business Statement of the House for the Seventh Week of the First Meeting of the Second Session of the Eighth Parliament of the Fourth Republic of Ghana, Mr Afenyo-Markin said it was important to bring to the attention of Members of the House that the E-Levy falls under the programmes they had proposed for the seventh week.



So, as and when it is supposed to be taken, members would be noticed, the Deputy Majority Leader said.



He added: So, once we see that papers and response could be laid and motions could be taken; papers and reports include bills that had come and committee works, so it is at large and all that. So, Mr Speaker, members should be rest assured that they will be on notice. There will be no surprises here.



On the proposed scrapping road tolls contained in the 2022 Budget Statement, Mr Afenyo Markin said: So, if members want to know about road tolls, and why road tolls are not being taken, of course, in the 2022 budget there is zero rate for 2022.



And then also even as we delay in the E-Levy, you know weve already passed the Appropriation Bill, Government is spending, and even as we delay as a house Government has already lost January and February revenues.



So, I believe that when the time comes, we will do the needful to let the people of Ghana know that we mean business.



Mr Kofi Iddie Adams, the Member of Parliament for Buem, said the Minority side wanted a specific date on which the E-Levy Bill would be considered by the House.



He said his side had been insisting that the E-Levy Bill be brought to the House for Members to determine; stating that the Minority were not the ones causing the delay on the E-Levy and that the Finance Minister was out there doing consultations on it.





Source: GNA









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The Member of Parliament for North Tongu constituency, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa had denied reports that he chattered a private jet to Romania using taxpayer's money.



Ablakwa has met with Ghanaian students who escaped from Ukraine to Romania.



In a Facebook post, he said his visit was to "assess their (students) conditions and to better understand from their unique perspective how our nation can be more helpful to them as I engage them directly".



Speaking in an interview on Peace FM's Midday News, Okudzeto Ablakwa added that "I dont want to be an armed chair ranking member and so I decided to get a first-hand information in how theyre faring and arrangements to bring them home".



The Ranking Member on the Foreign Affairs Committee in Parliament further asked politicians not to politicize the issue saying "this is an international crisis and life matters; humanity first and so we must put aside partisanship and fulfill our constitutional obligationwith this humanitarian crisis we should all come together and help"



Private Jet



Okudzeto Ablakwa has meanwhile, debunked claims that he used taxpayers' money to hire a private jet to Romania.



According to him, he used his "personal resources"



"Ive heard people accusing me of chattering private jet but its not true. I used my own funds. I could have written to Parliament asking for support but there was no time; this is an emergency situation and so once I got the flight confirmation, I went using Turkish Airline. I used my personal resources and so far what I've seen is very revealing" he indicated.



Recommendation



Meanwhile, he has urged "the foreign ministry to increase embassy officials; one person is not adequate. The NUGS executive also needs to be supported because they have decided to stay behind until the last Ghanaian is evacuated. Their welfare fund is currently emptyeven though I gave them my personal contribution, they still need support"



Listen to him in the video below





Source: Rebecca Addo Tetteh/Peacefmonline.com









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Information Minister, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, has criticized the Dean of the University of Ghana Law School, Professor Raymond Atuguba.



Prof Atuguba has been severely criticized for suggesting that Ghana is susceptible to a coup, looking at the hardship in the country.



According to him, we do not want coup in this country but if we do not act quickly we may have one in our hands. There is one thing to do now, prevent coup in Ghana since the climate and the environment, national and immediate international, are conducive for one. We must compel the government to acknowledge the current economic mess, they mostly, and previous governments, to a larger extent."



Ghana's economic problems started before Covid-19. On balance, Covid-19 was a good thing for Africa and Ghana, he said at a forum held by Solidare Ghana.



Speaking to this in an interview on Peace FM's morning show 'Kokrokoo', Kojo Oppong Nkrumah said as a learned person, Prof Atuguba should have known better.



"As an intellectual, he should have known better . . . he could have just expressed his mind instead of sowing such seeds in the minds of people. The government is not against free speech but you cant take advantage of that and preach coup," he stated.







Source: Peacefmonline.com









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A Senior Research Fellow of the Kumasi Technical University, Dr. Smart Sarpong, has condemned the coup statements by some individuals criticizing the administration of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.



A convener of the #FixTheCountry movement, Oliver Barker-Vormawor is currently facing prosecution over alleged treasonable comments made by him.



Mr. Oliver Barker-Vormawor, on his Facebook, disclosed an intent to stage a coup in Ghana posting ''if this E-Levy passes after this cake bullshit, I will do the coup myself. Useless Army!''



He was arrested by the Police and charged with treason felony with the Police saying the post contains a clear statement of intent with a possible will to execute a coup in his declaration of intent to subvert the Constitution of the Republic of Ghana.



Discussing the issue during Peace FM's ''Kokrokoo'', Dr. Smart Sarpong sermonized the coup activists to change their language emphasizing a coup is never a solution to Ghana's economic challenges.



He rather called for a collective effort by Ghanaians to develop the nation.



One of such efforts, he noted, is for the citizenry to embrace the government's contentious e-levy policy as it is better for the nation to self-fund their projects.



He further pointed out other alternatives to solving Ghana's problems for which a coup d'etat is never one.



Admonishing the coup proponents, Dr. Smart Sarpong said; ''Solution is in the idea you will bring . . . so, we need solution; we don't need a soldier. We need solution. We don't need the Army! . . . Coup is never a solution!!''







Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana









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Mr Haruna Iddrisu, the Minority Leader in Parliament, has called for a structural audit of the Tamale overhead bridge to ensure value for money.



Mr Iddrisu, who is also the Member of Parliament for Tamale South, said this would also ensure that the bridge served its intended purpose, which was to improve traffic flow in the central business area of the Tamale Metropolis.



He, therefore, called on the Ministry of Roads and Highways, Department of Urban Roads and the supervisory consultant on the project to ensure that such audit was undertaken.



Mr Iddrisu made the call when addressing journalists in Tamale on Saturday on what he described as "The people's concerns over the Tamale overhead bridge project."



The Tamale overhead bridge, whose construction began in April 2019 formed part of the Synohydro deal to enhance traffic flow in the Tamale Metropolis.



According to Mr Iddrisu, the people's concerns about the project included the fact that the roundabout at the central mosque intersection was so wide thereby narrowing the road around the intersection, which would adversely affect the free movement of vehicles, especially heavy-duty trucks.



He said the positioning of the roundabout would not encourage free vehicular movement and would instead compound the traffic situation in the Metropolis.



Mr Iddrisu called for the demolition of some structures along the project to enhance its expansion, saying "All the structures along the project should have been demolished and compensated for to pave way for quality execution of the project."





Source: GNA









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" " A mural showing (from left) Karl Marx, Friedrich Engels and Vladimir Lenin commemorates the 20th anniversary of the Cuban Revolution, 1979. Francois LOCHON/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images

In a perfect world, everyone would have food and shelter, and a true utopian society would be devoid of sexism, racism and other forms of oppression. But for most of the world's population, this perfect society isn't possible. Communism is one proposed solution to these problems.

Most people know what communism is at its most basic level. Simply put, communism is the idea that everyone in a given society receives equal shares of the benefits derived from labor. Communism is designed to allow the poor to rise up and attain financial and social status equal to that of the middle-class landowners. In order for everyone to achieve this equality, all means of production must be controlled by the state. In other words, no one can own his or her own business or produce his or her own goods because the state owns everything. Wealth is redistributed so that the members of the upper class are brought down to the same financial and social level as the middle class.

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According to the philosopher Frederich Engels' "Principles of Communism," the plan for ultimate financial and social equality is built on the principle that the system should spread around the world until all countries are on board [source: Engels]. This central goal has caused capitalist nations to keep their guards up, fearing that communist economic practices might spread to their countries.

The political theory of socialism, which gave rise to communism, had been around for hundreds of years by the time a German philosopher named Karl Marx put pen to paper. Marx, also known as the father of communism, spent most of his life in exile in Great Britain and France. He and Engels wrote "The Communist Manifesto" in 1848, which later served as the inspiration for the formation of the Communist Party. Communism is sometimes known as Marxism, though there are differences. You might say that Marxism is the theory and communism is the implementation of Marxism.
An extraordinary session of the Ivano-Frankivsk City Council took place.

The deputies of the city council unanimously approved the appeal to the governments of NATO member states, the President of the United States, the President of France, the Chancellor of Germany, The Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, ambassadors of all countries to close the skies over Ukraine.

Ivano-Frankivsk City Councils appeal to you to urgently close the sky over Ukraine.

We, the deputies of the Ivano-Frankivsk City Council, appeal to you with a demand to immediately close the skies over Ukraine.

On the night of February 24, 2022, when all the citizens of Ukraine were asleep, the enemy, represented by the President of the Russian Federation, gave a criminal order to attack the sovereign Ukrainian land. Ukrainians woke up to the horror of aerial bombardment of their cities and villages.

For ten days now, Russian troops have been shelling and destroying key infrastructure facilities in Ukraine, conducting massive shelling of residential areas of Ukrainian cities and villages using aircraft, ballistic missiles, artillery, and multiple rocket launchers. Hundreds of civilians in Ukraine have already died.

The last ten days have shown that this is a war not only against Ukraine, but against democracy, freedom and humanity around the world. Every minute wasted is a death of our citizens, women and children, destruction of our cities and villages.

The Ukrainian state and the people of Ukraine have become victims to the imperial ambitions of a totalitarian regime that has revived on the territory of the Russian Federation and is threatening the whole world with a nuclear disaster.

The night on March 4 showed that the extermination of Ukrainians is not the only goal of the bloodthirsty regime of Putin and the Russian Federation. By shelling the Zaporizhzhya NPP, the occupying forces called into question the survival of all mankind and even the lives of their own citizens.

The Russian Federation's attack on Ukraine has already caused hundreds of thousands of refugees to cross NATO's borders. The whole world understands the importance of closing the sky over Ukraine. Now it is the time for all democratic governments that share the values of human life to prove their humanistic ideas. Closing the sky over Ukraine will allow us to stop the advance of the enemy and protect the lives of thousands of Ukrainians.

On behalf of the millions of Ukrainians who have been in shelters since 24 February 2022, on behalf of those who are fighting for Europe's freedom, in memory of more than 2,000 civilians, and on behalf of all those killed in the Russian bombing, we urge you to close the sky over Ukraine.

Approved on an extraordinary basis

21st session of Ivano-Frankivsk City Council

March 5, 2022
The executive committee of Cherkasy City Council made the decision to make the official appeal in support of the request of the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky to close the skies over Ukraine.

"Thousands of dead and injured children, women, the elderly, destroyed hospitals, schools, kindergartens - this is the price of procrastination in a situation of closing the sky,"  said in the official statement.

The appeal is addressed to the governments and parliaments of NATO member states, ambassadors and the diplomatic corps of all NATO states and other officials abroad, on whom this important decision for Ukraine depends.

#NoflyZone
The collection of signatures of residents of Zaporizhia district in support of the request of the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky to close the skies over Ukraine has commenced.

It has been 10 days since Russian invasion has been inflicting devastating shelling not only of military objects, but also civilian infrastructure: schools, kindergartens, and hospitals. The number of civilians killed is constantly growing, including children, women, and the elderly people.

The head of Zaporizhzhya military administration, Oleksandr Starukh, appealed to residents of the region with the request actively participate in collecting signatures for airspace closure over Ukraine. Young people and volunteers of Zaporizhzhya are the first to join the initiative.

I am convinced that this position is absolutely clear to everyone. We all expect from Western countries not only concerns, but also certain steps  such as closing the sky, said the head of the region.

You can watch full coverage through link:
You know that feeling when youre riding a fancy brand-new rollercoaster and youre literally being smashed and banged around from side to side and never know what to expect next? Well, as cheesy as it sounds, I can think of no better analogy to describe my college experience  a rollercoast
GLENS FALLS  The former assistant curator of The Hyde Collection has been named the new executive director for the Chapman Museum.

Nicole Herwig started her fourth day on the job on Friday. For the past five years she led and implemented all tasks relating to exhibitions for The Hydes galleries while also contributing to other departments when needed.

She currently lives in Saratoga Springs with her husband, three children and three dogs.

I am honored by the trust and confidence of the Chapman Museum board of directors to be given the opportunity to serve the museum, Herwig said in a news release. I look forward to leading and contributing to the Chapman team and moving the museum forward as an integral partner in the Glens Falls and Queensbury communities.

Timothy Weidner announced in December he would be retiring from the executive director position that he held for 23 years.

At the time, he said he was ready for a change.

In his farewell newsletter, Weidner said he enjoyed his time at the Chapman. He did detail one regret, though.

He said he visited photographer Fred Chase shortly after he started in 1998. Chase showed him prints that he had made from a collection of glass plate negatives.

The prints were made by photographer W.W. Kennedy. Weidner discovered that the Chapman had five of his original prints, which he included with his farewell message.

He said he had hopes of finding more of Kennedys prints to create an exhibit of his work, but was unable to do so.

The best I can do is to share these five here. ... Having done that, I feel better, so I will say goodbye and ride off into the sunset, he wrote. Well, snowstorm!

Gloria Ragonetti, chairwoman of the board of directors of the Chapman Museum, said that on behalf of the entire board she was excited to be working with Herwig.

She stated that the committee tasked with finding a new executive director considered nearly two dozen candidates. Herwigs selection was made after a nationwide search that took two months to complete.

Her background, expertise and experience will move the Chapman forward as it continues to follow our mission to become an integral part of the greater Glens Falls-Queensbury area, Ragonetti said in the news release.

Prior to joining The Hyde, Herwig supported museum exhibition and collections activities at the New York State Museum and the University Art Museum at the University at Albany. She also served as a program director for a regional YMCA.

Herwig graduated from the University at Albany with a masters degree in public history. She also has multiple undergraduate degrees in art, art history and advertising design.

She is also interested in documentary filmmaking and American material culture.

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PETERSBURG  A Petersburg man was arrested on Friday in connection with the disappearance and death of Cambridge High School graduate Morgan Bates.

Ian J. Hasselwander, 28, has been charged with felony counts of second-degree murder, first-degree assault, first-degree strangulation and concealment of a human corpse, according to a news release from the Rensselaer County Sheriffs Office.

Hasselwander was taken into custody at 6:19 p.m., arraigned in Troy City Court and sent without bail to Rensselaer County Jail. He is due back in court at a later date.

Bates, 20, was reported missing on Feb. 23. She had been last seen in Eagle Bridge with a possible sighting in Petersburg at about 2 a.m. on Feb. 22.

Her body was located on Sunday in Cherry Plain State Park in the vicinity of Black River Road.

Police are not releasing any information at this time about what led them to Hasselwander or what his relationship is to Bates.

Bates graduated from Cambridge High School in 2019.

The investigation was handled jointly by the Rensselaer County Sheriffs Office, state police and the Rensselaer County District Attorneys Office. Assisting in the investigation were members of Washington County Sheriffs Office, New York State Forest Rangers, New York State Intelligence Center (NYSIC) and the Capital Region Crime Analysis Center (CRCAC).

Rensselaer County Sheriff Patrick Russo praised the efforts of the law enforcement agencies.

I would like to acknowledge and commend the professionalism, diligence and dedication of the members of the above-mentioned agencies who worked long hours, around the clock, which led to a timely arrest, he said in a news release.

The Rensselaer County District Attorneys Office will be prosecuting the case.

Law enforcement has worked around the clock on this case since Morgan Bates disappeared. This was certainly not the outcome we had hoped for. This arrest is the first step towards justice for Morgan and her family. District Attorney Mary Pat Donnelly, said in a news release.

Michael Goot is night and weekend editor of The Post-Star. Reach him at 518-742-3320 or mgoot@poststar.com.

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FORT EDWARD  A Whitehall man is expected to receive a sentence of 9 years in prison for multiple crimes including burglary and fleeing from police.

Jesse J. Tyrell pleaded guilty in Washington County Court on Feb. 23 to felony second-degree assault, third-degree burglary, driving while intoxicated-previous conviction and fourth-degree grand larceny.

Police said Tyrell used a crowbar to break into the front door of the Railyard Restaurant on Broadway on Sept. 14.

He emptied out the change door of the cash register, lifted a 50-pound safe and took a $20 bill taped to the wall that was the first money when the business, owned by Michael Putorti, first opened.

Tyrell then used that bill to purchase cigarettes, lottery tickets and iced tea at Putortis Market, which is owned by Putortis brother Fra Putorti, on Sept. 15. That same day, a Railyard employee cashed his paycheck at the market and received the $20 bill in question. Fra Putorti was able to identify Tyrell on their security system.

Tyrell then led police on a high-speed chase that ended with an accident on Hatch Hill Road, according to media reports.

Tyrell was arrested a couple of months later for stealing tools from a home in Granville on Nov. 3 and offering them back to the victim in exchange for $1,000.

State police were on the scene when Tyrell arrived, causing him to speed away, hitting two vehicles on the property and leading law enforcement on a chase that concluded at the Vermont border.

Tyrell is also expected to receive 5 years of post-release supervision when sentenced on March 25.

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The Hartford High School graduate who had been in a bomb shelter in Kyiv, Ukraine, with children from her aid organization has been evacuated with them to another country.

As of Friday morning, Barbara Klaiber, along with children and representatives from her organization, The Ark, were on a train evacuating from Ukraine en route to Poland.

Well arrive at the border fairly soon, then about four hours on the border checking docs and then on to Poland, Klaiber wrote on her Facebook page. We are all looking forward to a shower!!

Klaiber had been in a bomb shelter with more than 20 children from The Ark since Feb. 25. Hartford Town Supervisor Dana Haff has been sharing her posts to his Facebook page to keep the community updated on her situation.

Klaibers brother, Peter Klaiber, said he had been made aware that a bus was scheduled to pick up six staffers of The Ark, including Barbara, 20 children, a dog and two cats, to bring them to the train station.

He said they were supposed to leave Kyiv on Thursday at 11 a.m. Eastern Standard Time. They didnt end up leaving until about 2:30 p.m.

She said that they were finally moving, Peter said. Im thinking, Well, the fat lady hasnt sung yet.

At 9 p.m. Thursday, Barbara informed Peter that the train had been stopped. Barbara said sirens could be heard in the distance.

Peters mind went straight to the worst.

I had my heart in my throat at about 9 p.m. last night when she said the train had stopped, he said. You go right for the worst. Whats the worst thing that can happen? They blew the train tracks up and youve got a train sitting there with God knows how many people on it and kids.

Thirty minutes later, she informed him that they were on their way, moving faster than they were previously.

Early Friday morning, Peter said Barbara and the others had made it to the Poland border. It was later in the morning, at roughly 11 a.m., that they had successfully crossed the border on the train.

They very well could still be on the train, Peter said at roughly 1:30 p.m. Friday afternoon.

He said there is a place in Poland for Barbara and the others to stay.

Later Friday, Barbara posted that she and the youths had made it to our cabins in the woods. They plan to leave the next morning to drive 12 hours to Germany, their final destination.

The kids are so excited! she wrote. Keep praying for Ukraine! Our hearts are there with so many who are still suffering.

Before all of this started happening, Peter said he and the rest of his family, including Barbara, would be in touch more infrequently. He said they would have Zoom calls to stay in contact.

But not like this.

You feel kind of helpless. I guess this brought us, not that we werent close before, but I guess were even closer now. Thats the good news, Peter said.

School fundraisers

Hartford Central School is raising money for Barbara and The Ark.

The Hartford Middle School student government is selling yellow and blue ribbons for $1 each, with all of the proceeds going to The Ark to help.

Peter said he had already ordered some for himself.

I did that this morning, he said with a chuckle. Its tremendous.

A member of the church Peter goes to is a teacher at Argyle Central School. She told him that they would be doing a fundraiser as well.

Suszyne Burch, a Hartford sixth-grade social studies and English teacher and adviser for the student government, said it is important for the students to realize that what is happening overseas still impacts them at home.

Just because we are miles away doesnt mean this doesnt impact somebody that they might know or not know directly, she said.

She said the Facebook updates from Haff have been helping Burch keep her students in the loop with what has been going on.

Haff said he is pleased with the communitys response to one of their own dealing with uncertainty in Europe.

I am proud that Hartford is rallying behind our native and alumni, he said. The children and staff of The Ark are now refugees from Putins war of aggression upon the Ukraine.

To learn more about The Ark or to donate to the organization directly, visit fathers-care.org.

People can order one of the ribbons by speaking with a member of the student government or by contacting Burch at sburch@hartfordcsd.org or 518-639-1019 no later than March 18.

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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WILTON  As Warren Countys largest demographic  the baby boomers  reach old age, local health care leaders are discussing how to accommodate the regions fastest-growing industry, and the current challenges that employers and educators face.

Health care is in the top three biggest industries in the area, surpassing tourism and hospitality, according to Dennis Brobson, president of the Saratoga Economic Development Corp.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, there is a correlation between the aging demographic and job growth in the health care sector in the area. The bureau estimates a 16% growth through 2030, which amounts to around 2.6 million jobs in the industry.

Brobson moderated a discussion Thursday night at SUNY Adirondacks Wilton campus between Marcy Dreimiller, vice president of human resources at Saratoga Hospital; Dutch Hayward, chief operating officer of The Wesley Community; Ali Skinner, vice president of communications strategy at CDPHP; Susan Corney, executive vice president of human resources for Hudson Headwaters Health Network; and Holly Ahern, associate professor of microbiology at SUNY Adirondack.

By co-hosting the event with the SEDC, SUNY Adirondack aims to make people more aware of the health programs available to students, as well as their top educational facilities and technology.

For example, the Wilton campus is home to an anatomage: a 3D virtual dissection table. Its 3D touch-based interface allows users to simulate surgery on a person. Users can filter through different layers of the human anatomy and view the various human systems.

The development of new medical technology is a big catalyst for the growth in the industry, which was among the things discussed Thursday night.

Last year, we were using artificial intelligence for stroke care, Cassandra Moore, the service line manager and director of Glens Falls Hospitals stroke and neurology program said.

Moore is a graduate of the SUNY Adirondacks nursing program and knew ever since she entered the colleges highly competitive program that she wanted to help people. She didnt know what that was going to look like because the job hadnt existed yet.

Its been four and a half years since we started the stroke-care program at Glens Falls Hospital. Before then patients used to be transferred to the Albany hospital, Moore said.

Moore now spearheads the stroke-care program at Glens Falls Hospital.

Her story is an example of the kind of demand that is needed in the regions health care. As that demand increases as baby boomers reach old age, new jobs will have to be created.

Saratoga Hospital in the last five years has expanded from 17,000 positions to 31,000, and that number will only get bigger.

When theres a demand and not enough of a workforce, thats when you know it needs to grow, Dreimiller said.

Applications declining

The amount of people applying to jobs at Saratoga Hospital, however, has been cut in half in recent years, from 10,000 annually to 5,000, according to Dreimiller.

To say that the health care industry is lacking workers is an understatement, Kristine Duffy, president of SUNY Adirondack, said in an interview over the phone earlier in the week.

According to the panelists, some of the underlying issues were made worse because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

COVID-19 has created a high burnout rate for health care workers, Duffy said in the interview.

The pandemic has also caused a high burnout rate for students, with many students having dropped out in the last couple of years. SUNY Adirondack has tried to adapt by changing some of its teaching methods, such as offering more remote options, according Ahern.

Student debt is another huge issue that is stopping students from not only finishing education, but from entering health care programs.

Debt is one of the most important things we need to address, Corney from Hudson Headwaters Health Network said.

Young people with debt do not want to pursue a career in health care, Dreimiller said.

The pandemic has also exacerbated mental health and substance abuse crises, which could very well be a contributor to the decline of student enrollment, according to Ali Skinner from CDPHP.

Skinner said that from 2020 to 2021, the health insurance company has seen a 40% increase in mental health cases. Which then creates another issue: how do they accommodate this influx of cases?

We dont have enough people for that, Skinner said.

These are all things we saw before the pandemic, but have been exacerbated because of the pandemic, Skinner added.

Technology has, however, helped combat this, according to Skinner.

Remote access, like it has at SUNY Adirondack, has helped specialists navigate the current health landscape, according to Skinner.

Its pretty amazing what virtual health has done, she said.

Drew Wardle is a reporter for The Post-Star. You can contact him at 518-681-7343 or email him at dwardle@poststar.com.

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PLEASANTVILLE  A town hall Thursday about a proposed rail-transfer station for construction and demolition debris waste to be built off West Washington Avenue drew questions and concerns from residents and neighbors.

Developer James DiNatale said hed heard residents concerns and would take them into consideration. But he also asserted that the projects biggest opponent didnt provide accurate information to residents.

The meeting at St. Marys Episcopal Church was hosted by the Atlantic County Utilities Authority, which has organized a Stop the Dump campaign against the proposal.

ACUA President Rick Dovey opened the meeting with the recent history of waste disposal in Atlantic County, recalling the obstacles to securing approval for the current landfill in Egg Harbor Township. He then listed his criticisms of the project.

Dovey argued the proposed facility, about 8,000 square feet, was not large enough to handle the waste load it would be scheduled to receive.

He cited data concerning the amount of construction and demolition waste the ACUA took into its landfill during a sample period from August through November 2021 and said the developer had underestimated the number of trucks that would be coming into the facility per day. The resultant buildup of traffic on Washington Avenue would be detrimental to residents and commuters. He also said pollution from noise and smells from the facility would pose a nuisance to neighbors.

David Carrington, a lifelong city resident, said Pleasantville has a history of mismanaging waste treatment. He said the planned rail-transfer station would run too close to the Washington Avenue School, which is about a mile away, and feared noise and debris waste would negatively impact the elementary students there.

I encourage the citizens of Pleasantville to go to the next City Council meeting (Monday) and voice their opinion, because Pleasantville can only handle so much, Carrington said. Citizens of Pleasantville, stand up, enough is enough.

DiNatale, who attended the meeting, said much of what Dovey said had been wrong, but he still thought the meeting had gone well. DiNatale has previously disputed ACUA criticisms about the size of the proposed station, arguing that similarly sized facilities exist in other parts of the state. He also said the facility would be well filtered and not cause any noise or smell troubles for residents, while overall traffic would actually be reduced by diverting trucks away from the ACUA landfill.

The station is expected to handle 100,000 tons of debris per year, which it would ship via rail line to a landfill in Ohio. Pleasantville would be paid a $4-per-ton transfer fee, amounting to an estimated $400,000 in annual revenue for the city.

Pleasantville City Council voted 5-2 to pass a resolution endorsing the project in May. The Atlantic County Board of Commissioners passed a resolution supporting the citys attempts to develop a plan and present an application for a transfer station that could create jobs and opportunity.

But now, one county official wants to know more about the ACUAs spending to fight the project.

At Tuesdays Atlantic County Board of Commissioners meeting, Commissioner Caren Fitzpatrick said she had obtained invoices through a public records request showing the ACUA had paid $10,721 on the campaign to oppose the transfer station.

It is inappropriate for the ACUA to be spending public money in this manner, Fitzpatrick said. What else is going on with public money?  What else is being done by ACUA staff that isnt related to ACUA jobs?

She proposed the board investigate. Counsel to the county commissioners Richard Andrien is researching whether the commissioners have the authority to look into the issue. If they do, a resolution will be on the commissioners next agenda, Fitzpatrick said.

Priscilla Noel, a city resident, said Thursday the city should seek input from nearby businesses about the project. She said she feared those businesses could be put off by the transfer station and decide to leave the city, depriving it of much needed economic activity. She raised additional concerns about pollution and traffic congestion, all things that could have an especially harsh impact on Pleasantville.

Noel said she believed the city was being singled out as a place for the station because of its racial and ethnic demographics.

Town hall on Pleasantville waste transfer station postponed again PLEASANTVILLE  Residents looking for a forum to discuss a proposed debris-waste transfer st

The population predominantly is Hispanic and Black, Noel said. Im going to say it, so why do we have to take it when we take it again and again and again?

Ty Bey, a resident and activist from Communities Revolutionizing Open Public Spaces, or CROPS, said more involvement by residents could lead to better environmental and community outcomes.

I do encourage the community, when we get opportunities like this, please sit in, because you get educated, you get knowledge about whats actually happening right in front of you, Bey said. Thats the missing component in most communities, the community is not involved.

Staff Writer Michelle Brunetti Post contributed to this report.

Contact Chris Doyle cdoyle@pressofac.com

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CAPE MAY COURT HOUSE  Ukraines blue and yellow flag is flying just below the Stars and Stripes at the Cape May County administration building, in what county officials describe as a show of support for the former Soviet republic in the face of a Russian invasion.

The county also plans to avoid purchasing from Russian companies, county officials said Friday.

The invasion into Ukraine, which began Feb. 24, has resulted in 1.2 million people fleeing the country and at least hundreds of Ukrainian civilians being killed, with both of those numbers expected to increase in the coming days, a statement from the county said.

Commissioner Director Gerald M. Thornton issued the directive to fly the Ukrainian flag, calling it crucial to show solidarity with Ukraine.

Thornton also echoed his personal support for economic sanctions that have been levied against Russia. Cape May County government has ensured it isnt purchasing from Russian companies because of this conflict.

Ocean City bridge lights are blue and yellow for Ukraine OCEAN CITY  The lights of the Route 52 causeway have been lit in blue and yellow, the color

The Board of County Commissioners will be considering a resolution of support for Ukraine during its next meeting Tuesday.

It is so very important for the world to be behind the Ukrainian people, Thornton said. We ask every town and county throughout the United States to follow our example and show support by flying their flag.

The region has close ties to Ukraine. New Jersey is the fourth largest home to Ukrainians in the United States, behind New York, Pennsylvania and California.

We keep Ukraine in our prayers and hope peace comes quickly so no one else needlessly dies during this unnecessary conflict, Thornton said.

Contact Bill Barlow: 609-272-7290 bbarlow@pressofac.com Twitter @jerseynews_bill

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Democratic Atlantic County Board of Elections Commissioner Audrey Miles, of Brigantine, has been nominated as deputy superintendent of elections for the county.

Atlantic County Democratic Chairman Michael Suleiman said Gov. Phil Murphy nominated Miles, who is also vice chair of the Atlantic County Democrats. Suleiman will nominate her successor on the Board of Elections if the state Senate votes to accept her nomination.

Shes been a great partner and friend, Suleiman said. She will do great.

Tuesday is the next meeting of the board and is also the annual reorganization meeting where the chairperson is determined by vote.

The county Board of Commissioners last year passed an ordinance to establish a deputy superintendent of elections position. Under state law, the deputy must be of the opposite political party from the superintendent.

Atlantic County Superintendent Maureen Bugdon is a Republican.

Atlantic City's new wards much like the old ones ATLANTIC CITY  The Atlantic City Ward Commission on Tuesday night chose one of the options 

The superintendents office handles voter registration, voter roll accuracy, voting machine purchasing and security, provisional paper ballots cast the day of the election and more.

Changes in state law earlier this year allowed a county the size of Atlantic to employ a deputy superintendent, largely because early voting and other changes in how elections are run have increased the workload on the office.

Miles works as relationship manager at Hanlon Investment Management in Egg Harbor Township, where she has worked for 16 years. She holds a bachelors degree from Howard University in Washington, D.C.

She and husband Bernard have three adult children and one grandson.

Biden appoints Asselta

Vineland native Jane Asselta will leave her job as vice president of the Southern New Jersey Development Council after President Joe Biden appointed her New Jersey state director for rural development.

Atlantic County elections board splits over early voting site The Atlantic County Board of Elections agreed at a meeting Tuesday night on four of the five

USDA Rural Development, part of the Department of Agriculture, provides loans and grants to expand economic opportunities and create jobs in rural areas.

She will be the first woman to hold the position, according to the SNJDC.

I am honored to be appointed by President Biden and grateful for the privilege to serve the rural towns, residents and businesses in Northwestern and Southern New Jersey, said Asselta, of Haddon Township, Camden County.

The SNJDC, based in Turnersville, Gloucester County, is a nonprofit economic development-lobbying organization that promotes responsible economic development in South Jersey.

Kim to hold Ukraine town hall

U.S. Rep. Andy Kim, D-3rd, will hold an online town hall at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday to discuss the ongoing crisis in Ukraine and hear from Burlington and Ocean county residents about issues of concern to them.

Pre-registration is required at kim.house.gov/live.

I know many of us are watching the events unfolding in Ukraine with tremendous sadness, frustration, and concern about what the future might hold, Kim said. I look forward to discussing what Im doing in Congress to mitigate wider conflict and support Ukrainians as they fight back against Russian aggression.

REPORTER: Michelle Brunetti Post 609-841-2895 mpost@pressofac.com

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SHIP BOTTOM  Lane closures and traffic shifts are scheduled on Eighth and Ninth streets beginning 7 a.m. Saturday, the state Department of Transportation said.

The lanes will be closed for restriping. Once completed, Eighth Street (Route 72 westbound) will be shifted to the right to allow for work on the left side of the street. The left lane on Ninth Street (Route 72 eastbound) will also be closed, the DOT said Friday in a news release.

The closures and traffic shifts are necessary for drainage work, traffic signal improvements, and installation of conduit and fiber optic cables, the DOT said. The traffic configuration is expected to stay in place through the summer.

The construction is part of the Route 72/Manahawkin Bay Bridge project, which is intended to improve safety and minimize congestion in Stafford Township at the Marsha Drive/Route 72 intersection and in Ship Bottom on Long Beach Island.

The work includes the widening of Marsha Drive in Stafford to provide double left turn lanes onto Route 72 and the addition of a third lane on Route 72 in both directions near the intersection.

Additionally, Route 72 and three cross streets in Ship Bottom will be widened. Five traffic signals will be reconstructed, and a new traffic signal will be installed at Eighth Street and Long Beach Boulevard.

A new storm drainage system will also be installed in an effort to reduce flooding along Route 72 and the intersections, the DOT said.

The project is expected to be completed by the end of 2024.

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A Davenport man serving three years on federal supervised release after being released from federal prison in April on a felon-in-possession-of-a-firearm conviction was sentenced to three years in federal prison Wednesday after pleading guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm.

During a sentencing hearing Wednesday in U.S. District Court, Davenport, U.S. District Chief Judge Stephanie Rose sentenced David James Baber, 53, to 36 months in prison for the weapons conviction, and a consecutive term of 24 months, or two years, for violating his supervised release, for a total of five years in prison.

The case began at 12:20 a.m. July 29, 2020, three months after Baber was released from federal prison on supervised release, when Baber was seen by an Iowa Department of Natural Resources Officer riding a Moped scooter on Scott Park Road from 240th Street.

According to the arrest affidavit filed by Iowa Department of Natural Resources Officer Travis Graves, the scooter did not have rear lights, was difficult to see and did not have a visible rear license plate.

Graves attempted a traffic stop, but Baber fled on the scooter. Baber drove the scooter onto the shoulder of the road and into a ditch. The scooter continued in the ditch for about 75 yards before driving into a cornfield just south of 230th Street.

Once in the cornfield, Baber fled on foot and was not immediately located. Tied to the scooter was a backpack with two firearms inside, a Mossberg shotgun and a sawed-off Savage .22-caliber long rifle.

Baber was located about 6 a.m. walking across U.S. 61 near the cornfield where he was last seen.

The scooter was reported stolen out of Davenport and valued at $1,500. It had originally been white but had been painted green and black with spray paint.

At the time of his arrest Baber was supposed be living at 605 Main St., Davenport, which is the Iowa Department of Corrections Residential Correctional Facility.

In addition to being charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm, Baber also was charged with second-degree theft and eluding.

A federal grand jury indicted Baber on a charge of being a felon in possession of a firearm in Dec. 8, 2020, and he was taken into federal custody on Dec. 14, 2020. The Scott County charges were dropped.

Baber pleaded guilty to the charge on Sept. 13, 2021.

Baber had been released from federal prison on April 28, 2020, four months before being arrested by the Iowa DNR.

On Feb. 23, 2012, federal authorities arrested him for being a felon in possession of a firearm. He pleaded guilty to the charge July 24 of that year. He initially was sentenced Nov. 16, 2012, to 188 months, or 15 years and eight months, in federal prison, plus a consecutive term of one year for violating his federal supervised release on another federal case.

Baber was resentenced in that case on Nov. 17, 2016, to 96 months, or eight years in prison, plus a consecutive term of one year for the supervised-release violation.

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The Easter Bunny was representing the prosecution in several hundred Polk County criminal cases.At least thats what Iowa Courts Online, the court systems official, statewide web-based repository of court records, indicated for most of April.On April 4, the online docket sheets for hundreds of Polk County cases  primarily misdemeanors and drunken-driving cases  were revised to indicate the prosecution of those cases had been transferred from one particular assistant county attorney, Kailey Gray, to another prosecutor in the county attorneys office by the name of Easter Santa Bunny.And thats where the cases remained as of Thursday morning.Bret Lucas, an assistant county attorney, said Thursday the situation stemmed from a recent realignment of cases within the county attorneys office. Gray took over a colleagues cases, and Iowa Courts Online accurately reflects the transfer of those cases. But Grays old cases, he said, were transferred to the Easter Bunny until all of the work on the digital case transfer could be completed.We had contacted the Judicial Branch and they worked with their information technology department to facilitate the mass transfer of cases, Lucas said. Apparently, the Judicial Branch and the IT department decided to put that placeholder in there because, obviously, no one else would have that name.  So they were all aware of that, and it sounds like they must still be in the middle of that transfer process.Stacy Curtis, a supervisor for the criminal division of the Polk County Clerk of Courts Office, said the references to the Easter Bunny should not be visible to the public either through a name search or in the docket sheets for the individual cases. She said the office took extra steps to make sure members of the public didnt see any reference to the Easter Bunny and only clerks, lawyers, judges and others with higher security clearance could see it. It appears that the opposite may have occurred, as the Easter Bunny references could be seen by members of the public who werent even logged into the site.This has been a nightmare for me, Curtis said. We moved everything from Kaylie to the Easter Bunny, and those should have all been cleaned up so you wouldnt be able to see that.Many of the cases that were publicly assigned to the Easter Bunny are open, active cases, but hundreds of others are dormant, though not technically closed because of probationary sentences that have yet to be completed or fines that have yet to be paid.The only practical effect of the Easter Bunny designation is that some defendants may see that information online and not know who to contact at the county attorneys office about their case.After being contacted by the Iowa Capital Dispatch on Thursday, court officials were working to erase from the website any mention of the Easter Bunny, and by late afternoon it appeared they had succeeded.Santa bailed out by RudolphThe Easter Bunny cases are not the only criminal matters listed on the court systems official website to have featured nonexistent lawyers or defendants. In what appear to be training exercises for clerical staff, fictitious test cases are sometimes created and then posted to the public website but never removed.For example, a December 1997 case shows Santa Claus being convicted of felony burglary and kidnapping, with a charge of assault on a peace officer dismissed by the court. The court records indicate a sentence of 999 years in prison was imposed.As part of that same test case, the court imposed a no-contact order prohibiting Santa from having any contact with Mickey Mouse. Santas bail  listed as one million bucks in a possible punning reference to Santas reindeer  is stated to have been posted by Rudolph.In 2014, Santa Claus was charged with second-degree robbery in Scott County, according to the Iowa Courts Online site. Although theres no record of a conviction in that case, Claus right to carry a gun was revoked.The court systems website also shows that in 2014, Mickey Mouse filed a small claims case against Donald Duck in Marion County.For more information, visit iowacapitaldispatch.com.
As is now clearer than ever, the greatest military threat to the United States and its allies in the near future is Russia. Many in the West have long lulled themselves into believing that Russian nuclear weapons somehow do not matter. Nothing could be further from the truth. Over the past 20 years, Russia has maintained, modernized and upgraded the worlds largest nuclear arsenal.

Nuclear weapons constitute a core element of Russian military strategy. The most well-known component of Russias nuclear arsenal is the strategic component that consists of over 1,500 thermonuclear warheads on intercontinental missiles aimed at the United States that take 30 minutes to arrive at their targets. While Russias strategic nuclear weapons are the most frightening, they are far less likely to be used than Russias tactical (nonstrategic) nuclear weapons.

The bulk of Americas strategic forces are deployed on nuclear-powered subs. Our subs constitute a particularly vital second-strike capacity to deter Russian attacks against the American homeland but still must guard against threats from Russian nuclear depth charges and nuclear-tipped torpedoes much like the Cold War. Americas strategic deterrent does largely create the mutually assured destruction that many are aware of. However, the doctrine of mutually assured destruction is widely misunderstood in terms of the larger game theory context.

MAD doesnt prevent Russia from numerous types of military aggression including limited nuclear strikes against military targets. Rather, it prevents the United States from credibly threatening massive retaliation. In fact, the Russian military is often thought to view limited nuclear strikes, particularly with tactical nukes, as de-escalation.

The most likely nuclear threat comes from Russian tactical nukes, which are not even covered by the New START or any other treaty. The limited obsolete nature of U.S. tactical nuclear weapons comes out of a unilateral 1990s disarming by the United States based on a misplaced assumption that America would never again face off against a hostile Russia.

Russia has 10 times as many tactical nuclear weapons as the United States. Russian battlefield nukes are designed to detonate cleaner with minimized long-lasting fallout and thus are viewed by the Russian military as very usable in battle. In fact, the Russian military routinely rehearses tactical nuclear weapons in conventional battles. Overall, todays Russian military intends to counter American advantages in terms of land and surface forces with tactical nuclear weapons. Russias offensive tactical nukes include nuclear artillery, short-range missiles and nuclear-tipped anti-ship missiles.

Even in terms of conventional ground forces, Russia remains quite formidable.

During a military crisis, the U.S. military would be very challenged in shipping all of the heavy equipment necessary to stop on the ground a Russian military offensive against allies like Lithuania, Estonia, Latvia or even Poland. American air superiority could be significantly challenged by very capable Russian air defenses. Our ground forces would be terribly outgunned at least at first, and the Russians may be able to massively derail our ability to rapidly bring in reinforcements, particularly in terms of tanks, artillery and other heavy equipment.

The Russian military may rapidly escalate to the use of clean, low-yield nuclear weapons in the theater of combat. On top of the sheer explosive power of such weapons, tactical nukes could prompt radiation that mortally wounds many soldiers in the immediate vicinity. This is the grim reality of facing off against an aggressive enemy with the worlds largest nuclear arsenal, coupled with an overwhelming advantage in terms of tactical nuclear weapons.

Michael J. Szanto is an international affairs analyst. He grew up in Highland Park and went to Northwestern University. 2022 Chicago Tribune. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

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The seven-day new-case count in Rock Island and Scott counties offered more hope that the COVID-19 pandemic may be receding.

The best news came from Scott County, where health department officials confirmed the county saw an increase of just 55 cases during the seven-day period ending Friday.

That total varied wildly with Friday's county-wide update from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. According to the agency, Scott County had an increase of 603 cases in the seven-day span.

Scott County Health Department Public Information Officer Brooke Barnes explained the vast discrepancy in new-case totals.

"This has happened periodically in the past," Barnes said. "There was a data dump from out-of-state labs that really skewed the case count for the week. So a bunch of cases from before the last week were counted in the seven-day total.

"As I said, this has happened in the past  the state updates case counts to include data from tests done out of state. Unfortunately, the state didn't notify some other agencies."

According to the CDC's latest update, the county saw an increase of 126 cases in that span and a positivity rate of 3.77%.

Falling cases and positivity rate had an immediate impact on the CDC's rating of community-wide transmission in Rock Island County.

"Last week, we were at a medium, but we fell to low by Friday. This metric means that people can choose to wear a mask. The Illinois mask requirement in many locations was lifted Monday," Rock Island County Health Department COO and Public Information Officer Janet Hill said.

Hill explained that "masks still are required in health care and congregate care settings and on public transportation and transportation facilities."

School districts, day cares and private businesses can continue to require masks at their discretion. Hill stressed individuals can continue to wear masks in public settings or in large crowds.

"We urge understanding and compassion for that persons decision," Hill said. "The virus that causes COVID-19 still is circulating in our community, and masks offer protection to you, your family, and your community."

Scott County Health Department Medical Director Dr. Louis Katz cautioned cases could rise again in the fall, as happened in 2020 and 2021.

"The next variant may be better, worse or the same in terms of transmission and severity compared to omicron and delta, and we are not in position to predict that," Katz said. "Accordingly, the broad use of boosted vaccination is critical, as is continued consideration of non-pharmaceutical interventions depending on community levels and individual risks of bad outcomes. The pandemic is not over."

COVID-19 vaccinations in the Q-C

Barnes said demand for the COVID-19 vaccine slowed throughout the last half of January.

"If we look at the month of February, our department administered 49 doses of vaccine  Pfizer adult, Pfizer pediatric, and Johnson & Johnson. As a whole, 1,617 doses were administered by Iowa providers to Scott County residents during the month of February," Barnes explained.

As in Scott County, the Rock Island County Health Department reported more than 1,000 people in the county took the jab in February  1,315 doses, to be exact.

"Our Pfizer Friday clinic is busier than the Tuesday one for Moderna and Johnson & Johnson because Pfizer can be given to those age 5 and older and the other two are 18 and older," Hill said. "The Rock Island County Health Department gave 295 COVID-19 vaccinations in February, so you can see how hard pharmacists and healthcare providers also are working to get our community vaccinated."

Officials from both area health departments said the COVID-19 clinics are not carrying large surpluses of vaccine because of cautious ordering practices.

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DES MOINES  Chuck Grassley, Iowas longtime U.S. senator, officially filed for re-election Friday, submitting nearly 10,000 signatures to the Iowa secretary of states office.

Grassley, a Republican, is running for an eighth six-year term in the U.S. Senate. He will be 89 years old when ballots are counted in this Novembers midterm elections.

Speaking to reporters after filing, Grassley said he feels momentum building for Republican candidates in this years elections in Iowa and across the country.

If the election were held today, wed take control of both the Senate and the House. Eight months ahead? To make sure that happens, (Republicans need) just to keep up the hard work, Grassley said.

Three prominent national political forecasting websites  Sabatos Crystal Ball, the Cook Political Report and Inside Elections  all rate Iowas 2022 race for U.S. Senate as safe or solid Republican.

Grassley faces a GOP primary challenge from Jim Carlin, a lawyer and state legislator from Sioux City.

Four Democrats are seeking their partys nomination for the seat: former U.S. Rep. Abby Finkenauer, of Cedar Rapids; U.S. Navy veteran Michael Franken, of Sioux City; Minden physician Glenn Hurst; and Burlington veterans advocate Bob Krause.

DIVESTING IN RUSSIA: Roby Smith, a Republican candidate for state treasurer and state legislator from Davenport, has called on current treasurer Mike Fitzgerald to divest any state of Iowa investments in Russian entities.

Smith is challenging Fitzgerald, a Democrat, in this falls state treasurer election.

In light of (Russian president) Vladimir Putins abhorrent and completely unprovoked attack on the sovereign nation of Ukraine, the State of Iowa needs to strategically divest of any Russian securities it may hold and prevent any future investment with Iowas public funds, Smith said in a statement issued earlier this week.

Fitzgerald said the state has some funds invested in Russian entities through the Iowa Public Employees Retirement System, the public employee retirement program, and a small portion  one-half of 1 percent  of the 529 retirement savings promotion program. Fitzgerald said he has been working with managers on the 529 program, and that the IPERS board  of which he is a member  would need to vote to make any investment moves.

On Friday, Fitzgerald issued a statement joining other state treasurers in supporting efforts to divest public funds in Russian companies at all levels of government.

I condemn Russias unprovoked and unjustified invasion of Ukraine, Fitzgerald said in the statement. I stand with the people of Ukraine and democracy. Therefore, I am joining other state treasurers so we can speak in a united voice to call for the divestment of public funds as soon as possible.

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DES MOINES  Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds campaign arm is planning a special event that could be the official kickoff of her re-election campaign.

The Reynolds campaign announced Friday it will hold a rally Wednesday at the Iowa State Fairgrounds. The announcement does not say what Reynolds will talk about at the event.

Reynolds, a Republican, is up for re-election this fall. She has not yet officially announced her desire to seek another four years as Iowa governor, but is widely expected to do so.

Reynolds became governor in 2017, when she was promoted from lieutenant governor after former Gov. Terry Branstad was named U.S. ambassador to China. Reynolds won a full four-year term in 2018 by 3 percent over Democratic candidate Fred Hubbell.

Hubbell in 2018 emerged from a five-way Democratic primary. This year, Democrats have just one active candidate: Deidre DeJear, a Des Moines businesswoman who ran for Iowa secretary of state in 2018.

Three prominent national political forecasting websites  Sabatos Crystal Ball, the Cook Political Report and Inside Elections  all rate Iowas 2022 race for governor as safe or solid Republican.

Reynolds campaign raised nearly $3.8 million in 2021 and finished the year with nearly $4.8 million in her campaign account, according to state campaign finance records. The Reynolds campaign claimed both are state campaign fundraising records.

DeJear raised just $280,000 and finished the year with only $8,500 in her campaign account.

Wednesdays event is scheduled to be held at the fairgrounds Elwell Family Food Center. Doors open at 5 p.m. People wishing to attend can RSVP at reynoldstour.com.

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Native immersion schools across the U.S., such as those based on a model developed at the Native American Community Academy in New Mexico, have seen improved graduation rates and academic achievement for Native students.

In a 98-page research study by the American Indian College Fund, supported by the Kellogg Foundation in Michigan, authors found significant evidence of the efficacy of language-immersion education for Native American students.

On a most basic level, backers of immersion charter schools say it is time to give the concept a try, and that Senate Bill 139 would allow for an experiment they believe can be a game changer for Native Americans.

While other immersion schools and educational programs exist on reservations in South Dakota, they tend to be nonprofit institutions that rely on donations and grant awards that can be unsteady and susceptible to the vagaries of the larger economy or giving trends.

Supporters of the measure say adequate, consistent funding levels provided by state support are key to the success of immersion schools and their students.

Charter schools are publicly funded, tuition-free schools run independently of traditional local school districts. The schools often focus on improving achievement in underperforming student populations and may place a greater focus on specific teaching methods or subjects not offered in traditional schools.

Most still report to local school boards or other designated authorizing agent, and students typically are held to all state achievement and testing standards.

Opponents of charter schools often argue that they shift per-student funding away from existing public schools and can allow for unorthodox or untested teaching methodologies and curricula.

Charter schools are considered by supporters to be effective because they allow for innovation in teaching methods and also greater flexibility in curriculum development, staffing, scheduling and teaching styles. South Dakota is one of only five states in the nation that do not allow for charter schools; four of those states are in the Great Plains, including South Dakota, Nebraska, North Dakota and Montana (Vermont is the fifth).

Backers of Lakota-language and cultural immersion schools have proposed similar legislation in three of the past five years, including Senate Bill 139, the bill now under consideration by the Legislature.

The 16-page bill lays out a framework for public school districts to sponsor creation of Lakota Immersion schools in reservation areas. Initially, the bill called for formation of four schools in a five-year test period, but has been amended this session to allow only two schools.

Native American students are the largest minority group in the state public school system. South Dakota has 688 public schools with about 136,000 students, roughly 11% of which are Native and 72% of which are white. The state spends about $1.65 billion a year to fund public schools.

The Senate bill bases its proposed curriculum largely on the Oceti Sakowin Essential Understandings and Standards, a set of state-approved concepts that provides a framework for teaching Native history and culture. The 35-page set of lesson plans and instructional guidelines includes teaching aids in history, culture, language, treaties, identity and way of life of Lakota, Dakota and Nakota Sioux Indians.

However, bills to make teaching of the Oceti standards mandatory in South Dakota public schools failed this session, and use of the standards remains mixed at best in South Dakota schools. A 2021 state survey of more than 700 educators in 125 school districts found that only 45% of educators reported using the Oceti understandings in their schools, and that 9% of educators said their schools did not celebrate Native history or culture in any way.

Opponents of the current Senate bill uniformly stress their support for improving educational achievement for Native students in South Dakota. This year, opponents of SB 139 are making essentially the same arguments as in past years when the immersion charter school concept was proposed.

Opponents this year include the Associated School Boards of South Dakota, the School Administrators of South Dakota, the South Dakota Education Association, and a lobbying arm of the largest school districts in the state, including Sioux Falls.

Rob Munson, executive director of the School Administrators of South Dakota, told News Watch that a new law allowing Lakota Immersion schools is not needed because school districts across the state can already open and manage language-immersion schools. As examples, Munson pointed to Sonia Sotomayor Elementary in Sioux Falls, a publicly run and funded K-5 Spanish-language immersion school; and to a Lakota-language immersion class at Canyon Lake Elementary School within the Rapid City Area Schools system.

Munson also said the bill as written could allow a single school to consume a disproportionate amount of an overall school districts budget, including state and federal money and any other revenues, such as from fundraising efforts, concession sales at sporting events, or grants given to school districts for other specific purposes.

The final section of the bill would require school districts to fund the Lakota Immersion school based on a percentage of how many students are in the school compared with the entire district. Once that ratio is determined, the bill would require the new school to receive that portion of the total funding received by the district, which could include monies used for the overhead to run the entire district, not just one school.

That isnt a good way to fund a school, said Wade Pogany, director of the state school boards association. It doesnt take into account need, it doesnt take into account special circumstances of the school, it doesnt take into account staffing.

Opponents also noted that the third version of the bill is very much like the other versions and does not appear to address concerns raised during prior hearings that could have made the legislation stronger and more acceptable to school districts and lawmakers.

Were not opposed to Native kids and were not opposed to what this bill is doing in many cases, Pogany said in his Senate testimony. Were objecting to the same things we objected to last year  the governance and funding.

Sarah White, a former public school administrator in Rapid City who now serves as director of the South Dakota Educational Equity Coalition, said the state public education system has not accepted adequate responsibility for the long-range lack of success of Native American students. Testing data showing Native students consistently and historically underperform compared with their white peers is clear evidence of systemic failure of the current public school model in South Dakota, she said.

The output of what the system is imposing yields an undeniable truth that the system was not meant for our students and is not designed for our students success, she said. We also see a clear and consistent evasion of responsibility for Indigenous education in our state.

As a child, White attended reservation schools where she said her Native identity and culture were omnipresent in classes, on campus and in the community. When she went to college, she found that Native Americans were largely absent from the student population, in adornments on campus and the educational experiences in the classroom. White said she found it much harder to feel welcome and to excel in that academic setting.

White said the eldest of her four children attended traditional public schools in Nebraska and in Rapid City before transferring to a high school run by the Oglala Lakota School District in Pine Ridge.

Her son fell through the cracks and did not do well as a minority in majority-white schools, which also tended to have large classes, White said.

Upon admission to the school in Pine Ridge, her son began to flourish, she said.

For the first time, he said he felt like he could actually be himself in an academic setting, and hearing that broke my heart, she said. Theres a combination of factors that contribute to his success, but I believe the biggest metric for achievement was when he admitted he can finally be himself in that space.
A funding bill that would allow South Dakota Mines to purchase the business incubator building on their campus has new life after Rep. Becky Drury, R-Rapid City, succeeded Thursday in smoking the bill out for action before the full House of Representatives.

SB 97 would appropriate $5.25 million in general funds to the South Dakota Board of Regents to purchase the original Ascent Innovation Center located on the Mines campus in Rapid City and a $2 million authorization for the Board of Regents to use their "other fund" for renovations to the building.

The original Ascent Innovation Center was built in 2006 by the forerunner of Elevate Rapid City, and is owned by Elevate Rapid City. The land where the building is located is owned by South Dakota Mines, but Elevate Rapid City has a lease on the land until 2054.

By the mid 2010s, the business incubator was at capacity and there was a waiting list for startup companies to become tenants.

In 2019, Elevate Rapid City began building a new 40,000-square-foot business incubator at the corner of East Boulevard and Main Street. It opened in 2021 as the David Lust Accelerator Building.

SD Mines President Jim Rankin said research programs for the university are currently renting space in the original Ascent Innovation Center on their campus, as the rest of campus buildings are full. If the purchase of the building is successful, the small businesses in the incubator would have the opportunity to transfer to the David Lust Accelerator Building and Mines could use the space to expand their programs.

"We desperately need the space," Rankin told the House Appropriations Committee on Wednesday. "We've had our highest amount of externally funded research recently at $18 million and we have outgrown our research space, and we can continue to grow."

By purchasing the business incubator space, Rankin said it is more economical for the university rather than constructing a new building.

"With construction prices around the School of Mines right now at about $500 per square foot, it would cost $20 million to $25 million to build this building new, plus I'd have to go out and buy land because I do not have the land to put this building on," Rankin said.

Brian Moher, executive director of the South Dakota Board of Regents, testified that the purchase of the business incubator building is on the board's priority list.

SB 97 successfully passed the Senate on Feb. 24 with an overwhelming vote of 34-1. The only vote against the funding bill came from Sen. Julie Frye-Mueller, R-Rapid City.

However, the funding bill met a wall of opposition in the House of Representatives Appropriations Committee. Thursday morning, the committee voted 6-3 to send the measure to the 41st legislative day. That move normally kills a bill.

Rep. John Mills, R-Volga, spoke out against the bill in committee, saying it was a "complicated issue" and it took him "quite a long time to figure out what was the right thing to do."

Mills said he felt Elevate Rapid City was trying to "penalize" Mines for the success of the business incubator on their campus and not share in the success any longer after Elevate Rapid City built the larger David Lust Accelerator Building.

"To me, it's wrong to come back and now penalize Mines, if you will, for the success and say 'OK, we were so successful, we've moved, but now we want to sell you our building that we were going to give you anyway,'" Mills said.

Rep. Linda Duba, D-Sioux Falls, disagreed with Mills.

"We had an opportunity to tour this campus and we saw the cramped conditions for research," Duba said. "We know that research is a big fundamental part of what School of Mines does, and the more research opportunities that we bring into that university, the stronger that university becomes."

After the bill was killed in committee, Drury presented a motion on the House floor to recall the legislation from committee using Joint Rule 7.7, the smoke-out clause. The motion received a verbal second by Rep. Mike Derby, R-Rapid City. In order for the smoke-out clause to succeed, at least one-third of the House must support it.

Drury's motion was supported by the one-third threshold and the legislation was successfully revived. The bill is expected to be heard in the full House on Monday.

Contact Nathan Thompson at nathan.thompson@rapidcityjournal.com.

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United States Sen. Mike Rounds (R-SD) said Saturday the Veterans Affairs "bureaucracy" should turn into a first-class gold standard to provide services to veterans.

Rounds said if he had his way, he would turn the VA into an entity that provides payment services rendered to veterans in a location of their choice. He said the resources and assets the VA has could instead provide services for veterans with combat-related illness or injuries.

"That way a veteran could receive service where they wanted to in the local community and the VA, or veteran service organization, an entity rather than administration, would be responsible for making payments for services rendered," he said.

Rounds' comments come just a day after regional VA officials told Hot Springs and Fort Meade VA employees about a coming recommendation to reduce services at both facilities and turn them over to a new facility in Rapid City.

The recommendation will be made public in an official report from the Asset and Infrastructure Review (AIR) that will be released March 14. The report will make recommendations on VA facilities across the country. Rounds said the Wagner and Sioux Falls facilities could also see changes.

Rounds, who serves on the Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs, said he had concerns about rural VA facilities like Hot Springs and Wagner when the 2018 vote for the Mission Act, which the review stems from, passed.

He said he was concerned that it didn't provide additional funding and took away guarantees from veterans, like going to a doctor of a veteran's own choice. He said it also established a BRAC-style commission to look at the VA facilities.

"All this amounts to what I see as the VA not looking out for our veterans but rather the bureaucracy they employ," Rounds said.

He said instead of funds going directly to veterans, funds are going to pay the salaries of employees.

"I don't think there are compromises, I think what we have to do is go to battle with the VA, we have to go to battle with this administration," Rounds said. "We have to defend the services that our veterans have earned. I think we just have to hit them head on."

Rounds said the first thing that has to happen is a review of the actual report slated to come out March 14. After that, he said there will be a series of committee reviews, town halls and testimony.

He said veteran outreach also needs to happen to make sure they're getting the services they need.

"I know we have a long fight ahead of us and we can win this battle," Rounds said. "We did it with Ellsworth."

Jerity Ringling, acting public affairs officer for the rehabilitation and extended care VA Black Hills Health Care System, said in a statement Friday evening that veterans will "always be at the center of what we do."

Ringling said any recommendations to the upcoming AIR Commission are just recommendations, and nothing is changing now for veteran access to care or employees.

 Contact Siandhara Bonnet at siandhara.bonnet@rapidcityjournal.com 

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The majority of Veterans Affairs services in Fort Meade and Hot Springs could one day be transferred to a new facility in Rapid City.

Robert McDivitt, VISN 23 Network Director, and Lisa Curnes, Medical Center Director at VA Black Hills, made the announcement to Fort Meade and Hot Springs employees in a meeting Friday afternoon.

"The secretary asked that we brief you on the market assessment process, AIR Commission process and preliminary recommendations from that process prior to the recommendations going out for public comment," McDivitt said. "That's fairly unusual in the VA."

McDivitt said the Asset and Infrastructure Review report will be released to the public March 14, along with "thousands" of pages of data.

He said the preliminary recommendations that would be presented to President Joe Biden in 2023 after a year-long public comment period will be to relocate the outpatient mental health services to a new Rapid City facility and transition both Fort Meade and Hot Springs into community-based outpatient clinics.

The review report stems from the VA MISSION Act, which was approved in 2018. It established a new process to develop, review, approve and implement a list of recommendations to modernize and realign the Veterans Health Affairs medical facilities.

The review included looking at the changing needs of veterans, where needs are going in the next 10 to 20 years, how health care delivery can change including in ambulatory care, virtual care and telecare, and other methodologies.

The VA was originally going to publish the report in January in the Federal Register, but VA Secretary Denis McDonough announced he would push the publication to mid-March due to staffing issues caused by COVID-19.

The new facility in Rapid City would be separate from the outpatient clinic currently being built by Dream Design International and slated to open in fall 2023.

Gov. Kristi Noem released a statement Friday afternoon stating the Sioux Falls VA hospital would lose its emergency services and the clinic in Wagner will completely close.

"Veterans in these areas will no longer have options and may have to drive hundreds of miles to obtain health care services," Noem said. "Tribal veterans, in particular, could lose their health care services entirely."

The South Dakota congressional delegation released a joint statement Friday afternoon opposing the recommendations.

"Im frustrated, and Im angry, and I know these communities are too," Sen. John Thune said. "Let me put this as plainly as I can: The VA is wrong, period. This is a massive mistake, and I will do everything within my power to show the administration, by working with the Asset and Infrastructure Review Commission, why it would be in everyones best interest, especially South Dakotas veterans, to immediately change course."

Sen. Mike Rounds said he was concerned about the act when it was proposed in 2018 and those concerns have come to fruition.

"As a member of the Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs, Ill fight like hell to make sure veterans in South Dakota receive the care theyve earned," he said. "I call upon all veterans organizations to help us defend these services in rural South Dakota.

Rep. Dusty Johnson said about two years ago VA Secretary Robert Wilkie came to Hot Springs and said the facility would remain open and there wouldn't be a reduction in services.

"This is a betrayal to the Hot Springs community and its veterans," Johnson said. "If the commission is going to move forward with reducing services, they should face the people of Hot Springs, Wagner, Fort Meade, and Sioux Falls and explain why they believe these services should be scaled back. Weve worked together to fight harmful VA decisions in the past, and we are ready to do so again.

McDivitt said the VA worked with Guidehouse, a consulting company, that performed site visits across the country and used data from 2019.

He said the consultant found that Black Hills veterans are in need of long-term care, particularly for an aging population. He said they also projected that the overall demand for out-patient, mental health, specialty care, dental care, and rehab will increase over time.

Curnes said the improvements now being made to the Fort Meade and Hot Springs facilities will continue, however.

"I want to point our that the VA health care system is here to stay," she said. "We will continue to focus on ensuring accessible and quality health care that meets (veterans') needs."

McDivitt said some of these changes could be years or decades away.

The official recommendation to President Biden will be made on Jan. 31, 2023. Biden will notify the AIR Commission and Congress if he approves or disapproves of the recommendation by Feb. 15. If disapproved, the commission can revise the recommendation and submit a new list. Biden has until March 30, 2023, to approve the recommendations and submit them to Congress.

Correction: This article was corrected at 9:35 a.m. March 7 to reflect Robert McDivitt's title of VISN23 Director.

 Contact Siandhara Bonnet at siandhara.bonnet@rapidcityjournal.com 

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As a heavier band of snow moves through Rapid City, law enforcement officials warned residents that road conditions were getting worse.

From the Pennington County Sheriff's Office at about 8 a.m., "Roads are bad. Semi roll-over on I-90 near New Underwood. Please slow down. Roads are ice covered and slippery."

From the Pennington County Sheriff's Office at about 9 a.m., Saturday, "Bad accident on Radar Hill Road and East Highway 44. Slow down and drive with caution."

A total of 1-2 inches of snow is expected in Rapid City Saturday with higher totals along th South Dakota and Nebraska border.

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China increases input in work-relief programs during 14th Five-Year Plan period

Xinhua) 08:31, March 05, 2022

Villagers work at a poverty-relief clothing factory in Zhouzhuang Village of Daqiao Township, Weishi County, central China's Henan Province, Sept. 1, 2020. (Xinhua/He Juan)

BEIJING, March 4 (Xinhua) -- During the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-2025), China has increased its input in support programs that provide work for people in need as a form of relief, the country's top economic planner has said.

To date, 90 billion yuan (about 14.22 billion U.S. dollars) has been invested in relevant programs that have created 1.5 million jobs for rural residents, according to the National Development and Reform Commission.

The programs are mainly related to production and living in rural areas, transportation, water conservancy, culture and tourism, and infrastructure related to forestry and grasslands.

Rural residents who have been lifted out of poverty and low-income earners will be encouraged to participate in these work-relief programs to help them find jobs and to boost incomes in areas close to their homes.

(Web editor: Xia Peiyao, Liang Jun)
A District Court judge has denied the request for a preliminary injunction over portions of Montanas wolf hunting and trapping regulations.

Lewis and Clark District Court Judge Michael McMahon issued his denial this week to Wolves of the Rockies and Trap Free Montana in their lawsuit against Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks and the Montana Fish and Wildlife Commission. The groups allege in their lawsuit that changes made by FWP in this years wolf regulations violated their right to participate and should be overturned.

The groups point to two parts of the current wolf regulations. First, they note that the commission passed a regulation allowing wolf hunting on private land at night, but commissioners did not specify types of equipment that could be used. When regulations were released, FWP added artificial light, night vision, thermal imagining and infrared technology. Secondly, the groups point out that a section of the regulations stating hunting wolves from aircraft was removed without notice or commission action.

The groups argue that only the commission, not the agency, has the power to make such regulatory changes. In court filings and a hearing last month, attorneys asked the court to halt the use of night hunting equipment and aircraft while the litigation plays out.

McMahon in late January denied the groups request for a temporary restraining order to immediately halt the allowance of night hunting equipment and aircraft for hunting wolves. In that decision, the judge found that the Montana Administrative Procedure Act specifically exempts rules for hunting and trapping from its public participation requirements.

During the hearing and subsequent filings, attorneys for the groups cited violation of a different law, the Montana Public Participation Act, which they said set out a process of public comment and meetings. They further pointed to state law stating that the commission is charged with setting regulations, the implication being that FWP does not have power to act unilaterally.

Attorneys for the state contend that the night hunting equipment was captured in law and presents a safety concern if disallowed. They further argued that a prohibition on aerial hunting noted in regulations for a decade was an error, and that the Legislature has not specifically prohibited aircraft for hunting wolves. They conceded during the hearing last month that FWP could have better communicated the changes and the reasons for them to the public.

On the issue of aerial hunting, McMahon in his preliminary injunction denial order dated March 2 pointed to the federal Airborne Hunting Act which already prohibits hunting wolves from aircraft. He also found that removing an error from regulations appears to be consistent with Montana law since an agency rule is invalid if it exceeds the controlling enabling statute.

McMahon also points to Senate Bill 314 from the last legislative session, which states in part that the commission may authorize hunting wolves at night on private land with the aid of artificial light or night vision scopes, which he writes made the groups aware of the availability of such devices.

Since the Legislature authorized the Commission to allow artificial light or night vision scopes hunting on private land, it appears requiring the Commission to provide public notice relative to artificial light or night vision scopes might be a useless or futile act, the judge wrote in a footnote.

In an amended complaint the groups cite the Montana Public Participation Act and state that public participation processes were not followed in terms of taking public input in the decision-making process.

But McMahon, in saying that the argument is compelling, wrote that it does not address the specific exemption from the Montana Administrative Procedures Act.

If the Commission is exempted under MAPA in establishing seasonal hunting rules, has it held a proceeding as required by MAPA and therefore complied with, Montana law, the judge asks.

The judge concluded that issuing a preliminary junction at this juncture could be reversed without determining that possible ultimate issue.

Montanas wolf hunting and trapping season runs until March 15.

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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Courtney Edmond sued former employer Wells Fargo Clearing Services for discrimination based on race and national origin after he was terminated due to findings that Edmonds personal business dealings conflicted with those of his employer and violated its code of ethics.

Edmond also claimed he was retaliated against for raising concerns about the Black customer experience when he was interviewed by the bank about his personal dealings, prior to his termination.

The U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia found last month that Edmonds claims all failed as a matter of law.

Edmond could not demonstrate that his termination violated Title VII of the Civil Rights Act because he could not show that the position remained open, was filled by a similarly qualified applicant outside his protected class, or that a similarly qualified applicant was retained under similar circumstances, criteria necessary for a successful wrongful termination claim.

Even if he could provide this evidence, his claim would have likely failed because he was terminated for a legitimate and non-discriminatory reason.

Edmond also claimed he was treated differently because of his race, but had no evidence to support this claim, the court said.

Edmond could not prevail on his claim that his employer failed to promote him because he could not demonstrate that he applied or even attempted to apply for a promotion, the court said.

In responding to his claims of retaliation, the court noted his failure to show a causal relationship between his claims of the Black experience and his termination.

Finally, Edmond argued that Wells Fargo unintentionally discriminated through a facially neutral policy.

But the court said, this claim also fails because he provides no evidence of a facially neutral employment practice that had a significant discriminatory impact.

Employers can discern some critical recommendations from this case.

First, make sure that termination decisions are well-documented and for legitimate and non-discriminatory reasons.

If an employer is terminating an individual, be mindful that, for example, replacing a 62-year-old Hispanic male terminated for undocumented performance issues will receive higher scrutiny if replaced by a 26-year-old white female.

Second, set your organization up for success with well-written and communicated policies, and then execute a legitimate and objective process for investigating alleged violations.

If there are behaviors that are important to the organization, then having a clear policy on those expectations is important, as is communicating the policy.

After suspicious account activity, Wells Fargo conducted a thorough investigation and concluded that Edmond violated Wells Fargos Code of Ethics and Personal Finances policies because he could not explain a source of funds, as well as other discrepancies.

The investigators were certified in their fields and interviewed Edmond multiple times.

Third, make sure that your organization understands the EEOC process. Edmond also claimed that he was discriminated against based on his national origin in his lawsuit, but when he filed his Charge of Discrimination (a prerequisite to filing a federal lawsuit), he alleged discrimination only based on race and gender, and he didnt mention national origin. His national origin claim was therefore procedurally barred from the lawsuit.

Fourth, for all promotions, require an application process. As the court noted, Edmond did not apply for any promotion. The court noted that Edmond offers no evidence that Wells Fargo stood in the way of his advancement in any way, not to mention in a way that gives rise to an inference of discrimination. Employers need a fair, objective and non-discriminatory promotions process.

Finally, employers can avoid successful retaliation challenges by not allowing any protected activities to creep into the decision-making process.

Ultimately, successful cases depend on following internal processes and policies, investigating all complaints and concerns thoroughly and with those trained in the field being investigated, and then making decisions that are well-documented.

Consistently holding all those who commit similar offenses similarly accountable is also key to prevailing in a discrimination complaint.
In what has become a pattern in Virginia education, systemic racisms reality and remedies are being attacked more aggressively than the disease itself.

A Democratic-controlled Senate panel advanced legislation Thursday banning discrimination in the admissions process at governors schools. The legislation watered down a Republican measure that would have prevented the schools from collecting data on race, sex, nationality or ethnicity during an application process and called for acceptance decisions to be made blind to an applicants identity.

That bill by Del. Glenn Davis, R-Virginia Beach, also would have barred schools from participating in what he called proxy discrimination, including geographic or socioeconomic considerations or limits on the number of students from any single school.

So it could have been worse.

Were not going to discriminate based on race in governors school admissions. Period, full stop. And Im going to let the courts kind of work out what that means. And theyre doing that right now, said Chap Petersen, D-Fairfax City, on Thursday.

That last part is a problem.

On Feb. 25, a federal judge struck down an overhauled admissions plan designed to increase the ranks of underrepresented Black and Latino students at Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology in Fairfax County. U.S. District Judge Claude Hilton called the admissions process unlawful racial balancing at the expense of Asian-American students, who had made up more than two-thirds of the schools enrollment.

In its new policy, Thomas Jefferson Governors School had removed its admissions test and ensured that every feeder middle school was represented in its enrollment. The process also considered whether a student qualifies for free or reduced lunch and whether English is their first language  steps Davis called proxy discrimination.

The schools current freshman class, the first under the new policy, saw the percentage of Black students increase from 1% last year to 7%; Latino representation increased from 3% to 11%. The percentage of Asians in the freshman class fell from 73% last year to 54% this year, according to the Associated Press.

Amid this spectacle of people of color pitted against one another, an expert of constitutional law in education told The New York Times that the revamped admissions process was plainly consistent with binding Supreme Court precedent.

Justin Driver, a Yale law professor who clerked for Supreme Court justices Stephen Breyer and Sandra Day OConnor, called Hiltons decision the latest and boldest indication yet that conservatives wish once again to offer radical reinterpretations of the 14th Amendments Equal Protection Clause.

Conservative judges appear to be more guided by ideology and partisanship than precedent as they whittle away at voting rights, abortion rights and now efforts to increase diversity in education. Meanwhile, Gov. Glenn Youngkin has shown his disdain for equity as he has Virginians policing lessons on U.S. racism (divisive concepts).

In this environment, its unfathomable that Democrats would be comfortable leaving this issue to the courts. Its as if they slept through this ongoing weaponization of race in education.

Parts of this bill reflect a willingness to entertain the idea that considering race to remedy racial discrimination is itself discrimination. That is an ahistorical position out of sync with the reality of our country, says Genevieve Siegel-Hawley, an associate professor at Virginia Commonwealth Universitys Department of Educational Leadership. Other parts recognize that reality by requiring districts to offer equitable opportunities for advanced coursework.

All schools, including our governors schools, are much stronger when they reflect the rich diversity of our public school enrollment, said Siegel-Hawley, an alumna of the governors school in Richmond. Diversity gives students the opportunity to wrestle with complex problems togetherand to better understand each others lived experiences. Without the opportunity to develop such understanding, it remains difficult for us to confront ongoing discrimination against historically marginalized groups.

Governors schools are not private; they are supported by all taxpayers. Their enrollments should be as diverse as reasonably possible  racially, ethnically, geographically and economically.

I dont think any school is for everybody. There is a good fit that works for each student, said Rasheeda Creighton, like Siegel-Hawley, a governors school graduate when it was housed at Richmonds Thomas Jefferson High. But when you have a trend that wholeheartedly excludes a whole set of students, that should flag as a problem. ... Youre actually saying that you believe some groups are inherently inferior.

The pundits predicted that the election of Barack Obama signaled a post-racial America. Some of our leaders behave as if they bought the hype. Others extoll a colorblindness that perpetuates inequity.

If these delusions land us in a post-remedy America, the virus of racism will go unchecked.
Nearly all of Richmonds police officers and firefighters would get raises of at least 10% starting July 1 under Mayor Levar Stoneys $836 million budget proposal for the 2022-23 fiscal year.

The budget proposal calls for increasing the citys annual spending by $63.2 million, or 8.2%, over the citys budget for this year while maintaining the citys real estate tax rate level at $1.20 per $100 of assessed value.

The budget also includes 5% raises for all non-sworn employees and $15 million in additional funding for Richmond Public Schools.

I am confident in, and optimistic for, our citys future, the mayor said in a presentation of the budget to the City Council on Friday afternoon.

The city of Richmond is well-positioned to continue its upward trajectory thanks to the conservative revenue projections, targeted investments and fiscally responsible management reflected in this balanced budget.

The plan raises salaries in both the fire and police departments across the board. Stoney said 95% of police officers and firefighters will receive salary increases of more than 10%, with 83% of them receiving raises of more than 15%.

City Council members last year pledged to invest in the salaries to get them to a market rate, as public safety employees were frequently citing low wages and management issues as the cause of high turnover and poor morale in their ranks.

Even though Stoney said last month that he would leave funding for public schools level if the School Board missed a deadline to approve an annual budget by Feb. 25, he proposed increasing funding for the division by $15 million  which is $1 million less than what the school division has requested from the city.

The School Board was late in approving a $356.2 million budget on Monday, but the mayor said he was nonetheless frustrated with the governing boards ongoing dysfunction.

The board initially rejected Superintendent Jason Kamras budget proposal in a narrow 5-4 vote last month after several board members alleged that Kamras and his administration had failed to incorporate changes they requested.

The superintendent said he did not incorporate many of the changes because there was no clear consensus on most of the requests.

The $15 million in new education funding would be directed to a contingency reserve fund. Stoney said the City Council would need to pass a special ordinance to allow the school division to access the money.

Taken together, there is enough funding in my budget proposal for RPS to provide raises for our hard-working teachers, cover its administrative needs, and support its efforts to improving learning outcomes for our kids, he said.

Stoney said the budget also includes $400,000 for the Black History Museum & Cultural Center of Virginia, which now owns the Confederate monuments that the city and state had removed in the past two years.

The mayor said the money will help the museum as it works with the community to decide the final disposition of the monuments.

Other budget items that Stoney highlighted on Friday include:

$1.5 million in new parks, recreation and community facilities;

a 50% hike in eviction diversion funding, raising total program funding to $727,000;

a $605,000 increase in GRTC funding;

$250,000 to pilot a park ranger program;

restoring funding of the Richmond Public Library system to pre-pandemic levels; and

$300,000 in new funding for the Richmond Behavioral Health Authority.

While the budget does not have any tax rate increases, Stoney said residents and business owners will pay more for utilities and public parking to help balance the budget, as required by state law.

Stoney said monthly parking in city-owned lots will increase by $5, while hourly parking will increase from $1.50 to $2. Gas, water and sewer rates are slated to increase, respectively, by 4%, 3.5% and 5.25%.

Nobody likes paying more, but these rate increases are necessary to provide the top-notch utility services our residents expect and deserve, the mayor said.
In opening the time capsule buried beneath the now-toppled towering likeness on Richmonds Monument Avenue of Confederate deity Robert E. Lee, Virginians got a glimpse of yore: Civil War mementos, a book on the lives of Rebel soldiers and a rendering of a woman grieving at the casket of Abraham Lincoln, bete noire of the slave-holding South.

But perhaps, too, an attitude was resurrected.

Those artifacts, sealed in a copper box more than 134 years ago, are reminders of what school children, especially white school children, were taught about the Civil War, most notably that it had little do with keeping Black people in shackles. Rather, it was about Southern resistance to big government.

It was revisionist history, largely intended to do then what Gov. Glenn Youngkin wants to do now: take the sting out of the past for white Virginians.

Last week, Mel Leonor, a politics reporter for the Richmond Times-Dispatch, wrote of a memorandum by Jillian Balow, the Youngkin-picked superintendent of public instruction  the states top K-12 official  in which Balow informed the governor she was junking as inherently divisive an array of race-focused teacher and classroom programs.

Balow, previously superintendent in Wyoming, a state that is 4.1% non-white, compared with 42% for Virginia, lays out for Youngkin a bill of complaint, one in which she says federal civil rights safeguards enacted almost entirely in response to the incivil treatment of Blacks in Southern states, such as Virginia, are supposed to protect whites, too.

Of one jettisoned teacher-training program, Balow wrote that its divisive concepts included  redress bias, as well as ways to mitigate power imbalances; develop policy to advance anti-racism,  and for educators to be change agents for social justice and academic equity.

Theyre turns of phrase with which the talking heads on Fox News, incubator for Youngkins presumed national ambitions, would have a field day.

This is one element of Youngkins push to purge from public school curricula racial and cultural instruction  much of it put in place under Youngkins Democratic predecessor, Ralph Northam, who knows firsthand the volatility of race as an issue  that has whites, many of them rural and Republican-leaning, squirming or angry.

Del. Ken Plum, D-Fairfax  with 40 years in the House, its most senior member  is a retired Fairfax County educator who says Virginia in recent years has achieved the apex of education reform. He worries that Youngkins stance on schools will only fuel ill will the Republican says he aims to reverse.

In majority non-white Fairfax, where Plum started teaching in 1965 and ran its adult-education program, these tensions are unfolding in plain sight.

Witness the dispute over the admissions policy for its elite Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology, where a shift in standards has been criticized as unfair to Asian Americans, who account for two-thirds of the student body. It is one of the so-called governors schools across the state at which Blacks and Hispanics are underrepresented.

A House-passed GOP bill, favored by some Democrats and headed to the Senate, is designed to reverse that.

In a state that responded to court-ordered school desegregation in the 1950s with massive resistance, Youngkins efforts in the 2020s rely on massive persistence. That is, he keeps them front and center through political appointments, executive orders and legislation lapped up by conservative allies and torn down by liberal adversaries.

And perhaps youve noticed a pattern: When confronted over perceived racial and cultural insensitivity, Youngkin  as a candidate and a governor  goes into charm mode. He tugs on his vest, smiles broadly, affects a slightly wounded tone of voice, and presses the flesh, making sure theres someone with a camera to capture it for Twitter.

With such theatrics, Youngkin is challenging the dichotomy of his young administration: He is clearly viewed as friendly and approachable, though his policies  depending on which public opinion poll you believe  are considered otherwise. Indeed, the governor and the governed apparently are not in sync.

The latest survey by the Wason Center for Public Policy at Christopher Newport University shows that 63% of voters favor race-teaching. It found that 59% oppose Youngkins promised ban on critical race theory, which is not taught in the states schools but is his crowd-pleasing shorthand for what he deems an objectionable emphasis in the classroom on race.

This apparent gap has not deterred Youngkin. He is advocating a highly centralized, top-down approach to school policy that depicts teachers as beholden to their unions instead of their students, and more interested in indoctrination than education. Further, Youngkin appears content to deny local school systems the freedom to finance themselves.

Youngkin launched a snitch line to target teachers who focus on race rather than reading, writing and rithmetic. House Republicans refused to allow localities to add, with the voters consent, 1% to the sales tax to pay for school construction. Instead, the GOP is proposing loans that, for some schools systems, could prove a financial burden.

And in a burst of stern paternalism or an endorsement of censorship  or both  the General Assembly this week sent Youngkin, and he is expected to sign, legislation approved largely along party lines that allows parents to review sexually explicit material before it is taught in the classroom.

Former Gov. Terry McAuliffe, whom Youngkin narrowly defeated last year, twice vetoed similar bills, which were inspired, in part, by a Fairfax parents outrage that her son had been assigned in high school to read Toni Morrisons Beloved, a searing account of slavery that includes violence and sex.

McAuliffes pluperfect ham-handed defense of his decision, during a televised debate with Youngkin, was a defining moment of the campaign, helping magnify the Republicans emphasis on parents rights.

But when asked what books he considers appropriate or inappropriate, Youngkin is leaving it to the publics imagination. Two texts to his press secretary, Macaulay Porter, requesting titles went unanswered.

See Glenn. See Glenn run. See Glenn run from a question.
Sens. Mark Warner and Tim Kaine, both Virginia Democrats, said Friday that Richmonds Housing Opportunities Made Equal of Virginia, Inc. will receive $350,000 in federal funding to support fair housing.

The funding was awarded through the Department of Housing and Urban Developments Fair Housing Initiatives Program.

Too many Virginians are denied equal housing opportunities because of illegal discrimination, Kaine said in a statement. As a former fair housing attorney, Ive seen how housing impacts a familys health and financial well-being.

Warner added: Discriminatory practices should never prevent Virginians from accessing affordable and fair housing opportunities.

The nonprofit, known as HOME, has been in operation for more than 50 years. It says its purpose is to address housing-related systemic inequities that perpetuate segregation, concentrations of poverty, and wealth inequality.

The senators said HOME will use the funds for virtual fair housing workshops and enforcement-related activities. They also said
The first video in a series from Virginia health officials is targeting the 1.6 million Virginians who have not been vaccinated, and it features Sophie Chafin Vance, the daughter of a state senator who died of COVID-19.

We are constantly reliving that loss as the pandemic continues, said Vance, seated near a tractor on her family farm in Lebanon, a small town in Russell County. I didnt think twice walking in those doors and getting that vaccine. I wanted to live, said Vance, whose father, state Sen. Ben Chafin, R-Russell, died in Richmond on Jan. 1, 2021.

Thats ultimately what it comes down to. Do you want to live?

The emotional video  which will launch this week  is the first in a series that will tap what state officials called trusted voices to move unvaccinated and unboosted Virginians to action. Its the primary focus of the new COVID action plan from Gov. Glenn Youngkin, who is trying to increase the states vaccination rates while eliminating mandates.

Amid the uncertainty of a new COVID variant, vaccines present a clear path to minimizing the spread of severe cases and the strain on hospitals. Politically, they can keep the state running without the restrictions Youngkin has vowed to avoid.

People living in rural areas across the state are less likely to be vaccinated and boosted, with particularly low rates in Southwest Virginia, state data reveals. Among the states racial and ethnic groups, Black Virginians are least likely to be vaccinated at 58%, followed by white Virginians at 61%.

Men, particularly between the ages of 18 and 34, are also less likely to be vaccinated. Less than half of kids and teens under 18 are vaccinated; for children between ages 5 and 11, the rate is just over a third.

Virginia Secretary of Health and Human Resources John Littel said in an interview that addressing vaccine hesitancy has become the top priority for the state to address COVID.

We now have a good handle on testing and treatment, so the focus is now on vaccines, because thats going to be critical for us, Littel said of the potential for another variant.

Then-Gov. Ralph Northams administration was engaged in outreach since the vaccine became available in Virginia. The Youngkin administrations plan offers a look into the strategy of a GOP governor whose base of support includes many people skeptical of the vaccine and resistant of mandates.

Youngkin recently appeared in a public service announcement urging Virginians to get the shot. The video titled, Lets Tackle COVID-19 Together, shows a fleece-vested Youngkin casually walking around a diner, talking to patrons while pouring coffee.

I wont mandate it, but my family and I made the choice to get vaccinated, Youngkin says to the camera. The vaccine is the best way to protect our lives and loved ones.

******

Christy Gray, the states vaccine coordinator at the Virginia Department of Health, said the states strategy now revolves around targeting trusted voices to reach the unvaccinated and nudge them toward the shot. Vaccine hesitancy, she said, is defined as having access but choosing to forgo.

The state is using information from market research conducted by the Reingold communications firm to craft videos  like the one featuring Vance  targeting the unvaccinated.

This idea of trusted messengers isnt a new concept for us, but its something that we are extending and targeting, Gray said. Were trying to have these stories that would have happened down the road from you ... and just really brings it home and makes it real.

The state has an ongoing $1.5 million partnership with four historically Black colleges and universities  Virginia State University, Virginia Union University, Norfolk State University and Hampton University  to fund outreach to their campus populations and satellite communities.

Through funding it received from the federal government, the Youngkin administration said its running marketing campaigns in Spanish and awarding grants to religious organizations hosting vaccination events.

In December, before Youngkin took office in January, grants of up to $20,000 were awarded to 20 congregations across 13 health districts  including predominantly Black churches and rural churches. In late spring, the state will start taking applications to award 50 more grants to religious organizations to help with vaccine messaging.

Some of the lowest vaccination rates in Virginia, and across the nation, are among children. Littel said parents of children under 18 present a great opportunity to increase vaccine uptake.

Fewer than 50% of children and teens ages 5 to 17 have been vaccinated, compared with 82% of people over the age of 18. COVID policies targeting children  most recently mask mandates  have resulted in heated backlash from some parents and conservatives.

To improve the vaccination rate among children and teens, the state is asking local health districts to partner with schools to host virtual town halls about vaccines where parents can get information and ask questions. A spokesman for the VDH said the tele-town halls for schools are in the early planning stages and that six school divisions have expressed interest in hosting them.

We want schools, who are trusted by the parents, to be sharing this information. We do find that schools that provide vaccine information or education to parents have higher vaccination rates than schools that dont, Gray said.

It is a way to make sure that parents are getting their information from a trusted and accredited source to be able to make the best decision for their family.
Virginias Supreme Court justices heard arguments Friday on their own decision to seal records filed by the former parole board chairwoman at the center of a scandal, which an attorney for the Richmond Times-Dispatch argued left the public without the ability to know if the secrecy was warranted.

Former Virginia Parole Board Chair Adrianne Bennett, who was found to have violated rules in the process for releasing some people from prison in 2020, filed records at the Supreme Court of Virginia last year related to a state investigation of her by the Judicial Inquiry and Review Commission.

The Supreme Court put the records under seal, and sealed the order that explained its reasoning for closing off the records to the public.

The Times-Dispatch filed a petition at the Supreme Court in July asking the court to unseal the sealing order. Fridays oral argument on the newspapers petition came eight months later.

The newspapers attorney argued Friday that the public has a right to access court records, and without knowing the reasons why the Supreme Court put Bennetts filing under seal, the public has no way of knowing if her request for confidentiality justified the need for secrecy.

Theres a presumptive right of access to court orders, attorney David Lacy told the justices. So the burden, therefore, is on Judge Bennett to establish an interest so compelling that it not only overrides that presumption but that it justifies the total and complete secrecy that shes asking for in this case.

Bennett, who became a juvenile court judge in Virginia Beach in April 2020, was at the center of a scandal after the Office of the State Inspector General found the parole board violated law and policy, including not properly notifying victims and prosecutors about people being released from prison on parole.

Bennett was the parole board chair at the time. The scandal became an issue in last years race for governor and attorney general.

Although they are not mentioned in court records, at least two complaints about Bennett were made to the Judicial Inquiry and Review Commission, known as JIRC, a state government panel that investigates allegations of judicial misconduct.

One was made in April 2021 by a former parole board employee who alleged Bennett directed parole board staff to copy and paste a previous report about a person who was eligible for parole, to be used in a new review. The employee had never been asked to do that in the past and felt that using a previous report as her own work would result in falsification of the report.

Sen. Bryce Reeves, R-Spotsylvania, also made a complaint to the commission about Bennett, related to the same allegation.

JIRC investigations are confidential under the law, but if JIRC finds an allegation is founded, records will then be publicly filed at the Supreme Court of Virginia, which decides if a judge should be censured or removed from the bench.

The commission filed no records at the Supreme Court related to Bennett, indicating that JIRC did not think the allegations against her warranted a finding.

But while JIRC was investigating, Bennett on May 20 filed a petition for a writ of mandamus at the Supreme Court  a request for the court to tell other government officials what to do. The details of her request are unclear because the court sealed both her filing and the sealing order.

Her filing showed up on the courts electronic docket in her name, and indicated that JIRCs general counsel was involved.

Lee BHM Corp., publisher of The Times-Dispatch, filed a petition in the case saying the court made an error by not giving the public notice of the sealing motion and an opportunity to be heard on it.

This Court sealed the records in this case. The public does not know why, though, because the Courts sealing order is also under seal, the newspapers filing reads. Such extreme secrecy measures are troubling in any case, but especially so in a case like this one involving a sitting judge seeking extraordinary relief directly from the highest Court in the Commonwealth. Under these circumstances, the publics interest in access is at its apex.

Lacy, the newspapers attorney, argued on Friday that while the General Assembly has established by law that certain parts of JIRC proceedings are confidential, that law does not apply to Bennetts filing at the Supreme Court, and there should not have been an automatic sealing.

He said the Supreme Court should unseal the sealing order or enter a public version of the sealing order because public confidence in the courts is best served when the public can see court records.

This court sets the tone for the other courts, he said.

He also asked the justices to address why it took six months to schedule a hearing on the newspapers petition, so lower courts dont think that you can sit on a petition like this  because that would have the same effect of non-disclosure.

Attorney Lee Floyd represented Bennett on Friday and told the justices they had the discretion to make the records and sealing order confidential, and that they made the right decision. She noted that the JIRC statute requires confidentiality unless JIRC files a case at the Supreme Court.

The Richmond Times-Dispatch motion asks this court the very simple, procedural question, which is, did this court properly seal the sealing order in the present matter? And the answer to that question is, of course yes, she said.

Justice D. Arthur Kelsey, though, noted that the JIRC confidentiality law governs the commission, it doesnt govern us.

He noted that had Bennett not filed for mandamus at the Supreme Court, the issue would have remained secret.

But she brought it to court, Kelsey said. And now its not in the JIRC commission anymore. Its before us on a mandamus proceeding, and shes saying I want the same level of confidentiality...

He added that the JIRC confidentiality statute obviously does not apply with the same force to us  theres another interest involved here, which is the publics right to see what happens in its courts.

The court could issue an opinion or an order in the case.

Separately from the case, some lawmakers are interested in finding out more about how the Judicial Inquiry and Review Commission operates. Although legislation to require a state study of JIRC didnt pass in the General Assembly this year, lawmakers are suggesting that the states Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission do a study, and a decision on that will likely be made this summer.

Attorney General Jason Miyares, a Republican, battered Democrat Mark Herring, then the incumbent, on the parole board issue in last years election. Miyares is now investigating the past misconduct at the parole board that the state inspector general had looked into before aides to then-Gov. Ralph Northam reprimanded the inspector general and questioned his power.
A lot of positive things have happened for the Rooster Walk Music & Arts Festival in the years since William Baptist co-founded the Martinsville-area event.

Rooster Walk, meant to honor posthumously the lives of Edwin The Rooster Penn and Walker Shank, has grown into a nonprofit regional institution that has donated more than $100,000 to a scholarship program directed at Martinsville High School. And it has developed a reputation as a family-friendly event on beautiful grounds that brings in great touring performers from across the country.

After two years off because of COVID, the festival is scheduled for its 12th edition, May 26-29 at Pops Farm. Baptist, however, wont be at the center of the action. The festival announced this week that he has decided to leave.

Baptist, who was the events chief of operations, founded Rooster Walk alongside Johnny Buck in 2009. Baptist and Buck, the executive director, created Rooster Walk in memory of the childhood friends, Martinsville natives who passed away while in their mid-20s.

Baptist, in a message exchange on Facebook, said that he was thankful for his coworkers, board members, supporters, sponsors, artists and especially Rooster Walk fans for making the last 15 years of my life so rich with memories and experiences.

We started this thing when we lost two very special people. My experiences with Rooster Walk have allowed me to feel a closer presence to Edwin and Walker (and others weve lost along the way) and all they stood for. I never would have been able to process losing my two best friends without finding my joy in bringing joy to others.

He said he is looking to learn new skills and to create, and that he is moving to Charlottesville. Baptist has lived on Pops Farm much of the time since Rooster Walk moved there in 2015.

Itll be interesting to try a 9-5 job, he wrote. Im hoping that I can leave work at work for a little while and spend more time with family and my friends that are like family. I promise this isnt the last that our music scene has seen of me.

Rusty Lacy, the Rooster Walk Inc. board president, said in a festival news release that he and everyone associated with the festival are grateful for Baptists time and efforts.

Without him, the company and the festival wouldnt exist as we know them today, Lacy said in the release. His countless hours of work, plus his vision and imagination will leave an indelible mark. We wish him nothing but the best as he moves on to new pursuits.

The festival has launched a search to fill the position.

Grace Potter, Little Feat, Lettuce and Moon Taxi top the bill for this years version. Hit roosterwalk.com for more info and tickets.

Opera and poetryOpera Roanoke and The Spot on Kirk are combining on March 17 to explore the intersection of music and poetry with two MacArthur Genius Fellows.

A Way With Words: A Celebration of Black Voices in Poetry and Music will feature Terrance Hayes and Tyshawn Sorey. Hayes is a poet and English Professor at New York University. Sorey is a multi-instrumentalist and composer. The men co-wrote Cycles of My Being with internationally recognized tenor Lawrence Brownlee, who will perform it on May 1 at Jefferson Centers Shaftman Performance Hall. Opera Roanoke is funding the project with a $15,000 National Endowment for the Arts grant.

At the March 17 event, Hayes and Sorey will share stories and music from their perspective as black artists, according to an Opera Roanoke news release.

Having artists of this caliber here in Roanoke is going to be an unforgettable experience, the operas general director, Brooke Tolley, said in the news release. We want people to know that while opera is our bread and butter, offering unique experiences that wouldnt exist without our communitys arts organizations is important to us as well.

Tickets are $20 via 540-982-2742 or operaroanoke.org.

Girls Rock! Roanoke adds music listingsAre you a woman, non-binary or gender diverse person looking to get your music out there? Girls Rock! Roanoke has a service for you.

The after school and summer school program for musical girls has added a band directory to its website. Go to girlsrockroanoke.org/band-directory to post your acts information. The orgs executive director, Lacey Levy, said in an email that the free listing, called the Girls+ Rock Roanoke Collective, is meant to help venues, festivals and talent bookers easily find performers.

Were working on doing our part to make sure music is equitable and accessible! Levy wrote.

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CHRISTIANSBURG  Matching funds of $6 million are now approved for a significant Montgomery County broadband expansion.

The money, which the county Board of Supervisors passed on a 7-0 vote this past week, comes from the countys share of the federal American Rescue Plan Act package and serves as the localitys financial contribution to a $50 million plan to bring high-speed fiber optic broadband to thousands of citizens and businesses.

Over half of the funding for the project is coming from the Virginia Telecommunication Initiative, which late last year awarded the county a $27.6 million grant. The item supervisors approved this past week was the required local match for the 2021 VATI grant.

The remainder of the projects funding, $16.4 million, comes from companies GigaBeam  a regional broadband provider with offices in Rich Creek and Bluefield, West Virginia  and Appalachian Power, each of which are partnering with Montgomery County.

The project is slated to provide high-speed internet for up to 8,822 residents, businesses and community organizations throughout the county.

On a greater scale, the measures fulfill and continue efforts to address the lack of broadband availability in many of the regions rural pockets, an issue that officials said became even more pressing after the start of the COVID-19 pandemic when remote work and schooling became common.

The funding item approved by the supervisors this past week drew praise from several of them as they prepared to cast their votes.

I think we all say motion, said Supervisor Todd King as the vote was about to be called.

Supervisor Mary Biggs quickly responded with: We all say yes.

Then, board Chairwoman Sherri Blevins added: Were all excited for the project to move forward as quickly as possible.

The recent VATI award was part of a greater grant application that included Montgomery, Bland and Pulaski counties and a public-private partnership with GigaBeam, Appalachian Power and All Points Broadband, according to a Montgomery County announcement a few months ago. The total project estimate was $135.7 million and called for the provision of fiber broadband for up to nearly 20,000 unserved locations in those three counties, the announcement said.

Montgomery County had also previously received another VATI grant that provided the locality with much of the funding needed for the provision of high-speed internet services to nearly 1,300 homes and businesses in the area of Elliston, Shawsville and Lafayette.

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The pandemic is easing in Pskov, Russia, the sister city Gov. Glenn Youngkin appealed to Roanoke to cut ties with after the war against Ukraine began.

The weather in Pskov has begun to warm. Teacher of the year ceremonies are taking place.

But the armed conflict Russia initiated in Ukraine is the topic of the hour.

The city in northwest Russia known for smelt and flax has bigger things on its mind than setting up visits to Roanoke or receiving Roanoke visitors right now, as sister cities do in normal times not marred by a pandemic or war. But officials there have nonetheless signaled continued interest in their buddy community in western Virginia.

Roanoke also wants to connect, according to the Roanoke Valley Sister Cities program leadership, which rejected the governors request and has support from at least a portion of the City Council. The council may take up the matter of what to do about Pskov during a meeting on Monday.

The Roanoke-Pskov sister city relationship will turn 30 years old in October and appears to have a shot at reaching the anniversary.

We value our partnership with each sister city, including Roanoke, Tatyana Pustoshkina, head of the foreign relations department of the Pskov City Council, told The Roanoke Times by email.

Over the years, Roanoke has furnished medical supplies and equipment for hospitals, orphanages and a hospice in Pskov, which has about 200,000 people or twice the population of Roanoke. Russian students have studied at Ferrum College. Ferrum students have studied in Pskov, home to Pskov State University.

The nonprofit Roanoke Valley Sister Cities organization makes events like these happen. It operates on volunteer service and about $20,000 a year received through grants, donations and membership dues.

City officials have the authority to establish or end a sister city relationship but arent responsible for seeing that activities take place. Its not as if Roanoke Major Sherman Lea and Pskovs head of government Elena Polonskaya keep in touch. Lea was unaware of the name of his Pskov counterpart and found, like others, pronouncing the name of the city difficult. The P in Pskov is silent and the city name rhymes with cough.

Lea said he values the goal to advance peace through person to person relationships as the sister cities program allows.

I hope and pray that the residents of Roanoke understand how important it is we maintain our relationship with the people of Pskov while rejecting the unacceptable actions of their leader and continuing to show our support for the people of Ukraine and the suffering they are enduring, Lea wrote to Youngkin.

Thats not how every one of Pskovs sister cities saw it. Neuss, Germany, froze its sister city relations with Pskov, Pskovs government website reported March 1.

Roanoke Valley Sister Cities President Mary Jo Fassie described Pskov State University as the local Pskov entity most involved in sister city activities. Last month, representatives from both regions met virtually. The discussion took place just before the Ukrainian conflict began Feb. 24.

Communication has since become difficult with the university reps, who may have difficulty communicating on Zoom right now, Fassie said.

Asked if Zoom service has broken down in Pskov, Fassie said, we dont know. Weve just been told they will communicate with us in the future.

Details arent yet available about any possible future exchanges between Roanoke and Pskov. Roanoke Valley Sister Cities looks to return to business as usual now that the pandemic appears to have begun to ease and sees face-to-face contacts with sister cities in Brazil, Poland and China as possibilities this and next year.

The Ukraine conflict is as real to Pskovites as the Russian planes that were reported to have taken off from a local airfield bound for Ukraines capital Kyiv on the 24th.

Ukrainian government sources tell me 18 Il-76 planes have left Pskov direction Kyiv, will arrive in about an hour, tweeted journalist Christo Grozev with the investigative journalism group Bellingcat based in Amsterdam.

Pskov has several military bases and an extensive military history. It sits in far northwest Russia 20 miles from Russias western border with Estonia, a country in northern Europe that established its independence from the Soviet Union in 1991.

It is one of dozens of Russian cities to whom the Russian central government has given the honorary title City of Military Glory for displays of courage and heroism during World War II. With war came pain.

In 2020, investigators discovered a mass grave in Moglino near Pskov  as close as Salem is to Roanoke  that contained the bodies of civilians killed during World War II. After an investigation, a local prosecutors office reported its findings.

According to the Russian Legal Information Agency, quoting the prosecutors office, investigators concluded that German forces occupying the Pskov region starting in 1941 shot 42,537 Soviet citizens in the area, tortured or burned alive 7,629 others and hanged 776 others. A local court last summer declared the killings genocide. Courts have made similar declarations after similar discoveries in other parts of Russia once under Nazi occupation.

In Pskovs Lenin Square, thin slabs of concrete supporting a rock memorialize the first local residents killed  10 people shot in the market square.

Other military monuments abound, some to victory, some to loss.

At 65 feet tall, or about the height of a six-story building in the United States, another memorial honors local paratroopers who died in Chechnya during the Second Chechen War, which began in 1999 and resulted in Russia regaining control of Chechyna. Vladimir Putin laid flowers at its base during the 20-year anniversary of those casualties in 2020.

A reporters communications with the Pskov official revealed, not surprisingly, nationalism.

Seeking information about any changes in Pskovs sister city relationships since the conflict began, a reporter who wrote that Russia invaded Ukraine received this reply from Pustoshkina, the Pskov City Council representative.

With your permission, I will allow myself to change the wording of the question. The Russian Federation is ending the military operation that the Ukrainian authorities have been conducting for 8 years against the civilians of Donbass, during which 14,000 people died, Pustoshkinas email said.

Donbas, also spelled Donbass, is a region in Ukraine where its military has fought pro-Russian separatists it considers to be terrorists. Tensions between Ukraine and Russia have played out in the area for years.

To some in Russia, it was time this year for Russias military to step in stronger.

Still, Radio Free Europe reported that a protest took place in Pskov the day after Russia took action. It was not as large ones in Moscow, which triggered scores of arrests. Instead, a single man named Vladimir Kapustinsky stood in a square in Pskov bearing a sign. Translated to English it read Dont Shoot, the news service reported.

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A Botetourt County man charged with pepper-spraying police officers during the riots at the U.S. Capitol will be released on bond, a federal judge decided Friday.

Markus Maly was jailed Jan. 26, after FBI agents arrested him at his home following a year-long investigation.

Maly  who had previously been known to law enforcement only as a suspect pictured in surveillance video wearing a white cowboy hat emblazoned with the words TRUMP 2020 during the insurrection  was ordered held without bond the day of his arrest by Roanoke-based Magistrate Judge Robert Ballou.

But after the 47-year-olds case was transferred to Washington D.C.s federal court, assistant public defender Benjamin Schiffelbein made a second request that his client be released pending trial.

Malys prior criminal record, which included two convictions of assaulting a police officer in Pinellas County, Florida, was for the most part amassed decades earlier.

Since moving to Southwest Virginia about seven years ago, Maly has made a concerted effort to turn his life around, finding a steady job and supporting his family, Schiffelbein wrote in court documents.

Prosecutors had argued that Maly should stay in jail, saying he was a danger to the public.

But U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta allowed the defendant to be released on home detention, with family members responsible for his supervision in addition to electronic monitoring. After a hearing Friday afternoon, he was expected to be released no later than Monday.

Its not for me to judge your guilt or innocence, Mehta told Maly, who is scheduled for a November trial.

About 750 people  including four others from Western Virginia  have been charged with participating in the insurrection, which came after former president Donald Trump urged a crowd of supporters to fight like hell against an election he claimed was stolen from him.

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The future of the Antares space station resupply missions from Wallops Island remains in doubt, despite good news from Ukraine about the factory complex that designs and manufactures rocket bodies for the launches from a state-owned pad on the Eastern Shore barrier island.

The U.S. government confirmed Thursday that the complex in Dnipro, Ukraine, was "structurally intact," despite previous unconfirmed reports that the Yuzhnoye State Design Office and Yuzhmash Machine Building had been destroyed by missile strikes when the Russian military invasion began on Feb. 24.

The complex produces the first-stage assemblies for Antares rockets to resupply the International Space Station under contracts between Northrop Grumman Corp. and NASA.

But the good news was tempered by an announcement in Russian media on Thursday that Roscosmos, the Russian space agency, no longer would allow the sale and delivery to the U.S. of the engines used in the Antares program.

"Today we have made the decision to halt the deliveries of rocket engines produced by NPO Energomash to the United States," said Roscosmos Director Dmitry Rogozin in a television interview reported by TASS, the Russian government press agency. "Let me remind you that these deliveries had been quite intensive somewhere since the mid-1990s."

The Russian decision came in response to sanctions the U.S. and its allies imposed in opposition to the invasion of Ukraine. President Joe Biden said the sanctions include reductions in export of U.S. technology to Russia that he said would degrade their aerospace industry, including their space program.

According to a report by Reuters, Rogozin said in the television interview, "In a situation like this we can't supply the United States with our world's best rocket engines. Let them fly on something else, their broomsticks, I don't know what."

The ban applies to the RD-181 rocket engines used in the Antares program since 2016, two years after a rocket powered by a rebuilt Russian engine exploded moments after launch and caused $20 million in damage to the state pad next to the Atlantic Ocean.

It also applies to the RD-180 engines the United Launch Alliance uses to power the Atlas V rocket, which was used to launch the Cygnus spacecraft for Northrop Grumman resupply missions to the space station after the Antares launch failure in October, 2014.

Northrop Grumman and the ULA say they had stockpiled equipment for future launches. In a news conference before the last Antares launch from Wallops on Feb. 19, Northrop Grumman space launch program director Kurt Eberly said the company had all of the components it needs for the next to resupply missions scheduled this year.

"Best mitigation we can have is to be buying ahead," Eberly said, according to a report by The Space Review. "Hopefully, that will tide us over until these tensions can subside and we can be back to normal operating procedure."

Northrop Grumman, based in Fairfax County, has said little since Russia began its invasion of Ukraine.

The company deferred all questions about U.S. sanctions to NASA but said we have all the hardware needed to fulfill our NASA-contracted missions on Antares.

John Logsdon, founder and former director of the Space Policy Institute at George Washington University, said Friday, "I would characterize it as highly uncertain."

Logsdon was pleased that the Yuzhnoye/Yuzhmash complex had not been destroyed, but he said, "Producing a complex piece of equipment, even if the factory is intact, in the middle of a combat zone is pretty dicey."

The future of the International Space Station itself is uncertain after Rogozin blasted the U.S. sanctions on Twitter and suggested that they could "destroy our cooperation" in the program. Subsequently, Russia halted launches to the space station for Europe from French Guiana.

"So far, the perspective from NASA is that we continue to cooperate with Russians where we can, especially with the International Space Station," Rep. Don Beyer, D-8th, chairman of the House Subcommittee on Space and Aeronautics, said this week.

"At the same time, it's hard to imagine going forward on any additional projects together."

"It's certainly a casualty," Beyer said, "and there are many casualties from this invasion."
This was going to be a song of praise. Instead, it will be a groan of frustration.

In other words, it was going to be a column heralding the titanic courage of Ukraine in the face of Russian attack, the acts of defiance that have endeared that nation to the world. Like the woman who gave a Russian soldier sunflower seeds so that Ukraines national flower might bloom from his corpse, or the comedian turned president who has rallied his people like some latter-day Churchill, or the outgunned Ukrainian defenders who invited their attackers to go perform an anatomically impossible act.

The column would have noted what a stirring example Ukraine provides America, where so many people confuse patriotism and guts with sedition and insurrection.

But that hymn of acclamation died amid reports of how dark-skinned people from Africa and India are being singled out for mistreatment  segregated from other refugees, beaten and left stranded by Ukrainian authorities  as they join half a million frightened souls fleeing the besieged country.

They stopped us at the border and told us that Blacks were not allowed, Moustapha Bagui Sylla, a student from Guinea, told France 24, a French television network. But we could see white people going through.

Saakshi Ijantkar, a medical student from India, told CNN how guards at a border checkpoint refused to let Indian men through. We had to literally cry and beg at their feet. After the Indian girls got in, the boys were beaten up. There was no reason for them to beat us with this cruelty. I saw an Egyptian man standing at the front with his hands on the rails, and because of that one guard pushed him with so much force and the man hit the fence, which is covered in spikes, and he lost consciousness.

Rachel Onyegbule, a medical student from Nigeria, told the network how she was kicked off a public bus at a checkpoint. More than 10 buses came, she said, and we were watching everyone leave. We thought after they took all the Ukrainians they would take us, but they told us we had to walk, that there were no more buses. My body was numb from the cold, and we havent slept in about four days now. Ukrainians have been prioritized over Africans  men and women  at every point.

Theres no need for us to ask why, she added. We know why.

A spokeswoman for Ukraines Border Guard Service denied these allegations and reminded CNN that guards are working under great pressure as they process the torrent of refugees. Duly noted. But you have to ask yourself: Why would the students make this up? What would be the point? No obvious answer presents itself.

And frankly, it is deeply disappointing, in the midst of crisis, that we even have to have this discussion.

In the aftermath of the Sept. 11 attacks, the French newspaper Le Monde ran a headline that became iconic: Nous sommes tous Americains (We are all Americans). In that same sense, right now, we are all Ukrainians, a declaration that connects us, not simply to another nations geopolitical plight, but to the humanity we all have in common.

At an exigent moment, when they were given a chance to vindicate that humanity, guardians of Ukraines border stomped it instead. Make no mistake: The hearts of all good people are with the citizens of Ukraine. Theyve shown beyond doubt that they have courage enough to fight for their country.

But let them also have courage enough to be a country worth fighting for.

Pitts is a columnist for the Tribune Content Agency.
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" " Two Russian tortoises beat the first humans, NASA astronauts Frank Borman, William A. Anders and James A. Lovell, Jr., in the race to orbit the moon. HowStuffWorks

Here's the story of how a pair of central Asian reptiles made spacefaring history.

On May 25, 1961, U.S. President John F. Kennedy took the podium at a joint session of Congress and said, "I believe that this Nation should commit itself to achieving the goal, before this decade is out, of landing a man on the moon and returning him safely to Earth."

Bold rhetoric for its time.

The world's first artificial satellite, Sputnik 1, was launched in the fall of 1957  less than four years before JFK gave his "man on the moon" ultimatum.

About the size of a beach ball, Sputnik 1 was created by the Soviet Union. Its elliptical journey around Earth gave birth to the Space Race, a period in which the U.S. and the USSR challenged each other for superiority in the new frontier of space exploration.

Kennedy didn't live to see his ambitious goal realized; he was assassinated in 1963. But the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA for short) beat the former president's deadline with a few months to spare.

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The Race Is On

During NASA's Apollo 11 mission, in the summer of 1969, astronauts Neil Armstrong and Edwin "Buzz" Aldrin took mankind's first, triumphant steps across the moon's crater-pocked surface. Four days later, they  along with crewmate Michael Collins  splashed down in the Pacific Ocean. All three men returned home safe and sound.

Apollo 8 was another feather in NASA's cap. Launched Dec. 21, 1968, that mission is remembered and celebrated for making astronauts Frank Borman, William A. Anders and James A. Lovell, Jr. the first human beings to ever orbit the moon.

Yet their trip wasn't entirely without precedent. Two small-bodied tortoises had beaten them to the punch.

After the Sputnik 1 launch, the Soviets built an impressive Space Race resume. Extraterrestrial human travel is something the USSR originally pioneered; Russian-born cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin made it to space one month before the first American astronaut did.

Anyway, back to those tortoises.

" " Russias Zond 5 spacecraft, carrying an extensive biological payload including two Russian tortoises, was the first successful mission to circumnavigate the moon and return to Earth. The tortoises survived landing in the Indian Ocean and were returned to Moscow. S.P.Korolev RSC Energia/NASA

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An Ark in the Cosmos

Zond 5 was a Soviet spacecraft built to ferry living organisms around the moon and then back to Earth. Such a feat had never been accomplished before.

Launched September 14, 1968, this 11,850-pound (or 5,375-kilogram) contraption began its epic journey while NASA was still making preparations for Apollo 7. And Apollo 8 was several months away.

Hundreds of fruit fly eggs made the trip aboard Zond 5. The craft's payload also included a bacteria culture, a flowering plant, algae strains and the air-dried cells of such salad bar staples as tomatoes, peas and carrots.

But by far, the two most complex organisms who boarded Zond 5 were a couple of Testudo horsfieldii tortoises.

" " Russian tortoises (Testudo horsfieldii), like the two who flew to the moon and back on Zond 5 (not pictured here), are herbivores native to Asia. Wikimedia Commons (CC BY SA 3.0)

Native to Afghanistan, Uzbekistan and other parts of Central Asia, these shelled creatures are often sold in American pet stores. Reptile hobbyists usually call them "Russian tortoises," even though they don't naturally occur in Russia. Adults get about 8 to 10 inches (20 to 25 centimeters) long.

The two "Russian" torts chosen for Zond 5 were around 6 or 7 years old, according to NASA's website.

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Turtle Power

You've really got to feel for these animals. Beginning Sept. 2, 1968, the tortoises spent 12 days living inside the Zond 5 spacecraft  right up until it launched Sept. 14.

All the while, they were purposefully deprived of food. Soviet scientists worried that if the reptiles were allowed to eat before launch time, it could taint important data they hoped to collect on spaceflight's physical side-effects.

Four days into the mission, the tortoises and their travel companions circled the moon. Just as the Soviets intended, they became the first living things ever to do so.

Zond 5 looped around the moon's far side took some wonderful photographs. Its long journey came to an end Sept. 21, 1968, when the vessel splashed down in the Indian Ocean.

Both tortoises survived the trek. Although each one lost about 10 percent of its body weight, they were found to be in good health overall. Caretakers also reported that the adventure didn't hurt their appetites; the creatures enjoyed some nutritious dinners after coming home.

Now That's Interesting If you decide to buy a pet Russian tortoise, prepare yourself for a long commitment. This species can live for over 40 years in captivity.
TAMPA, Fla. (AP)  A visibly annoyed Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis admonished a group of high school students for wearing face masks at an indoor news conference Wednesday, saying it was time to stop what he called "this COVID theater."

The Republican governor approached the students and asked them to remove their masks as they waited for him at the press event at the University of South Florida in Tampa. The college is located in an area where the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention still recommends indoor masking due to high COVID-19 risk.

"You do not have to wear those masks. I mean, please take them off. Honestly, it's not doing anything. We've got to stop with this COVID theater. So if you wanna wear it, fine, but this is ridiculous," he said, letting out an audible sigh and shaking his head.

DeSantis, a fierce opponent of virus mask and vaccine mandates, is running for reelection and is considered to be a potential 2024 GOP presidential candidate. His opposition to coronavirus masking and vaccine mandates has drawn national attention, and his administration has banned mask mandates in schools, often with the governor and his Republican supporters saying parents should have control over the health care choices of their children.

One of the students, 14-year-old Kevin Brown Jr., a high school freshman, told The Associated Press he was caught off-guard by DeSantis and felt pressured to removed his mask.

"I was a little bit surprised at his tone," Brown said of the governor, adding that he chose to leave his mask on because there were many unmasked people around and he was wary of getting COVID-19.

Brown's father, Kevin Brown Sr., told WFLA-TV that he would advise DeSantis to "stop bullying kids."

"I tell him it's his choice, so he made that choice and the governor has no right to tell no kid or no one who they can or can't wear a mask. He doesn't have that right," Brown Sr. told the TV station.

In a statement, Hillsborough County Public Schools Superintendent Addison Davis said school officials were excited to have their students featured in the governor's news conference, which was about the funding of a cybersecurity education initiative, and praised the students for how they acted.

"It is a student and parent's choice to protect their health in a way they feel most appropriate. We are proud of the manner in which our students represented themselves and our school district," Davis said.

DeSantis' office did not immediately return an email seeking comment. His spokesperson, Christina Pushaw, has tweeted defenses of the governor's comments, writing "I mean, someone had to say it, after 2 years of propaganda that terrified and manipulated young people. Breathe free, feel safe and be happy."

Though the CDC late last month eased its masking guidelines, the agency is still recommending masks indoors in areas it considers high risk. Hillsborough County, where the college is located, is deemed high risk by the CDC.

The incident drew criticism of DeSantis on social media. U.S. Rep. Frederica Wilson, a Florida Democrat, tweeted, "Shame on you, Governor DeSantis, for berating students who choose to wear masks and for calling the ongoing #COVID pandemic 'theater.'"
Russias war in Ukraine is intensifying. The United States and most of the other western powers have condemned Russia for invading Ukraine, joining together to implement massive sanctions that are only beginning to crush the Russian economy.

Many of us are watching this horrifying war from afar and wondering how we can help ordinary Ukrainian people whose homes, cities and lives are being destroyed before our eyes.

In times of humanitarian crises like this, acts of compassion and generosity can make a huge difference. There are dozens of organizations working directly in Ukraine, or active in nations that border on Ukraine, to provide aid to Ukrainian refugees.

If youre looking to support people affected by the war in Ukraine, consider donating money directly to the following organizations.

How to Donate to Organizations in Ukraine

The Ukrainian Red Cross

The Red Cross is often on the frontlines of war serving to help those affected by armed conflict. The Ukrainian Red Cross is currently assisting people inside the country by aiding evacuations and providing shelter, food and basic necessities.

World Central Kitchen

World Central Kitchen (WCK), established in 2010, is an organization that deploys chefs directly to disaster areas to provide hot meals to those in need. WCK is currently working in Ukraine and along its borders in neighboring countries.

GlobalGiving Ukraine Crisis Relief Fund

GlobalGiving is raising funds to support locally-led organizations throughout Ukraine. Any donations to the fund will provide essentials for refugees, health, psychological and support and access to education and economic assistance.

Vostok SOS

Vostok SOS is a Ukraine-based non-governmental organization (NGO) dedicated to assisting areas of conflict within Ukraine. The organization is currently accepting donations to help aid local people, evacuate the vulnerable and provide trauma support after shelling.

Voices of Children

Created in 2015, the Voices of Children Foundation has been providing psychological support to children affected by war in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions of Ukraine through art therapy, video storytelling, mobile psychologists and more. Now, the organization is working to support children across the country with emergency psychological assistance and assisting in the evacuation process.

Media Support

Donating directly toward the media in Ukraine can help fight against Russian misinformation and keep Ukrainians informed of the latest developments. A GoFundMe has been launched by various organizations to help keep Ukraines media outlets running during the war.

How to Support Ukrainian Refugees

The United Nations refugee agency reported on Tuesday that 660,000 Ukrainians have fled the country due to the war. Many have fled to neighboring countries including Poland, Hungary, Moldova and Romania.

Many refugees will be in dire need of basic supplies, food and resources as theyre now forced to rebuild their lives. You can donate to the following organizations to help them do this.

The International Rescue Committee

The International Rescue Committee is a longstanding organization that provides resources to those fleeing countries in crisis, including providing cash assistance, medical treatment and more. The organization is currently on the ground in both Poland and Ukraine to provide support to those who have had to flee their homes.

The Polish Red Cross

As of Feb. 28, most of the Ukrainian refugees have crossed into the countrys eastern neighbor, Poland. The Polish Red Cross has provided humanitarian reception points at Ukrainian-Polish borders to assist those entering with humanitarian aid and medical support.

Donate to the Polish Red Cross. (Note: the website is in Polish, but most browsers have an option to translate pages into English. Donations will be made in local Polish currency, zloty, and will be converted according to your cards current exchange rate. See here for bank transfer donations.)

Malteser International

Malteser International is the humanitarian relief agency of the Sovereign Order of Malta and is currently involved in relief efforts for Ukraine. The organization is providing food, shelter, emergency medical care and more both within Ukraine and neighboring countries. You can donate specifically to its efforts in Ukraine on the donation page.

***
SIOUX CITY -- A time capsule in the middle of the Sioux City Art Center atrium's floor was opened on March 1 to mark the facility's 25th anniversary.

Inside were children's drawings, photos of Art Center staff and board members, Art Center and ArtSplash-themed T-shirts, a special section of The Sioux City Journal, an invitation from the building's dedication, an Art Center flipbook and more.

Art Center Director Todd Behrens said Friday, during a news conference, that he thought a phonebook was among the most interesting items placed in the time capsule on the building's first anniversary in 1998.

"One of the things that I think got the biggest giggle when we pulled it out was a phonebook," Behrens said. "I'm sure that in the late-90s the thought was, 'Here's a directory of everybody who lived in our area.' Maybe they were future thinkers imagining that someday phonebooks would be obsolete. It was kind of a fun reminder of just how much things have changed."

Behrens said children are invited to the Art Center from 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday to help fill up the time capsule again, during a free public open house. Art Center instructors will be on hand in the atrium to help children create their own self-portraits -- one resembling their appearance today and the other how they might look in 25 years.

The artworks will be set into the time capsule on March 25, where they will remain until March 1, 2047.

"The plate that sits on top of it is a modest sized plate, maybe about a foot in diameter, but beneath that is much more space than we imagined when we opened it up," Behrens said. "What we hope is that people will do these double portraits and we'll put them up on display for a little bit. Then, on March 25, we'll take them and a load of other materials and contents and put them back into the time capsule."

The Art Center's new curator, Christopher Atkins, put together an exhibit of the items that were removed from the time capsule. The items are currently on display on the Art Center's second floor.

Before coming to the Art Center, Atkins served as coordinator of the Minnesota Artists Exhibition Program at the Minneapolis Institute of Art and as curator of exhibitions at the Minnesota Museum of American Art. He holds degrees in art history and visual cultures from the College of Wooster and Goldsmiths College, University of London. He has taught both museum studies and contemporary art, and mentored students at the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis College of Art and Design and Macalester College.

"I am excited to be here," Atkins said. "There's a lot happening in the next few months, so I'm eager to get started and hit the ground running. I'm looking forward to learning more about the collection, working with the Art Center staff and fulfilling our mission by bringing the excitement of the arts to our community."

If you go WHAT: ARTcetera 2022, an exhibition/fundraiser, which features works by local and regional artists WHERE: Sioux City Art Center, 225 Nebraska St. WHEN: The exhibition, which opened Feb. 25, concludes April 1 with a fundraising art auction from 6 to 9 p.m. MORE: Tickets to ARTcetera 2022 are $100 per person and can be purchased at the Sioux City Art Center and siouxcityartcenter.org. Leading up to the April 1 event, attendees may purchase any of the artworks at a preset "But It Now" price, either in person or through the auction page, siouxcityartcenter.org/exhibitions/artcetera-2022.

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OMAHA -- Men from Sioux City and South Sioux City involved in drug trafficking were sentenced Friday to lengthy federal prison sentences.

Pablo Leyva, 28, of South Sioux City, was sentenced in U.S. District Court in Omaha to 20 years in prison on charges of conspiring to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl and carrying a firearm during a drug trafficking crime.

Chrystian Townsley, 34, of Sioux City, was sentenced to 15 years in prison on the same charges.

According to the U.S. Attorney's Office, Leyva, Townsley and an unnamed woman had passed through Nebraska in a truck and were stopped on March 8, 2020, in Arizona while on their way to Mexico in possession of a rifle to facilitate drug trafficking. Officers in Arizona took possession of the rifle, but allowed them to continue to Mexico.

Once in Mexico, the three left the truck there and re-entered the United States on foot and were picked up in Arizona by a woman from Nebraska. On their way back to Nebraska, they were stopped on March 14, 2020, in Liberal, Kansas. Officers found five packages containing 4 pounds of meth and 65 fentanyl pills in the vehicle.

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WASHINGTON, D.C. -- A Sioux City man on Friday pleaded not guilty of entering the U.S. Capitol during the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection.

Kenneth Rader, 53, entered his plea in U.S. District Court in the District of Columbia to charges of entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds, disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds, disorderly conduct in a capitol building and parading, demonstrating or picketing in a capitol building.

No trial date was set. Rader's next court date is a May 10 status conference.

Rader is charged with entering the Capitol during the insurrection, in which hundreds of supporters of former president Donald Trump were protesting the results of the November 2020 election in which Joe Biden had defeated Trump. The mob gathered outside the Capitol before hundreds of protesters broke into the building in an effort to prevent Congress from certifying the electoral college results declaring Biden the winner.

According to court documents, security footage shows Rader entering the Capitol through a door that had already been broken by protesters. Once inside, Rader stood near a broken window, spoke with several unidentified men and then exited, spending about three minutes inside the Capitol.

Two days later, a family member tipped the FBI to Rader's alleged participation in the event, telling agents that Rader had shared videos of himself on the Capitol grounds and inside the building.

A complaint filed Jan. 11 said the FBI confirmed Rader's presence in Washington through cellphone records and video footage of him inside the Capitol.

According to court documents, Rader told FBI agents during a September interview that he had attended the Jan. 6 rally but never entered the Capitol.

The FBI arrested Rader Jan. 20 in Sioux City. He was released from custody later that day.

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SIOUX CITY  The MidAmerica Museum of Aviation and Transportation has been awarded a $50,000 grant from FedEx Express to create a STEM Learning Center.

The learning center will be constructed in a Boeing 727 donated by FedEx Express in May 2009 as a museum exhibit.

FedEx aircraft acquisitions and sales advisor Beth Rush presented the check to the museum on Friday. She was in Sioux City 13 years ago when FedEx donated the 727 and said FedEx is proud to support the museum and the learning center project.

The learning center will serve as a dedicated educational space for children, educators, families and community to learn about aviation and encouraging more people to become aerospace engineers, pilots, mechanics or join other aviation careers.

What better place than onboard a 727 aircraft for a classroom, she said. These students may be our aviation professionals of the future.

Rush added this program will help recruit more women and girls into the aviation field.

The rehabilitated cargo plane, also known as Daisy, will have a screening area, classroom space and 6 to 8 individual learning labs for various aviation subjects. The cockpit will be cleaned and updated for hands-on learning.

Past president of the museums board of director Pam Mickelson said it has been a journey to get this project off the ground.

The Boeing 727 was flown for eight years as a passenger plane and 21 years as a cargo plane for FedEx. Recently, the interior of the plane has been upgraded and a jetway access bridge allows visitors to step inside.

The funding will be used to repaint the exterior, add new decals, update the interior, add learning space and exhibits, and create and exterior classroom. Additional funding will be needed to create curriculum and add staffing. Those interested in donating and volunteering can contact the museum.

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Sioux City residents should expect temperatures in the 40s. The forecast calls for it to be a brisk 48 degrees. Expect a drastic drop in temperatures though, with a low reaching 20 degrees. The area will see thunderstorms today. Plan on a rainy day. Keep an eye on the radar, as there is a 81% chance of precipitation. Saturday's winds could be brisk, with winds reaching 22 miles per hour, coming from Northwest. This report is created automatically with weather data provided by TownNews.com. For more daily forecast information, visit siouxcityjournal.com.
Theres nothing like the announcement of a fat book advance to set other writers grumbling in protest, whether the jackpot winners are Michelle and Barack Obama, who landed a staggering $65 million deal for two books in 2017 or such unsavory figures as right-wing provocateur Milo Yiannopoulos, whose relatively modest $250,000 contract with Simon & Schuster caused enough uproar that the book was eventually canceled earlier the same year.

But the announcement today that fantasy novelist Brandon Sandersons Kickstarter campaign to fund the publication of four books had surpassed $20.8 million to become the platforms most richly funded project to date presents an unusual challenge for critics of how publishing values books.* Conservatives could complain that an overwhelmingly liberal industry had drastically overestimated the popularity of the Obamas and progressives could complain that a company like Simon and Schuster showed terrible judgment in promoting and lining the pockets of a troll like Yiannopoulos. But in Sandersons case, theres no gatekeeper to blame.

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Literary writers have long bemoaned the amount of money and promotional resources publishers have poured into books by celebrities, politicians, and the authors of formulaic commercial fiction. More recently, critics of the industry have demanded that publishers invest in more titles by authors of diverse identities. Since Sandersons Kickstarter made headlines, theres been, unsurprisingly, some grousing on social media about whether such an already commercially successful author needs that kind of money. Today is a really good day to support your favorite author who hasnt made $18M in the last few days, tweeted the fantasy novelist Natania Barron. Others have been frustrated that its a straight white Mormon man benefitting from this largesse: There is so much excellent diverse SFF out there, tweeted the critic Alex Brown, and yall are intent on giving that man millions of dollars.

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But its hard to take issue with a guy whos simply selling his books directly to people who really, really want to read them. Sanderson wouldnt have such a large following, of course, without the benefit of years of publishing conventionally, with the full resources of a traditional publishing house and its distribution networks behind him. (He also wouldnt have that following if he werent reliably pleasing his readers.) And that $23.3 million wont go as far as an old-fashioned advance, since Sanderson has to print, warehouse, and ship the books himself, along with the swag boxes and special collectors editions that many of the projects subscribers have purchased. It is, of course, a vast pile of money, but its not unprecedented: Dell paid Ken Follett about the same amount for two books all the way back in 1990 while Penguin paid a reputed $50 million advance for Follets Century trilogy in 2008. For that, Follett didnt have to do anything but write.

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A novelist as popular as Sanderson may even be taking a slight loss on this operation, compared to what he might net if he released these books through his current publisher, Tor. But Sanderson is interested enough in the business side of book publishing to try this experiment, and at a time of paper shortages, container ship catastrophes, and other supply-side headaches, to boot. Most authors of any identity or level of literary accomplishment arent interested in taking on such a project. And its not every author whose fans are willing to pay more for swag and for books printed on fancier paper with plusher bindings. This enterprise and its success is unique to Sanderson himself, and the track record he has with his fans.

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There may be a handful of authorsNeil Gaiman and George R.R. Martin spring to mindwho could pull off something similar. There are authors who sell even more books, such as James Patterson or Diana Gabaldon, but whose fan base doesnt care much about collectibles. And its entirely possible there are still other writers out there unfamiliar to me with fanbases so doggedly devoted that they might well be eyeing Sandersons $22 million haul and thinking, I can beat that. But I suspect not more than a handful.

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Its one thing to challenge publishers to provide readers with a wider variety of books by a more diverse selection of authors so that everyone can find more books to appreciate. Its another to scold readers for their enthusiastic support of an author whose work they genuinely love because there are authors and books you considerfor whatever reasonmore worthy. People dont enjoy books simply because other people tell them that they should. And if I were one of those allegedly superior authors, Im not sure Id want to see my own work cast in the eat-your-spinach role against Sandersons French fries. Writers always seem to find a way to begrudge each others successes, but the case against Sanderson and his fans is based on sheer fantasy.
Vikings: Valhalla, which is in the Netflix Top 10 this week, is a continuation of the History Channel show Vikings, which followed Ragnar Lothbrok (Travis Fimmel) and his descendants during the Vikings peak years of raiding and expansion. The original Vikings was surprisingly fun to watch, for a show from the channel mostly dedicated to ancient aliens and Nazis. Valhalla is set in the eleventh century, a hundred-plus years after the original series concluded, with characters who speak of Ragnar Lothbrok as a legendary figure of the past. The Viking people, having pushed beyond Scandinavia, now absorb the cultures they encounter and are changed by them. Like Vikings, Valhalla was filmed in Ireland, and like Vikings, Valhalla is chock-full of dirty, gorgeous people wearing leather armor and hacking each other up with swords and axes.

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Medievalist David Perry has a good rundown in Smithsonian of the places where Valhalla aligns with and departs from the actual history. Leif Eriksson (played by the almost-too-pretty Sam Corlett) was the famous explorer from Greenland who, according to the Vinland Sagas, visited North America long before Columbus. Freydis Eiriksdottir (Frida Gustavsson), in those same sagas, went with her brother Leif to North America and was, apparently, a fierce fighter who may or may not have screamed a whole hell of a lot. Harald Sigurdsson (Leo Suter) is based on a real Norwegian king and world traveler, Harald Hardrada, who visited Constantinople, Sicily, Bulgaria, and morethough he wouldnt have known Eriksson, since, by the evidence we have, he was about five years old when Eriksson died. Since Harald, Leif, and Freydis did not meet, so far as we know, much of the plot of the show is wholly made up: never did Harald fall in love with Freydis; never did Leif accompany a Viking force into a battle for London, forging a combat-tested bond with Harald.

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The Vikings of Valhalla have a very particular look to them: scummy, as would befit people who sail across the ocean in an open boat for weeks at an end without stoppingbut also, somehow, in the peak of health, stunning and vital, with shiny hair and strong teeth. We dont know whether Vikings partially shaved their heads, like Ragnar Lothbrok did in the last series; we arent sure whether the men had long hair, or did it up in braids or man-buns, like Leif Eriksson does in this show. As historian Andrew E. Larsen details in an extensive blog post about the physical culture of the original Vikings, the armor in these shows is all wrong: The historical Vikings would have worn loose-fitting garments, not these tightly-tailored leather outfits that make young actors look so great. But this is also a show where the actor who plays Leif Eriksson is wearing leather armor made of cactus, because he is vegan and didnt like being covered in cowhide. This is not your mothers Viking show, and these are not your great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-grandmothers Vikings.

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Instead, Valhalla definitely takes place in a universe where Game of Thrones exists. Kings and local nobles fought amongst themselves for power in the historical England, Norway, and Denmark, so we get the excuse for writers to work in a bunch of Thrones-ish court intrigue. One king has married two queens, who then scheme to get one another out of the picture! A counselor fakes a kings accidental death, to move court politics in his direction! And so on. That counselor, Godwin (played by David Oakes), is just like Petyr Baelish, a.k.a. Littlefinger; the Boy King, Edmund (played by Louis Davison) is (as a fan noted) a dead ringer for the annoying and super-evil Prince Joffrey.

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Vikings scholars, Perry writes, may especially like Valhalla, despite its tenuous relationship with the historical truths of the era, because it shows how diverse and interconnected the Viking world became in this time. In the series, Jarl Estrid Haakon, the ruler of the fictional city of Kattegat, is played by Black Swedish actress Caroline Henderson. (Yes, the usual kinds of people who get mad about the presence of non-white actors in historical fiction are mad about Jarl Haakonmaybe even madder than usual, because their dear Vikings are especially precious to them.) This city is a hub for trading, a cosmopolitan place, where the ruler has made a special point of keeping things relatively free and open. Not so free and open that slave traders dont set up in the marketVikings practiced slavery as a matter of coursebut at the very least, there is the freedom to worship either the pagan Norse gods, or the Christian ones.

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Id have thought the people angry about Jarl Haakon would be madder about another major driver of the plot. This show features (by my count) at least three Christian zealots who kill and rape and plunder in the name of cleansing pagans from England and Scandinavia, plus many of their Christian followers who see no problem with these raids. While the pagans can get violent, too (there are several scenes of human sacrifice, which the Vikings may or may not have practiced), its the Christians who are the villains here. Its interesting to see, on a top-ten Netflix show, a Christian named Jarl Kare (played by Asbjorn Krogh Nissen), with an aggressive wedge of a beard and wild eyes, murdering multiple villages of women and children in order to achieve what he believes is his destiny. Perry points out that such large-scale religious wars as occur in Valhalla werent common in Scandinavia: Mostly, faiths overlapped in a more or less easy coexistence, with gradual movement toward Christianization. But easy coexistence and gradual movements dont get you in the Netflix Top 10.
On Thursday, Donald Trump released his latest statement condemning the House Select Committee to investigate the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol. Trump ranted that the Unselect Committees sole goal is to try to prevent President Trump, who is leading by large margins in every poll, from running again for president, if I so choose.

His frustration is understandable: This week, investigators into the Jan. 6 attack from both Congress and the Department of Justice came closer than ever before to explicitly putting a target on Trumps back. Its worth recapping the full weeks revelations just to see how bad it was for Trump.

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First, on Wednesday morning, the select committee announced in a legal filing that it believed Trump might have engaged in a felony surrounding his efforts to subvert the election. The committee argued that attorney-client privilege couldnt attach to testimony and documents being kept under wraps by John Eastman, one of the architects of Trumps plan to disrupt the electoral count on Jan. 6.

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The Select Committee also has a good-faith basis for concluding that the President and members of his Campaign engaged in a criminal conspiracy to defraud the United States, they alleged. Eastmans testimony and documents would not be protected by attorney-client privilege, the committee argued, due to the crime/fraud exception stating that the privilege is waived when the material under question is part of a criminal act.

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Essentially, the committee said it believes Eastman and Trump took part in a federal crime that carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $500,000 fine. As the committee also noted, Eastman exercised his Fifth Amendment against self-incriminating testimony 146 separate times during his December testimony. The filing also revealed for the first time that Eastman wrote to Vice President Mike Pences attorney after the Capitol insurrection to make one final plea for Pence to delay the counting of the electoral votes. I implore you to consider one more relatively minor violation of the law and adjourn for 10 days, Eastman pleaded.

If the vote count had been postponed, Pence and Congress would have been delayed in certifying that Joe Biden had won the election. It would have also given then-President Trump time to do who knows what to thwart the inauguration (he reportedly considered a draft executive order seizing voting machines and several of his close confidants had proposed he declare martial law during that time). Critically, though, Eastman acknowledged in this email to Pence that he knew what he was asking for was a violation of the law. Plaintiff knew what he was proposing would violate the law, but he nonetheless urged the Vice President to take those actions, the committee wrote.

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The committee didnt stop there, releasing damning testimony from Trumps close aides who said that they repeatedly told him that conspiracy theories around the election were bogus and had been refuted by a Department of Justice investigation. Trump campaign senior advisor Jason Miller, for instance, told the committee that he had several conversations with Trump in which he told the president that specific to election day fraud and irregularities, there were not enough to overturn the election. Miller also said that he was at an Oval Office meeting while the votes were still being counted during which Trump was told outright he was going to lose the vote. I remember [campaign data specialist Matt Oczkowski] delivered to the President in pretty blunt terms that he was going to lose, Miller testified.

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In separate testimony, former Acting Deputy Attorney General Richard Donoghue told Trump that his claims of fraud had been checked by the Department of Justice and were completely bogus. Even after being told, on multiple separate occasions, that there was no evidence of fraud Trump still threatened to fire Acting Attorney General Jeffrey Rosen and replace him with Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Division Jeffrey Clark who was promising to announce that non-existent fraud had likely happened and to tell state legislatures to reconsider their votes. The President said something to the effect of, What do I have to lose? If I do this, what do I have to lose? Donoghue testified of Trumps response to pushback to this part of a coup plan.

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Consider the magnitude of this evidence. Not only did Eastman know what he was doing was illegal, but also Trump was repeatedly told by his own staff that he had lost and that his claims about fraud were wrong. Yet he still went ahead with Eastmans plan anyway. These facts suggest that both men knewor were clearly toldwhat they were doing was wrong and did it anyway, negating attorney-client privilege if a crime was committed.

Finally, and perhaps worst of all for Trump, the committee says its possible Trump engaged in a conspiracy with rioters that day, though there is less evidence in the filing to that effect.

In addition to the legal effort to delay the certification, there is also evidence that the conspiracy extended to the rioters engaged in acts of violence at the Capitol, the committee wrote.

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On Wednesday afternoon, another (big) shoe dropped regarding potential links between Trump and the Jan. 6 mob. After the Jan. 6 committees filing, the Department of Justice announced that a member of the Oath Keepers militia, Joshua James, pleaded guilty to seditious conspiracy for his role organizing the attack on the Capitol. Why is that bad for Trump? James had previously been photographed as a bodyguard for Trump confidant and political fixer Roger Stone.

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Indeed, the morning of Jan. 6, James was seen in Stones private hotel suite at the Willard in Washington D.C. just hours before he joined the assault on the Capitol. James is now going to cooperate with investigators and take part in grand jury testimony, presumably against the other Oath Keeper defendants charged with seditious conspiracy, including Oath Keeper leader Stewart Rhodes, who Stone was also in close contact with in the days before the insurrection, according to public records. James would also presumably have to testify about what he saw in Stones War Room at the Willard prior to the assault on the Capitol.

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To recap: the DOJ investigation has moved one step closer to Trump, and potentially just one step away from directly implicating the former president via Stone.

As if that wasnt bad enough for the former president, on Thursday, his son Donald Trump Jrs fiancee, Kimberly Guilfoyle, who was in close contact with the president on Jan. 6, was hit with a subpoena for her testimony by the Jan. 6 committee.

And if all of that wasnt enough, Trump got even more bad news on Friday, after his enraged statement against the committee, when the Washington Post reported details of an upcoming documentary by Danish filmmaker Christoffer Guldbrandsen, which details Stones activities in the leadup to and aftermath of Jan. 6. Those details are staggering. Guldbrandsens documentary reportedly includes footage of James and Stone together; footage of Stone on the phone as the attack was happening; images of Stones cell phone showing his connection to Rhodes and to Proud Boys leader Enrique Tarrio (members of the Proud Boys have also been charged in organizing the assault on the Capitol); and a draft memo Stone wrote to Trump after the Capitol insurrection seeking pardons for himself, others involved in Jan. 6, and even multiple members of the Colombo crime family convicted of murder and racketeering in the 1990s.

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According to the Posts account of the documentary, when the pardons werent delivered, Stone turned on Trump:

Stone unloaded on Donald Trump, saying he had betrayed his friends, deserved to be impeached and was the greatest single mistake in American history. Stone added that Trump might be vulnerable to prosecution by federal authorities in Manhattan after declining to preemptively pardon himself. A good, long sentence in prison will give him a chance to think about it, because the Southern District is coming for him, and he did nothing, Stone said. Though months later he would support a possible Trump bid for the White House in 2024, on Inauguration Day he mocked the idea. Run again! Youll get your fing brains beat in, Stone said.

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Stone had already been pardoned by Trump previously after being sentenced to three years in prison for witness intimidation and lying to investigators to cover up what he and Trump may have known about WikiLeaks release of hacked documents of the Clinton campaign during the 2016 election.

After the lack of preemptive pardons, Stone also reportedly wrote a message to another Trump associate: see you in prison. Stone doesnt sound like the most reliable friend for Trump to have at this point, especially since he can no longer dangle pardons in front of his face to keep him quiet. So after a week full of damning revelations, no wonder the former president is upset!
Republican Sens. Marco Rubio and Steve Daines are coming under lots of criticism Saturday after they shared photos of a video call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky while it was still in progress even though they were specifically asked not to do so. The senator from Florida and his colleague from Montana both posted photos of Zelensky to their Twitter accounts while the Zoom call was ongoing, writing that they were talking with the Ukrainian president.

On zoom call now with President Zelensky of #Ukraine pic.twitter.com/xhgbpIwVD9  Marco Rubio (@marcorubio) March 5, 2022

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Currently on a zoom call with President Zelenskyy. #StandWithUkraine pic.twitter.com/ZtGjyWITwN  Steve Daines (@SteveDaines) March 5, 2022

Democratic Reps. Dean Phillips of Minnesota and Jason Crow of Colorado blasted the two senators on Twitter, saying they had explicitly ignored the requests of Ukrainian officials. Ukrainian ambassador very intentionally asked each of us on the Zoom to NOT share anything on social media during the meeting to protect the security of President Zelenskyy, Phillips tweeted. Appalling and reckless ignorance by two US Senators. Crow noted that it was an example of the lack of discipline in Congress, adding that if an embattled wartime leader asks you to keep quiet about a meeting, you better keep quiet about the meeting.

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The lack of discipline in Congress is truly astounding.



If an embattled wartime leader asks you to keep quiet about a meeting, you better keep quiet about the meeting.



Im not saying a damn thing. Lives are at stake.  Rep. Jason Crow (@RepJasonCrow) March 5, 2022

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The criticism didnt just come from Democrats. Michael Steele, the former chairman of the Republican National Committee, also harshly criticized Rubio. Dude, what the hell is wrong with you? Steele tweeted. Why would you risk his safety for a tweet? NBC News talked to several aides who said the lawmakers were told in no uncertain terms that they should not tweet or otherwise publish any photos of the call while it was in progress to protect the Ukrainian presidents safety.

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Dude, what the hell is wrong with you? You are the Vice Chairman of the Select Committee on Intelligence, and a Member of the Foreign Relations Committee. You were specifically asked NOT to share this briefing with Zelensky. Why would you risk his safety for a tweet? https://t.co/EpgisRP3au  Michael Steele (@MichaelSteele) March 5, 2022

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Rubio and Daines pushed back against the criticism, saying it was all much ado about nothing. There were over 160 members of Congress on a widely reported Zoom call. There was no identifying information of any kind. Anybody pretending this tweet is a security concern is a partisan seeking clicks, a Rubio spokesperson said in a statement. A Daines spokesperson also emphasized there were more than 250 people on the call and it was not a secure or classified briefing. Daines shared the photo before it was requested not to and well into the call, and it had no identifying information, the spokesperson said. We should be focusing on whats important here and thats supporting Ukraine. The only reason why anyone wants to make this an issue is partisan clickbait.

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During the Zoom call that lasted a little under an hour and included more than 300 members of Congress, Zelensky directly appealed to lawmakers for more help in fighting off the Russian invasion. The message was close the skies or give us planes, Republican Sen. Ben Sasse said in a statement after the call. The Ukrainian president also called for an oil embargo on Russia, which he characterized as the most significant sanction the United States could impose. During the call, Zelensky said it might be the last time U.S. lawmakers see him alive. He is standing strong, but pleaded for more help, Rep. Jim Himes, Democrat of Connecticut, tweeted. Planes, oil embargo, continued military aid.

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Welcome to this weeks edition of the Surge. Since last week, we boned up on Wikipedia articles about hypersonic weapons and Eastern Europe, and heres what our government experts are missing about Russias invasion of Ukraine 





Nope, were not going to do that. Please do read and listen to Slates wonderful coverage of the war here.





But the Surge is sticking with its bread-and-butter: grimly cartoonish domestic politics and weird legislators. We hate that a few days after the State of the Union, the only thing we remember is the heckling, but it is what it is. Build Back Better has a new name, and one that you wont forget: Its called  making the jobs stuff  um  the politics bill  it will come to us soon. Also, were going to explain why Ketanji Brown Jacksons SCOTUS nomination will be such a breeze. (We apologize in advance if she goes down in flames.)





But first, dont burn yourself, because weve got some sizzlin hot Senate Republican leadership feuding.
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Recently published military histories of the American Civil War continue to extol the virtues of Nathan Bedford Forrest with such quotes as arguably the most capable cavalryman produced by the war and undoubtedly the most outstanding combat commander in the war, perpetuating a myth of military effectiveness that has made the Southern cavalryman an enduring icon of the lost cause. By examining Forrests later military career, including his inability to work effectively with his peers and the devolution of his military command into a loosely organized society of armed raiders, it is possible to offer a reappraisal of Forrests military career that will overturn the false narrative that still dominates both popular and scholarly histories of the war. Despite whatever untutored tactical genius and magnetic personal attraction Forrest may have possessed, he undoubtedly failed at the operational and strategic levels of war, and his brutal treatment of his captured opponents, coupled with the damaging legacy he left for future military leaders, make him a strong contender for the title of worst military commander ever.

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An analysis of Forrests military career brings to light a familiar dilemma for those responsible for assessing and selecting military talent. Certainly, competence is an essential attribute for higher command: Officers must have mastered their craft and demonstrated the professional ability to successfully lead and accomplish assigned tasks. Raw talent and professional competence are the bedrock of many successful military careers, from Alexander to Napoleon to Eisenhower; but talent, as the saying goes, will only get one so far. Alongside professional competence, there are the personal intangibles that also contribute to the career of a successful leader. Most critical among these are the interpersonal skills demanded for harmonious working relationships with peers, supervisors, and subordinates. Often, leaders who possess great technical competence develop a hubris that blinds them to their flaws, causing them to become a prima donna, guilty of drinking their own bathwater. Senior commanders seem to expect a modicum of vanity when selecting subordinates, as self-confidence remains a highly valued virtue. But commanders also know that an officer who alienates peers, berates subordinates, and infuriates superiors will be a hindrance rather than a help to any military organization, no matter how talented the officer is personally. The argument against Forrests greatness rests on three legs: his personal failings as a man, his inability to provide the Confederacy with capable military leadership above the tactical level, and the flawed example he set for future generations, thereby inflicting continuing and sustained damage to his nation.

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Nathan Bedford Forrest was born in the summer of 1821 in a rugged area of Middle Tennessee 30 miles south of Nashville. The recently settled frontier, and the clannishness of Forrests Scots-Irish ancestry, ensured that the young Southerners life was filled with violence. The frontier lacked established and stable social institutions, leading to frequent recourse to violence rather than litigation to settle disputes, occasionally in the form of duels. This fostered an intense pride and loyalty, both to family members and those perceived as fellow members of the clan, as well as a heightened sensitivity to any slights to its honor. Of Hernando, Mississippi, Forrests first home in the Memphis area, Forrests biographer Brian Steel Wills wrote, Violence and honor continued to be much a part of daily life. Men fought over real and imagined grievances in the streets, usually settling their differences by blood.

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On March 10, 1845, four men came to settle a score with Forrest and his uncle and mentor Jonathan, with whom he had entered into a business partnership in Hernando. The altercation turned violent, with Jonathan falling mortally wounded from a bullet intended for his nephew. Forrest continued the struggle, shooting and killing two of his attackers, and, with his ammunition exhausted, chasing the other two off with a bowie knife. The act was so within the norms of Southern upcountry society that the townspeople later made Forrest both constable and coroner, as well as a lieutenant in the state militia. In 1851 he relocated to Memphis and moved naturally from trading livestock to selling real estate and enslaved people. Memphis was then ideally situated between the enslaved people of the upper South who were sold down the river from their Old Kentucky Home to the hellish cotton and sugar plantations in the Delta, and Forrest prospered, socially and financially, from the increasing demand. Throughout his antebellum career, which included a term as a Memphis city alderman, Forrests ambition, popularity, business acumen, lack of formal education, and temper were all on full display. They remained so during Forrests apparently successful but ultimately failed military career.

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For Forrest, as for other Southern secessionists such as William Lowndes Yancey, any threat to slavery was a personal attack to his prosperity and threatened to return Southerners to the poverty that was never far from their doors. When the South seceded, Forrest volunteered his services as a private but quickly earned a commission as a colonel in his own regiment. His famous temper, resulting in an almost immediate and uncontrollable rage that he later regretted, led him to abuse the men under his command. Even Forrests more sympathetic biographers relate accounts where Forrest bashed a scouts head against a tree for bringing him false information, slapped a lieutenant into a river because he would not roll up his sleeves and join his men in building a bridge, knocked another out of a boat with an oar for refusing to help paddle across the Tennessee River, beat a soldier with a branch, and shot a color-bearer for fleeing a rout.

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In one of the clearest examples of Forrests inharmonious relationships with his subordinates, on June 14, 1863, Lt. Andrew Gould, who had served as an artillery commander during Forrests successful pursuit of Streights raid across northern Alabama, requested an audience with Forrest at his headquarters in Columbia, Tennessee, where Gould confronted the general about his transfer from Forrests command. Unhappy with Goulds performance during the Battle of Days Gap, Forrest had relieved him from command and selected him for reassignment. The confrontation became heated and, although the sequence of events is unclear, Forrest emerged with a bullet from Goulds pistol in his abdomen while Gould suffered a stab wound that penetrated his lung and proved fatal. Regardless of who launched the first blow, allowing a conflict with a subordinate to escalate to the point where one either kills or has to take another life in self-defense is not a hallmark of effective military leadership. Forrests defenders circulated accounts that he had been attacked, either verbally or physically, to justify the generals actions, and Forrest retained his command, but his quick temper and willingness to use violence against his own men both undermined his claims to innocence in the confrontation with Gould and seriously and repeatedly compromised his ability to lead effectively. In some cases, men and officers who disapproved of Forrests profligacy with their lives and brutal treatment of prisoners refused to serve under him. One even claimed, I object to a tyrannical, hotheaded vulgarians commanding me.

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Forrests relationships with his peers were equally squally. On Feb. 3, 1863, Forrest cooperated with Gen. Joseph Wheelers cavalry in an attack on the town of Dover, Tennessee, adjacent to Fort Donelson. In the action, Wheeler ordered Forrests command in an ill-advised attack on the strongly defended town, resulting in heavy casualties among Forrests men. After the battle, Forrest told Wheeler that he would be in my coffin before I will fight again under your command. During the retreat from Nashville, Forrest allegedly threatened Gen. Benjamin Cheatham with a pistol in a dispute over whose troops would cross a ford first. In April 1863 Forrest cooperated with Gen. Earl Van Dorn in a raid on Thompsons Station, Tennessee, but during the raid Forrest felt that Van Dorn had failed to provide adequate support. In keeping with Forrests nature, the dispute became heated and led to the men challenging each other to a duel, before the situation was eventually defused. A jealous husband killed Van Dorn a month later, suggesting further character flaws on Van Dorns part, but the incident became yet another in a pattern of behavior that made it more difficult to excuse Forrests many transgressions as isolated incidents.

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Worse, the interactions had a significant effect on future operations. During the summer and autumn of 1863, when Confederate Gen. Braxton Bragg depended on his cavalry to keep him apprised of Union Gen. William Rosecrans movements, Forrests and Wheelers inability to effectively support the army with accurate and timely intelligence led indirectly to the loss of Chattanooga, one of the Souths strategic rail centers. As Braggs army retreated into north Georgia, he repeatedly tried to take advantage of Rosecrans dispersed formations in the mountains to surround and destroy one of the isolated commands, but could never secure sufficient intelligence of Union dispositions and intentions in a timely fashion, preventing an effective counterblow. In the ensuing battle along the banks of Chickamauga Creek, Forrest clearly failed in his role as a corps commander of cavalry, allowing himself to be sucked into the whirling fray of combat to the detriment of his duties in locating the Union lines and pursuing the defeated force, thus assisting the Union Armys escape into the defense of Chattanooga.

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On Sept. 18, a stout Union defense at Alexanders Bridge and Reeds Bridge provided Rosecrans early warning of Braggs attempt to turn his left flank, pushing him away from his base at Chattanooga and potentially leading to his destruction on one of the mountain coves of northern Georgia. Bragg had ordered Forrest to screen the advance and secure the crossing, but Forrest had singularly failed to do so, instead transferring most of his available force to meet an imagined threat farther north. As a result, Confederate infantry had to fight for the crossings, costing precious time and enabling Rosecrans to shift more units to the threatened sector. That night Forrest again failed to effectively screen the armys right flank and gather information about Union dispositions, intelligence that would have revealed a yawning gap in the Union lines. According to David Powell, this was the most significant intelligence oversight of the entire battle.

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The following day Forrest initiated a major engagement in the same area, commandeering rebel infantry and feeding them, along with his own cavalry, into an imbalanced fight piecemeal, wrecking several regiments. The fighting further delayed Braggs planned counterstroke and gave additional time to strengthen the Union center. Powell judged that Forrest continued to perform as if he were still a brigade or division commander rather than a corps commander in charge of Braggs entire right flank. He made little or no effort to send out more extensive patrols that might report on the overall Union dispositions, a mistake that would affect Braggs subsequent decision-making.

On Sept. 20 Confederate reinforcements from Lees army in Virginia and an incredibly poorly timed Union shift opened a hole at the exact moment and location of Braggs attack, enabling him to split Rosecrans army and drive it from the field. A stout defense by Gen. George Pap Thomas on Snodgrass Hill covered the Union retreat, but Forrests lack of aggression enabled the strung-out columns to reach the safety of Chattanooga without serious pressure. Leading from the front often ensured that Forrest was absent from his headquarters and unavailable for consultation with his superiors or subordinates, and unable to direct actions on distant parts of the field. As Powell found, Forrest struggled to meet the rigorous challenges of his increased responsibilities.  Too often, Forrest found himself in the thick of the action and unable to avoid making tactical decisions better left to others because Forrest was too often unable or unwilling to resist the lure of personal adventure and/or delegate minor missions.

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Forrest was undoubtedly a skilled and inspirational tactical leader, but he had been promoted out of his depth. He could not adapt to the increased responsibility of command at higher levels and thus deprived a more competent commander of a vital post with the Confederate forces defending Tennessee and Georgia. While conventional wisdom has heaped blame on Braxton Bragg for the incomplete Confederate victory, recent reappraisals of Bragg, especially Earl Hess, highlight just how often Braggs subordinates failed him, either through direct insubordination and intrigue, or indirectly by failing to perform assigned tasks or collect essential intelligence and relay it in a timely manner. Chickamauga was perhaps the most notable of those examples. Though relieved of his command and sent back to western Tennessee to resume his raiding and raise new formations, Forrest escaped greater censure only because Braggs other cavalry commander, Gen. Joe Wheeler, had performed even worse. But, in a classic case of the Confederacys inability to manage its poor crop of commanders, Wheeler earned a promotion and command of most of Forrests units, leaving the latter embittered.

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After the Confederate concentration and victory at Chickamauga, Bragg sent his cavalry north in an attempt to sever Rosecrans constrained supply lines leading into Chattanooga, but Forrest allowed his command to be pulled off in the direction of Knoxville, permitting the Union forces to retain control of the city. After this incident, Bragg reportedly said, He is nothing more than a good raider, and arranged for Forrests transfer to western Tennessee, where Forrest could use his personal popularity to attract new recruits to his banner. Before leaving Braggs command, Forrest allegedly confronted Bragg in his tent and told him,

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I have stood your meanness as long as I intend to. You have played the part of a damned scoundrel, and are a coward, and if you were any part of a man I would slap your jaws and force you to resent it. You may as well not issue any orders to me, for I will not obey them.

The story is probably apocryphal, as the evidence is poorly supported in the literature, but Forrests admirers and supporters repeated it in their flattering biographies, often with Forrests approval, suggesting that it was an accurate reflection of Forrests opinion of Bragg.

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During the ensuing campaign in western Tennessee, Forrests troops, either under his orders or because of his failure to restrain them, massacred over half of the Black Union garrison at Fort Pillow, killing most after they had surrendered. The affair followed a bloody repulse at Paducah, Kentucky, when soldiers of the U.S. Colored Troops, or USCT, successfully held a fort near the town and inflicted heavy casualties on Forrests command. To prevent the loss of men in costly frontal assaults, Forrest often resorted to bluff or bluster, suggesting that if he was forced to storm a defense work, he could not be responsible for the actions of his men in the heat of combat. The affair at Fort Pillow lent weight to his threats, though he never repeated them, and thus he had much to gain from the affair. Though Forrest apologists repeatedly claim that the astronomical Union casualties, which fell disproportionally among the UCST troops defending the post, were somehow consistent with taking a fortress by storm, every reputable analysis has clearly demonstrated that a massacre did indeed occur.

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Forrests men retained a reputation for atrocities against both formerly enslaved people and Southern Unionists in the U.S. Army, murdering one of the surrendered commanders of a loyal Tennessee cavalry regiment and returning captives to slavery in violation of the Articles of War. Black soldiers earned a measure of revenge during the retreat from the Battle of Brices Cross Roads in June 1864, when they inflicted heavy casualties on Forrests command and prevented a rout of the Union column, permitting another foray into northern Mississippi a month later. As Tom Parson has demonstrated, Forrest did not perform well at the Battle of Tupelo, likely sulking because Gen. Stephen D. Lee had been placed in overall command. Forrest led an ill-advised charge against strong Union defenses at Tupelo, then suffered a serious wound in another futile personal attack on the Union rearguard. Though his defenders cited his personal bravery and willingness to mix with his foes, these are attributes best displayed among senior enlisted men and junior officers, not men in high command responsible for large formations. Robert E. Lee, despite his many failings, at least had the good sense not to lead Picketts Charge in person.

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By virtue of his having been banished to essentially an independent command, Forrest was unable to coordinate his efforts directly with the Confederate defense of Atlanta. At a point when Confederate cavalry raids could have disrupted Gen. William T. Shermans vulnerable rail logistics through Tennessee, Forrest found himself fending off, successfully in most cases, a series of expeditions from Memphis organized with the sole purpose of keeping him occupied. In reporting his actions to Secretary of War Edwin M. Stanton, Sherman wrote, I will order them to make up a force and go out and follow Forrest to the death, if it cost 10,000 lives and breaks the Treasury. There will never be peace in Tennessee until Forrest is dead.* By the time Forrest finally disengaged in early September and marched into northern Alabama and southern Tennessee, Atlanta was already in Shermans hands, though the threat did influence Shermans decision to send part of his army back to Nashville and bring the rest on a highly publicized March to the Sea. Forrests inability to effectively disrupt Shermans supply line during the 1864 Atlanta campaign, coupled with his ineffectual defense of the now-worthless interior of Mississippi, was a major contributing factor in the defeat of Confederate arms in the decisive year and theater of the war. If the South had any chance of victory, it was in using its hard-riding cavalrymen to disrupt Union supply lines, as they had successfully done in 1862, to stymie the efforts of the Norths superior arms. But Forrests failure to adapt led directly to Southern defeat.

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In September 1864, after recovering from his wounds and finally disengaging from the wasteland of northern Mississippi, Forrest led another of his patented raids designed to disrupt Union supply lines and keep his famished and underequipped command supplied. Crossing the Tennessee River near Florence, Alabama, he surrounded Athens and again bluffed the Union commander into surrendering, profiting from his earlier actions at Fort Pillow by claiming not to be able to restrain his men if they had to attack a fort garrisoned largely by Black soldiers. Another Union outpost at Sulphur Creek Trestle did not succumb so easily, forcing Forrest to expend much of his valuable artillery ammunition before surrendering, ensuring that the raid could not penetrate deeply into Tennessee. Though he did cut one of the two rail lines leading from Nashville to Chattanooga, he was unable to seriously threaten the other, meaning that Shermans army in Atlanta remained adequately supplied.

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Late in the war, Confederate supply difficulties and logistics failures meant that Forrests command often had to meet its subsistence needs by frequent requisitions from the Confederate homefront, which undoubtedly affected support for the war, and by raiding Union outposts for military supplies. One of the most successful examples came in October 1864, when Forrest took his mounted force into Tennessee and emplaced his artillery along the western bank of the Tennessee River in an attempt to interrupt steamboat traffic to Johnsonville on the opposite bank. From that point, the newly constructed Nashville and Northwestern Railroad brought supplies into the city, circumventing the low water on the Cumberland River at that time of year and augmenting the capacity of the Louisville and Nashville Railroad. Forrests men captured one supply ship, appropriating a large quantity of uniforms and equipment to meet their needs, and succeeded in inducing a conflagration at Johnsonville that destroyed millions of dollars worth of Union property destined for Thomas army at Nashville. But the raid served only to replenish Forrests command. The temporary logistics interruption and previous stockpiles meant that the raid had no effect on Thomas ability to repel John Bell Hood the following month, and Forrests independent raid actually delayed Hoods advance into Tennessee, facilitating Thomas ability to concentrate his force and oppose the invasion. While Forrest effectively cooperated with Hoods attack on Nashville in December 1864, by then the depleted Confederates had little prospect of success, and Hoods army left Tennessee virtually destroyed. Yet again, self-serving raiding and poorly coordinated operations had been costly for the Confederacy.

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In a final command, in defense of the vital Confederate manufacturing and logistics centers at Selma, Alabama, and Columbus and Macon, Georgia, Forrest signally failed to protect the cities from a massive Union cavalry column led by Maj. Gen. James Wilson. Though a numerical disparity diminished the likelihood of success, Forrest could not prevent Wilson from isolating his dispersed columns, sealing Selmas fate. Again, Forrest demonstrated commendable personal bravery at Ebenezer Church, personally killing an attacking Union cavalryman, but while he was mixing, he was not directing the defense of Selma, and the powerful Union column rode into the city almost unopposed the following day and leveled the vital Confederate factories and warehouses.

Tactically, Forrest fared much better in a number of smaller engagements, but even here he showed his vulnerabilities. His victory at Murfreesboro in the summer of 1862 had been a close-run affair, and he wasted time and lives attacking troops barricaded in buildings in the town. At Parkers Crossroads, faulty reconnaissance almost caused his command to be crushed between two converging forces before he barely made his escape. And many of his victories relied on bluff or inferior or untrained opponents, which masked his commands vulnerabilities. An untutored officer, Forrest apparently never bothered to learn the cavalry manual of arms, leaving such minor details to his subordinates. His vaunted tactical acumen stemmed largely from a personal aggressiveness and often violated sound military concepts.

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Additionally, the majority of Forrests most notable victoriesincluding his raid on Murfreesboro in July 1862, the skirmishes at Lexington and Thompsons Station, Tennessee, in 1863, and the battle at Brices Crossroads in Mississippi in the summer of 1864came in minor actions that had little influence on the larger course of the war. He was undoubtedly a skilled tactical commander but had little success in translating these operational victories into strategic successes.

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Forrests actions at Fort Pillow foreshadowed both a postwar episode where he personally killed one of his hired freedmen with an ax handle, and his future sponsorship and support of nightriding Ku Klux Klansmen, an organization in which Forrest played a prominent, if secretive, role, at one point even threatening to call the organization out to battle the Tennessee State Militia. Though he later issued an order for the organization to disband, this was most likely an attempt to disassociate himself from its activities, which continued unabated. Forrest apologists have pointed to his final order, issued at the close of the war, in which he advised his men to submit to Union authority and work to rebuild the nation, as evidence that Forrest did not advocate for continued resistance against federal authorities. In that directive Forrest lectured his men to submit to the powers that be and to aid in restoring peace and establishing law and order throughout the land, and to obey the laws of the Government to which you have surrendered. But, at the time, he could hardly have done otherwise. The Confederacy was defeated and prostrate, and further resistance, at that time, would have been futile and only led to more bloodshed. But, as Radical Reconstruction proceeded and ex-Confederates sought to resist Black enfranchisement and equality, Forrest offered his support in opposition to these programs mostly through his surreptitious support of the Ku Klux Klan. Whether he served as Grand Wizard of the secretive organization or not (though the evidence suggests that he did), he was undoubtedly a member, and worked to further the organizations goals of terrorizing Black Americans and suppressing both their vote and their role in helping to rebuild the shattered region.

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So why has Forrest had such an enduring appeal, especially among professional military officers? One possible explanation is Forrests reputation as an untutored genius in a military culture that fosters rampant anti-intellectualism. Forrest himself is said to have claimed, I aint no graduate of West Point, and never rubbed my back up against any college. ln a 1934 paper at the Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, Capt. Neil S. Edmond, an infantry officer whose family lived in Alabama during the Civil War, wrote a paper extolling the virtues of Forrests military leadership. In alleging that Forrest possessed military vision, he argued it was strange that an unlettered unmilitary man could see where experts, so called, were blind and that finished education is not always essential where the dominant traits [of leadership] are present. Edmond believed that, during World War I, officers for high command were selected by reputations made in the class room and in many instances with disastrous results. Comments such as these highlight the frequent use of Forrests military career to assert that education and the effort of serious and sustained study were somehow unnecessary for a career as a successful military officer, if one possessed innate qualities of command, providing a shortcut past the hard work of military professionalism. It is not surprising that these observations were most often advanced by adherents to the Myth of the Lost Cause, who, not coincidentally, might find their academic background deficient when compared with that of their peers from other sections of the country.

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While certainly a dynamic leader, and, Brian Steel Wills has argued, an expert cavalryman, perhaps even the Confederacys best, Forrest was certainly not a great commander. He was more than capable of inspiring his fellow rough-hewn backwoodsmen to join his command and leading them into battle, often to their detriment, but great leadership is only one aspect of command. Forrest was certainly a skilled tactician, but great commanders must have strategic vision or some semblance of how their tactical victories translate into successful operations (known as operational art) and, ultimately, into strategic victory. Otherwise, the commander runs the risk of falling into the same traps set for American commanders in Vietnam and Iraq: winning an unbroken string of tactical victories but never translating these successes into the strategic conditions necessary for a decisive victory. Thus Forrest best fits the description of a warrior (in Carneys words, a warrior-king of the plain people ), befitting his ancestors who led their clans in the Scottish Highlands and others who have fought in resistance movements around the globe. But, as critics have argued, historically the great warriors have all been defeated by professional militariesincluding the English forces that broke the power of the Scottish clansled by skilled and capable commanders. And so it was with Nathan Bedford Forrest.

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Forrests military career, despite personal courage and tactical acumen, is, at best, a mixed bag of success in unimportant battles and failure in those that proved decisive. But Forrests actions and legacy, as a flawed exemplar who has continued to do damage to his nation well after his passing, places him firmly in the category of failed military leaders. By lending his name and considerable prestige to the founding of an organization that continues to do as much as any other to encourage racial strife and violence in the South, and by providing a flawed example for future military officers charged with the defense of their nation, Forrest has continued to do harm to the nation whose banner he lived under for 52 of his 56 years, despite that nation providing an unlettered son of the frontier with the opportunity for substantial social and economic advancement. Forrests misguided sense of duty and honor to a false and treasonous regional authority rather than the nation of his birth, and his remarkable ability to persuade others to do likewise, helped plunge the nation into its bloodiest conflict, and his postwar career, despite his protestations to the contrary, provided additional obstacles to sectional reconciliation and progress. Viewed holistically, Nathan Bedford Forrests failed military career offers a strong case for the title of worst military commander in history.

Nathan Bedford Forrest by Christopher M. Rein, reprinted with permission from The Worst Military Leaders in History, edited by John M. Jennings and Chuck Steele, Reaktion Books Ltd.  Reaktion Books 2022. All rights reserved.
Two weeks after Canadian authorities disbanded Ottawas Freedom Convoy protests, the greater Washington area is bracing for American analogs. The Peoples Convoy and American Freedom Convoystotaling hundreds of cars and several dozen tractor-trailerswill arrive in the Beltway region beginning today.

For three contentious weeks, the Freedom Convoy shut down the portion of Canadas capital housing the countrys loftiest palaces of government. But the American convoys have signaled a different approach, mostly disclaiming intentions of entering our nations capital. They plan to instead congregate for two days of rallies at the Hagerstown, Maryland, Speedway, just outside the District of Columbia. That decision is rooted in a baseless conspiracy theory that the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrectionists were targeted and entrapped by federal agents. While the theory is demonstrably wrong, it does contain a kernel of insight: American judges, legislators, and law enforcement officers often neglect the right to protest at our seats of power. But that is exactly where officials should be most solicitous of the First Amendment rights to peaceably assemble and to petition the government for redress of grievances.

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Start with the Capitol. More than 300 peaceful protesters were cited or arrested at the Capitol complex in 2020 alone. Their offenses included chanting on the rotunda steps, playing guitar in a Senate office building, and holding up a sign at the visitor center. Recent mass arrests include the nearly 600 women arrested in 2018 protesting Trump administration immigration policies and the over 400 demonstrators arrested in 2016 protesting money in politics. In 2017, now-Sen. Raphael Warnock was among a group of pastors arrested while singing and praying during a protest of the proposed repeal of the Affordable Care Act. The resort to arrests in these cases is especially troubling after the Jan. 6 insurrection, when only 14 rioters were arrested and Capitol Police officers were specifically instructed to show restraint in their crowd control response.

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Across First Street, protesters outside the Supreme Court face rigid restrictions on where they can assemble. While the Supreme Court struck down provisions of a 1949 law prohibiting protests on the public sidewalk across the large open plaza that foregrounds the courts columned facade, it has remained silent on First Amendment activity taking place on the plaza itself. Stepping into that void, a lower court held in 2013 that the plaza restriction was unreasonable, substantially overbroad and irreconcilable with the First Amendment. But the D.C. Circuit reversed that decision and the Supreme Court declined to hear the case, leaving the plaza off-limits for expressive activity. Critics on the right and left have opposed the decisions legal basis and Congress failure to repeal the law.

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The courts have not been much better when it comes to protests in front of the White House. The leading case is Clark v. Community for Creative Non-Violence, decided by the Supreme Court in 1984. The case dealt with a planned protest in Lafayette Squarethe park directly in front of the White House. The organization sought to protest rampant homelessness by having hundreds of homeless individuals sleep in tents overnight in the middle of winter to demonstrate the cruel reality of homelessness. The organization had carried out a similar protest the year prior without incident or damage to the square. Nonetheless, the Supreme Court ruled against the protesters, crediting the National Park Services contention that banning protesters overnight was necessary to preserve the squares attractive aesthetic condition. Commentators have attacked the decision as woefully unattuned to protesters First Amendment rights.

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Similar problems remain relevant today. Federal officers escaped liability for the violent clearing of Lafayette Square with pepper balls to erect a fence during the 2020 Black Lives Matter protests, although the court did allow an equitable claim for access to the square to proceed. At the state level, Tennessee criminalized last year overnight protests on the state Capitol grounds in Nashville. Camping even for a single night on the green space in front of the legislature is now a felony carrying a prison sentence of up to six years. Similar legislation has recently been introduced in South Carolina, Oklahoma, and Kentucky.

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Of course, there remain important limits on such protests that are rightly enforceable. The mounting charges against the insurrectionists for their violent invasion of the Capitol are the most obvious examples. And Canadian officials were in some aspects too lenient in their handling of the Freedom Convoy, like allowing nearly immovable trucks into the downtown core and initially doing nothing to limit the honking horns that tormented local residents.

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But American institutions often err too far in the other direction. One need not agree with the convoys messages or their founders views to recognize the importance of protest at the loci of governmental authority. A long American tradition supports that recognition, harkening back to the late-night protest at the Boston Custom House that culminated with the Boston Massacre. Late-breaking reports yesterday indicated that some truckers might break off from the main convoy and venture to the White House today. Should they do so, theynot their trucksare entitled to the full panoply of peaceable assembly and petition protections.

If First Amendment protest rights are to mean anything, they must mean that the people can speak directly to those they have entrusted with power.
Since 2016, its been conventional wisdom that social media algorithms are primed to amplify content that is outrageous, offensive, or even dangerous: to spread misinformation about COVID-19 and conspiracy theories about the 2020 election, or to incite events like the capital riots. Casey Newton, who writes the newsletter Platformer, has long argued that the relationship between social media and democracy is more complex. Through the #MeToo movement, Black Lives Matter, and the legalization of gay marriage, we have seen how social media can used to rally people around a common progressive cause. Now, in Ukraine, were watching a small country use the internet as a force multiplier.

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On Fridays episode of What Next: TBD, I spoke with Casey Newton about how social media is helping defend democracy in Ukraine.

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We spoke on Thursday. On Friday, Russia began blocking Facebook and Twitter.

Our conversation has been edited and condensed for clarity.

Lizzie OLeary: Were you expecting that Russia would own the internet narrative of the invasion of Ukraine?

Casey Newton: To some extent, yes. The conversation about the Russian information operation since 2016 has been to lionize it. There was this assumption that if an invasion happened, it would be coupled with some sort of mass manipulation campaign. I think we really have to credit the Biden administration for calling Putins shot in advance because it just made it exponentially harder for Putin to gain any ground in controlling this narrative. When the Biden administration is saying This guys about to invade a country for no reason, and then he does it, its very hard to launch a misinformation campaign thats going to change anybodys minds.

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How is Russia going to get their message out?

Up until three or four days ago, there was a sort of easy answer to this question, which is, they would get it out on RT and Sputnik. In 2005 they started this TV channel called RT, and they started building up presences on all the major platforms. And they were really clever about it.

Its not just 24/7 Russians complaining about Yankee imperialist pigs; its crazy weather videos, and cute animals, and other viral junk to attract an organic audience. And then, every once in a while, they slip in that Americans are capitalist dogs, and over time theyre able to kind of build up the propaganda machine. For years these platforms have faced calls to remove these networks entirely or at least make it harder for people to find them. The platforms resisted that for a long time. Starting in about 2017 they did start to take some measures. But then the invasion happened and the leaders of Ukraine started tweeting, Please get rid of these propaganda networks! which are all over Europe. . And finally, everybody started to act in concert, just as they have on so many things related to the invasion. And now you cannot find these channels on many TV networks and services around the world. They have been pulled from the App Store and the Google Play Store throughout Europe. Russia is not going to be able to use these to get its message out.

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Ukrainians have repeatedly used the internet to showcase the horror of Russian attacks, but theyve also showed a kind of uncowed irrepressibility that plays particularly well on an internet always looking for viral moments. President Zelenskyys cellphone videos from the street, or the sailors at Snake Island reportedly telling a Russian warship, Go fuck yourself , or Ukraines sassy official Twitter account, which asked for donations in cryptocurrency and immediately raised millions.

The thing that we hate about the internet is that it is so big and it is so fast, and so if I want to say something terrible, I can reach a lot of people in a hurry with that. And yet that same dynamic is incredible for fundraising. When you have the attention of most of planet Earth, you can raise an insane amount of money in a hurry. Im somebody who worries about the lack of friction on the internet basically every day, and yet here is a case where it is clearly being used for good.

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In Ukraine, we are seeing how people sort of on the margins, the underdog in this war against Russia, are able to appeal directly to a large global audience and rally the entire Western world to their side. If you think that social networks can only be used for bad, then I think the situation in Ukraine should give you reason to reflect.

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This is not the first social media war. This was very much happening in Syria, but it didnt move international opinion and policy in the same way. In terms of what makes this different, theres the obvious question of race, but I also wonder if theres something in the way we are consuming social media now, or in the way its being deployed?

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Its hard for me to think of something about the design of these systems that has changed fundamentally between Syria and Ukraine. I do think that there is a significant degree of racism in the way that we have been treating these stories. I also think that we just sort of allot our attention differently based on, in part, the geopolitical importance of the question.

Something that I think is different here is, to the extent that there was something novel in the social media dynamics, look at the Ukraine Twitter account. They are tweeting stuff like, What do you think of Russia? Tag them. They are posting memes. And they are calling on platforms directly saying, remove this from your App Store, remove that, ban Russia from the internet. Theyve used Twitter for activism in a way that I cannot recall another country or another group of freedom fighters doing. And that speaks to the power of Twitter in particular to really focus the energy of the internet on a particular subject.

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The major platforms have largely worked alongside Ukraine and Western governments, or acquiesced to their demands. Facebook restricted access to RT and Sputnik. Twitter has added state media labels to their links. Google and Apple have disabled live traffic data, so it cant be used for military targeting. Why do you think these platforms have been so quick to act in support of Ukraine and the West?

I write about these platforms more like they are quasi-states than they are corporations because they are just so big. They have to practice diplomacy like any other state, and essentially what weve learned is that they are aligned with the Western international order. And it makes sense. These businesses only exist because of the rule of law, because of democracy and the right to self-determination. We shouldnt find it unusual that they are aligning themselves with those groups. More practically, theyre aligning themselves with everyone with the power to regulate them.

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Theres another question for tech companies that have employees in Russia or do business thereits called the landing law. Can you explain what that is and the quandary it puts some of these companies in?

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Theres this new trend among authoritarian regimes that says, If you want to operate in our country, youre going to have to incorporate a local business here that has a physical office, and youre going to have to designate a local representative that we can complain to if we find something that we dont like on one of your platforms.

In practice what this means is that there is now a person who can be physically intimidated if the government doesnt like what they see. In Russia, with the landing law, the whole idea is they want to be able to pressure these platforms into doing their bidding no matter what it is.

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Last November, when Russia had elections, there was an app that helped people coordinate their votes against Putin. Putin insisted that platforms remove this app from the App Store, and initially they resisted. But then, he intimidated all of their employees and threatened them with jail or worse, and lo and behold, those apps got removed from the App Store. Thats a really scary precedent.

Do you think any of thisthe landing law, the intimidation around the App Storemakes these companies reassess doing business in Russia? Its a huge market.

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I was talking with a high-level platform executive about this question last year, and they were saying that journalists always approach this as a binary question, like youre either there or youre not. And if a country does one bad thing, you should pull out and really stick it to them, but the flip side of that is that the moment that you do thatto the extent that your services are used by journalists, human rights workers, nonprofit organizations, members of the resistance, rival politiciansyoure taking away those tools and services and infrastructure. So, could you maybe do more good by finding a way to remain? There are a lot of people at the big platforms who feel like, to the extent that they can do that dance and remain in the country, they can do the most good.

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If you contrast Russia with China, Russia has much worse control over its internet. It hasnt built up nearly the same infrastructure to surveil people, to censor people, which means that, in practice, you could probably get much better information on YouTube, for example, than you could on Russian state media. YouTube might be the best shot that many average Russians have for getting independent media.

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Have you talked to people inside the big platforms about what is happening and how their content and actions are contributing to it?

In the past week I have spoken with folks at Google, Facebook, and Twitter about whats going on, and what they have signaled to me is that they really want to help. Whatever they can do with their platforms, they want to. There are some practical questions, there are some fears about, for example, removing RT and Sputnik from their services completely. They are waiting to take cues from the Biden administration. If the Biden administration asks them to do something, they are going to be much likelier to do it. They are very committed to doing what they can to help Ukraine via their platform policies.

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Do you think this conflict changes the relationship between these platforms and the U.S., or the EUplaces that have been trying to rein them in and regulate them?

I think its been a moment for the platforms to say, Look at the good we can do. You want us in the world. We can help fight for freedom. Thats been the message they want to send. The platforms have had such a rough half decade that any moment where they can try to take a leadership position and try to do something that regulators will praise them for, they are very excited about. Frankly, none of them have gone rogue with their policies. Everybody is sort of following each others lead, and the lead is coming from the U.S. government, and from the EU, and the U.K. This has shown the degree to which they are not like nation states. In this case, they really are acting like corporations in war time that are trying to support the domestic politics.

Future Tense is a partnership of Slate, New America, and Arizona State University that examines emerging technologies, public policy, and society.
For the Week of March 7, 2022

What's with all the axe throwing? Don't get me wrong, it looks fun, but it seemed odd that suddenly everyone was swinging an axe and chugging beer. It's like how all the women in town flock to the same yoga studio, where there is apparently only one class per day and the instructor is optional.

Anyway, the axe chucking was entertaining but unnecessary. I would have rather seen Dante and Sam flirting as they snuggled in bed or whipping up dinner for the kids as they talked about Liz's stalker, but more on that later.

First, let's discuss Esme.

Esme put her nasty little plan into motion. She uploaded the video of Cam and Joss making love for the first time and sent it in a group chat. At least, that's the impression I had, since everyone in the classroom received the upload at the very same instant. Seconds later, some little jerk shared it on the big screen with the professor and the mortified couple in question, while Esme sat in the corner, practically cackling with glee.

How very late 20th century of Esme. Sex tapes aren't quite the scandal they once were.

For instance, when Diego Alcazar (the Text Message Killer) did something similar to Brook Lynn. In that case, Diego slipped Brook Lynn a date rape drug, took nude photographs of her, and circulated them on the Internet. Brook Lynn had been traumatized not only by the realization that she'd been drugged but by having her image exploited. Diego ended up going to jail for that.

I can't imagine that what Esme did was any less illegal. She might not have drugged Cam and Joss, but Trina was certainly drugged that night, and there have to be laws against recording people during intimacy without their consent.

Beyond that, I question Esme's wisdom of going down this road. Not only is Josslyn connected to a mob boss and a billionaire tycoon who can easily afford to trace that video to its source, but Trina's father is also a retired police officer with all kinds of connections, and he will stop at nothing to clear his daughter's name. It's a huge risk to take for very little reward.

At least, I presume Esme's intentions are to humiliate Josslyn and to frame Trina for sharing the video with the world -- and the entire Port Charles University student body. There are several fatal flaws with Esme's dish of revenge. First, Trina would never do something like that to anyone. Ever. Trina has way too much honor and integrity for those kinds of games. Everyone who knows Trina is going to know that she was framed, and if they don't, then they are morons.

Once people figure out that Trina is innocent, the next logical question will be who would want to hurt Josslyn and set Trina up for the fall. Esme is going to spring to mind like a Jack-in-the-box. Esme is the only person who has had issues with both Josslyn and Trina. Josslyn hasn't exactly been quiet about her distrust of Esme, and Esme has good reason to be jealous of Trina.

The truth is, Trina has feelings for Spencer, not Cameron. Everyone, especially Esme, knows that. Ava, Laura, and even Josslyn have each commented on it in recent weeks, and Spencer hasn't exactly been subtle about his interest in Trina. It's definitely a two-way street, and everyone sees it.

Even though Esme never faced criminal charges for torching Ava's car, it's an open secret that she did it. It's also known that Esme fully supported Spencer's reign of terror on Ava, participating on more than one occasion until he was caught. Spencer took the fall for both of them, not just himself. Someone capable of that kind of deviousness is exactly the kind of person who'd hatch a scheme to take down both Joss and Trina.

Also, let us not forget that Trina was in no condition to sneak into Cam and Joss's room that night and set up her phone to record the couple during their night of passion. How could Trina have known that it would happen? Cam and Joss weren't even certain that they were going to make love until the very last minute. They kept changing their minds. There's also the little matter of Esme's trip back to the cabin to retrieve the phone. Esme doesn't drive. She uses rideshares to get around, which means there will be a record for Spinelli to follow, which will lead him straight to Esme being at Sonny's cabin after everyone else had left it.

That is going to look very incriminating.

That brings me to the final flaw in Esme's plan. Spencer has a knight-in-shining-armor complex, which is going to kick into high gear when Trina finds herself the town pariah. Esme's plan will backfire in spectacular fashion and push Spencer and Trina closer together, not further apart. For someone who claims to know Spencer and to have a fascination with psychology, Esme's scheme is very shortsighted and filled with risks.

I honestly don't understand why Spencer is with Esme. She's whiney, manipulative, unable to make friends, and perfectly willing to let Spencer take the fall for her crimes. She clings to him like a barnacle, and she shows no interest in supporting herself. Spencer is still a teenager. Why is he tying himself down with someone like that, especially when he has feelings for another girl?

Spencer doesn't deserve Trina, and it really irks me that he's sleeping with Esme while treating Trina like a side piece. Joss was spot-on when she told Trina that. Sometimes the truth is uncomfortable but necessary. Trina shouldn't settle for scraps.

I also have a huge issue with Spencer's attitude about jail. The kid is lucky that he didn't end up in Pentonville for several years (see Diego Alcazar), but he can't stop complaining about being stuck in Spring Ridge for 30 days. I really wish he'd grow up, truly accept that he was wrong for stalking Ava, and do his time with a little grace and humility. Heck, Cameron served a much stiffer sentence for his failed attempt to buy pot for his dying friend, and he was a minor at the time.

That brings me to the other big development this week. Franco's portrait of Liz -- thought to have been destroyed in the studio fire a few weeks earlier -- was found hanging over Liz's fireplace when she got home from work. For a time, the prime suspect was Betsy Frank, who conveniently dropped in for a visit with Liz just in time to be questioned by Dante. However, Betsy was quickly cleared because she had an airtight alibi and a psychiatric unit to account for her time.

Not for a minute did I think it was Betsy. Not only because it's far too obvious, but never in the history of soaps has anything even remotely like this been resolved that quickly or easily. There's a much bigger story afoot here with a much better payoff than Betsy Frank in the dining room with a pair of scissors.

I still say it's Heather who is behind all of it, but I do think that Jake will fall under the spotlight, at least for a short time. The writers have already created a cloud of suspicion around Jake with that sketch of Franco that Liz found, although I didn't really see anything strange about it. It's natural for Jake to be missing Franco, especially since he also just lost Jason. Losing your father and beloved stepfather in the span of a year is overwhelming for anyone, and I can completely understand why Jake might be reluctant to warm up to Finn. Not only is Finn terribly awkward, but what if Finn gets ripped out of Jake's life, too?

Jake told Cam that he sometimes fears that Franco is being forgotten, so it makes sense that Jake -- who expresses himself through his art -- would sketch a portrait of Franco.

I loved the scenes between Cam and Jake. Cam apologizing for believing the worst -- that Jason had murdered Franco -- was touching. Cam is such a wonderful big brother, and I love seeing how protective he is over his brothers. I have a feeling that bond is going to be tested mightily in the coming weeks.

As for my theory about Liz's stalker, if Betsy was struggling with Franco's death, imagine how it impacted Heather. I can't believe that Dante hasn't even bothered to pick up the phone to check on Franco's homicidal maniac mother. I chalk it up to the euphoria of being in love. Even though I was rooting for Drew and Sam, I definitely can see the potential in a romance between Dante and Sam. They are a cute couple, and they have a nice dynamic.

Folks, I have to take a moment to applaud the writers. Some newer viewers might not appreciate this, but those who were watching in the days when Jason went back and forth between Sam and Liz will understand my deep appreciation for two very special scenes: Sam and Liz at the hospital when Sam told Liz that she'd always have Liz's back, and the chat that Dante and Sam had when he confided to Sam about Liz's stalker because Sam and Liz were friends. That was so huge.

There was a time when the idea of Sam and Liz being friends was about as possible as pigs taking flight. I still bear the scars from the Jasam (Jason/Sam) and Liason (Liz/Jason) fan wars that raged over message boards and landed many a poster in the ban box. My eyes saw things that I will never be able to unsee, both on my television screen and in various discussion threads. No one had clean hands, and both Sam and Liz did things in the name of love that everyone is better off forgetting.

In the end, it seems fitting that both Sam and Liz ended up with the best part of Jason -- his sons.

I love the idea of Sam helping to uncover who has been sending Liz the ominous messages about Franco. I'm grateful that the writers have given Sam and Liz a healthy relationship and that they are finally in a place where they can be supportive of each other. Danny and Jake will be better off for it.

It's also why, if Heather is responsible for Liz's recent troubles -- and let's face it, it's definitely in Heather's wheelhouse to stalk a person -- Sam needs to be the one to take Heather down. Sam should always remain a thorn in Heather's side as payback for Heather hiding Danny in Llanview for the first year of his life.

Sam was quite the busy little bee this week because she was also part of another interesting development with Drew when they -- along with Anna and Laura -- hatched a brilliant plan for Drew to pretend that he remains susceptible to mind control. The hope is that it will get Victor to reveal what he's really cooking in Port Charles besides the unseasonably warm temperatures.

Laura is certain that Victor was behind Luke's death, and we already know that she's right. The hunt for answers is on, and I'm eager to see where it leads us. A lot of my favorite characters are involved in this storyline, and it has all the hallmarks of an exciting adventure with lots of twists and turns.

I know that Victor has done terrible things, including most recently when he told Peter about Bailey. Endangering children is inexcusable -- even if they ultimately come to no harm -- so I'm not even going to try to justify that. It was wrong, and it will always be wrong.

However, this is a soap opera, and I think that we need dark characters like Victor to spice things up and keep them interesting. Look at Valentin, Liesl, and Britt, all of whom, at one time, were considered beyond redemption. Each had done heinous things that hurt innocent people, including children, but with time and incredibly good writing, each was able to find salvation.

Victor is entertaining. He makes for good TV, and Charles Shaughnessy is absolutely divine in the role. I don't want Victor written into a corner the way that Peter August was. Victor is a much better character than Peter ever was, and Victor has a rich history that is begging to be explored. I want him to stick around, and the only way for that to happen is for the writers to balance the bad with just enough good that the majority of viewers find him enjoyable.

Now, let's discuss the mess that is the Corinthos marriage.

Folks, I'm not one to blame the other woman (or man) for the breakdown of a marriage. That is strictly between the two parties who entered into the marriage. Nina didn't make Sonny cheat.

Sonny slept with Nina because he is not in love with Carly. I don't know if Nina is right about his alcohol consumption diminishing the potency of his medication or if there's something else going on with Sonny, but I do know that when you truly love someone, you don't desire others. By the same token, if you are committed to fixing your marriage, you don't bail the first time things don't go your way.

My issue with Nina is not that she slept with Sonny. That was always going to happen because Sonny has always wanted what he can't have. It's like catnip for him. He was not going to get Nina out of his system until they hit the sheets. Now that he's slept with her, he's right back to trying to fix things with Carly. He's already moved on, and that is the crux of my problem with Nina.

No, she's not a homewrecker, but she's also not taking accountability for her actions.

Nina is passive-aggressively pursuing a man who has made it very clear that he wants nothing more than to work things out with his wife. Nina is always popping up where Sonny is, sticking around when she sees him, and taking every opportunity to remind him that she has very strong feelings for him. Nina accuses Carly of walking out on Sonny and not giving him a second chance, but that's not exactly true. Carly filed for divorce because every time she turned around, Nina was right there. Worse, Sonny refused to say that he wasn't in love with Nina.

Carly told Sonny -- on several occasions -- that all she needed to hear was that he was not in love with Nina, and for whatever reason, Sonny has refused to say those words. Why should Carly stay in a marriage and fight for a man who can't even say that he's not in love with another woman? A woman that he has now slept with and who continues to remain in the picture. Nina isn't wrecking Sonny's home, but she's very much trying to keep him from going back into it and picking up the mess he's made.

I loved that Britt called Nina out on it. Drew, too, for that matter. Nina is not the victim; Carly is. Sonny cheated on Carly not on Nina.

So, did anyone else catch how Harmony grew tense during her talk with Shawn when she saw Nina enter Charlie's Pub? It's really starting to look like Harmony knows far more about Willow's birth parents than she has told Alexis. I know that Harmony is aware of the issues between Nina and Willow, but given that Harmony isn't Willow's biological mother and Willow has ongoing issues with Nina, the signs are pointing to Willow finding her birth mother very close to home.

Nothing is random in soaps. Nothing. There's a reason that everyone is squaring off, and it's not to do-si-do.

Finally, for the storyline that just breaks my heart. Brando and Sasha are struggling in the aftermath of losing their newborn son. They are grieving, and each is floundering in their own way. Brando is desperate to work through his grief, while Sasha is equally determined to shove it under the rug and pretend it's not there.

Sadly, Sasha's substance abuse has reared its insidious head. In order to put on a happy front during her romantic getaway with Brando, Sasha has resorted to taking pills, compliments of a drug dealer that she bumped into at Kelly's.

I don't blame the writers for going down this road. Both Brando and Sasha are recovering from addiction, and the loss of a child is profound. It seemed inevitable that one or both would, at the very least, be tempted to escape from their pain, even if it's temporary, but I hope this isn't just a vehicle to blow up Brando and Sasha's relationship.

I like Brando and Sasha as a couple, and despite Sasha's relapse, I do think that they can be good for each other. I don't want this to be a story about addiction, but rather about recovery and hope.

The world needs that more than ever right now.

Random observations

I'm confused. Why is Josslyn leaving Trina voicemails and sending text messages when they live together in a dorm?

Courtney, Courtney, Courtney. Is dear Uncle Victor hiding Courtney Matthews in one of his secret lairs? The Beetlejuice effect cannot be ignored on a soap opera. If everyone is talking about a character, it generally means they are lurking in the shadows. Poor Spencer. Imagine how mad he would be if it turned out that his mother had faked her death, too.

I love the idea of Anna and Liesl burying the hatchet and continuing to build on their relationship. Liesl made such a good point about them having a unique understanding of each other. Let the "Scarecrow and Schnitzel Adventures" begin.

Reader feedback

I must have napped during General Hospital because when Peter said they were Switzerland you should have seen the look on my face! That not only was fast but Maxie had a passport. If he had forged ones he should pass the forgers name along to Harmony. Did Maxie pack her clothes? She wasn't wearing the same dress. And who throws their lipstick out at a gas station? Is this a thing in Switzerland? -- lynn

I don't understand why Spencer is the heir apparent. Why not Charlotte? She is just as much a Cassadine, and Victor's grandchild instead of a great nephew. Now that Valentin is blood related, he should be pursuing the Cassadine estate. There was some mention of that with Martin, but then it was just dropped. Spencer is getting propped up a bit too much for me. -- Kim LaSota

Spencer needs to stop punishing Ava, too. Her sin was choosing not to go through the rest of her life as a disfigured monster rather than helping Spencer punish Valentin. Moreover, Spencer himself has suffered from facial burns that drove him to make bad decisions! One would think he'd have MORE sympathy for the lengths someone would go through to recover. Not everyone has access to The Shriners' Hospital for Children. -- Bianca Jackson

I love hearing from readers, so please feel free to leave a comment below or email me.

Take care and happy viewing,

Liz Masters
https://sputniknews.com/20220305/china-to-ramp-up-military-spending-oil-and-gas-development-sets-hard-gdp-target-1093622222.html

China to Ramp Up Military Spending, Oil and Gas Development, Sets 'Hard' GDP Target

China to Ramp Up Military Spending, Oil and Gas Development, Sets 'Hard' GDP Target

The most recent National Peoples Congress (NPC) took place on 5 March, ahead of the Communist Partys national congress, the key event in Chinese politics... 05.03.2022, Sputnik International

2022-03-05T19:46+0000

2022-03-05T19:46+0000

2022-03-05T19:45+0000

asia & pacific

china

chinese people's liberation army (pla)

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China is eyeing to increase its defence budget by 7.1%, up to $237 billion in the new year, according to a government finance report presented during this year's National Peoples Congress (NPC). Not only will the budget be larger, but its annual growth rate also increased in 2022, from 6.8% to 7.1%.Chinese Premier Li Keqiang called for a "deepening comprehensive combat readiness" for the Chinese military (the People's Liberation Army, or the PLA) during his NPC address. Li noted that the PLA must "carry out military struggles in a resolute and flexible manner" so as to defend the party's interests around the world.The Communist Party also presented its economic goals for 2022, with the set goal of a 5.5% GDP growth and a fiscal deficit of 2.8%. These capital targets will not be easy to achieve as the world continues to recover from the pandemic and is currently shaken by high energy costs  from oil and gas to coal. Li admitted that the party had set its goals high.The political head noted that Beijing will take steps to help its economy achieve these heights, as the government report noted significant fossil fuel boosts for the exploration of new oil and gas fields in 2022.Beijing also plans to advance science innovation and streamline its industries, Li added during his NPC address. He also announced reform within research institutes and several new science and technology projects, but did not provide specifics. Li noted that various capital incentives will be implemented to increase cashflow to research and development.

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asia & pacific, china, chinese people's liberation army (pla)
https://sputniknews.com/20220305/donbass-resident-icc-ignored-suffering-of-local-civilians-for-8-years-1093615392.html

Donbass Resident: ICC Ignored Suffering of Local Civilians For 8 Years

Donbass Resident: ICC Ignored Suffering of Local Civilians For 8 Years

DONETSK (Sputnik) - The International Criminal Court (ICC), which has recently launched an investigation into possible war crimes in Ukraine, has not been that... 05.03.2022, Sputnik International

2022-03-05T13:41+0000

2022-03-05T13:41+0000

2022-03-05T13:43+0000

situation in ukraine

ukraine

donbass

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On 28 February, ICC Prosecutor Karim Khan announced his decision to open up an investigation into the situation in Ukraine. On Thursday, Khan said that an advance team of ICC experts had departed for the country.According to the young woman, she received a shrapnel wound during an attack by Ukrainian troops in August 2014. About a year and a half ago she sought redress at the ICC, which ignored her case."Nothing. A complete and total silence. I think they just do not give a hoot about us," Leonova said, when asked if there was any response.She went on to add that Russia's special military operation has instilled hope in the locals that things could be looking up."I think that what is currently going on in Donbass may force someone to give it some thought and there will be some progress regarding this matter," Leonova said.Last Thursday, Russia began a special operation to demilitarize and "denazify" Ukraine, responding to calls for help from the Donetsk and Lugansk people's republics in countering the aggression of 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 has repeatedly stressed that it has no plans to occupy Ukraine.On Saturday morning, the Russian military declared a ceasefire at Kiev's request so that civilians could evacuate from the cities of Mariupol and Volnovakha. By mid-day, the Donbass authorities said that no local civilians were able to access the humanitarian corridors because of being blocked by Ukrainian troops. The Russian military has accused Kiev of taking advantage of the ceasefire to regroup troops rather than facilitate civilian evacuations.

https://sputniknews.com/20220304/putin-saved-thousands-of-lives-in-donbass-republics-pre-maidan-ukrainian-prime-minister-says-1093577806.html

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ukraine, donbass
https://sputniknews.com/20220305/elon-musk-says-starlink-will-not-block-russian-news-sources-over-ukraine-op-unless-at-gunpoint-1093610375.html

Elon Musk Says Starlink Will Not Block Russian News Sources Over Ukraine Op 'Unless at Gunpoint'

Elon Musk Says Starlink Will Not Block Russian News Sources Over Ukraine Op 'Unless at Gunpoint'

The entrepreneurs space company has a project called Starlink, which is designed to provide high-speed broadband internet across the world via thousands of satellites, which have been sent to low Earth Orbit.

2022-03-05T10:51+0000

2022-03-05T10:51+0000

2022-03-05T10:51+0000

world

ukraine

russia

free speech

elon musk

starlink

satellites

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Some governments have asked Starlink to block Russian news sources, the company's founder and CEO Elon Musk has said. "We will not do so unless at 'gunpoint'", sorry to be a free speech absolutist", the entrepreneur wrote. He did not name which countries have approached Starlink, only mentioning that the request did not come from the Ukrainian authorities.Musk is an avid supporter of free speech and has repeatedly found himself in hot water over his stance. In January, he was criticised for supporting demonstrators in Canada, who staged a massive protest in the capital Ottawa over the authorities' decision to introduce vaccine mandates for cross-border truck drivers.Musk also said Starlink had reprioritised cyberdefence and overcoming signal jamming, which will cause slight delays in the implementation of the second part of the Starlink project. The company planned to launch satellites into low-Earth orbit using its next-generation rocket, Starship. SpaceX said Starship will dramatically reduce the cost of space launches and will be used in flights to the Moon and Mars.Last week, Starlink sent internet terminals to Ukraine for the country to have access to the World Wide Web. The decision came amid Russia's decision to begin a special operation in Ukraine, which President Vladimir Putin said is aimed at denazifying and demilitarising Kiev, as well as protecting the residents of two breakaway regions  the Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics.The move has sparked unprecedented tensions between Moscow and the West, with the latter condemning Russia's actions, calling it an "invasion". Western nations slapped sanctions on Russia and blocked the nation's news outlets. Thus, the European Union has blocked Russia Today (RT) and Sputnik in the bloc, while Google, Instagram, Twitter, and Meta (previously known as Facebook) announced that they would block the outlets' channels on its platforms.

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world, ukraine, russia, free speech, elon musk, starlink, satellites
https://sputniknews.com/20220305/europe-swifter-than-united-states-to-shut-down-russian-media-1093602569.html

Europe Swifter Than United States to Shut Down Russian Media

Europe Swifter Than United States to Shut Down Russian Media

Today the Misfits talk about the nuclear risk in Ukraine, SCOTUS protects torturers in recent decision and Europes war. 05.03.2022, Sputnik International

2022-03-05T09:17+0000

2022-03-05T09:17+0000

2022-03-10T10:20+0000

political misfits

ukraine

nuclear

eu

nato

rt

radio

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Europe Swifter Than United States to Shut Down Russian Media Today the Misfits talk about the nuclear risk in Ukraine, SCOTUS protects torturers in recent decision and Europes war.

At the top of the show, Dr. Kenneth Surin, Professor Emeritus of literature and professor of religion and critical theory at Duke University joins the show to break down the latest news from Ukraine. They talk about whether there is more support for NATO across Europe in the wake of Russia's special military operation in Ukraine. The strategy by the western alliance has been to pump all the weapons they can into NATO countries and Ukraine. They will not put boots on the ground, says Dr. Surin. Meanwhile, shares of defense manufacturers are soaring. They also discuss whether the U.S. will burn more coal amid rising NLG costs. Will higher energy costs spur the development of renewable energy such as wind and solar domestically and abroad? The Greens in Europe have some political clout. They are calling for growth of non-carbon forms of energy according to Dr. Surin. Then the Misfits talk about how Europe has been swifter to shut down Russian media than the United States.Next, Kevin Kamps, radioactive waste watchdog at Beyond Nuclear, joins the conversation to talk about what happens when nuclear power and nuclear waste sites are overtaken by conflict. What added risks does this kind of energy present at a time of war? Nuclear power plants in a combat zone is a high risk situation. Last night, Russian troops took control of what is apparently Europes largest nuclear power plant, after a group of Russian National Guard officers came under attack from Ukrainian saboteurs while patrolling the territory of the NPP. The Russian servicemen repelled the attack, but as the saboteurs were leaving they set the plant on fire, the Russian MoD said. Shutting down the 15 nuclear plants in Ukraine is not a reasonable option considering the plants provide near 50 percent of electricity consumed in Ukraine, Kamps said.At the top of the second hour, Bruce Fein, former Associate Deputy Attorney General of the United States and one of the countrys leading constitutional scholars joins the show to talk about the Supreme Court decision on Thursday. In a 7-2 decision, the court ruled that the US government can, in the name of national security, shield the testimony of two former government contractors from a terrorism suspect who seeks to use the information in a criminal proceeding abroad. Abu Zubaydah underwent relentless torture at the hands of the CIA and its two contractors. But the Supreme Court ruled that the government can invoke a state secrets privilege to prevent disclosure of information when that disclosure would harm the national security, according to Justice Stephen Breyer. Only Justices Neil Gorsuch, a Trump appointee, and Sonia Sotomayor, an Obama appointee, dissented.For the last segment, Guy McPherson, Scientist, professor emeritus of natural resources and ecology and evolutionary biology at the University of Arizona joins the conversation to talk about the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission updating the policies it uses to determine whether to approve or deny applications to construct interstate natural gas pipelines. They talk about how the public should feel about being sold the idea that natural gas is a clean fuel. It is just not the case because it's all methane and it's causing the loss of habitat across the globe, said McPherson.It's Friday! The Misfits close with Stories of the Weird.We sign off till MondayWe'd love to get your feedback at radio@sputniknews.comThe views and opinions expressed in this program are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect the position of Sputnik.

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political misfits, ukraine, nuclear, eu, nato, rt, , radio
https://sputniknews.com/20220305/giant-but-harmless-joro-spiders-spread-across-eastern-us-new-research-reports-1093622508.html

Giant But Harmless Joro Spiders Spread Across Eastern US, New Research Reports

Giant But Harmless Joro Spiders Spread Across Eastern US, New Research Reports

Despite a frightening appearance and unsettling size, the spider is unlikely to cause significant disruption to local ecosystems or harm to humans in the US. 05.03.2022, Sputnik International

2022-03-05T20:51+0000

2022-03-05T20:51+0000

2022-03-05T20:51+0000

us

tech

spider

georgia

japan

arachnids

arachnophobia

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A large spider from East Asia that first infested the US state of Georgia will soon be seen throughout the entire eastern coast of the United States, new research published in the journal Physiological Entomology has reported.Trichonephila clavata, known as the Joro spider, has legs that span seven centimeters (three inches) and are nearly the size of a human palm. The big spider has in recent years alarmed Georgia residents who come across its massive golden webs. In addition to its enormous size (female members of the species are as large or larger than the Carolina wolf spider, the largest natural spider in the US), the yellow and blue color scheme of the creature is striking.According to research, the spider, primarily confined to warmer southeastern US states for nearly a decade, could soon be expected to colonize cooler climates, as researchers noted that the giant arachnids have a higher chance of surviving a brief freeze than other species in the same genus.Another researcher, Benjamin Frick, added that "theres no point in excess cruelty where its not needed." The study compared the Joro spider to a relative, the golden silk spider, which arrived from the tropics to the country's Southeast roughly 160 years ago. Due to its cold sensitivity, the golden silk spider has been unable to move beyond the region, according to the paper.Researchers said they used iNaturalist information to track spider sightings across Georgia throughout the year. The National Geographic Society and the California Academy of Sciences have teamed up to produce iNaturalist, which maps user reports of many animals to create location data on a range of species. They also measured the arachnids' metabolic, cardiac, and survival rates during a brief freeze in order to document the species' cold resistance. Despite their similarities, the Joro spider has almost twice the metabolism of its relative, a 77% greater heart rate, and can survive a brief cold that would kill many of its relatives, according to the study. Additionally, in a cold climate, the Joro spider's body performs better than its relatives.Joros can also use their silk to fly with the wind to other locations, a technique known as ballooning, researchers pointed out. It's one of the reasons Joros have been able to expand so quickly throughout Georgia. When hatchlings emerge in the spring, they travel to a new location using ballooning. The following year, their offspring do the same.The spiders, native to Korea, China, Taiwan, and Japan, are thought to have arrived in Georgia around 2013 or 2014, when sightings were first reported. The spiders most likely traveled to Georgia on a cargo ship, according to researchers. They are able to breed quickly because they have no natural enemies, eventually blanketing the state with golden webs.This arachnid draws its name from the Japanese mythological character Jorogumo, an archetypal femme fatale who transforms into a beautiful woman to prey on unwary males.Joro spiders are mostly harmless to humans and most pets. According to scientists, the creature's bite feels like a small pinch, and while it is poisonous, it poses no hazard to a human who is bitten."Theres really no reason to go around actively squishing them," Frick underscored. "Humans are at the root of their invasion. Dont blame the Joro spider."

https://sputniknews.com/20211217/huntsman-spider-interrupts-health-ministers-covid-briefing-in-australia---video--1091596683.html

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Kirill Kurevlev

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https://sputniknews.com/20220305/how-could-indias-stance-on-russian-op-in-ukraine-affect-its-ties-with-us--quad-1093606084.html

How Could India's Stance on Russian Op in Ukraine Affect Its Ties With US & Quad?

How Could India's Stance on Russian Op in Ukraine Affect Its Ties With US & Quad?

The Quad appears to be split on the issue of Russia's military operation in Ukraine. During the latest meeting, Indian PM Modi brushed aside the US agenda... 05.03.2022, Sputnik International

2022-03-05T15:59+0000

2022-03-05T15:59+0000

2022-03-05T15:59+0000

india

russia

china

us

japan

australia

narendra modi

joe biden

scott morrison

fumio kishida

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Divisions appeared within the Quad, a security dialogue between the United States, India, Japan, and Australia during a virtual meet hosted by US President Joe Biden on Thursday.In an apparent bid to persuade India to accept the agenda of the other three members to expand the Quad's ambit to the Euro-Atlantic region, Biden mentioned that he had discussed with the Quad leaders "Russia's ongoing attack on Ukraine", and the group's "commitment to sovereignty and territorial integrity around the world, including in the Indo-Pacific".This was apparently not well received by the Indian side, as evident from Indian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi's statement on Friday:"From our perspective, while of course, there's a very serious situation going on in the world in Ukraine. It's not as though challenges in other parts of the world have vanished. And I think, in the Indo-Pacific, the challenge is there".America's attempt to change the Quad agenda is part of its strategy to ease pressure on China, says Brahma Chellaney, professor of strategic studies at the New Delhi-based Centre for Policy Research."As if to allay China's concerns, he [Biden] has diluted the Quad's Indo-Pacific focus by broadening its agenda to everlasting global challenges like climate change and sustainability. Now he has brought in Ukraine and European security", Brahma Chellaney says.Last month, Indian Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar made it clear that Indo-Pacific geography does not cover Ukraine.The Quad summit was held as the US State Department said in a cable that India's stance on Ukraine puts it in "Russia's camp", while New Delhi says its policy is based on the country's "best interests"."Russia is an important defence partner, and India needs that partnership to manage China. Also, India needs Russian support in managing the evacuation of its nationals from Ukraine", Pant underlines.Two thirds of India's military hardware is of Russian origin, and it is heavily dependent on spare parts from the country. Russia, a privileged strategic partner, is also part of India's Act East Policy, which aims to expand its outreach to the Arctic region.India has resisted attempts to name Russia in the Quad's joint readout and only mentioned Ukraine once, despite the Biden administration's calls to "isolate Russia".India's balancing act on Ukraine could face scrutiny very soon, as Western nations are putting severe financial sanctions on Russia, analysts warn, adding that the Quad may eventually become a "casualty of Western pressure".Nevertheless, an immediate signal on the future of the Quad may appear sooner if the Biden administration sanctions New Delhi under the Countering America's Adversaries through Sanctions Act (CAATSA) law over the $5.43 billion S-400 air missile defence system deal, under which delivery started last December from Russia.Enacted in 2017, CAATSA authorises the US president to impose sanctions on countries that purchase major defence hardware from Russia.

https://sputniknews.com/20220121/uk-mulls-basing-military-assets-in-australia-amid-malign-actors-rise-in-indo-pacific-1092424770.html

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india, russia, china, us, japan, australia, narendra modi, joe biden, scott morrison, fumio kishida, south china sea, ukraine, kiev, quadrilateral security dialogue (quad)
https://sputniknews.com/20220305/indias-top-hindu-group-slams-congress-for-opposing-anti-conversion-bill-in-haryana-1093613232.html

Indias Top Hindu Group Slams Congress for Opposing Anti-Conversion Bill in Haryana

Indias Top Hindu Group Slams Congress for Opposing Anti-Conversion Bill in Haryana

Some 10 Indian states had already adopted anti-conversion laws, before Haryana introduced its own anti-conversion bill in the state legislature. These states... 05.03.2022, Sputnik International

2022-03-05T12:48+0000

2022-03-05T12:48+0000

2022-03-05T12:48+0000

india

india

politics

politics

politics

politics

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religion and politics

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India's top Hindu organisation Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) on Saturday slammed Congress for opposing the anti-conversion bill introduced by the Haryana legislative assembly. VHP Joint General Secretary Dr Surendra Jain said that the opposition of anti-conversion by Congress is anti-national and it should apologise for it.In a statement, Dr Jain said: "Soon after the independence of the country, Mahatma Gandhi wanted that there should be a strict law to stop illegal religious conversions. Perhaps, this is the reason laws were made in this regard by Congress in Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Himachal Pradesh, and Chhattisgarh and there was no opposition to it. However, now Congress is opposing the bill which shows that the party is only favouring Muslims".Questioning the Congress Party's intentions, he said: "Doesn't the party know that terrorists and anti-nationals are directly linked to illegal religious conversion? Doesn't it know that Hindus are not safe in the places where they have become minorities due to illegal and forced conversion? The party has turned a blind eye towards all such issues. VHP believes that the party should change its policy".Dr Jain also said that the shredding of the bill by a Congress politician is not only a huge insult towards those Hindus who have suffered due to forced and illegal conversion, but also an insult to the state assembly.On Friday, there was a huge uproar in the Haryana state assembly after the BJP-ruled state government introduced the anti-conversion bill.The Prevention of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Bill, 2022 was tabled by state Home Minister Anil Vij on the third day of the state assembly's budget session.Haryana State Chief Manohar Lal Khattar said that the proposed bill is aimed at prohibiting religious conversions through threats, coercion, fraud, allurement, misrepresentation, and by marriage or for marriage.He also stated that the legislation will only affect "incidents of forced religious conversion".The opposition party, Congress, raised strong objections to the bill citing religious discrimination and called it "unconstitutional".Congress politician Raghuvir Singh Kadian even tore up a copy of the legislation and continued protesting despite being given several warnings by the speaker of the assembly. He was later suspended for the entire session.All of the Congress Partys lawmakers subsequently walked out of the assembly.Meanwhile, the VHP welcomed the introduction of the bill, saying State Chief Manohar Lal Khattar has shown his determination towards curbing such forceful religious conversions in the state.The Hindu group said in a statement that the bill will create an atmosphere of "mutual harmony and peace" in Haryana, and put the state on the path of development "at a fast pace".

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https://sputniknews.com/20220305/kievs-intel-seeking-to-involve-syrian-militants-in-ukraine-conflict---source-1093616631.html

Kiev's Intel Service Seeking to Involve Syrian Militants in Ukraine Conflict - Source

Kiev's Intel Service Seeking to Involve Syrian Militants in Ukraine Conflict - Source

According to a source in military and diplomatic circles, agents of the Security Service of Ukraine together with their Turkish colleagues visited the northern... 05.03.2022, Sputnik International

2022-03-05T14:11+0000

2022-03-05T14:11+0000

2022-03-05T15:08+0000

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Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) agents have been seeking to involve Syrian militants in the military conflict in Ukraine, the source said.According to him, on 4 February, "a group of three employees of the Security Service of Ukraine, accompanied by officers of the Turkish national intelligence organisation, visited areas controlled by Turkey in northern Syria, including the settlements of Afrin and Azaz".He added that during those meetings, "they discussed the possibility of recruiting militants into Ukraine's territorial defence forces". "They agreed to organise a series of secret meetings with people concerned about the matter", the source went on to say.Earlier this week, the Russian Defence Ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov said that the West had increased the deployment of contract soldiers from private military companies to Ukraine. The ministry added that, according to its estimates, 200 Croatian mercenaries have arrived in Ukraine while Britain, Denmark, Latvia, and Poland were considering sending mercenaries, too.

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Sofia Chegodaeva

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https://sputniknews.com/20220305/lavrov-ukrainian-forces-didnt-allow-russia-to-evacuate-foreign-students-from-kharkov--1093612052.html

Lavrov: Ukrainian Forces Didn't Allow Russia to Evacuate Foreign Students From Kharkov

Lavrov: Ukrainian Forces Didn't Allow Russia to Evacuate Foreign Students From Kharkov

Russia and Ukraine negotiated the creation of humanitarian corridors during the last round of talks in Belarus. The corridors in two Ukrainian cities were... 05.03.2022, Sputnik International

2022-03-05T11:19+0000

2022-03-05T11:19+0000

2022-03-05T12:11+0000

ukraine

situation in ukraine

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Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has stated that Russia was ready to help with the evacuation of foreign students from Kharkov, but was prevented from doing so by Ukrainian forces.The minister elaborated that the Russian military had some 150 buses stocked with drinks, food, and warm clothes ready to pick up and evacuate a significant number of civilians, including foreign students. Lavrov said that the Ukrainian side refused to open the corridor for them.Forces from the Donetsk People's Republic (DPR) earlier said that the authorities in Mariupol had refused to let their citizens leave the city via the humanitarian corridor created by the Russian military. The Russian Defence Ministry separately said that according to its information, nationalist battalions are holding around 5,000 foreigners hostage in Ukrainian cities and are using them as human shields.The Defence Ministry said that some 1,755 foreigners, including 1,500 students from India, are being held in Kharkov, surrounded by Russian forces. An additional 1,106 foreigners are currently being held in the Sumy. Head of the Russian National Defence Management Centre Mikhail Mizintsev added that a group of around 20 Pakistani students attempted to leave Sumy and travel to the checkpoint Sudzha on the Russian border, but were beaten by nationalists serving in Ukrainian territorial defence units.Russia and Ukraine agreed to open humanitarian corridors during the second round of talks in Belarus on 3 March. The Russian military announced a ceasefire to open humanitarian corridors and allow civilians to exit the city at 7:00 GMT on 5 March.The attempts at evacuating civilians take place as Russia continues its special military operation in Ukraine, which Kiev and its allies call an "invasion". Moscow said that the mission's goals were to demilitarise Ukraine, removing weapons that endanger Russia from its territory, protect the Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics (DPR and LPR), as well as to de-Nazify the country. Russia specifically stressed that it is only conducting airstrikes against Ukrainian military infrastructure and is doing everything to avoid hitting infrastructure and civilians.

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ukraine, russia, kharkov
Clashes at Zaporozhskaya NPP Could Have Erupted Over Kiev's Docs on Nuclear Weapons, Source Says

MOSCOW (Sputnik) -The recent clashes at the administrative buildings near the Zaporozhskaya nuclear power plant (NPP) could be a result of Ukraine storing documents on perspective developments of nuclear weapons there, a Russian source familiar with the industry told Sputnik.

"Certain documentation was also available at the Zaporozhskaya NPP. Clashes with Ukrainian sabotage and reconnaissance groups in administrative buildings adjacent to the NPP were apparently related to this fact," the source said.

He added that Ukrainian authorities had partially destroyed and evacuated majority of documents on the issue from Kiev and Kharkov to Lvov.

"Amid increasing tension in relations with Russia, the Ukrainian leadership decided to destroy all valuable documentation stored in the scientific centers in Kiev and Kharkov or evacuate it to the Lviv Polytechnic National University," the source said.

The source noted that it has been done so Ukraine could "avoid accusations of the Kiev regime that there was a weapons component in Ukraine's peaceful nuclear program."

The source also noted that Ukrainian authorities used the Chernobyl NPP for making of a dirty bomb and for the work on plutonium separation.

"According to the available information, the work on both the dirty bomb production and the plutonium extraction were conducted there. The elevated radiation background in the Chernobyl zone concealed such work," the source said.
https://sputniknews.com/20220305/marine-le-pen-urges-eu-to-resort-to-diplomacy-rather-than-arms-supplies-to-resolve-ukraine-crisis-1093614990.html

Marine Le Pen Urges EU to Resort to Diplomacy Rather Than Arms Supplies to Resolve Ukraine Crisis

Marine Le Pen Urges EU to Resort to Diplomacy Rather Than Arms Supplies to Resolve Ukraine Crisis

Western countries are continuing to supply weapons to Ukraine amid the ongoing conflict after Russia launched a special military operation in the country with... 05.03.2022, Sputnik International

2022-03-05T13:39+0000

2022-03-05T13:39+0000

2022-03-05T13:39+0000

situation in ukraine

france

ukraine

europe

diplomacy

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The leader of the French party National Rally, Marine Le Pen, urged the European Union to rely on diplomacy in resolving the Ukraine crisis, not increase the supply of weapons.She also called on maintaining diplomatic ties with all parties and thus searching for a solution to the problems.Le Pen, considered by many to be one of the most serious rivals that incumbent French President Emmanuel Macron will face in the April presidential race, spoke against a "Cold War" against Russian President Vladimir Putin in early February.At the time, Le Pen said that the United States was "pushing Ukraine towards the idea of joining NATO so that it can deploy military forces", thus prompting Russia to move its troops to the border.Now that Russia launched its military operation in Ukraine, citing the goal to "demilitarise and de-Nazify" the neighbouring country, Western countries are continuing to beef up the Ukrainian military with weapons. France is sending defence equipment and fuel support to Ukraine. Among other countries that are supplying weapons to the country are Norway, the Netherlands, Belgium, Sweden (which is a major step away from its neutral stance), and Germany. Berlin, for its part, has also shifted from its foreign policy not to send lethal weapons to conflict zones, deciding to send 1,000 anti-tank rocket launchers, 500 Stinger surface-to-air missiles, nine Howitzers, 14 armoured vehicles, and 10,000 tonnes of fuel to Ukraine.On Thursday, Norway sent 2,000 M72 anti-tank grenade launchers to Ukraine. Earlier in the week, the United States said it was also delivering weapons to Ukraine and "has various means of doing so". Additionally, Canada and Australia have also approved weapons assistance to Ukraine.However, NATO underlined that it does not see itself part of the conflict and will not deploy its troops in Ukraine or move its aircraft into the country's airspace.

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france, ukraine, europe, diplomacy
https://sputniknews.com/20220305/meghan-mccain-us-needs-more-capable-diplomat-than-vp-harris-in-upcoming-nato-support-mission--1093602133.html

Meghan McCain: US Needs More Capable Diplomat Than VP Harris in Upcoming NATO Support Mission

Meghan McCain: US Needs More Capable Diplomat Than VP Harris in Upcoming NATO Support Mission

US Vice President Kamala Harris is set to meet with the leadership in Poland and Romania next week as part of a pro-Ukraine effort to extend support to NATO... 05.03.2022, Sputnik International

2022-03-05T02:12+0000

2022-03-05T02:12+0000

2022-03-05T02:11+0000

kamala harris

vice president

ukraine

meghan mccain

russia

eastern europe

biden administration

foreign policy

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Meghan McCain, who recently left daytime cable television for the DailyMail, went viral for several hours on Friday after openly casting doubt on the seriousness and foreign policy capabilities of Vice President Kamala Harris, who the White House selected to lead a support mission next week.The trip spans from March 9 through March 11, and is slated to include stops in the cities of Warsaw, Poland, and Bucharest, Romania, per a White House release.McCain also took aim at Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL), of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, for his alleged inaction regarding the Russia-Ukraine conflict and Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ), a senator from McCains home state.McCain circled back to Harris hours later, asserting that her criticism was rooted in her respect for the office of the vice presidency.Despite her position, Harris has encountered opposition from several members of Congress who expressed doubts about her ability to "demonstrate the strength and unity of the NATO Alliance and US support for NATO's eastern flank allies in the face of Russian aggression," as the White House readout detailed. Lance Gooden (R-TX) railed against both Harris and Biden, declaring that the US president will be hiding in his basement over the weekend while Ukraine grapples with conflict.Kamala Harris would be the last person I'd send back to Europe, he tweeted hours later. Harris planned trip and associated Republican skepticism comes within the same week she received backlash for her polarizing laymans terms breakdown of the ongoing situation in Ukraine.Harris previous international trip was to the Munich Security Conference, an event in which she spoke with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. She has also been in contact with various Eastern European leaders as of late, including Romanian Prime Minister Nicolae Ciuca and Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki.

https://sputniknews.com/20220302/so-much-for-laymans-terms-kamala-harris-grilled-over-childish-explanation-of-ukraine-crisis-1093515957.html

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https://sputniknews.com/20220305/replacement-for-air-force-one-faces-over-a-year-in-delays--1093603023.html

Replacement for Air Force One Faces Over a Year in Delays

Replacement for Air Force One Faces Over a Year in Delays

Breaking Defense reported Friday that Boeing estimates the VC-25B program is running 17 months behind schedule. Boeings VC-25B is a military version of their... 05.03.2022, Sputnik International

2022-03-05T04:01+0000

2022-03-05T04:01+0000

2022-03-05T04:00+0000

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That estimate may change depending on negotiations between the US Air Force and Boeing, but the negotiations alone could take almost two months for the two agencies to finalize a new schedule, according to Darlene Costello, the principal deputy assistant secretary of Air Force Acquisition.We continue to work closely with the Air Force on a new approved schedule baseline, Boeing spokeswoman Didi VanNierop said in a statement.On Friday during a news conference at the Air Force Associations Air Warfare Symposium, Costello noted that the program is officially over a year late. The contract between the Air Force and Boeing is a fixed price of $3.9 billion, and any extra costs to the program will affect Boeing, not the United States government.Despite the delay, Costello remains hopeful, stating, Whats important is that the program has continued. All along, weve been progressing. Were not waiting for [the new schedule] to get started on the program.The delay could have something to do with claims by Boeing that it has lost a reported $318 million on the program due to COVID-19 restrictions and a supplier dispute.Work on the project was halted by COVID-19 because employee clearance constraints impede our ability to exchange mechanics when quarantines are required, said David Calhoun, the chief executive officer of Boeing in 2021.The company also reported what they called performance issues at our supplier, according to Greg Smith, the manufacturers chief financial officer. Smith may have been referencing GDC Technics, which Boeing sued last year for allegedly failing to deliver parts for the aircrafts construction. GDC Technics countersued Boeing, accusing the company of mismanaging work on the VC-25B.The situation is not helped when the company in question is scandal-ridden. Boeing is responsible for negligence in the manufacture of their 737 Max model, resulting in two separate crashes that killed a total of 346 people.The first crash, on October 29, 2018, saw Indonesias Lion Air Flight 610 nosedive into the Java Sea. The second, on March 10, five months later, saw Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 fly straight into the ground. It was later discovered that the Maneuvering Characteristics Augmentation System, a flight stabilizing program, was at the root of the crashes.Boeing at first sought to blame the pilots of the first doomed aircraft. The company was later forced to ground the 737 Max jets and pay a total of $2.5 billion in a settlement after it was found that the company had concealed key data from safety regulators.

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boeing, aircraft, air force one, us air force
https://sputniknews.com/20220305/russia-declares-ceasefire-in-ukraine-from-0600-gmt-to-open-humanitarian-corridors-for-civilians-1093604586.html

Russia Declares Ceasefire in Ukraine From 07:00 GMT to Open Humanitarian Corridors for Civilians

Russia Declares Ceasefire in Ukraine From 07:00 GMT to Open Humanitarian Corridors for Civilians

Creating humanitarian corridors for the evacuation of civilians was agreed upon by Russian and Ukrainian officials during their second round of talks in... 05.03.2022, Sputnik International

2022-03-05T06:24+0000

2022-03-05T06:24+0000

2022-03-05T07:44+0000

situation in ukraine

world

russia

ukraine

mariupol

evacuation

special operation

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Russia has declared a ceasefire in Ukraine as of 07:00 GMT in order to open humanitarian corridors for civilians. The move was announced amid the ongoing Russian military operation in Ukraine meant to demilitarise and "de-Nazify" the country.The ministry added that the humanitarian corridors and exit routes have been agreed upon with the Ukrainian side.This comes after the ministry reported the catastrophic humanitarian situation in most of Ukraine, with the cities of Kiev, Kharkov, Sumy, Chernigov, and Mariupol being the hardest hit by the humanitarian crisis.At present, Volnovakha and Mariupol, one of Ukraine's largest ports, are being blockaded by forces from the Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics (DPR and LPR).Mariupol's authorities have since said that they want to use the ceasefire in order to restore critical infrastructure in the city, as well as provide it with essential food items and medicines.The authorities also said that the ceasefire in Mariupol will be established from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Moscow time (7:00 GMT and 14:00 GMT, respectively), with the evacuation of the civilian population due to begin at 12:00 p.m. Moscow time (9:00 GMT).The ceasefire declaration follows the Russian and Ukrainian sides earlier this week holding a second round of talks on ending the Ukraine crisis in the Brest region of Belarus, where the two specifically agreed on creating humanitarian corridors to evacuate civilians.Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a special military operation in Ukraine on 24 February, following requests for assistance from the DPR and LPR amid the growing shelling of their positions and infrastructure by the Ukrainian Army. Putin underscored that the goal of the operation is "to protect people who have been subjected to abuse, genocide by the Kiev regime for eight years". He added that for this purpose, Russia "will strive to demilitarise and de-Nazify Ukraine, as well as bring to justice those who committed numerous bloody crimes against peaceful residents, including citizens of the Russian Federation".

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world, russia, ukraine, mariupol, evacuation, special operation
https://sputniknews.com/20220305/russian-mod-destroys-ammunitions-depot-in-zhitomir-hosting-javelins--nlows-in-high-precision-strike-1093605396.html

MoD: Russian Forces Destroy Ammo Depot in Zhitomir Hosting Javelins & NLAWs in High-Precision Strike

MoD: Russian Forces Destroy Ammo Depot in Zhitomir Hosting Javelins & NLAWs in High-Precision Strike

The Defence Ministry's briefing comes as Russia has declared a ceasefire in Ukraine starting from 07:00 GMT in order to open humanitarian corridors for... 05.03.2022, Sputnik International

2022-03-05T07:01+0000

2022-03-05T07:01+0000

2022-03-05T07:58+0000

situation in ukraine

world

russia

ukraine

ammunition depot

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The Russian armed forces have destroyed a large warehouse hosting Javelin and NLAW anti-tank missile systems in Zhitomir with precision-guided weapons, spokesman for the Defence Ministry Major General Igor Konashenkov announced on Saturday.Konashenkov added that over 2,000 military facilities have been destroyed by the Russian forces in Ukraine since the beginning of Moscow's special military operation last week. These facilities include 71 command and communication centres, 98 S-300 anti-missile systems, Buk M-1 and Osa anti-aircraft missile systems, as well as 61 radars."Sixty-six aircraft have been destroyed on the ground and sixteen in the air; 708 tanks and other armoured vehicles, 74 launch rocket systems, 261 mortars, 505 military vehicles, and 56 UAVs", the major general said.He also commented on the continuing fight between the Donetsk People's Republic (DPR) forces and the Ukrainian neo-Nazi battalions "Azov" and "Aidar" around the town of Mariupol. According to Konashenkov, Ukrainian militants were firing at DPR troops from combat positions previously set up at schools, kindergartens, and hospitals.In the past 24 hours, Russian forces took control of 10 more villages and towns, with troops of the Lugansk People's Republic (LPR) having advanced further across the frontline, while the DPR forces advanced 27 km and liberated Novogrigorovka, Novonikolayevka, Vishnevatoye, Volnoye, Listvyanka, and Antonovka.On 24 February, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced the beginning of a special military operation in Ukraine aimed at protecting the population in Ukraine's breakaway republics of Donetsk and Lugansk - that were recognised by Russia as sovereign nations on 21 February - and also in order to "demilitarise and de-Nazify" Ukraine. Moscow has repeatedly stressed that Russian forces do not carry out strikes on Ukrainian cities and only target the country's military infrastructure with high-precision strikes. The Russian operation has provoked a backlash from NATO, the US, and its allies across the globe, with many countries imposing strict economic sanctions against Russia. Although NATO has repeatedly said that it is not a party to the conflict in Ukraine, its member countries have long been providing financial and technical support to Kiev, including weapons and military aircraft.

https://sputniknews.com/20220305/zelensky-wanted-to-use-nuclear-plant-provocation-to-make-west-impose-no-fly-zone---ex-ukrainian-pm-1093604677.html

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Sofia Chegodaeva

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world, russia, ukraine, ammunition depot
https://sputniknews.com/20220305/skyrocketing-energy-bills-could-plunge-85-million-uk-households-into-fuel-poverty-1093604182.html

Skyrocketing Energy Bills Could Plunge 8.5 Million UK Households Into Fuel Poverty

Skyrocketing Energy Bills Could Plunge 8.5 Million UK Households Into Fuel Poverty

Last week, European energy prices jumped almost 70% shortly after the EU's announcement of new tough anti-Russian sanctions over the beginning of Moscow's... 05.03.2022, Sputnik International

2022-03-05T05:41+0000

2022-03-05T05:41+0000

2022-03-05T05:45+0000

uk

households

russia

special operation

energy prices

ukraine

natural gas

nord stream 2

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A group of almost 50 UK charities has warned that one in three British households will be unable to heat and power their homes if energy bills soar further against the backdrop of the escalation of the Ukraine crisis.The End Fuel Poverty Coalition stressed that if the average energy bill soars to 3,000 (about $4,000), it would leave around 8.5 million British households unable to pay their energy bills.He was echoed by Age UK's Charity Director Caroline Abrahams who stressed that energy price hikes "have pushed older people's budgets to breaking point, with many going without heating for weeks over the winter".She called on Chancellor Rishi Sunak to "do more to help and ensure that those on low and modest incomes can afford to stay warm without worrying sick about their bills".The spokesman stated that the government is "taking decisive action to help more than 27 million households with rising energy costs, with a 200 ($264) reduction on bills this autumn and a 150 ($198) non-repayable reduction in Council Tax bills".The remarks came amid concerns over the supply of gas to Europe following the beginning of a Russian special operation in Ukraine on 24 February aimed at demilitarising and "de-Nazifying" the nation. This was followed by the EU announcing a new batch of tough sanctions targeting key Russian economic sectors.Shortly after the start of the operation, the price of March futures for gas in Europe skyrocketed to over $1,636 per 1,000 cubic metres, up 60% from previous indicators. Brent crude spiked to over $100 a barrel for the first time since 2014. The spike continued on Friday, when European gas futures prices increased by 30% reaching a record high of $2,400 per 1,000 cubic metres, according to the London-based ICE exchange.The drastic increase was preceded by Germany last week freezing the certification of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline, which aims to deliver Russian natural gas to Europe under the Baltic Sea.

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uk, households, russia, special operation, energy prices, ukraine, natural gas, nord stream 2
https://sputniknews.com/20220305/two-months-on-whats-happening-with-met-police-probe-into-partygate-scandal-1093609143.html

Two Months On: What's Happening With Met Police Probe Into 'Partygate' Scandal?

Two Months On: What's Happening With Met Police Probe Into 'Partygate' Scandal?

In late January, London's Metropolitan Police announced a criminal investigation into allegations of parties in Downing Street during COVID lockdowns between... 05.03.2022, Sputnik International

2022-03-05T09:26+0000

2022-03-05T09:26+0000

2022-03-05T09:36+0000

uk

boris johnson

metropolitan police

probe

parties

fines

covid-19

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As the Metropolitan Police (Met)'s probe into Downing Street "lockdown-busting" parties enters its third month, how much progress has been made?According to the Daily Mail, Scotland Yard detectives have not yet finished sending out questionnaires to those potentially involved in the parties held between 2020 and 2021 despite the process of delivering the documents having started more than three weeks ago.No fines have yet been issued by the Metropolitan Police (Met), who are still investigating the matter, the publication said.The report comes after senior Tory MPs called on the Met to wrap up the "partygate" probe as soon as possible, which they said would allow Prime Minister Boris Johnson to focus on responding to the ongoing Russian military operation in Ukraine.According to the ex-Tory leader, "the idea that you'd leave this hanging over a prime minister is absurd. Why haven't they moved more quickly on this?"The remarks followed a Number 10 spokesperson telling Sky News last month that Johnson had returned a Met questionnaire to Scotland Yard after answering questions about his whereabouts and activities regarding the alleged Downing Street parties.Although the spokesperson added that Johnson's responses will not be made public, media reports claimed that the PM ostensibly argued in the questionnaire that he attended some of the parties in a work capacity.Met's 'Partygate' ProbeThe Met probe has already seen more than 50 Downing Street insiders contacted over their involvement in the "partygate" scandal. While Scotland Yard earlier stated those individuals will not necessarily be slapped with fines, the Met added that if "officers believe it is appropriate because the COVID regulations have been breached without a reasonable excuse, a fixed penalty notice will normally be issued".The Scotland Yard investigation follows the publication of the initial findings of senior civil servant Sue Gray's report on the "partygate" allegations, which pointed out that there were "failures of leadership and judgment by different parts of No 10 and the Cabinet Office" and that "some of the events should not have been allowed to take place".The release of the initial findings saw Johnson apologising and reshuffling his senior staff, but making it clear that he intends to "get on" with his job.In a separate development last month, UK media outlets claimed that more than 100 Conservative MPs will be ready to turn against Johnson if a no-confidence vote against him is triggered. It takes 54 letters of no confidence from Conservative MPs to trigger such a vote. Between 30 and 45 lawmakers are understood to have already sent letters to the chair of the Conservatives' 1922 Committee, Sir Graham Brady.

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uk, boris johnson, metropolitan police, probe, parties, fines, covid-19
https://sputniknews.com/20220305/up-to-50-western-planes-with-military-hardware-landed-in-ukraine-ahead-of-russian-op--moscow-1093621030.html

Up to 50 Western Planes With Military Hardware Landed in Ukraine Ahead of Russian Op  Moscow

Up to 50 Western Planes With Military Hardware Landed in Ukraine Ahead of Russian Op  Moscow

Earlier, The Washington Post reported that the US had been sending hundreds of millions of dollars worth of military hardware to Ukraine since December 2021 ... 05.03.2022, Sputnik International

2022-03-05T17:56+0000

2022-03-05T17:56+0000

2022-03-05T18:37+0000

situation in ukraine

ukraine

russia

us

uk

canada

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Up to 50 cargo planes carrying military hardware from the US, UK, Canada, Poland, and Lithuania landed in Ukraine prior to the start of the Russian military operation there, Russias Foreign Ministry has revealed. Some 2,000 tonnes of modern weapons, ammunition, and protective gear were supplied to Ukraine in the first month and a half of 2022, the ministry added.The Foreign Ministry further specified that the UK singlehandedly transferred over 2,000 units of anti-tank weaponry.The Russian Foreign Ministrys spokeswoman said that Moscow has once again called on the EU and NATO to stop the "mindless pumping" of modern weaponry to the Kiev regime. She said that it creates great risks for civilian aviation and other transport systems in Europe and beyond.Russia launched a special military operation in Ukraine on 24 February after Kiev failed to implement the Minsk agreements and resolve the conflict in Donbass peacefully. President Vladimir Putin said that Russia was left with no other choice but to act after weeks of shelling of the Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics (DPR and LPR) by Ukrainian forces. He thus ordered Russian forces to demilitarise and de-Nazify Ukraine.Moscow had also repeatedly cautioned Western countries against sending advanced weaponry to Ukraine, arguing that it would embolden Kiev and prompt it to try to resolve the conflict in Donbass with the use of its military.

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ukraine, russia, us, uk, canada
https://sputniknews.com/20220305/us-has-been-sending-weapons-to-ukraine-since-december-2021--media-1093618400.html

US Has Been Sending Weapons to Ukraine Since December 2021  Media

US Has Been Sending Weapons to Ukraine Since December 2021  Media

Russia has repeatedly warned the US and other countries in the West against "pumping" Ukraine with modern weapons, arguing that it might provoke Kiev into... 05.03.2022, Sputnik International

2022-03-05T15:10+0000

2022-03-05T15:10+0000

2022-03-05T15:10+0000

situation in ukraine

ukraine

us

javelin anti-tank missiles

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The US started to send millions of dollars' worth of lethal weapons and military equipment to Ukraine back in December 2021, The Washington Post has reported, citing obtained declassified accounting of transfers and sales.According to the documents seen by the newspaper, Washington was sending Ukraine weapons useful for urban combat, such as M141 single-shot shoulder-launched rocket launchers, M500 shotguns, Mk-19 grenade launchers, as well as M134 mini guns, which Kiev could install on military helicopters. In addition, the US reportedly sent protective suits for disposing undetonated explosive ordnances.The late December shipments cost around $200 million, the documents reportedly show.Additional shipments of equipment and weaponry for Ukraine worth $350 million were approved in late February 2022. Some $240 million of it has already been delivered, according to The Washington Post citing an anonymous senior defence official. This last shipment included Stinger man-portable air defence systems, the newspaper's source said.The latest shipments to Ukraine also included Javelin missile systems, which are being used by the Ukrainian military and nationalist battalions to target Russian armoured vehicles. Washington has been shipping and selling Javelins in the hundreds to Ukraine at least since 2018. It ignored calls from Russia to stop "pumping" Ukraine with weapons as Moscow argued it may exacerbate the conflict in Donbass and prompt Kiev to resolve it militarily.On 24 February, Russian President Vladimir Putin stated that Russia was left with no choice but to start a special military operation in Ukraine, after Kiev failed to implement the Minsk agreements and threatened to obtain nuclear weapons by withdrawing from the Budapest Memorandum. Putin said that the goal of the mission is to demilitarise and de-Nazify Ukraine. Kiev and its western allies call Russia's mission an "invasion", with the Ukrainian government urging NATO to intervene.

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ukraine, us, javelin anti-tank missiles
https://sputniknews.com/20220305/us-national-archives-hands-over-more-trump-documents-to-house-january-6-panel-1093600973.html

US National Archives Hands Over More Trump Documents to House January 6 Panel

US National Archives Hands Over More Trump Documents to House January 6 Panel

Former US President Donald Trump has been fighting a slowly losing battle to keep his presidential files out of the hands of a Democrat-led congressional probe... 05.03.2022, Sputnik International

2022-03-05T00:48+0000

2022-03-05T00:48+0000

2022-03-05T00:47+0000

us national archives

donald trump

dossier

us

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"Yesterday, the Select Committee received additional production of records from the National Archives," a House of Representatives Select Committee aide told Reuters on Friday. "This included records that the former President attempted to keep hidden behind claims of privilege."The exact scope or contents of the logs is unclear, as is the ultimate purpose behind the House Select Committee seeking them, except perhaps to verify if certain suspect persons visited the presidential mansion in the time leading up to the January 6 insurrection. Dana Remus, the Biden White Houses chief legal counsel, only described the sought-after files as entries in visitor logs showing appointment information for individuals who were processed to enter the White House complex, including on Jan. 6, 2021.In late January, the US Department of Justice said it would give the committee four of the over 700 pages it has sought, because they were not covered by Trumps claims. Its unclear if those files have already been handed over. However, in early February, the National Archives and Records Administration revealed that it had retrieved 15 boxes of records from Trumps resort in Mar-a-Lago, Florida, out of which Trump had run much of his four years in office.At the rally, Trump urged his supporters to prevent the Democrats from stealing the November 2020 election, baselessly insisting his electoral loss to Biden had been achieved by fraud. Thousands of Trump supporters stormed the Capitol, where Congress was certifying the election results, sacking the building and sending lawmakers fleeing to safety. The rioters ultimately failed at their goal, and were cleared from the legislative building by police and National Guard, who garrisoned the city afterward with an unprecedented number of troops.More than 725 people have been charged with taking part, or playing a role, in the riot. Many of those subpoenaed by the Select Committee for documents or testimony have refused to cooperate. Some of those have been held in contempt of Congress, including Trumps ex-chief adviser and former Breitbart editor Steve Bannon, and Trumps chief of staff at the time, Mark Meadows.

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us national archives, donald trump, dossier, us
https://sputniknews.com/20220305/us-olympic-champion-arrested-in-russia-over-drug-smuggling-russian-customs-service-says-1093614001.html

US Olympic Champion Arrested in Russia Over Drug Smuggling, Russian Customs Service Says

US Olympic Champion Arrested in Russia Over Drug Smuggling, Russian Customs Service Says

MOSCOW (Sputnik)  A two-time female Olympic basketball champion from the United States was arrested in Russia on charges of drug smuggling, the Federal... 05.03.2022, Sputnik International

2022-03-05T12:40+0000

2022-03-05T12:40+0000

2022-03-05T12:41+0000

russia

us

airport

drugs

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The woman, who arrived on a flight from New York to Moscows Sheremetyevo Airport in February, was passing the green corridor when a customs service dog smelled drugs in her luggage.The customs inspection of the hand luggage transported by the US citizen confirmed the presence of vapes with a liquid with a specific smell, and an expert found that the liquid is a narcotic cannabis oil (hash oil), the service said in a statement.A criminal case has been launched against the woman whose name is not disclosed in the statement. She has been put under arrest while proceedings are underway, the service said.

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russia, us, airport, drugs
https://sputniknews.com/20220305/visa-suspends-all-operations-in-russia-effective-immediately-over-ukraine-crisis-1093624201.html

Visa, Mastercard Suspend All Operations in Russia Effective Immediately Over Ukraine Crisis

Visa, Mastercard Suspend All Operations in Russia Effective Immediately Over Ukraine Crisis

Less than a week ago, the two financial companies stated that they banned various Russian financial institutions from their network to comply with US sanctions... 05.03.2022, Sputnik International

2022-03-05T22:23+0000

2022-03-05T22:23+0000

2022-03-05T23:45+0000

visa

russia

operations

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mastercard

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US-based Visa and Mastercard payment systems announced on Saturday that they are suspending operations in Russia and intend to work with customers and partners in the country to stop transactions in the coming days.According to the Visa statement, all transactions initiated using Visa cards issued in Russia will no longer work outside the nation, and Visa cards issued by financial institutions outside of Russia will no longer work within the country, once the required processes are complete.Shortly after, a similar statement was made by Mastercard, which said that the company had evaluated what was "most important to support the continued availability of services, if possible, to impacted people in the region."According to Mastercard, their network will no longer accept cards issued by Russian banks and any Mastercard issued outside of Russia will not be accepted by Russian businesses or ATMs.The company noted that it does not plan to lay off its nearly 200 employees in Russia and intends to resume operations in the country as soon as "it is appropriate, and if it is permissible under the law."Sberbank Visa and MasterCard Cards to Work Normally Within RussiaIn response, one of Russia's biggest banks, Sberbank, issued a statement that the Visa and Mastercard ban will not affect the operation of payment system cards issued by it within the country, but payments abroad and in foreign online stores with Russian Visa and MasterCard cards would be shuttered.The bank recommended that Russians abroad withdraw cash to pay large expenses, such as hotels and tickets, in advance.It also noted that the Russian-based payment system, Mir, is accepted in several foreign countries, such as Turkey, the UAE, Vietnam, Armenia, Belarus, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Kazakhstan and Cyprus.Alfa Bank noted that its Mastercard- and Visa-branded cards are expected to continue working normally for some three days, including abroad, after which they will only function within Russia.In 2021, business performed inside, into, and out of Russia reportedly accounted for around 4% of both Mastercard and Visa's net revenue. According to a disclosure released earlier this week, commerce performed within, into, and out of Ukraine amounted for some 2% of net revenue.Earlier, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky urged both Visa and MasterCard to ban the operation of payment cards in Russia.Last Saturday, the US, the UK, Europe, and Canada imposed wide sanctions against Russia, including a ban for some banks on access to the global SWIFT financial network, following the start of the Kremlin's February 24 military operation against Ukraine.

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https://sputniknews.com/20220305/zelensky-wanted-to-use-nuclear-plant-provocation-to-make-west-impose-no-fly-zone---ex-ukrainian-pm-1093604677.html

Zelensky Wanted to Use Nuclear Plant Provocation to Make West Impose No-Fly Zone - Ex-Ukrainian PM

Zelensky Wanted to Use Nuclear Plant Provocation to Make West Impose No-Fly Zone - Ex-Ukrainian PM

Earlier this week, Nikolay Azarov praised Vladimir Putin's decision to start a special operation in Ukraine, saying the Russian head of state had saved... 05.03.2022, Sputnik International

2022-03-05T06:28+0000

2022-03-05T06:28+0000

2022-03-05T07:57+0000

situation in ukraine

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vladimir putin

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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky wanted to use a fire at the Zaporozhskaya nuclear power plant in order to make the West impose a no-fly zone over the country, former Ukrainian Prime Minister Nikolay Azarov has said.The ex-official described the incident at the NPP as a deliberate provocation that was carefully designed. Azarov then pointed to President Zelensky's reaction to the news  a request to the West introduce a no-fly zone over Ukraine. "The fire occurred at night and he immediately addressed the United States and Britain. This shows that it was a planned provocation", he said.Azarov's statement echoes that of the Russian Defence Ministry. On Friday, Major General Igor Konashenkov said that a group of Russian National Guard officers came under attack from Ukrainian saboteurs while patrolling the territory of the Zaporozhskaya NPP. The Russian servicemen repelled the attack, but as the saboteurs were leaving they set the plant on fire, Konashenkov said.The Russian Defence Ministry emphasised that the plant's employees are working as normal and are monitoring the situation. Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Rafael Grossi confirmed there was no radiation release as a result of the incident and said the safety systems of the six reactors were not affected by the fire.On Friday, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said the issue of introducing a no-fly zone was mentioned during the extraordinary meeting of the alliance's foreign ministers, but noted that NATO believes that its planes and forces should not be sent to Ukraine.On 24 February, Russia launched a special operation in Ukraine. It was ordered by Russian President Vladimir Putin and according to the head of state its aim is to "de-Nazify" and demilitarise Kiev as well as protect the residents of two breakaway regions, the Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics (DPR and LPR).President Putin said that Russia does not plan to occupy Ukraine and that there is no threat to the civilian population as Russian forces are only targeting the country's military infrastructure - military bases and air defence systems. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky described the Russian special operation as a "full-scale invasion" and rejected statements about Nazis being present in Ukraine. Western nations have thrown their support behind Kiev, condemning Moscow's actions, and introducing the harshest sanctions on Russia to date.Commenting on Russia's special operation, Nikolay Azarov praised Vladimir Putin's decision, saying the president has saved "hundreds of thousands of lives of the [Donbass] republics".

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Two Banner County officials and a county employee face charges after allegedly engaging in sexual acts and drinking alcohol at the Banner County Courthouse.

Harrisburg residents Monty Stoddard, 58; Bernice Huffman, 47; and Caily Reece, 32, each have been charged with public indecency, a Class II misdemeanor, and consuming alcohol on public property, a Class IV misdemeanor. Stoddard and Huffman are both elected officials with Stoddard serving as the county treasurer and Huffman as the county assessor.

According to the complaints, each has been accused with incidents that occurred on Dec. 28, 2021. On the public indecency charge, the complaint indicates the defendants did perform, procure or assist any other person, in a public place and where the conduct may reasonably be expected to be viewed by members of the public, an act of sexual penetration or a lewd fondling or caressing of the body of another person of the same or opposite sex. The alcohol consumption charge alleges the incidents occurred at the Banner County Courthouse.

Probable cause affidavits werent filed in any of the three cases. Doug Warner, assistant attorney general for the Nebraska Attorney Generals Office, declined to provide additional details about the case, referring the Star-Herald to the Nebraska Attorney Generals director of communications. He told the Star-Herald he would advise the office not to comment. The attorney generals Director of Communications Suzanne Gage replied in an email that the office would not be commenting.

Stoddard, Huffman and Reece all appeared for arraignment on the charges Wednesday. Attorneys for each of the defendants indicated that they were requesting a jury trial and Warner already had provided discovery materials, which usually comprises of police documents and other evidence such as audio or video recordings, at the Wednesday hearing.

Reece, represented by attorney Stacy Bach, is scheduled to appear in court on April 4. Huffman, represented by attorney Jonas Longoria, and Stoddard, represented by attorney Sterling Huff, are both scheduled to appear April 5.

The Star-Herald reviewed agendas and minutes from Banner County Commissioner meetings for any discussion, whether in open or executive session, on the alleged incidents by the county commissioners. It has not been a topic in any meeting in January, February or the March 1 meeting.

Banner County Clerk Lisa Cross advised there have been no emergency meetings of commissioners officially called between Dec. 28 and the regular March 1 meeting. Any meeting of the three commissioners to consider county business or action would need to be advertised or posted.

The county has a personnel committee, which Huffman and Reece are both members, that has not been convened since the alleged incident.

Stoddard and Huffman are unchallenged in the upcoming election. No other candidates filed to be considered for the two posts by the March 1 filing deadline.

Only two races, Banner County sheriff and a Banner County commissioner seat, have candidates.

Zane Hopkins, who currently serves as a deputy with the Banner County Sheriffs Office, and Kenneth Z. Hopkins both are running for sheriff as current Sheriff Stan McKnight plans to retire.

Charles Laif Anderson has thrown his hat in the ring for county commissioner to join incumbents Sharon Sandberg and Robert Post. Current commissioner Bob Gifford did not file to run for the seat again.

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A 61-year-old Chadron man will serve 13 years in prison after being convicted of possession of child pornography.

In a press release, United States Attorney Jan Sharp announced that Bryan Morse had been sentenced Friday. United States District Judge John M. Gerrard sentenced Morse to 156 months imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. Upon his release from prison, Morse will begin a 20-year term of supervised release.

Morse received an enhanced sentence because he had two prior convictions relating to the sexual abuse of children. In January 1988, Morse was convicted of sexual assault on a child. He was later convicted of enticement of a child in April 2001.

Homeland Security Investigations received a tip from a social media company, Kik, that a Kik account was involved with sharing child pornography. Another tip was provided to law enforcement about child pornography being traded over Skype. Both tips led agents to Morse. Law enforcement obtained a search warrant for his residence in Chadron. The warrant was executed on December 18, 2019. During the execution of the warrant, several electronic devices were seized.

Morse was home at the time when the search warrant was executed. Morse allegedly told the agents he used chat rooms to trade child pornography and that child pornography would be found on devices seized by law enforcement. When the devices were examined, the agents did in fact find numerous photographs and videos depicting child pornography.

The investigation was conducted by Homeland Security Investigations and this case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by United States Attorneys Offices and the Criminal Divisions Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims.

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SCOTTSBLUFF  Educational Service Unit (ESU) #13 is hosting the Panhandle Regional Science Fair on March 8. This annual event will be held at the WNCC Harms Center, located at 2620 College Park in Scottsbluff from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

ESU-13s Professional Learning Department, in collaboration with Nebraska Junior Academy of Science, is proud to bring the Panhandle Regional Science Fair to the WNCC Harms Center as an opportunity for area middle school students to showcase their science projects.

In preparation for the science fair, students develop a scientific research project and write an abstract of the project. On the day of the competition, students will give an oral presentation and will have their projects evaluated by judges. The judges will select six projects to advance to the Nebraska Junior Academy of Science State Science Fair to compete against other students across the state.

The Science Fair is a terrific opportunity for students to explore the scientific process through topics of interest to them, Deirdre Amundsen, ESU-13s director of professional learning, said. Students are able to observe the work of their peers and compete in a variety of categories with students across the Panhandle. The top six winners will qualify for the state science fair to be held on April 21 at Nebraska Wesleyan in Lincoln. Throughout the day, these sixth, seventh and eighth grade students will also have the opportunity to explore STEM workshops through our partnership with UNL Panhandle Extension.

Currently, 50 students from across the Panhandle are signed up to participate in the event.

For more information about the Panhandle Regional Science Fair, please contact Amundsen by email at damundsen@esu13.org.

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What does Box Butte County need more from the college? That was the first question asked by Western Nebraska Community College Interim President John Marrin on Thursday, March 3 during a listening session at the Alliance campus.

Marrin invited the community to visit with him, the WNCC leadership team and other members of the WNCC Board of Governors. Alliance was one of the 13 counties they will visit during the public listening tour that began on Feb. 23.

We are looking for feedback from the communities in the Panhandle on a better way that WNCC can assist them as they embrace the challenges of life in rural Nebraska, said Marrin.

One of the proposals was to start a construction trade program.

I have had people mention bringing a construction trade program here to me, former WNCC Alliance Campus Director Robyn Iossi said. They also wondered about an opportunity for agribusiness and if there could be a survey sent out to all of their Ag affiliates to find out what their needs are here in the community.

Iossi noted how local businesses need skilled trades workers, but are struggling to get applicants with a small workforce. City of Alliance City Manager Seth Sorensen also highlighted a need for accountants and tax professionals.

Everywhere you look already there are help wanted signs, WESTCO Human Resource Manager Dawn Butcher said. At WESTCO we have a lot of labor intensive jobs and I do see one of the biggest challenges in our area is retaining our population and our workforce because a lot of us are getting to the end of our work careers.

Marrin also asked attendees what challenges and opportunities people expect to see in the next five years throughout the Panhandle, seeking responses specific to Box Butte County. He also wanted to know how WNCC could support the community.

BNSF is one of our largest employers and if for whatever reason they were to decline we would have a huge need for retraining in the trades, Sorensen said. We certainly would not want to lose those citizens if that were ever to happen so to be able to stay here in the workforce and fill some of those other positions that we are currently without or short on.

The community also expressed concern for teacher shortages. Nate Lanik, an Alliance High School counselor asked whether WNCC had a partnership with Chadron State Community College to help students earn teaching degrees.

For students going for an education degree we have a seamless transfer to CSC and we have scholarships for students, Marrin said. And Im telling you that almost every student going for education can have the first two years of their schooling paid for. Its called the Panhandle Advantage Program.

Marrin said WNCC will share program information with schools to share with students and families.

There was also discussion about expanding the CDL program to offer a hazmat endorsement.

On the CDL program it is important to get bus endorsements continued because we are always looking for drivers but they have to have both of those requirements, Alliance Public School superintendent Troy Unzickersaid. Ive been here nine years and we always have a bus driver position open. We often have to cancel trips or double up on trips because we dont have enough drivers.

Unzicker shared how the community is seeing a shortage in a number of trade professions like plumbers, electricians and contractors, which requires the district to contract with businesses outside of the community.

Another area Box Butte County is seeing a small workforce is in health. Lori Mazanec, the Box Butte General Hospital CEO said the projected nursing workforce shortage number by 2025 is staggering.

We have a wonderful partnership with WNCC to bring on nurses but going back to high schools, how can we introduce our industry more at that level so they are not waiting until their first or second year of college to wait to decide what they want to do? she asked. How can we speak more about our industry to the high school level students?

Another idea that came out of the session was scheduling listening sessions where the college invites high school students to attend. The idea would deepen the conversations had during career days and allow students to visit with instructors in different trades.

The college and schools also need to improve how they share the multiple unclaimed scholarships available to students who choose to attend WNCC. Hemingford Public Schools offers a class that specifically focuses on looking for and applying for scholarship funds. A course like that is currently not offered in Alliance.

Im always amazed at what gets left on the table, Marrin said.

The number of scholarship winners in the county is heavily in favor of Hemingford students, so WNCC needs to partner with both county high schools to help students find those opportunities.

You can tell the schools that have those classes, Butcher said. The number of scholarship applications that we receive from Hemingford, which has a lot fewer students is staggering compared to what we get from Alliance students.

The session also touched on barriers for students who want to attend WNCC. There was concern about losing talented youth to other communities as they attend colleges in larger communities with more resources.

Lack of affordable housing and apartments in the county was also discussed.

Marrin concluded the session expressing gratitude for the thoughtful conversations that help the college move forward.

Youve given us a lot of information and we have a lot to work on, Marrin said. We will be coming back with feedback.

Others in attendance along with representatives from WNCC included Richard Wacker-Village of Hemingford Trustee, Chelsie Herian-Box Butte Development Director, Susan Unzicker-Alliance Chamber Director, Dawn Butcher-WESTCO, Ryan Rieber-PREMA and several others.

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KALAMA  A plan to form a commission of citizens to decide Kalama mayor and council member salaries moved forward Thursday.

City Administrator Adam Smee presented the option to create an independent commission, following up on council direction in November for staff to look into creating a committee to set the salaries.

The current council member salary is $100 per meeting not to exceed $200 per month, last updated in 2014. The mayors salary has been $700 per month since 2017.

Salaries for most county and city elected officials are set by their legislative bodies, but state law allows cities and counties to create a salary commission, according to information from the Municipal Research and Services Center presented at the council meeting.

The commission would meet annually to make recommendations on the salaries. The council would decide the criteria for commission members, who would be appointed by the mayor and approved by the council, Smee said.

Council members Jon Stanfill, Steve Moon and Wendy Conradi spoke in favor of the option as a way to take the decision out of the councils hands.

I like the idea of a commission that takes the politics out of this process, Stanfill said. Id rather not be in the position of voting up or down on this.

Stanfill suggested a five-member commission should include a former elected official or department head to bring perspective about what the job entails and someone from the Kalama Chamber of Commerce to represent the citys business community.

Council members Steve Kallio and Matthew Merz opposed creating the commission.

Five handpicked people tend to get you what you want, the same as not having a committee at all, Kallio said. Id rather see it on the ballot as an advisory measure if were going to do any of this.

In a 3-2 vote, the council directed staff to draft the language setting up the commission.

In other business, Stanfill reminded residents and business owners the city extended the application deadline for pandemic relief funds to March 10.

Kalama allocated funds to provide assistance to households, small businesses and nonprofits related to the negative impacts of COVID-19 and to aid impacted industries such as tourism, travel and hospitality, according to the city website.

The application form is available on the citys website at www.cityofkalama.com or at https://bit.ly/35CeGB7. Applicants must provide necessary documentation, which will be kept confidential.

Applications must be received no later than 5 p.m. March 10. People should mail or drop application materials to City of Kalama, P.O. Box 1007, 195 N. First Street, Kalama, WA 98625. Applications may be submitted via email to cityclerk@cityofkalama.com. For questions, call 360-673-4561.

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Officials around Cowlitz County are on the same page about one thing: there are no plans for a local mask mandate once the statewide requirement ends next weekend.

Gov. Jay Inslee announced Monday the mask mandate in Washington officially expires after March 11. The end date for the mandate has moved earlier twice in the last few weeks and now lines up with the end of the requirements in Oregon and California.

Local city governments and the Cowlitz County commissioners have avoided setting their own mandates outside of the state requirement for the two years COVID-19 has affected the state. In interviews this week, officials confirmed they would make the same call going forward.

I dont see us restricting past or above what the governor wants for the state, Kelso City Manager Andrew Hamilton said.

Hamilton on Tuesday told the City Council he is waiting for guidance from the Washington City Insurance Authority before the city makes an official statement about the future of masks. The insurance authority provides risk management bulletins to member cities on new policies and legal actions that could affect their liability.

Longview City Manager Kurt Sacha said the city will fully support any staff or members of the public who choose to continue wearing masks in city buildings. Free masks likely will be provided to visitors at City Hall for the near future. A local extension of the mandate, however, seemed unlikely or impossible to Sacha.

I couldnt imagine going that way, with all the strong feelings that theres been throughout about this, Sacha said. There are people who think it should have been lifted a year ago and people who think it was the right thing to do all along.

Masks still will be required at some locations once the overall indoor mandate ends: health-care offices, long-term care centers, correctional facilities and public transit such as RiverCities buses. Individual businesses may choose to keep their own mandates in place as well.

Kalama City Administrator Adam Smee said Wednesday there has been no indication the City Council is interested in a local mandate. Im not expecting any special Kalama rules on masking, Smee said.

Up in Castle Rock, Mayor Paul Helenberg said Friday he expects the City Council will follow whatever the governors guidance is on mask requirements going forward and that the council has not discussed any additional mandates.

The newest guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention lines up with the local direction. The updated guidance from the CDC recommends people living in counties with a high level of COVID-19 spread in their community continue wearing masks indoors.

As of Thursday, the CDC map listed Cowlitz County at the low risk level for the virus, along with 18 other counties in Washington.

Cowlitz County Commissioner Dennis Weber said the three commissioners met this week with county deputy health officer Dr. Steve Krager who confirmed the local numbers showed a sharp decline in COVID cases. Weber said the end of the mandate may lead to the rollback of other COVID precautionary measures, namely the Plexiglas windows that were added to many of the public-facing offices in the county building.

I imagine people will be taking those barriers down, but it depends. If people are health compromised, they are absolutely entitled to their protections and should continue to wear masks, Weber said.

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Construction on Volkswagen's new German factory next to the group's historic home in Wolfsburg will begin "as early as spring 2023" for a production start in 2026.

German auto giant Volkswagen said on Friday it had approved a 2 billion euro investment in a new electric car plant, as it seeks to overhaul its business in the face of stiff competition from US rival Tesla.

Construction on the new German factory next to the group's historic home in Wolfsburg will begin "as early as spring 2023" for a production start in 2026, VW said in a statement.

The new site will be dedicated to the production of mass-market "Trinity" vehicles, the centre point of Volkswagen's new all-electric fleet.

The decision was an "important milestone" for the company, the head of the VW brand Ralf Brandstaetter said in a statement, as it plans its move away from traditional combustion engines.

The Volkswagen groupwhose 12 brands include Audi, Porsche and Skodais pumping 35 billion euros into the shift to electric vehicles and aims to become the world's largest electric carmaker by 2025.

The announcement of the $2.2 billion investment came on the same day as Volkswagen's rival, electric car pioneer Tesla got the green light from local officials to start production at a new plant near Berlin, Tesla's first "gigafactory" in Europe.

With Tesla's ambitions parked on its front lawn, Volkswagen is hoping to match its US rival with the new purpose-built factory by producing new electric vehicles in the space of 10 hours.

Currently, an electric Volkswagen takes around 30 hours to be built at the group's plant in Zwickau in eastern Germany, group CEO Herbert Diess told employees in November.

Explore further Volkswagen CEO demands 'revolution' to tackle Tesla

 2022 AFP


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Hartford  A New Mexico man has been charged with murder in connection with the May 3, 2008 shooting of a Hartford man, the state criminal divisions cold case unit announced Friday.

Mark White, 44, of Albuquerque, is charged with killing Jumar Joiner, who was 25 when he was gunned down on West Morningside Street. White was being held in lieu of $1 million bond and was scheduled to appear in Hartford Superior Court on March 17.

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At the time of the shooting, Hartford police said Joiners friends took him to a hospital and he was later pronounced dead. They did not release any information about the circumstances of the shooting or a suspect, but said it did not appear to be gang-related.

The cold case unit was established in the Office of the Chief States Attorney in May 1998 to focus on long-unsolved crimes. The unit includes inspectors and prosecutors from the Division of Criminal Justice and investigators with Hartford police, state police, the state Department of Correction and at various times, other local, state and national law enforcement agencies.

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Jesse Leavenworth can be reached at jleavenworth@courant.com
Last month, we examined the sociology of stories. We asked questions such as: Why do stories provide us with cultural insights and how are stories the vehicles that allow ethnic groups, cultures and nations to transmit their values to future generations?

Stories can be both fact or fiction or both. Some stories appear to be fiction and become facts, others appear to be facts and become fictions. An example of the transitory nature of stories might be those that deal with creation and the meaning of humanitys place in the universe. Although there are multiple and conflicting hypotheses regarding the creation of the universe such as the Big Bang Theory, Darwinism or Intelligent Design, none has been proven conclusively correct and often these hypotheses provoke more questions than answers. Some people have argued that creation is a single act, while mystics have presented the hypothesis that creation is a continual process where universes are born to die, and then born again.

People have long been fascinated not only by creation stories but also about our place in the universe. Are we alone? Does life exist beyond this earth and if so what does it tell us about our role in creation? Humanity also has long questioned the existence of life on other planets. Scientists and philosophers, writers and theologians have asked questions such as: Does extraterrestrial life exist? Does extraterrestrial life resemble life as we know it? If there is life, is it intelligent life or merely simplistic cells that can reproduce? We have also questioned how life began. Did it start here on earth, or did life come to this planet via space aliens arriving on our planet from other worlds? On a still deeper level we often wonder exactly what is life and when did or does it begin? These questions are so haunting that last year (2021) the United States government released a series of documents regarding Unidentified Flying Objects or UFOs.

These conflicting stories leave us with multiple questions such as: If the Big Bang is the point of creation, where did it occur? Did creation occur outside of creation or in another dimension? Is creation only three dimensional or do we who live in a three-dimensional universe also share other dimensional universes, universes that we are simply unable to comprehend? In a like manner, is human life simply a series of haphazard mistakes or is there a Creator who purposely created life? Science teaches us the how but does not enter into the philosophical why? These creation tales fill in these lacunae; they address the why found within the how.

These universal questions about which philosophers, theologians, and scientists have debated and pondered touch our very raison detre. They go both to the heart of physics and to the very essence of the human soul. Because these are universal questions we find that cultures around the world have asked these same questions and their explanations teach us not only about their answers but also about their values. A cultures creation legends and hypotheses offer insights into that societys cultural morality and values.

Jewish culture has its creation stories. Unlike the creation stories of other ancient peoples, the Jewish creation story is the one that much of the Western world shares. These stories are the Western worlds foundation stories. It is from these stories that we have the idea of a seven-day week. It is upon these creation stories that the concept of ecology rests, and it is from these stories that we have determined that human beings are special unique creatures; creatures that are not gods but share a creative power with God. It is from these stories that our legal system was born and the realization that human beings are to be our planets stewards.

We start our journey through the Biblical stories with these fundamental stories. These stories are not meant to be the hows and the whats of science, but the whys of philosophical ethics. Their purpose is to establish what it means to be human within the framework of the human story we call history. These are the stories that begin with the worlds pre-history and continue through the founding of Abrahams family and his offsprings transformation into the Jewish people. We find these foundation stories in the Bibles first book, known in English translation as the Book of Genesis. In Hebrew the name is: Sefer Braysheet meaning either: The book In the Beginning or The Book in a Beginning. The original Hebrew leaves open the question: was there one or multiple beginnings and beginnings of what?

The Bibles first stories are so simple as to be profoundly complex. These stories speak to us from both a universal and personal perspective. They are the places where the I joins the we.

Genesis is not an easy book. Its straightforwardness hides its insightfulness, and its matter-of-factness makes it all the more difficult to understand. To make the book even more challenging it is almost impossible to begin to understand the depth of Genesis in a foreign language. To read it without a good grasp of the Hebrew language, and Jewish culture, is to experience nothing more than a mere whiff of its bouquet of wisdom hidden in its complexity of thought.

The Genesis creation stories are timeless. They reflect both an ancient and a modern worldview. Genesis expresses our fears and hopes, our stresses and creativity, our emotions and our aspirations. To know Genesis, to struggle with Genesis, is to struggle to know oneself and ones place in the world. Each of the books accounts teaches us something, not only about our world and Jewish history but also about ourselves. For example, reading the books first chapters we cannot help but ask questions such as: Who are we? What is our purpose in life? What makes us special? Genesis tales are humanitys story, each vignette contains a universal truth. Each vignette reflects who we are as a people.

Our human story begins with what should be a simple phrase: Braysheet bara Elokim et hashmayim vet haaretz. The usual translation is: In the beginning God created the heavens/sky and the Earth. Is that translation correct? Is the meaning of the first word Braysheet: in the beginning of or do we read the word as: Birsheet meaning In a beginning? The difference is profound. If the meaning is the former then this is the first act of creation; if it is the latter then our world is the product of other worlds. In the latter case, is the text hinting that we are far from alone in multiple universes filled with continuous deaths and births? Genesis second word, the verb barah means to create out of absolutely nothing. How does something come from nothing? What is nothing? Is nothing a something or the absence of a something? Reading the Hebrew text, we have to ask if the universe is not a mere accident, but the result of a purposeful act that has both beginning and end or are we are here by accident and without purpose?

The Genesis tales teach us universal truths about morality and ethics, the need to protect the earth and dignify each human being as a special point of existence in the unending act of creation. The Bibles first book forces us to question if we suffer from the arrogance of certainty or can we move to a sense of positive humility? Might it be that so many of the worlds current problems stem from our ignorance of the wisdom found in Genesis stories?

I wrote this prior to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. I know that all of us pray for the return of Gods gift of shalom, peace and that the Ukrainian people might live in freedom.

Peter Tarlow is the rabbi emeritus at Texas A&M Hillel Foundation in College Station. He is a chaplain for the College Station Police Department and teaches at the Texas A&M College of Medicine.
In recent days the world has watched with astonishment and admiration as the people of Ukraine have put up fierce  and so far, successful  resistance against Vladimir Putins brutal invasion of their country. Putin has united the world against him like never before. Unexpectedly severe sanctions are starting to bite deeply into the Russian economy. Even thousands of brave Russians have taken to their own streets to protest the war. It may be that Russia will still manage to win some sort of military victory in Ukraine. But even if it does, the future does not look good for Putin. Occupation of a defeated Ukraine will face the insurmountable obstacle of a mobilized and angry population. Russias growing isolation and economic hardships will spread discontent to powerful business and even military interests, who could threaten Putins hold on power. All of this is good news for world democracy. But it also creates a very real danger. Last weekend Putin ordered Russias nuclear forces to go on high alert and issued military threats against Finland and Sweden. In doing so he is following an old pattern: Dictators are always at their most dangerous not when they are winning, but when they fear they are about to lose. The most fateful example is Adolf Hitler. In the late summer and autumn of 1941 Hitler had a clear sense that world events were moving against him. Britain and the United States were drawing ever closer together, with America supplying Britain with weapons and other resources through the Lend-Lease program. President Franklin D. Roosevelt and Prime Minister Winston Churchill signed the Atlantic Charter, which became the founding document of the United Nations. In the Soviet Union, the German invasion, which had started in June, bogged down in the face of unexpectedly stiff Soviet resistance. Hitlers response was to step up persecution of European Jews. First, Jews in all of Nazi-controlled Europe were forbidden to immigrate to safety anywhere. Then a program of deportations began in which Jews were sent from Germany and other Central European locations to ghettos and camps in Poland and the occupied Soviet Union. In late November 1941, Fritz Todt, who was in charge of German military contracting and construction, told Hitler bluntly, This war can no longer be won militarily. Hitler asked Todt how he should end the war. When Todt told him that there needed to be a political solution, Hitler replied that he didnt see how he could do that. Two weeks later, in the wake of Pearl Harbor, Hitler significantly widened the war he had been told he could not win: He declared war on the United States before Roosevelt had made any effort to get Congress to declare war on Germany. In early 1942, the Nazi regime began the comprehensive genocide in which Jews from all over Nazi Europe were sent to specialized camps to be murdered with poisonous gas. Hitlers statements and actions through the fall and winter of 1941-42 make it clear that both the widening war and the genocide were his responses to an increasingly desperate situation. Hitlers example is the most devastating, but we see the same desperation in other dictators when they face the reality of failure. They become more brutal and repressive. Dictators are psychologically fragile: They need adulation and a sense of mastery, and they cannot tolerate loss. We have seen this pattern with Augusto Pinochet in Chile, Slobodan Milosevic in Serbia and Moammar Gadhafi in Libya. But another example may point even more directly to where we are right now. In the autumn of 1989, the communist dictatorship of East Germany was crumbling in the face of economic crisis and increasingly large protest demonstrations. The strongman of that regime was not the head of the government, Erich Honecker, but Erich Mielke, the head of the infamous Stasi, the security forces. As protests began to draw crowds in the tens of thousands, Mielke considered a Chinese solution, referring to the Tiananmen Square massacre of a few months before. Mielkes memos and orders stressed that the security forces were in a desperate fight for their own lives, justifying the most violent response. Only the intervention of some prominent citizens (including the famous conductor Kurt Masur) and some in the Communist Party leadership kept Mielke from having his way and creating a bloodbath. Things could easily have gone differently. Watching all this very carefully was a young Soviet KGB officer stationed in East Germany. People who know him say that this officer was profoundly shaped by the experience of seeing the East German regime fall without a fight, and that he would have done things very differently. The young KGB officers name? Vladimir Putin.

In recent days the world has watched with astonishment and admiration as the people of Ukraine have put up fierce  and so far, successful  resistance against Vladimir Putins brutal invasion of their country.

Putin has united the world against him like never before. Unexpectedly severe sanctions are starting to bite deeply into the Russian economy. Even thousands of brave Russians have taken to their own streets to protest the war.

It may be that Russia will still manage to win some sort of military victory in Ukraine. But even if it does, the future does not look good for Putin. Occupation of a defeated Ukraine will face the insurmountable obstacle of a mobilized and angry population. Russias growing isolation and economic hardships will spread discontent to powerful business and even military interests, who could threaten Putins hold on power.

All of this is good news for world democracy. But it also creates a very real danger. Last weekend Putin ordered Russias nuclear forces to go on high alert and issued military threats against Finland and Sweden. In doing so he is following an old pattern: Dictators are always at their most dangerous not when they are winning, but when they fear they are about to lose.

The most fateful example is Adolf Hitler.

In the late summer and autumn of 1941 Hitler had a clear sense that world events were moving against him. Britain and the United States were drawing ever closer together, with America supplying Britain with weapons and other resources through the Lend-Lease program. President Franklin D. Roosevelt and Prime Minister Winston Churchill signed the Atlantic Charter, which became the founding document of the United Nations.

In the Soviet Union, the German invasion, which had started in June, bogged down in the face of unexpectedly stiff Soviet resistance.

Hitlers response was to step up persecution of European Jews. First, Jews in all of Nazi-controlled Europe were forbidden to immigrate to safety anywhere. Then a program of deportations began in which Jews were sent from Germany and other Central European locations to ghettos and camps in Poland and the occupied Soviet Union.

In late November 1941, Fritz Todt, who was in charge of German military contracting and construction, told Hitler bluntly, This war can no longer be won militarily. Hitler asked Todt how he should end the war. When Todt told him that there needed to be a political solution, Hitler replied that he didnt see how he could do that.

Two weeks later, in the wake of Pearl Harbor, Hitler significantly widened the war he had been told he could not win: He declared war on the United States before Roosevelt had made any effort to get Congress to declare war on Germany.

In early 1942, the Nazi regime began the comprehensive genocide in which Jews from all over Nazi Europe were sent to specialized camps to be murdered with poisonous gas. Hitlers statements and actions through the fall and winter of 1941-42 make it clear that both the widening war and the genocide were his responses to an increasingly desperate situation.

Hitlers example is the most devastating, but we see the same desperation in other dictators when they face the reality of failure. They become more brutal and repressive. Dictators are psychologically fragile: They need adulation and a sense of mastery, and they cannot tolerate loss.

We have seen this pattern with Augusto Pinochet in Chile, Slobodan Milosevic in Serbia and Moammar Gadhafi in Libya. But another example may point even more directly to where we are right now.

In the autumn of 1989, the communist dictatorship of East Germany was crumbling in the face of economic crisis and increasingly large protest demonstrations. The strongman of that regime was not the head of the government, Erich Honecker, but Erich Mielke, the head of the infamous Stasi, the security forces.

As protests began to draw crowds in the tens of thousands, Mielke considered a Chinese solution, referring to the Tiananmen Square massacre of a few months before. Mielkes memos and orders stressed that the security forces were in a desperate fight for their own lives, justifying the most violent response. Only the intervention of some prominent citizens (including the famous conductor Kurt Masur) and some in the Communist Party leadership kept Mielke from having his way and creating a bloodbath. Things could easily have gone differently.

Watching all this very carefully was a young Soviet KGB officer stationed in East Germany. People who know him say that this officer was profoundly shaped by the experience of seeing the East German regime fall without a fight, and that he would have done things very differently.

The young KGB officers name? Vladimir Putin.

Benjamin Carter Hett is a historian of Nazi Germany, World War II, Adolf Hitler, and the crisis of democracy. Benjamin Carter Hett is a historian of Nazi Germany, World War II, Adolf Hitler, and the crisis of democracy.
KYIV, Ukraine  Russian forces pressed their offensive against key Ukrainian cities Friday in a heavy bombing and shelling campaign that has led to a ballooning humanitarian disaster, spurred a growing exodus of people and raised fears of a wider calamity after Europes biggest nuclear power plant was set ablaze.

A chorus of international condemnation and outrage followed Moscows capture of the nuclear complex, amid indications Russian forces would continue to go after such facilities.

And in Ukraines south, Russian troops besieged the city of Mykolaiv in an apparent march toward Odessa, Ukraines most important Black Sea city.

In urgent meetings of U.S. and European leaders at NATO headquarters in Brussels, the alliances commander confirmed Russia was attacking Ukrainians with cluster bombs, a munition outlawed by more than 120 countries. But NATO also rejected Ukraines pleas to establish a no-fly zone over the battered country.

Unfortunately, tragically, horrifically, this may not be over soon, U.S. Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken said, emerging grim-faced from the meetings.

Blinken said a no-fly zone would have to employ NATO aircraft over Ukraine in potential conflict with Russian fighter jets and lead to a full-fledged war in Europe.

The Biden administration, which has joined Europe in enacting severe economic sanctions on Russia, said it was examining a ban on Russian oil exports, although support for that is muted because it would raise gas prices in the U.S. and Europe.

Pentagon officials expressed alarm over Russias violent takeover of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear complex in the southeastern city of Enerhodar and said it remains unclear how Moscow plans to use the facility. At the minimum, the Russians could cut off the electricity that the plant supplies to much of Ukraine, a senior official said.

Using combat power to try to take a nuclear power plant over ... it just underscores the recklessness of this Russian invasion, the official said, briefing reporters in Washington on condition of anonymity.

Authorities said Friday morning that local firefighters had extinguished the fire at the plant and that there had been no release of radioactive material. Even with Russian forces in control, officials said, the local staff continues to operate the plant and is inspecting it for damage.

None of the sites six reactors  only one of which was in use, at about 60% capacity  was damaged, said Rafael Mariano Grossi, the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency in Geneva. Initial reports Friday had mistakenly indicated a fire inside one of the reactors.

But the strike on the plant, which sparked immediate fears of a Chernobyl-like disaster, with radioactive clouds drifting over the rest of Europe, demonstrated anew the wars potential for terrifying effects far outside Ukraines borders. Norways leader called the shelling of Zaporizhzhia in line with madness.

Linda Thomas-Greenfield, the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, warned in an emergency session of the Security Council that Russia could make use of any of Ukraines other nuclear facilities as pawns in the war.

Energoatom, Ukraines state nuclear plant operator, said that three Ukrainian soldiers were killed and two were injured in the strike.

In an emotional video address, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy appealed for a stop to the shelling of Zaporizhzhia and for a Western-enforced no-fly zone over the country to forestall any other strikes on sensitive infrastructure. Ukraine is home to four nuclear power plants.

Only urgent action by Europe can stop the Russian troops, said Zelenskyy, who fielded a flurry of worried calls from President Joe Biden and other world leaders. Do not allow the death of Europe from a catastrophe at a nuclear power station.

His comments came as Russian troops strengthened their grip on Ukraines south in a bid to choke off access to the Black and Azov seas and establish control over a swath of land pushing up against Moldova and NATO member Romania to the west. The city of Kherson has fallen, and the strategic port of Mariupol has come under constant shelling, with hundreds of residents feared dead, basic services disrupted and supplies cut off.

The mayor of Mykolaiv, west of Kherson, said Friday that his city remained under Ukrainian control for now.

Russian troops are on the outskirts of the city, Mayor Oleksandr Senkevych said in a telephone interview with the Los Angeles Times. They moved in from the north, having pressed from the Crimean Peninsula that Russia illegally annexed eight years ago. They destroyed peoples homes, schools and other civilian infrastructure.

The Ukrainian military and local civilian defense forces were holding them at bay, Senkevych said. But it was unclear how long the resistance could be sustained and whether, if overrun, the city would be able to feed or protect its people.

I am determined to resist to the last bullet, he said. I am with my city. I am with my people.

An adviser to Zelenskyy said Ukrainian forces have also repelled an assault on the strategic port city of Odessa, The Associated Press reported. Shelling continued in Kyiv, the capital, and Kharkiv, the nations second-most populous city, in the northeast.

The United Nations says 1.3 million people have fled Ukraine in the last nine days  about 3% of the countrys population. Thousands of refugees are arriving by the hour in neighboring Poland and Hungary.

On Friday, the U.N. Human Rights Council voted to investigate allegations of Russian abuses in Ukraine, following a similar move by prosecutors at the International Criminal Court at The Hague.

Russian President Vladimir Putin, who launched the the invasion, which he calls a special military operation in Ukraine on Feb. 24, denies that his troops have targeted civilians. The Kremlin, without providing evidence, has accused Ukrainian forces of using residents as human shields.

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said the attack on Zaporizhzhia showed the recklessness of this war. At the same time, he said, NATO would not deploy planes over Ukrainian airspace to establish a no-fly zone or put troops on the ground in Ukraine, in order to avoid a greater confrontation with Moscow.

He confirmed Russias use of cluster bombs  a potential war crime because the bombs are made of numerous smaller explosives that are indiscriminate in whom they kill and maim. Neither Russia nor the U.S. signed onto the international convention that bans the munition, nor has Ukraine. But Ukraine has already stated an eagerness to cooperate with the International Criminal Court, which is investigating potential war crimes by Russia even though Kyiv is not a signatory to that body, either.

We call on President Putin to stop this war immediately, withdraw all his forces from Ukraine without conditions and engage in genuine diplomacy now, Stoltenberg said.

Blinken echoed that demand, saying that Putins war of choice undermined fundamental principles of self-determination and democracy.

If we allow those principles to be challenged, as Putins doing now, with impunity, that will open a Pandoras box of trouble for not just us but, quite frankly, for the entire world, Blinken said.

But the possibility of a Russian pullback is remote. After a 90-minute call between Putin and French President Emmanuel Macron on Thursday, an aide to Macron warned that the Russian leader insisted he would see the invasion through to the end. And on Friday, Putin told German Chancellor Olaf Scholz that Russia would consider cease-fire talks if Kyiv recognized Moscows sovereignty over Crimea and the occupied swaths of eastern Ukraine, according to a Kremlin readout of the conversation.

The days to come are likely to be worse, with more death, more suffering and more destruction as Russian armed forces bring in heavier weaponry and continue their attacks across the country, Stoltenberg said.

A small gleam of hope emerged after talks Thursday between Russian and Ukrainian representatives, who tentatively agreed on the setup of specially designated corridors where temporary cease-fires would be called and residents could escape the fighting safely.

In Kyiv, traffic stretched for miles Friday morning on the citys southern outskirts as people tried to leave before an expected full-scale Russian onslaught. In the northwest suburbs, the sound of explosions was frequent  testament to the proximity of enemy combatants. And nightfall was heralded with a major blast that shook buildings in the center of the capital.

For days, a column of Russian armored vehicles 40 miles long has sat north of Kyiv, threatening a massive incursion or an attempted blockade, but its progress has been slow, beset by logistical missteps, Western intelligence officials say.

Fierce resistance by Ukrainian forces has also helped keep the Russians at bay in Kyiv and other major population centers. On Friday, Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov said the Ukrainian navy had destroyed its own flagship, which was undergoing repairs, to prevent it from being seized and used by Russian forces.

The commander of the frigate Hetman Sahaidachny took the decision to flood the ship, Reznikov said on Facebook, adding: It is hard to imagine a more difficult decision for a courageous soldier and crew.

Zelenskyy said Friday that 9,200 Russian troops have been killed since the invasion began, but the figure could not be independently verified. More than 2,000 Ukrainian civilians have perished, the government said.

In a rare admission of casualties, the Kremlin earlier this week acknowledged the deaths of about 500 Russian soldiers. But Putin has told his people that the war is going according to plan, and the governments grip on the media has meant that few Russians have seen reports or footage of the death and destruction being visited on Ukraine or their own forces.

A number of independent news outlets have closed down in recent days, and the remaining Russian media have parroted the official line that the special military operation has mostly been confined to eastern Ukraine, as protection for the large population of Russian speakers there, and that the overall goal is to disarm and denazify Ukraines leadership, even though Zelenskyy is Jewish.

On Friday, Russian news agencies reported that the lower house of the Russian parliament had approved a bill to make the spreading of fake information about the invasion punishable by up to 15 years in prison. The British news service BBC announced it was suspending operations in Russia for the time being.
Humanities Nebraska is partnering with the Grand Island Public Library to bring bilingual Prime Time Family Reading to local families again this spring.

Prime Time is a family literacy program that helps strengthen participants interest and skills in reading and talking about books. A definitive 10-year analysis published by the creators of Prime Time Family Reading found that children who attended Prime Time outperformed their peers on standardized tests in elementary through high school.

Prime Time for elementary-aged students and their families will be offered 6-8 p.m. Mondays at the Grand Island Public Library. This seasons Prime Time begins Monday, March 14, and runs for six sessions through April 25, skipping April 4 for the librarys annual Bear Fair.

Contact the library at 308-385-5333 to sign up.

Registration for Prime Time is free and open to families and their children ages 6-10. Each weekly session begins with storytelling and discussion based on award-winning childrens books in both English and Spanish.

All sessions are offered without cost to families thanks to statewide sponsors including the state of Nebraska, Nebraska Cultural Endowment, National Endowment for the Humanities, the Sherwood Foundation and an anonymous donor. Grand Island Prime Time is also funded by the Grand Island Public Library.

Since 2002, nearly 16,000 Nebraskans have participated in one or more of the 370 bilingual and English-only Prime Time Family Reading and Prime Time Preschool series held in 17 public libraries, 24 elementary schools, 10 community centers, one bookstore, and two Head Starts in 18 communities across the state.

Teachers who are interested in recommending families for Prime Time or families interested in taking part should contact the Grand Island Public Library and ask to speak with Prime Time coordinators Laura Fentress or Kim Mettenbrink at 308-385-5333.

For more information about Prime Time, visit the Humanities Nebraska website, www.HumanitiesNebraska.org, and select Prime Time from the programs list.
Last week, multinational corporations began closing their operations in Ukraine and moving employees to safety. At last check, at least 680,000 people have fled the country since the start of the Russian invasion.

The ordeal had led to deaths and injuries, as well as crippling effects on the countrys economy and peoples ability to make a living.

According to a recent report in The New York Times, the global transport and logistics services company, Hamburger Hafen und Logistik, evacuated the last of its 480 employees at its terminal in the Ukrainian port of Odessa late last week.

The company said it would pay employees one months salary in advance to allow them to stock up on essential goods.

Carlsberg, one of the worlds largest brewers employing 1,300 people, suspended operations at two factories near heavy Russian attacks.

Workers in Ukraine have immediately been displaced, disrupting their livelihoods and their abilities to make ends meet.

Their companies have shuttered. Their home offices are unsafe and not viable.

Imagine the impact to your familys overall well-being if thrust into this situation. One day you have money for essentials. The next day you dont.

And its easy to forget the plight of Russian citizens in this mess.

The Group of Sevens major economies have imposed unprecedented punitive sanctions against the Central Bank of Russia along with widespread measures by the West against the countrys oligarchs and officials, according to a CNBC report earlier this week.

French Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire told a French radio station that these sanctions are meant to cause the collapse of the Russian economy.

Russias actions in Ukraine are deplorable. There is no debating that.

These punishments against its economy are warranted, but they will have a debilitating effect on everyday professionals in the country. Western companies will stop investing in Russia, which will lead to labor reductions and people out of work for extended periods of time.

The point of this column is to help people discover career happiness. I am infinitely grateful that I love my work and am able to turn my passion for writing and communications into a paycheck for my family.

I usually write tips on finding a deeper purpose in your work, leaving a bad boss, picking up new skills, and holding out for a great work culture.

Sometimes though, simply having a job is enough.

How to Help

Looking for ways to support nonprofits helping Ukrainians on the ground?

Here is a vetted list of organizations aiding Ukraine provided by LinkedIns news editors, as of Thursday:

 GlobalGivings Ukraine Crisis Relief Fund

 Singapore Red Cross

 United Nations Childrens Fund (UNICEF)

 United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)

 Razom

 Choose Love

 Humanitarian Aid to Ukraine through Nova Ukraine

 Save the Childrens Ukraine Crisis Relief Fund

 The International Medical Corps

 CARE

 Project HOPE

 Upwardly Global

Joe Szynkowski is the happy founder and owner of The UpWrite Group, a small local firm that has offered corporate communications, personal branding, public relations, and ghostwriting services since 2008. Email Joe@TheUpWriteGroup.com for more information.

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On Monday, Gov. J.B. Pritzkers mask mandate was lifted for most locations.

That means Illinoisans can shop, eat at a restaurant or work in offices without wearing a mask  or does it?

According to a press release about lifting the mandate, masks are still required in some places, including: places where masks are federally mandated, such as public transportation and in high-risk settings like healthcare facilities and congregate care; and in daycare settings. The state also intends to continue masking requirements in preschool through high school, subject to pending litigation.

Businesses can require mitigation stricter than the state, which could include masks.

Carbondale had a mask requirement that expired with the states lifting of mandates. Schnucks issued a press release Monday saying seven of its locations, including the Carbondale store, are still requiring masks, so it's a little confusing.

Business leaders have looked to the Centers for Disease Control county map for guidance.

The map assesses community COVID-19 levels by county and color-codes the county based on risk for the virus. Green counties have low risk. Yellow indicates medium risks. Orange is high risk.

They use three metrics to make the determination, looking at the previous seven days. Those metrics are: the number of new COVID-19 hospital admissions per 100,000 people; the percentage of staffed, in-hospital beds occupied by COVID-19 patients; and the number of new cases of the virus per 100,000 people.

The CDC recommends that people with high risk for severe illness talk to their medical providers about their need to wear a mask in yellow counties. They recommend everyone in orange counties wear masks and take precautions. They have no mitigation recommendations for the green level.

Their website, cdc.gov, says people may choose to wear a mask at any time. People with symptoms, a positive test, or exposure to someone with COVID-19 should wear a mask.

On Thursday, Southern Illinois counties were rated as follows in the CDC county map.

Green: Alexander, Hamilton, Jefferson, Pulaski, Randolph, Union, Washington and White counties.

Yellow: Franklin, Hardin, Jackson, Massac, Pope and Williamson counties.

Orange: Gallatin, Johnson, Perry and Saline counties.

Since the beginning of the pandemic in mid-March 2020, the public had to follow mitigations based on many calculations of the CDC, Illinois Department of Public Health, and governing bodies.

Bart Hagston, administrator for Jackson County Public Health said as layers of COVID policies get pushed back, it creates some confusion.

"Were all going to be left to practice our own personal measures, Hagston said, adding that some people were very happy to see the mask mandate lifted while others were still wearing masks.

Knowing the community levels can help everyone determine what mitigations are needed. Hagston said everyone should be prepared to scale up and down their personal mitigation as the levels of the virus go up and down.

Jackson County Health Departments website, jchdonline.org, has a button that connects to the CDC community map for COVID risk to make it easy for residents to find.

In addition to lower risk in some counties, most Southern Illinois counties continue to see declining numbers of new COVID-19 cases. Only Pulaski County saw a rise in new cases to 11 for the past week.

Other counties had declining numbers: Franklin, 42; Hamilton, 10; Jackson, 81; Jefferson, 49; Johnson, 38; Massac, 24; Perry, 53; Pulaski, 11; Randolph, 34; Saline, 62; Union, 26; Washington, 13; White, 15; and Williamson, 111.

Alexander, Hardin and Pope counties had too few new COVID cases for IDPH to list.

Concerned about COVID-19? Sign up now to get the most recent coronavirus headlines and other important local and national news sent to your email inbox daily. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy.
Thirty-five years after Marion resident Ladonna Cooper was murdered, her children still dont know who took their mothers life or why she was killed.

Coopers oldest daughter, Kelli Cooper-Bathon was 10 years old when her mother, then 32, was killed in 1987. She said the question she has been asked the most is What is it like to continue through life without a mom?

My response has been different with each decade that has passed, Cooper-Bathon said. I rejoice in the fact that God has given me many helpers along the way to fill in the gaps that were created by such unimaginable loss. I can look back now and see how He has carried me this entire time so that, 35 years later, I am still here.

Cooper, a married mother of three, was an assistant manager at the Bonanza Family Restaurant, which was located on Illinois 13 just east of Interstate 57 in Marion. The same building that once housed Bonanza is currently Tequilas Mexican Restaurant.

About 8 p.m. Wednesday, March 4, 1987, Cooper's two daughters and husband, Bobby, went to the restaurant to visit her while she ate dinner on her break. They had no idea it would be their last meal together.

March has always had a certain dark and heavy feeling for me, said Jodi Cooper-Kelly, Coopers youngest daughter who was 7 years old at the time her mother was killed. Part of me still feels like that 7-year-old girl whose life was turned upside down and whose childhood was no longer. The 7-year-old whose head is spinning, still struggling to understand what has happened and why, and trying to figure out where to go from here.

Cooper was in charge of closing the business that evening. Her duties included ensuring the nights receipts were properly documented and making a bank deposit.

The restaurant had a significant amount of business that day and the evening shift employees had to stay later than normal. Cooper was the last of those employees to leave. She called her husband, Bobby, about 11:45 p.m. to tell him she would be leaving in about 10 minutes.

When Cooper didnt make it home by about 12:15 a.m. Thursday, her husband became concerned and attempted to call the restaurant. No one answered, so he drove from their home on Goodall Street in Marion to Bonanza. When he found no trace of his wife or her light blue 1986 Buick Century, he drove back home thinking she would be there when he arrived. She still wasnt home, so he called Bonanza management.

Managers found the business had all the appearances of being closed for the night when they arrived. However, Cooper, her car, the nights receipts and currency used to open the restaurant the next day were all missing. These findings were then reported to the Marion Police Department.

Police found what was later determined to be blood and other signs of a struggle outside the restaurant near where Coopers Buick had been parked.

There was some blood found at the scene, but not any great amount, Marion Detective Mike Wiseman told The Southern in 1987. We just think she was trying to get free.

Coopers purse was discovered on the morning of Thursday, March 5, 1987 in a trash dumpster behind The Hitchin Post, a western store just south of Bonanza located directly behind Dunns Sporting Goods.

Later that day, the Herrin Police Department received a call about 6 p.m. from a resident who spotted Coopers Buick. It had been left abandoned on South Sixth Street near its intersection with East Stotlar Street in Herrin.

Authorities arrived and found what was later determined to be blood on the interior and exterior of the vehicle. They also found mud in and around the wheel wells.

A resident of the neighborhood told police she thought the car had been parked in that location since very early Thursday morning.

On Friday, March 6, 1987, the frantic search for Cooper came to an end. At about 1:30 p.m. that afternoon, a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service employee was conducting a survey on Illinois 148 near Observation Pond in the Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge. She noticed tire tracks off the trail and spotted something near the waters edge. When she looked through her binoculars, she discovered it was a body.

The Williamson County Sheriffs Office responded and found Coopers body about 150 yards west of the observation towers on Illinois 148 laying at the edge of the small body of water.

Harry Spiller served as the sheriff of Williamson County from 1982 to 1989. He said he still remembers Coopers case vividly 35 years later.

As I think about the case, I still recall the crime scene at the refuge, Spiller said. I was there when her body was found and I can still recall that scene like it was five minutes ago. Im sure someone knows something and hopefully someone will come forward.

"Ill never give up hope and I hope before Im gone this case is solved. As the sheriff at that time, it makes me feel like I let her down, the family down and the community down.

Receipts from Bonanza were discovered on March 8, 1987 at Petrolane Gas Company near the intersection of Samuel Road and Old Route 13 after an eyewitness contacted authorities and said he saw Coopers Buick near that location at about 12:45 a.m. on March 5.

I can think of no logical explanation for the events of that night and no answers have ever been given, Cooper-Kelly said. I think that part of me will forever be frozen in time. But, I've obviously grown up and 35 years have passed. I have faced hard challenges and accomplished many things. All without the most important person by my side.

On April 2, 1987, it took a coroners inquest jury just eight minutes to return a verdict of homicide as Coopers cause of death. The inquest determined Cooper died as a result of multiple severe injuries and stab wounds.

Cooper-Kelly said she has tried to be at peace with all the unanswered questions.

It's tough to keep pushing forward just to be knocked back down, Cooper-Kelly said. Many times, our hope was crushed and I personally felt my faith was tested. But, I know we will never stop digging and never stop fighting for answers. And by the grace of God, maybe one day my family and I can finally have the answers and peace we deserve.

The Southern contacted the Cooper family in 2020 about investigating Coopers case for its Chasing Closure series, which takes an in-depth look at unsolved cases in the region.

When The Southern contacted me, I was presented with an article about the unsolved murder of Ryan Livingston in Carbondale, Cooper-Kelly said in 2020. I was absolutely taken away by the narrative provided and the facts given without causing harm to Ryans case. I wanted my mothers story to be written and told in the same manner. I wanted more to be said about her last few moments on earth.

The Southern submitted several Freedom of Information Act requests to review public records from Coopers case file in 2020.

The City of Marion, Williamson County Sheriffs Office, Illinois State Police and Williamson County Coroners Office denied The Southern access to all records pertaining to Coopers case following those requests, claiming they were privileged because of an ongoing investigation.

On Aug. 19, 2020, The Southern filed a lawsuit in Williamson County Circuit Court asserting all four agencies improperly withheld public records sought under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act.

The Southern files lawsuit after being denied access to all public records pertaining to Ladonna Cooper homicide The Southern Illinoisan on Aug. 19 filed a lawsuit in Williamson County Circuit Court alleging four agencies of improperly withholding public records sought under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act.

Under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act, everyone is entitled to full and complete information regarding the affairs of government. The law states access to public records promotes transparency and accountability of public bodies at all levels, adding that it is a fundamental obligation of government to operate openly.

Attorney Ian Russell from the Davenport, Iowa law firm Lane & Waterman LLP drafted and filed the complaint on behalf of The Southern.

The complaint seeks a declaration that the defendants have violated the Illinois FOIA and requests the court to order the agencies to produce the records requested, redacting only information that is truly exempt.

The Southern has since received some of the records requested and is currently working with the agencies toward resolving the issues to receive as many public documents as possible. The next scheduled court hearing for the FOIA lawsuit is March 29.

I hold onto the memories that I do have and remember how loved she made me feel and I try to pass that love and that warmth on to my own children, Cooper-Kelly said. She may not be here physically, but she has never left us. She lives on through me, my siblings, and all of her grandchildren. I feel she continues to guide us from above.

The upcoming installment of Chasing Closure on Coopers case will include exclusive interviews and in-depth reporting on the investigation.

We may never be able to put a name to the person or persons that killed our mom, but we will forever make sure that her name, Ladonna Lynn Cooper, is never forgotten, Cooper-Bathon said.

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ZEIGLER  A Zeigler-Royalton Junior High teacher says he was fired as retaliation for reporting another teacher who allegedly bullied a student.

Jonathon Walters, a STEM and math teacher, was told at a school board meeting Monday night he would no longer be working at the school following the completion of the year.

Walters said he believes his job loss was retaliation for reporting of bullying made in good faith.

He described the circumstances behind his firing in an interview with The Southern and in a 24-page document.

Following several reports made by Walters to the principal about various bullying incidents between teachers and students, he was asked into a meeting with the principal and Superintendent Quent Hamilton.

The principal had told Walters he could have his union representative present but he declined, assuming the meeting was about bullying, Walters said.

In the meeting, Walters said they told him they would not be renewing his contract for the following year and he should resign at the board meeting.

When Walters asked why, Hamilton said he didnt like when new teachers accuse veteran teachers of bullying students, according to Walters.

Walters said as a mandated reporter, he is supposed to report situations of kids not being in safe environments.

Walters said he was accused of being not a team player in reporting the bullying by the teacher.

The Southern reached out to Hamilton for comment.

The Southern sought comment from the school; information about the school's bullying policy; details about the meeting where Walters was told to resign; what steps resulted from Walter's reports of bullying; and the reason for Walter's firing. The Southern also gave the school opportunity to review allegations made by Walters about the school's response to his reports of bullying.

In response, Hamilton only answered a question about the length of the board's executive session.

He also said the following in an email: The school district does not comment on personnel matters regarding individual employment decisions. The Board looks forward to a successful completion of the school year for the benefit of all children we serve, and wishes Mr. Walters well as he continues his career.

On Monday, Feb. 28, the Zeigler-Royalton School Board met where Walters future with the school was discussed. Walters, as well as dozens of parents and students, spoke out against the bullying and on behalf of Walters.

Despite being told to resign, Walters did not do so at the meeting.

The board then went into executive session from 6:53 p.m. and 8:33 p.m. to discuss his future employment.

When they came back out, the board reported that after finishing out his current year, Walters would no longer be with the school.

Zeigler-Royalton School Board President Randy Domineck said the board could not comment on personnel matters.

Domineck was asked the same questions as Hamilton.

Following the boards decision, Walters took to his TikTok account  with more than 75,000 followers  to ask them to plead with Zeigler-Royalton to get a better bullying report system.

Walters said he started his TikTok after he noticed he wasnt getting anywhere with his bullying reports at the school.

I started making those videos because I was witnessing this happening at my school, and I felt completely helpless to help the kids in my school, Walter said. So I thought if I cant help the kids right here then I would try to reach out and help the kids beyond where I was.

According to Walters, he tried on multiple occasions to speak with the principal about starting an anti-bullying club or to design a template for people to file anonymous bullying complaints within the school.

However, most of the conversations ended with her saying she would speak with Hamilton, according to Walters.

Walters claimed that under the current system of letting the principal know little to nothing is being done to address the problem.

There's no document that holds Johnny accountable, Walters said in an interview with The Southern. It's just Johnny goes to the office, Johnny's got a famous last name, and Johnny gets sent right back to this class. It happens again, and again and again. People are just, they're tired of trying to report it. There's no way for teachers to be held accountable either.

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Capt. Johnelyn Cadang, a liaison officer with the Connecticut Army National Guard who has helped coordinate the U.S. Air Force medical relief unit stationed at the Saint Raphael Campus of Yale New Haven Hospital, stands for a portrait alongside registered nurse Gillian Bowes. (Eliza Fawcett)

For many hospitals across Connecticut, 2022 did not begin auspiciously. Almost two years into the pandemic, COVID-19 hospitalizations had spiked dramatically again, straining an already over-burdened and short-staffed workforce.

In early February, however, much-needed respite arrived, in the form of U.S. Air Force medical relief units who filed into Saint Francis Hospital, Hartford Hospital and Yale New Haven Hospital to cheers from staff. As part of the Federal Emergency Management Agencys nationwide surge response program, each hospital received 20 active duty medical personnel, who swiftly integrated into clinical units.

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FEMA military medical personnel arrive to cheers at Saint Francis Hospital in Hartford in Feb. 2022. (Mark Mirko/Mark Mirko/The Hartford Courant)

The Saint Raphael Campus of Yale New Haven Hospital received 11 nurses, four physicians, two medical technicians, two respiratory therapists and a health administrator, for a total of 30 days, said Jennifer Menillo, the director of inpatient medicine services at Yale New Haven Hospital.

The arrival of the medical relief unit brought hope and healing to a hospital that has fought wave after wave of the pandemic, she said. And while the 11 nurses who joined the hospital staff represent a small fraction of the 800 nurses Menillo oversees, she emphasized that they have had an outsize impact on the hospitals medical units.

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Theyve integrated well, theyve become part of the family, she said. Theyve been able to support the teams so they can take a little bit of a back step and a breather  to say, I can have that that time off, or I dont have to pick up that extra shift.

Hartford, Ct. - 02/10/2022 - To assist with COVID related staffing shortages, a 20-member FEMA military medical team arrives at Saint Francis Hospital to begin a 30-day mission. Photograph by Mark Mirko | mmirko@courant.com (Mark Mirko/The Hartford Courant)

State and federal military units have provided support to Connecticut throughout the pandemic, from distributing PPE and at-home COVID-19 tests to setting up vaccination sites and addressing food insecurity. By early 2022, though, it was clear that what hospitals needed most were extra hands.

Dr. Lirim Ameti, a physician at Yale New Haven Hospital, who has worked with the military physicians stationed at the Saint Raphael Campus, said that the airmen not only offset heavy workloads, but also gave staff a boost in morale and inspiration to really help us through these difficult times.

Five Things You Need To Know Daily We're providing the latest coronavirus coverage in Connecticut each weekday morning. >

Since arriving last month, the airmen have provided more than 2,000 clinical hours to Yale New Haven Hospital, said Capt. Johnelyn Cadang, a liaison officer with the Connecticut Army National Guard. The medical relief personnel, who have been staying in local hotels, will return to the Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada by the end of next week.

Right now, our mission is 70% complete, Cadang said.

Capt. Johnelyn Cadang, a liaison officer with the Connecticut Army National Guard, has helped coordinate the U.S. Air Force medical relief unit stationed at the Saint Raphael Campus of Yale New Haven Hospital.

Gillian Bowes, a registered nurse at the Saint Raphael Campus who has worked with two nurses from the military relief unit for the past month, said that their assistance has been a boon to the hospital.

Its really nice having them here to fill in the gaps when were short, she said. You dont have to work so much overtime or stay late, and it helps with our nurse-to-patient ratios.

To Menillo, the airmens impact has been indisputable: in the face of mental anguish and exhaustion, they enabled a sigh of relief.

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Hartford Healthcare also had 20 military medical personnel assigned to Hartford Hospital; for a month, a spokeswoman has said. The assignments were to help specifically in patient care areas, the spokeswoman said.

Eliza Fawcett can be reached at elfawcett@courant.com.
U.S. Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi, a member of the House Intelligence Committee, is the first guest of a new conversation series hosted by Southern Illinois University Carbondales Paul Simon Public Policy Institute.

The virtual discussion with Krishnamoorthi, whose district includes the western and northwestern Chicago suburbs, is set for 8 a.m. Wednesday, March 9. It is the inaugural event in the new series Congressional Conversations. The event is free and open to the public and will be held on Zoom. Registration is required to access the webinar; registration is at paulsimoninstitute.org/events.

In the series, the institute is inviting members of Illinois congressional delegation to discuss critical issues with Southern Illinois residents. While the first event is being held virtually, the series will also have Illinois senators and representatives visiting the SIU Carbondale campus and meeting with students and constituents.

The institute is looking forward to hosting regular, in-depth conversations with members of the Illinois congressional delegation, John Shaw, institute director, said. We want to learn more about the men and women who represent Illinois in Washington, D.C., and we want them to learn more about the Paul Simon Public Policy Institute and SIU.

Krishnamoorthi and Shaw will discuss the congressmans career in politics and his work on the House Intelligence Committee and the Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Crisis.

Krishnamoorthi, D-Schaumburg, has been in Congress since 2017. Krishnamoorthi also serves on the Committee on Oversight and Reform and is the chairman of the Subcommittee on Economic and Consumer Policy. He is an assistant whip for the Democratic Caucus and is vice-chair of the LGBTQ+ Equality Caucus. He founded and serves as chairman of the Congressional Caucus to End the Youth Vaping Epidemic and the Solar Caucus.

Prior to his election, Krishnamoorthi was on the board of the Illinois Housing Development Authority, served as special assistant attorney general in an anticorruption unit, and was deputy state treasurer. He also was president of a small Chicago-area tech business and graduated from Princeton and Harvard Law School.

Congressman Krishnamoorthi is one of the most energetic, creative, and impressive members of Congress, with a compelling and inspiring personal story and wide-ranging interests, Shaw said. His work on intelligence is hugely relevant to the dramatic events that are now unfolding in the world, as is his expertise on the coronavirus.

If you have a question for Krishnamoorthi, please include it below in the Questions & Comments box or email it to paulsimoninstitute@siu.edu.

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Devon Gilmore, this years Employee of the Year, began service to the City in December 2017 and has demonstrated the highest level of dedication and commitment and integrity, who gives of himself without expectation of reward or recognition. He is dependable, energetic, and passionate about giving his very best both professionally and in civic endeavors.

He has achieved Level 3 and Level 1 Certifications from the S C Criminal Justice Academy and is a certified Animal Control Specialist, plus he works as a Crime Prevention Specialist. Most recently, he was recognized as Employee of the Quarter.

In his role as Community Outreach Officer and Crime Prevention Specialist Officer, he regularly represents the Orangeburg Department of Public Safety during presentations to school groups, civic and neighborhood organizations. He has been especially effective in encouraging neighborhoods to organize Crime Watch programs and Neighborhood Councils. This officer actively participates in the Greggs Groceries Program sponsored by Serve and Connect and the annual Trunk or Treat program hosted by the Citys Parks and Recreation Department.

According to Chief Austin, one of his greatest joys since joining the Orangeburg Department of Public Safety is the opportunity to witness the infectious energy that this officer shares with everyone with whom he comes into contact.

If I was asked to choose an Ambassador of the Year for the City of Orangeburg, my vote would go to this officer.

Ronnie Milhouse, Maintenance Supervisor at the John F. Pearson Water Treatment Plant, is honored as the Dick Horne Foundation 2021 Employee of the Year. Ronnie began his career with the Department of Public Utilities as a mechanic over 27 years ago and quickly became a leader in the organization. While working, he earned an associate degree in industrial electronics from Orangeburg-Calhoun Technical College, two South Carolina A level licenses (Water Treatment Plant Operator and Water Distribution) and Back-flow Testing Certification.

A few of his achievements at DPU include establishing a testing procedure to predict thermal breakdowns, developed a plant equipment identification system and overhauled the plant preventative maintenance system. Ronnie is a mentor to his fellow employees, willing to share and teach all that he knows; realizing that the more everyone understands the processes, the more efficiently the system will operate, especially when it comes to working during challenging weather-related events such as storms, freezing and flooding. He exemplifies conscientiousness and dedication to his company, his fellow employees and the customers of the Department of Public Utilities.

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Seconds matter when someone is experiencing an overdose, and area law enforcement officers are working to make each of those seconds count with training in the administration of a medicine used to reverse opioids debilitating effects.

The South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control reports that opioid misuse and overdoses have reached epidemic levels not only across the nation, but in the state since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic.

Increased anxiety, social isolation and depression are among the likely reasons behind the surge, with the opioid crisis also making an impact on public health by increasing demands on first responders, law enforcement and health care agencies.

DHEC has reported that drug overdose deaths in the state, for example, increased by more than 50 percent after the pandemic started.

Final figures from death certificates show 1,734 people died of drug overdoses in the state in 2020, a 53 percent increase from the 1,131 deaths reported in 2019. Opioids caused 1,400 of those overdose deaths in 2020 and fentanyl, a synthetic opioid that is 80 to 100 times stronger than morphine, was involved in 79 percent of those fatal opioid overdoses.

Time is not on their side

DHECs efforts to combat opioid overdose deaths include its partnership with the S.C. Department of Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Services to train law enforcement and first responders in the administration of naloxone, which is sold under the trade name Narcan.

Narcan is a prescription nasal spray used for the treatment of a known or suspected opioid overdose. It is a synthetic drug similar to morphine that blocks opiate receptors in the nervous system.

The partnership provides Narcan to law enforcement officers and first responders for free, and it is all done with the help of a federal grant from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.

Were at the beginning of another five-year cycle. The first grant was for five years and it ended in 2021 in September. We received another five-year grant to continue what were doing up until 2026, said Kenny Polson, coordinator of DHECs Law Enforcement Officer Naloxone (LEON) and Reducing Opioid Loss of Life (ROLL) programs.

Polson said the training focuses on providing law enforcement officers and first responders with information on several different aspects of tackling the opioid overdose problem.

It touches on the law, it touches on the signs and symptoms of an overdose, and it touches on how to treat an overdose. It also touches on how to make a report after theyve had an administration of the Narcan, Polson said.

He said the training could potentially mean the difference between life and death for someone who has overdosed.

Anytime that you have someone who stops breathing because of an overdose, time is not on their side. So as soon as we can get someone to these folks that is able to administer Narcan and start providing some type of care for their airway to help them start breathing again, the better their chances of a positive outcome in the long run, Polson said.

He said providing recovery options for individuals who are perhaps suffering from opioid addiction is not left out.

We actually have a program that we send paramedics out after an overdose has occurred. We try to offer these folks that have suffered from long-term addictions some type of treatment options. We send a paramedic out with a counselor and a law enforcement officer in some of the programs, Polson said.

He continued, Each program is a little different, but we have several counties that are participating in that now. Were trying to attack it from a lot of different angles as far as the problem to get to a better place from where were at with it now.

The first ones on the scene

Mike Dennis, executive director of the Tri-County Commission on Alcohol and Drug Abuse, said his office has been providing training for law enforcement officers since January.

Weve invited all the law enforcement agencies within our three counties, Orangeburg, Bamberg and Calhoun, but also had some law enforcement from Barnwell to show up, which is fine. Its really just open to any law enforcement who would like to get the training, Dennis said.

He said DAODAS is also helping agencies such as Tri-County become community distributors of Narcan.

A community distributor means that we can provide Narcan here for anyone outside of law enforcement and first responders. Folks can walk into our agency and say, Hey, I want some Narcan. We dont ask them any questions necessarily about why they need it, or they dont have to be a client of ours, Dennis said. We give them a brief training on what to look for in an overdose and how to administer the Narcan, and then well give them that free Narcan.

He said more than 600 boxes have been given out since Tri-County became a community distributor. The box contains two doses of Narcan.

Dennis noted there were a total of 2,254 reported overdoses in the state from Jan. 1 through the morning of Friday, March 4. Seventy-two of the total reported cases were fatal, with Narcan used in 1,352 cases.

There were a total of 28 overdoses in Orangeburg, Bamberg and Calhoun counties during the same time period, with no fatal overdoses reported and Narcan used in 16 cases.

The data is only in cases in which law enforcement, EMS or the coroner's office have reported it to DHEC. If there was an overdose that occurred and someone other than those three agencies administered Narcan, it would not be included in the statistics. Also, in many areas, officers had not been trained to carry Narcan and therefore might not have reported an overdose, he said.

Dennis said the training for the law enforcement officers is being provided in conjunction with Orangeburg County and DHEC by Todd Williams, director of Orangeburg Countys risk services division. He is also a paramedic and former law enforcement officer.

Williams said, The officers are absolutely very receptive. Not only can they save the life of a citizen when they get on scene, but they can also save the life of another officer or either a canine officer in the event that they come into contact with any type of opioid substance.

Williams said illegal substances are not the only ones people can overdose on.

Theres also legal prescription pills that somebody may accidentally or intentionally overdose on. Its just not fentanyl, but it can be prescription pills like pain medication. Even our citizens that are elderly or citizens with eyesight problems can get mixed up with their medication and can absolutely take too much medication. It can slow their breathing down. If law enforcement or fire gets on scene first, they can administer the Narcan, Williams said.

Williams said he anticipates training will conducted on an annual basis, just with the turnover that we see in our first responder corps.

The (Orangeburg County) Sheriffs Office actually trains all of their deputies in-house. Ive trained some of their deputies, but the Orangeburg Sheriffs Office does actually have like a trainer actually to train the trainers in house. They build it into their in-service program, he said.

Orangeburg County Administrator Harold Young said the training has made a difference.

Weve seen countless amounts of time where Narcan has definitely saved lives of individuals who have partaken in illegal substances. Its usually the first person who gets on the scene who can save that life  and a lot of times thats law enforcement and other first responders, Young said. So thats why we felt like it was critical to be able to train those individuals to be able to use it instead of having to wait on medical personnel.

Dennis said, Thats just because seconds matter with that. So what were trying to do is to make sure that every law enforcement officer in our three-county area is trained. The response that weve had from the officers thus far has been wonderful.

They recognize that a lot of times theyre the first ones on the scene and having this life-saving tool in their car can help people stay alive. Helping people stay alive so that they have another chance at addressing their addiction is a positive thing.

Dennis continued, We are working with DHEC and DAODAS to see if we cant get where the police department, or the fire department, can carry a stock of this Narcan. Each officer would be assigned their box, and then once theyve used their box and documented it, then the police chief can assign them another box right away instead of waiting.

Dennis said Tri-County Deputy Director Dee Robinson has also conducted training for staff at area colleges.

Weve also reached out to the school districts in our three counties to see if we can provide them with Narcan and train their staff with Narcan  so that they can be prepared to save a life as well, he said.

This training is definitely needed

Williams conducted a training on Feb. 17 at the Orangeburg County EMS Training Center in Orangeburg with law enforcement officers.

Blue lips and erratic heartbeat were among the signs of an overdose that he shared with the group.

He also noted that a lot of drugs are being mixed now, which can lead to overdoses.

Nobody can just do marijuana anymore. ... EMS is extremely stretched out, Williams said.

Dennis said, Fentanyl is a high-powered opioid that just a pin-drop size could kill somebody. This isnt the fentanyl that you can get from your doctor if youve got pain from cancer. ... So what were seeing is that people who are ODing on fentanyl really dont know that what theyre getting is fentanyl. So they think theyre getting an oxycodone off the street and it has fentanyl in it, or theyre getting cocaine or heroin and its got fentanyl in it.

DHEC reports that drug overdoses are the leading cause of accidental death in the nation.

Williams shared some signs of opioid overdose with the class, including breathing problems ranging from slow/shallow breathing to no breathing, constricted pupils and cyanosis, or a bluish discoloration of the skin resulting from poor circulation or inadequate oxygenation of the blood.

If you have to chase the person down to give them Narcan, they are not a candidate for Narcan, Williams said.

Orangeburg County Sheriff Leroy Ravenell said, Theres no doubt this training is definitely needed. The training that weve had so far from Mike and those over there has been helpful.

Certain things like this kind of take law enforcement out of really what we actually go to the academy and train to do. ... Im just glad that this training is being offered because it has saved lives here in Orangeburg County, Ravenell said.

Sheriffs Office Cpl. Toni Bradley, who once had to administer Narcan twice to revive a woman who had ODd, said the training is needed.

Its very necessary, and it is making a difference, she said.

Law enforcement officers are often the first ones on the scene of an overdose.

Without an officers training in the use of Narcan, theres no telling what state that person would be in, Bradley said.

Calhoun County Sheriff Thomas Summers said, I sent some officers over there for the training. We havent had Narcan up until then, and were getting it now. Weve certainly seen an increase in opioid abuse. Thats why we went on and took the training and are getting the Narcan.

Summers continued, I absolutely think its needed. I think with the opioid abuse like it is, I think its almost a necessity that these officers be trained on how to use Narcan and have it readily available. Im very appreciative of the training.

While Calhoun County hasnt had an overwhelming amount of overdoses, theres certainly an increase in opioid abuse, he said.

We can tell that, but Im hoping that we can maybe save some lives with this Narcan. Thats my hope, Summers said.

Ravenell said he has seen an increase in opioid overdoses in the county.

Before, you heard about it other places and other states and different things, but right now its right here in Orangeburg. One of our deputies had to administer (Narcan) on a lady and it actually saved her life. I think it had to be administered twice. The Sheriffs Association is working with the governors taskforce trying to get a handle on this, he said.

Bamberg Police Chief James Smoak said some of his officers attended the Feb. 17 training. He said it didnt take long for his departments use of Narcan to increase from the time it was first used in early 2021.

When we first got the Narcan, nothing, and then all of a sudden, maybe a month or two later, we were spraying it like mosquito spray, he said.

One of our officers that retired last year used Narcan on this one guy twice within a weeks time. That young man is still around today. Then there was a young lady on the south end of town who ended up falling under the effect of an opioid and another officer who was prior EMS gave her Narcan and she survived, Smoak said.

He said he is appreciative of the Narcan training and hopes that survivors have a chance to work on their addiction or whatever else may have driven them to opioid use.

Williams said, One of the key things with the collaboration with the Tri-County Commission is that if we go out there and we deploy Narcan in the field, we can actually give that individual the Tri-County Commissions information.

Tri-County can be reached by phone at 803-534-2328.

Included under its umbrella are the following offices:

 Dawn Center, 910 Cook Road, Orangeburg  803-536-4900

 William J. McCord Adolescent Treatment Facility, 910 Cook Road, Orangeburg  803-534-2328

 Michael C. Watson Facility, 2549 Main Highway, Bamberg  803-245-4360

 Santee Facility, 2247 State Park Road, Santee  803-854-7049.

For more information about DHECs LEON and ROLL programs, contact Kenny Polson by phone at 803-429-9636 or email at polsonkb@dhec.sc.gov.

Contact the writer: dgleaton@timesanddemocrat.com or 803-533-5534. Follow "Good News with Gleaton" on Twitter at @DionneTandD.

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On Tuesday, Feb. 22, President George Washington was honored on his 290th birth date.

The Battle of Eutaw Springs Chapter of the S.C. Society Sons of the American Revolution held an observance in the Pioneer Cemetery and Orangeburg County Historical Society grounds in Orangeburg.

Compatriot and Chapter President William Suggs welcomed the attendees.

Col. Bill Connor (Ret.) and a past president of the chapter gave an address on Washington the man, his faith and his enduring words of wisdom.

Chapter member David Rast closed the ceremony with a prayer authored by Washington which is read every day during the wreath-laying ceremony at Washington's tomb, Mount Vernon.

The Washington's Birthday observance is held annually by the Battle of Eutaw Springs Chapter SCSSAR.

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NEW ORLEANS  A South Carolina mother has traveled to New Orleans hoping to learn more about the death of her daughter, a college senior who was dropped off at a hospital by an unidentified driver after she attended suburban Carnival parades.

Police have released few details about the death the morning of Feb. 19 of Ciaya Whetstone, a 21-year-old student at the University of New Orleans. The coroner's office in New Orleans said Thursday it will be about six weeks before the investigation into the cause of her death is complete.

Whetstone's friends told The Times-Picayune/The New Orleans Advocate last month that Whetstone had been to parades in Metairie the night before she died. She had then gone out with friends before returning home to check on her dog. She then left in an Uber, saying she wanted to look for her car, according to one friend's account.

Whetstone's mother, Miranda Ferrand, of Bamberg County, said the lack of information was frustrating. She spoke at a news conference with her husband, who is Whetstone's stepfather, and her attorneys.

It has been nearly two weeks, and her mother has zero information, said Atlanta attorney L. Chris Stewart, flanked by Louisiana state Rep. Royce Duplessis and state Rep. Justin Bamberg of South Carolina. No information from the police. No information from the hospital about the cause of her death. No information from Uber about the background of this driver.

I brought her here to graduate, not to come pack her up to bury her, Ferrand said, clutching a photo of her daughter.

An emailed statement from a spokesman for the Uber ride share service, in response to a query, said Uber has removed an unidentified drivers access to its app as the investigation continues. Uber said its data showed that the Feb. 19 trip ended without incident."

No parent should have to suffer the loss of a child, and our thoughts continue to be with Ciayas family, the Uber statement said. We understand the frustration of not having answers. We are seeking answers too, which is why we proactively reached out to law enforcement to offer assistance in their investigation as soon as we were made aware of Ciayas tragic death."

Uber's statement said it remains ready and willing" to assist the law enforcement investigation, adding, We have policies in place prohibiting post-trip contact and have removed the drivers access to the app.

In a later Associated Press interview, Ferrand said she learned of her daughter's death after calling Whetstone's phone that Saturday morning. A nurse answered. The nurse, and then a doctor, began asking questions about Whetstone.

I said no, no, no ... Where's my daughter? What's going on? Is my daughter OK? Ferrand said. And she said, 'Ma'am, your daughter came in this morning unresponsive and she is not OK.' She said she dropped the phone in horror, leaving it to her brother to gather more information.

Later, Whetstone's father was told that the young woman had died.

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Coquille, OR (97420)

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Periods of rain. High 58F. Winds S at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall around a quarter of an inch..

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A steady rain in the evening. Showers continuing late. Low 52F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 80%. Rainfall near a quarter of an inch.
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Sunshine and clouds mixed. High 86F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph.

Tonight

Cloudy in the evening with scattered thunderstorms developing after midnight. Low near 65F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 40%.

Tomorrow

Thunderstorms in the morning, then partly cloudy late. A few storms may be severe. High 78F. Winds SW at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 100%.
Calendar for Chinese 24 Solar Terms: Awakening of Insects

08:50, March 05, 2022 By Zhong Wenxing, Zhang Wenjie, Xian Jiangnan, Xiang Shizhen ( People's Daily Online

The traditional Chinese lunar calendar divides the year into 24 solar terms. Awakening of Insects (Chinese: ) falls on Mar 5 and ends on Mar 20 this year.

Awakening of Insects signals a rise in temperature and increased rainfall. As the third solar term in the lunar year, its name alludes to the fact that animals sleeping in winter are awakened by spring thunder and that the earth begins to come back to life. It is the key time for spring agricultural activities.

Here are 5 things you may not know about Awakening of Insects.

Spring ploughing

The Awakening of Insects is an extremely important time for farmers and is widely seen as the beginning of the busiest time for agricultural work. During this period, most partsof China experience the quickest rise in temperatures, with the average level reaching above 10 degrees Celsius, and there is a marked increase in sunshine, which provides good natural conditions for farming.

Old Chinese sayings such as "once the Awakening of Insects comes, spring ploughing never rests" reveal the importance of this term to farmers.

Offering sacrifices to the white tiger

According to ancient Chinese folklore, a white tiger is the creature that brings quarrels and disputes. It always begins hunting during the Awakening of Insects, and sometimes bites people. It is said that those bitten by a white tiger will encounter evil villains in their life that bring obstructions and bad luck. Therefore people offer sacrifices to the white tiger during the Awakening of Insects to protect themselves.

When practicing this old custom, people draw the white tiger on paper, and then smear pig's blood and pork on its mouth. This means the tiger is fed so that it would not bite people, avoiding bad luck and conflict.

Beating "villains"

"Villain" hitting originated in the Tang Dynasty (618-907) and it's a folk ritual popular in Guangdongand Hong Kong. The custom is practiced during the Awakening of Insects to expel the "villain" and to bring good luck. People often assign a specific "witch" (usually an elderly woman) to "beat the villains". They use paper cut in the shape of humans to represent "villains" in their lives and the "witch" would use shoes or other tools to hit the paper to expel bad luck.

In Hong Kong, the Swan neck bridge between Causeway Bay and Wan Chai has become a popular place for people to beat villains.

A good time for fishing

Around the Awakening of Insects, hibernating animals wake up, and so do fish. They swim from deep water to shallow water in search of food, mating and bearing young. It is a good time for fishing.

Fishing can provide mental and physical relaxation, especially for people living in the city. Driving to the suburbs, fishing in a lake, bathing in the sunlight, enjoying the singing birds, fragrant flowers and waving willows make for a perfect weekend in spring.

Eating pears

Eating pears around the Awakening of Insects is a widely-practiced custom in China. As the weather gets warmer and the air becomes dry, people tend to feel their mouths are parched and tongues dry, which can cause colds or coughs. A pear is sweet, juicy and cold, moistening the lungs to arrest a cough. Therefore, pears are highly recommended during the Awakening of Insects.

(With input from China Daily)

(Web editor: Xian Jiangnan, Liang Jun)
Lawmakers within the state legislatures education committee voiced wide-ranging concerns over the implications of the states Sheff vs. ONeill settlement as they grilled officials representing the agreement for more than an hour during the committees public hearing Friday morning.

The Sheff settlement, reduced to its most basic form, would meet the demand for Hartford students to attend a school other than their racially segregated neighborhood school by 2028-29, and also release the state from more than three decades of litigation and court oversight.

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But lawmakers, most of whom acknowledged conditional support for racial integration, criticized what they perceived as a lack of minority representation and community input for the agreement.

Sen. Doug McCrory, a Hartford Democrat and education committee chair, said it was disappointing that Friday was the first time he had spoken to someone involved in negotiating the settlement.

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That means that our voices were not heard, said McCrory, a longtime Hartford educator. This settlement was crafted between your office and the plaintiffs, with not a lot of input  regardless of what youre going to tell me  from educators, especially educators in Hartford, and parents in Hartford.

Not one person who signed and crafted this agreement lives in Hartford, or sends their child to the Hartford Public School system, and thats sad, McCrory continued. It shows that we did not communicate enough with the people who will be hurt by this decision, impacted by the decision or benefit from this decision.

Outside of the plaintiff and our [state Department of Education commissioner], how many people of color are here representing you today? asked Rep. Antonio Felipe (D-Bridgeport). The answer, after a long pause during the Zoom hearing, was zero.

State Rep. Anthony Nolan (D-New London) asked if Hartford Public Schools or other community members were involved in drafting the settlement, or if it was decided amongst bow ties and bow ties.

Impacts for Hartford schools

Hartford Public Schools stands to be uniquely impacted by the settlement, should it be approved by the legislature, though the district was not a named party in the Sheff lawsuit.

Superintendent of School Dr. Leslie Torres-Rodriguez did at times participate in the confidential negotiations. The city of Hartford was a party in the litigation, represented by legal counsel, and joined the final settlement.

The Sheff settlement would add up to 2,737 Choice seats for Hartford students by 2028-29, or however many it takes to meet 100% of demand. It includes millions of dollars in financial incentives for suburban schools to take in more Hartford kids, and funding to expand capacity at existing magnet schools.

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The seats potentially exacerbates the districts already declining enrollment, which factors heavily in the states school funding formula. Enrollment declined from 20,893 in 2016-17 to 17,183 in 2021-22, according to state data.

Under the terms of the current Sheff agreement, Hartford Public Schools could lose between $40 million and $45 million over the next 10 years, according to the districts latest analysis of likely scenarios, Superintendent Dr. Leslie Torres-Rodriguez said in an interview this week.

Torres-Rodriguez says such a fiscal loss would worsen the districts current deficit projections, and it certainly threatens the overall financial health of our district.

A narrow goal

Joseph Rubin, Connecticuts Assistant Deputy Attorney General, urged lawmakers to accept the Sheff settlement in part to avoid turning decision-making power over to the court system.

Broader questions of education policy, Rubin said, would remain under the purview of the legislature.

The only purpose of this settlement is to resolve the states constitutional implications under this one court decision, Rubin said. It is not an attempt to tell the legislature what to do broadly about education and education finance policy.

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The Connecticut Supreme Court ruled in favor of the Sheff plaintiffs in 1996, declaring that the level of racial and ethnic segregation in Hartford schools violated the state constitution.

But some lawmakers and education advocates have argued that the factors driving the poor performance of Hartfords neighborhood schools relative to its suburban, mostly white counterparts has to do with funding, not racial segregation.

The U.S. Supreme Court rejected the separate but equal standard in Brown vs. Board of Education in 1954. Still, State Sen. Gary Winfield (D-New Haven) took issue with proximity to whiteness as a solution to Connecticuts deeply rooted inequities.

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While I think segregation is a problem, and I think that integration of people is important, not everybody who is segregated needs to be integrated in order to be successful, Winfield said. Proximity is one thing, education is another.

Theres a huge argument out there in Hartford, for example, that if you provide the resources necessary inside of Hartford, then you wouldnt have to have your children uprooted and placed in other communities, McCrory said.

Robin Cecere, the state Department of Educations division director for school choice, told lawmakers that the department does have data that shows the merits of integrated schooling on an academic basis.

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The data shows that students from Hartford who participate in either magnet schools or Open Choice, and charter schools as well, do perform better on standardized tests than their neighborhood peers, Cecere said.

The Courant has previously asked the department for this data, but a spokesperson for the department said that the data is not currently publicly viewable. The data will be included once the new version of EdSight launches in the coming months, the spokesperson said.

Editors note: This story has been updated to reflect that the city of Hartford was a party in the litigation, represented by legal counsel, and joined the final settlement.

Seamus McAvoy may be reached at smcavoy@courant.com
Unlike existing nuclear power plants in the U.S., most next-generation nuclear designs, including the one proposed for Kemmerer, require a type of fuel with only one commercial source: Russia.

Wyoming leaders have pushed TerraPower to power its facility with local uranium since the project was announced last summer. In the days after Russia invaded Ukraine, with the U.S. and its allies now looking to cut ties with the Russian energy sector in the coming years, those calls have intensified.

We shouldnt be dependent on Russia for anything, Sen. John Barrasso, R-WY, said before the state House of Representatives on Friday. America is an energy superpower. We need to continue to act like it.

On Tuesday, a proposed amendment to a bill modifying Wyomings nuclear siting requirements, which wouldve barred TerraPower from using Russian uranium in its reactor, failed in the House. A budget amendment that would give tax breaks to nuclear plants in exchange for using domestic uranium passed and was adopted, but has yet to clear the Legislature.

A few decades ago, Wyoming was one of the biggest uranium producers in the world. Its still the No. 1 uranium state. But the U.S. uranium industry is in rough shape, and establishing a domestic nuclear supply chain isnt as simple as it sounds.

Nuclear fuel production is a multi-step process. After uranium is extracted, usually through a method called in-situ leaching, it has to be processed into a concentrated powder known as yellowcake. That powder must then be enriched before it can be turned into the fuel rods used to power reactors.

While the U.S. relies primarily on uranium imported from Canada, Kazakhstan, Russia and a number of other countries, its home to plenty of uranium deposits, especially in Wyoming. It has a number of mines  though most are inactive or operating very little  and the ability to process current production.

What commercial enrichment capacity the U.S. does have is only equipped to make the fuel used in todays reactors, which contains up to 5% of the fissile isotope U-235. TerraPowers plant would use fuel enriched to about 19.5% U-235.

According to Jeff Navin, director of external affairs for TerraPower, using more highly enriched fuel boosts the reactors energy efficiency and reduces its waste.

Efforts to produce the fuel in the U.S. are gaining momentum, but commercialization is still years away. TerraPower has allocated a portion of its $2 billion Department of Energy grant in an effort to get there more quickly.

This investment was made with the knowledge that we cannot rely on unstable countries like Russia for advanced reactor fuel, Navin said in a statement emailed to the Star-Tribune on Wednesday. We knew this before the invasion of Ukraine, but Russias recent actions make this even more clear today.

TerraPower has said since summer that it hopes to use Wyoming uranium  eventually. Bound to a tight seven-year timeline mandated by Congress, its also been up-front about the limitations of sourcing the more highly enriched fuel.

There isnt time to use Wyoming uranium in this reactor, because it needs to be enriched and manufactured into fuel assemblies, TerraPower CEO Chris Levesque said during a meeting with Glenrock community leaders in June.

But in the wake of Russias invasion of Ukraine, the company has been clear: TerraPower does not want Russian HALEU in our reactor, Navin said. He said Congressional action, including funding for the Advanced Fuel Availability Program, can help ensure TerraPower has an alternative supplier in time.

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A large fire on Friday engulfed a Mills apartment complex that was under construction, resulting in a substantial property loss but no injuries, authorities said.

The blaze ignited early in the evening, producing huge flames and plumes of smoke. It took the combined efforts of all of Natrona Countys fire agencies to bring it under control.

Flames could be seen burning through the top of the structure hours after witnesses in the area said the blaze began. Crews used ladder trucks to spray water on the flames while working in the icy cold.

Parts of the building were still smoldering on Saturday morning, according to authorities.

The apartment complex, situated on the corner of Poison Spider Road and Natrona Avenue in Mills, was not yet occupied.

Authorities say they dont know yet what caused the fire. The investigation into its origins will involve Mills Police, the Mills Fire Department and Natrona County fire inspectors. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms will participate, as the complex received some federal funding.

It is still very early in the investigation, and investigators are still in the fact-collecting phase, an update posted Saturday morning on the Mills Police Facebook page states.

The fire began in the middle of the building and spread to both ends, said Mills Fire Chief Bob Lanz. At one point, fire crews on the east side began to run out of water. That temporarily allowed the fire to flare back up.

Firefighters addressed the water situation, and as of shortly after 10 p.m., crews had the fire under control, Lanz said.

In a Facebook video, Casper Fire-EMS engineer and spokesman Dane Anderson described the blaze as a very large, complex structure fire.

Units from all of Natrona Countys fire agencies responded to the blaze including the Mills Fire Department and Casper Fire-EMS. Authorities asked that the public avoid the area to allow emergency crews to work.

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Joshua Wolfson Editor Joshua Wolfson joined the Star-Tribune in 2007, covering crime and health before taking over the arts section in 2013. He also served as managing editor before being named editor in June 2017. He lives in Casper with his wife and their two kids. Follow Joshua Wolfson 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
A legislative committee on Friday decided against a budget amendment that would have stripped the University of Wyomings gender and womens studies department of all its funding.

Instead, the Wyoming Legislatures Joint Conference Committee replaced the gender studies measure with a provision that requires the university to report to two legislative panels on the schools general education requirements, as well as any policies or regulations that incentivize or disincentivize students to take certain coursework outside of their majors.

The change was truly a compromise position that was hashed out behind the scenes between House and Senate members of the committee, said Rep. Tom Walters, R-Casper. The Senate was in favor of cutting the gender studies funding while House members approached it with a hard no, he explained.

We reviewed it, discussed it, arm wrestled over it. We dont want to blow up a $2.5 billion budget over a few words, he said, in a reference to the entire state budget.

Rep. Cathy Connolly, D-Laramie, who is a professor in the gender studies program and has been advising students at UW for 29 years, said the university is not incentivizing or disincentivizing students to take certain classes.

The compromise provision also requests that the report include details on what was referred to in the committee meeting as student registration bumps or the idea that some students will get put to the front or back of lines during class registration. Why that would happen is unclear, nor is it clear that the practice exists at UW.

Ive never heard that language before, Connolly said. Im baffled at the misinformation that comes out of legislators mouths regarding the university.

The committees decision came exactly one week after the Senate approved a budget amendment by Sen. Cheri Steinmetz, R-Lingle, stripping the department of funding.

Steinmetz framed her attempt to remove the funding as an effort to stop teaching UW students to be activists. Her measure succeeded in a 16-14 vote.

The Senates vote spurred a broader conversation about the Legislatures role in deciding what should and shouldnt be taught in the states classrooms. It also raised questions about what would happen to students who were either gender studies majors or taking classes through the program.

In the last five years, the gender and womens studies department graduated 81 students. In the 2021 fall semester, there were roughly 450 students enrolled in gender and womens studies classes, including those that are cross-listed with other departments.

A mirror version of the Senate amendment was brought in the House, but it died there after the rules committee in that chamber deemed it not germane to the budget.

That discussion over what is germane has come up multiple times in the budget session as lawmakers try to prevent colleagues from effectively passing laws via the budget.

Follow state politics reporter Victoria Eavis on Twitter @Victoria_Eavis

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COVID-19 hospitalizations in Wyoming have decreased dramatically over the past month, dropping from a high of 167 patients in early February to 39 patients on Friday.

Wyoming Medical Center had eight hospitalized COVID patients as of Friday.

Were very well equipped to handle the number of patients that we have now, said Mandy Cepeda, the medical centers director of marketing and public relations.

Were excited to see a steady decline of cases, Wyoming Hospital Association President Eric Boley said. Its nice to have a reprieve.

Hospitals in Wyoming have contended with multiple spikes in hospitalizations over the past six months.

The delta variant drove an increase in Wyoming hospitalizations beginning in April, peaking first in mid-September with 233 patients and again in late October with 249 patients. Hospitalizations fell through the remainder of October and December but rose again beginning in early January following the holidays.

The most recent spike in Wyoming hospitalizations, which reached a peak in early February, was primarily driven by the omicron variant.

The World Health Organization identified omicron as a variant of concern in late November. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced on Dec. 1 the detection of the first U.S. omicron case in an individual in California. Omicron overtook the delta variant as the predominant strain in late December.

Although omicron is more transmissible than earlier strains, the symptoms are generally less severe, and the variant has comparatively produced fewer hospitalizations and deaths. Nevertheless, with the dramatic increase in cases, the variant still produced a surge in hospitalizations.

As of Friday, there were 300 confirmed active COVID cases in Wyoming, according to the Wyoming Department of Health. That number was down from roughly 2,200 patients a month ago.

But just because cases are declining doesnt mean that the battle is over.

Right now, were still on high alert, Cepeda said.

Weve learned a lot over the past couple of years, were better prepared now than we were before, Boley said. But we realize that things can turn on a dime if a new variant comes in.

Staffing is also still a challenge.

Despite the decrease in hospitalizations and COVID cases in general, Boley said Wyoming hospitals continue to experience staff shortages, a problem which he expects to last well into the future. But he said staff are gradually returning to the locations and duties where they normally work.

With the decline in cases and hospitalizations, Boley said he hopes people will begin seeking preventative care that they may have been putting off because of the pandemic.

There are probably people who are sicker now because they didnt seek care, he said.

Cepeda also said that people werent coming in for preventative care at the Wyoming Medical Center through some periods of the pandemic.

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The Pentagon Papers Case, which proceeded through the federal courts at record pace, presented the U.S. Supreme Court with a sharply drawn question of great importance to the First Amendment: Does the judiciary have authority to prohibit publication of information whose secrecy is characterized by the president as critical to the nations security?

On June 30, 1971, the Supreme Court rendered a historic decision that upheld the right of the New York Times, Washington Post and, eventually, dozens of newspapers, to publish the so-called Pentagon Papers. The Courts decision, hailed by a Times editorial for strongly affirming the guarantee of the publics right to know, opened a window onto the governments decision-making, and deceit, in the conduct of the Vietnam War.

Although the ruling represented a landmark victory for freedom of the press, it was not heralded in the form of an unlimited, absolute right of newspapers to publish governmental documents. Rather, the High Tribunals decision, delivered as a per curiam opinion  an opinion issued in the name of the court rather than an individual Justice  reminded the citizenry that prior restraint remained lawful, but only if publication represented a grave and immediate danger to the security of the United States.

The Nixon Administration had sought an injunction to prevent the newspapers from publishing the Pentagon Papers. Solicitor General Erwin Griswold, the legendary former Dean of the Harvard Law School, told the Justices that publication would be akin to Chief Justice Hughess prohibition on the sailing time of a troop vessel since it would endanger the lives of American soldiers, undermine the peace process and impair diplomatic relations with other countries whose secrets might be exposed.

The attorney for the New York Times was Alexander Bickel, an eminent constitutional law professor at Yale, who was presenting his first oral argument before the Supreme Court, indeed, his first argument before any court. Bickel contended that the Times did not assert an absolute right of publication. Rather, the administration had not met the heavy burden of proving that such harm would occur upon publication. Bickel agreed that prior restraint was the proper way to prevent the death of soldiers, but not justification for avoiding the impairment of diplomatic relations.

The Justices were divided on the legal rationales for the Courts ruling that newspapers enjoyed a First Amendment right to publish the Pentagon Papers. The common thread that linked the 6-3 majority, as the Courts per curiam opinion stated, was the governments failure to meet the heavy burden necessary to justify prior restraint. The opinion, prepared by Justice William Brennan at the request of Chief Justice Warren Burger, emphasized the Courts defense of the Free Press Clause and declared that any system of prior restraints of expression comes to this Court bearing a heavy presumption against its constitutional validity. The six Justices agreed that the administration had not met the burden of proving that publication would result in direct, immediate and irreparable damage to the United States.

The Courts resort to the use of a per curiam opinion in the case likely reflected the fact that its Term was at an end, leaving too little time for the Justices to cobble together a majority opinion before the onset of the summer recess. As it happened, each Justice wrote an opinion, but no opinion was joined by more than three Justices.

The most memorable of the opinions was that written by Justice Hugo Black who, throughout his 34-year career on the Court, had been a champion of First Amendment rights. Blacks opinion in the Pentagon Papers Case was his last. Declining health forced him to retire on September 17  Constitution Day. He suffered a stroke and died on Sept. 25. Justice Blacks beautifully written, majestic opinion was celebrated by newspapers across the nation, as an emphatic endorsement of the essential purposes of the Free Press Clause. As it happened, it was the first Supreme Court opinion that I ever read as a teenager, and it spawned a life-long love affair with the Constitution and a fascination with constitutional law.

Justice Black praised publication of the Pentagon Papers as performing precisely what the founders hoped a free press would do in fulfilling its service to the peoples right to know. The courtly Alabama Justice, in penning his swan song, wrote: And paramount among the responsibilities of a free press is the duty to prevent any part of the government from deceiving the people and sending them off to distant lands to die of foreign fevers and foreign shot and shell.

Justice Blacks words carry special weight these days as the world weeps while viewing the carnage in Ukraine, a horrific war perpetrated by a Russian tyrant who despises freedom of the press and the values of democracy. Throughout his reign of terror, Vladmir Putin has executed the very journalists who have dared to report the truth of his atrocities. What Russians desperately need at this critical hour is what some Americans take for granted: constitutional protection for the peoples right to know.

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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I am a resident of Wyoming and excited about the use of nuclear technologies in the power sector as a reasonable option for power generation and an option that assists in the reduction of carbon emissions. I am equally supportive of the US DOE fulfilling their contractual obligations in taking ownership of the existing spent fuel and disposing of it in a permanent depository (i.e., Yucca Mountain). The DOE had failed to honor its commitment since 1998 which has created an ever-growing security risk by the presence of a substantial number of temporary nuclear storage facilities across the country. With this project, spent nuclear fuel will be stored in Kemmerer.

The cost estimate provided byTerraPower and US DOE seems straightforward until you examine the sources of funding with stated limits as provided in DOEs Advanced Reactor Demonstration Program (ARDP-Funding Opportunity Number: DE-FOA-0002271). Simply, the DOE (and by extension, US taxpayers) pay for half and TerraPower matches DOE funding in a private investment. Because the total cost of the project is not yet known, funding for the ARDP program must be secured in the US Congress each year; given the political environment that currently exists, there is not an absolute certainty funding will continue. Moreover, per the way the ARDP funding rules are written, the amount earmarked for all demonstration projects is capped at a hard maximum of four billion dollars. However, a third untold financial partner exists, the rural Kemmerer community and the residents of the state of Wyoming. In time, Wyomings contributions may dwarf that of the DOE and TerraPowers financial commitments; these contributions include financial incentives listed in state legislation (i.e., HB131), county and city rewards that benefit the TerraPower over the residents of Wyoming. Unlike TerraPower, the Wyoming residents will not be given an opportunity to provide a financial limit to its contribution.

A vast majority of commercial nuclear power plants have exceeded their original cost estimates and/or completion schedules. The most recent have been the Westinghouse AP 1000 PWRs for Plant Vogtles units 3 and 4, which were estimated to be completed at the cost of fourteen billion in 2009. The projected cost has doubled to a 28.5 billion price tag as of 2021. Their construction remains ongoing beyond the initial expected completion date. The AP 1000 PWR is an advancement of existing commercialized nuclear power technology. Conversely, there is no existing commercial equivalent for TerraPowers proposed nuclear power reactor in the US.

Given the growing price tag of existing commercial nuclear technology as seen in Vogtles new reactors, it is reasonable to expect a significant cost overrun with the TerraPower project, potentially to an even higher degree. Even though the ARDP contract requires TerraPower to contribute 50% of the projects costs, the DOE (and by extension, US taxpayers) still must pay half the bill, including half of the cost of any overage. Should a cost overrun cause the ARDP program to exceed the four billion award ceiling without congress approving additional funding or should TerraPower be unable (or unwilling) to contribute any more towards the project, the project could end up like the Texas Superconducing Super Collider: a colossal costly failure.

As for the uncharacteristic aggressive schedule, former NRC commissioners have suggested that, based on their understanding of the NRCs organization and processes, it is unlikely that the agency will meet the aggressive 7-year schedule for regulatory safety and security review that includes siting, construction, and start-up operation of the plant and its fuel. To accomplish this short schedule, the NRC must undergo substantial reorganization to allow them to perform meaningful tasks more efficiently. If this is not achieved, then the only path that is available is to gut or superficially perform its safety function and oversight; this can easily be achieved given the political pressure that this project is exposed to. The latter path is unacceptable and can potentially damage the nuclear industry and the community it is intended to serve.

Wyoming has both benefited from and been harmed by boom-and-bust activities in the energy sector. The relaxation of corporate responsibilities through financial giveaways, and reduction in safety and security requirements will deepen any bust that may be felt. What Wyoming needs is a sustained commitment by TerraPower and US DOE to successfully complete this project.

Unfortunately, both parties have provided financial and time limits that will most likely cause the projects failure.

David M. Slaughter, PhD  a Wyoming resident with 30 years experience in the fields of nuclear engineering and radiation science. (Experiences include Teaching, Research, and Industrialization)

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A Barrackpore woman returned to her house in the early hours of last Saturday and found an i
New Britain States Attorney Brian Preleski is launching a pilot program to connect children who have experienced trauma with treatment options, which Preleski described as a long-term effort to lower crime.

Theres not going to be a change tomorrow in what we see happening on the street, Preleski said. What our hope is, is that five and 10 and 15 years down the road, were going to see a change by sensitizing parents and adults in these kids lives by following up with them and by connecting them to the services that they need to better cope with the trauma that theyve experienced in their communities.

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Preleski announced the initiative, known as The States Attorneys Violence Eradication and Disruptive program, or SAVED, at a recent press conference.

SAVED is modeled after the Open Doors Program in Montgomery, Alabama, which was established in 2020. It will be piloted in New Britain and its surrounding cities during the 2021-2022 fiscal year.

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The program is funded through the Division of Criminal Justices existing budget, Preleski said. John Walker, a retired police officer and senior pastor of the St. James Missionary Baptist Church, will serve as the programs violence prevention interventionist.

Walker said he wants to provide a support system for the children and foster relationships with them.

We need to impress upon them that they are loved, Walker said. They matter. They are important. We have to pour into them now so that theyll know that they are necessary for our future.

Walker said he will visit schools and homes of children who may be affected by trauma to see if he can provide different resources, whether that be counseling or various other supports the program may offer. Walker said he is particularly interested in finding out which kids are frequently truant so he can gauge whether they are in need of SAVED services.

Preleski said just because a child isnt physically hurt during violence doesnt mean they wont be affected by it. For instance, he said, children who witness shootings can be emotionally impacted even if they escape physical harm.

Theyve just witnessed an incredibly traumatic event. They have seen someone who probably they know, get shot. They may very well know the shooter, too, Preleski said.

New Britain Mayor Erin Stewart, who has been critical of the states response to juvenile crime after a teen was charged in a fatal hit-and-run that took place in New Britain last year, said the program is focused on addressing juvenile crime rates.

You cant fix the problem of repeat juvenile offenders if youre not taking [care of] it right at the beginning, targeting these students and speaking with them on the problems that they face and talking to them about how to work through it, Stewart said. This is about becoming a best version of themselves.

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New Britain Police Chief Christopher Chute said the police department knows children and young adults are frequent witnesses to traumatic events.

New Britain Police Chief Christopher Chute said the police department knows children and young adults are frequent witnesses to traumatic events. (Courant file photo) (Sofie Brandt/The Hartford Courant)

Its a daily basis that were seeing this, and being able to intervene and really get ahead of some of these issues and give these kids and adolescents coping skills so that they dont fall down the wrong path, Chute said.

Bristol Police Chief Brian Gould said the goal of the program is to help vulnerable, at-risk children before they commit crimes and wind up in the justice system.

We always say that if youre doing the same thing and not getting different results, weve got to do something different, Gould said. And thats what this program is all about.

Gould said Connecticut should be doing all it can to help local children.

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One thing we all have in common here is we all have children in our communities. We have children ourselves. Theyre our investment. Theyre our future, Gould said.

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Christina Quaranta, executive director of Connecticut Justice Alliance, said the effort speaks to prosecutors broader goal to pursue justice, which does not always mean putting someone behind bars.

Just because someone might not be on the defense side of an argument or viewed as being on your side, theyre still trying to solve  a root issue [as] to why young people might become involved in the youth or criminal legal system, Quaranta said.

Quaranta said she would like to see the program administrators define trauma broadly and understand there are many things that could be traumatic to a child. For instance, she said, children of color experience trauma just in the course of living their everyday lives.

When traumatized children grow up, they too are at risk of winding up in prison, said Quaranta.

Probably the person who is a perpetrator was also a victim at some point, Quaranta said. So I think if we could address everybodys trauma, and not pick and choose what we want to talk about, and what we want to look away from, that would be very important.

Jessica Bravo is a reporter for The Connecticut Mirror (https://ctmirror.org/ ). Copyright 2022  The Connecticut Mirror.
The installation of three new EMCO WHEATON loading arms and relocation of two existing loading arms, at Berth No. 6, Pointe a Pierre.
The issue of school violence has resurfaced with such an intensity that it has the nations 
Shoplifting has long been among the most commonly reported crimes in Tucson, but a rise in those incidents escalating into suspects yielding weapons or threatening employees has local businesses looking for help.

Tucson-area business leaders are teaming up with law enforcement and the Tucson Metro Chamber to identify ways to keep employees safe and combat shoplifting as well as internal theft and property damage issues.

The Tucson Metro Chamber launched the Coalition Against Retail Theft in January, gaining interest from 20 businesses that have joined to develop solutions, said Michael Guymon, president and CEO of the chamber.

I felt based on the information that I was getting from our members, that this would be a good time to pull our members together, in collaboration with the Pima County Attorneys Office, with the sheriffs department and with Tucson Police Department to have conversations and to come up with solutions that work to address the problem, Guymon said.

At the coalitions first meeting in February, Guymon gave businesses the opportunity to be upfront and vent about the challenges they are facing. The Pima County Attorneys Office and the Tucson Police Department were also in attendance to address the issues and talk about solutions.

Some shared how they were fearful about leaving their businesses at night and how shoplifting incidents over the past couple of years have increasingly been escalating into dangerous robberies, said Lt. Steven Simmers, the data governor for TPD.

While there are theories as to why Tucson has seen in increase in robberies, Simmers said there is no exact answer.

I dont think anybody knows exactly why that is because weve just seen an upward trend across the board and violence in all sorts of areas, Simmers said. So, this could just be a reflection of increasing violence across the cross sections.

Simmers said in the past, it was Tucson police who reached out to the business community. Now with the CART program, police got to hear the stories and the frustrations of the businesses. They were able to talk about strategies going forward and how they can help each other build good partnerships.

The reason why I was really excited is that is the exact direction as a police department we want to go in, Simmers said. We recognize at a time of limited resources, we have to partner with the community. I think this has real possibilities for producing some good results.

What I like about this conversation is that there are solutions on both sides, Guymon added. There are policy solutions that we can address, whether its, you know, policy changes that would happen at the attorneys office, or policy changes that would happen within the city or the county structure. There are also things that businesses can do on their end to address retail theft or property damage as well.

Guymon wants to continue to meet with the businesses until they develop and implement strategies to combat retail theft. They have even identified some specific meeting topics  like how store design can deter crime, strategies the city has to better handle homelessness and perspectives from security companies  and are going to address them in future meetings to produce concrete policy recommendations.

I dont see this as a permanent committee, I see this as addressing a problem and bringing members together to come up with solutions, Guymon said. When those solutions are adequately addressed, this may phase out as well, or maybe even morph into something new to address other issues that exist in the community, particularly the business community.

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0005230866-01 "El Rio is currently soliciting proposals for Medical Equipment from Medical Supply Vendors and/or Manufactures to furnish and deliver to the University Clinic. Submittal Deadline: June 10, 2022, at 5:00pm AZ Time for details, see website at https://www.elrio.org/ about-elrio/rfps/." Published May 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 2022 Arizona Daily Star

0005234763-01 ARIZONA SUPERIOR COURT, PIMA COUNTY CASE NO. C20211390 HON, LEE ANN ROADS DATED: April 04, 2022 MELANIE RENEE VILLA and EZEKIEL FRANCISCO VILAVICNCIO Petitioners ORDER CIVIL ORDER Court has reviewed the Request for Name change of a Minor Child and notes that only one Parent has consented or has been given Notice of the Request for Name Change. IT IS HEREBY ORDERED for Applicant to provide notice of the Request for Name Change of Minor Child to the other parent within 30 days from this Order. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED setting a Review Hearing on May 18, 2022 at 9:30a.m. in Division TO IT IS FURTHER ORDERED setting the hearing as a telephonic hearing the Parties may cal (520) 724-4370 at the time of the hearing. Cc: Melanie Renee Villa Rose Carmona Judicial Administrative Assistant Published April 28 and May 5, 12, 19, 2022 Arizona Daily Star

0005243181-01 ARTICLES OF ORGANIZATION OF LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY ENTITY INFORMATION ENTITY NAME: LONE SAGUARO FINE CARPENTRY LLC ENTITY ID: 23362296 ENTITY TYPE: Domestic LLC EFFECTIVE DATE: 04/18/2022 CHARACTER OF BUSINESS: Any legal purpose MANAGEMENT STRUCTURE: Member-Managed PERIOD OF DURATION: Perpetual PROFESSIONAL SERVICES: N/A STATUTORY AGENT INFORMATION STATUTORY AGENT NAME: United States Corporation Agents, Inc. PHYSICAL ADDRESS: 17470 N. Pacesetter Way, SCOTTSDALE, AZ 85255 MAILING ADDRESS: 17470 N. Pacesetter Way, SCOTTSDALE, AZ 85255 PRINCIPAL ADDRESS 10780 S Piety Hill Dr., VAIL, AZ 85641 PRINCIPALS Member: Andrew Emmanuel Muliett - 10780 S Piety Hill Dr., VAIL, AZ, USA --Date of Taking Office: ORGANIZERS Legalzoom.com, Inc.: 101 N Brand Blvd, 11th Floor, GLENDALE, CA, 91203, USA, SIGNATURES Organizer: By: Cheyenne Moseley, Asst. Secretary of Legalzoom.com, Inc., A Delaware Corporation - 04/18/2022 Published May 4, 5 and 6, 2022 Arizona Daily Star

0005235310-01 IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF ARIZONA, PIMA COUNTY In the Matter of the Estate of DEELLEN EYVONNE DICKERSON, Deceased. No. PB2022-0685. NOTICE TO CREDITORS BY PUBLICATION Notice is given to all creditors of the Estate: 1. Arthur L. Hoffman has been appointed as Personal Representative of the Estate. 2. Claims against the Estate must be presented within four months after the date of the first publication of this notice or be forever barred. 3. Claims must be presented by delivering or mailing a written statement of the claim to the Personal Representative, Arthur L. Hoffman at 97 W Calle las Tunas, Sahuarita, AZ 85629. Published April 28 and May 5, 12, 2022 Arizona Daily Star

0005234280-01 Opportunity to Comment on the Wedgetail Exploration Drilling Project The Coronado National Forest, Santa Catalina Ranger District, is preparing a scoping statement for the Wedgetail Exploration Drilling project (WED). The proposed WED project is designed to locate and delineate locatable mineral deposits, specifically by exploration drilling on National Forest System lands. The WED project proposes exploration work only, including drilling. No mining, milling, or permanent facilities are being proposed. The proposed action includes eleven drill sites and associated sumps and is expected to be completed in no longer than 12 months, including reclamation. The first 2 to 3 weeks of the project are required for road improvement and construction of 1,000 feet of temporary road. Drilling would occur during the following 9 to 10 months. The final two months are reserved for reclamation activities. The proposed project area is located 30 miles northeast of Tucson, Arizona, in the Santa Catalina Mountains in Pima County. The scoping statement, Plan of Operations, and supporting documentation are available online at: http://www.fs.fed. us/nepa/nepa_project_exp.php?project=62051. Additional information regarding this action can be obtained from: Deborah Bradley, Geologist and Project Lead, at deborah.bradley@usda.gov or 520-388-8345. How to Comment and Timeframe The Coronado National Forest values public input on the proposed project and the scope of this environmental review. If you have comments, questions, or concerns, we would like to hear from you. Comments should be within the scope of the proposed action, have a direct relationship to the proposed action, and must include supporting reasons for the Responsible Official to consider. Specific written comments on the proposed project will be accepted for 30 calendar days following publication of this notice in the Arizona Daily Star. If the comment period ends on a Saturday, Sunday, or Federal holiday, comments will be accepted until the end of the next Federal working day. The publication date in the newspaper of record is the exclusive means for calculating the scoping period. Those wishing to comment should not rely upon dates or timeframe information provided by any other source. Electronic comments including attachments should be submitted using the Public Comment Form at https://cara.fs2c.usda.gov/ Public//CommentInput? Project=62051. Specific written comments may also be submitted via mail or in person (Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., excluding holidays) to: Coronado National Forest, Santa Catalina District Ranger, c/o Deborah Bradley, 300 West Congress Street, Tucson, AZ 85701. Names and contact information submitted with comments will become part of the public record and may be released under the Freedom of Information Act. The final decision memorandum will be posted to the project webpage listed above. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender. Published May 5, 2022 Arizona Daily Star
Tucson recently hired a big-name consulting firm at a cost of $400,000 to craft its Climate Action Plan, a strategy to make the city more environmentally friendly that includes goals such as reaching carbon neutrality by 2030 and becoming zero waste by 2050.

Officials are largely aligned in their desire to combat climate change through efforts like planting more trees and making city buses electric. But while they share similar end goals, council members are divided on Tucsons most recent move.

Mayor Regina Romero said the new consultant was needed to create an all-encompassing climate strategy and move away from the piecemeal approach the city has been taking. The United Kingdom-based firm, called Buro Happold, has done similar work in major cities like New York and is expected to craft a detailed action plan for Tucson in nine months.

Everything put together is much more comprehensive than piecemealing. Thats why we havent been able to advance, Romero said. Now that we have selected (a firm) thats nationally known for their work, theyre going to be able to move as quickly as possible.

Other officials, like Councilman Steve Kozachik, are questioning why Tucson would hire an expensive consultant to identify more initiatives when earlier efforts  like natural gas and glass reuse programs  have yet to get off the ground.

My sense is, why dont we start doing some of the things that weve already identified before we pay these guys $400,000 to come in and tell us what they think we ought to be doing? Kozachik said. Were just operating at the pace of government.

Regardless of the divisions, it wont be clear whether the plan is an expensive coffee table book or a workable blueprint for the citys climate efforts until its finalized in December. Tucson will still have to execute the plan after that, so it will likely be a while before residents know if they got their moneys worth.

The plan and its price tag

The council vowed to create the action plan two years ago after declaring a climate emergency and setting aside about $250,000 to fund its development.

Last week, officials announced they will instead spend about $400,000  or 60% more than was allocated  for Buro Happold to put the strategy together.

Kozachik said the spending hike was one of his concerns and that the council wasnt aware of the cost until after the firm was hired. Other council members like Paul Cunningham were also worried that it may not be worth the price tag given lackluster results from consultants in the past.

They walk in the door $150,000 over budget, Kozachik said. Im not inclined to pay $400,000 for some coffee table book.

Still, Cunningham said he is cautiously optimistic about hiring the firm because of its national experience. He and Romero both believe the cost  while expensive  is not too high considering the broad scope of work required, which was underestimated in 2020.

The plans development will involve emissions data and economic analyses, as well as extensive public outreach to choose the most cost-effective climate route for Tucson. Officials said it will focus on equity, meaning the costs and benefits will be distributed so they positively impact vulnerable residents  like those who work outdoors and are most affected by climate change.

Buro Happold is teaming up with local groups, like Living Streets Alliance, to conduct public surveys in Spanish and open pop-up stands in the community where busy Tucsonans can quickly give input.

The University of Arizona is also working with the firm to look at emissions data and identify where Tucson can cut down, and Autocase  an economic consultant  will be on the development team to study the economic impact of the plan before its drafted this fall.

If we wanted to do something like this, we would need to hire about six people and spend more than a year putting it together to be able to get the same product that were receiving with the ($400,000) by the end of this year., Romero said about why the plan wasnt developed in-house. Its about time and expertise.

Past efforts slow to work

While the price hike raised eyebrows, the citys past inaction on earlier climate efforts created the bulk of the concern for Kozachik who mentioned Tucsons 2-year-old glass reuse program that hasnt moved down the field, a renewable fuel effort that the city has done nothing about, and three other similar initiatives that he said have yet to get off the ground.

We hire a landscape person and continue to butcher more trees than were planting out in the community and our rainwater harvesting ordinance is an admitted embarrassment because were not enforcing it, he said. So, if we spend $400,000 it better be more than a coffee table book because those are very specific examples of things we should have been doing all along and we havent advanced the ball down the field a bit.

Tucsons completed efforts include policies that incentivize electric cars and generate money for new stormwater infrastructure, though much of the citys climate action to date has involved public outreach and planning rather than executing specific initiatives.

Natural gas recapturing at the Los Reales Sustainability Campus  a landfill where the city plans to use emitted methane as renewable fuel  still only consists of a conceptual framework after more than eight months, for example.

Other efforts like Tucson Million Trees, an initiative to plant that many trees by 2030, have inched along slowly. About 40,000 trees have been planted since April 2020, a rate that suggests Tucson wont reach its goal until the year 2068.

We all want to move to the speed of light. But what I do want to say is that it takes time, Romero said. As fast as we want to move, there are processes that have to be taken. For example, even though we budgeted for our climate action plan in 2020, we have to go through processes like requests for proposals, (as well as) the process of selection that is made up of city employees and citizens who contribute. It takes time to get something done right.

City officials and experts said the pandemic was a major barrier to climate action over the past two years. Romero added that the city had to internally shift priorities to prepare for future climate initiatives during that time, as well.

In the last two years, the mentality and culture have had to shift on the part of department directors and their administrators because now they have a climate mayor, said Romero, who is part of a national network of mayors who have committed to climate change reforms. They have a mayor who believes in this and a council that is 100% ready to go, champing at the bit to get things done, so the priorities have had to shift.

Its unclear whether the pace will pick up now that the pandemic is waning and city departments have reorganized to focus on climate efforts, however.

The lack of widespread success with earlier initiatives  which Romero called tiny compared to whats expected from the action plan  leaves residents with no solid track record to show that Tucson will be able to fully implement the pricey new strategy, assuming it proves to be as workable as officials hope.

Im cautiously optimistic (Buro Happold) is going to give us something tangible and there is some value here, but the value doesnt come automatically. They have to earn it, Cunningham said. Im very concerned about whether were going to get tangible results, but the qualifications of the consultant check out and we do need some assistance in focusing our efforts so these initiatives weve been working on actually get done.

Grant money

Romero echoed Cunninghams sentiment that the new plan might help Tucson follow through on some of the earlier initiatives. The idea is that it might pull the pieces together and create a step-by-step guide that will make the overall climate approach more cohesive.

The plan may also open the door for extra money to fund certain high-dollar initiatives, according to Diana Liverman, a regents professor at the UA who specializes in climate solutions and sits on the mayors climate action committee

In a couple of California (cities), because they had a strong climate action plan, they were able to use that to request federal funds to help implement it or funds from the state, said Liverman, whose focus has been on climate change policy nationally. So, sometimes, youre not going to get help if you dont have a pretty good plan.

Tucsons plan to transition its bus fleet to electric vehicles is one example of an initiative in need of outside funding.

So far, the city has only purchased nine e-buses for the transit system, which is about 4% of Tucsons 237 bus fleet. Romero admits that figure is small and said its just the beginning, but added that the city needs money to make it happen.

Weve started with the nine buses, but it is the beginning of what we feel is going to be very impactful because transportation vehicles are 30% of greenhouse gas emissions in our city, Romero said. The responsibility of the city of Tucson is to make sure that we find the funding to make all of those recommendations possible. When it comes to funding initiatives we have to make sure that we do it in the context of our budget and any grants we can apply for.

The answer to whether the climate action plan is a worthwhile investment for Tucsonans will become clear once its finalized in December.

In addition to giving feedback during the development process, residents will be able to give input during public hearings before the council votes to adopt the strategy.

Reporter Sam Kmack covers local government. Contact him at skmack@tucson.com.

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Back in 2018 I wrote a column about a local man named Michael Lewis Arthur Meyer headlined, Nobody is stopping activists intimidation, vigilante tactics.

That could be the headline again today.

Same guy, same rejection of the legal system, same claim to answer only to God. Now, though, he has a few more criminal convictions and a new focus for his zeal. Once again, nobody is stopping him.

Years ago, Meyer moved on from running a homeless camp to discovering an imagined child-sex camp in Tucson and trafficking trails in Marana. Then he began stopping people crossing the Mexican border near Sasabe. Now hes hiding a woman and child from a custody case in Idaho.

Meyer, who is better known as Lewis Arthur (or Screwy Louie to his detractors), says he has put the woman and boy, Sarah and River Stanley, in a safe house, although the boys father was awarded full custody Feb. 17.

River Stanley is safe, and he has a loving mother, and no one has the authority to take her parental rights away from her, Meyer said in a March 2 video. No one  not a judge, not a family court, definitely not this globalist government.

This is much the same sort of rhetoric that came into the local publics consciousness in 2018, when Meyer claimed to find a homeless camp on the southwest side that had been used as a child-sex-trafficking site. It was not actually a child-sex-trafficking camp, but the claim helped him gain thousands of online followers who supported his operation by sending gift cards.

That year is when Meyer made the break from operating a homeless camp on a parking lot across the street from Santa Rita Park in Tucson, and dedicated himself to what he describes as fighting child sex trafficking across the Mexican border.

That year he also demonstrated his ongoing disregard for the system. He skipped a trial in which he was a defendant  he was tried and convicted of assault in absentia in Tucson City Court in July 2018 for pepper-spraying somebody in Santa Rita Park.

The reason for his absence, he told me yesterday: He was in a tower near the supposed child-sex-trafficking site securing the scene.

Skipped sentencing

Meyer spent months in jail in 2019, after being charged with felony criminal trespass at a Marana-area property. Eventually he was convicted of a misdemeanor in that case and sentenced to a year of probation.

Over subsequent months and years, Meyer became focused on the water stations maintained by Humane Borders, and he damaged some of them. His argument was that Humane Borders and other humanitarian groups were facilitating child-sex-trafficking and collaborating with cartels by putting out water. He claims Border Patrol agents told him which ones to sabotage.

Obviously, thats not the mission of these groups. Humane Borders and other humanitarian groups in Southern Arizona work to keep people from dying when they cross the borderlands, especially in the summer, by putting out water bottles or maintaining semi-permanent water stations.

Hes probably destroyed $6,500 worth of Humane Borders equipment, most of which is paid for by Pima County, i.e. taxpayers, said Joel Smith, Meyers longtime nemesis at Humane Borders. He claims everybody is a child molester. If you dont like him, youre a child molester.

In fact, Meyer was tried in December 2021 on charges related to the destruction of water stations in 2019, and convicted of four counts of criminal damage and one count of trespassing  all misdemeanors. When it came time for sentencing in January, though, he didnt show up.

Justice of the Peace Erica Cornejo issued an arrest warrant Jan. 14, but nobody has picked him up yet. In general misdemeanor or bench warrants are not a high priority, and deputies execute them only when they encounter a person for some other reason, Pima County Sheriffs Department spokesman James Allerton told me.

Fines for contempt

So, even as Meyer has regularly broadcast his activities at the border near Sasabe on social media, claiming to be rescuing migrant children from sex traffickers, no authorities appear to have made him their business. Instead, hes had steady visitors from outside the area, camping near the border and stopping groups of people as they cross through gaps in the border fence, handing some blankets, backpacks and Bibles.

One of the recent visitors was Ron Watkins, the man who is running for the GOP nomination for Congress in Congressional District 2 and is widely suspected of being a key force behind the QAnon conspiracy theory. That is the baseless theory that powerful Democrats, the Deep State and globalists are satanists running worldwide child-trafficking rings.

Meyer has convinced followers that the children crossing the border are being sex-trafficked or suffering other unspeakable horrors. While some sex trafficking undoubtedly does occur at the border, whats happening now is a continuation of years of migration for the usual social reasons  poverty, crime, broken families and the relative ease for children to stay in the United States once theyve crossed the border.

At the same time all of this has been going on, Pima County has also been suing Meyer for violating zoning restrictions by putting up unpermitted tent structures on a property he owns near Three Points. On May 24 last year, Pima County Superior Court Judge Kellie Johnson ordered Meyer to bring the property into compliance.

Inspectors repeatedly visited, found he hadnt done so, and reported back to the court. On Feb. 18, Johnson found Meyer in contempt of court and ordered him to pay $20 per day until he brings the property into compliance. Thats about $300 so far, no end in sight.

Stopping bioweapon injection

With all this history of ignoring or defying the courts, its perhaps not surprising that Meyer recently inserted himself into the custody dispute, denouncing and even vaguely threatening judges, attorneys and others involved in the case.

It involves a father living in Seattle, Gary Lee Jennings, and a mother from Idaho, Sarah Stanley, currently living in an unknown location that Meyer claims is one of his dozens of safe houses his group maintains around the country. Jennings has pursued some form of custody through the courts, and Stanley eventually allied herself with Meyer.

Meyer and I have a long history now, and he doesnt seem to like me, because I dont believe much of what he says and have criticized him in the past. But we talked Friday morning by phone.

He said that he has operated safe houses for women and children for years, but whats new is that they are scattered across the United States of America.

He wouldnt say how he got involved in Stanleys case, but he has condemned everyone involved on the other side of the custody case as child predators. He has also repeatedly posted contact information for Jennings attorney, the attorneys private investigator, the judge on the case and the sheriffs department, encouraging followers to involve themselves.

Specifically, he has argued the other side wants to take the boy away from his mother so he can be vaccinated

Shes a holistic mother, he said of Stanley. Shes not vaccinated herself. She doesnt permit any vaccines or medications around her son.

In an interview about the custody case published in the East Idaho News Thursday, Meyer is quoted as saying, Were not going to let anyone inject a child with a bioweapon.

In the March 2 video, he implicitly threatened those involved in the case.

I dont want to see people hurt. But if God comes to stop you Brandon Hobbs, Laurie Gaffney, Judge Colton, Sheriff of Teton County. If the God of Abraham comes to stop you, thats final. I dont know what his wrath is. You could see you and your loves ones , he says before trailing off.

Jennings, the father, has argued Stanley has essentially joined a cult. She has inadvertently supported his argument by making filings filled with sovereign-citizen jargon, such as a Declaration of no contract with Teton County, asserting the county where the dispute is taking place a private for-profit LEGAL FICTION ENTITY.

Its no wonder people are reticent to insert themselves into this craziness. But experience has shown it doesnt go away on its own.

Contact columnist Tim Steller at tsteller@tucson.com or 520-807-7789. On Twitter: @senyorreporter

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Democratic lawmakers are seeking to keep COVID-19 voting rules in place for the November election.

Senate Bill 184 would allow voters to obtain an absentee ballot by citing the pandemic as a reason that they cannot go to the polls in person. Such a rule was first enacted prior to the 2020 election in response to the coronavirus crisis.

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The COVID-19 pandemic is ongoing, and we simply dont know when another variant will emerge, how fast it will spread, how severe it will be, or when it will peak, Secretary of the State Denise Merrill told members of the legislatures government administration and elections committee Friday.

Voters voting in this falls elections should be allowed to choose to vote by absentee ballot if they desire and should not be forced into a potential choice between their health and their right to vote," Merrill said.

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But during a lengthy hearing on the bill Friday, some Republicans expressed opposition to the measure. Rep. Gale Mastrofrancesco, R-Wolcott, said she views the bill as an end-run around the state Constitution, which stipulates absentee ballots can only be obtained under certain conditions. A constitutional amendment to allow for no-excuse absentee ballots could come before the voters in 2024.

We are just kind of creating no-excuse absentee ballot[s]," Mastrofrancesco said.

Fridays public hearing drew dozens of people, many of whom waited on Zoom for hours to speak about the proposal.

We all want to put COVID behind us and get back to normal, said Aaron Goode, a member of the New Haven Votes coalition. But we dont know if or when there will be another variant thats going to upend our plans. For many Connecticut residents who are immunocompromised, there is no new normal and there wont be. SB 184 is a way of showing you care about our brothers and sisters who are in those high-risk groups and its a contingency plan for the rest of us.

Opponents of the measure said they are worried that an increase in absentee balloting could lead to voter fraud, despite offering no proof. The COVID-19 pandemic is clearly over by public health data, and hospitalization rates, Linda Dalessio, a nurse practitioner from Wolcott, told the committee. Connecticut does not have specific checks and balances in place that would protect against voter fraud.

The committee is expected to vote on the measure later this month.
The House and Senate Democratic majorities diverged sharply and awkwardly this week on questions of COVID-19 and public access to a state Capitol that has been largely closed for nearly two years.

At the order of House Speaker Matt Ritter, D-Hartford, and with the support of House Minority Leader Vincent J. Candelora, R-North Branford, lobbyists and other petitioners once again could make their cases to House members.

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The second floor of the Capitol, where the House resides, was open and its hallways lined by lobbyists, representatives of unions and non-profits, and one woman handing out flyers opposed to legalizing assisted suicide.

The building functions better when people are there to provide information, Ritter said.

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The third-floor home of the Senate was closed and its halls museum-quiet, a rule that pairs of blazer-clad security officers enforced from landings at the midpoint of stairways between the floors.

We are now seeing, in my opinion, an absurdity, Candelora said. This process is the peoples business, and we need to go beyond Zooming and allow for the discussion and conversation in person we had in the past.

FILE - Connecticut House Minority Leader Vincent Candelora, R-North Branford, speaks during opening session at the State Capitol, Wednesday, Feb. 9, 2022, in Hartford, Conn. (Jessica Hill/AP)

Following the latest guidance of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the House made the wearing of masks optional in the chamber. But with the Senate in disagreement, masks were required in all public spaces outside the chamber.

There was no visible partisan divide on masks in the House on Wednesday. Only a few lawmakers wore them, including one whose immune system is compromised by a kidney transplant.

Upstairs, Senate President Pro Tem Martin M. Looney, D-New Haven, said the continued precautions reflect the consensus of the Senate Democratic majority caucus.

One member tested positive after the opening day of the session on Feb. 9 and another this week, he said.

Our primary concern is trying to do everything we can to make sure we dont go off the rails with an outbreak of illness, because we have a very finite amount of time in order to get through the session. Were three weeks into a 12-week session, Looney said.

The Senate is not alone in requiring masks: Stores still are free to require them, though there is no statewide mandate and few local ones.

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I think its prudent to wear masks, Looney said. We have run into problems in the past when we have underestimated this disease.

But the differing rules on public access on different floors may be unique.

The public is free to traverse the 1st and 2nd floors, where House leaders, Gov. Ned Lamont, Secretary of the State Denise Merrill and the state auditors of public accounts have offices.

In the Legislative Office Building, the cafeteria is reopening, providing not only food but a gathering place. Public hearings still are conducted by Zoom, but committee meetings now can be held in person at the discretion of the chairs.

I agree with what the House did, said Senate Minority Leader Kevin Kelly, R-Stratford. Its time. The people need to be back in the building. The process needs to open itself up.

Looney and Ritter held a joint in-person press conference Wednesday on the first floor on their shared support of expanding the Earned Income Tax Credit, but they remain at odds on COVID precautions.

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Ritter said he and Looney remain on cordial terms, despite the Upstairs, Downstairs dynamic.

Marty and I have a very strong relationship, Ritter said.

Mark Pazniokas is a reporter for The Connecticut Mirror (https://ctmirror.org/ ). Copyright 2022  The Connecticut Mirror.
Andrew and Oksana Boyko dont really like the word refugees.

The owners of Cowetas hip, new coffee shop in the Broadway district moved from Ukraine to Seattle when they were six and five years old. Washington State is where they were raised. They later made the trek to Oklahoma to start a family.

How much do you really remember when you are five and six years old?

We were taken out of Ukraine and all of a sudden we were in the U.S., Andrew said Thursday evening at an organized prayer vigil at the coffee shop. By nationality though, we are Ukrainian.

In the midst of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, the Boykos expressed a mix of emotions to dozens of people, from near and far in a time designated for prayer and worship at the shop.

We dont know what tomorrow brings, Oksana said. Andrew and I havent been back since we left. We dont know if well ever be able to bring the boys there.

Andrew explained that people in the community are asking him, Whats going on in Ukraine? Truthfully, hed respond, I really dont know amid the convolution of differing stories.

But the Boykos do know one thing for certain: their Christian faith and relationship with God and Jesus have never been stronger. It was clearly shown Thursday, thanks to a handful of prayers from the Boykos themselves, local pastors and the community as one.

Since they opened Wild Child Coffee Co. in 2021, 25 percent of their proceeds have gone to Christian Mission EBENEZER to help Ukrainians. They have even received heartwarming messages back from Ukranian orphans and widows theyve assisted via the donations.

Christian Mission EBENEZER was established in 1999 by a family that sponsored missionaries in Ukraine, according to their website. Now, the organization is working in full force to provide help to those who need it most amid the crisis.

The Boykos encourage anyone looking for a way to help to use that organization as a means of giving. The website is cmebenezer.com. If youre unable to donate, the organization encourages a continuation of prayers.

Thursdays prayer vigil was well attended  and at times it was spilling out the door. People, young and old, from near and far, sang, prayed, hugged and cried together over coffee and tea. They didnt only pray for Ukraine, but for Russia, as well. They prayed for believers and non-believers.

There is a spiritual and physical battle going on right now. Andrew said.

Like many people, the Boykos said they did not see this coming, and they can only hope for the crisis to cease. Thankfully, in their eyes, with the help of God and Coweta America, a little bit of peace at mind is readily available.

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President Joe Biden took the White House press corps' annual gala as an opportunity to make light of the criticism he has faced in his 15 months in office. He also aimed a few barbs at his predecessor and the Republican Party. The White House Correspondents' Association dinner Saturday night ended a two-year pandemic-related hiatus even as the threat of COVID-19 loomed. Biden cracked, Just imagine if my predecessor came to this dinner this year. Now that would really have been a real coup. Biden also said he was happy to be with the only group of Americans with a lower approval rating than he has.
Oklahomans experiencing a mental health crisis will have quicker access to help when the state debuts its new 988 comprehensive crisis response line.

The crisis line, to become available July 1, will connect callers to the states new 988 Call Center, where  among other options  they will be able to talk with a crisis counselor, receive quicker access to providers or have a crisis team dispatched for an in-person intervention anywhere in the state.

The call center will have a tremendous amount of capability, said Carrie Slatton-Hodges, commissioner of the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services.

From any landline or cellphone, you can dial 988. You can just receive information, if thats what youre looking for. If you want someone to talk to  say its 2 in the morning, youre feeling a little anxious  thats an option.

Or if youre truly in the middle of a crisis, there are licensed behavioral health practitioners trained in crisis intervention who will be able to visit with you to ascertain what is going on.

If the crisis cannot be resolved by phone, mobile crisis teams will be ready to travel anywhere in the state, Slatton-Hodges said.

The two-person teams can come out to that spot, meet with the person face to face, perhaps garner family and friends support to come up with a safety plan, etc.

If they determine a higher level of care is needed, the team will be able to secure a hospital bed and provide transportation.

Officials said the call center comes at a critical time, given the mental health fallout from COVID-19.

Slatton-Hodges had just taken over as commissioner, she said, when the pandemic started two years ago.

One of the things that happened was fewer people were entering into outpatient treatment, but many more people were on the crisis side, she said. Our crisis call numbers showing up at our hospital doors, at our crisis unit doors, just exploded.

Another feature of the call line will be faster access to provider appointments, which too often can take weeks.

Well be able to book that person with a next-day or same-day appointment right there while theyre on the line, Slatton-Hodges said.

So say we were having a crisis situation. We have worked through that and resolved it. I can have you an appointment with your local provider at 5 oclock that afternoon or 8 oclock the next morning.

The quick turnaround is possible through the departments contract with various mental health centers, she said.

Obviously, we cannot make every provider across the state be able to see you in a rapid amount of time, Slatton-Hodges said. Just like if you call your private physician, they may give you an appointment for three weeks out. Thats just kind of the way it is.

Another important aspect of the crisis line is that every caller will receive a follow-up call, Slatton-Hodges said.

One of the big things is if you can get people engaged in care after an episode, theyre much less likely to go back into a crisis episode, she said. Thats key: engagement in ongoing follow-up care. So we will do follow up and outreach after each call.

Featured video: Mental health disorders rise among people who have been infected with COVID-19

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The first confirmed case of COVID-19 in Oklahoma was announced by top state and local officials two years ago in a media briefing at the Tulsa Health Department.

In that moment, it was difficult to project what might follow. In some respects, that remains true today.

The path toward COVID becoming endemic  meaning it lives within the population but cant transmit unchecked because a certain level of broad immunity exists  is inexorably tied to whether a new variant emerges.

Still, safe and effective vaccines and treatments are widely available now, and much more is understood about the novel coronavirus.

Since that first case in Tulsa on March 6, 2020, more than 14,700 people in Oklahoma have died from COVID-19. More than 1 million cases have been confirmed in the state.

Dr. Dale Bratzler put it in simple terms last week: On average, COVID has killed 20 Oklahomans per day for two years. There have been about 1,410 new cases per day on average in that span.

The numbers are really staggering, he said.

Bratzler is the University of Oklahomas chief COVID officer and one of many health leaders who have regularly dispensed important information to the public about the pandemics evolution.

Stealth omicron  a subvariant of omicron that is more transmissible than its relative  accounted for 8.3% of new cases in the U.S. for the week ending Feb. 26, according to the latest federal data. That is up from 4.4%, 2.0% and 0.9% in the preceding weeks.

Bratzler noted that while stealth omicron has been spreading in Europe, it doesnt seem to be taking over in the U.S.  at least not yet. Cases here are still rapidly falling.

Large chunks of the world have lower vaccination rates, he said, and that is an opportunity for the virus to churn out another variant that sweeps across the globe.

I think wed be foolish to say that this is over right now, Bratzler said.

Oklahoma stayed in the high or substantial transmission categories for COVID-19 spread for three-fourths of 2021, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Preventions definitions and data.

Moderate levels persisted for nearly three months  mid-April to early July  until the delta variant swooped in and overwhelmed hospitals again.

Oklahoma never made it to what CDC considers to be a low level of transmission. The state has been in the high category since late July.

Dr. Mary Clarke, president of the Oklahoma State Medical Association, said the population has protection from vaccination coupled with natural immunity from the delta and omicron variants to help drive down the spread for the time being.

What concerns researchers, Clarke said, is whether stealth omicron will be circulating in large enough numbers to become the next surge as population immunity wanes.

We dont know that yet, she said.

Clarke pointed to other countries seeing stealth omicron take over, particularly Denmark, noting that 80% of its new cases are stealth omicron. She said scientists are trying to understand what is happening there.

Stealth omicron is circulating some in the U.S., including in Oklahoma, so scientists are eyeing what COVID trends might do in the next three to five months here, she said.

Theres no predictability on this, and theres no crystal ball, Clarke said.

The Tulsa Health Department has been engaged in many internal conversations about transitioning from pandemic to endemic status. Executive Director Bruce Dart said he thinks the virus is close to endemic but still in the pandemic phase.

I think once we start transitioning from that high-risk level that were currently in and we start to see that go down, I think we can have serious conversations about moving away from pandemic status and on to endemic status, Dart said.

From a public health perspective, sewage surveillance is being developed as an early warning system to detect increases of the virus in communities or municipalities faster than the testing of individuals can offer.

Jolianne Stone, the state epidemiologist, said the Oklahoma State Department of Health is working with a few partners to implement sewage surveillance to monitor COVID.

Right now in our target we have over 30 sites across Oklahoma that were looking at to be a part of this wastewater testing, she said.

Stone added that the CDC hasnt built wastewater surveillance into its metrics underpinning local masking guidance because that type of testing hasnt yet been standardized. A difficulty is that people are mobile, going from work to school to home, she said. There also are variations in how the testing is done.

OU has been leading a sewage monitoring effort in Oklahoma, beginning on its Norman campus in August 2020 and then expanding to Oklahoma City in October 2020 and Tulsa in January 2021. The latest wastewater testing data are available on its data dashboard online at sewagesurveillance.net.

Bratzler often reminds people that COVID is here to stay  especially given that the virus can be in other animals, not just humans.

A number of studies have found white-tailed deer to be very susceptible to infection by COVID, he said.

Researchers recently documented finding what they say is the first evidence of deer-to-human transmission of a COVID variant, according to a February preprint of a Canadian study that hasnt yet undergone peer review.

The variant in question is a highly divergent lineage of the virus found in white-tailed deer by a wildlife surveillance effort, according to the study. Investigation linked a human infection from white-tailed deer in the same sampling period and geographic region of November through December  hunting season  in southwestern Ontario, Canada.

The variant has 76 consensus mutations, the researchers say, including 37 that previously were associated with nonhuman animal hosts.

Bratzler emphasized that this is only one potential case but nonetheless is a kind of scary proposition.

So thats one of the things that weve been concerned about, he said. If we see animal reservoirs for this virus and the virus can continue to mutate in those animal reservoirs, is there the possibility that we will see another animal-to-human jump of this virus that may result in another variant spreading around the world?

Featured video: Evidence of omicron spilling over into wild animals has just been found

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Japanese electronics company Panasonic wants to buy land in Kansas or Oklahoma to build a multibillion-dollar factory to supply Tesla with lithium-ion batteries, according to reporting from Japan public broadcaster NHK.

The states are being considered, according to the report, because they are close to Texas, where Tesla is preparing a new electric vehicle plant.

Panasonic and Tesla have partnered for some time. Both companies operate a gigafactory outside Reno, Nevada.

Panasonic also reached an agreement in October with electric vehicle start-up Canoo to supply batteries for its lifestyle vehicle. Canoo announced last year that it plans to build a factory at the MidAmerica Industrial Park in Pryor, creating at least 1,500 jobs.

Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt, through a spokesman, declined to comment Friday on the Japanese report on plant sites.

On Feb. 22, however, he did say officials are trying to lure a huge company to eastern Oklahoma, a confirmation that followed a Kansas City Star report that said Oklahoma is battling Kansas for an electric vehicle battery factory.

The Kansas Legislature recently approved $1.2 billion in economic development incentives in an effort to bring the plant to that state.

The Oklahoma site under consideration is MidAmerica Industrial Park, according to the Star.

The Mayes County Board of Commissioners is examining whether to establish a tax increment financing district on 700 acres of undeveloped MidAmerica Industrial Park land, the Tulsa World reported last month. David Stewart, chief administrative officer of the park, projects that private investment in the TIF, if approved, would be $5 billion to $6 billion over the first five years.

Tesla and Oklahoma have a history.

Tulsa reportedly was a finalist in 2020 for the CyberTruck Gigafactory that went to Austin, Texas. Oklahomas governor said that year following Teslas decision to pick Texas that Oklahoma ultimately will be able to capitalize on its showing.

Even though we didnt come out on top for Tesla, the effort so many people put into that project will pay great dividends for our state down the road, Stitt said in August 2020. Tesla took notice with how well we worked together, and I have a feeling well be hearing from them again real soon.
At a truck stop in the northeastern Oklahoma town of Big Cabin, about a thousand people greeted truckers taking part in the Peoples Convoy, a sort of rolling demonstration against COVID-19 vaccine mandates and mask rules.

One of the people who was there took his son, telling a Tulsa World correspondent he just wanted my son to learn about freedom and liberty.

Thousands of miles to the east, other scenes are unfolding. Russian troops, tanks, trucks and aircraft plunged into Ukraine, seeking to carry out a yearslong ambition of Vladimir Putin to swallow Russias smaller neighbor and rebuild an empire of old.

Those troops got a greeting of their own. The Ukrainian military has been stubbornly resilient, inflicting heavy casualties on the invaders. Citizens are manning roadblocks and ambushing tank columns. An entertainer-turned-politician, Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, is digging in with his top aides and his troops as Kyiv is shelled and bombed.

If youve been paying any attention, youre likely familiar with the phrase Slava Ukraini, or Glory to Ukraine, and a response from Zelenskyy when he was offered U.S. assistance to flee besieged Kyiv: I need ammunition, not a ride.

This juxtaposition of patriotic expression is extreme, but telling. In both scenes, there are people seeking to uphold their freedoms. But Im wondering if the term is being misused here at home.

With the convoy, and any number of similar protests, the theme has been consistent: People dont want the government telling them they have to get vaccinated, and they dont want to be forced to wear a mask.

Generally speaking, Americans dont like being told what to do. I get that. I dont like it, either. But getting to the heart of our protests, we need to call it what it is: resistance to an inconvenience.

Masks are uncomfortable. They look funny. They muffle our speech when we talk. But thats about it.

Vaccines made our arms sore. In most cases, we had to get more than one. For the vast majority of us who got one, they made us feel dumpy for a day or two. Other than that, no big deal.

The tradeoff for subjecting ourselves to these nuisances was slowing things like illness, hospitalizations, long-term health problems and death. COVID-19 isnt Ebola, but its not the flu, either. Weve seen how disruptive the pandemic has been, and close to a million Americans have died from it.

But the nature of these precautions has been elevated by many to be an assault on basic freedoms or, worse still, part of some global plot to subjugate the population and turn us into Marxists. If that sounds silly, its because it is. But millions of our fellow citizens believe it.

If you want to know what an assault on freedom looks like in America, let me give you a few examples.

When an entire race of people lived in slavery for centuries, that was an attack on their freedoms.

When Indigenous peoples were forced out of their homelands and marched across the country, that was an attack on their freedoms.

When Americans of Japanese descent were evicted from their homes and forced to live in internment camps, that was an attack on their freedoms.

People have been denied their rights to vote, go to school or buy homes in our not-too-distant past.

I could go on, but theres not enough space here for that sort of detail. Instead, we can look to how well  or how poorly  weve addressed these very real and consequential violations of Americans rights.

In the cases where wrongs were made right, a good number of people paid a steep price for victory. Some paid with their lives.

Where unaddressed, affected people still suffer.

And that brings me back to Ukraine. For people in that nation, the difference between freedom and subjugation is stark. One of the worlds largest militaries is on the march, trying to revoke Ukrainians freedoms with bullets, bombs and rockets.

And theyre fighting back, at great risk to their own lives. Freedom means surviving this war. A loss of freedom means, at best, living under Moscows boot heel. At worst, it means death. In this paradigm, freedom is not an obscure concept. It is concrete.

What the Ukrainians are showing us now is a master class in patriotism. There might be slogans, flag-waving and so forth, but thats just symbolism reflecting real sacrifices made for their country. Working together for the collective good is the only way Ukraine survives this war, and the people there know it.

They do it with the full knowledge that standing up to Russia could kill them.

Something that strikes me about America is that a comparative few of us understand that dilemma. Combat veterans know. Immigrants from conflict zones do, too. But the rest of us  the vast majority of us  do not. Its been a long time since an invading army spilled American blood on American soil.

Through the decades and centuries, the freedoms we enjoy have become a birthright, but that also means its been easy for most of us. We live so freely these days that even the slightest abridgement of our wants and desires is perceived as oppression.

If you find yourself there, Id recommend watching whats happening in Kyiv, in Odesa and in Kharkiv. I hope the man who took his son to see the trucker convoy does, too.

Ive got no problem protesting things the government does that you dont like. That itself is a cherished American right.

But be sure that when the word freedom comes out of your mouth, youre not elevating an annoyance to a crime. When every preference is equated to a freedom, the word loses its meaning.

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A crusade is underway at the Oklahoma Legislature to make it harder to pass citizen-led initiative petitions and legislative referendums under the guise of protecting residents from out-of-state interests.

If the reasoning is true, then lawmakers ought to ban copy-and-paste legislation that too many of them propose on behalf of out-of-state interests.

Oklahomas history is filled with examples of lawmakers ignoring the wishes of voters, who then take their grievances to a statewide vote through initiative petition.

It was a mechanism written into the state constitution in 1907 as a tool to fight special-interest control of government. Its not an easy process, and one subject to legal challenges.

A referendum from the Legislature is another path to a statewide vote on issues.

Those were used to repeal Prohibition in 1959, reform a scandalized judicial system in 1967, lower the voting age to 18 in 1971, approve pari-mutuel horse racing in 1982, allow liquor-by-the-drink in 1984, mandate legislative term limits in 1990 and pass right-to-work in 2001.

Of those, only the term limits state question received more than 60% approval.

Current proposals seek to raise the approval threshold of these state questions, including one that would require a majority of votes in two-thirds of the states counties.

In recent years, citizen-led petitions led to the expansion of Medicaid, the legalization of medical marijuana and reforms in criminal justice. Public officials have criticized those for various reasons.

Lawmakers had a chance for years to consider, write and pass laws regarding these issues. Instead, they blocked those efforts, so voters had their say.

With medical marijuana, law enforcement has struggled to keep up with illegal product sales and over-saturation of licenses. Gov. Kevin Stitt mentioned this in his State of the State address, calling the petition that put the medical marijuana question on the ballot misleading, and he blamed out-of-state groups for influencing state question elections.

Rather than adding obstacles for future citizen petitions, put effort into shoring up problems. Oklahomans knew what they wanted, so its up to lawmakers to shape the programs.

Interestingly, the nonprofit Oklahoma Watch found that 97% of the pro-medical marijuana campaign funding came from inside Oklahoma. But some others, like the failed effort to put optometrists in retail stores, received a majority of funding from outside sources.

Senate Bill 1803, which would ban out-of-state donations on these campaigns, would not have affected the marijuana vote. It also might violate free speech, as decided in the decade-old Supreme Court case Citizens United.

The latest rationale for making it hard to pass legislation through a direct vote is to stop out-of-state interests from coming into Oklahoma.

OK. Then stop proposing copycat legislation  which are word-for-word bills introduced in multiple states legislatures  written by special interest groups.

A national investigation found at least 10,000 copycat proposals between 2011 and 2019 in all 50 states prepared by special interest groups. It was conducted by USA Today, The Arizona Republic and the Center for Public Integrity. Of those bills, at least 2,100 became law.

Another analysis found tens of thousands more bills with identical phrasing exported across state lines. Subjects of the fill-in-the-blank bills reflect every aspect of public policy, from taxation to home rentals to soda sales.

The influence of liberal, conservative and industry interests behind these identical proposals varies across states. In Oklahoma, conservative groups had far more success, followed by those with industry agendas.

Right now, Oklahoma lawmakers are carrying proposals about school choice, abortion and book banning that are being considered or passed in other states. Last years House Bill 1775, which bans so-called critical race theory in schools, has roots in conservative think-tank agendas, not Oklahoma schools.

These fly under the radar of transparency.

Unlike initiative petition campaigns, which have to disclose donors, lawmakers can carry copycat bills for donors or lobbyists without disclosing their source.

The investigation found that cut-and-paste bills often have deceptive titles or descriptions to hide intent and that groups provide experts  who travel among states  to bolster credibility during legislative hearings. Voters usually dont know where these proposals originate.

Initiative petitions and referendums have served Oklahoma well through the years. There are legal checks and mandates on campaign finance reporting.

Lawmakers ought to leave citizen-led and legislative referendums alone and focus on Oklahoma problems instead of national agendas.

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Tulsans woke up to haze Friday, and a fire-conditions forecast shows more of the same on Saturday until some rain is expected following a cold front.

According to the National Weather Service in Tulsa, the fire danger continues Saturday in much of Oklahoma west of Tulsa.

"Saturday we're expecting (fire-spreading) rates to really climb, potentially an excess of 300 feet per minute here in Tulsa, so that's leading to a very high fire danger for tomorrow," Tulsa's National Weather Service meteorologist Tyler Snider said.

"Any outdoor burning tomorrow is strongly discouraged."

A fire-weather watch for Osage and Pawnee counties starts Saturday afternoon with 20-30 mph winds, a high of 80 degrees and low humidity.

"These conditions will allow for any fires that develop to spread rapidly," according to the National Weather Service hazardous outlook.

The National Storm Prediction Center fire outlook for Saturday shows much of Oklahoma at an elevated risk, with several western Oklahoma counties listed at critical risk.

Fire and smoke maps late Friday morning indicated that fires outside Tulsa in Osage County and in the Bartlesville, Weleetka and Tahlequah areas contributed to a haze in eastern Oklahoma skies.

Air quality in Tulsa was at unhealthy levels Friday, according to a Department of Environmental Quality report. Twenty counties, mostly in western Oklahoma, were under a burn ban.

With Saturday evening comes a small chance of precipitation; however, Sunday is when widespread rain could bring air-quality levels back to good levels, according to forecasters.

A cold front that is expected to move into the area Saturday night should stall "near or just south of the I-44 corridor by Sunday morning," the National Weather Service in Tulsa said.

Tulsa-area forecast

Saturday: A 20% chance of showers after noon. Mostly cloudy, then gradually becoming sunny, with a high near 75. Breezy, with a south wind of 15 to 20 mph increasing to 25 to 30 mph in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 40 mph.

Saturday night: Mostly clear, with a low around 45. Breezy, with a south wind of 20 to 25 mph becoming southwest at 10 to 15 mph in the evening. Winds could gust as high as 30 mph.

Sunday: A slight chance of showers, then showers and possibly a thunderstorm after noon. High near 58. North wind of 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%.

Sunday night: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 35. North wind around 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%.

Monday: Partly sunny, with a high near 46. North wind of 15 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.

Monday night: Mostly clear, with a low around 27. North wind 5 to 10 mph.

February video: Critical fire weather across 4 states

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The authorities of southern Binh Duong Province have imposed administrative fines of over VND444 million (US$19,450) in total on two fuel trading businesses for selling substandard products, according to the Ministry of Industry and Trade.

The ministrys Vietnam Directorate of Market Surveillance said on Friday that the provincial government had decided to levy a fine of nearly VND189 million ($8,274) on Chung Phat Co., Ltd. in Thu Dau Mot City and over VND256 million ($11,207) on Branch No. 2 of Vien Phuong VCORP Petrol Oil Business Co., Ltd. in Thuan An City.

Local authorities also revoked their certificates of eligibility for operating fuel retailing facilities in two months.

Earlier on January 6 this year, the provincial Market Surveillance Department teamed up with the relevant agencies to inspect the branch of the Vien Phuong VCORP, which is located in An Thanh Ward of Thuan An City in this southern province.

Suspecting the oil and gas quality at the firm, the forces took samples of RON95 gasoline there for testing.

The testing result showed that its RON95 gasolines quality was not in line with the prevailing standards.

Similarly, on January 25, the local competent forces visited the Chung Phat Company and took samples of RON95 petrol at the firm for testing.

The quality of the petroleum also failed to meet standards.

Given the volatility in fuel prices and the low supply in the local market, competent forces in many localities have inspected many fuel trading businesses and tackled their violations, especially those linked to business suspension and fuel hoarding.

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Portsmouth police are investigating a stabbing early Saturday that left a 34-year-old man with life-threatening injuries.

Eddie F. Hunter Jr. (Portsmouth Police Dept.)

Around 2:54 a.m., officers went to a local hospital after a man was found with a stab wound. Police say they later found a crime scene in the 100 block of Dale Drive.

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Police said they are seeking Eddie F. Hunter Jr., 34, in connection with the incident, saying he is wanted on charges of robbery, aggravated malicious wounding and stabbing or cutting in connection with a felony.

They said the victim is currently in stable condition.
The ongoing military conflict between Russia and Ukraine has negatively affected Vietnams export and import activities, prompting relevant ministries and enterprises to come up with suitable response plans.

The countrys exports to Russia have been obstructed due to long transport time and troublesome payment process.

Many imported goods from Russia and Ukraine, namely wheat, corn, and fertilizer, have also showed signs of low supply and surging prices.

In 2021, Vietnam exported about US$550 million worth of agricultural, forestry, and fishery products to Russia, according to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

As the conflict broke out last week, many businesses have had to halt their export activities due to transaction risks, a lack of shipping vessels, and high transport costs, and are seeking ways to offload their products or bring them to other markets.

The Vietnam Cashew Association (Vinacas) early this week sent an official dispatch to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to suggest the revision of cashew export goal in 2022 from $3.8 billion to $3.2 billion, about $400 million lower than last year.

Vinacas cited concerns over global political instabilities, including the Russia-Ukraine conflict, as a reason for its proposal.

The director of a cashew processing and exporting company in Binh Phuoc said that Russian customers have stopped placing new orders, while Vietnamese businesses are also shying away from new contracts due to potential risks.

The shipping process has become more complicated because products cannot be transported directly to Russia, while payment is also challenging after Russia was removed from SWIFT, a secure global messaging network that banks use to make cross-border payments, he explained.

Shipments to Russia now have to go through transit ports in Germany or the Netherlands, and it is also unclear when they will be carried from these ports to Russia, according to Dang Hoang Giang, secretary-general of Vinacas.

The longer transit time, the higher storage cost, Giang added.

With a turnover of $61.8 million, Russia accounted for 1.63 percent of Vietnam's total cashew export revenue in 2021.

Although Russia is not a key importer, the conflict has caused a domino effect on other markets and will affect the purchase price of raw cashew material in the country, Giang elaborated.

Bran prices climb

Bran factories in Vietnam have been looking for domestic raw material suppliers since the beginning of March as global prices have jumped wildly.

Russia and Ukraine are the two main exporters of wheat for food and animal feed production worldwide, thus the reduction of exports from these countries has affected the general prices.

Vietnam imports from Russia and Ukraine many input materials for agricultural production including wheat, maize, corn for animal feed production, and fertilizers.

Wheat imports from Russia and Ukraine account for up to 20 percent of the Southeast Asian countrys total import value.

The lack of ships and rising transport costs have forced Vietnamese importers to stop trading with Russia and switch to finding suppliers from other countries such as Australia, South America, and South Africa.

The Russia-Ukraine conflict has also caused global prices of wheat and corn to soar by 10-20 percent and fertilizer by over 20 percent.

The Vietnamese agriculture ministry said it is monitoring the situation and working with industry associations and the State Bank of Vietnam to provide necessary support for local businesses.

The agency is also working with importers of input materials to discuss solutions for price stabilization.

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Dang The Lan, a Vietnamese overseas student in Australia, came back with a passion for coffee. He provides training courses in barista skills and hopes to create a professional community for baristas in Vietnam.

The passion for coffee

Lan left for Australia at the age of 20 to pursue a major in computer and information technology.

Despite his graduation with distinction, the man switched to an entirely irrelevant business  being a barista.

It is a long story starting from his part time work.

During his early months in the land of the Kangaroo, Lan worked as a waiter at a Vietnamese restaurant.

The owner allowed him to make use of the coffee machine available there to practice his barista skills.

Lan looked up tutorial video clips on the Internet, purchased the ingredients with his own money, and conjured up his own drinks.

Over time, his confidence in the job grew. With much practice and experience from the time in Vietnam when he was working for a famous coffee shop, Lan applied to work as a barista for a coffee bar in Australia.

His first three attempts at three different places failed. Lan did not make it past the probation.

Yet, he learnt a great deal about the style of Australian coffee business, which was different from the Vietnamese way.

His fourth application was successful.

The world of coffee opened up. He earned good money only by working at weekends, which also did not interfere with his study.

Being a barista was so appealing at that time. It took me from one discovery to the next, said Lan.

I got a new perspective and got to know a lot more about coffee. The more I studied it, the more exciting it became.

My passion grew. I fell in love with the job and was deeply involved.

Passing down the flame

After three years of college and two years doing a part time job, Lan decided to come back to Vietnam.

He worked in the research and development section of a famed coffee company.

He used to test hundreds of different coffee recipes within a day, so much that it got him dizzy and vomiting.

At that time, coffee fans were discussing a lot about clean coffee, espresso and roast coffee.

Later, he set up his own coffee business.

Coffee is the predominant drink at his place, alongside others like tea and herbal drinks made from local ingredients.

Customers have the choice of the regular coffee taste, but Lan offers coffee with different aromas like strawberry, pineapple and apple.

The ingredients for these are imported from overseas at high costs.

At the same time, Lan is passing his flames to his followers. Dozens of young people have signed up for his barista training program.

Most of these people are getting ready to move to Australia for either educational or work purposes.

Lan offers a basic course of ten sessions, and an advanced program of 20 sessions, in which learners can get all the tips it takes to successfully apply for a job at a coffee shop in Australia.

This is based on Lans knowledge and experience in Australia.

Other learners simply love the art of the barista and would like to open up their own shops.

To Quyen, one of Lans employees, said: It is impressive to hear Lan talk about the discoveries he made with coffee.

He is quite a tough guy to please and rather strict at work, but the atmosphere here is cozy and friendly. We feel like a family, not like a boss and staff members.

Lans father, Dang Vinh Luom, was surprised at his sons career switch considering his major in computer. He was, however, not doubtful of Lans choice.

Once Lan asked for his fathers feedback on his coffee, to which Luom said: Its fine, but I dont like it.

The young man laughed at that comment, saying his father does not fall in his target customer group, so it was understandable that the old man did not enjoy the drink.

I trust him because he knew which road he was going and how he should be going on it. I have no intervention in his decision, but I silently observe his every step, Luom said.

I believe that the job has chosen the right person.

A dream for a professional playing field

The term barista is widely acknowledged in the world, but in Vietnam this job has not been properly defined.

Highly skilled baristas are few and far between in this Southeast Asian country.

Due to such erratic appreciation of the value they can bring, their earnings vary greatly, causing financial insecurity.

Based on the regular training courses that Lan offer, it can be seen that quite a number of young people are interested in this line of work.

A barista contest was held by Lan and others in April 2021, attracting a lot of young participants.

They were about to host another contest in Danang City and Hanoi when the COVID-19 pandemic caused their plan to collapse.

We are getting ready to relaunch that project. If everything goes well, it will be held in April in Hanoi and then in Danang, said Lan.

We hope to see the best baristas gather together in a contest in Ho Chi Minh City.

My biggest dream is to form an association of baristas in Vietnam, a body that can host professional events for in-service baristas. What can be better than that?

Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!
Check out news you should not miss today:

Society

-- Authorities in northern Binh Duong Province have imposed administration fines totaling VND445 million (US$19,483) on two oil and gas companies for selling low-quality products, according to the Ministry of Industry and Trade.

-- Police in Ha Long City, Quang Ninh Province on Friday arrested a man from Ho Chi Minh City after he attempted to rob a local bank using a backpack suspected of containing bombs.

Business

-- Gold prices soared to an all-time high of VND67.8 million ($2,968) per tael (37.5 grams) in Ho Chi Minh City on Friday.

Lifestyle

-- This year's Ho Chi Minh Ao Dai Festival will begin on Saturday evening at Nguyen Hue Pedestrian Street in District 1 and run through April 15 with a variety of activities and events honoring the country's traditional gown.

-- An ongoing exhibition titled 'Spraying Board Vietnam' featuring 40 skateboards which are turned into artworks held by the French Institute in Vietnam and Superposition Association in Lyon, France has atractted many youngsters in Ho Chi Minh City.

-- A man from Ho Chi Minh City has recently wowed netizens for his stunning painting which looks no different from a real-life bowl of pho, the iconic Vietnamese soup dish.

World News

-- Italian police have seized a yacht owned by Alexey Mordashov, the richest man in Russia, before being blacklisted this week by the European Union following Moscow's attack on Ukraine, Reuters reported on Friday.

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On behalf of the U.S. Department of Defense, U.S. Ambassador to Vietnam Marc Knapper presented 34 more ultra-cold freezers for storage of COVID-19 vaccines to the Vietnamese Ministry of Health on Friday in Ho Chi Minh City.

The handover ceremony was held at the Ho Chi Minh City Pasteur Institute on the same day.

The institute will keep six of the donated freezers and the rest will go to Military Hospital 175, Cho Ray Hospital and the Centers for Diseases Control (CDC) in 20 localities in southern Vietnam.

Each freezer can store up to 175,500 vaccine doses at the storage temperatures ranging from minus 80 to minus 20 degrees Celsius.

I was honored to hand over 34 ultra-low temperature freezers from the people of the United States to the people of Vietnam at the Pasteur Institute in Ho Chi Minh City today. These freezers will strengthen Vietnams capacity to manage COVID-19, Ambassador Knapper said at the ceremony.

The handover of these freezers reflects the spirit of support and cooperation that has animated the U.S.-Vietnam bilateral partnership over the last 26 years, the ambassador said.

With these medical freezers, the Vietnamese government will be able to store and distribute mRNA vaccines in a timely manner in the future, improving its capacity in the fight against COVID-19.

It is my sincere belief that, working together, we can overcome the difficulties imposed by the pandemic and improve the lives and livelihoods of Vietnamese people across the country, the diplomat added.

Director of the municipal Pasteur Institute Nguyen Vu Trung thanked the U.S. government for its support and highlighted the importance of such ultra-low freezers in vaccine storage and distribution.

The gift was among the 111 ultra-low temperature, medical-grade storage units that the U.S. Department of Defense had pledged to provide to Vietnam with a total value of approximately $1 million.

Seventy-seven of these freezers were handed to the health ministrys National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology in Hanoi on October 12 last year.

Besides donating such freezers, the U.S. has also been the largest donor of COVID-19 vaccines to Vietnam since the pandemic hit the country since early 2020.

With the latest shipment of 1,661,400 Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine doses arriving in Ho Chi Minh City on March 1, the U.S. has given a total of more than 26 million vaccine shots to Vietnam.

The country has so far received more than 218 million vaccine doses from different sources and have administered 196.3 million vaccine shots to people nationwide since vaccination was rolled out in March 2020.

Currently, 100 percent of the adult population of the Southeast Asian nation have received their first COVID-19 vaccine doses, while 62 among the countrys 63 cities and provinces have reached a second jab coverage rate of more than 90 percent, the ministrys data shows.

Meanwhile, 54 out of these 63 localities have reported a second dose coverage rate of over 90 percent for children aged 12 to 17.

Vietnam has so far documented 2,141,422 COVID-19 cases, with 1,804,849 recoveries and 36,719 mortalities, the ministry said.

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The Vietnamese government has approved the Ministry of Foreign Affairs proposal to repatriate Vietnamese citizens in Ukraine, where the Russia-Ukraine military confrontation has been taking place since February 24, with about 900 first people to be sent home next week.

Giving the top priority to citizen protection, the government has agreed at arranging flights to repatriate Vietnamese, people of Vietnamese origin and their family members from Ukraine at their will, the foreign ministry reported.

Initially, some 900 Vietnamese citizens will be brought home from Poland, Romania and Moldova, which borders Ukraine, the ministry said.

Currently, the ministry is coordinating with the Ministry of Transport to organize two repatriation flights, with the first to depart on March 7 in Romania and the second to take off one day later in Poland.

The government has assigned the transport ministry to take the lead charge of flight arrangement, while the Ministry of Finance has been tasked with ensuring expenditure for the flights.

All returnees will undergo COVID-19 tests upon their arrival in Vietnam and will be subject to other necessary epidemic prevention rules applied by the Ministry of Health.

The foreign ministry is continuing to coordinate with relevant agencies to evacuate Vietnamese people and their family members from dangerous areas in Ukraine to neighboring countries, and repatriate those who wish to return to Vietnam, depending on actual situations.

Earlier on February 26, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh issued a dispatch asking the transport ministry to instruct Vietnamese airlines to set up plans for transporting Vietnamese citizens and their families in Ukraine back to Vietnam.

Over the past several days, Vietnams representative offices in Ukraine and neighboring countries have coordinated with local authorities and Vietnamese associations in host countries to support Vietnamese citizens to get out of affected areas and provide them with temporary accommodations and essential necessities.

As of Friday, almost of Vietnamese citizens in Kiev and Odessa and hundreds of people in Kharkov had been evacuated to neighboring countries, the offices said.

Among the evacuated people, around 370 had arrived in Romania, 600 had come to Poland, 125 had reached Hungary, 40 had entered Slovakia, and 200 had been on the way from Moldova to Romania.

There are more than 7,000 Vietnamese citizens living in Ukraine, mainly in Kiev, Kharkiv and Odessa, according to official statistics.

In case of seeking assistance, evacuation or repatriation, Vietnamese in Ukraine and neighboring countries can contact agencies concerned at the following phone numbers: Ministry of Foreign Affairs: +84-965411118, +84-981848484; Email: baohocongdan@gmail.com Embassy of Vietnam in Ukraine: +380 (63) 8638999 Embassy of Vietnam in Russia: +79916821617 Embassy of Vietnam in Poland: 0048782257359 Embassy of Vietnam in Romania: 0040744645037 Embassy of Vietnam in Slovakia: +421 2 5245 1263, +421 915 419 568

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Tyler resident Brennett Rodseth was one of thousands to participate in the annual FRESH 15 event Saturday morning in Tyler. Rodseth entered the race as a first time runner.

Rodseth, who tackled the 15K event, said he was initially not a fan of long distance running.

I was not a long distance running fan at first and it took 10 years of being with my wife, who is an avid runner, to see the fun and competitiveness in it, Rodseth said.

Rodseth said he trained with his wife, Abby, to be prepared for the big day.

We ran a lot, probably over 35 or 40 miles a week. Some days we would cross train and bike, swim, or do the elliptical, he said. One of the hardest workouts we did was hill repeats up Dueling Oaks. I know when I see that hill there is only a few miles left.

Rodseth said he feels the event is great for the community.

I love that we have a competitive large race in Tyler, Rodseth said. It brings the whole East Texas community, companies, families and friends together for the common goal of running and to benefit a good cause.

The event included a 15K, 5K and Lil FRESHie 1K races, with courses starting and finishing at FRESH by Brookshires as well as DJs and bands.

The 2022 race brought out nearly 3,500 runners, including 24 from other states and three different countries.

BGC Racing Director Ashleigh Endicott said the event had two major goals.

The FRESH 15 is about two things  health and community. We make sure that everything about FRESH 15 is centered on our mission to create an iconic event that motivates people to become healthier, while showcasing this beautiful part of Texas. We have given more than a $1.1 million to East Texas charities in the last eight years, Endicott said.

Endicott said this years race was even better than the previous year and they are already looking to the future.

We are so incredibly thankful for the opportunity to come together for an epic day, with more than 300 volunteers and the goal to raise $150,000, she said. Every year we work to improve the race and we feel like this year is even better than previous years. We are already thinking about 2023  our 10th year. Almost a decade of making memories and changing lives.

Endicott said months of planning go into making the event what it is.

This event is important from the start to the finish. Our dedicated race staff starts with months of planning to develop an iconic race day experience for our thousands of runners, Endicott said. We finish with donating every dollar runners give to our deserving local charities. We are making a difference in individual lives with thousands of people all coming together for fun and making themselves healthier.

Since the inaugural race, 100 percent of race revenue is donated to local nonprofit organizations, with more than $1,115,000 raised since the FRESH 15 was established in 2014. The FRESH 15 is donating to 24 local organizations this year. BGC Racing hosts two races each year, the FRESH 15 and Heroes Run in Shreveport, La.

A prize purse totaling $22,000 will be awarded to top, in-person finishers within several categories for the 15K and 5K races. Current Tyler residents are eligible for the Local Legends, with cash prizes awarded to the top three male and female 15K finishers.

Due to COVID-19 race registration was limited to ensure the start and finish corrals would effectively provide needed space for runners before and after the race. Runners also benefited from participating in timed, staggered starts to further encourage social distancing.
Photo Illustration by The Daily Beast/Getty

The Ukraine crisis has led many nuclear weapons enthusiasts to say We told you so.

They claim that when Ukraine agreed to give up its Soviet-era nukes (to Russia, of all countries) the newly independent country foolishly deprived itself of a valuable deterrent. Had the leadership in Kyiv been more hard-headed and far-sighted, the argument goes, Ukraine would now be much safer.

Theyre wrong.

Nuclear deterrence is legitimized in the public mind and in official strategic discourse as a way of generating safety in the nuclear age. The reality, however, is quite different: It endangers far more than it protects. Ukrainians should be thankful, not rueful, that in addition to their current tribulations, they arent nuclear-armed.

Holocaust Memorial and TV Tower Attacked in Putins Sham Anti-Nazi War

The most frightening thing about nuclear deterrence is its many paths to failure. Heres a thought experiment: Imagine that Ukraine has nuclear weapons. Its at least possible that Vladimir Putin wouldnt have invaded that country. But its also possible that hed be more agitated (hence, dangerous) than he is presently. After all, Ukraine is adjacent to Russia, so its missiles, if launched, would take only minutes to arrive. When the Soviets installed nuclear missiles near the U.S., in Cuba, President John F. Kennedy found it intolerable and was willing to risk nuclear war to get them removed. Instead of todays conventional crisis, would we now be facing a Ukrainian Missile Crisis?

Alternatively, lets imagine that Putin refuses to be cowed by Ukraines hypothetical nukes and continues his invasion.

What would a nuclear-armed, but conventionally out-gunned Ukraine do? Increase the alert status of its nuclear weapons? Pre-load warheads on its missiles? Maybe that would deter Russia, but it is equally likely that it could induce a quick, disarming counterforce strike, attempting to remove the deterrent. The Ukrainians, in turn, might well anticipate this possibility and seek to preempt Russian preemption, whereupon Russian military strategists could be seriously tempted to preempt Ukraines preemption, leading directly toward a destabilizing spiral.

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Consider, as well, the size of Ukraines imaginary arsenal. If small, the possibility of disarming it could tempt a preemptive counterforce attack during a crisis such as the present. If large, theres a significant chance that the mere build-up to a large force had already precipitated a preemptive attack long ago.

In his speech to the Russian people on Feb. 21, just before he ordered the invasion of Ukraine, Putin devoted fully one-third of his time to a conspiracy theory, as part of his effort to justify his actions.

If Ukraine acquires weapons of mass destruction, the Russian president announced, the situation in the world and in Europe will drastically change, especially for us, for Russia. We cannot but react to this real danger, all the more so since, let me repeat, Ukraines Western patrons may help it acquire these weapons to create yet another threat to our country.

So, Putin added to his list of grievances a false claim that Ukraine might, in the future, acquire nuclear weapons, a phony justification that quickly morphed into what he described as a real threat (We cannot but react to this real danger) even though it doesnt even exist.

He went on: We clearly understand that given this scenario, the level of military threats to Russia will increase dramatically, several times over, and I would like to emphasize at this point that the risk of a sudden strike at our country will multiply.

So, even though Ukraine isn't nuclear-armed, just the misrepresentation that they might be serves, not so much as a provocation, as an excuse. Accordingly, if Ukraine really did have nukes, there is a very good chance that it would be a genuine provocation as well.

The Russian People May Be Starting to Think Putin Is Insane

Deterrence is supposed to provide stability. Instead, and especially in its nuclear manifestation, it threatens just the opposite.

Heres another scenario: Escalation to nuclear war would be a disaster for everyone, including whoever initiates it.

So, if Ukraine were nuclear-armed, Putin could plausibly assume that the Ukrainian deterrent threat lacked credibility and was a bluff. Russia might go ahead and invade as it has now done, whereupon its far superior conventional military strength would almost certainly result in a rapid advance. As the invaders approach Kyiv, or even before, it would be terrifyingly likely that Ukraine, in desperation, would use its nukes, most likely tactical battlefield weapons. At that point, just as essentially all war-games predict, it would be almost inevitable that mutual escalation would result in all-out nuclear war.

For a parallel but real situation, consider Pakistan as a stand-in for Ukraine, and India as Russias counterpart. Islamabad and New Delhi are both nuclear-armed, and it is an open secret that Pakistanwhose conventional forces are vastly under-resourced compared to Indiashas initiated protocols whereby in the event of an Indian invasion, battlefield commanders will have authority to employ nuclear weapons.

The strategic geopolitical situation involving nuclear deterrence is a complex Rubiks cube, with many moving parts. For example, it is entirely possible that Ukraines current plight will signal to Iran and South Korea (and perhaps others, such as Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and even Japan) that obtaining a nuclear arsenal would be in their interest, although many of the catastrophic scenarios outlined above would apply to them as well.

When it comes to disasters, the mere possession of nuclear weaponsallegedly for deterrenceopens up a desperately dangerous can of radioactive worms. In addition to the risks of provocation and escalation, there have been many near missessituations in which nuclear deterrence (if it ever existed) came unacceptably close to failing. (This includes the infamous 1983 Able Archer incident, in which miscommunications over a U.S. nuclear wargame conducted on the edge of Europes Iron Curtain nearly spooked the Soviet Union into believing it was under attack.)

These involved a panoply of computer errors, radar malfunctions, or miscommunicationall attributable to the presence of nuclear weapons whose alleged role was to deter, but in which leaders confidence in deterrence was so low that mutual destruction was mostly avoided by luck rather than wisdom or fear of retaliation. If Ukraine had nuclear weapons, the present crisis would almost certainly produce anxious trigger-fingers on all sides, increasing the likelihood that one such error would be the last.

This seems hardly likely to make Ukraine or the world safer. The current crisis is bad. If Ukraine had nuclear weapons, it would be even worse.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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Police detain a demonstrator during an action against Russias attack on Ukraine in St. Petersburg, Russia (AP)

Russians are fleeing the country amid fears that Vladimir Putin could impose martial law and shut the border.

EU officials fear that the Russian President could introduce emergency legislation in a bid to further crack down on protest and dissent.

Some 7,000 Russian protesters have already been arrested after demonstrating against the invasion of Ukraine, which has reportedly caused the deaths of more than 2,000 civilians since last Friday.

Under the Russian constitution, martial law can be imposed when the country is under threat of attack. It would give Mr Putin extraordinary powers, including the ability to shut the countrys borders, intern all foreigners and control food supplies.

The Kremlin would also be given the power to further tighten censorship of the media, with military commanders given control of what can and cannot be printed and broadcasted. Authorities could also shut down the internet entirely, as well as all social media apps.

However, many Russians already face difficulties leaving the country as Russian aircraft are banned from flying over large swathes of European airspace. As such, many are attempting to cross the border by car or train.

One young Russian woman fleeing the country told the BBC she was horrified by her governments actions and could not live in the country as long as it was occupying Ukrainian territory.

"People in Ukraine are our people - our family," she told the broadcaster. We shouldnt be killing them.

Meanwhile, another woman who left the country for Istanbul feared a return to the repression of the Soviet Union.

She told the broadcaster: Im 30, I havent seen the worst... the repressions, the secret police I had a very clear fear that if Im not going to fly out right now, I will not be able to fly out ever.

Another Russian man, who moved back to Moscow from western Europe around a year ago, told Reuters he had bought a flight to Istanbul for the weekend, adding that living in Moscow may no longer be possible.

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In my worst nightmares I couldnt have dreamt of such hell when I was coming back a year ago, said the 29-year-old, who asked to remain anonymous.

The price of plane tickets has soared in Russia since the country closed its airspace to the EU and other countries in response to sanctions.

Two popular options for Russians fleeing Mr Putins regime are Georgia and Armenia as they do not require a visa to live and work.
Boris Johnson will meet with the leaders from Canada, the Netherlands and central Europe. (Photo: TOLGA AKMEN via Getty Images)

Boris Johnson will tell fellow leaders that the people of Ukraine will be our judge if the west fails to defeat Vladimir Putin.

The Prime Minister will say the world is watching as he unveils a six-point plan of action to help preserve Ukraines independence in the face of mounting Russian aggression.

Johnson will this week meet with leaders from Canada, the Netherlands and central Europe as he seeks to bolster the global anti-Putin coalition.

He will tell them that Ukraine must receive more military and humanitarian support if Russia is to be beaten.

Putin must fail and must be seen to fail in this act of aggression, the PM will say.

It is not enough to express our support for the rules-based international order  we must defend it against a sustained attempt to rewrite the rules by military force.

The world is watching. It is not future historians but the people of Ukraine who will be our judge.

Johnson will unveil his his six-point plan in a New York Times article on Sunday.

He is calling for an international humanitarian coalition to help Ukraine and for the maximum economic pressure to be placed on Putins regime.

The creeping normalisation of what Russia is doing in Ukraine must be prevented, according to the PM, while diplomacy aimed at the de-escalation of Russian aggression must be stepped up and fully involve the Ukrainian government.

Finally, Downing Street said Johnson wants to see a rapid campaign to strengthen security and resilience across the Euro-Atlantic area.

Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau and Dutch prime minister Mark Rutte will meet with the PM in Downing Street on Monday to discuss the Ukraine crisis.

It follows talks on Friday with French president Emmanuel Macron and the leaders of Turkey and Serbia.

On Tuesday, Johnson he will host leaders of the V4 group of central European nations  the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia - which are already experiencing first-hand the humanitarian crisis caused by Russias invasion of Ukraine.

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The government has said that Ukrainian refugees with family members in the UK will be able to live here for up to three years, a move which ministers claim could potentially benefit 200,000 people fleeing the war.

This article originally appeared on HuffPost UK and has been updated.

ukraine
A patchwork of masking requirements in Virginia have fallen away in recent days  including those in schools and on military installations  leaving the decision whether to wear a mask largely up to personal preference.

In downtown Norfolk this week, the once-ubiquitous signs advising customers to mask up inside shops and businesses were few and far between. Among those still requiring masks  a downtown spa, law office and ice cream shop.

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Winston Sterling, strolling Thursday with friend Malik Lowry on Granby Street, had a mask in his pocket, which he said hes ready to put on every time I go inside.

Ive had COVID before, Sterling said. It wasnt pleasant.

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Lowry said he also masks in indoor public spaces, but in other situations, the decision hinges on how many people are in one place. Going into a crowd means masking, but Lowry said hell go without when walking outside downtown or spending time with family in the park.

More than half of respondents in a recent survey said they regularly wear a mask in public. But as the rate of coronavirus infections and hospitalizations has declined since the omicron-fueled surge of cases this winter, mask wearing among Virginians appears to be on the decline.

The survey, from the Delphi Group at Carnegie-Mellon University  which has been tracking pandemic-related behaviors since early April 2020  found indoor public masking in Virginia has dropped in recent weeks. About 31% of survey respondents saw most people in public masked at the beginning of February, while 20% reported the same by the end of the month.

The percent of Virginians who reported wearing a mask in public also dropped. Sixty percent of survey respondents reported wearing a mask most or all of the time in public in the last seven days, as of Feb. 28  down from 71% at the beginning of the month.

The drop is on par with the rest of the country, which experienced a similar decrease in self-reported masking, according to survey data.

The decline comes as the Virginia Department of Health reports the number of coronavirus hospitalizations and case counts have fallen from the omicron peak  though the average daily number of hospitalized COVID-19 patients remain at little less than quadruple the summers pandemic lows, according to Virginia Hospital and Healthcare Association data. About 82% of the states adult population is fully vaccinated.

Most COVID restrictions were lifted in Virginia last May, with hope for an end to the pandemic buoyed by rising vaccination rates and dropping case counts.

Some lingering masking requirements have fallen away over the past week. Gov. Glenn Youngkins repeal of a statewide masking mandate in K-12 schools took effect Tuesday. On Wednesday, the Navy eased its rules, saying masks are no longer required indoors at Hampton Roads installations.

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This is about getting back to normal, and Virginia we are on the way, Youngkin said in a Fox News interview in February when he signed the bill.

New guidance from U.S. health officials also no longer recommends masking indoors for residents in areas defined with low COVID-19 community levels  that designation includes the seven cities of Hampton Roads. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued the nonbinding guidelines Feb. 25.

Following the new guidelines, some cities, including Newport News and Hampton announced an end to mask requirements inside city buildings.

Not everyone was as eager to lift mask mandates, however. The Portsmouth School Board desires to continue to require universal masking, school board attorney Adam Carroll said during a Feb. 24 meeting. The districts decision to make masks optional was made regrettably and against its better judgment, solely to fill the new legal requirements, Carroll said.

With the onus of face coverings now mostly on individuals and business owners, some Hampton Roads residents say they are taking social cues from others and factoring in others preferences.

A sign on the Phoebus branch of the Hampton Public Library reflects new guidelines on masking, as seen on Friday. (Kaitlin McKeown/Virginia Media)

If Im just running out to the store and theres nobody wearing a mask  no, Im not wearing one, said Lynn Wayman, 46, who lives in Surry County and works on the Peninsula. But if Im going to a shop where somebody is more comfortable with me wearing a mask  sure OK, not a big deal.

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Yorktown resident Bill Townsley, 79, said he has all the vaccinations and is ready to get another one at any time. When it comes to masking up, he keeps an eye on others behavior and acts accordingly.

If I go into Kroger and a lot of people are wearing their mask, then you know, a lot of people would be upset if I go without, Townsley said.

Daywatch Weekdays Start your morning with today's local news >

He appreciates that social distancing mores have stuck around.

The nice thing is most people  whether theyre wearing a mask or not  keep their social distance, is what Ive seen happening at least, he said.

Still, there are some places where face masks remain required in Hampton Roads.

Local universities  including Norfolk State and Old Dominion universities  require masks indoors. Hampton University requires masks in public spaces, according to its website.

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Masks are also required on public transit. Enforcing a federal mandate, Hampton Roads Transit requires bus, ferry, and train passengers to wear face masks in transit centers and on board. The mandate, from the Transportation Security Administration, is in effect through March 18.

Staff writer Jessica Nolte contributed to this report

Ali Sullivan, 757-677-1974, ali.sullivan@virginiamedia.com
Humanitarian expertise is needed like never before as Europe faces an unprecedented exodus of millions of people (Reuters)

When we see the images and videos coming out of Ukraine, its hard not to want to help as hundreds of thousands of refugees, mainly women and children, flee for their lives. But charity professionals know all too well that, in many instances, good deeds often lead to bad outcomes.

A stark example of this was the aftermath of the Haiti earthquake of 2010. Aid flooded in from all over the world and created an infrastructure bottleneck that seriously hampered relief efforts, costing countless lives.

Yet sadly, the worst was yet to come. An outbreak of cholera, which was probably introduced by United Nations peacekeepers, killed thousands more Haitian earthquake survivors, at the rate of up to 50 people a day. We must not make the same mistake with the Ukrainian refugee crisis.

Many professional responders now adhere to the doctrine of effective altruism. This is an international movement which seeks to make aid and humanitarian relief more effective, in terms of both what is delivered and how many people in need of humanitarian assistance are reached.

Refugee Support Europe has adopted this initiative, and over many years working as a specialist refugee support charity it has built up the necessary knowledge, infrastructure and skill sets to deliver the required humanitarian assistance to refugees.

The Independent has set up a petition calling on the UK government to be at the forefront of the international community offering aid and support to those in Ukraine. To sign the petition click here

Now, our expertise is needed like never before, as Europe faces an unprecedented exodus of millions of people. The UN refugee agency says that more than a million people have fled Ukraine since the war began, with millions more on the move. Were initially sending in a team of our most highly experienced people to Romania and Moldova, two countries that have not yet seen the same level of humanitarian support as Ukraines other neighbours, such as Poland.

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So where does this leave us as a humanitarian organisation  and, more to the point, how can we work with people who want to help but are unsure about how to do the right thing? Well, despite their incredibly good intentions, Id advise people to avoid donating food and second-hand clothes. The TV news footage of communities coming together in village halls and school gyms to sort out tins of food and blankets may give all of us a warm, fuzzy feeling inside, but when it comes to actually organising that aid, the reality can be very different.

All too often, these items may not be what is actually needed. Whats more, theyre costly to transport abroad and they soak up too many hours of human effort to sort and package. With this in mind, its far better to donate to a trusted organisation on the ground. This enables charities to buy whats needed locally, and in doing so to support local economies, which are often heavily affected by having to accommodate large influxes of refugees.

The Independent is also raising money for the people of Ukraine  if you would like to donate then please click here for our GoFundMe page

It also helps charities to be agile so that they can respond to specific needs as and when they arise, be it the right food, clothing, toiletries, medicines or other life essentials. In other words, financial donations enable us to provide what is actually needed, but, just as crucially, when its needed. Shipments of items from countries hundreds of miles away seldom contain what is required.

We know this approach works. Weve applied it for over seven years in refugee camps in Greece, harbouring refugees fleeing the war in Syria, as well as in Bangladesh and Mexico. Weve also pioneered our Aid With Dignity approach, which recognises that being a refugee strips you of all human dignity, and as a result how we operate and deal with people is driven by trying to restore that sense of self-worth and mutual respect as much as possible.

This is why we support The Independents Refugees Welcome campaign, as we value the safety and dignity of refugees first and foremost.

When it comes to doing the right thing in a humanitarian crisis, good intentions are one thing, but delivering good outcomes is something else entirely. Sometimes, how you do aid is just as important as the aid itself.

Paul Hutchings is the co-founder and CEO of Refugee Support Europe

The Independent has a proud history of campaigning for the rights of the most vulnerable, and we first ran our Refugees Welcome campaign during the war in Syria in 2015. Now, as we renew our campaign and launch this petition in the wake of the unfolding Ukrainian crisis, we are calling on the government to go further and faster to ensure help is delivered. To find out more about our Refugees Welcome campaign, click here
(AFP via Getty Images)

The world is too much with us, Wordsworth wrote two centuries ago. He was lamenting the pace of commercial life and the loss of contact with nature. Today, history presses down with a relentless fury unimaginable in earlier times. The digital age, just a few decades old, gives us access to events around the world in real time.

It also allows those who wish to unleash evil to do so with greater speed and lethality. Smart weapons, including battlefield nuclear weapons, raise the prospect of focused destruction just short of the Mutually Assured Destruction that maintained a measure of stability from 1945 to today. Cyberattacks can shut down energy grids, financial markets and government networks in microseconds. Viruses spread and mutate from wet markets in China to every country in the world at the speed of jet travel.

In recent threats, we have moved from existential threats to democracy in the United States, from alpha to delta to omicron, to concentration camps incarcerating a million people Muslims in Xinjiang, to crackdowns in Kashmir locking down millions more, while humanitarian and human rights crises in Yemen and Egypt and Gaza and Libya and elsewhere continue unceasingly. And we can barely pay attention to less acute but no less pressing global crises like climate change.

And now Ukraine. A land war in Europe with one of the most powerful armies of the world invading a courageous citizen army outnumbered in men and material by major multiples. Putins blitzkrieg tactics have stalled  did he not learn the lessons of Napoleon and Hitler about the fearsome Eurasian winters?  but we should make no mistake. The early humiliation of the Russian Army will only lead to massive escalation.

Thankfully, there has been unity, consistency and energy in the worlds response. It is remarkable that Germany has come off the fence and pulled the plug on a crucial energy source in Nord Stream 2. It has not traded honor for gas. Qatar has stepped up to try to make up the shortfall in global energy markets. Saudi Arabia needs to do the same.

Story continues

Hungary and Poland have been no beacons of liberty and its leaders have followed a Putin-esque model of illiberal democracy presided over by a single leader extinguishing pluralism and dissent. But they know their own neighborhoods, and have made a clear commitment to the west and to Ukrainian refugees. Sweden and Switzerland understand that neutrality is no longer an option in an interconnected world. Even China has sounded an uncertain trumpet, abstaining on a resolution at the UN Security Council, while making unconvincing statements suggesting that this crisis is the fault of anyone but the author of unprovoked aggression.

The global community has been far greater and unified than at any moment since 9/11. But that unity was fleeting and was squandered by the disastrous moral and political failures of the Bush administration. It is essential that international organizations, national leaders and NGOs maintain their focus on Ukraine as well as on the surrounding countries of the old Soviet Empire and the Warsaw Pact, many of which have their security guaranteed by Article 5 of the NATO Treaty. Putin cannot call our bluff again as he did in 2013 in Syria and 2014 in Crimea.

But Putins Hitlerian incursion must prompt a wider strategic and moral accounting. Why Ukraine, but not Xinjiang or Rwanda or Syria or Myanmar? Ukraine is strategically crucial but we must think through whether we are valuing white European lives differently. Are we paying attention because there are large, politically important constituencies of Ukrainians and neighboring countries in the United States and elsewhere in Europe? What do we do when moral principles do not overlap with our geostrategic or political agenda?

The United States cannot be the worlds policeman, but we should still consider: What are the criteria for effective action in Ukraine and in other flashpoints around the world, today and in the months to come? Are sanctions enough to bring an autarkic country run by a leader seething with grievance to its knees? Will the provision of weapons come soon enough to make a difference or will they only increase the bloodshed? What can we do on a long-term basis to prevent the destruction wrought by leaders for life who often turn toward brutality and irrationality as their isolation grows and they confront their own mortality? Significantly, this final question is one that we as Americans now need to ask in our own country as well as in other places.

The Biden administration is negotiating the Ukrainian crisis skillfully, although at the moment it is not reflected in political support. Many Americans seem more interested in Critical Race Theory and gas prices than the fate of the post-war world  but its important we remain as globally engaged as never before.
Pope Francis holds the weekly general audience at the Paul VI Hall at the Vatican

By Philip Pullella

VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - Pope Francis will visit South Sudan in July, the Vatican said on Thursday, making a trip he has repeatedly had to delay because of security concerns in a country still emerging from a post-independence civil war.

July will mark the 11th anniversary of South Sudan's secession from Sudan. Civil war erupted two years later in 2013, causing 400,000 deaths. The two main sides signed a peace deal in 2018 but hunger and deadly clashes are still common across the country.

The Vatican said Francis will be in South Sudan July 5-7 after visiting the Democratic Republic of Congo July 2-5 on the same trip.

Though the 2018 peace deal halted the worst violence of that war, analysts say there are several unresolved issues, such as stalled reunification of the national army, that could plunge the country back into widespread conflict.

The pope has wanted to visit predominantly Christian South Sudan for years but each time planning for a trip began it had to be postponed because of the unstable situation.

In 2019 Francis hosted South Sudan's opposing leaders at a Vatican retreat where he knelt and kissed their feet as he urged them not to return to conflict.

(Additional reporting by Maggie Fick; Editing by Alison Williams and Mark Heinrich)
Senegal has condemned the Ukrainian embassy for calling for fighters to join its effort to repel Russia's invasion, warning that recruiting mercenaries or even volunteers breached its laws.



In a statement Thursday evening, Senegal's foreign ministry said it had summoned the Ukrainian ambassador after reading, "with astonishment", an embassy Facebook post urging foreigners to enlist.

Kyiv's ambassador to Senegal, Yuril Pyvovarov, told the foreign ministry that 36 Senegalese citizens had already volunteered, according to the statement.

The ministry said it "firmly condemns" the move and urged the embassy to withdraw its call.

"The recruitment of volunteers, mercenaries or enemy combatants on Senegalese territory is illegal," the statement added.

On Wednesday, Senegal abstained from voting on a United Nations resolution, which was overwhelmingly adopted, that demanded that Russia immediately withdraw from Ukraine.

The government stated afterwards that it was gravely concerned with the situation in Ukraine but that it adhered to "principles of non-alignment and the peaceful settlement of disputes".

(With AFP)
In the span of two years, the UMTA has just managed to conduct a feasibility study pertaining to the Metro Rail last mile connectivity ignoring all other projects. (PTI Photo)

HYDERABAD: The Unified Metropolitan Transport Authority (UMTA) has failed to make progress in key infrastructural projects which would change the face of the city, including the Metro Rail line to the Shamshabad airport, last mile connectivity for Metro Rail, high speed rail connectivity in the Hyderabad-Warangal-Vijayawada-Chennai corridor and bus rapid transport system (BRTS) in the MGBS-Nehru Zoological Park route.

Despite several warnings from the municipal administration and urban development department, the UMTA has failed to conduct feasibility studies of the projects worth Rs 1,53,365 crore, even after two years of the proposals being made.

The UMTA had prepared a comprehensive transport report (CTR) by hiring Delhi-based LEA Associates South Asia Pvt Ltd at a cost of Rs 15.24 crore a decade ago. According to the CTR, the Metro Rail should run for 417 km in the Hyderabad metropolitan area, which includes the existing project, bus rapid transport system for 438 km and the multimodal transport system (MMTS) should be extended up to 438 km, which includes 47 km of the existing service.

The CTR elaborated on transportation plans for metro rail, BRTS, multi-modal transport system and high-speed intercity rail corridors among others.

Highly placed sources said, these decade-old projects could see minimal progress despite hiring 17 well-paid retired urban planners. In the span of two years, the UMTA has just managed to conduct a feasibility study pertaining to the Metro Rail last mile connectivity ignoring all other projects.

A senior UMTS official, requesting anonymity, told Deccan Chronicle that during a recent review conducted by the special chief secretary and MA&UD principal secretary Arvind Kumar, it was learnt that the UMDA had not even embarked on conducting a feasibility study for two years. He said that the UMTA officials told Kumar that they would soon hire consultants to conduct feasibility studies for all the pending projects.

Irked by the official's response, Kumar asked why the department had hired officials and paying them high wages when UMTA was supposed to hire a consultant? Amid confrontations, the meeting ended on a heated note, the official said.

The UMTA has to prepare feasibility study for the Rs 84,520 crore pending Metro Rail project, Rs 6,415 BRTS project, Rs 39,620 crore project connecting highways passing through the city, Rs 4,750 crore for bus transport, Rs 3,390 crore for bus terminals and Rs 11,390 crore for traffic management.
On March 3rd, EAA AirVenture announced that to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the U.S. Air Force, Dean Cutshall will be bringing an extremely rare F-100 to EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2022 this July. The F-100 will be a big attraction once again when it comes to EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2022, as it flies into Wittman Regional Airport and appears as part of the afternoon air show. It becomes a gathering point at Oshkosh for those who flew and maintained it, especially in Vietnam.

For several years, Dean has flown members of the Super Sabre Society, the veterans who flew the aircraft in active service, including in Vietnam. Dean said the reaction after the flight in the two-seat F-100 is almost uniformly the same.

After the rides done, my crew chief is up there, unstrapping them, putting the pins in and such, and every one of those guys, without fail, always ask, Is it OK if I sit here just a little bit longer?, he said. I tell them they can sit there just as long as they want.  and their eyes are always misty. Some guys actually cry. Dean told EAAs Director of Communication Dick Knapiski in THIS article.

I usually bring my crew chief, Paul Swick, and four or five other guys along. And they cant get away from the airplane, Dean said of being at Oshkosh. Guys collect around the airplane and start swapping stories. Theyre all of the Vietnam (War) age and theyve all been at the same places. Its a wonderful reunion for everyone.

Dean acquired the airplane more than a quarter-century ago on his third try, even picking up a T-33 (later sold) as a bonus in the deal. After two years, a sizable financial investment, and a great deal of help from former members of the 122nd Fighter Wing of the Indiana Air National Guard who knew the airplane well, he had a prize warbird in the air again.

As already noted in our previous articles, Deans aircraft is an F-100F, the two-seat Super Sabre variant, constructed in the first months of 1958 by North American Aviation in Inglewood, California. Assigned serial number 56-3948, it was accepted by the USAF on March 25th of the same year. Its story is fairly unique as just over a month after the USAF took delivery, they selected her for conversion into a JF-100F, an airframe dedicated to special test flying. Subsequently, she found herself assigned to the Air Force Missile Development Test Center at Holloman, New Mexico. In April 1965, she went through further modifications to become a JDF-100F, optimized for the airborne control of radio-guided targets. In 1968 she reverted back to a normal F-100F two-seat trainer. From July 1970 she was assigned to the AFSWC at Kirtland, New Mexico, in whose colors she flew for three years before flying into retirement in the boneyard at Davis Monthan in January 1973. However in May 1974, after little more than a year in stasis, she was resurrected from her resting place under the baking sun of the Arizona desert and sent to the Sacramento Air Material Area at McClellan AFB and prepared for delivery to the Turkish Air Force, which received her in August 1974, via the MDAP program.

Accordingly to our own James Church who follows Deans F-100 flying activities very closely, the Super Sabre will be appearing at Thunder Over Louisville, the Fort Wayne Airshow, as well as Selfridge Air Show.

As with many pilots, the joy of owning such a unique airplane is topped by sharing the joy of flying in it and hearing the stories of those who flew it in military service.

We owe a great debt of gratitude to the owners and operators of these vintage aircraft, as the demands in both time and treasure required to keep something like a Century Series jet fighter plying the skies are astronomical. I can only hope that we may continue seeing these wonderful machines gracing the skies deep into the future.

Dean Cutter Cutshalls North American F-100F Super Sabre (N2011V) is featured inside issue #41 of Warbird Digest> Click the image below to purchase this issue.
WASHINGTON, March 5. /TASS/. The United States will engage in meaningful diplomacy with Russia if Moscow shows willingness to do the same, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in an interview with the BBC. It depends entirely on President Putin and on Russia. If they show any signs of being willing to engage in meaningful diplomacy, of course, well engage,

But, it is only on you America.you started this whole mess and now you must ask nicely

But, do not expect Russia to believe you and or trust you, after wht you did in Ukraine

WtR
"I think part of it was the practicality. And maybe another part of it was a way of her pushing gender equality, saying that men and women should be able to pretty much wear what they wanted to wear without clothing being labeled, Kaminski said.

While Walker was able to successfully push boundaries with her style of dress and occupation, she was never able to become a commissioned officer within the Army. However, she did secure a paid position as a civilian-contracted assistant surgeon.

In the spring of 1864, Walker was stationed at Lee and Gordon's Mills in Chickamauga, Georgia, an area held by U.S. troops that was very close to Confederate territory.

"She was encouraged to go out and treat southern civilians who hadn't had access to medical care in a long time, Kaminski said. She would go out into the countryside, often on her own, knowing how dangerous it was to treat civilians who were in need."

While out on her own she would listen for any information on troop movements and brought the intel back to her commanding officer, who presumably passed it up the chain of command.

During one of her forays into enemy territory, Walker was captured by Confederate soldiers and held as a prisoner of war at a female military prison in Virginia. Her imprisonment caused negative effects on her health, including problems with her eye, which prevented her from continuing to perform surgery after the war ended.

Receiving the military's top honor

Walker and her supporters brought her desire to be a commissioned officer to the attention of President Abraham Lincoln. However, after Lincoln's assassination, President Andrew Johnson did not feel that it was in his power to provide her a commission in the military. Instead, he awarded her a Medal of Honor.

"The grounds upon which the Medal of Honor could be awarded were broader than they are today and rather ambiguous in a number of cases, said Ed Lengel, chief historian for the National Medal of Honor Museum. It did not necessarily have to be combat service to qualify for the award, i.e., not just wartime service, but service actually under fire. Although, in many cases, Mary Walker came close to that."

After the Civil War, many service members wrote their congressmen stating that they deserved the award, which pushed the military to tighten its eligibility parameters on who could qualify to receive the top military decoration.

"Pressure could be applied within the military to get a medal awarded to them simply by pulling strings. So there were quite a few egregious cases, said Lengel.

By the beginning of the U.S. entry into World War I in 1917, a review of Medal of Honor awards resulted in 911 individuals being stripped of their award, including Walker. However, she was among the few who refused to return the medal and continued to wear it until her death in 1919.

Behind the scenes, a campaign was launched in the 1920s to get Walker's medal restored. The efforts intensified in the 1970s, including a local campaign in her hometown of Oswego, New York. Eventually, the reinstatement of her medal was supported through a bipartisan effort in Congress and posthumously restored by President Jimmy Carter in 1977.

Aaron Kassraie writes about issues important to military veterans and their families for AARP. He also serves as a general assignment reporter. Kassraie previously covered U.S. foreign policy as a correspondent for the Kuwait News Agency's Washington bureau and worked in news gathering for USA Today and Al Jazeera English.

Editors note: This article, originally published March 21, 2021, has been updated with new information.
Relatives and friends gather near a garlanded photo of Naveen, to mourn his demise outside his residence at Chalageri village in Haveri (PTI)

Bengaluru: Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai said that the government is making all efforts to bring back the mortal remains of Naveen Gyana Goudar soon. Naveen, an MBBS student in Ukriane from Haveri died in shelling last week.

Many Karnataka natives have been brought from the war-torn Ukraine. Stranded people are finding it difficult to move out of Kharkiv and Kyiv. Indian Embassy is making all efforts to track the stranded Indian nationals there. We are in constant contact with the External Affairs Minister and the Embassy, the chief minister added.

Mr. Bommai said he would attend the farmers meeting in Shikaripur after which he will visit Naveens father at Ranebennur. He added that the government has decided to provide compensation to Naveen's family.
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Copyright  2022 Albuquerque Journal

SANTA FE  Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham on Friday signed into law her signature higher education priority from this years 30-day session, expanding a scholarship program that covers tuition and fees for adults seeking their first college degree.

She celebrated approval of the legislation, Senate Bill 140, during a ceremony at Western New Mexico University in Silver City.

The measure reached her desk after picking up bipartisan support in both chambers of the Legislature.

Lujan Grisham, a Democrat up for reelection this year, has made it a priority throughout her first term to make college free for more New Mexicans.

She describes the Opportunity Scholarship Act  signed into law Friday  as the only state-funded program of its kind in the nation.

This is a remarkable moment, Lujan Grisham said.

In an interview, she said student loan debt is a tremendous barrier for students throughout the country even as a bachelors degree is required for so many careers. Higher education enrollment, she noted, has fallen over the last decade.

Too many people cant go to college anymore. They cant afford it, the governor said.

The expanded scholarship program covers tuition and fees at community colleges, universities or similar institutions for students seeking an associates or bachelors degree, or a certificate in certain occupations, such as welding.

It isnt intended for graduate degrees or for people who already have a four-year degree.

Opponents of the proposal have questioned its cost and raised the prospect of unintended consequences, such as public colleges raising their tuition with the understanding that the state will cover the cost for students.

Legislative analysts estimate the program might cost about $115 million a year when fully ramped up.

But Lujan Grisham said itll be worth it and that her administration will be tough on any institution that attempts to game the system.

Recent high school graduates are already covered under New Mexicos long-standing lottery scholarship.

The new law is designed to offer flexibility to a broader group of students. They can take as little as six credit hours in the fall and spring semester as they work toward an associates, a bachelors or a certificate.

The bill was co-sponsored by Sen. Liz Stefanics of Cerrillos and Rep. Joy Garratt of Albuquerque, both Democrats. It passed the Senate on a 30-6 vote and won House approval 51-17.
Copyright  2022 Albuquerque Journal

SANTA FE  Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham is asking the State Investment Council to jettison anything in its portfolio that might benefit the Russian government or its supporters following the invasion of Ukraine.

New Mexico has about $7.9 million invested in stocks and bonds involving companies that originated in Russia, or a fraction of 1% of the $35 billion in assets overseen by the council.

The State of New Mexico has substantial investments that may be directly or indirectly aiding the Russian invasion, Lujan Grisham said in a letter to the council. This is unacceptable. Not one penny should go toward furthering Putins brutality.

She urged the State Investment Council to take all lawful steps necessary to divest from those investments.

The councils next meeting is scheduled March 22, and Lujan Grisham herself is the chairwoman.

Charles Wollman, a spokesman for the SIC, said he expects Russian investments to be discussed at the next council meeting. The $7.9 million in Russian assets, he said, amount to about 0.025%  far less than 1%  of the states broader investments.

Russian markets are now closed, Wollman said Friday, preventing the trading of any securities affected by the closure.

Others states are also moving to pull their investments in Russian assets following the attack on Ukraine.

The State Investment Council oversees about $35 billion in investments, including four permanent funds, which together are considered the states sovereign wealth fund.

The largest of the funds  the land grant permanent fund, supported by oil and gas revenue  is a key funding source for public education in New Mexico.

The states sovereign wealth fund is the third-largest in the nation and one of the 30 largest in the world.
Copyright  2022 Albuquerque Journal

SANTA FE  The strain is evident in Lidias eyes as she speaks Friday on FaceTime from her central Ukraine village with her son, Alex, in his Santa Fe apartment.

Alex, 40, his eyes red, translates her words from Ukrainian to English as he makes one of his twice daily calls with his mom, Lidia, 73, and his father, Pete, 76. Their surnames are not provided to protect their safety in a war zone.

Lidia, with glasses perched on her nose below her blue eyes and wearing a red sock cap in front of a tapestry and a painting of a forest scene, speaks quickly as Alex translates.

They said they never wanted the war, Alex says. And they are not going to give up, and they will protect until the last.

Nineteen minutes into the 22-minute call at 6 p.m. in Ukraine, the lights in their basement  meant for potatoes and vegetables, but where they now sleep  go out to prevent visibility from any Russian planes and to save electricity.

They can go out in the daytime, but if the alarm goes off, they have to hide.

They are scared and really stressed, its hard to imagine, Alex says, translating their words during the call. They live in fear constantly. Fear for the future, too, because its going to affect everything, even if the war stops. The country is ruined.

As his home country of 44 million people and geographically about the size of Texas is being devastated by the weapons of modern war, Alex cherishes the calls. His parents visited Santa Fe two years ago.

After Fridays call Alex says, Sometimes, I talk to them and they just cry, sometimes they are just angry. They dont see any solution except to resist, keep resisting. And they think they shouldnt let Russia take over.

Alex tries to reach his parents when its the morning here and again at 10 p.m., Santa Fe time, when its early morning in Ukraine, but he never knows if he will get through.

I am just hoping I can reach them, maybe talk for the last time, you never know, I am glad to see them every time, more than ever before, he says.

Although over one million people have fled Ukraine, mostly for Poland, Romania and Moldova, since the Russians attacked last week, leaving is not an option for Alexs family.

They are absolutely locked in the place right now. They cant leave anywhere. They cant seek help from other countries because they have no means of transport, no gas, he says.

Its about 600 miles to the Polish border from their village, which is about 130 miles from Kyiv, the Ukrainian capital.

My parents cant leave, Alex says. Id love for them to leave, but they say they cant because they are too old.

He adds: Even if they moved, they dont want to leave the rest of the family, so nobodys moving. They dont want to leave anybody behind.

The men cant leave, so the women stay, and the kids stay, they just stick together and try to survive.

Alex says his sister Tetyana, 50, and her family live near his parents and she often spends the night with them.

My sister said its so scary when you hear missiles flying in the air, just like a whistling noise, he says.

His parents say they have not heard explosions near their village, but there is plenty of air activity.

They heard airplanes flying over and they heard missiles flying over, Alex says. My sister heard a very scary noise; she heard four of them back to back.

Alex says that, although his family in Ukraine hopes for eventual peace, they will continue to fight, but their country could use some assistance.

They want to fight until it stops, they are just really motivated to stop it. They need any help they can get, he says. My mom is asking to raise awareness of the (U.S.) government to help with some air defense supplies to identify rockets, airplanes, and try to be protected from them, for the civilians, because they get bombed and hit with these missiles.

This is the scariest thing  they arent protected from that.

The bombing and shelling is ruining our cities and villages, the whole infrastructure, Alex says. We need all kinds of help now if anybody can help in any way with donation of food or clothes, medications. People still live their lives, they cant stop, they still give birth, they need hospitals like everybody else.

While food may be a problem in some areas, Alexs family lives in a rural village, so they have their own food  but they dont have gas to buy (for vehicles), he says. There is one small store in the village with very basic groceries.

Alex tries not to watch too many images from TV, but takes pride in how his countrymen are fighting back. His mother told him that, while some villagers left to join the Ukrainian refugees in other countries, others who had been working outside the country have returned to fight.

We were such a peaceful people, we never wanted to fight anybody ever, he says. They are so patriotic right now, making Molotov cocktails just to do something.

After speaking with his parents Friday morning, Alex is getting ready to go to work basically for my own sake because, if I stay home, I go crazy.

I am really, really depressed and scared, and I dont know what to expect, I hope its just a nightmare, I cant believe its happening. It shouldnt be happening, its an absolutely unnecessary war.

Nobody needed it, we didnt need that war, we didnt need that intrusion.

He shows a reporter a beautiful paint set he received recently from his parents with a note basically saying goodbye, if the worst comes to pass.
New Mexico is booming. Companies are moving here. People are moving here.

Whats next is building our private sector economy. As New Mexicos population has grown, transportation systems have made us less remote, and the advent of high-speed communications has flattened the world and made most of New Mexico competitive with the rest of the world. There are even a few aspects that work in our favor, such as low outgoing freight rates due to an imbalance of goods coming in versus goods leaving. But the biggest impact is the influence of science and technology.

Modern New Mexico has created a dichotomy of jobs with lots of high-paying tech jobs and too many low-wage jobs, with not much in between. Within this is a silver lining of which we have not taken advantage. We have:

 A lot of agricultural land currently growing alfalfa that could be converted to high-value crops. Think how Bueno Foods took chiles from the fields and put them into the freezer in homes, and Gruet Wines took grapes and made champagne, which they sell throughout the world. There are other crops such as pecans, apples and hemp for starters that are begging to be made into high-value products and sold to millions of households.

 A large number of entrepreneurs are creating new products that require packaging in the areas of body care and food products that, if the vertical infrastructure structure was more dynamic, could create two new major industries employing thousands of people. This silver lining is consumer goods created, grown, processed and packaged in New Mexico and sold outside the state.

According to Scott Bryant of the New Mexico Manufacturing Extension Partnership, there are 2,0003,000 companies in New Mexico whose growth has been stunted by lack of in-state capacity to cost effectively produce and cleanly package small runs of their product, to flex between packaging containers to meet distributor demands, and/or to meet packaging requirements that would allow them to sell into new markets.

In larger cities there are contract manufacturers called co-packers that serve these small-medium production runs at premium pricing, usually at a much more expensive rate than what our small companies can afford. We have no co-packers, only informal arrangements and imperfect solutions for these low volume, high-mix entrepreneurs trying to move beyond limited online sales and holiday craft trade shows.

The answer is a consumer packaging incubator that would support emerging small companies, growers and creative entrepreneurs producing food, body care and other packaged products. Within the manufacturing infrastructure that exists in the state, we can create value-added industries employing thousands of people.

The incubator would bring together the infrastructure that already exists and add resources for whats missing. Some of the existing assets include nonprofits like Adelante with packaging and fulfillment experience and real estate available; NM MEP advising on manufacturing setup and manufacturing entrepreneurship; Central New Mexico Community College, which runs boot camps for start-up entrepreneurs; New Mexico Trade Alliance for advising on selling internationally; Rocky Mountain Registration Office of the U.S. Trademark and Patent Office; New Mexico Small Business Development Corp. for business operations, and New Mexico Angels for seed financing for start-ups.

The missing piece is the coordinated and accessible infrastructure necessary to create and package small lots, allowing the creators to get enough product to market to become successful.

We have all the necessary talent available to create this incubator as well as strong demand for it, supporting creators who already have product ready for production and most will also have some level of existing business.

It is often said that New Mexico needs to become more business-friendly to succeed.

The consumer packaging incubator will directly address a major need of innovators and entrepreneurs and support their rapid growth. As business leaders, lets get together and support another growth segment.

Paul Silverman has been an investor with NM Angels for 12 years and is the CEO of Bee Clean, an Albuquerque-based hand sanitizer manufacturing company established in January 2020 and now being distributed in all 50 states, with distribution to Taiwan and Dominican Republic coming soon. The executives desk is a guest column providing advice, commentary or information about resources available to the business community in New Mexico. To submit a column for consideration, email gporter@abqjournal.com.
IRVINE, Calif.  After fleeing her home in now-Taliban controlled Afghanistan, Mozhgan Entazari did everything she could to find a new one for her family in the sunny, palm tree-lined communities of Southern California.

The 34-year-old mother of two scoured options on Zillow with her husband, while the family lived at a hotel in Irvine, south of Los Angeles. She spent $200 for an Uber ride to see an apartment 90 minutes away only to find it had been rented.

Entazari needed a place not just for her immediate family but for seven members of her extended family.

In the end, it took four months. On Sunday, they will move into a five-bedroom house in Corona, about 50 miles (80 kilometers) southeast of LA, which is renting for $4,000.

The familys struggles are emblematic of what tens of thousands of Afghans are finding since they moved off U.S. military bases and into American cities and towns following last summers dramatic airlift operation. Many hope to settle in Southern California and the Washington, D.C., area, where Afghans previously established vibrant communities with Halal grocery stores and mosques.

But these communities also are among the countrys priciest housing markets, and units, especially those suitable for often larger Afghan families, are in short supply. Resettlement agencies report its taking longer to get refugees out of temporary housing like hotels, Airbnbs and churches.

Entazari will share a roof with her husband and kids, along with her mother, teen sister and her brother and his family.

Without a job, credit history or co-signer, she said it was incredibly difficult to find housing. And without an address, she said she and her husband couldnt get jobs and her kids couldnt enroll in school.

All our life depends on housing, Entazari said in Farsi through a volunteer interpreter.

They had to pay two months of rent to move in, and are getting help from an organization that will fund a portion of the monthly rent until next year.

The search for housing for Afghans comes amid a tightening housing market as the U.S. crawls out of the pandemic. The nationwide vacancy rate for rental units dropped about one percentage point, to 5.6%, in the last quarter of 2020, according to recently released U.S. Census data. The typical U.S. rent was up nearly 16% to more than $1,850 in January compared to last January, according to the online real estate marketplace Zillow, which launched an effort in November to help connect landlords with newly arrived Afghans.

In northern Virginia, Ahmad Saeed Totakhail was lucky to find permanent housing in Dale City, a suburb about 25 miles (40 kilometers) south of Washington.

His sister, who housed him until he got a place of his own, lives there. He was hired to work in nearby Arlington, by the same nonprofit that employed him in Kabul.

The areas stunning mosques and plentiful Afghan eateries have softened the blow of leaving his homeland. But he was shocked by the high price for his familys safe haven  $2,000 a month for rent.

Its quite expensive, he said. I have friends here. I have my relatives here. But we never discussed the economics.

About half of all Afghan immigrants to the United States, many who came decades ago, live in five major metropolitan areas  Washington, Sacramento, California, San Francisco, New York and Los Angeles, according to the Migration Policy Institute. As a result, these areas are often attractive for Afghan newcomers, and many list the names of relatives or acquaintances already living there as contacts when resettlement agencies are considering where to send them.

But with some 76,000 Afghans arriving in the United States since the Taliban takeover of their country last year, many of these cities are reaching their saturation point, said Krish OMara Vignarajah, president and CEO of the Lutheran Immigration Refugee Service.

The resettlement agency has teamed with Airbnb to provide temporary housing while talking to property management companies to find a more permanent solution. Theyve opened offices in more affordable markets to meet the housing demand. But the places also must have a robust job market and institutions and businesses that support Afghan families, such as mosques and Halal markets, she said.

The U.S. State Department says it doesnt track how many of the Afghans are in temporary accommodations. The top states for Afghans arriving following the Taliban takeover are Texas (nearly 10,500); California (over 8,200), Virginia (over 5,100) and Washington (over 2,800), according to State Department data.

Near the nations capital, Lutheran Social Services has helped settle more than 4,000 Afghans since last summer. For many, the benefits of a community that is like a second Kabul outweigh the high housing costs, said Zabi, a housing coordinator for LSS and relatively recent refugee from Afghanistan who asked to be identified by his nickname because he still has family who could be targeted there because of his prior work with the U.S. military.

Zabi is working to convince area landlords and property owners that Afghan refugees are worth granting some leeway.

Theyre gonna pay their rent, thats for sure, he said, adding many find employment quickly, with help from the agency and the existing Afghan community.

In Newburyport, Massachusetts, churches opened their doors to temporarily house four Afghan families. The Rev. Jarred Mercer said helping them set down permanent roots is daunting given the high cost of living in the largely white, affluent community near the New Hampshire state line.

He and another pastor are working with city officials and hope to bring local property owners and nonprofits on board to help tackle the housing question. In the meantime, theyve raised funds and formed volunteer committees to coordinate everything from teaching English classes to driving the families around town.

Theyre getting more and more entrenched in town, especially the children, and it would just be more trauma to uproot them and start the whole process over again, Mercer said.

That already happened to several Afghan families who were asked to try a new location after searching for months for a home in Southern California, said Sonik Sadozai, a volunteer with Afghan Refugee Relief.

Sadozai, who came to the country as a refugee four decades ago from Afghanistan, said shes been doing this work for years and never faced so many hurdles.

She said she was able to help Entazari and her family move out of the Irvine hotel partly because of luck: An Afghan man she had helped find housing four years ago reached out to her about a Syrian friend who had a house for rent.

But she worries she wont be so lucky with the more than 100 other Afghan families she is helping in their search.

Many landlords walloped by the pandemic are asking for the first two months and last two months of rent up front  a tall order for arriving families, especially those needing larger units, she said.

I have a family of 13, she said. Where am I going to send them?

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Barakat reported from Dale City, Va., Marcelo reported from Boston, and Watson reported from San Diego.
DUSSELDORF, Germany  Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday intensified a crackdown on media outlets and individuals who fail to hew to the Kremlin line on Russias war in Ukraine, blocking Facebook and Twitter and signing into law a bill that criminalizes the intentional spreading of what Moscow deems to be fake reports.

The moves against the social media giants follow blocks imposed on the BBC, the U.S. government-funded Voice of America and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, German broadcaster Deutsche Welle and Latvia-based website Meduza. The governments sweeping action against the foreign outlets that publish news in Russian seeks to establish even tighter controls over what information the domestic audience sees about the invasion of Ukraine.

The state communications watchdog Roskomnadzor said it cut access to Twitter and Facebook in line with a decision by the prosecutor generals office. The watchdog has previously accused Twitter of failing to delete the content banned by Russian authorities and slowed down access to it.

Twitter said in a statement Friday afternoon that while the company is aware of reports that its platform is blocked in Russia, it has not been able to confirm whether this is the case.

The bill, quickly rubber-stamped by both houses of the Kremlin-controlled parliament and signed by Putin, imposes prison sentences of up to 15 years for those spreading information that goes against the Russian governments narrative on the war.

The question regarding Russia is no longer what we do to stop disinformation, former U.S. ambassador to Russia Michael McFaul said on Friday. The question has to be how do we promote information inside Russia  and I dont have the answer.

Multiple outlets said they would pause their work inside Russia to evaluate the situation. Among them, CNN and CBS News said they would stop broadcasting in Russia while Bloomberg and the BBC said they would temporarily suspend the work of their journalists there.

Russian authorities have repeatedly and falsely decried reports of Russian military setbacks or civilian deaths in Ukraine as fake news. State media outlets refer to Russias invasion of Ukraine as a special military operation rather than a war or an invasion.

Vyacheslav Volodin, the speaker of the lower house of parliament, said the measure will force those who lied and made statements discrediting our armed forces to bear very grave punishment.

I want everyone to understand, and for society to understand, that we are doing this to protect our soldiers and officers, and to protect the truth, he added.

The law envisages sentences of up to three years or fines for spreading what authorities deem to be false news about the military, but the maximum punishment rises to 15 years for cases deemed to have led to severe consequences.

In blocking Facebook, Roskomnadzor cited its alleged discrimination of the Russian media and state information resources. The agency said in a statement that the restrictions introduced by Facebook owner Meta on the Russian news channel RT and other state-controlled media violate Russian law.

Obviously Putin is shutting these people down because he is afraid. He wouldnt be shutting them down if everything was going peachy keen, McFaul said during a call with reporters and experts hosted by Stanfords Cyber Policy Center. This is an indicator of his state of mind.

Nick Clegg, Metas president of global affairs, said tweeted in response to Russias action that millions of ordinary Russians will find themselves cut off from reliable information, deprived of their everyday ways of connecting with family and friends and silenced from speaking out.

We will continue to do everything we can to restore our services so they remain available to people to safely and securely express themselves and organize for action, Clegg added.

The Russian media blocks on the five foreign media organizations are among the most influential and often critical foreign media publishing in Russian.

Roskomnadzor said those media had published false information on subjects including the methods of carrying out combat activities (attacks on civilians, strikes on civil infrastructure), the numbers of losses of the Russian Federation Armed Forces. and victims among the civilian population.

BBC Director-General Tim Davie said the legislation appears to criminalize the process of independent journalism.

The safety of our staff is paramount and we are not prepared to expose them to the risk of criminal prosecution simply for doing their jobs, he said.

Davie said the BBCs Russian-language news service would continue to operate from outside Russia.

Earlier in the day, the BBC posted instructions on Twitter about how Russian readers could work around the block by using apps or the dark web.

Access to accurate, independent information is a fundamental human right which should not be denied to the people of Russia, millions of whom rely on BBC News every week. We will continue our efforts to make BBC News available in Russia, and across the rest of the world, the BBC said.

Earlier this week the BBC said it was bringing back shortwave radio transmission to Ukraine and parts of Russia so people can listen to its programs with basic equipment.

Some well-known media outlets within Russia have chosen to close rather than face heavy restrictions on what they can report. News website Znak said it was closing Friday morning, shortly after the parliament approved the draft bill. On Thursday, Russias top independent radio station Ekho Moskvy was closed and independent TV station Dozdh suspended operations after receiving a threat of closure from the authorities.

The authorities also pressed ahead with a sweeping effort to target human rights organizations.

Authorities raided the offices of Memorial, one of Russias oldest and most prominent human rights organizations. According to Memorial members, police didnt provide any explanation and there were no warnings.

The police refused to let me and the lawyer in without explanation, and when I tried not to let in the reinforcement officers who arrived in bulletproof vests and masks, they threatened to use force if I did not let them in, the chairman of International Memorial Yan Rachinsky said. This is the level of justice today in the capital of Russia.

Another leading human rights group, the Civic Assistance, also saw its Moscow office raided.

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Associated Press writers Jill Lawless in London and Barbara Ortutay in Oakland, California, contributed.

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Follow all AP stories on the Russian invasion of Ukraine at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine.
Railway minister Ashwini Vaishnav on Friday inspected the working of Kavach  Indian Railways indigenous train protection system  between Gullaguda and Chitgidda railway stations in Vikarabad district on Friday. (Photo: Twitter)

HYDERABAD: Railway minister Ashwini Vaishnav on Friday inspected the working of Kavach  Indian Railways indigenous train protection system  between Gullaguda and Chitgidda railway stations in Vikarabad district on Friday.

While Vaishnav travelled in one train, Railway Board V.K. Tripathi travelled in the opposite direction on the same track to demonstrate the system which prevents head-on collisions.

Kavach helps prevent signal passing at danger, controls speed while passing through loop lines, averts rear-end collision of trains and rectifies human errors. The pilot project of this system was demonstrated in 2013 and 2014, between Lingampally and Vikarabad stations.

This system is a major milestone in the history of Indian Railways which is planning to implement this system on 2,000 km during the current financial year on high-density routes like New Delhi-Mumbai and New Delhi-Howrah. An additional 4,000 km to 5,000 km will be covered in the next financial year. The cost of this system is between Rs 40 lakh and Rs 50 lakh for each kilometre when compared to the European models costing Rs 1.5 crore to Rs 2 crore for each kilometre.

Speaking to this newspaper, Vaishnav said, Kavach is a major step by Indian Railways in taking forward the initiative of Atmanirbhar Bharat. Indian Railways is planning to implement the Kavach protection system over its entire network at the earliest. 4G spectrum has been allocated to Indian Railways which will assist in further improving the reliability of train operations.

This total project is developed by Indians and most of the components used are made in India. This will give encouragement to the young generation, especially those who are talented, but rendering their services and skills to foreign countries, he said.
Editors note:

The Journal continues Whats in a Name?, a twice a month column in which staff writer Elaine Briseno will give a short history of how places in New Mexico got their names.

A busy street west of the river takes its name from a settlement that existed before Albuquerque was even an idea.

Atrisco Drive, and the Atrisco Land Grant for which its named, are a monument to the first wave of European immigrants to arrive in New Mexico. The grant and the history of its heirs lives on today through the The Atrisco Companies and the Atrisco Heritage Foundation. Albuquerque Public Schools opened a high school on the West Mesa in 2008 and named it Atrisco Heritage in recognition of the areas settlers.

Atrisco Drive starts at Arenal Road in the South Valley and travels north, breaking as it passes over Interstate 40 and Coors Boulevard, finally ending close to the Petroglyph National Monument. A drive along the road offers a glimpse of modern-day dwellings, but the area was once home to a colony of people who arrived with Spanish explorer Don Juan de Onate. These pioneers settled along the western banks of the Rio Grande in 1598 and used the land to farm and raise livestock.

They were the first non-Native settlers to come to this state, said Peter Sanchez, chief executive officer of The Atrisco Companies. They were the original immigrants to come to our lands. This was 10 years prior to English landing on the East Coast. Its important to understand the beginnings of our state and how people began to come to our state.

His convoy included mostly Spaniards, but there were also Mexican Indians, Greeks, Africans and Sephardic Jews.

The name Atrisco comes from the Native Nahuatl word atlixo or aixco. Several possible meanings are attributed to the words, including upon the water, on the water, near the waters and the surface of a body of water.

Some suggest that the settlers named the area after their homeland in the Central Valley of Mexico, which was then New Spain. The meaning or reason for the original name may vary, but what is clear is that the early Atrisco people were influenced by their proximity to the river.

Its a Native term about being near the river, he said. That name did not exist in Spain at the time.

A blessing ceremony for the acequias takes place in the South Valley in 2021. Early settlers chose the area because of its proximity to the river and its flat landscape. (Roberto E. Rosales/Albuquerque Journal) Students play basketball on the opening day of Atrisco High School in 2008. (Marla Brose/Albuquerque Journal) A cyclist rides across the Atrisco Siphon Bridge after the completion of the ADA-accessible bosque path in 2017. (Jim Thompson/Albuquerque Journal) This old, rudimentary map shows the boundaries of the Atrisco Land Grant. (Courtesy of the Atrisco Heritage Foundation) Prev 1 of 4 Next

These people made their lives there at the behest of Onate, who traveled to New Mexico to establish small Spanish settlements along the Rio Grande in an effort to claim the territory for the king of Spain. Sanchez said the geography of the South Valley made it an ideal location for a settlement.

It was the largest grass flatland area from Los Lunas to Bernalillo, he said. It was prime property for growing crops and things like that. The west side of river was chosen because of the sun.

Nearly 100 years later in 1692, Spain granted the colonists a 67,000-acre land grant that spanned from the Rio Puerco in the east to the mesa in the west.

The 1680 Pueblo Revolt had stalled Spanish settlement in the area, but it once again came under control of the Spanish when Don Diego de Vargas succeeded in reoccupying the territory of New Mexico. By 1760, more than 200 people had come to live in what was now known as Villa de Atrisco.

According to The Atrisco Companies historical records, today there are 50,000 land grant heirs linked to those first settlers. The way of life started by their ancestors began to die out. The grasslands in the middle Rio Grande Valley were depleted by the early 1900s. The industrial revolution also changed the way Americans labored. Farming was no longer the only industry.

The majority of the Atrisco Land Grant was incorporated into Westland Development Co. Inc. in 1967, and the heirs became stockholders. It was a move rebuffed by many heirs, who could trace their roots in the area back 400 years.

One of those was famed author Rudolfo Anaya, who received the shares from his parents. He criticized the move, saying the ancestors would not want them to sell the land and instead had intended it to be used for the social good of the community and future generations.

The value of my inheritance as represented by my shares means nothing to the stockbrokers of Wall Street, he said in a 1967 Albuquerque Journal op-ed piece. The value of my shares means everything to me. They are a thread I hold to my history. I would not give them up. I will not put my history and culture for sale on Wall Street.

Ultimately, in 2006, the Atrisco Land Grant landed in the hands of commercial developers. Some heirs still call the South Valley home, living on the land claimed by their ancestors so many years ago, but Albuquerque, Atriscos larger neighbor to the east, eventually gobbled it up, bringing with it the pressure for commercial growth and development that is seen there today.

Curious about how a town, street or building got its name? Email staff writer Elaine Briseno at ebriseno@abqjournal.com or 505-823-3965 as she continues the monthly journey in Whats in a Name?
WENN/Brian To Celebrity

The 'Eazy' rapper shares on his Instagram page a post about 'divorce' while his ex-wife says she's 'doing so great' after a judge granted her request for bifurcation of the marital status.

Mar 5, 2022

AceShowbiz - Kanye West appears to be having a hard time accepting the fact that his marriage to Kim Kardashian is coming to an end. The rapper laments his life after the reality TV star was legally declared single amid their ongoing divorce.

On Friday, March 4, the 44-year-old shared an Instagram post in which he likened divorce to "full blown Covid," "miscarriage" and being "shot" among other things. He penned, "Divorce feels like full blown Covid/ Divorce feels like your doctor don't know s**t/ Divorce feels like your walking on glass/ Divorce feels like you're running through a glass wall/ Divorce feels like you're being bullied up in a class hall/ Divorce feels like you're getting beat up in the mall."

"Divorce feels like your kids were snatched from your control," the "Donda" artist continued in the cryptic post. "Divorce feels like you've been shot and traffic is slow/ Divorce feels like heavy breathing/ Divorce feels like grandma never got over that cold/ Divorce feels like suffocating/ Barely breathing."

He went on adding that divorce feels like "your hand was on the stove  your soul was dragged over coals  the first play of the Super Bowl and your ankle rolls  you've been set on fire for your truth then labelled a liar  Michael Myers  your teeth being pulled with pliers  a funeral."

Ye's post comes two days after Kim was legally declared single. On Wednesday, March 2, Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Steve Cochran granted the reality TV star's request of bifurcation of the marital status. She's also allowed to legally change her name to Kim Kardashian, removing the rapper's last name West.

Met at the grand opening of Revolve's Social Club in Los Angeles on Thursday, the SKIMS founder said, "I'm doing so great!" when asked how she was, according to E! News. She also didn't waste any time to remove Ye's last name from her Instagram account.

On the same day of Kim's public outing, Kanye continued to parade his new romance with Chaney Jones despite expressing his reluctance to end his marriage. The Atlanta native was photographed grabbing the model's butt while hopping on a private jet in Miami. In pictures obtained by Page Six, the pair were matching in all-black outfits.
Instagram Celebrity

The Grammy-winning 'Certified Lover Boy' artist accuses his female stalker, whose name is Mesha Collins, of sending him threatening emails 'wishing him dead.'

Mar 5, 2022

AceShowbiz - Drake seemingly has had enough of dealing with his stalker. The "Certified Lover Boy" artist, who was previously sued by his female trespasser for $4 billion, reportedly has filed for a temporary restraining order against her.

According to legal docs obtained by Page Six, the Canadian superstar is asking for court-ordered protection from a woman named Mesha Collins. The rapper accused her of sending him threatening emails "wishing him dead" and saying he should "shoot [himself] and [his son Adonis] with a bullet."

Drake's lawyer, Larry Stein, alleged that the 29-year-old woman sent him emails in February. In the emails, she reportedly suggested the "God's Plan" hitmaker to "put a bullet through your head now b***h."

In the filing, Drake claimed that the woman tried to gain contact from him by filing a frivolous $4 billion lawsuit and her own restraining order against him. The docs additionally stated that the woman was arrested back in 2017 for trespassing on his property.

"As a result of [her] harassment and obsession with me, I have suffered and continue to suffer emotional distress and am concerned for my safety and that of my family," Drake pointed out. He is now asking the court to force the alleged stalker to stay at least 100 yards away from him, his family and his home.

Mesha first slipped into Drake's house in April 2017 when she later hung out in his bedroom wearing one of his hoodies. She was then arrested for trespassing. However, the woman tried to enter his property once again in July that year when the Grammy-winning artist was not at home.

Despite the arrest, Mesha pressed on her attempt to get Drake's attention by filing a $4 billion defamation against him. She accused the Canadian native of using her name and likeness in "defamatory matters" by "releasing music, posting on Instagram and endorsing products that had names that invaded her privacy by revealing to the world where she lived."

Luckily, a judge in Los Angeles Superior Court already threw out the case permanently in December 2021. The dismissal order reportedly was granted under California's anti-SLAPP law. It allows judges to quickly dismiss questionable lawsuits that could chill free speech.
Instagram Celebrity

The 'Look at Me Now' crooner faces backlash online after he shares troublesome video on his social media platform following the sexual assault lawsuit against him.

Mar 5, 2022

AceShowbiz - Chris Brown has landed in hot water. The "Go Crazy" hitmaker was slammed by social media critics after he posted a "wild" video of a man slapping a woman's butt amid sexual assault lawsuit against him.

On Friday, March 4, the 32-year-old RnB artist took to his Instagram Story to share a clip that saw a man slapping and grabbing a woman's butt several times while in a casino. The anonymous male then got very close to her body as he put his finger between her legs. Over the strange clip, the "Strip" crooner wrote, "BRUH," adding a flushed face emoji.

Shortly after, many social media users rushed to Twitter to express their disgust. "Chile.what the hellllll is on Chris Brown's IG story????" one person asked, with another adding, "Wtf is chris brown ig story im crying."

"Chris Brown Instagram story gone wildddd bruh," someone else wrote along with several crying emojis. Another critic penned, "I'm dead at Chris Brown IG Story," while a fifth chimed in, "Wtf is Chris brown posted on his instastory???"

Chris' troubling social media post came after he was sued by a woman for $20 million for allegedly sexually assaulting her in December of 2020 on a yacht parked at P. Diddy's Star Island home. The woman, who claimed to be a dancer and a model, claimed in court documents that once on the boat, Chris gave her a mixed drink that left her feeling "a sudden, unexplained change in consciousness" and then began to make her feel "disoriented, physically unstable."

The woman then alleged that she "started to fall in and out of sleep" after being "drugged" until Chris reportedly led her to the bedroom. Inside the bedroom, Breezy allegedly removed the woman's bikini bottoms and started kissing her. The accuser said she begged him to stop, but he didn't listen to her and sexually assaulted her.

Responding to the shocking allegations, Chris insisted that it's a lie. "I hope yall see this pattern of [cap] whenever im releasing music or projects," he wrote in an Instagram Story in January, " 'THEY' try to pull some real bulls**t."
In her statement, the former 'The View' co-host says that she is also 'thankful' to the talk show queen for letting her 'fill the gap' on 'The Wendy Williams Show' to support her amid her health issues.

Mar 5, 2022

AceShowbiz - Sherri Shepherd is showing some support to Wendy Williams. The former "The View" co-host says that she's "praying" for "The Wendy Williams Show" host as she gears up to replace the ailing talk show.

"I'm so thankful to Wendy for letting me fill in for her and letting me fill the gap to support her as all the other co-hosts have also done," the 54-year-old host told Deadline at the AAFCA Awards in Hollywood on Wednesday night, March 2. She added, "I'm thankful because if it wasn't for Wendy, the eyes wouldn't have been on me. I'm so thankful to her. We're all praying for her."

"No, [I have not spoken to Wendy personally]. It's not like everybody thinks that in Hollywood, we all have each other's phone numbers," Sherri added. "Wendy knows me because I've sat in as a guest and I guest hosted for her two years ago."

Sherri went on to note that she and Wendy "are not friends." She said, "So it's not like she doesn't know me but we're not friends. I am glad that she trusted me when they asked if I could come in and trusted that I could do it." Asked whether Wendy would appear on her new show "Sherri", she replied, "Of course."

Sherri then revealed her dream guest list. "For the first week, I am wondering what [Oprah Winfrey] is doing? I want to know what Idris Elba is doing and if his wife could part with him for one hot minute," she said, before adding, "Come on, Rege-Jean Page. Hey, Method Man! I want him to come on. 'Michelle Obama, we're both from Chicago. Are you and your husband doing anything that week?' "

Additionally, Sherry told the outlet that she'd always wanted to have her own talk show and she's been preparing for the role for many years. "Ever since I was about five years old, I had a toilet paper roll and my Barbie dolls and teddy bears in a chair in front of me. I was running my mouth. I came out of my momma's womb running my mouth," she said with a laugh.

"My motto is to say yes. Even if it's something that scares me. So when they asked me to co-host, I said absolutely not," Sherri added. "I don't need nobody sitting next to me, I know how to do this by myself. [The whole experience] has really been wonderful."

"The Wendy Williams Show", which has been fronted by a string of guest hosts, including Sherri, Fat Joe, Nick Cannon, Michael Rapaport and other guest hosts since July last year, will officially end in June. However, it's recently reported that Wendy, who allegedly had fired her management team, would "consider legal action against her producers" over the sudden firing.

"Wendy is on sick leave and has basically been fired. This isn't right and Wendy isn't going to take this," a source claimed last month. "She is considering legal action against her producers and is also deciding on what to do about Sherri Shepherd."
Instagram Celebrity

The two suspects allegedly tried to break through the glass window at the real estate agent's Los Angeles home but they cannot get in because the windows are 'so strong.'

Mar 5, 2022

AceShowbiz - "Selling Sunset" star Christine Quinn had a terrifying experience at her Los Angeles home on Thursday, March 4. Taking to her Instagram account, she claimed that some people tried to break into her house, calling it the "most horrifying moment of her life."

Christine shared that she and her husband Christian Richard were asleep when they were awoken by noises. "And the noises started getting louder and louder, and we didn't know what was going on," the real estate agent said.

She later checked the security footage which showed two armed men attempting to break through her glass window. Thankfully, they could get in because their windows are "so strong" and they "have such good security."

Christine shared she "immediately" called the authorities. The officers arrived "within a minute."

"We went into our baby's room and immediately locked the door, and the cops were here instantly," the Netflix star, who welcomed son Christian Georges Dumontet with Richard last May, recounted. "And because the robbers weren't able to break into our house or any of our windows because they're double- triple-paned windows-I mean, we take very serious precautions-they decided to leave and they left."

She went on to say, "This was the most horrifying moment of my life when we're laying in bed and there is two armed men that we're watching on cameras literally four feet from me and my baby sleeping very close to us." The reality TV star added, "And I want people to know to take this very seriously. This stuff does happen in L.A. It's happening all the time, and I don't know what would've happened if they would have been able to get through that glass. Because they would have reached our bedroom and they would have probably shot us."

Following the scary moment, a rep for Christine shared that she and her family are "safe but shaken."

According to the Los Angeles Police Department, two male suspects entered the grounds at around 1:40 a.m. One of them broke the window of the home, and both individuals left the location without entering the house.

The police also confirmed that two people, who were not named, were inside the home at the time of the incident. They called the police after hearing the glass break, but the suspects were gone by the time the police arrived. While no property was taken, a temporary report was filed.
Instagram Celebrity

In a new interview with LVR Magazine, the daughter of the late pop icon Michael Jackson reveals that 'there are a lot of things at play' in Utah boarding schools.

Mar 5, 2022

AceShowbiz - Paris Jackson once again opened up about her traumatic experience at Utah boarding school. When sharing her story in a new interview, the model accused doctors of prescribing "addictive medications" when she attended the reformatory school.

"There are a lot of things at play in those schools," the daughter of the late pop icon Michael Jackson told LVR Magazine. "They can shut down and reopen under a different name to avoid lawsuits, and it depends on how state laws work."

"If a kid decides to call their parents and say, 'Please get me out of here,' the center will likely hang up the phone and call the parents back to say, 'Don't listen to them, they are manipulating you, doing everything they can to get out of here," she added. "Who are you going to listen to, a troubled teen or clinical professional?"

"The Space Between" actress went on to share message to psychiatrists, suggesting that they should be more careful in giving meds to troubled kids. "There should be a better vetting process [in everything]: before you medicate - or something even more dangerous, like selling a gun - you should vet them. It's important in all kinds of situations," she said.

"It could be as simple as a job, or as complicated as medicine or a weapon," Jackson continued. "Psychiatrists hand out addictive medication like candy without really vetting the patient. There is no harm in vetting."

Jackson previously got candid about her boarding school experience when Paris Hilton revealed her own story of physical and mental abuse at another school in the same state. "I went through some very, very similar experiences with those kind of teen places," she told Hilton's mom, Kathy Hilton in an interview for C Magazine. "She's been through a lot and it's amazing to see her come out of the other end ... a diamond."
Fujifilm India Pvt. Ltd., a pioneer in imaging solutions and leader in instant cameras, has launched a special social media campaign titled #WomanOfMyOwn to celebrate the journeys of some of Indias leading women content creators. An initiative on Womens Day, Fujifilm Instaxwill tell the stories of women who showed courage and grit to chase their dreams. This will be done through short videos, aimed to encourage their spirit and inspire others on Womens Day.

The brand has shortlisted 5 remarkable creators from categories including fashion, lifestyle, travel and art. The journeys of creators Naina Modi, Himadri Patel, Jhanvi Bhatt, Urvi Pawani and Lavanya will be showcased through 60-second videos that will include key moments and milestones that they have witnessed over the years. Fujifilm Instax will post this on their Instagram handle, in line with Instaxs ethos of capturing memories instantly only to save them forever.

Besides this, the creators will also be expressing themselves through creative videos related to their areas of expertise such as traveling, dancing, fitness, cooking, or other forms of art, using the hashtag #WomanOfMyOwn and tagging Fujifilm in their posts. This activity will highlight their journey of becoming a woman they are truly proud of.

Speaking about the campaign, Mr. Arun Babu, General Manager, EID, Optical Devices and Instax Division, Fujifilm India, said, Women have broken biases, challenged societal norms and chosen unconventional, bold paths for themselves regardless of what society has thought or spoken about. This campaign is part of our efforts to recognise and salute women who have been relentless forces to reckon with and chosen their passion. They dream unapologetically. Heres to the spirit of all women!

Recently, Instax also introduced a limited-edition Cupid Box for Valentines Day and partnered with leading online creators to celebrate the spirit of love.
SKODA AUTO Volkswagen India Private Limited (SAVWIPL) is celebrating International Women's Day with the rollout of their unique #LicenseToDrive initiative. The #LicenseToDrive initiative is based on the concept of 'mobility enabling freedom.' The initiative is being implemented with a series of communications campaigns, training sessions and on-ground events.

As an organization that is a global leader in mobility solutions, the #LicenseToDrive initiative is a natural fit to mark the International Women's Day celebrations, to encourage the women employees in the organization, who have not been able to for innumerable reasons, commit time and effort towards learning this vital skill.

The initiative was rolled out in January this year. Within a week of the initiative's rollout, almost 100 women employees expressed their interest in participating and getting their #LicensetoDrive.

Phase 1 of the program involved obtaining the Learner's License. SAVWIPL arranged a series of virtual sessions for women employees across locations in February to prepare for the Learner's License examination. SAVWIPL also facilitated the online assessment for Learner's License for its women employees participating in this initiative. The Learner's License will be handed over to the participating women employees at a celebratory event at SAVWIPL to mark International Women's Day celebrations.

SAVWIPL will be rolling out the driver's training program on March 8th to commence phase 2 of the #LicenseToDrive initiative. Each woman employee will be undergoing a month-long driver's training to gain the necessary skills to appear and pass the RTO examination for their Driver's License.

Given below are a few statements that have been shared by women employees of SAVWIPL group who are already driving in the program and are supporting the entire program. These messages have been shared with the participants in form of campaigns to motivate them further.

Driving for me has been a liberating experience! Taking control of your travel plans without being dependent on anyone, not having to wait for the cab driver to cancel, are few things that have been nothing but delightful. The driving need not only be a means to get to a destination, but it could also be a means to unwind after a long day!

Nothing taught me more about the value of driving skills than the pandemic. To be able to drive a car, helped keep my family and me safe. It enabled us to meet my parents, who are old and stay afar, without the fear of spreading the virus, that might come with taking public transport.

I love road trips and for me, nothing comes closer to the experience of driving on highways, taking a weekend break without having to bother about booking tickets, and the pain to plan. To know how to drive empowers you to make choices.

Big bags, small bags, grocery bags, shopping bags, travel bags, and much more

For me, my car defines 'convenience'. I carry what I need and leave the rest in my car, whether I am off for meetings, family functions, shopping, or dropping and picking up my children from school. All in all, driving the car myself, gives me my own privacy.
Alton, IL (62002)

Today

Rain early...then remaining cloudy with showers in the afternoon. High around 65F. Winds ESE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall possibly over one inch..

Tonight

Rain showers in the evening with numerous thunderstorms developing overnight. Low 57F. Winds ESE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 80%.
Telangana government on Saturday issued orders extending age relaxation to Backward Classes as well as physically challenged candidates by 10 more years until 2031. (Photo: Twitter)

HYDERABAD: In a relief to government job aspirants, the Telangana government on Saturday issued orders extending age relaxation to Backward Classes as well as physically challenged candidates by 10 more years until 2031, against 2021 earlier. Thousands of job seekers had crossed the upper age limit as the government had not issued job notifications.

With the state government saying it would issue notifications to fill over 50,000 vacancies in 2022-23, job seekers were worried as there was no clarity whether or not age relaxation would be given.

The upper age limit for government recruitment is 34 years. Candidates from the BC and the physically challenged sections had five-year relaxation. The government issued orders in 2016 relaxing the limit by five more years. These orders were applicable until 2021 but no notifications were issued due to the creating of new districts and creating new zones.

Besides age relaxation, the government extended a few other relaxations to candidates to compensate for the delay in issuing notifications. It also extended exemption from paying exam fees to the Telangana State Public Service Commission (TSPSC) to appear for recruitment exams by 10 more years.
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WINTHROP, Iowa  Trish Cooks passion for the pork industry has always stretched far beyond the borders of her northeast Iowa home.

And now, that passion has her on the cusp of history as she begins her year as president-elect of the Iowa Pork Producers Association. When she takes the gavel in January, Cook will be the first woman to serve as IPPA president.

Im definitely honored to serve, and Im looking forward to representing Iowas pig farmers, she says.

Cook and her husband Aaron farm near here in Buchanan County. They own a 1,200-sow farrow to finish operation, with the sow farm located on their homestead. Finishing barns are all located within a 10-mile radius of the home farm.

They also have their own feed mill and farm 200 acres, buying most of their corn locally.

The Cooks are Master Pork Producers and were named Pork All-Americans in 2011. The couple has been married 27 years, and they have three children  Holly, 24; Spencer, 22; and Kirby, 18.

When we were first married, Aaron worked with his father, and I worked off the farm for 11 years, Cook says. We started to grow, and we saw that as an opportunity for me to stay home with the kids and get more involved in the operation.

She also began to get more involved off the farm. She and Aaron became involved with the county pork producers group in 1995.

That was a great way for us to get involved and meet other pig farmers, she says. Eventually I became part of state committees, and then on IPPAs board of directors.

Cook eventually became part of IPPAs executive committee, serving as vice president of resources in 2021 before being chosen as president-elect two months ago.

I certainly look forward to learning a lot this year, she says. Our new president, Kevin Rasmussen, is a great communicator and Im looking forward to working with him and learning from him.

Cook says there are several issues that will be priorities for IPPA in 2022, including traceability and prepping for a potential foreign animal disease event.

I definitely want to get out and meet producers and find out their concerns, she says. Every farm is unique, but we all have the same goal of providing a safe and healthy food supply.

She appreciates the support of Aaron and her family. Their daughter Holly works as a staff economist for the National Pork Producers Council in Washington, D.C., while Spencer is also pursuing a career in agriculture. Both are Iowa State University graduates, just like their parents.

Kirby is a high school senior, and Cook says he has expressed interest in coming back to the farm after college.

Weve told all our kids that if they want to come back to the farm, the opportunity will be there, she says. Wed love to see that happen.

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CHARLES CITY, Iowa  An argument could be made that the push to get votes for women in the United States got its start on a little farm near Charles City. While Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton were early leaders in the womens suffrage movement, it was Iowan Carrie Chapman Catt who got the job done in 1920.

And Catts story begins with an aha moment on this little farm.

The then 13-year-old Carrie Lane was on her parents farm in 1872 when her father and a hired hand were getting ready to go into town to vote. The girl asked why her mother wasnt going along, and her father informed her that voting was too important to be left up to women.

She did not appreciate that, says Karen Kedrowsky, who now works as the director of the Carrie Chapman Catt Center for Women and Politics at Iowa State University. She thought it was a terrible injustice.

It took a long time, but nearly 50 years later Catt led the effort to pass the 19th Amendment, which finally gave women the right to vote.

The Carrie Chapman Catt Girlhood Home and Museum in Charles City is open to the public during the summer months, from Memorial Day to Labor Day. Catt has also been honored at Iowa State University, where she was the only woman in her graduating class in 1880 and where the Carrie Chapman Catt Center for Women and Politics is located.

Catt was born as Carrie Lane in Wisconsin in 1859. Her family moved to Iowa when she was a child and built the home where she grew up and which is now the museum.

There are childhood stories of Carrie standing up to bullies or asking questions that girls just didnt ask in those days, says Cheryl Erb, co-president of the National 19th Amendment Society in Charles City, which runs the museum. And as Carrie Lane grew up she made it known she wanted to attend college. She taught in a local country school and traveled to Ames to attend Iowa State, working two campus jobs to pay her way.

At the time the men on campus drilled for exercise, marching around the campus. Lane thought the women should be active as well so she organized a G troop of girls to march, carrying brooms instead of guns. She also pushed to get women allowed to be part of a forensic debating club.

She left her mark (at ISU), Kedrowsky says.

After graduation she became a teacher in Mason City, and soon became superintendent of schools there. It was there that she met her first husband, Leo Chapman, who edited the local newspaper. They married and soon he decided to move to San Francisco. She followed later, but by the time she arrived he had died, probably of typhoid. Stuck in San Francisco, she became a newspaper reporter and eventually married George Catt, an engineer whom she had met at Iowa State. It was soon after that she became involved in the womens suffrage movement.

During the 1890s she worked for the vote and met Susan B. Anthony, who pushed her to take over the leadership of the movement. From then until 1920, her lifes work was trying to get the vote for women both in the United States and in other nations.

Once the 19th Amendment was passed, Catt started the League of Women Voters and continued to advocate for womens rights.

In recent years Catts reputation has come under fire as some of her writings and quotes have been called racist. Kedrowsky and Erb dispute that idea.

Most of those statements are taken out of context, Kedrowsky says, noting that Catt was repeatedly pushed to water down the suffrage amendment or to add the word white to it to and she always refused to do so.

What is clear is that Catt was a remarkable woman.

And it is also clear that the seeds of her activism were planted on this little farm on a gravel road in northern Iowa.

The effort to make the farm into a museum is a story in and of itself. It began 30 years ago when Rhoda McCartney, who grew up about seven miles from the historic farm, began working with a local contractor and a preservationist. They formed the National 19th Amendment Society, raised money, and eventually bought the home and a few acres of land. Today they have established a natural prairie and planted apple trees at the farm, in recognition that the Lane family had grown apples on the site.

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For Renee Fordyce, serving on the Missouri Soybean Association board is about using her natural talents to help farmers.

I dont have the strongest voice, but Im a good listener, and if I have something to say, Ill say it, she says.

Fordyce farms with family in Harrison County. Taking care of the land and reducing erosion and runoff have been top priorities on the family farm and also in her work with the soybean association. Fordyce says her husband, Richard, and his dad put in several soil conservation structures on their farm with equipment they had.

We did all of our terracing, all of our tile work through the NRCS to improve our soil conservation, she says.

Another big step in that area has been implementing cover crops on the farm, Fordyce says.

Were really big into cover crops right now, to help with soil health and prevent soil erosion, she says. It helps with weed pressure.

This focus on improving the land helps set up future generations, she says. Fordyce and her husband have two children, Ethan and Emma, both of whom earned agricultural degrees at the University of Missouri.

Like farmers say, I want to leave it better than when I found it, she says.

Fordyce says they also use precision agriculture to get ideal seed population and placement, and make sure they are using inputs as efficiently as possible. She says it is especially important in a time of high input prices.

It seems like theres always a challenge, but farmers find a way to make it work, she says.

Farmers at least have high crop prices to go with the high input costs, but Fordyce knows high prices dont last forever, and events beyond farmers control can shape markets, both higher and lower.

Yesterday and today, if you have some old-crop soybeans to sell, youre smiling pretty good, Fordyce says. Unfortunately, its because of a bad event (war in Ukraine).

Another important area for Fordyce is interacting with consumers and talking about agriculture. She says in an age of so much information available online  and not all of it accurate  it is good for farmers to share their story.

There are new consumers born every day, she says. You cant grow tired of telling your story.

Fordyce says this comes naturally for her husband, who doesnt know a stranger and has been known to talk about farming with people on planes. He has served as Missouri Director of Agriculture and administrator of the USDAs Farm Service Agency. Fordyce says it is important to be kind and authentic when talking about what farmers do.

We have to remember to just stay humble and stay approachable, she says. Its really important just to be who you are, tell the truth, and be smiling and caring.

Fordyce says from their time involved in young farmer groups, to work with state commodity groups and then time in Washington D.C., she and Richard have been able to get to know a lot of interesting people in agriculture. On a busy, snowy February day, she was getting ready for a trip to Washington D.C. for American Soybean Association meetings, and she was looking forward to seeing old friends.

We just have met so many people across the nation, she says. Getting together and renewing those relationships, they understand your struggles and where youre coming from, and they help you solve problems.

Fordyce says she is proud to be able to work on farmers behalf as part of the Missouri Soybean Association board.

Farmers, theyre just great people, she says.

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China's national legislature opens annual session

Xinhua) 09:02, March 05, 2022

The fifth session of the 13th National People's Congress (NPC) opens at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 5, 2022. (Xinhua/Ding Haitao)

BEIJING, March 5 (Xinhua) -- China's national legislature opened its annual session Saturday morning in Beijing.

Xi Jinping and other Chinese leaders attended the opening meeting of the fifth session of the 13th National People's Congress, held at the Great Hall of the People.

The fifth session of the 13th National People's Congress (NPC) opens at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 5, 2022. (Xinhua/Xing Guangli)

The fifth session of the 13th National People's Congress (NPC) opens at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 5, 2022. (Xinhua/Xing Guangli)

The fifth session of the 13th National People's Congress (NPC) opens at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 5, 2022. (Xinhua/Xing Guangli)

Deputies attend the opening meeting of the fifth session of the 13th National People's Congress (NPC) at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 5, 2022. (Xinhua/Jin Liwang)

Deputies attend the opening meeting of the fifth session of the 13th National People's Congress (NPC) at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 5, 2022. (Xinhua/Li Xin)

Journalists work during the opening meeting of the fifth session of the 13th National People's Congress (NPC) at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 5, 2022. (Xinhua/Jin Liwang)

The fifth session of the 13th National People's Congress (NPC) opens at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 5, 2022. (Xinhua/Liu Bin)

The fifth session of the 13th National People's Congress (NPC) opens at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 5, 2022. (Xinhua/Xing Guangli)

The fifth session of the 13th National People's Congress (NPC) opens at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 5, 2022. (Xinhua/Gao Jie)

(Web editor: Xia Peiyao, Liang Jun)
Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao on Friday extended Rs 10 lakh each to the kin of two soldiers from Jharkhand who fell in action at Galwan Valley in Ladakh, during his visit to the state. (Photo: Twitter)

HYDERABAD: Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao on Friday extended Rs 10 lakh each to the kin of two soldiers from Jharkhand who fell in action at Galwan Valley in Ladakh, during his visit to the state. He handed over the cheques along with Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren at the latters camp office in Ranchi.

Rao said he would soon visit Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Punjab and Bihar to hand over cheques to the kin of soldiers who died in Galwan.

The family members of the fallen soldiers thanked Rao for his gesture.

The CM was given a rousing welcome in Jharkhand's capital city. Flexi boards and hoardings were erected at major junctions and along the roads from the Ranchi airport to the Jharkhand Chief Ministers official residence. Rao paid rich tributes to tribal leader and freedom fighter Birsa Munda.
When President Biden gave his State of the Union speech on Tuesday, he opened with a paean to plucky little Ukraine, vowing to help that country with everything short of direct military action. He also pledged to live by our NATO treaty, to defend with troops any incursions into the sovereign territory of any NATO member country. Was this the right thing to do? Perhaps. Was it the smart thing to do? This is very much up in the air.

One of the best books on the Russian way of war  perhaps one of the best war novels of all time  is Tom Clancy's classic Red Storm Rising. In this brilliantly crafted work of fiction, after their largest refinery is sabotaged by terrorists, Russia (AKA the Soviet Union) goes to war for oil. This has the same effect on the Russian economy as the embargo is causing today. As with the war in Ukraine, the result is a destructive non-nuclear land war in Europe that impacts the entire world.

While this casus belli may seem far-fetched, Japan went to war with the Western colonial powers in the Pacific in 1941 because of a crippling embargo. There are similarities between what Japan did  and why  and what Russia seems to be doing today, and lessons there to be learned.

Around that time, President Roosevelt was trying to thread the needle between his desire to support democracy in Europe  along with China and the colonial powers in Southeast Asia, Britain, France, and Holland, while facing down isolationists and "America Firsters" in his own country. Knowing he couldn't muster a majority in Congress to approve an "unprovoked" declaration of war against Germany in Europe and Japan in Southeast Asia, FDR pushed through  by small but vital margins  Lend-Lease, which allowed the U.S. to "loan" weapons of war to countries we supported, and a peacetime draft, which passed Congress by just one vote. He also  not needing legislation  pushed through economic sanctions against Germany and Japan, long before the Americans' war began on December 7, 1941.

Obviously, any economic sanctions against Germany were ineffectual. Imposing them only after the Third Reich invaded Poland on September 1, 1939, followed on September 3 by a declaration of war by Great Britain and France, was a case of too little, too late. Germany did not depend, economically, on imports from the United States, and the Germans had already committed to unrestrained and aggressive warfare.

Sanctions against Japan were another story  one Americans should ponder as we seek to control the Kremlin's aggressive actions.

Beginning in 1937, Japan launched an aggressive war against China, and almost from the start, the U.S. took a strong stance against the Japanese. Earlier, in 1931, Japan had conquered Manchuria, turning it into the puppet state of Manchukuo. The League of Nations  we weren't members, but we certainly supported this action  censured the Empire of Japan, which promptly resigned from the League of Nations. The Japanese then went on to ignore all Western concerns about their arbitrary and unprovoked military land-grab. So, when Japan staged a fake-news "justification" on Beijing's Marco Polo Bridge  which started the war in China in '37  the ideas of sanctioning Japan had already been tried.

Short of war, sanctions seemed like a good idea at the time.

Such sanctions began slowly, a kind of "proportional response," but they built up quickly in response to continued and specific Japanese actions. So when Japan  acting after France had fallen to German invasion  moved troops into northern Indochina (later known as North Vietnam), with airfields in reach of Chinese targets not reachable from other locations, America imposed some initial and painful economic sanctions. This was even though "Vichy France," the rump state that was created after the German conquest  in a kind of "shotgun wedding"  gave its "permission" to Japan to move in. Japan ignored these early sanctions, but international tensions mounted. This led to desultory "peace talks" between the U.S. and Japan, talks that ran right up until December 7, 1941.

The real sanctions  the ones that hurt  were imposed in the summer of 1941. On July 24, Japan moved its army into southern Indochina (later South Vietnam). This seemed clearly to be in preparation for launching invasions of British colonial Malaya, home of the world's chief source of rubber  including Singapore  as well as an invasion of Holland's oil-rich Dutch East Indies and America's commonwealth, the Philippines. At that time, Japan  always resource-poor  felt it needed access to oil and minerals from the Indies, as well as rubber and ferrous metals from the British colonies of Malaya and Burma. Cam Ranh Bay, a major port in French Indochina, was located just 800 miles from the Philippines and 800 miles from the British bastion in Singapore.

Two days after Japan acted, FDR froze  by executive order  all Japanese assets in the U.S. When that didn't force Japan's immediate withdrawal from its newly occupied territories, on August 1, Roosevelt embargoed sales of strategic materials to Japan. Britain and the Dutch East Indies followed suit. It's clear that Roosevelt knew how dependent Japan was on U.S. exports, though perhaps he didn't appreciate this fact quite well enough.

At that time, Japan got 80 percent of its crude oil from America and another 8 percent from the Dutch East Indies. This oil was strategically vital to power the Imperial Japanese Navy. America was also the source of virtually 100 percent of Japan's refined, high-octane aviation fuel, so essential to its Army and Navy Air Forces. In addition, Roosevelt embargoed all scrap iron shipped to Japan. Not widely known, then or now, scrap iron was essential to Japan's domestic steel industry. This steel was used for making guns, tanks, and armored naval ships.

Japan was, at that time, a country ruled by a military dictatorship, one that had already amply demonstrated its aggressive intentions in China, Manchuria, and French Indochina. Under this dictatorship, Japan had to make a critical decision. For instance, Japan had oil stored at home sufficient for just three years of normal operations  but less than half that should war be declared. Other strategic materials  ferrous metals, rubber, high-octane aircraft fuel  were also in short supply. America knew this, and devoutly hoped Japan would do the "right thing" and back off, rather than pay the economic price of critical shortages.

Rather than acquiesce to America's demands and cave in to our embargoes, Japan chose to fight. Pearl Harbor, along with the invasions of Malay, Singapore, Burma, the Dutch East Indies, and the Philippines, were the immediate and direct result of those embargoes. Japan's leaders knew the risk, but they told themselves they'd rather be destroyed in an honorable but unwinnable war than give in to demands of a dishonorable peace. In essence, in trying to punish Japan for its aggression, FDR miscalculated, pushing proud Japan into a war it couldn't win. That war eventually took 30 million lives  nearly double those lost in the war against Germany.

That was in 1941. Today, America is again taking the lead in pushing ruinous sanctions against a proud and uncontrolled invader, Russia. As we tried to protect China and Southeast Asia in 1941 through sanctions, we are now trying to protect Ukraine  and possibly other countries whose territory was once part of Imperial Russia or the Soviet Union  using the same tactics.

Will the Kremlin meekly back down in the face of such sanctions? That remains an unknown. While Japan in '41 had a superb navy, army and air force, it was too weak, and too far away, to present a truly existential danger to America. However, Russia has one of the world's largest stockpiles of nuclear weapons, along with the aircraft and missiles needed to deliver them  strategically  to literally any place on Earth. The Russians do present an existential threat to any nation bold enough to defy them.

Is this the right gamble? Is brave little Ukraine worth risking our national existence? Perhaps it is  but that's for others to decide. What is concerning is that in making this gamble, President Biden may not be aware of the real risk. Perhaps he should read up on what happened in 1941 when Japan's Prime Minister Tojo and Emperor Hirohito called FDR's bluff.

Ned Barnett is a military historian focusing on the 19th and 20th centuries. He's been the on-camera historian for nine History Channel programs, back when the History Channel actually covered history. He also wrote  for Newsweek Japan  an article justifying the use of atomic weapons to force a swift end to the war, saving 10 million Japanese lives in the process. Founder of Barnett Marketing Communications and on the board of Path To Publishing, Barnett focuses on helping writers become successfully published, from coaching, editing and ghost-writing to publishing and promotion designed to profitably sell books. He can be reached at nedbarnett51@gmail.com, or 702-561-1167.

Image via Picryl.
If you have been troubled by the rapidly declining claims for the efficacy of the COVID vaccines and boosters or by the rapidly rising reports of problems with the vaccines and the boosters, you might be interested to know how it came about that COVID did not panic chiropractors. It's a fascinating story, and I was privileged to learn it firsthand.

I enrolled in chiropractic college just in time to get a powerful lesson in one chapter of that amazing story. A contingent of students who had completely recovered from childhood polio under chiropractic care enrolled around the same time I did. They were in my class and in classes before and after my class. To hear their stories of what chiropractic adjustments had done for them became part of my chiropractic education. They helped me in another way, too: their conviction about the power of chiropractic adjustments helped me make the transition from a student to a doctor capable of meeting the enormous challenges of chiropractic practice. They were inspired and determined to be great chiropractors, and they inspired me, too.

The old-timers, just then passing out of the profession, had similar tales about an earlier epidemic. Chiropractic, officially born in 1895, was still very new, and there were few chiropractors when the Spanish Flu hit in 1918. But chiropractic adjustments worked for victims of the Spanish Flu just as they were later to do for polio victims. Medicine had little to offer, so people tried chiropractic, and those who did spread the word.

This is when political medicine discovered chiropractic and set out to strangle it in the crib. You have not read about chiropractic and polio, and you won't read about chiropractic and the Spanish Flu elsewhere, either, but I learned about it, as we say, from the horse's mouth. I met senior chiropractors who had gone to jail for practicing chiropractic, men whose sacrifices paved the way for the much easier path my classmates and I were to travel. All of those heroic pioneers I met were inspired by their personal knowledge of the complete recovery of victims of the Spanish Flu who were fortunate enough to be treated by chiropractors.

Chiropractic did not then and does not today have a treatment for the Spanish Flu or for polio. Chiropractic does not treat conditions. The aim of chiropractic is always the same  restoring the patient to health by means of chiropractic adjustments. The purpose of chiropractic adjustments is to enable the patient's natural healing response.

In my first year in practice, one of my patients showed up for his appointment in terrible anguish. He had just been told that his girlfriend had only hours to live. She was in a coma and in intensive care at the nearby hospital. I was listening to his outpouring of grief when he suddenly asked me if I thought I could help.

Later that day, an ambulance pulled up in front of my office. The young woman was brought into the office on a gurney. She was still in a coma. The ambulance attendants placed her on an adjusting table, her mother took a chair next to her in the treatment room, and my associate and I took turns adjusting her in between adjusting our regularly scheduled patients. We each adjusted her several times in the course of the day. The astonishing sight of a girl in a coma arriving in an ambulance was passed down by word of mouth in the reception room, so all the patients that afternoon knew the story.

When, toward the end of the day, she walked out of the treatment room, the waiting patients leaped to their feet, cheering and applauding. The next day, she came for a normal appointment, driven by her mother; the following day, she came on her own.

This was a great learning experience for me  it taught me a deep lesson in what we chiropractors refer to as chiropractic courage  but my greatest leap in understanding chiropractic happened when I was only a student. A profoundly accomplished doctor had generously invited me to "assist" him in his practice. I took patient histories, recorded exam findings, and made treatment records. Early on, I took the history of a terribly ill young woman who had recently been told by doctors at the Mayo Clinic that there was nothing that could be done for her, that she should get her affairs in order and prepare for the end of her life. She had originally set out on her path to many doctors and eventually the Mayo Clinic because of two hideous lesions, one in her upper arm and one in her buttock on the opposite side.

She was a blessing to me. I had been taught that chiropractors treat patients, not conditions, but I did not understand what that meant, not really. She taught me to understand what I had been taught.

After a period of care, I again took her history in preparation for her re-exam. The lesions were gone, replaced by a smooth, normal contour and new, pink skin  but that was not what struck me, and that was not what was important. Instead of the shockingly ill person I had first met, I was interviewing an attractive young woman with a vivacious personality. Chiropractic care had restored her to health. I understood then that her health, not the terrible lesions, had been the focus of her care all along.

Ask a chiropractor if he treats diabetes, and the doctor will no doubt tell you no. How about ulcers? No. Asthma? No again. What then do you treat, doctor? I treat patients  patients with diabetes, patients with ulcers, patients with asthma. But whether the patient's problem is great or small, the goal of the chiropractor is always the same: health restored, and restored by the perfectly natural method of chiropractic adjustments, without recourse to drugs or surgery.

And by the way, that method is American through and through. It was discovered and developed right here in America.

Robert Curry is the author of Reclaiming Common Sense: Finding Truth in a Post-Truth World and Common Sense Nation: Unlocking the Forgotten Power of the American Idea. Both are published by Encounter Books.

Image: Lparis22 via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0 (cropped).
It is hard not to be deeply shaken by the unfolding tragedy in Ukraine. Terrible though it may be, it was not, however, unexpected. By taking matters into his own hands, Vladimir Putin did what he had warned he would do in the years leading up to this crisis. Putin has always made it clear that NATO in Ukraine was a red line for Russia. Having realized that his concerns would never be properly addressed by his western counterparts, Putin decided to take radical action to stop the alliances expansion.

The Ukrainian people have already paid a heavy price, which will almost certainly grow much greater if this conflict is allowed to continue. And even though there is now no intention among the players involved to broaden the field of military operations, there is always a very real danger of escalation as these kinds of contingencies tend to be highly unpredictable.

There is, however, an easy way to put an end to this calamitous situation. This can be done by western guarantee that Ukraine will stay militarily neutral for the foreseeable future.

This is the only reasonable and moral course to take under present circumstances.

It is important to acknowledge the hard reality that Ukraine will not become part of NATO anytime soon. Vladimir Putin has made it sufficiently clear that he is not going to allow this to happen, and he is willing to fight to the death over this issue. It is not a fight we want to get pulled into, not least because America does not have a vital national interest in Ukraine as such, much less in Ukraine being part of NATO. That by itself should suffice to keep us from confronting Putin over this matter.

Ukraine has never been part of NATO. Have we suffered some hardship, danger, distress, disadvantage, or loss because of it? Things were just fine for us  as well as the rest of the world  with Ukraine not being in NATO. Why should we now suddenly risk a conflict with Russia over Ukraines entry into that organization?

We also need to keep in mind that if we should foolishly engage Putin in some kind of military fashion, such a clash could easily escalate into a nuclear exchange which would almost certainly end in mutual annihilation or something close to it.

By guaranteeing Ukraines military neutrality, we would not lose anything we did not have before. The fact is that for much of their history Ukrainian territories have either been part of Russia or within Russian sphere of influence. Ukraine has never been an integral part of the western military apparatus. To insist that it becomes part of it at this point in time is irresponsible and reckless.

By agreeing to Ukraine not being part of NATO, nothing would be taken away from us. We would neither be militarily weakened, nor would we be impoverished economically. Ukraines absence from NATO does not put us in any worse position than we were a week ago, a year ago or a decade ago. Has Ukraine not being in NATO ever been a serious problem for us?

Everything considered, the status quo has been very good. Since the fall of the Berlin Wall nearly thirty-three years ago, most of Europe felt safer than ever before. It is difficult to remember any period in history when the majority of Europeans felt so safe and secure. This happy state of affairs, however, has been needlessly undermined by the notion of expanding NATO all the way to Russias lengthy border with Ukraine. It is because of this misguided idea and the insensitivity with which it has been pursued that large areas of Europe now justifiably fear the possibility of war. Europe suddenly does not feel so safe and stable anymore.

It is, however, not only the safety of Europe that has been deeply shaken. Americans should start worrying too as Putin has begun rattling his nuclear sabre. We have all heard that he has placed Russias nuclear armaments on high alert. What you have probably not heard is that the other day a Russian nuclear submarine suddenly emerged off the coast of the United States. It apparently arrived there undetected by U.S. tracking systems. This submarine carries 150 nuclear warheads. Just the payload of this one Russian underwater craft could end the United States as we know it.

Given that Ukraine is not of vital national interest to America, we need to seriously ask ourselves this question: Do we want to be potentially annihilated over the issue of Ukrainian NATO membership?

The expansion of NATO to the Russian border is an overreach by western globalists. Seeking to tip the existing balance of power between the West and Russia, it is a provocation that could not but invite a response. John F. Kennedy was seen as a national hero by his firm stand against the Soviet Union when it sought to establish a military base in Cuba. Cuba does not even have border with the United States and our capital is much further from the edge of that country than Moscow is from the Ukrainian border. And yet we could have not tolerated Soviet presence on that island.

When Putin pleaded with and then warned NATO not to seek a similar arrangement for Ukraine, he was haughtily dismissed by western elitists such as Joe Biden and NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg, former Prime Minister of Norway. And now they claim they are shocked and repulsed by Russias actions. They are either naive or disingenuous. I suspect that latter is the case.

Keeping Ukraine neutral does not mean that Ukraine will somehow be lost to the West. It will continue to be a part of the global community and member of many of its organizations, associations and arrangements. Ukraines international situation will be as it was before.

It also does not mean that Ukraine may not be able to eventually enter the western military alliance. The neutrality agreement can include provisions that would allow for this issue to be revisited and renegotiated at some point in the future.

Be that as it may, it is highly irresponsible now to insist that Ukraine retain the option of joining the alliance in the short or medium term, because the Russians have made it amply clear that they will simply not allow this to occur. This is the red line for them, which is something we should respect, especially since their position is not at all unreasonable. We must understand that the Russians feel the same about NATO in Ukraine as we would feel about a Russian base in Cuba.

The world is on the edge now and the Ukrainian people are experiencing the agony of suffering and death. They stand no chance against the onslaught of the much superior Russian forces, which have been so far acting with relative restraint. Contrary to what we have been hearing from the media, Putin has been trying to minimize the loss of life. Once the Russians switch into full fire mode, however, the Ukrainian people will be dying by tens of thousands.

This can be prevented by granting Ukraine military neutrality.

We must seek peace in the world and cessation of the suffering of the Ukrainian people. It would be immoral not to act this way, especially because we do not have to give up anything that we had before.

Not agreeing to Ukraines neutrality will cause untold suffering to the brave people of Ukraine in a war they cannot win. It also runs the risk of a wider military confrontation with potential for a nuclear flare up.

To pursue anything other than peace in this situation would be an act of great moral, human and strategic failure.

Graphic credit: revzack public domain

Vasko Kohlmayer was born and grew up in former communist Czechoslovakia, from which he defected. You can follow his writings by subscribing to his Substack newsletter Notes from the Twilight Zone. He is the author of The West in Crisis: Civilizations and Their Death Drives.
The economic sanctions and boycotts directed at Putins Russia have been and will continue to be a complete failure. They may cause an economic slowdown in Russia, even a significant one. Aeroflot may stop flying outside the country. The French may seize the oligarchs floating brothels disguised as yachts, and Putins mistresses may miss their latest designer gowns from the Paris fashion shows. At the corner grocery store in Moscow, the shelves may be more even bare than usual. The sanctions will be successful only in that way. But these sanctions will not stop one bullet from being fired in Ukraine or prevent another kilometer of Ukrainian territory from being seized. Thats all that counts and, in that way, these sanctions are and will be a total failure.

But there is a way to turn the Russian invasion around in seven days. In less than a week, we could send Putins platoons back down the muddy roads to Russia, licking their wounds as they go. It will not necessitate American boots on the ground. And if Mr. Putin objects, its simply a technique he and his predecessors perfected over the years.

In 1939, the world faced a power-hungry, territory-taking gangster-dictator just as we do now. The United States wanted to help Great Britain fight Hitler, but our misguided neutrality laws forbade it. So, President Roosevelt found a way around that law by trading 50 old American destroyers in exchange for the American Navys use of the port of Bermuda. It was called the Lend-Lease program. The American destroyers, crewed by Brits, with a few American consultants on board, helped break the back of Hitlers U-boat flotillas.

After Hitler invaded Russia in June 1941, long before the United States was officially in the war, we supplied Stalin with the equipment Russia needed to fight the German onslaught. Rather than claiming we were lending the tanks, guns, and planes to Russia, we freely admitted they were gifts. In the final tally, we sent Russia almost 425,000 jeeps and trucks, 14,000 airplanes, and 13,000 tanks. Much of it came to Mother Russias rescue before Pearl Harbor.

So, theres no doubt Russia accepts the precedent of accepting military aid from a noncombatant country. But knowing it is more blessed to give than receive, they reversed the concept in the 1960s. North Vietnamese pilots flew Russian airplanes to shoot down American airmen. Russian missiles were shot at those who were not shot down by Russian aircraft. Russia gave the North Vietnamese thousands of artillery pieces and tanks, millions of rounds of ammunition, and virtually everything else the North Vietnamese requested. The bayonet on the end of the AK-47 that penetrated my knee was undoubtedly made by the happy workers at Kalashnikov Commune #43 or some similar Russian factory.

The practice continues in the Middle East today. The Russians actively arm the Iranians, the PLO and their Hamas brothers, and the Houthi rebels trying to close the southern end of the Suez Canal. We recently intercepted an ocean-going ship packed with the latest Russian weapons from bow to stern, keel to mast.

After seeing Americas army and its honor abandoned in Kabul, many American senior military officers are willing to share their dissatisfaction and ideas for defeating Putins army.

The concept is straightforward. We employ the same technique Russia accepted and used for decades. But in this case, the weapon we supply to the Ukrainians can make any Russian offensive untenable. Officially its the M39A1 missile. Its known to the troops as the B-BAM. The two Bs stand for Big and Bad, and the M equals Missile. Ill let you figure out the A.

Image: Russian-made PT76 tank at Ben Het, Vietnam. Public domain.

The B-BAM rides to battle on the back of a tank-like vehicle. Each transporter carries two missiles. Those very accurate GPS-navigated missiles can be ready to fire moments after the transporter pulls off the road. They have a range of up to 300 km, but its what they do when they get to the target thats really interesting.

Rather than having one big warhead, the M39A1 carries 300 small bomblets. As the missile descends on the target, the nosecone separates. This spreads the bomblets over a wide target area. The small bombs dont create the huge explosions you currently see on cable TV. But those 300 small explosions are perfect for destroying equipment and disabling vehicles. And yes, since Civil War General Sherman already told us War Is Hell, we must admit they do a great job of killing or wounding enemy soldiers.

The U.S. Army has an ample supply of these missiles and their transporters in Germany. They can easily be driven to the Poland-Ukraine border and turned over to the Ukrainian Army. There would be no need for American soldiers to accompany them past the border. Of course, the rockets contractor, Lockheed Martin, or whatever Blackwater calls itself this year, could always include some ubiquitous civilian technical advisors to help the Ukrainians. Most of them would probably be retired U.S. Army missile men. As dedicated as the Ukrainians are, we certainly wouldnt want them aiming the B-BAMs in the wrong direction!

The targets would not just be the front-line Russian infantry soldiers. Many of them are dug in, ready for battle. The best targets would be Russian artillery and missile positions, rear area supply depots, and, most importantly, the supply system itself. That 40-mile-long convoy stalled north of Kyiv is a target-rich environment.

Armor-heavy invasion forces such as Putin is employing have one weak point: They cant leave enough troops behind to guard their supply lines. Without those supplies, the blitzkrieg soon grinds to a halt. As an example, it was the German and Italian navys inability to supply Rommel across the Mediterranean that led to the loss of the Africa Corps. Rommels soldiers were well trained and very brave. They were also very hungry and critically low on ammunition. Robert E. Lee surrendered only after Union forces destroyed the ammunition and food he needed to continue.

We are either going to help the Ukrainians win by giving them the weapons that can decide this war or we are going to let Putin gobble up that country. In the immediate aftermath, China would green light taking Taiwan. If Kyiv falls, Putin will continue his march west as soon as his Russian army is rested and resupplied. He wants Estonia, Lithuania, and Latvia so badly he can already taste the Latvian delicacy, cranberry pudding, when he licks his lips.

I know the most useless desktop accessory in Washington is a crystal ball. But in this case, there is no need to guess Putins intentions. He has made it painfully evident for years that he wants to re-create Rodinia, Imperial Mother Russia. Sanctions will not stop him nor will the small-scale individual antitank weapons we are supplying.

This is not a time for fancy-pants diplomacy. This is a gunfight. If youre going to a gunfight, you had better bring the biggest gun you can find (short of nuclear), and ours is the B-BAM.

How will the world community react? Winners write the history books.

Ed Sherdlu is the pen name of a former CBS television network reporter. He uses a pen name because his mother would be so embarrassed to know that Ed's 12-Step Journalism Recovery Program had been a failure.
British deputy high commissioner for AP and Telangana Dr Andrew Fleming saw the performance of the technology live at the GHCCD here on Saturday. (Photo: Twitter)

VISAKHAPATNAM: An artificial intelligence (AI) enabled technological system that assesses a patients respiratory diseases including Covid-19 and tuberculosis brought successful results after being tried out at the Government Hospital for Chest and Communicable Diseases (GHCDC) attached to Andhra Medical College (AMC).

This cough sound-based AI technology is helpful for doctors and patients. This will reduce the immense burden on the hospital as well. Further experiments on the extension of the technology for other lung ailments like asthma, bronchitis and COPD are underway.

At present, X-rays, CT scans and other pulmonary tests which depend on laboratories decide the health status of lungs. But under this AI system, the patient can save money and time by not undergoing all those tests.

Salcit Technologies, called Swaasa, developed the AI platform to analyse lung health by taking inputs like cough sounds, temperature, oxygen saturation and symptoms.

Speaking to Deccan Chronicle, the Centre for Cellular and Molecular Platforms (C-CAMP) associate programme lead Dr Niranjan Joshi said that the UK and India jointly created the new innovation in the battle to contain Covid-19 and TB.

This technology allows a patient to cough into a mobile phone and through the power of AI receive an accurate medical assessment of their ailment. That allows doctors and patients to determine whether further tests might be needed and to monitor ongoing cases while saving time and money for everyone, Joshi said.

British deputy high commissioner for AP and Telangana Dr Andrew Fleming saw the performance of the technology live at the GHCCD here on Saturday. This is our next success after UK-India Astra-Zeneca vaccine collaboration for containing the Covid-19. I also took the test and received results on the spot within minutes, Fleming said.

At present, more than 4.3 crore people suffered from Covid-19 in the country wherein five lakh plus people succumbed to the deadly disease. India also has the highest TB burden in the world, recording close to 2.64 million TB cases and 75,000 plus deaths in 2019. A huge percentage of these cases also come from underdeveloped, remote areas without proper access to healthcare services, Joshi told this newspaper.

Click on Deccan Chronicle Technology and Science for the latest news and reviews. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter.
Elon Musk is a visionary, a capitalist, an extreme environmentalist (after all, his goal is to put everyone in an electric car), and someone who refuses to follow the standard path of becoming a bossy leftist billionaire. Instead, Musk will go his own way, pushing back against the leftist shibboleths that control his class. Perhaps that's why Musk has announced that, even though it goes against both his interests and beliefs, it's time for America to get back into the business of producing oil and gas.

America's billionaires are pack animals: they're all leftists who want to use technology to bring Americans to a glorious new age of being completely controlled by these billionaires and their college-indoctrinated minions. Musk, who is currently richer by far than the rest of these guys (he's worth close to $300 billion), is a renegade from that herd.

What makes Musk really stand out from the billionaire herd is his tweet habit. Like Trump before him, Musk tweets out what he thinks. Instead of vague leftist platitudes and virtue-signaling, he tells it like it is. And sometimes he asks questions, such as asking the internet whether he should sell 10% of his Tesla stock.



Image: Elon Musk (edited). YouTube screen grab.

One of the ways Musk endeared himself to me is his practice of ridiculing the idiocy that so often emanates from Sen. Elizabeth Warren, one of my least favorite law professors from the old days, before she found the Native American within and headed off to Harvard. Thus, when Elizabeth Warren stated that Musk pays "zero" in taxes (in fact, he paid over $11 billion in 2021) and Jeff Bezos pays less than a schoolteacher would, Bezos ignored her. Musk, however, struck back:

Will visit IRS next time Im in DC just to say hi, since I paid the most taxes ever in history for an individual last year. Maybe I can have a cookie or something   Elon Musk (@elonmusk) February 20, 2022

He's not always endearing. Early this year, conservatives and decent people were disgusted to learn that Musk was building a showroom in Xinjiang, where the Chinese are interning Uyghurs:

NEW: Tesla announced the opening of its first store in Xinjiang on New Years Eve. U.S. says the Chinese government is conducting an ongoing genocide against Uyghur Muslims there & Biden signed the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act just before Christmas.https://t.co/mmvNc9GmwS  Jerry Dunleavy (@JerryDunleavy) January 3, 2022

I suspect that the reason for his decision about China is that, as I said, Musk is an environmental extremist, and China is the world's biggest polluter. If I'm correct, Musk puts cleaning China's air ahead of a few million Uyghurs any day. Musk redeemed himself, though, by getting his Starlink internet service to Ukraine to ensure that the Ukrainians could continue to communicate among themselves and with the outside world.

Musk's latest tweet is important insofar as it reveals a realist who understands that there are bigger things than profit and even environmentalism.

As everyone with a few brain cells knows, we have funded Putin's war. That's because one of Biden's first acts as president was to shut down the Keystone pipeline and to end oil and gas leases on federal land. Biden also enacted other executive rules aimed at slowing down production. In one year, America went from being energy self-sufficient and a net oil exporter to being dependent on foreign oil...especially Russian oil.

Thanks to Biden's acts, two things happened at home and abroad: prices went up as supplies went down, and Putin, who presides over what's essentially a huge gas station with a declining population and a nuclear arsenal, suddenly had money rolling in. Meanwhile, Biden has announced that he absolutely will not do anything to sanction Russia's oil sales.

Musk responded to this news by blowing up a little Twitter bomb:

Obviously, this would negatively affect Tesla, but sustainable energy solutions simply cannot react instantaneously to make up for Russian oil & gas exports.  Elon Musk (@elonmusk) March 5, 2022

And that's why people like Elon Musk.
As a retired oilfield training engineer, I have traveled to 38 different countries. I have worked in Russia and China. I have never been in Ukraine, but I have been in Romania, which is just across the border. Not once in my travels to these countries has any of their citizens come to me and said, "We love Americans and want them to like us. To promote greater friendship with America, we make American visitors feel welcome. To do so, we give them large sums of money. We would like to give you three million dollars. Yours is in this package. We hope you enjoy it and remember your friends here."

It's different when you're Hunter Biden. Hunter, who had little or no experience in management and none in the oil industry, went to Ukraine, and a Ukrainian oil company instantly hired him with a salary of eighty thousand dollars a month. While Hunter was there, thenvice president of the United States Joe Biden happened to notice that the Ukrainian government was investigating the oil company his son worked for. Joe felt that the investigation was unfair and brought pressure on the Ukrainians to stop and fire the investigators.

Next, Hunter happened to make friends with some Russians and meet the Moscow mayor's wife. Hunter, who is an outgoing man, impressed her. She felt sorry for him having to struggle through life on eighty thousand dollars a month, so she reached in her purse and handed him three million dollars. She didn't have any spools of thread in her purse, so there were no strings attached.

Back home, Hunter's Daddy Joe was getting ready to make a trip to China. There was plenty of room on the plane, so he asked Hunter to join him on the trip. Hunter, thinking the trip would give him the opportunity to have a few drinks and an authentic Peking duck dinner, gladly accepted the offer. While Hunter was walking around looking in the Forbidden City, he happened to meet some Chinese who out of kindness gave him thirty million dollars.



Image: Biden's inauguration. (Note: It's extremely difficult to find videos of Joe and Hunter together.) YouTube screen grab.

Hunter told friends that he gave half of the money to his dad, the "Big Guy." The Big Guy, though, has said he didn't know anything about Hunter's business operations. As the father of two engineers who make decent salaries, I believe I'd start asking questions if either one of them came to me and said, "Dad, I've really been lucky and made a lot of money. I want to give you a few million dollars." Of course, Joe is a bit senile, so it may not have occurred to him to ask where the money came from.

Now let's update the Biden experience. Putin started moving troops to the Ukrainian border, and it looked as if he was planning a military operation against Ukraine. We don't know if Biden asked Putin to stop the operation or not, but he didn't have sufficient influence to get Putin to stop.

In his next move, Biden went to his friends the Chinese, who are on good terms with the Russians, and asked them to talk Putin out of invading Ukraine. The Chinese, who would not be affected by a Russian military operation in Ukraine, promptly went to Putin and told him that Biden had told them he wouldn't do much about it if Putin invaded Ukraine.

Now Putin has invaded Ukraine, and Biden hasn't done anything that could be regarded as more than a slap on the wrist, and people can't understand why. Here's why: Biden can't do anything: because he has painted himself into a corner. If he makes any serious moves affecting either Russia or Ukraine, there are three nations that have the ability to air the dirty laundry about how the Biden family gained its wealth. This would lead to Bidens's impeachment and several members of his family going to prison.
Putin is crazy like a fox. His obsession with power and control has been evident for many years. He has sensed Western democratic leaders' weakness and passivity. He and his evil twin Xi of China have teamed up to make their power moves to control the world's economy and eventually our Western democracies in the long run of history. Putin's and Xi's chess moves are done over decades, and they chortle at America's election cycles.

Biden's weakness demonstrated in the disastrous retreat from Afghanistan has been the historical inflection point of the Putin-Xi power moves. Putin was also pleased at Biden's destruction of American energy independence. Iran's poker-playing defeat of Biden regarding the imminent bogus Iran nuclear deal will add a third member of the new cold war axis of evil.

Many media pundits have raised the question of Putin's sanity. A perennial problem in applied psychiatry is blurring the important difference between a destructive malignant personality disorder with psychopathic traits like Vladimir Putin and a paranoid schizophrenic or bipolar psychotic person.

Psychiatrists know that malignant personality disorders like Putin's can regress into depression and even paranoid non-schizophrenic psychosis. After Putin's personal phobia about contracting COVID and his related isolation, Putin is showing evidence of personality changes, as observed by authorities like Dr. Condi Rice. The ultimate danger is Putin's godlike grandiosity and ambition. Western democracies in NATO who attempt "soft power of diplomacy" without firm military power to back it up proceed at their peril. Sly foxes when cornered get exponential in their viciousness.

Peter A. Olsson, M.D. is a retired professor of psychiatry.

Image: Vladimir Putin via Flickr, CC BY 3.0.
All the president's woes stem from the Biden Doctrine. Whether we are speaking of a lack of deterrence in Ukraine, a potential loss of that country to Russia, the failure to control the border, or soaring crime in the inner cities, at the bottom of it all is the philosophy behind the Biden Doctrine.

So what is it? Last April, President Biden laid down the doctrine during his Arlington Cemetery Address:

How many more generations of America's daughters and sons would you have me send to fight Afghans? How many more lives  American lives  is it worth? How many endless rows of headstones at Arlington National Cemetery?

Biden doubled down during his State of the Union address, saying, "Let me be clear: our forces are not engaged and will not engage in conflict with Russian forces in Ukraine."

This reveals the essence of the Biden Doctrine. In its general form, the doctrine holds that the rights and interests of the individual must supersede those of the group.

In security policy, for example, the doctrine prioritizes the fate of individual soldiers over national interest. This is a liberal perspective that discounts the national welfare as a whole, and it serves both socialist and libertarian agendas.

The libertarian side considers the military to be hierarchical and oppressive by nature and, once the fighting starts, even volunteer soldiers are being asked to make unreasonable commitments  that is, potentially paying with their lives. The socialist view accepts not only this premise, but that soldiers will tend to come from a politically powerless poor or middle class, with the rich and well educated exhorting their social inferiors to a war that they themselves would not fight. From the socialist perspective, war is a patriarchal, capitalist exploitation of the vulnerable classes.

If liberalism is about the rights of the individual, conservatism is about the rights of the group (as I regularly note). For the group to survive, some of its members must be delegated to its protection and, in doing so, put their lives on the line. This may be voluntary, but, historically, armies are conscripted. National interest calls for the group to coerce some of its members, principally fighting-age men, to defend the country.

Nowhere is the conflict between liberal and conservative ideologies more acute than in this arena. Ordering soldiers to a conflict is profoundly illiberal, in that individuals are conscripted to fight and possibly die while the rest of society may hardly notice. Such has been the case in every U.S. conflict since the Civil War: soldiers fought and died while civilian life went on, since World War II, essentially undisturbed.

This creates an understandable rancor in those forced to fight and for families seeing their boys put in harm's way. As one irate reader wrote to me:

When are you leaving? Will you go fight and lay down your life for Ukraine and NATO? As long as someone else's neck is on the line, got it. Take a hike.

These are hard words, deeply felt. Nevertheless, limiting policy discussions to those who are directly involved in fighting is unworkable. The Washington political and defense establishment would be entirely unable to dispatch soldiers. Joe Biden would have to don a flak jacket and man the Kyiv barricades before weighing in on NATO strategy. Such a requirement would create paralysis and equate to unilateral disarmament as a practical matter.

Image: Joe Biden (edited). YouTube screen grab.

And yet, that is exactly what the Biden administration has done. It has unilaterally disarmed the United States. That is the Biden Doctrine, the same sentiment as my reader above: that the individual lives of U.S. military personnel should take absolute precedence over national security interests. We will not fight if our soldiers could be hurt.

Those rulers bent on conquest, notably Russia's President Putin and Chinese President Xi, will interpret the Biden Doctrine as a green light for invasion to the extent that ex-post sanctions look like an acceptable price to pay. The math worked for President Putin. The Biden Doctrine has proven itself unable to deter invasion and provides no military remedy once the conflict has started, as is the situation in Ukraine today.

Even worse, the doctrine has encouraged President Putin not only to start a European war, but also to threaten nuclear strikes. A focus on preventing battlefield deaths at all costs leaves the U.S. vulnerable to nuclear extortion. Nuclear threats make sense when the opponent is easy to intimidate, and the Biden Doctrine is pre-emptive self-intimidation. Unfortunately, such threats involve placing nuclear forces on alert  as President Putin has  thereby materially increasing the risk of nuclear war.

Biden's policy has proved an unqualified disaster, both at home and in Ukraine. Until the president changes tack, Russia and China will continue to test our resolve in ever-escalating confrontations.

To avert catastrophe, the president must abandon the Biden Doctrine.

Steven Kopits is the president of Princeton Policy Advisors.
The Ukraine war is at the front of the news, and all of a sudden, to take the headline words of James Freeman's Wall Street Journal column, it's springtime for the Clintons.

Something is going on. Something stinks here. Something's raining.

According to The Hill:

The Clinton Foundation is reconvening its Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) to address "steep" challenges it after previously ended in 2016, former President Clinton said in a statement on Friday. The need for "cooperation and coordination has never been more urgent than it is now. The COVID-19 pandemic has ripped the cover off of longstanding inequities and vulnerabilities across our global community. The existential threat of climate change grows every day," Clinton wrote. "Democracy is under assault around the world, most glaringly in Ukraine where Russia has launched an unjustified and unprovoked invasion that has put millions of lives in grave danger. The number of displaced people and refugees worldwide is higher than it has ever been  more than one in 95 of all people alive on the planet today has been forced to flee their home  and rising," he continued. The initiative is slated to run from Sept. 19 to 21 in New York City.

Freeman himself looks upon this with the skepticism it merits, citing a Bloomberg report by Jennifer Epstein:

Since the start of the pandemic the Federal Reserve has created nearly $5 trillion. As all that cash continues to slosh around the financial system, there's no reason to think that some of it won't end up in Clinton hands, especially given the clan's documented zest for fundraising. But for America will this new Clinton effort result in a loss of prestige worldwide? Ms. Epstein reports: The Clinton Global Initiative hosted annual meetings from 2005 to 2016, with the final meeting held less than two months before Hillary Clinton lost the presidential election to Donald Trump. During the 2016 campaign, the foundation faced scrutiny over whether its efforts to raise millions of dollars from governments and major companies benefited from her White House bid and her role as secretary of state in the Obama administration. Overall fundraising for the Clinton Foundation, which also includes the Clinton Development Initiative and the presidential center in Little Rock, Arkansas, has dropped since Hillary Clinton's loss to Trump. It reported US$16.3 million in contributions in 2020, down from its 2016 peak of US$62.9 million, according to tax filings[.] ... In Friday's letter, Clinton, 75, said its model of "cooperation and coordination has never been more urgent than it is now."

The reality is, the Clinton Foundation and its Clinton Global Initiative, a Davos-style conference operation for the super-rich, have never been much more than an unpunished pay-to-play political operation, a flimflam racket, and a disguised vehicle for bribery.

Foundation donations went up when Hillary had access or something else to sell as a presidential candidate and secretary of state. Foundation donations went down when she fell out of power. The correlation was as obvious as the sunrise and the daylight.

Issues & Insights had an excellent take last year on that quid pro quo arrangement for how this game was played:

When Hillary took the job of secretary of state under President Barack Obama, she promised that the foundation wouldn't accept foreign donations. It took in money from at least seven foreign governments. Documents showed that 85 of the 154 private interests who met with Clinton at the State Department had donated money to the foundation. Emails unearthed by Judicial Watch showed that Clinton's top aide, Huma Abedin  who worked for both the State Department and the foundation  gave "special expedited access to the secretary of state" for those who gave $25,000 to $10 million. Peter Schweizer's book "Clinton Cash" exposed other unsavory entanglements between the foundation, government policy, and the Clintons' pocketbooks. As the late great columnist Charles Krauthammer put it, the foundation was "a massive family enterprise disguised as a charity" that was intended to help restore the Clintons to power.

They also have an excellent timeline chart.

So now we're supposed to believe that the tears and flapdoodle statement of Bill Clinton, as he fires up the old political vehicle for Clinton power and Clinton rule, is really just him getting all glurgy about assorted problems in the world. A big glitzy celebrity-studded conference should take care of it, right, Bill?

In reality, something is up.

Some observers on Twitter note that it may well mean that Hillary Clinton is planning to run for office again, which is a distinct possibility. Big campaigns take big money, and the Clinton Foundation donations have been way down.

Second, the Clintons, like Vladimir Putin, who has his own priorities, knows that the time to strike is now, what with feeble Joe Biden in the White House. Just as Putin knows that Biden will colossally fail to stop any invasion of Ukraine, but might not be so lucky if President Trump gets back into power, so the Clintons know that the lawmen will look the other way as their money-for-influence operation kicks back into gear so long as Joe Biden sits in the Oval Office.

Third, Ukraine is an issue now. Where'd the Clintons get the biggest chunk of their cash in the past? Yep, Ukraine. Ukraine's oligarchs have been the number-one donor to the Clinton Foundation in the past. There are likely to be many, many oligarchs and other well heeled people with money looking for someone, anyone, to donate to to advance their battered country's national interests. What better, then, than to pay the Clintons for their charity work or glitzy gala or whatever and watch the Clintons use their political pull to sway doddery Joe into Ukraine's column? Colombia did it this way around 2011, when it needed to get its free trade pact with the States passed after years of seeing its pleas on the logic and merits of it fall on deaf Democrat ears. That news came out in 2015 with the publication of Peter Schweizer's book Clinton Cash. The Colombians have denied it, but it's hard to think they didn't finally learn how Democrats operate and what it takes to get a clearly meritorious case that shouldn't have a price tag on it at all through legislation. In the case of Ukraine, and perhaps Taiwan, they already know.

It's all understandable from those allies' and business interests' point of view, but it's not what the American voters voted for, nor should it be the standard for American governance. What's more, it opens the gates to all sorts of gamy players buying their way to foreign policy favors. In a recent search of Clinton speech fees, I found that Clinton took a lot of speech cash from Xinjiang interests. That's right: Mr. Tears for Humanity stuffed his pockets full of the cash of slave labor masters imprisoning whole classes of people in Xinjiang, China. The whole thing should be a crime. Yet the Clintons just keep skating.

It may still be another reason that hasn't come to light yet. You never know with the Clintons, except that it's undoubtedly a dirty business that reeks of bribery. One thing that should be going on now is watching just who's donating to them and checking it against just what it is they expect to get.

Image: Screen shot from video posted by Clinton Global Initiative via shareable YouTube.
Thanks to modern telecommunications, the rest of the world has a front-row seat to the devastation unfolding in Ukraine. The only pleasant possibility is that Ukraine may succeed in defending itself...but at what cost? And if so, many innocent Russians will also be made to suffer? And for what?

Uncertainty combined with dreadful seriousness is the prevailing mood. Also, it's been a while since a fairly conventional conflict has caught our attention, compared to the more common asymmetrical terrorist endeavors.

If there is a silver lining in this cloud, it would be the stark revelation that many of the world's political "leaders" are, at best, capable only of going through the motions, to merely act as if they were taking care of business. The COVID pandemic already showed us their tyrannical natures. Meanwhile, Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stands out as the exception, leading his people without much if any consideration for his own safety.

An old saying has it that, in war, the first casualty is the truth. Both Russia and Ukraine are using propaganda as a weapon. And this being just about the first major conflict of the Information Age, the effects of propaganda can be significant but also contradictory. One thing for sure is that Vladimir Putin has made it unequivocally certain that he is a major-league rectal orifice.

Again, what is the reason for all of this horror? Nothing comes to mind. There's some speculation that Putin was bluffing in order to get an assurance that Ukraine would stay out of NATO. When that failed, he had to pull the trigger on the invasion. Maybe. But there's also speculation about Putin's mental state.

I'm going with Putin's perceived awareness of the weakness of today's Western leadership. Couple that with (ahem) difficulties at home...that is, his own problems with the Russian people. However, it just seems rather anachronistic for a dictator of a very large country to invade a neighbor in full view of the rest of the world. Ukraine may be seriously damaged, but Russia will be a pariah for years to come. The process of economic isolation has only just begun.

I find it particularly difficult to write on this subject, since conditions are so fluid, and so much is being written and said by others. There may be plotters within the Kremlin intending to remove Putin permanently. Then Senator Lindsey Graham goes public urging such action. Wheels are spinning while horror is happening and helplessness dominates the frame of mind.

A brief historical note: Molotov cocktails are a much-mentioned improvised weapon of the Ukrainian resistance. They were originally invented by the Finnish Ministry of Alcohol to be used against Soviet tanks in the Russo-Finnish War of 1939. Stalin eventually won that war, but he wound up paying a high price. And now Finland is knocking on NATO's door. Who's next?

Image: Nessa Gnatoush.
What are we supposed to do when we see something or hear something that is wrong and should be reported to authorities? Do we look the other way or report the incident? These are important questions as our society has gone from fraying around the edges to unraveling completely.

During the year before I began teaching, a scandal broke wide open in my community's school district. Several male teachers at a public high school were charged with sexually abusing a number of their female students. Before the crisis was over, several employees lost their jobs, one was imprisoned, and the superintendent was fired for trying to cover up the situation.

After I was hired, I was sent to a new-teacher orientation where the leaders hammered into our heads new protocols concerning appropriate and inappropriate teacher-student interactions. The school board warned us that we were legally bound to report any hint of inappropriate teacher-student interactions to the administration. We were told to tattle or snitch on our colleagues if we saw or heard anything inappropriate.

During my lifetime, the "street" had taught me that "tattling" or "snitching" was uncool. My new bosses told us it was mandatory upon the pain of losing our teaching gigs. Teachers were caught between "to snitch" and "not to snitch." That was the tension.

Many governments understandably call on responsible adults to snitch to protect public safety. The street tells us to look the other way, but The Good Book urges us not to wink at sin. In Ezekiel 33, the prophet tells us we are responsible for what we know.



Image: Shush by wayhomestudio and Robber by freepik. Both: Freepik license.

One of our former presidents had a "bimbo eruption squad" tasked with intimidating victims of his womanizing. President Putin has a history of jailing or even killing those who dare to snitch on him. Political thugs are not the only ones to worry us. One of the reasons crime is so rampant in our cities involves witnesses' fear about reporting crime.

The principle that the accused gets to face his accuser, embedded in our legal system, discourages many witnesses from coming forward to report a crime. Self-preservation is a strong instinct, and I can understand why community members are hesitant to report crime when it can be life-endangering.

Tip lines, video surveillance, and laws protecting whistleblowers are modern means investigators have developed to help protect those who want to shed light on wrongdoing.

Uncool as it may be, we are still responsible for what we know. Pejorative as the terms "tattling" and "snitching" sound, daylight is good, and many of the things done in darkness are wrong. Jesus said, "People love darkness instead of light because their deeds are evil."

When a teenage friend recently told me, "Snitching is not cool," his comment troubled me. This topic makes everyone uncomfortable because no one wants to be labeled as a snitch, yet we know all too well how much is wrong with our world. Wrong rarely disappears without the light treatment. Exposing Wrong with Light will not inspire many rap songs, but people like Mahatma Gandhi and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. used illumination to inspire us and make this world a better place.
Thoughtcrime can lead to thought experiments. All it takes is a willingness to go where others are loath to go.

What is race? What is an atrocity? When is a racist atrocity neither racist nor an atrocity? The answers may not be as cut and dried as you may think.

In what seems like eons ago, what with the Ukraine warfare that has since erupted, Whoopi Goldberg denied that racism had anything to do with the Holocaust. She uttered this blasphemy on the Jan. 31, 2022 showing of The View. Cavalierly dismissing so monumental an atrocity with the "man's inhumanity to man" platitude fell woefully short of doing it justice. To make matters worse, she claimed that both Jewish victims and Nazi victimizers were white.

Sorry, Whoopi. When it comes to the Holocaust, we're talking unparalleled evil. Nothing in history can hold a candle to it. With racism the deadliest of the Eight Deadly Sins, the Holocaust can't help but have oozed it.

Every schoolboy knows that the Jews are a tribe. Every schoolboy knows that the Germans are a tribe. The Nazis, a subset of the German tribe, subjected the Jewish tribe to mass murder via gas chambers. Every schoolboy knows that, too. Inasmuch as "tribe" is just another word for race, the Nazis were racist against the Jews. Sure, the Nazis treated fellow Germans and other Europeans shabbily, too. They just weren't racist about it.

Decent human beings do not conflate complexion and race. One tribe can in fact perpetrate a racist atrocity against another tribe even if the two tribes share the same skin color. Conversely, one tribe cannot fall victim to a racist atrocity, no matter the skin color of the other tribe. Ben Philippe, a black English instructor at Barnard College, has brought this peculiar phenomenon to the fore. In a segment of his book entitled Sure, I'll Be Tour Black Friend, he matter-of-factly describes a scene in which he gasses white people:

When this race war hits its crescendo, I'll gather you all into a beautifully decorated room under the pretense of unity. I'll give a speech to civility and all the good times we share; I'll smile as we raise glasses to your good, white health, while the detonator blinks under the table, knowing the exits are locked and the air vents filled with gas.

Philippe discusses his fantasized comeuppance in an interview with Canadian radio host Talia Schlanger. The impossibly telegenic Dutch political analyst Eva Vlaardingerbroek provides audio link to the interview and commentary on the exchange. In the link, you can hear Ms. Schlanger taken aback by the passage and asking him about it. He does not falter in his explanation:

Watch me respond one of the most shocking examples of anti-white sentiment Ive ever come across, in which author Ben Philippe talks about gassing (yes, gassing) his white friends. And it gets worse. Watch till the end to hear what the Jewish woman who interviews him has to say. pic.twitter.com/tVzWl2zdPV  Eva Vlaardingerbroek (@EvaVlaar) May 6, 2021

"I guess I was wrestling with the question that, isn't the result of that, all-out warfare, like, Game of Thronesstyle warfare? And what does that look like? And I live in that sort of stray thought for a few pages. And it was disturbing to write, too. Because I'm not a violent person." Giggling, he hastens to add, "I love all my white friends."

That's how we know he's not a violent person. He has a sense of humor and wants to gas only white people who are strangers.

Ms. Schlanger informs Mr. Philippe that her grandparents were Holocaust survivors. "I can't tell you how it felt to read that sentiment. And I wanted to say to you that I'm sorry that your experience of the world made you feel that way."



She's sorry he feels that way? Would Ms. Schlanger feel sorry for a present-day Nazi who fantasized about gassing Jews? Did the historical Nazis have an "experience of the world" that made them "feel that way" about gassing Jews? The exchange leaves Ms. Vlaardingerbroek dumbfounded. She seems to think the granddaughter of Holocaust survivors would push back against a black man who dreams of perpetrating such an act against white people. Maybe even push back hard.

Meanwhile, her insensitivity toward the Jewish people notwithstanding, it occurs to our Dutch correspondent that visceral hatred of whites has entered the mainstream. "Where are we headed?" she asks. Nowhere good, Ms. Vlaardingerbroek. At least not until our people embrace the same racial consciousness and solidarity long nurtured and taken for granted by our presumed betters.

Let us not apologize for it. Self-preservation is the first instinct of the species.

Tony Pivetta is a longtime pension analyst forced into semi-retirement by an employer's demand he submit to a dodgy vaccine. He now spends his spare time contemplating the chief mystery of the post-Christian West  namely, how do so many otherwise reasoning human beings manage to invoke bodily autonomy when it comes to the thorny baby-killing issue even as they reject it in slam-dunk applications like drug use, seatbelt choice, and vaccine refusal? Pivetta still pines for the cozy confines of Detroit's late and unlamented Tiger Stadium. He can't help but draw dark parallels between the rise of publicly financed stadiums and the demise of both the Grand Old Game and the cause of American liberty.

Photo credit: Twitter video screen grab (cropped).
The word "Nazi" is suddenly everywhere. This isn't the modern habit of calling everyone we don't like a "Nazi." Instead, because of events in Ukraine, the word is showing up in the news, where it has real-world ramifications.

During WWII, the Germans occupied Ukraine and battled their way across the western half of the USSR. In Ukraine, while Ukrainian citizens suffered greatly at Nazi hands, no Jew forgets that the Ukrainians enthusiastically joined in the Holocaust. At Babyn Yar, where almost 34,000 Jews were shot to death over a couple of days, it was the Ukrainians who pulled the triggers.

Meanwhile, although Russia and Germany were once allies thanks to the Molotov-Ribbentrop pact, Hitler reneged on that agreement, probably to have access to Soviet oil supplies. The Germans invaded Russia, leading to some of the bloodiest battles of WWII.

In both countries  Russia and Ukraine (which was then part of the Soviet Union)  the Nazi era seared itself so deeply into the respective countries' psyches that it's scarcely surprising that the word "Nazi," and accusations based upon that word, instantly appeared once Russia invaded Ukraine.

Here's just a small sample of headlines from the past week:

At American Thinker, Oleg Atbashian wrote a detailed essay explaining that the Azov battalion is being maligned when its fighters are tarred as Nazis.

Mostly, though, people have no idea what is meant by the word "Nazi." The whole thing is especially complicated because the political notions of left wing and right wing, which infuse any conversation about "Nazis," have different meanings in America and Europe.



Image: The real Nazis at the Nurnberg Rally 1934. Bundesarchiv, Bild 102-16196, CC-BY-SA 3.0.

For starters, continental Europe has never known liberty like America's constitutional liberty, which centers the government on the individual, not the state. The origin of the terms "left wing" and "right wing" highlight this point.

The terms come from the French Parlement during the revolutionary era. Those on the speaker's left were the radicals; those on the speaker's right were the monarchists. Neither side believed in individual liberty; each was dedicated to statism. They simply had different ideas about who would rule in that state. That statist concept is still the norm in Europe. The American constitutional-conservative idea about small government and inherent individual rights is alien to Europe.

Socialism, born in the French Revolution and refined through Marx, held that power and property should pass from the inherited aristocracy and the new generations of capitalists to "the people." In practice, "the people" meant a totalitarian government lacking official hereditary aristocrats, and one usually more repressive than what it replaced.

Communism and fascism are the two bastard children of the socialist ideology. Communism calls for the destruction of private property, with the government owning and controlling the means of production, ostensibly for the people's benefit. Fascism allows private property to exist, provided that the property owners understand that they have no rights separate from the state. Both are totalitarian systems that call themselves "democracies" because people are required to vote for pre-approved chosen candidates. These governments are inevitably repressive.

Most of the world's governments today are fascist. All power rests in the government, which allows private property to exist but subordinates that property to government control. In China, the control is militaristic and obvious. In Europe, through the E.U., it's bureaucratic and someone more subtle. The current American system  a dominant political party disdainful of the Constitution working hand in glove with massive corporate, technocratic interests  is increasingly fascist.

Not all fascists, though, are Nazis. The National Socialist Party in Germany added a few twists to baseline fascist totalitarianism: a quest for world domination and racial obsessions. These two factors led Nazis to believe that it was their right to enslave all inferior races except for the Jews, whom they intended to exterminate.

If we are looking for people seeking world domination, believing that all outsiders are rightful slaves, and planning to exterminate the Jews, you'll find very few of those in America, a few more in parts of Europe, and tens of millions in the Muslim world. But back to Eastern Europe...

In the fight for control in Ukraine, both governments are European-style right-wing (i.e., totalitarian) governments, and both are nationalists. Putin is showing an unnerving yen for regional domination. However, neither the governments nor their troops are Nazis, although each has the potential to be.

Here's what I hope is a helpful chart that I made a few years ago:
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(ANSA) - ROME, FEB 28 - Italian Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio visited Algiers on Monday as part of the effort to boost alternative energy sources and reduce Italy's reliance on Russian gas after Moscow decided to invade Ukraine.

"Italy is engaged in increasing gas supplies from various international partners," Di Maio said.

"Of these, Algeria, which has always been a reliable supplier, has a fundamental role.

"The aim is to protect Italian families and businesses from this atrocious war".

Di Maio visited Algiers with Claudio Descalzi, the CEO of Italian energy giant Eni.

The minister added that Italy was ready to push for the economic sanctions imposed on Moscow to be stiffened further.

"We will continue to support the Ukraine government economically and militarily with out G7 partners," he said.

"Within the EU sphere, we are committed to supporting effective and incisive sanctions against the Russian government and we are ready to do more, in agreement with our European and Atlantic partners.

"Italy is by the side of the Ukraine people. For all of us, the people of Ukraine are a European resistance (movement)". (ANSA).


The Royal Air Forces former commander of operations has challenged Prime Minister Boris Johnsons opposition to a no-fly zone over Ukraine.

Former Air Marshal Greg Bagwell began his career as a fast jet pilot, and was the RAFs Deputy Commander Operations from 2013 until 2016.

Speaking exclusively to the PA news agency, Air Marshal Bagwell criticised western leaders for taking a no-fly zone off the table.

I completely recognise all the limitations, all the risks, all the potential pitfalls of any action, let alone a no-fly zone. But why take it off the table? It just makes the job of the bad guy easier, he said.

Air Marshal Bagwell also said that the imposition of a no-fly zone could be done under the auspices of the United Nations, rather than Nato.

Air Marshal Greg Bagwell was the RAFs Deputy Commander Operations from 2013 until 2016 (Chris Ison/PA)

I was disappointed to see that everybody immediately turned this into a Nato versus Russia, he said.

Most no-fly zones Im aware of, and Ive flown on, have been under UNSC (United Nations Security Council) mandates or resolutions.

He added: The reason why I think it has got to be UN is I think it needs that universal mandatethis is not a binary fight between him (Russian President Vladimir Putin) and Nato. This is him versus the world.

Mr Johnson has previously ruled out allies enforcing a no-fly zone over Ukraine, warning that the UK would be engaged in shooting down Russian planesthats not something we can do.

Defence Secretary Ben Wallace has also rejected the calls, saying such a move would lead to an escalation of the conflict and the triggering of Natos Article Five, and that it would also have to apply to Ukrainian jets.

But Air Marshal Bagwell told PA that such a system would not need to apply to Ukrainian jets.

What wed do is create corridors from Ukrainian airfields to operating zones over concentrations of Russian troops, he said.

Whatever the Ukrainians want, we would then give them freedom of mass action within those areasit would make them more effective because they would now be able to operate with relative impunity.

Air Marshal Greg Bagwell suggested that a no-fly zone could be enacted by the United Nations, rather than Nato (SAC Neil Chapman/PA)

Responding to concerns surrounding the triggering of Natos Article Five should a Nato aircraft be shot down over Ukraine, Air Marshal Bagwell said Nato could suspend Article 5 being applied to such an incident, in order to take the Article Five trigger off the table.

He also proposed being crystal clear with Russia as to how a no-fly zone would work, ensuring there would be no secret tripwires out there that he needs to be wary of.

He called for the terms of the no-fly zone to be outlined publicly, including that any Russian aircraft, flying in Ukrainian airspace, would be considered hostile and shot down.

Jets would not have to get really close to do this, he said.

If a Russian aircraft wants to cross the Ukrainian boundary and start heading towards Kyiv, we can reach out and touch that aircraft long before it gets to Kyiv, whilst we sit well south of Kyiv while it is happening?

When you start to look at the geometry, this all of a sudden isnt quite as high risk as everyone makes it out to be.

Inna Sovsun, a Ukrainian MP and deputy leader of the Holos Party, is one of many politicians from the country to call for a no-fly zone, also including President Volodymyr Zelensky.

Speaking to PA, the 37-year-old pointed to an attack on a residential building in Chernihiv on Thursday, where at least 47 civilians were killed according to local authorities.

Because of one missile strike, she added.

What theyre doing right now is terrible, theyre killing Ukrainians from the air.

Despite the huge efforts of the Ukrainian army, we cannot help ourselves (in the) air just with our efforts.

This narrative that we are hearing from the West there will be a way for (a) diplomatic solution  what diplomatic solution? They are throwing bombs on our heads.

On Thursday she shared a photograph of a drawing she said was drawn by her nine-year-old son, Martyn, in which he drew a city with the words no fly zone written above.

A drawing by my son, Martyn. He's 9 years old and I haven't seen him for 7 days. When he asked me when he will see me again, I started crying. We both are asking to save the children in #Ukraine.#NoFlyZone #NoFlyZoneOverUkraine #NoFlyZoneInUkraineNow #NoFlyZoneUA pic.twitter.com/7vXTW5KZOt  Inna Sovsun (@InnaSovsun) March 3, 2022

Ukrainian leaders have also raised concerns that aid is not reaching areas of the country due to the bombardment.

Air Marshal Bagwell responded to this, and said a no-fly zone would allow for the safe passage of humanitarian aid to be flown into the country.
More than 85 million has been raised to provide aid for Ukraine in what has been described as an absolutely incredible show of support from the UK public.

The Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) has thanked everyone who has contributed so far and said the message from aid workers at Ukraines borders and inside the invaded nation is that money is needed rather than donated items.

The DEC, made up of 15 leading UK aid charities aiming to raise funds quickly and efficiently at times of crisis overseas, has warned that support for Ukraine is likely to be needed for months and years and it urged people to keep donating.

Thank you! The DEC Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal has now raised an incredible 85 million so far, including 25 million from the UK Government. Thank you so much for your generosity! #UkraineAppeal pic.twitter.com/Nsp4dfQZWe  DEC (@decappeal) March 5, 2022

DEC chief executive Saleh Saeed told BBC Breakfast: What we would advise is the things that people collect today here in the UK are not necessarily what people need tomorrow.

Thats why we would urge, please donate cash through a reputable charity.

Trying to transport goods from here, the UK, thousands of miles to Ukraine will take a long time and may not be necessarily what people need when it arrives.

Mr Saeed asked people to consider giving to the DEC appeal, saying the aid will reach the most vulnerable, including women and children who have fled Ukraine to neighbouring countries.

In an update on Saturday, the DEC said: We are seeing an absolutely incredible response from the public to this appeal, which has now raised over 85 million.

DEC chief Saleh Saeed has urged people to donate money rather than items (Stefan Rousseau/PA)

Were grateful to everyone who is giving, organising events and helping to spread the word.

Our member charities are at the borders and inside Ukraine responding to the huge and growing humanitarian crisis. Theyre telling us that what they need is funding rather than donated items. The things that people give today might not be what people need tomorrow.

The committee said generous donations have already been made to the appeal by the Queen, the Prince of Wales and the Duke of Cambridge among others, and the latest total includes 25 million from the UK Government.

Celebrities have been involved in highlighting the appeal, with broadcasts by Trigger Point actor Adrian Lester and Game Of Thrones star Kit Harington after the evening news on Thursday, and commercial radio appeals voiced by Doctor Who star David Tennant.
Nicola Sturgeon has expressed her solidarity, love and support for the women and girls in Ukraine  as she warned life in their country is likely to become more horrific in the coming days.

The Scottish First Minister praised the extraordinary courage and bravery being shown by Ukrainians in the wake of the Russian invasion.

And she used an event being held ahead of International Womens Day to make clear her thoughts were very much with all of the people of Ukraine, perhaps particularly the women and the girls who are suffering and will suffer so much.

Always a pleasure to speak at the annual @SWCwomen #IWD event  and it was especially wonderful to gather in person again. As we discussed the battle for gender equality at home, we also sent our solidarity to women & girls in Ukraine and those facing adversity across the globe pic.twitter.com/VSmfKV2DMR  Nicola Sturgeon (@NicolaSturgeon) March 5, 2022

Ms Sturgeon noted that Ukraine was one of the countries in the world which had declared International Womens Day, which is celebrated on March 8, a public holiday.

And she said: Last year thousands of women marched peacefully through the streets of Kyiv to demand action to advance gender equality.

One year later, Ukraines capital city is a very, very different place.

What we are witnessing each and every day right now on our television screens is horrific, and unfortunately is likely to become more horrific as the days unfold.

Speaking at Holyrood at an event organised by the Scottish Womens Convention, she said the world was also witnessing the extraordinary courage and bravery of Ukrainians from President Volodymyr Zelensky to every man, woman and child resisting aggression, resisting brutality.

Ms Sturgeon added: I know as we gather here in Edinburgh today our thoughts are very much with all of the people of Ukraine, perhaps particularly the women and the girls who are suffering and will suffer so much.

Our thoughts are with women and girls in the frontline of conflict right across the world. It is important today we send them our solidarity, our love our support.

Her worlds echoed those of Holyrood Presiding Officer Alison Johnstone, who said: Our thoughts and our hearts are with the women of Ukraine.

As we gather here they are being forced apart from loved ones, with families torn apart, and women as they so often do caring for all who need it in the most difficult of circumstances.

On this International Womens Day we stand in solidarity with women in Ukraine and with women experiencing conflict wherever they may be.

And Agnes Tolmie, the chair of the Scottish Womens Convention, stated: It is important at this time that we send out a message of support and solidarity with women and families in Ukraine, who are facing the most awful onslaught on their homes and country.
Boris Johnson has praised British journalists in terrifying and dangerous situations after a correspondent was shot and wounded in an ambush near the Ukrainian capital.

Stuart Ramsay, chief correspondent at Sky News, was hit by a bullet in the lower back as shooting rained down on a car carrying his crew towards Kyiv on Monday.

Camera operator Richie Mockler was also hit with two rounds to his body armour before the team managed to escape and take cover. They were later rescued by Ukrainian police.

POLITICS Ukraine

It is understood that the whole crew, including Sky News Dominique van Heerden and Martin Vowles, and local producer Andrii Lytvynenko, are now safe.

Shocking footage of the incident was played on Sky News on Friday evening.

It showed the team under heavy fire, with glass smashing around them.

It is thought the attack was carried out by a saboteur Russian reconnaissance squad.

The Prime Minister said on Twitter: The courage of these journalists, putting themselves in terrifying and dangerous situations, is astonishing to watch.

Theyre risking their lives to ensure that the truth is told.

The courage of these journalists, putting themselves in terrifying and dangerous situations, is astonishing to watch. Theyre risking their lives to ensure that the truth is told. Free press will not be intimidated or cowed by barbaric and indiscriminate acts of violence. https://t.co/eAwEJafTvQ  Boris Johnson (@BorisJohnson) March 5, 2022

Free press will not be intimidated or cowed by barbaric and indiscriminate acts of violence.

In a written account of the ambush, Mr Ramsay said his team had been heading for the town of Bucha, where they were intending to learn more about the destruction of a Russian convoy by the Ukrainian army the previous day.

Despite their destination only being around 30km from the centre of Kyiv, Mr Ramsay said the trip took hours, with the crew held up by road closures and redirections.

It was suggested at the last Ukrainian checkpoint that they should not proceed any further, and the team decided to head back to the city centre, re-entering from a different direction to avoid what they now knew to be dangerous routes.

People take part in a demonstration in Trafalgar Square to denounce the Russian invasion of Ukraine (James Manning/PA)

After getting the go-ahead from a police officer to take a road to Kyiv, Mr Ramsay said they proceeded cautiously towards an intersection.

It was then that out of nowhere there was a small explosion. Mr Ramsay said a tyre burst, the car stopped, and our world turned upside down.

The first round cracked the windscreen. Camera operator Richie Mockler huddled into the front passenger footwell. Then we were under full attack, he said.

Bullets cascaded through the whole of the car, tracers, bullet flashes, windscreen glass, plastic seats, the steering wheel, and dashboard had disintegrated.

We didnt know it at the time, but we were later told by the Ukrainians that we were being ambushed by a saboteur Russian reconnaissance squad. It was professional, the rounds kept smashing into the car  they didnt miss.

Mr Ramsay said the team thought a Ukrainian army checkpoint might be behind the shooting but their panicked attempts to explain they were journalists did nothing to deter the attackers.

I do recall wondering if my death was going to be painful, he said.

Some of the crew had managed to escape but Mr Ramsay was hit by a bullet in the lower back.

Across all news organisations we have incredibly dedicated & brave colleagues committed to reporting on Ukraine. To see the risks faced by journalists working in Ukraine, watch @skynews at 9pm. Difficult viewing, but its important to show the violence taking place in Ukraine  Beth Rigby (@BethRigby) March 4, 2022

Richie says I then got out of the car and stood up, before jogging to the edge of the embankment and then started running. I lost my balance and fell to the bottom, landing like a sack of potatoes, cutting my face. My armour and helmet almost certainly saved me, he said.

The team eventually made it to a factory unit, where they took cover. They were later rescued by Ukrainian police.

The Sky News crew has now arrived back in the UK while Mr Lytvynenko is with his family in Ukraine.

The point is we were very lucky, Mr Ramsay said.

But thousands of Ukrainians are dying, and families are being targeted by Russian hit squads just as we were, driving along in a family saloon and attacked.

This war gets worse by the day.
A man is wanted by police after a collection box containing donations for Ukraine was taken from a London cafe.

The Metropolitan Police said a box, thought to have contained around 100 intended for the crisis-hit country, was removed from Sawmill cafe in West Ham Lane, Stratford.

During the incident shortly after midday on Thursday, a male suspect ran away from the location, chased by a member of staff, and was driven away in a car, Scotland Yard said.

Police in Newham are appealing for help identifying a man sought in connection with the theft of money being collected for Ukraine If you know this man please call 101 ref 4698/05mar.https://t.co/T6VzOuzb8n  Newham MPS | North East BCU (@MPSNewham) March 5, 2022

The force has released an image of a man they are seeking in connection with the theft.

The Met said the man was seen by witnesses to place an object in a car, and was photographed as he ran around to the other side of the vehicle.

Anyone who knows the person in the image is asked to call 101 and quote reference 4698/05mar.
A big result for the Alliance Party in Northern Irelands Assembly election can herald the end of a political system based on binary division, leader Naomi Long has said.

Addressing her party conference in Belfast, Mrs Long denounced rivals at Stormont whom she claimed were addicted to crisis and conflict.

The East Belfast MLA, who serves as Justice Minister, stressed the need for major changes to powersharing structures that are currently based on a community designation system that effectively hands blocs of unionists or nationalists a veto.

Mrs Long said her cross-community party hopes to build on recent strong electoral showings to secure an Assembly team big enough to deliver change.

Mays election wont just determine how our politics works for the next five years  it will determine if our politics works, the party leader told delegates at the Crowne Plaza Hotel.

This May, together we can deliver a bigger Alliance team. A team that will not just deliver more and better, one that ensures that together, we can secure reform of the Assembly, move away from binary politics that seeks to divide people and ensure no one party can hold progress to ransom.

The conference was held amid the backdrop of the latest powersharing crisis at Stormont.

The Executive imploded last month when the DUP withdrew First Minister Paul Givan from the administration as part of its campaign of protest against Brexits Northern Ireland Protocol.

The move automatically ousted Sinn Fein deputy First Minister Michelle ONeill from office, and removed the Executives ability to take any significant decisions.

Other ministers, such as Mrs Long, remain in post but are constrained in their ability to shape major policies.

Mrs Long said Northern Ireland needs a working Executive, especially at the current time (PA)

There remains uncertainty whether a new administration can be formed on the other side of the May 5 election, with the DUP making clear it cannot be business as usual until Brexit barriers on Irish Sea trade are removed.

Mrs Long hit out at the DUPs actions in a speech that also criticised Sinn Feins record in the Assembly.

We meet at a time when, yet again, our institutions are beset by instability, she said.

The absence of a First Minister, while no longer able to cause the collapse of the Assembly has deprived us of that working Executive, at a time when many key decisions still depend on it.

Were emerging from a pandemic, fighting a battle against climate change, facing a cost of living crisis, and theres a war on our doorstep in eastern Europe.

This is not the time to walk away from government, this is time to lead in government.

With so much important work to do, it is hard to fathom how we are again without an Executive only two years after restoration.

She said her party can deliver the transformation our people so desperately need (PA)

It seems that some politicians are addicted to crisis and conflict, and simply not up to the job of actually governing.

People have had enough of the constant dramas and the political soap operas. They want politicians who dont just identify more problems  or worse still, add to them  but who are focused on finding solutions, on making things better.

But it doesnt have to be like this. Yes, we know there are huge challenges ahead  from the climate emergency to the spiralling cost of living  but together, we can face them.

Mrs Long concluded her speech with a rallying call to the party faithful.

I believe we have the people, the policies and the passion needed to build a truly progressive, inclusive and prosperous future for all of our people  to deliver the transformation our public services, our politics, our people so desperately need, she said.

And on May 5, together, we can. And we will.
Courtesy Liz Sandoz/Instagram

Family of four! Liz Sandoz and her husband, Vito Presta, welcomed their second child on Wednesday, March 2.

Read article

Toula Vita Presta was born at 4:30 p.m. and weighed 7 pounds and 2 ounces, the Bachelor alum, 35, exclusively told Us Weekly on Saturday, March 5.

The birth went perfectly. It was everything I had hoped and prayed for, Sandoz said. Although it was the hardest thing Ive done in my life, we could not have asked for a better experience.

The second-time mom said that she is feeling great, adding that shes trying to really rest and take advantage that we have family to help so I can fully recover.

Courtesy of Liz Sandoz

The Bachelor season 21 alum continued, noting that, Postpartum is such an essential time to rest and bond with baby and I am so blessed that I am able to do that.

Sandoz announced in September 2021 that she was pregnant with baby No. 2. Baby Presta coming March 2022!! the Nevada native captioned an Instagram photo with Presta, their dog and their daughter, Jovie, now 18 months. We are so excited to share the news of our expanding family with you. Its been a wild ride the last 6 months and we are now almost halfway through this pregnancy! We are excited, nervous and have no idea what to do with two under 2.

The social media upload came one year after Sandoz gave birth to Jovie, and the infant spent one week in the NICU.

Read article

She is such a strong fighter and has wowed the doctors with her ability to overcome since day one, the Miraculous Mamas star explained via Instagram in September 2020. We are still processing this last week and going to take some time together as a family to soak everything in since this is the first time we get to be all together as a family.

Sandoz experienced a miscarriage prior to conceiving her first child, which the doula called a letdown in a December 2019 podcast episode.

I feel at peace about it, but when I do talk about it I get really emotional because Ive never been pregnant before, the Bachelor Nation member told her listeners. It was the couple weeks of the positive tests and the excitement and ordering things. I already had our nursery wallpaper picked out, you know? It is such a letdown. And then I feel stupid for crying because it was a chemical pregnancy, its like nothing was ever really there. Which I know is ridiculous.

Presta chimed in, Were going to keep trying [to conceive].

Read article

Sandoz married the concrete contractor in February 2019 in Montana. The following month, the former reality star exclusively told Us Weekly that she was smitten after her first date with her partner.

I am so excited to be married to my best friend and have him to experience life with. He really is my better half and I know we are going to grow and learn so much together in this life, the former ABC personality said in March 2019. I think the biggest piece of advice Ive heard is to stay curious and love each other. We will be learning about each other forever.
BANGKOK (AP)  Europe's largest nuclear power plant was hit by Russian shelling early Friday, sparking a fire and raising fears of a disaster that could affect all of central Europe for decades, like the 1986 Chernobyl meltdown.

Concerns faded after Ukrainian authorities announced that the fire had been extinguished, and while there was damage to the reactor compartment, the safety of the unit was not affected.

But even though the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant is of a different design than Chernobyl and is protected from fire, nuclear safety experts and the International Atomic Energy Agency warn that waging war in and around such facilities presents extreme risks.

One major concern, raised by Ukraine's state nuclear regulator, is that if fighting interrupts power supply to the nuclear plant, it would be forced to use less-reliable diesel generators to provide emergency power to operating cooling systems. A failure of those systems could lead to a disaster similar to that of Japan's Fukushima plant, when a massive earthquake and tsunami in 2011 destroyed cooling systems, triggering meltdowns in three reactors.

The consequence of that, said Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, would be widespread and dire.

If there is an explosion, that's the end for everyone. The end for Europe. The evacuation of Europe, he said in an emotional speech in the middle of the night, calling on nations to pressure Russia's leadership to end the fighting near the plant.

Only urgent action by Europe can stop the Russian troops. Do not allow the death of Europe from a catastrophe at a nuclear power station.

WHAT HAPPENED?

After taking the strategic port city of Kherson, Russian forces moved into the territory near Zaporizhzhia and attacked the nearby city of Enerhodar to open a route to the plant late Thursday.

It was not immediately clear how the power plant was hit, but Enerhodar Mayor Dmytro Orlov said a Russian military column had been seen heading toward the nuclear facility and that loud shots were heard in the city.

Plant spokesman Andriy Tuz told Ukrainian television that early Friday morning, shells fell directly on the facility and set fire to one of its six reactors.

Initially, firefighters were not able to get near the flames because they were being shot at, Tuz said.

After speaking with Ukrainian authorities on Friday, Rafael Grossi, the director general of the IAEA, the U.N.'s nuclear watchdog, said a building next to the reactors was hit and not a reactor itself.

All of the safety systems of the six reactors at the plant were not affected at all and there has been no release of radioactive material, he said.

However, as you can imagine, the operator and the regulator have been telling us that the situation naturally continues to be extremely tense and challenging.

Earlier this week, Grossi already had warned that the IAEA was gravely concerned with Russian forces conducting military operations so close nearby.

It is of critical importance that the armed conflict and activities on the ground around Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant and any other of Ukraines nuclear facilities in no way interrupts or endangers the facilities or the people working at and around them, he said.

This image made from a video released by Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant shows bright flaring object landing in grounds of the nuclear plant in Enerhodar, Ukraine Friday, March 4, 2022. (Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant via AP)

WHAT COULD HAVE HAPPENED?

The reactor that was hit was offline, but still contains highly radioactive nuclear fuel. Four of the other six reactors have now been taken offline, leaving only one in operation.

The reactors at the plant have thick concrete containment domes, which would have protected them from external fire from tanks and artillery, said Jon Wolfsthal, who served during the Obama administration as the senior director for arms control and nonproliferation at the National Security Council.

At the same time, a fire at a nuclear power plant is never a good thing, he said.

We don't want our nuclear power plants to come under assault, to be on fire, and to not have first responders be able to access them, he said.

Another danger at nuclear facilities are the pools where spent fuel rods are kept to be cooled, which are more vulnerable to shelling and which could cause the release of radioactive material.

Perhaps the biggest issue, however, is the plant's power supply, said Najmedin Meshkati, an engineering professor at the University of Southern California who has studied both the Chernobyl and Fukushima disasters, raising a concern also voiced by Wolfsthal and others.

The loss of off-site power could force the plant to rely on emergency diesel generators, which are highly unreliable and could fail or run out of fuel, causing a station blackout that would stop the water circulation needed to cool the spent fuel pool, he said.

That is my big  biggest concern, he said.

David Fletcher, a University of Sydney professor in its School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, who previously worked at UK Atomic Energy, noted that even shutting down the reactors would not help if the cooling system failed in such a way.

The real concern is not a catastrophic explosion as happened at Chernobyl but damage to the cooling system which is required even when the reactor is shut down, he said in a statement. "It was this type of damage that led to the Fukushima accident.

WHAT CONCERNS REMAIN?

Ukraine is heavily reliant on nuclear energy, with 15 reactors at four stations that provide about half the country's electricity.

In the wake of the attack on Zaporizhzhia, U.S. President Joe Biden, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and others called for an immediate end to the fighting there.

Following a conversation with Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal, IAEA Director Grossi appealed to all parties to refrain from actions that could put Ukraine's nuclear power plants in danger.

Shmyhal called on western nations to close the skies over the country's nuclear plants.

It is a question of the security of the whole world! he said in a statement.

Ukraine is also home to the former Chernobyl nuclear plant, where radioactivity is still leaking, which was taken by Russian forces in the opening of the invasion after a fierce battle with the Ukrainian national guards protecting the decommissioned facility.

In an appeal to the IAEA for help earlier this week, Ukrainian officials said that Chernobyl staff have been held by the Russian military without rotation and are exhausted.

Grossi earlier this week appealed to Russia to let the Chernobyl staff do their job safely and effectively.

During fighting on the weekend, Russian fire also hit a radioactive waste disposal facility in Kyiv and a similar facility in Kharkiv.

Both contained low-level waste such as those produced through medical use, and no radioactive release has been reported, but Grossi said the incidents should serve as a warning.

The two incidents highlight the risk that facilities with radioactive material may suffer damage during the armed conflict, with potentially severe consequences, he said.

James Acton, the co-director of the Nuclear Policy Program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, said the simple key to keeping the facilities safe was to immediately end any military operations around them.

Under normal circumstances, the likelihood of a reactor losing power and of the emergency diesel generators being damaged and of not being repaired adequately quickly is very, very small, Acton said.

But in a war, all of these different failures that would have to happen for a reactor to become damaged and meltdown  the likelihood of all of those happening becomes much more likely than it does in peacetime.

Mitsuru Fukuda, a professor at Nihon University in Tokyo and expert on crisis management and security, said the Zaporizhzhia attack raises broader questions for all countries.

Many of us did not expect a respected countrys military would take such an outrageous step, he said. Now that (Russian President Vladimir) Putin has done it, not only Ukraine but the international community, including Japan, should reevaluate the risk of having nuclear plants as potential wartime targets.
An Instagram influencer has called on people to donate to Ukrainians by booking Airbnb rentals in the country, saying doing so will benefit Ukrainians directly.

Tommy Marcus, 26, from New York, runs the Quentin Quarantino page on social media, set up in 2020.

Speaking to the PA news agency, Mr Marcus said the idea had originally come from one of his followers on social media.

He added that followers have now received messages of gratitude from Ukrainians who have received bookings via Airbnb.

Yesterday I shared an idea to support Ukraine by booking rooms for rent on AirBNB. 24 hours later, 100's of people are booking AirBnBs in Ukraine as a way to send immediate monetary assistance to people in hard-hit areas. The messages in response from the hosts are so moving pic.twitter.com/ai2Je8VKCt  IG: @quentin.quarantino (@quentquarantino) March 3, 2022

He told PA: I certainly did not foresee it going so viral so many of my followers have told me I got this message (of gratitude from a Ukrainian) and then immediately started crying.

And thats maybe not something that happens when you give 20 dollars (15) to charity. Thats not to say that that money doesnt go as far when you give it to a charity, but theres definitely that emotional element thats unique about this, which I think is probably a very big driving factor and why it was so viral.

He warned, however, that people should check the Airbnb listing before booking to ensure they know who would receive the money.

The the main thing that was shared when this first started to go viral was to make sure that it was an individual person, rather than a company who might own a bunch of flats across the city also seeing that they have a history, they have reviews.

Mr Marcus also said that donations via Airbnb should not replace supporting efforts from existing charities.

This is just another really nice thing you can do. Its going to make someone really happy and hopefully have an impact down there. But at the end of the day, you should also be giving money to charity, wherever you see fit.

He is no stranger to fundraising campaigns. In 2021, his campaign raised seven million dollar (5.3million) to help at-risk Afghans escape the Taliban takeover by paying for flights.

In September 2021, The Washington Post published a report saying that over three million dollars (2.5million) had been spent on flights that were cancelled.

Mr Marcus said the controversies around the Afghanistan campaign were tough on me, emotionally, but said he wanted to continue to use his platform to help people.

A spokesperson for Airbnb told PA: We are so humbled by the inspiring generosity of our community during this moment of crisis. Airbnb is temporarily waiving guest and host fees on bookings in Ukraine at this time.

We also encourage anyone interested in getting involved with Airbnb to go to airbnb.org/help-ukraine, and support Airbnbs initiative to provide housing to refugees fleeing Ukraine, by becoming a host or donating. To date, we have seen an overwhelming response to this effort, with more than 357,000 visitors to this page.
He was not feeling thankful.

A Northern California mailman beat a turkey to death while on his delivery route but claimed he was only trying to defend himself against the giant bird.

The unidentified letter carrier was making deliveries Monday in the east Sacramento suburb of Arden-Arcade, the Sacramento Bee reported. The neighborhood where he was working has been a hub of turkey activity and aggression for months, residents said.

Witnesses said the letter carrier exited his truck and was quickly attacked by the turkey, according to the Bee. The man then went back to his vehicle, grabbed a pole or stick-type object, and beat the turkey to death.

Ive been with the department for 25 years, and I have a little bit of experience with turkeys, Patrick Foy with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife told the Bee. It was the biggest turkey Ive ever seen.

A live turkey walks down a path looking for food.





A live turkey walks down a path looking for food.

The deceased bird was apparently part of a rafter of turkeys that have been harassing residents and visitors to the neighborhood.

Last fall, a wildlife biologist witnessed four turkeys physically jump on and attack a mailman in the same neighborhood, the Bee reported. Mail carriers started carrying pepper spray in an attempt to ward off the birds, but it didnt work.

Residents have spoken about turkey issues for months, but wildlife officials havent been either willing or able to fix the problem. The mail carrier taking action into his own hands has divided residents, according to Foy.

Half of the neighborhood was infuriated that a mailman killed a turkey, Foy told the Bee. The other half are infuriated that somebody wont come out and get rid of all the turkeys.

Turkey attacks on mail carriers have been reported throughout the country. In 2016, a mailman in Hillsdale, N.J., came under fierce attack and called 911. That same year, a mailman reportedly clubbed a turkey to death in a different Sacramento-area neighborhood. The U.S. Postal Service investigated but couldnt find proof of the attack.

The USPS also promised to investigate the most recent report. No videos or photos from the incident have been found.

Our employees have had several altercations with aggressive turkeys in the area, including a recent attack on a letter carrier. We have been working with the Department of Fish and Wildlife to mitigate the issue, a USPS spokesman told the Bee.

However, this allegation is alarming, and if true, inexcusable and does not reflect the efforts of our more than 650,000 employees who faithfully serve and deliver for America every day.
Wild turkeys in Berkeley, Calif. (MediaNews Group/East Bay Times)

For months, mail carriers in the Sacramento County enclave of Arden-Arcade have been terrorized by wild turkeys, at times disrupting deliveries.

This week, tensions between the fowl and one U.S. Postal Service worker reached a violent climax when the carrier killed a turkey while on duty, officials said, prompting an investigation by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.

"On Monday, one of the mail carriers actually had some kind of a stick or something in his vehicle," said Capt. Patrick Foy, a spokesman for the department's Law Enforcement Division. "And when one of the particularly aggressive male turkeys attacked him, he smacked it and killed it."

Foy declined to say what kind of violation could be involved but said the department had not issued a citation as of Thursday evening.

"Our job is to determine what exactly happened, and then we fill out a report," he said. "We might send it to the district attorney, and the district attorney decides whether or not a crime has been committed."

The postal service said it is investigating the incident, noting in a statement that employees "have had several altercations with aggressive turkeys in the area, including a recent attack on a letter carrier."

"We have been working with the Department of Fish and Wildlife to mitigate the issue," the USPS said. "However, this allegation is alarming, and if true, is inexcusable and does not reflect the efforts of our more than 650,000 employees who faithfully serve and deliver for America every day."

So far, the Department of Fish and Wildlife's investigation into the incident has revealed strange details about the area's turkeys and their behavior and treatment.

Investigators found that some residents had been feeding the turkeys "copious quantities of food," which is prohibited in California and could be a factor in the birds' aggressiveness.

"It probably contributed to the massive size of the turkey in question because it was eating just an unlimited amount of food every day from this particular household," Foy said. "We are addressing that issue as a major contributing factor to this overall problem."

The turkeys seem to have been targeting delivery workers in the neighborhood since October, when the postal service began reporting the situation to wildlife officials. Foy said the attacks had also disrupted deliveries from FedEx, UPS and other carriers.

Turkey attacks on humans are rare, Foy said, but are most often attributed to mating season, which occurs in April  so it "didn't really make sense that  they would be so aggressive back in October."

A wildlife officer and a biologist sent to look into the reports saw a group of four turkeys attack a mail carrier.

"He was swinging his mailbag at them, trying to fend them off," Foy said.

Foy said the department informed mail carriers that they were allowed to defend themselves and suggested the use of pepper spray, which postal service workers are allowed to carry.

"They said, 'Yes, we've been pepper-spraying them. We have been swinging our mailbags at them. We've been kicking them, and they still continue the attack,'" Foy said.

Wildlife officials then tried and failed to capture the most aggressive of the birds.

After a temporary reprieve, the birds renewed their attacks in the last few weeks, and the postal service again reached out to wildlife officials.

Foy said the turkey that was killed Monday was by far the heaviest he had ever lifted.

"I've been around about 25 years, so I kind of know turkeys," he said. "And I just I looked at it, and I'm like, 'Oh, this is the biggest turkey I've ever seen.'"

Even more odd was the fact that the birds seem to spare the neighborhood's residents and non-delivery personnel from their wrath.

"I can't explain it, but the aggressive turkeys do not appear to be worried at all about the residents of this community," Foy said. "I watched it myself.

"I walked up to the turkeys myself, and they didn't want anything to do with me," he said. "But when that mail carrier pulled up, they immediately went on the offensive."

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham was swiftly rebuked by lawmakers on both sides of the aisle for remarks he made suggesting that Russians with access to President Vladimir Putin should assassinate him.

"Is there a Brutus in Russia? Is there a more successful Colonel Stauffenberg in the Russian military? The only way this ends is for somebody in Russia to take this guy out. You would be doing your country - and the world - a great service," Graham tweeted Thursday evening. "Unless you want to live in darkness for the rest of your life, be isolated from the rest of the world in abject poverty, and live in darkness you need to step up to the plate.

Is there a Brutus in Russia? Is there a more successful Colonel Stauffenberg in the Russian military? The only way this ends is for somebody in Russia to take this guy out. You would be doing your country - and the world - a great service.  Lindsey Graham (@LindseyGrahamSC) March 4, 2022

PHOTO: Sen. Lindsey Graham speaks during a news conference at the US Capitol in Washington, D.C., Jan. 7, 2021. (Brendan Smialowski/AFP via Getty Images, FILE)

Democratic Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., tweeted, "I really wish our members of Congress would cool it and regulate their remarks as the administration works to avoid WWIII. As the world pays attention to how the US and its leaders are responding, Lindsey's remarks and remarks made by some House members aren't helpful."

PHOTO: Sen. Ted Cruz attends a news conference with Senate Republicans about the Russian invasion of Ukraine, at the U.S. Capitol, March 2, 2022 in Washington, DC. (Drew Angerer/Getty Images)

MORE: Russia-Ukraine live updates: Russia has prepared puppet government, US official says

But some of Graham's fellow Republicans were equally miffed by his comments. Texas Republican Sen. Ted Cruz called Graham's suggestion an "exceptionally bad idea".

"Use massive economic sanctions; BOYCOTT Russian oil & gas; and provide military aid so the Ukrainians can defend themselves," Cruz tweeted. "But we should not be calling for the assassination of heads of state."

This is an exceptionally bad idea. Use massive economic sanctions; BOYCOTT Russian oil & gas; and provide military aid so the Ukrainians can defend themselves. But we should not be calling for the assassination of heads of state. https://t.co/crPGHw9xyJ  Ted Cruz (@tedcruz) March 4, 2022

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., known for her frequently controversial positions on Twitter, also rebuked Graham, calling his position "irresponsible, dangerous & unhinged."

"We need leaders with calm minds & steady wisdom. Not blood thirsty warmongering politicians trying to tweet tough by demanding assassinations," Greene tweeted. "Americans don't want war."

While we are all praying for peace & for the people of Ukraine, this is irresponsible, dangerous & unhinged. We need leaders with calm minds & steady wisdom. Not blood thirsty warmongering politicians trying to tweet tough by demanding assassinations. Americans don't want war. https://t.co/l2hqiUbZGv  Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (@RepMTG) March 4, 2022

The administration has imposed a series of sanctions on Russia aimed at chocking their economy. Some lawmakers have called for the Biden White House to go even further, urging additional sanctions and a ban on Russian oil imports to the United States.

MORE: Bipartisan calls for Russian oil ban meet resistance from White House

But Graham's call, which he repeated on Fox News last night, are far beyond what other lawmakers have sought.

Asked about Graham calling for Putin's assassination, the White House said that wasn't the U.S. government's position.

"That is not the position of the United States government and certainly not a statement you'd hear from- - come from the mouth of anybody working in this administration," White House press secretary Jen Psaki told reporters.

Later, she added, "We are not advocating for killing the leader of a foreign country or regime change. That is not the policy of the United States."

The White House earlier this week stopped short of even calling for Putin's ouster.

During an interview on ABC's "Good Morning America" on Thursday, co-anchor George Stephanopoulos pressed Vice President Kamala Harris on what the United States hopes is the end game for Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine.

"What is the best possible outcome here? Does the United States want the Russian people and Putin's fellow oligarchs to rise up and depose him?" Stephanopoulos asked.

"Well, what we want is that he will leave Ukraine. What we want is that the Ukrainian people will be free and that they will be safe," Harris said, stopping short of calling for Putin to be removed from power.

Graham has been a vocal critic of Putin for years, and has in recent weeks called on the administration to impose harsher sanctions of the Russian leader, his oligarchs, and his exports.

On Thursday, Graham led a bipartisan group of senators in introducing a resolution encouraging the investigation of Russia for war crimes abuses in Ukraine.

Graham faces backlash for suggesting someone should assassinate Putin originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, left, and Russian President Vladimir Putin, right, at a 2019 meeting in the Kremlin in Moscow. (Alexei Druzhinin / Russian Presidential Press and Information Office)

Facing condemnation from most of the world and stiff sanctions from Europe and the United States, Russia appears increasingly isolated as its president presses on with his invasion of Ukraine.

But Vladimir Putin has found some measure of support in Latin America from the authoritarian governments of Venezuela, Cuba and Nicaragua.

In a televised speech this week, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro denounced U.S. sanctions against Russia as a crime against its people and said that he had just spoken with Putin and noted serenity, wisdom and moral conviction.

In an effort reminiscent of the Cold War, when Latin America was an ideological battleground for the Soviet Union and the United States, Russia has been trying to expand its influence in the region for more than a decade.

The pandemic provided one broad opportunity. Russia developed one of the first COVID-19 vaccines and delivered it to Argentina, Bolivia and to other countries that had limited access to other options.

Trade between Russia and Latin America has also been growing, though it barely registers compared with Chinas economic footprint in the region.

Russia has an interest in meddling in what has traditionally been considered a U.S. sphere of influence, said Cynthia Arnson, director of the Latin American Program at the Wilson Center in Washington.

Putins biggest inroads have come with governments that have bad relationships with the United States.

Russia has granted Cuba  which had been the Soviet Unions staunchest ally in the region  massive debt relief, forgiving $32 billion of Soviet-era debt in 2014. It has also sent hundreds of thousands of barrels of oil during shortages.

Russia has also been a lifeline for Venezuela, supplying it with billions of dollars in arms and investing in its oil industry after Hugo Chavez became president in 1999 and embraced socialism.

That support has continued under Maduro. In 2019, as he was fighting a U.S.-backed effort to oust him from power, Russia sent specialists to service military equipment.

In Nicaragua, Russia has opened an anti-narcotics training center and sold the government military tanks.

When the United States suspended aid to Nicaragua because of concerns of fraud in local elections in 2008, Russia paraded warships off the coast in an apparent show of support.

Russia also came to the defense of President Daniel Ortega  a former guerrilla leader backed by the Soviet Union  after many governments refused to recognize his reelection last year because his government had jailed his potential political challengers.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov held a news conference saying the election was held in an orderly manner, in full compliance with Nicaraguan legislation.

Ryan Berg, a senior fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, a think tank in Washington, said Venezuela, Cuba and Nicaragua cant really afford to lose one of their biggest patrons.

In the days before the invasion of Ukraine, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Yury Borisov visited Nicaragua, Cuba and Venezuela  a trip that experts say was an attempt to demonstrate his countrys international clout as it prepared for war.

Still, when it came to the United Nations General Assembly vote this week calling on Russia to immediately withdraw its troops, the three countries stopped short of offering Putin their full support.

Nicaragua and Cuba abstained. Venezuela could not vote because it had not paid its member dues.

Experts said Nicaragua and Cuba made a calculation that they had too much to lose by joining Russia, Belarus, Syria, North Korea and Eritrea as the only countries to vote against the resolution. Cuba in particular did not want to burn all its bridges with the United States, said Vladimir Rouvinski, a political scientist at Icesi University in Colombia.

During the administration of President Obama, the countries restored diplomatic relations. Cuba would like the United States to ease sanctions that limit remittances to the island.

Still, Jennie Lincoln, a senior advisor on Latin America at the Carter Center think tank, called the abstentions a kick in the shins to the U.S. and a way of expressing their anti-imperialist view of the West.

Apart from abstentions from El Salvador and Bolivia  also places where anti-U.S. sentiment runs high  the rest of Latin America supported the U.N. resolution.

Notably, the two most populous countries in the region, Brazil and Mexico, have not been unequivocal in their condemnation of Russia.

Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, who had met with Putin in Moscow days before the invasion to discuss trade relations, said this week before the U.N. vote that his country would remain neutral, and disparaged Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, a former comic who has rapidly turned into a war hero.

Ukrainians had placed the hope of their nation in the hands of a comedian, he said.

Mauricio Santoro, a political scientist at the State University of Rio de Janeiro, said Bolsonaro, who is running for reelection, may have been appealing to far-right supporters. Many of them are also supporters of Putin because they perceive Putin to be a real model for a conservative leader, he said.

Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said this week that Mexico will not issue economic sanctions against Russia because we want to maintain good relations with all the governments of the world and want to be able to talk to the parties in the conflict.

Trade between Mexico and Russia topped $2.1 billion in 2019, according to the Growth Lab program at Harvard University.

At rallies attended by dozens outside the Russian Embassy in Mexico City, Mexicans and Ukrainians have called on Lopez Obrador to take a stronger position.

Rodrigo Jara, a 25-year-old Mexican music producer whose girlfriend is Ukrainian, said at a gathering Monday night that the Mexican presidents stance was practically neutral.





This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
People watch a TV showing a file image of North Korea's missile launch during a news program at the Seoul Railway Station in Seoul, South Korea, Saturday, March 5, 2022. North Korea on Saturday fired a suspected ballistic missile into the sea, according to its neighbors' militaries, apparently extending its streak of weapons tests this year amid a prolonged freeze in nuclear negotiations with the United States. (AP Photo /Ahn Young-joon)

SEOUL, South Korea (AP)  North Korea on Saturday fired a suspected ballistic missile into the sea, according to its neighbors militaries, apparently extending its streak of weapons tests this year amid a prolonged freeze in nuclear negotiations with the United States.

South Koreas Joint Chiefs of Staff said it detected a single launch of a presumed ballistic missile from an area near the North Korean capital of Pyongyang toward the countrys eastern waters, but it didnt immediately say how far the weapon flew. Japans Defense Ministry also assessed the weapon as possibly ballistic.

Japans Coast Guard issued a warning to vessels that an object it described as a potential ballistic missile possibly landed in waters between the Korean Peninsula and Japan, but there were no immediate reports of damages.

South Koreas presidential office said national security adviser Suh Hoon will preside over an emergency National Security Council meeting to discuss the launch. There was no immediate comment about the launch by the U.S. government or military.

It was North Koreas ninth round of weapons launches in 2022 as it continues to use a pause in diplomacy to expand its military capabilities while attempting to pressure the Biden administration for concessions.

The launch came as South Koreans waited in long lines at polling stations Saturday morning to participate in early voting ahead of a presidential election next Wednesday. The voting follows months of bitter campaigning in which the two major candidates have clashed over whether South Korea should continue to pursue engagement with the belligerent North or take a harder line to check its nuclear threat.

The latest launch came about a week after South Korea and Japan said they detected the North firing a ballistic missile on Sunday that flew about 300 kilometers (190 miles) at a maximum altitude of about 600 kilometers (370 miles). The North later said that launch was designed to test a camera system it plans to install on a spy satellite that is under development.

The Norths other tests this year included a purported hypersonic missile and its first launch since 2017 of an intermediate range missile potentially capable of reaching Guam, a major U.S. military hub in the Pacific.

Analysts say North Korea could up the ante in coming months and possibly resume its testing of major weapons like intercontinental ballistic missiles as it tries to move the needle with Washington, which is now preoccupied with Russias invasion of Ukraine and regional competition with China.

During a ruling Workers Party conference called by North Korean leader Kim Jong Un last month, Politburo members issued a veiled threat to resume the tests of nuclear devices and ICBMs, which Kim had unilaterally suspended in 2018 to make room for diplomacy with then-President Donald Trump.

But negotiations remain derailed after the collapse of Trump and Kims second meeting in February 2019, when the Americans rejected North Koreas demands for major sanctions relief in exchange for dismantling an aging nuclear facility, which would have amounted to a partial surrender of its nuclear capabilities.

The Biden administration has offered open-ended talks with Pyongyang but shown no willingness to offer badly needed economic benefits unless the North takes real steps to cut down its nuclear weapons and missile program.

___

AP writer Mari Yamaguchi in Tokyo contributed to the story.
The body of a Russian soldier lies on the side of a road after a Russian vehicle was destroyed by Ukrainian forces near Sytnyaky, Ukraine, on Thursday. (Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times)

Back in the Soviet era, the Kremlin had a simple strategy for dealing with combat casualties in messy foreign wars like the one in Afghanistan: near silence on the subject.

But Russian President Vladimir Putin confronts a more complicated reality as his government grapples with publicly acknowledging military deaths in Ukraine, where tens of thousands of Russian troops seeking to seize control are facing unexpectedly fierce resistance from Ukrainian defenders.

In a social media age, it is difficult for Russian authorities to fully contain and control searing battlefield images flooding the internet: scenes of Russian soldiers snow-covered corpses, or plaintive video footage of young Russian POWs saying they had expected to be welcomed as liberators.

In response, Russian censors moved to block Russians access to Facebook and some foreign news sites, and the government has thrown its full weight behind a long-running media campaign demonizing Ukraines leaders. With the war in its second week, independent media outlets in Russia are being silenced and a new law threatens to criminalize critical coverage.

Even so, some Russians have heard enough to voice dismay about the conflict and its aims.

It is a catastrophe, a tragedy and disgrace, said Alexandra Lanskaya, a 58-year-old Moscow businesswoman and the mother of three sons ranging in age from 15 to 25. I feel very strongly opposed to the fact that our country descended to such a low point.

Analysts say, though, that it is unlikely military losses alone would galvanize a groundswell strong enough to threaten Putins grip on power.

Repressive regimes like Russias are relatively secretive and inaccurate with regard to casualties, because casualties alienate some of the citizenry, said Bruce Bueno de Mesquita, a professor at New York University who studies authoritarian leaders.

But he and others saw little sign that Putin or his government would be blamed for the costs in service members lives.

Theyre still working very hard to suppress information about casualties, said Michael Kofman, an adjunct senior fellow at the Center for a New American Security. However, he said, even if people are angry to hear of soldiers dying, the Russian public has been thoroughly primed to pin any responsibility on NATO and the West.

Ukrainian soldiers salvage equipment off a body of a dead Russian soldier. (Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times)

So far, Russian officials public statements have sought to thread a needle: acknowledging that soldiers lives are being sacrificed, but portraying the cause as a righteous fight to denazify Ukraine.

Russia waited until seven days into the conflict to address the issue of battlefield losses, with the Defense Ministry saying Wednesday that 498 Russian service members had been killed and more than 1,500 wounded  a figure met with skepticism by Western officials and analysts.

Nick Reynolds, who researches land warfare for the Royal United Services Institute, a British defense and security think tank, called the Russian figure unrealistically low. He said Ukraines counterclaim that the combined tally of Russian dead and wounded exceeded 9,000 seemed high, but not out of the realm of possibility.

In his first personal acknowledgment of military losses, Putin said in a nationally televised address Thursday that families of the dead each would be entitled to a special payment of 5 million rubles, or almost $50,000. While Western officials and analysts have alluded to low troop morale, troubled supply chains and a host of logistical difficulties for the invading Russian forces, the Russian president insisted in his speech that the military campaign was proceeding strictly according to the schedule.

Moscows military operations have been bolstered by a powerful public relations effort, spearheaded by state media outlets that still command a large and loyal audience. For weeks before the war began, Ukraine was painted as a threat to Russia, not the other way around. Once the offensive got underway, it was officially deemed a special military operation, never an invasion or war.

In Russias past wars, word of military losses sometimes filtered out from military families demanding to know the fate of loved ones serving in the army  or worse, receiving no word until a body bag arrived. But there has been a concerted official effort to discourage grass-roots groups that help military families from questioning war aims.

Valentina Melnikova, a founder of the Soldiers Mothers Committee, a group that serves as a point of contact for relatives trying to pinpoint missing service members whereabouts, described the frantic anxiety of parents who suddenly realized that sons with whom they lost contact in recent days might be captured or dead in Ukraine.

I dont even want to discuss the emotional state of the callers, she said. We dont let them cry, so they dont break our hearts.

A Ukrainian soldier walks past a war-ravaged building. (Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times)

But Melnikova was quick to insist that neither her group nor the military families questioned the governments overall aims.Nothing worries them about the war itself, she said of the distraught parents.

Ukrainian leaders have sought to capitalize on the notion that young Russian foot soldiers are viewed by their own commanders as little more than hapless cannon fodder. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, in a video address this week, likened Russian recruits to confused children who have been used.

Ukrainian officials and volunteers have also helped captured prisoners of war contact their families, and are amplifying stories of frightened, disheartened Russian troops.

Ukraines ambassador to the United Nations this week read on the assembly floor what were purported to have been final text messages from a Russian soldier to his mother, expressing horror and bewilderment.

Mama, its so hard, the message read.

With growing indications that the military push against Ukraines capital, Kyiv, is foundering, any talk of battlefield setbacks is strictly forbidden by Russian officials. The Duma, Russias parliament, has passed a bill making it a crime, punishable by up to 15 years in jail, to spread what it called fake news about the Russian military.

The few remaining independent news outlets are under intense pressure, with the venerable Echo of Moscow radio station going off the air and the liberal TV Rain halting broadcasts in recent days. That, and curtailment of social media platforms, has made it very difficult for most Russians to access factual information about the war, said Joanna Szostek, a University of Glasgow expert in Russian political communication.

Eventually, the Russian death toll in Ukraine will have an impact on Russian public opinion, Szostek wrote in an email. But it may take a very long time for accurate information to reach most Russians.

Still, internal contradictions in the Kremlins official messaging send a signal to some Russians, especially the young.

The official narrative has been that Russia was not going to attack anybody, but we would powerfully fight back if we were attacked, said Pyotr Peshev, an 18-year-old university student in Moscow. I cannot understand who we are defending ourselves against right now.

Volunteer fighters transport rifles near a destroyed bridge to reinforce Ukrainian troops in Irpin, outside Kyiv. (Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times)

Korobtsova is a special correspondent and King is a Times staff writer.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Express Train, right, is the favorite to win the Santa Anita Handicap, a race his veteran trainer, John Shirreffs, has never won. (Kelley Carlson)

Trainer John Shirreffs has accomplished a lot in more than four decades in the business. He won the Kentucky Derby in 2005 with 50-1 long shot Giacomo. He won the Breeders Cup Classic with perhaps the greatest female horse of all-time when Zenyatta beat the boys in 2009. Hes taken the Santa Anita Derby three times.

But, there is one thing the 76-year-old Vietnam veteran has never won  the Santa Anita Handicap. He hopes to change that Saturday when he takes the 8-5 favorite Express Train to post in the Grade 1 $650,000 race.

The Santa Anita Handicap, better known by its nickname the Big Cap, is one of six graded stakes worth $2.45 million on one of Santa Anitas three biggest race days of its six-month season. Also on the card is the Grade 2 $400,000 San Felipe Stakes for 3-year-olds. Its essentially a win-and-youre-in Kentucky Derby prep race for everyone except trainer Bob Baffert ... for now.

The six-time Kentucky Derby winner is facing a 90-day suspension by the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission for a positive drug test on last years disqualified Derby winner Medina Spirit. On Friday, the racing commission voted to not grant a stay of the suspension pending an appeal. A stay is almost always granted on appeal, making this a highly unusual move.

Baffert and the racing commission will go to court March 17 before a District Court judge to see if a stay will be granted. As for the positive, Bafferts attorneys have contended that the rules do not cover betamethasone, an anti-inflammatory that's legal except on race day, when administered by ointment rather than injection. Churchill Downs has suspended Baffert from its tracks and barred him from gaining any Kentucky Derby qualifying points. Baffert has filed suit against Churchill Downs.

If Baffert is suspended by Kentucky, it would be honored by California and all other states with racing.

Its pointless to talk about that, Baffert said about not being able to gain Derby qualifying points Saturday. Right now, were trying to see what we have. Are they good enough?  I dont like to get ahead of myself, just go week to week, day to day. Things could change drastically. You just go with the hand youre dealt.

The Big Cap is a 1-mile race in which each horse is assigned a different weight to carry to try to even out the field. The better the horse, the more weight. Express Train carries the high weight of 124 pounds and it drops down to Soy Tapatio, the longest shot in the eight-horse field at 20-1, who carries 116 pounds.

With the advent of off-track betting, especially on your phone or laptop, crowds on race day have been on the decline. More than 85,000 people attended the 1985 Big Cap, but today a crowd of more than 20,000 is considered good. More money is being bet now, however, just not on track.

I remember when I was working for [trainer] Gene Cleveland and I went over to the apron near the grandstand for the Big 'Cap, Shirreffs said. I couldnt see anything because there were so many people. I didnt know when the horses were coming into the stretch except by the wall of noise which would get closer and closer. At the Santa Anita Handicap, the atmosphere is electric and there is so much great tradition behind it. How many times did it take Seabiscuit before he won it?

The answer is three.

Express Train, a $500,000 purchase as a yearling, is the favorite by virtue of a convincing win in his last race, the San Pasqual at Santa Anita. On opening day of this meeting, he won the San Antonio Stakes, beating crowd favorite Hot Rod Charlie. In 16 lifetime races, the 5-year-old has won six, finished second four times and third three times.

Express Train is a really beautiful equine specimen, Shirreffs said. Obviously, he has a lot of talent. Hes what you hope for in a race horse. Hes fiery, excitable and can hardly contain himself, all of the good qualities you look for.

Shirreffs has one of the smaller stables at Santa Anita and doesnt start many horses, but feels a special bond with those he does.

The horses have really been the thing that have made my career so exciting, Shirreffs said. Being involved has changed my attitude in life. There arent a lot of people who get to sit on one and handle one.

Shirreffs, who can often be found atop a horse leading his trainees to the track, remembers being around 12 years old when he first got on a horse.

His name was Pedro and as soon as I sat on this horse, I could feel his heart beating. You felt a part of him.

Trainer John Shirreffs is congratulated after Zenyatta won the 2009 Breeders' Cup Classic at Santa Anita Park. (Mark J. Terrill / Associated Press)

Shirreffs, along with six horses, three other trainers and one jockey, is on the nomination list for this years racing Hall of Fame. Winners have to be named on 50% of the ballots from the voting members. Other Southern California nominees include trainer Doug ONeill and jockey Corey Nakatani. The results will be announced May 11.

Baffert is already in the Hall of Fame and has two horses entered in the six-horse San Felipe  Doppelganger (9-5) and Armagnac (5-1), who are the second and third favorites behind Richard Mandellas Forbidden Kingdom (8-5).

Forbidden Kingdom is the fastest and quickest horse in the race, Baffert said. Hes extremely fast because hes by American Pharoah, which I think is a good thing. American Pharoah is still my favorite horse.

Baffert trained American Pharoah to the Triple Crown in 2015.

Forbidden Kingdom won the seven-furlong San Vicente Stakes at Santa Anita on Jan. 29. Pinehurst, who just won the Saudi Derby, was second and Doppelganger finished third. The 1-1/16-mile San Felipe will be the farthest these two horses have run. Armagnac broke his maiden in his last race at this distance.

The other graded stakes on the 11-race card are the Grade 2 San Carlos for older horses going seven furlongs, the Grade 2 Buena Vista for older fillies and mares going a mile on the turf, the Grade 1 Beholder Mile for older fillies and mares and the Grade 1 Frank E. Kilroe Mile for older horses running on the turf. First post is noon.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Much of the world reacted with shock and horror on Thursday evening when news broke that Russia was shelling Europes largest nuclear power plant as part of its assault on Ukraine.

The unprecedented attack drew condemnation from government officials in Ukraine and its Western allies. We are issuing a warning, no country has ever shot at nuclear blocks except for Russia, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in a video statement. For the first time ever in our history, in the history of humankind, the terrorist country has reverted to nuclear terror.

U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson said Russian President Vladimir Putins reckless actions could directly threaten the safety of all of Europe. President Biden called on Russia to cease military operations around the site.

For those wondering why the attack occurred, what made it so risky and what its possible repercussions are, heres an overview of the key facts.

When and where did the attack occur?

The Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant is in the city of Enerhodar in southeastern Ukraine. The Russian military shelled the facility early Friday morning local time.

After several hours of fighting, Russian troops reportedly took control of the plant.

Did it have any catastrophic consequences?

Fortunately, no  at least not yet. The building hit on the site was not a nuclear reactor, and the fire the shelling started was extinguished within hours.

It appears that [Russia] wanted to seize that facility, but they werent trying to destroy a nuclear power plant, Matthew Bunn, a nuclear policy expert and a professor at the Harvard Kennedy School, told Yahoo News. They werent shelling the reactors themselves; they were having a firefight outside the facility with the Ukrainians.

Cooling towers of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in Enerhodar, Ukraine. (Getty Images)

Why did Russia attack the power plant?

Russia has launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine with the stated aim of removing its government. As part of that, it apparently wanted to take control of Ukraines energy generation system, which would give it the power to shut down electricity to millions of Ukrainians. Ukraine gets 25 percent of its power from the Zaporizhzhia plant.

Its an obvious strategic target, Bunn said. And its right on the Dnipro River, which sort of separates Ukraine in two, so its quite a strategic location as well. My guess is they were seizing it for that reason and not because they wanted to cause a major radioactive release.

Is it a war crime to attack a nuclear power plant?

Targeting civilians is considered a war crime, according to the United Nations. The United States and other countries have already criticized the Russian government for attacks on civilian targets in Ukraine, such as bombing apartment buildings. The prosecutor of the International Criminal Court has launched an investigation of possible war crimes in Ukraine.

Attacking a nuclear power plant specifically is also a violation of agreements to which Russia is a party. The member states of the International Atomic Energy Agency, including Russia, unanimously agreed some years ago that attacking nuclear power plants was a violation of the U.N. Charter and of the statute of the International Atomic Energy Agency, Bunn said.

Bunn said he would guess that Russia would argue that it didnt attack the plant, only military forces near it. But, he added, it was certainly extremely reckless to get into a firefight right outside a nuclear power plant.

The Chernobyl nuclear power plant, near the city of Pripyat, Ukraine. (Getty Images)

Has Russia shut down power to Ukrainians?

It has not, and experts are unsure as to why. This is actually the second nuclear power plant in Ukraine that Russia has seized. The first was taken a week ago, when Russia occupied the Chernobyl nuclear power plant in northern Ukraine. That facility was the site of a meltdown in 1986, causing a massive radioactive release that led to an estimated 20,000 cases of thyroid cancer.

Chernobyl is still in operation. However, Russia seized it only through the use of ground forces; no bombs were involved.

At the moment, as with the Chernobyl site, we have this odd situation where the Russians are in charge of the facility overall, but the Ukrainians are continuing to operate the reactor systems, Bunn said.

What are the risks of an attack on a nuclear facility?

If a bomb hits one of Zaporizhzhias six nuclear reactors, it could cause an explosion or trigger a meltdown that spreads radioactive material far and wide. Even if a bomb doesnt directly hit a reactor, nuclear reactors are delicate structures that need to be operated and maintained carefully to avoid accidents, which could be difficult if they turn into battlegrounds, experts say.

These plants were not designed to be able to withstand the kind of damage that might result from a military attack, Ed Lyman, the director of nuclear power safety at the Union of Concerned Scientists, told Yahoo News.

If any sort of meltdown occurs, residents of surrounding communities could be exposed to dangerous radioactive material. You could have explosions or other events where the containment structure of the reactor is breached and radioactive material gets into the environment, Lyman said.

Inhalation of radioactive material can be carcinogenic at low levels, and at high levels it can kill someone within days or weeks. It can take decades for radiation to cycle out of the environment.

Ukrainian civilians are seen after crossing the Ukraine-Poland border in Medyka, Poland, on Friday. (Beata Zawrzel/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)

Has anyone bombed a nuclear power plant before?

This is the first time an operating civilian nuclear power plant has been subject to military assault, Bunn said. But, he added, the word operating is key. Israel bombed an Iraqi nuclear reactor in 1981, before it began operating. Israel also bombed a preoperational reactor in Syria in 2007. Iran likewise bombed a preoperational reactor in Iraq during the Iran-Iraq War.

What are the ongoing risks?

Aside from the possibility that future fighting at Chernobyl or Zaporizhzhia could trigger an accidental release of radiation, there is the chance that similar battles could occur at other sensitive facilities in Ukraine, such as chemical plants.

There are other nuclear power plants in Ukraine that are much weaker, in terms of their safety arrangements ... [where] a stray shell could do a lot more damage, Bunn said.

But, he added, the most likely risks to the Ukrainian people are the general risks of war, including that power plants become inoperable.

What are the implications for nuclear power in the United States and Europe?

Nuclear energy contributes vastly less to climate change than the burning of fossil fuels such as coal, oil and natural gas. It is among the cleanest sources of energy, along with solar, wind and (to a lesser extent) hydropower. However, the risk of nuclear accidents makes it more expensive to build and insure nuclear power plants, and fear of those risks increases public opposition to them. The United States essentially stopped building new nuclear plants in the 1970s, and Germany and Japan have been phasing out atomic energy since the 2011 Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant accident in Okuma, Japan.

While nuclear power plants in these countries are unlikely to come under attack from a foreign government, it is possible that terrorists could target those sites. Both the public reaction to that threat, and the potential added costs of trying to design new nuclear reactors to withstand attack, might hinder any future expansion of nuclear power to combat climate change.

Thursdays attack, Lyman said, makes real a scenario that some people have contemplated, but not really: the potential that a nuclear power plant in a peaceful country could be the subject of a military operation and potentially be taken over by a hostile power.
Clerics from both sides of a Belfast community interface came together to urge peace in Ukraine at an anti-war rally in the city.

Colin Duncan, from Shankill Methodist Church, and Fr Martin Magill, from St Johns Parish church on the Falls Road, were among those who addressed the event at Custom House Square on Saturday afternoon.

Ukrainians living in Northern Ireland also gave emotional testimony at the demonstration.

After the event, protesters marched through the city to gather for a vigil outside City Hall.

People take part in a rally from Custom House Square in Belfast towards City Hall (David Young/PA)

Mr Duncan and Fr Magill stood side by side to address the rally.

We stand together here in unity with the people of Ukraine, said Mr Duncan.

What we see happening and unfolding in front of our TV sets I cant come up with a word for it, there isnt a strong enough word that I can think of for the horror thats happening in Ukraine.

Fr Magill added: How on earth have we found ourselves in this situation, bearing in mind this world of ours has gone through two world wars, how has this been allowed to happen?

Kateryna Kozlova, from the Ukrainian city of Kherson, told the crowds of the anxiety trying to reach relatives on the phone.

Kateryna Kozlova (David Young/PA)

Its the worst feeling ever when you do not know whether your family is still alive, she said.

She condemned the attack on the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in south-east Ukraine and warned that the world could face nuclear disaster if Nato fails to impose a no-fly zone.

I dont understand why Nato doesnt close the skies, close the skies at least over the nuclear power plant, she said.

We are all in danger, all the people here, all the people in Europe, all the people in Asia, so please hear us.

Patrick Corrigan, Northern Ireland director of Amnesty International, also addressed the rally.

He urged the Stormont authorities to prepare to accommodate Ukrainian refugees.

More than a million people have now been forced to flee from Ukraine, and they need refuge, he said.

Protection for refugees must be offered without fear or favour, without obstacles, without discrimination and without delay.

The European Union has rightly waived any requirement for visas and other unnecessary paperwork. The Irish government is already accepting arrivals from Ukraine. The Scottish and Welsh governments have started preparations to receive refugees.

In Northern Ireland we must be ready to play our part too in offering sanctuary.

The Executive needs to move on this issue urgently. We cannot simply sit and wait for the Home Office to get their act together. Preparations must start now.
Boris Johnson has heaped praise on the response of the British public to the war in Ukraine as he reiterated his belief that Vladimir Putin would fail in his invasion of the country.

The Prime Minister said it was absolutely vital that Vladimir Putin understands that this hideous, barbarous assault cannot succeed and that he will fail.

In a video message on Twitter, Mr Johnson said: I want to thank businesses, community groups, individuals, sports clubs, whove been coming together to support Ukraine.

I think of the group in Northern Ireland thats got a local warehouse as a centre for supplies to go to the war zone, I think of Inna Schorr, a London-based Ukrainian whos raising thousands of pounds, while her own family are still back in Ukraine.

Ive been lost in admiration by the way in which the British public has responded to the brutal Russian invasion of Ukraine. From community groups to sports clubs and businesses, everyone in the UK has been united in their support for the Ukrainian people. pic.twitter.com/gzj0Wtb6W6  Boris Johnson (@BorisJohnson) March 5, 2022

And dont forget to for all Ukrainian families here in in the UK, we have ways that you can bring your wider relatives back to the UK.

More than 85 million has now been raised to provide aid for Ukraine through the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC), in what has been described as an absolutely incredible show of support from the UK public.

The Government has pledged to match public donations to the appeal pound-for-pound up to 25 million.

Collections of donated items have also been taking place across the country, but DEC chief executive Saleh Saeed told BBC Breakfast: What we would advise is the things that people collect today here in the UK are not necessarily what people need tomorrow.

Thats why we would urge, please donate cash through a reputable charity.

Trying to transport goods from here, the UK, thousands of miles to Ukraine will take a long time and may not be necessarily what people need when it arrives.

People protest against the Russian war in Ukraine in Dublin city centre (Niall Carson/PA)

Mr Johnsons thank you message came as hundreds of people gathered in cities across the country to protest against Russias assault on Ukraine.

In Londons Trafalgar Square, the Ukrainian national anthem was sung and stop Putin, stop the war chanted, as demonstrators draped themselves in the countrys flag.

The rally began with a prayer led by Archbishop Claudio Gugerotti, the papal nuncio to Great Britain, who said: Today we are all Ukrainians.

Volodymyr Shevetovskyy, 31, and his girlfriend Nadiia Soshenko, 27, from Kyiv, said they were grateful for support from western countries but called for a no-fly zone to be imposed over Ukraine.

Ms Soshenko told the PA news agency: There are already a lot of deaths in our country.

Nato is afraid to close the skies saying that theyre afraid to start the third world war.

Nadiia Soshenko and Volodymyr Shevetovskyy, from Kyiv, call for western countries to impose a no-fly zone (Sophie Wingate/PA)

Excuse me, whats happening right now? Why the whole world cant stop one insane, mad person? I just honestly do not understand why our people are dying, are dying for what?

Nato allies have ruled out implementing a no-fly zone over Ukraine amid fears it could prompt an all-out war with nuclear-armed Russia.

On Saturday, Russian President Mr Putin warned the Kremlin would consider any third-party declaration of a no-fly zone over Ukraine as participation in the conflict.

Mr Putin said Russia would view any move in this direction as an intervention that will pose a threat to our service members.

That very second, we will view them as participants of the military conflict, and it would not matter what members they are, he said.

However, Ukraine has repeatedly said the move is the only way to stop more deaths.

Earlier on Saturday, it had been announced a temporary ceasefire had been called in order for civilians in Mariupol, a strategic port in the south east, and the eastern city of Volnovakha, to escape the fighting.

However, this failed to hold, with Mariupol mayor Vadym Boychenko claiming thousands of people had gathered for safe passage out of the city and buses were departing when shelling began.

We value the life of every inhabitant of Mariupol and we cannot risk it, so we stopped the evacuation, he said.

Mr Putin accused Ukraine of sabotaging the evacuation.

The Ministry of Defence (MoD) said the proposed ceasefire was likely an attempt to deflect international condemnation while resetting its force for renewed offensive activity.

In an intelligence update on Saturday afternoon, the MoD said: By accusing Ukraine of breaking the agreement, Russia is likely seeking to shift responsibility for current and future civilian casualties in the city.

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said there was no justification for Putins actions.

Speaking at the Scottish Labour conference in Glasgow, Sir Keir said: But lets also be clear what Putin is afraid of  his fear is order and liberty.

Labour leader Keir Starmer speaking during the Scottish Labour conference at Glasgow Royal Concert Hall (Andrew Milligan/PA)

Afraid of democracy, of openness, of progress, and of a world which will move on without him, he is afraid of everything that we are most proud of.

We know Putins playbook. He seeks division so we must meet him with unity.

He believes the benefits of aggression outweigh the consequences so we must take a stand. And he believes the West is too corrupted to do the right thing, so we must prove him wrong. I believe we can.
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YEREVAN, MARCH 5, ARMENPRESS. The US-based CNN television channel stops broadcasting in Russia, according to tweets citing a CNN spokesperson, reports TASS.

CNN will stop broadcasting in Russia while we continue to evaluate the situation and our next steps moving forward, the spokesperson said as quoted by TASS.

Reuters reports news organizations including the BBC and Canadian Broadcasting Corp have also suspended reporting from Russia following the passing of the law on criminal liability for false information about the Russian Armed Forces.
YEREVAN, MARCH 5, ARMENPRESS. The situation in Ukraines capital Kiev is calm, but it is tense in the suburbs, Kiev-based Ukrainian-Armenian political analyst Marat Hakobyan said in an interview to ARMENPRESS, adding that currently people are being evacuated from the suburbs.

Residents are being relocated from Kievs suburbs to the city. They had been on the scene of military operations for already a week. Yesterday a large number of people left. In general, the conditions in the city are typical of the war situation. I would like to note that all essentials, such as water, electricity, internet, exist in the city. There are goods in stores. There have been queues in the early days, but today it is normal in this sense. Lets not forget that some part has left the city. As for the security issues, our family has not entered a shelter, but for the people living in high-rise buildings the rightest option is the shelter. People have started to get used to the war situation, Marat Hakobyan said.

He informed that from the very beginning of the military operations, Armenians, in coordination of the Union of Armenians of Ukraine, have been involved in the organization of humanitarian issues and the defense processes. They help the troops, the refugees and the needy ones, providing them with food and first essentials.

He said this is being done in all cities, including Kiev. Humanitarian centers have opened in different places, the assistance provided is given to the needy people. There have been problems with medicine, but now it is being solved, he said.
YEREVAN, MARCH 5, ARMENPRESS. The Russian airline Aeroflot is suspending all international flights from March 8, except for flights to Minsk, Belarus, the company said in a statement.

According to the statement, from March 6 the company will not allow international flights to passengers who have a return ticket to Russia for the period following March 8.
YEREVAN, MARCH 5, ARMENPRESS. Iranian Minister of Industry, Mine and Trade Reza Fatemi Amin hails his visit to Armenia as constructive, saying Tehran and Yerevan agreed on launching joint ventures, the Embassy of Iran in Armenia said in a news release.

We have clinched new agreements with Armenian officials on joint production of pharmaceutical products and home appliances based on which the raw materials or parts will be imported to Armenia. The joint products will be made in Armenia and exported to other countries, Reza Fatemi Amin said on Friday.

He had already announced that the visit to Armenia was aimed at expanding bilateral trade ties via joint investments. This visit is focused on deepening ties between Iran and Armenia via joint ventures, said Reza Fatemi-Amin upon arrival in the Armenian capital of Yerevan on Thursday.

Fatemi-Amin also described the meetings with Armenian officials as helpful, saying they would facilitate bilateral trade between the two neighbouring countries. During the two-day visit we had helpful meetings with Armenian officials aimed at paving the way for the joint activities by Iranian and Armenian companies in trade transit, marketing and sales activities, said the Iranian Minister of Industry, Trade and Mine.

Dozens of the CEOs of Iranian private companies accompanied the Iranian delegation during the visit to Armenia.

According to Fatemi-Amin, Iran and Armenia also agreed on launching Infrastructure projects in Armenia. During the meetings with Armenian Minister of Economy Vahan Kerobyan and Minister of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure Gnel Sanosyan and the Armenia deputy PM, we made preliminary agreements on a range of issues such as building dams and roads by Iranian companies in Armenia, the Iranian Minister of Industry, Mine and Trade said. We agreed on building a transit road to complete the infrastructure projects in Armenia in the long run. Iranian companies will also participate in the relevant tenders, he noted.

In its statement the Embassy reminded that Iran has already announced its readiness to cooperate with Armenia in the construction of a new transportation route (Kajaran-Sisian road). The 64-kilometer long route is part of the Iran-Armenia-Georgia Transportation Corridor which comes as part of Irans bid to launch the North-South Transport Corridor. The International North-South Transport Corridor is a 7,200 kilometer long multi-mode network of ship, rail, and road routes for moving freight between Iran, India, Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Russia, Armenia, Central Asia and Europe. It is aimed at boosting trade connectivity among the regional as well as ultra-regional states.

Iranian and Armenian officials also agreed on cutting transit tariffs as part of the joint effort to boost bilateral trade. Regarding transit of goods, we had two short-term and long-term agreements with Armenia. We agreed to slash tariffs for transit trucks in short term, Reza Fatemi-Amin said.
Chief Minister Nitish Kumar expressed concern over the explosion in Bhagalpur and directed Chief Secretary and DGP to probe the matter

A volunteer near a damaged house after a massive explosion ripped through a three-storey building, under Tatarpur Police station, in Bhagalpur district, on March 4, 2022. (PTI)

Patna: At least 14 persons lost their lives and nine others were seriously injured in an explosion at an illegal cracker factory in Bihars Bhagalpur late Thursday night.

The incident occurred in a three-storied building in Kajbalichak locality under Tatarpur police station which is close to the blast site, sources from Bhagalpur said.

Local residents who witnessed the incident said the explosion was so powerful that it damaged other buildings in the area. Reports suggest that three houses were completely damaged and reduced to debris.

Officials said that the injured are admitted to a local government hospital for treatment.

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar expressed concern over the explosion in Bhagalpur and directed Chief Secretary and DGP to probe the matter and take appropriate action.

Earlier on Friday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi also expressed grief over the loss of lives in the Bhagalpur blast incident and discussed the issue with Bihar Chief Minister.

Its painful to hear about the loss of lives due to blast in Bhagalpur. Discussed the matter related to the blast with Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. The administration is engaged in relief and rescue operations and all possible assistance is being provided to the victims, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said in a tweet on Friday.

Reports suggest that the house where the explosion occurred were being used as an illegal firecracker factory. Sources said that local residents on many occasions earlier had raised objections and asked the owner of the factory to stop illegal operations but nothing happened.

The matter was also reported to the local police but no action was taken against the accused, sources from Bhagalpur said.

However, after the incident, senior officials on Friday ordered the suspension of the SHO Tatarpur police station. A probe has also been ordered against him, sources from Bhagalpur said.

Police probing the incident said that prima facie it appears that the family who lived in the house was involved in making illegal firecrackers. We are waiting for reports from FSL and bomb squad for further action.
Indian student shot at while fleeing safe in Kyiv hospital

New Delhi: India on Friday appealed to both Russia and Ukraine to put in place a local ceasefire in war-torn eastern Ukraine so that hundreds of Indian students stuck in the cities of Kharkhiv and Sumy could be evacuated to safety, which is a primary focus, even as New Delhi announced that an injured Indian student, Harjot Singh, who is reported to have been shot at multiple times while trying to flee Ukraines capital Kyiv is safe and in hospital in Kyiv. The Indian government will share the medical costs of the injured students treatment, New Delhi added.

While the government also announced that over 20,000 Indian nationals have left Ukraine and over 10,000 Indian nationals, including students, have been brought back to India in 48 evacuation flights, the challenges remain, with estimates that about 2,000-3,000 Indian nationals, mostly students, still remaining in war-torn Ukraine. Of these, about 300 Indian students are stuck in Kharkhiv, while over 700 are stuck in Sumy due to the raging conflict. About 800-900 Indian students who managed to get to the relative safety of Pisochyn, near Kharkhiv, are being transported to safety to either Lviv in western Ukraine or to the neighbouring nation of Moldova.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi also chaired a high-level meet yet again in New Delhi on the Ukraine crisis while saying at an election rally at Mirzapur in UP that however deep a crisis is, Indias attempts to tackle it are even bigger.

As Indian students, many of them girls stuck in Sumy, sent desperate pleas for help on the social media, New Delhi said its primary focus was to ensure the safety and security of these students and evacuate them. India said it was proving difficult to evacuate the stuck Indian students due to the raging conflict as there would be considerable risk to the students if any evacuation is attempted when a battle is raging there. Asked about a reported Russian offer to arrange over 100 buses to transport Indian students to safety on the Russian side of the border across eastern Ukraine, MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said those buses were about 50-60 km away from where the students were and that there was no way the Indian students could be taken to those buses unless there was a local ceasefire agreed to by both the warring sides.

He said in case of a ceasefire, the Indian students in Kharkhiv and Sumy can even be transported to safety in western Ukraine so that they are evacuated back to India from the territory of one of Ukraines western neighbours. But the possibility of using IL-76 IAF aircraft to transport these students back to India from Russian territory in case they can be evacuated safely there also remains on the table.

In the next 24 hours, 16 more evacuation flights, including four by the IAFs modern C-17 transporters, will also be undertaken to Ukraines western neighbours like Romania, Slovakia and Poland. India is also rushing tonnes of humanitarian assistance and relief materials to the Ukrainian people on onward evacuation flights from India to Ukraines western neighbours so that these could be sent to Ukrainian territory.

Asked about the injured Indian student, Harjot Singh, the spokesperson said the Indian authorities were trying to ascertain the exact details of his medical status, but added he was safe and in hospital. Mr Bagchi said Indian diplomats were in touch with the injured Indian student and that Indian embassy officials are examining whether it would be possible for some Indian diplomats to enter Kyiv and meet him although it is not easy to re-enter the city (Kyiv) due to the conflict.

PTI reported from Mirzapur in UP that Prime Minister Narendra Modi asserted on Friday that no matter how deep a crisis, Indias response is even bigger, adding that thousands of students have been brought back from Ukraine safely under the ongoing Operation Ganga, and those still there are being evacuated. The entire world now is passing through a nazuk daur (delicate period) of this century. Many countries are today affected by the pandemic, unrest and uncertainty. But you must have seen however deep the crisis, Indias attempts (to address them) are even bigger and firm, Mr Modi was quoted as saying. We have brought back thousands of students from Ukraine under Operation Ganga safely, he added, saying special flights were being operated for those still stuck there. Any campaign associated with Mother Ganga is bound to succeed, the PM said, and added: During the coronavirus period, India brought every single citizen stuck abroad by running Operation Vande Bharat. Operation Devi Shakti was carried out in Afghanistan. Now, India is engaged in saving every citizen and student in Ukraine.
Russia must tone down its belligerence and end the war as soon as possible

The crisis in Ukraine must be viewed at two levels. At one level, it is a brazen invasion by Russia of a sovereign country, in contravention of prevailing international law, and a rules-based international order. At another, it is a symptom of much deeper and complex geopolitical phenomena. It involves the unresolved agenda of the post-Cold War world, and the unfinished business of building a new security architecture of Europe. It is also reflective of the critical fault lines that are likely to emerge if countries are unwilling to accept the emergence of a multi-polar world.

The end of the Cold War, the falling of the Berlin Wall, the reunification of Germany, and the disintegration of the Soviet Union, seemed to indicate the triumph of liberal democracies, and the emergence of a new world order whose unchallenged protector was the United States of America. The USA actually believed this, and assumed the role of a global policeman to enforce a political conformity that was congruent not only to its values but also to its national interests. In this enterprise it was aided and abetted by its traditional allies in Europe, original members of Nato, and by Japan.

This led to a great deal of unethical unilateralism in foreign policy. Iraq was invaded on the suspicion  later proven unfounded  that it had weapons of mass destruction; one million Iraqis lost their lives; Afghanistan was taken over; Syria was fair game; Libya was attacked; Serbia was relentlessly bombed, and a new country  Kosovo  was carved out. Countries were attacked and pulverised at will, in the name of preserving the security and endurance of a global world order that corresponded to what the US and Nato deemed was appropriate. The assumption behind this unilateralism was that Russia was too weakened by the demise of the Communist bloc and the collapse of the Soviet Union to be a global player. A second assumption was that China was still not a power sufficiently strong to challenge US predominance.

Both assumptions were wrong, and have led to disastrous and unforeseen consequences. In Europe, the US spearheaded the relentless expansion of Nato to the borders of Russia. Fourteen countries joined it after the end of the Cold War, including the Baltic states, Poland, Hungary and Romania. This was against the express assurance given to the Soviet Union, and to Russia as its successor state, that Nato will not pose a threat to it. Ukraine, in the very underbelly of Russia, was the last frontier that Russia could not allow Nato to cross. The warnings from Russia that it will not allow this to happen went unheeded. In 2014, the US was complicit in a coup in Ukraine for a regime change that brought to power a pro-West leader to the helm. The US happily conflated Nato with the appeal of democracy, and contrasted this with Russias authoritarian and undemocratic regime. But Nato is not some kind of benevolent democratic club. It is a military grouping designed to strike any country it considers to be its adversary. When Russia invaded Ukraine, the US was surprised that Russia was not willing to roll over and quietly accept being further encircled.

Grudgingly, the US is also realising that China is not a walkover. The Dragon powers intimidatory tactics in the Indo-Pacific, its dogged refusal to accept the independence of Taiwan, its global economic clout, its imperialist aspirations through projects like the transnational road initiative, and its belligerence on the borders of India, clearly indicate a challenge to a global order of which the US assumes it is the only arbiter. If the invasion of Ukraine has resulted as a consequence of the USs flawed assumptions about Russia, another crisis is very likely to erupt in the future as a result of Uncle Sams erroneous appraisal of China.

It is delusional to believe that powerful countries do not carve out spheres of influence as dictated by their national security interests. The US outlined the right to do so as far back as 1823 when the Monroe Doctrine was pronounced.

According to it, the US would consider it a threat to its security interests if any European power sought to achieve conquest or domination in the American continent. Since then, the US has never abdicated this proprietary right. In 1962, it prevented the Soviet Union from planting nuclear missiles in Cuba, against the sovereign request of the latter. Nato is an extension of the USs attempts to expand its security sphere of influence. If the US has this right, how can it be denied to Russia? Even India, is vigilant about hostile powers transgressing into areas that are part of its security buffer. I have been Ambassador of India in Bhutan, and one of our principal concerns is that China should not establish an offensive military presence in Bhutan, a country with whom, fortunately, we have the best of relations.

None of the above justifies the invasion of Ukraine by Russia. But it is important to understand the complex reasons why this happened. In this process, both the accused and the accuser are guilty. Now, the immediate priority must be to end the war, impose a ceasefire, and allow dialogue to re-establish peace in Ukraine. Obviously, Russia did not anticipate the degree of resistance Ukraine would put up. This has expanded the scale of destruction and loss of lives. As threats of nuclear retaliation are being bandied about, and Western sanctions threaten an unprecedented global economic crisis so soon after the Covid pandemic, the time has come to prevent the situation from deteriorating further.

Russia must tone down its belligerence and end the war as soon as possible. Then, the US and Nato and Russia must get down to rebuilding a new post-Cold War architecture of security for Europe; and finally, the US and Nato, in particular, must understand the reality of a multi-polar world in which their hitherto diplomatic and military unilateralism cannot succeed.
Putin confirmed that Russia is open to dialogue with the Ukrainian side, as well as with everyone who wants peace in Ukraine

Russian President Vladimir Putin attends a flag raising ceremony on the ferry Marshal Rokossovsky via a video link at the Novo-Ogaryovo state residence outside Moscow on March 4, 2022. (Alexey NIKOLSKY / SPUTNIK / AFP)

MOSCOW: Russian President Vladimir Putin in a phone call with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz denied that Russian troops were bombing Ukrainian cities, dismissing such information as fake, the Kremlin said Friday.

Putin said reports about "the alleged ongoing air strikes of Kyiv and other large cities are gross propaganda fakes," the Kremlin said in a statement.

He added that dialogue on Ukraine would be possible only if Russian demands are met.

Putin "confirmed that Russia is open to dialogue with the Ukrainian side, as well as with everyone who wants peace in Ukraine. But under the condition that all Russian demands are met," the Kremlin said.

These include the neutral and non-nuclear status of Ukraine, its "denazification", recognition of Crimea as part of Russia and of the "sovereignty" of separatist territories in eastern Ukraine.

"Hope was expressed that during the planned third round of talks, the representatives of Kyiv will take a reasonable and constructive position," the Kremlin added.

The next meeting of delegations from Russia and Ukraine is expected during the weekend, according to one of Kyiv's negotiators.
The Turkey Monitor survey by Aksoy Research shows a cautious attitude in public opinion. Only 2.4% take Russia's side, while 19.4% favour a NATO alignment. At least half of the voters of all parties show concern. Ankara's mediation attempts in the crisis.

Istanbul (AsiaNews) - Almost 80% of Turks believe that the country should remain "neutral" in the war between Russia and Ukraine. Moreover, the vast majority is convinced that, in case of involvement, Turkey would end up suffering "negative" consequences from the conflict.

The results of the latest Turkey Monitor survey carried out by Aksoy Research reveal more than 90% of respondents say they are "worried" about the military campaign launched by Moscow against Kiev. The survey, relaunched by the news website Bianet, shows that 78.2% of respondents think Ankara should remain "neutral". At the same time, only 2.4% said Turkey should take Russia's side, while 19.4% were in favour of aligning with the positions taken by the Atlantic Alliance (NATO) of which it is an integral part.

75.2% said they were "very worried" about the war on Europe's doorstep, while only 9.5% said they did not fear any consequences for their country. The poll also shows that "at least half" of voters "of all parties" express fears.

When asked how the war would affect Turkey, 63.1% said "negatively/very negatively", 23.2% said it would not be affected and 13.6% said it would be "positively/very positively". The share of those who think the war will have beneficial effects on the nation is highest among voters of the ruling Justice and Development Party (Akp) and its nationalist ally (Mhp).

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan recently ordered the closure of the straits, but this move came too late because most of the Russian military ships supporting the offensive in Ukraine had already passed through. The Turkish government has also invited the foreign ministers of Russia and Ukraine, or ministerial delegations, to the Antalya diplomacy forum to be held from 11 to 13 March, while Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu says he is in "constant contact" with his counterparts in Moscow and Kiev.
by Shafique Khokhar

The Islamic State has claimed responsibility for the attack. A suicide bomber fired into the crowd, then detonated his explosive vest. Some of the wounded are in serious condition. Unanimous political condemnation, Pakistani Taliban distance themselves. Christians pray for the victims and for those fighting for their lives in hospitals.

Peshawar (AsiaNews) - The toll of victims of the bloody terrorist attack launched yesterday against a Shiite mosque in Peshawar, capital of the province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, in the northwest of the country, has risen to 58, but the number is destined to increase in the coming days. Hospital sources report at least 200 wounded, some of them in serious condition, victims of one of the bloodiest attacks in recent years launched at the end of Friday prayer and claimed shortly afterwards by the Islamic State (IS, formerly Isis).

Eyewitnesses report that a gunman dressed in black arrived in the vicinity of the mosque around 1 p.m. on a motorbike and opened fire after being stopped by police. The gunman then headed towards a hall, shooting at a guard and detonating his explosive vest. "The gunman entered the mosque and hit the worshippers, then blew himself up," police officer Haroon Rasheed told Reuters.

The attack is one of the deadliest in recent years against the Shia minority in Pakistan, which has long been the target of attacks by Sunni militias including Isis and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Taliban (TTP). In a statement, the Pakistani Taliban distanced themselves from the attack, which was later claimed by the men of the Islamic Caliphate. Sardar Hussain, who lost three relatives in the blast, said the mosque in the Qissa Khwani bazaar was the only place of worship for the Shia community in the old city.

National politics unanimously condemned the attack, from Prime Minister Imran Khan to opposition leaders in parliament. Meanwhile, the city's residents have raised calls for security and a greater police presence. The Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province is calling for more medical and rescue teams to be sent to treat all those injured.

Two days before the attack on the Shiite mosque, a nurse involved in the anti-polio vaccination campaign was killed by an unidentified assailant in the Daudzai area of Peshawar district while returning home. In the past, many health workers and police officers involved in vaccination campaigns have been targeted and attacked by the Taliban and jihadists.

Pastor Javed Jamshed of the Phildifia Pentecostal Church, in Peshawar, condemned the brutal attack against "innocent believers" and asked the authorities to "take immediate action against all those involved". He then assured "the prayers" of the Christian community for "all the victims" and for those "struggling for life in hospitals. It is up to the government," he concluded, "to provide security for all the faithful".
Sr Rosela and Sr Ann rejected the prospect of moving to a safer area so as not to abandon those who suffer. The link between the Missionaries of Charity and Ukraine goes back to Mother Teresa herself, who managed to cross the Iron Curtain into the then Soviet Union in 1987 to assist the victims of Chernobyl. Today, she repeats her appeal for peace: "I beg you on my knees: nothing can ever justify the pain and losses caused by your weapons".

New Delhi (AsiaNews/Agencies) - Two Missionaries of Charity from Mizoram, the small state in north-east India with a Christian majority, have chosen to remain in Ukraine alongside the victims of war. The Indian Catholic agency MattersIndia reports that Sr Rosela Nuthangi and Sr Ann Frida in Kiev are risking their lives to serve the poor.

On 2 March, the Superior General of the Sisters of St Theresa of Calcutta, Sr Mary Prema, managed to contact them and suggested they move by land to a safer part of Ukraine. But the sisters replied that they preferred to stay and care for those in need, regardless of the possible consequences. Their courage in India is intertwined with dramatic news about the evacuation of thousands of young students trapped in the country by the conflict: one of them has already been killed in Kharkiv, while a second is hospitalised in Kiev after being wounded.

The link between the Missionaries of Charity and Ukraine goes back to Mother Teresa herself, who after the Chernobyl nuclear disaster in 1987 went to Kiev, then in the Soviet Union, where she and her sisters started to help the people evacuated from the area of the nuclear power plant following the accident. The government of the Soviet Union awarded her the gold medal for peace because of this gesture, which marked the beginning of the sisters presence in the former Soviet Union that today sees the Missionaries of Charity carrying out their ministry not only in Ukraine, but also in Russia, Belarus, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Latvia, Estonia and Lithuania.

Sister Rosela Nuthangi, originally from the village of Sihphir, is one of the pioneers of this presence. She arrived in Russia when the Soviet Union still existed and ministered in St Petersburg and Latvia before coming to Ukraine. Sr Ann Frida was born in the city of Aizawl, and after initially ministering in India, has been in Kiev for some ten years now.

All over the world the communities of the Missionaries of Charity are praying for peace in Ukraine. On the official website of the congregation motherteresa.org the letter that Mother Teresa wrote in January 1991 to the presidents of the United States and of Iraq, on the eve of the Gulf War, has been republished, which sums up the spirit with which the religious also look at today's conflict: "In the short term there may be winners and losers in this war that we all dread, but that never can, nor never will justify the suffering, pain and loss of life which your weapons will cause. I plead to you for those who will be left orphaned, widowed and left alone because their parents, husbands, brothers and children have been killed.I beg you please save them".
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Tesla battery partner Panasonic has decided to acquire a factory site in the U.S. for high capacity lithium-ion batteries, according to the NHK, or the Japan Broadcasting Corporation.

Per the NHK, a person familiar with the matter revealed Panasonic wanted to acquire a factory site to bolster its production system for high-capacity lithium-ion batteries that will significantly extend the range of electric vehicles. Panasonic is reportedly looking at factory sites in either Oklahoma or Kansas.

Panasonic and Tesla have been partners for quite some time. Both companies operate Gigafactory Nevada outside of Reno, NV. Panasonic unveiled its 4680 cell prototype late last year. Kazuo Tadanobu noted the larger cell design yields five times the capacity of smaller models.

On Feb. 28, Panasonic announced its Energy Company plans to establish a production facility at Wakayama Factory in western Japan. The facility would produce the 4680 lithium-ion batteries for electric vehicles. The Japanese battery manufacturer expects to begin mass-producing the 4680 battery cell by the fiscal year ending in March 2024.

Panasonic has not published a press release about plans to build a battery production facility in the U.S. Panasonic spokesperson Yayoi Watanabe said the NHK report was not based on information by the company.

We thank Teslarati for reprint permission.
On March 3, Roscosmos chief Dmitry Rogozin announced that Russia would no longer supply rocket engines to the United States, or offer service and maintenance to those already delivered. As per an ongoing agreement, Russia delivered 122 RD-180 engines to the U.S. since 90s, of which 98 were used to power NASA launch vehicles, and 24 were still in use.Rogozin went on state television to say that the U.S. would not be getting any more rocket engines and that those 24 were now officially without service, Reuters reports. The announcement came as response to the decision to impose sanctions against Russia for the Ukraine invasion, Rogozin added, and it would leave Americans without a means to get to space.In a situation like this we can't supply the United States with our world's best rocket engines. Let them fly on something else, their broomsticks, I don't know what, he said.A few years ago, Rogozin told the national media that Americans would have to use trampolines to launch themselves into space if it were not for Russian tech, so a flying broomstick would be a step forward either way. As luck would have it, Elon Musk has just the perfect kind of flying, American-made broomstick and, no, he didnt steal it from a witch.The SpaceX CEO is clearly keeping very close tabs on the Ukraine crisis , and how it has already and could further impact space exploration. After previously saying he would save the ISS should Russia decide to stop powering it and just let it drop from space onto whatever piece of land they wanted, Musk is now offering his very own broomstick as a good replacement for Russian rocket engines.American Broomsticks, Musk tweeted, adding a video of Falcon 9 launching 47 Starlink satellites into orbit.SpaceX is already a partner for NASA, but Musk is determined to show that it could successfully substitute for Russia in every aspect used by Roscosmos and Rogozin as some sort of leverage against the U.S.
Last week, Galveston became a dazzling party scene, as Houston billionaire Tilman Fertitta and his family held their annual Mardi Gras celebration, the San Luis salute. Maroon 5 headlined the gala that was attended by prestigious guests, such as Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and former Houston Police Chief Art Acevedo. Such a glamorous event deserved an equally-stunning venue, and that was Fertittas brand-new megayacht Boardwalk, showcased in all its glory on the evening of February 26.The 252-footer (77 meters) was delivered just last year by the renowned Feadship yacht builder. Fertitta commissioned it in 2017 as a step up from his previous pleasure craft that was also called Boardwalk, but significantly smaller, at 163 feet (50 meters). Unlike this previous yacht that was all-American, built by Westport, the new Boardwalk is a remarkable combination of American design and European naval architecture.The billionaire said, in an interview with Boat International , that he had no particular reason for wanting a much bigger boat, but that upgrading is a natural phenomenon these days when everything from houses to cars is getting bigger. Also, theres no need for a special reason when youre a billionaire.At 64, Fertitta is one of the most accomplished and versatile businessmen in America. Hes mostly known as a hospitality mogul, owner of Landrys, which operates hundreds of casinos, hotels, and restaurants across the U.S. But hes also the owner of NBAs Houston Rockets, a successful TV personality, and a New York Times best-selling author. Hes among the richest Americans today, and Forbes even named him Worlds Richest Restaurateur.Like many billionaires, Fertitta prefers to spend more time with his family and friends on board his yacht, which is why the new Boardwalk was designed to be the perfect floating oasis for relaxation and fun. An experienced yacht owner, who enjoyed several boats throughout his life, including the previous Boardwalk that is now more than a decade old, the Rockets boss prefers to work with the same team and is very involved in the design.It seems that the only reason why his new vessel wasnt also built by Westport is that the American builder doesnt do steel hulls, only fiberglass ones, while Northern European shipyards like Feadship specialize in those. The exterior design, created by the acclaimed Studio de Voogt, was also envisioned together with the owner. Despite its impressive volume (1,884 GT) unfolding over four decks, this luxury yacht still flaunts a dynamic, sleek silhouette.Amy Halffman, who designed Fertittas other yachts as well, took inspiration from the billionaires five-diamond Post Oak Hotel in Houston for the interior decor of the new yacht because of its timeless elegance.Some elements of the previous vessel were kept, in terms of layout, for the benefit of familiarity, but the interior is completely new, going from a classic, darker theme to a lighter look thats much more modern.Halffman told Boat International that everything inside the luxury yacht was custom-made for it, with Fertittas detailed input. Some of the most exquisite details include an unprecedented number and variety of lights (the previous Boardwalk had four times more lights than other models in its series, and the new one has even more), and 54 different types of marbles, tiles, and stones, including a mother-of-pearl tile, specifically chosen for its pleasant texture, in the new beauty/massage room.The hospitality mogul specifically asked for a bar on each deck, including a sky lounge one, and the separate wine cellar, which was also custom-designed, is big enough for 120 bottles. Unsurprisingly, there are also numerous flat-screen TVs throughout the living spaces, where the famous owner and his guests can enjoy watching sports. But the yacht also boasts expensive works of art.Up to 14 guests can be accommodated in seven cabins, and an impressive beach and fitness club, displaying a light fixture with Swarovski crystals, invites them to relax under the sun. A generous swimming pool is located on the sundeck, and two American-made tenders, a limo and an open one, are ready for thrilling water fun.In terms of performance, the new and improved Boardwalk can exceed 18 knots (20.7 mph/33 kph) thanks to its twin MTU 16V 4000 series engines, also offering a remarkable range of up to 5,000 nautical miles (5,750 miles/9,260 km).The estimated cost of this pure custom yacht, as Feadship describes it, is a whopping $150 million. And, if youre wondering what happened to the previous Boardwalk, Fertitta chose to hold on to it. Unlike other super-rich yacht owners, he wanted his luxury toys to be enjoyed by his family and friends only, so they were never available for charter. Keeping and maintaining two superyachts for sentimental reasons might be one of the great perks of being a billionaire.
Obviously, this is something that makes total sense behind the wheel, as it helps reduce the driving distraction substantially, while also allowing users to reach a configured destination more conveniently.Unfortunately, bugs that break down essential Google Maps features arent that uncommon, and the release of Android 12 , one of the most anticipated operating system updates in the last 12 months, is just the living proof in this regard.Some of the users who installed Android 12 on their devices ended up struggling with a problem they totally didnt see coming: the voice navigation no longer works when theyre on a phone call, which means they need to rely on the visual instructions for the whole thing.Lets see what we know about the problem and then see if theres anything you can do about it.First and foremost, as we said already, it seems the whole thing is happening after the update to Android 12. Its not exactly clear why an operating system update is interfering with an essential feature of Google Maps, but not a single user has reported the glitch on Android 11. Its exclusive to the new operating system version, and it showed up shortly after the rollout started in late 2021.Then, various phone models are affected. In theory, youd expect a much smoother experience on a Google Pixel, but this obviously isnt the case. After all, its a Google phone running a Google app on top of a Google operating system. Well, the Pixel is also struggling with the same glitch as several models from Samsung do.The audio guidance is lost only during an active phone call. This means the person behind the wheel needs not only to pay attention to the conversation, but also to occasionally check out the screen for instructions, and we all know this is a big no-no.Users claim that once they hang up the call, the audio guidance is back and working properly, so its pretty clear theres some sort of glitch that disables the Google Maps sound when youre talking on the phone.The same thing happens on both old and new versions of Google Maps , and updating to the latest build makes no difference. This seems to indicate the one to blame is none other than Android 12. In other words, if Google eventually decides to come up with a fix, theres a very good chance its part of an operating system update and not included in a new Google Maps build.No workaround is known to exist. Users have tried pretty much everything they could, including clearing the cache and the data, re-installed Google Maps , downgrading to older versions, enabling and disabling Bluetooth, changing various app settings (including the guidance volume and all the related options), and so on. The Google Maps navigation guidance simply stops during an active phone no matter what.The bad news is the error seems to be getting more widespread, as there are lots of complaints posted online, both on Googles support forums and on social media platforms.Google hasnt responded to all these reports, so as far as the company is concerned, the bug is yet to be acknowledged. Of course, we have no clue if the company is aware of the problem and whether its at least looking into the thing, but we have reached out to Google for more information, and well post an update if and when we hear back.Until then, just make sure you always keep your phone fully up-to-date because who knows when a fix could go live.
EV

If history has taught us anything is that cars can also serve as a mean of identifying when something important takes place in any given region. It may sound biased, as we are an automotive news outlet, but it is true. At any time in the 20th and the 21st century you can trace something important happening in a country by looking at its car history. This industry shows if a nation is ready to become a big player on the international stage, or if it has achieved a level of industrialization that makes others envious.Its a sign of economic strength to have cars, brands, factories, suppliers, specialized employees, and auto events happening within the borders of a country. All these important elements build a new culture and bring clients to businesses for years as generations form their own taste in cars. They also nurture the development of other types of activities that revolve around vehicles. New communities form when cars appear. Competition springs up. Get the export part ready, and youre on the path to a major victory. The entire landscape shifts and grows with vehicles. Its like magic, only that its not. To be a successful carmaker requires a lot of planning and strategy. You must make the right decisions and anticipate people's needs, or youll lose.Today this might not be that true anymore, as the global economy is intertwined. A carmaker can be American, but it will have its biggest production numbers in Asia or Europe. Theres no more national hegemony when it comes to vehicles. China is the best example here, as European carmakers are scrambling to sign partnerships with local entities that'll help them have a strong presence in the country with the biggest population on Earth. That - and for many other reasons - is why you should celebrate this moment for Iraq.The STA dealership has recently presented its modernized headquarters in Baghdad that also includes an up-to-standard and digitalized service center. With the opening, they also announced that the I-Pace will be available for test drives. Prospect clients can already book their desired time with the. This is a momentous occasion. It sparks the EV revolution in a country that has made the headlines all over the world only because something bad was happening there. There are not many good things known about Iraq at the moment, but this fully electric Jaguar shows change is here. It doesn't matter if you or I know this car for more than four years. For Iraq it is important.It might sound too hyped up but mark my words: Jaguar will be remembered for this. True, having another three dealerships in the region also helps.Moreover, the dealership showed it would run entirely on renewable energy - a major plus for an EV like the Jaguar I-Pace . This in itself is another premiere for Baghdad, the capital of Iraq. It gives confidence that the Middle Eastern country is changing for the better and soon peoples lives will improve. Its a clear sign of a recovering economy and nation thats healing from years of unrest. Images published by STA Jaguar Iraq that you can see in the gallery speak for themselves.Theres not much known about how an EV can work in Iraq and if future owners will have an easy life finding charging spots, but at least theres some proper progress being made. The dealership has charging points available, but national and local authorities will have to work harder on their plans to keep the country powered up. There have been issues with Iran recently that pushed the Iraqis towards Turkeys and Saudi Arabias energy markets.But, for the first time in what feels like ages now, theres real hope for major improvement. Who knows, maybe even the tourism sector will soon feel this initiative's butterfly effect!And, yes, Land Rover is there too! They held important events in the country since 2020.An electric car with British engineering, heritage and design, from an Indian-owned automaker that uses contract manufacturing in Austria, and buys important parts from Poland, has opened the door to a new world in the Middle East. Just look at how many magnificent things can happen when we work together instead of fighting each other.Who should follow next? Is Tesla going to take the chance on Iraq now? Or Nio? The door has been opened. Lets see who enters.
EV

Which? asked over 48,000 of its associates about the 56,853 vehicles they currently own. This survey focused on cars that are up to four years old. Full hybrid cars presented the least percentage of cars with at least one fault: 17.3%. Electric vehicles have the most cars fitting that description: 31.4%.Putting it in another perspective, 3 out of 10 electric cars present faults. When the survey focuses only on Tesla vehicles, 4 in 10 units had defects, which shows that the results for electric cars could have been even worse should Tesla be even more prevalent than it already is.According to Which?, 23.4% of the electric cars included in the survey are from Tesla. Nissan is in second with 14.5% of the EVs, followed by BMW (11.6%), Kia (11.1%), Renault (6.5%), Audi (5.9%), Hyundai (5.9%), Volkswagen (5.6%), Jaguar (4.2%), and MG (3%). Other brands represent 8.5% of the total.Thanks to Tesla, electric cars are also the ones with the most failures to start and those that break down the most in the survey: 8.1%. The closest ones are diesel vehicles, with 6.9% of issues like those. The most trustworthy are petrol cars, with only 3.5% failing to start or breaking down.The nail in the coffin for EVs in Which?s survey is how many days they spend waiting for repair. Electric cars were out of the roads for 5.1 days. Plug-in hybrids are the closest ones to that number, with 4.2 days out of service. Again, the most reliable cars in the survey are those burning petrol, with only three days in repair shops.Although Tesla advocates praise the company for its software prowess, it may be something from the past. Most of the issues reported with electric cars had to do with software. According to Which?, 12V battery problems and electric braking aids are the other most reported issues with EVs, in that order. Theres no word about missing brake pads.Ironically, the Kia Niro EV did pretty well in the survey. Only 6.2% of them had any fault, and only 1% failed to start or broke down. In other words, only 6 in 100 had defects, and 1 in 100 refused to work for any reason. That makes the electric crossover not only the best electric vehicle British customers can buy: it is the most reliable compact/small car for sale in the UK and very likely elsewhere.What the Which? survey makes evident is that Tesla desperately needs to step up its game and quality control. If nothing changes, there are only two possible outcomes for this: either Tesla will keep hurtingreputation as a whole  bringing efforts from all companies down the drain  or other brands selling electric cars will stand out and leave Tesla to face alone the consequences of its policies and priorities. Either way, the company loses. Quality control should be priority number one at Tesla  before it is too late for Tesla or electric mobility in general.
Tesla might now have a proper media department to keep in touch with the press like all other manufacturers do, but the company is very keen on staying up to date with everything that matters regarding making and selling EVs. Thats why theres a Tesla Policy Team. Its mission is to watch everything that happens where Musks company is active or plans on doing business there.Unlike other automakers, this Policy Team also keeps in touch with customers directly. Thats how Americans from Oklahoma that have or want a Tesla learned their state might soon make selling and buying a Tesla a very unpleasant experience  or one that might not be possible at all.As you might know already, Tesla was keen from the start to sell its cars directly without help from intermediates. This method proved successful, as people liked to not have to haggle for discounts or search too much for the right car for them. Elon Musk s company made it easier than ever to buy a car. This has upset some people. Dealership owners are still frustrated that they cant take a bite out of Teslas sales. Rivian is looking to do the same, and online shopping might make dealerships completely irrelevant sooner rather than later.Thats why Mike Dobrinski, who describes himself as being an honest businessman and farmer, introduced a proposal to ban carmakers from selling their cars directly to customers in Oklahoma. HB 3994 aims to forbid a factory or an entity affiliated by any ownership or control by the factory in becoming a licensed motor vehicle dealer. It also introduces a direct shipper license that has an initial fee of $300, then $100 annually for renewal.Moreover, factories would be forced to provide leads (prospect client data) for said dealerships without expecting anything in return. Fines are also included and are set to a maximum of $10,000.Essentially, this bill, if enacted, would prohibit the delivery of a new motor vehicle by a common or permit carrier or other conveyance unless the delivery is made by a licensed motor vehicle dealer or motor vehicle direct shipper. Tesla says on its website that Oklahoma should focus on increasing revenue and jobs in the state, not stifling competition and limiting consumer choice. The company is asking people to message their elected officials and request a nay from them when this bill will come to the floor. You can check the full address in the down below attachment marked as Press Release.While Tesla was the first to take a stand against House Bill 3994, other carmakers risk the same issues. They might soon have to pick a side if they want to remain active in Oklahoma, a state which already has some weird EV laws in place.Mike Dobrinski was also a co-owner of a now-closed Chevrolet, GMC, and Buick dealership.
Palmdale, CA (93550)

Today

Sunshine and a few clouds with gusty winds developing during the afternoon. High 86F. Winds SW at 20 to 30 mph. Winds could occasionally gust over 40 mph..

Tonight

Partly cloudy skies. Low 59F. Winds WSW at 15 to 25 mph. Winds could occasionally gust over 40 mph.
Congress is getting close to finally passing anti-lynching legislation after decades of pleas from advocates  and centuries of racial terror in the American South and Southwest.

The big picture: The House last week passed the Emmett Till Antilynching Act of 2022, a bill to designate lynching as a federal hate crime. Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) is co-sponsoring a Senate version after holding up a previous anti-lynching proposal.

Details: The bill is named after the 14-year-old Black boy whose brutal 1955 torturing and murder in Mississippi helped spark the Civil Rights Movement.

The House version, sponsored by Rep Bobby L. Rush (D-Ill.) overwhelmingly passed 4223.

According to the bill, a crime could be prosecuted as a lynching when a conspiracy to commit a hate crime results in death or serious bodily injury.

The intrigue: After holding up a similar bill in 2020, Paul joined Sens. Cory Booker (D-NJ), Tim Scott (R-SC), and Raphael Warnock (D-GA) in co-sponsoring a proposal that clears up any opposition.

Strengthening the language of this bill has been my goal all along, and Im pleased to have worked with Senators Cory Booker and Tim Scott to get this right and ensure the language of this bill defines lynching as the absolutely heinous crime that it is," Paul said in a statement.

Background: Since 1918, Congress has seen more than 200 attempts to pass antilynching legislation in response to the vicious lynchings of Black men and Mexican Americans.

Scholars like W. E. B. Du Bois and journalists like Ida B. Wells and Jovita Idar wrote about how lynchings were used as a tool for racial terror to enforce segregation and keep people of color from power.

Civil rights groups from the NAACP to LULAC called on Congress to pass antilynching legislation to stop the violence and persecute mobs, who often faced no criminal charges.

What they're saying: I was eight years old when my mother put the photograph of Emmett Tills brutalized body that ran in Jet magazine on our living room coffee table, pointed to it, and said, this is why I brought my boys out of Albany, Georgia'," Rush said after the bill passed.

"That photograph shaped my consciousness as a Black man in America, changed the course of my life, and changed our nation."

Till was killed by white men after a white woman, Carolyn Bryant Donham, accused him of crudely propositioning her. Six decades later, Donham admitted her claims were false.

Bryan Stevenson, founder and Executive Director of the Equal Justice Initiative, said in a statement that the bill is as important today as it was decades ago.

Many advocates have compared the recent murders of Ahmaud Arbery and George Floyd to lynchings.

Don't forget: The NAACP in the 1930s regularly displayed a flag outside of its national headquarters regularly displayed a flag with the words "A man was lynched yesterday."

Furthering reading: AP Explains: Vile US history of lynching of people of color
Israel on Friday said it has started to evacuate non-essential staff and the families of its diplomats from Kyiv and published a travel warning for Israelis traveling to Ukraine.

Why it matters: Israel has been avoiding this step for weeks due to diplomatic sensitivities with Ukraine and Russia, but it made Friday's evacuation decision because the situation has reached a tipping point, a senior Israeli official told Axios.

The Russians have amassed the number of troops they need on the border with Ukraine to start an invasion on a short order and started a military drill in Belarus and the Black Sea," the official said.

Driving the news: Israeli Foreign Minister Yair Lapid ordered the evacuation following a meeting to assess the situation in Ukraine.

The travel warning didnt call on Israeli citizens to leave Ukraine immediately, but to reconsider their stay in the country and avoid getting close to points of tension. It also recommended that Israelis consider avoiding any future travel to Ukraine.

Michael Brodsky, the Israeli ambassador to Ukraine, and his team will stay in Kyiv and the embassy will continue to operate as usual. The Israeli Foreign Ministry asked Israelis in Ukraine to register at the embassy. About 4,000 have registered so far.

to register at the embassy. About 4,000 have registered so far. Worth noting: Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov was expected to arrive in Israel next Monday but postponed his trip earlier this week, Israeli officials say.

The big picture: The U.S., UK, Japan, Australia, Germany and Canada have also evacuated the families of their diplomats or moved some staff out of Ukraine and issued travel warnings to their nationals.

President Biden during an NBC interview that aired Thursday said American citizens in Ukraine "should leave now."

Echoing Biden's comments, U.S. Secretary of State Tony Blinken urged Americans to leave Ukraine, saying a Russian invasion could take place during the time of the Beijing Winter Olympics, which last until Feb. 20.

Go deeper: Satellite images show increased Russian troop buildup near Ukraine's borders
Vice President Kamala Harris will travel to Poland and Romania next week amid Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the White House said Friday.

Why it matters: Harris' overseas trip to Warsaw and Bucharest is intended to be a sign of U.S. support for NATO's eastern flank as Russian troops approach Kyiv, according to a White House statement.

The big picture: Harris will meet with Polish and Romanian leaders to discuss coordinated response plans to Russia's continued invasion of Ukraine.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky blasted NATO for giving Russia the "green light" to continue bombing the country after refusing to establish a "no-fly" zone over the country.

Details: The leaders will also discuss how the U.S. can further support neighboring countries welcoming in refugees.

Over a million refugees have fled Ukraine, according to the United Nations. Most have crossed into Poland while others have gone to Hungary, Moldova and Slovakia.

Go deeper:
There is no room in this party for apologists" for Russian President Vladimir Putin former Vice President Mike Pence plans to tell top Republican donors during a speech in New Orleans on Friday.

Why it matters: The excerpted remarks appear to be the most forceful separation yet between the former vice president and his ex-boss, Donald Trump.

He does not mention Trump by name in the portions of the speech shared in advance.

On Russia: To those who argue that NATO expansion is somehow responsible for the Russian invasion of Ukraine: Ask yourself, where would our friends in Eastern Europe be today if they were not in NATO?" the vice president will tell the GOP donors during his speech.

On 2020: "Elections are about the future," Pence will say in a not so subtle repudiation of Trump and his supporters' ongoing focus on 2020. "My fellow Republicans, we can only win if we are united around an optimistic vision for the future based on our highest values."

"We cannot win by fighting yesterdays battles, or by relitigating the past," the vice president will add.

Big picture: The speech won't just be a rebuke of some of the professed beliefs or actions of the Trump-wing of the party, the vice president will also hit on popular GOP policy priorities, including "restoring the sanctity of life to the center of American law" and defending against "woke culture"  red meat for the base.

"In 2022 and beyond, the American People will choose more than which party controls their government. Voters will decide whether their children and grandchildren stand tall as citizens of the freest nation on earth, or whether they are forced to live in the economic, moral and spiritual poverty of socialism," Pence will say. "That is what is at stake in this election, and we cant let them down."

Go deeper: Pence says Trump is wrong about overturning 2020 election

Editor's note: This story is developing and has been updated throughout.
Emporia, KS (66801)

Today

Scattered thunderstorms in the morning, then mainly cloudy during the afternoon with thunderstorms likely. High 61F. Winds NNE at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 100%..

Tonight

Rain early...then remaining cloudy with showers late. Low 52F. Winds NW at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 80%. Rainfall around a half an inch.
Police in Russia arrested over 2,000 people protesting the invasion of Ukraine, and authorities in Belarus detained more than 400 others in massive crackdowns on the anti-war movement in the countries on Sunday.

Driving the news: More than 5,200 anti-war demonstrators have been arrested in Russia since President Vladimir Putin ordered his military to invade Ukraine last Thursday, per OVD-Info, a Russia-based human rights monitoring group.

In Belarus, where President Aleksandr Lukashenko's authoritarian government has been supporting Russia's invading forces, protesters waved Ukrainian flags at rallies across the country Sunday, per AP.

Authorities detained at least 440 people following the protests in the Belarusian capital Minsk and about a dozen other Belarusian cities, the Viasna human rights center reports.

The big picture: The invasion of Ukraine has triggered a global outcry, with thousands taking to the streets in cities including Washington, D.C., London, Tokyo and Sydney.

Go deeper: The latest on the Russian invasion of Ukraine
New efforts by the Kremlin to bully the press and silence dissent are forcing independent media and social networks out of the country.

Why it matters: Russians are losing access to independent reporting about the war, while the West loses insight into an already isolated leader.

The people of Russia "have a right to know about the death, suffering and destruction being inflicted by their government on the people of Ukraine," a White House spokesperson told Axios.

"have a right to know about the death, suffering and destruction being inflicted by their government on the people of Ukraine," a White House spokesperson told Axios. They also have a right "to know about the human costs of this senseless war to their own soldiers."

Driving the news: Bloomberg and the BBC said they are suspending operations in Russia, while CNN, CBS and ABC ceased broadcasting in the country after lawmakers approved new legislation Friday that threatens to imprison journalists and individuals for up to 15 years if they publish what Moscow deems to be "fake" information about Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Bloomberg editor-in-chief John Micklethwait said in a note to staff the change to the criminal code "makes it impossible to continue any semblance of normal journalism inside the country."

BBC director-general Tim Davie said BBC was not prepared to expose journalists "to the risk of criminal prosecution simply for doing their jobs."

Russian regulators warned media at the start of the war that outlets were only allowed to use government-sourced information to report on the invasion.

Russia's communications regulator Roskomnadzor also said Friday it blocked the websites of several outlets, including U.S. government-funded Voice of America and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, for spreading what it called fake news on the "special operation in Ukraine."

German broadcaster Deutsche Welle, and Meduza, an independent Russian publication based in Latvia, were also blocked.

Inside Russia, independent news agencies are being yanked off the air, forcing journalists to flee the country.

Roskomnadzor on Tuesday restricted access to Russian independent outlets Radio Ekho Moskvy and Dozhd TV for "deliberately" sharing what it claimed was false information about the invasion.

Both outlets, the State Department said, have reputations for high-quality reporting within Russia and beyond.

Russia also blocked Facebook entirely Friday, after partially restricting the social network last week.

"Soon millions of ordinary Russians will find themselves cut off from reliable information, deprived of their everyday ways of connecting with family and friends and silence from speaking out," Meta president of global affairs Nick Clegg said in a statement Friday in response to the ban.

Tech companies have been limiting the reach of Russian state media in response to Western government requests. Many firms have restricted Russian state media from buying ads globally. Google and Apple have removed apps for RT and Sputnik from their app stores globally.

The big picture: Putin's propaganda push has intensified as protests erupt at home.

The Kremlin is relying on state media to sell the war as a success domestically, even as the West continues to punish Moscow with punitive sanctions.

What to watch: Russia's push to limit information now could impact the West's ability to accurately understand what's happening in the country for years to come.
Thousands of Russians are rushing to flee the country ahead of this weekend, as rumors swirl that Vladimir Putin could soon declare martial law, close the borders and crack down even harder on domestic dissent.

Why it matters: For as devastating as the humanitarian situation in Ukraine has become, widespread suffering is rapidly arriving at Russia's own doorstep.

More than 8,000 people have already been detained at anti-war protests since Feb. 24, according to the independent monitor OVD-Info.

Russia's Duma has passed a law making the spread of "fake news" about the Russian military punishable by up to 15 years in prison.

The last pillars of Russia's already-limited independent press were forced to close under pressure from the Kremlin this week.

Russia's state communications watchdog blocked the websites of the BBC, Voice of America, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Deutsche Welle and other foreign media outlets for spreading "fake" information.

What to watch: Russia's second-largest airline announced it will cease all international flights from tomorrow, as Russia's upper house of parliament meets for an emergency session that many fear could mark the descent of a new Iron Curtain.
Russian President Vladimir Putin said Saturday that Moscow will consider a declaration of Ukraine as a no-fly zone by any third-party as "participation in the armed conflict."

Driving the news: Russia would view "any move in this direction" as an intervention that "will pose a threat to our service members," Putin said Saturday, speaking at a meeting with female pilots, AP reports.

"That very second, we will view them as participants of the military conflict, and it would not matter what members they are," Putin said.

The big picture: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has urged Western leaders to impose a "no-fly zone" over Ukraine, but the U.S. and other major powers have ruled out doing so as it could trigger a widespread war with nuclear power Russia.

"It would require, essentially, the U.S. military shooting down Russian planes and causing ... a potential direct war with Russia  something we want to avoid," White House press secretary Jen Psaki said on Thursday in ruling out creating a NFZ.

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg also said it would not enforce a NFZ.

"We understand the desperation but we also believe that if we did that (impose a no-fly zone) we would end up with something that could lead to a full-fledged war in Europe involving [many] more countries and much more suffering," Stoltenberg said.

Go deeper: Why Ukraine wants a no-fly zone  but is unlikely to get one
Russian officials said they want a written guarantee that sanctions related to its invasion of Ukraine will not impact the country's trade with Iran if the nuclear deal is restored, the Wall Street Journal reports.

Driving the news: The U.S. and Iran are close to reaching a deal to bring back the 2015 Iran nuclear pact, which would lift "most international sanctions on Iran in exchange for tight but temporary restrictions on Irans nuclear programs."

Between the lines: Russias specific role within the 2015 nuclear deal would need to be protected, but Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov is demanding more guarantees that could create loopholes in the recent sanctions imposed on Russia, the Journal writes.

Russia has faced swift backlash for its invasion of Ukraine, and financial, tech and energy sanctions have quickly followed.

What they're saying: We need a guarantee that these sanctions will not in any way touch the regime of trade-economic and investment relations which is laid down in the nuclear deal, Lavrov told reporters on Saturday.

We have asked for a written guaranteethat the current process triggered by the United States does not in any way damage our right to free and full trade, economic and investment cooperation and military-technical cooperation with the Islamic State, Lavrov added.

Go deeper:
The number of Texas residents who traveled out-of-state to access abortion care increased dramatically after the most restrictive abortion ban in the U.S. went into effect in the state in September.

Driving the news: Newly released data shows that Planned Parenthood health centers in Texas' surrounding states saw a nearly 800% increase in abortion patients from Texas between Sept. 1 and Dec. 31, 2021.

Meanwhile in Texas, the number of clinic abortions performed in the state fell by approximately 60% in the first month after Senate Bill 8 was enacted.

Details: During the first four months of S.B. 8 being in effect, Planned Parenthood clinics saw the following increases:

Oklahoma saw a nearly 2,500% increase in Texas patients compared to the previous year.

saw a nearly 2,500% increase in Texas patients compared to the previous year. Texans made up over half of the total number abortion patients in the state's PP health centers, compared to less than 10% in 2020.

New Mexico saw a 100% increase in patients with Texas zip codes.

saw a 100% increase in patients with Texas zip codes. In Colorado, there was a more than 1,000% increase in abortion patients from Texas, "compared to previous years," according to the Planned Parenthood Federation of America.

Louisiana, another Texas neighboring state, saw an approximately 347% increase in abortion patients from Texas after the ban took effect, according to official government numbers sent to Axios.

Between September and December of 2021, there were a total of 984 clinic abortions conducted in the state for Texas residents. That same time in 2020, Louisiana saw 220 Texas abortions patients.

Zoom in: A spokesperson for Planned Parenthood Great Plains  which covers Oklahoma, Kansas and Arkansas  told Axios that health centers in those states saw more than 1,100 Texas patients from September to December 2021, "the overwhelming majority traveling to our Oklahoma health centers."

That same time in 2020, PPGP centers saw only 50 patients from Texas.

Additionally, between January and February of 2022, PPGP's "Oklahoma clinics continue to see more patients from Texas than are from Oklahoma."

What they're saying: "S.B. 8 has forced Texans to travel extraordinary distances to access constitutionally protected abortion care  and thats only the people who are able to do so," Alexis McGill Johnson, president of Planned Parenthood, said in a statement.

"Those who cant find the money or get time off work, secure child care, lodging, transportation, and other resources necessary to cross state lines are forced to carry pregnancies against their will or seek abortion outside of the health care system," she added.

"This reality is heartbreaking and a glimpse of whats to come should the Supreme Court restrict the constitutional right to an abortion even further, she added.

"Planned Parenthood and other supporters of legal abortion have worked overtime to make the case that the Texas heartbeat law is not protecting unborn children, but simply causing Texas women to obtain abortions in other states," said Michael New, a statistician and scholar with the Lozier Institute, which works with the Susan B. Anthony List, an anti-abortion rights group.

New called Planned Parenthood's data "unpersuasive" and added that S.B. 8 "has enjoyed success protecting preborn children in the Lone Star State."

How it works: The Texas ban effectively prohibits nearly all abortions as soon as embryonic cardiac activity is detected, which can be as early as six weeks into a pregnancy and before many people know they are pregnant.

The law does not have any exceptions in cases of rape or incest.

Between the lines: Texas and most of its neighboring states  specifically Oklahoma, Louisiana and Arkansas  have "trigger laws" in place, which are abortion bans that would kick in right away if the Supreme Court overturns or weakens its precedents protecting reproductive rights.

The ban follows a series of restrictive abortion laws passed by conservative state legislatures nationwide in an effort to overturn Roe.

Go deeper:
The Biden administration is warning Americans in Ethiopia to evacuate immediately or risk being trapped if the civil war spreads to the capital.

What they're saying: State Department spokesperson Ned Price said U.S. passport holders should not expect a Kabul-style airlift if the fighting reaches Ethiopia's capital, Addis Ababa. That's not going to happen, Price told Axios, calling the Afghanistan withdrawal a "unique and extraordinary situation."

"Right now, Addis is calm, and it has been calm since the conflict started to spread," Price said. There are flights leaving daily with excess capacity, and financing is available through the U.S. Embassy for Americans who can't afford tickets, Price added.

But there's a possibility the conflict could reach Addis Ababa and that commercial carriers wouldn't be able to get out, he said. There are a significant number of U.S. passport holders in the Ethiopian capital, most of whom are dual citizens.

Between the lines: The State Department's message is that U.S. citizens must get out now, or risk being trapped in a war zone.

State of play: One year after Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed launched an offensive to topple regional leaders in Tigray who had rebelled against the federal government, it's now the rebels who are advancing, and the national capital could come under threat.

The Tigray Peoples Liberation Front (TPLF)  which dominated Ethiopia's government before being pushed aside by Abiy in 2018  has allied with the Oromo Liberation Army under the banner of ethnic self-determination, against Abiy's vision of a strong central state.

The rebels claim to have pushed within 200 miles of Addis Ababa. Abiy declared a state of emergency this month and urged citizens to take up arms if necessary.

Driving the news: Secretary of State Tony Blinken warned Friday that a prolonged civil war "could lead to the implosion of Ethiopia and spill over into other countries in the region."

The U.S. has also accused Abiy's government of blocking aid to Tigray despite the risk of mass starvation.

The breakdown of the fighting along ethnic lines, and the persistent reports of war crimes on all sides, have led to fears of a repeat of Rwanda  this time in Africa's second-largest country.

What to watch: Blinken will fly overnight tonight to Kenya. He'll meet in Nairobi with President Uhuru Kenyatta, who just returned from Addis Ababa and has called for a halt to the fighting.

The ceasefire push is being led by African Union envoy Olusegun Obasanjo, a former Nigerian president.

Currently, neither a ceasefire nor the fall of Addis Ababa appears imminent.

In the longer term, it remains to be seen whether Abiy will retain power or whether the state itself can hold together, Nic Cheeseman and Yohannes Woldemariam write in Foreign Affairs.

Zoom out: During his trip, which will also include stops in Nigeria and Senegal, Blinken will give a speech laying out the administration's approach to Africa.
Emporia, KS (66801)

Today

Scattered thunderstorms in the morning, then mainly cloudy during the afternoon with thunderstorms likely. High 61F. Winds NNE at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 100%..

Tonight

A steady rain in the evening. Showers continuing late. Low 52F. Winds NW at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 80%. Rainfall near a half an inch.
Executive Editor Christine Peterson answers your questions and takes your complaints about The Californians news coverage in this weekly feedback forum. Questions may be edited for space and clarity. To offer your input by phone, call 661-395-7649 and leave your comments in a voicemail message or email us at soundoff@bakersfield.com. Please include your name and phone number; your phone number wont be published.
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Email Dan Walters of CalMatters at dan@calmatters.org. CalMatters is a nonpartisan, nonprofit journalism venture committed to explaining how Californias state Capitol works and why it matters. For more columns by Walters, go to calmatters.org/dan-walters.
China to encourage foreign investment into broader range of sectors

Xinhua) 10:26, March 05, 2022

BEIJING, March 5 (Xinhua) -- China will encourage foreign-invested enterprises to move into a broader range of sectors, and support more foreign investment in medium- and high-end manufacturing, research and development, and modern services, as well as in the central, western and northeastern regions, according to a government work report submitted Saturday to the national legislature for deliberation.

(Web editor: Xia Peiyao, Liang Jun)
The AJ-37 Viggen was one of the best strike airplanes before being replaced by the JAS Grippen, which was developed during the Cold War.

Although it is no F-35 or F-22, as a 4th generation strike fighter optimized for ground attack and loaded with features to do just that. Like the short take-off and landing (STOL), many of its features were vital to its role as a ground attack plane with the proper heavy-duty landing gear.

Sweden's Air Warrior

Viggen was developed to match the best of the best in a hot 'Cold War' with several variants that made a reputation as an excellent strike aircraft, despite its cutting edge design, unlike other jets.

Several air forces bought the AJ-37 and AJS-37 that emphasized the strike variant; Austria, Denmark, and Finland particularly chose it. The Swedish jet would have been formidable for the Russian Migs and Sukhois of the day, reported 19Fortyfive.

This Swedish aircraft served in the Swedish Air Force and the Austrian, Danish, and Finnish Air Forces.

According to Military Wiki, aircraft variants are the patrol, trainer, and reconnaissance variants but tuning it for ground attack with systems like advanced navigation systems, radar for ground attack, and ability to navigate at low altitudes, included is top notch HUD for popping up assaults.

Improved Take-off, Landing Features

Most planes require a long runway for take-off, but the AJ-37 Viggen and its variants have STOL features to use short runways. It benefits the airframe to operate from any frontline airbase, cited Aerospace Research Central.

Read Also: Vladimir Putin Net Worth 2022: Does Anyone Know Russian President's Hidden Wealth?

Included is a thrust reverser to allow the plane to land in about 500 meters; designers have developed its airframe to land and avoid flaring even at low velocities for less damage on makeshift airfields and roads.

Faster Sorties

Landing the plane and rearming it quickly is good thinking, especially since more sorties mean less time on the ground, and attacking enemy forces is a smart design choice. Other fighters lack this facility that would be critical in actual combat.

The ground crew has been at 20-minute or under, which allows the Swedish Air Force to conduct a fast and dynamic air campaign. The Viggen could do five sorties per day too.

Supports Various Attack Weapons

The AJ-37 could be armed with various weapons for air to air and air to the ground, even carry ship killer missiles and special munitions like cluster types in the strike AJS variant.

Using them for ship attacks and air-to-air missile kills makes the Viggen a lethal fighter. Later the AGM-65 Maverick was fitted with a radar display for the air-to-ground missile.

All the weapons systems have synched to avionics to assist the pilot that would optimize the armament, with support for various ground attack weapons. It made the pilot's jobs easier to hit the targets.

Moreover, an excellent engine powers fast and low-level attacks at low-level flight, also the fastest. The AJ-37 Viggen is capable of its time, and the strike variant would give the F-22 or F-35 a run for its money. Its airframe had its problem, but problems are typical for any airframe.

Related Article: Saab JAS 39 Gripen: Is it the Best 4th Generation Fighter in the World?

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A man described by his teen victim as a gentleman was arrested on sexual assault allegations, according to Laredo police.

Juan Armando Davila Jr., 21, is accused of sexually assaulting a 15-year-old runaway girl she met via Snapchat. On Feb. 25, Davila was served with arrest warrants charging him with seven counts of sexual assault of a child. Webb County Jail records showed Davila remained in custody as of Wednesday evening.

On Dec. 2, Laredo police said they located a runaway girl in an apartment in the 3800 block of Texas 359. She was located along with a man identified as Davila. Police said the girl had multiple hickies on her neck area.

While the girl waited for her parents, she told a detective that she had sex with Davila earlier in the day. The girl stated that she did not want to undergo a sexual assault evidence collection exam at the hospital, according to police. The father then called police saying that her daughter had changed her mind about the exam.

On Dec. 9, the child underwent a forensic interview at the Childrens Advocacy Center. She stated she met Davila on Snapchat because she wanted to buy nicotine. The girl stated she and Davila would message each other and drop off nicotine at her mailbox. Davila then told the girl he had broken up with his girlfriend and began calling the girl beautiful, states the affidavit.

Davila told her he wanted to take her shopping. She then snuck out of her house the Sunday before Thanksgiving, according to police.

The suspect picked her up from her grandmothers house and cooked food for her; she stated that was when they first had sex, states the affidavit.

As per the affidavit, the girl told Davila she was 19 years old because he was 21 years old.

The victim later stated that she wanted to have sex. She stated that she told the suspect, Dont you want to touch me, states the affidavit.

She stated they had sex in Davilas bedroom, in addition to other sexual acts. Davila then drove her back to her grandmothers house.

The victim stated they had sex all week; she stated that the suspect put a ring on her on a Tuesday night. The victim described being blinded because the suspect (was) a gentleman, states the affidavit.

Investigators spoke to Davila on Dec. 9 at his residence in the 3800 block of Texas 359. He stated he would speak to his lawyer before scheduling a voluntary interview. On Jan. 11, police received a Texas Department of Public Safety lab report indicating that semen was detected on the girls vaginal swabs, according to police.

Police would then reach out to Davilas attorney, who stated that he was unaware of Davila declining to a voluntary interview. Investigators presented their findings in the case to two assistant district attorneys, who approved the issuance of warrants for Davila.
Lamar University has a new honor society.

The university recently received a charter for Omicron Delta Kappa, the National Leadership Honor Society, and held a chartering ceremony last week.

"Omicron Delta Kappa proudly welcomes Lamar University as our newest campus circle," said chair of the Society's Board of Trustees, Willie Banks in a news release. "Collegiate, faculty, staff, administrative and alumni leaders may now be recognized for exhibiting ODK's positive vision and ideals within the Lamar University campus and community."

Lamar's charter group of more than 40 members will include faculty, staff, administrators and student leaders.

Student members also will be able to partake in the society's national opportunities such as scholarships, internships, campus grants and leadership development programs, Banks said in the news release.

"As one of the fastest growing Texas colleges and universities, the addition of ODK to our campus will allow our students to gain valuable leadership skills that will help prepare them for their future careers," said Lamar Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Brenda Nichols in the news release. "It will be a great honor to be the first university in the Texas State University System to be a part of ODK."

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This weekend, more than a dozen artists will spend their first trip to Beaumont literally painting the town red and blue, and yellow, or pink, green and purple.

Beaumonts Mural Fest kicks off today and runs through Sunday with live painting at several buildings downtown and on Calder Avenue and local artists painting downtown electric boxes.

The central hub of the festival is 308 Orleans Street, where a pop-up gallery featuring muralists work will spill out into the street with vendor booths, food trucks, live music and a kids art zone.

The event also features a mural scavenger hunt to find the location of the citys only West-end mural  a two-story piece created by Houstons Scott Tarboxx.

We ran into some historical site issues at First National Bank, said event co-chair Min Dai, who scrambled to find a new wall for Tarboxxs work.

Dai decided to make a game of the last-minute site find. Hell post a photo of the wall, and anyone who finds it and takes a selfie with the artist can win a prize - like a festival t-shirt.

Saturday night, an Orleans Street building will be painted with light as an artistic light show gets underway after sundown.

Its among the ways organizers Jay Muzacz and Dai hope to make the weekend a success that extends beyond the festival end Sunday at 6 p.m.

Well be doubling the (existing) mural count in just 5 days, said Muzacz, who brought in 16 well-known muralists from Texas to Taiwan for the event.

Its the private sector that has to get things started, said Dai, whos worked with local organizations like Ubi Caritas and the CVB to secure event sponsors.

And everything for this is sourced locally, he added, from the food trucks to the multiple scaffolding rentals needed to complete the work.

Everyones chipping in where we can, Dai said.

The goal to make the mural fest an annual fixture on the citys events calendar is one Dai and Muzacz share.

You need to create an infrastructure where the city funds local arts, Muzacz said. To build that foundation, you have to have a certain prominence coming right off the bat, and it takes some know-how.

Thats experience Muzacz has after 25 years as an internationally renowned artist and participant in multiple mural fests; and hes seen the benefits such events have not only for local artists, but also the city as a whole.

Take Flint, Michigan, which has a lot in common with downtown Beaumont, Muzacz said. Both are industrial cities that have experienced a downtown decline with too few businesses and too many abandoned buildings.

But after several years of annual mural fests, where urban chic inspired urban development, downtown Flint is bustling now, Muzacz said, adding, People who see this want art for their buildings.

And thats a win-win for local artists as well as the urban landscape.

Think of how cool this downtown will be in 5 to 7 years, Muzacz said, noting, These murals can be the identity of the city where you can rekindle the narratives that are important to this place.

A focus on the people and places central to the Beaumont story are found throughout the works in progress, like the postcard mural going up near Raos on Calder where Corpus Christi artist The Dask One is incorporating icons including Spindletop, the Gator Country alligator, the McFaddin-Ward House and the Big Bopper into the letters spelling out Beaumont.

On Fannin Street, several colorful pieces are completing the urban canvas started by Kimberly Brown, whose Frida Kahlo portrait has been a destination backdrop for senior portraits or those seeking a taste of local art.

Flint artist Krystal Cooke, a relative newcomer to the mural scene, drove more than 20 hours to join in the event at the invitation of Muzacz, whom she met at a Flint mural festival two years ago.

Shes painting a portrait in tribute of local guitar legend Barbara Lynne.

Cooke, who also is a musician, was excited to learn shed have the opportunity to meet the subject of her work as Lynne and family plan to make an appearance while Cooke completes the piece Saturday at 1 p.m.

Bookending her piece is a colorful tiger mural painted by San Antonio artist Paul Garson, whos been doing street art for 8 years and loving every minute of it.

Garson, who does about 50 murals per year, describes himself as a kind of Bruce Wayne - a price analyst Monday through Friday and street artist on the weekend.

Hes soaking up Beaumont on his first visit to the city - seeking out local restaurants to support and attending The Art Studio, Inc.s First Thursday artists show, all while giving back to the city through his art.

Im super excited to see this in graduation photos to come, Garson said.

For other artists, the theme of their work reflects the site at which theyre painting.

Beaumont native Henry Smith is decorating a wall outside the Barbers Trade School with a black and white image featuring silhouetted profiles of Black men.

And further down Orleans Street, the fests largest piece  a stories-high piece depicting Lady Justice  is going up at the Byrd Law Firm.

On Calder, MAKE Creative Space owner Melissa Londenberg is getting two murals  one on each side of her building.

I was so excited when I found out who my artist was, because I was thinking about redoing the mural (on the eastern wall) myself, she said. I wanted something that better reflected what my space is about, and in searching through Pinterest for ideas, Id actually pinned several pieces by Houston artist Caroline Truong. When I found out it was her doing my wall, I was jumping up and down.

For Truong, who did her first mural several years ago at Dais restaurant Tokyo, the return to Beaumont is cool, because it gives me the chance to see my progress, and to take part in her first mural festival.

The western wall belongs to Puerto Rican muralist Fabian Rey, whose work at Austins FC Soccer Complex was featured on ESPN. Hes reinforcing Londenbergs creative message with a Picasso-like figure holding a brush, beneath which is the phrase MAKE your mark.

Londenbergs making her own mark on the communitys first mural fest, holding a block party to include hourly public arts activities, food trucks and vendors.

Its all really come together just in the last eight days, Londenberg said, adding, she wanted to help bring some of the festival down this way where her mural, and one at Cocomo Joes and Raos pieces are located.

But she wanted to make her mark in a deeper way, as well.

A portion of vendor proceeds and on-site donations will go to benefit the local CASA organization.

Im the mother of two adopted children, so thats an organization that is close to my heart, she said.

Londenberg hopes the success of this weekends event leads to future festivals and progress in Beaumonts burgeoning arts scene.

The whole purpose is to bring art to Beaumont and to inspire others, she said, adding, This is a great learning experience for the future. We can only get better from here.

kbrent@beaumontenterprise.com
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To understand what Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick is doing, (Feb. 19 story on limiting tenure for college professors in Texas), we must first ask ourselves, What is the purpose of a college education beyond learning an employable skill?

For many students, fresh out of high school, it is the first venture out of their bubble. College provides the opportunity to meet people with other life experiences, perspectives, and values. The college classroom and campus afford students a means of taking in this new information, bouncing it around through conversations inside and outside the classroom and developing higher-order cognitive skills to form a world view rather than a bubble view. It allows them to walk a mile in someone elses shoes and bring that perspective into their own opinion forming system.
Despite continued issues, the IRS stated Friday that it had distributed over 30 million tax refunds totaling $103.2 billion.

According to a Bankrate poll, while 29 percent of Americans are concerned about a lesser tax refund, the average is presently $3,473 through February 25, up $658 from last year's tax refund of $2,815.

However, as millions of Americans file just before the April 18 deadline, the average refund may alter. So far, the IRS has received around 45.4 million tax returns. The IRS is still digging out from millions of unprocessed individual tax returns from last year, according to the latest filing season figures.

How To Trace Tax Refund?

While most refunds are processed within 21 days, delays can occur due to paper-filed returns, mail-in payments, mistakes, or returns that have been tainted by identity theft, CNBC reported.

From January 1 to July 15, 2021, the IRS sent nearly 7.4 million "math error" warnings for stimulus payment errors, delaying refunds; and many are still waiting for a resolution. While the IRS was required by law to wait until mid-February to issue tax refunds for the earned income tax credit and the increased Child Tax Credit, the payments should have arrived by March 1, according to the IRS.

You may check the status of your refund using the "Where's My Refund?" tool. You may use the IRS2Go app or the IRS2Go web tool. After the IRS receives your electronic filing or four weeks after mailing a paper return, you may get an update.

Tax refunds are normally sent within three weeks by the IRS, but some taxpayers may have to wait a little longer. If your tax return has any problems, you may have to wait a long time.

According to the IRS website, the resolution of an issue "depends on how swiftly and accurately you respond, as well as the capacity of IRS personnel trained and operating under social distancing rules to finish the processing of your return."

Per CNET, the method you selected to file your return has an impact on the date you get your tax refund. If you mailed your tax return, the IRS estimates that it will take six to eight weeks for your tax refund to arrive once it has been processed.

If your tax refund is deposited directly into your bank account, it may take up to five days for your bank to post the funds to your account. This implies that if the IRS takes the whole 21 days to issue your check and your bank takes five days to post it you may be out of money for a total of 26 days. Because there is no waiting time for direct deposit, online services like Venmo and Cash App can send your tax refund a few days sooner.

It's worth noting that people who claim the Child Tax Credit and/or the earned income tax credit will have to wait a little longer. The IRS is required by law to wait until February 15 to provide refunds to people who have those credits. Early filers with such credits could get a tax refund on March 1st, according to the IRS.

Read Also: You May Claim Earned Income Tax Credit Worth $6,728 If You Do This for the 2022 Tax Filing Season

How To Receive Tax Refund Faster?

You might get your money back in as short as three weeks if you expect a federal tax return this year. In the past, the IRS has issued more than 90% of refunds in fewer than 21 days. This year, though, things could be different. The IRS started this tax filing season with millions of unprocessed tax returns from past years due to COVID-related issues, as per Kiplinger via MSN.

This will cause them to slow down, perhaps delaying your reimbursement. Fortunately, there are a few things you can do to expedite the process and improve your chances of receiving your tax return sooner rather than later.

The first tip is to file your tax return as soon as possible. The sooner you file your tax return, the sooner you'll receive any tax refund you're entitled to. This is due to the fact that your return will be closer to the head of the queue rather than the back.

E-file your tax return if you want to speed up the refund procedure even further. Returns of paper take a long time to process. There are several options for filing electronically. You may, of course, hire a professional tax preparer to help you submit an electronic return (most expensive route).

Through the IRS's Tax Counseling for the Elderly and Volunteer Income Tax Assistance programs, seniors, those earning $58,000 or less, disabled people, and taxpayers with low English-language abilities may be eligible for free tax assistance and e-filing.

For the "do it yourself" set, there are numerous e-filing choices, including utilizing a commercial tax software program (e.g., TurboTax) or forms/software on the IRS website. You may even submit your federal return for free if your adjusted gross income in 2021 is $73,000 or less!

Related Article: You May Get Extra $650 Tax Refund Due to Stimulus Checks; Here's How Long It Should Take To Get Yours!

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There have been some reports that cited an unnamed Ukrainian government official as saying there have been records of elevated radiation levels near the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant amid Russian attacks.

Heavy fighting between Russian and Ukrainian troops broke out and caused a fire near one of the plant's six reactors. Ukrainian authorities added that there were many casualties from the attacks that began on Thursday.

Radiation Leakage?

Despite previous reports, the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, Rafael Grossi, speaking at a press conference on Friday morning, said that the plant's safety systems were completely functional. He noted that even with the heavy fighting in the area, there has been no release of radioactive material.

Moscow has chosen to siege the plant in an attempt to take control of it because roughly half of Ukraine's electricity is generated from nuclear power and the Zaporizhzhya is the largest in Europe. Located in the southeast, the plant's six reactors provide up to a total of 6,000 megawatts of power to the nation, as per NPR.

Russia's seizure of the nuclear power plant has stirred fears and worries around the world of access to radiation data, said atomic experts. However, they stressed that there were no immediate radiological risks and that a UN watchdog said the reactors were left undamaged. On the other hand, Moscow attributed the attack on the nuclear plant to Ukrainian saboteurs.

Read Also: Ukraine Nuclear Plant Sees Fire Erupt After Russian Attack: Should People Be Concerned About Possible Radiation?

A professor at the energy and electric engineering department of Dongguk University, Park John-woon, said he did not believe that there was an immediate threat posed by the Russians taking control of the plant. However, he noted that Moscow could choose to disrupt public access to radiation data to sow confusion about the real state of events.

According to Reuters, Park, who worked at state-run power operators between 1996 and 2009 and helped build nuclear reactors, said that Russia can make people wonder, freak out, or get scared. The director of nuclear power safety at the Union of Concerned Scientists in Washington, D.CEdwin Lyman said that while the fire was extinguished it raised a "very real concern" about the potential for disaster.

Russia's War on Ukraine

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has called Russia's attack on the plant an act of terror that placed the entirety of Europe at risk. He said that the people of his country had survived the night that could have put an "end to history." He also reiterated his call on the West to establish a no-fly zone over Ukraine.

Defense Ministry television channel Zvezda said that the agency believes the purpose of the reports was to blame Russia for what happened. Russian President Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine, which began more than a week ago, has come face to face with fierce resistance from the people of Ukraine.

Putin's acts and orders have also garnered international criticism, prompting several world leaders to impose sanctions on the country's economy to deter it from further aggression. Russian forces have stalled around the capital Kyiv but troops in other areas have advanced and gained ground, the Wall Street Journal reported.



Related Article: Russia-Ukraine War: Volodymyr Zelensky Says It's the "End of the World," Pleads for Help from Joe Biden, World Leaders

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According to a top White House official, the Biden administration is considering extending the federal student loan payment and interest moratorium for about 40 million Americans before it ends at the beginning of May.

Since March 2020, when Congress approved the CARES Act, the vast majority of federal student loans have had their monthly payments and interest halted. Executive action was employed by both the Trump and Biden administrations to extend such relief further.

Biden Is Still Considering Student Loan Relief

Per POLITICO, the most recent extension is due to end on May 2nd. Some failed loan collections have already been postponed until at least November, according to the Education Department. Only student loans held directly by the Education Department are affected by the payment freeze, which account for the vast majority of the $1.7 trillion in outstanding student loan debt. Borrowers with other federal or private student loans, however, are not protected by the Education Department's pandemic assistance.

Klain's comments are the most direct indication in recent weeks from any Biden administration official that the Education Department may prolong the hold on federal student loan payments and interest.

Progressives and other Democrats have raised political reservations about delivering student loan payments to tens of millions of Americans before the midterm elections this autumn, especially when prominent Democrats have promised debt forgiveness for years.

Biden extended the moratorium on federal student loan payments until May 1 in December, citing economic hardships caused by the coronavirus outbreak. During the early days of the outbreak, President Donald Trump imposed a moratorium. Over 40 million Americans have gone nearly two years without making minimum student loan payments or paying interest on $1.7 trillion in debt, according to USA Today.

Read Also: You May Claim Earned Income Tax Credit Worth $6,728 If You Do This for the 2022 Tax Filing Season

Biden Administration Unveils Appeal Process

The Biden administration, according to White House press secretary Jen Psaki, "will continue to assess and review as we get closer to May." During his presidential campaign, Biden supported forgiving up to $10,000 in student debt for each borrower, though he has also stated that such a move would require congressional action.

Furthermore, according to a recent report from the Government Accountability Office (GAO), borrowers may face difficulties resuming repayment because the Department is having trouble communicating with borrowers after such a long hiatus - a problem exacerbated by the fact that the federal student loan servicing system has been undergoing significant changes as major contractors withdraw from the federal student aid system.

If Congress fails to approve a measure, the only way to accomplish widespread student loan forgiveness is for the president to act. Advocates for student loan debtors, including consumer rights organizations, student loan legal experts, and progressive senators, have contended that current federal law provides Biden broad legal power to erase federal student loan debt, particularly during a national emergency. Other legal professors and former

Department of Education officials, on the other hand, have expressed their disagreement with this view. Such legal power has never been employed on such a large scale before, and it has never been put to the test in federal court, as per Forbes.

Related Article: Tax Refund 2022 Is $658 Higher Than 2021 Average; Here's How You Can Track Your Payment

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An older section of the border wall divides Ciudad Juarez, Mexico from Sunland Park, New Mexico, top, on the outskirts of Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, Tuesday, Jan. 12, 2021. On Friday, The Associated Press reported on stories circulating online incorrectly claiming the $6 billion in aid President Joe Biden is seeking for Ukraine would have been enough to fund former President Donald Trumps entire southern border wall project.
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Almost exactly two years to the day that the coronavirus pandemic was declared an emergency in Massachusetts, the state's top public health officer is optimistic about the trajectory of the state's response.
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.
State confirms five cases of coronavirus in Berkshire County There are now five presumptive cases of the new coronavirus in Berkshire County, according to the state Department of Public Health. ...

It was the first Saturday in March when Berkshire County saw its index case of COVID-19. When a man in Clarksburg tested positive for the virus on March 7, 2020, few could have foreseen the seismic shifts portended by a single infection in a small town.

Tri-Town Health withdraws indoor mask directive in Lee, Lenox and Stockbridge The regional health agency serving Lee, Lenox and Stockbridge has voted unanimously to remove the guidance, while recommending that Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidance be followed.

Now, almost exactly two years later, we are still picking up the pieces of a world shattered by pandemic.

With COVID-related measures like masking orders and gathering restrictions all but withered away, this spring hopefully will bring the warmth of the light at the end of the COVID tunnel. Even as the numbers continue to show the pandemics steady decline, the U.S. is closing in on the morbid milestone of 1 million deaths. That unfathomable loss of precious lives is the most grievous toll exacted by this insidious disease, but its not the only one. COVID also cratered our economy from Main Street to international supply lines; exposed the cracks in a society with deep, festering inequality; pressurized our already dangerously polarized politics.

It would compound our losses if we were to shirk the responsibilities we now owe to ourselves, our society and all those we have lost. As we recover from COVID and return to relatively normal, there is still so much we need to learn about exactly what happened, the substance of our response and how we should face similar crisis in the future. A broad study effort should and will dive into of every facet of COVIDs impact. When the pandemic first took hold, even the experts didnt know exactly what was gripping us  a reality that hindered a health response as well as our leaders ability to communicate about it in public.

Even after two years of painfully earned knowledge about this deadly virus, we have much to learn. That includes aspects of the virus itself  its origin, its long-term effects on the infected and the possibility of future variants.

Perhaps more important, though, is a thorough assessment of our reaction to COVID  all the way from the level of global and national institutions down to state health departments, local boards of health and school districts. Now is the time for a robust look at what worked and what didnt work. Reams of research with the benefit of hindsight will unearth critical comparative data on actions taken by differing nations, states and communities. We owe it to ourselves and the health of our societys future to assess this data with clear eyes unobscured by political lenses.

Further, we must think carefully about structural questions that necessarily have a sociopolitical element. When assessing the public health threat of a viral pandemic, what are the necessary conditions and criteria of lockdowns? COVID laid bare a world more connected by globalization but still ill-prepared for life-altering viruses that can race across the globe in no time. What about various countries behavior  from Chinas shady posture at the outset to more transparent governments where variants emerged like the United Kingdom and South Africa  can inform better international partnership and warning systems for future pandemics? The infectiousness of the virus and the measures to curb its spread caused unprecedented isolation, which accelerated our societys worrying atomization and a worsening mental health crisis. Will we heed this alarm and finally prioritize mental and behavioral health care parity as addiction and suicide trends worsen?

Like any one entity we cant pretend to have the answers. The necessary studies will come and go, and hopefully bring those critical answers sooner than later. There is one thing that cant be learned in a lab or survey that the COVID crisis should imprint on all of us: humility. Sometimes the biggest thing hitting us is something we yet know nothing about. Sometimes we must move forward amid great uncertainty. That uncertainty surely played a big part in making many people susceptible to COVID misinformation and conspiracy-mongers. It also hobbled public health experts and a leadership class that struggled with communicating about that uncertainty, to say nothing of the often lacking ability to communicate the science. That this term has been so politicized in America is proof of just how poorly our leaders from across the spectrum failed to build public trust and properly engage a worried populace.

We shouldnt have politicized the pandemic then, and we cant afford to politicize our aftermath assessment now. COVID-19 is often compared to the 1918 flu, the only public health crisis of comparable magnitude in modern history. Two years after COVIDs onset, we are much better positioned to learn about our viral enemy than our ancestors were a century ago.

The question is not whether this information will reveal itself, but whether we can rise above petty politics long enough to properly onboard it. Do not read this data as a liberal or a conservative. Absorb it as one who cares about how we will handle the next infectious disease crisis  because there will be one, and it could be worse.
The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) recently announced it had vetoed Ukrainian officials' proposal to cut Russia off the internet.

The corporation stated that the revocation of Russian domains and the shutting down of domain name system (DNS) root servers within the Russian federation are undoable in the first place, per Engadget.

Additionally, revoking Russia's access to the Internet is not within the scope of ICANN's mission - to ensure the stable and secure operation of the Internet's unique identifier systems. This also includes the DNS root name server system and IP address allocations, per ICANN's 2003-04 to 2006-07 strategic plan.

ICANN's Reply to Ukrainian Officials

ICANN CEO Goran Marby said in his response to the petitioners that he is personally concerned about Ukrainians' well-being as well as the effects of the ongoing situation in Ukraine. However, he also added that the ICANN's mission does not extend to taking "punitive actions, issuing sanctions or restricting access against segments of the Internet - regardless of the provocations," per a CNN Report.

Marby also added that the ICANN was established to ensure that the Internet works, not for its coordination role to be used to stop it from working.

Read More: Microsoft Warns 'HermeticWiper' Cyberattacks Remains as an Ongoing Threat in Ukraine

"As you know, the Internet is a decentralized system. No one actor has the ability to control it or shut it down," Marby said in his reply letter.

The Wall Street Journal report also mentioned that Marby added that only through "broad and unimpeded access to the Internet" can citizens receive reliable information and a diversity of viewpoints and that ICANN does not control Internet access or content regardless of the source.

The Petition's Origins

The petition in question was forwarded to ICANN for consideration by the Head of Fixed Broadband in the Ministry of Digital Transformation of Ukraine, Andrii Nabok. Deputy Prime Minister of Ukraine, Olga Stefanishyna, also signed the letter, per a copy of the letter posted online on Pastebin.

Nabok argued in his letter that the measures would help users seek reliable information in alternative domain zones, which would prevent propaganda and disinformation.

As previously mentioned, the petition also calls on the ICANN to shut down DNS root servers within the Russian Federation, specifically the ones in St. Petersburg and Moscow. It also requested to "revoke, permanently or temporarily" the domains ".ru," "." and ".su"

It's Not Over Yet

Nabok also added in his letter that he also sent a separate request to the Reseaux IP Europeens Network Coordination Center (RIPE NCC).

The request to the RIPE NCC mentions asking them to withdraw the right to use all IPv4 and IPv6 addresses by all Russian members of the RIPE NCC. He also requested the RIPE NCC to block the DNS root servers the center is operating.

The RIPE NCC has yet to respond to Nabok's request as of the writing of this article.

Related Article: US At Risk To Lose Control Of Internet
Bowling Green State University is home to the only School of the Built Environment in Ohio, an innovative approach to learning that brings together the construction management and architecture and environmental design programs, offering students exposure to both fields.

Soon, both programs will be housed under one roof with the new, state-of-the-art School of the Built Environment facility.

The University broke ground on the facility June 24. The $10.4 million project will include a 22,900 square-foot-expansion of the Park Avenue building, featuring a 6,500 square-foot innovation lab that will serve as a collaborative fabrication and construction area for students in both programs. The building will also house two digital labs, a materials and soils lab along with new classrooms and other spaces for students, faculty and staff from the architecture and environmental design and construction management programs.

"Having both programs under one location allows students in architecture and environmental design and construction management to learn from each other, which better prepares them for working on multidisciplinary teams," said Dr. Joe B. Whitehead Jr., BGSU provost and senior vice president for Academic and Student Affairs. "It also allows our faculty to engage in collaborative research that will provide a deeper understanding of both fields, enhancing collaborative opportunities and driving student success."

The Park Avenue building was renovated in 2014 for the architecture and environmental design program and features studios, an administrative suite, a materials and reference library, and a gallery and print room featuring plotters and laser cutters.

The construction management program is currently based in the Technology Building, with classrooms and learning labs slated to move to the Park Avenue building upon completion of the renovation, which is set for the 2022-23 academic year.
The BGSU School of the Built Environment, the only one of its kind in the state of Ohio, will be housed in a facility named to reflect a similarly unique and lasting partnership with one of the states top employers.

The University is undertaking a 22,900-square-foot expansion of the Park Avenue building, which will now be called Kokosing Hall in recognition of a transformative gift from Kokosing Inc.

Headquartered in Westerville, Ohio, Kokosing is one of the largest family-owned construction companies in the Midwest and mid-Atlantic.

The gift will support a new learning environment that converges construction management with architecture programing and provides design-build space that promotes greater insight into industry trends, academic programing and engagement leading to co-op internship opportunities, all in a premier facility.

Kokosing has been a longtime supporter of experiential learning opportunities for BGSU students, hosting students in co-op roles for 25-plus years. In addition, Kokosing currently employs nearly three dozen BGSU alumni, including President and co-CEO Wm. Brett Burgett 01.

We are incredibly grateful for Kokosings longtime support of Bowling Green State University, said BGSU President Rodney K. Rogers. Kokosing Hall, a state-of-the-art-facility, will forever represent their generosity and our shared vision to educate and prepare our graduates of the School of the Built Environment. As a public university for the public good, this transformational gift also represents our commitment to partnering with industry leaders to create and enhance in-demand academic programs to meet Ohios workforce needs.

Kokosing has expressed a sincere interest in continuing to build a lasting partnership with Bowling Green State University, Burgett said. The shared values between Kokosing and BGSU  inclusive communities of care, continuous improvement and growth, and being good members of our communities  make it fitting to name the current Park Avenue building and the upcoming addition Kokosing Hall.

A state-of-the-art learning environment

Upon its completion, Kokosing Hall will include a 6,500-square-foot innovation lab, a materials and soils lab, collaborative spaces and two digital labs to serve students in both the construction management and architecture and environmental design programs, which together make the School of the Built Environment.

The new facility and transformative gift from Kokosing will expose students to situations, technologies and experiences that they will encounter in real-world roles through coursework, and also allow for increased engagement with alumni and corporate partners.

"Kokosing Hall will play an important role in recruiting and retaining students and faculty, as well as enhancing student success, said Joe B. Whitehead Jr., BGSU provost and senior vice president for Academic and Student Affairs. "We are deeply appreciative to partner with Kokosing in elevating our academic programming in these high-demand industries.

A partnership for the state

The newly named Kokosing Hall will house both the construction management and architecture and environmental design programs, a significant step for the School of the Built Environment.

As a result of continuous engagement with Ohios workforce needs, BGSU established the School of the Built Environment for students to engage in design-build learning.

After completing immersive and interdisciplinary coursework that infuses design, technical and management education, as well as participating in up to three paid co-ops experiences, graduates typically begin careers in architecture, interior design, entrepreneurship and construction management, among others.

"Students from each program take several classes together, exposing them to both fields and creating a deeper and more meaningful understanding of the synergies between architecture and construction management, which aligns with the future trajectory of the 'design-build' profession and industry," said Jennie Gallimore, dean of the College of Technology, Architecture and Applied Engineering. "BGSU students have long benefitted from Kokosings support of our programs through co-op learning experiences. With this gift, all our students will be exposed to an even greater opportunity to learn in-demand skills and graduate career ready.

Kokosing, which was founded by Bill Burgett and Lester Rinehart in 1951, specializes in industrial, transportation, building, pipeline, water/wastewater treatment and marine construction, in addition to owning construction material supply companies. Known for unwavering integrity and exceptional safety and quality, Kokosings companies provide extensive resources for its customers.

The initial groundbreaking for the $10.4 million facility upgrade took place in June 2021 and is scheduled to be completed by spring 2023.

The BGSU construction management program is one of only five in Ohio and 72 nationwide that is accredited by the American Council for Construction Education, with a job placement rate of 100% after graduation. The BGSU Department of Architecture, which includes the opportunity for students to pursue a Master of Architecture, is one of only five National Architecture Accreditation Board-accredited programs in Ohio.

Currently, the construction management program is housed in the Technology Building. It will move to Kokosing Hall upon completion of the renovation.
 



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Elon Musk responded to the plea made by Ukraine Vice Prime Minister Mykhailo Fedorov. SpaceX's Starlink supplied the country internet connectivity to aid it in its ongoing turmoil with Russia.

This plea comes after Russia's relentless aggression against Ukraine, particularly against the country's government-owned internet infrastructures.

Despite supplying much-needed aid, Musk tweeted a very important warning. Supplying internet connectivity through satellites can be used against Ukraine.

Underlying Threats of Starlink Satellites

Using an internet connection provided by a low orbital satellite during an armed conflict poses a real security and safety threat.

Enemies could jam the satellites to track the users' location. An exposed location is a vulnerability that can be used against the citizens of Ukraine. Signals provided by satellites can be utilized to geolocate both targets and enemies.

Cybersecurity experts told CNN Business:

"If an adversary has a specialized plane aloft, it can detect [a satellite] signal and home in on it," Nicholas Weaver, a security researcher at the University of California at Berkeley, said via email. "It isn't necessarily easy, but the Russians have a lot of practice on tracking various signal emitters in Syria and responding. Starlink may work for the moment, but anyone setting a [Starlink] dish up in Ukraine needs to consider it as a potential giant target."

Experts have recommended that, for safety purposes, it is best to place the Starlink satellite dish in a location away from the general population and essential infrastructures in case Russia decides to bomb the operation.

Furthermore, SpaceX CEO tweeted, "Important warning: Starlink is the only non-Russian communications system still working in some parts of Ukraine, so the probability of being targeted is high. Please use with caution."

Important warning: Starlink is the only non-Russian communications system still working in some parts of Ukraine, so probability of being targeted is high. Please use with caution.  Elon Musk (@elonmusk) March 3, 2022

As reported by Reuters, John Scott-Railton, a senior researcher at the University of Toronto's Citizen Lab project, turned to Twitter to express concern that the terminals would become targets of the Russian government.

John Scott-Railton tweeted, "Russia has decades of experience hitting people by targeting their satellite communications". In a series of 15 tweets outlining the dangers of targeting satellite communications.

2/ #Russia has decades of experience hitting people by targeting their satellite communications.



In 1996, Chechen president Dzhokhar Dudayev was careful, but Russian aircraft reportedly found his satphone call & killed him with a missile strike.https://t.co/lGA2Cg3HiO pic.twitter.com/jdxo931LLq  John Scott-Railton (@jsrailton) February 27, 2022

As a result, the Russian military may triangulate and target satellite signals from the ground in Ukraine, according to Scott-Railton. He also noted that the Russian military has previously utilized the method to lethal effect in Chechnya and Syria.

Read Also: NVIDIA Confirms Data Breach, Hackers Leak Next-Gen GeForce GPU Names

SpaceX's Starlink Satellites in Ukraine

This threat comes after Mykhailo Fedorov, the vice prime minister of Ukraine, plead to Starlink's CEO Elon Musk to help the country in supplying internet connectivity.

According to CNN, Fedora made the plea publicly on Twitter:

"While you try to colonize Mars -- Russia try to occupy Ukraine! 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."

The plea was addressed to Elon Musk.

The Tesla CEO Elon Musk responded with offers of assistance, confirming that the Starlink network had been enabled in Ukraine.

In addition, Musk announced this week that a truckload of Starlink user terminals will arrive. These terminals will help the people of Ukraine gain access to the internet despite Russia bombing their internet towers.

The exchange of tweets between Elon Musk and Fedorov took place when Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered to be on high alert. This also means that the country's armed forces will prepare their weapons . . . including nuclear weapons.

Starlink Satellites

SpaceX has not disclosed how many Starlink terminals have been delivered to Ukraine. It is also unclear how the Ukrainian government intends to use or where to distribute the terminals.

As an internet service provider, Starlink makes use of satellites in low-Earth orbit to provide continuous coverage, allowing for substantially quicker upload and download rates. Starlink is a subsidiary of Starlink Communications.

As of January, over 145,000 users in 25 countries were using Starlink, which SpaceX has been working to rapidly deploy over the previous couple of years.

Related Article: Microsoft Warns 'HermeticWiper' Cyberattacks Remains as an Ongoing Threat in Ukraine
BIG RAPIDS  During spring break, heading south is a reflex response for many Ferris State University students. Approximately 20 of the thousands of students ready to depart for a week away from classes will include bonding time with their fellowship groups along with physical labor to improve the lives of others.

His House Christian Fellowship will continue its relationship with Casas por Cristo, an El Paso, Texas-based nonprofit. Kate Hogoboom, a 2012 graduate of Ferris Marketing program, is an administrative assistant for His House. She participated in similar trips as a student and said their traveling party heads out of Big Rapids Friday, March 4, as spring break officially starts on Saturday, March 5, and runs through Sunday, March 13.

Our project this year will create the 53rd house that Ferris students have worked on over the years, Hogoboom said. This makes our 21st journey to Ciudad Juarez, Mexico. It is so cool to see places we have built, knowing that families can live in safe housing, which makes all the work and fundraising for these projects worth it.

Hannah Haynes, an Accounting major from Traverse City, is a His House participant who traveled with the groups project team in 2020.

I loved the experience enough to make that long journey to Mexico, once again, Haynes said. It really gives you an opportunity to get close to your peers on the van ride; coming to understand the level of poverty in Ciudad Juarez was an entirely new experience. It makes you grateful for everything you have.

Haynes said Casas por Cristo has made them aware of their supporting family by constructing this simple one-story structure.

They currently live in a one-room plywood shed, Haynes said. When I went in 2020, I was very taken by a family member saying how happy they were to have a home with a locking door.

His House student groups build homes in various Ciudad Juarez neighborhoods based on the available properties to the families involved.

Wesley House in Big Rapids will rally their spring break travelers to Lowell, where they will meet Saturday, March 5, with plans to depart early the following morning. Wesley House Pastor Kim Bos said they continue collaborating with Central Michigan University students and alumni. Big Rapids Wesley House will send 11 students and four supporters to Hayesville, North Carolina, along the

Georgia border, two hours east of Chattanooga, Tennessee.

This trip is always the highlight of our program year, in terms of the opportunity it affords all of us, Bos said. This year, we will be helping an inter-generational family revise their home, as one resident needs an accommodation to safely exit and enter the property.

After their construction project is complete, Bos said they plan to pursue group learning and fellowship.

We look to explore the cycles of poverty, taking time to go through a poverty simulation, Bos said. We believe this trip offers valuable perspectives to our students and volunteers, along with a chance to really know each other better. Every years trip presents a lot of work, but it is always worthwhile.
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REED CITY  The annual Boy Scout Troop 174 Reed City Pinewood Derby will take place March 13 at the Scout building, 223 E. Fifth Ave. Reed City.

Registration of derby cars will begin at noon, with races starting at 1 p.m. Scouts will race after all sponsor races are completed. Scout leaders will race for bragging rights to end the day.

Winners will be awarded for first, second, and third place for each class  Tigers, Wolves, Bears, Webelos and Arrow of Light.

Reed City mayor Roger Meinert will judge the Best in Show derby cars in all classes. A traveling trophy will be retained by the winning sponsor until the next years race.

A lot has changed since Cubmaster Don Murphy dreamed up the idea for the Pinewood Derby in 1953  69 years ago. But a lot has stayed the same, too.

The Pinewood Derby is still about Cub Scouts and their parents turning four plastic wheels, four nails and some wood into a custom race car. Its still about designing a 5-ounces-or-less car that goes fast, looks cool or both. But most of all, its still about a parent and child working together to build lasting memories.

A 10-year-old Cub Scout named Donn Murphy of Manhattan Beach, California, wanted to compete in the soap box derby run by the Management Club at North American Aviation, where his dad worked. But this race involving kid-size, gravity-powered cars was just for those ages 12 and up.

Donns dad had the perfect idea to cheer up his son. The Cub Scout Pack would hold a miniature soap box derby using hoagie-size cars the Cub Scouts could build with their parents.

Murphy remembered how much fun he had making model cars as a child in La Porte, Indiana. Why not bring that same joy to his Cub Scout Pack? That is exactly what he did.

Murphy and the other parents in Pack 280C built a 32-foot, two-lane track. Impressively, the track had a battery-run finish line made from doorbells. Light bulbs identified the winner of each race.

Every Cub Scout got a brown paper bag containing four plastic wheels, four nails and three blocks of wood  all supplied by North American Aviations Management Club.

Why three blocks of wood? One was for the cars body, and the other two formed the axles. Todays cars are made from a single block of wood, and each axle, or nail, goes directly into the body of the car.

The first Pinewood Derby race was held May 15, 1953, in Manhattan Beachs Scout House. Later that year, it had spread throughout the Los Angeles area and in 1954 started going national after an article in Boys Life magazine.

It has surely come a long way since those days. Some engineers sell these cars online for several hundred dollars with the claim that you can win in seconds flat.

We would like to thank the wonderful community businesses that are helping to support our 2022 Annual Cub Scout Pinewood Derby marking the 69th running of this event, Cubmaster Russ Nehmer said. Their involvement and support ensure the continued success of the scouting program within the community.
RT America will cease productions and lay off most of its staff, according to a memo CNN obtained from T&R Productions, the production company behind the Russian state-funded network.

Misha Solodovnikov, the general manager of T&R Productions, told staff in the memo that it will be "ceasing production" at all of its locations "as a result of unforeseen business interruption events."

"Unfortunately, we anticipate this layoff will be permanent, meaning that this will result in the permanent separation from employment of most T&R employees at all locations," Solodovnikov wrote.

T&R Productions operated offices in New York, Miami, Los Angeles, and Washington, DC.

The news would mean an effective end to RT America. The network, one of Russian President Vladimir Putin's main mouthpieces in the US, was dropped earlier this week by DirecTV, dealing a major financial blow to it. The satellite carrier was one of the two major television providers in the US to carry the network.
Twitter employees have received a letter stating they can start returning to Twitter offices beginning March 15.

Twitter's newly assigned CEO Parag Agrawal highlighted that the return to the offices will prioritize the employees' creativity and productivity. With this, he stated that workers will be given multiple options in their working systems.

Twitter Employees Return to Office

The return to Twitter offices is optional. This means that employees are permitted to either work from home or work from anywhere. Employees who desire a blended setup of a couple of days working from home and some days working in the office will also be allowed to do so.

Numerous employees have previously expressed their desire to return to Twitter's offices.

CEO Parag Agrawal tributes this move to the co-founder and previous CEO Jack Dorsey imposing the culture that employees should be able to work remotely full time if that's what they are comfortable with.

According to The Verge, in his letter, Parag stated:

"As we open back up, our approach remains the same. Wherever you feel most productive and creative is where you will work and that includes working from home full-time forever. Office every day? That works too. Some days in office, some days from home? Of course. That's actually how most of you feel. This brings me to my next point.."

He also added:

"Details on logistics, dates, safety measures, and how we work will be coming soon from Pat and Tracy to whom I am deeply grateful, along with the amazing cross-functional team that carried us through the past two years."

Parag ended the letter expressing his gratitude towards its workers in the Twitter headquarters and offices who continued to show up despite the pandemic for the last two years. The CEO expressed his glee in being able to meet his employees in various Twitter offices again.

Read Also: Amazon Now Accepts Visa, Available in All Stores After Global Deal With Financial Service Corp.

Return to Office by Google

Twitter is one of the tech giants that has continuously expressed its approval of remote and blended working arrangements publicly. This is also due to the fact that previous CEO Jack Dorsey like to work at home and work in the office on several days.

Just like Twitter, Google has also reported that it will open its doors, though the change will be mandatory.

CNET stated that as of April 4, Google will require the vast majority of its employees to report to work three days per week. However, there are numerous employees who are not ready to revert back to the traditional employment environment. With that, Google stated these employees now have the option to work remotely from home or work from anywhere. In addition, Google employees also have the option to switch or transfer locations.

Employees who are not vaccinated but are permitted to enter offices will be required to adhere to testing and mask-wearing regulations. However, employees who are not fully vaccinated will not be able to access Google offices.

Aside from Google and Twitter, Microsoft has already resumed its operations in its Washington and San Francisco Bay Area offices last Feb. 28. Microsoft intended to open last year in September, however, it was postponed due to the rising cases of COVID-19.

Related Article: Twitter Video Length Limit: How to Fix 'Your Video File Is Not Compatible' Error
As the conflict between Ukraine and Russia continues to escalate and dominate the worlds attention, the increasing evidence that the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) is and has been working to create and arm an insurgency in the country has received considerably little attention considering its likely consequences. This is particularly true given that former CIA officials and a former Secretary of State are now openly saying that the CIA is following the models of past CIA-backed insurgencies in Afghanistan and Syria for its plans in Ukraine. Given that those countries have been ravaged by war as a direct result of those insurgencies, this bodes poorly for Ukraine.

Yet, this insurgency is poised to have consequences that reach far beyond Ukraine. It increasingly appears that the CIA sees the insurgency it is creating as more than an opportunity to take its hybrid war against Russia ever closer to its borders. As this report will show, it appears the CIA is determined to manifest a prophecy propagated by its own ranks over the past two years. This prediction from former and current intelligence officials dates from at least early 2020 and holds that a transnational white supremacist network with alleged ties to the Ukraine conflict will be the next global catastrophe to befall the world as the threat of Covid-19 recedes.

Per these predictions, this global network of white supremacists  allegedly with a group linked to the conflict in the Donbas region of Ukraine at its core  is to become the new Islamic State-style threat and will undoubtedly be used as the pretext to launch the still-dormant infrastructure set up last year by the US government under President Biden for an Orwellian War on Domestic Terror.

Given that this CIA-driven effort to build an insurgency in Ukraine began as far back as 2015 and that the groups it has trained (and continues to train) include those with overt Neo-Nazi connections, it seems that this coming Ukrainian insurgency, as it has been recently called, is already here. In that context, we are left with the unnerving possibility that this latest escalation of the Ukraine-Russia conflict has merely served as the opening act for the newest iteration of the seemingly endless War on Terror.

Insurgency Rising

Soon after Russia began military operations in Ukraine, Foreign Affairs  the media arm of the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR)  published an article entitled The Coming Ukrainian Insurgency. The piece was authored by Douglas London, a self-described retired Russian-speaking CIA operations officer who served in Central Asia and managed agency counterinsurgency operations. He asserted in the article that Putin will face a long, bloody insurgency that will spread across multiple borders with the potential to create widening unrest that could destabilize other countries in Russias orbit.

Other notable statements made by London include his assertion that the United States will invariably be a major and essential source of backing for a Ukrainian insurgency. He also states that As the United States learned in Vietnam and Afghanistan, an insurgency that has reliable supply lines, ample reserves of fighters, and sanctuary over the border can sustain itself indefinitely, sap an occupying armys will to fight, and exhaust political support for the occupation at home. London explicitly refers to models for this apparently imminent Ukrainian insurgency as the CIA-backed insurgencies in Afghanistan in the 1980s and the moderate rebels in Syria from 2011 to the present.

London isnt alone in promoting these past CIA-backed insurgencies as a model for covert US aid to Ukraine. Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, whose State Department helped to create the moderate rebel insurgency in Syria and oversaw the US and NATO-backed destruction of Libya, appeared on MSNBC on February 28th to say essentially the same. In her interview, Clinton cited the CIA-backed insurgency in Afghanistan as the model that people [in the US government] are now looking toward with respect to the situation in Ukraine. She also references the insurgency in Syria in similar fashion in the same interview. It is worth noting that Clintons former deputy chief of staff when she was Secretary of State, Jake Sullivan, is now Bidens National Security Adviser.

The Afghanistan insurgency, initially backed by the US and CIA beginning in the late 1970s under the name Operation Cyclone, subsequently spawned the US empires supposedly mortal enemies  the Taliban and Al Qaeda  who would go on to fuel the post-9/11 War on Terror. The US campaign against the descendants of the insurgency it had once backed resulted in horrific destruction in Afghanistan and a litany of dead and war crimes, as well as the longest (and thus most expensive) war and occupation in American military history. It also resulted in the bombings and destruction of several other countries along with the whittling down of civil liberties domestically. Similarly, in Syria, the US and CIAs backing of moderate rebels was and remains incredibly destructive to the country it supposedly wants to merely liberate from the rule of Bashar al-Assad. The US military continues to occupy critical areas of that country.

With these openly touted as models for the coming Ukraine insurgency, what is to become of Ukraine, then? If the history of CIA-backed insurgencies is any indicator, it heralds significantly more destruction and more suffering for its people than the current Russian military campaign. Ukraine will become a failed state and a killing field. Those in the West cheering on their governments support for the Ukrainian side of the conflict would do well to realize this, particularly in the United States, as it will only lead to the escalation of yet another deadly proxy war.

However, in addition to the above, we must also consider the very unsettling reality that this Ukrainian insurgency began to be formed by the CIA at least several months, if not several years, prior to Russias currently ongoing military campaign in Ukraine. Yahoo! News reported in January that the CIA has been overseeing a covert training program for Ukrainian intelligence operatives and special ops forces since 2015. Their report explicitly quotes one former CIA official with knowledge of the program as saying that the CIA has been training an insurgency and has been conducting this training at an undisclosed US military base. This training of Ukrainian insurgents was supported by the Obama, Trump, and now Biden administrations, with the latter two expanding its operations. While the CIA denied to Yahoo! that it was training an insurgency, a New York Times report also published in January stated that the US is considering support for an insurgency in Ukraine if Russia invades.

Given that the CIA, at that time and prior to this year, has been warning of an imminent Russian invasion of Ukraine up until the current escalation of hostilities took place, it is worth asking if the US government and the CIA helped pull the trigger by intentionally crossing Russias red lines with respect to NATO encroachment in Ukraine and post-2014 Ukraines acquisition of nuclear weapons when it became clear that the CIAs repeated predictions about an imminent invasion failed to materialize. Russias red lines with Ukraine have been stated clearly  and violated repeatedly by the US  for years. Notably, the US efforts to provide lethal aid to Ukraine have coincided with the winding down of its lethal support to Syrian rebels, suggesting that the US war and intelligence apparatus has long seen Ukraine as the next on its list of proxy wars.

However, more recently, the CIAs warnings of an imminent invasion of Ukraine were scoffed at, not only by many American analysts, but also apparently by both the Russian and Ukrainian governments themselves. It is alleged that this all changed, at least from the Russian perspective, following Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskys claim at the Munich Security Conference that his government would seek to make Ukraine a nuclear power in violation of the 1994 Budapest Memorandum. Surely, Zelensky and his supporters in Washington DC and Langley, Virginia would have known that such an extreme claim from Zelensky would elicit a response from Russia. One need only consider the reverberations that follow any country announcing its intentions to become a nuclear power on the world stage. Russian leadership has since made the case that they felt compelled to act militarily after Ukraine, which has been regularly attacking separatists along its border with Russia with embedded paramilitary units that have called for the extermination of ethnic Russians who live in those regions, announced plans to acquire nukes.

In addition, given Ukraines growing ties to NATO and its desire to integrate itself into that alliance, these theoretical nuclear weapons would be NATO-controlled nukes on Russias border. Zelensky, the US, and their other allied parties surely knew that this intention, particularly its admission in public, would push an already tense situation to the next level. Of course, this statement from Zelensky followed a US-led airlift of weapons to Ukraine early last month, weeks before the current Russian military campaign. US lethal aid to Ukraine has previously been described as being tantamount to a declaration of war on Russia by the US, per members of Russias Ministry of Defense as far back as 2017.

It is worth considering that these red lines and the potential to cross them was discussed by Zelensky and representatives of Ukraines intelligence services when they met with the head of the CIA, William Burns, in January. The CIA, at that time, was already claiming a Russian invasion of Ukraine was imminent. Given the events described above, could it be possible that the CIA wanted to bring about the insurgency they have been preparing for, potentially since 2015? Would they have done so by pushing their allies in Ukraines government to manifest the conditions necessary to begin that insurgency, i.e. prompting them to cross Russias red lines to elicit the reaction needed to launch a pre-planned insurgency? With the CIA also training Ukraines intelligence operatives for nearly seven years, the possibility is certainly one to consider.

If this theory is more than plausible and close to the truth of how we got here, we are left with more questions, mainly  Why would the CIA look to launch this insurgency in Ukraine and why now?

The apparent answer may surprise you.

Manufacturing the Narrative and the Threat

In May 2020, Politico published an article entitled Experts Knew a Pandemic Was Coming. Heres What Theyre Worried About Next. The article was written by Garrett Graff, former editor of Politico, a professor at Georgetowns Journalism and Public Relations program, and director of cyber initiatives at The Aspen Institute  a non-partisan think tank funded largely by the Rockefeller Brothers Fund, the Carnegie Corporation and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

Graffs introduction to the piece states the following:

Every year, the intelligence community releases the Worldwide Threat Assessmenta distillation of worrisome global trends, risks, problem spots and emerging perils. But this year, the public hearing on the assessment, usually held in January or February, was canceled, evidently because intelligence leaders, who usually testify in a rare open hearing together, were worried their comments would aggravate President Donald Trump. And the government has not yet publicly released a 2020 threat report.

In 2020, the CIA did not release a worldwide threat assessment for the first time since it first began annually releasing them decades ago. This article published by Politico was intended by Graff to serve as a Domestic Threat Assessment in the absence of the CIAs Worldwide Threat Assessment and is styled as a list of the most significant events that might impact the United States in the short, medium and long terms. Graff created this Threat Assessment document after interviewing more than a dozen thought leaders, many of whom were current and former national security and intelligence officials. A few months later, the Department of Homeland Security, for the first time since its creation in 2003, would publish its own Homeland Threat Assessment in October of that year. As I noted at the time, this signalled a major shift within the US national security/intelligence apparatus away from foreign terror, its ostensible focus since 9/11, to domestic terror.

Just months after this Homeland Threat Assessment was published, the war on domestic terror would be launched in the wake of the events of January 6th, which itself was apparently foreseen by then-DHS official Elizabeth Neumann. In early 2020, Neumann had presciently stated: It feels like we are at the doorstep of another 9/11maybe not something that catastrophic in terms of the visual or the numbersbut that we can see it building, and we dont quite know how to stop it.

Indeed, when January 6th took place, no real effort was made by Capitol Police or other law enforcement officials present to stop the so-called riot, with plenty of footage from the event instead showing law enforcement waving the supposed insurrectionists into the Capitol building. This, however, did not stop top politicians and national security officials from labelling January 6th as the another 9/11 that Neumann had apparently predicted. Notably, the DHS first-ever Homeland Threat Assessment, Neumanns warning, and the subsequent official narrative regarding the events of January 6th were all heavily focused on the threat of white supremacist terror attacks on the US homeland.

Returning to the May 2020 Politico article  Graff notes that many supposed pandemic experts, which  per Graff  includes Bill Gates and US intelligence officials James Clapper and Dan Coats, had projected the spread of a novel virus and the economic impacts it would bring as well as details about the specific challenges the US would face during the initial phase of the Covid-19 crisis. Graff then asks What other catastrophes are coming that we arent planning for? According to the thought leaders he consulted for this piece, which included several current and former intelligence officials, the most immediate near-term threat likely to disrupt life in the US and beyond following Covid was the Globalization of White Supremacy.

In discussing this imminent threat, Graff wrote:

Terrorism today conjures images of ISIS fighters and suicide bombers. But if you ask national security officials about the top near-term terrorism threat on their radar, they almost universally point to the rising problem of white nationalist violence and the insidious way that groups that formerly existed locally have been knitting themselves together into a global web of white supremacism. In recent weeks, the State Departmentfor the first timeformally designated a white supremacist organization, the Russian Imperial Movement, as a terrorist organization, in part because its trying to train and seed adherents around the globe, inspiring them to carry out terror attacks (emphasis added)

Graff then adds that There are seriousand explicitwarnings about this coming from U.S. government and foreign officials that eerily echo the warnings that came about for al Qaeda before 9/11. He then quotes FBI Director Christopher Wray as stating:

Its not just the ease and the speed with which these attacks can happen, but the connectivity that the attacks generate. One unstable, disaffected actor hunkered down, alone, in his moms basement in one corner of the country, getting further fired up by similar people half a world away. That increases the complexity of domestic terrorism cases we have in a way that is really challenging.

This quote from Wray was first published in a piece Graff had written a month prior to publishing his Politico piece. The focus of that interview centered around domestic terrorism in the US, with extensive discussion about the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing and the Russian Imperial Movement. In that article, published in Wired, the State Departments coordinator for counterterrorism, Nathan Sales, characterized that movement as a terrorist group that provides paramilitary-style training to neo-Nazis and white supremacists, and it plays a prominent role in trying to rally like-minded Europeans and Americans into a common front against their perceived enemies.

This Russian Imperial Movement, or RIM, advocates for the re-establishment of the pre-1917 Russian empire, which would exert influence over all territory inhabited by ethnic Russians. Their ideology is described as white supremacist, monarchist, ultra-nationalist, pro-Russian Orthodox, and anti-Semitic. They are not considered neo-Nazi, but have worked to build ties with other, far-right groups with neo-Nazi connections.

RIM was allegedly responsible for training a bomber whose acts resulted in no deaths in Sweden from 2016-2017. The bomber, Victor Melin, was not an active RIM member but was reportedly trained by them, and he conducted 2 of his 3 bombings with an individual completely unaffiliated with RIM. Melin was, however, a member of the Nordic Resistance Movement at the time.

A few years later, in April 2020, RIM became the first white supremacist group to be labeled a Specially Designated Global Terrorist Entity (SDGT) by the US, despite not being tied to an act of terror since 2017 and despite those previous acts resulting in no deaths. The acts of terror cited as justification by then Secretary of State Mike Pompeo were those perpetrated by Melin. However, the Nordic Resistance Movement, of which Melin was an active member at the time of the bombings, did not receive the SDGT label, even though it is significantly largely in terms of membership and reach than RIM. The decision to label RIM this way was considered unprecedented at the time.

It has since been claimed that the group now numbers in the several thousand worldwide, though little publicly available evidence exists to support this statistic and that statistic notably only emerged roughly a month after the US terror designation and originated from a US-based institute. There are also no statistics available on the number of individuals they have allegedly trained via their paramilitary arm, known as the Imperial Legion.

Per the US government, RIMs reach is global and extends to the US. However, its US ties are based on dubious allegations of a relationship with Atomwaffen Divisions Russian affiliate and a personal relationship with the 2017 Unite the Right rally organizer Matthew Heimbach. However, this again is based on the allegations (not direct evidence) that Heimbach received funds from RIM. Heimbachs group, the Traditionalist Workers Party, has been inactive since 2018, two years before the US SDGT designation for RIM. It is also alleged that RIM offered to train other Unite the Right figures, though RIM and the white supremacists who supposedly received this offer deny the reports. Furthermore, there remains no evidence of any US citizen ever participating in paramilitary training with RIM. This contradicts Nathan Sales April 2020 claim that RIM plays a prominent role in trying to rally like-minded Europeans and Americans into a common front against their perceived enemies. Despite the lack of evidence left-leaning, non-partisan, and right-leaning think tanks have continued to use RIM as proof of a large, interconnected, transnational network of violent white supremacists.

It seems odd that a group that is apparently small and very limited in terms of its presence in the US and that is responsible for no deadly terror attacks would earn the honor of becoming the first US-designed, white supremacist Specially Designated Global Terrorist Entity. This is especially true when the acts cited as justification for the SDGT designation were committed by a member of a different, larger group, a group that did not receive this designation at the time or in the years since. However, in the context of current events in Ukraine, the 2020 designation of RIM begins to make more sense, at least from the US national security perspective.

RIM is alleged to support separatists in Ukraines Donetsk and Luhansk regions since 2014 and has been described by the US as anti-Ukrainian. These regions are at the center of the current conflict and its most recent escalation last month. The US government and pro-Western think tanks list RIMs first attack as its involvement in the conflict in eastern Ukraine. According to Stanford Universitys Center for International Security and Cooperation (CISAC), the number of fighters sent by or trained by RIM in Eastern Ukraine is unknown, though one report states RIM sent groups of five to six fighters from Russia to Eastern Ukraine in mid-June 2014. RIMs paramilitary arm, the Imperial Legion, has not been active in Ukraine since January 2016. However, some reports have asserted that some individuals opted to stay and continue fighting. Claims have also been made in more recent years that RIM members have fought in the Syrian conflict and in Libya on the side of General Haftar.

Following this first attack, Stanfords CISAC claims that, from 2015 to 2020, they have been building a transnational network, though as previously noted  their success in that endeavor is based on reports of dubious authenticity and/or significance, particularly in the United States. However, their alleged role on the side of separatists in the Donbass has been used by US think tanks to argue that RIM advances Moscows policy goals, which they say include seeking to fuel white supremacist extremism in Europe and the United States.

Some think tanks in the US, like Just Security, have used RIM to argue that Russias government plays a major role in transnational white supremacy due to a mutual affection between Western white supremacists and the Russian government. They claim that because Russia tolerates RIMs presence domestically, the Kremlin facilitates the growth of right-wing extremism in Europe and the United States that exacerbates threats to the stability of democratic governments.

However, what Just Security fails to mention is that RIM has vocally opposed and protested against Putins government, has been labeled an extremist group by the Russian government and has even had its offices raided by Russian police because of their opposition to Putins leadership. Notably, Just Securitys advisors included former CIA deputy director and Event 201 participant, Avril Haines as well as former deputy chief of staff to Hillary Clinton at the State Department, Jake Sullivan. Haines and Sullivan now serve as Bidens Director of National Intelligence (i.e. the top intelligence official in the country) and Bidens National Security adviser, respectively.

The Dawn of Domestic Terror

As a result of the current escalation of events in Ukraine, it appears inevitable that the effort to use RIM to paint Russia as a driving force behind transnational white supremacism are due to resurface. This effort appears to have as one of its goals the minimization of the role that neo-Nazi groups like the Azov Battalion, the Neo-Nazi paramilitary unit embedded within Ukraines National Guard, are actively playing in the current hostilities.

In January of this year, Jacobin published an article about the CIA efforts to seed an insurgency in Ukraine, noting that everything we know points to the likelihood that [the groups being trained by the CIA] includes Neo-Nazis inspiring far-right terrorists across the world. It cites a 2020 report from West Point which states that: A number of prominent individuals among far-right extremist groups in the United States and Europe have actively sought out relationships with representatives of the far-right in Ukraine, specifically the National Corps and its associated militia, the Azov Regiment. It adds that US-based individuals have spoken or written about how the training available in Ukraine might assist them and others in their paramilitary-style activities at home.

Even the FBI, though more publicly concerned about RIM, has been forced to admit that US-based white supremacists have cultivated ties with the group, with the Bureau stating in a 2018 indictment that Azov is believed to have participated in training and radicalizing United Statesbased white supremacy organizations. In contrast, there remains no proof of any concrete ties of a single US citizen to RIM.

With the CIA now backing an insurgency that prominent former CIA officials are claiming will spread across multiple borders, the fact that the forces being trained and armed by the agency as part of this coming insurgency include Azov battalion is significant. It seems that the CIA is determined to create yet another self-fulfilling prophecy by breeding the very network of global white supremacy that intelligence officials have claimed is the next big threat after the Covid-19 crisis wanes.

The injection of the group RIM into the narrative should also be of concern. It seems plausible, given the pre-conflict terror designation for the group and its alleged past ties to the Ukraine conflict, that a CIA-trained Ukrainian insurgent, perhaps from a group like Azov or an equivalent, would willingly pose as a member of RIM, allowing RIM to be labeled as the new Al Qaeda, with its base of operations conveniently located in Russia and its presence there tolerated by Moscow. It certainly would serve the now, rather pervasive narrative equating Putin with Adolf Hitler in the wake of Russias decision to launch its military campaign in Ukraine. It would also serve to launch, in earnest, the up-until-now largely dormant War on Domestic Terror, the infrastructure for which was launched by the Biden administration just last year.

While January 6th was used to equate support for former President Donald Trump with neo-Nazism and white supremacism, recent articles that have followed Russias recent military campaign against Ukraine deliberately link this Putin as Hitler narrative with US Republicans. US conservatives have long been the focus of domestic terror fear-mongering over the past several years (They are also, incidentally, the majority of gun owners).

An editorial by Robert Reich published in The Guardian on March 1st claims the world is frighteningly locked in a battle to the death between democracy and authoritarianism. Reich goes onto to state that Russias incursion into Ukraine is a new cold war The biggest difference between the old cold war and the new one is that authoritarian neo-fascism is no longer just an external threat to America and Europe. A version of it is also growing inside western Europe and the US. It has even taken over one of Americas major political parties. The Trump-led Republican party does not openly support Putin, but the Republican partys animus toward democracy is expressed in ways familiar to Putin and other autocrats. Other articles making similar claims have appeared in The New York Times and The Intercept, among others, in just the past week.

On March 2, Salon followed Reichs piece with a similar editorial entitled How white supremacy fuels the Republican love affair with Vladimir Putin, which concludes with the assertion that todays Republican Party is Americas and the worlds largest white supremacist and white identity organization and that conservatism and racism are now fully one and the same thing here in America.

As this muddying of the waters regarding the relationship among Putin, the US Republican Party, and white supremacism escalates, we also have intelligence agencies in Europe and the US increasingly linking opposition to Covid measures, like lockdowns and vaccine mandates, to neo-Nazism, white supremacism and the far-right, frequently with little to no evidence. This recently occurred with the Freedom Convoy in Canada and, more recently, German security agencies and officials asserted just days ago that they can no longer distinguish between far-right radicals and those who oppose vaccine mandates and Covid restrictions. However, these efforts to link opposition to Covid measures with domestic terrorism and the far-right go back to 2020.

In addition to these trends, it also seems inevitable that the Russian misinformation label, used and abused for the past several years so that any dissenting narrative was often labeled Russian in origin, is likely to make a comeback in this context and provide the justification for a zealous censorship campaign online and particularly on social media, where this transnational white supremacist network is said to be dependent upon for its supposed success.

The coming global white supremacist terror threat, if we are to believe our unusually prescient intelligence officials, appears to be the next thing to befall the world as the Covid crisis wanes. It also appears that the CIA has crowned itself the midwife and chosen Ukraine as the birthplace of this new terror threat, one which will create not only the next proxy war between US empire and its adversaries, but also the pretext to launch the War on Domestic Terror in North America and Europe.
The more things change, the more they stay the same. In 2014 the State Departments Victoria Nuland reportedly was caught on tape planning a coup in Ukraine using Bidens help.

Victoria Nuland is currently serving as Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs in the Biden  Obama Administration but she was with the State Department under Obama as well. She was instrumental in the affairs in Ukraine at that time. Weve written about Nuland in the past, especially when it relates to Ukraine. Recently when Nuland was before the Senate no one asked her about her past actions with the Obama gang.

But back in 2014 Nuland was very busy in Ukraine. She was seen passing out cakes to protesters in Kiev, Ukraine at that time. A few weeks after this the protests in that country got violent and a number of individuals died during these riots.

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At this time, Nuland made a call with another American, Jeffrey Pyatt, to discuss the events in Ukraine. She mentioned Jake Sullivan in the call as well as Joe Biden. In their phone conversation, Nuland and Pyatt discussed who should join a unity government. Nuland notified Pyatt that after the review of the three opposition candidates for the post of Prime Minister of Ukraine, the US State Department had selected Arseniy Yatsenyuk.

Joe Biden was involved in their decision. It was a coup. The Americans had picked their candidate.

The video below from that time discusses the call and the actions in Ukraine at that time. See below starting at about the 14:00 minute mark.
Putin made clear a no-fly zone would result in the Kremlin's immediate declaration of war on any country intervening in such a way. The AP reported and translated his fresh comments made before civilian aviation industry members and pilots as follows:

A no-fly-zone would spell war for any third party who tries to enforce one over Ukraine, Vladimir Putin has said. Speaking at a meeting with female pilots on Saturday, Putin said Russia would view any move in this direction as an intervention that "will pose a threat to our service members. That very second, we will view them as participants of the military conflict, and it would not matter what members they are, the Russian president said.

Further he addressed the ratcheted up sanctions on Russia from the West, which are now serving to isolate Russia almost on levels akin to the US sanctions regimen on Iran - with of course the important exception that the US has not yet directly targeted Russian oil and gas exports.

In his latest video address, Ukraine president Volodymyr Zelensky blasts NATO for its refusal to impose a no-fly zone over Ukraine, says it's a sign of weakness. Says the only assistance Ukraine received so far through NATO procurement system is 50 tons of diesel pic.twitter.com/dxWuXnA53K  Olga Tokariuk (@olgatokariuk) March 5, 2022

"Sanctions against us are like declaring war on Russia," Putin said additionally in the meeting with military members.

He further painted a positive picture of Russia's strategy and military operations on the ground, at a moment many Western officials and pundits in the media have pointed out major problems for the invaders as Ukraine mounts a fierce ground resistance...

The destruction of all relevant military infrastructure in Ukraine was done as first priority, including aviation, air defences and warehouses. This is almost completed pic.twitter.com/tBy4Z2GLrt  ASB News / MILITARY (@ASBMilitary) March 5, 2022

So Putin is now on TV explaining his justifications for the invasion of Ukraine to a room full of Russian trainee air stewardesses...

Bizarre pic.twitter.com/LC6Uux3aiC  Patrick Reevell (@Reevellp) March 5, 2022

* * *

The second round of Ukraine-Russia talks which took place Thursday reached a key agreement to allow for the evacuation of civilians in areas of Ukraine seeing intense fighting by establishing 'humanitarian corridors'. With a third round of talks agreed upon to take place at the start of next week, the potential for local ceasefires sparked hope that this could lead to a broader ceasefire over the country.

These corridors were erected in at least two major cities which have been under bombardment by Russia - Mariupol in the southeast on the Sea of Azov, and the eastern city of Volnovakha. The local ceasefires were seen as a significant breakthrough which could lead to a wider pause in fighting, but that appears to have already broken down, after civilians in a city of some 400,000 were only given five hours to exit Mariupol on Saturday.

Shelling in Mariupol. Source: @AyBurlachenko via Reuters

Shelling by Russian forces has reportedly since resumed, with the brief ceasefire now effectively over. President Zelensky's office issued a statement blaming Russia for breaking the deal: "The Russian side is not holding to the cease-fire and has continued firing on Mariupol itself and on its surrounding area," it said.

The ceasefire for allowing the exit of civilians in Volnovakha has also reportedly broken down. "Talks with the Russian Federation are ongoing regarding setting up a cease-fire and ensuring a safe humanitarian corridor," the statement by Zelesnky's office indicated.

Additionally Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk said, "We appeal to the Russian side to stop firing," according to the AP. Mariupol had prior to the humanitarian pause been under continuous shelling for some 30 hours, according to international reports.

Ukrainian officials say a Russian plane has been shot down in the outskirts of the northern Ukrainian city of Chernihiv...

Fighter jet shot down reportedly over Chernihiv, in north Ukraine pic.twitter.com/4qaVkcfX6W  ELINT News (@ELINTNews) March 5, 2022

Likely Russia sees the 5-hour ceasefire as having been sufficient time to allow for civilian evacuations. Mariupol has been described as under complete siege, and with no water or electricity. Given it's a city of some 400,000 - it's more than likely that many thousands of civilians remain there as the shelling resumes.

City authorities have said they believe at least 200 civilians have been killed since the start of the attack on Mariupol.

Ukraine's security service has reportedly shot & killed Denis Kireev, a member of the Ukrainian negotiating team, pictured far back on the right in the photo. He was apparently killed while resisting arrest on suspicion of treason, @ukrpravda_news reports. https://t.co/B0kOhWxMmI pic.twitter.com/pFWfXIEFzK  Christopher Miller (@ChristopherJM) March 5, 2022

Meanwhile Germany has issued new numbers after the United Nations previously reported that over 1 million Ukrainians have fled the war. "More than 27,000 refugees have arrived in Germany from Ukraine since the beginning of the Russian invasion on Feb. 24, according to Germanys interior ministry," CNN reports. "Germanys Federal Police has registered 27,491 refugees from Ukraine in Germany to date, an interior ministry spokesperson confirmed to CNN Saturday."
The hackers who attacked NVIDIA earlier this week are currently making an unusual demand. They want Nvidia to open source their GPU drivers, disable LHR and pay a ransom amount.

Note that the LHR feature mentioned in the demand stands for "Lite Hash Rate." Cybercriminals claim that disabling it will "help the mining and gaming community."

NVIDIA Leak: The Lapsus$ Demands

Sources from Artechnica discuss the details of these demands. The cybercriminal group Lapsus$ reportedly claimed in broken English that "We want NVIDIA to push an update for all 30 series firmware that remove every LHR limitations otherwise we will leak HW folder."

For reference, LHR is a feature that NVIDIA introduced in February 2021, which was installed on the GeForce RTX 3060, 3060 Ti, 3070, and 3080 graphics cards. This feature was established to make graphics cards less desirable to crypto miners and discourage them from buying gaming-issued units. LHR works by limiting the hash rate of mining efficiency by approximately 50%.

It seems the feature was a bit too effective because it created some frustration on the cybercriminal's part. The modified demand issued to NVIDIA said that if the GPU drivers are not open-source by Friday, March 4, then the hackers would "release the entire silicon chip files so that everyone not only knows your driver's secrets but also your most closely-guarded trade secrets for graphics and computer chipsets too."

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NVIDIA Data Breach: Will They Comply With the Demand?

NVIDIA officially acknowledged the breach earlier this week. However, they have yet to share their plans and countermeasures about the cyberattack.

In a statement published on Tuesday, March 1, NVIDIA emphasized, "We do not anticipate any disruption to our business or our ability to serve our customers as a result of the incident." This implies that although they acknowledged the breach, they are fully confident in the security countermeasures that are currently being set.

To the shock of many fans, NVIDIA might have actually fought back against Lapsus$. Twitter user Soufiane Tahiri summarized it by saying, "Lapsus is claiming attacks on NVIDIA , then NVIDIA hit(s) back with a ransomware."

Seriously what the hell is going on !!#Lapsus is claiming attacks on #Nvidia then #Nvidia hit back with a #Ransomware



Lapsus claims to have 1TB of data and is leaking all Nvidia employees' passwords and NTLM hashes@Cyberknow20 @SOSIntel @vxunderground @ransomwaremap pic.twitter.com/6hugTWEuhw  Soufiane Tahiri (@S0ufi4n3) February 26, 2022

It is important to note that throughout these ongoing issues, NVIDIA never confirmed whether it was Lapsus$ who breached their networks. They also did not elaborate on the stolen data, or whether it would match the ones the hackers were threatening to leak.

Due to the elusive nature of NVIDIA and the cybercriminals, it is hard to determine which side is winning the digital battle. It is also unclear whether NVIDIA managed to recover its stolen files during their alleged attack.

Since the cybercriminals claim that a leak might happen later this week, interested fans are recommended to watch out for more updates. iTech Post will also report any new information as soon as it becomes available.

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Related Article: NVIDIA Confirms Data Breach, Hackers Leak Next-Gen GeForce GPU Names
Lapsus$ now holds a collection of confidential data from the South Korean tech giant Samsung. The said Samsung data acquired by Lapsus$ has also been recently leaked to the public.

Lapsus$ first made headlines last month as they hacked NVIDIA. The ransomware gang compromised NVIDIA's sensitive employee information and proprietary information, threatening to leak the data if their demands are not met.

Lapsus$ Leaks Samsung Data

It has been reported that Lapsus$ leaked 190 GB of data from Samsung. Earlier before the leak, Lapsus$ first teased their audience with a screenshot of C/C++ directives in Samsung software.

Lapsus$ published a description of the upcoming leak shortly after teasing their followers, claiming that it contains "confidential Samsung source code" that was obtained through the recent breach.

As written by Bleeping Computer, here are the descriptions of the data that Lapsus$ holds:

Every Trusted Applet (TA) installed in Samsung's TrustZone environment that is used for sensitive operations has its source code available (e.g. hardware cryptography, binary encryption, access control)

Algorithms intended for all the biometric unlock operations.

The bootloader source code for all recent Samsung devices is available here.

Qualcomm has provided a confidential source code.

Samsung's activation servers' source code can be found here.

complete source code for the technology that is used for authorizing and authenticating Samsung accounts, as well as APIs and other services

If the data the cyber group acquired proves true, Samsung suffered a massive security breach. The leaked data, which has been divided into three compressed files, totaled nearly 190GB.

Lapsus$ made the content available in a torrent that appears to be extremely popular. Furthermore, the group also stated that it would deploy more servers to increase the download speed.

The folders Lapsus$ has with Samsung contain information for source code and related data about security, defense, Knox, bootloader, and trusted apps.

In addition, it also reported that the leaked information contains "various repositories from Samsung Github: mobile defense engineering, Samsung account backend, Samsung pass backend/frontend, and SES (Bixby, Smartthings, store)".

As of writing, it is not made clear yet whether Lapsus$ reached out to Samsung to ransom the stolen data.

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Lapsus$ Attack on NVIDIA

The computer technology company NVIDIA confirmed that their internal systems were compromised in a breach on February 23. The breach happened just one day before the political conflict in Eastern Europe started.

The cyber group was able to seize information from 71,000 employees of NVIDIA. The compromised data is reported to have confidential information about the tech company's software and hardware.

Lapsus$ stated that they were able to seize 1TB of data from the company.

NVIDIA was aware throughout the attack and was able to take actions to prevent further infiltration of data. However, the hackers moved swiftly which made the company unsuccessful in its attempt to cushion the data breach.

Lapsus$ stated the following:

"We decided to help mining and gaming community, we want nvidia to push an update for all 30 series firmware that remove every lhr limitations otherwise we will leak hw folder. If they remove the lhr we will forget about the hw folder (it's a big folder). We both know lhr impact mining and gaming."

Aside from that, Lapsus$ demands NVIDIA to provide open-source GPU drivers for Windows, macOS, and Linux. The group also gave an ultimatum that open sourcing these devices should be until Friday (March 4).

As reported previously, the leaked data contains the AD100 architecture. The data revealed that the company intends to use the AD102, AD103, AD104, AD106, AD107, and AD10B chips to build the next generation of GeForce GPUs.

Related Article: NVIDIA Confirms Data Breach, Hackers Leak Next-Gen GeForce GPU Names
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Brandon University students, faculty and staff will start the upcoming fall term on campus with minimal COVID-19 public health measures in place.

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Brandon University students, faculty and staff will start the upcoming fall term on campus with minimal COVID-19 public health measures in place.

The university is moving forward with cautious optimism, said marketing and communications director Grant Hamilton. The move to "Phase Gold" of the campus re-opening plan was announced Thursday and will take effect on April 28.

"We think that spring and summer is the best time to make this kind of transition. First of all, we committed and weve always committed to giving as much notice as possible," Hamilton said. "Switching gears in the middle of a teaching term is very difficult."

During the spring and summer, there are fewer students on campus, classes are typically smaller, longer and meet more regularly, so there is less mixing of students. Hamilton said these factors make it the optimal time to explore easing restrictions and giving people time to adjust.

Under Phase Gold, Brandon University will unlock its doors to the public, a vaccine mandate will no longer be in place, physical distancing will no longer be enforced, no capacity limits will be set and the use of masks will be encouraged while inside.

The school will continue to use enhanced ventilation, require self-monitoring for illness or COVID-19 symptoms and continue to provide sanitization stations.

Hamilton noted the opening of BUs doors to the community is important because of the critical place community connections hold within the universitys recently completed Strategic Plan.

"The campus is not itself when the doors are locked. We want to be open as a campus and were excited about that opportunity," Hamilton said. "It will be fun, but it will definitely be a bit of an adjustment."

The university was in the middle stages of finalizing its Strategic Plan when COVID-19 first arrived in Manitoba. Hamilton said staff were able to pause the project and incorporate lessons learned during the pandemic.

"It upended so many expectations. It presented new ways of doing things and we learned really what worked and, in some cases, what didnt work," Hamilton said. "Weve now got this new Strategic Plan that includes all of those lessons."

In terms of what health measures to keep in place, the school focused on what was feasible for the institution to undertake and relied less on policing individual behaviours. Hamilton noted BU also looked to practices in the broader community to align with what people are experiencing and expecting in terms of health measures.

The re-opening under Phase Gold will be a unique experience, he added, because every faculty and staff member and student will have individual expectations of what normal life looks like on campus.

"From a university perspective, we listened as much as we can and weve always been a smaller campus and pretty tight-knit, cosy community," Hamilton said.

Brandon University is not focusing on any one metric or any particular numbers when it comes to the easing of health measures on campus. Hamilton said BU will lean on the availability of rapid tests in the community and other practices that have been learned over the past two years in terms of promoting safety.

"Weve learned a lot about how you can support your team and your colleagues and work from home if youve got the sniffles," Hamilton said. "Were really, really happy with the massive success of vaccinations  I think theres going to be a real support for wearing masks long-term."

The fall semester will be a memorable experience, because the university will see a mix of students arrive who have not had a typical campus life during the pandemic and recently graduated high school students who are coming to university for the first time.

"Theres going to be students who havent set foot on campus but are second or even third-year students."

The institution is still planning out what the fall semester will look like. Hamilton said they remain ready to pivot because of the ongoing uncertainty around COVID-19, while remaining confident it will be more social and a fuller experience than what has been possible in the last couple of years.

For many alumni, some of the most important memories made during their post-secondary careers have been the relationships they developed. Hamilton said the social aspect of campus life has been missed and people are hungry for inter-personal contact  BU is exploring ways to support this as measures are relaxed.

Brandon University is currently considering what student orientations will look like in the fall, Hamilton said. He expects the experience will include expanded cohorts. The school is also debating having extended orientation to allow for smaller groups that are spread out over the longer term.

 ckemp@brandonsun.com

 Twitter: @The_ChelseaKemp
The Ukrainian-Canadian Congress of Manitoba has partnered with Brandon University to host a rally and flag-raising in support of Ukraine today.

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The Ukrainian-Canadian Congress of Manitoba has partnered with Brandon University to host a rally and flag-raising in support of Ukraine today.

The Congress collaborated with BU after the post-secondary institution reached out to offer support to the Westman Ukrainian community, said Ukrainian-Canadian Congress Brandon chapter president Vasyl Marchuk. The conversation with the university led to a fruitful discussion on how best to show solidarity with Ukraine as the country faces a Russian invasion.

"I hope this is helpful for people because there are people who have relatives in Ukraine and family in Ukraine," Marchuk said. "They are very emotional now at this time. It is a stressful time for families."

Brandonites are invited to show their support for Ukraine in a march from BU to Brandon City Hall today, starting at 5 p.m. Parking is free at Brandon University during the weekend. March participants are encouraged to arrive a few minutes early and meet by the flagpoles at 18th Street and Lorne Avenue.

Organizers are encouraging people to follow the latest public health guidance during the rally.

Those participating in the march can bring candles, Ukrainian flags and other signs of support. Marchuk said the purpose of the rally is to show support for Ukraine and the Ukrainian people, share details on humanitarian fundraising and information on the conflict.

There is also the goal to keep up political pressures to push for an end to the invasion.

At city hall, the flag of Ukraine will be raised, speeches will be provided by local dignitaries, and the Ukrainian and Canadian anthems will be played.

It is a time of great uncertainty and fear in the world, Marchuk said. It has been a challenging experience for Ukrainian people living in Brandon because they are a continent away and cannot pick up and fight in support of their country.

Instead, they can help emotionally and show the country and the community stands united with Ukraine.

The last week has been an experience of disbelief and horror. Marchuks concern grows each day as Russian aggression continues to escalate. He does not sleep at night because he worries for his relatives in Ukraine, the dangers each new day brings and what the future may hold.

Despite the uncertainty, his family in Ukraine has vowed to stay and fight because the country is their motherland and they remain hopeful they will beat back advancing Russian forces.

Ukraine stands between Russia and the rest of Europe, Marchuk said, and he hopes the Canadian government has support ready for refugees fleeing the country and will act to help protect the country.

"Ukraine is not alone," Marchuk said. "If the situation is going to be worse and worse, its going to be like a hell for Ukraine people."

BU marketing and communications director Grant Hamilton connected with Marchuk to show solidarity and fly a Ukrainian flag at the university to demonstrate the institutions support of the country.

The university is happy to support Ukrainians living in western Manitoba and those with Ukrainian heritage who want to see the violence of the war come to an end.

"Everybody at Brandon University, like everybody across Canada, is transfixed by the terrible invasion, the humanitarian disaster that is unfolding, and we were looking for some way to help," Hamilton said.

Helping facilitate community connections is a major component of BUs strategic plan. This mission remains imperative during this time of great uncertainty.

"Its a real priority, especially coming out of the pandemic, to be more engaged with our neighbours who live in Brandon and western Manitoba," Hamilton said. "Were a community university, and I think its important for us to show that. Were not just a place where you come to do research and learning, but were a place for these community connections."

People want to come together and express solidarity with Ukraine, and BU is pleased to provide the place and opportunity to do so, he said, while hopefully raising money to aid in the humanitarian relief in Ukraine.

"Just like everybody around the world, really, we just want the invasion to come to an end and to support the people," Hamilton said. "Over a million people have fled Ukraine. Its just an absolute disaster, and we want to do what we can to bring that to a peaceful resolution."

A list of registered charities currently accepting donations for Ukraine is available at uccmanitoba.ca/helpukraine.

 ckemp@brandonsun.com

 Twitter: @The_ChelseaKemp
In the wake of a decision in a civil lawsuit involving the Brandon Police Service and the distribution of an employment candidates intimate photos, a Brandon University professor says employers have no business getting involved with what consenting adults do in the bedroom.

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In the wake of a decision in a civil lawsuit involving the Brandon Police Service and the distribution of an employment candidates intimate photos, a Brandon University professor says employers have no business getting involved with what consenting adults do in the bedroom.

Brittany Roque sued Terry Lynn Peters for sharing Roques intimate images without her consent. The trial was heard virtually in mid-February 2021. The City of Brandon is listed as a third party in the lawsuit.

On Wednesday, Justice Sandra Zinchuk found both Peters and the city jointly and severally liable for general damages of $45,000 and Peters liable for aggravated damages of $15,000.

"The justice suggested that the images were not in the public interest and I wholeheartedly agree with that judgment, I think its correct," said Chris Schneider, a BU sociology professor who has written extensively about the police and co-authored an upcoming book titled "Defining Sexual Misconduct  Power, Media and #MeToo."

"Its another case to remind the public that its inappropriate  and can be illegal  to share peoples intimate images without their consent. Given that the judgment is in relation to and about the police service, I think it might get heightened media coverage or more attention than other cases of unknown persons to the public."

Furthermore, Schneider feels that the situation is worse because it was police who violated someones privacy. He said they "absolutely" should have known better than to distribute these images and that the public should know better if they encounter a similar situation.

For example, if someone wants to show off intimate pictures of their partner, the first question should be if the person depicted in the photos knows about them being shared. If not, the pictures should be refused.

"This is a persons private life," Schneider said. "The distribution of images in this way and in most ways is intended to shame people. Its gross and reminiscent of slut-shaming. The police should know better."

One of the arguments in the case was that the police need to know if potential recruits are vulnerable to being blackmailed or coerced.

"The question becomes, does the police service need to know about a persons private sexual life?" Schneider asked. "The answer is absolutely not. Can the person be bribed or blackmailed? It depends on the content of the images. For example, if the images are criminal or have a criminal element to them  like child pornography, elements of beastiality  then yes, the police service should want to know about that. But if theyre just private images between consenting adults, no."

After Fridays first Brandon Police Board meeting of the year, BPS Chief Wayne Balcaen said his organization was still reviewing the case and the findings and was not yet ready to comment on the decision.

City of Brandon solicitor Rex Osivwemu told the Sun on Friday an outside law firm was doing the review of the case.

Brandon Police Association president Darren Creighton called the situation "unfortunate."

"This whole situation is unfortunate, that it came to this and it got this far. Definitely, theres a victim involved and the association gives the person all the credit in the world to have the character, because this wouldnt have been easy coming forward," he said.

Creighton said he believes a review of the situation at the time would have been positive. If one happens in the future, he said the union would "help and support."

The Sun also contacted several law professors and other experts, but they declined to speak on the record, citing the sensitive nature of the case.

In the decision, Zinchuk said BPS deputy chief Randy Lewis viewed Roques images without her consent, which "substantially, and unreasonably violated her privacy."

In a statement, a provincial spokesperson said the report from the Independent Investigations Unit of Manitoba, the provincial police watchdog, "speaks for itself." The civilian-led agency did not recommend charges against any member of the Brandon Police Service executive.

"It is important to note that it was completed from the perspective of whether criminal or quasi-criminal charges could/should be pursued. The burden of proof, or standard of review is different in a civil suit which could lead to a different interpretation of whether there was a breach of the Privacy Act."

 dmay@brandonsun.com

 Twitter: @DrewMay_
International manufacturers seek out Victorian designers as well. Irish firm Heart Sine engaged Cobalt to design its defibrillator. The designers have been true to their desire to do things that are meaningful, says Wong.

Now, however, careers and collaborations can be launched more easily from Victoria. Furniture designer Nick Rennie was ahead of the curve in recognising that to forge an international career he could base himself in Australia while selling his designs to the world, says Wong. Rennies homegrown Mushroom lamp was a finalist in the 2004 awards and picked up by French manufacturer Ligne Roset. The groundbreaking childrens gallery at Melbourne Museum which encourages childrens innate fascination and curiosity, love of play and discovery into a lifelong relationship with learning at the museum, has encouraged other institutions like the UK Natural History Museum to learn from it and consult with its designers.

In the early days prizemoney was attached to the awards that helped launch careers like Visnja Brdar. She used it to fly to New York, introduce herself to Australian design superstar Marc Newson and produce a monograph on his work. He wanted a brochure, she produced a book, says Wong. The limited-edition monograph, which will be on display, is almost as rare as Newsons coveted Lockheed Lounge and combines Brdars passion for classical modernist simplicity with the handmade book form she learnt at Swinburne University.

Keep Cup has evolved into stainless steel, glass and other materials that are in many ways more sustainable, more durable with better thermal properties, but the basic rotation of the top and the way it works is pretty much the same as it was envisaged, says Wong. The desire to do things that endure and be impactful is present in the work.

Meanwhile, other companies have emulated Keep Cups formula of selling simple products to the world using good local design. What marks an evolutionary leap is that the products are generated by the designers themselves, like Knogs Oi bicycle bell and Charles Ngs Orbitkey. They no longer had to have a client, they could be the client, and they could get enough financial resources behind them through the Kickstarter campaigns to do it right, says Wong. The Oi bell smashed its $20,000 target and raised a million dollars. Perhaps just as startling is that Ois reinvention required the first patent on a bike bell since the 1800s.

Mike Simcoe started out with the Esky ice brick. Credit:Stephanie Bradford

A key factor in Victorian designs success is the ability to make things, says Wong. Australians pride themselves not only in understanding intellectually what might need to happen but also to walk the talk and know how the product will be manufactured, says Wong. That is exactly why Mike Simcoe is head of General Motors, because he could talk to engineers. He wasnt treated like some aesthetic designer. He understood modelling and tooling.

Wong attributes that to good education. Designers got their hands dirty. They learnt by doing. Acknowledging the importance of education, Wong selected five emerging designers from Melbournes design institutions: Alex Goad from Monash University features with his multi-award winning artificial coral reef; RMITs Ryan Tilley designed the Geckotraxx wheelchair accessory that slides onto the wheel and splays out allowing disabled people to venture more easily across beach and snow. Swinburnes Kennyjie Marcellino, won the emerging designer category at the Alessi Design Awards, judged by superstar designer Philippe Starck, for his Rotolo shopping bag design; Melbourne Universitys Kristen Wangs Re.Bean is a 100 per cent biodegradable chair made from used coffee beans, while Morgan Dotys CMYK chair is made from shredded paper. These designers feature in a special augmented reality section conceived by Indae Hwang from Monash University. The technology underlines the importance of 3D drawing to design, which also allows visitors (and clients) to take the work home with them and view it in their own environment virtually.

The exhibitions own graphic framing design takes its cues from the circular motifs on the facade of architect Sean Godsells RMIT Design Hub. In the notoriously wasteful area of retail and hospitality design where interiors are discarded regularly, Chris Connells designs are still welcoming customers. Chris Connell recently redid il Bacaro [restaurant in the CBD] and said I didnt need to do anything other than just take the suit to the dry cleaner, you know, freshen it up. Its a lovely quote. What motivates him is work that will endure and be impactful. Thats certainly the case with il Bacaro and Dinosaur Designs which are institutions. Dinosaur Designs in Chapel Street is still glorious, 25 years later.
Ive seen a lot in my life, Mum, a friends son said to her this week. He is 12. No one can say he is wrong.

Todays 12-year-old was born into the tail-end of the official War on Terror. He or she has lived through the dark flowering of Islamic State, the countering rise of right-wing extremism, Brexit, the election of Trump, and horrific bushfires which reminded Australians that, while our political elite may try to ignore climate change, climate change wont ignore us.

In a serious of online videos, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has urged civilians to resist the Russian invasion. Credit:

Now, during what seems like a lull in the pandemic, but certainly not its end, we have twin domestic and international crises turning up in our scroll and on our televisions.

Abroad, there is war in Ukraine, which feels like the resumption of history after Francis Fukuyama called its end in 1992. At home, we have floods of such magnitude that there is serious talk the worst-hit towns will not recover, and the head of the federal disaster relief agency is making the startling pronouncement that its just not viable to live in vast tracts of developed land in greater Sydney and elsewhere.
"SNL" and "The Voice" will be some of the shows that are moving from Hulu to Peacock. NBC has now reclaimed its rights with their original shows and are now taking it back.

This move comes from the previous deal signed in 2019. With this investment, the audience can expect that starting September, new seasons of their favorite shows will air on Peacock.

The deal also shows that NBC will not pull all of its shows out of Hulu. Several shows will transfer to Peacock, and numerous others will still stay in Hulu.

Hulu Shows Headed to Peacock

NBCUniversal is now taking back its rights from Hulu. NBC shows that were previously on Hulu will now stream on Peacock. This report is also confirmed by a NBCU representative. The rep stated that the company's agreement with Hulu had been terminated.

A spokesperson for Hulu issued a statement in which she emphasized that the streaming service is focusing on original programming.

As reported by Variety, a company representative stated:

"With the proliferation of streaming services entering the marketplace, we have long anticipated changes to our third-party content offering and over the past few years have increased our investment in original content."

NBCU's broadcast and cable lineup for the 2022-23 season will no longer be available on Hulu.

These shows will include new episodes of popular NBC shows such as "Saturday Night Live," "The Voice," "Law & Order: Organized Crime," and "Saturday Night Live: Live from the Met Gala."

The decision of NBCU to bring back its original shows to Peacock is expected since its direct to video deal with Hulu in 2019. According to the terms of the agreement, NBCU would have the right to cancel the majority of its content-licensing agreements with Hulu by 2022.

NBCU CEO Jeff Shell stated that their strong NBC titles are streaming in Hulu and in time, they would like to bring it back to Peacock.

Read Also: SWIFT Explained: How Does it Work and How Important Is It?

NBC Shows on Hulu

For a few more years, Hulu will have exclusive streaming rights to NBCUniversal catalog content, which includes shows such as "Law & Order: SVU," "This Is Us," "The Mindy Project," "30 Rock," "Parenthood," "Friday Night Lights," and "Will & Grace."

This also include "Bloods" and "Creamerie," two new international series from NBCU that were added to Hulu's library in December.

Insiders at Disney have attempted to put a positive spin on NBCU's decision to pull its current shows from Hulu.

In the first instance, they claim that it will free up content dollars, allowing Hulu to invest more aggressively in original content, including content from corporate cousin studio partners across the Walt Disney Company.

Hulu will no longer be required to pay for some of NBC's most popular shows, the agreement may allow the streaming service to pursue more original programming. The change is expected to take effect during the upcoming broadcast season, possibly in September or October of this year.

Furthermore, the termination of the NBCU next-day licensing agreement gives Hulu greater control over the ad inventory available on the service.

The Verge reported that Comcast is expected to sell its 33% ownership stake in Hulu to Disney as early as January 2024.

In exchange for which the company will receive at least $5.8 billion in cash and potentially billions more in additional proceeds.

The agreement represents a significant victory for NBCUniversal's fledgling Peacock network, which has relied heavily on its rights to major sporting events such as the Olympic Games and Super Bowl LVI to attract subscribers in recent years.

Related Article: Twitter Employees Can Return to Office on March 15: Is Remote Work Still Possible?
Lismore will die as a major regional city unless the federal and state governments undertake a major reconstruction and flood mitigation program, its mayor says.

The recently elected mayor, Steve Krieg, said the record-breaking flood, which peaked at 14.37m high, had carried out a demolition job on the city, with four people confirmed dead, thousands made homeless and critical damage to houses, schools, businesses and cultural institutions.

Lismore mayor Steve Krieg had his home and business destroyed by severe flooding in the worst flood in modern history to hit Lismore in northern NSW. Credit:Elise Derwin

Mr Krieg said any reconstruction of the city would be worthless without minimising the impact of future floods. He said council had unreleased plans to raise the existing levee on the eastern bank of the Wilsons river and build another levee on the western side. Further he said excavating existing river bends would help speed up the exit of flood water from the city.

If we dont do it, we die as a city. Simple as that, said Cr Krieg, whose downtown bar and trattoria, as well as his home, were inundated by the flood.
Nine days after Putin ordered the invasion, Russian troops have continued to attack key Ukrainian cities, killing at least 47 civilians in Chernihiv, north of Kyiv, while continuing to lay siege to residential areas in Mariupol, Kharkiv in the north-east and Borodyanka in central Ukraine. Russian President Vladimir Putin also stepped up a crackdown on media outlets reporting on the war, blocking Facebook and Twitter and signing into law a bill that criminalises the intentional spreading of what Moscow deems to be fake reports. Medics try  unsuccessfully  try to save the life of Marina Yatskos 18-month-old son Kirill, who was wounded by shelling in Mariupol on Friday. Credit:AP The move against the social media giants followed blocks imposed on the BBC, the US government-funded Voice of America and German broadcaster Deutsche Welle, while establishing even tighter controls over what information the domestic audience sees about the invasion of Ukraine. Meanwhile, Australias Prime Minister Scott Morrison spoke with Ukrainian President Zelensky on Saturday night about possible ways in which Australia and the international community could assist further against Russias aggression and unprovoked assault.

Zelensky told Morrison he was deeply concerned about Russias actions against Ukraines nuclear facilities. The Ukrainian leader has increased his criticism of NATOs refusal to create a no-fly zone over Ukraine, saying the alliance had given Russia the green light to continue its bombing campaign. NATO on Friday rejected Kyivs request to establish a no-fly zone over Ukraine amid fears that it could drag Western countries into direct military conflict with Russia. Zelensky said the NATO gathering was weak and confused and said the alliance knew that further Russian aggression was likely. He accused the body of having blood on its hands.

All the people who die starting today will also die because of you. Because of your weakness, because of your disconnection, Zelensky said. Today the leadership of the alliance gave the green light for further bombing of Ukrainian cities and villages, refusing to make a no-fly zone. Zelensky  who has been the subject of several foiled assassination attempts from Russian-backed mercenaries  posted a video on his official Instagram refuting suspected Kremlin-backed reports he had fled the country. Zelensky posted another video: I havent fled Kyiv. Every two days information comes out that I have fled somewhere  fled from Ukraine, from Kyiv, from my office. As you can see, I am here in my place... Nobody has fled anywhere. Here, we are working, he said.

We like jogging, but now we dont have time for that, for various cardio exercises, he joked. Working. Glory to Ukraine. An attack at Zaporizhzhia, Europes largest nuclear facility, was condemned by Western leaders and raised the prospect of widening the war. No army has previously attacked an active nuclear facility. About 150 kilometres from the power plant, life was eerily normal in Ukraines fourth-largest city Dnipro. The city was once one of the worlds most important centres of Jewish culture and civilisation and still has a significant proportion of the population with Jewish ancestry. Despite war raging just 200 kilometres north in Kharkiv and 85 kilometres south where the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant is located, snow-covered Dnipro has yet to be attacked.

A reserve major in Ukraines armed forces said he wasnt sure whether Russia would attack Dnipro in the coming days, but the city and the military were prepared to defend it. But he feared for the civilians in the city who had no training in how to fight. Today the problem is ... the enemy could be from the sky because there could be bombing or missiles, he said. Here in the city, there are my friends and family who are not military  they have no helmet or ballistic vests. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said more support in the form of military hardware was on its way, but said the Wests responsibility was to prevent the war from escalating beyond Ukraine. Because that would be even more dangerous, more devastating and would cause even more human suffering, Stoltenberg said.

Here in the city, there are my friends and family who are not military - they have no helmet or ballistic vests. Ukrainian major, Dnipro More than 22 NATO nations and a handful of others have said they will send military assistance to Ukraine, including antitank missiles, artillery ammunition and Stinger surface-to-air missiles But the delivery of weapons donated by the West across the borders has been slowed in recent days, with Poland, Slovakia, Hungary and Romania providing the only access but east-west roads that can handle truck transport are clogged with refugees fleeing the country. Amid evident fears that a wider world war might be triggered accidentally, the Pentagon on Friday confirmed that it had established a new hotline with Russias ministry of defence to prevent miscalculation, military incidents and escalation in the region.

Hours before Mairupol was given a chance to evacuate civilians, Boychenko said the city of 400,000 residents was without water, heat or electricity and was running out of food. We are simply being destroyed, he said in a televised appeal. They want to wipe Mariupol and Mariupol residents off the face of the Earth. Loading British Prime Minister Boris Johnson warned that radioactive clouds could spread over Europe if the West does not act following Russias unprecedented assault on a nuclear power plant. Russia has claimed it had retaken Hostomel airport, a strategic target for the Kremlin since the war began, but a British defence intelligence update said there was renewed fighting around the airfield at the front end of the 60-kilometre-long Russian armoured convoy that has become bogged down en route to the capital.

The intelligence briefing said the column had made little discernible progress in over four days. Loading Western intelligence officials told American broadcaster CNN there was a continued shift in Russian strategy from military targets to civilians, with more attacks becoming focused on population centres. They fear a pickup in the pace and strength of strikes could include a significant increase in the number of civilian casualties. Its a very crude approach, the official said. The heavier weapons are not just heavier in the weight, theyre also heavier in terms of the damage that they can inflict. And theyre far less discriminant.  with agencies
Bryan, OH (43506)

Today

Partly cloudy skies this morning will give way to occasional showers during the afternoon. High around 60F. Winds E at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 60%..

Tonight

Rain. Low near 50F. Winds ENE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 80%. Rainfall around a half an inch.
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Civil Aviation Minister on Saturday informed that a total 6,222 Indian nationals have been evacuated from Romania and Moldova in the last seven days under 'Operation Ganga'.

Sharing an update on the status of evacuation of Indian nationals from neighbouring countries of war-struck Ukraine, Scindia tweeted, "Evacuated 6,222 Indians in the last 7 days from Romania and Moldova... 1,050 students to be sent home in the next 2 days".

In the same tweet, Scindia said that India got a new airport to operate flights in Suceava, 50 km from border, instead of transporting students to Bucharest which is 500 km from border. He also added that 1,050 more students will be sent home in the next 2 days.

"In the last 7 days, a total of 29 flights from Romania alone have flown our students back to India. Jai Hind!" he added in a subsequent tweet.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Saturday advised Indian students stranded in Sumy, to stay inside while assuring a safe corridor for students to pass is being negotiated with both the Russian and Ukrainian governments.

--IANS

avr/skp/

(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.)
Several Indian students stranded in Sumy who decided to walk to the Russian border amid intense fighting in the region are now "confused" whether to continue their journey after the Ministry of External Affairs urged them to avoid taking unnecessary risks.

As evacuation from the shelling-battered city remains a challenge for Indian authorities, the students said they could no longer cope with the nail-biting cold, depleting food supplies and having to melt snow to get drinking water.

Around 700 Indian students are still stuck in the war-hit region, their evacuation hampered by the continuous fighting in the area.

The students said they have run out of food and water.

The students have released several desperate videos on social media, saying they have decided to undertake the potentially fatal journey to the Russian border, some 50km from where they are, sending shockwaves in New Delhi.

They said they hope they would be picked up by Indian authorities from the Russians border.

"We are afraid. We have awaited a lot and we cannot wait anymore. We are risking our life. We are moving towards the border. If anything happens to us, all the responsibility will be on the government and Indian embassy," a student, surrounded by a large number of his peers holding Indian flags, says in one of the videos.

In another video, students are seen filling up buckets with ice as they ran out of drinking water.

This prompted the Indian Ministry of External Affairs to urge them to stay inside shelters and avoid taking unnecessary risks.

"We are deeply concerned about Indian students in Sumy, Ukraine. Have strongly pressed Russian and Ukrainian governments through multiple channels for an immediate ceasefire to create a safe corridor for our students," Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said.

After the statement, the group of students have halted their journey for now.

"We had already started moving after we gave up hope on the government coming to our rescue. But now with the new advisory, we are confused whether we should take the risk at all. I am so so scared," said Md Nizamuddin Aman (21), a first-year MBBS student at Sumy State University.

Russia and Ukraine agreed on Thursday to the need for creating humanitarian corridors to help civilians escape the war. Moscow calls its actions in Ukraine a "special military operation."



The war in Ukraine has entered its 10th day with evacuation from war-hit cities remaining difficult. Students stranded in these areas are posting videos on social media, pleading with the Indian government to evacuate them.

To evacuate citizens from war-hit Ukraine, the Indian government has launched Operation Ganga. However, the evacuation from the eastern part of the country has been a cause of concern as heavy violence in underway.

India has been evacuating its citizens through special flights from Ukraine's western neighbours such as Romania, Hungary and Poland as the Ukrainian airspace has been shut since February 24 due to the Russian military offensive.

According to the Ministry of External Affairs, nearly 17,000 Indian nationals have left Ukraine's borders since advisories were issued over a fortnight back.

Russia on Wednesday said it is working "intensely" to create a "humanitarian corridor" for safe passage to Russian territory of Indian nationals stuck in Kharkiv, Sumy and other conflict zones in Ukraine following a request from New Delhi.

An estimated 20,000 Indian nationals, mainly medical students, reside in Ukraine.

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India is looking for a electricity-based technology for mass rapid transportation that is cost effective and such as can be made in the country, Union minister has said.

The ministry plans to undertake the development of ropeways as an alternate transport solution in the hill and congested, urban areas.

Rope ways, cable car and particularly I'm very much clearly interested to work on the technology of light rail transport, Gadkari, the Union Minister for Road Transport & Highways, said addressing a US audience here on Friday.

Some of the US companies have also approached him with the technology, he said in his address on Rebuilding Infrastructure for India 2.0', a part of Reimagining India 2.0 series'.

The series of dialogues a part of Silicon Valley monthly Dialogue (SVD) -- has been launched by the Foundation for India and Indian Diaspora Studies (FIIDS) on the occasion of India-at-75 Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav'.

We are in search of the technology, which can be cost-effective and which we can make it in India for mass rapid transport (system) on electricity, Gadkari said as he briefed Indian-Americans from Silicon Valley on the steps India is taking to bolster its physical infrastructure, in particular the transportation system.

The government, he said, is planning 11 ropeway projects to boost connectivity in Jammu and Kashmir, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Manipur, and Sikkim.

Port connectivity projects are being implemented to enable swift movement of cargo connecting all ports and inland water waste minerals to increase the efficiency of domestic and international trade routes, he said.

As many as 65 projects with a length of 2,050 kilometers are planned for port connectivity which are in various stages of development, he said.

He said India is also developing 29 emergency landing facilities for fighter planes on national highways. They are of strategic importance from a defence perspective.

Gadkari urged US companies to come and invest in India.

Technocrats like you can participate in the drive to develop the best system for India, he said, adding that India is allowing 100 per cent in the road sector and there are huge opportunities for joint ventures.

US-based companies can collaborate with our research and development reports towards EV factory technology and the retrofitting industry. The government is strongly encouraging solar and the best charging mechanism for electric mobility, he said.

The government is working on the battery-swapping policy and standards for EV batteries, he said, calling it a huge opportunity for all the technologies as batteries swapping is a completely new sector.

Both countries have a huge pool of young and talented engineers working on the most advanced technology. I sincerely hope you will come forward and form joint ventures to realize the benefit of advanced technology in the area of construction, alternative, prevail, and agriculture practices, Gadkari said.

Responding to a question, Gadkari said he is very much confident that we will make the road infrastructure in India equal to that of USA by the end of 2024.

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A Delhi court on Saturday denied anticipatory bail to the former chief executive officer of Stock Exchange (NSE), Chitra Ramkrishna, in the co-location case and disapproved of the CBI's "lackadaisical" conduct, saying no action seems to have been taken against the main scam beneficiaries for last four year.

Special Judge Sanjeev Aggarwal observed that the accused were facing grave allegations and the investigation was at the most nascent stage. He also pulled up market regulator Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), saying it had been "too kind and gentle" with the accused.

It has to follow a path towards a journey which has just begun, at the same time the conduct of the investigating agency i.e. CBI is most lackadaisical, to say the least;



"As no action seems to have been taken against main beneficiaries of the present co-location scam, (the names of some of whom are mentioned in the FIR itself) and others for almost four full years, who seems to be enjoying merrily at the expense of common citizenry for the reasons best known, the judge said.

Further even SEBI despite being the capital market watchdog has been too kind and gentle qua the accused persons in the present FIR /RC, the judge noted.

The court rejected the pre-arrest bail application, saying economic offences had deep-rooted conspiracies involving huge loss of public funds.

Since in the present case huge loss of public money may be involved, it needs to be viewed seriously and considered as grave offence(s) affecting the economy of the country as a whole and thereby causing serious threat to the financial health of the country;



"'And since economic offences constitute a class apart, therefore, it needs to be visited with a different approach in the matter of bail as economic offence(s) have deep-rooted conspiracies involving huge loss of public funds, the court said.

It said that the chances of the accused fleeing from justice were remote. However, being in pole position in the earlier, there were strong chances that she may influence and tamper with the evidence, as she was the joint MD as well as MD and CEO of the Stock Exchange, the role of which is under investigation under the present co-location scam.

There are many facets of the investigations which have to be excavated by the investigating agency after removing the dust of time over them, the judge said.

He said that the magnitude of the present case may be huge, as due to this financial skulduggery, a huge loss may have been caused to adherent stockbrokers, institutional investors, foreign institutional investors and honest investors, whose faith in this premier financial institution, i.e. may have been severely shaken and dented.

Considering the overall facts and circumstances of the case and in view of the grave and serious allegations against the applicant/accused as above, no ground for anticipatory bail is made out at this stage. The same stands dismissed, the judge said.

The CBI had recently questioned Ramkrishna in the matter. The Income Tax (IT) Department earlier raided various premises linked to in Mumbai and Chennai.

Ramkrishna has also been on the radar of the SEBI.

Recently the CBI court had sent Anand Subramanian, former Group Operating Officer and advisor to Ramkrishna, to CBI custody.

He was arrested by the CBI from Chennai in connection with the NSE case.

The arrest was made in the case related to the co-location scam, the FIR for which was registered in May 2018, amid fresh revelations about irregularities at the country's largest stock exchange.

The CBI is probing the alleged improper dissemination of information from the computer servers of the market exchanges to the stockbrokers.

Earlier, the SEBI had penalised the NSE, its former CEOs Ramakrishna and Ravi Narayan and two other officials for lapses in recruitment at the senior level.

Ravi Narain was the MD and CEO of the Stock Exchange from April 1994 till March 2013, while Ramkrishna was the MD and CEO of the NSE from April 2013 to December 2016.

The market regulator observed that the NSE and its top executives violated securities contract norms relating to the appointment of Anand Subramaniam as group operating officer and advisor to the managing director.

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Amid the ongoing Russian military operations in Ukraine, over 11,000 Indian nationals evacuated from the conflict-torn country, informed Minister of State for External Affairs V Muraleedharan on Saturday.

The minister received 170 Indian citizens at Indira Gandhi International Airport who were evacuated from .

Taking to Twitter, Muraleedharan said, "Operation Ganga is in full swing, with over 11,000 Indians evacuated from so far. Happy to have received a group of 170 Indians at New Delhi airport, evacuated through AirAsia India. Thank our Missions, foreign governments, and volunteers for their constant support."

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday chaired a meeting to discuss the ongoing evacuation drive of Indian nationals and the situation in conflict-hit .

The government has also deployed 'special envoys' to four neighbouring countries bordering Ukraine to coordinate and oversee the evacuation process of Indian nationals.

The Ministry of External Affairs said on Friday that 16 flights were scheduled for the next 24 hours including Indian Air Force's C-17 aircraft under Operation Ganga.

Russian forces launched military operations in Ukraine on February 24, three days after Moscow recognized Ukraine's breakaway regions - Donetsk and Luhansk - as independent entities.

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UN official calls on parties to work with IAEA to ensure safety of Ukraine's nuclear sites

Xinhua) 10:52, March 05, 2022

UNITED NATIONS, March 4 (Xinhua) -- A senior UN official on Friday called on all parties to work with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to ensure the safety of Ukraine's nuclear sites, voicing concern over Friday's fighting around the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in southern Ukraine.

"It is vital that all parties work with the IAEA to establish an appropriate framework that will ensure the safe, secure and reliable operation of Ukraine's nuclear power plants," UN Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs Rosemary DiCarlo told the Security Council in a briefing.

She added that urgent and safe passage should be granted to IAEA personnel should they need to travel to Ukraine to work with regulators.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has followed with great alarm reports of "heavy fighting around" the Zaporizhzhia plant, and "it is understood that the fire affected a training facility and not the cooling system or power center," said Dicarlo.

A fire which has been extinguished broke out on Friday in a training building outside the Zaporizhzhia plant. The mayor of the nearby town of Energodar said it was "a result of continuous enemy shelling of buildings and units" of the plant, while the Russian Defense Ministry said the fire was the result of a provocation by Kiev aimed at accusing Russia of creating a hotbed of radioactive contamination.

"The Chernobyl disaster in 1986 stands as a lasting example of why it is vital to ensure all nuclear power plants have the highest standards of safety and security," Dicarlo said.

"The United Nations hopes that the reported agreement on the establishment of humanitarian corridors is implemented without delay and that a full and unconditional cease-fire is quickly agreed and enacted," she added.

On Thursday night, Russian and Ukrainian negotiators, during the second round of peace talks, agreed on the establishment of a humanitarian corridor for the exit of civilians and on a temporary cessation of hostilities along the evacuation routes, said Russian presidential aide Vladimir Medinsky, also the head of the Russian delegation.

"Only diplomacy and negotiations can achieve a truly lasting solution to the current conflict. The fighting in Ukraine must stop. And it must stop now," Dicarlo said.

(Web editor: Xia Peiyao, Liang Jun)
Kim Jong-un makes a closing address at a meeting in Pyongyang, North Korea, Feb. 28, in this file photo provided by the North Korean government. AP-Yonhap





North Korea fired what appeared to be a ballistic missile toward the East Sea, Saturday, South Korea's military said, just four days ahead of the presidential election here.





The Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said it detected the launch from around the Sunan area in Pyongyang at 8:48 a.m. It did not elaborate.





The latest launch, the North's ninth show of such force this year, came less than a week after it claimed to have conducted a "reconnaissance satellite" development test that the South called a ballistic missile launch.





"Currently, our military is tracking and monitoring (North Korean) movements regarding the possibility of an additional launch and maintaining a readiness posture," the JCS said in a text message sent to reporters.





The North's continued saber-rattling signals that it seeks to bolster its military presence when the armed conflict in Ukraine is gobbling up global attention, observers said.









Concerns have persisted that the North would continue to engage in provocative acts as it made a veiled threat in January to lift its years-long self-imposed moratorium on nuclear weapons and intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) tests.





Since the start of this year, the North has launched a barrage of missiles, including a self-proclaimed hypersonic one, using various platforms, including a road-mobile launcher and a railway one.





Saturday's launch came as Pyongyang seeks to strengthen internal solidarity amid a deadlock in nuclear talks with Washington and economic woes aggravated by the COVID-19 pandemic. (Yonhap)


Prime Minister called another high-level meeting on Saturday evening to discuss the situation in war-hit and India's evacuation efforts to bring back its citizens, official sources said.

Since Sunday, Modi has chaired a number of such meetings, as his government works to bring back Indian students who have been scrambling to leave after Russia launched an attack on it.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and his cabinet colleague Piyush Goyal were part of the meeting chaired by Modi, besides several top bureaucrats.

India has launched "Operation Ganga" to evacuate its nationals and sent four Union ministers as the prime minister's special envoys to Ukraine's neighbours to coordinate the exercise.

India on Saturday said its main focus now is on the evacuation of around 700 Indian students stranded in the eastern Ukrainian city of Sumy which has been witnessing bombings and airstrikes.

At a media briefing, External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said India hopes to evacuate its citizens from Kharkiv and Pisochyn in the next few hours.

"Our main focus is now on evacuating Indian students from Sumy. We are exploring multiple options for their evacuation," he said.

Russia launched the military offensive against on February 24.



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Eleven flights with more than 2,200 Indian evacuees will operate from Ukraine's neighbouring countries to India on Sunday, the Civil said.

About 3,000 Indians were airlifted on 15 flights to India on Saturday, the ministry's statement noted.

"These included 12 special civilian and 3 Indian Air Force (IAF) flights," it added.

The Ukrainian airspace has been shut since February 24 due to the ongoing Russian military offensive against it. Indian citizens who were stuck in are being airlifted via its neighbouring countries such as Romania, Hungary, Slovakia and Poland.

The IAF is conducting its flights using C-17 military transport planes. The civilian flight are being operated by Indian carriers such as IndiGo, Air India, Vistara and SpiceJet.

"Today's (Saturday's) civilian flights included five from Budapest (Hungary), four from Suceva (Romania), one from Kosice (Slovakia) and two from Rzeszow (Poland)," the ministry said.

Tomorrow, 11 special flights are expected to operate from Budapest, Kosice, Rzeszow and Bucharest, bringing more than 2,200 Indians back home, it noted.

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Three IAF aircraft carrying 629 Indians from Ukraine's neighbouring countries landed at the Hindon air base here on Saturday morning, the air force said.

India has been evacuating its citizens from war-torn Ukraine's neighbouring countries such as Romania, Hungary, Slovakia and Poland as the Ukrainian airspace has been shut since February 24 due to the Russian military offensive.

"Till date, the (IAF) has flown 10 sorties to bring back 2,056 passengers, while taking 26 tonnes of relief load to these countries, as part of Operation Ganga," the IAF statement said.

Three C-17 heavy lift transport aircraft of the IAF which had taken off on Friday from the Hindon air base returned on Saturday morning, it mentioned.

"These flights evacuated 629 Indian nationals from Romania, Slovakia and Poland. These flights also carried 16.5 tonnes of relief load from India to these countries," the statement added.

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exports from India, the world's second-biggest producer of the grain, have picked up after global prices surged due to Russia's war against Ukraine, and total shipments from the country have already touched a record of 6.6 million tonne this fiscal so far, Food Secretary Sudhanshu Pandey said on Saturday.

It is an "opportunity" for Indian exporters as the new crop will be available early from March 15 onwards when compared to other global producers, he said.

Russia and Ukraine together account for almost a quarter of the global wheat supply. Their wheat crop will mature in August and September this year. As a result, global wheat prices have already gone up and are ruling in the range of Rs 24,000-25,000 per tonne, he added.

"Indian wheat exports, as a result, have picked up. By the end of February, we have already exported 6.6 million tonnes of wheat," Pandey told reporters in a virtual press conference.

So far, wheat exports have crossed the historical high of 6.5 million tonnes achieved earlier in 2012-13 fiscal, he said.

"Still one month is left, you can expect roughly about 7 million tonne plus exports this year," he said, adding that this is good for Indian farmers and exports.

India's wheat production is estimated to touch a new record of 111.32 million tonnes in the 2021-22 crop year (July-June) as against 109.59 million tonnes in the previous year, as per the Agriculture Ministry's second advance estimate.

Wheat, the main rabi (winter) crop, will start hitting the market from March 15 onwards. The country also has a surplus stock of wheat in the government godowns.

Other global players will enter the market later after the end of their summer season.

"We will have adequate stock of wheat and the new crop will also be available to private players for normal export," he added.

Asked about the of other commodities, the Secretary said sugar exports are also expected to touch 7.5 million tonnes in the 2021-22 marketing year (October-September), much higher than 2 million tonnes in the last year buoyed by strong global prices.

The demand for Indian sugar is rising not because of the Russia-Ukraine crisis but due to the tight supply of sweetener for purposes in the global market that has pushed up the international rates, he added.

In the case of edible oils for which India is heavily dependent on imports and for sunflower oil amid the Ukraine crisis, Pandey said, "Our position is quite comfortable."



He said India has established sources for edible oils. "Even during the month of March, we got the supplies (of sunflower oil) for February as scheduled as contracted. Subsequently, other edible oil supplies like soyabean oil will also be increased.

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Amid concerns over the fate of foreign medical graduates (FMGs), who have returned to India from Ukraine, the National Medical Commission (NMC) on Friday allowed them to complete their internship or practical training in Indian .

Allowing FMGs to pursue their internship in India, NMC stated that those foreign medical graduates who did not fall under NMC's Foreign Medical Graduate Licentiate Regulations were governed by provisions under the erstwhile Indian Medical Council Act 1956. The provisions of sub-section (3) of section 13 of IMC Act required such FMGs to complete internship in India if they have not undergone any practical training in the foreign country where they were studying.

However, NMC has now acknowledged the impact of Russian invasion on Ukraine on FMGs' future especially in terms of incomplete internship or practical training in medicine.

"It has further been observed that there are also some FMGs with incomplete internships due to such compelling situations which are beyond their control such as the Covid-19 pandemic and war. Considering the agony and stress faced by these FMGs, their application to complete the remaining part of internship in India is considered eligible," the NMC circular read.

The commission acknowledged that FMGs were facing hardship in getting themselves registered in some of the state medical councils after publication of Foreign Medical Graduates Licentiate Regulations 2021 and Compulsory Rotatory Medical Internship Regulations 2021 by NMC.

The Friday circular maintained that the provisions were now not applicable for FMGs who had acquired a foreign medical degree or primary qualification before November 18, 2021, candidates who had joined undergraduate medical in foreign colleges before November 18, 2021 as well as those specifically exempted by the union government.

NMC has now asked state medical councils to process completion of internship of these candidates provided they have cleared the foreign medical graduate examination (FMGE). NMC has also directed the state councils to ensure that no fee was charged by from the FMGs for permitting them to do their internship even as the stipend and other facilities to these candidates were to be equivalent to Indian counterparts being trained at government .

NMC also issued guidelines for state medical councils for allowing FMGs to undergo internship such as ensuring that the latter's medical qualification or degree was registerable to practice in their respective foreign country in which the degree was awarded. Other guidelines to the state medical councils included restricting the duration of internship to either 12 months or balance period while restricting the maximum quota for allocation of internship to FMGs to additional 7.5 per cent of total permitted seats in a medical college.

Meanwhile, in its representation to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on behalf of FMGs who returned to India from Ukraine, the Indian Medical Association (IMA) has recommended that all evacuated medical students who are Indian citizens to be "adjusted as a one time measure in existing medical schools" in India for the remainder of their course.

IMA has recommended that such onetime adjustment may not be taken as an increase in annual intake capacity among these Indian medical colleges.
As enters the final and the seventh phase of polling, State BJP President Swatantra Dev Singh said that after the poll results on March 10, (SP) chief will finally leave the state and will travel to London.

The State BJP President in an exclusive interview with IANS said, till the sixth phase of polling, the BJP will win more than 300 seats. Akhilesh Yadav, who claims to win 400 seats, will leave on March 10 for London and close down his party office.

Asked about the SP Chief's claims that the BJP will face defeat, Singh said, "Akhilesh Yadav's comments should not be taken too seriously. He made such remarks in 2014, 2017 and in 2019 as well. Leaders like him have forged various alliances in the past and will lose their relevance during the current Assembly polls."

The BJP is a disciplined party, he said, adding, "I recently met an electoral officer from Bengaluru, who said elections are taking place peacefully in . Our party workers participate in elections by following all rules and regulations. There is no indiscipline in our party. Any individual can make any kind of claims against us? Our party workers focus on their work. They do not have any time for controversies."

On the question of Sanghmitra Maurya, daughter of former Cabinet Minister Swami Prasad Maurya, campaigning against the party, Singh said, "She has not campaigned against our party. If and when the issue comes to our attention, we will take a decision on it."

Singh further said, "The BJP talks only about development. But if there was an exodus of a particular community during the previous government, then it is our duty to inform the people about it. Whatever wrong doings the SP government had committed, people have a right to know about it. A party like the SP openly backs terrorists."

On BJP asking for votes from Muslim women, Singh said, "Muslim women have become free from regressive practices such as Triple Talaq. They have been allotted houses under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana and have full faith in the Narendra Modi government. Muslim women have benefited from various welfare schemes launched by the Centre and the state government. They will surely vote in large numbers for the BJP."

On the question why BJP has not fielded a single Muslim candidate, the State BJP president said, "BJP is a worker-based party. It reviews the candidates who were allotted tickets in previous elections after which they are finally given tickets."

Asked how will the BJP fight the caste-based alliances in Purvanchal, Swatantra Dev Singh said, "This time people are voting in the name of development and the rule of law."

How do you see the SP, Congress and the BSP faring during this election, he added, "All three parties are fighting to remain relevant. They are no match to the BJP, which is again going to form the government in Uttar Pradesh with full majority."

How will you see the BJP performing during the last six phases of elections, he said, "The BJP will win more than 300 seats of the six phases held so far. This time women are actively participating in the electoral process and are voting in favour of Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. People will vote only for development. The BJP will again form the government with an absolute majority in the state."

Asked about the five poll issues on which the BJP is contest elections, he said, "Law and order, housing for the poor, toilets, free ration and transparent governance. All the opposition parties only want to exploit the poor. In a global pandemic like Covid-19, the BJP government worked to serve the poor and the marginalised sections of the society. Parties like the SP and the BSP are nowhere. The welfare schemes of the government both by the Centre and the state have successfully reached every village and people have benefited from them. Basic facilities like electricity have considerably improved in the state."

--IANS

vkt/khz/skp/

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Top BJP leaders on Saturday exuded confidence that the party will form the government in four states where it was in power, including in Uttar Pradesh, and will make impressive gains in .

Addressing a joint press conference here ahead of the final phase of voting in Uttar Pradesh, BJP president JP Nadda and Union Home Minister said those hoping for any dilution in the party's mandate in the state would be disappointed and it will get a massive majority.

"People will give BJP a good majority in four states where it is in power," Nadda said.

Shah asserted that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has replaced politics of casteism, appeasement and nepotism with politics of performance, and this has not just defined the agenda of BJP but also that of the entire nation for the future.

Underlining that the party ran a scientific and well-organised campaign, Shah said, "We saw Prime Minister Modi's popularity in five poll-bound states was more than that of any earlier prime minister."



Shah also said he is confident that BJP will return to power in four states - Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and - and make impressive gains in .

In Uttar Pradesh, Shah said some leaders might have left the party, but not the voters.

To a question about the likely impact of issues like unemployment, price rise and stray cattle on the BJP's poll prospects in UP amid perceived benefits it may draw from the planks of law and order, and free ration, Shah said things should be seen in totality.

Overall, the BJP will gain positively from the issues at play in the polls, he said.

Both Shah and Nadda were emphatic in rejecting the possibility of the BJP needing the support of parties outside its alliance to form a government in .

Nadda also dismissed the view that there is a close fight in the state, saying such claims are often made during the polls but the BJP ends up winning a strong majority.

The Modi government's welfare schemes have given the poor people hope that they can have a living standard equal to others, Shah said.

Asked about the winning prospect of parties in Punjab, he said the BJP will make gains and this also means that the alliance led by it has a good chance as well.

Only an astrologer can say which way the poll results will go in such a multi-cornered contest, he said.

In his remarks, Nadda said, "The BJP is set to come back with a firm majority in the states we were in the government - Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and . Our focus area was majorly empowerment of women, youth, poor and needy and farmers among other sectors."



"In these four states, another major focus was on development - educational institutions, connectivity, highways, airports and more. In UP, five airports have come up, 10 universities, 78 degree colleges, 28 engineering colleges, 59 medical colleges have been started," he added.

The two-month-long campaigning, when were held in the five states, ended this evening.

The seventh and final phase of voting in will be held on March 7. Counting of votes will be held on March 10.

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BJP national president J P Nadda on Saturday accused the Congress of misleading farmers in the name of loan waiver, and said Prime Minister has given



Rs 6,000 to farmers every year under the PM-Kisan Samman Nidhi scheme.

"Today many people call themselves farmer leaders, but they did nothing for the community. The Congress has misled the farmers in the name of loan waiver. (On the other hand) Prime Minister has given Rs 6,000 every year to farmers under PM-Kisan Samman Nidhi," he said at an election meeting.

"When the prime minister started the Jan Dhan Yojana, the opposition made fun of it. (SP chief) Akhilesh ji, who was born with a silver spoon, and Rahul (Gandhi) ji asked what will happen with bank accounts for the poor? Today, the money given under the PM-Kisan Samman Nidhi, Prime Minister Awas Yojana and other schemes goes directly into the bank accounts of the poor, and there are no middlemen," he said.

Nadda also claimed that the Samajwadi Party (SP) deceived the NISHAD party, and it was the BJP which worked to fill the plate (of the people).

NISHAD party is an ally of the BJP and its election symbol is a plate filled with food.

The BJP leader further asserted that only the saffron party brought the poor, dalits, deprived, exploited sections of the society, women, farmers and youth to the mainstream.

"We asked Akhilesh ji -- what have you done for Uttar Pradesh, but he did not answer. When their work is to get illegal arms factories opened and give patronage to goons, what will they do for the people?" he asked.

Bhadohi will go to polls in the seventh and final phase of the Assembly elections on March 7.

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Union Home Minister urged the voters in this district on Saturday to elect candidates who have the "values of service" in their DNA.

He also asserted that one or two gangsters, who are still out of jail, will be put behind bars once the BJP returns to power in the state on March 10, when the results of the ongoing Assembly polls are declared.

Addressing a poll meeting in the Malhani Assembly constituency, Shah said, "Do not make the musclemen win this time. You should make such a candidate win who has the values of service in his DNA. The one who does not want to snatch, but wants to give. The one who does not slap anyone, but wants to send the person who has slapped to jail."



He said in the run-up to the 2017 state Assembly polls, the BJP had promised that will be freed of the mafia in five years. "Today, Atiq Ahmed, Azam Khan and Mukhtar Ansari are in jail. One or two are out (of jail). You make the lotus (the BJP's poll symbol) bloom on March 10 and after that, they will be in jail," he added.

The home minister said over the last five years, the BJP worked to remove criminals from politics in Uttar Pradesh and ended the criminalisation of politics in the state.

"Today, there has been a significant reduction in incidents of crime in Uttar Pradesh as compared to earlier times. We have embarked on a journey to make Uttar Pradesh a crime-free state," he added.

Shah said Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has freed land worth Rs 2,000 crore from the grip of the land mafia and that houses are being built for the poor on this land.

Taking a jibe at Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav, he said, "After the COVID-19 vaccine came, Akhileshji had said one should not take the vaccine. It is the Modi vaccine and it will cause harm. But then he himself got the jab. Those who indulge in cooking a political 'khichdi' without caring for the lives of the people, such leaders do not have the right to stay in power even for a moment."



Attacking the political rivals of the BJP, Shah said, "The SP and the BSP only talk about the poor, but Modiji and Yogiji have worked to make the poor strong. Work has been done to link the entire Purvanchal (eastern Uttar Pradesh) by road. The BJP government has worked to lay a network of expressways in the entire state."He said Malhani and Uttar Pradesh cannot be developed by gangsters and musclemen, and asserted that BJP candidate KP Singh is capable of ensuring Malhani's development.

Jaunpur will go to the polls in the seventh phase of the ongoing election on March 7.

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North Korea's military test-fires a surface-to-surface tactical guided missile from an unknown location in North Korea, Jan. 27. North Korea appears to be continuing to produce fissile materials for nuclear weapons at its main Yongbyon nuclear facility, a U.S. monitoring website said, citing recent satellite imagery of Yongbyon. Yonhap





North Korea appears to be continuing to produce fissile materials for nuclear weapons at its main Yongbyon facility, a U.S. monitoring website said, citing recent satellite imagery of the area.







The site, 38 North, also suggested that work may be underway to further expand Yongbyon.







"Recent commercial satellite imagery of North Korea's Yongbyon Nuclear Scientific Research Center indicates ongoing production of fissile material  both plutonium and enriched uranium," it said in a report published Thursday.







"These activities, as well as the gradual expansion and evident occupation of personnel housing over the past few years, all suggest that the complex is primed for expansion," it added, noting the North restarted its 5 MW(e) reactor at Yongbyon last summer.






The Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP) on Saturday said it will decide its stand after the election results by taking the ally Trinamool Congress in confidence, but will "never support" Pramod Sawant as chief minister.

Sawant, chief minister of the outgoing BJP government, had sacked MGP ministers from his cabinet, said MGP leader Sudin Dhavalikar, but did not categorically rule out supporting the BJP again. Results of the Assembly elections in would be declared on March 10. Dhavalikar told PTI that in case of a fractured mandate, his party and the TMC will decide whether to support any party or coalition only after taking each other into confidence. Asked if the TMC-MGP alliance is ruling out supporting the incumbent BJP, Dhavalikar said, The issue is not about BJP. Politics in is different from that in the rest of the country. We have witnessed 16 chief ministers in 16 years. The politics here is different from that in Haryana and Delhi. The stand of the Goa unit of the TMC can be different from that of "national TMC" as its leaders here are Goans and not from West Bengal, the bastion of the Mamata Banerjee-led party, Dhavalikar said. But the MGP will not support any government led by Pramod Sawant, he categorically said.

Sawant (as chief minister) threw the MGP out from the state cabinet in 2019 without any valid reason. We are still hurt over it and we will never support a government which has Sawant as chief minister, he said. Dhavalikar in the past had said he preferred BJP leaders Vishwajit Rane or Nilesh Cabral as the next chief minister. When asked about this statement, he said it should not be taken out of context. I had said that Congress and BJP should come together and keep those facing charges of corruption and serious criminal cases at bay. They should not been given the CM post or ministerial post, he said, adding that Rane or Cabral could be a good choice. People were seeking a change in 2022 so the MGP formed alliance with TMC to provide a good alternative, Dhavalikar said.

People have rejected party-hoppers and corrupt and criminal politicians this time, he claimed.

(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 on Saturday described the Assembly polls as "pro-incumbency", saying the people themselves are fighting for continuation of the government.

Addressing an election rally at Khajuri village in Varanasi, the prime minister said that due to their aversion towards him, "dynasts" were make fun of 'vocal for local' and the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan.

Even on the Ukraine issue, the opposition is busy doing politics and adding to the people's woes, Modi said.

In a swipe at the Congress, he said the party which derived political mileage for years from Khadi now hesitates to even take its name.

Modi added that his government has made Khadi and yoga international brands.

will vote in the last phase of the Assembly elections on March 7.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Union Road Transport Ministry has proposed an increase in the third-party motor premium for various categories of vehicles, which is likely to jack up cost of and two-wheelers from April 1.

According to the proposed revised rates, private cars with 1,000 cubic capacity (cc) will attract rates of Rs 2,094 compared to Rs 2,072 in 2019-20.

Similarly, private cars with 1,000 cc to 1,500 cc will attract rates of Rs 3,416 compared to Rs 3,221, while owners of above 1,500cc will see a premium of Rs 7,897 compared to Rs 7,890.

Two-wheelers over 150 cc but not exceeding 350 cc will attract a premium of Rs 1,366 and for two-wheelers over 350 cc the revised premium will be Rs 2,804.

After two years moratorium due to COVID-19 pandemic, the revised TP premium will come into effect from April 1.

Earlier, TP rates were notified by the insurance regulator IRDAI. This is also for the first time that the road transport ministry will notify the TP rates in consultation with the insurance regulator.

As per the draft notification, a discount of 15 per cent is proposed for electric private cars, electric two wheelers, electric goods carrying commercial Vehicles and electric passenger carrying Vehicles.

The third party insurance cover is for other than own damage, that is for the vehicle.This is mandatory cover, along with the own damage cover, that a vehicle owner has to purchase.

This insurance cover is for any collateral damage to a third party, generally a human being, caused due to a road accident.

The ministry has invited suggestions from all persons likely to be affected by March 14.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
An India evacuation flight from Suceava in Romania carrying 170 Indian evacuees from landed at Delhi early morning on Saturday, an airline official said.

This was the first such flight operated by the Bengaluru-based budget carrier under 'Operation Ganga,' a central government initiative to bring back Indian citizens from war-torn .

An India flight from Sauceva in Romania via Dubai landed at Delhi Airport at 4 am Saturday morning with 170 Indian evacuees from Ukraine, the official said.

The passengers were received by the Minister of State for External Affairs V Muraleedharan on their arrival in India, said the official.

India aircraft, an Airbus A320Neo, departed from Delhi at 8.30 am Friday for its destination via Dubai and departed from Suceava for Delhi at 6.45 pm (local time), he said.

The airline has said it is looking to operate a few more evacuation flights.

India has been evacuating its citizens through special flights from Ukraine's western neighbours such as Romania, Hungary, Slovakia and Poland as the Ukrainian airspace has been shut since February 24, due to a Russian military offensive.

Apart from civilian flights, which have so far been operated by Air India, Air India Express, IndiGo, Go First, SpiceJet and AirAsia India, Indian Air Force is also helping the government in bringing back stranded Indians from .

(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.)
Tech giant Apple's employees will start to return to offices on April 11, media reports say.

According to CNBC, the news comes more than two years after the majority of Apple's corporate workforce started working from home because of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The move signals that big employers in California are comfortable enough with risks regarding Covid-19 infection to reopen offices as cases drop in the state and across the country.

The global return-to-office plan for comes after Google said this week that its employees would return on April 4.

was one of the first to tell its employees to work from home in March 2020, even though the company's culture emphasises in-person collaboration and that the development of new hardware products is best performed by on-site employees.

Apple's stores are open around the world, and on Thursday, it announced that it's resuming in-person classes and workshops in stores, the report said.

The Big Tech company has delayed its return to the office several times over the past two years as Covid cases have risen and fallen during that time. Late last year, pushed back a February 1 return-to-office date.

--IANS

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(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.)
Without giving a specific timeline, US Secretary of State said that Ukraine can "absolutely" win the ongoing war against and praised the "extraordinary resilience" of the Ukrainian people.

Blinken made the remarks during an interview with the BBC on Friday night following a meeting with his European Union (EU) counterparts in Brussels.

When asked if he was convinced that Ukraine would win the war, Blinken said: "Over time, absolutely. I can't tell you how long this will go on. I can't tell you how long it will take. But the idea that can subjugate to its will 45 million people who are ardently fighting for their future and their freedom, that does not involve having its thumb on Ukraine, that tells you a lot."

Despite his optimism, the Secretary of State also expressed concerns over further escalation of the ongoing situation.

"It's something we care about and are focused on because the only thing worse than a war which is contained to Ukraine is one that escalates even further and goes beyond it," he told the BBC.

He warned that Russian forces were using "increasingly brutal" methods against civilians in Ukraine, and that there had been tremendous human suffering as a result.

"We're seeing Russia go after critical infrastructure that's denying Ukrainians water, denying them electricity, denying them heat," he said.

"Those methods are, unfortunately, tragically, part of the Russian playbook under President (Vladimir) Putin. And I think we're likely to see more of that."

Asked if the US would seek a change in Moscow's leadership to bring an end to the invasion, he replied: "We don't seek that, and in any event it's not up to us. The Russian people need to decide their leadership.

"What I would say to the Russian people is: How in the world is this war of aggression... advancing your interests, your needs?"

Since Russia's invasion began on February 24, Ukrainian forces have continued with a stiff resistance against Moscow's advances.

However, Russian troops on Friday captured the the Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant, the largest in Europe, where a fire had erupted earlier in the day due to shelling.

The previous day, the port city of Kherson was also seized by Russian forces, becoming the first city to fall.

In the south, Russian forces captured areas along the Black Sea coast, and the port city of Mariupol remained surrounded.

In Kharkiv, the country's second largest city, has also remained under siege.

--IANS

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(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.)
CBS News became the latest media outlet to pull out of after President Vladimir Putin signed a new law that would impose jail terms for "spreading fake news" about the ongoing Moscow-Kiev war.

On Friday, a CBS News spokesperson said that the outlet was "not currently broadcasting from as we monitor the circumstances for our team on the ground given the new media laws passed today".

Putin on Friday signed the law which would impose prison terms of up to 15 years on people charged with spreading "fake news" about the war in Ukraine, the BBC reported.

The law would, in effect, stop independent reporting in Russia, where news outlets are not allowed to refer to the conflict in as a "war".

Earlier in the day, other major American outlets including CNN, Bloomberg, and ABC News also announced that they were suspending broadcasts from as a result of the war.

A CNN spokesperson said that the network "will stop broadcasting in Russia while we continue to evaluate the situation and our next steps moving forward".

In a statement, Bloomberg Editor-in-Chief John Micklethwait said the "change to the criminal code, which seems designed to turn any independent reporter into a criminal purely by association, makes it impossible to continue any semblance of normal journalism inside the country", the Daily Mail reported.

ABC News, which has several correspondents working in Russia, said that "because of the new censorship law passed in Russia today, some Western networks including ABC News, are not broadcasting from the country tonight. We will continue to assess the situation and determine what this means for the safety of our teams on the ground."

Other global news outlets, including the BBC and CBC News have also suspended operations in Russia.

While CBC News said that it was "very concerned about new legislation passed in Russia, which appears to criminalise independent reporting on the current situation in and Russia", the BBC said it will continue its service in Russian from outside of Russia as the "safety of our staff is paramount and we are not prepared to expose them to the risk of criminal prosecution simply for doing their job".

Russia's media watchdog has also curbed access to Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, as well as independent news website Meduza, German broadcaster Deutsche Welle, and the Russian-language website of the US-funded Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Svoboda.

--IANS

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(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
on Saturday hiked its annual by 7.1 per cent to USD 230 billion from last year's USD 209 billion, three times that of India's military spending.

The Chinese government has proposed the for the fiscal year 2022 at 1.45 trillion yuan (USD 230 billion), a 7.1 per cent year on year increase, according to the draft budget proposals presented by Premier Li Keqiang to the National People's Congress (NPC), the country's parliament on Saturday.

China's hike in defence spending comes amid the People's Liberation Army's growing incidents of muscle-flexing in the strategic Indo-Pacific region.

In his work report presented to the NPC, Premier Li called for deepening comprehensive combat readiness from the People's Liberation Army (PLA).

He said the PLA needs to carry out military struggles in a resolute and flexible manner to defend the country's sovereignty, security and development interests.

China's defence budget, which doesn't factor in the expenditure of much of its rapid modernisation of the navy, including the building of new aircraft carriers, air force and missile systems, is over three times that of India's of 5.25 lakh crore (about USD 70 billion) for 2022.

Besides the defence budget, has a separate internal security budget which often surpasses the defence spending.

which continues to be the largest standing army despite downsizing its troops to two million from the earlier 2.3 million in 2017 is the second-biggest spender on defence after the US whose defence budget was over USD 600 billion.

Last year, China's defence spending for the first time crossed USD 200 billion. In 2021, the defence budget grew by 6.8 per cent to USD 209 billion.

The defence spending increased over the years as the all-around development of China's military became the focus of President ever since taking over power in 2012.

Xi, 68, who heads the ruling Communist Party of China (CPC) besides the military and Presidency, unlike his predecessors is set to continue in power, perhaps for life after completing his 10-year tenure this year as he is conferred the title of core leader like the Party founder Mao Zedong.

Xi has also carried out extensive reforms of the military including downsizing of the army and enhancing the role of the navy and air force as Beijing set its sights on global expansion with military bases in Djibouti in the Horn of Africa.

China has also taken over Sri Lanka's Hambantota port for a 99-year lease and expanded and modernised Pakistan's Gwadar port in the Arabian Sea where according to previous reports it plans a major naval base.

In his work report, Premier Li said that last year China made major strides in strengthening national defence and the armed forces, getting off to a good start in this endeavour in the 14th Five-Year Plan period.

This year, we will fully implement Xi Jinping's thinking on strengthening the armed forces and the military strategy for the new era, work toward the goals for the centenary of the People's Liberation Army in 2027, and strengthen Party leadership and Party building in all aspects of the military, he said.

We will enhance military training and combat readiness, stay firm and flexible in carrying out military struggle, and safeguard China's sovereignty, security and development interests, Li said.

We will move faster to modernise the military's logistics and asset management systems, and build a modern weaponry and equipment management system, he said.

As the Chinese military carried out massive modernisation, observers say its tactics and approach along the 3488 km long Line of Actual Control, (LAC) also changed with periodic incursions, prominent of them were the 2017 Doklam and 2020 Eastern Ladakh.

In Eastern Ladakh, as a result of a series of military and diplomatic talks, the Indian and Chinese armies completed the disengagement process in the north and south banks of the Pangong lake and Gogra areas but the standoff continued in the Hot Springs area.

The two sides so far held 14 rounds of Commanders level talks to resolve the Eastern Ladakh standoff.

China is also having increasing face-offs with the US in the disputed South China Sea and over Taiwan which China vows to integrate with the mainland.

Li in his work report said his government will continue the reform of national defence and the military and step up innovations in defence science and technology.

We will implement the strategy of strengthening the military by training competent personnel in the new era, run the military in accordance with the law and strict discipline, and promote high-quality development of the military, he said.

China will improve the layout of defence science, technology and industry, he said adding that we will finish reforming the defence mobilization system and raise public awareness of national defence.

Government at all levels must give strong support to the development of national defence and the armed forces, so unity between the military and government and between the military and the people will remain rock solid, he said.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The recent leak of data from Credit Suisse, an investment banking firm registered in Switzerland which implicated the ex-ISI chief, General Akhtar Abdur Rahman Khan, has again brought to light the extent to which greed and corruption run amok in the Army, especially among its Generals, a report said on Friday.

General Rahman had reportedly helped funnel billions of dollars in cash and other aid from the United States and other countries to the mujahedeen in Afghanistan to support their fight against the Soviet Union in the 1980s.

These leaked documents only touch the tip of the iceberg as far as how much the top Generals of the Army skimmed in the name of the Holy War against the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan, The Times of Israel said.

The report asserted that the motto of the Army officers seems to be 'Greed is Good'. There are innumerable scandals and sordid stories of the financial bungling, bribery, extortion, influence peddling by serving and retired generals for personal profit. There are also reports of their involvement in smuggling rackets and narcotics trafficking.

In fact, in the 1990s, then Army Chief Aslam Beg and ISI Chief Asad Durrani proposed to start their own narcotics business to fund the 'jihad' against India and in Afghanistan, as also other parts of the world, the report said, citing a Washington Post article.

It is suspected that many Pakistani generals and bureaucrats have had secret Swiss Bank accounts with some of these accounts getting closed later because the money was either moved elsewhere or invested in business or property, the report said, citing the example of General Rahman's sons who are one of the richest families in Pakistan with vast business interests.

The report enlists several examples of scandals and corrupt deals that the Pakistani Generals have been involved in over the past few years, including running extortion networks and protecting and partaking in smuggling networks in Balochistan, leasing out government properties at extremely low prices and even taking bribes in defence deals.

The corruption reaches the highest levels of the army with former Army Chief General Ashfaq Kiyani's brothers involved in a multi-billion rupee housing scandal in Islamabad.

A Quetta Corps Commander Lt Gen Asim Saleem Bajwa gained notoriety as "General Papa Jones" or "General Pizza" after an expose of how his family had invested tens of millions of dollars in the Papa Jones Pizza chain in the US and his sons were given lucrative contracts when this General was serving as the head of the ISPR. Despite the furore, no action, not even an inquiry was ordered.

The report also highlighted that it is not as if the Generals of are underpaid and hence incentivised to be corrupt. A three-star general in the retires as a billionaire in Pakistani rupees as the Pakistani state gives concessional plots, both commercial and residential and also huge grants of agricultural land. Officers of other ranks also get the goodies from the state.

A former army chief Raheel Sharif was allotted over 100 acres of prime agricultural land on the outskirts of Lahore after his retirement. This was in addition to all his other entitlements while another former Chief and Dictator General Pervez Musharraf built nearly 30 properties, including fancy farmhouses, luxury apartments in the Middle East and London, and houses in Karachi and other Pakistani cities, the report says.

The sordidness that exists in the is no secret. And yet, the Army has painted itself as a knight in shining armour that is ever ready to sacrifice everything for the sake of the country, the report says, adding that the corruption is hardly surprising as the State of Pakistan does not have an army, the Pakistan Army has a State.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
As the Ukraine-Russia war has led to talks of energy issues for that part of the world and a possible threat of another Chernobyl=like situation, experts have pointed out the need to pay attention to the potential water security that the war-torn country may face sooner rather than later.

Himanshu Kulkarni, executive director of the Advanced Center for Water Resources Development and Management (ACWADAM) has steered the concept of hydrogeology-based spring-shed management that has been practiced from local to national level, especially after he authored the NITI Aayog publication on Himalayan Springs' Revival and Rejuvenation programme.

Kulkarni admitted that the impact of war on water resources, sub-surface water and groundwater/aquifers has not been documented in depth as much as it should have been. "But there is no denying that air, water and soil, all are polluted in a given war situation and especially in modern times when armed conflict means use of chemicals on a large scale," Kulkarni said.

Geologist S.P. Sati, a Professor with Uttarakhand State University of Horticulture and Forestry, and having a number of research papers in peer reviewed publications, said that whenever missiles fired in war burst, they create cracks, the subsurface fractures are widened because of it.

The hilly areas, the undulating land may witness large scale damage to underground aquifers and also to subsurface water sources.

"Not just this, the massive scale of chemicals used in weaponry is also liable to contaminate the groundwater," Sati told IANS.

Ukrainian citizens have already had complaints about the quality of water provided to its large population. Over and above it, in case of further chemical contamination, it is the survivors that would bear the brunt. A 2019 report by the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) pointed out that children in prolonged conflicts are more likely to die from diseases linked to the lack of clean water than from violence directly related to the conflict itself.

Ukraine's major watershed comprises Danube (795,656 sq km), Don (458,694 sq km), Dnieper (533,966 sq km), and the Don and partly the Dnieper being part of the theatre of ongoing war. occupies the southwestern portion of the Russian Plain (East European Plain) and comprises almost entirely of level plains. The Ukrainian landscape, however, has some diversity: its plains are broken by highlands as well as by lowlands, deep gorges and valleys and Uplands too, up to 1000 feet deep or high.

The southern area of has not yet witnessed a war situation but with Russia approaching from Crimea, may soon be there. Mountainous areas such as the Ukrainian Carpathians and Crimean Mountains are found on that country's borders and account for barely 5 per cent of its area.

Waterman and Stockholm Water Award winner Rajendra Singh said, forget humanity, this is a clear case of violence on nature. "Whenever there is a war, the greatest damage is caused to nature. It is a violence against nature. It leads to troubled humans. If not today, tomorrow that country shall face water security issues."

(Nivedita Khandekar can be reached at nivedita.k@ians.in)

--IANS

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(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.)




South Korea's daily COVID-19 infections stayed above 250,000 for the second consecutive day Friday, as the daily death count reached another high amid the fast spread of the Omicron variant.







The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) reported 254,327 new cases, including 254,250 local ones, raising the total caseload to 4,212,652.







The daily tally went down slightly from the previous day's 266,853, when the figure hit a record high two days after daily infections surpassed 200,000 for the first time since the country reported the first virus case in January 2020.







The total COVID-19 caseload surpassed 4 million Saturday, just five days after reaching the 3 million mark. The total count surpassed the 1 million mark earlier this month, the KDCA said.







The surge in infections pushed up the numbers of COVID-19 deaths and critically ill patients.







The country added 216 more COVID-19 deaths, the highest ever for an overall toll of 8,796, and a fatality rate of 0.21 percent, according to the KDCA.







The number of seriously ill virus patients jumped to 896 from the previous day's 797.







The health authorities have said the current wave is expected to peak at some 350,000 daily cases in around mid-March as the highly contagious Omicron variant rages across the nation.







In line with the continued spread of the highly contagious but less fatal Omicron variant, the government has ditched rigorous contact tracing and treatment, and opted to focus more on dealing with serious cases and preventing deaths.







It also adopted enhanced treatment at home and more use of rapid antigen self-test kits amid a shortage of medical staff and other resources.







From Saturday, the government eased part of the social distancing rules by extending the operating hours for 12 kinds of multiuse facilities, including cafe and restaurants, by one hour to 11 p.m. to better support small merchants.







The new curfew will be effective until March 20, and the current six-person cap on private gatherings will remain in place.







As of midnight, 31.75 million people, or 61.9 percent of the country's 52 million population, had received booster shots. The number of fully vaccinated people came to 44.39 million, accounting for 86.5 percent, according to the KDCA. (Yonhap)


The Indian embassy in on Saturday said it is exploring all possible ways to safely evacuate the Indian nationals from eastern Ukranian city of Sumy.

The mission said it is in touch with all interlocutors concerned, including the Red Cross, to identify the exit routes to take out the Indians.

Sumy is one of the conflict zones witnessing intense fighting between Russian and Ukrainian forces.

"Exploring all possible mechanisms to evacuate Indian citizens in Sumy, safely & securely. Discussed evacuation & identification of exit routes with all interlocutors including Red Cross," the embassy tweeted.

"Control room will continue to be active until all our citizens are evacuated. Be Safe Be Strong," it said.

Arindam Bagchi, the spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), said on Friday that around 700 Indians are stranded in Sumy.

At a media briefing, Bagchi also urged both the Ukrainian and Russian sides to put in place a "local ceasefire" for evacuation of Indians from the conflict zones including Kharkiv and Sumy.

He said India is primarily focusing on evacuating its nationals out of the conflict zones in eastern including from Kharkiv and Sumy, adding that the total number of Indians stuck in could be roughly in the range of 2,000 to 3,000.

(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.)
After a Russian attack on a facility in Ukraine, India said on Friday that it attaches "highest importance" to ensuring the safety of the atomic plants while regretting that the situation there has "worsened further".

Speaking at an emergency meeting of the Security Council on the danger from attacks on the facilities in the country under Russian invasion, India's Permanent Representative TS Tirumurti said: "India attaches the highest importance to ensuring safety and security of facilities as any accident involving the nuclear facilities may have severe consequences for public health and the environment."

"We continue to carefully follow the developments regarding the safety and security of Ukraine's nuclear power reactors and facilities," he said.

Earlier, in a dramatic video call to the Council while a plane, Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director-General Rafael Mariano Grossi gave an assurance that there had been no leak from the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant where a building in the complex went up in flames, but the six reactors there were not damaged.

Grossi, who was on his way to Iran for negotiations on resuming its participation in the agreement on preventing it from acquiring nuclear weapons, said that he was ready to go to to ensure the safety of the atomic facilities there.

Titumurti said: "We have also noted the latest information available with regard to the nuclear power plants and facilities in Ukraine, including today's updates provided by the DG (director-general of) IAEA on the current situation."

"India accords the highest priority to the discharge by the IAEA of its safeguards and monitoring activities, in accordance with its statute in an effective, non-discriminatory and efficient manner," he added.

United Arab Emirates Permanent Representative Lana Zaki Nusseibeh, who presided over the session recalled the nuclear disasters at Fukushima and Chernobyl and warned that an attack on a nuclear facility has the potential to lead to catastrophic and unimaginable consequences.

She said that the nuclear threat would be devastating to humanity.

Ukraine's Permanent Representative Sergiy Kyslytsya said: "We have survived the night that could have stopped the history of and Europe."

Not just that is at risk, but "it is the world, it is humanity", he said.

"We all waited to exhale as we watched the horrific situation unfold in real-time," US Permanent Representative Linda Thomas-Greenfield said.

She asked Russia to stop the advance on another nuclear plant from which its troops were 20 miles away.

Several countries including Kenya and Brazil pointed out that attacks on nuclear power plants are prohibited under an annexe to the Geneva Conventions that lay down the legal standards for humanitarian treatment in war.

Tirumurti turned his attention to the Indians stuck in Ukraine.

"While we are discussing the nuclear dimension of an unfolding conflict, this Council must acknowledge that there is a pressing humanitarian crisis confronting us in Ukraine, where safety and security of innocent civilians including several thousand Indian nationals, in particular, students are at stake," he said.

He said that he hoped that the second round of talks between Russia and Ukraine would lead to the establishment of a safe corridor for their evacuation.

Kyslytsya asked Russia's Permanent Representative Vasily Nebenzia to appeal to Moscow to create a safe corridor for foreign students to leave Ukraine.

Nebenzia denied that Russian troops had attacked the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant and the fire was the result of actions by Ukrainians.

Russian troops had earlier taken control of Chernobyl, the site of the 1986 disaster that continues to take a toll in lives.

Tirumurti said that Prime Minister had reiterated in his conversations with global leaders including the Russian Federation and Ukraine that "differences must be resolved through sustained dialogue and diplomacy".

(Arul Louis can be reached at arul.l@ians.in and followed @arulouis)

--IANS

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Pakistan's Interior Minister on Saturday vowed to arrest the masterminds behind a deadly suicide attack claimed by the terror group on a crowded Shia mosque during Friday prayers here that killed at least 62 people and injured nearly 200 .

A suicide bomber, belonging to the ISIS-Khorasan, blew himself up inside a mosque in Qissa Khwani bazaar in Peshawar, capital of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province on Friday, in one of the deadliest attacks in the restive region, bordering Afghanistan.

The death toll on Saturday rose to 62 after five more people injured in the explosion succumbed to their wounds, a hospital official said.

"The death toll from the mosque blast has touched 62 after five more people injured in the explosion succumbed to their injuries. The numbers might go up, " Muhammad Asim, the spokesman at Lady Reading Hospital, Peshawar, where the injured are being treated, said.

The affiliate in the region known as in Khorasan province and headquartered in Afghanistan claimed responsibility for the devastating attack on the imambargah in Koocha Risaldar, a largely Shia neighbourhood in the old city of Peshawar.

Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed said that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa police and investigation agencies have identified all three suspects connected to the attack and have closed in on them.

In a video message shared on Twitter, Ahmed said the police and investigation agencies would reach those suspects in one or two days.

Peshawar SSP (Operations) Haroon Rasheed Khan said the explosion was a suicide blast.

There were two attackers but only one of them was a suicide bomber, he said.

An eyewitness identified a person as dressed in black as the suicide bomber, saying he entered the mosque, shot and killed the security guard first and then fired five to six bullets.

"After that, he quickly entered the [mosque's] main hall and blew himself up in front of the pulpit. Following this, there were bodies and injured people lying everywhere," the eyewitness told Geo News.

Soon after the news of the bomb blast spread, many people, including women, rushed towards the mosque to inquire about the well-being of their family members, who had gone there to offer Jumma prayer, the Dawn newspaper reported.

Every house located in the vicinity of imambargah and in the nearby streets was in mourning as the residents either lost one or two members or had members seriously injured in the bomb blast.

The last major terrorist attack was also carried out in a mosque in Dir Colony on Oct 27, 2020, killing eight students and injuring around 120 injured as a timed device went off on the premises, where a large number of seminarians were attending a class.

Friday's attack was the biggest terrorist activity in Peshawar, the report said.

President Arif Alvi and Prime Minister Imran Khan have strongly condemned the Peshawar blast.

Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Mahmood Khan has vowed to bring the perpetrators of this heinous act to justice.

He said targeting people in a place of worship is an inhuman and cruel act and directed authorities to ensure the best medical care to the injured.

He has convened an emergency meeting at Chief Minister's House to review the overall security situation in the province, bordering Afghanistan.

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has closed on its approximately $16 billion acquisition of speech recognition company Nuance.

The deal, which was announced last year, helps Corp. get more entrenched into hospitals and the health care industry through Nuance's widely used medical dictation and transcription tools.

Nuance Communications Inc. has been a pioneer in voice-based artificial intelligence technology and was instrumental in helping to power Apple's digital assistant Siri. The Burlington, Massachusetts-based company has since shifted its focus to health care.

This powerful combination will help providers offer more affordable, effective and accessible healthcare, and help organizations in every industry create more personalized and meaningful customer experiences," Scott Guthrie, executive vice president of the Cloud + AI Group at Microsoft, said in a statement on Friday.

The transaction has been under scrutiny by British antitrust regulators, who opened up an investigation into the deal in December because of concerns that it could result in a substantial lessening of competition in the U.K. market.

continued to shop this year, in January announced that it would spend $70 billion to acquire video game maker Activision Blizzard.

Mark Benjamin will continue to serve as CEO of Nuance, Burlington, Massachusetts, and report to Guthrie.

Shares of Microsoft, based in Redmond, Washington, declined slightly amid a broader market sell-off Friday.

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In an alarming censorship, has blocked access to in the country. In response, its parent company Meta has paused all ads in .

Meta said that due to the difficulties of operating in at this time, ads targeting people in Russia will be paused, and "advertisers within Russia will no longer be able to create or run ads anywhere in the world, including within Russia".

Meta said that as a result of the Russian government's decision to block access to in the Russian Federation, millions of ordinary Russians will find themselves cut off from reliable information, "deprived of their everyday ways of connecting with family and friends and silenced from speaking out".

"We will continue to do everything we can to restore our services so they remain available to people to safely and securely express themselves and organise for action," Meta said in a statement.

Russia's communications agency Roskomnadzor on Friday blocked access to Facebook, citing 26 cases of "discrimination against Russian media and information resources by Facebook" since October 2020.

Earlier on Friday, the Russian legislature advanced a new law against spreading "fake news" about the country's armed forces, punishable by up to 15 years in prison.

Shortly after the bill was advanced, the BBC announced it would suspend journalistic operations within the country.

Facebook's decision follows similar moves from Google, Twitter, and Snapchat, which have all paused ads in Russia.

--IANS

na/sks/svn

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Founder called for an immediate increase in production around the world because sustainable solutions cannot replace Russian output.

"Hate to say it, but we need to increase oil & gas output immediately," Musk wrote on Twitter on Friday. "Extraordinary times demand extraordinary measures."

Musk added that although increasing production would affect negatively, sustainable energy solutions cannot react instantaneously to make up for Russian exports.

Earlier in the day, Bloomberg News reported that the Biden administration is considering imposing a ban on imports of Russian crude oil to the United States.

US Senators Joe Manchin proposed a bill that would prohibit the import of Russian crude oil, petroleum, petroleum products, liquefied natural gas (LNG) and coal.

Meanwhile, US President Joe Biden, in his State of the Union Address on Wednesday, pledged to enable exports of energy from US reserves with the EU working on to curb energy dependence on Russia, in particular by building LNG terminals and negotiating with alternative suppliers, including Norway.

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fired an unidentified projectile toward the Sea of Japan, media reports said on Saturday.

This was the ninth missile launch conducted by Pyongyang this year, Yonhap news agency reported.

" has launched a suspected ballistic missile. More updates to follow," the Prime Minister's Office of said in a tweet.

This comes merely a week after had test-fired a ballistic missile.

The US special envoy Sung Kim had condemned the ballistic missile test by North Korea which she said violated multiple UN Security Council resolutions and presented a serious threat to regional stability.

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UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has expressed alarm over reports of heavy fighting around the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant in .

Taking to Twitter, the UN chief said nuclear facilities should never ever be targeted in military operations.

"I have been following with great alarm reports of heavy fighting around the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant, and I want to make it very clear that nuclear facilities should never ever be targeted in military operations," the UN chief tweeted.

On Thursday, informed the Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) that Russian forces had taken control of the site of the country's Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (NPP). But Director-General Rafael Mario Grossi said that the nuclear power plant continued to be operated by its regular staff and there had been no release of radioactive material.

Ukrainian counterparts informed the IAEA that a projectile overnight had hit a training building in the vicinity of one of the plant's reactor units, causing a localized fire that was later extinguished.

Media reports said the safety systems of the plant's six reactors had not been affected and there has been no release of radioactive material.

As a result of developments at the Zaporizhzhia NPP, the United States and its European allies had requested an emergency meeting on .

"Today we have once again heard lies about how Russian troops attacked the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, it's all part of an unprecedented campaign of lies and disinformation against Russia," said Vassily Nebenzia, Russian representative at UN.

"At present, Zaporizhzhya NPP and adjacent territory are being guarded by Russian troops," he added.

Meanwhile, the Permanent Representative of Ukraine to the United Nations, Sergiy Kyslytsya blamed Moscow for the incident.

"Lies of representative of Russian Federation are not surprising; he may not be properly informed by his capital. We have seen on many occasions... he had no idea what his capital was planning to do in mid of one of the recent sessions. So I wouldn't really rely on his words," he said.

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The data breach at graphics chip maker has reportedly exposed emails and hashes belonging to at least 71,000 employees.

The 'Have I Been Pwned' website suggests that the hack includes a massive 71,000 employee emails and hashes that may have allowed the hackers to crack their passwords.

did not confirm or deny that 71,000 employee credentials have been compromised, reports The Verge.

However, the graphics chip maker has fewer employees than 71,000 as its last annual report listed 18,975 employees across 29 countries.

It is possible that the compromised email data include prior employees and aliases for groups of employees.

The company has confirmed some of its data was stolen as part of a cyberattack that occurred last week.

"On February 23, 2022, became aware of a incident which impacted IT resources. Shortly after discovering the incident, we further hardened our network, engaged incident response experts, and notified law enforcement," it said in an earlier statement.

"We have no evidence of ransomware being deployed on the Nvidia environment or that this is related to the Russia-Ukraine conflict," it added.

"However, we are aware that the threat actor took employee credentials and some NVIDIA proprietary information from our systems and has begun leaking it online. Our team is working to analyse that information," the company informed.

The LAPSUS$ hacking group has taken credit for the breach.

It stated that it wants Nvidia to open source its GPU drivers forever and remove its Ethereum cryptocurrency mining nerf from all Nvidia 30-series GPUs (such as newer models of the RTX 3080) rather than directly asking for cash.

"But they clearly want cash, too. The hackers have also publicly stated that they'll sell a bypass for the crypto nerf for $1 million, and this morning, they briefly posted a message suggesting that today's leak would be delayed while they discussed terms with a would-be buyer of Nvidia's source code," the company said.

--IANS

na/ksk/

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Oil surged on Friday, ending the week at multi-year highs as Russia's invasion of Ukraine intensified and oil buyers shunned barrels from the world's second-largest exporter of crude.

Crude prices posted their largest weekly gains since the middle of 2020, with the Brent benchmark up 21% and U.S. crude gaining 26%. The most commonly traded oil futures closed at levels not seen since 2013 and 2008, respectively.

Oil surged throughout the week as the United States and allies heaped sanctions on that, while not aimed at Russian oil and gas sales, nonetheless squeezed its industry, and threatens a growing supply crunch in coming months.

Brent futures rose $7.65, or 6.9%, to settle at $118.11 a barrel, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude rose $8.01, or 7.4%, to end at $115.68.

That was the highest close for Brent since February 2013 and for WTI since September 2008. During the week, Brent rose to its highest intraday since May 2012 and WTI its highest since September 2008.

exports 4 million to 5 million barrels of oil daily, making it the second-largest crude exporter in the world after Saudi Arabia. Traders were barely able to sell Russian oil all week, with Shell PLC on Friday the only notable buyer of a Russian cargo, which was sold at a steep $28-discount to physical Brent crude.

The tumult is likely to continue. The Biden administration, under pressure from lawmakers from both major parties, said it is considering options for cutting U.S. imports of Russian oil even as it tries to minimize the impact on global supplies and on consumers.

"While U.S. oil imports from are small in a global context," UBS analyst Giovanni Staunovo said crude prices rallied late in the day because "some market participants might be concerned that other countries might follow that step."

Britain will look to target Russia's energy sector in future rounds of sanctions, its foreign minister said Friday. The government has resisted this move so far, due to concerns that it will push up energy bills.

Most Americans support the idea of banning Russian oil imports, with 80% saying the United States should stop buying Russian oil, according to a Reuters/Ipsos poll completed on Friday.

Canada banned imports of Russian oil earlier in the week. Russia's largest buyers include China, South Korea, Germany and the Netherlands. Some refiners have stopped buying Russian oil, and trading firms are reluctant to transact with Russian sellers for fear of more sanctions.

Indirect talks between Iran and the United States on reviving the 2015 Iran nuclear deal were close to reaching an agreement, the chief British envoy said on Friday as she and her French and German colleagues flew home to brief ministers.

Analysts said such an agreement could add another 1 million barrels of daily supply to the market, but that would not be enough to offset declining supply from Russia.

More oil supplies are set to be added from a coordinated release of just over 60 million barrels of oil reserves by developed nations, agreed this week. Japan said on Friday that it plans to release 7.5 million barrels of oil.

(Additional reporting by Alex Lawler in London, Florence Tan in Singapore and Sonali Paul in Melbourne; Editing by Marguerita Choy and Alistair Bell)

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A fire burns trees on a mountain in Samcheok, Gangwon Province, March 5. Yonhap



More than 6,000 people have evacuated their homes as firefighters battle a massive wildfire in eastern coastal areas Saturday.



The fire burned an estimated 21,179 acres (8,571 hectares) of woodland in Uljin, about 330 kilometers southeast of Seoul, and its neighboring city of Samcheok as of 1 p.m., according to forest and firefighting authorities.



That is more than double the size of woodland reported to have been affected the previous day.



The blaze began on Friday morning on a road near a mountain in Uljin and spread north to Samcheok in the afternoon, driven by strong winds and dry weather, according to the Korea Forest Service (KFS).





Houses destroyed as a result of a fire in Uljin, North Gyeongsang Province, are seen March 5. Yonhap



It destroyed at least 153 homes and 53 other structures, but no casualties were reported.



About 6,000 people fled their houses as the fire spread, though all but 673 had returned as of Saturday morning.



The fire once threatened a nuclear power plant, the nation's largest liquefied natural gas (LNG) production complex, and power transmission lines in the areas, but the firefighters brought the blaze under control before it reached the facilities, officials said.



But as the fire began to spread south again toward villages in Uljin following a switch in the wind direction, some villagers were forced to evacuate to safety.



As of Saturday afternoon, 4,296 firefighters were battling the blaze with 46 helicopters and 273 firetrucks deployed, focusing their efforts on blocking the southward spread of the fire and again on protecting the nuclear, gas and power facilities, according to the authorities.





A helicopter drops water to put out a fire in Uljin, North Gyeongsang Province, March 5. Yonhap
A war of words have ensued on the social media platform Twitter after reports emerged that a official had slammed for donating poor quality of wheat while praising the quality of wheat sent by India.

A video was making rounds on the social media platform showing a official complaining about the quality of Pakistani wheat. "Wheat donated by is not edible: Official," Afghan journalist Abdulhaq Omeri tweeted as he posted a video of the Taliban official.

Afghan people were seen thanking India on Twitter for the "good quality wheat."

"Thank you India for your continued support to the Afghan people. Our Public to public-friendly relations will be forever. Jai Hind," Hamdullah Arbab tweeted.

Another user named Najib Farhodis said, "Wheat donated by to All Pakistani wheat is worn out and spoiled that can not be used. India has always helped ."

Apparently, the Taliban official, who had made these remarks on the poor nature of Pakistani wheat, was dismissed from his post.

Last month, India started sending wheat to the Afghan people as humanitarian assistance.

The second convoy of India's humanitarian assistance carrying 2000 MTs of wheat left Attari, Amritsar on Thursday for Jalalabad, Afghanistan, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said.

This is part of India's commitment of 50,000 MTs of wheat for the Afghan people and will be distributed by United Nations' World Food Programme.

"India remains committed to its special relationship with the people of Afghanistan," MEA Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said in a tweet.

Earlier this month, India had announced that it will send 50,000 metric tonnes (MT) of wheat to overland through Pakistan. Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla had flagged off the first such consignment from Amritsar.

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After many in expressed their happiness at the victory of the in in August last year, the euphoria is now subsiding in the face of increased terrorism at home while Pakistani authorities continue to provide support and protection to the regime, a report said on Thursday.

The government had hoped that a friendly regime in would ease its concerns about the Pakistani Taliban, known as the Tehreek-e- (TTP). What has happened instead is a spike in terror attacks in recent months, said a Canada-based think tank, Forum for Rights and Security (IFFRAS)

Pakistan claims that many of the terror attacks were planned by militants hiding inside . So, while Pakistan wants to help the new Taliban government, it must also contend with growing security and economic risks to Pakistan that have arisen with the coming of the Taliban regime, the report further said.

Citing Pakistan Institute of Peace Studies (PIPS) data, the report noted that terror incidents in Pakistan increased by a massive 42 per cent over the previous year in 2021, with a significant surge in the number of incidents following the Taliban's takeover of Kabul in August.

The PIPS report also went on to say that the change in Afghanistan is "not helping in any way Pakistan's efforts to deal with the militant groups threatening its security."

Moreover, the TTP, which was considerably weakened by late 2020, has regrouped and is involved in running extortion rackets throughout Pakistan. The TTP has been using Afghanistan sim cards to call affluent Pakistani traders to get extortion money.

According to PIPS, the TTP was alone accounted for 87 attacks that killed 158 people, an increase of 84 per cent relative to 2020.

The IFFRAS report further said that the recent links established between the TTP and the Afghan Taliban pose another security challenge for Pakistan as low-level Afghan Taliban cadres are said to maintain their links with the TTP, a fact recognized by the senior Afghan Taliban leadership.

The larger challenge for Pakistan is that the Afghan Taliban is in power in Kabul. As long as the Taliban was a force on the ground and, in opposition to the Afghan government, Pakistan was able to control its cadres. It even gave the Haqqanis, the Pakistan ISI's favourite, prominent positions in the Taliban hierarchy.

Today, with the Taliban in power the situation has changed and recent events on the border relating to the fencing of the Durand line show the difference in positions.

The Afghan Taliban is infuriated by a fence Islamabad is erecting along their 2,700-kilometre (1,600-mile) border, known as the Durand Line. Taliban doesn't recognise the Durand Line as the border between Pakistan and Afghanistan.

Another headache for Pakistan's security establishment is the thriving weapons markets along the Afghan-Pakistan border and terrorist/insurgent groups buying the weapons left behind by the US and its allies.

As a result of these factors, Pakistan is sitting on a tinderbox, the report said, adding that instability in Afghanistan is one factor that will constantly impact Pakistan and Pakistan's optimism with the Afghan Taliban as singing its tune may be misplaced.

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will propose to its partners specific steps to safeguard five main Ukrainian nuclear facilities based on the criteria by the Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the Elysee Palace said on Friday.

has four active nuclear power plants -- Zaporizhzhia, Khmelnitsky, Rivne and South . The fifth one in Chernobyl is currently sealed.

"In the coming hours, will propose to its main partners concrete measures to provide safety of Ukraine's five main nuclear objects based on IAEA technical criteria," the palace said in a statement, noting that French President Emmanuel Macron has met with the IAEA director general and supported the latter's efforts for constant security control of nuclear installations in .

Earlier in the day, the Russian Defense Ministry said that Ukrainian authorities attempted a provocation overnight by accusing Russia of creating a source of radioactive contamination at Zaporizhzhia NPP.

While patrolling the area adjacent to the station, a group of the Russian National Guard was attacked by a Ukrainian sabotage unit who opened fire on them from the windows of several floors of an educational and training complex located outside the NPP. The firing points of the Ukrainian sabotage group were suppressed by return fire. Leaving the building, the sabotage group set it on fire.

The fire was put out and the NPP is working as usual, with radiation background at normal level, the Russian military said. The US embassy in Kiev in a tweet accused Russia of shelling the nuclear plant.

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Russian President said Saturday that Moscow would consider any third-party declaration of a no-fly zone over as participation in the armed conflict.

Speaking at a meeting with female pilots on Saturday, Putin said Russia would view any move in this direction as an intervention that "will pose a threat to our service members.

That very second, we will view them as participants of the military conflict, and it would not matter what members they are, the Russian president said.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has pushed NATO to impose a no-fly zone over his country, warning that all the people who die from this day forward will also die because of you as Russian forces were battering strategic locations in .

NATO has said a no-fly zone, which would bar all unauthorised aircraft from flying over Ukraine, could provoke widespread war in Europe with nuclear-armed Russia.

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and blamed each other on Saturday for a failure to provide safe passage to civilians fleeing two cities besieged and bombarded by Russian forces, on the 10th day of a war that has fuelled Europe's biggest humanitarian disaster in decades.

The war, which began with Russia's invasion on Feb. 24, has sent nearly 1.5 million refugees fleeing westward into the European Union and provoked unprecedented sanctions on Moscow and warnings of a global recession.

The Russian defence ministry said its units had opened humanitarian corridors near the cities of Mariupol and Volnovakha, which have been encircled by its troops.

But in Mariupol, the city council said was not observing the ceasefire and it asked residents to return to shelters and await further information on evacuation.

Russia's defence ministry accused Ukrainian "nationalists" of preventing civilians from leaving, RIA news agency reported.

The southeastern port has endured heavy bombardment, a sign of its strategic value to Moscow due to its position between Russian-backed separatist-held eastern and the Black Sea Crimean peninsula, which Moscow seized from in 2014.

"This night the shelling was harder and closer," a staff member from Doctors without Borders/Medecins sans Frontieres (MSF) said, according to the aid agency. There was still no power, water, heating or mobile phone links and food was scarce.

The Ukrainian government said the plan was to evacuate around 200,000 people from Mariupol and 15,000 from Volnovakha.

Only 17 people were evacuated from Mariupol on Saturday and no one had left Volnovakha, Tass cited pro-Russian separatists as saying.

HUMANITARIAN DISASTER

Despite the limited ceasefire plans, the Russian defence ministry said a broad offensive would continue in Ukraine, where it denies targeting civilians or invading, calling its actions a "special military operation".

Russian forces were carrying out strikes on military infrastructure and forces from separatist-held Donetsk were tightening the encirclement of Mariupol, Defence Ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov said.

Aid agencies have warned of a humanitarian disaster across the country. The number of refugees could rise to 1.5 million by the end of the weekend from a current 1.3 million, the head of the United Nations refugee agency said on Saturday.

Women and small children crossed at the Medyka checkpoint in southeastern Poland in freezing conditions. A man crossing the other way yelled at the crowd that men should return to Ukraine and fight.

One woman, struggling to carry half a dozen bags, wept when the snacks she had packed for her and her young son, who was clutching a green dinosaur toy, fell to the ground. She gave the boy a bag to carry as they trudged slowly on.

President Vladimir Putin's decision to invade has drawn worldwide condemnation. Officials in Ukraine have reported thousands of dead and wounded civilians.

Moscow says its aim is to disarm its neighbour, counter what it views as NATO aggression and capture leaders it calls neo-Nazis. On Saturday it accused the West of acting like a bandit and threatened to retaliate without giving details.

"As you understand, there must be a corresponding response to economic banditry," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.

The conflict has also shaken diplomacy over Iran's nuclear programme, one of the few areas where and the United States had been working together to curb what the West suspects is an Iranian plan to develop nuclear arms.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Saturday the new Western sanctions imposed on his country had become a stumbling block for clinching a nuclear deal with Iran.

A senior Iranian official told Reuters the Russian stance was not helpful.

'PLEASE CLOSE THE SKY'

Ukraine says Russian forces have focused efforts on encircling Kyiv and Kharkiv, the second-biggest city, while aiming to establish a land bridge to Crimea.

Kyiv, in the path of a Russian armoured column that has been stalled outside the Ukrainian capital for days, was again under attack, with explosions audible from the city centre.

British intelligence said on Saturday the overall rate of Russian air strikes and artillery over the past 24 hours had been lower than in previous days although Russian forces were believed to be advancing in the south of Ukraine.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy was expected to press Washington for more help in a video call with the U.S.

Senate at 9:30 a.m. ET (1430 GMT) on Saturday.

At a meeting on Friday, NATO allies rejected Ukraine's appeal for no-fly zones, saying they were increasing support but that stepping in directly could make the situation worse.

"Please close the sky ... because people are dying," said Solomiya Zdryko, 18, who fled from Lviv in western Ukraine.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken was visiting Poland on Saturday and was set to discuss security and humanitarian assistance with Polish officials. Poland has taken in the vast majority of those fleeing Ukraine.

Ukraine's Defence Minister Oleksii Reznikov said 66,224 Ukrainian men had returned from abroad to join the fight against Russia's invasion. "Ukrainians, we are invincible," he said in an online post.

Ukraine's military said armed forces "are fighting fiercely to liberate Ukrainian cities from Russian occupiers", counter-attacking in some areas and disrupting communications.

"Units of the invaders are demoralized, soldiers and officers of the occupying army continue to surrender, flee, leaving weapons and equipment on Ukrainian soil," it said, adding that at least 39 Russian planes and 40 helicopters had been destroyed.

Russia said it had destroyed 82 Ukrainian aircraft, 708 armoured vehicles, 74 multiple rocket launchers and 56 drones.

Reuters has not been able to independently verify such accounts from either side.

Russian forces have made their biggest advances in the south, where they captured their first sizeable Ukrainian city, Kherson, this week.

On Saturday, a crowd marched through the streets of the city of 250,000 people, waving Ukrainian flags and shouting "Kherson is Ukrainian!" as Russian troops stood by.

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said its forces had stopped firing near two Ukrainian cities on Saturday to allow safe passage to civilians fleeing fighting, but was continuing its broad offensive in Ukraine, where the capital Kyiv came under renewed assault.

The Russian defence ministry said its units had opened humanitarian corridors near the cities of Mariupol and Volnovakha which were encircled by its troops, Russia's RIA news agency reported.

In Mariupol, citizens would be allowed to leave during a five-hour window, it quoted the city's officials as saying.

There was no immediate confirmation that firing had stopped and it was not clear if the ceasefire would be extended to other areas, or how long it would last, as Russia's invasion of entered into its tenth day.

The Russian defence ministry said a broad offensive would continue in Ukraine, RIA said.

Aid agencies have warned of an unfolding humanitarian disaster as food, water and medical supplies run short and refugees stream into western and neighbouring European countries.

A Ukrainian negotiator had said on Thursday that a second round of ceasefire talks with had not yielded the results Kyiv hoped for, but both sides had reached an understanding on creating humanitarian corridors. Mykhailo Podolyak said the two sides envisaged a possible temporary ceasefire in some areas to allow evacuations of citizens.

In the southeastern port city of Mariupol - a key prize - there is no water, heat or electricity and food is running out, according to Mayor Vadym Boychenko.

"We are simply being destroyed," he said.

Ukraine's state service of special communications and protection of information says Russian forces have focussed efforts on encircling Kyiv and Kharkiv, the second-biggest city, while aiming to establish a land bridge to Crimea.

Kyiv, in the path of a Russian armoured column that has been stalled outside the Ukrainian capital for days, was again under attack, with explosions audible from the city centre.

Ukrainian media outlet Suspilne cited authorities in Sumy, about 300 km (190 miles) east of Kyiv, as saying that there is a risk of fighting in the city's streets, urging residents to stay in shelters.

President Vladimir Putin's actions have drawn almost universal condemnation, and many countries have imposed heavy sanctions as the West balances punishment with avoiding a widening of the conflict.

INFORMATION WAR

Russia's parliament passed a law on Friday imposing a prison term of up to 15 years for spreading intentionally "fake" news about the military.

"This law will force punishment - and very tough punishment - on those who lied and made statements which discredited our armed forces," said Vyacheslav Volodin, the chairman of the Duma, Russia's lower house of parliament.

is blocking Facebook for restricting state-backed channels and the websites of the BBC, Deutsche Welle and Voice of America.

CNN and CBS News said they would stop broadcasting in Russia, and other outlets removed Russian-based journalists' bylines as they assessed the situation.

MORE SANCTIONS ON THE WAY?

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is expected to press Washington for more help in a Zoom call with the full US Senate at 9:30 a.m. ET (1430 GMT) on Saturday.

The United States is weighing cuts to imports of Russian oil and ways to minimise the impact on global supplies and consumers as lawmakers fast-track a bill that would ban Russian energy imports. Global oil prices surged over 20% this week on fears of supply shortages, posing a risk to global economic growth.



At a meeting on Friday, NATO allies rejected Ukraine's appeal for no-fly zones, saying they were increasing support but that stepping in directly could make the situation worse.

"We have a responsibility ... to prevent this war from escalating beyond because that would be even more dangerous, more devastating and would cause even more human suffering," said NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg.

Zelenskiy slammed the summit as "weak" and "confused." "It was clear that not everyone considers the battle for Europe's freedom to be the number one goal," he said.

More EU sanctions were coming, potentially including a ban on Russian-flagged ships in European ports and blocking imports of steel, timber, aluminium or coal, said Irish Foreign Minister Simon Coveney.

Ukraine's military said in a statement on Saturday that armed forces "are fighting fiercely to liberate Ukrainian cities from Russian occupiers," counterattacking in some areas and disrupting communications.



"Units of the invaders are demoralized, soldiers and officers of the occupying army continue to surrender, flee, leaving weapons and equipment on Ukrainian soil," it said, adding that at least 39 Russian plans and 40 helicopters had been destroyed. Reuters has not been able to independently verify such accounts.

Thousands of people waited for hours on Friday outside the railway station at the western city of Lviv to board trains heading to Poland. Families arrived with few belongings. Some were in wheelchairs, accompanied by pet dogs and cats, uncertain about their fate.



"All we took with us is the bare necessities," said Yana Tebyakina. "A change of clothes. That's it. All the rest we left behind, all our lives stayed back at home." Russian forces have made their biggest advances in the south, where they captured their first sizeable Ukrainian city, Kherson, this week. Bombing has worsened in recent days in the northeast cities of Kharkiv and Chernihiv.

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Russia's attack on a nuclear power plant in Ukraine has revived the fears of people across Europe who remember the 1986 Chernobyl disaster, which killed at least 30 people and spewed radioactive fallout over much of the Northern Hemisphere.

The UN nuclear energy watchdog said no radiation was released after Russian forces shelled the Zaporizhzhia in the early hours of Friday.

But that did little to ease growing concerns in Western Europe.

Even before the attack, Russia's invasion of Ukraine had heightened concerns about the vulnerability of the nuclear reactors that provide about 50 per cent of the country's electricity.

In addition to the danger of explosives damaging the reactors, plant managers and technicians must have unfettered access to the plants to ensure they operate safely, nuclear experts warned.

Pharmacies in some Eastern European and Scandinavian countries reported a surge in demand for iodine tablets, which can be used to protect children from radiation exposure. Politicians rushed to criticize Russia's reckless actions, and Ukrainian authorities renewed calls for a no-fly zone to ensure Europe doesn't face another nuclear disaster.

I didn't really sleep last night,'' said Paul Dorfman, who led the European Environment Agency's response to Chernobyl and was glued to the news from Ukraine on his phone. The fact is that when things go really wrong with nuclear, you can begin to write off a lot of people's lives.''



That's what happened on April 26, 1986, when a sudden surge of power during a reactor systems test destroyed Unit 4 at the Chernobyl power plant in northern Ukraine, which was then part of the Soviet Union.

The accident and fire that followed released massive amounts of radioactive material, forcing the evacuation of nearby communities and contaminating 150,000 square kilometers (60,000 square miles) of land in Belarus, Russia, and Ukraine.

The initial explosion killed two plant workers, and 28 died within the next three months. By 2005, more than 6,000 thyroid cancers were reported among children and adolescents in the affected area, many of which were most likely caused by radiation, according to a report from the United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Radiation.

Radioactive fallout scattered over much of the Northern Hemisphere via wind and storm patterns, but the amounts dispersed were in many instances insignificant, the Atomic Energy Agency said.

Twenty-five years later, an earthquake and tsunami triggered a meltdown at the Fukushima nuclear power plant in Japan, forcing the evacuation of more than 100,000 people. The accident raised safety concerns that led Japan and many other countries to curtail the use of nuclear power stations.

Nuclear experts on Friday stressed that the Zaporizhzhia plant is much safer than Chernobyl because the reactor is housed inside a reinforced concrete containment building designed to prevent radioactive material from escaping in the event of an accident. Chernobyl didn't have this kind of structure.

While a Chernobyl-type event is unlikely, the containment vessel isn't designed to withstand explosive ordnance such as artillery shells, said Robin Grimes, a professor of materials science at Imperial College London.

It is therefore staggering and reckless to the extreme that shells have been fired close to a nuclear plant, let alone targeting buildings within the plant, Grimes said.

Even if they were not aiming for the nuclear plant, artillery is notoriously inaccurate in a time of war.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Friday called for an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council to discuss the attack. A host of other world leaders contacted Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to express shock.

Among them was Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida who called the attack on Zaporizhzhia an unforgivable reckless act.

As a country that has experienced the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear accident, I said Japan condemns the attack in the strongest terms, Kishida told reporters.

Ukraine's nuclear power industry began in the 1970s, when it was still part of the Soviet Union. It now has 15 reactors at four power plants around the country. Two more reactors are under construction and the four at Chernobyl have been shut down.

Together the reactors generate about half of the country's electricity. That share is expected to grow until at least 2035, because Ukraine sees nuclear power as the most cost-effective source of low-carbon energy, according to the IAEA.

That bucks the trend in the European Union, where nuclear power generation dropped by 25 per cent from 2006 to 2020.

With the war in Ukraine triggering memories of Chernobyl, some people are taking precautions.

In Denmark, Sweden and Finland sales of iodine tablets have increased sharply. Meanwhile, authorities in countries like Poland and Romania sought to head off a similar surge in demand by warning consumers that taking iodine pills without a doctor's supervision may do more harm than good.

The tablets can be used to protect children from the effects of radiation exposure by minimizing the uptake of radioactive iodine that can damage the thyroid gland.

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South Korean tech company, has suspended product shipments to "due to current geopolitical developments," joining other global giants like and who have stopped sales and services in the country after it attacked .

" Electronics said on March 5 that shipments to have been suspended "due to current geopolitical developments", The Kyiv independent, a media outlet reported.

The media outlet added that the company is also donating USD 6 million, including USD 1 million in consumer electronics, to actively support humanitarian efforts "around the region."

Earlier, American tech company, had also has stopped selling all of its products in due to its military operation in Ukraine, CNN reported.

In a statement, the company said that it is "deeply concerned" about the Russian invasion and that in response, it has "paused all product sales" in the country.

also said it has moved to limit access to digital services, such as Apple Pay, inside Russia, and restricted the availability of Russian state media applications outside the country.

This comes as Russian forces launched military operations in on February 24, three days after Moscow recognized Ukraine's breakaway regions - Donetsk and Luhansk - as independent entities.

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The government in have urged civilians to handover government property, including weapons, as house-to-house searches continued in Kabul and neighbouring provinces, the media reported.

In a statement, spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid said to prevent further continuation of the ongoing searches, termed by the regime as "clean-up operations", it would be better if people voluntarily handed over all government property, reports Khaama Press.

"The Islamic Emirate of (IEA) asks all Afghans to hand over weapons, government property, and illegal items and share information about kidnappers and thieves before the searching teams reach out to their houses. We ask people to cooperate with the IEA and voluntarily hand over weapons," he was quoted as saying.

The searches were launched by the IEA last week. Friday was the eighth day of the raids, TOLO News reported.

A spokesman for the Kabul security department, Khalid Zadran, said that the forces had seized military equipment from houses in Kabul.

"Hundreds light and heavy weapons were seized in these clearing operations. In PD2 of (Kabul city) we detected six Humvees," he said.

Earlier the IEA in a statement said that seven Humvees were seized from a residence in PD2.

According to some reports, the house-to-house raids began in the northern provinces of Balkh and Faryab.

--IANS

ksk/

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From the earliest days of his first presidential campaign, aggressively challenged the pillars of Republican foreign policy that defined the party since World War II.

He mocked John McCain's capture during the Vietnam War, validated autocrats with his platitudes, questioned longtime military and security alliances and embraced an isolationist worldview. And to the horror of many GOP leaders at the time, it worked, resonating with voters who believed, in part, that a bipartisan establishment in Washington had brokered trade deals that hurt American workers and recklessly stumbled into so-called forever wars.

But Russia's brutal invasion of is posing a serious test for Trump and his America First doctrine at a moment when he is eyeing another presidential run and using this year's midterm elections to keep bending the GOP to his will. He's largely alone in his sustained praise of Russian President as smart, an assessment he reiterated last week during speeches to donors and conservative activists. His often deferential vice president, Mike Pence, split with him on the issue late Friday.

The multinational partnerships that Trump repeatedly undermined, meanwhile, have allowed the West to quickly band together to hobble Russia's economy with coordinated sanctions. The NATO alliance, which Trump once dismissed as obsolete, is flexing its strength as a foil to Russia's aggression.

Perhaps most fundamentally, the war is a fresh reminder, observers say, that the U.S. can't simply ignore the world's problems, even if that's sometimes a politically appealing way to connect with voters facing their own daily struggles.

This is a brutal wake-up call to both parties that not only are we not going to be able to do less in the world," said Richard Haass, the president of the Council on Foreign Relations and a former diplomat. We are going to have to do more.

While he argued that large elements of both parties have demonstrated a desire to turn inward, the current situation poses a special problem" for Republicans and the "America firsters who have previously tried to paint Russia has a benign actor.

The entire thrust of America First, I would argue, was misguided in a world where what happens anywhere can and will affect us," he said.

It's unclear whether the Western unity that has taken hold against Russia can be sustained if the war escalates, expands beyond or drags on indefinitely. And after two decades of U.S. foreign policy failures, including the Iraq War and the botched withdrawal from Afghanistan, many Americans are approaching the moment with caution.

On the eve of Russia's invasion, just 26% of Americans said they supported the U.S. playing a major role in the conflict, according to a poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research.

But the challenges to Trump's approach to the world are clear.

Sweden and Finland have abandoned their long-held neutrality and warmed to the idea of joining NATO, expanding an alliance Trump continued to criticize this week. Germany, a country Trump spent years trying to browbeat into spending more on its defense, broke its longstanding post-World War II policy by sending anti-tank weapons and surface-to-air missiles to and pledging to dramatically increase its defense budget.

Trump and his allies insist that Russia would never have invaded Ukraine were he still president. And Russia did not make aggressive moves on his watch, something former aides and others credit to his erratic behaviour and direct threats that left world leaders uncertain of how Trump would respond to a provocation.

Roger Zakheim, the Washington director of the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute, credited Trump for deterring Putin, who he said had validated the need for allies to invest more in their security and defense.

I think President Trump, at least at it related to Ukraine, was able to deter . And that was a function of unpredictability, which is valuable to deterring an autocrat like Vladimir Putin, he said. Still, he argued Putin's actions had been so aggressive and so brazen and so immoral that it had de-emphasised the difference between various foreign policy approaches.

Still, the war renews focus on the controversial role Ukraine played during Trump's tenure, particularly the way the then-president used defense of the struggling country as a bargaining tool to improve his domestic political standing.

Trump was impeached for the first time for trying to pressure Ukraine to investigate his 2020 Democratic opponent, Joe Biden, and his son, Hunter Biden. The effort included holding up nearly $400 million in U.S. security aid to Ukraine and leveraging an Oval Office visit that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had been requesting.

Trump also pushed discredited claims that Ukraine, not Russia, had meddled in the 2016 election, repeatedly siding with Putin over his own national intelligence agencies.

Putin is the critical agent, but certainly Trump contributed to it with his scheme back then and continued to contribute it by undermining national security," said retired U.S. Army lieutenant colonel Alexander Vindman, the former national security council whistleblower who raised alarms about Trump's pressure tactics. Ultimately the president undermined U.S. foreign policy because he weakened Ukraine.

As he aims to play a significant role in this year's midterms and potentially run for president again in 2024, Trump has shown little interest in calibrating his approach to Putin.

Former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, who has been laying the groundwork for his own potential presidential run, has largely abandoned the language he was criticized for using before the invasion, when had called Putin very capable and said he had enormous respect for him. Even Tucker Carlson, the popular Fox News host who had openly questioned why he shouldn't side with Russia over Ukraine, has tried to walk back his pro-Russia rhetoric, saying, We've been taken by surprise by the whole thing.

That's left Trump relatively isolated, defending his decision to label Putin as smart and criticizing the response from Biden and other Western leaders, even as he has denounced the invasion as horrific and a very sad thing for the world.

NATO has the money now, but they're not doing the job they should be doing, he said this week on Fox Business. It's almost like they're staying away.

That has earned rebuke from some in his party.

In a speech to GOP donors Friday night, Pence forcefully defended NATO and admonished those who have defended Putin as he, too, weighs a presidential run.

"There is no room in this party for apologists for Putin," he said, according to his prepared remarks. There is only room for champions of freedom.

Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell told Fox News there "should be no confusion about .

He's a thug. He's a killer, McConnell said. "He's been on the rampage and this will not end well for him.

Chris Stirewalt, a senior fellow at the right-leaning American Enterprise Institute think tank and a contributing editor of The Dispatch, said Russia's invasion of Ukraine is fundamentally different from the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq that turned large swaths of the American public against foreign intervention and which Trump was able to use to his political advantage.

Putin," he said, has undone so much of what Trump and nationalists in the United States had done to change the global order.

(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.)
People line up to cast ballots for the March 9 presidential election on the second and final day of early voting at a polling station in Seoul on March 5. Yonhap





The rival presidential candidates ramped up their campaigns in swing provinces on the second and final day of early voting Saturday, with high voter interest in the tight race expected to lead to record turnout.







As of 1 p.m., Saturday, turnout came to 26.89 percent, as more than 18.86 million out of the country's 44.2 million voters have cast their ballots for the March 9 presidential election, according to the National Election Commission (NEC).







The figure surpassed the final voter turnout of early voting for the 2017 presidential election and is expected to set a new record.







During Friday's early voting, turnout was 17.57 percent, the highest-ever for the first day since the early voting system was introduced in 2014.







The NEC had earlier projected the final early voting turnout could surpass 30 percent. The current turnout record in early voting was set in National Assembly elections in 2020 with 26.69 percent.







A citizen wearing a sanitary glove receives a ballot on the second day of early voting for the presidential election in Seoul, March 5. Yonhap





Both the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) and the main opposition People Power Party (PPP) have been encouraging people to go to the polls during the two-day early voting period ahead of next week's election, claiming a high turnout benefits their candidates amid a tight race.







Both Lee Jae-myung of the liberal DPK and Yoon Suk-yeol of the conservative PPP already cast their ballots Friday, while President Moon Jae-in also voted early.






Western sanctions do not mean that will truly be isolated, as the world, and itself, are "too big" for that, spokesman Dmitry Peskov told the media on Saturday.

Peskov said that the "rejection of relations" following its offensive in Ukraine, and the introduction of restrictions by Europe, the US, Canada, Japan and "do not mean the isolation of Russia", RT reported.

Russia's military attack on Ukraine, launched on February 24, prompted the US, the EU, the UK and many other nations to introduce harsh sanctions targeting various sectors of the Russian economy.

"The world is too big for Europe and America to isolate any country, especially one as big as . And in the world, as you know, there are many more countries that have a much more balanced, and sometimes more reasonable, attitude towards the dynamics of the development of relations," Peskov said.

Expressing hope that Moscow's Western partners would change their "overly emotional" position, Russian President Vladimir Putin's spokesman pledged that Russia would make an "appropriate" response to the "economic banditry".

--IANS

san/arm

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Russia's invasion of is an attack on not only this country, but also on the security of Europe, US President Joe Biden has said.

In an interaction with reporters during a bilateral meeting with President Niinist of Finland on Friday, Biden said the two nations have been in regular touch for some time now.

He said they have coordinated on a united, transatlantic response to the Russians and holding them accountable for their unprovoked and unjustifiable aggression against .

And we agreed it's not only an attack on Ukraine, it's an attack on the security of and on global peace and stability, Biden said in the Oval Office of the White House.

Earlier in the day, Biden spoke with President Andrzej Duda of Poland to discuss their countries' response, and those of allies, to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, including ongoing efforts to impose severe consequences on .

Biden underscored the United States' commitment to the security of Poland and all of our NATO Allies, White House said in a statement of the call.

He welcomed Poland's partnership in hosting 9,000 US forces, including 4,700 additional service members deployed there in recent weeks, to reassure eastern flank allies, deter Russian aggression against NATO, read the statement.

In Brussels, Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, said the US has sent an additional 7,000 troops to and repositioned its forces already on the continent to strengthen NATO's eastern flank.

We continue to tighten our severe economic sanctions on Russia, he said.

Yesterday, President Putin said his so-called special military operation' is proceeding exactly as planned.

Well, it's hard to imagine that his plan included inspiring the Ukrainian people to defend their country with such tenacity; strengthening the resolve and solidarity of NATO and the EU; uniting the world in opposition to Moscow, including 141 countries at the United Nations, he said.

Blinken continued saying that the Russian invasion has apparently come to unite an unprecedented number of businesses, associations, cultural institutions that have cut ties with and caused the Russian economy to go into freefall".

He said the country's financial state has motivated tens of thousands of Russians to protest and countless more to leave the country, and is "increasingly turning into a pariah state.

If that was President Putin's plan, well, you can say it's working. Russia has never been so isolated; we have never been more united, Blinken said.

Earlier, Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin had a chance to speak with the Polish Minister of Defence Mariusz Blaszczak to discuss impacts of the precious unprovoked and unjust war against Ukraine, his spokesperson John Kirby said.

A deconflation line has been placed between the US and Russia, he said.

It's only been in place for a couple of days, I think since early this week. It is basically a phone line, a phone connection to the Russian Ministry of Defense. It is being administered out of European Command Headquarters, Kirby said in response to a question.

When we tested it, they did pick up the other end. And they acknowledged that they got the call. So, we know it works. We think again, this is as we've done before, like in Syria, we think it's valuable to have a direct communication vehicle at that level at an operational level. To reduce the risks of miscalculation, Kirby said.

And to be able to communicate in real time if need be. Particularly because now the airspace over is contested by both Russian and Ukrainian aircraft.

So that contested airspace now buttress is right up against NATO. So smart thing to do. And we're glad it's in place. We're glad that the Russians have acknowledged that they will use it, he added.

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The Organisation for Migration says the number of people who have left since fighting began has now reached 1.45 million.

The UN migration agency, citing figures from government ministries in countries where they have arrived, said Saturday that 787,300 of them went to Poland. Some 228,700 fled to Moldova, 144,700 to Hungary, 132,600 to Romania and 100,500 to Slovakia.

The IOM said that nationals of 138 countries have crossed Ukraine's borders into neighbouring nations.

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Vladimir Putins military aggression against Ukraine is meeting more opposition from Ukrainians than he expected. The Russian president also saw widespread condemnation of his militarys aggression in Ukraine at the UN General Assembly. But the opposition Putin faces domestically in Russia is also likely giving him cause for alarm.

There are clear reasons, however, to be sceptical of claims that Putin will soon be deposed in a palace coup  or that the existing elite could be removed by mass protests.

There are three broad categories of Russians who have voiced their opposition to the war, albeit in different ways. It helps to visualise these as three concentric circles, starting from the largest and closing in.

Anti-war street protests attended by regular citizens have swept the country. Within the first week of Russias full-scale military invasion of Ukraine, at least 7,669 people were detained by police at anti-war protests across Russia according to OVD-Info, a Russian human rights organisation. Those detained include people all the way from primary school children to an elderly pensioner in St Petersburg.

Jailed opposition figure Alexei Navalny has called for daily anti-war protests in and outside Russia, referring to Putin as an insane tsar.

Cultural elite and the intelligentsia

Portions of the intellectual and cultural elite have also voiced their opposition to war  from TV celebrities to sportspeople and scientists. Beyond individual statements, a flurry of open letters have been signed, including by 44 of the countrys top chess players and by academics.

There are already cases, though, of signatories facing negative consequences, including losing their jobs. As well as the detentions at protests, this serves as a clear reminder of the bravery of those publicly opposing the war.

Economic and political elite

What about important economic actors? With the enormous fortunes that stand to be lost because of the wests unprecedented sanctions on Russia, it is plausible that they might speak out.

Some already have. A few of Russias wealthiest people  for example, the oligarchs Mikhail Fridman and Oleg Deripaska  have called for peace. One of the countrys largest oil companies, Lukoil, has also called for an end to the war in Ukraine.

Krysja via Shutterstock

But there is clear caution. Calling for peace is not the same as directly criticising Putin, as Fridman has acknowledged.

Some public dissent has also been shown already by minor political officials: for instance, a Russian adviser to the World Bank and a Russian delegate at a UN climate conference.

What about people higher up the political food chain? Todays Kremlinology has begun to resemble that of the Soviet era, where the opacity of forced western analysts to scrutinise material like photographs of official events to glean insights into intra-elite dynamics.

In similar fashion, people are now trying to read the body language of senior officials during meetings with Putin for signs of disquiet. One notable example relates to an image of Elvira Nabiullina, the head of Russias Central Bank, captured looking glum with her arms crossed and eyes down at the opposite end to Putin of a comically long table.

So far, however, there are no signs of significant cracks at the top. And thats no surprise  Putin has surrounded himself with hyper-loyalists, the inner circle of which share his impression of a west intent on undermining and his rule. Even if members of the broader political elite are deeply shocked by  or disagree with  Russias assault on Ukraine, the costs of voicing dissent or trying to exit the system are overwhelmingly high. For the moment, at least.

The true depth and breadth of opposition

Its very difficult to measure the true extent of opposition to the war  and to Putin personally  across these three groups, as well as to work out how this might change over time.

The Russian presidents press secretary, Dmitry Peskov, has said that the level of support for the president, for his decisions, and his actions is very, very high. According to the Kremlin-friendly VTsIOM polling agency, 68% of Russians support Russias activities in Ukraine, with another Kremlin-aligned agency, FOM, reporting that 71% of Russians trust in Putin following the start of Russias military operation, up from 60% just before the invasion.

How can this be? Russian state media continues to portray a very different reality to the coverage in western media. Rather than a full-scale assault, the narrative is of a special operation to protect ethnic Russians in the so-called republics of Donetsk and Luhansk from genocide being carried out by Ukraines neo-Nazi government.

Words like invasion and war are banned in Russian media. Independent outlets have been blocked or shut down. And Russians face the prospect of harsh punishment for challenging the states line on the conflict.

A bleak outlook

The degree of opposition going forward depends on a number of factors, including the Russian militarys ability to subdue Ukrainian forces. The scale of economic hardship in will also influence public opinion. But a lot will also depend on the Russian states capacity and willingness to repress dissent at home and continue to control the narrative. Well see economic problems and the deaths of Russian soldiers continue to be blamed by the Kremlin on the west.

Putin has staked his survival on this. And weve seen what he is capable of doing to critical voices: the incarceration of Navalny and the poisoning of Alexander Litvinenko in 2006 being just two examples. Given the steps that have already been taken to respond to domestic opposition, it is likely that  in the short term, at least  we will see a doubling down of repression, including to prevent any cascade of dissent that might shake the very foundations of the regime.

Ben Noble, Associate Professor of Russian Politics, UCL

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
Horrified, angered and saddened by the images and news coming from the war in Ukraine, has announced to suspend all new sales of its products and services in .

Brad Smith, President and Vice Chair of Microsoft, said that the company condemns the unjustified, unprovoked and unlawful invasion by .

"We are coordinating closely and working in lockstep with the governments of the US, the European Union and the UK, and we are stopping many aspects of our business in in compliance with governmental sanctions decisions," Smith said in a statement late on Friday.

"We believe we are most effective in aiding Ukraine when we take concrete steps in coordination with the decisions being made by these governments and we will take additional steps as this situation continues to evolve," he added.

joins the growing list of Big Tech like Google, Meta, Twitter, Snapchat, Reddit, YouTube and others in pausing or curtailing their business/presence in Russia.

Apple shut down sales of its products in Russia and Google and Meta have put a pause on selling ads in the country.

Smith said that they continue to work proactively to help cybersecurity officials in Ukraine defend against Russian attacks, including most recently a cyberattack against a major Ukrainian broadcaster.

"Since the war began, we have acted against Russian positioning, destructive or disruptive measures against more than 20 Ukrainian government, IT and financial sector organisations," Smith informed.

has also acted against cyberattacks targeting several additional civilian sites.

"We are also continuing to mobilise our resources to help the people in Ukraine," Smith added.

--IANS

na/ksk/

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UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Friday condemned the suicide bomb attack inside a Shiite mosque at in .

"Houses of worship should be havens, not targets. I condemn today's horrific attack on a mosque in Peshawar, Pakistan, during Friday prayers," he tweeted, Xinhua news agency reported.

"My condolences to those who have lost loved ones, and my solidarity with the people of ."

The suicide bomb attack left at least 56 people dead and nearly 200 injured, according to hospital and police officials.

--IANS

int/pgh

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The United States and its allies have accused Russia of attacking Ukraine's largest nuclear power plant and putting the lives of millions of Europeans at risk of radiation fallout, but Russia claimed a "Ukrainian sabotage group was responsible for setting fire to a nearby training facility.

At an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council after photos of a burning building sent shock waves around the world of a possible nuclear disaster on Friday, the head of the UN nuclear agency reaffirmed that no reactors were hit and the Zaporizhzhia plant in the southeastern city of Enerhodar was operating normally.

But Atomic Energy Agency Director-General Rafael Mariano Grossi didn't say who was responsible for firing a projectile that hit a building adjacent to a block of six reactors at the plant sparking a fire.

He said the IAEA was informed a few days ago by Russia that its forces were moving to take control of the plant.

Their advance toward its perimeter was met with opposition and some group of civilians attacking the access to the plant, he said, and early Friday the IAEA got information that a projectile had impacted a building adjacent to the block of reactors six of them.

For Ukraine and Western countries and allies on the Security Council there was no question that Russia was responsible for firing the projectile. The emergency meeting was called by the US, UK, France, Norway, Ireland, and Albania.

Britain's UN Ambassador Barbara Woodward said Russia's reckless attack marked the first time that any country has attacked a fuelled and functioning nuclear power plant.

In doing so, she said, it had breached law and the Geneva Convention on the conduct of war which states that dams, dykes, and nuclear electrical generating stations, shall not be made the object of attack.

US Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield opened her remarks saying: By the grace of God, the world narrowly averted a nuclear catastrophe last night.

She called Russia's attack incredibly reckless and dangerous, saying it threatened the safety of civilians across Russia, Ukraine and Europe.

Dr Alex Rosen, a pediatrician and vice-president of the German affiliate of the Nobel prize-winning group Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War, said the attack clearly shows the danger of fighting war in a nuclear state.

Had the projectile hit a spent fuel pond at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant or one of its six reactors, the prevalent winds Friday morning could have spread radioactive fallout toward the southeast, across the Azov Sea straight into Russia, engulfing the city of Rostov and continuing toward Georgia, Rosen said in an interview.

Russia's UN ambassador Vassily Nebenzia rejected claims that its military forces attacked the plant as simply untrue and part of an unprecedented campaign of lies and disinformation against Russia.

He claimed Russia took control of Enerhodar and the Zaporizhzhia on February 28 and reached agreement with the plant's management for the Russian military to guard the facility to ensure its security to prevent the Ukrainian nationalist or other terrorist forces from taking advantage of the current situation to organise a nuclear provocation.

According to the Russian Ministry of Defence, he said, a Russian mobile patrol in the area adjacent to the plant on Thursday night was attacked by a Ukrainian sabotage group with heavy small arms fire from the windows of several floors of a training complex just outside the nuclear plant in order to provoke return fire.

The Russians returned fire and suppressed their fire, he said, and as they were leaving, the Ukrainian sabotage group set fire to the training facility.

For Russia and Belarus which as neighbours lived through the 1986 Chernobyl nuclear disaster, Nebenzia said, maintaining a normal radiation situation throughout Ukraine is important. And he again blamed Ukrainian nationalists for the incident at the plant and accused the West of attempting to blow it into a global scandal.

Ukraine's UN Ambassador Sergiy Kyslytsya accused Russia of committing an act of nuclear terrorism by shelling the nuclear power plant and dismissed as lies Nebenzia's claim that a Ukrainian sabotage group was responsible for setting fire to a training facility at the plant.

He said the Russian ambassador may not be properly informed by his government.

Kyslytsya expressed disappointment that the IAEA's Grossi did not include any mention of the attacking side.

We demand clear and decisive action from the IAEA, he said.

The international community must respond adequately to the actions of the Russian Federation, which could lead to an unprecedented nuclear catastrophe.

The Zaporizhzhia plant is currently under control of the Russian armed forces, Kyslytsya said. While there have been no changes in radiation levels, Kyslytsya said several buildings are damaged and the telephone connection to the plant is disrupted and not available at the moment.

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South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham is facing intense pushback from all corners of Washington after calling for the Russian people to end the Ukraine war by assassinating President Vladimir Putin.

press secretary Jen Psaki said Friday that it is not the position of the United States government.

Graham, a former Air Force lawyer and longtime defence hawk, tweeted Thursday evening that the only people who can fix this are Russians.

The only way this ends is for somebody in Russia to take this guy out, Graham tweeted. You would be doing your country - and the world - a great service.

The tweet drew swift pushback from some of the most conservative and liberal members of Congress. Texas Republican Sen. Ted Cruz called it an exceptionally bad idea. Georgia Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, a Republican who was denounced this week for speaking at an event organised by a white nationalist, said Graham's tweet was irresponsible, dangerous & unhinged.

And Minnesota Rep. Ilhan Omar, a Democrat who has faced criticism over comments about Israel, tweeted: Seriously, wtf?



On Friday, Psaki dismissed Graham's idea out of hand.

That is not the position of the United States government and certainly not a statement you'd hear come from the mouth of anybody working in this administration," she said.

Graham's comment comes at a fraught time for the White House, which is orchestrating a tough Western response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine while trying to avoid a direct confrontation with Russia for fear of triggering a broader war. The Russian president's raising of the alert level on his country's nuclear weapons stirred fears that he may be willing to consider the unthinkable step of using them.

The US has ruled out sending troops to Ukraine and hasn't agreed to a no-fly zone over Ukraine that could lead to clashes with Russian warplanes.

With no letup in the war, the has asked Congress for $10 billion in emergency funding, with money going toward humanitarian aid and security needs. Approval could come as soon as next week.

Lawmakers are also pushing the Biden administration to halt oil imports from Russia, a move that could tighten the vise on the country's increasingly isolated economy.

But Graham is alone in encouraging attempts on Putin's life.

Russia's ambassador to the United States, Anatoly Antonov, called his comments unacceptable and outrageous.

Graham was unbowed in a Fox News appearance Friday morning, saying that the best way for the fighting to end is to have an Elliot Ness or Wyatt Earp in Russia, referring to fabled American law enforcement figures.

I am convinced this is a one man problem surrounded by a few people, Graham said.

Also Friday, Graham introduced a resolution with Democratic Sens. Ben Cardin and Chris Van Hollen that calls for Putin to be held accountable for his actions in Ukraine, including investigations of war crimes.

(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 Zelenskyy has slammed NATO's decision not to implement a no-fly zone over Ukraine amid the ongoing conflict with Russia.

"A NATO summit took place today. It was a weak summit, a confused summit, a summit that shows that not everyone considers the fight for freedom in Europe the number one goal," Zelenskyy said in a video message, as quoted by Russia's Sputnik.

Zelenskyy accused the members of the military alliance of giving Russia "the green light to start shelling Ukrainian cities and villages."

He said that NATO countries have created a narrative that closing the skies over Ukraine would provoke Russia's direct aggression against NATO. "This is the self-hypnosis of those who are weak, insecure inside, despite the fact they possess weapons many times stronger than we have," the Ukrainian President was quoted as saying by CNN.

This reaction comes after NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg on Friday outrightly rejected to police a no-fly zone over Ukraine, and warned that such a move could provoke widespread war in Europe with Russia.

The remarks came during the extraordinary meeting of the NATO Foreign Ministers in Brussels on Friday.

Stoltenberg made clear that NATO would not impose a no-fly zone over Ukraine saying, allies have agreed NATO should not have planes operating over Ukraine.

Earlier in a video message, Ukraine Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba had called for NATO to act before it's too late.

"If you don't (help us), I am afraid you (NATO) will have to share responsibility for the lives and suffering of the Ukrainian civilians who die because of ruthless Russian pilots dropping bombs on them," said Kuleba.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Congress MP has hailed the Narendra Modi government's efforts in evacuating stranded Indians from amid the ongoing war staged by Russia on Kiev and its stand on the issue in the international fora, but criticised the Central leadership for "indulging in PR exercise" over the crisis.

While interacting with IANS, Tharoor said: "Initially, I was not satisfied with the speeches of the government on the international stage... sovereignty of the states is our principle, which has been there since the time of (late) PM Nehru.

"There were more than 20,000 Indian citizens in . Initially, other Western countries began the process to evacuate their citizens, but we waited till the last minute. And in the meeting of the advisory committee, the government said that it has issued advisory to the students. About 4,000 Indian citizens had left at their own expense, the rest remained on their own, and for that, the government cannot be blamed."

The Congress leader, however, appreciated the government for bringing the Indian students back home.

On the government sending its ministers to the borders along Ukraine to oversee the evacuation process, Tharoor said: "I do not want to say much about this, but this government has a problem... it likes to indulge 'PR exercise'. A minister went to Romania and said that we are all doing this for you, and the mayor of that place said that we are giving shelter and food, why are you coming here and giving a speech?

"This does not look good for the government."

The Foreign Ministry had called a meeting of the Consultative Committee on Thursday on the crisis arising out of the Russia-Ukraine war. Nine MPs from six political parties had participated in it.

Later, it was claimed that during the meeting, former Congress president Rahul Gandhi was busy on his phone.

Responding to this, Tharoor said: "This is not true... The Congress party took this meeting quite seriously and most of the members were from Congress."

On India's loss due to the war, Tharoor said: "One country has attacked another and its effect will be felt on the entire world.

"For example, the price of a barrel of crude oil rose to $114 a litre because of the war. It was estimated in that budget that the price of a barrel of crude oil would be $75... now, most of the estimations seem to be going wrong," he added.

--IANS

msk/rjs/pgh/shb/

(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 Robert Neff





Is this card, circa April 1907, "a piece of Japanese political propaganda about Yun Hui-sun"? Courtesy of Diane Nars Collection

There is an old saying that a picture is worth a thousand words but is the story that it is telling the truth? When viewing an image we need context. Who were the people who appear in the picture, when and why was it taken and who was the photographer  with this information we are better able to understand what the image is trying to tell us.



My friend Diane purchased a postcard recently with an interesting but somewhat confusing story. The postcard  postmarked "Yokohama, 18 April 1907"  was sent by a Royal Navy sailor named Charles Walter Candy (1877-1930) to his future wife and, in itself, is not overly interesting, but the dealer's description of the card was:



"This [postcard] shows a Meiji-period boy and girl, the boy reaching forward to take the girl's hand. He wears the uniform of a Japanese Army General and she wears a splendid kimono, richly and dramatically decorated. This would seem to be a very cute and whimsical childhood image, but is in fact a piece of Japanese political propaganda, relating to the Japan-Korea Treaty of 1907, which allowed Japan to colonize and control Korea. The woman is not Japanese in meaning at all, but the famous female Korean freedom fighter Yun Hui-Sun (1860-1935) who was an organizer of female militias who resisted Japanese control."



Is the card truly "a piece of Japanese political propaganda"?



According to some sources, Yun Hui-sun's family was from the Haeju area in North Korea but she was born in Seoul on June 25, 1860. Pae-yong Yi, the author of "Women in Korean History," described her as being "brilliant and high-spirited, and filial toward her parents from an early age."



At the age of 16, she married Yu Jae-won and went to live with him at his home in the Chuncheon area of Gangwon Province. Following her marriage, she "was deeply devoted to her father-in-law and faithfully carried out her obligations toward her husband's relatives and ancestors, while treating her inferiors with affection."





The mountainous region of the eastern part of the peninsula in the early 1900s Robert Neff Collection



At some point, most likely in the late 1870s or early 1880s, they had a son named Yu Don-sang. It is not clear if Don-sang was their only child, as he is the only one mentioned. it is also possible there were others who died while very young as the infant mortality rate in Korea was quite high. Much of Yun Hui-sun's normal day was probably spent in the tedium of running a household  which she apparently did very well and managed to keep harmony in the family thus earning her the respect of her in-laws  but, judging from her later life, she also managed to find sanctuary in intellectual pursuits.



While peace and harmony reigned in her household, the rest of the peninsula was a vortex of turmoil and change.



When Queen Min (posthumously elevated to Empress Myeongseong) was assassinated in October 1895, unrest and anti-Japanese sentiment spread across the peninsula. Yun's father-in-law, Yu Hong-seok, a noted scholar and a man of great standing in the local community, was infuriated with the Japanese government meddling increasingly in Korean politics. He and his cousin, Yu In-seok, formed their own militia and became leaders of the insurgency in the Chuncheon area.



Yun was also enflamed by this despicable act and posted proclamations in the streets of her village in which she warned the Japanese authorities and pro-Japanese Koreans that there would be retributions meted out for the crimes committed upon Joseon. Defiantly, she signed at least four of these proclamations.



Perhaps the final straw was at the beginning of January 1896 when the pro-Japanese newly formed Korean government issued an edict banning the topknot and requiring all Korean men to have their hair cut. Seoul was paralyzed as farmers and merchants refused to transports goods  food and fuel  to the capital out of fear of having their topknots forcefully shorn. The peninsula erupted into unrest  especially in the Chuncheon area.





Crossing a mountain stream in the early 1900s Robert Neff Collection
The Bihar Police's Economic Offence Unit (EOU) has asked Google, and to provide details of cyber criminals.

ADG (EOU) Nayyer Hasnain Khan has asked the India head of Google, and to provide details of the alleged criminals involved in threatening and blackmailing the common people of Bihar.

In the last few months, cyber criminals have used women to make video calls to potential targets and in turn take screenshots of the call to blackmail the victims.

The official said that there were 40 cases of blackmailing via social media in Bihar and FIRs have been lodged in different police stations across the state.

"We have given the details of 40 FIRs and asked them to provide details of the accused. In case of inaction from the India heads of Google, and Twitter, we will serve separate notice under the CrPC 91 to them. We have already sent e-mails to the head offices of these three institutions," Khan said.

"We have directed the officials to solve the cases within two months."

--IANS

ajk/ksk/

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
New Delhi [India], March 5 (ANI/NewsVoir):(https://www.lexar.com/) Lexar, a leading global brand of flash memory solutions, is proud to receive the award, 'Best Memory Card Editor's Choice' - Lexar Professional CFexpress Type B Memory Card GOLD Series in the 2021 Photography News magazine Awards.

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DISCLAIMER

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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
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By David A. Tizzard




Dakota graduated from Bret Harte in 2013 and went to Davidson College, NC where she earned a bachelor's degree in Arab studies. After spending time studying in the Middle East and Europe, she is happy to be home, writing about the community she loves.

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Customers flock to Chanel's boutique at Lotte Department Store in Seoul prior to the brand's price hike in May 2020. Korea Times file





By Kim Jae-heun







More and more Koreans are turning away from Chanel, as it has lost consumer trust following a series of price hikes over the past two years, according to industry analysts Friday. After the French luxury brand was found to have been charging higher prices for its handbags and other merchandise in Korea than in other Asian countries, more people have stopped visiting its stores.







On Thursday, Chanel increased prices by an average of 5 percent, the second price hike of this year after raising prices in January. In 2021, the company lifted prices in September and November.







"This is ridiculous. Chanel just raised the prices a months ago  how can they do it again so quickly? It has not been giving us clear explanations, and only luxury companies have been increasing prices so often," a 34-year-old office worker surnamed Yoo said.







Chanel Korea said it had to adjust its prices to cope with increasing raw material costs and manufacturing expenses as well as fluctuating exchange rates.







Chanel's poor customer service is also discouraging people from shopping at its stores. There is an allegation that Chanel has been stockpiling its popular items until the price hike.







"I've visited Chanel boutiques in Seoul a number of times to buy a handbag, but it was never there. I happened to stop by at a store on Thursday and it was there, just 350,000 won ($288.90) more expensive," another office worker surnamed Kim said. "I am going to look for the same bag on a resale market because prices there are adjusted according to the supply and demand."







Chanel bags have been cheaper in local resale markets recently due to an increase in supply. Resellers have been flocking to Chanel boutiques here every time rumors spread online that the French luxury brand will raise its prices, which have often turned out to be true.







They waited three to four hours and swept up all the steady and best-selling items. This led to an oversupply of Chanel handbags and accessories in online resale markets, and last year Chanel limited handbag purchases to one per person per visit.







An industry official working at a local luxury firm hinted that Chanel increased its prices abruptly to keep its products' premium fees high in the resale market.







"After the French luxury firm heard its products' prices were falling in the local resale market, it decided to raise the price of its products and limit their supply," the official said.


Modified On Mar 04, 2022 05:27 PM By Rohit for Toyota Glanza

With the addition of two new trims, the facelifted Glanza will now be available in as many trims as the Maruti Baleno

Toyota will launch the updated Glanza on March 15.

Will be offered in four trims: E, G, S, and V.

To get a similar colour palette as the facelifted Baleno, save for the beige shade.

Will be powered by the Balenos 90PS 1.2-litre DualJet petrol engine.

Will feature a 360-degree camera, connected car tech, and a 9-inch touchscreen.

Expected to be priced from Rs 6.5 lakh (ex-showroom) onwards.

Toyota recently confirmed that the facelifted Glanza will go on sale on March 15. Now, in this report, we exclusively bring you the updated hatchbacks variants and colour options. Unofficial bookings are underway at select Toyota dealerships.

Unlike the pre-facelift model that was sold in only two trims (G and V), the facelifted Glanza will be available in four: E (new), G, S (new), and V. We believe the lineup will be in this exact order, considering all trims, save for the base-spec E, get an optional automatic transmission, much like the Maruti Baleno.

Toyota will offer the new Glanza in five shades: white, silver, grey, red, and blue. All five are the same as the Baleno, but the Glanza will miss out on the beige option, which the Maruti gets.

Also Read: Facelifted Maruti Baleno vs Rivals: Spec Comparo

The facelifted Glanza will be powered by the same 1.2-litre DualJet petrol engine (90PS/113Nm) as the new Baleno. It will, hence, lose the mild-hybrid tech, and instead, come with idle-engine start/stop. A 5-speed MT will be standard, along with an optional 5-speed AMT (instead of the earlier CVT).

A recently released teaser image gave us a glimpse of the facelifted Glanzas revised and distinct fascia. Compared to the new Baleno, the Glanza gets a single chrome strip in the grille and a distinct front bumper with a honeycomb mesh pattern. It also has chrome surrounds for the fog lamp housings and an updated alloy wheel design. The rear will likely be similar to the facelifted Baleno.

Inside, the new Glanza will sport a three-tone black and beige layout with a piano black insert for the dashboard. Toyota has recently teased a couple of features, including connected car tech with Alexa support (telematics), a 9-inch touchscreen system with voice assistance, and a 360-degree camera. Other expected features include auto climate control and cruise control. Safety will likely be covered by electronic stability control, up to six airbags, and hill hold assist.

Toyota is expected to price the facelifted Glanza from Rs 6.5 lakh (ex-showroom) onwards. For reference, the pre-facelift model was priced between Rs 7.7 lakh and Rs 9.66 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi). The premium hatch will resume its competition with the Honda Jazz, Maruti Baleno, Volkswagen Polo, Tata Altroz, and Hyundai i20.

Read More on : Toyota Glanza on road price
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Photo: Chuck Chiang, BIV Protester Louis Huang holds photos of Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor outside B.C. Supreme Court in Vancouver on the date of Huawei CFO Meng Wanzhou?s March 6, 2020 hearing.

Ottawa lobbied the Trump White House and the Communist Party of Chinas highest body in an effort to free two Canadian nationals, freedom of information documents show.

Chinese authorities arrested Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor shortly after the arrest of Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou at Vancouver International Airport on Dec. 1, 2018. Meng was arrested on a U.S. extradition request.

The Canadian government became aware of the men's detentions on Dec. 10, 2018.

Known as the "Two Michaels," Kovrig was a former Canadian diplomatic service employee working for International Crisis Group when he was detained; Spavor was held after operating cultural exchange tours into North Korea from the Chinese border city of Dandong.

Through the course of their 1,019 days of detention, Canadian federal officials said they did not want to politicize Canada-U.S. extradition treaty obligations. But according to heavily redacted documents obtained by Glacier Media through federal freedom of information (FOI) legislation, Canadian officials actively lobbed foreign politicians in an effort to secure their release.

Documents show Canada's Minister of Foreign Affairs had conversations with Chinas Minister of Foreign Affairs Wang Yi and Yang Jiechi, director of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, the partys 25-member, highest decision-making body.

Conversations were also held between the Canadian minister at the time and three senior U.S. senators  Republican senators Lindsey Graham and Bob Corker, and Democrat Bob Menendez. Canadian officials wanted the three men to lobby fellow members of congress, according to the FOI documents. In Sen. Grahams case, the documents indicate the Canadian minister asked him to lobby members of the Trump administration.

None of the documents name the Canadian minister of foreign affairs, but Chrystia Freeland held the office when each of the calls were made.

In a call with Sen. Corker, ministerial notes said it was important to counter Chinese narrative that Canada has kidnapped Ms. Meng at USAs behest.

The arbitrary detention of two Canadians (blacked out) sends the wrong message to countries such as the U.S. and Canada who are working to further deeper bilateral relations with China, the document said.

The then-Canadian minister of foreign affairs also spoke with German Minister of Foreign Affairs Heiko Maas, and was briefed on discussions Canadian officials had with their European Union (EU) counterparts in both Beijing and Brussels. The documents offered no details on what was discussed.

The names of some people the Canadian minister called were blacked out and many of the redacted documents are labelled Secret.

Throughout the documents, the Canadian side reiterated its government is bound by foreign treaties, including its extradition treaty with the United States.

On multiple occasions, the documents state: Canada is a country governed by the rule of law with a strong and independent judicial system.

The so-called "top-line messages" to the senators were that Canada appreciated U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeos calls for the release of Kovrig and Spavor, that the arrest of Meng was pursuant to the Canada-U.S. extradition treaty, and that Chinas reaction to the Meng case is deeply concerning, including the detention of two Canadian citizens.

"Such conduct," reads the document, "harms Chinas reputation.

Glacier Media requested the documentation about the well-being, custody conditions and potential release of Kovrig and Spavor on Feb. 15, 2019. They arrived over three years later on Feb. 25, 2022.

They indicate Kovrig had his first Canadian consular visit from then-ambassador John McCallum on Dec. 14, 2018. Spavor received his first consular visit from Canadian officials a few days later, on Dec. 16. Such visits are a requirement under international treaties.

Kovrig (also a Hungarian-EU citizen) and Spavor were arrested for espionage, Beijing said. However, many observers noted the detentions were likely carried out in retaliation for Mengs arrest and detention.

Meng's discharge from her extradition process in September came after the Huawei executive reached a deferred prosecution agreement with U.S. authorities. Under that agreement, she was required to follow a list of obligations and not challenge an American statement of facts on the case that stated Meng knowingly deceived the bank HSBC about its subsidiarys operations in Iran.

In exchange, Meng would not have to plea guilty to U.S. charges of fraud and money laundering, and the US Department of Justice would drop charges against her if all obligations were followed up to Dec. 1, 2022.

Back in August 2021, Spavor was sentenced in a Dandong court to 11 years in prison, a fine of about $8,000 and deportation.

Kovrig, who was arrested and tried in Beijing, was awaiting his sentencing at the time of his release.

On Sept. 25, 2021, the pair landed at Calgary International Airport in a Royal Canadian Air Force Challenger aircraft. Waiting to greet them were Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and then-Foreign Affairs Minister Marc Garneau.
Photo: BC SPCA

B.C. Supreme Court has denied the provinces mink farmers interim relief from a ban on their industry, saying deference must be given to health authorities attempting to control the COVID-19 pandemic.

Last November, Agriculture Minister Lana Popham and provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry announced a ban on mink farming with a timeline for ending the industry. The province's plan includes a permanent ban on live mink on farms by April 2023. All pelts, meanwhile, must be sold by 2025.

This decision follows the recommendations of public health officials and infectious disease experts about managing the threat of the virus for workers at the farms and the broader public," Popham said at the time.

Justice Carol Ross noted the farmers assert provincial actions would extinguish an entire agricultural industry.

With the breeding season now upon the farmers, they brought an application to the court March 4 to have an interim stay on the ban until their case can be heard in full.

Ross heard there are 10,825 farmed mink in the province. They breed in March with an estimated 46,500 kits to be born this year. The farmers said not breeding this year would result in no breeding stock for 2023.

Ross noted the Animal Health Act provides for an order for destruction of animals if needed.

No such order has been made in the present case, she said.

Ross further noted the COVID virus can jump between humans, mink and other animals. She said mutations can create variants of concern to health officials trying to contain the pandemic.

While the farmers lost the argument on deference to health authorities, Ross did agree that there were serious questions to be answered in a Feb. 15 petition and that they had demonstrated the ban would cause irreparable harm to the industry.

The Canadian Mink Breeders Association (CMBA) and BC Mink Producers Association claim the ban and other measures are ultra vires  or beyond the provincial governments jurisdiction.

Neither the CMBA nor their lawyer could be immediately reached for comment.

The petition

That suit asserts that a ban on production early in the pandemic was not within the governments powers and should be overturned, that it would destroy the industry, cause employment losses and financial and reputation damage to the farmers.

The province incorrectly assessed the risk associated with mink farming, failed to meaningfully consider available mitigation measures and instead chose an unreasonable solution, said the petition to B.C. Supreme Court.

The petition said that, in December 2020 and May 2021, mink and workers at three farms tested positive for COVID-19. Hundreds of mink deaths were reported. As a result, health orders were focused on farms.

The petition said farmers worked with provincial and local authorities to look after their animals, employees and their communities. The farms employ dozens of people in the Fraser Valley. Together, they produce close to 250,000 pelts annually.

The petition asserts there was no meaningful consultation by the B.C. government before the decision to ban the industry was made.

It said no other province has taken such action.
Photo: The Canadian Press Militia men carry the coffin with the body of Volodymyr Nezhenets, 54, during his funeral in the city of Kyiv, Ukraine, Friday, March 4, 2022. A small group of reservists are burying their comrade, 54-year-old Volodymyr Nezhenets, who was one of three killed on Feb. 26 in an ambush Ukrainian authorities say was caused by Russian 'saboteurs'. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)

The head of Ukraines security council called on Russia to create humanitarian corridors to allow children, women and the elderly to escape the fighting.

Oleksiy Danilov said Friday more than 840 children have been wounded in the war. A day earlier, the Ukrainian government put the death toll among children at 28.

He spoke ahead of the latest talks between Ukrainian and Russian delegations, planned for this weekend.

The question of humanitarian corridors is question No. 1., Danilov said on Ukrainian television. Children, women, elderly people  what are they doing here?

Russian troops have encircled and blockaded several large cities in the south of the country, including Mariupol, trying to cut Ukraine off from the Black and Azov seas.

Ukrainian officials have asked for help from the Red Cross in organizing corridors, describing the situation in the blockaded cities as close to a catastrophe.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will talk to U.S. senators on a video conference call Saturday morning, according to a person familiar with the invitation from the Ukrainian embassy.

All senators are invited to the call, according to the person, who requested anonymity to discuss the private invitation. The meeting will be the first time lawmakers have talked to the Ukrainian president since Russia invaded his country.

The call will come as Congress is considering a request for $10 billion in emergency funding, with money going toward humanitarian aid and security needs in the war-torn country. Approval could come as soon as next week.

In a bitter and emotional speech, Zelenskyy criticized NATO for refusing to impose a no-fly zone over Ukraine, saying it will fully untie Russias hands as it escalates its attack from the air.

All the people who die from this day forward will also die because of you, because of your weakness, because of your lack of unity, he said in a nighttime address. The alliance has given the green light to the bombing of Ukrainian cities and villages by refusing to create a no-fly zone.

On Friday, NATO refused to impose a no-fly zone, warning that to do so could provoke widespread war in Europe with nuclear-armed Russia.

All that the alliance was able to do today was to pass through its procurement system 50 tons of diesel fuel for Ukraine. Perhaps so we could burn the Budapest Memorandum, Zelenskyy said, referring to the 1994 security guarantees given to Ukraine in exchange for the withdrawal of its Soviet-era nuclear weapons.

You will not be able to pay us off with liters of fuel for the liters of our blood, shed for our common Europe.

He said Ukrainians will continue to resist and have already destroyed Russias plans for a lightning invasion having endured nine days of darkness and evil.

We are warriors of light, he said. The history of Europe will remember this forever.
Photo: wikimedia commons

The federal government is preparing to take action to ensure Quebec does not lose a seat when Canada's electoral map is redrawn.

A number of government departments are working on proposals to protect Quebec's voice in Parliament as it faces losing a seat in an upcoming redistribution of seats based on population.

Because Quebec's population has declined, it stands to lose an MP, while other provinces with growing populations, including Alberta, would gain MPs. The last time a province lost a seat in redistribution was in 1966.

This week MPs voted to back a motion tabled by the Bloc Quebecois rejecting the proposal to redraw the electoral map in a way that reduces the province's political weight in the House of Commons.

The motion called for changes to the formula used by Elections Canada to allot seats. It was supported by the Liberals, NDP and some Conservatives.

The existing formula means that on the new electoral map Quebec loses a seat, Alberta gains three more, Ontario and British Columbia each gain an MP, and other provinces and territories keep the same number.

Jean-Sebastien Comeau, press secretary to Intergovernmental Affairs Minister Dominic LeBlanc, said the government is working on a way to ensure that Quebec's share of MPs does not shrink.

We reject any scenario where Quebec loses a seat. We are carefully considering next steps in terms of the redistribution of seats in the House of Commons and we will have more to say in due course," he said.

The office of Pablo Rodriguez, who is the government's spokesman on Quebec, also known as the Quebec lieutenant, is among those working on ways to protect the province's representation in the Commons.

A source in the Quebec lieutenant's office, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to comment to media, said there were "live discussions" ongoing about ensuring the number of seats in the province does not fall.

One of the things the government is looking at is the 2011 Fair Representation Act, which put forward ways to maintain the number of MPs in slower-growing provinces, to see if similar measures could be used to protect the number of ridings in Quebec, the source said.

The federal government is also looking at the formula used by Elections Canada to allocate provincial seats based on population and whether it can be changed to protect Quebec without more far-reaching consequences.

The government will likely present its proposal this month before a Bloc Quebecois private member's bill is voted on. The Bloc bill, if passed, would ensure that Quebec's MPs never fall below a quarter of members of the House of Commons.

Canadas chief electoral officer calculated the proposed redistribution of seats last year based on a mathematical model applied to population.

The Bloc Quebecois says the proposal fails to acknowledge Quebecs official status as a nation and would reduce the power of Quebecers in Parliament. Bloc Leader Yves-Francois Blanchet believes Quebec should gain a seat, bringing it to 79 MPs, rather than lose a seat and take it down to 77.

A spokeswoman for Elections Canada said it calculates the number of House of Commons seats for each province using the population estimates supplied by Statistics Canada and a formula set out in the Constitution.

"This process is purely administrative on the part of the chief electoral officer and is done in an independent, neutral and non?partisan manner in accordance with applicable laws," said Natasha Gauthier.

Tory MP Michelle Rempel Garner said the Bloc motion had raised new questions about Canada's electoral system and in a column suggested the Conservatives should take a fresh look at reforming the electoral system, including a form of proportional representation.

The MP for Calgary Nose Hill said the Conservatives, despite winning the popular vote in the last two elections, had not made gains under the first-past-the-post system. She said the Conservative party should not have to rely on splits in the left-of-centre vote to win.

"Some form of electoral system reform might also inject some badly needed boldness into our national policy debates," she wrote in a column in The Western Standard.
A Soviet-era top secret over-the-horizon radar system, code-named Duga, once used as part of the Soviet missile defense early-warning radar network, is seen behind a radioactivity warning sign in Chernobyl, Ukraine, Nov. 22, 2018. Russia's attack on a nuclear power plant in Ukraine has revived fears of people across Europe who remember the 1986 Chernobyl disaster. AP-Yonhap





Russian troops seized the largest nuclear power plant in Europe, Thursday, after a middle-of-the-night attack that set it on fire and briefly raised worldwide fears of a catastrophe in the most chilling turn yet in Moscow's invasion of Ukraine.







Firefighters put out the blaze, and no radiation was released, U.N. and Ukrainian officials said. Russian forces pressed on with their week-old offensive on multiple fronts, though they did not appear to gain significant ground in fighting Friday. The number of refugees fleeing the country eclipsed 1.2 million.







With world condemnation mounting, the Kremlin cracked down on the flow of information at home, blocking Facebook, Twitter, the BBC and the U.S. government-funded Voice of America. And President Vladimir Putin signed a law making it a crime punishable by up to 15 years in prison to spread what he called "fake news," including anything that goes against the official government line on the war. CNN announced that it would stop broadcasting in Russia, and Bloomberg temporarily suspended the work of its journalists there, saying they were assessing the situation.







While the vast Russian armored column threatening Kyiv remained stalled outside the capital, Putin's military has launched hundreds of missiles and artillery attacks on cities and other sites across the country, and made significant gains on the ground in the south in an apparent bid to cut off Ukraine's access to the sea.







In the attack on the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant in the southeastern city of Enerhodar, the chief of the U.N.'s International Atomic Energy Agency, Rafael Mariano Grossi, said a Russian ''projectile'' hit a training center, not any of the six reactors.







The attack triggered global alarm and fear of a catastrophe that could dwarf the world's worst nuclear disaster, at Ukraine's Chernobyl in 1986. In an emotional nighttime speech, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he feared an explosion that would be ''the end for everyone. The end for Europe. The evacuation of Europe.''







But nuclear officials from Sweden to China said no radiation spikes had been reported, as did Grossi.







Authorities said Russian troops had taken control of the overall site but plant staff continued to run it. Only one reactor was operating, at 60 percent of capacity, Grossi said in the aftermath of the attack.







Two people were injured in the fire, Grossi said. Ukraine's state nuclear plant operator Enerhoatom said three Ukrainian soldiers were killed and two wounded.







A house is on fire following the shelling of the town of Irpin, 26 kilometers west of Kyiv, Ukraine, March 4. Russia's war on Ukraine is now in its ninth day and Russian forces have shelled Europe's largest nuclear power plant, sparking a fire there that was put out by firefighters. AP-Yonhap





In the U.S., Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said the episode ''underscores the recklessness with which the Russians have been perpetrating this unprovoked invasion.'' At an emergency meeting of the U.N. Security Council, Ukraine's U.N. Ambassador Sergiy Kyslytsya said the fire broke out as a result of Russian shelling of the plant and accused Moscow of committing ''an act of nuclear terrorism.''







Without producing evidence, Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov claimed that a Ukrainian ''sabotage group'' had set the fire at Zaporizhzhia.







The crisis unfolded after Grossi earlier in the week expressed grave concern that the fighting could cause accidental damage to Ukraine's 15 nuclear reactors at four plants around the country.







Atomic safety experts said a war fought amid nuclear reactors represents an unprecedented and highly dangerous situation.







''These plants are now in a situation that few people ever seriously contemplated when they were originally built,'' said Edwin Lyman of the Union of Concerned Scientists in Washington. ''No nuclear plant has been designed to withstand a potential threat of a full-scale military attack.''







Some Chinese splurge on Russian snacks in show of solidarity with the country Russia reports cease-fire in 2 Ukraine areas for evacuations Russia cracks down on dissenting media, blocks Facebook Dr. Alex Rosen of International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War said the incident was probably the result of military units overestimating the precision of their weapons, given that the prevailing winds would have carried any radioactive fallout straight toward Russia.



''Russia cannot have any interest in contaminating its own territory,'' he said. He said the danger comes not just from the reactors but from the risk of enemy fire hitting storage facilities that hold spent fuel rods.



In the wake of the attack, Zelenskyy appealed again to the West to enforce a no-fly zone over his country. But NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg ruled out that possibility, citing the risk of a much wider war in Europe. He said that to enforce a no-fly zone, NATO planes would have to shoot down Russian aircraft.



In a bitter and emotional speech, Zelenskyy criticized NATO's reluctance, saying it will fully untie Russia's hands as it escalates its air attack.



''All the people who die from this day forward will also die because of you, because of your weakness, because of your lack of unity,'' he said in a nighttime address. ''The alliance has given the green light to the bombing of Ukrainian cities and villages by refusing to create a no-fly zone.''



Russian forces, meanwhile, did not make significant progress Friday in their offensive to sever Ukraine's access to the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov, which would deal a severe blow to its economy and could worsen an already dire humanitarian situation. There were also no changes in the north and the east, where the Russian offensive has stalled, meeting fierce Ukrainian resistance.



A round of talks between Russia and Ukraine yielded a tentative agreement Thursday to set up safe corridors to evacuate citizens and deliver food and medicine. But the necessary details still had to be worked out.



More than 840 children have been wounded in the war, and 28 have been killed, according to Ukraine's government. A total of 331 civilians had been confirmed killed in the invasion, but the true number is probably much higher, the U.N. human rights office said.



In Romania, one newly arrived refugee, Anton Kostyuchyk, struggled to hold back tears as he recounted leaving everything behind in Kyiv and sleeping in churches with his wife and three children during their journey out.



''I'm leaving my home, my country. I was born there, and I lived there,'' he said. ''And what now?''



Appearing on video in a message to antiwar protesters in several European cities, Zelenskyy continued to appeal for help.



''If we fall, you will fall,'' he said. ''And if we win, and I'm sure we'll win, this will be the victory of the whole democratic world. This will be the victory of our freedom. This will be the victory of light over darkness, of freedom over slavery.''



Inside Ukraine, frequent shelling could be heard in the center of Kyiv, though more distant than in recent days, with loud thudding every 10 minutes resonating over the rooftops.



Ukrainian presidential adviser Oleksiy Arestovich said battles involving airstrikes and artillery continued northwest of Kyiv, and the northeastern cities of Kharkiv and Okhtyrka came under heavy fire.



He said Ukrainian forces were still holding the northern city of Chernihiv and the southern city of Mykolaiv. Ukrainian artillery also defended Ukraine's biggest port city, Odesa, from repeated attempts by Russian ships to land troops, Arestovich said.



Another strategic port, Mariupol, on the Sea of Azov, was ''partially under siege,'' and Ukrainian forces were pushing back efforts to surround the city, Arestovich said.



Amid the warfare, there were occasional signs of hope.



As explosions sounded on the fringes of Kyiv, Dmytro Shybalov and Anna Panasyk smiled and blushed at the civil registry office where they married Friday. They fell in love in 2015 in Donetsk amid the fighting between pro-Russian separatists and Ukrainian forces that was a precursor to the countrywide war.




Photo: Darren Stone / Times Colonist

With another rally against pandemic measures planned for Saturday at the legislature, horn honkers might want to think twice about filling Victoria streets with noise.

Area residents have complained about persistent honking during recent protests at the legislature against COVID-19 health restrictions, prompting the city to implement a direct ticketing process for unnecessary horn use  use that isnt intended to warn of a potential danger from a vehicle.

Previously, the ticketing process could get bogged down, since it involved potential court appearances.

Police and city bylaw officers can now slap honkers with immediate tickets for as much as $125, which will be reduced to $75 if paid within 30 days.

Victoria Mayor Lisa Helps said ticketing honkers has nothing to do with stopping people from expressing their opinions. Council absolutely supports the right to demonstrate, to gather peaceably to make a point, she said. Were the capital city and we welcome people to the legislature all the time to do that.

But the horn honking has become very trying for residents and businesspeople. Its disruptive on an ongoing basis, Helps said.

The goal of the municipal tickets is to act as a deterrent to give our residents some peace and quiet, even while democracy is being exercised, she said.

Helps said the city received complaints that customers were leaving stores because of the noise.

Victoria police spokesman Bowen Osoko said the council move adds to the toolkit that we can use.

Our approach is always de-escalation and then enforcement.

Police said the public should expect traffic disruptions Saturday downtown and around the legislature.

During last weekends protest, officers issued 10 tickets for offences ranging from excessive noise to obstructing traffic.

They also issued more than 50 warnings for various infractions, including horn honking.

Police said they have heard concerns from James Bay residents during protests and will try to minimize disruptions in the area.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said that Taiwan is an inalienable part of China as well as the country's internal affair and asked the US to return to the One-China principle.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said in a phone call with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, "The main task for our countries is still to implement all the agreements that were adopted by our leaders. Some of US actions have lately been contrary to these agreements, which is a cause for serious concern in China. Taiwan is an inalienable part of China, and the issue of Taiwan is a Chinese internal affair."

The Chinese foreign minister remarked that the US should return to the One-China principle and start "supporting Chinese-US relations by real actions," reported Sputnik.

Blinken spoke with Wang Yi about Moscow's 'unjustified ongoing attack against Ukraine'.

Following the talks Blinken tweeted, "I spoke with PRC State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi about Moscow's unjustified ongoing attack against Ukraine. The world is watching to see which nations stand up for the basic principles of sovereignty, as Moscow pays a high price for its unconscionable actions."

Furthermore, China is calling on Russia and Ukraine to hold direct talks, which should be supported by the international community.

"We are urging Russia and Ukraine to have direct talks, and even if negotiations do not always run smoothly, the international community should continue supporting and assisting them until they bring result and peace," the diplomat said, as quoted by the Chinese Foreign Ministry.

(ANI)
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The Catoosa County Board of Commissioners approved a resolution to begin the legislative processes needed for allowing more senior citizens to receive the homestead exemption on their property taxes for general government by raising the maximum allowable income from $20,000 annually to $30,000.

The BOC resolution is the formal request needed by the state legislative delegation that represents Catoosa County to prepare and submit a Local Act of Legislation for the Georgia General Assembly to approve. If the Local Act of Legislation is approved, it would enable a referendum on the Nov. 8 general election ballot for registered voters to decide on the measure.

Pending referendum approval, the Local Act of Legislation would increase the annual adjusted gross income allowed for individuals aged 62 years and up to $30,000, a 50 percent increase from the current threshold. This increase will align the general government homestead exemption threshold with the county school districts income limit of $30,000. The homestead exemption benefit is up to a maximum of $40,000 of assessed property value.

The proposed income threshold changes would take effect Jan. 1, 2023. The BOC will keep citizens updated on the legislative processes on the countys website www.Catoosa.com, and its social media pages on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.






The Tennessee Supreme Court on Friday held that a probation revocation proceeding involves a two-step inquiry on the part of the trial court. The Court also held that, if the trial court has properly placed its findings on the record, the standard of appellate review for probation revocations is abuse of discretion with a presumption of reasonableness.

In 2015, Craig Dagnan (Defendant) pleaded guilty to theft of property over $1,000 but less than $10,000. He received a six-year sentence, which the trial court suspended to supervised probation. Five separate revocation proceedings followed Defendants original sentencing hearing. After Defendants fifth and final revocation hearing, the trial court found that Defendant violated the terms of his probation by absconding. The trial court then fully revoked Defendants probation to serve the remainder of his sentence in the Tennessee Department of Correction.

Defendant appealed the consequence imposed for his fifth probation violation. The Court of Criminal Appeals affirmed the decision of the trial court, concluding that the trial court had not abused its discretion. Judge Timothy L. Easter filed a separate concurring opinion in which he emphasized his belief that a trial court, after determining that probation should be revoked, is not statutorily required to hold an additional hearing or make any additional findings to determine the manner in which the original sentence should be served.

The Supreme Court granted Defendants application for permission to appeal to clarify and bring uniformity to the standards and principles applied by the trial courts and appellate courts in probation revocation proceedings. The Court held that probation revocation proceedings involve two separate exercises of discretion. A trial court, upon finding by a preponderance of the evidence that a defendant has violated the conditions of probation, must determine (1) whether to revoke probation, and (2) the appropriate consequence to impose upon revocation. The Supreme Court emphasized that appellate courts must review both decisions separately. The Court considered the standard of review for sentencing decisions established in prior Supreme Court opinions and extended the same standard to review of a trial courts decision to revoke probation. The Court held that, if the trial court has properly placed its findings on the record, the standard of appellate review for probation revocations is abuse of discretion with a presumption of reasonableness.

The Supreme Court next considered the specifics of Defendants case and the trial courts decision to fully revoke his probation. The Court noted that the trial court properly placed its findings and reasoning on the record and that the Court of Criminal Appeals properly reviewed the trial courts separate discretionary decisions to revoke probation and to order defendant to serve the remainder of his sentence in the Tennessee Department of Correction. After review, the Supreme Court agreed with the Court of Criminal Appeals conclusion that the trial court did not abuse its discretion.

The Supreme Court heard oral arguments in this case at Columbia Central High School in December as part of its SCALES (Supreme Court Advancing Legal Education For Students) project. To read the unanimous opinion in State v. Craig Dagnan, authored by Chief Justice Roger A. Page, visit the opinions section of TNCourts.gov.
A clergy group that has been in the news lately helped put Weston Wamp over the top in the tight three-way GOP county mayor race in Tuesday's election. Sources in the black community said they were notified ahead of time that the Chattanooga Clergy for Justice was going to help Mr. Wamp out maneuver political veteran Sabrena Smedley and highly successful businessman Matt Hullander. ... (click for more)
The Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security Commissioner

Jeff Long and Tennessee Highway Patrol Colonel Matt Perry announced the newest graduating

classes of Tennessee State Troopers on Friday.

The department simultaneously instructed a regular 16-week trooper cadet class and a 10-week lateral trooper cadet class. The lateral class returned from their district assignments for the graduation ceremony that took place at the Hermitage Hills Baptist Church on Lebanon Road in Nashville.

To view highlights of the class during their academy, click here.



The 46 graduates of Trooper Cadet Class 1021 included five prior law enforcement officers, 14

cadets with prior military service, six cadets with associates degrees, 19 cadets with bachelors

degrees and one cadet with a masters degree.



Lateral Trooper Cadet Class 921 graduated 10 trooper cadets composed of all prior Police Officer

Standards and Training (POST) certified law enforcement officers. Class 921 had two cadets with

bachelors degrees and one with a masters degree.



Governor Bill Lee served as the keynote speaker during the graduation ceremony, and Commissioner Jeff Long swore in the new troopers as they delivered their oaths of office.



Law enforcement is a calling, and I commend Tennessees newest trooper class for their

commitment to protect and serve their fellow Tennesseans, said Governor Lee. The Tennessee

Highway Patrol plays an essential role in ensuring public safety, and I remain dedicated to

supporting them with strong investments in high-quality training, recruitment and the resources

needed to keep our communities safe.



Each one of you earned this incredible honor of being chosen to serve as a Tennessee state

trooper, said Commissioner Long. You now rank among the best of the best. Congratulations

on your graduation and you will be a representative for Tennessees finest.



This class has presented you with some unique challenges, and throughout your career, you will

continue to be challenged, said Colonel Matt Perry. He reminded the graduates that adversity

comes with the job and challenged them to rise to the adversities they will face. He continued,

telling the newest members of the Highway Patrol, You no longer serve only yourself; you serve the citizens of the state of Tennessee and those that travel to and through our state."



Cadet Class #1021 hosted a blood drive with American Red Cross and Blood Assurance. They also collected money to donate to Waverly Police Chief Grant Gillespie to help with flood recovery efforts in Humphreys County as part of their class project.



Bethel University presented a $5,000 scholarship to Trooper Bailey Williams. Trooper Williams will

serve at the Nashville District.



Trooper James Roark of class 1021 was named the top cadet for his class and was presented with the Trooper Calvin Jenks Memorial Award for Excellence for his leadership, work ethic and

academics. The award was named in honor of the late Trooper Calvin Jenks, who was killed in the

line of duty in January 2007.






This picture taken March 4 shows a residential building damaged after shelling the day before in Chernihiv, Ukraine. AFP-Yonhap





Russian President Vladimir Putin intensified a crackdown on media outlets and individuals who fail to hew to the Kremlin line on Russia's war in Ukraine, Friday, blocking Facebook and Twitter and signing into law a bill that criminalizes the intentional spreading of what Moscow deems to be ''fake'' reports.







The moves against the social media giants follow blocks imposed on the BBC, the U.S. government-funded Voice of America and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, German broadcaster Deutsche Welle and Latvia-based website Meduza. The government's sweeping action against the foreign outlets that publish news in Russian seeks to establish even tighter controls over what information the domestic audience sees about the invasion of Ukraine.







The state communications watchdog Roskomnadzor said it cut access to Twitter and Facebook in line with a decision by the prosecutor general's office. The watchdog has previously accused Twitter of failing to delete content banned by the Russian authorities and slowed down access to it.







Twitter said in a statement Friday afternoon that while the company was ''aware of reports'' that its platform was blocked in Russia, it had not been able to confirm whether this was the case.







The bill, quickly rubber-stamped by both houses of the Kremlin-controlled parliament and signed by Putin, imposes prison sentences of up to 15 years for those spreading information that goes against the Russian government's narrative on the war.







The question regarding Russia is no longer ''what we do to stop disinformation,'' former U.S. Ambassador to Russia Michael McFaul said Friday. ''The question has to be how do we promote information inside Russia  and I don't have the answer.''







Multiple outlets said they would pause their work inside Russia to evaluate the situation. Among them, CNN and CBS News said they would stop broadcasting in Russia while Bloomberg and the BBC said they would temporarily suspend the work of their journalists there.







Russian authorities have repeatedly and falsely decried reports of Russian military setbacks or civilian deaths in Ukraine as ''fake'' news. State media outlets refer to Russia's invasion of Ukraine as a ''special military operation'' rather than a war or an invasion.







Vyacheslav Volodin, the speaker of the lower house of the Russian government, said the measure ''will force those who lied and made statements discrediting our armed forces to bear very grave punishment.''







''I want everyone to understand, and for society to understand, that we are doing this to protect our soldiers and officers, and to protect the truth,'' he added.







The law envisages sentences of up to three years or fines for spreading what authorities deem to be "false news" about the military, but the maximum punishment rises to 15 years for cases deemed to have led to ''severe consequences.''







A building in Kharkiv, Ukraine, which city officials and locals said was damaged by recent shelling, March 4, is seen as Russia's invasion of Ukraine continues. Reuters-Yonhap




I noticed on the poll in the Chattanoogan as of March 4, 13 percent or approximately 449 voters out of 3,457 voters said no to finish the Keystone XL pipeline. Thank goodness the majority has some common sense.

I guess the ones that oppose the pipeline like getting oil from Russia and Iran and paying high prices at the pump.

Just goes to show some people never learn and that's why our country is in the shape it's in.

Jim Rosenbloom

* * *

Progressives have long opposed domestic fossil fuel production and use. Hedge fund billionaire and Democrat donor Tom Steyer fought the Keystone Pipeline from Day 1. He funded many political campaigns and to their delight Biden shut it down.

Its true we only import 5-10 percent of our oil from Russia (ABC News, March 2,2022), which in spite of their invasion of Ukraine, were still buying. If Biden hadnt shut down Keystone we wouldnt need Russian oil. We might even sell any excess to Europe to diminish their dependence and stop funding Putins imperialistic invasion of Ukraine.

Contrary to some statements, the U.S. Energy Information Administration reports since the end of 2020, the U.S. has doubled its crude oil imports. So why did Democrats defeat the American Independence from Russia Act recently? Why are we now buying from foreign sources what we were producing ourselves before Biden?

The answer is progressives want working people to pay more for fuel forcing us to turn to alternative sources of energy, even if those sources cant sustain us at current levels. Then they didnt count on a war to interfere with their scheme. Now Joe wants $10 billion for Ukraine. If we were selling oil and natural gas to Europe that could fund such a request.

Instead its the same old Democrat game of spend, spend and spend some more. Happy Days are here again.

In eight months citizens can change control of the Congress and reduce progressivism in state and local government. Send Joe a message that weve had enough. Those handling his care may actually have to let him in on it.

Ralph Miller

* * *

Mr. Miller, I read you frequent letters in the Chattanoogan and its clear that you do a fair amount of reading and research. However, your comments on the Keystone XL pipeline seem a little off. Biden shut down construction on a pipeline extension that was estimated to be eight percent complete. There was no shutdown of an active pipeline that was delivering oil to the U.S. As Im sure you know, this pipeline was being built to carry oil from Canadian tar sands to Gulf Coast refineries. Therefore, shutting down that construction had zero effect on our current oil situation.



There are many numbers out there concerning oil production. The reality is that the U.S exports oil as well as imports oil, so the relevant number is are we a net exporter or importer? I can find 2020 numbers that show that we were a net exporter by a small amount. I cant find complete 2021 numbers yet. A couple of interesting numbers are that in 2020, Russian oil accounted for seven percent of the oil we imported, which is not really a very large number. I did find some monthly numbers that show we imported much more Russian oil in December 2019 than we did in December 2021.



Im all for energy independence and I hope countries can all figure out how to replace Russian fossil fuels, but the Keystone XL pipeline is not a quick answer to the current issues.



David Groves

.
Dr. Henry Alan Benach and his wife Victoria are leaving Chattanooga on Monday for Poland. The Chattanooga missionaries have their plane tickets and hotel reservations in the city of Rzeszow, near the Poland/Ukraine border. Dr. Benach is president of Jewish End Time Ministries.

Dr. Benach said he and his wife are burdened for the people of Eastern Europe and want to minister to the thousands of Ukrainian refugees that have made it into Poland. He said they are mostly women and children who left everything to escape the Russian invasion.

Dr. Benach said his wife, a native of Ukraine, speaks the language very well and will serve as their interpreter. He hopes the couple will be able to re-connect with some of Victorias family who remain in the country.

Victorias mother lives only 50 miles from the nuclear plant that the Russians set on fire. Dr. Benach said when Victorias mother got the news, It scared her to death. None of the reactors were damaged. Dr. Benach said his wife is very concerned for her familys safety. He said Victoria is a strong Christian and her faith is what keeps her going.

Dr. Benach said, Victorias mother is fearful for her life, but has chosen to remain in her home for now. The family stockpiled some supplies, but they dont know how long theyll last. Victorias sister and her boyfriend left home a few days after the invasion and the family doesnt know exactly where she is. The last time they talked she was ok.

Victoria said, She trusts the Lord that her family remains safe, but the daily news reports do frighten her. Victoria said her mother wants to see her blind parents who live in another Ukrainian city but its not safe to travel.

Dr. Benach said the couple decided to make the trip after fellow missionaries told them about the dire situation especially on the Polish/Ukraine border. Dr. Benach said workers are needed to assist the various charitable organizations. Dr. Benach said he and Victoria will be able to distribute humanitarian supplies, pray with the people, share the Gospel or just listen to their stories.

He said, "We are making this trip entirely by faith putting everything on the credit card; but weve got to go back. God has never failed me yet.

Two weeks ago the Benachs started for Ukraine but had to turn around when they got to Turkey. One of his associates did make it into Ukraine with supplies. They continue to talk by cell phone but are afraid it could go out anytime.

Dr. Benach has made 75 trips to the Ukraine since the early 1990s. He met his wife Victoria while on a missionary trip. Dr. Benach said he loves the people of this beautiful country and their determination to defend the homeland. He is still praying Russian President Putin doesnt start World War III.
Nancy Ferguson Atkins, 90, of Hixson, passed away on March 4, 2022.

Nancy was born on August 19, 1931, in Pittsburgh, Pa., and was blessed to be adopted by Sam and Margaret Ferguson of McKeesport, Pa. Nancy grew up in McKeesport/Glassport, a suburb of Pittsburgh, Pa. Nancy graduated from Glassport High School in 1949 with honors. She attended Maryville College and graduated in 1953 with a Bachelors in English Education. Upon graduation, Nancy was hired by Capital Airlines and trained at what is now Reagan National Airport. Upon completion of her training, she was assigned to Chattanooga as a reservationist and ticket agent. Chattanooga is where she met her future husband, Billy T. Atkins, Sr.,

Nancy and Bill were married on Nov. 26, 1953, in McKeesport, Pa., and established their residence in Chattanooga. Nancy was hired at Combustion Engineering as an industrial editor of the Chattanooga company newspaper the CE News. While working as an editor of the CE News she won a golden pen award which resulted in her articles being reprinted in the corporate headquarters magazine, Combustion Topics. Nancy resigned her position with Combustion in 1956 upon the birth of her first child, Beth. After her son, Terry was born she went back to work as a reference librarian in the TVA technical library and later served as the library supervisor after her daughter, Amy was born. Nancy was selected for the TVA management training program where she spent time replacing each section head in the Office Service Branch. While serving in her many roles she was a member of the National Management Association and served as a board member of the Chattanooga chapter. She edited the clubs newspaper which won top prize for publication.

Nancy and her family were always so proud of her career. She served as a supervisor during a time when women were given few opportunities to advance their career and she did it while also successfully raising a family. Nancy took early retirement in 1988 and joined her husband, Bill, in traveling the United States while also spending the winters in Melbourne, Florida.

Nancy was predeceased by her parents, Margaret and Samuel Ferguson of Chattanooga, TN, her husband of 65 years, Billy T. Atkins, Sr., her brother and sister-in-law Keith and Margaret Ferguson of Rio Verde, Arizona, her sister and brother-in-law, Marjorie and Jim Goody of Aurora, Colorado and her brother-in-law Glenn A. Atkins of Conyers, GA.

She is survived by her children, Beth (Jimmy) Lawrence of Auburn, AL, Billy T. (Terry) Atkins, Jr. (Ida) of Antioch, IL, Amy (Mark) Whitt of Hixson, TN and her grandson Benjamin T. Atkins of Antioch, IL. In addition, she is survived by her sister-in-law, Virginia Atkins of Chattanooga, TN, sister in law Ada Atkins of Conyers, GA, and her brother-in-law Bruce (Mary Ann) Atkins of South Pittsburgh, TN along with a host of nieces and nephews.

Nancy was a member of Red Bank Baptist Church and the Truth-Seekers Sunday School Class.

Visitation will be held on Thursday, March 10, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. prior to the funeral service in the chapel of Hamilton Funeral Home with Pastor Bill Harvey officiating.

Nancy will be buried alongside her husband at the Chattanooga National Cemetery.

Donations in Nancys memory can be made to the Prime Timers Ministry at Red Bank Baptist Church or to the Chattanooga Community Kitchen.

Beth, Terry, and Amy would like to express their deepest appreciation to the wonderful caregivers from Goodens Compassionate Care and Hospice of Chattanooga for their dedication in taking care of Mom.

Arrangements are entrusted to Hamilton Funeral Home, 4506 Hixson Pike, Hixson, 423 531-3975.
During The Strength To Smile, which aired March 3, the Banks family rallied to support Lisa by hosting a memorial for her late mother. Here are all the songs featured in TV series Bel-Air Season 1 Episode 6.

Simone Joy Jones as Lisa and Jabari Banks as Will talking during an episode of Bel-Air | Adam Rose/Peacock/NBCU Photo Bank/Getty Images

Bel-Air Season 1 Episode 6 tracklist

Charles Stephens III and Mayila Jones  Dead Presidents

The opening song

Saweetie  Fast (Motion)

This track plays as Hilary makes food for Lisas moms memorial.

Heyalek Jones & Warner Chappell Production Music  Run It Up

This song plays when Hilary gets on video chat with Kylio as shes preparing food.

A new trailer for The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air reboot has been released. #BelAirPeacock pic.twitter.com/JCOjA6UQrx  Film Updates (@FilmUpdates) January 10, 2022

RELATED: Bel-Air: Many Fans Think They Are Finally Getting a Hilary and Jazz Love Story

Lili Ray  Something New

The track plays as Ashley helps Hilary in the kitchen.

Grand Marquis  Two By Two

This song plays when Angela approaches Aunt Vivian about speaking in the program.

Pink $weats  Honesty

The track plays as Lisa and Will talk and eventually kiss in the jacuzzi.

Bel-Air The Strength To Smile recap

During episode 6s The Strength To Smile, the Banks hosted a memorial for Gayle Wilkes, Lisas (Simone Joy Jones) late mother. When the caterers pulled out, the family rallied together to throw the event, with Hilary focused on the Louisiana Creole cuisine.

Lisas stepmom Angela (Scottie Thompson) rubbed a few people the wrong way at the event, notably Vivian (Cassandra Thompson) when she claimed she wanted to speak during the program as they felt she only wanted the eyes on her.

coco jones in the new bel-air reboot pic.twitter.com/lD9S7OgqKc  Simi (@maggiesxrose) January 10, 2022

Unable to hold her tongue any longer, especially after discovering Angela and Fred (Joe Holt) might have had an affair, Aunt Viv called her out, much to the delight of Lisa. Attempting to keep his distance from Lisa as he promised Carlton (Olly Sholotan), Will (Jabari Banks) eventually approached her to check on her.

However, Carlton saw the two talking, which upset him, resulting in the lacrosse player relying on lines of drugs to make him feel better. Although Will promised Carlton he only tried to support Lisa as they both have one birth parent missing from their household, the Philadelphia native couldnt keep his distance anymore. After finding Lisa alone with her feet in the jacuzzi, Will joined her for a conversation that ended with a kiss.

What might happen in Bel-Air Season 1 Episode 7

The upcoming episode, titled Paybacks a B*tch, will presumably revolve around revenge. During The Strength to Smile, Reid (Michael Ealy) wandered into Aunt Vivs painting room, where he saw her newest creation. He bet the artist that if her painting sold for more than $15,000 at the silent auction, he would leave her alone, but she had to display her work at his gallery opening if it did.

Uncle Phil (Adrian Holmes) saw the two talking and later bid $20,000 on his wifes painting, unknowingly guaranteeing it would result in her spending more time with Reid. Toward the end of the episode, he asked house manager Geoffrey (Jimmy Akingbola) to investigate the gallery owner, which he had already started.

I just binge watched Bel-Air and let me just say Geoffrey can manage my house any day pic.twitter.com/kxJhXZQGN0  Papaya Marie (@kpmariepe) February 28, 2022

Additionally, Geoffrey caught wind of a revoked endorsement and discovered a family friend and Lisas dad, Fred (Joe Holt), was behind it as the police chief secretly entered the race for district attorney.

As the next episode likely deals with revenge, it will presumably focus on Aunt Vivs relationship with Reid and Uncle Phil dealing with the betrayal from Fred. Other storylines include Hilarys new sexual cooking content and Will and Lisas budding relationship. Bel-Air is streaming on Peacock.

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Shonda Rhimes is a producer, a screenwriter, and an author. Shes perhaps best known for creating and producing the long-running medical drama Greys Anatomy. However, Rhimes is also the executive producer of Bridgerton, and the creator of Private Practice, Scandal, and more recently the popular Netflix series Inventing Anna.

The showrunner has an impressive real estate portfolio as well from Los Angeles to New York. Heres a look inside her posh Manhatten apartment and more on the LA estate she just sold for more than $20 million.

Shonda Rhimes smiling on the carpet at Vanity Fair Oscar Party | Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images

Rhimes recently sold her sprawling LA mansion

In July 2021, Rhimes put her seven-bedroom, 12-bathroom Hancock Park estate on the market for $25 million. She purchased the property from Everybody Love Raymond actor Patricia Heaton in 2014 for $8.8 million.

Rhimes listed the house with Ed Solorzano of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties and it sold in January 2022 for $21 million.

The three-level, 11,749-square-foot residence sits on 1.14 acres of land. Rhimes gave Architectural Digest a look inside that home in 2019 following a major renovation. When she first bought the house it wasnt exactly her dream home and she thought the pea-green color on the exterior was all wrong so she worked with architect Bill Baldwin of HartmanBaldwin and designer Michael S. Smith on a complete remodel.

Today, Rhimes still owns two other homes in LA and a gorgeous apartment in the Big Apple.

Inside Rhimes posh New York City abode

Now, Rhimes has invited Architectural Digest into her stunning New York City abode.

When it came to designing her Upper East Side pad, Rhimes enlisted the help of Smith again. As soon the doors open you step into the entryway and are greeted with artwork hanging on the walls and stunning light fixtures hanging from the ceiling. Throughout the apartment, there is a mix of antiques with contemporary furniture such as an 18th-century Italian chest and chandelier by R.W. Russell. As for the art and books that fill the home, Rhimes collects works by Hughie Lee-Smith and Walter Henry Williams Jr.

For us, blending ideas of a romantic East Side apartment, authors of the past, and a sense of history was interesting, Smith said.

Why her Big Apple apartment has a Regency-era London feel

Shonda Rhimes attends Center Theatre Groups Kirk Douglas Theatre | Rodin Eckenroth/Getty Images

If you thought some of the apartment had a Regency-era London feel about it, Rhimes explained that theres a reason for that.

I had been immersed in the romanticism of Bridgerton for a while, so that had to influence some of the things that I had been thinking about, Rhimes acknowledges. Everything sort of spills into everything else. If Im thinking about these books that were turning into a series, then that inevitably spills into how the apartments going to look, which inevitably spills into what goes in the scriptsit all sort of spins together.

RELATED: Inside Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos $27 Million Manhattan Home
Now that Love Is Blind Season 2 is over, heres everything we know about Mallory Zapata and Salvador Sal Perezs relationship. Are they still together in 2022? Heres a breakdown of everything that happened after Sal said I dont at their wedding.

Salvador Sal Perez and Mallory Zapata, Love Is Blind | Netflix

Sal and Mallory break up at the altar

During episode 10 of Netflixs Love Is Blind, Sal decided he wasnt ready to marry Mallory on their wedding day. After the guests left, Sal and Mallory had a heart-to-heart conversation. He said, Honestly, Mal, I almost did take that leap with you. Mallory understood Sal, but part of her was disappointed he didnt follow through with their marriage.

Salvador Sal Perez, Love Is Blind | Netflix

Sal told her, Regardless of all of this, I hope that we can remain in each others lives. Mallory wanted to know if hed be interested in continuing to explore a relationship with her. He replied, I just need to take a few days. He said, Lets take some time away from all of this, and lets talk. Sal suggested that they take it slow and go on a date.

Mallory and Sal try to make it work

Everyone wanted to know what happened between Sal and Mallory after the vague ending that they had at their wedding. As discussed on the March 4 Love Is Blind reunion episode, Mallory revealed that she and Sal tried to make their relationship work after the show.

Mallory Zapata and Salvador Sal Perez, Love Is Blind | Netflix

Mallory said that she and Sal went out on a date. Yeah, we met for coffee, and we chatted, Mallory said. However, their connection didnt last. She explained, But I think at the end of the day, the connection really wasnt there, and we just kind of understood that we were. Maybe it didnt make sense to really continue on.

Mallory and Sal are not together in 2022

After their Love Is Blind journey, Mallory and Sal decided to go their separate ways. During the reunion, Sal hinted at some hidden reasons why they broke up. He said, There were just things that happened that I just dont really feel comfortable saying, cause its pointless now. He said, I just dont think its necessary to say.

Love Is Blind Season 2 Reunion | Netflix

Mallory explained, I honestly think, we shared a very strong connection really because of this experiment, but were very different. She continued, I think in the way that we really communicated or operated, a lot of times, disagreements because we werent communicating necessarily the right way. Sal told Mallory, There were many times that I also just felt unheard.

As of now, its unclear if Mallory or Sal have moved on to new people, but its clear that theyre no longer going to be exploring a relationship together.

RELATED: The Ultimatum: Everything We Know New Netflix Reality Show Teased on Love Is Blind Reunion
P-Valley will return to Starz in June of 2022, it has finally been announced. The news came down on Tuesday, March 1, in a video announcement shared on the shows official Twitter page. The clip also provided a look at the cast, confirming the return of a character whose future was uncertain for P-Valley Season 2.

Elarica Johnson in P-Valley | Starz

P-Valley Season 2 will debut in June of 2022

P-Valley took the world by storm when it hit Starz in 2020. Revolving around the fictional Mississippi strip club The Pynk, owned by the gender-fluid, fashion-forward boss Uncle Clifford, the show was met with positive reception upon its premiere from fans and critics alike. Lauded for its cinematography and depiction of the lives of Black women strippers, it became so popular that Starz renewed it after just two weeks on the air.

Unfortunately, there was a delay with the second season due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. The setback made it difficult for a while to tell when the show would return. But now, its official: P-Valley Season 2 will be here by the end of June.

The P-Valley Season 2 announcement confirmed a character return

Not only did the announcement provide the release window and main cast, it also confirmed the return of Parker Sawyers Andre Watkins.

There had been some uncertainty around his future on the show since the P-Valley Season 1 finale, released in September of 2020. In the episode, Andre left town after failing to secure the bid for The Pynk, which was put up for auction after Uncle Clifford fell behind on the bills. After Autumn bought back the club, Andre stopped briefly to say goodbye and left to return home with his wife. But it looks like hell be back, after all.

There are also new faces joining the show, including Gail Bean of Snowfall and Psalms Salazar of High Q. Shadow and Act reports that Bean will play a feisty dancer named Roulette, while Salazar will be Whisper, a fellow dancer described as the air to Roulettes fire.

Baybee this tea is hot! Lean in real close now#PValley pic.twitter.com/AztstgNIjK  P-Valley (@PValleySTARZ) March 1, 2022

The next season will reportedly be a rollercoaster ride

Plot details for P-Valley Season 2 are scarce, but it sounds like itll be an adventure.

Youre going to be mad, youre going to be happy, youre going to be sad, Brandee Evans (Mercedes) told Gold Derby of season 2. But its going to be a wonderful variety.

It is a roller coaster ride, she added, explaining that her character Mercedes especially goes through a lot this season. You are about to see Mercedes go on a different type of journey. Some things that you wouldnt expect from her, you might see from her this season, so thats a little hint.

Evans also noted that viewers would get to see more of the dancers outside of the club.

Its even more prevalent in season two that you can see that this is way beyond these ladies being naked and showing their bodies and being on a pole, she added. Youre going to see a lot of things that happen outside the club this season, making it humanizing as well. Because everyone has a life when they go home from their job and so do these women and these men in the club as well.

We cant wait.

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The anime Ranking of Kings Episode 21 release date and time have been announced for Japan, the US, the UK, and the rest of the world. Fans can catch the new episode of Ranking of Kings English sub and Japanese dub editions on Funimation and Crunchyroll. No matter where you live in the world, then heres what time you can see the next adventure for Prince Bojji, Kage, and the rest of the Ranking of Kings characters.

Miranjo from Ranking of Kings | Aniplex

When is the Ranking of Kings Episode 21 release date?

The Ranking of Kings Episode 21 release date is Friday, March 11, 2022. Its title in Japanese is  (O no Ken), which translates as The Kings Sword.

Ranking of Kings Season 1, or Ousama Ranking in Japan, started on October 15, 2021, then continued through the end of the year.

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Ranking of Kings Episode 20, Immortal vs. Invincible, dropped on March 4, 2022, directed and also storyboarded by Yumi Kamakura and written by Taku Kishimoto.

The preview teased Miranjo facing and arguing with her mother and the First Queen, while Bojji is shown everything that she has been through, SportSkeeda Anime noted.

What time can you catch Ranking of Kings Episode 21?

Whether you want to know the Ranking of Kings Episode 21 release date and time in PT, ET, GMT, or CET time zones, heres what time you can expect the English sub and Japanese dub to drop:

1:25 AM JST

9:25 AM PT (March 10)

12:25 AM ET (March 10)

4:25 PM GMT (March 10)

5:25 PM CET (March 10)

Ranking of Kings is just two spots away from the Top 10 in the latest anime rankings. Here's the rest of anime ranked #8  #12 for Week 2 of Fall 2021.



Fall 2021 Anime  Week 3 Polls: https://t.co/xwYapTKPsn pic.twitter.com/O5NQnOd369  Anime Trending (@AniTrendz) October 27, 2021

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However, only viewers with premium Crunchyroll or Funimation subscriptions can catch Ranking of Kings episode 21 at these times.

If you only have a free account, though, youll have to wait a week to see the new episodes. Those should then release on March 18, 2022.

Ranking of Kings is not available for streaming on Netflix or Hulu, in Japanese or English dub. Crunchyroll and Funimation remain the two most reliable places to catch new episodes of the show.

When does the English dub release?

Some fans outside of Japan might prefer anime dubs to subs. However, the Ranking of Kings Episode 21 English dub has not received a release date at the time of writing this article.

So far, all Ranking of Kings episodes through 14 have an English dub available to watch as an alternative to the Japanese dub with English subtitles version.

You got this King



[Ranking of Kings] pic.twitter.com/cqPhR37xHb  Anime News Network (@Anime) February 28, 2022

For now, the only way to catch the latest episode of Prince Bojji, Kage, and the rest of the Ranking of Kings characters is with English subtitles.

With only 20 episodes released so far, Ranking of Kings has set itself apart from other anime shows. While the biggest anime like Dragon Ball, Sword Art Online, and One Piece continue to dominate, Ranking of Kings is quickly proving to be a modern classic series.

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The Amazon Prime Video series Reacher has a new leading man to take over the mantle from actor Tom Cruise. Alan Ritchson has proved himself to be a version of Jack Reacher fans desperately needed that stuck to a more concrete version of the book character. The 62 actor is not only impressive in size but embodies the character in a way fans never expected as Reachers Ritchson had a 2010 heroic moment.

Alan Ritchson as Jack Reacher in Reacher | via Amazon Prime Video

Reacher gives the popular book character a new look

Based on the Jack Reacher book series by Lee Child, the Amazon series focuses on its main character never seen before on screen. Ritchson plays Jack Reacher, a decorated former major in the U.S. Army military police. He travels to Margrave, Georgia, under the ruse that he is there to learn about his brothers favorite jazz musician.

Reacher immediately captures the attention of local police and its residents. The tall and muscular former soldier would cast a shadow over anyone. He soon learns Margrave is not the quiet and small town he thought it was. Reacher gets involved in a conspiracy, crime, murder and how it connects to his estranged brother.

Fans have gravitated toward the series for its depiction of the book character. In Reacher, the character often calls himself a drifter. Ritchson explained to the Hindustan Times he is just like his character in that way.

There are parts of myself that I see in Reacher and vice versa. Im a wanderer. I get bored easily. I started running away when I was 16. I wasnt escaping any real trauma. I just had to go, said Ritchson. The actor embodies the character even more, when it comes to seeking justice.

Alan Ritchson channeled Jack Reacher to stop a robbery

RELATED: Reacher Was Shot Out of Order Says Alan Ritchson  It Was Maddening

Years before Ritchson would take on Reacher; he already had the makings of a hero just like his character. The actor recounted an incident in 2010 when he chased down a robber. Despite his wifes please and insistence not to get involved, Ritchson could not let crime win.

I desire justice, and Ill risk life and limb to see it happen. I remember watching a guy break into a car one time, and I chased him down. My wife was begging me, Dont do it. Dont chase him down! and I had to because I saw him break into a car. I pinned him down until the cops came 20 minutes later. I cant stand by and watch that kind of stuff happen, said Ritchson.

Ritchson believed he was perfect for the role of Jack Reacher. Fans and showrunner Nick Santora feel the same. Santora explains Ritchson had to beat out other actors who fit the role, but there was something distinctive about Ritchson.

But Alan is everything Reacher is supposed to be. Some actors might have to bulk up to play Reacher. Alan probably has to bulk down, said the showrunner. Fans eagerly wait to see what more Ritchson can bring to the role in Reacher.

WIll there be a Reacher Season 2 with Alan Ritchson?

#REACHER will be back with Season 2 pic.twitter.com/hTTjrwTVjm  Jack Reacher Books (@LeeChildReacher) February 8, 2022

RELATED: Reacher Season 2: Which Characters Will Return?

Reacher will return for a season two as Amazon Prime greenlit a continuation three days after its premiere on Feb.4. Fans will get to see more of Ritchson as Jack Reacher as the first seasons finale left the door open to a new storyline.

Reacher will likely follow the book series closely like many series based on written source material. Ritchson has already teased following seasons will adapt a different book. Reacher Season 2 will likely follow Childs second book, Die Trying.

RELATED: Pam & Tommy: Pamela Anderson Will Never Watch the Series, Not Even Years From Now
Actor John Wayne and two of his sons allegedly got cancer while on the set of his film The Conqueror. He died as a result of stomach cancer at the age of 72 on June 11, 1979. However, nuclear fallout on The Conqueror had a huge impact on the Wayne family, as well as other folks in the area.

John Wayne plays Temujin in The Conqueror

John Wayne | Warner Brothers/Getty Images

The Conqueror follows Temujin (Wayne), who is a mighty Mongol warrior. He would later be called Genghis Khan. Temujin falls in love with Bortai (Susan Hayward), the daughter of the Tatars leader. He kidnaps her and as a result, brings war upon the lands. This story explores the adventure of Genghis Khan.

The critical reception of The Conqueror remains highly negative. The film earned $9 million on a $6 million budget, but critics and audiences continue to slam the movie. There arent enough critic scores to account for a final score on Rotten Tomatoes, but the adventure film is currently sitting at 11% with audiences. The film is a laughing stock, primarily due to Waynes casting.

John Wayne and his sons, Patrick and Michael, allegedly got cancer from nuclear fallout on the set of The Conqueror

has there ever been a more powerfully miscast film than The Conqueror (1956)?



"The film stars John Wayne as the Mongol conqueror Genghis Khan."



like, even John Wayne looks confused by the fact he's in the film. pic.twitter.com/jqEx9YXRXa  Zaron Burnett III (@Zaron3) August 25, 2020

The Guardian explores the devastating story of Wayne on the set of The Conqueror. The film was shot in the Utah desert in 1954. The government detonated atomic bombs at their test site, but that location was more than 100 miles away. The officials said that their filming area would be completely safe.

Wayne had a Geiger counter, which is an instrument that has the ability to detect radiation. Images from the set display him holding the black metal box along with his two teenage sons, Patrick and Michael. However, the area certainly wasnt safe, as the Geiger counter had indicated.

The box crackled so loudly, Wayne initially thought that it was broken. He moved it to another area of the desert along other rocks, where it continued to make the same sounds. However, Wayne simply went along with his duties on the set.

Hollywood remembers The Conqueror by this story, which allegedly killed Wayne, Hayward, director Dick Powell, among many others on the set. Waynes sons battled and survived their cancer scares.

The Conqueror went on to be called an RKO Radioactive Picture.

The downwinders said my government lied to me

Behind the scenes: John Wayne with his daughter Melinda while on location in Utah filming The Conqueror (1956). pic.twitter.com/75sB5klb6k  John Wayne Official (@JohnDukeWayne) January 20, 2016

The Guardian interviewed Rebecca Barlow, a nurse practitioner at the Radiation Exposure Screening and Education Program (RESEP) half a century later. She works in the surrounding area.

More than 60% of this years patients are new, Barlow said. Mostly breast and thyroid, also some leukaemia, colon, lung.

The fallout impacted tens of thousands of people, who are now called downwinders. Outspoken advocate Michelle Thomas openly spoke about how it affected the community.

Its gone into our DNA, Thomas said. Ive lost count of the friends Ive buried. Im not patriotic. My government lied to me.

RELATED: The Green Berets: John Waynes Most Hated Vietnam War Movie Got Him Into Trouble
Russia, Ukraine to hold third-round peace talks soon as fighting going on

Xinhua) 11:09, March 05, 2022

MOSCOW/KIEV, March 5 (Xinhua) -- Moscow wishes to continue dialogue with Ukraine and wants peace, provided that all Russia's security demands are met, Russian President Vladimir Putin said Friday.

In a telephone conversation with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Putin expressed his hope that Kiev will take a "reasonable and constructive stance" during a third round of talks between Russia and Ukraine.

According to Ukrainian Presidential Advisor Mykhailo Podolyak, the third round of peace talks between Ukraine and Russia may take place on Saturday or Sunday.

Podolyak said that both Russia and Ukraine take a tough position, so negotiations would be difficult. And yet the talks will still be carried out.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will not make any concessions that could "humiliate" Ukraine's resistance, Podolyak added.

During talks with Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko over phone, Putin said the goals of Russia's military operation in Ukraine are being carried out according to plan, and will all be fulfilled.

Meanwhile, Ukrainian authorities said Friday that Russia's armed forces has captured the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, the largest one in Europe, which was later confirmed by Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov.

The plant was seized following a shelling which caused a fire at the plant, the State Inspectorate for Nuclear Regulation of Ukraine said in a statement on Facebook.

Currently, Ukrainian personnel continued to operate the plant, the agency said.

Earlier on Friday, a fire broke out in a training building outside the plant, which the mayor of the nearby town of Energodar claimed was "a result of continuous enemy shelling of buildings and units" of the nuclear power plant.

The Russian defense ministry refuted the claim, saying that the fire was the result of a provocation by Kiev aimed at accusing Russia of creating a hotbed of radioactive contamination.

A Chinese envoy on Friday called on parties to the Ukraine conflict to act with caution and work together, with the assistance of the International Atomic Energy Agency, to ensure the safety of relevant nuclear facilities inside Ukraine.

China pays close attention to the latest developments in Ukraine and expresses its concern over the relevant reports about the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, said Zhang Jun, China's permanent representative to the United Nations.

The Ukrainian parliament called for the introduction of peacekeeping forces to Ukraine, the parliament's First Deputy Chairman Oleksandr Korniyenko said on Friday.

The parliament also called for the immediate introduction of "a no-fly zone" over the territory of Ukraine.

During a telephone conversation with British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Friday, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that Turkey will continue to make efforts for an immediate ceasefire in Ukraine.

Also on Friday, Finland Chamber of Commerce published a survey saying that the sanctions imposed by some Western countries against Russia in some way will affect up to 90 percent of Finnish export companies.

The impact of sanctions on companies' operations was generally seen as negative. About 85 percent of companies responded to the negative effects of sanctions. Only 3.6 percent of companies thought the sanctions would have a positive impact on the company's business.

A quarter of the companies that responded to the survey said there could be a significant impact on their business.

(Web editor: Xia Peiyao, Liang Jun)
Fire is seen at a residential area in Mariupol after shelling amid Russia's invasion of Ukraine, March 3, in this image obtained from social media. Reuters-Yonhap





The Russian military initiated a temporary cease-fire in two areas of Ukraine to allow civilians to evacuate, Russian state media reported Saturday, the first breakthrough in allowing people to escape the war.







The Russian Defense Ministry said in a statement it had agreed on evacuation routes with Ukrainian forces for the strategic port of Mariupol in the southeast and the eastern city of Volnovakha. The vaguely worded statement did not make clear how long the routes would remain open.







Mariupol had become the scene of growing misery amid days of shelling that knocked out most phone services and raised the prospect of food and water shortages.







A top official there said the cease-fire there was to last until 4 p.m. (local time) and an evacuation along a humanitarian corridor was beginning at 11 a.m. (local time). Pavlo Kirilenko, head of the Donetsk military-civil administration that includes Mariupol, said the humanitarian corridor would extend from the city to Zaporizhzhia, about 226 kilometers (140 miles) away.







The head of Ukraine's security council, Oleksiy Danilov, had urged Russia to create humanitarian corridors to allow children, women and the older adults to flee the fighting, calling them ''question No. 1.''







As Russian forces batter strategic locations elsewhere, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has lashed out at NATO for refusing to impose a no-fly zone over his country, warning that ''all the people who die from this day forward will also die because of you.''







NATO said a no-fly zone could provoke widespread war in Europe with nuclear-armed Russia. But as the United States and other NATO members send weapons for Kyiv and more than 1 million refugees spill through the continent, the conflict is already drawing in countries far beyond Ukraine's borders.







Russia continues to crack down on independent media reporting on the war, also blocking Facebook and Twitter, and more outlets it says it is pausing its work inside the country.






'Ditch the timeline: Sadie Robertson Huff urges Gen Z not to grow impatient, trust in Gods timing

Sadie Robertson Huff, who rose to fame as a teenager on the hit series "Duck Dynasty," shared what it means for Christians to be anointed, stressing that while believers are set apart and sacred, that doesn't mean they'll be quickly elevated to positions of authority, using the story of David in the book of Samuel as an example.

Speaking at the LO Sister App Retreat in Monroe, Louisiana, Robertson Huff said many in her generation, Gen Z, allow pride and fear to lead them to question why God doesn't work on their timetable.

God, she said, doesn't instantly elevate Christians to their desired platform or position because there are experiences they need to go through first so that He can prepare them to use their anointing, she emphasized, while preaching on the topic, "Anointed Right Now" on Feb. 22.

Reading from the book of Samuel, the 24-year-old pointed the audience to the story of David, who, long before he became king, worked for many years in the fields as a shepherd tending to his sheep while he was anointed by God. But during this time of fulfilling his duties as a shepherd, God was preparing him for the battle he would face against the giant Goliath and for his eventual succession as king of Israel.

Sometimes youre like, I am anointed. But why am I watching the sheep? ... Im supposed to be king, right? But its not time to be king yet. Its time to watch the sheep, Robertson Huff said.

David is anointed. He is gifted. He is good-looking. He is killing it. And hes keeping the sheep. So my point is: you can be gifted, you can be anointed, you can be called by God, you can even have it in your future that you might be king, but that does not mean that your timing with the sheep is not extremely important in your life, she emphasized.

As a young shepherd, David used his musical giftings by playing the harp while tending to his sheep. This led to David being noticed by one of King Saul's servants, who recommended his musical talents to help soothe the king who was "tormented" by an evil spirit (1 Samuel 16:14).

[Davids] not trying to promote himself. Hes not going around the palace and playing the harp. Notice that? Hes not outside saying, Notice me. Im so awesome, she added. Hes not trying to get a meeting with the king. ... Hes literally sitting with the sheep, playing the harp. He didnt have to promote himself. Because when youre anointed, you dont have to promote yourself.

When youre anointed, you dont have to strive for someone to notice you because God sees you and Gods timing on when you will be seen will be intentional. And it wont be until youre ready, she continued.

After David's performance for King Saul, instead of demanding the right to be elevated to a higher position, David went right back to his duties tending the sheep, she said.

"The thing that really qualified [David] was that God was with him. Thats what made people want to be around him.  And I love how, when David goes in and hes playing for the king,  Hes not trying to be king, Robertson Huff explained.

Hes not trying to rush the process. Because so many of us do that. Its like we finally get our opportunity, and we just want it to just blow up, she added.

Robertson Huff said that many times when Christians receive opportunities to use their gifts and anointing to bring God glory, they oftentimes try to get ahead of Gods timing.

We try to rush the process," she said. "We try to promote ourselves to all these people. And we dont even realize that we actually are even promoting ourselves to God. We say, God, Im so anointed. Why am I with the sheep? As if He didnt anoint you.

And God is [saying], You dont know that while youre with the sheep, Im preparing you. You dont know that while youre playing the guitar, Im preparing you. You dont know that while youre making those Instagram posts, Im preparing you. You dont know that while youre praying, Im preparing you, Robertson Huff continued.

So before you promote yourself, you just need to prepare yourself. ... Before I can ever put you in front of giants, I got to make sure you know how to steward a sheep, she added.

Because King Saul did not have a pure heart, God removed him as king of Israel and David rose to power.

You could be qualified with all the things that could make you king. But if you dont have a pure heart, youre not going to be king," she maintained. "If you dont figure out how to sit with the sheep and tend those. If you dont figure out how to play your gifting well, then whos going to notice? How are you going to get seen?

Its important for Christians to wait on Gods timing, she reiterated, even when Gods timing is not aligned with our expectations.

It was like five years, they believe, from the time [David] was anointed to the time he was fighting Goliath. And when he was fighting Goliath, he wasnt even king yet. Im just saying that God is a God of very specific time and that time sometimes is not going to fit in your timeline. ... My best advice for you is: ditch the timeline, Robertson Huff declared.

When it was time for David to battle against Goliath, she continued, he was prepared because during his time as a shepherd, he had to occasionally fight off a lion or bear to protect the flock.

You know how he was confident because he was faithful in the private moments because he was obedient. He stepped out when a lion or bear came and he trusted God, she added.

When Christians feel tempted to rush ahead of God and ask why their dreams arent being fulfilled, or when Christians feel fearful of taking a leap of faith and conquering their dreams, they should look to Jesus, she advised.

I hear our generation say 'why' so much to God. And God can handle your why questions. He really can. ... Im not even saying that He doesnt appreciate when you ask why, Robertson Huff said.

We can look at Jesus life and know that, in that moment, it was probably so hard ... to just carry that weight, and it was just like, why. But Jesus knew and God knew that because three days later, He was going to rise and thats going to give hope for the entire world, she declared.
Black-clad mob at UNT attacks dad fighting to save son from trans puberty blockers

Editors note: this article contains some profanity.

Liberal protesters at the University of North Texas denounced a concerned father who wants to stop the gender transition of his son as a fascist and forced the student organizer of a lecture in which the father spoke to hide in a closet amid threats to her safety.

The Young Conservatives of Texas, which has chapters at several college campuses in Texas, hosted an event featuring Jeff Younger at the Denton, Texas-based university on Wednesday.

Younger is a father who lost custody of his trans-identified biological son after objecting to his ex-wifes efforts to transition him from male to female.

Younger, who is running as a Republican for the Texas House of Representatives, was asked to give a presentation titled For the Future of Texas: Federalism as State Nationalism, Conservatism as Traditionalism, [and] Republican Politics as Restoration.

A promo for the event announced that Younger, a local business owner and veteran, would share his vision for Texas and stated that he had received national attention defending his young son against being forcibly transitioned by his ex-wife, and now looks to continue the fight representing Texas House District 63.

As a political candidate, Younger wants the state legislature to outlaw sex-change surgeries on children and criticizes the legislature for failing to do so in the last two sessions.

Initially scheduled for Feb. 23, a winter storm led the organizers to postpone his speech until this week.

Younger spoke before a crowd of students at UNT the day after advancing to a runoff in the Republican Primary for House District 63 and a week after the Texas Attorney General characterized gender reassignment surgeries and puberty blockers for the purpose of gender transition as child abuse in a formal opinion.

Video footage shared by independent journalist Andy Ngo reveals that Younger received an overwhelmingly negative reaction from liberal protesters in the audience.

The protesters, who expressed outrage at Youngers opposition to the efforts to promote the gender transitioning of children, pounded on the table and clapped their hands as they chanted F*** you, fascist. One protester is seen putting up their middle finger.

At the University of North Texas in Denton, far-left activists shut down the Young Conservatives of Texas (@YctUnt) event featuring the father who lost custody of his trans child. The radicals pounded on the table & shouted, F you, fascist over & over.pic.twitter.com/QRIAXcWBZK  Andy Ngo ?????????? (@MrAndyNgo) March 3, 2022

Additional video footage shared by Ngo shows that the heckling of Younger continued throughout the speech, with some joining Younger at the front of the room. The whiteboard had the phrase doesnt pay child support written on it in an attempt to take a dig at the concerned father, based on a premise he contended was inaccurate.

This is what leftist politics looks like, Younger remarked after a protester screamed in his face. Another protester set off a noisemaker.

At the University of North Texas, a trans-critical event by a conservative student group feat. @JeffYoungerTex was shut down. One person went to the front to scream. Another stood on the table & spit at the speaker after being called "she." More footage:https://t.co/IbwXOEziF9pic.twitter.com/IemEmT3DPD  Andy Ngo ?????????? (@MrAndyNgo) March 4, 2022

As UNT President Neal Smatresk noted in a letter to the campus community Thursday, the protest against Younger was not limited to the classroom at Curry Hall where his lecture took place.

A few hundred protestors gathered outside the building, holding signs and chanting, he said.

Smatresks letter also mentioned that the nature of the lecture led to additional police presence.

Because conversations surrounding the student organizations event, which focused on criminalizing healthcare for transgender children, have been contentious, UNT Police created a plan to ensure their ability to maintain a safe environment for our campus community, the student organizers, their guest, and event protestors, requesting advance assistance from both Denton Police and the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS).

Based on the event space capacity and for safety purposes, the room was limited to 80 attendees. A few hundred protestors gathered outside the building, holding signs and chanting, he added. The police agencies tasked with maintaining public safety were inside and outside the building. DPS officers were staged at a nearby location as an extra safety precaution.

Police believe a small group of protestors not affiliated with the university contributed to escalating the overall protest from peaceful to an aggressive encounter, Smatresk stated.

These actions culminated with a group of protesters swarming police, who were working to safely escort both the guest speaker and student organizers off campus, he explained. DPS was called in to assist with maintaining safety.

Ngo indicated that some in the group of protestors not affiliated with the university are believed to be linked to the Dallas-Fort Worth #antifa cell, adding that Law enforcement had to evacuate the speaker & conservative student organizer.

The student organizer, Kelly Neidert, detailed in a Twitter thread Thursday how concerns for her safety led to her requiring a police escort to depart from the event.

Last night I was evacuated from an event hosted by [the Young Conservatives of Texas at the University of North Texas] on my college campus, she recalled. I received violent threats and constant harassment leading up to the event and was targeted by Antifa protesters. They separated me from my police escort and I ended up hiding in a janitor closet.

In video footage posted by Neidert, multiple protesters yelled F*** you, Kelly, and one called her another highly inappropriate name. After hiding in the closet for a period of time, Neidert was rushed into a police car.

Last night I was evacuated from an event hosted by @YctUnt on my college campus. I received violent threats and constant harassment leading up to the event and was targeted by Antifa protesters. They separated me from my police escort and I ended up hiding in a janitor closet. pic.twitter.com/WO0ChTlXlh  Kelly (@kelly_neidert) March 4, 2022

Neiderts boyfriend, Alex Stein, posted a screenshot of what he purports are threatening Instagram messages she received expressing a desire to beat you and your ugly boyfriend  up at the same time and tie you together and hang you off the side of a f***ing building.

Additionally, the Instagram user discussed how he cant wait to see the videos come out of UNT of Kelly getting her a** beat, predicting that people would throw your ugly a** down the tallest flight of stairs they can find.

Smatresk elaborated on the adverse treatment experienced by Neidert in his letter.

A group of protestors surrounded the police vehicles containing both the student organizers and their guest and attempted to block their exit from the scene by banging on the vehicles and impeding their movement, he stated. The officers engaged emergency lights and sounded warning signs repeatedly while inching forward as other officers assisted in clearing a path for the vehicles to exit safely.

The UNT President reported that we have heard accounts of a protester who was reportedly injured during that time, stressing that we do not have confirmed details of that report.

A liberal Twitter user, Denton Possum, implied that Dentons police apparently have no qualms about running over students because as soon as Kelly was settled in the car, the driver accelerated towards the crowd rapidly and a protestor was unable to back away fast enough, and was struck by the front of the vehicle.

Denton's police apparently have no qualms about running over students. As soon as Kelly was settled in the car, the driver accelerated towards the crowd rapidly. A protestor was unable to back away fast enough, and was struck by the front of the vehicle. pic.twitter.com/DOvf7ob4c0  Denton Possum (@DentonPossum) March 3, 2022

Smatresk praised UNT Police for working to create and maintain an environment safe for all students to express themselves, regardless of topic, but said that the behavior by some individuals is not reflective of the UNT I know and love.

Smatresk stated that the school has always touted the importance of freedom of expression and been proud of our students ability to speak up for themselves and participate in nonviolent protest.

The presidents letter did not sit well with liberal student activists, who will hold a protest Friday afternoon expressing opposition to the tone of his letter.

The Walk Out Protest is directed at Smatresk for condoning hate speech and ignoring the voices of students.

Younger details his family situation more on his campaign website, saying his ex-wife began to teach his son that he is a girl at the age of 2. He said a pediatrician plans to put his son on hormone drugs around the age of 9.

Ive spent over a million dollars in total economic costs trying to stop her, the courts, and the schools from transitioning my son to a girl, the website explains.

My ex-wife now has authority from the State of Texas to cross-dress my nine-year-old son.

Younger has issues with Coppell Independent School District calling his son by a girls name and allowing him to use the girls bathroom. He argued that they actively teach his son that he is a girl.
'Bombings are closing in': Christian who left Ukraine with family grieves over country's fate

A Ukrainian Christian who left his country ahead of Russias invasion shared his heartache and grief over his compatriots suffering in the war-ravaged nation and wonders what will be left of their cities and villages when the fighting ceases.

Ruslan Maliuta, a Ukrainian Evangelical from Kyiv, who has spent the last four weeks in Switzerland, spoke to The Christian Post about the situation on the ground back home and urged Christians worldwide to pray for Ukraine to emerge from this conflict stronger than ever.

We came to Western Europe about four weeks ago, said Maliuta, referring to his wife and their five children who were forced to flee their home to escape the impending invasion of Russian troops.

As repeated warnings about Russian President Vladimir Putin planning attacks on Ukraine gained the attention of global powers, Maliuta and his wife determined that circumstances were looking dire and it might be a good idea to just go temporarily.

Since their arrival in Switzerland, theyve been praying that tensions will de-escalate. But now, the family is facing the gut-wrenching reality that they dont know when, or even if, theyll ever be able to return home.

War happened, so everything changed, he lamented.

Although Maliuta and his wife and children made it out of Ukraine before the fighting intensified last week, both his parents and in-laws remain in a western suburb of Kyiv, having elected not to evacuate.

They did not leave, and while those specific suburbs are still relatively safe, as much as something can be safe in Ukraine, ... the bombings and the fightings are closing in, he said.

Personally, our biggest concern is praying for [the] safety of our parents who are still in the area, especially with the fighting around Kyiv intensifying.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyys orders banning men between the ages of 18 to 60 from leaving the country with their families so they can stay and fight for their homeland has also meant that many families are now separated or denied access to leave.

One such family is an acquaintance of Maliutas children. Despite having a child with special needs, the family was banned from leaving together and turned away at the border as they tried to flee the country. Such circumstances are devastating, he said.

The Ukrainian government ultimately amended the order to exclude men who have three or more children, who have adopted children, [or] who have special needs children. After the order was changed, the family was finally able to cross the border, Maliuta explained.

Even before tensions between Ukraine and Russia escalated to a boiling point following the invasion last week, Maliuta characterized their lives as disruptive.

Whenever there is [a] combat situation or its close to that, Maliuta said his church chooses not to gather in-person because its dangerous. Though his church didnt have regular Sunday services, they continued to meet online and hold services via Zoom. Kind of like during COVID times, he added.

Even if fighting between Ukraine and Russia soon ends, Maliuta implored Christians worldwide to see the countrys restoration as a long-term project.

We are looking at a very long time of restoring infrastructure, he said, emphasizing that it will take a long time for people affected by the war to recover from physical consequences and to recover from psychological consequences.

Every Ukrainian who has tried to flee the country since war broke out is probably traumatized, not only by the experience of war but also by this whole journey, he continued. In the first days following the invasion, it was not unusual to spend 50, 60 hours or more waiting to get through the Border Patrol.

As an Evangelical, Maliuta shared his gratitude for the impact of Christian ministries assisting Ukrainians forced to flee their homes and leave their cherished belongings behind.

There are ministries in Ukraine that help people to get across the border and then find places for them temporarily, and then more long-term as they move into Poland or Romania or Moldova and then further West.

There are many elements to helping people who are waiting in line at the border  providing them with hot meals, essentials, medicine and welcoming them after they cross the border. Anything that relates to refugees, I think there are growing efforts to provide psychological and spiritual support. ... I would say that every person ... has been traumatized and is suffering and is in some kind of distress.

Maliuta implored Christians around the world to pray for a miracle in Ukraine, an intentional prayer for God to help Ukraine go through this immense challenge in a way that will allow it to emerge even stronger and even more free. He praised the incredible outpouring of prayer for Ukraine he has already seen so far.

If youre in Ukraine, whats going on right now is devastating. Its really hard to see your country turn to pieces, people dying and people leaving everything behind. So in the midst of such pain, suffering, horrible things, its very encouraging and uplifting to see [people praying].  It seems to be impacting people in very significant ways regardless of where they live.
May the Ukrainians sense the prayers of the American church

It was June 6, 1944, and little did the American people know, but the D-Day invasion was already underway in France.

President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, speaking on his radio program called the "Fireside Chat," led the nation in prayer  a prayer uttered by a man who obviously knew God.

Like many of our presidents, President Roosevelt was a man of deep faith  genuinely converted, fully devoted and a man who believed that God would help all nations who rose up against an evil tyrant like Hitler.

It is my prayer that the same tremendous encouragement that was given to our country that night by his prayer will give courage to the Ukrainian people all over the world today.

That night, President Roosevelt prayed:

"Almighty God: Our sons, pride of our Nation, this day have set upon a mighty endeavor, ... Lead them straight and true; give strength to their arms, stoutness to their hearts, steadfastness in their faith. They will need Thy blessings. Their road will be long and hard. For the enemy is strong.  They will be sore tried, by night and by day, without rest until the victory is won. The darkness will be rent by noise and flame. Men's souls will be shaken with the violences of war."

"Some will never return," he said. "Embrace these, Father, and receive them, Thy heroic servants, into Thy kingdom."

"And for us at home  fathers, mothers, children, wives, sisters, and brothers of brave men overseas  whose thoughts and prayers are ever with them  help us, Almighty God, to rededicate ourselves in renewed faith in Thee in this hour of great sacrifice." "With Thy blessing, we shall prevail over the unholy forces of our enemy. Help us to conquer the apostles of greed and racial arrogancies. Lead us into the saving of our country, and with our sister Nations into a world unity that will spell a sure peacea peace that will let all of men live in freedom, reaping the just rewards of their honest toil. Thy will be done, Almighty God. Amen."

When I first came to Elmira, New York, in 1986, I had the privilege of meeting Pastor John Bedzyk, the pastor of a large church there. He told me that when he was a young man, there was a small group of Ukrainians that had been meeting in Binghamton, New York, and that God's Spirit was being poured out during powerful services.

His mother, together with John, his brother and his sister would make the hour and a half trip to the Ukrainian church frequently to enjoy Gods awesome presence.

Later Brother John, as he was known, started his own church in an old shirt factory in Elmira. The church eventually grew into the Elmira Christian Center, having at one time one of the largest bus ministries in the country and running a K-12 Christian school.

I thank God that each of my three children graduated from Elmira Christian Academy. As you trace the story of this one man who was radically converted to Christ and filled with God's Holy Spirit at this Ukrainian church in Binghamton, New York, you would learn how he touched thousands of lives for Christ during his lifetime.

May God call our hearts to pray diligently for our Ukrainian brothers and sisters. The battle that the modern-day Ukrainians face seem insurmountable and the sacrifices that they are being called to make are enormous. However, I pray that their faith will be strengthened as we join in prayer with them.
Beloved Chicago pastor once honored by city killed with husband in hit-and-run accident

A Chicago pastor from a long line of clergy was killed along with her pastor husband in a hit-and-run accident in the citys Far South Side last Monday. Police have not located the perpetrator.

Police say Apostle Yvonne Lee-Wilson of Body of Christ Deliverance Ministries Training Center and her husband, retired Pastor Adelbert Wilson, were found in their car following a crash around 11:15 p.m. at 111th Street and Cottage Grove Avenue.

Lee-Wilson served over 25 years as senior pastor of the church.

The couple, both of whom are in their mid-60s, had been married for three decades, according to the churchs website. They leave behind their three daughters, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

The Chicago Sun-Times reports that both had to be extracted from their vehicle and were rushed to two local hospitals.

Wilson died at the University of Chicago Medical Center and Lee-Wilson died at the Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn.

Police are investigating the crash as a hit-and-run and have not released further information about the accident.

ABC 7 Chicago reports that police found a wrecked white vehicle at the scene but cant conclusively say if the other driver was in it. Police revealed that Wilson was driving a red SUV, which had rolled over into a bus stop, ripping the roof off the vehicle and shattering the walls.

Lee-Wilsons sister, Geneva Davis, told the outlet that she is in awe of the news.

I dont know how I am feeling, she was quoted as saying. I am broken. I am devastated, angry and frustrated.

City Council Alderman Carrie Austin of the 34th Ward introduced a resolution in 2013 to honor Lee-Wilson for her many years of service to the community during the 17th anniversary of her time with Body of Christ Deliverance Ministries.

Dr. Yvonne Lee-Wilson is an active member of her community who has gone beyond the call of duty to meet the needs of Gods people, the resolution stated. She is a spokesperson for the 5th District Police Department, is involved with the Roseland Community Hospital, and acts as an advisor for 34th Ward Alderman Carrie M. Austin.

The resolution also noted that Lee-Wilson was a full-time employee with Catholic Charities seeking to help meet the needs of people in her community. She also authored the 2008 book The Rise and Fall of Women in Ministry.

Lee-Wilson was a Chicago resident since birth and earned a bachelors degree from Chicago State University and a doctorate in divinity from St. Michaels Institution.

The Far South Chicago Coalition honored Lee-Wilson in a Facebook post.

"Dr. Wilson was an invaluable asset to our organization," the organization shared. "She was knowledgeable, efficient, a pillar in the community, a beloved member of FSCC and a faithful woman of GOD! She will be truly missed by everyone who knew her. We are praying for her entire family!"

Local Pastor Lolita Luckett, who had known the couple for years, remembers her friends as extremely beautiful people.

She was a great woman, and she left a great legacy behind, Luckett told The Chicago Sun-Times. She touched the lives of many, many people, too many to even count. In and out of Illinois.
Sean Feucht says being a revivalist has brought family 'hate, harassment and death threats'

Worship artist Sean Feucht, who has become a well-known revivalist leading outdoor revivals nationwide, has opened up about the amount of hatred he and his family have received for sharing the message of freedom in Christ.

The former Bethel Church worship released a new live record, Let Us Worship - Miami, in February, which captures the sound of revival he emitted in the atmosphere to kick off the new year. The album reached No. 1 on the iTunes chart under the Christian genre upon its release last month, and Feucht wants the live record to continue to resonate with listeners.

It is raw. It is not a polished, perfectly produced sound captured in a sterile studio that is normally heard on Christian radio, he told The Christian Post. Its a sound caught in the middle of revival outdoors in some of Americas hardest cities.

It feels like you are actually right there in the moment, he added. There is something powerful about that.

The father of four is the founder of the Let Us Worship movement. His New Years Eve concert in Miami was his first stop on the Let Us Worship Tour.

Feuchts Let Us Worship movement was birthed during the height of the COVID-19 lockdowns, in response to state and local governments across America restricting in-person worship through policies aimed at mitigating the spread of the coronavirus.

While Feucht came in third place in his bid for U.S. Congress in 2020 as a Republican in Californias 3rd Congressional District, he has since been at the center of several large health mandate-defying Christian revival gatherings in major cities across the nation.

The large revivals have brought national media scorn to Feucht, who hosted the outdoor rallies to worship and encourage Christians to become more politically active.

Feucht revealed that his bold stance for revival in these times has been difficult.

It is more controversial than I ever imagined, he admitted. Jesus was right when he warned the disciples, You will be hated by everyone because of me. But the one who stands firm to the end will be saved, (Matthew 10:22).

Feucht told CP that he and his family have endured the most intense resistance, hate, harassment and even death threats to our home and family that weve ever experienced.

But yet the glory has been incredible, and the testimony of breakthrough has sustained us, Feucht added.

The minister has been accused of being too political with his Gospel approach, but he believes ministry, politics and everything overlap.

The Church needs to wake up! he maintained. Christ calls us to be salt and light. He wants us to [put] His Love and truth to every facet of our life, not just our families and church, but schools, work, and politics too!

Feucht declared that the Church is in a season of historic revival!

While we are living through the wars and rumors of wars promised by Jesus in Matthew 24, I also believe that the Gospel of the Kingdom will be preached to the ends of the earth and then the end will come, he added. These are the times of great intensity and polarization. But they are also the times of awakening in the Church.

Songs and sounds captured in his heart are what Feucht hopes comes as he continues to press for more across America.

Let Us Worship exists to call a nation and people back to God, he stated.

He warned the world is closer than we were yesterday to the End Times.

In Let Us Worship - Miami, Feuct can be heard praying over Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis wife, Casey, who was diagnosed with breast cancer six months ago. Casey is now cancer-free, according to DeSantis, and the worship leader took to social media to testify of Gods healing power.

Feucht also shared several other testimonies from his Let Us Worship tour. He said people were healed of COVID, children were baptized and many other healings occurred.

The Oral Roberts University alum wants people to know that worship is essential in times of great turmoil and resistance.

It is what sustains us and our strength. We came in weighed down by the narratives of the world, wars, the media, etc. When we enter Gods presence, He is the glory and the lifter of our head, and we are reminded who is in control and who is on the throne, Feucht concluded.

He ended by telling believers everywhere to pray, stand and believe.
Voddie Baucham says he's been asked to accept nomination for SBC president

Renowned Southern Baptist preacher Voddie Baucham, who denounced critical race theory and the social justice movement in his latest book, Fault Lines: The Social Justice Movement and Evangelicalisms Looming Catastrophe, confirmed Friday that he has been asked to accept a nomination for SBC President.

Responding to questions from The Christian Post about the prospect of his nomination, which was first rumored online, Baucham, who considers himself an outsider in the halls of power of the nations largest Protestant denomination, said he isnt sure he is eligible to accept the nomination.

I have indeed been asked to accept a nomination for SBC President. While I am honored to have been asked, I am not sure I am eligible, Baucham said in a statement. There are questions about the way church membership is considered for missionaries (SBC Article II and Article VIII).

Baucham, 52, currently serves as dean of theology at African Christian University in Zambia and a board member of Founders Ministries, a conservative group within the SBC dedicated to the biblical reformation of local churches.

Article VIII of SBCs constitution requires that all officers of the SBC must be members of Baptist churches cooperating with this Convention. But Article II says: It is the purpose of the Convention to provide a general organization for Baptists in the United States and its territories for the promotion of Christian missions at home and abroad and any other objects such as Christian education, benevolent enterprises, and social services which it may deem proper and advisable for the furtherance of the Kingdom of God.

My sending church (the church I planted) has always practiced regenerate, resident church membership. Unfortunately, this is not common practice in many SBC churches. As such, we have always believed that missionaries sent to the field needed to join local churches in order to be shepherded properly, Baucham told CP.

Unfortunately, since the SBC is an American entity, that means missionaries who leave the USA must either practice non-resident membership (which I am convinced is unbiblical), or join a local church and be technically outside the SBC while being counted as SBC missionaries.

Baucham calls the situation a huge problem in foreign missions.

Many spend years on the field being members of churches thousands of miles away, refusing to submit to local church leadership on the ground, and suffering spiritually as a result. Either that, or they practice some kind of dual membership. Either way, it sends a terrible message to those whom we serve.

I am a missionary sent by an SBC church, supported by an SBC church, reporting to an SBC church, but am technically not a member of that SBC church because my family and I entrusted our souls to a healthy, indigenous, local Baptist church at the behest of our SBC church. Hence, it appears my commitment to missions and biblical church membership has rendered me ineligible for any office in the SBC, he added. At least thats the way I read it.

Bauchams response comes after SBC President Ed Litton announced on Tuesday that he would not seek reelection following his first year in office.

Willy Rice, the pastor of Calvary Church in Clearwater, Florida, who delivered the convention sermon at the 2021 annual meeting last June, is also expected to be nominated for the SBC presidency at the 2022 SBC Annual Meeting this June in Anaheim, California.

Though he is a popular figure, particularly in the more conservative wing of the SBC, Baucham is viewed by some as polarizing for his views on race and the role of women in the church, which have been two of the most contentious points in the denomination in recent years.

Baucham, who had successful coronary bypass surgery last year, told CP in an interview about his latest book last summer that he feels his positions have made him an outsider in some Evangelical circles.

Popular evangelicalism is woke, so most of the things that Im pointing out put me on the outside of the echo chamber, not the inside. I mean, Im not going to be invited to CRU or Intervarsity or The Gospel Coalition or I could run down the list. Im not going to be invited by any of those things that are the premier places in evangelicalism, he said.

Forget the SBC, forget the PCA, a Southern Baptist seminary couldnt hire me today because of all of these ideas. They would be completely pilloried if they hired me. So far from writing for an echo chamber, Im actually speaking out and putting myself outside the echo chamber.

When asked about his health on Friday, Baucham said his heart is better and stronger.

My health is great! he said. I was checked out at Mayo [Clinic] a few months ago and came through with flying colors. I am back to doing everything I was doing before my illness. By Gods grace, my heart is better and stronger than it has been in years.
Russia's President Vladimir Putin, right, reviews a military honor guard with Chinese President Xi Jinping during a welcoming ceremony outside the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, June 8, 2018. Chinese consumers are stepping up to support Russian and Ukrainian businesses, with some flocking to Russian-run e-commerce stores on JD.com, while others are queuing up to dine at a Ukrainian restaurant in Beijing. AP-Yonhap



Chinese consumers are stepping up to support Russian and Ukrainian businesses, with some flocking to Russian-run e-commerce stores on JD.com, while others are queuing up to dine at a Ukrainian restaurant in Beijing. Chinese consumers are stepping up to support Russian and Ukrainian businesses, with some flocking to Russian-run e-commerce stores on JD.com, while others are queuing up to dine at a Ukrainian restaurant in Beijing.

Since Russia invaded Ukraine last week, Beijing has been at pains not to condemn its strategic partner, but it has not approved of Moscow's military action either.



Some Chinese shoppers, however, are taking a more conspicuous stand in support of Russia by buying snacks, tea and other merchandise from the online "Russian State Pavilion" store, which claims to be endorsed by the Russian Embassy in Beijing.



Numerous items  including tea, KDV candies and chocolate wafers  were sold out Friday evening and followers of the store quadrupled to more than 40,0000 in a couple days.



A video posted on the e-commerce site of Sergey Batsev, a China representative for Business Russia, thanked Chinese shoppers for their support of "Russia and Russia State Pavilion at this difficult time." It quickly went viral on social media, with a flood of comments expressing support for Moscow and anti-U.S. sentiment.



Despite a surge of pro-Russian support on China's social media, there are numerous Chinese citizens acting in solidarity with the Ukrainian people.



A Chinese employee at Google China, who refused to reveal his identity, said he donated $1,000  with the same amount matched by his company  to help Ukrainians.



"Wars cannot be rationalized," he said. "No matter what, Ukraine people will be the ones suffering the most during the war. My donation is for humanitarian reasons.






Appeals court rejects Biden admin.'s attempt to unblock vaccine mandate enforcement on Navy SEALs

A three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit has rejected a motion to lift a block on enforcing the COVID-19 vaccine mandate for 35 Navy personnel who oppose getting vaccinated against the coronavirus for religious reasons.

In a per curiam decision released Monday, the panel denied a motion from the Biden administration to lift a lower court injunction blocking the Department of Defense from enforcing the COVID-19 vaccine mandate on the 35 service members seeking religious exemptions.

Under the policy, military service members were to have gotten the COVID-19 vaccine by Nov. 28.

The court concluded that the 35 plaintiffs, including 26 Navy SEALs, had a valid complaint under the federal Religious Freedom Restoration Act that deserved to be seriously considered.

Plaintiffs allege specific, and far from frivolous, violations of their free exercise rights under both the First Amendment and RFRA. Thus, the nature and strength of Plaintiffs claims weigh in favor of judicial resolution, the decision reads.

Plaintiffs also face irreparable harm if judicial review is denied.  By pitting their consciences against their livelihoods, the vaccine requirements would crush Plaintiffs free exercise of religion.

The panel noted that Navy leadership does not even dispute that its COVID-19 vaccination requirements substantially burden each Plaintiffs free exercise of religion, but the nature of the injury bears emphasis.

Plaintiffs have thoughtfully articulated their sincere religious objections to taking the vaccine itself. Accepting the vaccine would directly burden their respective faiths by forcing them to inject an unremovable substance at odds with their most profound convictions, continued the decision.

Defendants have not demonstrated paramount interests that justify vaccinating these 35 Plaintiffs against COVID-19 in violation of their religious beliefs.

The First Liberty Institute, a legal group representing the Navy service members, released a statement Monday celebrating the panel decision.

Our military should be welcoming service members, not forcing them out because of their religious beliefs, said First Liberty Director of Military Affairs Mike Berry in a statement.

Its time for our military to honor its constitutional obligations and grant religious accommodations for service members with sincere religious objections to the vaccine. Were grateful the Fifth Circuit denied the Navys motion.

Last November, First Liberty Institute filed the lawsuit on behalf of the service members who opposed getting vaccinated against COVID-19 for religious reasons.

In January, Judge Reed OConnor of the U.S. District Court Northern District of Texas, a George W. Bush appointee, issued a preliminary injunction against the mandate.

The Navy provides a religious accommodation process, but by all accounts, it is theater. The Navy has not granted a religious exemption to any vaccine in recent memory. It merely rubber stamps each denial, wrote OConnor earlier this year.

The Navy servicemembers in this case seek to vindicate the very freedoms they have sacrificed so much to protect. The COVID-19 pandemic provides the government no license to abrogate those freedoms. There is no COVID-19 exception to the First Amendment. There is no military exclusion from our Constitution.
Pro-lifers praise Senate's defeat of bill to codify abortion rights into federal law

As a bill that would have codified the right to abortion into federal law failed to advance in the U.S. Senate Monday, pro-life advocates contend that Senate Democrats who supported the bill are radically out of touch with the American people.

The Senate failed to garner the necessary votes to begin debate on the Womens Health Protection Act, described as a bill to protect a persons ability to determine whether to continue or end a pregnancy, and to protect a health care providers ability to provide abortion services.

The Senate came up far short of the 60 votes required to invoke cloture and begin debate on the legislation, with 48 senators voting in favor of cloture and 46 senators voting against it.

All Senate Republicans that voted, including pro-choice Sens. Susan Collins, R-Maine, and Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, voted against invoking cloture.

Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., was the only Senate Democrat to join Republicans in opposing the bill.

The Womens Health Protection Act passed the Democrat-controlled House of Representatives last year, with all Republicans and one Democrat opposing the measure. The bill was supported by the White House, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer.

Pro-life groups issued statements Monday evening, reiterating their concerns about the legislation and the Democrats near-unanimous support for it. Meanwhile, pro-abortion organizations have condemned the Senates failure to advance the bill.

We thank all our pro-life allies in the Senate who spoke out about the extremism of this bill and helped defeat it, said Marjorie Dannenfelser, president of the grassroots lobbying organization Susan B. Anthony List.

Biden, Pelosi, and Schumers Abortion on Demand Until Birth Act would enshrine an unlimited abortion right in federal law and block common ground pro-life laws around the country.

In calling for this bill to be passed, Chuck Schumer referred to abortion as sacred and a fundamental right  proving that pro-abortion Democrats could not be more radically out of touch with the American people, she added. Those who sided with the abortion lobby to trample the will of the people will face political consequences.

Carol Tobias, the president of National Right to Life, described the Womens Health Protection Act as evidence of the abortion zealotry of the Democratic Party.

This legislation shows just how rigid and uncompromising the Democratic Party has become on abortion, she said. This legislation would have made sweeping changes, including expanding taxpayer funding of abortion, and eliminating requirements that a woman be given information about the development of her unborn child so she can make an informed decision.

This legislation would quash nearly all existing protective state laws, warned Jennifer Popik, NRLCs director of Federal Legislation. With this bill, elective abortion would have become the procedure that must always be facilitated  never delayed, never impeded to the slightest degree.

Leaders of pro-abortion advocacy organizations vowed to keep fighting to pass the legislation. Alexis McGill Johnson, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood Federation of America, tweeted Monday asserting that Mondays outcome was disappointing.

But the progress we made along the way is still a big step towards protecting abortion access, Johnson tweeted.

The outcome of today's vote on WHPA was disappointing, but the progress we made along the way is still a big step towards protecting abortion access.



We are grateful for all the organizers, volunteers, supporters, & elected officials who fought for WHPA! We wont stop fighting.  Alexis McGill Johnson (@alexismcgill) February 28, 2022

We are grateful for all the organizers, volunteers, supporters, & elected officials who fought for WHPA! We wont stop fighting.

NARAL, a pro-abortion advocacy group, blamed Senate Republicans for blocking the bills advancement. NARAL contends that the legislation would safeguard the legal right to abortion.

Reproductive freedom is at risk  but they failed to protect us, NARAL tweeted. Were holding the Republicans who voted against WHPA accountable in 2022.

BREAKING: Senate Republicans blocked advancement on the Womens Health Protection Act, which would safeguard the legal right to abortion. Reproductive freedom is at riskbut they failed to protect us. Were holding the Republicans who voted against WHPA accountable in 2022.  NARAL (@NARAL) February 28, 2022

The effort to pass the Womens Health Protection Act, which began nearly three years ago in the 116th U.S. Congress, heated up last fall after the U.S. Supreme Court allowed a Texas law banning abortions after six weeks gestation to go into effect.

Additionally, concerns that the Supreme Court will reverse or weaken the precedent set by Roe v. Wade, the 1973 Supreme Court decision that legalized abortion nationwide, played a role in the push to codify abortion into federal law.

The Supreme Court is scheduled to decide on the constitutionality of a Mississippi law that bans abortion after 15 weeks gestation.

Polling indicates that while most Americans oppose the overturning of Roe, most Americans support limiting abortions after 15 weeks gestation. A poll conducted late last year and sponsored by Harvard Universitys Center for American Political Studies found that 54% of Americans oppose overturning Roe, while 56% of respondents expressed support for limiting abortions to the first 15 weeks of pregnancy.
Father fatally shoots 3 daughters, chaperone inside church then kills himself

A father fatally shot his three daughters and their chaperone inside the sanctuary of a California church before killing himself during a supervised visit with them Monday night, police said.

Officials did not immediately identify the church where the killings took place shortly after 5 p.m. on Wyda Way in Sacramento, but Michael Baginski, identified as a district leader on the website of The Church in Sacramento, suggested to the Los Angeles Times that the father was mentally ill.

The father, who has not yet been publicly identified, was only described as a 39-year-old man, while the ages of his daughters are listed as 9, 10 and 13.

Authorities say the father was estranged from the mother of his children and she had an active restraining order against him. Police say it was an employee of the church where the shooting took place who called 911 after hearing gunfire around 5:07 p.m.

In a televised interview, Sacramento County Sheriff Scott Jones said the church is used by a number of denominations for their services so it was unclear what the relationship was between the family and the church.

Its just horrific and unfortunately it does happen in the county. Domestic violence is all too common. This obviously rising to the level of killing innocent children is obviously beyond anyones rational comprehension, Jones said.

He explained that even though domestic murder-suicides are rare, they do happen all over the country and they encourage individuals who are in crisis to seek help before its too late.

Its hard to really understand what goes through a persons mind to do that, the sheriff said.

While we are no stranger in this county to domestic violence, a crime of this magnitude, where there is so much death and destruction and deliberation and violence that is, fortunately, very rare, but nonetheless it does happen. Not just in this county but all over the country, he explained.

Id just encourage anybody in a situation like this thinking that would never happen, he would never do that  it could happen. You just dont know what people are capable of. So Id just encourage people to use whatever resources they have to get out of a situation like that, he added.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom called the murders senseless and absolutely devastating.

Another senseless act of gun violence in America  this time in our backyard. In a church with kids inside. Absolutely devastating, he tweeted Monday night. Our hearts go out to the victims, their families and their communities. We are working closely with local law enforcement.

When asked why the father was allowed a supervised visit with the children despite the restraining order the mother of the children had against him, Sheriff Jones said parental rights are very strong.

Thats not uncommon, parent rights are very strong. Family court, their main goal is reunification so they want to see that if there is a pathway to reunification of the family they are looking at the best interest of the child, not necessarily the best interest of each individual adult, he explained. You look at this [as], such an outlier, such an extreme example of what could happen.

As authorities continued their investigation Monday night, Rep. Doris Matsui, D-Calif., in whose district the church is located, offered prayers for the victims.

Tonights senseless shooting is a tragedy beyond words. My prayers are with the victims family, loved ones and the entire Sacramento community, she tweeted. In memory of all those we have lost, we must renew our resolve to build a world free from gun violence.
Christian kids and the Great Commission

The enemies of Christianity are working overtime to try and stop the Gospel from going forward. If nothing is done to get Christian kids involved in the mandate of the Great Commission, there shall come a time when missionaries will go extinct.

Most Christians who are involved in missions today are elderly people. Young missionaries are far and few between. There is a desperate need to continue discipling our children if we hope to continue to reach out to the world with the Gospel and the love of Christ.

In Christianity, the Great Commission is the instruction of the resurrected Christ to His disciples to spread the Gospel to all nations of the world. The famous version of this instruction is found in Mathew 28:16-20, it is a command that must be obeyed by every Christian, and every tool must be mobilized for this purpose. Children are powerful instruments either in the hands of God or in the hands of the devil. The people of this dark world have realized this and have utilized children in advancing their agendas.

Children have been abducted, recruited and used by terrorist groups. After they are kidnapped, they are assigned a variety of different roles like suicide bombing, information gathering and killing.

Children who come in contact with these terrorist groups are indoctrinated and forced to carry out physical and psychological violence. Children are psychologically malleable and are prone to act without looking back.

They are dangerous weapons in the hands of those who are using them for the purpose of committing criminal offenses. Children have become weapons of war in many African countries. During conflicts, army commanders see children as cheap, compliant and effective fighters.

The psalmist explicitly stated the benefits of having children: Lo, children are a heritage of the Lord: and the fruit of the womb is his reward. As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth. Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them: they shall not be ashamed, but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate (Psalm 127: 3-5).

Christian leaders are supposed to disciple and catechize children in evangelism from a young age. And the lord commended the unjust steward, because he had done wisely; for the children of this world are in their generation wiser than the children of light (Luke 6:8). In this generation, are the people of the world still wiser than us?

Afri-mission and Evangelism Network recently embarked on Catch Them Young Project and has visited schools to inaugurate Young Missionaries Clubs with the objectives to recruit and train children in missiological strategies.

According to Afri-mission director of conventional mission, Pastor Emmanuel Yusuf: We have decided to be proactive over the missional inclination of Christian children. If we wait further, they will become rigid like most of the adult Christians who are now finding it difficult to embrace the mandate of the Great Commission. If there are Jet clubs, Young Farmers Clubs, science clubs, cultural clubs and other clubs, why can't we establish Young Missionaries Club?

Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old, they will not turn from it (Proverbs 22:6). If the Church does not build the Christian foundation of our children to include the Great Commission, we risk of becoming the last generation of missionaries.

Sunday school curricula for children in our churches should focus extensively on evangelism. Let us let them know that the primary vocation of every Christian is missionary work, and any other profession is a secondary assignment. Christian children who want to be doctors, lawyers and engineers should be guided and raised to understand that they should aspire to be missionaries first.

It is high time we started developing missiological strategies for children because they are arrows in our hands. We must step out and speak with the enemies of the Gospel at the gate. This starts with grooming the next generation of missionaries for this exact goal.
A gay Christian predicts that the gay community will destroy the Christian Church

Yes, you read that headline correctly. A man claiming to be a gay Christian has predicted that the gay community will destroy the Christian church  those are his exact words  and he hopes it will happen sooner than later.

Allow me to give you a spoiler alert. The Church that Jesus is building  by which I mean the community of His true followers around the world  cannot be destroyed. Or canceled. Or silenced.

As for much of what goes by the name of Christian Church, thats another story.

Perhaps that is what this gay author is describing, namely, the dismantling of so-called Christianity? If so, how on earth could he imagine that the gay community will lead the way in destroying it?

Writing on Medium.com, Keith Michael states, The Christian Church is imploding on itself. Fewer and fewer people are filling its pews, at least in North America, and the leadership of the various Christian Church denominations know it. They see the trends.

Its literally scaring them. And they are powerless to stop it.

They are powerless to stop it because its happening by the hand of GOD.

And then this: In all fairness, its not really the gay community that is destroying the Church  GOD is destroying the Christian Church  but we are the catalyst, a very visible sign whom GOD is using to illustrate the Churchs errors, the Churchs arrogance, and the Churchs unloving sin.

The truth be told, there are people who have left churches in America because they feel the Church is not loving towards gays. Theres no denying that. In other cases, people have left because they themselves are same-sex attracted and they feel that they are not accepted for who they are.

But the reality is that, worldwide as well as in America, when biblical standards are upheld in love (and those standards forbid homosexual unions), when Jesus is lifted up without shame, when the Spirit is allowed to move freely, then people are flocking to these churches. In fact, many of them are growing rapidly.

Its also true that the churches that are the most compromised, the ones that claim to be the most progressive, those which are most affirming of gay marriage and practicing gay clergy are the ones in the greatest numerical decline.

Study it for yourself. The statistics worldwide speak for themselves, largely undermining Michaels narrative.

In his mind, though, the Church is guilty of arrogance, writing, They are doubling-down on stupid instead of seeing and correcting their own hate for gay people, and their own embracing of Pagan beliefs GOD never ever once told people to do or believe.

Yes, he continues, Christians honestly dont see that it is their blind adherence to a systemic lying man-made ancient, outdated dogma that is the root cause of the Holy Spirit-led exodus of their churches.

So thats the key to Church growth, according to Michael. Abandon what the Bible says about marriage and family and sexuality  he brands these values Pagan and calls this hate  and instead embrace what God rejects. Talk about turning truth on its head.

As for churches hating gays, Im sure there are gay-hating churches in America, and I and many others have called them out. They are the exception to the rule, and they misrepresent God.

But it is not hate to tell someone that God has a better way. And it is not hate to declare that, not only did Jesus die for every human being, He also wants to change every human being.

Michael, however, has completely abandoned the teachings of the New Testament in the name of an imaginary Christianity that never existed, writing, Jesus never taught what the Church of today teaches. In fact, the historical Jesus would have been horrified of what the Church now teaches in his name!

But he does not mean that the way many of us mean it. (In other words, plenty of us agree that Jesus would be  and is  horrified over the state of much of the Church of America.)

What he means is this: The Christian Church is NOT what Jesus and the Apostles founded. Its what Paul of Tarsus founded and was later amplified by Constantine. In fact, the religion should more be called Pauliantiy than Christianity.

Not only so, but the ancient Priesthood meddled with the Law (Torah) with their lying pens, which he tries to support with a mistaken reference to Jeremiah 8:8, which does not teach that the Torah that we have today was corrupted by ancient priests.

So, not only is much of the New Testament unreliable in Michaels eyes, but much of the Old Testament is unreliable as well.

And, worse still, he claims that the Church literally worships another god of its own making, namely Jesus. The 1st Commandment states that we are to have no other gods other than the one worshiped by Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

Yes, The Church manufactured its own Jesus and its own Gospel using its so-called New Testament, but this was a tome that wasnt even around when Jesus and the Apostles preached.

And whats the answer to this massive deception? The LGBTQ+ Community needs to be on offense with real facts and real history we can use to educate our evangelical friends.

Reading this, you can only feel sorry for men like Michael who claim to be gay Christians while rejecting the Law of God, disparaging the New Testament revelation, and indicting the Church for worshiping Jesus as Lord.

All the more do I pity them for thinking that, armed with these new insights and facts, the gay community will set the Church right.

Do I agree with him that the Church needs to demonstrate much more unconditional love, including to the LGBTQ community? Absolutely. More love is always a word the Church needs to hear. After all, Jesus is our example, and no one practiced selfless love more deeply than He.

At the same time, Michael has things completely upside down. It is when the church of America returns to preaching and teaching the Word of God, as written and without apology, full of the Spirit and full of love, that our buildings will be filled with seekers and sinners alike. The truth that will set them free.
Ukraine and the unholy alliance of Putin, Patriarch Kirill of Moscow

On February 27, 2022, the APF News Agency reported that the Patriarch of Moscow Kirill, supreme head of the Russian Orthodox Church, commenting on the Russian invasion of Ukraine, stated that Moscows opponents in Ukraine were evil forces.



Such a statement, issued by the head of one of the worlds largest Orthodox jurisdictions, is nothing less than a blatant lie and ferocious statement of hate. I would even go so far as to say that surely it is an abomination in the eyes of G-d Himself.



It is well known that Vladimir Putin and the Patriarch of Russia have been hand in glove for years, as they support each other in the desire for power that marks them both. This unholy alliance between the political and ecclesiastical authorities is virtually a rape of the

Church.



From a theological stance, the Church belongs to Christ, who is its only Lord and Ruler. Putin and Patriarch Kirill are turning the Church into the servant of power-hungry politicians.



For centuries, Ukraine was the victim of Russian cruelty and oppression. Stalins attack on Ukraine in the early 1930s, exacerbated by the Soviet-engineered famine, can be called nothing less than a genocide.



The Holodomor, which was a man-made famine that engulfed the Soviet republic of

Ukraine from 1932 to 1933, was part and parcel of Russias attempts to suppress and even annihilate the country.



At last, with the collapse of the Soviet Union in the 1990s, Ukraine was able to regain national independence and enjoy freedom from the burden of Russian domination.



But sadly, the Russian political system under the leadership of Vladimir Putin was not happy with this situation and still clung to the desire to bring Ukraine back under Russian control.



In an attempt to initiate this process, in February and March 2014, Russia invaded and annexed the Crimea from Ukraine, on the pretense that this action was in the interest of Russians living there.



In more recent years, there were ecclesiastical disagreements when many Ukrainians wished to have a Ukrainian Church free from the over-lordship of Moscow. And now Russia has attacked Ukraine with a force of well over 100,000 troops intent on spreading chaos and destruction.



How shall we assess this latest action? There are insufficient words to describe the evil savagery and brutality of Russias action. Putins Russia in 2022 has proven her right to be ranked among the worst tyrannical powers of human history. The name of Vladimir Putin

may rightly be ranked with Hitler, Mussolini and of course Stalin himself.



As for his Holiness Kirill, patriarch of Moscow who claims domination over millions of Orthodox Christians, how shall we describe him? Supreme among the Antichrists might be one possible title, but I would hope that even more appropriate titles could be devised.



For my part, I shall say only this: May the name of Kirill, patriarch of Moscow, be cursed by all men and women of good conscience. May he be deposed from his position and driven in shame from the patriarchal throne. As for Putin, he deserves to be tried for war crimes against Ukraine and punished accordingly to the full extent of the law.



No doubt there will be clergy and laity who will admire and support Putin and the patriarch. I can only state that such individuals are cancers on the Body of Christ and should be cut out and cast into outer darkness.
Ukrainian bishop says Putin is the 'Antichrist of our current time': 'Against Gods law'

An Orthodox bishop in Ukraine has likened Russian President Vladimir Putin to the Antichrist as tensions between the two countries continue nearly a week after Russia began its invasion of Ukraine.

On BBCs Global News Podcast Sunday, religion and ethics producer Harry Farley spoke with Ukrainian Bishop Yevstratiy Zoria, a spokesperson for the Orthodox Church of Ukraine, about Putins belief that Russia and Ukraine had a shared spiritual space.

What hes referring to is the arrival of the Eastern Orthodox Church to the region in the ninth century, Farley said. He along with many other Russians see Russias history dating back to that empire that existed at the time.

Moscow and the Russian Orthodox Church developed, became this huge power  within the Orthodox Church. But in 2019, the Ukrainian Orthodox Church split off from Russia and was recognized as independent, Farley added. Religion is hugely important for Putins identity, for his psyche, he immerses himself in icy water to mark the festival of Epiphany, he wears his baptismal cross.

Farley surmised that Putin sees himself as a kind of messianic figure, a savior, to reunite Eastern Orthodox churches under Moscow.

After noting that the Ukrainian Orthodox Church is fiercely independent and rejects Moscows authority, Farley shared a soundbite from his interview with Zoria, who vehemently pushed back on the characterization of Putin as a messianic figure.

Zoria described the Russian President as really not messianic, but really [the] Antichrist of our current time.

Zoria told Farley that he is [the] Antichrist because everything [that] he does  is totally against [the] Gospel, against Gods law.

Farley elaborated on the religious background underlying the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine.

Religion is very important to Russians, Farley said. Seventy-one percent identify as Orthodox Christians and added into that, more than half of Russians say it is important for a person to be Orthodox Christian in order to be truly Russian.

The BBC producer cited a combination of [a] strong religious identity linked to strong national identity and the fact that the Russian Orthodox Church is very close to Vladimir Putin as important factors influencing the geopolitics surrounding the invasion of Ukraine.

The head of the Russian Orthodox Church  praised Putin just this week after the invasion, he said.

In an op-ed published by The Gospel Coalition last week, Perry Glanzer, professor of educational foundations at Baylor University, asserted that former communists largely control the Russian Orthodox Church, and they use this power to support a Russian version of Christian nationalism.

Glanzer stressed that this makes the church an instrument of the state. The professor wrote that Russian politicians undermine burgeoning efforts to rebuild civil society, improve religious liberty, or expand religious education.

The dominant Russian Orthodox Church makes things worse, Glanzer stated.

Glanzer, who lived in Russia for two years and spent extended periods doing research in Ukraine, also outlined how the Russian government has persistently made it difficult, and sometimes impossible, for Russian Christians to build institutions to further Christianity.

He noted that Russia has outlawed evangelism and persecutes Protestants as well as Russian Orthodox who press for moral reform. He argued that the Russian government killed Russian American Christian University.

Glanzer recalled how Russian efforts to stamp out Christianity extended beyond its borders when Russian mercenaries marched into Ukraine in 2017 and set up their headquarters in Donetsk Theological Seminary to expand Putins maniacal and deadly dreams.

He contrasted the state of Christianity in Russia with the attitude towards Christianity in Ukraine, a former Soviet state where Catholicism was once outlawed.

In contrast to Russian political leadership, prior to Russian interference Christian institutions had been thriving in Ukraine, a land that promoted religious freedom, he proclaimed.

Glanzer pointed to the positive influence of Ukrainian Catholic University, the countrys first Catholic institution of higher education, as evidence that civil society was beginning again in Ukraine despite bearing the scars of leadership under morally corrupt communists.

Glanzer lamented that Russians are on the hunt to kill signs of civil society and hope beyond their border.

In a Zoom webinar hosted by the Philos Project Monday, Assistant Professor of Conflict Management Kristina Hook of Kennesaw State University elaborated on the recent religious history of Ukraine and how it plays a role in what is unfolding on the ground there.

Prior to 2018, there were three types of Orthodox churches in Ukraine, she said. There was the Autocephalous Orthodox Church, there was the Kyiv Patriarchate Orthodox Church and there was the Moscow Patriarchate Orthodox Church.

When this split happened, the majority of those congregations moved into the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, she added.

In previous conversations with priests affiliated with the aforementioned Ukrainian church branches, Hook discovered that their merger with the Ukrainian Orthodox Church was because of things like accusations of the Russian government using monasteries in the Donbas region to smuggle weapons.

Additionally, she cited really personal reasons about priests not being allowed to do funeral rights for soldiers who were killed because the Moscow patriarchates  received its direction from the church in Russia.

Hook praised the new leader of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, who has been calling very publicly for Ukrainians to be strong while reminding people not to do any property damage to any churches they associate with the Moscow tradition.
LATEST Mar. 6, 5:24 p.m. Christopher Liang was confirmed deceased on Saturday evening after the 2020 Tesla sedan he was driving was found overturned in a ravine near Panoche Road west of I-5 just outside of Los Banos, Tony Botti, a public information officer for the Fresno County Sheriff's Office, told SFGATE on Sunday evening.

Police arrived on the scene of the crash at approximately 6:40 p.m. after receiving a tip from a witness and discovered the vehicle on its roof. Firefighters subsequently searched the car and found Liang's body inside, according to a press release from the California Highway Patrol.

Liang was driving westbound at an undetermined speed when the vehicle "ran off the road for an unknown reason" and fell down a cliff, the press release said, adding that the license plate was matched with a missing person case that was being investigated by the Irvine Police Department. The crash occurred sometime between Feb. 28 and March 5.

Mar. 4, 3:11 p.m. A San Francisco college student has been reported missing for nearly a week after what his brother described as an erratic trip from the Bay Area to Southern California.

Christopher Liang was last heard from Feb. 28, hours after he rented a car and began his trip from San Francisco to Irvine, his brother Jerry wrote in an Instagram post Thursday. At around 5 p.m., Christopher said he was in the central California town of Firebaugh, Jerry said.

But since then, Christopher has not been in contact with anyone  and has missed classes and the return window for his rental car, a white Tesla Model 3 with the license plate number 8RNC906. Jerry Liang confirmed in an interview with SFGATE that Christopher is a student at the University of San Francisco; he is a senior majoring in business.

Since then, his phone has been inaccessible and social media inactive, Jerry wrote on Instagram in a post that has since received nearly 7,000 likes. He has broken plans hes made with friends in Irvine."

Jerry also said that the erratic nature of this trip, combined with his brothers mental health issues, has made our family extremely concerned for his safety.

A possible clue Jerry discovered was that the Tesla his brother was driving was malfunctioning.

"The Tesla malfunctioned for, what, 20 minutes," he told SFGATE. "That's something that one of Chris's friends was able to tell me because my brother was complaining to [him] about it."

The location of the Tesla is also unavailable, Jerry added. It is typically accessible via a mobile app.

Further compounding Jerrys concern, he writes in the Instagram post, is inconsistencies between San Francisco and Irvine police managing the case.

"Because Chris could be anywhere between Irvine and San Francisco, no local police department is really willing to take charge of this case, so then [it's] been really hot potato between different departments and different units."

A spokesperson for San Francisco police told SFGATE the department was unaware of the case, and a police report was filed with Irvine police.

I am at my wits end and am now reaching out to the public for help, Jerry concluded in his Instagram post.
Soldiers of People's Liberation Army stand in formation near Tiananmen Square before a military parade marking the 70th founding anniversary of People's Republic of China in Beijing, in this Oct. 1, 2019, file photo. China announced a 7.1 percent increase in defense spending in 2022 to $229 billion, Saturday. Reuters-Yonhap





China announced a 7.1 percent increase in defense spending in 2022 to $229 billion, Saturday, continuing years of robust spending on its increasingly powerful military that is challenging the U.S. armed forces' dominance in the Indo-Pacific region.







China has the world's second-largest defense budget after the U.S., allowing it to maintain the largest standing military, with 3 million personnel and an arsenal of advanced weaponry, including two aircraft carriers with more on the way, stealth fighters, an advanced missile force and nuclear-powered submarines.







This year's increase exceeds the 6.8 percent boost from last year, showing China's determination to maintain the drive to expand and modernize its armed forces despite high levels of government debt and a slowing economy, partly as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.







By contrast, the U.S. increased defense spending by about 2 percent this year to $768.2 billion.







The Chinese government says most of the spending increases will go toward improving welfare for troops. Observers say the budget omits much of China's spending on weaponry, most of which is developed domestically.







The People's Liberation Army exercises a strong political role as the military branch of the ruling Communist Party, overseen by President and party leader Xi Jinping, who heads the party and government armed forces commissions.







The military is largely designed to maintain its threat to use force to bring self-governing Taiwan under its control, although it has also grown more assertive in the South China Sea, the western Pacific, the Indian Ocean and elsewhere.







In his address to Saturday's opening session of the ceremonial legislature, the National People's Congress, Premier Li Keqiang said China would ''fully implement Xi Jinping's thinking on strengthening the armed forces and the military strategy for the new era ... and strengthen party leadership and party building in all aspects of the military.''







Li indicated no change in China's approach to Taiwan, which it threatens to annex by force if necessary.







China will ''advance peaceful growth of relations across the Taiwan Strait and the reunification of China,'' Li said. ''We firmly oppose any separatist activities seeking Taiwan independence and firmly oppose foreign interference.''







Russia's invasion of Ukraine sparked conjecture that China might be more disposed to use force against Taiwan if it sensed a lack of resolution on the part of the U.S. and its allies.







During a meeting between Xi and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Beijing early last month, Xi endorsed Russia's objections to further NATO expansion and Putin backed China's claim to the self-governing island democracy of Taiwan.







On Feb. 24, the day Russian forces entered Ukraine, China flew eight jet fighters and a reconnaissance propeller plane through Taiwan's air defense identification zone, prompting the island's air force to scramble jets and issue warnings.







At a security conference in Munich, Feb. 19, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson warned of the threat of a potentially emboldened China.







''If Ukraine is endangered, the shock will echo around the world,'' Johnson said. ''And those echoes will be heard in East Asia, will be heard in Taiwan. People would draw the conclusion that aggression pays, and that might is right.''







And on Thursday, the top U.S. Air Force commander in the Pacific said he was keeping close tabs on China's military movements.







''I'm watching them like a hawk,'' Gen. Kenneth S. Wilsbach said at a symposium in Florida. ''I haven't seen anything so far, but that doesn't mean they haven't talked about it internally and doesn't mean that they won't try something.'' (AP)


Spring Break Movie Days is set for March 15-17.

Area Community Hospice Foundation will sponsor the event which will include showings of The Mitchells vs. the Machines on March 15, Spirit Untamed on March 16 and Encanto on March 17. Each showing will begin at 2 p.m. at the Fair Theater.

Adult tickets are $2, tickets for children are $1 and kids ages 2 and under get in free.

Snack Packs (small bag of popcorn and a Capri Sun) will be available for $1.

Each movie has a PG rating. Here are descriptions for each.

The Mitchells vs. the Machines: Young Katie Mitchell embarks on a road trip with her proud parents, younger brother and beloved dog to start her first year at film school. But their plans to bond as a family soon get interrupted when the world's electronic devices come to life to stage an uprising. With help from two friendly robots, the Mitchells must now come together to save one another -- and the planet -- from the new technological revolution.

Spirit Untamed: After moving to a sleepy little town, young Lucky Prescott befriends a wild mustang named Spirit, who shares her rebellious spirit. When a heartless wrangler plans to capture Spirit and his herd, Lucky and her new friends embark on the adventure of a lifetime to rescue the horse that forever changed her life.

Encanto: The Madrigals are an extraordinary family who live hidden in the mountains of Colombia in a charmed place called the Encanto. The magic of the Encanto has blessed every child in the family with a unique gift -- every child except Mirabel. However, she soon may be the Madrigals last hope when she discovers that the magic surrounding the Encanto is now in danger.
Average gas prices across the state have risen by more than a quarter per gallon within a week, according to data from AAA Northeast.

Experts are attributing the stark increase to a few reasons  the war in Ukraine, growing demand and issues in the global supply chain, to name a few.

Connecticut saw an average of almost $3.71 per gallon of regular gasoline last week. The average price for a gallon of gas in Connecticut rose to $3.97 Friday. A good chunk of that jump  13 cents  was just between Thursday and Friday, according to data from AAA.

The state hasnt seen prices this high since February 2012, and prices ultimately climbed to $4.17 per gallon about two months later. Gas prices in the state reached their peak in July 2008 at $4.39 per gallon of regular gas, according to Fran Mayko, the public affairs specialist for AAA Northeast.

The nation as a whole is also seeing these increases. The average price of a gallon of regular gas across the United States increased from $3.73 Thursday to $3.84 Friday. Last week, the average price was about $3.57  27 cents less than the average Friday.

And the price increases wont stop there.

I would not be surprised if prices in (Connecticut) hit or eclipsed $4 by tomorrow, Mayko said Friday.

Since Russia, one of the worlds top energy suppliers, attacked Ukraine, the price of crude oil has soared, leading to increased prices at the pump. This has caused speculation to go all over the place, making investors and the markets jittery and driving up prices, Mayko said.

Additionally, the global supply chain is still recovering from the pandemic. Continued driver shortages have been further impacted by the Russian invasion, adding to surging costs, prolonged (deliveries) and other challenges for companies trying to move goods and services around the world, Mayko added.

The war in Ukraine is not the only thing affecting gas prices, though.

Its never one factor, Mayko said.

Demand for gas has grown since the pandemic seems to be relaxing, causing a reduced supply, Mayko added. Just last month, the average price of a gallon of regular gas in Connecticut was at $3.54  about 78 cents more than it was this time last year, according to AAA data.

There could potentially be some relief on the horizon, but experts are uncertain. The International Energy Agency agreed earlier this week to release 60 million barrels of oil from its reserves, 30 million of which are coming from the United States, the Associated Press reported.

The impact of this announcement is unclear or at least very limited since the amount of oil released is small compared to the amount of oil that flows out of Russia daily, Mayko said. Though the United States only imports a small percentage from Russia, other countries in the world import huge amounts, Mayko added.

As more sanctions are imposed on Russia, were going to see the market playing havoc on the price of oil, Mayko continued.

And if there is a potential ban of crude imports from Russia into the U.S. or other countries, this will most likely will cause prices to rise and contribute to tighter oil supplies, Mayko said.
GRANITE CITY  Granite City Community Unit School District No. 9 has announced the launch of its new website in a continued partnership with SchoolPointe, which is part of Finalsite.

The newly redesigned site is the result of a project that began in August 2021. This will be the first redesign of the GCSD9 website since 2017.
Event organizers address a crowd gathered for a vigil in support of Ukraine on Wednesday, March 2, 2022, at Courthouse Plaza in Lexington, Kentucky. Photo by Jack Weaver | Staff
Lubbock  Saint Francis Ministries has successfully moved into Stage II of its Community-Based Care contract with the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services. Today, the organization began serving 41 counties in Region 1, which includes Lubbock and Amarillo, with case management services.

Weve been collaborating closely with DFPS to ensure a successful and effective transition to Stage II in Region 1 in the Texas Panhandle and Southern Plains, said Vice President Cristian Garcia. Always at the forefront of what we do is ensuring that Texas children and families receive the best care. This transition meant months of training employees who have moved over from DFPS, partnering with vendors and community stakeholders, and helping families understand what to expect as we move forward.

Im excited for this key development in Community-based Care, and particularly appreciative of Saint Francis Ministries hard work, said DFPS Commissioner Jaime Masters. This is real, meaningful growth and change for foster care in the Panhandle that will translate into better outcomes for children and families.

Saint Francis Ministries was awarded the CBC contract as a Single Source Continuum Contractor, or SSCC, in June 2020 in Region 1, which is one of 17 catchment areas in Texas. CBC is a new service delivery model for foster care and a range of child protective system services. It focuses on providing services in partnership with communities, which allows care to be individualized as it draws on local strengths and resources.

This is an incredible milestone for Saint Francis Ministries and for the children and families of Texas. As we move forward with Community-Based Care in Texas, my hope is that we will continue to have exciting and life-changing partnerships with each community to provide the best possible outcomes for our Texas families, said Trisha Thomas, Statewide Director, Office of Community-Based Care Transition.

After successfully setting up a network of services and providing foster care placement services in Stage 1, Saint Francis began the intensive planning necessary to move to Stage II.

In Stage II, we begin the important work of healing families through case management, kinship and reunification services, deepening our commitment to Texass vulnerable children and families and intensifying the work were doing in communities to increase permanency outcomes, Garcia said. We are excited and grateful to do this work, that for most of us is a calling to make a difference for children.

Saint Francis began its start-up period preparing for Stage II in September 2021. During this transition, Saint Francis has worked closely with the Department of Family and Protective Services to transition staff and prepare for the work ahead. The organization has already hired more than 175 new team members with a goal of hiring 100 more to serve children and families. Saint Francis also has been working with community partners to secure space for family visitation and working with our communities to ensure we are collaborating for children and families.
The Plainview Lions Club opened its Texas Independence Day meeting on March 2 with a rousing rendition of the state song, Texas, Our Texas. Lion Boss Rob Kinkaid, assisted by Queen Paige Pierce and Princess Esperanza Perez, presided over the meeting, and Lion Travis Thornton directed the singing, although he and other members professed an unfamiliarity with the tune. Lion Johnny Hill led the group in pledging allegiance to the United States and Texas flags, and Lion Carl Hartman offered an invocation, specifically remembering the 700 Lions who call Ukraine home. Lion Hartman also brought a guest to the meeting, Maria Soto.

The Lion Boss informed the Club that its Bell Ringing efforts for the Salvation Army before Christmas had brought it a 3rd place trophy for the amount of funds raised. New member Lion David Cochran was recognized, and the Lion Boss also showed off the Clubs Membership Satisfaction Award from Lions International for 2020-2021. Lions also volunteered to cover 8 Meals on Wheels routes for the coming week.
Plainview Rotarians met Tuesday and were Marchs Student of the Month, Erica Medina who is a senior at Plainview High School.

The speaker for the day was Dr. Kanayo Ogwu, an exchange professor with the Wayland Baptist University School of Business. Dr. Ogwu, who hails from Nigeria, spoke with the club about the importance of targeted education. He explained that traditional concepts of education are inadequate when applied to developing countries, as far as application is concerned. Rather, targeted education should approach learning from the perspective of the culture in which it will operate. He pointed out that First World theories often do not work in Third World environments because the resources may not exist to further their implementation. Through targeted education, individuals can be given information and applications that are best suited for their culture, thus allowing them the best chance at a sustainable economy.
Anyone else ready for a needed spring break?

It is nice to have another set of elections in the rearview mirror. Not surprisingly the sun did come up the next day and actually gave us a preview of spring. A little rain would be nice if anyone has the direct line to Mother Nature.

There is a lot to hash out, and plenty of time to do so. Today, Im just going to offer some thoughts about the primary elections and what they mean to Midland.

It was the Terry Johnson show. There are still swearing-ins to take place after the November general election, but let it be written that March 1 was when that court was created. Politically, there should be a lot of respect for how this was accomplished. Johnson and Jeff Somers really left no doubt in their results. The fun part about a transformation and that is what this will be  is that when new leadership takes control there are no more excuses for why things take place. It is an awesome opportunity for those ready to lead.

Robin Donnellys loss is a blow. Let me say I think Somers deserved the win and will represent his precinct well. However, it was tough for me to see Donnelly fall in the Republican primary. He is a roads and transportation guy, and there arent a whole lot of road guys  like Robin and myself) out there. You dont win elections being a roads guy. You dont win elections talking about planning massive changes to interstates, state highways and road systems in general. It isnt politically sexy, but it is needed. When it comes to roads, a good city or regional planner is worth their weight in gold. The average person will never fully understand that. Donnelly did. For that reason, his loss is a bummer.

Abbott winning is a good thing. The governor dominated Midland County and the state of Texas. Considering the political talent taking shots at him, I cant imagine a better performance on Tuesday. Some people are not going to like this, but Abbott winning Tuesday was the best thing to happen to the Republican ticket in November. He is the top-of-the-ticket guy that Democrats did not want to go up against. Potential GOP voters in the suburbs and along the border know what they are getting with Abbott. No surprises.

Im still not happy that he pulled a political stunt of coming to Midland on the same day of a gubernatorial forum and didnt participate. I thought he was better than that. Still, hes put Republicans on his back before and carried them across the finish line (see 2018). That is political credit that his GOP opponents didnt have, that Beto ORourke doesnt have and what Democrats will worry about the most.

I have taken a lot of flack about the comment I made about the vote in Midland County not being suppressed. I still believe that to be the case. What I believe happened with mailed-in votes potentially not counting isnt the fault of Republicans or Democrats or certainly not the elections office, but an electorate that is not engaged. By the time the primaries came around, everyone should have known there were changes to the process. This newspaper wrote about those changes and gave them to our readers straight from the elections administrators mouth.

There are some saying wait until November and the votes that wont be counted then. My message is different. I say I will stand with those who want to educate the community about the mail-in process. The Reporter-Telegram will work the Midland County Elections Office to get more information out there. We will work with nonprofits or other concerned Midlanders to get out into areas of the county to help the education process.

Moving forward, there are two options. The first is to complain about the system, how it is not fair and how it takes advantage of those who choose not to be informed. Or we can unite and call for louder, clearer voices when it comes to awareness and education of a system (whatever system is in front of the electorate). If you want to be part of the solution, I will stand with you. Give me a call at 432-352-0605.

Midland County residents, it doesnt matter to me whether you are Republican or Democrat. You deserve the opportunity to vote, and everyone has that opportunity
A file photo of the outside of the Riverport complex in south Bethlehem. Investors hope to put in a Riverport Public Market in part of the complex in the fall, if things go according to plan, according to Natalia Stezenko, design and project manager with Bethlehem's Ashley Development Corp. and real estate developer Lou Pektor. First scheduled to open last spring, the project has seen delays due to the pandemic, Stezenko said. (APRIL BARTHOLOMEW / THE MORNING CALL)

The opening of the Riverport Public Market in south Bethlehem has been postponed again for at least the fourth time.

Plans in 2019 called for the market, at the former Starters Riverport restaurant at 17 W. 2nd St., to open spring 2021, then late 2021. The market was then expected to open spring 2022, but the Riverport website now lists fall 2022 for its opening.

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[ Heres how fast developers expect to open shuttered Starters Riverport as a public market ]

Blame the pandemic, which led to delays in obtaining building materials and securing contractors, design and project manager Natalia Stezenko said Friday.

Stezenko acknowledged meeting the opening in time for sipping pumpkin spice lattes might be ambitious. But once the city receives and approves building permits, We will be able to create a more definitive construction timeline, she said.

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She said the project does not require city zoning or planning approval, as the proposed use is allowable.

Whats proposed is a food and beverage vendor and retail area similar to those that have sprung in recent years in the Lehigh Valley. The Riverport Public Market would be the areas fourth public market.

Riverports plans include space for more than 20 merchants, about half of whom had been announced. At least two, Domaci and Assembly, have pulled out, but neither business is leaving over concerns about the pace of the project.

Logistically, it just wasnt a good fit for us, said Derrick Clark, cofounder of Domaci, a home furnishings retailer in the 500 block of Main Street on the citys north side that is expanding with a pop-up shop of furniture and home decor. Lobynn Cha, owner of Assembly, a restaurant pitched as specializing Asian cuisine, plans to move from the Lehigh Valley this year.

Another business owner, Rick Pongracz of Batch Microcreamery, which is in other area public markets, said he heard about the pandemic-induced delays but said the market is still a go as best he understands. Other merchants did not respond to requests for comment.

Alicia Miller Karner, deputy director of community and economic development, said she had not heard any updates about the project.

Business Buzz Daily The daily update for the Lehigh Valley business person. >

The project has received two rounds of grants worth $1.25 million, with the more recent round of funding announced in December, through the Pennsylvania Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program, with the money going toward renovations and some new construction. It also has been awarded a tax credit of nearly $400,000, according to Penny Ickes, spokesperson with the state Department of Community and Economic Development.

Ickes said the grant agreements have not been executed and the money has not yet been dispersed. She did not immediately know why.

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The market, which is owned by Lehigh Riverport Investors Fund LP, is being developed Lou Pektor, who was also behind the Riverport redevelopment project 15 years ago. The old Bethlehem Steel industrial building was converted into a multiuse project that included a garage, 172 condominiums, a fitness club and other commercial space, including the restaurant known as Starters Riverport. Starters closed about 10 years ago and has been vacant since.

The initial Riverport was billed as a marquee redevelopment project on the South Side three years before the Sands casino, which became Wind Creek, opened on part of the former Bethlehem Steel industrial complex.

[ Major Lehigh Valley developer accused of defaulting on millions in loans, failing to disclose liens ]

Former Bethlehem Mayor Robert Donchez said in 2019 the market could be a good fit in a neighborhood that includes the Banana Factory arts and education center, and office buildings. The Lehigh Valley is home to three downtown public markets, and Stezenko has managed the Downtown Allentown Market and the Trolley Barn Public Market in Quakertown. The Allentown Fairgrounds Farmers Market along West Chew Street has been around since the 1950s. The other public market is in downtown Easton.

Pektor and several of his companies have been the subject of a state investigation into questionable lending practices that includes defaulting on $11 million in loans, The Morning Call reported this week. Stezenko said the state investigation is not affecting the Riverport project.

Morning Call journalist Anthony Salamone can be reached at asalamone@mcall.com.
A fully restored home built in 1892 in the heart of the Frog Capital of the World is bound to be full of juicy stories. This Louisiana bed-and-breakfastonce featured on HGTV's "If Walls Could Talk" doesn't disappoint.

But today, the most appealing aspect of the seven-bedroom inn known as Maison Daboval is that it's currently available for $299,000fully furnished!

The Maison is located in Rayne, LA, about 20 minutes from Lafayette. Rayne is known as the Frog Capital of the World, thanks to its history of exporting frog legs as a gourmet delicacy. The town is also in the heart of Acadiana, the region that has historically been home to many of the state's French descendants.

Maison Daboval received its name from original owner, Emile Daboval, a Frenchman from New Orleans who settled in the area and became a civic, business, and family leader. He and his wife had 13 children, and Daboval became the mayor of Rayne.

Over the decades, the home served an array of purposes. It was a hospital during the Spanish flu pandemic after World War I, and extra windows were added, to allow more natural light to flow into the second-floor operating room. That room now serves as a lovely guest suite.

Maison Daboval Realtor.com

Front porch Realtor.com

Upstairs guest suite Realtor.com

Located close to railroad tracks, the building also served as a convenient boarding house for over 40 years and accommodated a number of colorful residents.

The listing agent, Jammie Parbhoo of Latter & Blum, told us that the grandmother of one of her fellow agents was born in the house. When the current owners, Gene and Martha Royer, bought the place in 1992, it needed quite a bit of remodeling and restoration.

Using an old photo as a reference point, Gene recreated the lovely wood "lacework" on the second-floor balcony, which had been removed years before.

He also found the home's original cypress shutters in the attic. They were sanded and repainted, and now lend the home even more vintage charm.

Restored shutters and balcony Realtor.com

Gene Royer also found a long hallway inside the home that had been sealed up in a previous renovation. To provide the 4,183-square-foot residence with a more open flow, he opened it back up.

Under the surface, Gene also installed all-new mechanical systems throughout the home, bringing the home into the 21st century.

Much beloved in the community staple, the Maison impresses any guest who enters, with its 14-foot-tall foyer and ornate wooden staircase.

Ornate staircase Realtor.com

Guests can relax in one of several parlorssome with fireplacesor in the great room. Breakfast, and sometimes lunch and dinner, are served in the dining room.

Parlor Realtor.com

Additional parlor Realtor.com

Great room Realtor.com

Dining room Realtor.com

Kitchen Realtor.com

Most of the five guest suites are on the second floor. One of the suites is configured as a family suite, with two bedrooms. All feature bathrooms with clawfoot tubs.

Guest suite Realtor.com

Guest suite Realtor.com

Additional guest suite Realtor.com

Guest bathroom Realtor.com

According to the agent, Martha Royer is reluctant to leave the Maison behind.

"She's been doing this for 30 years now," Parbhoo adds, "and she thinks it's finally time to let it go."

Parbhoo believes that a buyer may be someone coming back home who would like to settle in their native Acadiana. It would also help if the new owners have a background in hospitality.

"That's what we're all about, here in Louisiana," says Parbhoo.

Even if a buyer didn't want to continue operating the Maison as an inn, it offers an opportunity to settle down into an easy way of life, living the Southern dream.

"We didn't want to overprice it," says Parhoo, noting that all the furnishings are included. At its affordable price and with plenty of square footage, this dream is within reach.

The post Featured on HGTV, an Affordable Maison in Louisiana Is a True Charmer appeared first on Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com.
In the latest air travel news, world airline schedules are being overhauled and international flights canceled as Russia and Western nations ban each other from their airspace; Russian carriers lose tech support, reservations access and possibly half their fleets; Hawaiis governor announces the end of all COVID-related requirements for inbound mainland visitors; more international flights return to SFO; international route news from United, ITA, Hawaiian and Spirit Airlines; more domestic routes at SFO will resume this spring and summer; United trims more secondary domestic markets from its network; Frontier and Spirit plan for U.S. growth by opening new crew bases; United rolls out fast-track bag checking at SFO and other hub airports; TSA opens its first PreCheck lane outside the U.S.; American expands free upgrades to more AAdvantage elites; and United finally reopens its Polaris Lounge at LAX.

United Airlines decision this week to temporarily suspend its San Francisco-New Delhi flights is just one example of the chaos confronting the global aviation system following Russias invasion of Ukraine. Many international flights worldwide have been suspended or rerouted as multiple countries have banned Russian airlines from their airports and airspace, and Russia reciprocated by banning overflights of its territory. It started last week when the U.K. kicked out Russian carriers, and intensified this week as the European Union, Canada and finally the U.S. followed suit. Russia retaliated by banning the airlines of 36 nations from landing in or overflying its territory, sending airline planners scrambling for alternative routings to maintain their international networks.

Except for a few long-haul services to India and East Asia, U.S. airlines shouldnt be hurt too much by the loss of Russia overflights, although their surviving routes will require longer flight times. For example, United has rerouted its Chicago-New Delhi service to go over the Mediterranean and Middle East instead of transiting Greenland and Russia, adding an hour to the eastbound segment and two hours to the return flight. European carriers will have a tougher time, with Russias overflight ban forcing some of them to suspend flights to East Asia  along with flights to Russia. For instance, Finnair this week canceled its flights from Helsinki to Japan, China and South Korea, but announced it will bring back Helsinki-Tokyo service on March 9 with a new routing that increases flight time from less than 10 hours to 13 hours. Some airlines have decided not to overfly Russia even though their countries havent been banned from doing so  e.g., Japan Airlines and ANA temporarily canceled their flights to Europe from Tokyo, citing safety concerns. But Russian airlines, barred from flying to or above Europe, the U.S. and Canada, will take the biggest hit. Not only are those areas their biggest international markets in terms of revenues, but the realities of geography make it more difficult for Russian carriers to find viable reroutings into countries that still accept them.

That loss of key international markets could be the least of the Russian carriers problems. They also face longer-term difficulties in maintaining operations and even keeping possession of their fleets. European trade sanctions placed on Russia mean that Airbus can no longer sell aircraft, spare parts or equipment to Russian airlines. And Boeing this week took similar action, declaring that it would no longer provide support or equipment for its aircraft operated by Russian companies. Boeing also shut down its research and engineering operations in Russia. Meanwhile, three leading global distribution systems  Sabre, Amadeus and Travelport, which airlines rely on for reservations and sales  have pulled Aeroflot fares from their inventories. As if that werent enough, major aircraft leasing firms based in western nations are taking steps to cancel their contracts with Russian carriers  and according to a Reuters analysis, more than half of the commercial aircraft operated by Russian airlines are leased from those companies. Trying to repossess those planes could be a problem as long as they remain in Russia, but the lessors could ask local authorities to seize them if they are flown to other countries. In response, Russian officials have reportedly been discussing the possibility of nationalizing those leased aircraft to protect their carriers. Meanwhile, the pressure was too much for Russias second-largest carrier, S7 Airlines, which this week decided to cancel all international flights.

Following Deltas decision last week to suspend code-sharing with Russias Aeroflot, American and Alaska Airlines took similar action this week. Both carriers said they have suspended interline agreements with Aeroflot and S7. Since S7 is also a member of AA/Alaskas Oneworld alliance, both airlines said their customers will no longer be able to earn or redeem miles on S7.

As of March 26, mainland residents traveling to Hawaii will no longer have to worry about meeting any kind of testing or other COVID requirements as they head to the airport  because the state is dropping all of them. Currently, mainland visitors must present a vaccination card or a negative test result if they want to avoid a quarantine after arrival in the islands. But after March 25, according to an announcement from Hawaii Gov. David Ige, passengers arriving from domestic points of origin will not have to show proof of a COVID-19 vaccination or a pre-travel negative test result. Incoming passengers will also no longer be required to create a Safe Travels account or provide travelers information and trip details. Until that date, the current rules will remain in effect.

San Francisco International is continuing its gradual recovery of suspended international routes as more countries ease up on COVID-related entry restrictions. Irelands Aer Lingus revived its San Francisco-Dublin service last week, operating a schedule of four flights a week, which is slated to increase to daily frequencies March 26. Aer Lingus will continue its West Coast revival this spring, with plans to start daily Dublin-Los Angeles flights May 12 and five weekly flights from Dublin to Seattle beginning May 26. Aer Lingus also plans to resume service into Shannon Airport on March 10, with daily flights from New York and Boston.

United Airlines, which flies daily from SFO and Los Angeles to Sydney, is planning to increase its Australia presence by launching San Francisco-Melbourne flights beginning May 7 after that country reopened to international visitors last month. United recently struck a new partnership with Virgin Australia for onward connections in Australia. Qantas recently delayed its plans to bring back San Francisco service in February from Sydney and Brisbane. According to Australias Executive Traveller magazine, Qantas is now targeting July 29 for a resumption of Sydney-San Francisco but has not set a date for SFO-Brisbane or SFO-Melbourne flights.

In other international news, United this week resumed service between Denver and London Heathrow after a two-year hiatus, operating four flights a week and increasing to daily service March 26 and twice daily on May 7. On April 23, United expects to launch Denver-Munich service; it already flies from DEN to Frankfurt. The Italian carrier ITA Airways  the successor to Alitalia  has added more U.S. service. It started with flights between New York JFK and Rome Fiumicino, and this week it added routes to Rome from Miami (three flights a week) and Boston (two weekly flights). Both routes will increase to five weekly flights in April and daily service in June. The airline is due to begin service to Milan Malpensa from JFK on April 2 and from Los Angeles on June 1. Across the Pacific, Hawaiian Airlines has slashed capacity to Japan  its biggest international market  by 77% during March and April, according to Simple Flying, and has pushed back the resumption of several routes from late March to late April, including Honolulu to Tokyo Haneda, Fukuoka and Sapporo; and Kona to Tokyo Haneda. South of the border, Spirit Airlines announced it will expand beyond Mexican beach destinations (it currently serves Cancun, Los Cabos and Puerto Vallarta) by adding daily flights to Monterrey from Austin and Houston Bush Intercontinental starting June 22.

On the domestic side, a deep dive into SFO schedules by Simple Flying this week uncovered several routes abandoned in the spring of 2020 that havent yet resumed  although most are scheduled to come back in the months ahead. Those SFO routes, and the dates after which they are bookable, include Delta to Cincinnati (Sept. 12); Alaska Airlines to Paine Field in Everett, Washington (May 25); and United to Columbus, Ohio (June 3), Kansas City (June 24), Madison, Wisconsin (Sept. 7), Oklahoma City (Sept. 7), Omaha (June 24) and St. Louis (Sept. 7). San Francisco domestic destinations not currently scheduled for resumption of service include Long Beach (which had been flown by JetBlue); Mammoth Lakes, California; and Northwest Arkansas Regional Airport.

Meanwhile, United is dropping 17 domestic routes from its schedule that had all been served by its regional affiliates, according to The Points Guy; most were suspended during the pandemic and hadnt yet been resumed, but now have been dropped from Uniteds network. The routes include: Denver to Dayton; Newark to Oklahoma City, Omaha and Knoxville; Washington Dulles to Allentown, Pennsylvania, Lexington, Kentucky, Madison, Wisconsin, Oklahoma City and Pensacola, Florida; Houston Bush Intercontinental to Alexandria, Louisiana, Columbia, South Carolina, and Akron-Canton, Ohio; and Chicago OHare to Bismarck, North Dakota, Charlottesville, Virginia, Jackson, Mississippi, Pasco-Tri Cities, Washington, and Redmond, Oregon.

Joe Raedle/Getty Images

Frontier Airlines and Spirit Airlines, which recently announced merger plans, are both positioning themselves for growth by adding more crew bases in the U.S. Frontier Airlines, which currently flies 14 nonstop routes out of Phoenix Sky Harbor, said this week it will open a new crew base at Phoenix in November. Up to 180 pilots and 275 flight attendants are expected to be based at PHX within the first year, with additional growth anticipated in the future, Frontier said. The airline has ordered 230 new Airbus planes for delivery over the next seven years, which would triple the size of its fleet. Meanwhile, Spirit this week said it plans to open its seventh and eighth U.S. crew bases at Miami International and Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson this summer as it focuses route expansion on those markets. Spirit expects to locate more than 100 pilots and more than 200 flight attendants at each base initially, with additional crew, supervisors and support functions to follow later in the year, the company said. Spirit expects to take delivery of 24 new aircraft this year.

United has introduced a new fast-track baggage checking procedure at San Francisco International and its other hub airports (Chicago OHare, Newark, Washington Dulles, Los Angeles, Houston Bush Intercontinental and Denver). Its called Bag Drop Shortcut, and it only takes a minute or less on average, the airline said. Passengers who want to use it should have the United app on their phones. When they check in on the app, they can designate the number of bags to be checked and find the location of the bag drop shortcut location at the airport, along with detailed instructions. At the bag drop site, they simply put their bag in the scale and scan their boarding pass at the kiosk. United personnel will then apply the bag tag and check the passengers ID. United said it plans to expand the Bag Drop Shortcut service to dozens more new airports this year.

Will Waldron/Albany Times Union

U.S. Customs and Border Protection has had preclearance facilities in select airports outside the U.S. for some time  including locations in Canada, the Caribbean, Ireland and Abu Dhabi  allowing returning U.S. travelers to take care of that chore before boarding their aircraft. And now the Transportation Security Administration is trying out the same strategy. The agency said it has opened its first TSA PreCheck station outside the U.S. at the international airport in Nassau, Bahamas, working with the Bahamian government. That means U.S. travelers who are members of TSAs PreCheck trusted traveler program, which costs $85 for a five-year membership, can go through the new fast-access lane during their airport security checks in Nassau. PreCheck is available at more than 200 domestic airports.

American Airlines this week kicked off its revamped AAdvantage loyalty program, and besides introducing a new metric called Loyalty Points for earning elite status, it also includes a new perk for the airlines frequent fliers. The airline said it is expanding complimentary upgrade access for AAdvantage Gold and Platinum members to include all AA flights within North America regardless of distance. For travel starting March 2, an upgrade will automatically be requested if everyone in the reservation is eligible for a complimentary upgrade, American said. Members will only need to use 500-mile upgrades if they want to upgrade travel companions who do not hold AAdvantage status. Later this year, AA said, it will extend the free upgrades to one companion on the same flight as the account holder and will eliminate 500-mile upgrade coupons. Previously, the unlimited free upgrades were only offered to AAdvantage Executive Platinum and Platinum Pro elites.

Americans new AAdvantage program lets members earn Loyalty Points not only by flying, but by spending on an affiliated credit card and using the programs dining and shopping partners, ending the previous complicated elite qualifications, American said. This single-point system, in which one qualifying AAdvantage mile earned equals one Loyalty Point, positions the AAdvantage program as the largest airline loyalty program that will not require members to track miles, dollars and/or flight segments to earn status. Under the new system, 30,000 Loyalty Points earn AAdvantage Gold status, while 75,000 are needed for Platinum, 125,000 for Platinum Pro and 200,000 for Executive Platinum.

In airport news, United has finally reopened its Polaris Lounge at Los Angeles International. It was the last of the airlines Polaris lounges to come back after they were all shuttered at the beginning of the COVID pandemic. In recent months, United reopened the lounges at San Francisco International, Chicago OHare, Newark and Houston Bush Intercontinental, and opened a new lounge at Washington Dulles. The Polaris lounges are for international long-haul travelers in the airlines Polaris front cabin.
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Hospital Board agrees to deal selling undeveloped Crystal River land

HCA Florida Citrus Hospital

The Citrus County Hospital Board squeezed a little more money out of a land sale Friday on behalf of the public when buyers agreed to pay a total of $475,000 for two lots abutting State Road 44 in Crystal River.

Back-and-forth negotiations concluded Friday morning during a specially called trustee board meeting at the office of its lawyer in Inverness to sign off on the sales contract for the lots totaling 5.4 acres bordered by Northeast 12th Avenue to the east and Northeast 11th Avenue to the west.

The contract gives Maverick, the Orlando-based company which builds and operates hotels, 180 days to complete its due diligence on the wooded property. The deal also requires Maverick to deposit $30,000 in escrow, which will be nonrefundable if Maverick continues forward with the purchase after the 180-day due diligence. If Maverick decides not to buy after the 180 days, the hospital board keeps the money.

If Maverick needs an additional 60 days beyond an agreed closing day, Maverick must pay an additional $25,000, which will be added to the sales price for a total of $500,000.

The hospital board is required to buy title insurance under the deal.

The hotel development company will now also go to Crystal River officials to request a change in the land use to allow for a hotel. There is already a Holiday Inn across State Road 44 on the other side of the proposed land sale.

Realtor Jim Morton, who oversaw the marketing of the property, said of the proposed buyer, I think this is as good a shot as weve had (in the sale going through).

The property has been for sale for two years. Local businessman Scott Adams had offered the hospital board $100,000 for both lots.

The previous hospital board bought the properties in 2000 and 2004 for a total of $471,300.

The hospital board owns HCA Florida Citrus Hospital, formerly Citrus Memorial Hospital, and leases it, and other hospital related properties, to Hospital Corporation of America. It uses lease money to fund local health initiatives. Not all of the hospitals properties were part of the 50-year lease agreement.

The hospital board voted 3-0 to approve the sale. Present were Chairwoman Debbie Ressler, Dr. Mark Fallows and Allan Bartell.

fredhiers / Fred Hiers / Chronicle Reporter Ressler

Ressler said although the property will not likely be used for a health-related purpose, the money from the sale can be.

Im really happy a buyer stepped up and is adding to the community, she told the Chronicle after the board voted to approve Mavericks latest counter offer.

Ressler said the previous hospital board bought the property with no specifications as to its use, so there should be no impediment now in its sale.

As for how the sales money should be used?

Ressler, who is retiring from the board March 15, said she would like to see the money go toward the Citrus County Doctors Free Clinic.

Bartell told the Chronicle he saw no rush to spend or give the money away.

The moneys destination, he told the Chronicle, should be the bank.

Its too quick to make a decision, he said.

After two years, Bartell too said he was relieved the properties sold.

I think everything turned out like a Christmas wish, Bartell said. I think this will benefit the community, the health community, and the hospital.
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Rising River Brewing, at 1955 Willow Lane in the East Texas section of Lower Macungie Township, offers Adirondack chairs, fire pits and even a swing in a tranquil setting that includes abundant grass, shrubs and trees along the Little Lehigh Creek. The brewery is operating via a tent in the property's parking lot until renovations on the taproom  house in a 120-year-old barn  are complete in the next couple of months. (RYAN KNELLER / The Morning Call)

With Lehigh Valley temperatures expected to reach the low 70s on Sunday, many people will be on the hunt for decks, patios and other outdoor oases to soak in the spring-like warmth.

A new option for beer buffs can be found in the East Texas section of Lower Macungie Township.

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Rising River Brewing, at 1955 Willow Lane in the East Texas section of Lower Macungie Township, offers Adirondack chairs, fire pits and even a swing in a tranquil setting that includes abundant grass, shrubs and trees along the Little Lehigh Creek. Co-owner Ron W. Beitler stands in the brewery's tent, which is open Thursday through Sunday until renovations on the taproom  housed in a 120-year-old barn  are complete in the next couple of months. (RYAN KNELLER / The Morning Call)

Rising River Brewing, at 1955 Willow Lane, offers Adirondack chairs, fire pits and even a swing in a tranquil setting that includes abundant grass, shrubs and trees along the Little Lehigh Creek.

Co-owners Ron W. Beitler and Jason Mulligan are planning to open the brewerys tasting room in the coming months  with a target grand opening date of May 28  in a renovated, 120-year-old barn that will include a new, 2,500-square-foot deck with a partial awning.

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Customers are welcome to sip on Rising Rivers beers before then, however, via the 2-acre propertys outdoor set-up, which also includes a large tent.

The heated tent features string lights, games such as Connect 4 and Jenga, and barrel tables that guests can gather around.

Rising River Brewing, at 1955 Willow Lane in the East Texas section of Lower Macungie Township, offers Adirondack chairs, fire pits and even a swing in a tranquil setting that includes abundant grass, shrubs and trees along the Little Lehigh Creek. The brewery is operating via a tent in the property's parking lot until renovations on the taproom  house in a 120-year-old barn  are complete in the next couple of months. (RYAN KNELLER / The Morning Call)

What I love most are the warm and sunny days where people just relax by the water, said Beitler, a former two-term Lower Macungie commissioner who was elected to Lehigh County Board of Commissioners in November. We also have live music and food trucks most Fridays and Saturdays.

In 2020, Beitler and his father, Ron R. Beitler, purchased the former Willows Restaurant property, where area residents would come for Pennsylvania Dutch classics like scrapple and corn pie.

While the barn remains, the restaurant had to be demolished following a series a floods that forced its closure in 2017.

The barn, which originated as a livestock auction house before transitioning to a social hall and later storage space, will feature a 1,700-square-foot taproom that Rising River will share with Three Little Birds Distilling, a distillery operated by Greg Smith, owner of Hop Hill Brewing Company in Lower Saucon Township.

Rising River Brewing, at 1955 Willow Lane in the East Texas section of Lower Macungie Township, offers Adirondack chairs, fire pits and even a swing in a tranquil setting that includes abundant grass, shrubs and trees along the Little Lehigh Creek. The brewery is operating via a tent in the property's parking lot until renovations on the taproom  housed in a 120-year-old barn  are complete in the next couple of months. The taproom will feature a newly constructed, 2,500-square-foot deck. (RYAN KNELLER / The Morning Call)

The businesses will have their own production spaces, with the shared taproom featuring new bathrooms, seating for around 80 customers and a glass garage door opening to the deck.

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Mulligan, Rising Rivers head brewer, previously worked for five years as a production assistant at Voodoo Brewing in Meadville, Crawford County. He also homebrewed for several years prior to his professional gig.

Customers can expect a variety of draft beers, including current offerings of Hex (Belgian-style witbier); Wild Skys (West Coast IPA); P.L.M. (American lager); and Hes a real Sidler (Belgian tripel brewed with cherries and raspberries). There are also rotating guest taps and spiked seltzers from Emmaus Triple Sun Spirits.

Rising River Brewing, at 1955 Willow Lane in the East Texas section of Lower Macungie Township, offers Adirondack chairs, fire pits and even a swing in a tranquil setting that includes abundant grass, shrubs and trees along the Little Lehigh Creek. The brewery is operating via a tent in the property's parking lot until renovations on the taproom  housed in a 120-year-old barn  are complete in the next couple of months. Pictured is a four-pack of Rising River's Wild Skys, a West Coast IPA. (RYAN KNELLER / The Morning Call)

We want to use ingredients from the property as much as possible, Beitler said. Our first beer, a collaboration that we did with Hop Hill, was called Hop River and featured 15 pounds of mulberries from a tree down by the bank. Wed eventually like to have some strawberries to make a strawberry rhubarb beer. Info: facebook.com/RisingRiverBrewing.

More in East Penn area

Speaking of breweries, Emmaus Funk Brewing, which has operated out of 19 S. 6th St. since 2014, this week moved its taproom to 518 Bank St.  the former Yergey Brewing location, my colleague Jennifer Sheehan reported.

Funks Sixth Street location will continue to operate as its brewery, which will now have more space to grow with the taproom area moved out. The new taproom on Bank Street will also provide more space for guests.

In September, Yergey moved from its 4.5-year-old space at 518 Bank St. to a larger borough building a few blocks east at 235 Main St.

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A final tid-bit from the East Penn area: Fortunoff Backyard Store, a chain of stores specializing in outdoor furniture and decor, is set to open April 1 at the Hamilton Crossings shopping center at North Krocks Road and Hamilton Boulevard in Lower Macungie, according to a news release.

Fortunoff Backyard Store, a chain of stores specializing in outdoor furniture and decor, is set to open April 1 at the Hamilton Crossings shopping center at North Krocks Road and Hamilton Boulevard in Lower Macungie Township. (Ryan Kneller/The Morning Call)

The space, next to Old Navy, previously housed home goods retailer Pier 1 Imports, which closed in 2020.

With approximately 10,000 square feet of retail space, Fortunoff Backyard Stores 28th retail location will feature the companys extensive line of outdoor and patio furniture and accessories.

Collections include seating and tables in wicker, polymer, teak, cast aluminum and other materials, as well as accessories such as umbrellas, pillows and space heaters, all designed for style, comfort and durability. Info: fortunoffbys.com.

Pop-ups

Jays Local, a two-year-old neighborhood eatery that prioritizes sourcing ingredients locally in Allentowns West End, has launched a Pop-Up Restaurant and Ghost Kitchen Program to help new and established culinary entrepreneurs grow their brand.

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Local businesses can utilize the fast-casual eaterys commercial kitchen and restaurant facility at 2301 W. Liberty St. in order to experiment, test, and grow without the long-term financial commitment. Prices vary depending on the short- and long-term options.

Jennys Kuali, a Bethehem-based Malaysian restaurant, is kicking off the program with a pop-up event, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, at the Allentown eatery.

A popular eatery among the Bethlehem locals and especially the Lehigh University student population, Jennys Kuali is aiming to introduce their authentic Malaysian eats to the West End of Allentown and the student population at Muhlenberg College, Jays Local owner Lyell Scherline said.

Jennys Kuali, which opened in 2012 at 102 E. Fourth St., will be selling its vegan cookbooks, sauces and popular menu items at the pop-up event. Among the selections will be ginger garlic cream cheese fried wontons, Thai and bubble tea, Singapore rice noodles and roti paratha (Indian-style bread with a curry dipping sauce; chicken, vegetarian or vegan).

Participants of the new program can use a wide array of Jays Local equipment, including six gas burners, a 36-inch gas flat griddle, two-tier pastry and beverage display, full-size electric convection oven, two prep tables, commercial baking mixer, deli slicer, food processor and laundered aprons and towels. Info: 610-351-3100.

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Domaci, a home furnishings retailer offering furniture, lighting, rugs and more, on March 16 will launch a Domaci Home pop-up event that will eventually lead to a permanent business addition at 521 Main St. in downtown Bethlehem. The shop will be directly next to the retailers year-old Domaci Market and Domaci Design Studio at 523 Main St. (Ryan Kneller/The Morning Call)

Another business is popping up in downtown Bethlehem: Home furnishings retailer Domaci, offering furniture, lighting, rugs and more, on March 16 will launch a Domaci Home pop-up event that will eventually lead to a permanent business addition at 521 Main St., directly next to the retailers year-old Domaci Market and Domaci Design Studio at 523 Main St.

The pop-up shop, featuring a fresh collection of furniture and home decor, is expected to run through much of the spring, Domaci co-founder Derrick Clark said.

The building owner is doing some construction in that space in a couple of months, Clark said. So, were taking over that space until then. Once constructions over, well be back in that space, but it will look a little different.

Domaci Homes pop-up shop will be staffed by the business knowledgeable team of designers and home furnishings specialists, and customers will be able to shop new and last chance floor models that theyll be able to take home the same day.

Domaci, which means home in Czech, was founded as an e-commerce company in 2015. Info: domacihome.com.

Odds and ends

After the loss of two longtime tenants  Under Armour Bethlehem Factory House and Corningware Corelle & More  earlier this year and the announcement that another store  Charming Charlie  would be closing in the coming months, The Outlets at Wind Creek Bethlehem is sharing some good news.

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Trap Door Escape, which operates three escape room facilities in Bartonsville, Monroe County, and Red Bank and Morristown in New Jersey, is planning to open a fourth facility in September at the south Bethlehem outlet mall.

The 10,000-square-foot escape room will occupy what was previously three separate spaces (former locations of Christopher & Banks, Corningware Corelle & More and Go! Calendars, Games & Toys) on The Outlets lower level, Wind Creek Bethlehem spokeswoman Julia Corwin said.

The new facility will blend a traditional escape room with theater, production and massive sets, immersing guests into a nautical Cursed Pirate Tales-themed adventure.

It will feature multiple adventures, which participants will be able to visit separately via a single ticket ($25-$60 per player) or all together via a Day Pass ($162 per player). All experiences are private excluding the Madness Distillery Tasting Rooms Rum Bar. Info: trapdoorescape.com.

Nuts About Ice Cream, known for its homemade, natural and exotic ice cream selections, has closed after decades of business at 1124 Linden St., across from Liberty High School, in Bethlehem. (Ryan Kneller/The Morning Call)

Also in Bethlehem, Nuts About Ice Cream, known for its homemade, natural and exotic ice cream selections, has closed after decades of business at 1124 Linden St., across from Liberty High School, according to a post on the business Facebook page.

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The shop was established in 1988 by husband and wife Bharatkumar and Rohini Joshi, who are retiring. The couple, who are of Indian descent, incorporated some of the spices familiar to their culture  including cardamom, saffron and ginger  into their ice cream.

The shop managed to barely survive the past two years, operating on a limited basis with curbside pickup of pints only, according to a post on its Facebook page.

As for the future of the Linden Street property, Morganelli Properties, a residential and commercial real estate company, has purchased the building for its new headquarters.

Business Buzz Daily The daily update for the Lehigh Valley business person. >

The locally owned real estate company plans to renovate the interior and exterior of the building and open its new headquarters on the ground floor by summer, according to a news release.

Morganelli Properties is currently located at 1057 Main St. in Hellertown in space that it rented when the firm opened four years ago. The business is operated by brothers and John and Chris Morganelli, who serve as president and vice president respectively.

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Lastly, Zekraft, which opened its first brick-and-mortar cafe in September at 306 S. New St. on Bethlehems South Side, is planning to open a second location in May at the Simon Silk Mill, 1247 Simon Blvd., N107, Easton, according to a news release.

The venture is a homecoming of sorts for owners Zeke Zelker, a local filmmaker, and his wife, Elaine Zelker, a photographer. The couple was among the first business owners to open studios at the Simon Silk Mill in 2016.

At Zekrafts original location, customers can enjoy specialty beverages like organic fair-trade coffee, espresso, teas and frappes, along with inventive cuisine that includes soups, salads, tartines (open-faced sandwiches) and baked goods.

Zekraft, which also offers home meal delivery, will join several other Simon Silk Mill food and beverage vendors, including Boser Geist Brewing Co., County Seat Spirits, Easton Wine Project, Owowcow, Separatist Beer Project and Thrive Easton. Info: zekraft.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.
Oklahoma City, OK (73106)

Today

Locally heavy thunderstorms in the morning will give way to partly cloudy skies late. High 64F. Winds NW at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 80%..

Tonight

A mostly clear sky. Low 49F. Winds NW at 10 to 20 mph.
A visitation will be held on Tuesday, May 3, 2022 at the MMS- Payne Funeral Home Chapel from 1:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Family will greet friends from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Grace Ann Harrison passed away on April 26, 2022 at the age of 76 years old. Grace Ann was born to Dryden and Joan Carman 
A federal appeals court on Friday rejected arguments there was insufficient evidence to support the public corruption convictions of former Allentown Mayor Ed Pawlowski and his co-defendant Scott Allinson.

The decisions from the Third U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals mean Pawlowski will continue serving a 15-year prison sentence and Allinson, who was released during his appeal, may soon return to prison to serve the remainder of his 27-month sentence.

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Megan Scheib, who represents Allinson, said they will continue efforts to have the conviction overturned.

We intend to pursue all available appellate avenues to obtain the correct and just outcome in this case, Scheib said. Those could include asking the Third Circuit to reconsider and asking the U.S. Supreme Court to consider the case. Pawlowskis attorney, Jack McMahon, did not return a call.

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A jury in 2018 found Allentown Mayor Ed Pawlowski guilty on nearly all charges in his federal trial. (APRIL GAMIZ / THE MORNING CALL)

Pawlowski and Allinson were convicted just over four years ago after a six-week trial in which prosecutors presented evidence that Pawlowski and his political operatives tied city contracts to contributions to Pawlowskis unsuccessful campaigns for governor and U.S. senator.

The governments case against Pawlowski was strong. Its evidence showed a man eager to influence and be influenced if it would help him fund his political campaigns, Judge Thomas L. Ambro wrote in the opinion for the three-judge panel.

The evidence included secretly recorded conversations between Pawlowski and Allison regarding a contract for legal services. In the recordings they expressed the intent for Allinsons law firm, Norris McLaughlin, to receive a contract to provide a solicitor for the Allentown Parking Authority in exchange for contributions from members of the firm.

Prosecutors presented evidence Pawlowski, his campaign manager, Mike Fleck, and Flecks employee Sam Ruchlewicz engaged in multiple pay-to-play schemes involving contracts to rebuild city swimming pools, replace streetlights, provide engineering services, collect taxes and provide cybersecurity and for expediting a zoning approval and securing favorable building inspections. Between the case against Pawlowski and a parallel case against former Reading Mayor Vaughn Spencer, 16 people were convicted or pleaded guilty to corruption charges.

Pawlowski, 56, was convicted of dozens of offenses including federal programs bribery, Travel Act bribery, attempted Hobbs Act extortion, wire and mail fraud, honest services fraud, making false statements to the FBI, and conspiracy. Pawlowski is serving his sentence at the federal correctional institution in Cumberland, Maryland.

Allinson, 60, was convicted of federal programs bribery and conspiracy. He was taken to jail immediately after his June 2018 sentencing and served about two months in a minimum-security prison in West Virginia before the appeals court ordered his release.

Defendant Scott Allinson enters the Edward Cahn Federal Courthouse for his criminal trial on Tuesday, February 20, 2018. (HARRY FISHER / THE MORNING CALL)

In his appeal, Pawlowski argued that the government failed to prove that there were explicit agreements to exchange things of value, such as city contracts, for campaign contributions. He also argued his conviction was improper because Judge Juan R. Sanchez refused to allow his attorney to re-cross-examine a witness during the trial. Finally, he argued that his sentence was unreasonable because Sanchez failed to consider his history and characteristics and because it was longer than that handed down to others convicted of similar offenses.

While we acknowledge the practical realities of public office, the jury was entitled to find that Pawlowskis conductthat is, his promises and efforts to perform specific official favors in exchange for donationscrossed into the criminal, Ambro wrote in the conclusion to the 27-page opinion.

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The panel also noted that while it agreed Pawlowskis sentence was substantial, it was not improper because it fell within the range recommended under federal sentencing guidelines.

While Pawlowski is a first-time offender and has significant community and family support, the district court reasonably concluded that his offense was very serious, strik[ing] at the core of our democracy. It held that a sentence near the top of the guidelines range was necessary to deter others from abusing the public trust in a similar fashion, the opinion said.

The judges also rejected Allinsons claims that the evidence was insufficient to support his convictions.

The jury here was privy to private conversations in which Allinson and Pawlowski repeatedly expressed their intent for Norris McLaughlin to receive the Parking Authority contract and Allinson the credit, all in exchange for political donations. Allinsons words and actions were sufficient to support his bribery and conspiracy convictions, the opinion said.

Allinson also argued that his charges should have been tried separately because he was prejudiced by the numerous charges against Pawlowski. The judges said the case was not so complex that the jury could not reasonably be expected to keep the evidence against Allinson and Pawlowski separate.

The evidence against him was segregated and largely consisted of his own recorded statements, the opinion said.

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Morning Call reporter Peter Hall can be reached at 610-903-3406 or peter.hall@mcall.com.
If a visitor to Israel had the time to take a month to really get to know the country, I would recommend the period that has just concluded  from Passover through Israeli Independence Day. Its Israel in a nutshell. And it also happens to be a time of year when most of the days are picture-
Intels decision to build a microchip manufacturing facility in the New Albany area has great short- and long-term benefits for local universities, their students and alumni.

According to professors and officials at The Ohio State University in Columbus and Denison University in Granville, Intel will spur growth and opportunities due to the economic infusion it provides, the job opportunities it presents and the particular skill set and expertise those jobs will require.

Intel will be a game-changer for Denison, Adam Weinberg, the universitys president, told the Columbus Jewish News. We were the first liberal arts college in the country to have a data analytics major and we have an exceptionally strong computer science department. Having Intel and other technology companies in our backyard will create new and exciting opportunities for those academic departments and our students.

The impact will also be major for Ohio State, Itzhak Ben-David, the Neil Klatskin chair in finance and real estate at the Fisher College of Business and academic director at the universitys Center for Real Estate, told the Columbus Jewish News.

Intels investment is indeed a vote of confidence in the local universities in general and OSU in particular, he said. There is little doubt that OSU is the knowledge-producing engine in the region. It attracts and produces from the entire state and from out-of-state. Intels move will boost both the demand and the supply of world-class education and research at OSU. The significant improvements will likely occur in engineering, exact sciences and business fields.

Stephanie Wapner, senior lecturer at OSUs Fisher College of Business, director of the honors contract program and director of case competitions, said Intel will benefit from a pipeline of talent from local graduates who will stay in-state to build their careers.

Theres a huge potential talent pipeline for ... jobs in design, engineering, manufacturing, sales, human resources, management, all sorts of different industries, she said. Intel is helping to further this partnership as it has committed at the outset $100 million to partner with Ohios higher education institutions and community colleges to build up that local workforce, Wapner told the CJN.

She said students will not even need to wait until they graduate to benefit from this partnership as there will be opportunities for internships and co-op programs combining classroom studies with paid work experience. Having Intel in the area also provides chances for experiential learning such as case studies, case competitions, visits with industry executives and visiting faculty and lecturers from local industry.

So, theres a lot of very exciting ... education and research opportunities on the horizon, Wapner said.

These are just some of the opportunities for students to learn and build careers and for local colleges and universities to grow, she said.

The opportunities are limitless, Wapner said.

Over the long term, Intels presence could transform the region, Ben-David said.

Intels decision is inspiring news for Ohioans, he said. With the right momentum, Columbus could undoubtedly give a good fight to Austin, Texas and Raleigh, N.C., in the race of becoming the next Silicon Valley.
I have been wanting to write this Op-Ed for a long time. Too long. But the time has finally come for me to say something about the massive rising tide of antisemitism here in Ohio and America, specifically and all over the world as well.

I am Jewish. I am not all that religious, but I am proud of my Jewish heritage and culture, as Im sure most of you are proud of whatever heritage, ethnic or cultural background you may come from or identify with. I have beloved family in Ohio and multiple generations of strong family ties to Ohio stretching back through eight decades as well.

I am writing this piece today because I, and many other Jewish folks I know, are just so sick and tired of our non-Jewish friends and associates telling us what is and what is not antisemitic.

Whether it was the recent statements from The Views Whoopi Goldberg, or those from the NFLs Washington Commanders Jonathan Allen or the matters of mandatory Christian proselytizing assemblies in West Virginia public high school or the refusal of an adoption agency in Tennessee to allow the adoption of a Christian child to a Jewish couple or the convoy of 30 truckloads of Christian men suddenly massing in front of my sons (Rep. Casey Weinstein D-Hudson) home on a weekend carrying, among other extremist artifacts, flags that demanded that he and presumptively his family, including our three very young grandchildren, kneel before the cross, we Jews tend to actually know when we are being targeted for antisemitism.

And the State of Ohio, particularly, has a number of other tragic and so recent examples of ignoble Jew-hatred creating horrid disequilibrium in The Buckeye State. Specifically, an Ohio State University professor using very well known antisemitic slurs multiple times during an actual class and, yet again, in a subsequent lecture, speciously claiming she was simply not cognizant that the antisemitic slur was, well, an antisemitic slur. There have also been actual Nazi salutes rendered during a school board meeting convened to address crucial health issues and an active public school board member comparing COVID-19 health mandates to the Holocaust and an Ohio member of the United States Congress also ignominiously comparing COVID-19 health mandates to the Shoah and more of the full spectrum of such horrific Holocaust comparisons throughout the State of Ohio. Lastly, just as there were a handful of Jewish Nazi collaborators who aided Hitlers Third Reich, even if one allegedly claims to be Jewish, that person can still reasonably be stained with the putrescent stench of antisemitism.

As the late U.S. Supreme Court Justice Potter Stewart famously opined in the case of Jacobellis v. Ohio in 1964 regarding his definition of pornography, I know it when I see it.

Likewise, we Jews also frequently know antisemitism when we see it or experience it.

It is so demeaning and hurtful and repulsive; how could we not?

And we know that the Crusades, the Inquisition, the pogroms, the Holocaust and so many other noted bloodbaths in Earths human history have been catalyzed by this very same hatred of the Jewish people.

I realize that I am a public figure as a civil rights advocate and, as such, will tend to attract more of this pernicious, anti-Jewish hatred than if I was not out there in the public sphere.

Antisemitism is skyrocketing in America and a plethora of other nations. We Jews have seen this train leave the station so many times before.

I have elected to fight antisemitism and all other forms of religious bigotry in the crucial battleground of the United States military.

Virulent, grotesque antisemitism sadly comes with this very same civil rights advocacy territory.

And my wife and I have seen so much of it and still do on literally a daily basis.

But there are two things that folks we know will too often say to us that are just as hurtful. Seriously so.

The first is, Well, you guys asked for this by deciding to be so public in the media. Not even worthy of a reply.

The second one is, Well that particular matter is not at all antisemitic. Youre being too thin-skinned ... and the wretched like.

Obviously, one can have rational and reasonable debates about these matters of antisemitism, but if you are not Jewish, please, please try to understand that you may not at all know it when you see it.

And why not?

Because, my friends, unless you have personally felt the horrific ignominy, humiliation, threats and indescribable pain of antisemitism yourself, your own judgment on such anti-Jewish bigotry, hatred and prejudice may well be wanting, faulty and terminally suboptimal in your analysis of the alleged antisemitic matter at hand.

I am not saying that questioning whether an incident is or is not antisemitic is wrong.

Im just asking for some amount of basic decency among those who are not Jewish in how they communicate about it with Jewish people they might know.

One should never consider the opinion of the persecutor as to whether he or she committed persecution as conclusive or dispositive.

Ask the victims, Ohio.

And please give the victims of antisemitism their due amount of street credibility when they answer you.

Listen to them, Ohio.

And grant them some reasonable acknowledgment that they, better than you, know it when they see it.

Mikey Weinstein is the founder and president of the Military Religious Freedom Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to ensuring freedom of religion for members of the U.S. armed forces.

Disclaimer

The Cleveland Jewish News does not make endorsements of political candidates and/or political or other ballot issues on any level. Letters, commentaries, opinions, advertisements and online posts appearing in the Cleveland Jewish News, on cjn.org or our social media pages do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the Cleveland Jewish Publication Company, its board, officers or staff.
RoboTutors team has international expertise:

Jack Mostow , RoboTutor Team Leader and Emeritus Research Professor of Robotics, Machine Learning, Language Technologies, and Human-Computer Interaction at Carnegie Mellon University

Prof. Jack Mostow:

Founder and Director of Project LISTEN to develop an automated Reading Tutor that listens to children read aloud, included in NSFs Nifty Fifty

Project LISTEN Harvard University AB cum laude in Applied Mathematics

cum laude in Applied Mathematics Carnegie Mellon University PhD in Computer Science

Voting member, Society for the Scientific Study of Reading

Steering Committee, Carnegie Mellon University's PIER (Program in Interdisciplinary Education Research)

Past President, International Artificial Intelligence in Education Society

Allen Newell Award for Research Excellence

Over 200 publications in artificial intelligence, educational data mining, intelligent tutors, user modeling, machine learning, and speech and language technologies

Amy Ogan , world expert on cultural aspects of education technology, Jacobs Foundation Early Career Fellow, and Thomas and Lydia Moran Assistant Professor of Learning Science at Carnegie Mellon University

Dr. Amy Ogan is an educational technologist focusing on ways to make learning experiences more engaging, effective, and enjoyable. Her training spans many disciplines, with undergraduate degrees in Computer Science and Spanish, and a Ph.D. in Human-Computer Interaction supported by a fellowship from the Institute of Education Sciences (IES). She has been named a Rising Star in EECS by MIT, a World Economic Forum Young Scientist, received the McCandless Chair and the Thomas and Lydia Moran Professorship in Learning Science, and been awarded the Jacobs Early Career Fellowship to study the use of educational technologies in emerging economies. Dr. Ogan has been a visiting researcher at USCs Institute for Creative Technologies and the Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile, and has conducted field research on the deployment of educational technology across many international sites including in Cote d'Ivoire, Tanzania, Morocco, Chile, Mexico, Costa Rica, and more. Her research is supported by the National Science Foundation, Google, the McDonnell Foundation, and the Jacobs Foundation.

Leonora Anyango-Kivuva , PhD, voice of RoboTutor; Language, Education and Culture consultant

Dr. Leonora Anyango-Kivuva is a language, culture and education expert of international repute. She specializes in language learning and multilingual writing. She invests in working with diverse groups of students to use language as a tool to advance their scholarship. She recently received the Faculty Fellow Award from the University of Pittsburghs Honors College for her Swahili language and culture mentorship of students for International Scholarships, including the Rhodes. Dr. Anyango-Kivuva has a vast knowledge and understanding of multiple languages including Japanese and Kiswahili. Her breadth of experience includes teaching, consulting, interpreting, and translating work in higher institutions of learning, communities, and organizations, including the World Bank. She currently consults for the National Foreign Language Center as a Swahili Language Expert. Her involvement in curriculum development for students of different ages and her knowledge of East African cultures and learning styles were great assets to RoboTutor. Being the voice of RoboTutor has been a humbling experience for her, especially knowing that she is giving back to the children of the continent that raised her. Dr. Anyango-Kivuva earned her Ph.D. in Social and Comparative Analysis in Education (International and Development Education) from the University of Pittsburgh. She also has a Ph.D. in English (Composition and Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) from Indiana University of Pennsylvania. Her research focuses mainly on language education for students with limited and/or interrupted formal education.

Kevin DeLand , Master of Education Technology and Learning Sciences, software architect/developer

Kevin DeLand is the lead software engineer and architect of RoboTutor. He improved children's learning experience by developing code for new tutors, improving interactions, reordering curriculum, and fixing bugs. He also consulted field researchers and learning experts to design and implement new tutors that addressed learning goals. In addition to leading the design, legacy code refactoring, integration, scaffolding, and documentation of new elements of RoboTutor from different team members, he has worked with the XPRIZE field team and beta-testing site teams to deploy code to over 450 Android tablets in Tanzania. Prior to joining RoboTutor, Kevin was a development lead for Renaissance Learning, and a software engineer for several years at IBM supporting the Bluemix onboarding process. Kevin holds a BS in Electrical and Computer Engineering from Duke University, and a Masters of Educational Technology and Applied Learning Science from Carnegie Mellon University.

Judy Kendall , Founder and Director Anchor of Hope Charities, supporting 50,000 children in Zambia with clean water, food, and education programs

Judy Kendall founded Anchor of Hope Charities, a 501(c)3 not-for-profit in 2007 to support educational programs for children in Africa. Her current focus is in Zambia, Africa where she works to support over 50,000 children with clean water, food, shoes and education programs. With the help of over 180 volunteers, she has built and deployed sustainable programs for 13 years with great success, increasing school attendance rates by 63%, decreasing childhood illnesses by 43%, and increasing scholastic scores by 60%. To date Anchor of Hope Charities has provided 1,600,988 meals, clean water for 8,000 people, education programs for 45,000 children, and 1,000,000 pairs of shoes, and has a presence in all provinces of Zambia. Supported by strong relationships within Zambia, Judy has eliminated all barriers to entry at the government, cultural, and grassroots levels. Judy resides in Indianapolis and is surrounded by her 3 children, their spouses, and 7 grandchildren. She has a bachelors degree from Indiana University Bloomington, and is a certified PMP (Project Management Professional).

Janet Mostow , Enterprise Architect, RoboTutor LLC board

Janet Mostow has worked on RoboTutor behind the scenes since its inception. She assists her husband, Prof. Mostow, in planning, budgeting, and operations. She has been an Enterprise Architect and an Executive IT Architect for IBM, Oracle, and Salesforce. She has worked in all aspects of the software engineering lifecycle, primarily focused on architecture, design, and testing. Janet holds a BA in Economics and a Masters of Engineering in Systems Engineering from the University of Virginia.

Judith Uchidiuno , project manager and doctoral candidate in Human-Computer Interaction at Carnegie Mellon University

Judith Uchidiuno is currently a PhD student studying Human-Computer Interaction at Carnegie Mellon University, and is advised by Amy Ogan and Ken Koedinger. She is extremely passionate about under-represented communities, and how cost-effective and accessible technologies can be used to improve the quality of formal and informal education they receive. Her current research is focused on how to design culturally appropriate early learning technologies for children in rural villages in Tanzania.
Wearing her signature striped suit, Paula Poundstone made her entrance to The State Theatres stage on Friday with elegance and a Pepsi. The comedian delivered a set filled with improv, which she called her forte.

With the help of the audience, Poundstone made The State Theatre laugh with stories about raising her children, politics and interacting with the crowd.

Poundstone stole the show with her many conversations with audience members, from a materials science professor to an IT support professional.

I've never in my life heard that much enthusiasm for material sciences, Poundstone said after the theater cheered when the audience member revealed her profession.

Alongside interacting with the audience, Poundstone talked about her distaste for modern technology by showing her flip phone, which an audience member reacted to by showing their outdated phone and screaming, You and me, lady.

One of the many audience members, Nathan Reigner, came from Harrisburg to see Poundstone for the second time after finding out about the show on The State Theatre's website.

I saw her in Burlington, Vermont years ago, Reigner, 42, said. I like that her humor is charitable, nobody is the butt of the joke for her. She doesn't make fun of people, she makes situations funny.

Poundstone continued to entertain the audience by talking about her previous work experiences, especially when working at IHOP, which she called the worst job she's had in her life.

When people were rude to me, I just touched their eggs, Poundstone said.

The comedian also dedicated a portion of her show to her kids and the numerous experiences she's had while raising them. Poundstone mentioned how parenting a young adult was one the hardest, yet funniest experiences she's had.

The theater broke out in laughter when she mentioned what her daughter once told her while driving by her house.

I was unhappy there once," she said.

Poundstone joked about the new generation of parents and the concept of trophy kids  children who get told they're good at everything without earning it.

She ended the joke by saying she immediately called her daughter after reading an article about it and told her, Youre just regular  barely.

The comedian made The State Theatre laugh once again when she mentioned her reaction when she caught her middle child studying for a science test.

Apparently someone doesn't want to be a Poundstone," she said.

Her experience with Spanish was an essential part of her act, as she said, If you know how to work a computer and speak Spanish, my god, you got the world by the tail.

Poundstone continued by talking about the language she had nearly forgotten, saying the only sentence she remembers is Donde esta la tiza.

I only remember donde esta la tiza,' so if I ever go out with a Spanish-speaking guy and we find chalk, then the conversation is pretty much over with, Poundstone said.

Audience members, like Bing Pan, said they heard of Poundstone from NPR and would like to see her again if she returns to State College.

My favorite part of the show was Paula being a pro, she can make everything funny, Pan, 42, said.

Poundstone also joked about her abilities as a cook, mentioning her culinary upbringing as a child with Southern parents.

Im not that big of a cook, I can boil a noodle, Poundstone said.

The comedian ended her show by mentioning her popular podcast Nobody Listens To Paula Poundstone and joking about the age of her audience by explaining what it was.

Carry Weissmann said the tickets to the show were a Valentine's Day gift, and it was the third time she had seen her perform.

I would see her again, she always has a different show because she interacts so much with the audience, Weissmann, 67, said. She always tells stories about her family, but they are always different. What I was reminded of is how she tied every little thing that other people say into the next show that she does.

Reigner said Poundstone did more crowd work this time than he expected, and it seemed that she was improvising much more than in her previous shows.

I think it's remarkable and a real sign of her talent and her skill that she is able to be spontaneous and comfortable in these situations  that she is able to work so freely.

MORE LIFESTYLE CONTENT
Last summer, people in Coopersburg probably wanted to throw up when they retrieved their mail.

Diversity is a codeword for white genocide, said fliers sent to numerous homes. We must secure the existence of our people and a future for white children.

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Its unknown who sent the racist mail, which also touted White Pride.

Sadly, that was just one example of white supremacist and antisemitic propaganda that targeted Pennsylvania residents last year, according to a report Thursday from the Anti-Defamation League.

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Complaints came from all over the Lehigh Valley and surrounding communities, including Allentown, Bethlehem, Easton, Emmaus, Center Valley, Wind Gap, Coplay, Hellertown, Alburtis, Kutztown, Fleetwood, Jim Thorpe, Stroudsburg, Nazareth, Slatington, Macungie and Catasauqua.

The Keystone State was ground zero for hate.

Pennsylvanians reported the most incidents of mail, fliers, stickers, posters, banners, graffiti and other messages encouraging us to hate each other. There were 473 reports. Virginia was second with 375, followed by Texas with 327.

Its concerning that we had so many. And that we were so far ahead of every other state.

Does that mean hate groups believe they have an audience in Pennsylvania that is willing to consider what they have to say?

Or does it indicate that Pennsylvania residents have no appetite for this trash? Maybe we were less willing to ignore it than people in other states, and we reported it more frequently.

While Id love to believe the latter is the reason for the numbers, I trust my initial instinct.

[ Systemic racism can be covert. Heres one way Pennsylvania and the nation can reduce it. ]

Nationwide last year, there were 4,851 cases reported to the Anti-Defamation League. Those numbers surely dont account for all of the white supremacist and antisemitic propaganda. A lot never get reported.

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Last years count was slightly less than in 2020, when there were 5,125 cases.

A 5% drop is no reason to celebrate. The tally is quite a bit more than the 2,724 cases reported in 2019. And while the overall totals were lower, there was a 27% increase in antisemitic propaganda.

Locally, the Anti-Defamation League took a report of a swastika drawn on a desk at Moravian University.

Other examples cited by the ADL include:

In West Chester, the Nationalist Social Club distributed propaganda that included a swastika and read: We are everywhere.

Propaganda with slogans identical to those found in Coopersburg was distributed in Bethlehem.

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In Philadelphia, messages of, Diversity means no white people, were distributed by the New Jersey European Heritage Association. It is described by the Anti-Defamation League as a neo-Nazi group.

The Keystone Nationalist Active Club targeted students at Millersville University with messages including, They hate you for being white and Western civilization is white civilization. It also distributed propaganda from Hundred Handers that read: Never apologize for being white.

Both organizations are described by the Anti-Defamation League as white supremacists.

Patriot Front, also described as a white supremacist group, was behind more than 82% of the incidents reported to the league last year nationwide.

In October, the groups logo was spray painted on an anti-hate mural in Boyertown.

The league received many complaints about propaganda the group distributed in the Lehigh Valley that included slogans such as, Not stolen, conquered.

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Its not surprising that hate groups would try to gain followers in our area. The region has its share of believers.

In recent years, the Southern Poverty Law Center has identified several active groups, including Aryan Strikeforce and a chapter of the Ku Klux Klan in Berks County.

In 2017, federal authorities infiltrated a small band of white supremacists based in the Lehigh Valley running a drug and gun trafficking operation to raise cash for a neo-Nazi gang.

In 1995, the murders of a Salisbury Township couple at the hands of their children prompted fears about white supremacist activity.

Brenda Freeman was stabbed to death by son Bryan. Dennis Freeman was fatally beaten by son David. The brothers embraced neo-Nazi culture and dressed and acted like skinheads, sporting facial tattoos of the phrases Sieg Heil and Berserker, The Morning Call reported at the time.

Those who belong to extremist groups and pollute our communities with the filth detailed in the ADL report are outliers.

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I believe most people are accepting. They dont care about skin color, religion, sexual orientation or gender identity. Theyre more interested in whether the people around them are good people who contribute to society, regardless of their race, how they worship and who they marry.

Its up to us to fight back.

We arent going to change some minds. But we can make a difference. Some bias can occur unintentionally, and that can be addressed.

Thats why efforts such as Color Outside the Lines by Community Action Lehigh Valley are important. I wrote about it last month.

Color Outside the Lines addresses racial inequities and disparities in housing, education, criminal justice, economic opportunity and employment, health, mental health, arts and culture and recreation.

Its important for organizations such as the Anti-Defamation League to publish reports like the one it released Thursday. I hope it opens eyes to just how much bigotry, racism and hatred is out there.

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And I hope it motivates the rest of us to confront it.

Morning Call columnist Paul Muschick can be reached at 610-820-6582 or paul.muschick@mcall.com

[ Pennsylvania leads nation in antisemitic, white supremacist propaganda, report says ]
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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
: marryha123 (), : WaterWorld

 : The feat of some righteous people

: BBS  (Fri Mar 4 05:33:09 2022, )





All this time, some experts and scholars have been questioning the

authenticity of Yan Limeng's paper, dedicated to exposing the "pseudoscience

" spread by Yan Limeng; ordinary people to Yan Limeng's residence near the

banner, protesting the stigmatization of the epidemic caused by

discrimination against Asians; in her live broadcast boycott her

participation in the live show, resulting in her show interaction with fewer

and fewer people She was forced to leave the Internet and return to real

life to apply for jobs.

However, justice advocates do not want Yan Limeng to go into hiding and

continue to spread false information about the new crown outbreak. Guo

Wengui found out Yan Limeng's current address: Perelman School of Medicine

at the University of Pennsylvania (3400 Civic Center Blvd, Philadelphia, PA

19104) through the FBI agent's connection, Some members of the "New China

Federation" started a campaign to "maintain the clean campus and reject Yan

Limeng's entry into Perelman Medical" on the telegram calls on people who

love freedom and uphold the "Rule of Law Foundation," especially members of

the "New China Federation. On March 21, Yan Limeng's address near the

banner to protest Yan Limeng false new crown theory, reveal Yan Limeng and

YouTube anchor "Luther" (Wang Dinggang) affair, the University of

Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine campus to protect the clean land.



--

 :WWW  mitbbs.com [FROM: 103.]


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Frrookeyicm.org scored 50 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

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PAGE TITLE Friar Servants of Mary USA Province: Official Website DESCRIPTION The Order of Friar Servants of Mary is a community of men gathered together in the name of Jesus the Lord. With Mary as our abiding inspiration, we commit ourselves to witness and live the gospel in brotherly love and to be at the service of God and all p KEYWORDS OTHER KEYWORDS about, servants of mary, servants of, of mary, servants, peregrine, order



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A Facebook page link can be found in the homepage or in the robots.txt file. Facebook Timeline is the new layout of Facebook pages. The description of the Facebook page describes website and its services to the social media users. The total number of people who tagged or talked about website Facebook page in the last 7-10 days. The type of Facebook page. The URL of the found Facebook page. The total number of people who like website Facebook page.

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In 2014, the FBI noticed someone posting a pic holding a pistol while flashing a skyward ISIS sign with his other hand. They looked closer and saw this guyKhalil Abu Rayyan, a 21-year-old Muslim pizza delivery guy from Michiganalso posted images from ISIS videos. Later, he posted a photo of himself with a AK-47 and captioned it "Sahwat hunting," which basically means "hunting for enemies of ISIS."

As it would later turn out, Rayyan had no connections with ISIS, and he had less means to pull off a mass shooting than the average person. The rifle photo had been at a gun range because he was now legally barred from buying a firearm of his own, after police pulled him over one time and saw him storing his own pistol with his weed. But it's very much the FBI's job to follow up on potential threats like this. We'd like you now to pause for a second and think of what action the FBI should have taken in this case.

Okay, now here's what the FBI actually did. They catfished Rayyan using two separate fake online female personas. They tried to get him to agree to kill himself in a suicide bombing, killing innocent people (so they could arrest him before he actually carried out the act). He refused. They finally gave up on their plan and arrested him anyway.
Liu Zixu wins China's first gold medal in Para biathlon at Beijing 2022 Paralympics

Xinhua) 11:23, March 05, 2022

China's Liu Zixu celebrates after the biathlon men's sprint sitting event of Beijing 2022 Paralympic Winter Games at National Biathlon Centre in Zhangjiakou, north China's Hebei Province, March 5, 2022. (Xinhua/Peng Ziyang)

CHONGLI, Zhangjiakou, March 5 (Xinhua) -- Liu Zixu finished first in Para biathlon men's sprint sitting, earning China the first gold medal at the Beijing 2022 Paralympic Winter Games on Saturday.

Liu, 24, who began to train in the sport in 2017 in Heilongjiang Province, had his major debut at Beijing 2022 and made his mark at the first shot.

He wrapped up the race in 18 minutes and 51.5 seconds, 17.5 seconds ahead of Ukraine's Taras Rad, who had to settle for the silver mainly because he missed one shot through the two-round shootings.

"I'm quite satisfied with my performance today and it feels so good to make history for my country," said Liu, who gave China the first ever Paralympic gold from an individual event.

"Para biathlon is a sport combining still and moving, it's really challenging, so I'm happy to do a great job today."

Liu will next compete in another two events in Para biathlon and one in Para cross-country. "I will try my best in those disciplines waiting for me and I hope I can have more good results," added Liu.

Another Chinese Liu Mengtao was third trailing his winning compatriot by 41.8 seconds as the 20-year-old was also penalized one minute due to missed shot.

Liu Zixu made all the ten shots to better off the much experienced Rad, who was the men's biathlon 12.5km middle sitting winner and ranked fifth in the men's sprint sitting event four years ago in PyeongChang.

Rad was pleased with his second-placed performance. "I am happy with the result. I concentrated on this race and I will dedicate this medal to my country," said the Ukrainian.

This is the first gold medal for the host nation at Beijing 2022 and only the second gold medal in Paralympic history after China won its first ever gold from wheelchair curling at PyeongChang 2018.

China's Liu Zixu (L) competes during the biathlon men's sprint sitting event of Beijing 2022 Paralympic Winter Games at National Biathlon Centre in Zhangjiakou, north China's Hebei Province, March 5, 2022. (Xinhua/Hu Chao)

China's Liu Zixu competes during the biathlon men's sprint sitting event of Beijing 2022 Paralympic Winter Games at National Biathlon Centre in Zhangjiakou, north China's Hebei Province, March 5, 2022. (Xinhua/Hu Chao)

China's Liu Zixu competes during the biathlon men's sprint sitting event of Beijing 2022 Paralympic Winter Games at National Biathlon Centre in Zhangjiakou, north China's Hebei Province, March 5, 2022. (Xinhua/Xue Yuge)

China's Liu Zixu competes during the biathlon men's sprint sitting event of Beijing 2022 Paralympic Winter Games at National Biathlon Centre in Zhangjiakou, north China's Hebei Province, March 5, 2022. (Xinhua/Hu Chao)

China's Liu Zixu competes during the biathlon men's sprint sitting event of Beijing 2022 Paralympic Winter Games at National Biathlon Centre in Zhangjiakou, north China's Hebei Province, March 5, 2022. (Xinhua/Hu Chao)

(Web editor: Xia Peiyao, Liang Jun)
A Foton electric bus is seen in Salam City, east of Cairo, capital of Egypt, on Oct. 29, 2019. (Xinhua/Ahmed Gomaa)

Egypt has been endeavoring to localize the electric vehicle industry as part of the Middle Eastern country's efforts to reduce dependence on fossil fuels, transit toward a green economy, and keep pace with global progress in the automobile industry.



by Marwa Yahya, Emad al-Azrak



CAIRO, March 4 (Xinhua) -- Egypt has been endeavoring to localize the electric vehicle industry as part of the Middle Eastern country's efforts to reduce dependence on fossil fuels, transit toward a green economy, and keep pace with global progress in the automobile industry, according to analysts.

Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah Al-Sisi recently held several meetings with officials, businessmen, and companies to follow the latest progress of localizing the electric car industry in Egypt.

Sisi had seen some models of made-in-Egypt electric cars, according to the presidency statement.

"Achieving local production of electric vehicles is part of the country's national transition strategy toward a green economy, given its positive impacts on the country and the people on the economic, health, and environmental levels," the statement said.

Ayman Mohamed, the founder of Electrified, an online platform to promote electric cars in Egypt, sees that electric vehicles "will generate economic, technological, developmental and environmental benefits for Egypt."

Guests have a ride in an electric bus delivered by Foton Motor in Salam City, east of Cairo, capital of Egypt, on Oct. 29, 2019. (Xinhua/Ahmed Gomaa)

Egypt is one of the few countries in the Middle East interested in this cutting-edge industry, Mohamed told Xinhua, adding the emerging industry will open new markets for Egypt in the region.

He explained that Egypt now has a large surplus in the output of electricity that can be directed for charging electric vehicles, noting that "the government has a strong tendency to produce electric passenger cars and buses, and to provide auto parts and maintenance centers."

Mohamad expected in the next three years, a sharp rise in electric cars will be seen in Egypt since the government aims to set up a network of 3,000 electrical-charging stations in the near future.

He stressed that the expansion in the production of electric cars will have significant economic benefits and reduce the state's huge expenditures for importing fossil fuels and subsidizing its prices for citizens.

People visit the Go Green Exhibition in Cairo, Egypt, on Jan. 5, 2021. (Xinhua/Ahmed Gomaa)

Minister of Public Business Sector Hisham Tawfiq on Thursday met with the shareholders of electrical-charging station companies to discuss establishing a firm, in a bid to administer and establish electrical-charging stations in cities and along the roads in Cairo, Giza, and Alexandria provinces and Sharm El-Sheikh city that will host the 27th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP 27) in November 2022.



Waleed Gaballah, professor of financial and economic jurisdictions at Cairo University said that Egypt has diversified strategies to reduce emissions and implement measures to improve the environment and achieve sustainable development.

"Transition to a green economy will play a great role in luring foreign investments and increasing exports," he added. 
BEIRUT, March 4 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) on Friday launched a project aimed at promoting low-emission and environmentally sound transport systems in Lebanon, the National News Agency (NNA) reported.

Dubbed "Lebanon Sustainable Low-emission transport systems," the project is funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF), in cooperation with Lebanon's ministries, NNA said.

The UNDP inaugurated its project from the city of Byblos, which was chosen because of the efforts made by its municipality to preserve the environment, by launching the "Solar Powered-Electric Public Bus" project, through which a solar energy system will be installed in the municipality building, which will be used to charge the bus designated for shared transportation in the city.

Lebanon suffers from severe air pollution mainly caused by the transport sector in the country. 
The hacker group that recently broke into systems belonging to graphics chip maker Nvidia has released two of the company's old code-signing certificates. Researchers warn the drivers could be used to sign kernel-level malware and load it on systems that have driver signature verification.

The certificates were part of a large cache of files that hackers claim totals 1TB and includes source code and API documentation for GPU drivers. Nvidia confirmed it was the target of an intrusion and that the hackers took "employee passwords and some Nvidia proprietary information," but did not confirm the size of the data breach.

What happened with the Nvidia data breach?

On February 24 an extortion group calling itself LAPSUS$ claimed publicly that it had administrative access to multiple Nvidia systems for around a week and managed to exfiltrate 1TB of data including hardware schematics, driver source code, firmware, documentation, private tools and SDKs, and "everything about Falcon" -- a hardware security technology embedded in Nvidia GPUs that's meant to prevent those GPUs from being misprogrammed.

While Nvidia hasn't released details about what was stolen beyond confirming a cyberattack resulting in breached data, LAPSUS$ followed up with the release of 20GB of data from the alleged cache as proof. The group also said it has information on Nvidia LHR (Lite Hash Rate), a technology that the company introduced on its RTX 30-series GPUs to allow them to detect when they're being used for mining Ethereum cryptocurrency and lower their performance. The goal of this technology was to make high-performance Nvidia GPUs less appealing to cryptocurrency miners after these GPUs became almost impossible to obtain for regular gamers due to constant stock shortages.

To prove that they have the information, LAPSUS$ even released a tool the group claims allows users to bypass the LHR limitation without reflashing the GPU firmware. Then the group changed their demands and asked the company to completely open source their GPU drivers on all systems, including Linux where the lack of an open-source Nvidia driver has been a contentious point for many years in the community and is seen as one of the reasons why game development studios have not embraced Linux as a platform.

Why are code-signing certificates important?

Code-signing certificates are certificates that chain back to Microsoft certificates including in Windows. Running applications that are not signed is possible on Windows, but they trigger more visible security alerts than running applications signed by a trusted developer.

More importantly, by default, Windows does not allow the installation of a driver that is not digitally signed with a trusted certificate. This digital signature enforcement for drivers is an important security feature because, unlike regular user mode applications, drivers run with kernel privileges, so they have access to the most privileged areas of the operating system and could disable security products. Before this security feature was introduced, rootkits (root-level malware) were a common occurrence on Windows.

File digital signatures are also being used by application whitelisting solutions to restrict which applications can be executed on systems, and to some extent by antivirus programs, even though the presence of a digital signature alone should not serve as sole indication of whether a file is clean or malicious. Code-signing certificates have been stolen from developers before and hackers can even buy them through different channels.

The problem is that certificate revocations or expirations are not checked or enforced by all Windows security mechanisms, including the one that checks if loaded drivers are signed, as explained in this DEF CON talk on Windows rootkits by Zoom security researcher Bill Demirkapi. A restriction was introduced on Windows 10 build 1607 and higher with Secure Boot enabled where drivers need to be signed with EV (extended validation) certificates. EV certificates require extensive identity verification of the person or entity who requests the certificate and are therefore harder to obtain and more expensive.

The Nvidia code-signing certificates released by LAPSUS$ are expired since 2014 and 2018, respectively, and are not EV, but they can still be used to sign malicious code that will be loaded into the kernel on older Windows systems. They can also be used to attempt to evade detection by some security products.

Researcher Florian Roth has already found two hack tool samples signed with one of the certificates on VirusTotal: A copy of the Mimikatz password dumping tool and a copy of the Kernel Driver Utility (KDU) which can be used for process hijacking. Researcher Mehmet Ergene found even more malicious files signed with the certificate, including a remote access trojan (RAT) for Discord. More malware that abuses the Nvidia certificates for legitimacy is expected to appear.

Roth and Ergene have released a YARA rule and a query for Microsoft Defender for Endpoint (MDE) that can be used by security teams to search for files signed with these certificates in their environments. Microsoft also offers a Windows Defender Application Control policy to block malicious drivers that can be customized to add new ones, and an attack surface reduction (ASR) rule from Microsoft Defender for Endpoint.
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Normal life still seemed possible on Tuesday, March 10, 2020 as Antonio Tony Guerrera headed into the main Wethersfield headquarters of the state Department of Motor Vehicles, where he had been deputy commissioner for just over a year.

Guerrera was tired and feeling flush with a slight headache but he thought little of it. There was work to be done. That was the day Gov. Ned Lamont declared a state of emergency for coronavirus and the team at DMV, like at all state agencies, needed to sort out what that might mean.

The state still had no deaths and scant few cases. Experts, including at Yale, were saying healthy people didnt need to wear masks.

On that Wednesday morning, Guerrera, who had just turned 57, had a full-blown headache but as a well known workhorse of state government, he didnt stay home. The coronavirus occupied more time in meetings. Guerrera, by early afternoon, felt the onset of a fever and pain in his sinuses along with a worsening headache.

It just felt weird...I finally said, Guys, I gotta leave, Guerrera recalled Thursday.

He returned home to Rocky Hill, the town he represented in the states General Assembly for 18 years starting in 2001, and headed to a walk-in clinic. They said, It could be the flu, go home, well give you some antibiotics, he recalled, as they figured he might have a sinus infection.

The antibiotics didnt work.

The fever lasted a full two weeks for Guerrera and his wife, who had the same illness at the same time. It would spike at night, then ease a bit in the daytime. He had hallucinations, he lost his senses of smell and taste and  scariest of all for a guy who jogs and works out on the Peloton  his shortness of breath was so severe he could barely walk around the house.

Sickness, tragedy and work

Most of Guerreras family came down with the illness including two of the Guerreras three children. They lost a close family member who was most likely the first person at Hartford Hospital to pass away with COVID-19, on March 22.

Those weeks beginning two years ago changed the world forever, a moment when time stood still that now stands as a touchstone of our lives  all the more for the affable Tony Guerrera. He grew up nearby in the South End of Hartford and later became Rocky Hill mayor, a self-employed builder and remodeler and a state Representative for 18 years.

As the pandemic started, he faced a hellish sickness and family tragedy  all while playing a key role in the operations of one of the highest profile agencies in public life.

We had some great people that really rose to the occasion, Guerrera told me. We would have calls every night, every morning, every afternoon....I dont now how we did it. You do what you do.

That daytime respite from the fever allowed Guerrera to work from home every single day  including on daily calls with 100 or so top people in state government. By the following Monday, March 16, the DMV and other agencies shut their doors, one day before the states first coronavirus fatality.

State officials gathered at the emergency operations center in the Hartford Armory every day, some in-person, some, including Guerrera, by phone and video.

Although we were closed to the public, we had to have our operations still functioning, Guerrera recalled. We had a ton of stuff that we had to go over and implement, like drop boxes at all our DMV locations.

And licenses for truck drivers, already in short supply heading into the early spring, suddenly needed more than ever to deliver goods to a homebound nation. Guerrera credits the agents who had to give road tests in person.

Every 10 seconds...a cough

On that Wednesday, March 11, even with the odd set of symptoms, Guerrera didnt believe it was COVID-19. The illness had not yet hit central Connecticut, or so he thought.

That Wednesday was, as NPR later dubbed it, the day everything changed. The World Health Organization declared a pandemic. Dr. Anthony Fauci, the federal governments chief of infectious diseases, told Congress, Bottom line...its going to get worse.

The National Basketball Association canceled its schedule in mid-games as players tested positive that evening. Tom Hanks announced that he and his wife had the coronavirus illness.

And from the White House that night, President Donald Trump halted flights from Europe for 30 days.

After three days of fever, Guerrera realized he had COVID-19. There were no tests, thats what was weird.

He told DMV Commissioner Sibongile Bongi Magubane and Paul Mounds, Lamonts chief of staff, the person at the fulcrum of the state coordination efforts, that he might have the deadly virus.

Mounds, who had just turned 35 and had just been named chief of staff at the start of March, was close to Guerrera from their days when Guerrera was House chairman of the legislatures transportation committee and Mounds was policy and legislative director for former Gov. Dannel P. Malloy.

I remember one call, every 10 seconds or so there was a cough, Mounds said Friday. My calls were basically to check on him as a friend and he would want to focus on work things.

For so many, it was becoming impossible to separate the public health emergency from personal grief. Mounds, too, would suffer personal tragedy with the death of his grandmother, of COVID-19, in early May. She was in a Hartford nursing home in March, before the scourge hit long-term care facilities.

Few people beyond Mounds, Lamont, Magubane and some public health officials knew Guerrera was sick.

I was worried. I was freaked out for my friend and his family and I would constantly tell him, I need you to focus on your health. We have a full team, Mounds recalled saying.

Guerrera was finally able to schedule a test for himself and his wife, outside Hartford Hospital on Saturday, March 14. By then much of the nation was shutting down  the NCAA Final Four was canceled  although Lamont has still not issued his stay-at-home orders.

You gotta push through

On Sunday night, March 15, maybe early Monday morning, Guerrera got the call from the hospital. Ill never forget it when they told me I was positive. I was stunned, he said. What happens now? Nobody knew.

His wifes result came in the following day. State and local public health officials called every day. We were kind of like the first ones. Okay, tell us, whats your fever like today? What are your symptoms?

Friends and family members brought food. At home, Guerrera and his wife and son stayed isolated from one another, adding to the weirdness.

The worst part of this was going to bed. I did not want to go to bed. I would wake up four times soaking wet, he recalled. There were a few nights when the breathing was very difficult. The headaches were unbelievable.

Head to the hospital? There was a point where they wanted me to go there and I said to myself, If I go Ill never come out...Im going to try to tough it out. Who knows if I would have came out of there.

And there was work to be done  a lot of it. The DMV went remote and used the time to outfit the buildings with hard plastic shields, setting up the appointment system for customers thats still in force today. We didnt stop. We didnt miss a beat.

Guerrera credits the department and Lamont himself and the administration. I grew up that we gotta push through, he said. When things get down and out, thats when the best of us come together and do what we have to do to make things work....And thats what the DMV did.

It really was a weird time but a time where we just bonded together to do what we had to do, to make things work....It was an honor to be part of that, it really was.

The fever finally broke after a couple of weeks. But it would be months, until Memorial Day or even later, before Guerrera got his old energy back consistently.

Looking back two years, the experience changed Guerrera  and Mounds too, among so many of us.

Its easy to say Well, okay, were looking out for the health and well being of more than 3 million people, but when its a person close to you, Mounds said, it puts a different face on the matter.

I tend to look at things a little different now, I do, said Guerrera, whos still deputy commissioner. Life can be cut out from you at any moment....I will always go 100 miles an hour, the way I am. But I think youve got to sit down sometimes and just reflect.

I was one of the lucky ones, he said, and speaking of people who fared worse, I understand what they went through. And unless youve gone through it, you really dont know.

dhaar@hearstmediact.com
As the world watches an authoritarian dictator at work in Ukraine, it cannot be lost on Americans how close we came to replacing democracy with authoritarian rule on Jan. 6, and that there is only one antidote to the rule of oligarchs and dictators  voting rights.

Vladmir Putin was elected in the 2018 presidential election with 77 percent of the vote. The only real opponent to Putin was Alexei Navalny, who was declared ineligible because Putins goons had arrested him, making him ineligible to run. On the surface, the Russian presidential election looked legitimate with over 67 percent of eligible voters reportedly casting ballots. This was about the same percentage, 66.8 percent, that voted in the United States 2020 presidential election.

Scratch just a little bit and you see that these were two very different elections. But if Republicans in several states across the country get their way, our future elections will resemble Russian sham elections and sham results.

Voting rights are being restricted under the guise of voting security. Republicans across the country, without any significant evidence other than that showing Republican operatives attempting to illegally vote, are pushing measures that are making voting more difficult, particularly for the poor, Black, brown and young voters. Texas held its primary under these new restrictions, and there have been numerous reports of voters being turned away at polling booths and their votes by mail rejected. These actions are being taken against many voters who have successfully voted in multiple previous elections. The question is, why are these restrictions on voting rights being pursued, particularly when there is no evidence of widespread voting illegality?

Jan. 6 provides the answer to this question. The insurrectionists stormed the Capitol because they did not like the results of a free and fair election. These storm troopers for Trump represented the antithesis to what it means to be ruled by law.

It is hard to imagine a more Putin-like act than what took place on Jan. 6. It was not just the rioters; we should not forget that 139 representatives and eight senators objected to the certification of the election, after the mob violence on Jan. 6. All 147 of these elected officials were Republicans. Even more recently the Republican National Committee proclaimed Jan. 6 legitimate political discourse. And just last week, former President Trump called Putin a genius for his invasion of Ukraine.

In Russia, Jan. 6 might not ever happen because there will never be a close election under a dictator  Putin won with 77 percent of the vote. In Russia, the ballots for the opposition are simply not counted. In America, we are headed to a situation where Republican secretaries of state and state legislatures are being authorized to overturn elections that do not return the results desired by party bosses. Putin has provided the model for Republican election engineering so that the tawdry display of loyalists in the Capitol will not be necessary to upend the results of an election. These crimes can be committed legally by elected officials in public places in plain sight  just like Putin does in Russia.

And just like Putin, if Republicans get their way, their elections will be viewed by Americans and those outside of America as illegitimate. Maybe, the Ukrainian crisis will restore in Republicans the meaning and power of democracy, and why their party must permanently expel from their ranks the racists, the fascists, the misogynists, and the mob. I hope I am right.

Republicans, like Democrats, are not a monolithic group. I doubt that Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker, Wyoming Rep. Liz Cheney, or post-COVID ICU Chris Christie are supporters of voting rights restrictions, but unfortunately, the large and dominant Trump/McConnell wing of the party is fully behind the anti-democratic actions in states across America.

The solution to the problem of Putin is democracy. The fundamental necessity of democracy is voting rights. Putin could not have existed this long in a democracy.

This is the danger America must heed. Once power is stolen from a democratic population, autocrats dont just peacefully leave. They hold on to power for life. Xi Jinping of China in 2018 abolished presidential term limits. He, like Erdogan in Turkey, Orban in Hungry, and Kim Jong-un in North Korea have decided that they are the best and only ones to rule their countries for the rest of their lives. These regimes thrive where voters have no rights. There is no God-given right for America to escape the fate of these countries and their unfortunate citizens.

It is ironic that America and the Western world are supporting the Ukrainian people in their fight for democracy over autocracy while not also coming to the defense of U.S. citizens fighting for their voting rights. We should wholeheartly support the Ukrainian people in their fight against Putin, but we should not lose sight of the danger we are facing in this country.

During the Second World War, when Europe last faced this type of blatant aggression, Black troops went and fought to save democracy with the hope that when that war was over, those rights would be come to them. Black Americans had to wait at least two decades for those voting rights. I know it is not a convenient time to talk about voting rights here in the United States, but without the guaranteeing of those rights, too many Americans will not be represented in a gerrymandered Congress, in state houses, and in other places of power. It is time to pass voting rights legislation ensuring maximum voter participation. Without this, we could soon have our own Putin.

Fred McKinney is the co-founder of BJM Solutions, an economic consulting firm that conducts public and private research since 1999, and is the emeritus director of the Peoples Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship at Quinnipiac University.
BEIJING, March 5 (Xinhua) -- China will advance the peaceful growth of relations across the Taiwan Strait and the reunification of China, and firmly opposes any separatist activities seeking "Taiwan independence" and foreign interference, according to a government work report submitted Saturday to the national legislature for deliberation. 
VERNON  Jury selection has begun in the case of a Connecticut man accused of killing his wife after the womans Fitbit data contradicted his claims that an intruder was responsible for the 2015 homicide.

Police said Richard Dabate initially told investigators his wife was shot and killed by a masked intruder in their Ellington home. But a key piece of evidence in the prosecutions case against the 45-year-old emerged when Connecticut State Police said they obtained the data from a Fitbit fitness tracker used by his wife, Connie Dabate.

The data shows Connie Dabate was moving around after the time when her husband told investigators the intruder assaulted him and killed his wife, according to the arrest warrant.

Richard Dabate is free on $1 million bond after pleading not guilty to murder, tampering with physical evidence and making a false statement in the case, according to court records.

The case, which drew national attention, is now moving forward to trial six years after police were initially called to the familys Birchview Drive home on the morning of Dec. 23, 2015.

A tentative date of April 5 has been set for the trial to begin, according to the clerks office in state Superior Court in Vernon.

According to his arrest warrant, Richard Dabate admitted to having an affair with a woman who was pregnant with his child. He initially claimed to investigators that his wife was unable to have another baby, so the couple did untraditional things to have a child with a friend who was single, and they planned to co-parent together, the warrant stated.

But Richard Dabate, who had two children with his wife, later changed his story, according to the warrant, telling investigators the pregnancy was unexpected.

Messages between the woman involved in the affair and her friends who were interviewed by investigators showed Dabate told her he intended to divorce his wife, according to the warrant. Dabate and the woman also went on a trip together to Vermont shortly before Connie Dabate was killed, according to the warrant.

The woman also told friends Dabates wife would eviscerate him in court if she found out about their relationship, according to the warrant. Police said this further undermined Richard Dabates initial story that his wife knew about the pregnancy, the warrant stated.

After Dabates arrest in 2017, prosecutors said they uncovered evidence that he had been involved in a second affair prior to his wifes killing, the Hartford Courant reported.

Dabates attorney, Trent LaLima, argued against allowing evidence of the affairs to be presented at trial, saying they were just an attempt to dirty up Mr. Dabates reputation.

LaLimas office on Friday declined to comment further on the case because jury selection had begun.

Richard Dabate hit a panic alarm inside the home and called 911, moaning and pleading for help, the morning of the killing, the warrant stated.

The first responder at the scene entered the home after seeing a haze of smoke, and found Richard Dabate lying on the floor bound to a folding chair that was tangled on top of him, according to the warrant.

Dabate told police his wife had come home after he had been tied up by an intruder, and the man shot his wife after he yelled for her to run, according to the warrant.

Dabate claimed the man burned him with a blowtorch and stabbed him with a box cutter, the warrant stated. Dabate told investigators he burned the intruder with the torch, and was able to get away and hit a panic button for the alarm on his keys and call 911, according to the warrant.

But a timeline of events later compiled by police revealed Connie Dabates Fitbit showed her moving after the time when the intruder was supposed to have shot her in front of her husband, according to the warrant.
Erik Trautmann/Hearst Connecticut Media

On Nov. 13, the Connecticut Department of Transportation announced a new contest that allowed state residents to name four of its snowplows. The results are in.

Gov. Ned Lamont announced the results on Twitter Friday. Coming in at No. 4, is Plowzilla as in Godzilla, he said; No. 3 is Buzz Iceclear like Buzz Lightyear; at No. 2, Husky McSalty, referencing the UConn Huskies. And the No. 1 winner is Scoop Dogg as in rapper Snoop Dogg.
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BEIJING, March 5 (Xinhua) -- China will establish a fund for ensuring financial stability and defuse risks and potential dangers in market- and law-based ways, according to a government work report submitted Saturday to the national legislature for deliberation. 
DERBY  City officials questioned the accuracy of the 2022-23 budget proposal Tuesday at the Board of Apportionment and Taxation meeting after several people reported finding errors.

Democratic Registrar of Voters Louise Pitney said she found an error related to election funds.

Im sorry, but I just found errors on here, she said.

She pointed out that the budget listed $15,000 spent on a referendum, but she said that was not an item she had submitted.

Jennifer Desroches, a member of the board said the revenue portion of the proposed budget showed the city received money from a distressed municipalities grant. The document shows that the city received more than $1 million, which she said it never received.

I looked over at it. So that was adopted in 2022. And it shouldnt be an actual because we never got it, right? Desroches said.

Attendees also had questions about the nature of the budget process from how it was created to the involvement of the citys boards.

Board member Roberto Santos said the board did not get budget information for various city departments. The board should have received that information in early February, he said.

Why didnt we, as a board, get the information? Santos said.

Administration officials pushed back by saying the budget isnt final and was still being reviewed.

Mayor Rich Dziekan said the city was giving out the information Santos was seeking at the meeting.

Dziekan also assured the board that the mill rate, would not increase despite the expenditures rising about 2 percent next year, from $47 million to $48 million.

First and foremost, I am happy to inform you that my budget keeps the mill rate at 38.6 while moving the city forward in many areas, Dziekan said.

Walt Mayhew, the chief of staff, reminded board members that the budget proposal was not in its final form.

We can definitely take a look at it. Just email me what you think the problem is, he said. This budget is not adopted tonight. This budget is available to be changed before its adopted. It wont be adopted in for ... it could be as long as eight weeks depending upon how long you want to take.

The budget process does not need to be complete until late April, Mayhew said.
Funeral Service for Brenda Joyce Wright, 71, of Cullman, will be 3 p.m. Friday, May 6, 2022 at Northbrook Baptist Church. A viewing will be on Friday from 2-3 p.m. prior to the service. The visitation will be 5:30 - 8 p.m. Thursday night, May 5, 2022 at Cullman Funeral Home. Rev. Keith Warde
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ADEN, Yemen, March 5 (Xinhua) -- Two workers of the international medical charity Doctors Without Borders (Medecins Sans Frontieres/MSF) were kidnapped by gunmen in Yemen's southeastern province of Hadramout on Saturday, a security official told Xinhua.

The aid workers, nationals of Germany and Mexico, were intercepted when travelling in the western part of Hadramout, the local security source said on condition of anonymity.

"The unidentified gunmen set up an armed ambush and kidnapped two MSF's aid workers, driving them to unknown whereabouts," the local source said.

Last month, Russell Geekie, senior communications advisor to the UN resident and humanitarian coordinator for Yemen, confirmed that five UN staff members were kidnapped in Abyan Province "after having completed a field mission."

The UN staff members are still held by unknown gunmen as a mediation conducted by local tribal figures failed to get them released despite a series of negotiation rounds with an armed group responsible for the kidnapping incident. 
KATHMANDU, March 4 (Xinhua) -- Local authorities in Nepal's Kathmandu Valley on Friday decided to lift all COVID-19-related restrictions starting from Saturday as new infections have fallen sharply in recent days.

"All the restrictive orders issued in the past have been removed to enable normal political, economic, social, educational and commercial activities due to the decreasing rate of coronavirus infections," read notices issued by the Kathmandu, Lalitpur and Bhaktapur districts in the valley.

A total of 126 new cases, 111 confirmed through PCR tests and 15 through antigen tests, were reported across the country in the past 24 hours, according to the Ministry of Health and Population.

The South Asian country logged a record 12,338 cases on Jan. 20 at the height of the third wave of infections, mainly caused by the Omicron variant of the coronavirus.

"As the number of COVID-19 cases has declined sharply in recent days and the number of vaccinated people increased, we decided to lift all the restrictions imposed on political, economic and social activities on condition that people follow the health protocols," Ghanashyam Upadhyay, chief district officer of Lalitpur, told Xinhua.

As of Friday, 74.1 percent of Nepal's total population have received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccines, while 60.6 percent have been fully vaccinated, according to the Health Ministry.

Schools and colleges were allowed to reopen on Feb. 13 in the Kathmandu Valley, but mass political and cultural events are still banned, among others.

The lift of all restrictions paves the way for political parties to mobilize support in the local election slated for May 13. 
Memphis, TN (38152)

Today

Cloudy skies this morning followed by thunderstorms during the afternoon. A few storms may be severe. High 83F. Winds S at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 90%..

Tonight

Thunderstorms likely. A few storms may be severe. Low 61F. Winds SSW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 90%.
Barbara Faye Boyles, 75, of Raceland, Kentucky passed away Tuesday, May 3, 2022, at her residence. Barbara was born August 1, 1946, in Load, Kentucky a daughter of the late Homer and Gladys Johnson Boyles. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by one nephew Robert Boyles. Bar
Net Zero is net stupid. By taking Britain down its ruinous path, the political class in Westminster has made a decision on behalf of the rest of us without any public debate being held, saddling taxpayers with a debt that few politicians are brave enough to quantify publicly and even fewer economists are clever enough to forecast accurately.

It is a scandal of epic proportions and it must be challenged. That is why we are launching a campaign today for a referendum on the Net Zero delusion, under the banner of Britain Means Business.

The origins of the Net Zero delusion can be found in the dying days of Theresa Mays time in Downing Street in June 2019.

Desperately in search of a prime ministerial legacy, Mrs May pushed for an amendment to the Climate Change Act which would enshrine in law a commitment for Britain to reach Net Zero carbon emissions by 2050, making the UK the first G7 economy to advocate this.

Even though many knew it was ill-thought-through, it has become an article of faith among most MPs, with the mainstream media following obediently behind NIGEL FARAGE writes

Even though many privately knew it was an ill-thought-through aim, it has since become an article of faith among most MPs, with the mainstream media following obediently behind. The same high-minded principles that pertained to Britains membership of the EU apply to Net Zero.

What will Net Zero cost? Former Chancellor Philip Hammond is one prominent player who has been prepared to put a number on this crazy scheme. He has said it could hit 1 trillion.

For this reason alone the time has come for a public debate and plebiscite on this act of appalling self-harm.

If we are not careful, the only zero will be the amount in peoples bank accounts as we send our jobs and money overseas.

Aside from the cost, the conflict in Ukraine is the sharpest reminder of how little consideration has gone into the Net Zero policy.

Consider this. There are vast reserves of shale gas in Lancashire and Yorkshire, yet, even with the world in such a fragile state, the Government prefers to import natural gas instead. Indeed, there are two shipments from Russia docking at a Kent Port this weekend. Yet importing gas in tankers creates substantially more CO2.

The origins of the Net Zero delusion can be found in the dying days of Theresa Mays time in Downing Street NIGEL FARAGE claims

Woodhouse Colliery will be situated on the former Marchon Industrial site near Whitehaven

It is far more environmentally friendly to use our own shale gas. This shale treasure under our feet is owned by us all, with a value of trillions of pounds. We can slash our energy bills and create a sovereign wealth fund for future generations. Not using our shale gas amounts to gross negligence. Lets be a world leader in the new technologies in order to extract it.

The same applies to coking coal, on which the steel industry relies.

Britains last deep coal mine closed in 2015, yet for as long as our steel industry survives, coal is needed. Guess how we get it? Britain buys in millions of tons of coal each year that is mined overseas.

It is for this reason that it seems crazy not to open the proposed (but so far not commissioned) Woodhouse Colliery in Cumbria. It would provide what is needed.

Under the Net Zero delusion, this will never happen.

Much the same can be said for our offshore oil industry. Recent major North Sea projects such as the undeveloped Cambo oil field have been shelved, so hostile are London and Edinburgh to the existence of this energy resource.

The Net Zero crowd are happy to outsource our energy production as they seek to turn Britain into the Saudi Arabia of wind, in Boris Johnsons words. Yet it is clear that those espousing these ideas appear not to have given serious thought to where they are taking us. The more we rely on wind energy, the more gas we need to use when the wind doesnt blow.

If we carry on, we will end up like Germany: entirely dependent on other regimes to keep the lights on.

It is far more environmentally friendly to use our own shale gas NIGEL FARAGE writes

By using shale gas, we can slash our energy bills and create a sovereign wealth fund for future generations he says

The Britain Means Business campaign recognises that as energy bills rocket to 2,000 per household, and possibly beyond, we are exposed. Warnings are mounting about supply concerns the UK must become energy self-sufficient.

Not only is this achievable with Britains own resources, it will provide tens of thousands of well-paid jobs in the North of England. That really would be levelling up.

Our campaign slogan is Vote power, not poverty, and we believe that many millions of people will rally to this cry.

The impact of expensive energy is not just felt on household bills.

For years, our manufacturers, refiners, chemical producers and heavy engineers have been punished too. Without any debate, our energy bills have been loaded with green subsidies. Our businesses have been disadvantaged, yet our leaders seem happy to outsource industrial production just as long as they can say it reduces Britains CO2 emissions.

Of course, the upshot of their insistence in being seen to be green is that goods  such as steel  are produced in countries like India, where lower environmental standards are accepted. These goods are then shipped back to the UK. This may keep the privileged rich happy. It may also keep Downing Street happy. But the perverse irony is that, ultimately, it leads to higher global CO2 levels.

We will campaign for the five per cent VAT on energy bills to be removed. Green subsidies are shovelled straight into the bank accounts of rich landowners, wealthy investors and foreign-owned conglomerates who own much of the renewable energy sector. This is sheer madness. It is also morally indefensible, as it costs jobs and makes ordinary people poorer. Removing the VAT penalty was a fundamental Brexit promise and its continuance is outrageous at a time when energy bills are soaring.

The Britain Means Business campaign recognises that as energy bills rocket to 2,000 per household, and possibly beyond, we are exposed NIGEL FARAGE claims

The Governments ludicrous green energy plans have been exposed in recent days by the House of Commons Public Accounts Committee as uncosted. This is a truth that Net Zero fanatics would rather keep quiet. They are hell-bent on changing the way we live, forcing motorists to drive electric cars and buy heat pumps.

Yet the fact is, many  perhaps most  people cannot afford these products. They represent an idealistic dream that bears no relation to the hard realities of life for the majority.

And since Britain produces just one per cent of global CO2, while China builds scores of coal power stations every year, why on earth are British taxpayers being penalised in this way? Only a public debate can settle this question.

During the past decade, the people forced the political class to allow us a Brexit vote. The same needs to happen again in relation to Net Zero. Citizens of a free country deserve a free choice.

Britain Means Business will hold its first public event in Bolton on Saturday, March 26. Other events in other parts of the country will follow.

This is a cross-party campaign. It will have considerable support from business.

To truly succeed, though, we will need to hear from the public. We intend to provide people with the means to make their voices heard in this most vital debate.

Be in no doubt, this argument matters to every man, woman and child in Britain. It is not fair that under Net Zero the elderly will die colder, poorer and sooner.

It is not fair that the young will be burdened with higher costs, fewer jobs and less money.

Common sense must be allowed to prevail.
Mail on Sunday readers will have been horrified by the images emerging from Ukraine.

A paramedic striving in vain to revive a six-year-old girl injured during shelling. Women and children crossing the Polish border by foot, leaving their lives behind them.

Vladimir Putin is using every weapon at his disposal to diminish democracy.

In our defence of freedom and self-determination, we must use every tool available to stand up to Russian aggression.

Vladimir Putin is using every weapon at his disposal to diminish democracy, writes Kwasi Kwarteng

The UK Government has imposed crippling sanctions designed to devastate Russia's economy and Putin's inner circle. And the West's punitive measures are visibly starting to bite, with the Russian economy heading for the rocks.

But there is one more step the West can take to hit Putin where it hurts: Russia's wealth of natural resources.

For too long, Europe's dependence on Russian gas has left the Continent vulnerable to blackmail and allowed Putin to pull strings. Russia is effectively weaponising its dominance over the European gas supply for political ends.

Fortunately, the UK is in no way dependent on Russian gas. But in light of the atrocities Putin has ordered, it is plain that even that tiny fraction  four per cent  is too much.

Fortunately, the UK is in no way dependent on Russian gas. But in light of the atrocities Putin has ordered, it is plain that even that tiny fraction  four per cent  is too much

That is why the Government is urgently reviewing what can be done to drive this down even further, while maintaining our strong security of supply.

That said, like the rest of Europe, we are vulnerable to rising gas prices set by international markets.

After all, Russia is the world's largest exporter of pipeline gas. Anything the Kremlin says or does can drive up the price of gas.

Every decision Russia takes  from limiting gas exports to starting a war  sends the global market into a frenzy, and we all pay for it.

For as long as we depend on oil and gas  wherever it is from  we are all vulnerable to Putin's malign influence on global markets.

The good news is, Russia can't directly manipulate the price of renewable energy and nuclear power in the UK.

And with gas prices at record highs, and the price of renewable energy plummeting, we need to accelerate our transition away from expensive gas.

Now, more than ever, we must focus on generating cheaper, cleaner power in Britain, for Britain.

This is how we become energy independent in the long term.

That is why we are cracking on with annual renewable energy auctions to generate more offshore wind, solar and, importantly, tidal power to exploit our island nation status.

Mail on Sunday readers will have been horrified by the images emerging from Ukraine

We are also reversing 30 years of drift on nuclear power. We are opening the first new power station in a generation, giving more cash for future projects such as Sizewell C, and using the Nuclear Financing Bill to unblock financial obstacles.

In the longer term we also need to look at hydrogen  the new super fuel  to combat Russian gas.

Last year, we set out our plan to kick-start an entire British low-carbon hydrogen industry from scratch by the end of the decade.

With the global low-carbon hydrogen economy set to be worth 530 billion by 2050, this booming market is ours for the taking.

Importantly, these clean technologies will also give our industrial heartlands new leases of life, with millions of new, skilled jobs for British workers, while also cutting energy bills.

Switching to cheap, domestically generated power is a win-win for everyone  apart from Putin, who wants to sustain Europe's dependence on Russia's gas.

That's why we must also urge our friends on the Continent to wean themselves off Russia's supply by pursuing alternative gas suppliers and building up their own domestic clean energy systems.

The Daily Mail, Mail On Sunday and MailOnline UKRAINE REFUGEE APPEAL Readers of Mail Newspapers and MailOnline have always shown immense generosity at times of crisis. Calling upon that human spirit, we are now launching an appeal to raise money for refugees from Ukraine. For, surely, no one can fail to be moved by the heartbreaking images and stories of families  mostly women, children, the infirm and elderly  fleeing from Russia's invading armed forces. As this tally of misery increases over the coming days and months, these innocent victims of a tyrant will require accommodation, schools and medical support. All donations to the Mail Ukraine Appeal will be distributed to charities and aid organisations providing such essential services. In the name of charity and compassion, we urge all our readers to give swiftly and generously. TO MAKE A DONATION ONLINE Donate at www.mailforcecharity.co.uk/donate To add Gift Aid to a donation  even one already made  complete an online form found here: mymail.co.uk/ukraine Via bank transfer, please use these details: Account name: Mail Force Charity Account number: 48867365 Sort code: 60-00-01 TO MAKE A DONATION VIA CHEQUE Make your cheque payable to 'Mail Force' and post it to: Mail Newspapers Ukraine Appeal, GFM, 42 Phoenix Court, Hawkins Road, Colchester, Essex CO2 8JY TO MAKE A DONATION FROM THE US US readers can donate to the appeal via a bank transfer to Associated Newspapers or by sending checks to dailymail.com HQ at 51 Astor Place (9th floor), New York, NY 10003 Advertisement

Europe's reliance on Russia's gas supply has been an Achilles heel in the West's sanctions regime.

For the sake of our security, we need to become more energy self-sufficient.

We have to invest further in the areas we already excel at  such as offshore wind  while vigorously pursuing the technologies of tomorrow, from hydrogen to small modular reactors.

We also need to back North Sea oil and gas while we transition to cheap, clean power.

It would be complete madness to turn off our domestic source of gas in such an uncertain world.

However, onshore fracking is very different.

Those calling for its return misunderstand the situation we find ourselves in.

First, the UK has no gas supply issues. And even if we lifted the fracking moratorium tomorrow, it would take up to a decade to extract sufficient volumes  and it would come at a high cost for communities and our precious countryside.

Second, no amount of shale gas from hundreds of wells dotted across rural England would be enough to lower the European price any time soon.

And with the best will in the world, private companies are not going to sell the shale gas they produce to UK consumers below the market price.

They are not charities, after all.

So given Russia is the dominant supplier of gas, and effectively controls the price  even the price of gas produced in the UK  we need to diversify our energy mix.

The most important priority for any government should be the safety and security of its people.

Leaving Britain continually exposed to a market that can be manipulated by Putin or anyone else would be a complete dereliction of duty.

In the UK, we will protect our citizens by ensuring we have a homegrown supply of clean energy, which means we are not dependent on a foreign country to keep our homes warm and lit.

Creating a homegrown energy system and ensuring we are not held hostage by energy prices set by international markets is not just a question of keeping cash in the UK, or tackling climate change.

It is a matter of national security.

Vladimir Putin wishes to plunge Ukraine into darkness, but he underestimates the strength of freedom's flame.

As the UK's Business and Energy Secretary, it is my personal mission to ensure Britain's clean energy independence so we can weaken Putin's malign grip and influence on the West.

Pictured: How to donate to the Mail Force Ukraine appeal
Ben Wallace had prepared. 'He saw this crisis coming months ago,' an ally of the Defence Secretary told me. 'He knew what was going to happen.'

While the Government has faced mounting criticism over a failure to align its bold rhetoric with effective policy  from the targeting of oligarchs to the provision of safe routes for refugees  Wallace has emerged as the Cabinet's Action Man.

Arms shipments of anti-tank missile systems to Ukraine began in January, with thousands of weapons sent.

British forces were dispatched to help train the Ukrainians in their use, training they have utilised to devastating effect against Putin's armour.

And the difficult  and dangerous  flow of lethal munitions and other aid has been maintained, despite threats from the dictator he would interdict them.

'Ben was already on first-name terms with defence ministers across Europe and across the Atlantic  it meant he was able to help mobilise support for Ukraine from the beginning,' a Minister explains.

'The fact he knows them all has made the negotiations faster and the discussions necessary between the Allied partners easier.'

Russia's invasion of the Ukraine is just over a week old. In the space of seven days, British politics has been turned on its head. A few weeks ago Boris looked beaten. Partygate had brought him to the brink. But as the storm clouds of war gathered, then broke, he seems galvanised. Pictured: Mr Johnson leaves No10 with Ambassador of Ukraine to the UK Vadym Prystaiko

Russia's invasion of the Ukraine is just over a week old. The full implications for European and global security are still impossible to calculate. But one thing is clear. In the space of seven days, British politics has been turned on its head.

Firstly, the balance of power at the top of Government has shifted dramatically. Within the unofficial 'War Cabinet' Boris has assembled to manage the crisis, Wallace has become the de facto Deputy Prime Minister. 'The Army boys are in charge now,' one Minister told me.

Not to everyone's delight. It's an open secret inside Government that tension is increasing between the Defence Secretary and Foreign Secretary Liz Truss.

On Monday, Wallace moved to shut down Truss's statement of support for British citizens travelling to Ukraine to fight  words that Russian officials had seized upon as justification for raising of the alert status of their nuclear forces.

Meanwhile, allies of Truss have pointed to what they say is increasingly bombastic rhetoric from the Defence Secretary, which they fear is making diplomacy harder. 'That stuff about Putin going "full Tonto" was very off,' I was told.

Firstly, the balance of power at the top of Government has shifted dramatically. Within the unofficial 'War Cabinet' Boris has assembled to manage the crisis, Wallace has become the de facto Deputy Prime Minister. 'The Army boys are in charge now,' one Minister told me

Not to everyone's delight. It's an open secret inside Government that tension is increasing between the Defence Secretary and Foreign Secretary Liz Truss (pictured together leaving Downing Street)

Meanwhile, Foreign Office sources say there is a growing sense of frustration that the Foreign Secretary is being sidelined as Boris exerts more direct control over co-ordinating diplomatic efforts.

'Officials are worried the Prime Minister takes more advice from Lord Lebedev [Evgeny Lebedev, the Russian-British Evening Standard owner] over how best to tackle Putin than he's currently taking from Liz,' one said to me.

A No 10 insider confirmed: 'Lebedev and Boris are close. They talk on WhatsApp a lot.'

But a senior Downing Street source responded: 'As far as I'm aware, Boris and Lebedev haven't spoken for several weeks. By contrast, he speaks to Liz several times a day.'

Another senior Minister who has had their world flipped upside down  again  is Chancellor Rishi Sunak.

On March 23 he's due to present the OBR's Spring Forecast, which is meant to outline the outlook for the economy and the public finances. But it's already redundant.

'This changes everything,' one senior Tory backbencher told me. 'Our entire defence posture and defence budget is going to have to be recast. Our Army is the smallest it's been since 1800. Estonia is set to have a bigger strike air force than us. That's not sustainable.'

'Boris has his mojo back,' an ally told me. 'Even his harshest backbench critics have been admitting he's got the tone absolutely right. He's looked like a wartime Prime Minister. He's been working hard behind the scenes with the other global leaders'

It's unsustainable both militarily and politically. Labour, which is desperate to find a way of drawing a line under the Nato-bashing of the Corbyn years, is about to drive defence to the top of the political agenda.

'The Government's currently looking at additional cuts of 10,000 military personnel by 2025,' a Shadow Minister explains, 'and we're going to fight it.

'They've been arguing that we need more sophisticated weapons, but our case will be that what we need is the capability to put boots on the ground. The Russians are showing you can't take and hold territory with robots and drones.'

Which leaves Sunak facing another fiscal nightmare.

Two years ago, Covid blew a hole in his grand economic strategy. Now Vladimir Putin has driven the 47th Guards Tank Division through its successor.

And the Chancellor knows that with the Treasury's credit card maxed out, every penny spent shoring up Europe's vulnerable eastern flank is a penny lost from levelling-up and tax cuts.

A number of MPs I spoke to last week think that Sunak's position is no longer salvageable. 'It's over for him,' one said. 'He's out of options. Covid and Putin have wrecked his budget. The cost of living crisis is about to hit. He's done.'

But the impact on British politics of Putin's barbarism goes much wider. Tory MPs are already demanding the axeing of the Government's cherished commitment to Net Zero as a way of breaking our dependency on Russian gas and oil.

'It's very difficult to see how Net Zero can survive contact with where we now are,' one senior Tory told me. 'We've got to start to develop our own gas supplies like it was a national war effort.'

Others point to the Prime Minister's ambition to lead a post-Brexit pivot away from Europe, and to begin to construct a new global alliance centred around Asia and Africa.

Another senior Minister who has had their world flipped upside down  again  is Chancellor Rishi Sunak. On March 23 he's due to present the OBR's Spring Forecast, which is meant to outline the outlook for the economy and the public finances. But it's already redundant

'This great shift to the Pacific is dead,' one grandee declared. 'You can't focus your attention 6,000 miles away when there are huge strategic issues confronting you 22 miles across the Channel. What's Boris going to do  leave it to Macron to deal with Putin?'

Probably not. Not least because despite the enormity of the crisis, the Prime Minister appears to be up for his confrontation with the Kremlin.

A few weeks ago Boris looked beaten. Partygate had brought him to the brink. But as the storm clouds of war gathered, then broke, he seems galvanised.

'Boris has his mojo back,' an ally told me. 'Even his harshest backbench critics have been admitting he's got the tone absolutely right. He's looked like a wartime Prime Minister. He's been working hard behind the scenes with the other global leaders.

'And he's reminded people that despite all the knocks, he's good in a crisis. He makes the right calls. And there haven't been many politicians who have had to face as many major crises as he has.'

Not all his opponents are inclined to be so magnanimous. 'We can't move while there's a war raging,' one told me, 'but we're not going away. We were within two names of getting the 54 letters when Christian Wakeford defected. And if the Met delivers a fine, then he's still going to face a challenge.'

The challenges the Prime Minister faces are indeed formidable, as his friends concede.

'The key for Boris now is to learn the lessons,' a senior lieutenant explained. 'He can't take his eye off the ball again. And that's not going to be easy. Yes, people expect him to stay focused on Ukraine. But there are other things they expect him to stay focused on as well. Levelling-up. Cost of living. He mustn't slacken off.'

This potential loss of focus is what troubles a number of his MPs. While most admit that Boris is having a good war, they wonder if he has the necessary discipline to navigate his way through a prolonged crisis.

And they are nervous they are again seeing a disconnect between the pledges he makes at the Despatch Box and what his Ministers actually deliver.

But they also acknowledge Putin's crazed aggression has changed everything. 'The kaleidoscope has been shaken, the pieces are in flux,' Tony Blair said in the aftermath of 9/11. So it is again.

This morning a new Prime Minister and a new Government are trying to guide their country through a dangerous new world.
Warning: This story contains images and information about infant loss that may be distressing for some

She was only a month away from celebrating her one year wedding anniversary in March 2019 when Meagan Donaldson discovered she was pregnant.

It would be the first baby on both sides of the family and was a very much wanted and not-so-subtly hoped for first grandchild that Meagan and her husband had spent seven months trying to bring to life.

'The day I took the pregnancy test, I already had a strong feeling I was pregnant. When we saw those two lines we were completely overjoyed,' the 32-year-old from Melbourne told FEMAIL.

'We couldn't believe we were finally going to be having a baby. We sat together in complete disbelief, hugging with tears in our eyes.'

That baby, a girl, was to be named Violet Grace.

She was only a month away from celebrating her one year wedding anniversary in March 2019 when Meagan Donaldson discovered she was pregnant (pictured with her husband)

But at their 12 week scan Meagan received the news that no expecting parent wants to hear: 'There are a couple of concerns with your baby.'

The next 10 weeks were a blur of meetings with fetal diagnostic specialists, geneticists and genetic counsellors, alongside every conceivable test they could take to check on Violet Grace's progress.

'Eventually an MRI confirmed the worst possible outcome. After meeting with multiple specialists, we were told her prognosis was poor. She may not survive to full term and, if she did, her quality of life would be non-existent with a short life span,' Meagan said.

'We then made the heartbreaking decision to say goodbye to our baby girl.'

One week later, Violet Grace was born at 23 weeks. Still, but perfect.

One week later, Violet Grace was born at 23 weeks. Still, but perfect

In the early stages of Meagan's pregnancy, growing Violet Grace was everything she had hoped and dreamed for.

'Like most mums in the first twelve weeks, the hardest challenge of my first trimester was trying to hide the news and the morning sickness that occurred almost all day, every day,' she said.

The pair didn't follow the 12 week waiting rule - and are now thankful that they didn't - as those early days were the only time in their pregnancy journey that they got to experience the complete joy and happiness that comes with expecting.

It was at that scan that doctors told Meagan that something was wrong with Violet Grace's progress and the beginning of the 'decision' that would weigh so heavily on them in the coming weeks.

'I use the word 'decision' not choice, because choice to me is deciding whether to get pizza or Thai food from UberEats,' Meagan said.

The pair didn't follow the 12 week waiting rule - and are now thankful that they didn't - as those early days were the only time in their pregnancy journey that they got to experience the complete joy and happiness that comes with expecting

'Deciding, based on an awful diagnosis, whether to continue with a pregnancy and bring a baby into the world to suffer or to no longer continue with your pregnancy doesn't feel like a choice.

'It feels like the worst decision you will ever have to make.'

Until her experience with Violet Grace, Meagan had never even heard of Termination for Medical Reasons (TFMR).

The terms miscarriage and stillbirth are common but she now felt like she existed the 'taboo within the taboo'.

'Most people who have experienced it don't talk about it openly, as it comes with an added layer of politics, personal opinions, religion and much more. But it is so much more common than I could have known,' she said.

Meagan's advice for other parents experiencing pregnancy loss and stillbirth: You are still a mum even without a living child  this has been one of the most important realisations for me. I am grateful that my husband is so supportive. On my first Mother's Day after Violet's birth, he gave me a candle and earrings 'from' Violet. I also get a gift from Violet every Christmas. On Mother's Day, I appreciate every friend who texts me: Happy Mother's Day (not just on bereaved Mother's Day). These small gestures really matter. It is okay to talk about your baby as much as you want to. I love to say Violet's name and I love it when other people reference her too. People think it will upset me to mention her, but it's not like I ever forget her. Every parent loves talking about their child, and showing people beautiful photos, and that's exactly the same for me. There is a whole community of amazing women out there who have also experienced their own losses and they will support you in ways you couldn't previously imagine. Instagram has so many amazing resources and women supporting others in the loss community, all you have to do is search pregnancy loss hashtags. Everyone's experience of loss and the way they grieve is unique and personal. Often people won't know how to respond to you and you might need to explicitly tell them what you want and need. I know that, after Violet was born, people were very scared about inviting me to baby showers or 1st birthday parties, but I was always happy to be asked. Good friends will also be okay if you're honest and say: I can't be there, but I send my love. Grief and joy can co-exist. It is okay to be happy and celebrate life again. Being happy doesn't mean you love or miss your baby any less. There is a life after loss. Eventually with time the pain does lessen. I've also learnt that you don't have to explain yourself to everyone. I do know that everyone has very different opinions about termination on any grounds. We made our decision with the support of our medical team. This experience has taught me not to judge anyone, if you haven't been in their shoes. Advertisement

'My husband and I chose to be open about our decision, because we wanted to acknowledge our daughter's life and her whole journey.

'We sent a message to our friends and family the week Violet was born. I started a fundraiser to raise money for the hospital where we gave birth to Violet and, since then, I've written a book about our life together called Still A Mum.

'I've had so many private messages from parents who have been in the same situation as us, including people in my life who I never knew had been through this.'

'My husband and I chose to be open about our decision, because we wanted to acknowledge our daughter's life and her whole journey,' she said

Meagan has encountered a lot of well-meaning phrases like 'they are in a better place' or 'everything happens for a reason', 'maybe it wasn't meant to be' and sentences that starts with 'at least' since losing Violet Grace, none of which offer any sense of comfort.

'Acknowledge that they are a mother by using the names of all of their children, by including the baby they lost as one of their kids, by messaging them on special anniversaries or celebrations,' she said.

'Let them know you remember they are a mum even though their child is no longer alive.'

How to explain that you're pregnant to a mother who has lost a child: One day a family member asked me to pop around to her house after work, I hadn't spoken to her much recently so thought it would be a good chance to catch up. When I walked into her house, she was really awkward and instantly I could tell she had to get something off her chest. 'I've got something to tell you,' she said. 'We're having a baby and I didn't want you to find out when we announced it on Facebook. It wasn't planned at all, but we are really excited.' I knew she thought she was doing a good thing in giving me advance warning, but in that moment I was upset and angry with her: How did she expect me to react? Didn't she know how much pressure it put on me, calling me on a 'date' and telling me to my face. If I'd learnt through a text message, or even through the internet, I'd have time to process my mixed emotions - and hide them from her. I am forever grateful for friends who 'warn' me about their pregnancies before going public; but I do ask that they text or message me instead of telling me in person. It gives me the opportunity to react in my own way before I pull myself together and congratulate them. The honest truth is, when someone has recently lost a baby or is struggling to conceive a child of their own, the announcement of someone else's pregnancy is hard for so many reasons. But the reason is never because they are unhappy for you. It is because it is another reminder of something that they are missing. One of my beautiful friends wrote in her text message: 'I am telling you this way so you can be mad or sad or do whatever it is you need to do and then you can respond when you are ready.' For me, this is perfect. Advertisement

Her advice is to check in on those who have experienced pregnancy loss but not to expect too much in the early weeks and months.

'Let them know you would love to hear about their baby or see pictures if they are comfortable and happy to share,' she said.

'I have 108 photos of Violet and only one person has ever asked to see them. I know it's confronting to some people, but this is my daughter.

'To me, she was beautiful on the day she was born - a perfect, tiny baby who we dressed in a home-made onesie and read storybooks to, despite the fact she was no longer alive.'

Meagan Donaldson's book Still A Mum can be purchased from her website here.
A woman has spoken about her experience of being aromantic-asexual, meaning she feels no romantic or sexual attraction, and insisted it should not be viewed as a 'negative'.

Yasmin Benoit, 25, from Reading, explained: 'As someone who is aromantic, I dont experience romantic attraction. I dont "fall in love" in a romantic sense. I dont have romantic relationships. I dont date anyone. I dont have boyfriends or girlfriends, or any kind of romantic partner.'

After growing up thinking romantic feelings would happen 'at some point', Yasmin, a model, activist and influencer, came out as aromantic-asexual in 2017.

She has now become a face for those communities, delivering talks online and around the world to encourage greater understanding, acceptance and inclusion.

Yasmin Benoit, pictured, has spoken about her experience of being aromantic-asexual, meaning she feels no romantic or sexual attraction, and says it shouldn't be viewed as a negative

After growing up thinking romantic feelings would happen 'at some point', Yasmin (pictured) came out as aromantic-asexual in 2017

She also coined the hashtag #ThisIsWhatASexualLooksLike, as a means to increase visibility and debunk the myths and misconceptions surrounding the aromantic and asexual spectrum.

Speaking to FEMAIL, Yasmin explained there is a misconception that aromantic or asexual people have had a bad experience or battle with 'self-esteem issues', when in fact this isn't the case.

The concepts of aromanticism and asexuality, according to the model, are not new and have actually been in literature 'for decades, from the 1800s.'

Yasmin (pictured in partnership with Pure app) has partnered with many institutions and regularly speaks at universities, globally to debunk the myths surround asexuality

Yet she says it is only recently that we are 'becoming more inclined to deconstruct things'.

Yasmin explains that we are often taught sexual and romantic orientations are one and the same when they are not. She argues this means the concept of a romantic orientation isn't applied as 'widely' as it should be.

She says that for some people, on the basis of gender, it lines up neatly and you can experience romantic attraction to one gender, but sexual to multiple.

Or she says that you may not experience sexual attraction at all, but you may still experience romantic attraction.

She continued: 'You wouldn't think the concept of asexual as something to get wound up about, but people would draw attention to it as it seems like a biological problem.'

Yasmin says that there is 'more to life' than romantic relations and by not investing so much time and energy into finding a relationship it allows her to 'experience so much'

Whereas, she says, it is easier to hide speaking about aromanticism as a concept, as it seems to manifest itself as 'being single'.

The 25-year-old said she has now become an expert in avoiding environments that facilitate romantic or sexual interaction and that if someone does seek her out then she finds ways to turn them away.

'Sometimes I just emphasise that I'm not interested and that works,' she continued.

'I don't really have the patience to give Ted Talks to random guys all the time. The nuances of my orientation aren't inherently any of their business.'

Yasmin believes that, by not investing so much time and energy into finding a sexual or romantic relationship, she is experiencing 'so much'.

The 25-year-old said she has now become an expert in avoiding environments that facilitate romantic or sexual interaction and that if someone does seek her out then she finds ways to turn them away

She tailors her talks to what students would like to discuss. Many of them want advice on how to navigate relationships and want to hear about her experience

'There is too much effort, pressure, and emphasis on finding romance,' she added.

Yasmin studied sociology at Queen Mary University, London, before attaining a master's in Crime Science at University College London.

In 2019, she became a board member of the Asexual Visibility and Education Network (AVEN) and in 2020, an asexualities researcher at California State University and made her presenting debut with her 'Me and My Asexuality' BBC Sounds series.

She has spoken at Oxford, Cambridge, UCL and at a Prince's Trust event.

She says that she 'tailors' her talks to what the students, or professors, want to discuss. 'In particular, I look at things through a feminist lens or a historical one.'

The first ever aromantic conference took place virtually early in February 2022, in Sweden.

For more information about the week please visit www.arospecweek.org. To learn more about Yasmin and her work visit www.yasminbenoit.co.uk.
According to Secrets Of The Spies, a compelling new three-part documentary series coming to BritBox this week, London is the espionage capital of the world. It's teeming with intrigue thanks to its global influence, its American, European and Russian interests, and its itinerant population, which makes it much easier to hide in plain sight.

'London is the epicentre of espionage,' reveals former MI6 officer Matthew Dunn. 'Most people live in blissful ignorance of the world of espionage around them.'

Events such as the poisoning of former KGB officer Alexander Litvinenko in London in 2006 serve as a tragic reminder of the skulduggery going on right under our noses, but Secrets Of The Spies provides a fresh, in-depth look at the world of spycraft.

A new series coming to Britbox reveals the links Britain has to global scandal and crime. Pictured: Sergei Skripal with daughter Yulia who were poisoned by the nerve agent Novichok in Salisbury in 2018

It reveals, for example, the link between British great-grandmother Melita Norwood, a former secretary at an atomic weapons research association who, it emerged in 1999, had leaked nuclear secrets to the Russians for 40 years, and Anna Kushchenko, a glamorous Russian spy who married Brit Alex Chapman. Kushchenko lived in London and then used her British passport to move to New York where she was one of ten 'illegals' caught by the FBI.

Both women were found out only when given up by others.

'There is this long-held fascination with the world of espionage but there is still very little we really know about it,' says the show's executive producer George Waldrum.

'So often we only hear whispers of what has been going on through stories about foiled plots or information from unknown sources.

'We wanted to look at what is fact and what is fiction, how spies work and what their aims are.'

Anna Kushchenko (pictured), a glamorous Russian spy who married Brit Alex Chapman, became one of ten 'illegals' caught by the FBI after moving to New York

The documentary shows that the world of espionage bears little resemblance to that of James Bond. As far as Britain goes, there is no shoot-to-kill policy, for example  or at least there isn't any more.

The last known sanctioned assassination was when Prime Minister Anthony Eden tasked the secret services with killing Egypt's leader Gamal Abdel Nasser in 1956. All sorts of methods were dreamed up  an exploding razor, a cigarette box containing a poisonous dart, poisoning his favourite chocolates.

But it came to nothing when all the British agents were thrown out of Egypt, so they attempted to bribe Nasser's doctor. However, the doctor simply took the money and ran.

Alexander Litvinenko (pictured) risked the wrath of Vladimir Putin by publicly attempting to clean up the Russian spy agency FSB

Perhaps the most famous assassination in London was that of Bulgarian dissident Georgi Markov, who had been broadcasting anti-Communist material. In September 1978 he was on Waterloo Bridge when a man with an umbrella stumbled into him.

He felt a sharp pain in his thigh and within hours began to feel ill. He died a few days later. A pellet containing the poison ricin was found where the tip of the umbrella had penetrated his skin.

Although the Communist USSR no longer exists, attitudes towards people seen as traitors remain  and we have felt the impact in this country. Sergei Skripal was a double agent who had betrayed many of his fellow spies, and the Russians risked thousands of British lives by releasing the nerve agent Novichok in Salisbury in 2018 in an effort to kill him and his daughter Yulia.

Three three-part documentary reveals that the world of espionage bears little resemblance to that of James Bond (pictured)

While they survived, British woman Dawn Sturgess died after spraying herself from a perfume bottle that had actually contained the poison.

Then there was Litvinenko, who risked the wrath of Vladimir Putin by publicly attempting to clean up the Russian spy agency FSB, which had mafia links. As a result he was forced to flee the country, but after years of living peacefully in London he unwittingly met two Russian agents for tea; his was laced with the radioactive substance polonium.

The haunting images of him dying in pain in hospital showed that beneath the glamorous image, spycraft is a dark and nasty business. Yet it's one we don't seem to be able to get enough of.

All three episodes of Secrets Of The Spies will be available on BritBox from Thursday.
Shes best known for playing DCI Vera Stanhope, the Geordie super-sleuth in a bucket hat, but Brenda Blethyn says she has much more in common with Kate Abbott, the spiky cafe owner she plays in Kate & Koji.

Written by Outnumbereds Guy Jenkin and Andy Hamilton, and returning for a second series later this month, the ITV sitcom about an ordinary Brits unlikely friendship with an asylum seeker revels in taking sideswipes at stereotypes.

Kate befriends African migrant Koji (Okorie Chukwu, replacing series ones Jimmy Akingbola) after he starts hanging out in her shabby cafe in a humdrum coastal town in Essex. Contrary to Kates expectations, Koji, a doctor, is erudite and well-spoken.

But as hes not allowed to work while hes seeking asylum, Kate strikes a deal with him: to bring in more customers, Koji can hold unauthorised medical consultations in the cafe in return for food.

Brenda Blethyn, 76, who lives in Ramsgate, Kent, is returning to screens as Kate Abbott, alongside Okorie Chukwu as Koji (pictured) in ITV series Kate & Koji

Brenda, who still lives in her hometown of Ramsgate, Kent, as well as having a home in London with her husband Michael Mayhew, says she understands women like working-class Kate.

I grew up in that sort of town, she explains. I know those caffs, I know the people who work in those caffs. So its great to see those you wouldnt normally take centre stage.

'The characters in this story are ordinary people who are struggling to make ends meet, which is the great majority  there are more of those sorts of people than the well-heeled.

For them to find refuge in this caff is lovely. Theyre not going to be ridiculed. So theres an audience for Kate & Koji, and if you can laugh at yourself, you can laugh at anything.

Living in Ramsgate also means Brenda, 76, is witness to the migrant crisis on the Kent coast, and shes delighted that Kate & Koji addresses the issue.

Living in Ramsgate, youve got boats of people coming in every day, so its a popular topic of conversation, she says.

Brenda, who still lives in her hometown of Ramsgate, Kent, as well as having a home in London with her husband Michael Mayhew, says she understands women like working-class Kate

People have said to me, You dont realise who the migrants might be. You slag these people off, but there probably are people like Koji who are just seeking safety, people who want to contribute to society, not sponge off it. Im proud that the programme has encouraged people who may have thought that before to think differently.

Brenda is nothing like tetchy Kate, a grouch who snaps back at her customers. Kates more outspoken than I am, definitely, chuckles Brenda.

Shes prickly whereas Im putty in anyones hands. Its a challenge playing someone like that, but its fun to be abrasive now and again.

Its also fun to get stuck into some comedy after Vera. Its a treat for an actor to tickle the funny bones now and again, and variety is the spice of life, she says. And even as a double Oscar nominee  once for 1996s Secrets & Lies and again for 1998s Little Voice  Brenda says shes still learning her craft.

Writers Andy Hamilton and Guy Jenkin are kings of comedy, down to the last syllable. They know the music of how a line is going to work.

Inbetweeners Blake Harrison (pictured left) stars as Kates nephew Dan, alongside Barbara Flynn as jobsworth Councillor Lavinia Bone (pictured right)

'Youll come in with your version of it and theyll either say, Actually, thats better, or, No, listen to that syllable, that note  youll notice a difference. And theyre right. Its a masterclass, its a privilege.

Brenda and Okorie are backed by a strong supporting cast that includes The Inbetweeners Blake Harrison as Kates nephew Dan, and the estimable Barbara Flynn as Councillor Lavinia Bone, an interfering jobsworth and Kates nemesis.

Fellow veteran Barbara is enjoying working with Brenda for the first time.

Lavinia and Kate have these great slanging matches, says The Durrells star Barbara, 73. Lavinias a bit of a monster. She causes trouble. Shes a great foil for Kate.

And after filming Vera in the North-east for six months at a time, working on Kate & Koji has its benefits for Brenda.

The days are shorter for a start! she laughs. On Vera, we work for at least 12 hours a day, and its away from home. On Kate & Koji, I get to go home. And its good to have a laugh  actually its great.

Kate & Koji starts on 16 March at 9pm on ITV and ITV Hub.
A whodunnit showcasing the beauty of Provence with a charismatic investigator and lots of delicious food and wine... but no actual French people? Zut alors!

Best not tell our friends across the Channel about Murder In Provence, a new murder mystery series set in stunning Aix-en-Provence, as the French roles are played by British actors  speaking English.

For a few seconds it's quite discombobulating, but then you forget all about it. As with all the best gentle murder mysteries, the setting and the riddle are what counts  and this three-parter wins on both.

The show, available to stream on BritBox now, is based on a series of books by Canadian author and academic Mary Lou Longworth, who writes under the moniker ML Longworth and has lived in Aix for 25 years. She was inspired not only by her adoptive home, but also by her favourite British detective show.

Roger Allam plays investigating judge Antoine Verlaque alongside Nancy Carroll as on-off girlfriend Marine Bonnet (pictured) in three-part series Murder In Provence

'Obviously I love Agatha Christie, but I also love the Inspector Morse stories where you have this amazing sense of place,' she says.

'Aix is a bit like Oxford because one of France's most famous law schools is here. I always thought it would be a good setting for a murder series.

'I'd been thinking about writing one for a while when I went to a friend's family chateau in the countryside. She took me to the attic and it was full of antiques, old photos and oil paintings.

'She said, 'Don't go too close to the window,' as there was no glass, just shutters. We were so high, it felt dangerous and I thought, 'There's my first scene.'

The hero of the series is investigating judge Antoine Verlaque, played by Roger Allam who, fittingly, also stars in Morse prequel Endeavour. The way the French legal system works means that, for high crimes and in complex cases, the judge is part of the initial investigation, taking almost as active a role as the police.

Antoine is a bon viveur who comes from a wealthy family from northern France but moved to Aix to escape his background. As we come to learn, he's had heartbreak in his past  his wife was an alcoholic who took her own life. In fact, all the characters have their demons.

His unofficial sidekick is his on-off girlfriend Marine Bonnet, played by Nancy Carroll. She's a law professor who's recently started working with the police but is as willing to get stuck into the investigations as Antoine and his trusted detective and confidante Helene Paulik (Keala Settle).

Antoine and Marine (pictured) are forced to put their plans on hold when a professor is murdered in his study

Just like Antoine, Marine's had a difficult past in the form of a marriage to a violent man. Coincidentally, the two actors have played a married couple before, albeit on the stage, and their relationship here, together with the beauty of the area, is a contrast to the sometimes hostile world they encounter.

'Antoine's relationship with Marine is very important,' says Roger.

ROMANCE AND HOT FLUSHES! One theme explored in a more French than British way in the show is the sensuality between Antoine and Marine, despite them being in their autumn years. 'This is a pair who are totally up for life and it's clear they're having lots of sex,' says Nancy Carroll. 'But at the same time, we explore how they're coping with changes in their lives. Antoine has prostate issues while Marine is going through the menopause and keeps having hot flushes. 'I love that we're exploring something like this on television because women have been suffering in silence about the menopause for a very long time.' Advertisement

'They've found this way of being together after both having had tragic things happen to them. They have this balance with each other, they really enjoy each other's company. They make each other laugh, they make life enjoyable.

'You certainly get chocolate-box views as Aix is a glorious place. But it's a city so it has a variety of things going on. We're dealing with crime and greed and murder and all of that, so there's this underbelly to the very obvious beauty of the place.'

The stories are mainly set among the intellectual elite of the city, although the suspects are not always upper class.

In the first episode, Antoine and Marine put plans for a weekend break on hold when a professor is murdered in his study, and everyone from his secretary to a local paedophile falls under suspicion.

But the more our sleuths delve, the more crimes they uncover. The second takes place in a crumbling chateau where warring relatives are fighting over an inheritance after the death of an aristocrat... then another body turns up.

And in the third, a young woman's death in the nearby village of Eguilles is connected to the discovery of an older woman's body in a vineyard. Can the men in the women's lives help crack the case?

How the English actors, including Patricia Hodge as Marine's mother Florence, should play their French characters was much debated.

Admittedly, they speak English, but they've captured the French way of life and certain words are said with flawless French accents  such as 'sante' instead of 'cheers' when they clink glasses.

'Although our characters are speaking English, there's something quite un-English about them,' says Nancy, best known as Lady Felicia in Father Brown.

Patricia Hodge who plays Marine's mother Florence (pictured) is among the British actors playing French characters

'There's a bluntness to them that's more French. And the setting is French  Antoine drives a beautiful old Citroen DS and they chew the fat over lots of bottles of wine.

'We did talk a lot about the best way to create that French essence and you'll see it in the way everyone gives each other two kisses when they meet. There is this constant nod to it, but at the end of the day we are English actors.'

Mary Lou, who recently finished the tenth book in the series, says she wrote about a world she'd been invited into. 'When we moved to Aix, I put my daughter in the local school and people were very welcoming to me, even though I barely spoke any French at that point,' she recalls.

'Later, friends who moved here from Paris said they didn't get the welcome I did. I think people were intrigued by this family from North America. The city has a form of nobility which is normally very closed, but we were welcomed.

'Just as the Morse books are based around the university, I wanted to do something similar as that's the world I was comfortable in.'

The crew spent four weeks filming the series in Aix, while interior shots were captured at the now defunct boarding school Carmel College in Oxfordshire. Pictured: Roger Allam as Antoine Verlaque

Friends have made their way into her books, but she says Antoine, with his love of food, is based more on her than anyone else.

She doesn't have to worry about locals getting angry about being portrayed in the books though as, despite the success of the series in the English-speaking world, no French publishing house has taken an interest in translating and publishing them.

'I'm happy with my anonymity here,' says Mary Lou, who turned down a cameo role in the series  although her daughter pops up as an extra in one episode.

'They know me as an academic because I taught Creative Writing classes at the New York University campus in Paris. Only a few close friends know about the books and they were excited when we were filming in Aix.'

The crew spent four weeks filming there last autumn (the interiors were shot in the UK at the now defunct boarding school Carmel College in Oxfordshire), and it's likely Aix will soon see tourists flocking in to enjoy its beauty.

'I've lived here for so long, but I'm constantly finding beautiful new stonework on the buildings,' says Mary Lou.

'It's so wonderfully designed and because it's a town without a river, people should look out for the stunning fountains  they are all over the city. The golden hue of the stone makes it feel like a very warm place to live... and the perfect place to think about murder!'

Murder In Provence is available now on BritBox.
There may be something in the water in Duggarland, as fans of the ex-reality TV family speculate that up to five women may be secretly expecting.

This weekend, Jill, 30, announced that she and her husband, Derick Dillard, 32, are excitedly expecting baby number three, just months after they revealed they'd suffered a miscarriage.

But while Jill and 23-year-old Jedidah's new bride, Katey, are the only women in the family to have confirmed pregnancies, fans are convinced they're not the only ones  and given the Duggars' propensity for procreating, the speculation may not be off the mark.

Citing photos and videos posted on social media, Duggar-watchers think they've spotted Joy Anna, Joe's wife Kendra, Josiah's wife Lauren, and Jessa all sporting baby bumps in recent months.

A Duggar baby boom may not be far off, as speculation grows that several Duggars - including Joy Anna, pictured - are pregnant

The latest speculation came after mother-of-two Joy Anna, 24, shared footage of a family trip to Los Angeles on YouTube on March 3

She's wearing dark pants and a light color shirt, over which she has layered a black jacket - but viewers think they can spot a hint of a baby bump

The latest speculation came after mother-of-two Joy Anna, 24, shared footage of a family trip to Los Angeles on YouTube on March 3.

Most of the shots of Joy Anna are close up on her face, but at about halfway through, she offers a full-length shot of herself holding her son, Gideon, by the hand.

She's wearing dark pants and a light color shirt, over which she has layered a black jacket  but viewers think they can spot a hint of a baby bump.

'At 8:06 does joy look a little pregnant. Is there something theyre not telling us?' wrote one.

Meanwhile, Duggar followers on Reddit are also guessing she's pregnant, noting that the timing makes sense based on typical Duggar family planning.

'You know... normally i would think its just taco bell but then i remember..its the duggars,' wrote one.

Evelyn, Joy Anna's second child with husband Austin Forsyth, was born in August 2020, a year and a half ago. Their son, Gideon, was born a year and a half earlier, in February 2018

Notably, Joy Anna hasn't shared a full-length photo on Instagram since New Year's, and then she was holding her daughter, Evelyn, in front of her.

Evelyn, Joy Anna's second child with husband Austin Forsyth, was born in August 2020, a year and a half ago. Their son, Gideon, was born a year and a half earlier, in February 2018.

Also this week, Jessa, 29 posted a photo with her four children  Spurgeon, Henry, Ivy, and Fern  as part of a giveaway.

Though Jessa is sitting in the photo, a few people on the Duggar Snark subreddit  who call themselves 'snarkers'  thought they could spot a bump

'Is it just me or does she look like she pregnant with #5? Girls poor vagina doesnt get a break,' wrote one.

'Yes. I didnt want to speculate for sure it, but it was my initial thought,' replied another, while a third wrote: 'Yeah she looks like she got a bump going on.'

Jessa and husband Ben Seewald's youngest, Fern, was born in July 2021, a little over two years after daughter Ivy in May 2019.

This photo Jessa posted this week has also prompted speculation, with social media users zeroing in on her stomach

Jessa shares six-year-old Spurgeon, five-year-old Henry, two-year-old Ivy, and seven-month old Fern with her husband. Ben Seewald

Son Henry was born two years before that in February 2017, while oldest son Spurgeon was born 15 months earlier in November 2015.

Meanwhile, in January, fans began speculating that Kendra, 23, could already be pregnant with baby number four.

Around New Year's, oldest Duggar sister Jana shared Instagram video of the family's holiday celebrations, and viewers got a couple quick glimpses of Kendra in the background, appearing to have a noticeably rounder stomach.

Then this week, social media photos of Kendra posing with Joe and Joe's parents, Jim Bob and Michelle, also seemed to hint at a pregnancy.

In the snaps, Kendra wore a blue and white striped dress  an extra modesty panel added near her collarbones  that appeared to show a growing bump.

Social media photos of Kendra posing with Joe and Joe's parents, Jim Bob and Michelle, seem to hint at a pregnancy

In the snaps, Kendra wore a blue and white striped dress - an extra modesty panel added near her collarbones - that appeared to show a growing bump

Just 10 months after marrying Joe in September 2017, her first son, Garrett, was born in June 2018. He was followed 17 months later by Addison in November 2019

Kendra and Joe's youngest child, Brooklyn, was born in February 2021

A consensus was reached on the Duggar Snark subreddit, where commenters  who call themselves 'snarkers'  insisted Kendra must be expecting because she is never not pregnant for long.

Just 10 months after marrying Joe in September 2017, her first son, Garrett, was born in June 2018. He was followed 17 months later by Addison in November 2019, who was in turn followed 15 months later by Brooklyn in February 2021.

Some Redditors also noted that Kendra's dress looks exactly like a particularly maternity dress available on Amazon.

Also sparking pregnancy rumors is Lauren, 22, who shares a two-year-old daughter with her husband, Josiah.

Jedidiah and his wife Katey announced that they were expecting their first child in September, in January they posted a gender reveal video  in which Lauren made a brief appearance.

For just a few seconds after the couple reveals they're having a boy, Lauren could be seen in the bottom right corner of the screen, seeming to be visibly pregnant.

Josiah's wife, Lauren, briefly popped up in a YouTube video in January - and viewers are convinced that they spotted a baby bump

Lauren and Josiah have a two-year-old daughter named Bella

'Totally looks like a bump,' wrote one Redditor.

'Pretty dramatic change compared to photos of her from a couple months ago, so definitely could be,' wrote a second.

'Definitely. Women in the cult arent allowed to gain weight,' said a third.

So far, though, speculation about Joy Anna, Jessa, Kendra, and Lauren being pregnant is just that  speculation. None of them have confirmed pregnancies on any of their social media pages.

The only confirmed pregnancies are Jill and Katey, the latter due this spring.

Jed and Katey made fast work of starting a family, having only tied the knot in April 2021.

There are currently only two confirmed pregnancies, including Jed's wife Katey

The couple announced their news in September, just months after getting married, and are due this spring

And Jill has just announced that she is expecting her third child, due July 2022.

'Weve been keeping a little secret!' they wrote on their website.

'Ever since we were devastated last fall by the miscarriage of our sweet baby, River Bliss, we have prayed that, if it was Gods will, he would bless us with another baby.

'We are excited to announce that God has answered our prayers and we are expecting our rainbow baby due July 2022!

'We are so thankful for a healthy baby and pregnancy so far and we look forward to finding out the gender soon!' they wrote.

In October, the couple revealed that Jill had suffered a miscarriage, though they appear to have conceived again shortly after.

Jill and Derick have been open about using birth control, a unique admission by Duggar standards  though Jill has stressed they they don't use any hormonal birth control because they falsely believe in can cause abortion.

Jill has just announced that she is expecting her third child, due July 2022, with her husband, Derick Dillard

'Weve been keeping a little secret!' they wrote on their website

The couple has practiced more family planning than many of Jill's siblings, with oldest son Israel already six years old and younger son Samuel age four.

But several of Jill's sisters and sister-in-law have had babies in quick succession, believing that family planning should be left up to God.

That is what her parents, Jim Bob and Michelle, always preached. The couple had initially used hormonal birth control after welcoming their first child, Josh, and Michelle miscarried while taking it.

They saw the miscarriage as a sign from God and gave up birth control thereafter.
Breaking up is hard to do, even when it's the right thing, as BP and Shell are discovering.

Both the oil giants are making a retreat from Russia, leading a mass exit of other businesses. BP is selling its 20 per cent stake in Rosneft, the Kremlin-backed oil group, while Shell is disposing of its 28 per cent holding in the Sakhalin-2 Liquefied natural gas project controlled by Gazprom, another mammoth energy player.

There is unqualified shareholder assent for these, which have been spurred by the invasion of Ukraine and represent some of the first steps in the economic decoupling of Russia from the West.

But there is still concern about the implications.

Investors who have BP or Shell shares may wonder whether this is also the moment to quit, or whether the symbolic importance of the departures could be greater than their financial impact, given that high oil prices mean more cash flowing into the coffers.

Shell and BP are the mainstay of many portfolios and a key constituent of many funds, particularly those aimed at income-seekers. Investment trusts like Aberdeen Standard equity income, invesco Select UK Equity, JPMorgan Claverhouse, Law Debenture, Merchants, Temple Bar and Ruffer (where I am a holder) all own shares in both.

But it seems unlikely that any fund will wish to be rid of either BP or Shell. Thomas Moore, manager of ASI Equity Income Trust, argues that the departures from Russia may not inflict permanent pain on the pair.

He says: 'The stock market has more than reflected this hit in the share prices of BP and Shell, yet it has not so far factored in the benefit of tightening oil and gas markets to their profitability.

'BP and Shell are set to play an important role in reducing Europe's dependence on Russian oil, through their conventional oil and gas assets and their investment in energy transition.'

He continues: 'Both stocks are trading on highly attractive valuations. We remain very positive on the prospects.'

Moore's views reflect a wider reassessment of the prospects for BP and Shell sparked by the Russian news.

BP's bill for the Rosneft split could be as high as $25billion (18.9billion). It is not clear who could purchase the stake, as the war in Ukraine has made international investment in Russia impossible. Any deal would be struck at what broker Jefferies calls a 'material' discount  a bargain basement price, in plain English.

The relationship with Rosneft was lucrative; in 2021 BP made profits of $2.4billion (1.8billion) from the shareholding and $640million (484million) in dividends. But this should be viewed in context of the $23.6billion (17.9billion) generated by all operations, which may be why Goldman Sachs rates BP as a buy.

The impact on Shell is estimated at a more modest $3billion (2.3billion) at a more modest $3billion, although it will now be less able to exploit soaring liquefied natural gas prices in the Far East.

Decisions: Breaking up is hard to do, even when it's the right thing, as BP and Shell are discovering

The farewell to Russia could be a boost to both groups' planet-friendly credentials, dispelling some of the greenwashing claims that beset Big Oil.

Analysts at Bernstein point out that BP's climate targets explicitly excluded Rosneft.

Third point, a US activist investor, is putting pressure on Shell to split off its refining and other legacy divisions from its renewables arm. Under a Dutch court ruling, the company must also slash its carbon emissions by 2030, rather than by 2050 as originally planned.

The goodbye to Gazprom may add further impetus to Shell's transition into hydrogen, solar and wind. it is less clear whether either company could benefit from a push to increase domestic supply of energy, whether of the clean or dirty variety.

The company has not been known as British Petroleum for some time, but is now ramping up investment in the UK. Bernard Looney, the chief executive, said earlier this month that for every pound he makes in the UK this decade, he is investing more than two in this country.

This expenditure will be focused on renewables. at present ministers are backing offshore oil and gas production, but seem reluctant to allow further north Sea exploration to bolster the UK's energy security.

Both BP and Shell are set to be generous to shareholders this year. BP is expected to pay out 3.3billion in dividends, which is 4 per cent of the payouts from the FTSe 100, while Shell is distributing 5.5billion which represents 6.5 per cent, according to data from broker AJ Bell.

Both plan share buybacks. Looney says BP has the capacity for a $3billion buyback, based on a $60 oil price, so it could be more.

Ben Yearsley of Shore Financial Planning says these payouts should not be a stretch: 'The oil price is $113 and both groups have spent the last two years reducing their cost base and debt, so that shocks can be overcome more easily than before.'

The consensus seems to be that for investors to break with BP or Shell would be a short-termist decision. Yet this week's events are a reminder that oil is a political business. They are also a reminder that uncertainty and investing are inextricably linked, especially now.
A former McDonald's burger flipper with no university degree now makes $15,000 a month as a TikTok video star with seven million followers.

Adam Milardovic, 25, from Melbourne, had previously struggled for five years making YouTube videos of himself approaching attractive young women on the street and trying on his best pick-up lines.

However, the social media influencer last year found success with TikTok because the algorithms favour new entertainers who can make punchy, 20-second videos for viewers to scroll through.

In the daily clips, he confidently wins over the ladies who already have a boyfriend with a simple trick, winning legions of young, male fans who either wish they were so smooth - or just want to leave a narky comment.

Brands that have pay Adam to endorse them on TikTok MANSCAPED: Makes men's grooming products FITAFY: Fitness dating app to connect active singles CULTURE KINGS: Streetwear clothing brand COTTON ON: Clothing brand CASEIFY: Largest iPhone case brand YD AUSTRALIA: Men's fashion Advertisement

Thanks to his success,clothing brands now pay him to wear their product in his daily videos while a dating app also gives him money to give them a mention.

Milardovic's day typically involves him approaching a young woman on the street in the middle of Melbourne as a friend records the whole thing on an Apple iPhone to make a short video.

'They're all random. I'm spending like about usually like four or five hours trying to find the right person for the video,' he told Daily Mail Australia.

'I usually just explain the idea to them, "I want to take 20 seconds of your time to do a quick, little video. Are you down?"'

He comes up with ideas himself and finds a willing participant in busy places like the outside the State Library of Victoria.

'If I have an idea, I write it down but most times it's all in my head - sometimes I have an idea that pops up in the shower,' he said.

Taylor Reilly, 21, who manages the business side of Milardovic's success, said the income came from brands wanting to appeal to men aged 18 to 28, and not the TikTok videos themselves.

'You don't really make money off the short-form content - you can't really monetise it on TikTok,' he said.

A former McDonald's burger flipper now makes $15,000 a month as a TikTok video star with 7million followers (pictured is entertainer Adam Milardovic in his early twenties)

Adam Milardovic had previously struggled for five years making YouTube videos of himself approaching attractive young women on the street and trying on his best pick-up lines, only to garner 20,000 subscribers

'I don't really make anything on TikTok - it's probably zero.

'All of our revenue streams come from brand collaboration.'

Having their products feature in a popular TikTok video means the brands are seen by younger consumers who would overlook advertisements.

A video in a YD clothing store, asking a woman if she had a boyfriend, had 7.9million views while a video in a park of Milardovic wearing a Cotton On shirt, to hit on a woman with her boyfriend, was seen 3.6million times.

Unlike many other content creators, Milardovic is also older- being in his mid-twenties.

'I can tell you it's his confidence,' Reilly said.

'Because he's a little bit older than a lot of these content creators who are 18, 19, 20,

'The ability that he can go out in public - he just walks up to a group of Canadian girls.'

Thanks to his success, having 7million TikTok fans, clothing brands now pay him to wear their product in his daily videos while a dating app also gives him money to give them a mention (pictured is a video sponsored by Cotton On)

Taylor Reilly, 22, (right) who manages the business side of Adam Milardovic's (left) success, said the income came from brands wanting to appeal to men aged 18 to 28, and not the TikTok videos themselves

Tips for making a popular TikTok video 1. Keep it to 20 seconds 2. Grab the attention of viewers in first two to three seconds 3. Do or have something that will get people commenting - even with nasty remarks 4. Have short videos that appeal to a demographic companies want to reach Advertisement

A good TikTok video also has to grab the attention of viewers with a short attention span.

'We've almost got it down as a science,' Reilly said.

'It's pretty much a science: we have a few rules that we want in all of our videos.

'Following basic marketing principles, if you're running an ad or anything like that, the first two to three seconds of your video are the most important to capture someone's attention: punchy, engaging.'

Videos with more comments are also more likely to be shared more.

'Something we've learned over a few years of doing this is comments really boost your videos: people commenting, the algorithms send the video wild,' Reilly said.

'The loudest people are the ones that don't like you because they're the ones that comment and leave hate.'

Milardovic said the more critical, the better.

'The hate comments are driving it even more,' he said.

To boost comments, Milardovic deliberately has people doing things in the background, like taking off their shoes or mispronouncing words.

Reilly said this only encouraged more comments.

A good TikTok video also has to grab the attention of viewers with a short attention span (pictured is a video in a YD clothing store)

Milardovic said it was possible to have a big following on TikTok without looking like a model (pictured is a video for Fitafy)

'He'll have the person in the video mispronounce a very common word so that everyone goes to the comments actually thinking they're the only one who notices,' he said.

Milardovic said it was possible to have a big following on TikTok without looking like a model.

'You don't have to be good looking or tall,' he said.

'Make you have a personality, you're funny, because the people that can make videos on TikTok and they can get a major following, some have to be somewhat of a personality to make it further.'

TikTok success however, took years, with Milardovic living with his parents until he was 24, and working 15 jobs including five years at McDonald's, along with stints at Woolworths, Coles, at a gym, a caravan company and as a plumber.

'I worked everywhere basically. I was so focused on making content and wanted to make this work so bad to make sure I could be successful,' he said.

'My parents were just like, "You've got to get a real job".'
Workers will legally be allowed to discuss their pay-packets with their colleagues if Labor wins power at the Federal election.

Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese wants to ban pay secrecy clauses which prevent Australian employees from talking about their salaries.

If elected, the ALP will also change the definition of a casual worker to make sure employees with a fixed roster are given permanent jobs.

And gig workers such as Uber and Deliveroo drivers will be covered by new rules to ensure they earn at least the minimum wage.

The proposed changes are part of a suite of policies designed to drive up wages which have grown at less than three per cent annually since the Coalition came to power in 2013.

With the Federal election expected in May, Daily Mail Australia takes a look at Labor's workplace policies and how they may affect you.

Pay secrecy rules

Pay secrecy clauses in employment contracts are designed to stop workers talking about their pay-packets.

They are most common in industries with discretionary payments and bonuses such as finance and law.

If your contract has a pay secrecy clause and you're caught talking about your salary then you could face a warning or even get sacked.

Labor believes that banning the clauses would give workers greater bargaining power because they could more easily find out what their colleagues earn.

Banning pay secrecy clauses will reduce the gender pay gap because female workers would be allowed to ask their male counterparts what they earn, Labor says. Pictured: Sydney tradies

Of course, workers can still decline to reveal their salary to colleagues if they want to keep it secret.

But banning secrecy clauses would mean an employee being paid less than a colleague for doing the same job could legally approach their boss and ask why.

In particular, the move is excepted to help reduce the gender pay gap because female workers would be allowed to ask their male counterparts what they earn.

According to the Workplace Gender Equality Agency, Australian men earn 13.4 per cent more than women.

The move mirrors the UK which outlawed secrecy clauses in 2010 under its Equality Act.

Shadow Minister for Industrial Relations Tony Burke said secrecy clauses are used to keep wages low and must be abolished.

Anthony Albanese (pictured getting the first flight to Perth on Wednesday) will introduce new laws to help push up wages if he wins power

'These clauses only exist because employers don't want their workers to know how much they're getting paid compared to their colleagues,' he told Daily Mail Australia.

'Usually, that's because they don't want women to realise they're getting paid less than men.'

Labor will also force companies with more than 250 employees to report their gender pay gap publicly so they are shamed into reducing it.

Casual workers

There are about 2.6million casual workers in Australia. They are most commonly in the hospitality, retail, health, education and construction industries.

These workers receive no annual or personal leave, no notice of termination or redundancy pay - but get an extra 25 per cent on top of their pay to make up for this.

In March 2021 the Government defined casual work for the first time as a situation where a worker has 'no firm advance commitment to ongoing work with an agreed pattern of work'.

There are around 2.6million casual workers in Australia. They are most commonly in the hospitality, retail (pictured), health, education and construction industries

But Labor wants to change this so employment status is determined by workers' shift patterns alone.

A precise definition will be worked on later but the general idea is that if an employee has regular shifts for a defined time period then they would be permanent not casual.

For example, a coal miner who has a 12 month fixed roster would be classed as permanent even if the employer wants to define them as a casual.

Labor believes this would push up wages by increasing bargaining power because permanent workers have stronger rights and cannot be left off a roster for requesting a pay-rise like casuals can.

'The first thing we need to do is get more people into secure work,' Mr Burke said.

'Some people want casual work because it's flexible and that's fine. Those jobs will always have a place.

'But there are a lot of Australians stuck in casual work who crave a permanent job so they have certainty around their pay and hours. Those jobs should be available.'

Gig workers

Mr Albanese also wants to improve the rights of so-called gig workers such as Uber drivers and Deliveroo drivers.

Labor would extend the powers of the Fair Work Commission to include 'employee-like' forms of work.

This would allow the tribunal to cover app-based gig jobs even when workers are technically self-employed.

Labor wants to improve working conditions for casuals and gig workers such as Uber drivers, food delivery workers, hospitality, and retail staff

The Commission would then be able to set minimum pay and conditions for gig workers so they can no longer be paid below minimum wage.

Labor believes there is a big difference between an empowered independent contractor who runs their own business and a low paid worker on a bicycle.

They should not both be treated the same as self-employed workers, the Opposition believes.

Mr Burke said Labor's laws would stop the 'dangerous exploitation' of low-paid gig workers.

'Right now they're falling through the cracks because they don't fit the traditional definition of ''employee''  meaning they have almost no rights and protections, including no minimum pay rates,' he said.

If Labor wins the election then it will introduce laws to make sure workers placed by labour hire firms are paid the same as permanent employees. Pictured: Air crew at Sydney Airport

Same job, same pay

Labor will also bring in new laws to make sure workers who do the same job are paid the same if they are employed directly or through labour hire firms.

Companies use labour hire firms when they need to get extra workers in. This is most common in the mining sector but also happens in customer service, healthcare, aged care, disability care and manufacturing.

Shadow Minister for Industrial Relations Tony Burke

But Labor believes companies are deliberately using the firms to keep wage bills down because the hired workers are casuals who earn less.

For example a big mining company which has negotiated an agreement with its workers and the union could circumvent the agreement by bringing casuals through a labour hire company.

Labor would pass laws to make sure labour hire firms have to match the wages of the employees already doing the job.

This means workers placed by a labour hire firm will be paid the same as the permanent staff alongside them.

The idea is to increase the number of people in permanent work and push up permanent wages.

'There is a direct line between insecure work and low rates of pay,' Mr Burke said.

'We need to stop replacing permanent jobs with low-paid insecure and casual jobs where workers have no power to argue for a pay rise.'

Overall, Labor does not want to end casual work, fixed term contracts or labour hire - but just wants to stop the 'rorts' around them.
Emotional text messages between married former cabinet minister Alan Tudge and his ex media advisor Rachelle Miller have been revealed after an inquiry found he did not breach ministerial standards.

Ms Miller alleged Mr Tudge emotionally abused and on one occasion physically abused her during their consensual affair in 2017.

Mr Tudge said he was intimate with his former staffer on four separate occasions but was adamant they never had sex, and he didn't consider them to be in a relationship.

He told the Prime Minister that despite being cleared in the inquiry, he would not be returning to the front bench 'in the interests of his family and his own wellbeing and in order to focus on his re-election as the member for Aston'.

The details of the inquiry by inspector-general of intelligence and security Vivienne Thom into Ms Miller's allegations were released on Friday.

Emotional text messages between former cabinet minister Alan Tudge and his ex media advisor Rachelle Miller (pictured together) have been revealed after an inquiry found he did not breach ministerial standards

Ms Miller - who was also married at the time of the affair - did not participate in the inquiry, saying the process was flawed and the government had ignored her concerns about the terms of reference.

Dr Thom concluded the evidence in the inquiry 'does not provide a basis for a finding that Mr Tudge's conduct breached the ministerial standards'.

Texts and emails between the pair, seen by The Australian, show Ms Miller was persistent in trying to reconnect with Mr Tudge for four years after their affair ended in 2017, telling she missed and loved him.

In one text dated from March 2020, Ms Miller wrote: 'I apologise for the things I've said to you. I have not been nice, I am sad and hurt. I want to believe you don't deserve me. But you know that I love you'.

Mr Tudge told the enquiry he has not seen Ms Miller since 2017 and cut off communication with her in October 2020.

'I deeply regret the consensual affair with Ms Miller in the second half of 2017 when both of us were married with children and in our forties,' he said.

'It should never have happened and it has caused hurt to our respective families. It caused the end of my marriage that year.'

In December last year Ms Miller made the allegations about her former boss, alleging he had bullied and harassed her.

The inquiry was provided with countless message exchanges between Mr Tudge and Ms Miller.

She had suggested one encounter may not have been consensual but in a text from March 2020 Ms Miller said 'We broke no rules, it was consensual, we were never together at work or during work hours'.

Texts and emails between the pair show Ms Miller was persistent in trying to reconnect with Mr Tudge in the four years after their affair ended in 2017, telling she missed and loved him

One message shows Ms Miller saying their relationship was consensual

That claim was from a night they shared in Kalgoorlie in 2017, where Ms Miller later said: 'I don't remember leaving the bar. I don't remember if we had sex. I didn't know if we used protection. I still don't. I was too afraid to ask him if he remembered.'

In another text from Ms Miller in March 2020, she expresses to Mr Tudge that she missed him.

'Know you don't feel the same so I have said awful things because I was hurt. After that last night together it shattered me. I simply miss you.'

Ms Miller had also alleged on that night in Kalgoorlie that the former human services minister had kicked her out of his bed and told her to 'get the f**k out'.

'I categorically deny kicking her in the bed and calling for her to 'get the f**k out my room,' Mr Tudge told the inquiry.

Another text shows Ms Miller telling her former boss she missed him, years after their affair ended

'This is not in my character at all. I have never kicked or hit anyone in my life, and of course never a woman. I have never been in a fight. I am not an aggressive person.'

Mr Tudge also clarified he never saw a future with Ms Miller, saying the pair did not speak regularly about non-work matters.

'I did not consider this to be a 'relationship' in the usual sense of the word. There were almost none of the typical characteristics of what would ordinarily be considered a relationship,' he said.

'We never once organised a time for us to be intimate together. None of the four times that we were intimate together were organised or pre-arranged or discussed in advance. There was never an expectation that something would occur.

Alan Tudge (pictured) denied claims by his former staffer that their affair was at times abusive

'We never had sex. We never talked about a future together, whether in the short, medium or long term.'

Mr Tudge said he believed Ms Miller wanted to pursue a relationship with him which was unreciprocated, and denied her allegations of bullying and abuse.

Dr Thom sought evidence from five other staff members who worked with Ms Miller and Mr Tudge together and said they saw no evidence of bullying. One said they believed Ms Miller was 'obsessed' with Mr Tudge.

A staffer said Ms Miller spoke 'glowingly' about the trip to Kalgoorlie.


OPPOSITION leader Nelson Chamisa pulled a bumper crowd at White City Stadium in Bulawayo yesterday as campaigns ahead of the March 26 by-elections hit the home stretch.

Chamisa, whose Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) is only a few weeks old after he was forced to start afresh following the controversial grabbing of the MDC Alliance by a Douglas Mwonzora-led faction, has already held well-attended rallies in Harare and Kwekwe.

A rally in Gokwe was thwarted by police, but thousands of CCC supporters defied the law enforcement agents to meet their leaders.

The Bulawayo rally held at White City Stadium in Imenyela  the second biggest stadium in the city  was a sea of yellow.

Mwonzoras outfit held its own rally at the nearby town hall in Pelandaba last month where attendance was estimated at less than 300.

On Friday, Vice-President Constantino Chiwenga addressed a relatively small crowd in Pumula despite the ruling party pulling all stops  including bussing people to the venue  to bump up the crowds.

Bouyed by the large White City crowd, Chamisa promised to solve long-standing grievances of marginalisation and economic deprivation in Matabeleland, if his party wins the elections.

Matabeleland we have your answers and your answers are ready, he told the crowd.

The first thing that we have to do as your government is to make sure that we restore Matabeleland as the industrial capital of our land.

I know there is the issue of Gukurahundi. I am the only leader who is going to deal with truth and reconciliation in this country.

Gukurahundi, which refers to the massacres by the army in Matabeleland and Midlands provinces in the early years of independence, remains unresolved several decades on.

Chamisa said Zanu PF would never destroy him as he claimed there were plots to assassinate him by his rivals.

He asked: Do you agree that (President Emmerson) Mnangagwa must rest?

Do you know that in other countries the leader of the opposition is actually given security protection?

But in this country the leader of the opposition is being plotted against, assassination plots, traps, arrests, and violations.

They are trying every trick in the book, but they do not know one thing that I am like David, I am walking in the anointing that is with me. They will never destroy me, Chamisa added.

Chamisa said he was ready to lead and drive Zimbabwe to prosperity.

Im ready. I am ready. In 2023 there is going to be a better government. In 2023 Matabeleland will never be Zanu PF again. I want you to be an ambassador for change, the CCC leader said.

Mnangagwa, your dear one Chiwenga was saying he is like Goliath. Goliath I am coming there. David is coming.

In the Bible, Goliath was an enemy warrior who was defeated by a young shepherd David, with a sling.

They are shocked and panicking because they thought they had buried us, but they didnt know that they had planted a seed, Chamisa said.

Everyone is saying we believe in this thing because its a citizens movement.

The parliamentary and local government elections are being held to fill vacancies largely created by the recall of elected representatives by Mwonzora and the PDP led by Lucia Matibenga under controversial circumstances. Standard
A train driver who sped to 106mph in a 50mph zone, causing the train to derail near Philadelphia killing eight people, was cleared by a jury on Friday of criminal negligence.

Brandon Bostian, 38, broke down in tears outside the courtroom as his lawyers praised the jurors for their verdict. They took just over an hour to acquit Bostian of causing a catastrophe, involuntary manslaughter and reckless endangerment - one count for each injury and death.

Bostian's lawyer described him as a lifelong train buff who had a perfect work record until he was distracted by reports, just before the crash, of people throwing rocks in the area.

He could have been sent to prison for years, or even for life, if convicted, given the high number of counts against him.

'It's been seven years for him wondering if he'll ever get his life back. Today the jury gave him his life back,' Brian McMonagle, his defense lawyer, said after the verdict.

'We've been saying from the beginning there was never a crime committed here by Brandon.'

In closing arguments, McMonagle said the criminal actors in the case were those who threw the rocks at the train ahead. No one was ever apprehended.

Amtrak had in October 2016 settled civil litigation over the crash for $265 million.

Brandon Bostian, the Amtrak engineer involved in a 2015 derailment in Philadelphia that killed eight people and injured more than 200, fought back tears on Friday outside court

Bostian breaks down in tears on Friday, after almost seven years of waiting to see if he would be sent to jail for the derailment

Emergency personnel are seen at work at the scene of the derailment on May 13, 2015 in Philadelphia

The May 2015 derailment, 10 minutes outside of Philadelphia, cost the lives of eight people, and injured more than 200

Bostian is seen leaving court on Friday after the jury acquitted him of all charges

Federal safety investigators concluded that Bostian lost what they call 'situational awareness' on the track, thinking he was past an S-curve and on a straight section of the track when he accelerated from about 65 mph to 106 mph.

In fact, he was in the middle of the S-curve at the time.

Investigators found no evidence he was impaired, fatigued or using his cellphone.

The key question for the jury was whether Bostian - who no longer works for Amtrak - sped up intentionally, knowing the risks.

Bostian was choked by tears outside court on Friday, flanked by his attorneys Brian McMonagle, left, and Robert Goggin, right. The jury took just over an hour to clear him

Emergency workers are seen combing through the mangled wreckage of the train in May 2015

The Amtrak train was traveling at 106mph when it careered off the rails just outside Philadelphia

The case has a long legal history, with judges debating whether Bostian's actions constituted a crime.

Common Pleas Judge Barbara McDermott, who presided at the seven-day trial, questioned whether the evidence was enough but said she would consider the issue after taking a jury verdict. The point now appears to be moot.

Prosecutors say Bostian acted with reckless disregard for the safety of his passengers, who were traveling from Washington, D.C., to New York that Tuesday evening.

The train had stopped at Philadelphia's 30th Street station about 10 minutes earlier and was heading north.

One trial witness, former New York firefighter Charles Gildersleeve, told jurors how he spent two days searching hospitals for his brother after the crash, only to learn he had died.

Robert Gildersleeve had been heading to New York for a work conference after attending his son's lacrosse practice that evening.

Another witness, Blair Berman, described running into Bostian amid the wreckage and asking to borrow his phone.

He did not tell her he had been driving the train.

She asked him where they were, and Bostian told her, accurately, they were in an area called Franklin Junction.

Prosecutors used the point to argue that Bostian knew where he was when he crashed and should have known the speed limit.

Emergency workers stand near the wreckage of the train in May 2015

An injured man is carried from the wreckage of the train following the deadly crash

The side of the train is pictured sheared and splintered following the high-speed crash

Lawyer Tom Kline, who represents both witnesses, along with other Amtrak 188 families, said the verdict does not negate the 'public accountability' that the trial brought.

The victims finally heard Bostian's lawyer acknowledge that the engineer made mistakes, he said.

'That provides some measure of closure to the eight families who lost loved ones, and the scores of others who were catastrophically injured by Mr. Bostian's conduct that day,' Kline said.

Philadelphia's top prosecutor had declined to pursue criminal charges, but the Attorney General's Office later took it over.

'There is no question that the excessive speed of the train that the defendant operated resulted in death and injury to his passengers,' the state Attorney General's Office said in a statement.

The crash led Congress to raise the previous $200 million limit on settlements for individual Amtrak crashes to $295 million.

The jury had begun weighing the charges Friday morning when an alternate had to step in because one juror had a death in the family.

The jury then began its deliberations over from the start.
D.C. police are searching for a suspect who shot a man dead in broad daylight while he was carrying a baby and holding the hand of a five-year-old child.

The unnamed man was fatally shot multiple times at close range in Northeast D.C. while he held a baby in a car seat and accompanied the other kid, Metropolitan Police said on Friday morning.

'It appears he was targeted by this shooter. This individual walked up, shot him with the children right there,' Executive Assistant Chief of Police Ashan Benedict said.

Police have not specified the relationship between the children and the victim but the kids were uninjured in the shooting and are currently safe with their mother, police said.

Authorities are now asking for the public's help to track down the suspect, who is described as a black male last seen wearing gray sweatpants and a black mask.

D.C police said a man was fatally shot multiple times in Northeast D.C while carrying a baby in a car seat and holding the hand of a five-year-old boy

The suspect shot the man at close range but the children were uninjured in the shooting and are currently safe with their mother

Police said the brazen murder with no regard for the children nearby is 'horrifying.'

'It's one of the most horrible things we've had in the Fifth District in several years,' Fifth District Commander William FitzGerald said.

Councilman Kenyan R. McDuffie, who represents Ward 5, the area where the shooting occurred, said that no child should witness that kind of violence and that the city must 'double down on our efforts' to find violent criminals 'and keep them off our streets.'

'The entirety of our government, not just the police, must work together to ensure public safety and address the root causes of violent crime,' McDuffie said in a statement.

'It's one of the most horrible things we've had in the Fifth District in several years,' Fifth District Commander William FitzGerald (right) said

Councilman Kenyan R. McDuffie, who represents Ward 5, the area where the shooting occurred, released a statement that said that no child should witness that kind of violence

People in the neighborhood said they were shocked by the bold shooting.

'We are in a space now that there is no regard, no respect for life,' Lauraline Gregory, a mother who lives in the neighborhood, told Fox 5.

'Even to the point of shooting someone in front of two children, who could be damaged for the rest of their lives as a result of this. Which is why we've got to do something for the next generation.'
A six-year-old girl has been hospitalised in Liverpool after a hit and run crash involving an electric bike.

Police were called to the scene in Tuebrook at around 6.05pm on Friday following reports that an electric bike had been in a collision with a girl.

The girl was rushed to hospital with a head injury and remains in a serious but stable condition, according to Merseyside Police.

Police were called to the scene in Tuebrook (pictured) at around 6.05pm on Friday following reports that an electric bike had been in a collision with a six-year-old girl

Merseyside Police released an image of a man they would like to speak with in connection with the incident, believing he could have 'vital' information

The force said the bike was left at the scene of the hit-and-run crash and added that CCTV and witness enquiries are currently underway in the area.

Police also released an image of a man they would like to speak with in connection with the incident, believing he could have 'vital' information.

Chief Inspector Jay Crellin appealed for anyone who was travelling in the area at the time to contact police as he warned of the dangers of off-road bikes.

He said: 'I would appeal to anyone who was travelling in the area of Newsham Park area towards Muirhead Avenue who thinks they captured something on their dashcam, anyone who witnessed the collision or believes they saw the bike travelling in the Tuebrook area to contact us.

Chief Inspector Jay Crellin appealed for anyone who was travelling in the area to contact police. Pictured: Man who police would like to speak with in connection with the incident

'I would also appeal for the male pictured to come forward as we believe he has information which is vital to our investigation.

'Off-road bikes, particularly when ridden in an antisocial manner, are capable of causing injury both to the riders and to other people and are not permitted to be ridden on roads and pavements.

'I would urge people to think carefully before purchasing such machines.'

Anyone with information is asked to DM @MerPolTraffic or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
Women can get away with telling bad jokes more than men can, a study suggests.

Researchers found males tended to be judged much more harshly when their gags fell flat, and were also judged as less likeable and funny in the same situation.

This might be because women are generally seen as more attentive to others and less interested in individual advancement than men, they said.

Making jokes  even when poorly received  is seen as an attempt to connect and 'advance communal goals' by women, as opposed to the perception that men are doing it for themselves.

The study said men were seen to commit 'mistakes of greater magnitude that make them appear less likable, competent, and funny'.

Researchers found males tended to be judged much more harshly when their gags fell flat, and were also judged as less likeable and funny in the same situation (stock photo)

The study, by the Yale School of Management and University of Toronto, involved 5,400 people being asked their responses to a number of fictional situations where two characters  Brad and Brenda  made jokes.

Brad/Brenda, they were told, 'tried to crack jokes all night but their date did not seem to enjoy them and they left after the first drink'.

The participants then rated, on a scale, the size of the mistake they thought Brad/Brenda had made, how competent they thought they were, and how much they liked them.

Brad fared significantly worse than Brenda in their appraisals.

Another experiment followed a similar format, but participants were also asked to rate how attentive they thought Brad/Brenda was to his/her audience.

Brad was perceived as less attentive than Brenda, the study found.

The study was published in the Journal of Experimental Social Psychology.
Two first edition James Bond novels gifted by Ian Fleming to his real-life Miss Moneypenny are to go on sale for 60,000.

He presented the personally-inscribed copies of Goldfinger and From Russia With Love to assistant Una Trueblood  the inspiration behind Mary Trueblood, a glamorous MI6 secretary in Dr No.

The mother of three, who worked under Fleming for ten years until the early 1960s, died in 2020 and her family are selling the books.

In the author's presentation copy of From Russia With Love, he wrote: 'To Una, who will at last get to the end! from Ian Fleming'.

It is thought that this was a reference to her namesake meeting a premature end in Dr No, although that was published a year after From Russia With Love.

He presented the personally-inscribed copies of Goldfinger and From Russia With Love to assistant Una Trueblood  the inspiration behind Mary Trueblood, a glamorous MI6 secretary in Dr No

The author's inscription in the copy of Goldfinger reads: 'To Una, who again wrote the whole thing!  a reference to the fact that she typed up his manuscripts.

Una Trueblood's family still have a letter sent to her by her secretarial successor in 1963. It makes clear just how respected she was by Fleming.

She wrote: 'I know that he (Fleming) would like to see you. Even now on occasions I hear 'Una would not have made that mistake!'

Luke Batterham, a senior valuer in the book department at London auctioneers Bonhams, said: 'These first editions were very lovingly inscribed by Ian Fleming.

'Una Trueblood died in 2020 and this is the first time they have been offered for sale. They have been passed down through the family and I don't think they knew they existed.

'Ian Fleming remains very collectable today and these two novels have a really nice personal connection to them.

'The 1950s first editions are rarer than his later work in the sixties as Fleming's success was still in its infancy and so the first print runs were comparatively low.'

The books, published in 1957 and 1959, go on sale at auctioneers Bonhams in London on March 23.
The mother of a New York firefighter beaten to death by a gang member after a minor collision of their cars sobbed in court on Friday as her son's killer was sentenced to 25 years to life in prison.

Judge Vincent Del Giudice, sentencing 33-year-old Joseph Desmond, said he was a dangerous, unrepentant individual who should spend the rest of his life behind bars.

'It is this court's earnest hope and desire that you never, ever be released from prison,' Del Giudice said.

Desmond murdered Faizal Coto, 33, on December 9, 2018, near the Verrazzano Bridge which links the boroughs of Staten Island and Brooklyn in New York City.

Coto, a three-year veteran of the FDNY, bumped into Desmond's car and pulled over to exchange insurance information.

Desmond approached Coto, struck him in the head with a heavy object and fled - later being arrested at a New Jersey motel.

Coto later died from multiple skull fractures.

Prosecutors say Desmond was a gang member from Staten Island who was once convicted on hate crimes charges for attacking a gay man with a stun gun.

Faizal Coto, 33, was beaten to death near the Verrazzano Bridge in New York City in December 2018

Joseph Desmond, 33, was a member of the Latin Kings gang, prosecutors said, from Staten Island. He was previously convicted for attacking a gay man with a stun gun

Desmond is seen being brought into court on Friday for sentencing

Ishmael Coto, the brother of Faizal Coto, told his killer that it 'been a struggle to live in a world without my brother'

Faizal and Ishmael Coto's mother breaks down in tears in court on Friday, as her son spoke of the damage Faizal's murder had caused

Ishmael Coto is seen outside court in Brooklyn on Friday, after his brother's killer was sentenced

Coto's brother on Friday told the court in Brooklyn how Faizal was their mother's rock, describing him as a kind and generous person dedicated to his family.

'Since December 9, 2018, it has been a struggle to live in a world without my brother,' said Ishmael Coto.

'Today you turn 33 years old, and that's the same age my brother was when you took his life.'

Struggling to hold back his emotion, Ishmael smiled as he called his brother 'a mama's boy,' who doted over their mother.

'You took away someone who meant the world to so many people,' Coto said.

'You took away our moments. You took away a mother's favorite son. Faizal was a mama's boy. And his goal in life was to take care of his mom and to make sure she was always happy and set in life.'

Coto's mother wiped away tears while her son spoke.

'Faizal was an amazing soul,' Coto added.

Faizal Coto was a three-year veteran of the FDNY, and was based in Coney Island

Faizal Coto, far right, is seen with his FDNY colleagues. Many attended his funeral in 2018

Eric Gonzalez, the Brooklyn district attorney, described Desmond as a callous killer.

'Not only did he assault him and injure him, but he left him lying on the side of the road without calling for help, calling for assistance,' he said.

'That was a true mark of cowardice.'

In his statement, Desmond disputed the evidence and showed no remorse.

'I object to this trial in its entirety,' Desmond said.

The judge was angered by Desmond's attitude.

'Not only have you deprived the victim, the family of a son, a brother and uncle, but you deprived the people of this city of a person who's dedicated to responding to their need for help and assistance in times of crisis,' he said.

'I can deter you from harming other people by keeping you in prison for the remainder of your life and that's precisely what I'm going to do.'

Faizal Coto's mother and brother walk into the Brooklyn Supreme Court on Friday, ahead of sentencing, and supported by Faizal's former colleagues

Coto's mother and father are seen outside court in Brooklyn on Friday

Coto's colleagues - who turned out in large numbers for his Coney Island funeral, even though he was off-duty at the time of the incident - were present in court for sentencing.

'Faizal Coto was a great, selfless man, loved by all that knew him, an asset to his family, his friends and fellow firefighters, an asset to New York City,' said Andrew Ansbro of the Uniformed Firefighters Association.

'His loss is lost to all of us.'
In just ten short days the entire world order has been blown apart. The chill of Cold War is once again blowing through Europe and Defence Secretary Ben Wallace speaks ominously of a 'new Iron Curtain' descending across the continent.

With each passing day Vladimir Putin's bloody assault on Ukraine grows more vicious, culminating yesterday in an insanely reckless artillery strike on Europe's biggest nuclear plant.

The bombardment of Zaporizhzhia power station set off fires and explosions which could have been truly catastrophic for Ukraine and its neighbours  including Russia, which is barely 200 miles away.

With each passing day Vladimir Putin's bloody assault on Ukraine grows more vicious, culminating yesterday in an insanely reckless artillery strike on Europe's biggest nuclear plant

In the event, the damage was contained. But this deranged act shows all too vividly Putin's utter disregard for the consequences of his warmongering.

Whether he is mad, bad or a combination of both, he is certainly guilty of a litany of egregious crimes for which he should ultimately be held to account.

Ex-PM Gordon Brown's proposal for him to face a Nuremberg-style trial is gaining momentum and would be an apt forum. But that is for the future. It won't help the beleaguered people of Ukraine today.

Amid the tragedy and bloodshed however, a brilliant shaft of light has shone through. Profoundly moved by the plight of terrified and dispossessed families, Mail readers have rushed to help.

In just six days, our Ukraine Appeal has raised a staggering 3.4million  every penny of which will provide food, warmth and other essentials to refugees.

No British newspaper campaign has ever raised so much so quickly. Your generosity has been simply overwhelming.

The international community, too, is more united than ever in its determination to punish Putin by strangling his economy.

There have been calls for a Nato no-fly zone over Ukraine. But while superficially attractive, this would mean war on a much wider and more destructive scale. That would help no one.

The West's comprehensive package of sanctions is already biting hard.

In just six days, our Ukraine Appeal has raised a staggering 3.4million  every penny of which will provide food, warmth and other essentials to refugees

And on top of those already in operation, European leaders are edging towards an embargo on Russian oil and gas, which would cost Putin 400million a day, effectively beggaring his country.

Though nothing this proven liar says can be taken at face value, he struck a less bombastic tone than usual yesterday, calling for 'a normalization of relations' between East and West. Could that be sanctions starting to do their job?

Today we publish extracts from the many letters Mail readers have sent with their donations. Sylvia Cousins, 81, from Kent, epitomised your concern, especially for the children of this murderous conflict.

Her earliest memories are of being woken during the Blitz and carried in her nightie to the air-raid shelter, as her grandmother clutched her rosary and prayed aloud.

She says: 'I hate the thought of today's children still having memories of war when they are my age.'

We salute her and all readers who have donated to this appeal. For your altruistic kindness you have our sincere thanks  and our deepest admiration.

Pettiness of Partygate

Does anyone other than the BBC care any more about who will or won't get a fixed penalty notice as a result of Partygate?

Even the police seem to be losing interest. More than a month since they started to investigate whether a number of Downing Street gatherings broke lockdown rules, they still haven't sent out questionnaires to all those allegedly involved.

Yes, these functions were clearly ill-advised. But with Europe in turmoil and a million refugees on the move, how absurd and petty the furore and faux outrage around them now seems.
The family of a grandmother who was killed after being 'blown over by the downdraft of a coastguard helicopter landing on a helipad' at a Plymouth hospital have paid tribute to her today.

Jean Langan, 87, was walking on a footpath before 'landing on concrete' and suffering a serious head injury at Derriford Hospital on Friday morning.

A second woman, also in her 80s, broke her pelvis and remains in hospital after the downdraft 'caused her car door to slam shut' while she was getting out, said police.

Gael Hill, who was accompanying her aunt at the time, wrote: 'My aunt was unconscious when I got to her and sadly she never regained consciousness.

'The downdraft from the helicopter lifted my aunt off of her feet and she flew backwards landing on the concrete.

'There were no signs, marshals or cones preventing people from walking across the car park.'

Devon and Cornwall Police confirmed today that an 87-year-old woman had died and her next of kin had been informed.

The force added that it is 'continuing to undertake initial investigations into the circumstances that led to the death of a person on the grounds of Derriford Hospital yesterday.'

Jean Langan (pictured above), 87, was walking on a footpath before 'landing on concrete' and suffering a serious head injury at Derriford Hospital on Friday morning

Devon and Cornwall Police confirmed today that an 87-year-old woman had died and her next of kin had been informed (Air Accidents Investigation Branch car pictured at the scene)

A Department for Transport spokesperson said: 'Our deepest sympathies go out to those affected by the incident at Derriford Hospital'

Ms Hill, who lived with her aunt for more than a decade, reportedly had 'various aches and pains' this morning but was not seriously injured.

She told The Sun: 'Despite her age, Jean was very physically active, she would walk for miles, she liked to keep busy.

'She was a loving mother of one son and four grandchildren, who she cherished.'

Ms Langan's great-nephew, Michael Hill, added: 'I'm just shocked. We want the hospital and the coast guard to be held accountable.'

Detective Inspector Andy Hodges said: 'It is currently believed that at around 11:20am on Friday 4 March, a HM Coastguard helicopter was landing at the helipad at Derriford; the helicopter was carrying a casualty linked to a separate job earlier that morning.

'Whilst the helicopter was in the process of landing on the helipad, the down draft caused one member of the public, an 87-year-old woman from the Plymouth area who was on near-by footpath to be blown over.

'She sustained a serious head injury and later died in Derriford Hospital. Her next of kin have been informed and a file is to be prepared for the coroner.

'A second woman, also in their 80's, was in the car park when it is believed the down draft caused the car door to slam shut whilst she was exiting her vehicle; She has suffered a broken pelvis and remains in hospital in a stable condition.'

He added: 'Our role now is to assist with the investigation which is now being led on by the Air Accident Investigations Branch.

'This is a tragic incident, and our thoughts go out to all affected by what took place yesterday at Derriford.'

The force said: 'An initial investigation is being conducted by Devon and Cornwall Police assisted by a number of partner agencies' (file photo of HM Coastguard helicopter)

One person remains in hospital while the second person who was injured in the incident, a local woman in her 80s, has died. Pictured: Air Accidents Investigation Branch car at the scene

A woman in her 80s has died after a coastguard helicopter blew her off her feet in a downdraft while landing at a Derriford hospital (pictured), according to a relative

A spokeswoman for the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) earlier told the BBC the helicopter was flying a patient to the hospital when 'there was an incident' as it landed.

She added: 'Our thoughts are with all those affected by today's incident.'

The incident is also being investigated by the Air Accidents Investigation Branch.

Devon and Cornwall Police said on Twitter: 'One person has died and another remains in hospital following an incident that has taken place today on the grounds of Derriford Hospital, involving a HM Coastguard helicopter.

'An initial investigation is being conducted by Devon and Cornwall Police.'

In a statement, the force added: 'Devon and Cornwall Police have been notified of an incident that has taken place today (Friday 4 March) on the grounds of Derriford Hospital.

The Maritime and Coastguard Agency said the helicopter was flying a patient to the hospital when 'there was an incident' as it landed. Pictured: A Sea King helicopter landing at the Derriford Hospital helipad in 2015

A Department for Transport spokesperson said it would be 'inappropriate to comment while the incident is being investigated'. Pictured: AAIB car at scene

'It is believed that two members of the public were injured as a HM Coastguard helicopter was landing at the helipad at Derriford.

'One person is being treated for their injuries and remains in hospital.

'The second injured person, a local woman in her 80's, has since died; their next of kin have been made aware.

'An initial investigation is being conducted by Devon and Cornwall Police assisted by a number of partner agencies.'

A Department for Transport spokesperson said: 'Our deepest sympathies go out to those affected by the incident at Derriford Hospital.

'It would be inappropriate to comment while the incident is investigated by Devon and Cornwall Police and the Air Accidents Investigation Branch.'

A spokeswoman for the MCA said it would be inappropriate to comment further while the incident is being investigated.
Russian soldiers have allegedly raped women in cities they have already captured, the Ukrainian foreign minister has claimed.

Dmytro Kuleba, speaking during an online event hosted by the Chatham House think-tank, said there had already been 'numerous cases' of rape within occupied territory.

But speaking from Ukraine wearing a casual jumper and jacket he said he was 'sorry I may not look like a foreign minister', adding that it was 'difficult' to talk about international law amid the nation's suffering.

He did not give evidence to back his claim, but Ukrainian media reported that eleven cases of rape had been reported in Kherson - the only major city captured by Russia after more than a week of fighting.

Mr Kuleba called on the media to 'spread the truth about Russia's crimes against Ukraine'.

He said: 'We are fighting against the enemy who is much stronger than us. But international law is on our side, and hopefully it will help us. It will make its own contribution to help us prevail.'

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said on Twitter on Thursday there were 'worrying reports' of a potential operation to suggest Ukraine has attacked a Russian village

A school building damaged in yesterday's shelling in the city of Chernihiv in northern Ukraine, which saw 47 people die, according to local authorities

People take cover from shelling in the city of Bucha, west of Kyiv, during a Russian assault to try and capture it

Mr Kuleba said: 'When bombs fall on your cities, when soldiers rape women in the occupied cities - and we have numerous cases of, unfortunately, when Russian soldiers rape women in Ukrainian cities - it's difficult of course to speak about the efficiency of the international law.

'But this is the only tool of civilisation that is available to us to make sure that, in the end, eventually all those who made this war possible will be brought to justice and the Russian Federation, as a country that committed an act of aggression, will also be held accountable for its deeds.'

The Ukrainian politician during his speech also backed calls for Vladimir Putin to face a special tribunal over the continued military action in Ukraine.

Russia's invasion has already claimed hundreds of lives, displaced more than a million people and spurred allegations of war crimes.

Indiscriminate shelling of major Ukrainian cities has been taking place, leaving hundreds of innocents dead.

And the attack showed no sign of letting up today, as Mykolaiv, in the south of Ukraine, came under attack with Russian forces moved within striking distance of the city centre.

The city is located just a few miles from Kherson, which fell to Putin's men earlier in the week, along the road to Odessa - Ukraine's third-largest city and main port.

However, reports emerged on Friday evening that an attack on an airport on the outskirts of the city had been repulsed, with Ukrainian forces digging in for fresh fighting overnight.

But Ukraine's military did managed to pull off some successes. Two Russian jets were downed near Volnovakha, in the east near Donetsk, while Ukrainian special forces also ambushed two of the Kremlin's tank columns at Hostomel and Brovary, leaving large numbers of troops dead and destroying vehicles.

In the early hours of Friday, the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant was attacked. A damaged Russian attack vehicle is seen outside the power plant (left) while firefighters work to extinguish a fire that broke out inside a training complex (right)

Fire-damaged buildings at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear complex are pictured on Friday morning after coming under attack by Russian forces overnight, leading to international condemnation

Russian armoured vehicles and troops attacked the nuclear power plant in the early hours of Friday, shooting and shelling guards holed up in administrative buildings near the nuclear reactors - setting one of them on fire

In one image that seemed to sum up the appalling human catastrophe of the Russian invasion, a Ukrainian soldier was pictured rescuing a tiny baby from a scene of total devastation in Irpin, near Kyiv

In the early hours of Friday, the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, which creates around 20 per cent of Ukraine's electricity, was attacked.

CCTV captured a fierce gun battle between Putin's men and Ukrainian defenders that sparked a fire in a six-storey training building just outside the main complex. Moscow's men then stopped firefighters getting to the building for several hours.

Moscow has, predictably, attempted to deny responsibility for the attack, saying its forces had come under attack by Ukrainian 'saboteurs' while patrolling the plant, who then set fire to the building themselves.

It is the latest in a string of denials by Vladimir Putin who on Friday insisted that Russian forces are not bombing Ukrainian cities.

The bizarre denial came amid fears at least 100 people are buried under rubble after an apartment block near Kyiv was struck and after a cluster bomb attack on the cit of Chernihiv which killed 49.

Former British prime minister Gordon Brown, who also addressed Chatham House event, said he believes the prospect of Mr Putin ending up in the dock for the crime of aggression against Ukraine is 'a realistic option'.

The former Labour leader, calling on countries to support the creation of a special tribunal to punish the Russian leader, said the plan is modelled on the actions of the nations which met in London during the Second World War to draft a resolution on Nazi war crimes, which led to the creation of the International Military Tribunals and the Nuremberg trials.

He said a new international tribunal is needed as well as existing international investigations by the International Criminal Court.

Mr Brown said: 'President Putin has posed a fateful challenge to the post-1945 international order. He has sought to replace the rule of law with a misuse of force.

'If we were to acquiesce in any way, none of us could ever take freedom or democracy for granted ever again.'

Former British prime minister Gordon Brown, who also addressed Chatham House event, said he believes the prospect of Mr Putin ending up in the dock for the crime of aggression against Ukraine is 'a realistic option'

He said he believes it is 'a realistic option' that Mr Putin could end up at a tribunal, adding that governments in the European Union, some Baltic states as well as the UK have all been contacted about the idea of a setting up the legal mechanism.

He said: 'I hope they are looking at it with an eye to making a decision to support this but they're certainly looking at this with a great deal of care and resilience in the way that they are wanting to find ways to deal with this problem.'

The proposal Mr Brown is supporting seeks to address a gap in the international legal infrastructure. It has been formulated by senior international legal experts including Philippe Sands QC, director of the Centre on International Courts and Tribunals at University College London.

The lawyers are demanding that the UK and other countries join Ukraine to grant jurisdiction to a dedicated criminal tribunal to investigate both the perpetrators of the crime of aggression and those complicit in that crime.

Mr Brown added: 'Currently the ICC can investigate crimes against humanity, genocide and war crimes. As evidence mounts acts against innocent civilians including children and the use of vapour bombs, it may be that Russia can be prosecuted for these crimes.

'But we lack a crucial extra weapon in the legal fight against Putin, because Russia has not signed up to a separate ICC statute under which nations pledge not to commit so-called 'crimes of aggression'. We need the special tribunal.

'Mr Kuleba wants us to act and I believe we must do so now. Putin must not be able to escape justice.'

A delusional Vladimir Putin has again insisted that Russia is not bombing Ukrainian cities, despite fears that 100 people are buried under rubble after an apartment block near Kyiv was struck and after an attack on the city of Chernihiv which killed 49

A woman walks amidst the debris of a school building destroyed by shelling, as Russia's invasion of Ukraine continues, in Zhytomyr on March 4

Other pictures showed a devastated woman appearing emotional as she walked past a house burning after the city of Irpin came under massive shelling

Echoing Mr Brown's belief that Putin could face justice, Mr Sands said if there is 'political will' it is possible to set up tribunals, citing the 'horrors of Yugoslavia and Rwanda' as examples of where this had been possible.

On the prospect of Mr Putin ending up 'in the dock', the professor of law at University College London and practising barrister said it might have at one stage been 'unimaginable that Nazi leaders like Hermann Goering and others would find themselves in the dock' and yet it happened.

He suggested those closest to Putin might at some stage 'break ranks' to assist in investigations into war crimes.

He said: 'In 1945, the imminence of the creation of the Nuremburg tribunal was the basis for negotiations with some very senior people around Adolf Hitler which caused them to cut deals and to avoid prosecution themselves.

'And I think one of the ideas would be that those in the inner circle might at some point say to themselves 'Do I really want to be associated with this? Am I willing to break ranks, and am I willing to assist in these investigations?'

'Who knows? But it's not impossible.'
CNN International, the global arm of CNN, ABC and CBS News will stop broadcasting in Russia, after the Kremlin introduced a new law in the country that could jail anyone intentionally spreading 'fake' news.

Bloomberg News, the BBC and Canada's CBC also said they were temporarily suspending the work of their journalists inside Russia.

Russian officials have said that false information has been spread by enemies such as the United States and its Western European allies in an attempt to sow discord among the Russian people.

Lawmakers in Moscow passed amendments to the criminal code making the spread of 'fake' information an offense punishable with fines or jail terms. They also imposed fines for anyone calling for sanctions against Russia following the invasion of Ukraine.

The new legislation was passed by parliament and will become law when Vladimir Putin signs it, as he is widely expected to do. It was not clear when Putin would sign the measure.

It appeared to give the Russian state much stronger powers to crack down, by making it a criminal offense to spread fake information, with a jail term of up 15 years for posting about 'fake news.'

'CNN will stop broadcasting in Russia while we continue to evaluate the situation and our next steps moving forward,' a spokesperson said Friday.

Nic Robertson, CNN's International Diplomatic Editor, has been reporting from Moscow for much of the past week. The news network is now to stop broadcasting from Russia

Mary Ilyushina who reports from Moscow for CBS News will not be on air until the network decides how best to report from the country without breaking any of the new Russian laws

'The change to the criminal code, which seems designed to turn any independent reporter into a criminal purely by association, makes it impossible to continue any semblance of normal journalism inside the country,' Bloomberg Editor-in-Chief John Micklethwait said in a statement.

CBS News stated that it is no longer broadcasting from the country: 'CBS News is not currently broadcasting from Russia as we monitor the circumstances for our team on the ground given the new media laws passed today.'

It was a similar view taken by ABC News, which has several correspondents working in the country currently.

'Because of the new censorship law passed in Russia today, some Western networks including ABC News are not broadcasting from the country tonight. We will continue to assess the situation and determine what this means for the safety of our teams on the ground,' the network said.

Several other news organizations including the Canadian Broadcasting CBC and the BBC have also suspended their reporting from Russia following the passing of the law.

'The CBC is very concerned about new legislation passed in Russia, which appears to criminalize independent reporting on the current situation in Ukraine and Russia,' the CBC said in a statement posted online.

ABC News' James Longman has been broadcasting from Moscow all week, but stopped on Friday night

BBC News has said it will continue its service in Russian from outside of Russia.

'The safety of our staff is paramount and we are not prepared to expose them to the risk of criminal prosecution simply for doing their jobs,' BBC Director-General Tim Davie said in a statement. 'I'd like to pay tribute to all of them, for their bravery, determination and professionalism.

'It leaves us no other option than to temporarily suspend the work of all BBC News journalists and their support staff within the Russian Federation while we assess the full implications of this unwelcome development.

'We remain committed to making accurate, independent information available to audiences around the world, including the millions of Russians who use our news services.

'Our journalists in Ukraine and around the world will continue to report on the invasion of Ukraine.'

Russia has termed its actions in Ukraine a 'special operation.'

The new law came after foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova accused the BBC of playing a 'determined role in undermining the Russian stability and security.'

Interim BBC News Director Jonathan Munro tweeted: 'It's with a heavy heart that we have had to suspend @BBCNews operations in Russia until we assess impact of new laws which outlaw independent journalism.

'Thoughts with colleagues in Moscow whose voices cannot be silenced for long.'

BBC News suspended the work of its Russia-based correspondents including Moscow-based, Steve Rosenberg who has been reporting throughout the crisis from the capital

Munro confirmed the corporation 'is not pulling out journalists from Moscow.'

He tweeted: 'We cannot use their reporting for the time being but they remain valued members of our teams and we hope to get them back on our output as soon as possible.'

Russia's media regulator Roskomnadzor 'limited' access to bbcrussian.com and bbcnews.com on Friday.

Other foreign websites have also been blocked, including independent news website Meduza, German broadcaster Deutsche Welle and the Russian-language website of the U.S.-funded Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Svoboda.

Deutsche Welle posted a letter to Russians on its German website saying it regretted the decision and urged readers to bypass the internet blockade.

Voice of America said in a statement that audiences in Russia deserved access to factual news content and it would continue to support tools that allow them to bypass any blocking efforts.

BBC Russia reports that it has been included in the register of mass media 'containing calls for riots, extremism and participation in illegal mass actions.' (Pictured: BBC Russia homepage)

Editors of BBC Russia (website homepage pictured) had earlier received notices from Roskomnadzor demanding to remove materials, claiming they contained 'inaccurate, socially significant information distributed under the guise of reliable messages, which creates a threat of harm to life.'

Newspapers, including the Wall Street Journal and Washington Post, appear to be staying put, for now.

'Our top priorities are the safety of our employees and covering this important story fairly and fully. Being in Moscow, freely able to talk to officials and capture the mood, is key to that mission,' said a spokesperson for the WSJ.

'We are assessing the details of the Russian law and its potential impact on our reporting. We intend to exercise caution while seeking clarity about how these reported restrictions would affect Washington Post correspondents and local staff,' said the Post.

By ordering his forces into Ukraine, President Vladimir Putin has sparked the worst crisis between Russia and the West since the end of the Cold War, battering financial and commodity markets, sending the ruble into a tailspin and triggering an economic isolation never before visited on such a large economy.

Western governments and tech platforms have also banned the Russian news network RT, with the European Union accusing it of systematic disinformation over Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Russia's Foreign Ministry says that the Western media offer a partial - and often anti-Russian - view of the world while failing to hold their own leaders to account for corruption or devastating foreign wars like Iraq.

Western leaders including British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and former U.S. President Barack Obama have long raised concerns about the dominance of state media in Russia and say the freedoms won when the Soviet Union collapsed have been rolled back by Putin.
Mayor Adams and his schools Chancellor David Banks defended New York Citys system of mayoral control over schools in a wide-ranging hearing with state legislators Friday, arguing executive authority made the school system more nimble during the pandemic and that its necessary to enact Adamss education agenda.

Adams and Banks made the plea as state legislators prepare to vote on a proposal from Gov. Hochul to extend the system of mayoral control by another four years.

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New York City Schools Chancellor David Banks. (Barry Williams/for New York Daily News)

Adams, who attended city public schools as a student back when they were governed by elected community boards and has spoken frequently of his struggles with an undiagnosed learning disability, cited his own experiences to justify keeping mayoral control.

A four-year extension of this transformational policy will allow me for four years to do what I know needs to be done based on my time as a student, as a law enforcement officer, as a senator and as a borough president, he said.

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New York City Mayor Eric Adams (Michael M Santiago/Getty Images /Getty Images)

Banks, a long-time educator and public school grad, argued that the reorganization into a centrally-controlled Department of Education in 2002 under former Mayor Bloomberg has led to higher graduation rates, significant growth in the preschool system, and helped officials respond faster to changing COVID-19 conditions.

I would not have accepted the position as Chancellor if not for my faith in Mayor Adams and his having Mayoral Accountability, Banks said. That is the only way we can effectuate the kinds of bold changes we need to make to advance a more just, fair, and equitable school system.

But a range of parents, advocates, union officials and lawmakers pushed back on the proposed extension  with some proposing tweaks to impose additional checks on the mayors authority and others arguing to scrap it altogether.

Mark Cannizzaro, the president of the Council of School Supervisors and Administrators, the union representing city principals, suggested an evaluation from an independent body to take a look at mayoral control over 20 years to take a look at what has worked, what has not worked, and go from there.

He also advised restructuring the Panel for Education Policy  created by the state during the 2002 switch to mayoral control  to act as a monitor for the city school system with the authority to approve contracts and regulations.

The way the panel is currently structured, the mayor appoints nine of 15 members, virtually guaranteeing the chief executives agenda has a clear path to approval.

The structure of the panel has been tweaked over the years, including with the addition of a member elected by parent leaders, but some have called for a more significant overhaul.

Cannizzaro proposed having a 13-member panel with six members appointed by the mayor, and seven appointed by other entities.

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Banks said during the hearing that he believed putting mayoral appointees in the minority on the panel would undercut the effectiveness of mayoral control. But Cannizzaro argued that, if there is a policy question  that is somewhat controversial, it should not be too difficult to convince one member who was not appointed by the mayor himself to go in that direction.

I do think its possible to continue mayoral control and not have the majority vote there, he added.

United Federation of Teachers president Michael Mulgrew, who has been pushing legislators to reform the system of mayoral control, faulted former Mayor de Blasio for waiting to shut down schools when the coronavirus was spreading in March 2020.

There were plenty of moments when our educators and parents felt voiceless and helpless at a time when our district should have been most responsive to their needs, Mulgrew said.

But he stopped short of arguing for a return to a school board structure, arguing instead to restructure the Panel for Education Policy.

Jumaane Williams, the citys Public Advocate, said state officials should not be deciding how the city governs its schools.

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I remain unwavering in my belief that New York City and local government should have jurisdiction over New York City schools through municipal control, he said, adding that governmental bodies including the City Council would take on a greater role and work in tandem with the Mayor in assessing the needs and constraints of the New York City education system.
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Boris Johnson has praised the bravery of British journalists reporting from the front line of Vladimir Putin's bloody invasion of Ukraine after a team of reporters were shot and injured by a suspected Russian 'assassination squad'.

The Prime Minister took to Twitter to share his thoughts after terrifying footage showed Sky News' chief correspondent Stuart Ramsay being hit by a bullet in the lower back while in a car carrying his crew towards Kyiv on Monday. Two rounds also hit camera operator Richie Mockler in his body armour during the ambush.

Mr Johnson lauded the 'courage' of British war correspondents reporting from the ground and said they were 'risking their lives to ensure the truth is told'.

He tweeted on Saturday morning: 'The courage of these journalists, putting themselves in terrifying and dangerous situations, is astonishing to watch.

'Theyre risking their lives to ensure that the truth is told. Free press will not be intimidated or cowed by barbaric and indiscriminate acts of violence.'

Shocking video showed the moment bullets rained down on the car and the team screaming as the windscreens glass smashes around them as rounds of fire barrelled into the vehicle before the group shouts out: 'Stop, were just journalists!

Ukrainian officials told the news crew that the attack was allegedly carried out by a saboteur Russian reconnaissance squad.

After a tense standoff, the team miraculously ran for their lives using a concrete wall for cover before finding shelter in a factory unit. They were later rescued by Ukrainian police.

Ramsay, recalling the terrifying attack for Sky News, detailed the moment the eerie quiet was pierced by the sound of a small explosion that rocked the car.

Bullets cascaded through the whole of the car, tracers, bullet flashes, windscreen glass, plastic seats, the steering wheel, and dashboard had disintegrated, he wrote.

I do recall wondering if my death was going to be painful. And then I was hit in the lower back. Ive been hit, I shouted. But what amazed me was that it didnt hurt that bad. It was more like being punched, really.

The whole crew, including Sky News Dominique van Heerden and Martin Vowles, are now safe and back in the UK. The fifth member of the team, local producer Andrii Lytvynenko, is back with his family in Ukraine.

It comes as two Danish journalists were shot at as they travelled to a shelled kindergarten in Ohtyrka, northeast Ukraine, on Wednesday.

WATCH: Sky News reporters ambushed near Kyiv, injuring one of them pic.twitter.com/zDXGGEwJ40  BNO News (@BNONews) March 4, 2022

Mr Johnson tweeted on Saturday morning: 'The courage of these journalists, putting themselves in terrifying and dangerous situations, is astonishing to watch. 'Theyre risking their lives to ensure that the truth is told. Free press will not be intimidated or cowed by barbaric and indiscriminate acts of violence'

The Prime Minister took to Twitter to share his thoughts on the 'courage' of the journalists reporting from the front lines of Putin's war after terrifying footage showed Sky News' chief correspondent Stuart Ramsay being hit by a bullet in the lower back near Kyiv

Chief correspondent Stuart Ramsay, pictured with a cut to his face after escaping an ambush, was hit by a bullet in the lower back while in a car carrying his crew towards Kyiv on Monday

Terrifying footage shows bullets striking the news crew's car and the team screaming as glass smashes around them. Pictured: Producer Dominique Van Heerden runs for cover

The danger journalists face covering the war in Ukraine was shockingly illustrated last night as Sky News released harrowing footage of their team coming under fire

Footage shows bullets striking the car and the team screaming as glass smashes around them

Two rounds also hit camera operator Richie Mockler in his body armour during the ambush

After a tense standoff, the team miraculously ran for their lives using a concrete wall for cover before finding shelter in a factory unit. They were later rescued by Ukrainian police

Russia is continuing to advance in southern Ukraine, with Mariupol under bombardment and Odessa and Mykolaiv under threat. Chernihiv, in the north, and Kharkiv, in the east, continue to come under heavy bombardment. The capital Kyiv is also under threat, though Ukrainian counter-attacks took out some Russian forces early on Friday

Stuart Ramsay: Sky News' chief correspondent's previous scrapes in warzones Stuart Ramsay is Sky News' longest serving chief foreign correspondent and is listed as an expert in 'hostile environments' Stuart Ramsay is Sky News' longest serving chief foreign correspondent and is listed as an expert in 'hostile environments'. His face is regularly broadcasted to millions of people from the front line, having reported on 18 separate wars and major world events. Stuart has been nominated for four BAFTA awards and received high praise for his coverage of the conflicts in Syria and Iraq, to the migrant crisis in Central America and collapse of politics in Venezuela. Listed below are some of the high profile scrapes the chief correspondent has been involved in during his 30-year career. IRAQ 2016: During the Battle of Mosul, Stuart Ramsay was sat next to an ISIL car bomb which exploded while he and cameraman recorded footage from the front line. The pair were unharmed during the incident. ITALY, MARCH 2020: Ramsay, donning a full hazmat suit, becomes the first TV journalist to report from inside a hospital at the onset of Italy's coronavirus pandemic. His coverage was named the best 'Foreign Journalism' report at the British Journalism Awards in 2020. AFGHANISTAN, AUGUST 2021: Ramsay and a Sky News team report directly from the capital of Afghanistan during the fall of Kabul. Chief Correspondent for Sky News Stuart Ramsay is pictured above in Kabul in August 2021 KYIV, FEBRUARY 2022: Ramsay is shot and wounded while reporting near the Ukrainian capital by what are believed to be Russian saboteurs. Ramsay is hit by a bullet in his lower back, while two round also struck camera operator Richie Mockler's body armour during an ambush by 'professional Russian saboteurs'. Ramsay reports from a nearby garage after he is shot and wounded while reporting near the Ukrainian capital by what are believed to be Russian saboteurs Advertisement

The Daily Mail, Mail on Sunday and MailOnline UKRAINE REFUGEE APPEAL Readers of Mail Newspapers and MailOnline have always shown immense generosity at times of crisis. Calling upon that human spirit, we are now launching an appeal to raise money for refugees from Ukraine. For, surely, no one can fail to be moved by the heartbreaking images and stories of families  mostly women, children, the infirm and elderly  fleeing from Russia's invading armed forces. As this tally of misery increases over the coming days and months, these innocent victims of a tyrant will require accommodation, schools and medical support. All donations to the Mail Ukraine Appeal will be distributed to charities and aid organisations providing such essential services. In the name of charity and compassion, we urge all our readers to give swiftly and generously. TO MAKE A DONATION ONLINE Donate at www.mailforcecharity.co.uk/donate To add Gift Aid to a donation  even one already made  complete an online form found here: mymail.co.uk/ukraine Via bank transfer, please use these details: Account name: Mail Force Charity Account number: 48867365 Sort code: 60-00-01 TO MAKE A DONATION VIA CHEQUE Make your cheque payable to 'Mail Force' and post it to: Mail Newspapers Ukraine Appeal, GFM, 42 Phoenix Court, Hawkins Road, Colchester, Essex CO2 8JY TO MAKE A DONATION FROM THE US US readers can donate to the appeal via a bank transfer to Associated Newspapers or by sending checks to dailymail.com HQ at 51 Astor Place (9th floor), New York, NY 10003 Advertisement

Reporter Stefan Weichert and photographer Emil Filtenborg Mikkelsen were both wounded, despite wearing bulletproof vests, after they were attacked by unidentified shooters.

IFJ General Secretary Anthony Bellanger said: As the scale and brutality of the Russian war in Ukraine grows, it is becoming increasingly dangerous for journalists to cover the conflict safely.

We call on the international community and Unesco to do everything possible to secure the safety of journalists working on the ground.

Recalling the incident, Ramsay, who was not thought to be seriously wounded, said: The first round cracked the windscreen. Then we were under full attack.

Bullets cascaded through the whole of the car the steering wheel and dashboard had disintegrated. I do recall wondering if my death was going to be painful.

Boris Johnsons gung-ho culture secretary Nadine Dorries appeared close to tears in the Commons this week as she paid tribute to journalists risking their lives to provide unbiased and accurate news from a live war zone.

The British minister paid tribute to those braving Russian bombs to provide unbiased and accurate news from a live war zone  in stark contrast to poisonous propaganda from the Kremlin.

At times pausing to maintain her composure, she continued: At this point, I would just like to offer my heartfelt thanks and admiration to all those journalists working for the BBC, ITV and other news outlets who are risking their lives to bring us unbiased and accurate news from a live war zone.

Dorries  who has previously called for an end to the licence fee  stressed: I have always said the BBC is a great British global brand and it needs protecting. We need to review the funding model in order to protect the BBC... including the World Service.

It comes as Volodymyr Zelensky urged Ukrainians to continue fighting Vladimir Putins forces following allegations that Russian troops are shelling Mariupol despite promising a ceasefire to allow hundreds of thousands of civilians to escape the strategic port city.

In a defiant address on Saturday, the comic-turned-war leader ordered those who can to keep attacking Kremlin troops as more than 200,000 civilians in Mariupol and the town of Volnovakha in the countrys east are given five hours to evacuate west to Zaporizhzhia.

Addressing the US directly, Ukraines president then thundered what more is needed to convince President Joe Biden to enforce a no-fly zone, an action which could widen the war, after he accused the West of cowardice in the face of Russian aggression.

Officials in Mariupol have alleged that Russian forces are flouting an agreed ceasefire and pounding the city. Deputy mayor Serhiy Orlov told the BBC: The Russians are continuing to bomb us and use artillery. It is crazy. There is no ceasefire in Mariupol and there is no ceasefire all along the route. Our civilians are ready to escape but they cannot escape under shelling.

Ukraines deputy prime minister Iryna Vereshchuk said Kyiv is verifying claims that Kremlin forces are shelling Mariupol, warning: The whole world is watching.

The Russian defence ministry said on Saturday that its units had opened humanitarian corridors near the two cities encircled by its troops for five hours between 12pm and 5pm Moscow time, Russias RIA news agency reported.

In Mariupol, citizens would be allowed to leave during a five-hour window, it quoted the citys officials as saying. The Russian defence ministry said a broad offensive would then continue in Ukraine, RIA said.

The Ukrainian government said the plan was to evacuate around 200,000 people from Mariupol and 15,000 from Volnovakha, and the Red Cross is the ceasefires guarantor. There was no immediate confirmation that firing had stopped and it was not clear if the ceasefire would be extended to other areas, as Putins war with Ukraine entered its 10th day.

The evacuation will be seen as a prelude to a final assault that, if successful, would see the Russian army push north from occupied Crimea and link up with their forces from the east and take control of Ukraines coast on the Sea of Azov.

Since Russia invaded on February 24, Moscow has pummelled Ukrainian cities, with officials reporting hundreds of civilians killed. Europes largest atomic power plant has even come under attack sparking fears of a catastrophic nuclear accident. But Russia has so far only seized two key cities, Berdiansk and Kherson on Ukraines southern Black Sea coast.

Capturing Mariupol represents a bigger prize for Russian forces as it would deal a severe blow to Ukraines maritime access and connect with troops coming from annexed Crimea and the Donbas.

Zelensky said on Saturday: We managed to get an agreement to provide assistance to those cities in Ukraine that are in the dire and worst situation, Mariupol and Volnovakha, to save children and women and older people. To provide medication and food to those who stay there in those places.

Ukraines president Volodymyr Zelensky has accused the West of abandoning millions of his people to their deaths

A man stands in front of a residential building damaged in yesterday's shelling in the city of Chernihiv on March 4 after 47 people died in the city on March 3, according to officials

Ukrainian troops take cover from Russian shelling in the city of Bucha, located to the west of Kyiv

A child has a drink at the border crossing in Medyka, Poland, Saturday, March 5, 2022, after fleeing from Ukraine

This map shows the humanitarian route from Mariupol, through Nikolske, Rozivka, Polohy and Orikhiv, to Zaporizhzhia

Government tells British nationals to get out of Russia 'if your presence is not essential' as Ukraine crisis ramps up British nationals have been urged to consider leaving Russia in the wake of Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine. 'If your presence in Russia is not essential, we strongly advise that you consider leaving by remaining commercial routes,' the Foreign Office said in a statement on Saturday. Travellers or citizens currently in Russia were advised any direct flights back to the UK would be complicated by the fact Moscow banned UK airlines from flying in or out of the country on Friday, February 25. Those aiming to leave Russia are instead advised to book a connecting flight through the Middle East or Turkey to then travel back to the UK. On Monday, the British government advised its citizens against all travel to Russia due to a lack of available flight options and increased economic volatility. The statement read: 'The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) advises against all travel to the whole of Russia due to the lack of available flight options to return to the UK, and the increased volatility in the Russian economy.' It comes as the Russian Federal Air Transport Agency announced all foreign-bound flights were to be grounded on Saturday. As Russia slipped further into global isolation, it was announced that all foreign-made aircraft were to cease flights operating abroad effective from Sunday. Advertisement

Those people willing to leave these places should be able to do so now using the humanitarian corridor, but those who can should continue fighting.

We do everything we can on our side to make sure this agreement works, regarding the humanitarian corridors and we will see if we can move even further about our negotiations with Russia.

Aid agencies have warned of an unfolding humanitarian disaster as food, water and medical supplies run short and refugees stream into western Ukraine and neighbouring European countries.

In the southeastern port city of Mariupol  whose capture would be a key prize for Russia  there is no water, heat or electricity and food is running out, according to Mayor Vadym Boychenko. We are simply being destroyed, he said.

The siege of Mariupol came as more Russian forces inched closer to the capital Kyiv, encountering stiff resistance and shelling the western suburbs and the northern town of Chernihiv, where there have been heavy civilian casualties in recent days.

In a bitter and emotional speech late on Friday, Zelensky lashed out at NATO powers for refusing to impose a no-fly zone over his country, warning that all the people who die from this day forward will also die because of you. He claimed the Wests hesitancy will fully untie Russias hands as it escalates its air attack.

NATO says a no-fly zone could provoke widespread war in Europe with nuclear-armed Russia. But as the United States and other NATO members send weapons for Kyiv and more than 1million refugees spill through the continent, the conflict is already drawing in countries far beyond Ukraines borders.

The alliance has given the green light to the bombing of Ukrainian cities and villages, he said, warning that the history of Europe will remember this forever. In a separate video message to anti-war protesters in several European cities, Zelensky continued to appeal for help. If we fall, you will fall, he said.

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg had earlier ruled out the possibility of a no-fly zone, saying Western planes would have to shoot down Russian aircraft.

In a warning of a hunger crisis yet to come, the UN World Food Programme says millions of people inside Ukraine, a major global wheat supplier, will need food aid immediately. The UN Security Council will hold an open meeting Monday on the worsening humanitarian situation. The UN estimates that 12million people in Ukraine and 4million fleeing to neighbouring countries in the coming months will need humanitarian aid.

Ukraines leader is set to brief US senators on Saturday on a video conference call as US congress considers a request for $10billion in emergency funding for humanitarian aid and security needs.

While the vast Russian armoured column threatening Ukraines capital remained stalled outside Kyiv, Putins military has launched hundreds of missiles and artillery attacks on cities and other sites across the country.

Russian forces did not make significant progress on Friday in their offensive to sever Ukraines access to the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov, which would deal a severe blow to its economy. There were also no changes in the north and the east, where the Russian offensive has stalled, meeting fierce Ukrainian resistance.

Ukrainian presidential adviser Oleksiy Arestovich said battles involving airstrikes and artillery continued north-west of Kyiv, and the north-eastern cities of Kharkiv and Okhtyrka came under heavy fire. He said Ukrainian forces were still holding the northern city of Chernihiv and the southern city of Mykolaiv.

Ukrainian artillery also defended Ukraines biggest port city, Odesa, from repeated attempts by Russian ships, he said.

More than 840 children have been wounded in the war, and 28 have been killed, according to Ukraine's government. A total of 331 civilians had been confirmed killed but the true number is probably much higher, the UN human rights office said.

Biden has dismissed the notion of no-fly zones because of the risk of open conflict between NATO and Russian forces, despite opinion polling showing that a growing number of Americans want the US to take more aggressive action against the Kremlin.

The White House on Friday said it was weighing cuts to US imports of Russian oil, though it is proceeding cautiously, concerned about a spike in gasoline prices that would add to already high inflation.

On Friday, the United States flew B-52 Stratofortress bombers over NATOs eastern flank above Romania, exercising with the German and Romanian militaries.

Civilians, mostly women and children rush to board any train car that still has any room on it in Irpin on Friday

A house in Irpin, west of Kyiv, is pictured on fire on Friday as the town came under heavy Russian bombardment

A burnt car stands next to the remains of the local house of culture on Friday, following a night air raid in the village of Byshiv, 20 miles west of Kyiv

The city of Kharkiv, pictured, has been devastated by the Russian invasion. The city, to the east of Ukraine, has been under near constant bombardment

A woman walks amidst the debris of a school building destroyed by shelling, as Russia's invasion of Ukraine continues, in Zhytomyr on March 4

A local resident walks past the remains of a house of culture following a night air raid in the village of Byshiv, 40 kilometres west of Kyiv

Destroyed Russian armored vehicles in the city of Bucha, west of Kyiv, which has been under heavy attack in recent days

Jens Stoltenberg (left) and Antony Blinken (right) have today warned Putin that NATO is ready to defend 'every inch' of its territory in the event of a Russian attack, but is not seeking a war

A delusional Putin has again insisted that Russia is not bombing Ukrainian cities, despite fears that 100 people are buried under rubble after an apartment block near Kyiv was struck and after an attack on the city of Chernihiv which killed 49

MILITARY ANALYSTS SAY NATO WILL NOT IMPOSE A NO-FLY ZONE Military analysts say there is no chance that the US, Britain and their European allies will impose a no-fly zone because it could easily escalate the war in Ukraine into a nuclear confrontation between NATO and Russia. WHAT IS A NO-FLY ZONE? A no-fly zone would bar all unauthorized aircraft from flying over Ukraine. Western nations imposed such restrictions over parts of Iraq for more than a decade following the 1991 Gulf War, during the civil war in Bosnia and Herzegovina from 1993-95, and during the Libyan civil war in 2011. WHY WON'T NATO TAKE THIS STEP IN UKRAINE? In simple terms, because it would risk a direct military conflict with Russia that could escalate into a wider European war with a nuclear-armed superpower. While the idea may have captured the public imagination, declaring a no-fly zone could force NATO pilots to shoot down Russian aircraft. But it goes beyond that. In addition to fighter planes, NATO would have to deploy refueling tankers and electronic-surveillance aircraft to support the mission. To protect these relatively slow, high-flying planes, NATO would have to destroy surface-to-air missile batteries in Russia and Belarus, again risking a broader conflict. 'The only way to implement a no-fly zone is to send NATO fighter planes into Ukrainian airspace, and then impose that no-fly zone by shooting down Russian planes,' NATO Secretary Jens Stoltenberg said Friday. 'We understand the desperation, but we also believe that if we did that, we would end up with something that could end in a full-fledged war in Europe.' 'We have a responsibility as NATO allies to prevent this war from escalating beyond Ukraine,' he said. WHAT WOULD A NO-FLY ZONE ACHIEVE? Ukrainian authorities and people cowering night after night in bomb shelters say a no-fly zone would protect civilians - and now nuclear power stations - from Russian air strikes. But analysts say it's Russia's ground forces, not aircraft, that are causing most of the damage in Ukraine. What Ukrainians actually want is a broader intervention like the one that occurred in Libya in 2011, when NATO forces launched attacks on government positions, said Justin Bronk, a research fellow at the Royal United Services Institute in London. That's not likely to happen when the opponent is Russia. 'They want to see the West kind of sweeping in and taking out the rocket artillery that's pummeling Ukrainian cities,' Bronk said. 'We're not going to go to war against the Russian army. They are a massive nuclear-armed power. There is no way that we could possibly model, let alone control, the escalation chain that would come from such an action.' WHAT IS HAPPENING IN THE SKIES OVER UKRAINE? Predictions that Russia would quickly control the skies over Ukraine have not come to fruition. Military experts are wondering why Russia has chosen to leave most of its fixed-wing combat aircraft on the ground during this massive land offensive. One explanation may be that Russian pilots aren't well trained in supporting large-scale land operations, engagements that require coordination with artillery, helicopters and other assets in a fast-moving environment. 'I think that maybe they're a little bit worried that that is a very constrained area. It's not like the Middle East, where there's all kinds of space to roam around in the air,' said Robert Latif, a retired U.S. Air Force major general who now teaches at the University of Notre Dame. 'They could very easily stray over borders,' he explained. 'With both Ukrainian and Russian air defense systems and Ukrainian, what little they have, and Russian airplanes all flying around - that could be a very confusing. I think maybe they're a little bit worried about actually being able to pull it off.' Advertisement

The largest strategic bombers in the US Air Force took off from RAF Fairford, a Royal Air Force station in England, and conducted close air support and integration mission training, according to a statement from US Air Forces in Europe. The B-52s then flew to Romania, where they conducted more close air support training as part of the Bomber Task Force (BTF) missions.

The White House announced that US Vice President Kamala Harris will travel to Poland and Romania next week to meet with officials to discuss the Russian invasion of Ukraine and impact the war is having on the region.

Harris agenda for the March 9-11 visit to Warsaw and Bucharest is expected to centre on economic, security and humanitarian assistance for Ukraine.

The Vice Presidents meetings will also focus on how the United States can further support Ukraine's neighbours as they welcome and care for refugees fleeing violence, Harris deputy press secretary Sabrina Singh said.

Biden spoke on Friday with Polands President Andrzej Duda. Poland is assisting about 700,000 Ukrainians and others who have fled the war so far. The United States has also more than doubled its military presence in Poland, which is a member of NATO, to 9,000 troops in recent weeks.

While the vast Russian armoured column threatening Kyiv remained stalled outside the capital, Putins military has launched hundreds of missiles and artillery attacks on cities and other sites across the country.

Russian forces did not make significant progress Friday in their offensive to sever Ukraines access to the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov, which would deal a severe blow to its economy. There were also no changes in the north and the east, where the Russian offensive has stalled, meeting fierce Ukrainian resistance.

Invading Russian troops have blockaded the strategic Ukrainian port city Mariupol, its mayor announced Saturday, as Moscow and Kyiv aimed to hold new talks over the weekend.

While laying siege to Mariupol for days, Russian forces also cut its electricity, food, water, heating and transportation in the depths of winter, prompting comparisons to the Nazi blockade of Leningrad in World War II.

Ukraines foreign minister Dmytro Kuleba claimed that Russian troops have raped women in cities they have already captured. He did not give evidence to back his claim, but Ukrainian media reported that 11 cases of rape had been reported in Kherson, the only major city captured by Russia after more than a week of fighting.

Earlier, it was revealed that no radiation was released from a Russian attack at Europes biggest nuclear power plant in Ukraine.

The International Atomic Energy Agencys director-general, Rafael Mariano Grossi, said on Friday the building hit by a Russian projectile at the Zaporizhzhia plant was not part of the reactor but instead a training centre at the plant.

Nuclear officials from Sweden to China said no radiation spikes had been reported, as did Grossi.

Ukrainian officials have said Russian troops took control of the overall site, but the plants staff were continuing to ensure its operations. Grossi said the Ukrainians were in control of the reactor.

In the frenzied initial aftermath when the risk of a radiation release was not clear, the attack caused worldwide concern  and evoked memories of the worlds worst nuclear disaster, at Ukraines Chernobyl.

Facing worldwide indignation over the attack, Russia sought to deflect blame. Without producing evidence, defence ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov blamed arson rather than artillery fire.

He claimed a Ukrainian sabotage group had occupied the training building at the plant, fired on a Russian patrol and set fire to the building as they left.

There had been conflicting reports earlier over which part of the Zaporizhzhia facility had been affected in the attack, with an official saying at one point that shells fell directly on the facility and set fire to a reactor not in operation as well as a training building. Grossi later said that the fire was in the training centre.

The confusion itself underscored the dangers of active fighting near a nuclear power plant. It was the second time since the invasion began just over a week ago that concerns about a nuclear accident or a release of radiation materialized, following a battle at Chernobyl.

Grossi said only one reactor of six at Zaporizhzhia is currently operating, at about 60 per cent capacity, and that two people at the site were injured in the fire.

Ukraines state nuclear plant operator Enerhoatom said three Ukrainian soldiers were killed and two wounded.

The plant fire came as the Russian military advanced on a strategic city on the Dnieper River near where the facility is located, and gained ground in their bid to cut the country off from the sea.

That move would deal a severe blow to Ukraines economy and could worsen an already dire humanitarian situation.

With the invasion in its second week, another round of talks between Russia and Ukraine yielded a tentative agreement to set up safe corridors to evacuate citizens and deliver humanitarian aid to the country, overturned by a war that has sent more than 1million fleeing over the border and countless others sheltering underground.

A handful of cities are without heat and at least one is struggling to get food and water.

In the centre of the capital, Kyiv, frequent shelling could still be heard Friday, although more distant than in recent days, with loud thudding every 10 minutes resonating over the rooftops.

The West has heaped sanctions on Russia, and most of the world lined up to demand Russia withdraw its troops in a vote in the UN General Assembly this week.

In the latest show of international opposition to the invasion, the UNs top human rights body voted 32-2 on a resolution that would among other things set up a panel of experts to monitor human rights in Ukraine. Only Russia and Eritrea opposed; there were 13 abstentions.

The attack on the nuclear facility led to phone calls between the Ukrainian president and Biden and other world leaders. The US Department of Energy activated its nuclear incident response team as a precaution.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson called for an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council to raise the issue of Russias attack on the plant.

In an emotional speech in the middle of the night, Zelensky said he feared an explosion that would be the end for everyone. The end for Europe. The evacuation of Europe. But most experts saw nothing to indicate an impending disaster.

The real threat to Ukrainian lives continues to be the violent invasion and bombing of their country, the American Nuclear Society said in a statement.

Putins forces have brought their superior firepower to bear over the past few days, launching hundreds of missiles and artillery attacks on cities and other sites around the country and making significant gains in the south.

The Russians announced the capture of the southern city of Kherson, a vital Black Sea port of 280,000, and local Ukrainian officials confirmed the takeover of the government headquarters there, making it the first major city to fall since the invasion began just over a week ago.

A Russian airstrike destroyed a power plant in Okhtyrka, leaving the northeastern city without heat or electricity, the head of the region said on Telegram.

We are trying to figure out how to get people out of the city urgently because in a day the apartment buildings will turn into a cold stone trap without water, light or electricity, Dmytro Zhyvytskyy said.

Another strategic port, Mariupol on the Azov Sea, was partially under siege, and Ukrainian forces are pushing back efforts to surround the city, Ukrainian presidential adviser Oleksiy Arestovich said.

The humanitarian situation is tense, he told reporters, adding that Ukrainian authorities are in talks with Russian representatives and international organisations to set up humanitarian corridor to evacuate residents and supply food.

Battles in the area have knocked out the citys electricity, heat and water systems, as well as most phone service, officials said. Food deliveries to the city were also cut.

Sparks erupt from an administration building (bottom right) as a live steam video shot from a larger office block behind it films Russian tanks opening fire on the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in the early hours of Friday morning

Rafael Mariano Grossi, head of the UN's nuclear energy watchdog, outlines where the building that caught fire was in relation to the six reactors at Zaporizhzhia

As fears of a nuclear disaster continue, Russian planes also bombed a thermal power plant in Okhtyrka (pictured), 220 miles east of Kyiv, on Friday

Russian armoured vehicles and troops attacked the nuclear power plant in the early hours of Friday, shooting and shelling guards holed up in administrative buildings near the nuclear reactors - setting one of them on fire

Fire-damaged buildings at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear complex are pictured on Friday morning after coming under attack by Russian forces overnight, leading to international condemnation

In the early hours of Friday, the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant was attacked. A damaged Russian attack vehicle is seen outside the power plant (left) while firefighters work to extinguish a fire that broke out inside a training complex (right)

Video from the port city showed the assault lighting up the darkening sky above deserted streets and medical teams treating civilians, including a 16-year-old boy who could not be saved.

The child was playing football when he was wounded in the shelling, according to his father, who cradled the boys head on the trolley and cried.

Ukraines defence minister said Friday that the flagship of its navy has been scuttled at the shipyard where it was undergoing repairs in order to keep it from being seized by Russian forces.

Oleksii Reznikov said on Facebook that the commander of the frigate Hetman Sahaidachny decided to flood the ship.

Ukraines state emergency agency issued mass text messages on Friday with advice on what to do in case of an explosion: Lie on the ground and cover your head with your hands; use available shelter; do not rush to leave the shelter; help the wounded; do not enter damaged buildings.

Overall, the outnumbered, outgunned Ukrainians have put up stiff resistance, staving off the swift victory that Russia appeared to have expected.

But Russias seizure of the Crimean Peninsula in 2014 gives it a logistical advantage now in the countrys south, with shorter supply lines that smoothed the offensive there, said a senior US defence official.

Ukrainian leaders called on the people to defend their homeland by cutting down trees, erecting barricades in the cities and attacking enemy columns from the rear.

In recent days, authorities have issued weapons to civilians and taught them how to make Molotov cocktails.

As the Russian and Ukrainian negotiators met in Belarus on Thursday, Putin warned in a call with Macron that Ukraine must quickly accept the Kremlins demand for its demilitarisation and declare itself neutral, renouncing its bid to join NATO.

The two sides said they tentatively agreed to allow cease-fires in areas designated safe corridors, and that they would seek to work out the necessary details quickly.

A Zelensky adviser also said a third round of talks will be held early next week.

The Pentagon set up a direct communication link to Russias ministry of defence earlier this week to avoid the possibility of a miscalculation sparking conflict between Moscow and Washington.
Pro-Putin politicians, activists, and influencers have been spotted wearing clothes and badges with the letter 'Z' on to show their support for the invasion of Ukraine.

The insignia, which is Latin script, has been seen on Russian tanks and military vehicles coming into Ukraine and become a symbol of the invasion.

'Z' merchandise is being sold by Russia Today, the Kremlin-funded TV channel.

Proceeds from the sales are supposedly going towards a charity which supports 'children of war.'

T-shirts which are unisex are on sale for 1,190 roubles (8).

Russian MP Maria Butina, who was convicted in in the US in 2018 for acting as a foreign agent, posted a picture of her and colleagues in 'Z' t-shirts this week.

The photograph was captioned: 'The team in support of our army and president! Let's get to work guys!

Russian MP Maria Butina (second left), who was convicted in in the US in 2018 for acting as a foreign agent, posted a picture of her and colleagues in 'Z' t-shirts this week

The insignia, which is Latin script, has been seen on Russian tanks and military vehicles coming into Ukraine and has become a symbol of the invasion

'Z' merchandise is being sold by Russia Today, the Kremlin-funded TV channel. Pictured: A 'Z' is seen on a Russian military vehicle

Politician Mikhail Delyagin wore a badge in a meeting of the state duma or parliament emblazoned with a 'Z'.

In the meeting, the government approved Draconian new laws.

Mr Delyagin said in a statement: 'Now we are at war. Yes we have a special operation in Ukraine, but we have a war with the West.'

It comes as Russia's invasion of Ukraine intensifies, with forces destroying port city Mariupol and seizing the largest nuclear power plant in Europe.

There are fears that there could be around 100 people buried in rubble after a rocket strike on an apartment in the city of Boradyanka, 30 miles from Kyiv.

And images from Irpin, situated on the outskirts of the capital Kyiv, confirmed extensive damage to densely-populated civilian areas, with piles of rubble, twisted metal and burned out cars stretching into the distance.

Pictured: A graphic showing Russian military markings.

Pictured: A board in support of the Russian armed forces is on display in Saint Petersburg

A Ukrainian soldier was pictured rescuing a tiny baby from a scene of total devastation in Irpin, including what appeared to be a bombed-out bridge, in a harrowing image that summed up the atrocity of the ongoing war.

Other pictures showed a devastated woman appearing emotional as she walked past a house burning after the city of Irpin came under massive shelling.

Elsewhere, scenes of destruction were seen in the northwestern city of Zhytomyr on Friday, after it was hit by shelling that left a school building completely destroyed.

But a delusional Vladimir Putin has again insisted that Russia is not bombing Ukrainian cities, despite fears that 100 people are buried under rubble after an apartment block near Kyiv was struck and after a cluster bomb attack on the city of Chernihiv which killed 49.

Kyiv says Russia has now lost around 9,200 men in the fighting, along with hundreds of tanks, almost a thousand armoured vehicles, and dozens of helicopters and jets.

Preparations for the defence of the capital have been boosted by Ukrainian attacks on the column of Russian military vehicles which has ground to a halt 20 miles from Kyiv.
The gunman who killed his three daughters and a chaperone who was supervising his visit with his children, before turning the gun on himself and taking his own life in a northern California church this week, was in the United States illegally, immigration officials said Friday.

David Mora, 39, overstayed his visa after entering California from his native Mexico on December 17, 2018, on a non-immigrant visitor visa, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) spokeswoman Alethea Smock said.

Smock did not say when his visa expired, but because he overstayed his visa, ICE asked to be notified when he was released from jail last week after he was arrested in Merced County for allegedly assaulting a California Highway Patrol officer.

The shootings at a church in Sacramento occurred Monday during a weekly supervised visitation Mora had with his daughters, aged 13, 10 and nine.

Police have revealed no motive but the confirmation that he was in the country illegally provides a possible reason: Mora may have feared being deported and separated from his children.

David Fidel Mora-Rojas, 39, overstayed his visa after entering California from his native Mexico in December 2018 and was in the United States illegally when he carried out the shooting

The three sisters killed by their father at a Sacramento church were named as (L to R) Samarah, 9; Samantha, 10, and Samia Mora Gutierrez, aged 13

The Merced County Sheriff's Office said that under California's so-called sanctuary state law, it does not notify immigration officials about in-custody people who are being released, and ICE was never notified.

The 2017 state law restricts local law enforcement's cooperation with federal officials except when immigrants are accused of very serious crimes.

Sacramento County Sheriff Scott Jones' department has disclosed few details so far, including when and how Mora obtained a weapon and what type of firearm he had. The agency had no immediate comment Friday.

Mora was arrested February 23 on charges of resisting arrest, battery on a police officer and driving under the influence.

Five days later, he opened fire inside The Church in Sacramento.

Samantha (center) would have celebrated her 11th birthday on Wednesday

A memorial for the three Gutierrez sisters is seen outside The Church in Sacramento on Tuesday. Mora also killed his daughters' chaperone before committing suicide

The weekly visitation was allowed under terms of a five-year restraining order obtained by Mora's ex-girlfriend, who was the mother of the girls.

The order said he had repeatedly threatened to kill her, scared their girls and said he would kill himself.

In a response to a court filing for the order, Mora said he had no guns. His ex-girlfriend also said she was not aware of him having firearms.

It is not clear whether Mora, also known as David Fidel Mora Rojas, faced a significant danger of being deported despite immigration officials' interest after his arrest.

Although ICE had asked to be notified of Mora's release, immigration officials did not take any additional steps to deport him after he was released on bail.

Under Democratic President Joe Biden, immigration officials put their priority for deportation on people whom they deem threats to public safety or national security or who recently crossed the border.

Such a policy is a change from the Trump administration, which sought anyone in the country illegally for deportation.

Ana DeJesus, right, places a teddy bear on a growing memorial at The Church in Sacramento

Samantha, pictured as a younger girl, was described as a keen reader by those who knew her

Samarah, the youngest of the slain sisters, was described as kind and loyal.

'If I didnt have anyone to play with, she would be there for me, and if I got sad or hurt, she would be the one to help me,' her friend Estella Hernandez said through tears.

Samantha, the middle child, was said to be an eager reader who always had a book in her hand, and Samia, was described by a friend on Facebook as being 'full of light.'

A GoFundMe campaign that has been launched by the girls' aunt has drawn more than $65,000 in donations as of Friday night.

Sgt. Rod Grassmann, spokesperson for the Sacramento County Sheriff's Office, called Mora's decision to shoot and kill his children 'unfathomable.'

Oscar Maldonado, a friend of the family, told CBS Sacramento that Mora was a hard-working but aggressive man who was battling drug abuse and mental health issues.

A huge police presence built up outside the church where the shooting took place

A father killed four, shooting three of his children before killing himself at the church in Sacramento

'He was very emotional, like really emotional,' Maldonado said.

Court documents paint a disturbing picture of verbal and physical abuse inflicted by Mora on his estranged girlfriend, who is the mother of their three daughters.

Mora 'is a very jealous person,' the woman wrote in her request for the restraining order. 'He threatened to kill me if he ever caught me cheating... He has choked me in the past.'

She said he told her he hadn't killed her 'because he would not know where to go with the children.' In the filing, she said he might flee to Mexico, where he had family.

'I am scared and nervous. I am afraid (Mora) is going to hurt me. I do not want to return home,' wrote the woman, whose name was withheld because she is an abuse victim.

The woman also said he was hospitalized for a week in April after 'expressing a desire to commit suicide.'

A five-year order was imposed May 19. It stipulated Mora only have supervised visits with his daughters for up to four hours per week with a mutually agreed-upon chaperone. He also was required to take anger management courses.

The horrific attack started at around 5.10pm on Monday when officers were called to the 'The Church in Sacramento' in the Arden Mall area of the city, reported ABC10.

The shooting happened in the main room of the small church. Emergency services were alerted after an employee at the church who was upstairs heard gunshots and called 911.

A teddy bear, balloons and flowers are among the items left at growing memorial at The Church
Two American tourists have allegedly been killed by a boat propeller while snorkeling in Mexico.

An unidentified 65-year-old man and 60-year-old woman died after they were reportedly chopped up by a boat propeller while snorkeling in the waters just off the coast of Cancun, the Mexican outlet Noti Carib reported on Friday.

The American pair boarded a Squalo Adventures tourism boat to an area where the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea meet to snorkel among artificial reefs and sunken ships, the outlet said.

It was there that they sustained their injuries from the boat propeller.

The outlet said one of the bodies was taken to Isla Mujeres while the other was taken to Cancun.

It is not immediately clear what caused the accident or who was responsible, the outlet reported.

Other news outlets have reported that the couple drowned, and that they were also Canadian. DailyMail.com reached out to police to clarify.

An unidentified 65-year-old man and 60-year-old woman died after being chopped up by a boat propeller while snorkeling in the waters just off the coast of Cancun

The pair boarded a Squalo Adventures tourism boat to an area where the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea meet to snorkel among artificial reefs and sunken ships

Back in October, an American tourist was shot and wounded in Cancun after two assassins leapt off jet skis and sprayed a beach gift shop with bullets, killing two workers inside.

The woman, named as Kanya, was struck while browsing the store on the Playa Tortugas around 2pm.

She is not believed to have been targeted by the executioners, but got caught in the crossfire of their shooting.

Afterward, the assassins sprinted back to their jet skis and fled the scene. The victims have not been named, and no arrests have been made.

According to Noti Caribe, Kanya was taken to Amerimed clinic, where she was denied treatment because she did not have enough money to cover the medical expenses.

Kanya was then transferred to Cancun General Hospital, where she was in stable condition and remained under observation for at least five days.

Video footage from newspaper De Peso showed Kanya being wheeled to an ambulance and asking for water while a female friend stood by her side.

The outlet also reported that the airline that Kanya flew with to Cancun was charging her a fee to change the date of her return flight back home.

Quintana Roo State Attorney General's Office said the U.S. Embassy had contacted Kanya's family and was assisting them in the process, De Peso reported.

A State Department source told DailyMail.com that they are aware of the injured woman's situation and stands ready to provide necessary assistance.

A 30-year-old American woman, identified as Kanya, was wounded in October at a beach in Cancun, Mexico, after two gunmen stepped off their jet skis and opened fire, killing two male workers outside a gift shop before escaping

Cancun forensic workers record evidence near the body of one of the two male workers who were gunned down by a pair of assassins at Playa Tortuga. The attack left a US tourist with a gunshot wound

Violence in the coastal state, which is home to resorts like Cancun, Playa Del Carmen and Tulum, has declined somewhat from the high levels of 2018 and 2019, when there was an upsurge in killings. There were 209 killings in the state in the first four months of 2021, down from 266 in the same period of 2020.

Drug cartels operate in the state, which is known for a lucrative retail drug market and as a landing spot for drug shipments.

However, tourists have rarely been targeted in gang violence.

In January 2017, a shooting at a music festival in Playa del Carmen left three foreigners and two Mexicans dead. Prosecutors have said that shooting was motivated by low-level drug sales.
California mother Sherri Papini, who claimed she was kidnapped in 2016 before suddenly reappearing three weeks later almost 200 miles away from where she was last seen, has been slammed by the police officer in charge of her investigation for wasting their time.

Papini, 39, was finally arrested on Thursday. Prosecutors allege she had made up the entire kidnapping story and allege she had, in fact, been staying with an ex-boyfriend during the period she was believed to be missing.

She has been charged with lying to federal investigators and fraudulently obtaining $30,000 from the state's victim compensation board.

'She made her own bed. She created this whole situation, and now she has to answer for it,' Shasta County Sheriff Michael L. Johnson told The Sun.

Johnson says Papini's claims were 'bogus' and is furious that the mother-of-two essentially wasted six years of police time.

'Shasta County is a pretty tight-knit community and a safe community, so when Sherry reported this abduction, or should I say charade, it really caused a lot of anxiety,' Sheriff Johnson said.

Prosecutors charged Sherri Papini, 39, (pictured) for lying to federal agents about being kidnapped and defrauding the state's victim compensation board of $30,000

Sheriff Michael L. Johnson of the Shasta County Sheriff's Office has criticized her for wasting more than half a decade of police time and resources

Sherri Papini with her husband Keith. Her ex-boyfriend told police she convinced him that Keith was abusing her and that she wanted help to get away from him so convinced the ex-boyfriend to pick her up

'People were afraid to go out for jogs or to be out in public alone. They thought we had abductors and sex traffickers lurking around here at a profound rate.

'It's okay to be questioned and second-guessed at times if the case is legitimate, but when we come to find out it was all a charade it's really frustrating for us,' Johnson continued.

'I've got to tell you, from the point of when she is now having been charged, we're really happy that a person who wasted so much money and resources, and who through her selfish acts created so much hysteria in our community, is now being held accountable for what she's done.'

'I have zero sympathy for Sherri Papini,' he went on. 'I do, however, have compassion for her husband, the kids and her other family members that were duped and unknowingly victimized by what she was doing.

'So as far as the family goes, I can certainly appreciate it and my heart goes out to them, but as far as Sherry Papini goes, I have I have no sympathy for her,' the Sheriff added.

The longer the case went on, the more scrutiny the police department came under as to how they were handling the case.

On the day Papini went missing, her husband Keith said he had first become concerned about her whereabouts when she stopped answering her phone

A 'missing' sign for Sherri Papini, is seen near the location where the mom of two is believed to have gone missing while on an afternoon jog. Papini, whose disappearance and mysterious reappearance set off a frantic three-week search more than five years earlier, was arrested Thursday, on charges of lying to federal agents about being kidnapped and defrauding the state's victim compensation board of $30,000

Johnson even told The Sun that his officers long suspected the story might be fabricated but still had to continue to follow every lead in order that the department be seen to carrying out due diligence in order to 'get their facts straight.'

Johnson's view was corroborated by Attorney for the Eastern District of California Phillip A. Talbert, who said the story was fabricated to a bizarre level which even saw Papini deliberately hurting herself in an attempt to give credence to her claims.

'When a young mother went missing in broad daylight, a community was filled with fear and concern,' Talbert said in a statement on Thursday.

'Shasta County Sheriff's Office immediately began investigating, calling on the assistance of the FBI. Countless hours were spent following leads, all in an effort to bring this woman back to her family.

'Three weeks later, she was found 146 miles south of where she disappeared, and the focus went from trying to find her to trying to find her abductors.

'Ultimately, the investigation revealed that there was no kidnapping and that time and resources that could have been used to investigate actual crime, protect the community, and provide resources to victims were wasted based on the defendant's conduct.'

The mom-of-two told cops she spent two weeks in captivity, beaten and starved by Hispanic women. Pictured, Papini and husband Keith are seen for Halloween with their two kids

Sherri Papini (shown with her husband Keith and children Tyler and Violet before her abduction). The family have criticized police for arresting her away in front of her kids

Papini's family have released a statement criticizing the way in which she was arrested by police in front of her kids.

'We love Sherri and are appalled by the way in which law enforcement ambushed her this afternoon in a dramatic and unnecessary manner in front of her children. If requested, Sherri would have fully complied and come to the police station, as she has done multiple times before, where this could have been handled in a more appropriate way.'

Papini's husband Keith reported her missing on November 2, 2016, after returning home to find her gone and their kids still at daycare, where their mother would have collected them.

On the day she went missing, Keith said he had first become concerned about her whereabouts when she stopped answering her phone.

For weeks, America watched in angst as police tried to find her. She appeared on Thanksgiving Day, some two weeks later, miraculously showing up on the side of the road where she claimed she'd been dropped off by her Hispanic kidnappers.

Sherri then spun a tale of violence at the hands of her two female captors who she claimed beat her, fed her 'tortillas', forced her to use kitty litter and who she said played 'that annoying Mexican music' all the time.

Safe at home in Redding, California, she retreated from public view to recuperate and recover from the seemingly traumatic ordeal.

But it has now been claimed by federal prosecutors that Papini staged the disappearance and was in fact with an unnamed ex-boyfriend for the duration of the search for her.

She spent the 22 days hidden away in his apartment in Costa Mesa, a seven-hour drive south of where she lived, starving herself and inflicting injuries on herself before convincing him to drive her home because she missed her kids.

The ex-boyfriend says he only became aware of what she had involved him in after he returned her home and saw news stories.

She reappeared after her 'kidnap' weeks later and went home to her husband. Pictured, Sherri Papini and her husband Keith on their wedding day in August 2012

Keith Papini, left, has not been arrested; it remains unclear if he is under investigation. Pictured, Keith and Sherri Papini

He said they used to date in 2006 and that he assumed their relationship would be romantic when she made contact again in 2016, but that they never slept together while she was in his home.

For the next two weeks, they lived in his apartment in Costa Mesa. There was no TV, so he did not see the news reports about her disappearance, but he became suspicious when she started injuring herself.

She spent most of her days locked away in his bedroom after claiming it while he was forced to sleep on the couch, the man said.

She cut her hair, burned herself, and asked him to shoot her with a pellet gun to inflict a small bruise on her leg.

Papini - who he said was 'already tiny' - starved herself while she was living with him, eating only 'small portions'.

In the days before Thanksgiving, she told him she was ready to go home to her kids. Before they left, she convinced him to burn a 'phrase' into her skin with a heated tool.

He then drove her seven hours north, back to Shasta County, and dropped her off on the side of the road. She hid in the backseat again for that journey.

She brought with her a bag that contained hand ties which she wrapped around herself in the car to make it look as if she had been bound.

After he dropped her off, the ex-boyfriend drove himself back to San Pedro, had Thanksgiving Dinner at his aunt's house and then returned his rental car the next day.

It was only when he saw the intense media coverage of Papini returning home that he started to panic, he said.

He said he never came forward because he thought that police would approach him if he had done something wrong, so he stayed quiet.

In August 2020, police confronted Papini with the evidence but she continued to deny it and say there is 'no way' it could have been the ex-boyfriend.

Shasta County Sheriff Michael L. Johnson says Papini's claims were 'bogus' and is furious that the mother-of-two essentially wasted six years of police time as they followed up every lead

The area where Sherri Papini was found near the I-5 freeway outside of Yolo, California

In the five years since she allegedly faked the disappearance, Papini claimed $30,000 from the Victim Compensation Board. Pictured, Keith and Sherri Papini with their kids, Tyler and Violet

She admitted speaking with him over text, as she did with other men, but said it was merely a mistake and nothing criminal.

'When I went out of town for work. I talked with other guys ... I made a mistake and I talked to other men and I shouldn't have,' she said.

In the five years since she allegedly faked the disappearance, Papini claimed $30,000 from the Victim Compensation Board.

Papini now faces a mail fraud charge related to the reimbursement requests that carries a penalty of up to 20 years in prison, while lying to a federal officer has a maximum five-year sentence.

'Everyone involved in this investigation had one common goal: to find the truth about what happened on Nov. 2, 2016, with Sherri Papini and who was responsible,' said Shasta County Sheriff Michael Johnson.

That 22-day search and five-year investigation not only cost money and time, he said, 'but caused the general public to be fearful of their own safety, a fear that they should not have had to endure.'
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Staff at a Ukrainian nuclear power plant were captured on video pleading with Russian soldiers directing fire on the building before they overtook it this week.

Ukrainian authorities released footage from inside the control room of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant that shows an announcer begging Russian soldiers to stop shooting at the plant.

'Stop shooting at a nuclear dangerous facility. Stop shooting immediately! You threaten the security of the whole world!' the announcer said in a video sent to The New York Times by a source with ties to the local government.

'The work of the vital organs of the Zaporizhzhia station may be disrupted. It will be impossible for us to restore it,' the announcer continues.

'You are endangering the security of the entire world. Attention! Stop shooting at a nuclear hazardous facility. Stop shooting at a nuclear hazardous facility! Stop shooting at a nuclear hazardous facility! Attention! Stop it!'

The nuclear power plant, which creates around 20 percent of Ukraine's electricity, was attacked in the early hours of Friday, with CCTV capturing a fierce gun battle between Russian President Vladimir Putin's men and Ukrainian defenders that sparked a fire in a six-story training building just outside the main complex. Moscow's men then stopped firefighters from getting to the building for several hours.

Eventually, emergency crews were allowed to go in and douse the flames at the Zaporizhzhia plant before Russian troops moved in and occupied the site.

The United Nation's nuclear monitoring agency said that, fortunately, none of the site's six reactors had been directly damaged and radiation levels remained normal. Three Ukrainian troops were killed defending the complex, Kyiv said.

Shortly before midnight on Friday it was tweeted that the power plant was back under Ukrainian control but the Ukrainian government has not provided an official update verifying the information.

Footage from inside the control room of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant show the scene as an announcer begs Russian soldiers to stop shooting at the plant

'Stop shooting at a nuclear dangerous facility. Stop shooting immediately! You threaten the security of the whole world!' an announcer could be heard saying in the clip from inside the plant that shows all the computers and switches

A man stands inside the control room of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant as an announcer tries to reason with Russian troops shooting at it

The computers inside the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant control room. Footage from Friday captured an announcer attempting to convince Russian forces to yield

A projectile (the bright light, bottom left) lands in a car park at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, damaging cars in the area

Fire-damaged buildings at the Zaporizhzhya nuclear complex are pictured on Friday morning after coming under attack by Russian forces overnight, leading to international condemnation

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has slammed Putin's troops for seizing the power plant as he urged Russian citizens to remember the 'catastrophic' Chernobyl disaster.

Nuclear experts warned the attacks were 'frightening' but that any disaster caused by fighting would be similar to Fukushima in 2011 rather than Chernobyl in 1986.

Fukushima, in Japan, melted down after a tsunami cut electricity to the plant, disabling its cooling system. Chernobyl exploded after a training exercise-gone-wrong caused an uncontrolled nuclear reaction.

In 2011, a 33 foot-high tsunami that killed nearly 19,000 people crashed into Japan's Fukushima nuclear power plant. This led to several meltdowns, allowing harmful radioactive fuel rods and debris to escape from contained areas.

Approaching a decade after the disaster, researchers are still struggling to clean up fuel in the waters of the wasting reactors.

It's estimated that plant officials have only located 10 percent of the waste fuel left behind after the nuclear meltdowns.

Russian armoured vehicles and troops attacked the nuclear power plant in the early hours of Friday, shooting and shelling guards holed up in administrative buildings near the nuclear reactors - setting one of them on fire

Rafael Mariano Grossi, head of the UN's nuclear energy watchdog, outlines where the building that caught fire was in relation to the six reactors at Zaporizhzhia

Zaporizhzhia has six nuclear reactors, making it the largest of its kind in Europe, and accounts for about one quarter of Ukraine's power generation. One report said the fire was about 150 meters away from one of the reactors

And the damaged plant is believed to be leaking small amounts of the radioactive waste into the Pacific Ocean, which could be travelling as far as the west coast of the United States.

The Zaporizhzhia attack has been internationally condemned, with French President Emmanuel Macron expressing alarm about 'the risks to nuclear safety' while the US ambassador to the UN slammed the advance as a dangerous escalation that 'represents a dire threat to all of Europe and the world'.

The attack on the plant comes as Russia's war against Ukraine is now entering its ninth day and shows no sign of stopping any time soon after talks between the two sides yesterday broke up without agreement, before Vladimir Putin went on TV to declare that he would keep battling for 'total victory' while he spouted propaganda that Russia's forces are not deliberately targeting civilians and that the 'special operation' is proceeding on time with all of its major objectives completed to schedule.

Moscow has, predictably, attempted to deny responsibility for the attack, saying its forces had come under attack by Ukrainian 'saboteurs' while patrolling the plant, who then set fire to the building themselves.

In another denial, Putin, speaking on a call with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, dismissed all reports of Russian attacks on apartment buildings, schools and hospitals as 'fake' - a day after going on TV to accuse Ukrainians of using civilians as 'human shields' while vowing not to back down from his attack.

As he spoke, emergency services in Ukraine warned that around 100 people could be buried in rubble after a rocket strike cleaved an apartment in the city of Boradyanka - 30 miles from Kyiv - in two, with rescue workers unable to get to them. Officials in Chernihiv also raised the number killed in a cluster bomb attack to 49.

Increasingly desperate warnings are also coming from the surrounded city of Mariupol, in the south, where the mayor has warned the city is being 'simply destroyed' by Russian artillery - with water, electricity, and heating cut off while food is also running low. He has begged for a ceasefire to allow civilians to evacuate.

Zaporizhzhia's nuclear reactors are contained  they have a shell of metal and cement around them. Chernobyl had NO containment around the nuclear reactors. Also, Zaporizhzhia's nuclear reactors are water-moderated; Chernobyl's were graphite-moderated. (Nuclear reactor moderators reduce the speed of neutrons and allow a nuclear reaction to be sustained)

Nuclear experts have quelled fears that Europe's largest nuclear power plant is at risk of becoming 'another Chernobyl', after Russia's 'reckless' overnight shelling attack sparked a fire at the site (pictured)

Six power units generate 40-42 billion kWh of electricity making the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant the largest nuclear power plant not only in Ukraine, but also in Europe

Firefighters seen working at the entrance to the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant after attacks by invading Russian forces started a fire

Smoke seen coming out the windows at Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant this morning after it was attacked by Russian forces

Meanwhile Dmytro Kuleba, Ukraine's foreign minister, claimed that Russian troops have raped women in cities they have already captured. He did not give evidence to back his claim, but Ukrainian media reported that eleven cases of rape had been reported in Kherson - the only major city captured by Russia after more than a week of fighting.

Russia has been increasingly waging a war of terror against Ukrainian civilians after attempts to rapidly capture the country failed. Indiscriminate shelling of major Ukrainian cities has been taking place, leaving hundreds of innocents dead.

CHERNOBYL AND FUKUSHIMA The Fukushima meltdown of March 2011, caused by the Tohoku earthquake and tsunami, was the most extensive nuclear disaster since Chernobyl. A steady stream of toxic, radioactive materials spewed into the atmosphere and forced thousands nearby to flee their homes. But most of the released radioactive material was dumped in the Pacific  and only 19 per cent of the released material was deposited over land  keeping the exposed population relatively small. There were no deaths directly caused by the meltdown, although in 2018 one worker in charge of measuring radiation at the plant died of lung cancer caused by radiation exposure. The April 1986 explosion at Chernobyl, meanwhile, blanketed the western Soviet Union and Europe with radiation  leading to the largest man-made environmental disaster in history  and the largest ever nuclear disaster. Chernobyl's number-four reactor, in what was then the Soviet Union and is now Ukraine, exploded April 25, 1986, sending a radioactive cloud across Europe and becoming the world's worst civilian nuclear disaster. Two reactor employees were killed in the explosion and 134 were hospitalized with acute radiation poisoning. Of them, 28 died and another 14 succumbed to suspected radiation-induced cancer in the years that followed. Advertisement

Mykolaiv, a city to the west of Kherson which is now under Russian control, came under attack on Friday morning with the mayor saying troops had moved into the outskirts. Mykolaiv is located along the road to Odessa, Ukraine's third-largest city and main port, which is increasingly at risk of coming under siege.

The city of Mariupol, on the other side of the Crimean peninsula, also continues under heavy bombardment as Moscow's men try to bomb it into submission - with the aim seeming to be cutting off Ukrainian access to the Black Sea to deny the government access to lucrative trading routes.

Fighting is also continuing across the north and east, with Ukrainian special forces ambushing and destroying Russian tanks and armored vehicles at Hostomel - to the west of the city - and Brovary - to the east - late yesterday and this morning. Ukraine also claimed its jets have targeted part of a 40-mile convoy currently stalled outside the city, amid fears it would encircle the capital and bombard it.

Meanwhile Chernihiv, to the north east of Kyiv, and Kharkiv, in Ukraine's east, were braced for more heavy shelling today after days of increasingly indiscriminate attacks including with banned cluster munitions have left dozens of civilians dead. Officials in Chernihiv said this morning that 47 people died in attacks yesterday.

President Putin has been stepping up actions on the home front, intended to head off internal dissent about the war as combat proves fiercer and harder than his generals anticipated, and western sanctions destroy large chunks of the economy.

Russia's rubber-stamp parliament on Friday approved new laws that would see anyone spreading 'fake news' about the invasion jailed for up to 15 years. Putin had previously threatened and shut down radio and TV stations referring to the 'war' or 'invasion' of Ukraine - which Moscow prefers to call a 'special military operation'.

Moscow also admitted to limiting news from outside sources getting into the country, with the BBC, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, independent Russian site Meduza and Germany's Deutsche Welle all restricted, while access to Facebook has been blocked.

Putin has also gone after peaceful protesters, with thousands arrested while marching in rallies around the country asking for the conflict to end.

Meanwhile diplomats from NATO, the EU and G7 will hold a series of back-to-back meetings today in order to discuss next steps in the crisis, with discussions expected to focus on reinforcing NATO's eastern flank in Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, supporting non-NATO states such as Moldova and Georgia, and calls for more military support to be sent to Ukraine.

The United States and European allies have imposed tough sanctions on Russia over the attack, with major corporations across a range of industries following suit by freezing business in the country.

Apple has halted all product sales in Russia and limited the use of Apple Pay, while Facebook, YouTube and Microsoft have moved to curb the reach of Russian state-linked news outlets.

'Intel condemns the invasion of Ukraine by Russia and we have suspended all shipments to customers in both Russia and Belarus,' the chipmaker said in a statement.

'Our thoughts are with everyone who has been impacted by this war.'

Airbnb's co-founder and CEO Brian Chesky, who has added a Ukrainian flag to his Twitter profile, tweeted that the company 'is suspending all operations in Russia and Belarus,' without giving further details.

The vacation-rentals platform also announced on Monday that it would offer free short-term stays for up to 100,000 people fleeing fighting in Ukraine.

Since the beginning of the Russian offensive, one million refugees have left the Eastern European country, the United Nations said Thursday.

Airbnb's offer echoes aid extended by the firm last August to people escaping Afghanistan after the Taliban took power.

The California-based company has also faced scrutiny over its presence in China in recent weeks.

Meanwhile NATO foreign ministers were meeting today to discuss their next steps over the war, with Canada's top diplomat Melanie Joly saying that 'all options' - including a no-fly zone over Ukraine - should be discussed.

President Zelensky has been calling for a zone to be established over Ukraine to stop Russian jets from bombing cities, but establishing such a zone would require NATO aircraft and anti-aircraft batteries intervening directly in the fighting in what Moscow is almost-certain to view as a declaration of war.

Joly stressed that she is not in favor of a no-fly zone and said NATO's top priority remains stopping the Ukraine war from spiraling into a world war, but added that 'we want to make sure scenarios are being discussed'.

The Prime Minister of Lithuania, whose country would be on the frontlines if fighting broke out between Russia and NATO, said demands for a no-fly zone are 'irresponsible.'

The shelling of the plant came as the Russian military pressed their attack on a crucial energy-producing Ukrainian city and gained ground in their bid to cut off the country from the sea.

As the invasion entered its second week, another round of talks between Russia and Ukraine yielded a tentative agreement to set up safe corridors to evacuate citizens and deliver humanitarian aid.

Leading nuclear authorities were worried - but not panicked - about the damage to the power station. The assault, however, led to phone calls between Zelensky and President Joe Biden and other world leaders. The U.S. Department of Energy activated its nuclear incident response team as a precaution.
Two people are in hospital after a fire ignited in the storage room of a Sydney petrol station.

A team of more than 50 firefighters worked to control the inferno at the Metro Petroleum in Belmore, in the city's south-west which erupted at around 3pm on Saturday.

Shocking footage shows huge plumes of black smoke filling the sky with witnesses saying they heard sounds of explosions.

The fire has been contained as of 4.30pm but continues to burn with multiple road closures in the area.

A team of more than 50 firefighters worked to control the inferno at the Metro Petroleum in Belmore, in Sydney's south-west on Saturday afternoon

Shocking footage shows huge plumes of black smoke filling the sky with witnesses saying they heard sounds of explosions

One man suffered minor burns and was treated by paramedics before being taken to Canterbury Hospital.

A second man was taken to Canterbury Hospital with serious burns. He will be transferred to Concord Hospital for further treatment.

Fire and Rescue NSW confirmed the 50-strong team of firefighters remain at the scene but the petrol bowsers and LPG tanks have not been affected.

Walls were collapsing at the service station but the petrol bowsers have not been affected

Firefighters were 'confronted with a large fire and collapsing walls', when they arrived on the scene, the organisation tweeted.

Canterbury Road has been closed in both directions between Kingsgrove Road and Charlotte Street, Belmore.

More to come
A woman has been found dead in floodwaters in south-east Queensland, bringing the state's toll to 11.

Queensland Police divers found the body in Mudgeeraba on the outskirts of the Gold Coast.

Police will have to forensically identify the body to confirm whether it is a 42-year-old woman who was reported missing on Tuesday after being last seen on Sunday, February 27.

Meanwhile, financial support is now available for small businesses and organisations in Queensland's flood-affected communities.

The federal and state governments have announced an initial $558.5 million package for the state.

A 42-year-old woman's body has been found at Mudgeeraba on the outskirts of the Gold Coast, bringing the toll from the Queensland floods (pictured) to 11

Debris is seen piled up at Hawthorne Ferry Terminal in Brisbane after last week's huge downpour

Grants of up to $75,000 will be available to primary producers, while there will be $50,000 grants for small businesses and not-for-profit organisations, and $20,000 grants for sporting and community clubs.

'From the start of these floods we have said we are in this together and this extraordinary assistance package is an example of just that,' Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said on Saturday.

'We will continue to work with all impacted communities, and local governments, to identify what additional support may be required as Queensland's recovery commences.'

One person was still listed as missing in the southeast Queensland flood zone on Saturday morning.

The elderly man was seen falling from a boat on the Brisbane River near Breakfast Creek on Saturday, February 26.

Eleven people have died in the major floods in Queensland triggered by days of record-breaking rain which pummelled the state's most heavily populated region between Gympie and the NSW border.

Whole communities remain cut off by floodwaters, close to 8700 properties are still without power and up to 17,000 homes and businesses have been submerged and damaged.

The remnants of Drift Restaurant can be seen on the Brisbane river after floodwaters receded

Conditions eased on Friday, and while thunderstorms and showers are forecast over the next few days, the Bureau of Meteorology is not predicting widespread significant rainfall.

Catchments in the flood watch area remain very wet and rain may cause localised rises in creeks and rivers, but it's not expected to worsen the current flooding situation.

Some of the region's flood-related deaths were due to water moving 'very quickly in areas that we're not used to', Police Commissioner Katarina Carroll told reporters on Friday.

'So over the next few days as the showers, and storms, and rain continues, please be aware of that flash flooding, be aware of your circumstances,' she said.
Ten days into Russia's invasion of Ukraine, which began on February 24, President Vladimir Putin shows no sign of pulling back.

This morning Russia's defence ministry declared a ceasefire for the 'opening of humanitarian corridors to allow civilians to leave Mariupol and Volnovakha' expected to have started from 10am Moscow time (7am GMT).

Distressing images from the scene continue to emerge, including an image of a baby being rescued from the scene of a brutal attack near Kyiv, while other photos showed a terrified woman walking past a burning house after Irpin was pounded by Kremlin forces.

Since Russia invaded on February 24, Moscow has pummelled Ukrainian cities, with officials reporting hundreds of civilians killed. Europes largest atomic power plant came under attack sparking fears of a catastrophic nuclear accident. But Russia has so far only seized two key cities, Berdiansk and Kherson. Capturing Mariupol represents a bigger prize for Russia as it would deal a severe blow to Ukraines maritime access and connect with troops coming from annexed Crimea and the Donbas

Despite this Putin is insisting that Russia is not bombing Ukrainian cities, amid mounting fears that 100 people are buried under rubble after an apartment block near Kyiv was struck and after a cluster bomb attack on the city of Chernihiv killed 49.

Here are possible scenarios for the weeks and months ahead, according to Western government sources and think-tank experts.

1. Military quagmire as Russian forces get bogged down and Ukraine soldiers keep up hit-and-run strikes

A woman reacts as she stands in front of a house burning after being shelled in the city of Irpin, outside Kyiv yesterday

Ukrainian forces have resisted Russia's invasion so far, defeating an attempt by paratroopers to seize the capital in the opening days and keeping control over major cities such as Kharkiv and Mariupol.

Although Russia claims it has full air superiority, Ukraine's air defences around the capital Kyiv and in other areas appear to be degraded but still working, Western officials say.

'That's caused them so many problems,' a European source told reporters yesterday on condition of anonymity.

Vast numbers of Ukrainians have also joined territorial defence units and questions remain about the morale of the Russian army and its logistical support.

A soldier in Avdiivka, Donetsk Oblast, Ukraine. Ukrainian forces have resisted Russia's invasion so far

Backed by Western intelligence and a flow of anti-tank and surface-to-air missiles, Ukraine's troops might be able to hold out in the capital and force some sort of military stalemate.

Deepening Western sanctions that are strangling the Russian economy might force Putin to change his calculations.

This week Samuel Charap from the RAND Corporation, a US think-tank, wrote: 'The West could leverage some sanctions to push Putin to abandon his core war aim of decapitating the Ukrainian government and installing a pro-Russian puppet.'

Pressure from Beijing, increasingly a Kremlin ally under President Xi Jinping, might also be necessary.

2. Toppling of Putin: Anti-war movement grows in Russia and oligarchs turn on their leader

Russian policemen detain a protester during rally against Russia entering troops into Ukraine in St Petersburg, Russia, yesterday

Russian President Vladimir Putin is keeping a close eye on domestic dissent.

A crackdown on independent media and foreign news providers has removed alternative sources of information about the war, cementing the grip of the ultra-loyal Russian state media.

Nevertheless, small anti-war demonstrations have taken place in cities from Saint Petersburg to Moscow, with at least 6,000 people arrested, according to local rights groups.

There are also signs of cracks in the ruling elite, with some oligarchs, MPs, and even private oil group Lukoil calling openly for a ceasefire or an end to fighting.

Though not seen as likely at this stage, the possibility of Putin being brought down in a popular backlash or even a palace coup is not being ruled out.

'His personal security is very good and it will be very good until the moment it isn't,' said Eliot A. Cohen from the Center for Strategic and International Studies, a Washington-based think-tank.

'That's happened numerous times in Soviet and Russian history.'

Putin could be ousted if ant-war movement grows in Russia and oligarchs turn, experts believe

3. Russian victory: Putins generals crush resistance with massive air power and devastating artillery

A tank of Russian armed forces during military exercises in the Leningrad region, Russia on February 14, 2022

Given Russian troops' superior weapons, air power and devastating use of artillery, Western defence analysts expect them to continue grinding forward.

A huge convoy of vehicles has been assembled outside of Kyiv ahead of what is expected to be an assault on the capital.

French President Emmanuel Macron concluded that 'the worst is still to come' after a call with Putin on Thursday morning.

Putin wants 'to seize control of the whole of Ukraine', an aide told reporters afterwards.

But even if Russian troops depose Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and overrun Ukraine's resistance elsewhere, Putin would then face the challenge of occupying a nation of 40 million.

Lawrence Freedman, a British warfare historian and King's College London professor, wrote on Substack this week: 'Getting into a city is not the same as holding it.'

4. Conflict spreads: Fuelled by nostalgia for Soviet Union, Putin puts a move into Moldova on the menu

Belarusian troops take part in a military training in Brest Province, Belarus on Friday, March 3, 2022

Ukraine has a border with four former Soviet states that are now members of the US-led NATO military alliance, which considers an attack on one member to be an attack against all.

Putin's nostalgia for the Soviet Union and his pledge to protect Russian minorities - which are found in the Baltic States - has left an open question about his territorial ambitions.

After Ukraine, some speculate that Putin might also be eyeing Moldova, a former Soviet state wedged between Ukraine and Romania.

Belarusian troops take part in a military training in Brest Province, Belarus on Friday

Few expect Putin to openly attack a NATO member, which would run the risk of nuclear war, but other provocations are possible.

'Neutral Sweden is keeping a watchful eye on Russia's intentions towards the Gotland island in the Baltic Sea,' wrote analyst Bruno Tertrais for the Montaigne Institute, a French think-tank.

Charap warned of the 'risks of an accident, incident, or miscalculation that spirals into a NATO-Russia war', with anything from a stray missile to cyberattacks providing the spark.

5. Nuclear war: Conflict sparks major flashpoint between Russia and NATO and leads to World War Three

A stock image of a nuclear explosion. Gustav Gressel, an expert on missile defence, said: 'These announcements are predominately addressed to a Western audience to make us fear and our societies insecure'

This was always thought to be impossible because of the nuclear weapons' mutual guarantee of destruction.

The US and Russia have opened up a so-called 'deconfliction line' over which they can exchange military information quickly to reduce the chances of a misunderstanding.

The same method is employed in Syria, where US and Russian forces have been active on opposite sides of the country's civil war since 2015.

But Putin has ordered Russia's nuclear deterrent forces onto high alert and Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has warned that 'World War Three can only be a nuclear war'.

Western analysts say such warnings should be taken as posturing to deter the United States and Europe from considering ideas such as a 'no-fly zone' over Ukraine.

Gustav Gressel, an expert on missile defence at the European Council on Foreign Relations, said: 'These announcements are predominately addressed to a Western audience to make us fear and our societies insecure.'

They use nuclear deterrence as a form of information operation. There's no substance.'
British nationals have been urged to consider leaving Russia in the wake of Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine.

'If your presence in Russia is not essential, we strongly advise that you consider leaving by remaining commercial routes,' the Foreign Office said in a statement on Saturday.

Travellers or citizens currently in Russia were advised any direct flights back to the UK would be complicated by the fact Moscow banned UK airlines from flying in or out of the country on Friday, February 25.

British nationals have been urged to consider leaving Russia in the wake of Vladimir Putin 's invasion of Ukraine. Pictured: A British Airways aircraft waits on the tarmac in Moscow's Domodedovo airport

As flight corridors over mainland Europe remained as busy as ever, the skies over Ukraine, Belarus and Russia were notably quiet or empty altogether on Saturday March 5

Those aiming to leave Russia are instead advised to book a connecting flight through the Middle East or Turkey to then travel back to the UK.

On Monday, the British government advised its citizens against all travel to Russia due to a lack of available flight options and increased economic volatility.

The statement read: 'The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) advises against all travel to the whole of Russia due to the lack of available flight options to return to the UK, and the increased volatility in the Russian economy.'

It comes as the Russian Federal Air Transport Agency announced all foreign-bound flights were to be grounded on Saturday.

As Russia slipped further into global isolation, it was announced that all foreign-made aircraft were to cease flights operating abroad effective from Sunday.

As Russia slipped further into global isolation, it was announced that all foreign-made aircraft were to cease flights operating abroad effective from Sunday

'If your presence in Russia is not essential, we strongly advise that you consider leaving by remaining commercial routes,' the Foreign Office said in a statement on Saturday

It is unclear how many British expats currently reside in Russia, with estimates ranging from anywhere between around 6,400 to more than 22,000.

The news comes in the wake of the Department of Transport announcing it had barred Russian commercial and civilian aircraft from the UK skies following the invasion of Ukraine on Thursday, February 24.

The DfT issued a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) announcing its ban would affect all aircraft 'owned, chartered or operated by a person connected with Russia'.

This encompasses commercial aircraft, such as those operated by Russian flag carrier Aeroflot - but also private planes used by oligarchs.

The Kremlin responded just a day later by banning UK flights to and over Russia in retaliation to a British ban on Aeroflot.

Russia's aviation authority said: 'A restriction was introduced on the use of Russian airspace for flights of aircrafts owned, leased or operated by an organisation linked to or registered in the UK.'

Russian owned aircraft were banned from UK airspace from midnight until May 23, the Civil Aviation Authority has announced. Pictured: An Aeroflot plane pictured at Kazan International Airport
Hate crime suspect Steven Zajonc  charged with assaulting Asian women in Manhattan in a wild hours-long rampage  still has mom in his corner.

Zajonc, a 29-year-old Florida man whose last known address is a Midtown homeless shelter, appeared in Manhattan Criminal Court Friday on charged he elbowed, punched and pushed seven Asian women over two hours on Sunday.

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His lawyer, Michael Feinman, told a judge hes spoken to Zajoncs mother in Florida. She said her son, an Army veteran, does not have any history of any animus toward the Asian community, Feinman stated.

Steven Zajonc was arraigned in Manhattan Criminal Court on Friday on charges of assault as a hate crime. (Curtis Means/Curtis Means for DailyMail.Com)

There isnt any specific verbal statement that was made during the assaults indicating hatred towards Asians by Zajonc, said Feinman.

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Whether or not any statements were made is still under investigation, countered Manhattan Assistant District Attorney Neil Greenwell.

Although seven women reported being attacked, Zajonc was formally charged with assaulting only four of them. Prosecutors said other cases were still under investigation.

Steven Zajonc is led away from the Midtown South Precinct stationhouse in Manhattan on Wednesday. (Sam Costanza/for New York Daily News)

His rampage spanned Midtown, the Union Square area, the West Village and Nolita, authorities said.

Breaking News As it happens Get updates on the coronavirus pandemic and other news as it happens with our free breaking news email alerts. >

Zajonc began by hitting a 57-year-old woman at Madison Ave. and E. 30th St. about 6:30 p.m., punching her in the face, said cops.

He then attacked a 25-year-old woman at Fifth Ave. and E. 30th St., hurting her face and arm, said police.

At 6:45 p.m., he hit a third woman, 21, in the face at Park Ave. South and E. 23rd St., and did the same to a 25-year-old at Irving Place and E. 17th St. near Union Square a few minutes later, said cops.

Next, he elbowed two victims in the face, a 19-year-old woman at Union Square East and E. 17th St. at 7:05 p.m., and a 25-year-old at E. Houston and Mott Sts. at 7:25 p.m., splitting both their lips, cops said.

He then pushed a 20-year-old woman to the ground at Broadway and E. Eighth St., just after 8:30 p.m., said cops.

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He denies the charges in this case, said Feinman, adding that if Zajonc is incarcerated he wont be able to get help with his mental illness.
The Queen's cousin, 79, released the news in a short statement on Thursday

Prince Michael of Kent, the Queen's cousin, has returned the Order of Friendship award he was given by the Kremlin following Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Michael, 79, released the news in a short statement on Thursday after he was gifted the honour by then-President Dmitry Medvedev in 2009.

Prince Michael has previously been caught in a cash-for-access scandal after getting caught boasting that he could set up relationships with Vladimir Putin's inner circle for a fee.

The statement read: 'I can confirm that HRH Prince Michael of Kent is returning his Russian Order of Friendship. There will be no further comment.'

Prince Michael of Kent (left) has handed back his Kremlin-issued award after previously presenting himself as a Russophile because of his relation Tsar Nicholas II (right)

Prince Michael of Kent (right) received an honorary professorship from one of Russian President Vladimir Putin's oldest and most trusted cronies

Prince Michael is a relative of Nicholas II, the last Tsar of the Russian Empire who was overthrown and killed in the Russian revolution.

Michael bares a striking resemblance to the Russian monarch who was the first cousin of his grandmother Grand Duchess Elena Vladimirovna.



He attended the burial of Nicholas and the entire Romanov family in 1998 - 70 years after they were shot by Bolsheviks, and is also patron to organisations with close links to Russia like the Russo-British Chamber of Commerce and the St Gregory's Foundation.

He attended an event with Vladimir Putin in 2003 at Kensington Palace to promote an obscure Russian martial art.

In 2020, fictitious executives were reportedly told Prince Michael of Kent could be hired to endorse their company to Vladimir Putin's inner circle.

The Queen's cousin told undercover reporters posing as investors from South Korea in a virtual meeting that he could be hired for 10,000 a day to make 'confidential' representations to Putin's regime.

Prince Michael and Putin were joint patrons of an event at Kensington Palace promoting sambo, an obscure Russian martial art (pictured, Prince Michael and Putin in London in 2003)

Journalists from Channel 4 Dispatches and The Sunday Times were investigating claims that Prince Michael and the Marquess of Reading were selling their links to the Russian regime.

Prince Michael said he would be 'very excited' to work with the fictitious 'House of Haedong' - which alleged it wanted to further its business in Russia by making links with Putin's inner circle.

Prince Michael, a grandson of King George V, allegedly said he would give the 'House of Haedong' his endorsement in the Kremlin for a $200,000 fee.

He added his relationship with the state could 'bring some benefit' to the firm, billed as 'new boutique fund that invests in the most regal of assets: gold'.

A representative for Prince Michael has insisted the royal has 'no special relationship with President Putin', adding they have had no contact since June 2003.
Readers of Mail Newspapers and MailOnline have always shown immense generosity at times of crisis.

Calling upon that human spirit, we are supporting a huge push to raise money for refugees from Ukraine.

For, surely, no one can fail to be moved by the heartbreaking images and stories of families  mostly women, children, the infirm and elderly  fleeing from the bombs and guns.

As this tally of misery increases over the coming days and months, these innocent victims of this conflict will require accommodation, schools and medical support.

Donations to the Mail Force Ukraine Appeal will be used to help charities and aid organisations providing such essential services.

In the name of charity and compassion, we urge all our readers to give swiftly and generously.

TO MAKE A DONATION ONLINE

Donate at www.mailforcecharity.co.uk/donate

To add Gift Aid to a donation  even one already made  complete an online form found here: mymail.co.uk/ukraine

Via bank transfer, please use these details:

Account name: Mail Force Charity

Account number: 48867365

Sort code: 60-00-01

TO MAKE A DONATION VIA TEXT

To donate 10, text HELP to 70115 To donate 20, text AID to 70115 Texts cost either 10 or 20 plus a standard network rate message. 100% of the donation goes to charity.

TO MAKE A DONATION VIA PHONE

Call 0300 12345 77 and follow the instructions to make your donation. A small fee will be deducted by the payment processing platforms when you pay by debit or credit card.

TO MAKE A DONATION VIA CHEQUE

Make your cheque payable to 'Mail Force' and post it to: Mail Newspapers Ukraine Appeal, GFM, 42 Phoenix Court, Hawkins Road, Colchester, Essex CO2 8JY

TO MAKE A DONATION FROM THE US

You can donate via CAF America at: https://donations.cafamerica.org/mail-force/

Or

US readers can donate to the appeal via a bank transfer to Associated Newspapers or by sending checks to dailymail.com HQ at 51 Astor Place (9th floor), New York, NY 10003.

Checks in the US need to be made out to 'CAF America' and have 'Mail Force Ukraine Appeal' in the memo.

Generous readers of the Daily Mail, Mail On Sunday and MailOnline have already donated an astonishing 5million to the Mail Force Ukraine Refugee Appeal. Here, we look back at how the campaign has developed over the past fortnight since it was launched on February 27:

DAY 60 - April 25, 2022, DAILY MAIL

Michael Palin hails Mail Force appeal as 90,000 food boxes are packed and heading for Ukraine

Sir Michael Palin led celebrities yesterday in hailing the Mail Force campaign to help feed hungry people in Ukraine.

The former Monty Python comic said he was 'delighted by the success of the appeal' after 90,000 food boxes were packed.

They have been dispatched in a stream of more than 30 lorries at our hub in Leicestershire to eastern Ukraine.

The former Monty Python comic said he was 'delighted by the success of the appeal' after 90,000 food boxes were packed

Sir Michael, a travel writer and presenter who has a special place in his heart for the besieged country, has urged people to donate to Mail Force, which has so far raised 11million.

He visited Kyiv in 1992, when it was still in the Soviet Union, for his Pole To Pole travel series and again in 2007 for New Europe.

Last month on the BBC Sunday Morning show he had an emotional reunion on video call with Ukrainian nationalist Vadym Kastelli, who appeared in both programmes.

Sir Michael was joined by Julian Fellowes, with the Downton Abbey writer heaping praise on the campaign.

Lord Fellowes said: 'This is a terrific initiative, and a reminder that we must do whatever we can to help. A free and peaceful country is under savage attack. It seems incredible for this new century, but it's happened and we are all involved.'

The Mail Force charity is paying 4million towards 500,000 food boxes in a joint mission with the Ukrainian embassy in London and the Confederation of British Industry.

Each box contains 14 items including pasta, porridge, tinned meat, fish and vegetables, and contains enough calories to feed an adult for a week. They are being packed at a rate of 400 an hour at a plant run by Oakland International in Leicestershire.

Millions of Ukrainian families have been forced to flee their homes under bombardment from the Kremlin's rockets and bombs. Many have crossed into western Europe, where they are being helped by aid organisations such as Unicef and CARE International, which are receiving funds from Mail Force.

But the biggest worry is for those too frail to leave or who have resolved to stay and help. Vladimir Putin's ruthless military forces are waging a cruel battle to starve cities into submission. Hundreds of thousands of elderly and disabled people struggling to find food supplies are in desperate need of help. The Ukrainian embassy in London is helping to coordinate the efforts to get the food boxes into Ukraine and to the towns where they are most needed.

The Mail Force appeal launched just days after Moscow's invasion of Ukraine, and was kickstarted with a 500,000 donation from DMGT, the Mail's parent company, at the personal request of Lord and Lady Rothermere. Since then, readers have sent in money in droves.

DAY 60 - April 25, 2022, DAILY MAIL

Refugee mother may RETURN to Ukrainian warzone after delays to her UK visa left her stranded in Poland

A frustrated refugee mother is considering returning to war-torn eastern Ukraine after UK immigration delays left her stuck in Poland for weeks.

Katarina Tymashov, 34, said her sister-in-law Elena Hrybanov felt 'beyond scared' after the Home Office took more than a month to approve her visa.

While Mrs Hrybanov's nine-year-old daughter Anna had her application accepted in just five days, her seven-month-old son Yehor is still waiting.

Until Yehor is given one, they are unable to join other family in London  and so she is contemplating returning to Ukraine, to be with her husband Olexandr.

Katarina Tymashov, 34, said her sister-in-law Elena Hrybanov felt 'beyond scared' after the Home Office took more than a month to approve her visa

Mrs Tymashov said: 'She is staying with a nice family in Poland who are trying to support her, but she has two young children and she is tired.'

Mrs Tymashov's husband Vladimir, 34, added: 'Right now, she feels frustrated.

'She applied at the very beginning of the programme and she had really high hopes that, maybe in a week, she could join us. She has even considered moving back to Ukraine. The war is far from being over but sometimes it's easier being with your family.'

Mr and Mrs Tymashov, who work in IT, moved to Wimbledon, south-west London, from Ukraine last July with their two sons Bohdan, 11, and Alyosha, six.

While Mrs Hrybanov's nine-year-old daughter Anna had her application accepted in just five days, her seven-month-old son Yehor is still waiting

Mr Tymashov said they cannot contact anyone at the Home Office who can update them on the visas.

'For Elena, now technically they are safer than they were in Ukraine, but they are struggling with the conditions,' Mr Tymashov said at a Vigil for Visas demonstration outside the Home Office on Saturday.

The family fled their home near Dnipro, in eastern Ukraine, in the second week of the war.

Once in Poland, they were forced to travel more than 300 miles just to visit a visa application centre because Yehor did not have a passport.

Despite their exhausting journey, the baby's visa is yet to be approved.

DAY 56 - April 21, 2022, DAILY MAIL

Life-saving food boxes speed into Ukraine... thanks to YOU! Hope for desperate refugees as 2,400 ration packs are loaded on to train in Poland

As the sun set over a rail yard in Poland, the crane slowly lifted the 40ft shipping container off its lorry and carefully positioned it onto the waiting freight train. But this is no ordinary cargo.

Stacked high inside are more than 2,400 cardboard boxes crammed with food  partly funded with the help of Mail Force  offering a lifeline to those fleeing Vladimir Putin's forces.

The train was today speeding into Ukraine to provide life-saving help for families threatened with starvation.

It is the latest step in a mammoth logistical exercise to transport almost 500,000 more boxes 2,000 miles  from Leicester to areas of Ukraine devastated by war.

The remarkable humanitarian operation is being led by the Ukrainian ambassador and his embassy team, co-ordinated by the Confederation of British Industry and backed by donations from tens of thousands of generous Mail readers.

The operation is being led by the Ukrainian ambassador and his embassy team, co-ordinated by the Confederation of British Industry and backed by donations generous Mail readers. Pictured, the 40ft shipping container is carefully positioned onto the waiting freight train

The record-breaking appeal has raised more than 11million so far.

Each food box has 14 items  including pasta, porridge, tinned meat, fish and vegetables  and contains enough calories to feed an adult for a week.

Malwina Rudnik, who oversees the delivery of aid to Ukraine for the Polish Government's Strategic Reserves Agency, last night hailed the operation.

She told the Mail: 'You are doing a great job. These are pre-prepared boxes with rations for families  it is something everyone should follow as an example.

'This is a great help, for sure. To see that the money has been spent for such a good purpose is a huge relief and what I can say is thank you for this.'

The Mail on Sunday revealed how the first 20 tons of food were delivered to a huge warehouse in Poland following a 63-hour journey from Oakland International, a food distribution firm near Leicester.

Two days later, the Mail watched as workers at the Polish warehouse used forklift trucks to manoeuvre the boxes, arranged on 26 wooden pallets, into a huge shipping container on the back of a lorry ready for the onward journey east.

Ukrainian Ambassador to the UK, Vadym Prystaiko, said the food packages will 'literally save people's lives'

As he slammed container doors shut, Dariusz Robak, a warehouse manager, said: 'It has been amazing to be involved in this operation. These food boxes will make a real difference to Ukrainians who are suffering because of the war. I applaud the Mail readers for helping Ukraine.'

The lorry's driver, Dariusz Klama, 52, from Sosnowiec in Poland, said he was 'delighted' to be a crucial part of the huge team helping feed desperately hungry Ukrainian families.

He added: 'It is a catastrophe what is happening. Anything I can do to help, I will. Since the war began I have only been delivering aid. I have been a truck driver for 20 years. It is incredible to see how much a newspaper has helped.'

Supply lines are delivering 15,000 boxes of food from the UK to Ukraine. Pictured: Vitalina Polishenko who works on the packing line for the boxes in Leicester

After a short delay for customs clearance, Mr Klama's lorry hit the road on Tuesday, thundering through a landscape of flat farmland, then thick pine forest. The Mail has agreed to keep the exact aid routes and destinations secret due to fears they could be targeted by Russian forces.

Glasto chief: Putting on festival is easier than refugee scheme As Glastonbury co-organiser, she is used to bureaucratic hurdles. But Emily Eavis says hosting the festival is easier than sponsoring two refugees in the UK's shambolic Homes for Ukraine scheme. The 42-year-old applied to bring Veronika and her nine-year-old son from Kyiv to Worthy Farm in Somerset four weeks ago. 'We are the dream really, in terms of being able to offer accommodation and work... But we've just come up against lots and lots of brick walls,' she said. 'I contacted the local authorities, our MP, charities, the Government. I've called the Home Office. I can't tell you how many letters I've written.' 'We're waiting for the visas, and no one knows how long they'll take,' she told The Times. While Veronika was granted her visa yesterday, they are still waiting for her child's and her sister's application. Advertisement

After a six-hour journey, the lorry and its precious cargo finally reached an isolated freight rail station in southern Poland.

The Mail's photographer was granted access to the secure site to witness our container being loaded on to the train on Tuesday evening.

A queue of lorries waited to unload their own containers of aid on to the train's flat-bed wagons.

By the early hours of today, the train  carrying hundreds of tons of aid  was due to head west towards Ukraine. It was expected to cross the border today and arrive at a humanitarian hub in western Ukraine tomorrow, where the boxes will then be sent on to those who most need them.

And their arrival cannot come a moment too soon. Andriy Dykun, chairman of the Ukrainian Agricultural Council, which represents 1,100 farmers who cultivate 12 million acres of land, last night said Putin's forces are using starvation as a weapon.

The tactic echoes that of Communist dictator Joseph Stalin, who seized food supplies during Ukraine's great famine of 1932.

Mr Dykun said: 'In some places they [the Russian armed forces] completely destroyed farms, animals, machinery and equipment.

'They did the same as was done by Stalin in the Soviet Union. If we will not fight we will have hunger all over the country.'

He added: 'I would like to thank your readers  it's really great. We really need this help.'

Sourcing, packing and sending the 500,000 boxes is costing 8million  of which 4million will come from Mail Force Ukraine Refugee Appeal funds and the other half from the Ukrainian embassy.

The appeal was started with a 500,000 donation from the papers' parent company DMGT at the request of chairman Lord Rothermere and Lady Rothermere.

DAY 56 - April 21, 2022, DAILY MAIL

'It's our beloved home... but we must flee': Heartbreak of Ukrainian family who were forced to abandon Mykolaiv when Russian shelling reached their neighbourhood

She suffers constant nightmares that Russian troops are seizing her home city  but Katrin Kravtsov previously never thought she would see the day when she would leave her beloved Mykolaiv.

However, the 37-year-old mother-of-one decided that enough was enough when shelling hit her neighbourhood late on Tuesday.

Katrin and husband Alexey live in a modest one-bedroom flat in a Soviet-era apartment block.

The couple and their six-year-old son Maxim spent Tuesday night in their hallway by the door  ready to run for their lives in case of another attack.

It came as speculation mounts that Russia  as part of its masterplan to seize the Donbas region of eastern Ukraine  is plotting to take this port city on the Black Sea and force the region to hold a bogus breakaway referendum.

Such a move would create a massive land corridor under Kremlin rule.

Alexey Kravtsov, 38, along with his wife Katrin, 37 and son Maxim, 6, prepare to leave their home in the residential Ingulskii district of Mykolaiv for the safety of Odessa

Mrs Kravtsov said: 'I still cannot sleep because I see the Russians in my nightmares. I can hear the missiles, the explosions and see dead people with a lot of blood.'

She added that her son constantly imagines hearing shelling and air raid sirens, even in moments of silence.

She said: 'We had plans here. School, work. University for Maxim.'

But the family have now packed their possessions into their car, including Maxim's favourite puzzles and comic books.

As the war moves into a new stage, Russia has this week stepped up its bombardments across south-eastern Ukraine.

It claimed yesterday to have struck more than 1,000 military targets after hitting 1,200 the previous day.

Yet there is no evidence in Mykolaiv that Russian shelling has hit anything other than civilian areas.

Putin's goal appears to be controlling as much of the Black Sea as possible and creating a land bridge to Crimea, which was illegally annexed in 2014.

Ukrainian troops  most barely in their early twenties and armed only with Kalashnikov rifles  man makeshift checkpoints on the outskirts of the city.

Signs line every road praising the fortitude of the Ukrainian military, which claimed yesterday that it has managed to repel Russia's military onslaught in the Donbas.

The Mykolaiv checkpoints are made from sandbags, old tyres, and concrete slabs as the city braces itself for more attacks.

Mr Kravtsov, a car parts dealer, laughed at the idea that anyone here wants to be ruled from Moscow.

He said: 'We had a good life here in Mykolaiv. Who or what is Putin liberating us from? He should concentrate on fixing his own country first.'

Refugees from Mykolaiv arrive during their evacuation at the railway station in Odessa on Wednesday. The city has been shelled by Russian forces

The attack close to the family's flat ripped through a row of shops, spraying shrapnel everywhere. Miraculously, no one was killed.

'I feared for my life,' said Elena Serada, 36, who was at home with her two children at the time.

'They were crying and screaming as we hid in the ground floor corridor.'

The shops are now a crumbling mess, and workers have already moved in to fill in a huge crater in the road.

Alexander Pavlenko, 63, came to recover a set of expensive lights from a beauty salon belonging to his two daughters which narrowly escaped being destroyed.

He said: 'This is disgusting. Putin is a sick man. We don't need him here...'

Yet there are those who still refuse to leave the city for the sake of their children in the hope that Putin will call off his assault soon.

Mother-of-four Natalia Fisienko, 40, comes down from her fourth-floor flat to collect rainwater with a bucket.

This is the only way she and her children can wash because the taps have been turned off for more than a week in Russian-occupied Kherson, which used to provide fresh water to the city.

This village council building and police department in Lymany, just outside Mykolaiv, has been destroyed by Russian forces

She said: 'They haven't been able to take Mykolaiv. They are just trying to make the life of the people here as difficult as possible and leave us without water.'

Mrs Fisienko sent her two youngest children, Veronika, eight, and Egon, six, to live with her mother in a village south of Odessa after Tuesday's attack.

She explained: 'We were getting ready for bed when I felt my entire apartment shake. We decided to run down to the basement and spent the rest of the night there.'

Her eldest son, also Maxim, is already suffering from a high heart rate  one of the symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder.

The 11-year-old sheds a tear when he tells me how he wants to go back to his 'normal life'.

Gesturing to a playground opposite his apartment block, he said: 'I used to like playing football here, but now all the other children have gone.'

A neighbour points to another hole in the ground where a suspected cluster bomb landed, close to where children would play together each evening.

He shouted: 'If there is anything that is good to come out of this war, it means that we will never be close with Russia again!'

Hours later, as darkness fell on the city, the sky lit up once more with shelling.

But Natalia Fisienko remained defiant. She wrote in a text message late last night: 'I am not leaving my home town... Let the invaders leave Ukraine instead.'

DAY 55 - April 20, 2022, DAILY MAIL

Food lifelines packed with love in Leicester today... in war-weary Ukraine by Saturday - thanks to YOUR help! ROBERT HARDMAN sees the rallying aid efforts fuelled by Mail Force appeal

First, it's the tomato passata along with the can of hot dogs  the heavy stuff. Next, a can of tuna and a jumbo bag of porridge oats. Within a minute, this seven-kilo box is full of food  enough to feed an adult for a week  and it's transferred to the next available pallet here on a Leicestershire industrial estate.

As of this morning, this box will be somewhere in northern Europe. Tomorrow it will be in a depot in Poland.

And by the weekend, it will be in the hands of a grateful, if ravenous, civilian in a war-weary part of eastern Ukraine  and not a moment too soon.

Quite apart from pushing back the massed forces of a ruthless superpower, the government of this vast European nation is having to cope with the monumental task of keeping its population fed and watered when all forms of ordinary, civilian life are under attack. For millions, that includes a trip to the shops for the most basic human essentials.

Make no mistake. The military state of play may be dominating headlines. Lurking not far behind, however, is the prospect of a devastating humanitarian crisis if the so-called 'bread basket of Eastern Europe' finds itself barren  as it now does.

Supply lines which deliver 15,000 boxes of food from the UK to Ukraine a day are now fully up and running (pictured: Vitalina Polishenko who works on the packing line for the boxes in Leicester)

And so, it falls to the wider world to join the rescue effort. And that is where this extraordinary humanitarian operation kicks in, led by the Ukrainian ambassador to the UK and his embassy team, co-ordinated by the CBI and backed by tens of thousands of Mail readers who have contributed millions to the pot.

In a matter of days, a magnificent team effort has gone from the drawing board, to several trial runs, to the start line.

Yesterday, for the first time, it went fully operational  to the tune of 15,000 boxes a day (seven days a week). Each box amounts to 12,000 calories, spread across more than a dozen items, all selected on the advice of nutritionists in the Ukrainian ministry of food to provide optimum sustenance.

The cost of assembling, packing and delivering the first 500,000 boxes across a continent (at 14 a time) is being shared between the Ukrainian embassy in London (via the website, withukraine.org) and the Mail Force charity.

For all the logistical challenges here at the first phase of the endeavour, this is the least worrying part of a process which becomes progressively harder towards the end.

Ukrainian Ambassador to the UK, Vadym Prystaiko, said the food packages will 'literally save people's lives'

It is one thing raising funds, filling boxes in the East Midlands and delivering the results to the Ukrainian border. But on the other side, the heroic drivers and crews of trucks and trains taking this precious cargo on the final leg will be risking their lives to ensure every bag of Morrisons pasta and every tin of kidney beans ends up in the right place.

Nonetheless, each link in this great collaborative exercise should take a bow. That includes the pensioners forgoing their heating allowance and the children donating their pocket money to the Mail Force Ukraine Appeal so they can help someone they have never met.

It is important to stress that not one penny of your donations is wasted on administrative fees or overheads. Everything is being provided at cost with the grateful thanks of the Ukrainian embassy in London, the driving force behind this operation.

In the words of Ambassador Vadym Prystaiko: 'Russian forces have deliberately shelled farms, killed livestock, and laid landmines on agricultural land.

'Your amazing support will save people's lives. The 500,000 food boxes you have supplied will go to people most in need in the midst of the greatest European catastrophe in our living memory.'

Ambassador Vadym Prystaiko said Russian forces deliberately targeted Ukraine's food production facilities, meaning the food packages are vital (pictured: residents in Mariupol)

It was just a month ago that Ambassador Prystaiko and his team were sitting around a table with Lord Bilimoria, the president of the Confederation of British Industry, and two dozen CBI members, all of whom had committed to help with essential supplies. There, they heard (via Zoom) a terrifying warning from a Ukrainian food minister that large parts of his country faced not just food shortages but possible starvation. And, thus, a plan was hatched.

The overarching challenge was not just to get this stuff to Ukraine  but in the most practical way possible. A lorry-load of tinned meat is of limited use if the distribution centre at the other end is a bomb site, along with many of the supermarkets which it once supplied. In simple terms, it is crucial for the shopping basket to be filled at this end.

Step forward Oakland International, the family-run supply chain specialists with a fleet of 80 trucks and a hyperactive chief executive. Dean Attwell's first response to the Ukrainian crisis was to source whatever food and supplies he could lay his hands on and load it all on to a fleet of Ukrainian trucks which had been stranded in Britain following the outbreak of war.

He gave their drivers all the fuel, money and paperwork they needed to get home and then set about exploring ways of repeating the exercise.

His efforts dovetailed with those at the embassy and the CBI, at which point the Mail Force charity joined the party, backed by this newspaper's formidably generous legion of readers.

And in an astonishingly short time, this great undertaking has achieved lift-off. As our sister paper The Mail on Sunday reported this weekend, when it launched the campaign, the machinery and supply lines have now been assembled.

Yesterday everything kicked off at top speed. Last night half a dozen trucks  each packed with nearly 2,500 boxes  set off for the Channel, with just one exception. One box was diverted to the Ukrainian embassy in London so Mr Prystaiko and his staff could see what they have achieved.

It's not often that a tin of beans and a packet of basmati rice bring a tear to the eye. Last night was the exception. Among the hundreds of new recruits on the packing line here at the vast Oakland depot in Coalville, I find one person for whom filling boxes is not just paying the bills but an act of national pride. 'It is so sad watching the news every night but I am so happy to be doing something for my country,' says Vitalina Polishenko, 25, from the Ukrainian town of Chernivtsi.

Now living in Coventry with her builder husband Nikolay, she is in daily contact with her mother back at home. Both are frantic with worry about Vitalina's father, Igor, 50, who has volunteered for the Ukrainian forces. 'It's scary for my mother being all alone. We don't know where my father is  he can't tell us  but we do try to speak to him every day,' says Vitalina during her half-hour break in between four-hour shifts. Today, she finds herself on the baked beans section at one of Oakland's four humanitarian production lines. She heard about this job through a local agency and signed up in an instant.

Here, too, I meet the project manager from global consultancy Accenture, which is focusing all its expertise on this endeavour free of charge. She has come to check that all the production lines are doing what they are supposed to do in the allotted time.

It's cold in here. Oakland specialises in delivering chilled foods to every retailer, and so the staff are all wrapped up, gloved and humming along to the radio blaring out above the hum of the chiller units.

In the adjacent warehouse area, the chief exec Dean shows me what the first 150,000 boxes of food look like before the packing stage: Multi-storey racks of shrink-wrapped cans and packets as far as the eye can see.

Most have come from big name retailers, notably Morrisons. There is a separate section of extra supplies donated by Dean's home town of Redditch, and sourced by his son, Samuel. These will simply be added into the boxes as a bonus to fill up any available extra space  a packet of biscuits here, a jar of pickles there. 'It all makes a difference,' says Dean cheerfully.

It is a reminder that, however helpless we may feel in the face of such ghastliness on the far side of the continent, there really is something we can do about it. It may not seem much. But when it ends up feeding half a million people  and that is just for starters  it is more than a gesture.

For these ostensibly unexceptional scenes on an East Midlands industrial estate genuinely represent a collective war effort which could help avert a humanitarian catastrophe in 21st century Europe.

DAY 55 - April 20, 2022, DAILY MAIL

Ukrainian mother, 27, is stuck 'in limbo' with her ten-month-old son as they await permission to enter UK... pending a security check on HIM

Red tape has forced a ten-month-old Ukrainian refugee to wait to get into Britain with his mother  so that he can be security checked.

Misha Pryimak and his mother Tatyana, 27, are stuck in 'limbo' in Warsaw having made a treacherous 500-mile journey from their home in a suburb of the Ukrainian capital Kyiv.

Under Home Office regulations, even children under five must undergo 'biometric tests', including having a digital photo taken of their face. Unlike older children and adults, they do not have to have fingerprints taken.

Misha's appointment took place last Thursday, but Mrs Pryimak has been told it could take up to three weeks for the baby boy's permission to travel to be granted.

Mrs Pryimak has already received her visa after a 17-day wait, but they cannot travel until Misha's application has been approved.

Ten-month-old baby refugee Misha Pryimak, who is fleeing his home in war torn Kyiv with mother Tatyana, 27, may have to wait three weeks to join Julie Lowe, 52, and husband David, 56, at their home in Rothbury, Northumberland

More than 2.5million refugees have crossed into Poland from Ukraine since the Russian invasion (pictured: refugees in Warsaw)

She said: 'I don't understand why Misha can't travel on my visa. He's just a little baby. Of what danger can he possibly be to the UK?

'I am feeling sad, alone, frustrated and overwhelmed.'

The pair are being offered a home by sponsors Julie Lowe, 52, an occupational therapist, and husband David, 56, a nurse, at their home in Rothbury, Northumberland. Mrs Lowe said yesterday: 'The message from the Home Office is that biometrics are needed to protect the security of the UK. But this is a baby.'

Mrs Pryimak, a part-time law student who also ran a leather goods business with her husband Leonid, 40, first applied for a visa on March 20.

Having left her husband behind to fight, she is now being supported financially in Poland by the Newcastle charity Make A Difference. She said: 'I am so grateful for all the help I have been given by my host family and the charity. I am also thankful to the people of the UK for opening their homes up to refugees like me.'

The Pryimaks lived just 12 miles from the battle-scarred town of Irpin, which has been devastated by Russian shelling. The family often had to shelter in a basement.

A Government spokesman said: 'In response to Putin's barbaric invasion we have launched one of the fastest and biggest visa schemes in UK history.'

DAY 54 - April 19, 2022, DAILY MAIL

Bishop's praise for YOUR generosity: Odessa cleric says 11m donations of Mail readers show Ukraine is 'not alone' in fight with Russian troops

The Bishop of Odessa yesterday hailed the generosity of Mail readers for showing Ukraine that it is 'not alone' as it struggles with the horrors of war.

Stanislav Szyrokoradiuk thanked supporters of the Mail Force appeal, which has raised a phenomenal 11million since Russia's invasion.

Mail Force is using 4million of the money donated by kind-hearted readers to send half a million boxes of food aid to starving families in eastern Ukraine.

The huge sum has been matched by the Ukrainian embassy in London. Some 20 tons of supplies which have already reached Poland from the UK are on their way to Ukraine by freight train.

Bishop Szyrokoradiuk, 65, who oversees the Roman Catholic Diocese of Odessa-Simferopol including much of southern Ukraine and Crimea, said: 'We are very grateful to the readers of the Mail for their cooperation because we know that Ukraine us not alone.

'Britain is our country's best friend and we consider Boris Johnson as a brother. He is a very strong and tough man. The people of Britain have done a lot for us so we are praying for them.'

Bishop Stanislav Szyrokoradiuk, pictured, has thanked supporters of the Mail Force appeal, which has raised a phenomenal 11million since Russia's invasion

He added: 'In Mariupol we hear that there are lot of people blocked in their basement without food and without water. For the people in these Russian-occupied territories, food and hygiene is their number one demand.'

His praise came amid a fresh chorus of support for the food campaign, launched in the Mail on Sunday, including a call from Defence Secretary Ben Wallace for readers to keep giving generously.

'The generosity of Mail readers is an extraordinary show of solidarity with the people of Ukraine,' Mr Wallace said.

'As well as getting vital aid to vulnerable people, the campaign will show Russia that the world is united in support for Ukraine in the face of Putin's aggression. I would urge readers to keep giving whatever they can to this momentous effort.'

Fellow Cabinet minister Jacob Rees-Mogg added: 'Since 1896 Daily Mail readers have been the heart and soul of our nation.

'Once again their generosity is called upon and once again the call is answered as they come to the aid of the brave Ukrainian people who suffer at the hands of Putin.'

The latest support follows praise from Boris Johnson and Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky, who has thanked Mail readers for their 'generous support'.

Supplies are a top priority for the Ukrainian government, with Vladimir Putin accused of attempting to 'starve innocent civilians'.

The boxes, made with help from nutritionists, can feed one person for a week. They are packed with 14 items including tinned fish, pasta, rice and porridge.

Millions of items of food have been sourced by the Confederation of British Industry and consultants Accenture from manufacturers and supermarket giant Morrisons. None of those involved in the project will make any profit.

Meanwhile, the United Nations' refugee agency said yesterday that more than 5million people have now fled Ukraine following the Russian invasion on February 24.

Distribution of boxes of food aid is taking place from Oakland International in Leicester

This includes 4,934,415 Ukrainians and nearly 215,000 people from other countries  mostly students and migrant workers. It is one of the fastest-growing displacement and humanitarian crises ever.

Mail Force, a registered charity, was set up during the pandemic to supply personal protective equipment to NHS workers. It also funded 26,000 laptops for underprivileged children whose education was impacted by lockdown.

The Mail Force campaign to help refugees of the war in Ukraine was launched after the Russian invasion. Since then, ordinary Ukrainians have thanked Mail readers for their support.

Natalya Boyko, 61, a cook from the city of Bucha who is now in Kyiv, said: 'The Daily Mail readers who collected this money that they earned themselves have made themselves stand out by giving to us. It is impossible to put it into words, but great respect to them. May God protect them.'

Alongside food boxes, Mail Force has donated almost 4million to charities including the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, Care International, The Halo Trust, AMAR Foundation, Refugee Council and Refugees at Home. Every penny donated is used to help Ukrainians in need.

DAY 54 - April 19, 2022, DAILY MAIL

History repeating itself: Sisters tell of misery as they are forced to leave Ukrainian home... 28 years after they fled Georgia in fear of Russia-backed troops

For the second time in her life, Angela Dzahnoian has been forced to flee the horrors of war.

The lawyer, 35, originally from Sukhumi in Georgia, still remembers at the age of six hearing 20 masked Russian-backed separatists ransack their house in 1994.

They jumped over a fence and stormed in, startling their parents and grandparents. 'They stole our food, our jewellery, even the carpets,' Angela recalled. 'They beat up my parents and grandparents.'

She and her sisters, Diana and Liana, now 30 and 33, were getting ready for bed on that night.

The lawyer, 35, originally from Sukhumi in Georgia, still remembers at the age of six hearing 20 masked Russian-backed separatists ransack their house in 1994

The incident haunts them and their mother Marina, 54, to this day. The next day, the family, which has Armenian roots, put their possessions into a car and drove to Ukraine.

Three decades later, the family saw history repeat itself as Angela and her daughter Amelie, seven, escaped from the Ukrainian town of Chaplynka, which has been under Russian occupation for much of the past seven weeks. She met her sister Diana at a drop-in centre for displaced Ukrainians in the southern city of Odessa which is safe for now.

'Whenever we would go to buy food, the Russian soldiers would just steal it at checkpoints,' she said. 'At the start, local farmers would help by giving out produce. But their resources are exhausted. It is very hard to buy bread. The Russians do not allow aid to go inside.'

The single mother said she barely left her house because she was too scared of being shot.

She got out of Chaplynka on Saturday, with her sister Zhanna, 22, and her 10-month-old son Artem. 'It was frightening with all the shelling,' she said.

Twelve hours later, the four sisters ate together at Diana's flat in Odessa. All of them are now naturalised Ukrainians and proud of their 'homeland'.

Angela said: 'We do not want to be Russian. We do not want to live under their flag. If we leave Ukraine, we will do it as a family.'

DAY 54 - April 19, 2022, DAILY MAIL

Mail Force's 20,000 gift helps keep reporters safe on frontline of war in Ukraine

Ukrainian war reporters are being protected by kit bought with the help of a 20,000 donation from the Mail.

At least 21 journalists of all nationalities have been killed since Russia invaded on February 24, with vital body armour initially in short supply.

But the money from the Mail has now provided protective equipment to Ukrainian journalists bravely reporting from the front line, or exposing atrocities committed by Vladimir Putin's forces.

The cash comes from company funds and not from the generous donations from readers to the Mail Force Ukraine Appeal. Among those benefiting is renowned photojournalist Bohdan Bortakov, who received a helmet and vest.

Renowned photojournalist Bohdan Bortakov received a helmet and vest with the help of a 20,000 donation from the Mail

Another recipient, Andriy Kovalenko, has been working as a fixer for foreign journalists, helping them tell his country's stories to readers and viewers around the world.

Praising the donation, he said the equipment had enabled him to reveal the truth about 'war crimes, executions, mass graves and destroyed cities'.

The Daily Mail's contribution, which was paid via the European Federation of Journalists, is also being used to fund a network of 'solidarity centres' where journalists can work and recuperate while sharing knowledge with colleagues.

Sergiy Tomilenko, president of the National Union of Journalists of Ukraine, said: 'Journalists and the media are targeted by the Russian invaders as enemies for reporting the war crimes they have committed.

Culture Secretary Nadine Dorries said: 'I am very pleased that the Mail has donated support to Ukrainian journalists on the front line'

'So we are very grateful to the Daily Mail for helping to fund equipment to help them report safely from the front line. Your support is extremely important, and priceless.'

Culture Secretary Nadine Dorries last night thanked 'all those working in Ukraine to report on the barbaric Russian invasion and Putin's despicable actions'.

She added: 'Every day journalists are risking their lives and it is absolutely right that we do all we can to support them.

'I am very pleased that the Mail has donated support to Ukrainian journalists on the front line.'

DAY 53 - April 18, 2022, DAILY MAIL

Simply wonderful! Sir Keir Starmer and Liz Truss lead praise as Mail readers' generosity sends 500,000 boxes of food to starving Ukrainian families

The Daily Mail's crusade to feed starving Ukrainians won widespread praise yesterday.

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer hailed our readers and said they should be proud of their 'wonderful' help to send food to desperate families in the war-ravaged nation.

After the mission was launched in yesterday's Mail on Sunday, urgently needed parcels of supplies are on their way across Europe, and a parade of lorries will follow every day, each packed with non-perishable items.

Boris Johnson and Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky endorsed the ambitious Mail Force crusade.

A woman prays on Easter Sunday at an Odessa cathedral

Mail Force is using 4million of the astonishing 11million raised by kind-hearted readers to help send 500,000 aid boxes east with the assistance of the Ukrainian embassy in London.

The embassy is matching the 4million, and the joint effort has already seen 20 tons of food from the UK reach a secure depot in Poland.

From there, the boxes will be loaded on to freight trains and transported to the east of Ukraine where the Kremlin is waging a cruel campaign to 'starve innocent civilians', according to Ukrainian officials.

Foreign Secretary Liz Truss heaped praise on Mail readers yesterday, writing on Twitter: 'Your vital donations will help save lives and support Ukrainians in the face of Russia's barbaric invasion.'

Boris Johnson and Volodymyr Zelensky, pictured in Kyiv last weekend, endorsed Mail Force

Mr Zelensky has thanked the newspaper's readers 'for your generous support', adding: 'These food boxes will help those in desperate need.'

Mr Johnson, who met the president in Kyiv earlier this month, said the generosity of readers was 'humbling', adding: 'Your phenomenal kindness will support the most vulnerable in Ukraine as they needlessly suffer at the hands of Putin's barbaric war.'

Sir Keir said: 'Mail readers have demonstrated the great generosity of the British people when faced with the horrific images that are coming from Ukraine.

'We must call this Russian aggression out, cripple the Putin regime with sanctions and support the brave Ukrainian people with military equipment and humanitarian support such as that which has been so wonderfully provided through the Mail's food boxes campaign.'

Sir Keir added: 'Mail readers have demonstrated the great generosity of the British people'

Labour MP Sarah Champion, the chairman of the Commons international development committee, added: 'The Mail's campaign enables us to directly help the people of Ukraine. I urge you to contribute and know that your donations will be going to those who need it most.

'I would like to thank every Mail reader who has helped the people of Ukraine  your generosity really will help save lives.'

Lib Dem leader Sir Ed Davey added: 'The kindness of Mail readers is truly heartwarming, it shows the tremendous support the British public have to offer to Ukrainians fleeing Putin's war.'

When it was launched shortly after the war began, the Mail Force appeal became the fastest newspaper fundraiser in the world, kick-started with a 500,000 donation from the Mail's parent company DMGT at the personal request of Lord and Lady Rothermere.

When we asked the Ukrainian embassy in London where help was most needed, the answer was direct: food. Taras Krykun, counsellor for economic affairs, said the No 1 priority was to avoid his people 'starving to death'.

Along with Ukraine's ambassador to the UK, Vadym Prystaiko, Mr Krykun has been co-ordinating an operation to create food boxes crammed with enough items to feed one person for a week.

Baked beans, tuna, dried pasta and biscuits are among the 14 items in each box, and nutritionists have been consulted to ensure the right mix of ingredients required to provide healthy meals for refugees forced to flee their homes.

Weighing 17lb (8kg), each box will provide about 12,000 calories, or 1,700 calories a day.

The boxes are being assembled in a Leicestershire depot run by Oakland International, one of the country's top packaging and distribution firms.

The Confederation of British Industry and consultants Accenture have sourced millions of food items from manufacturers and supermarket giant Morrisons.

None of those involved in the project will make any profit.

It comes as the head of the World Food Programme, David Beasley, warned food shortages caused by the conflict could lead to 'a catastrophe on top of a catastrophe'.

DAY 53 - April 18, 2022, DAILY MAIL

The mothers who went hungry so children could eat: JAMES FRANEY reports on the families who are starving after Russian troops stopped Ukrainian aid from reaching village

One mother sells her son's beloved bicycle to make sure he is fed, while another scrabbles around for supplies in between Russian shelling.

Natalya Shablevskaya and her family have spent the past four weeks cowering in a cramped, freezing cellar, barely the size of a double bed, living off whatever food they could get their hands on.

Their four-bedroom house in the tiny village of Vaslikiv, close to Mykolaiv  a strategically important city 70 miles north-east of the port of Odessa  was regularly rocked by the reverberations of Russian bombing.

She would wait for a lull in the bombardment before clambering upstairs in the early morning to fetch food for her ten-year-old son Danil, mother Olga, 63, and father Peter, 72.

'We got used to eating very little because we were gripped by fear,' says Miss Shablevskaya, a post office clerk, who has now reached the relative safety of Odessa.

Natalya Shablevskaya, 42, with her ten year old son, Danil, age 10, and her mother, Olga, 63, who fled from Vasilkiv, a village in the Mikoliav region occupied by Russians

'You never knew when the next explosion was coming. We had just a few basic supplies that the Russians had given us, but most of it was out of date. They were disgusting. They were not fit for humans. We had no other choice.

'The Russians were preventing Ukrainian aid from arriving to our village and blocking all humanitarian corridors.'

The 42-year-old single mother has no doubt about who is the architect of this policy. She says Vladimir Putin is 'absolutely' trying to recreate the Ukrainian famine of 1932-33.

Ukrainians call it the Holodomor, or 'hunger extermination', a horrifying event that killed at least four million people.

Now Miss Shablevskaya's mother Olga describes the horrors inflicted by Russia in this latest attack.

'We had to decide who got what. We gave most of what we had to Danil and Peter.'

Peter, a former farmer who suffers from a severe form of Parkinson's disease, is bedridden and barely able to communicate.

He desperately needs supplies of insulin to ease his condition. To make matters worse the family had no gas, no electricity and no running water for more than a month.

On the very rare occasions they managed to get the ingredients for a hot meal, they burned some of their books to start a fire.

Olga Kisilyova, 39, with her son Alexander, 12, who fled from Russian occupied Kherson, now safely in Odesa, Ukraine

'The worst thing was the damp and the cold,' says Miss Shablevskaya.

'We wrapped ourselves in whatever blankets we had but the temperatures dropped close to freezing at night.'

The Mail met the family at a shelter in the southern port that has been welcoming displaced Ukrainians fleeing Russian aggression in other parts of the country.

They left Mykolaiv at 4am yesterday after a volunteer with good military contacts managed to offer them a way out.

But the conflict is never far away. As dawn broke in Odessa on the day of their arrival, air raid sirens blared out across the city amid unverified Russian claims that Putin's forces had shot down a Ukrainian military plane nearby.

And Miss Shablevskaya says her son still has nightmares about the constant explosions that became a daily routine back at home.

'Earlier he heard two bangs and asked if we were still safe,' she says.

The family plans to move to Poland, where they have relatives who form part of the now four-million strong Ukrainian community in the country.

For now, all of them are packed into a tiny bedroom with one bunkbed and two single beds.

Scattered across the room are the few possessions that they managed to grab before running for their lives.

'We have been wearing these same clothes for the past month,' Olga says.

Among them are some of Danil's Lego bricks, which he takes with him everywhere.

'I want to go to England one day,' he says in perfect English. 'It is such a beautiful language.'

In the room next door is another child refugee, 12-year-old Alexander Kisilyov.

His mother Olga Kisilyova, 39, explains how she had to sell her son's toys and belongings, including his cherished bicycle, so she could put food on the table in their one-bedroom, first-floor flat in the Russian-occupied city of Kherson.

Rescue workers still searching through the rubble at the Mykoliav Regional State Administration building after it was hit by a Russian missile, Mykoliav, Ukraine

'The food shortages started a month ago,' she says.

'We had to get up at 4am to queue up in the freezing cold outside the supermarkets.

'Supplies were not getting through, so everything cost more. Prices of food had quadrupled by the time we left three days ago.'

Russia's shelling of Kherson meant Mrs Kisilyova's husband of 12 years, Vladimir, lost his job as a construction worker, compounding their misery.

'We had to dip into our savings to buy basic things such as bread, milk and sugar,' says Mrs Kisilyova, a nursery school teacher.

Alexander, who is also known as Sasha, is a keen wrestler who used to eat meat or pasta before taking part in his competitions.

'I skipped meals so that he had enough food,' Mrs Kisilyova explains as she hugs her son tightly.

'I was acting like any normal mother would.'

They were among the 45 people who scrambled on to a 20-seat minibus to escape Kherson, leaving Vladimir behind.

'We heard the sounds of shelling everywhere as we left,' she says. 'I was praying to God to save me and my son.'

Mrs Kisilyova and Alexander made it to Odessa on Good Friday.

And yesterday, on Easter Sunday, worshippers packed into the 19th-century Cathedral of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary as Catholics in the city celebrated the festival - Orthodox Christians will celebrate next week.

Addressing his congregation, Bishop Stanislav Szyrokoradiuk had a message of hope: 'Despite the war, let us pray for peace this Easter.' One woman in her late 20s fell to her knees and made the sign of the cross.

DAY 37 - April 2, 2022, DAILY MAIL

Diabetic Weronica, 7, gets vital insulin thanks to YOU: Red Cross medics arrange for emergency vials using funds from the Mail's Ukraine Refugee Appeal

Trapped in Ukraine and with her vital supply of insulin almost exhausted, diabetic seven-year-old Weronica was in danger of falling seriously ill.

Thankfully, help was at hand from the Red Cross, whose work is partly funded by donations from generous Mail on Sunday readers.

Red Cross medics in Poland arranged for emergency vials of insulin to be delivered to Weronica, who was 170 miles away in the town of Dubno, and for a prescription that will provide her with a two-month supply of the drug.

'She is so happy. She is so grateful for the help,' said family friend Tatiana, 39, who appealed for assistance when she arrived at Przemysl train station in Poland, having left Weronica and her distraught mother behind in Dubno.

It took Tatiana two days to reach Poland, travelling by car, foot and train. She arrived at the border with two of her sons and her husband, a priest, who returned to Dubno with the insulin.

Red Cross medics in Poland arranged for emergency vials of insulin to be delivered to Weronica (pictured), who was 170 miles away in the town of Dubno, and for a prescription that will provide her with a two-month supply of the drug

'My own children are safe now, so I must do all I can to help Weronica,' Tatiana said.

'My husband has taken the medications back to Ukraine. As a priest, he feels it is his duty to stand by the people of Ukraine.'

The record-breaking Mail Force Appeal has given the Red Cross 500,000 to support its efforts to get food, water, medicine and other essentials to those affected by the conflict. Readers have inundated the appeal with more than 70,000 cheques and a flood of online donations since it was launched five weeks ago. The total raised has reached a staggering 10.4 million.

The appeal was kick-started with a 500,000 donation from The Mail on Sunday and Daily Mail parent company, DMGT, at the personal request of chairman Lord Rothermere and his wife Lady Rothermere.

Like many of the four million refugees who have fled Ukraine, Tatiana described the terror of missile strikes. 'We saw our neighbourhood bombarded. We were terrified. Especially the children. They saw missiles dropping from the sky.

'We knew we had to go straight to the basement, but the children just froze. As soon as there was an opportunity to leave, we packed what we could carry and we ran.'

Mother-of-three Grazyna arrived at Przemysl with her 18-year-old son Marian on the same day as Tatiana. Marian is a student at the Krakow University of Technology in Poland but was trapped in Ukraine because he was visiting his mother when the fighting started.

He was twice refused permission to leave the country but was finally allowed to flee with Grazyna after Ukrainian authorities announced that those studying abroad could return to their studies.

'I have never been so happy,' Grazyna said. 'I have two older daughters already studying in Poland so I know as soon as my son joins them they will be safe.'

DAY 36- April 1, 2022, DAILY MAIL

Mail refugee appeal hits marvellous 10m: Keen musician, 11, whose treasured guitar, toys, school books and bicycle were destroyed when his home was bombed is among those to benefit from YOUR generosity

The Mail's campaign in aid of Ukraine's refugees today tops a staggering 10million thanks to our incredible readers.

Generous donations to help evacuees are still rolling in, as the Mail Force Ukraine Appeal reached a landmark 10.4million, including more than 9million from readers.

Your peerless altruism continues to give support to Ukrainian families who have fled the fighting and those seeking sanctuary in Britain.

One is keen musician Vitia, 11, whose treasured guitar, toys, school books and bicycle were destroyed when his home in Volnovakha, eastern Ukraine, was bombed. Now he and his mother Olena are safe in a shelter in Vinnytsia, on the other side of the country, thanks to Unicef, which has received 500,000 from Mail Force.

An aid worker even managed to find the youngster a replacement guitar.

One is keen musician Vitia, 11, whose treasured guitar, toys, school books and bicycle were destroyed when his home in Volnovakha, eastern Ukraine, was bombed

Olena described how her son had asked her to record a video of him playing his new instrument. 'He misses his music teacher very much,' Olena said. 'She has also become a refugee. And to cheer her up, he decided to play for her.'

Before fleeing their home, Vitia and his family spent several days without food, heating or any way of communicating with the outside world. Nights were spent in the basement of their home, with mattresses against the windows.

'I only survived those days thanks to Vitia's support,' Olena said. 'We were lying in the dark and he was hugging me, saying: 'Mum, everything will be fine'.'

Unicef says 4.3million children have been displaced by the war in Ukraine.

Today we announce the latest grant of more than 338,000 to Refugees at Home.

The cash will enable the charity to 'dramatically' expand its programme, which links up evacuees and British households who have offered spare rooms.

Today we announce the latest grant of more than 338,000 to Refugees at Home. The cash will enable the charity to 'dramatically' expand its programme, which links up evacuees and British households who have offered spare rooms

Co-founder and trustee Sara Nathan said last night: 'We are really grateful to the Mail's readers for supporting us and other groups who are trying to make the lives of Ukrainians fleeing war as positive as possible.

'The money will make a huge amount of difference to our capacity. It is such a relief that the only thing we don't have to worry about is resourcing our work. Thank you.' Miss Nathan said the charity has already started hiring ten extra staff to administer its programme.

The donation will also help fund suitability checks on hosts, as well as support for sponsors and evacuees. The Mail Force campaign was kick-started by a 500,000 donation from parent company DMGT at the personal request of Lord and Lady Rothermere.

Since then, the money from generous readers has flooded in. Other aid organisations to have received grants include the United Nations refugee agency, UNHCR, which accepted 1million, while the Red Cross and CARE International received 500,000 each.

DAY 35 - MARCH 30, 2022, DAILY MAIL

A businessman desperately trying to bring his wife's cousin, her friends and one of their mothers from Ukraine to the UK has branded Britain's visa system a 'disgrace'.

Mark Lewis and his Ukrainian-born wife Irina spent nearly eight hours filling in forms for the women to come to Britain under the Homes for Ukraine scheme.

The group  who spent 24 hours travelling to the Polish border  had to trek to Warsaw because some didn't have passports with them. So far, only four of their seven applications have been approved.

Mark Lewis and his Ukrainian-born wife Irina spent nearly eight hours filling in forms for the women to come to Britain under the Homes for Ukraine scheme

Mr Lewis, 56, who works in finance and lives in Chertsey, Surrey, is a lifelong Conservative voter  but says the fiasco may have changed his mind.

He said: 'Frustration is the polite word for what we feel. They won't be able to get my vote again unless they sort this mess out.'

'I've got this horrible feeling (the system) is completely not fit for purpose,' he added.

Mr Lewis and his Kharkiv-born wife are at their wits' end trying to get second cousin Katya Katchan, 21, five of her friends and one of their mothers to safety.

The girls are Kostya, 21, Viktoriia, 18, Andriana, 16, Viktoriia, 20, plus Yelyzaveta, 20, and her mother Nataliia, 55.

The girls are Kostya, 21, Viktoriia, 18, Andriana, 16, Viktoriia, 20, plus Yelyzaveta, 20, and her mother Nataliia, 55

Katya spent a week sleeping in a corridor in her parents' apartment in Zaporizhzhia, south-eastern Ukraine, as shells rained down.

Frustrated by the visa process, Mr Lewis said: 'I don't know how anyone is meant to do it, while they're fleeing a war zone and running for their lives, on a mobile phone  and they don't speak English.'

While the women wait, Mr Lewis fears for their safety.

He said: 'There's a lot of predators. For people traffickers it's like all their Christmases have come at once; these girls are young and naive.'

DAY 34 - MARCH 29, 2022, DAILY MAIL

My great escape... with my cat! Wheelchair-user and his beloved pet flee war-torn Ukraine to safe haven as MailForce fund tops 9million

Some have fled the bombs while others have sheltered in basements, but when you have a disability, neither is an easy option.

For wheelchair user Vitaly, getting to safety came with added challenges  especially since he refused to leave his cat behind.

But he has now escaped from the hell of Ukraine, with help from the Red Cross, whose work is partly funded by donations from generous Daily Mail readers.

Vitaly, his fiancee Valentyna, her mother Svitlana and their cat Timosha come from the city of Chernihiv in northern Ukraine.

Ukrainian wheelchair-user Vitaly, his fiancee Valentyna her mother Svitlana and cat Timosha (pictured together in Italy) found refuge in Italy with the help of the Mail Force Ukraine Appeal which has raised 9.1million

They lived on the fifth floor but the electricity supply was cut, stopping the lifts from working.

While other residents sheltered from bombardments in the basement, Vitaly was not always able to join them, although sometimes kind neighbours would carry him to the underground refuge.

But with no water or heating, the family eventually decided it was too risky to stay in Chernihiv.

Humanitarian groups helped them to move to Kyiv, where they spent two days, before moving to Lviv in western Ukraine.

Firefighters putting out a fire after Russian missiles strikes to infrastructure including a fuel storage facility on the western Ukrainian city of Lviv on March 26

Ukrainian servicemen take cover behind a military armored vehicle as they walk towards the battlefield east of Kyiv

From there, the Red Cross organised transport for evacuation to Italy.

Millions of refugees, mostly women and children, have now fled Ukraine and are being given temporary new homes in countries across Europe.

The Mail Force Ukraine Appeal was launched a month ago and has raised 9.1million.

The first 500,000 came from a donation by DMGT, the Mail's parent company, at the request of Lord and Lady Rothermere. Since then, donations have flooded in from readers, firms and philanthropists.

Stanley Solts, of Bromley, south-east London, wrote a cheque for 100, and wrote: 'I was horrified to see the children in the shelter.

'It reminded me of the time in my childhood when I was taken by my mother and grandparents to the London Tube to avoid the Blitz in 1940. Keep up the good works.'

DAY 33- MARCH 28, 2022, DAILY MAIL

Three generations of one family safe... thanks to you: Heartwarming story of Ukrainians sheltering in Poland shows help is at hand as our appeal fund hits 9.1m

By James Franey, Europe Correspondent for the Daily Mail

Three generations of a Ukrainian family who fled the Russian invasion are now sheltering in Poland thanks to the generosity of Mail readers.

Svetlana Tsymbal, her daughter Alona and granddaughter Sofia reached the Polish capital after attacks on their hometown of Zaporizhzhia forced them to flee earlier this month.

They are now being kept safe from Vladimir Putin's barbarism  with the help of Mail Force's Ukraine Refugee Appeal which has so far raised more than 9.1million.

But although they have managed to escape the violence, Svetlana, 48, is already dreaming of returning to her homeland in south-east Ukraine.

Svetlana Tsymbal, her daughter Alona and granddaughter Sofia reached the Polish capital after attacks on their hometown of Zaporizhzhia forced them to flee earlier this month

'We are still trying to digest what happened,' the shop assistant said. 'I just want to go back home.'

Svetlana, 29-year-old Alona and nine-year-old Sofia left after Russian forces attacked the city's nuclear power plant  which is the biggest in Europe.

'We had spent most of the previous two weeks underground in a bunker. We could hear the planes flying and the bombs falling,' Svetlana said.

The Mail met the family at a centre run by the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) in central Warsaw, which is providing money, aid and counselling to Ukrainian refugees.

After a short interview process, Svetlana and her family managed to sign up to a cash payments system which is partly funded by donations from Mail readers.

Under the system, she will be able to go to any ATM in Poland and withdraw money with a special code that is sent to her mobile phone. The payments amount to 700 zloty per month per Ukrainian refugee  equivalent to 125  for an initial three months.

Poland's government has already said Ukrainian refugees will be eligible for welfare support. But this assistance money will help buy goods, medication and essential services as new arrivals wait for their benefits applications to be processed. Refugees are pictured arriving in Poland

Poland's government has already said Ukrainian refugees will be eligible for welfare support. But this assistance money will help buy goods, medication and essential services as new arrivals wait for their benefits applications to be processed. A senior official from the UNHCR, which has received 1million from the appeal, has praised kind-hearted Mail readers.

Marin Din Kajdomcaj, the UNHCR's representative in Poland, said: 'A big thank-you to the readers of the Daily Mail and The Mail on Sunday for their incredible generosity.

'This cash assistance will ensure that refugees are able to meet their basic needs during this difficult period in dignity of choice.'

More than two million Ukrainians have entered Poland since the war broke out just over a month ago. The Mail's appeal was launched shortly afterwards, and readers have flooded it with more than 67,500 cheques as well as online donations.

The Mail Force appeal began with a 500,000 donation from parent company, DMGT, at the personal request of Lord and Lady Rothermere.

The charity is giving money to aid organisations already helping refugees. As well as the donation to the UNHCR, other organisations to have received funds include the Red Cross, Unicef and CARE International. Donations of 250,000 have also been made to the AMAR Foundation and The Halo Trust.

More than two million Ukrainians have entered Poland since the war broke out just over a month ago

DAY 30- MARCH 25, 2022, DAILY MAIL

'We told our daughter we were leaving for holiday. We had to go for her sake': Parents tell of agony of uprooting family to flee Ukraine for safety of Poland... where Mail Force fund helps provide shelter for refugees

By James Franey for the Daily Mail

Reunited in safety, a family who escaped the bombardment in Ukraine has told of their journey to reach Poland  where they can shelter with help from Mail readers.

The Red Cross operation, partly funded by Mail Force donations, is providing clothes, food and blankets.

Nataliia Zalezynska, one of her great-aunts, Olexandra, 75, her aunt Svetlana, 39, and Svetlana's son Danilo, 12, all met up after fleeing from different parts of Ukraine.

Nataliia, 30, told her four-year-old daughter Zarina that they were leaving their hometown of Zhytomyr, west of the capital, to go on 'holiday'.

'We heard the planes flying over our houses, attacking our city from the air,' said Nataliia in flawless English, still visibly shaken by being forced to leave her homeland because of the fighting.

Nataliia Zalezynska, one of her great-aunts, Olexandra, 75, her aunt Svetlana, 39, and Svetlana's son Danilo, 12, all met up after fleeing from different parts of Ukraine

'Home is best, but we had to leave for the sake of my daughter. We don't want our children to become children of war.

'I told Zarina that we were going on a trip to Poland. She is already asking when we will be going back home to Ukraine.'

The final leg of their journey was arduous, taking more than 12 hours as they negotiated Ukrainian military checkpoints and queues at the crossing close to the Polish border town of Zosin.

Now safe in the Polish capital Warsaw, where Zarina is starting at a new pre-school, Nataliia told the Mail yesterday she had been impressed by the generosity of the Red Cross volunteers in Poland.

In the Red Cross office, people work daily to sort items bought with money donated by people from all over the world, including Mail readers, as well as deliveries that come from all over Europe, including Britain.

The final leg of their journey was arduous, taking more than 12 hours as they negotiated Ukrainian military checkpoints and queues at the crossing close to the Polish border town of Zosin. The Ukrainian Territorial Defence Forces are seen above in the north of the country

Maria Skzwarczynska, a 65-year-old retired tax adviser, said she had decided to sign up for the daily eight-hour shifts to take her mind off the horrors unfolding in neighbouring Ukraine.

Her son is a war photojournalist currently covering the conflict and she said she lies awake at night fearing what could happen to him.

'I decided to come here to take away the stress from worrying that he could die,' said Maria.

She volunteers with her 71-year-old husband Jerzy helping Ukrainian refugees.

'The most important thing we try to do is make the people who come here smile, make them feel loved,' the Warsaw native said.

Her son is a war photojournalist currently covering the conflict and she said she lies awake at night fearing what could happen to him

Although most of the Red Cross volunteers are from the surrounding countries, some have come from further afield.

One man decided to join the Red Cross's relief efforts in Poland from the other side of the globe.

Stephen Harte, a 61-year-old from Victoria in Australia, quit his job as an accountant to book a one-way ticket via Dubai for Warsaw so he could volunteer with the Red Cross.

'Doing the books for some local company didn't really add value,' Mr Harte said as he helped sort donations of nappies.

'Just sitting there watching all this happening in Ukraine wasn't enough.' Mr Harte, who has three grown up children, was four years off retirement but said his stint with the Red Cross team has been 'really fulfilling'.

'I'll be here for as long as they need me,' he said. 'I'll hopefully pick something up when I get back.'

At the request of Lord and Lady Rothermere, the Mail's parent company DMGT has donated 500,000 to the Mail Force Ukraine Appeal.

DAY 29- MARCH 24, 2022, DAILY MAIL

Thanks, Mail readers, for all you've done for my people: Vitali Klitschko, the world champion boxer who is now mayor of Kyiv, sends a message of gratitude... and raw courage

By Richard Pendlebury and Jamie Wiseman for the Daily Mail

Dr Iron Fist, as he was known in the ring, folds my puny hand into his once lethal right. In the woods below us the crackle of small arms practice for citizen volunteers continues.

Further away, on the edge of this great city of which Vitali Klitschko is both civic leader and now totem of wartime resistance, the grumble of Putin's artillery is unabated.

'Thank your readers for what they have done for us already,' the mayor of Kyiv tells me, in reference to the Mail Force appeal that has so far raised almost 8.5million for Ukraine's refugees. 'But tell them we need more help still.'

And so ends perhaps the most memorable press conference I have ever attended.

Three-time world heavyweight title-holder Mayor Klitschko is marked as the second most important target for a Russian 'decapitation' strike against Ukraine's leadership, after President Zelensky.

Consequently, up until now, any media interviews have largely been conducted via Skype.

But today he wants to throw off those shackles and meet us in person. And so the Mail  and a select number of other representatives of the international media  has been invited to a necessarily clandestine, last-minute, rendezvous with the mayor and his brother, fellow former world heavyweight boxing champion Wladimir.

Just a few hours after the latest 35-hour lockdown has ended, we meet outdoors, beside the fountain of St Michael the Archangel in Volodymyrska Hirka Park.

On one side our backdrop is the golden domes of the monastery and cathedral, on the other a panoramic view across the besieged city.

Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko, pictured with Daily Mail writer Richard Pendlebury, supporting The Mail's campaign to raise money for Ukraine refugees

Then WBO heavyweight champion Vitali Klitschki holds a Ukrainian flag aloft at the London Arena following a victory over Herbie Hide in 1999

It is a charming spot. Birds sing and squirrels gambol among the landscaped gardens and ornate lamp posts.

There is bandstand perched amid the black cherry and willow trees, still leafless though the bright weather tells us that vesna  spring  has arrived. And yet the sights and sounds of war are all around us.

The brothers arrive and the first thing you notice, inevitably, is how big they are. And how they carry themselves  stalking into the park like panthers, accompanied by their security detail.

The Klitschkos do not appear to be wearing body armour like everyone else. Their expressions are stern, watchful.

Like boxers at a weigh-in. Vitali is 50. Wladimir the little brother  if you can describe someone who is almost 6ft 6in tall as little  will be 46 tomorrow. Yet Vitali is taller still. He is also rather more grey around the temples.

Both speak good English and without notes. 'The times are tough and I am responsible, as the mayor of Kyiv, to give a good life for everyone, to provide services, electricity, heating, water,' Vitali begins.

'Right now we guess half of the population, especially women and children, have already left.'

He turns to his brother: 'I very much appreciate Wladimir, who uses his influential contacts with [international] business people...'

At this moment the air raid sirens begin to wail, again. There is the distant boom of explosions. But the mayor carries on as if nothing is happening: '...and political decision-makers regarding humanitarian help. We need support right now in this time.'

Wladimir makes some obliging comments about the journalists who are present. 'All of us Ukrainians have a lot of respect for you, because you could be somewhere else,' he says.

'Some of you have been killed but it's not stopping you. Ukraine [will have been] under continuous attack for one month soon. But our will is as strong as it could be and most importantly [so is our will] to defend our democratic principles.'

Cleanup continues at Retroville Shopping Mall in Kyiv today after it was destroyed by a Russian airstrike yesterday. At least eight people were killed initially and another person is dead after a second strike today

A shopping mall lies in ruins after a missile strike of the Russian troops in the Podilskyi district of Kyiv on Wednesday

Firefighters extinguish a fire at a house hit by a Russian shell in Kyiv, Ukraine, on Wednesday

The sirens swell but so does Wladimir's oratory: 'It's going to be a long run and we must have patience and endurance. We are defending the world.

'People speak about a possible world war. I believe it has already started. The whole world is against this senseless war that Russia, that Putin's regime, has started. Ukraine is just the beginning, so we better stop them here.'

The mayor is asked what the current military threat to Kyiv is.

'It is not top secret that the target of the aggressors is the capital of Ukraine,' he says.

'They had plans three weeks ago to be here in the capital. Everybody was surprised how tough the Ukrainian army and soldiers [were]. Because we stand in front of one of the strongest armies in the world.'

'I tell you why we are so tough and why the Russian soldiers are not so effective,' he adds.

'They are fighting for their money. But we are defending our children, our families, our city and our future. We don't want to be slaves.

'We don't want to live in a dictatorship. We want to be part of the European family, [as a] democratic, modern European country.

'The Russians want to rebuild the Russian empire and we don't know where that ambition ends. Maybe the border of Poland, maybe the Czech Republic, maybe Germany. But our soldiers destroyed their plans to circle Kyiv.'

It is not just the soldiers who are resolute. 'A few days ago in Obolon district, a rocket destroyed an apartment building,' Vitali says.

'An old man, over 60, came to me and said, 'Mr Mayor, what do I do? My home is destroyed.'

'I suggested he leave but he said, 'I'm sorry I do not want to leave. This is my hometown. I have lived here all my life. Mr Mayor please just give me a weapon.'

Vitali gives a smile that might be a grimace: 'The Russians receive the same answer from all our citizens.

'The people want to defend their city and show the spirit of Kyiv. His message to the Russians? 'Leave our homeland. Go home.'

He said that, so far, 264 civilians have been killed in Kyiv, with another 300 in hospital. Some 80 buildings have been destroyed.

As the press conference draws to a close, Mayor Klitschko is more than happy to shake my hand and pose with the Mail Force appeal poster.

Britain has long had a special place in his heart. It was in London in the summer of 1999 that he won his first world heavyweight title  against British WBO champion Herbie Hide.

An hour before I meet the brothers I watch a YouTube video of the fight. It doesn't take long.

Hide enters the ring with a swagger, as if expecting an easy win  rather like the Russian army did a month ago.

Klitschko, sporting shorts in the now iconic blue and yellow of his country's flag, boxes technically  twice flooring his opponent. And on the second occasion Hide is unable to continue. It's a TKO.

The sword-wielding St Michael on the ornamental fountain is also surrounded by enemies: eight cringing dragons perched on the lip of the fountain's bowl.

This is why Mayor Klitschko has chosen it as our rendezvous. 'This is the angel who defends our city,' he says. 'It is a symbolic place. This is the heart of Kyiv.'

With St Michael and Dr Iron Fist stood side by side, no wonder the Russians are struggling.

DAY 28- MARCH 23, 2022, DAILY MAIL

'Putin's bombing of civilians, babies and children is nothing less than a war crime we need to help these besieged human beings': Joan Collins backs Mail Force appeal as refugee fund reaches 8.3million

By Sam Greenhill and Eleanor Sharples for the Daily Mail

Dame Joan Collins branded Vladimir Putin's atrocities a 'war crime' yesterday as she backed the Mail Force appeal for his helpless victims.

The 88-year-old screen legend hailed our fundraiser, which has now hit 8.3million.

She said: 'Putin's invasion of Ukraine is an atrocity and the shelling and bombing of innocent civilians, babies and children is nothing less than a war crime. The fear, terror and extreme temperatures are causing immense harm.

Dame Joan Collins praised the Daily Mail's Ukraine Refugee Appeal after it hit 8.3 million as she called Putin a 'war criminal' over the atrocities committed in his name throughout Ukraine

'I fully support the Mail's Ukrainian refugee appeal, which is trying to help these besieged human beings.'

Money from our generous readers is going to major aid organisations in Ukraine and surrounding countries helping refugees fleeing the invasion.

Among them was a diabetic grandmother of ten, who fled with nothing except her beloved cat in a basket.

Crossing the border to safety in Romania, Olga, 57, sobbed as she was met with a blanket, a hot drink and a friendly face courtesy of Care International, one of the charities supported by Daily Mail readers.

Olga, who struggles to walk after a stroke in 2011, said of her pet: 'She takes care of me when I'm feeling sick, wherever I feel pain.

'It is the same when the bomb alarms go off  she knows to come and lie with me in the bed, and we cover ourselves with the blanket and stay there until it is safe.

'I take the cat on my chest and we cuddle until the alarm is over.'

She added: 'Here in Romania, the volunteers have been so helpful, they helped me with my luggage and registered me for transport and I can finally sit down. Everything about leaving Ukraine is hard. It is so painful  it is so many years of my life, I am leaving everything behind.'

The Mail Force Ukraine Appeal has so far raised 8.3million.

At the request of Lord and Lady Rothermere, the Mail's parent company DMGT donated 500,000.

Many donations are from readers who have sent generous cheques, some of whom shudder at the memory of the war against Hitler.

Beryl Pennington, 90, from Wigan, who donated 10, said: 'I went through the Second World War, sometimes holed up in air raid shelters. My heart goes out to these poor, poor people.'

Civilians being evacuated along humanitarian corridors from the Ukrainian city of Mariupol besieged by Russian military and rebel forces on March 20

Ukrainians flee their home town of Marganets on the train on March 22, 2022 in Lviv,

Newborn baby Misha sleeps at the Zaporizhzhia Regional Clinical Children's Hospital in March

Widow Tracey Shafe, 63, from Alton, Hampshire, donated 10 for each of her eight grandchildren.

She wrote: 'I was widowed in my thirties and I know how much grief and pain my children have carried for all their lives.

There will be many widows and orphans as a result of this wicked conflict and I just wanted to give something.'

In Ilford, Essex, the Disabled Asian Women's Network raised 460 through members. Its chairman Harsha Popat wrote: 'We wish and pray for all these people, especially the women and children who have been caught up in this situation and hope they find peace and comfort in knowing that we are thinking of them.'

DAY 27- MARCH 22, 2022, DAILY MAIL

Baby Lisa is safe and warm now in her new woolly hat... thanks to your donations swelling the Mail Force Ukraine Refugee appeal

By Sam Greenhill for the Daily Mail

With a smile worth a million pounds, this baby receives a kiss from mum and a woolly hat  courtesy of Daily Mail readers.

One-year-old Lisa is safe and warm at last after a terrifying week under Vladimir Putin's bombardment.

The youngster spent nights with mother Yuliia, 42, and her brothers  ten-year-old Mykhailo and Tymofii, 12  cowering in the basement of their home in Kharkiv. Above ground, Russian forces mercilessly bombed the north-eastern city, where apartment blocks, schools and hospitals were all pounded. In the cold and dark, all that Yuliia could do was hope and pray that the walls would protect them from the deadly explosions outside.

Comfort: Lisa in new beanie with mum Yuliia at a Unicef shelter in Lviv, Ukraine

They were given food and clothing, and most importantly, peace

'It was cold and dirty,' she recalled. 'The children slept fully dressed.' Eventually, she grabbed their travel documents and some baby food, and they fled.

'When the planes started flying above our heads, it was very scary,' she said. 'The children were horrified.' Her husband stayed in Kharkiv to take care of his elderly mother.

Her sons are still haunted by their panic-filled train journey to the western city of Lviv. 'There were no seats left on the train. The children were just sitting on the bags at the end of the carriage. And outside the window was explosions and smoke. They were very scared,' she said.

In Lviv, the family were given shelter by Unicef, the United Nations children's charity which is receiving funding from Mail Force.

They were given food and clothing, and most importantly, peace.

'All we had are the documents and clothes that we wore when leaving,' said Yuliia. 'But it's comfortable here. And most importantly, it's quiet.'

To meet the needs of thousands of families, Unicef has given 30 tons of clothing, blankets and hygiene items to centres across Ukraine.

A spokesman said: 'Many families left the regions of the country where the fighting is taking place, having only taken the things that they could carry in their hands. Thanks to your donations, families like Yuliia's can now find much-needed winter clothing.'

Yuliia added: 'I couldn't change the children's clothes because I didn't have anything. And now I have jackets, trousers, hats and everything I need.'

The Mail Force Ukraine Appeal has raised more than 8million. At the request of Lord and Lady Rothermere, the Mail's parent company DMGT has donated 500,000. The charity is distributing the money to where it is needed most.

As well as the Red Cross, a 1million donation is being made to the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) which is helping families caught in the worst refugee crisis since the Second World War.

Another 250,000 was announced at the weekend for The Halo Trust, the bomb-clearing charity made famous by Princess Diana, to help buy new vehicles and mine-detecting equipment.

DAY 26- MARCH 21, 2022, DAILY MAIL

Help is at hand for families stranded in Ukraine exodus thanks to YOUR kindness... as appeal raises more than 8million

By Sam Greenhill for the Daily Mail

Under the ornate arches of Przemysl railway station, Tanja Veklendko and her children are safe at last.

They escaped Ukraine to arrive in the Polish city, where they were immediately given help by the Red Cross, which is being funded with donations from Mail readers.

But Tanja and her three children have left behind her husband and she cannot stop weeping. They fled Krivoy Rog, a city in central Ukraine, after explosions rocked their home.

She said: 'Near my house there is a military base and the other night they were bombing constantly from four in the morning. We were so afraid, so I took the kids and I fled. My husband is still there, I start crying every time I think of that.'

The Red Cross is helping thousands arriving daily at Przemysl station, which is close to the Ukraine border.

Magdalena Michutka Kuras, a nurse and paramedic volunteering with the Polish Red Cross, said: 'We have a big sign, in both Ukrainian and Polish, saying, 'You are safe here'.

It's a powerful message. They say that we are giving them hope for a better future.

Tanja Veklenko and her children at Przemysl railway station

Refugee family leave Chop, Ukraine by train on March 18, with Hungary now the second-most popular destination for refugees fleeing Ukraine

'We try to provide them with psychological support because they are separated from their loved ones and worried about their families who are still in Ukraine. They are afraid for fathers, husbands and brothers who are fighting in Kyiv.'

Clutching a bag of toys to hand out on the platform, she said: 'There are about 2,000 people on each train. We receive people who are dehydrated after a very long trip without water, without food.

'They are tired, they are sick. They have high fevers and blisters on their feet after walking many, many kilometres to the border.'

Despite the harrowing stories, she said it was the overwhelming kindness that had surprised her the most since she started volunteering in Przemysl.

She said: 'There are a lot of volunteers from many different organisations and we work together as one. Everyone is smiling. Everyone is happy to help.'

A view of destroyed theatre hall, which was used as a shelter by civilians, after Russian bombardment in Mariupol

Firefighters arrived in force at a residential building in the bombed city center of Kharkiv

The Mail Force Ukraine Appeal has raised over 8million. At the request of Lord and Lady Rothermere, the Mail's parent company DMGT has donated 500,000. The charity is distributing the money to where it is needed most.

As well as the Red Cross, a 1million donation is being made to UNHCR, the United Nations Refugee Agency, which is helping families caught in the worst refugee crisis since the Second World War.

Another 250,000 has been announced for The Halo Trust, the bomb disposal charity made famous by Princess Diana, to help buy vehicles and mine detecting equipment.

DAY 25 - MARCH 20TH 2022, THE MAIL ON SUNDAY

Your 1million for UN mercy mission: How generous Mail Force donations will help fund emergency aid and shelter for millions of refugees forced from their homes by Russia's brutal invasion of Ukraine

By Mark Hookham and Natasha Livingstone for the Mail on Sunday

The Mail Force Ukraine Appeal today announces its biggest donation so far to help stricken families caught up in Europe's worst refugee crisis since the Second World War.

The United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) will receive a 1 million cash boost from our record-breaking appeal.

Your money will help fund emergency aid and shelter for millions of refugees forced from their homes by Russia's brutal invasion of Ukraine.

Brave UNHCR staff are already distributing food, blankets, mattresses, baby formula and hygiene packs to the estimated two million people displaced within Ukraine.

On Ukraine's borders, the UN is providing aid and other support to the three million refugees who have streamed into Poland, Romania, Moldova, Slovakia and Hungary.

Despite battles raging across Ukraine, experts at the The Halo Trust are preparing to clear landmines and unexploded bombs that litter key routes

The Mail Force Appeal was launched three weeks ago and our readers have responded with an extraordinary flood of cheques and online donations.

The total raised has now passed an astonishing 8million.

Actor David Morrissey, who is a UNHCR ambassador, last night said: 'Thank you so much to readers of The Mail on Sunday and the Daily Mail for their incredible generosity to ordinary people in Ukraine who have been caught up in this crisis.'

The MoS last week witnessed how that generosity will help, as thousands of exhausted refugees received help from the UNHCR's partner agencies at Medyka, in South-East Poland, the single busiest border crossing with Ukraine.

Weary from their flight from the shelled city of Dnipro, 51-year-old Olga Sheronova and her son Pavel, 15, were helped to the front of the three-hour border queue and given cups of hot chocolate as they stepped on to Polish soil.

'We left out of fear,' said Pavel. 'The crossing was really hard. On the train our friends have got little children and they were very scared.'

Olga added: 'It is very hard. I am very tired. We are hoping to go to a little city in Germany near Frankfurt. We have family friends there.'

Heavily pregnant Firuza Dodova, 28, a German and English language teacher, reached the crossing with her ten-year-old sister Farishta and mother Suraio, 49, after her home was destroyed in Russia's relentless bombardment of the city of Kharkiv.

Facing a four-hour queue in freezing temperatures, she was spotted by aid workers, who handed her a thermal blanket and took her straight through the border controls. 'Before we left Kharkiv, it was horrible,' she said.

'Every day and night we heard planes and some explosions, especially at night.'

She is desperately worried about her husband Alexey, 29, who had to stay behind in Ukraine and now faces the prospect of missing the birth of their child.

A family pictured today, after the they crossed the Ukrainian-Polish border into Medyka, Poland

She said: 'Alexey is alive but he is struggling  at any minute everything can change. I don't know what to do or how to help him.

'I just pray that he will survive and some day be reunited with me and our baby. Alexey and I agreed on baby names a long time ago. If God is willing and everything is OK, it will be Alisher for a boy and Amina for a girl.'

On the Ukrainian side of the border, UNHCR has partnered with grassroots organisation NEEKA to help refugees as they queue to cross into Poland. Borys Feniuk, 51, who oversees the operation, praised Mail readers and other UNHCR donors.

She said: 'I want to say thank you on behalf of all Ukrainians to those donating money. And we are really grateful for the help of UNHCR.

'They have helped organise logistics and provided us with mattresses and blankets, because right now you can't buy these things in Ukraine.'

Twelve miles away at Przemysl rail station, UNHCR worker Aneta Ostasz, 39, moved through the crowds of refugees waiting for trains to take them deeper into Poland.

She was looking for drivers who are arriving at the station and offering rides. While most genuinely want to help, some have been charging extortionate prices and stealing identity documents.

After questioning one driver holding a makeshift sign offering a lift to Krakow, Aneta warned a group of refugees about the scammers.

Among the refugees here were Darina Bazdyrieva, 54, and her daughter Natalia, 25, who were huddled together with their cats Cindy and Shivia.

'We came from Kharkiv but we have no family here and nowhere to go,' Natalia said.

Aneta rushed to find a chair as an ashen-faced Darina wobbled on her feet. 'We are very, very tired but we just don't know what to do next,' Darina said softly.

Some of those in greatest need are in Ukraine's neighbour Moldova, where one in eight children are refugees. UNHCR has delivered 3,000 family tents for 9,000 people after running an aid convoy overland from Greece.

Kind-hearted Mail readers have sent more than 60,000 cheques as well as by bank transfer, phone and via our JustGiving Page.

The appeal was launched with a 500,000 donation from The Mail on Sunday and Daily Mail parent company, DMGT, at the personal request of chairman Lord Rothermere and his wife Lady Rothermere.

A team at Mail Force is working around the clock to assess how the money raised by the appeal can be best spent. As well as UNHCR, money has already been announced for charities including the Red Cross, Unicef and the Refugee Council.

Emma Cherniavsky, chief executive, UK, for UNHCR, said: 'I want to say thank you to the readers of The Mail on Sunday and Daily Mail for their incredible generosity.

'With your help, UNHCR staff in Ukraine will keep delivering essential items, such as blankets, folding beds, tarpaulins for emergency repairs and food.'

DAY 24 - MARCH 19TH 2022, DAILY MAIL

Gr8 news! Mail Force's Ukraine Refugee Appeal hits 8million as the magnificent response to the humanitarian crisis in Europe continues

By Gregory Kirby for the Daily Mail

Our record-breaking appeal to help the people of Ukraine has soared past 8million  after a torrent of cheques from generous Mail readers.

In a magnificent response to the humanitarian crisis, kind-hearted readers have sent more than 60,000 cheques to support the Mail Force fundraiser.

A team of 30 people at the charity's finance HQ has been working overtime to open envelopes all week  and there are still thousands of cheques yet to be counted.

The sums donated range from 15p to 20,000 and are accompanied by heartfelt messages that have moved staff to tears.

Many of the notes are handwritten by readers who lived through the Second World War and never imagined they'd see such horror in Europe again.

A woman cradles a girl in a gym of an academic institution in western Ukraine where almost 300 internally displaced persons who fled the Russian invasion are staying

Yvonne Thickett, 84, of Hessle in East Yorkshire, gave 100 and said: 'I clearly remember the horrors of World War II. The appalling destruction and suffering in Ukraine is murder.'

Jane Powell from Builth Wells in Wales, wrote: 'Like many I remember World War II. I am horrified at what is happening in Ukraine. What brave people. I cannot write any more, for the tears in my eyes.'

Margaret Roberts, 90, from Huddersfield in West Yorkshire, donated 20 with her husband Derek.

She wrote: 'I still remember running for shelter at night with my baby brother bouncing along in a pram while the bombs were dropping. It is heartbreaking to see it again.'

A girl draws while lying on a mattress in a gym of an academic institution in Uzhhorod, Zakarpattia region, western Ukraine

And an unnamed reader, who turns 100 this year, added: 'I want for nothing. You need everything. Good luck.'

Younger generations have also dug deep to support the appeal. A note from Aoife, ten, and nine-year-old Paddy read: 'To all of those struggling, I wish you well. Have faith, we are praying for you.'

A grandmother, who did not give her name, also wrote on behalf of her 11-year-old grandson who chose to donate 5 from his pocket money saved up over ten weeks.

The astonishing total raised includes a 500,000 donation from the Mail's parent company DMGT, at the request of Lord and Lady Rothermere.

DAY 23 - MARCH 18TH 2022, DAILY MAIL

A helping hand for a tearful Ukrainian refugee who fled Russian bombing in Odesa

By Sam Greenhill, Chief Reporter for the Daily Mail

Wiping away a tear, 31-year-old Anna told yesterday how she fled the bombs leaving behind her mother, brother and cat.

She is now safe in Romania and being helped by CARE International, a charity that is being funded by Daily Mail readers.

Beautician Anna said her brother Vitalik stayed behind in the port city of Odesa to defend it  and their mother refused to leave him.

Anna fled the port city of Odesa, leaving behind her mother, brother and cat, and is now safe in Romania

'My brother stayed to fight, and my mother wanted to stay to look after him,' she said.

'The outskirts of Odesa were being bombed a lot, I heard a lot of bombings. The house was shaking, and we ran to the basement when the alarms sounded. It was happening about twice a day.

'People there are very afraid but still they stay. The women don't want to leave their husbands and their fathers behind.

'Lots of my friends are doctors and they have to swear the Hippocratic Oath when they take the job. For them these are not just words but real, and they will step up. It is so hard to leave home. I don't know how I will cope.

'I have been speaking to my mum all morning since I left. She is scared and worried and thinking about me. She wanted me to leave to safety, but not go so far away.'

Evacuees fleeing the war in Ukraine sit in the body of a cargo vehicle while waiting in a line to leave the besieged southern port city of Mariupol, Ukraine

Anna escaped by bus and crossed the Danube River by ferry to Romania. Crying, she said: 'I love Odesa a lot. I left my mum and my six-year-old cat Mars back there, he is like my baby. I don't know how I will live without them.'

Through its local partners CARE is giving supplies and support to Anna and thousands of other refugees streaming across the Ukrainian border. The Mail Force charity has given 500,000 to CARE.

Anna said: 'I want to say thank you so much for the donations. I hope that everything, this war, will stop soon. I am so afraid to lose my family members, I can't even bear to think about it.'

Meanwhile, a convoy of 11 Red Cross trucks containing 200 tons of aid has made its way into Ukraine. The Red Cross is also receiving 500,000 from Mail Force.

The trucks are transporting trauma medical kits for 1,900 war-wounded people, and supplies for those in shelters including more than four million blankets and 1.4million kitchen sets.

Grimly, the lorries also brought in 5,120 body bags.

Florian Seriex, of the International Committee of the Red Cross, said: 'This humanitarian assistance contains war-wounded kits, which means surgical trauma kits, that will be distributed to hospitals. They contain blankets, mattresses, all the goods that are necessary for the people who have left their homes, who are currently stuck in shelters, and are in desperate need of humanitarian assistance.'

Mail Force has so far raised 7.5million, kickstarted by a 500,000 donation from the Mail's parent company DMGT at the request of Lord and Lady Rothermere.

A steady stream of cheques and online donations has followed from our generous readers. Many have sent heartfelt messages of support, including Roslyn Bevan, of Pershore, Worcestershire, who gave 100 and wrote: 'This is such a worthy cause.'

DAY 22 - MARCH 17TH 2022, DAILY MAIL

Mail Force charity announces 500,000 donation to help Ukrainians seeking shelter in Britain

By Mark Hookham and Sam Greenhill

They will arrive exhausted and possibly traumatised. But as thousands of Ukrainians reach the safety of Britain, they will be met with compassion and practical help.

The Refugee Council is already gearing up to welcome them  a
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Heart-wrenching photographs continue to show families being ripped apart and the brutal emotional toll of the Kremlin's invasion of Ukraine as official estimates predict the number of refugees fleeing the war-torn country could hit 1.5million by this weekend.

In one image, a clearly emotional father Aleksander, 41 presses his hands up against the window as he waves his five-year-old daughter, Anna off as she leaves on an evacuation train from Kyiv.

Further west, mothers were pictured braving the freezing cold and cradling their young children their arms as thousands of refugees packed onto transport bound for Poland in Lviv.

Refugees, both young and old have been forced out of their homeland. One picture showed a wheelchair-bound Ukrainian refugee, 90, being consoled by members of the Romanian Emergency Situations Department after she fled her country.

Other photographs show huge crowds of families, some carrying children, beloved pets and their essential belongings, amassing at train stations and bus stops across parts of Ukraine that are yet to fall to Russian troops.

In neighbouring Poland, humanitarian charities were seen handing out hot food and drinks to the refugees, many who had been waiting more than 12 hours to cross, as the number arriving topped 700,000 with a million expected by early next week.

International aid agencies have warned of an impending humanitarian crisis not seen on the continent for more than 75 years as essential supplies run low in Ukraine and the Kremlin continues its illegal indiscriminate shelling of military targets, homes and businesses.

The United Nations refugee agency has since warned the Russian invasion has prompted Europe's 'fastest moving refugee crisis' since the end of World War Two.

It comes as the dire humanitarian crisis ramped up on Saturday when Russia was accused of derailing a promised ceasefire by shelling the strategic port city as Vladimir Putin's terrifying war enters its 10th day.

A clearly emotional father Aleksander, 41, presses his hands up against the window as he waves his five-year-old daughter, Anna off as she leaves on an evacuation train bound for Lviv on Friday

People wait to board an evacuation train at Kyiv central train station on March 5, 2022

A woman is visible through the condensation on a window of an evacuation train at Kyiv central train station on March 5

A man says goodbye to his loved ones while they board an evacuation train at Kyiv central train station on March 5, 2022

A man reacts in front of an evacuation train at Kyiv train station on March 5, 2022

Hundreds of refugees spill out onto the tracks as they crowd around a departing evacuation train from Kyiv train station

Women and children desperately jump across train tracks as they try and board an evacuation train bound for Lviv, western Ukraine

Two women and a young child wait for a train heading to Poland at the train station in Lviv, western Ukraine on Saturday, March 5

A Ukrainian soldier tries to disperse the crowd as they push to enter a train to Lviv at the Kyiv station, Ukraine. Men aged 18-60 were ordered to stay to fight in the war while women and children are leaving the country to seek refuge in a neighboring country

A woman pulls her son in tight as they watch an evacuation train depart Kyiv station as hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians attempt to flee the war-torn country

Children peer out of the window from aboard an evacuation train bound for Poland as they set off from Lviv train station on Saturday, March 5

A mother braves the freezing cold and cradles her young daughter in her arms at Lviv train station, western Ukraine, as thousands of refugees flee from the Russian invasion

A wheel-chair bound Ukrainian refugee, 90, is consoled by members of the Romanian Emergency Situations Department after she fled her country following the Russian invasion

Two Ukrainian children, one holding a stuffed animal, wait as they queue to board a bus at the border check point in Medyka, Poland

United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, Filippo Grandi, (pictured at the border crossing in Palanca, Moldova) warned the Russian invasion has prompted Europe's 'fastest moving refugee crisis' since the end of World War Two

People wait to board an evacuation train at a railway station in Kyiv, Ukraine, on Saturday. At least one million people have fled to neighbouring countries since the beginning of Russia's invasion

A young child, travelling with others fleeing Ukraine, looks through a barrier at the border crossing in Medyka, Poland, on Saturday

Families arrive in Lviv, a train station in western Ukraine, as they flee the Russian bombardment in cities across the country

A railway employee assists women and children who have arrived from Ukraine at the main railway station in Krakow, Poland

International aid agencies have warned of an impending humanitarian crisis not seen on the continent for more than 75 years. Pictured: Families wait to board an evacuation train at a railway station in Kyiv

An elderly woman is pushed along in a wheelchair as people wait to board an evacuation train at a railway station in Kyiv, Ukraine, on Saturday

Ukrainian refugees, cradling their last remaining belongings in backpacks and shopping bags, wait for further transport after arriving into the Polish border on Saturday, March 5

Poland has already accepted an estimated 700,000 Ukrainian refugees since Vladimir Putin's bloody war with Ukraine began on February 24. Pictured: People queue as they wait to cross the Medyka border in Poland

A young girl can be seen smiling on Saturday, March 5 after she safely arrived into Poland after fleeing from Ukraine

Valentyn Zelenskyy with his wife Daria and children Polina, 7, Karina, 4, and 18-month-old Matviy after arriving at Lviv, a train station in western Ukraine, as they flee the Russian bombardment in cities across the country

People are served hot drinks as they arrive in Lviv, a train station in western Ukraine, as they flee the country's cities today

People arrive from Ukraine at the main railway station in Krakow, Poland, on Saturday. Krakow is the first rail stop away from the Polish town of Przemysl, which is close to two of the main border crossings with Ukraine

People who have arrived from war-torn Ukraine stand in line at an aid center offering help and information on temporary housing in the main railway station on March 05, 2022 in Krakow, Poland

A woman and young child smile to each other after arriving at a train station in western Ukraine on Saturday, as they flee the Russian bombardment in cities across the country

People look on while others cross a nearby destroyed bridge as they evacuate the city of Irpin, northwest of Kyiv, during heavy shelling and bombing on Saturday March 5

Civilians seeking to flee arrive at the Polish-Ukrainian border gate at Rava-Ruska in the Ukrainian city of Lviv on March 5, 2022

A woman waits with a dog after fleeing Russia's invasion of Ukraine, at the Ukrainian-Slovakian border, in Vysne Nemecke, Slovakia on Saturday, March 5

Hundreds of evacuees wait in a queue to board into a train to Poland at Lviv train station, western Ukraine, on March 5, 2022

Members of the Polish scouts smile as they hand out sweets to young Ukrainian refugees who have arrived at the border checkpoint in Medyka, Poland on Saturday, March 5

The money raised by the Mail Force charity  in record-breaking time  has already been put to good use, with mothers and children arriving over the border to Slovakia yesterday greeted by aid workers funded by our generous readers

While women, children and those aged over 60 are eligible to flee the country if they wish, all men aged between 18 and 60 were ordered to remain in Ukraine to fight Russian invaders.

Thousands of defiant Ukrainians answered Volodymyr Zelenskyys call to arms by clearing out gun shops in Kiev after the President imposed martial law following warmonger Vladimir Putins invasion of the country in Europes worst military crisis since 1945.

But the dramatic declaration of martial law has also forced relatives to now live thousands of miles apart as Ukraine faces its gravest challenge since its independence in 1991.

It comes as the number of refugees fleeing the Russian invasion could potentially rise to 1.5 million by the end of the weekend from a current 1.3 million, the head of the U.N. refugee agency said on Saturday.

'This is the fastest moving refugee crisis we have seen in Europe since the end of World War Two,' UNHCR head Filippo Grandi said.

Grandi also said most refugees at the moment were linking up with friends, family and other connections already living in Europe, but warned future waves would be more complex.

The Daily Mail, Mail on Sunday and MailOnline UKRAINE REFUGEE APPEAL Readers of Mail Newspapers and MailOnline have always shown immense generosity at times of crisis. Calling upon that human spirit, we are now launching an appeal to raise money for refugees from Ukraine. For, surely, no one can fail to be moved by the heartbreaking images and stories of families  mostly women, children, the infirm and elderly  fleeing from Russia's invading armed forces. As this tally of misery increases over the coming days and months, these innocent victims of a tyrant will require accommodation, schools and medical support. All donations to the Mail Ukraine Appeal will be distributed to charities and aid organisations providing such essential services. In the name of charity and compassion, we urge all our readers to give swiftly and generously. TO MAKE A DONATION ONLINE Donate at www.mailforcecharity.co.uk/donate To add Gift Aid to a donation  even one already made  complete an online form found here: mymail.co.uk/ukraine Via bank transfer, please use these details: Account name: Mail Force Charity Account number: 48867365 Sort code: 60-00-01 TO MAKE A DONATION VIA CHEQUE Make your cheque payable to 'Mail Force' and post it to: Mail Newspapers Ukraine Appeal, GFM, 42 Phoenix Court, Hawkins Road, Colchester, Essex CO2 8JY TO MAKE A DONATION FROM THE US US readers can donate to the appeal via a bank transfer to Associated Newspapers or by sending checks to dailymail.com HQ at 51 Astor Place (9th floor), New York, NY 10003 Advertisement

Foreign Minister Zbigniew Rau said Poland had already taken in more than 700,000 refugees from Ukraine and that he expected hundreds of thousands more in the coming weeks unless Russia backs down.

'Poland will never recognize territorial changes brought about by unprovoked, unlawful aggression,' he said, adding that his country will demand that alleged Russian war crimes committed in Ukraine will be prosecuted.

Aid agencies have warned of a humanitarian disaster across the country as food, water and medical supplies run short.

Women and small children crossed at the Medyka checkpoint in southeastern Poland in freezing conditions.

A man crossing the other way yelled at the crowd that men should return to Ukraine and fight.

One woman, struggling to carry half a dozen bags, wept when the snacks she had packed for her and her young son, who was clutching a green dinosaur toy, fell to the ground.

She gave the boy a bag to carry as they trudged slowly on.

An agreed ceasefire to evacuate residents from two cities in Ukraine quickly fell apart Saturday, with officials saying work to remove civilians had halted amid shelling hours after Russia announced the deal.

Mariupol's deputy mayor Serhiy Orlov told the BBC: 'The Russians are continuing to bomb us and use artillery. It is crazy.

'There is no ceasefire in Mariupol and there is no ceasefire all along the route. Our civilians are ready to escape but they cannot escape under shelling.'

Kyiv said the evacuation west to Zaporizhzhia has been suspended 'for security reasons' amid allegations that Kremlin forces are pummelling the city.

'Talks with the Russian Federation are ongoing regarding setting up a ceasefire and ensuring a safe humanitarian corridor,' Kyrylo Tymoshenko, the deputy head of Volodymyr Zelensky's office, said.

The Russian defence ministry said early today that it had agreed on evacuation routes with Ukrainian forces for Mariupol, a strategic port in the south-east, and the eastern city of Volnovakha.

The vaguely worded statement did not make clear how long the routes would remain open.

But a short time later, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's office said the ceasefire had already failed.

Deputy head of his office Kyrylo Tymoshenko said: 'The Russian side is not holding to the ceasefire and has continued firing on Mariupol itself and on its surrounding area.

'Talks with the Russian Federation are ongoing regarding setting up a ceasefire and ensuring a safe humanitarian corridor.'

Russia breached the deal in Volnovakha as well, Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk told reporters.

'We appeal to the Russian side to stop firing,' she said.

Russian outlet RIA Novosti carried a Russian defence ministry claim that the firing came from inside both communities against Russian positions.

The struggle to enforce the ceasefire shows the fragility of efforts to stop fighting across Ukraine as people continue to flee the country by the thousands.

Mr Zelensky said: 'We are doing everything on our part to make the agreement work.

'This is one of the main tasks for today. Let's see if we can go further in the negotiation process.'

A Ukrainian soldier carries a baby helping a fleeing family to cross the Irpin river in the outskirts of Kyiv, Ukraine, Saturday, March 5, 2022

The number of refugees fleeing the Russian invasion could potentially rise to 1.5 million by the end of the weekend from a current 1.3 million, the head of the U.N. refugee agency said on Saturday. Pictured: Evacuees pictured in Lviv

Pictured: A tearful woman is helped aboard an evacuation train from the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv

15-year-old Ukrainian refugee Margot holds her dog inside a tent at the Romanian-Ukrainian border, in Siret, Romania, Saturday, March 5, 2022

A refugee fleeing the conflict from neighbouring Ukraine holds a child inside a tent at the Romanian-Ukrainian border, in Siret, Romania, Saturday, March 5, 2022

A young Ukrainian child receives a plush animals after fleeing the Russian invasion of Ukraine, at the border checkpoint in Medyka, Poland on Saturday March 5

Katia, a 90-year-old Ukrainian refugee, sips from her hot drink as she arrives at the Romanian-Ukrainian border in Siret

Volunteers dressed in animal costumes and Disney characters entertain a small child, who arrived from Ukraine, at the train station in Przemysl, Poland, Saturday, March 5, 2022

A despondent-looking mother clasps her hands over her child's as she takes refugee near to a fire under a tent at the Romania-Ukraine border in Siret on Saturday, March 5

Evacuees carrying their belongings in backpacks rush to board a train bound for Poland, at the Lviv train station, western Ukraine, on March 5, 2022

A refugee fleeing the conflict from neighbouring Ukraine holds her pet cat at the Romanian-Ukrainian border, in Siret, Romania, Saturday, March 5, 2022

Refugees fleeing the conflict from neighbouring Ukraine warm up inside a tent at the Romanian-Ukrainian border, in Siret, Romania, Saturday, March 5, 2022

Ukrainian soldiers help a fleeing family crossing the Irpin river in the outskirts of Kyiv, Ukraine, Saturday, March 5, 2022

Ukrainian refugees wait for further transport after arriving across the border to Medyka, Poland on Saturday 5 March 2022

A Polish police officer gives a lollipop to a child, as refugees flee Russia's invasion of Ukraine, at the border checkpoint in Medyka, Poland, March 5, 2022

A Ukrainian refugee stuffs her cat into a roll of blankets to keep it warm as she arrives at the border checkpoint in Medyka, Poland

Residents evacuate the city of Irpin, northwest of Kyiv, during heavy shelling and bombing on Saturday March 5, 2022

Mariupol had become the scene of growing misery amid days of shelling that knocked out power and most phone service and raised the prospect of food and water shortages for hundreds of thousands of people in freezing weather. Pharmacies are out of medicine, Doctors Without Borders said.

The head of Ukraine's security council, Oleksiy Danilov, had urged Russia to create humanitarian corridors to allow children, women and the older adults to flee the fighting, calling them 'question number one'.

Meanwhile, diplomatic efforts continue as US Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived in Poland to meet with the prime minister and foreign minister, a day after attending a Nato meeting in Brussels in which the alliance pledged to step up support for eastern flank members.

Mr Zelensky has lashed out at Nato for refusing to impose a no-fly zone over his country, warning 'all the people who die from this day forward will also die because of you'.

Nato said a no-fly zone could provoke widespread war in Europe with nuclear-armed Russia. But as the United States and other Nato members send weapons for Kyiv and more than one million refugees spill through the continent, the conflict is already drawing in countries far beyond Ukraine's borders.

Russia continues to crack down on independent media reporting on the war, also blocking Facebook and Twitter, and more outlets say they are pausing their work inside the country.

And in a warning of a hunger crisis yet to come, the UN World Food Programme says millions of people inside Ukraine, a major global wheat supplier, will need food aid 'immediately'.
A New Jersey shoplifting gang who swiped $90,000 worth of purses from an East Hampton Balenciaga store was arrested after a 90mph car chase that ended when they popped a tire and tried fleeing into some nearby woods.

East Hampton Village Police said three men and two women entered the luxury store on Thursday at 1.30pm, grabbing bags off the shelves in under 30 seconds and making off in a black Dodge Durango.

New York State Troopers chased after the vehicle on the Long Island Expressway, and after the getaway car popped a dire, the suspects got out and fled into the wooded area near the highway.

After an extensive search, police caught four of the five suspects: Ali Harris, 28, Jamal Johns, 25, and Wazir Rodgers, 25, and Baseemah Tamika Davis, 34, all of Newark.

Davis had previously been arrested on Long Island on January 20 when cops found her and three others in possession of stolen property and drugs inside a BMW with fake New Jersey license plates.

The fifth suspect in Thursday's robbery remains at large.

Baseemah David, left, and Wazir Rogers, right, are pictured leaving their arraignment after allegedly stealing $90,000 of purses from Balenciaga in East Hampton

Jamal Revelt Johns (left) and Ali Abul Harris (right) were also charged over their alleged involvement in the thefts

Baseemah Tamika Davis, 34, (pictured) was one of four arrested in a brazen robbery of $90,000 worth of purses at a Balenciaga store in East Hampton on Thursday

Store employees told police a gang of five thieves entered the store at around 1.30pm

The thieves swiped the merchandise in less than 30 seconds before making their getaway

According to State Police, employees at the store called 911 when the suspects stormed in and an East Hampton police officer spotted the car driving 'recklessly' in the village.

The officer instructed the vehicle to stop, but when the driver failed to comply, the officer called off the local pursuit to avoid an 'unsafe situation' within the village.

A State trooper then spotted the car speeding near Westhampton Beach and chased after it before it got on the Long Island Expressway, where more state officers joined the pursuit.

When the getaway car popped a tire and the suspects fled on foot, The New York State Police and their K-9 unit were joined by local and county police to search for the suspects.

State police quickly apprehended one of the suspects, and the Suffolk County Police tracked down the other three, police said.

The four arrested suspects face state and local charges as State Police charged them with criminal possession of stolen property and East Hampton Police charged them with grand larceny.

They were arraigned at both the East Hampton Court and Suffolk County First District Court.

In her January 20, arrest, Davis faced a total of 10 charges, including two counts of criminal possession of a controlled substance and three counts of criminal possession of stolen property.

The crime is reminiscent of the spate of smash-and-grab robberies that plagued luxury stores across the nation earlier in the winter.

During the Louis Vuitton store theft, which White Plains police say happened last month, one man is seen running from the store, stolen purses in hand

The other suspect was almost stopped by other people in the store, but managed to escape with stolen purses, right past the security guard

Last month, police in White Plains, New York, released a disturbing video that captured shoppers at a Louis Vuitton store trying to prevent a crew of thieves from ransacking the luxury retailer in January - only for the brazen bandits to escape when mall security guards sat back and watched.

In the video, the suspects are seen fleeing the store at the Westchester Mall in White Plains, as other people nearby attempted to stop them. But as the chaotic scene unfolds, an apparent mall security guard hangs back and watches, but does nothing.

The other suspect was almost stopped by other people in the store, but managed to escape with stolen purses, right past the security guard.

It was the second time in recent weeks that thefts at high-end stores have been carried out at the mall just north of New York City, after robbers targeted a Burberry store.

Woke district attorneys' progressive policies have been blamed for the increase in both petty and violent crime.

Their attempts to lower prison population has seen many suspected criminals released straight back onto the streets after they've been charged - emboldening them to reoffend.
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After a nearly 2,500-mile journey from southern California, the now estimated 30-mile-long People's Convoy is set to reach Washington D.C. Sunday morning in a call for 'freedom' and the removal of 'unconstitutional' COVID-19 mandates.

The convoy arrived at Hagerstown, Maryland - the final stop before one last stretch to the nation's capital which is now around 75 miles away or about a 90-minute drive - on Friday night and held a rally attended by at least 1,000 vehicles. The group confirmed to DailyMail.com it will be spending all of Saturday rallying at the Hagerstown Speedway before journeying on to D.C.

On Saturday night, fireworks lit up the night sky and a giant American flag was unfurled, illuminated by the lights of dozens of trucks, as thousands of demonstrators joined the truckers at the speedway.

The convoy's organizers finally unveiled their plan late Saturday night for the rest of the protest.

The caravan of trucks, cars and SUVs will circle the Beltway - the 64-mile highway surrounding the city - on Sunday morning and into the workweek at the minimum speed limit to slow traffic and to get their message to lawmakers, according to the Washington Post.

Brian Brase, one of the organizers, said the plan is to drive around the Beltway twice before returning to the Hagerstown Speedway. Each day this week, the convoy will clog one of the main arteries into DC until the groups demands are met, Brase told The Post.

Another organizer did not rule out the trucks honking their horns along Pennsylvania Avenue.

'I can tell you now that there will be select trucks going to the White House,' organizer Dan Fitzgerald revealed on his Friday morning livestream. 'I don't want people thinking we are invading D.C. This is not the convoy going into D.C. commons. This is a few select drivers.'

Large American flag is unfurled in front of People's Convoy trucks as thousands of spectators shout and cheer at speedway in Maryland on Saturday night

Fireworks explode over parked trucks from People's Convoy at speedway in Hagerstown, Maryland on Saturday night

Revelers join People's Convoy protest at Hagerstown Speedway in Maryland, where the caravan will remain all week

The group's planned arrival in the capital city has prompted security concerns and placed authorities on high-alert. D.C. and Capitol Police have called on agencies from Maryland and Virginia, as well as the National Guard, to monitor the group. Officials say the fencing around the Capitol has been put back up 'out of an abundance of caution'.

D.C. police spokesperson Dustin Sternback has called the convoy a 'fluid situation' and noted Friday: 'Any sort of response strategies will be implemented in real time.'

The People's Convoy - a spinoff from a protest in Canada started by truckers upset at vaccine requirements to cross the Canadian border - is demanding that President Joe Biden end the national emergency originally declared at the start of the pandemic, as well as scrap any remaining coronavirus mandates. The truckers allege the government has infringed upon their constitutional rights with the mandates.

However, nearly every state in America has either lifted or relaxed indoor mask mandates, or has set a date to do so in the near future. The lone holdout is Hawaii, the island state that has had the strictest mandates of anywhere in the country throughout the pandemic. Additionally, only 19 states currently have vaccine mandates in effect, according to the National Academy for State Health Policy - but the mandates do not apply to all individuals and their requirements vary by state.

Some political analysts allege the group is also calling for over-arching federal accountability and addressing additional political issues such as the alleged 'fraudulent' 2020 election and Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

HAGERSTOWN, MARYLAND - MARCH 5: After a nearly 2,500-mile journey from Southern California, the now estimated 30-mile-long People's Convoy will reach Washington D.C. Sunday in a call for 'freedom' and the removal of 'unconstitutional' coronavirus mandates

HAGERSTOWN, MARYLAND - MARCH 5: It is unclear what the truck caravan, estimating to span 30 miles, will do when it reaches the capital city on Sunday morning

HAGERSTOWN, MARYLAND - MARCH 5: People listen to a patriotic song as hundreds of vehicles including 18-wheeler trucks, RVs and other cars are parked as part of the rally at Hagerstown Speedway

HAGERSTOWN, MARYLAND - MARCH 5: A man films himself with a cut-out of former U.S. president Donald Trump as hundreds of vehicles including 18-wheeler trucks, RVs and other cars are parked as part of a People's Convoy rally at Hagerstown Speedway on Saturday

The People's Convoy is one of several convoys traveling to the greater D.C. area this weekend.

As the caravan rallied across the nation, more truckers and protestors joined in its rank, resulting in the once eight-mile-long cavalcade now spanning a distance of 30 miles, according to Times-Reporter journalists following the group.

All throughout its journey, the group was met with waves of supporters decked out in red-white-and-blue attire holding signs and flags on interstate overpasses.

'It's a high, seeing all the people on the overpasses and the sides of the roads,' Idaho-based freight trucker Craig Brown, 53, told the Washington Post. 'All these people treating us like we are heroes.'

'The American people have supported these guys so much,' Nevada resident Trish Glatter, who wrecked her pickup truck in Oklahoma, said in an interview with the Times-Reporter Friday. 'It cost about $800 to fill one of these trucks up with gas and this is being paid for by the American people.'

Glatter said her fellow convoyers wouldn't let the accident deter her mission and instead offered for her to ride with them to D.C.: 'This is a group of truckers of men and women that are so together. Everyone is a peaceful family on a mission that they will not step back from.'

Similarly, bystanders are hailing the truckers as 'brave' heroes fighting for their freedoms.

'I think our country is being taken over by people that don't have our best interest at heart and we are just here to wave our flags and support the truck drivers that are brave enough to do this,' supporter Sharon Hanning, of West Virginia, said.

'I have a lot of Canadian friends. I watched the Canadian convoy,' echoed Susan Johnson, of Tennessee, who also ventured to D.C. for the Jan. 6 Capitol riot.

'I love it,' she added. 'I felt that it was really important that we support the USA, the Constitution the Bill of Rights.'

The People's Convoy is demanding the federal government be held accountable for imposing on the freedoms of the American people.

'We are standing up for medical freedom, for all freedoms because we feel like our Constitution needs to be restored,' convoy participant Jennifer Wahrman, of Missouri, said.

She told the Times-Reporter her son was dishonorably discharged from the Kansas National Guard for refusing a direct order to get the COVID-19 vaccine. Her sister, a teacher in St. Louis, was also fired for refusing the shot.

'He has made a choice to not take it after doing his own personal research and he is entitled to that, we feel,' she said. 'Originally he was going to get a general discharge which is still not OK but they have decided that since the command directed it he would be disobeying a direct order and will be dishonorably discharge. That's the reason we are here.'

HAGERSTOWN, MARYLAND - MARCH 4: On Friday, the convoy arrived at Hagerstown, Maryland - the final stop before one last stretch to the nation's capital on Sunday morning which is now around 75 miles away or about a 90-minute drive - and held a rally. At least 1,000 vehicles were parked at the speedway for the event

HAGERSTOWN, MARYLAND - MARCH 4: Crowds of supporters waving and cheering the People's Convoy as drivers arrive at the Hagerstown Speedway in Maryland

HAGERSTOWN, MARYLAND - MARCH 5: Some experts allege the group on Sunday will circle the D.C. beltway to protest vaccine mandates and mask requirements in the United States

HAGERSTOWN, MARYLAND - MARCH 4: The People's Convoy - a spinoff from a protest in Canada started by truckers upset at vaccine requirements to cross the Canadian border - is demanding that President Joe Biden end the national emergency originally declared at the start of the pandemic, as well as scrap any remaining coronavirus mandates

HAGERSTOWN, MARYLAND - MARCH 4: The truckers allege the government has infringed upon their constitutional rights with the mandates

However, according to extremism researcher Sara Aniano - who has spent the last month following the convoy's chats on the Telegram messaging app - the group's demands have expanded beyond COVID-19 and now focus on overall federal accountability.

'That could mean financial accountability. It could be physical accountability. It could be legal accountability. Their inability to distinguish what exactly that means is where the concern lies,' Aniano told NBC News.

She also alleges the group has added 'some of the most extreme QAnon adherents' and claims the People's Convoy channels are now focused on Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The researcher argued that some members of the messaging channel have 'seized on a false conspiracy theory' that the ongoing war is a cover-up for a military operation backed by former President Donald Trump in Ukraine.

Aniano claims that convoyers recited the QAnon slogan, 'Where We Go One We Go All,' at and rally stop. She also claims a Friday morning Telegram message stated: 'We can't fail. We are not GOING to fail. We are gonna fix this.'

The researcher notes that the Telegram messages are 'vague and ominous,' alleging the truckers are not sure exactly what they want.

'In their fantasy, Trump comes back, and the military tribunals commence over Covid tests,' she told the news outlet. 'But I don't think they know what they want. They are just mad, and they want a reason to express that.'

Despite Aniano's claims, throughout their journey, People's Convoy organizers have maintained their protest is focused on COVID mandates.

A few participants, including semi-truck driver Chris Musey, of Washington, have cited additional reasons for joining the campaign. He told The Spokesman-Review that he decided to join the convoy because he believes the 2020 election was fraudulent. Courts have found no evidence of widespread voter fraud in the 2020 election.

HAGERSTOWN, MARYLAND - MARCH 4: During the Hagerstown Speedway rally, convoy organizer Brian Brase (pictured Friday), told supporters to celebrate the convoy's journey, but noted they would have to wait longer for details about D.C. 'Well, we're going to do something,' he laughed and told the crowd. 'What this is is yet to be determined. Please be patient'

HAGERSTOWN, MARYLAND - MARCH 4: All throughout its journey, the group was met with waves of supporters decked out in red-white-and-blue attire holding signs and flags on interstate overpasses

HAGERSTOWN, MARYLAND - MARCH 4: The group's planned arrival in the capital city has prompted security concerns and placed authorities on high-alert. D.C. and Capitol Police have called on agencies from Maryland and Virginia, as well as the National Guard, to monitor the group. Officials say the fencing around the Capitol has been put back up 'out of an abundance of caution'

HAGERSTOWN, MARYLAND - MARCH 4: The convoy, modeled after the Canadian trucker protests, is one of several on the way to the nation's capital region in protest of COVID-19 mandates and a variety of other issues

LORE CITY, OHIO - MARCH 4: 'We are standing up for medical freedom, for all freedoms because we feel like our Constitution needs to be restored,' convoy participant Jennifer Wahrman (not pictured), of Missouri, said Friday

HAGERSTOWN, MARYLAND - MARCH 5: 'I think our country is being taken over by people that don't have our best interest at heart and we are just here to wave our flags and support the truck drivers that are brave enough to do this,' supporter Sharon Hanning (not pictured), of West Virginia, echoed Friday

HAGERSTOWN, MARYLAND - MARCH 4: People greet Peoples Convoy of truckers as they enter Hagerstown Speedway on Friday

HAGERSTOWN, MARYLAND - MARCH 4: Bystanders are hailing the truckers as 'brave' heroes fighting for their freedoms

LORE CITY, OHIO - MARCH 4: The People's Convoy is demanding the federal government be held accountable for imposing on the freedoms of the American people with COVID-19 mandates

The People's Convoy is the largest of the trucker caravans traveling to D.C. to protest COVID mandates. At least 25 other cavalcades had indicated they were heading to the nation's capital, but participation has remained low and at least two of the announced trucker convoys, including Freedom Convoy USA 2020, have disbanded. The leaders of those campaigns have encouraged their members to join the People's Convoy.

The Southeast American Freedom Convoy, which has grown from only one truck Thursday to about 50, is headed to Lexington, Virginia on Saturday.

Before departing Abingdon, Virginia for Lexington Saturday morning, pastor and author William Owens, known as America's Poet, told DailyMail.com that the convoy is 'growing.'

It is growing. I think its growing more-so than we think. Its not just about the people driving with us,' he said. Every major overpass was filled with people

People are finding a way to express their support and what theyre really saying is, "I believe in this." Its time that something like this happens because when government is not check, when government is not challenged, you no longer have an America.'

The activist, who has been traveling with the convoy since it departed Texas, said he believes the protest is about brining awareness to what's happening nationwide and why it is important for citizens to get involved.

The convoy is about calling out the mandates, calling out the continual intrusion of our liberties and our freedoms because of this pandemic,' he said. 'And whether you are pro or con pandemic, theres been enough scientific research to support and show that the mask did not work. Its showing issues with the vaccine, how the number of strokes, the number of heart attacks have spiked up to 300 percent.'

Owens also cited ongoing impacts of the pandemic, such as food and fuel shortages.

'It appears that this underlying objective is more than just the vaccine. People are realizing enough is enough,' he said.

ABINGDON, VIRGINIA - MARCH 5: William Owens, who is traveling with the Southeast American Freedom Convoy, lead the group in prayer before they hit the road for Lexington, Virginia on Saturday

ABINGDON, VIRGINIA - MARCH 5: The Southeast American Freedom Convoy gathers for a group photo before leaving Abingdon, Virginia on Saturday

ABINGDON, VIRGINIA - MARCH 5: William Owens, known as America's Poet, told DailyMail.com that the convoy is 'growing.' He is pictured leading the convoy in prayer on Saturday

ABINGDON, VIRGINIA - MARCH 5: Irvin Pelton (pictured) joined the Southeast American Freedom Convoy from Hawaii. His flag bus was struck by another vehicle Friday while he was sitting still at an intersection

ABINGDON, VIRGINIA - MARCH 5: The convoy is about calling out the mandates, calling out the continual intrusion of our liberties and our freedoms because of this pandemic,' William Owens said. 'And whether you are pro or con pandemic, theres been enough scientific research to support and show that the mask did not work. Its showing issues with the vaccine, how the number of strokes, the number of heart attacks have spiked up to 300 percent'

Murray Clementson, 45, of Knoxville, Tennessee, is traveling with the group while representing his church and Team Murray Freedom For You organization.

Were here to support the truckers as they stand up for our freedoms for the United States and worldwide as well,' he told DailyMail.com on Friday in Abingdon.

We just want to do everything we can to fill in the gaps where people are unable to stand up for their freedoms.'

Clementson and his organization have been active in the trucker movement since Canada held its protests last month. He said his group convoyed from Knoxville to Buffalo, New York - near the Canadian border - and brought supplies to those protesting in Canada.

The activist claims his group is looking for the reinstatement of the 'God-given rights that have been forgotten' by American lawmakers.

We are looking retake our God-given rights, reclaim our God-given rights. God gave us rights to freedom. God gave us the right to choose - thats enshrined within our United States Constitution and our Bill of Rights,' he said.

'And, for multiple reasons, we have come a point in time where we are not remembering that we have these rights through indoctrination and through just lack of education. We as a country have forgotten that we own these rights so were trying to get back to a point where we are utilizing and claiming the rights weve always had, but forgotten weve had them.'

Clementson said he think the convoys are providing opportunity for laws to be changed.

'I think after two years of ridiculous mandates that dont add up that we need to change the laws. And I pray thats what theyre going to accomplish. I think theres going to be opportunity for the laws to be changed,' he explained before adding: Lets hope its not anything like January 6th where people fall into a trap that they nefarious actors set for honest protesters.

'But, I think that theyre going to have success. It seems that theres a lot of people that are involved and they are aware that there is these people that entrap honest citizens.'

ABINGDON, VIRGINIA - MARCH 4: Murray Clementson (pictured), 45, of Knoxville, Tennessee, is traveling with the Southeast American Freedom Convoy. He told DailyMail.com Friday: Were here to support the truckers as they stand up for our freedoms for the United States and worldwide as well. We just want to do everything we can to fill in the gaps where people are unable to stand up for their freedoms'

LEBANON, TENNESSEE - MARCH 4: Supporters and fans gather at on an overpass to show support for the Southeast American Freedom Convoy

KNOXVILLE, TENNESSEE - MARCH 4: Truckers, supporters and Southeast American Freedom Convoy fans gather at a Pilot Travel Center just outside of Knoxville, Tennessee on Friday

HAGERSTOWN, MARYLAND - MARCH 5: Extremism researcher Sara Aniano (not pictured) - who has spent the last month following the convoy's chats on the Telegram messaging app - alleges the convoy's demands have expanded beyond COVID-19 and now focus on overall federal accountability

HAGERSTOWN, MARYLAND - MARCH 5: The researcher claims the group has added 'some of the most extreme QAnon adherents' and claims the People's Convoy channels are now focused on Russia's invasion of Ukraine

HAGERSTOWN, MARYLAND - MARCH 4: The researcher (not pictured) also argued that some members of the messaging channel have 'seized on a false conspiracy theory' that the ongoing war is a cover-up for a military operation backed by former President Donald Trump in Ukraine

HAGERSTOWN, MARYLAND - MARCH 4: The People's Convoy is parked in Hagerstown, Maryland Friday night - the final stop before it reaches D.C.

The People's Convoy - which has raised more than $1.6 million in donations made through its own website - started their journey in California last week on an 11-day trek to Washington, D.C.

It remains unclear how many will attend Sunday's rally in D.C. but a significant turnout is expected, given the large welcome the People's Convoy has been met with nationwide.

A rally was held in D.C. Tuesday - the same day as Biden's State of the Union address - in honor of the truckers, but the event was poorly attended.

The trucker protests come as nearly every state in America either has lifted mask orders or has scheduled a day to do so in the near future, with the exception of Hawaii.

Even the U.S. Capitol, which has had a controversial mask mandate since legislators returned in the summer 2020, lifted mask orders over the weekend.

Vaccine mandates, possibly the most controversial COVID-related mandates, are starting to become a thing of the past, as New York City has dropped them for businesses like bars and restaurants.

The policy changes are in response to virus case loads across the country having dropped precipitously since their early January peak, with the Omicron variant proving to be less likely than earlier strains to cause death or serious illness, especially in vaccinated and boosted individuals.

The CDC also issued new coronavirus guidelines last Friday that resulted in the lifting of mask recommendations for 70 percent of Americans.

HAGERSTOWN, MARYLAND - MARCH 4: Crowds of supporters waving and cheering the People's Convoy as they arrive at the Hagerstown Speedway in Maryland on Friday

HAGERSTOWN, MARYLAND - MARCH 4: A man is pictured raising his fist as the People's Convoy arrives at the Hagerstown Speedway on Saturday

HAGERSTOWN, MARYLAND - MARCH 5: Bruce Levinge, 52, who has been a trucker for 22 years, traveled from from Ohio to join the People's Convoy

HAGERSTOWN, MARYLAND - MARCH 4: The convoy - which has raised more than $1.5 million in donations made through its own website - started their journey in California last week on an 11-day trek to Washington, D.C.

HAGERSTOWN, MARYLAND - MARCH 4: It remains unclear how many truckers and supporters will attend Sunday's rally in D.C. but a significant turnout is expected, given the large welcome the People's Convoy has been met with nationwide

HAGERSTOWN, MARYLAND - MARCH 4: The trucker protests come as nearly every state in America either has lifted mask orders or has scheduled a day to do so in the near future, with the exception of Hawaii

HAGERSTOWN, MARYLAND - MARCH 4: Even the U.S. Capitol, which has had a controversial mask mandate since legislators returned in the summer 2020, lifted mask orders over the weekend

HAGERSTOWN, MARYLAND - MARCH 4: Vaccine mandates, possibly the most controversial COVID-related mandates, are starting to become a thing of the past, as New York City has dropped them for businesses like bars and restaurants
Two women accused of running a fight club at an assisted living residence in North Carolina are being spared jail time despite being convicted of encouraging dementia patients to fight and then filming the results.

Police said that Marilyn Latish McKey, 35, and Taneshia Deshawn Jordan, 28, were arrested in October 2019, following a report in June of that year of elderly abuse at the Danby House in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.

McKey pleaded guilty to two counts of assault on an individual with a disability and Jordan pleaded guilty to one count of assault on an individual with a disability, Forsyth County Clerk of Superior Court's told McClatchy News.

On Monday, McKey was given a suspended sentence of 45 days in prison, with 12 months of supervised probation, the court said.

Meanwhile, Jordan was given a suspended sentence of 30 days in prison, with 12 months of unsupervised probation.

A third woman, Tonacia Yvonne Tyson, 23, had also been arrested with the pair at the time of the incidents, but was later cleared of a misdemeanor.

Police said assisted living home workers Marilyn Latish McKey, 35 (left); and Taneshia Deshawn Jordan, 28 (right) engaged in elderly abuse at the Danby House in North Carolina

The incidents took place at Danby House (pictured) in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. The facility said they fired the women after learning of the elderly abuse claims against them

Authorities said that the three women were employees at the Danby House, which is an assisted living and memory care facility.

Court documents obtained by Fox 8 showed that McKey was accused of pushing a 73-year-old woman into her room while Tyson and Jordan filmed the incident and did not intervene.

The documents also revealed a second incident, during which McKey, Tyson and Jordan watched, encouraged and videotaped the 73-year-old woman fighting with a 70-year-old woman.

Investigators found that during the second incident, the elderly women - both dementia patients - fought each other in a bedroom, hitting each other as the staffers looked on without trying to physical stop the altercation, according to the News & Record. When one of the patients asked for help, a staffer - it's unclear which one - told her to 'stop screaming, (expletive).'

At some point during the fight, one of the elderly women began choking the other one. One of the staffers could be heard telling the woman to 'punch her in the face,' while another staffer tells her coworker to film the fight and send her the video.

The investigation stated that no injuries to the elderly women were reported or found.

Tonacia Yvonne Tyson, 23, pictured, was arrested and charged alongside McKey and Jordan, but unlike them was not hit with jail time for her role in the alleged elderly abuse

During the investigation, one of the staffers who was arrested allegedly told police that one of the elderly woman was a 'pain in the butt' and that was why they had recorded the videos of the incidents.

Jordan was arrested on October 2, 2019, and charged with one count of assaulting an individual with a disability. She was given a $1,500 unsecured bond.

Tyson was arrested a day later on the same assault charge. She was eventually released from custody on a written promise to appear in court.

McKey was arrested on October 10, 2019 on two counts of assaulting an individual with a disability and was given a $1,000 unsecured bond.

The Danby House said that they fired the women immediately after they heard about the allegations against them.

'Danby House has a zero-tolerance policy for the mistreatment of those in our care,' a spokesperson said in a statement to Fox 8, adding that the facility worked with police throughout the investigation.

'Additional staff training and a more rigorous vetting process for all new and existing employees at Danby House has been implemented. Danby House has undergone leadership changes in recent months, and we look at situations like these as opportunities to improve upon the high standard of care we provide for our residents.'
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky met virtually with the US Congress on Saturday, and once again pressed for a no-fly zone that has been met with widespread bipartisan assistance.

In the meeting, Zelensky again asked for a no-fly zone over Ukraine, which NATO has rejected over fears it would trigger World War Three, and asked the US to ban imports of Russian oil and transfer fighter jets to Ukraine's air force.

The full Senate and House were invited to participate in the Zoom meeting that lasted roughly an hour, as Vladimir Putin's forces push toward the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv and the invasion enters its second week.

In the meeting, Zelensky repeated his plea for NATO to impose a no-fly zone over his country to blunt Russian air superiority, according to sources familiar with the matter.

However, the Biden administration and lawmakers from both parties have expressed strong opposition to the idea of a no-fly zone, because enforcing it would require shooting down Russian planes, drawing NATO into direct conflict with Russia.

Putin on Saturday underlined the stakes involved, saying that any country trying to impose a no-fly zone over Ukraine will be considered a participant in the conflict.

Zelensky is seen meeting with US senators on Sunday over Zoom, in an image shared by Senator Marco Rubio

In the meeting, Zelensky repeated his plea for NATO to impose a no-fly zone over his country to blunt Russian air superiority, and requested tougher sanctions against Russia

Russian forces are now attempting to encircle Kyiv and pressing forward in the southeast

In Saturday's meeting, Zelensky also asked for tougher sanctions on Russia, including a ban on oil and gas exports, an option the White House is currently weighing.

Cutting off Russian oil would be costly for the US, where it accounts for 7 percent of imports, but not insurmountable. The issue is more delicate in Germany, which is now dependent on Russian energy.

Zelensky also requested the transfer of Soviet-era fighter jets currently stationed in Eastern Europe to his own air force to use in the fight against Russia, according to sources familiar with the matter.

Rep. Lloyd Doggett, a Texas Democrat, said on Twitter after the Zoom meeting that he supported transferring fighter jets to Ukraine from NATO allies in Eastern Europe.

'Without engaging U.S. pilots in direct conflict with Russians, we can facilitate Ukrainian access to aircraft with which Ukrainian pilots are already trained and which are held in other Eastern European countries,' he wrote.

'I support getting Ukraine access to the fighter jets needed to confront Putin in the skies,' added Doggett.

Zelensky also described alleged war crimes unfolding in his country and called for Putin to be designated an international war criminal, according to Senator Lindsey Graham, a South Carolina Republican.

Zelensky is seen meeting with members of Congress in a Zoom call on Saturday

In Saturday's meeting, Zelensky also described alleged war crimes unfolding in his country and called for Putin to be designated an international war criminal

All 100 US senators are invited to participate in the meeting scheduled for 9.30am

Zelensky's meeting with Congress comes as Russian forces press a grinding advance toward key population centers, including Kyiv, were Zelensky and his forces appear ready to make a final stand.

In the key southeastern port city of Mariupol, a limited ceasefire broke down, and Ukrainian officials said that Russia resumed shelling near humanitarian evacuation corridors.

In a bitter and emotional speech late on Friday, Zelensky lashed out at NATO powers for refusing to impose a no-fly zone over his country, warning that 'all the people who die from this day forward will also die because of you'.

NATO has rejected the request, saying that such a move would draw the alliance into a direct conflict with nuclear-armed Russia.

But Zelensky claimed the West's hesitancy will fully unleash Russia's invasion as it escalates its air attack. He called NATO 'weak' and 'confused' in emotional remarks.

'The alliance has given the green light to the bombing of Ukrainian cities and villages,' Zelensky said, warning that 'the history of Europe will remember this forever'.

In a separate video message to anti-war protesters in several European cities, Zelensky said: 'If we fall, you will fall'.

People cross a bridge intentionally demolished by Ukrainian defenders to slow the Russian advance as they evacuate the city of Irpin, northwest of Kyiv, during heavy shelling Saturday

Police and first responders work at the scene where several houses have been damaged by an explosion, following an air strike in Bila Tserkva, Kyiv Oblast on Saturday

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg had earlier ruled out the possibility of a no-fly zone, saying Western planes would have to shoot down Russian aircraft.

'We are not part of this conflict,' Stoltenberg said in denying Ukraine's request.

'We have a responsibility as NATO allies to prevent this war from escalating beyond Ukraine because that would be even more dangerous, more devastating and would cause even more human suffering,' he said following a NATO meeting in Brussels.

Despite the risk of nuclear war with Russia, a Reuters/Ipsos poll completed on Friday found that a majority of Americans support a no-fly zone over Ukraine.

Some 74 percent of Americans - including solid majorities of Republicans and Democrats - said the United States and its allies in NATO should impose a no-fly zone in Ukraine, the poll found.

It was not clear if respondents who supported a no-fly zone were fully aware of the risk of conflict it would involve, and majorities opposed the idea of sending American troops to Ukraine or conducting air strikes to support the Ukrainian army.

A billboard in Kyiv calls on NATO to impose a no-fly zone over Ukraine amid the ongoing Russian military aggression on Saturday

Debris are scattered around the hole in a road at the site where several houses have been damaged by an explosion, following an air strike in Bila Tserkva, Kyiv Oblast, March 5, 2022

A Ukrainian soldier was pictured rescuing a tiny baby from a scene of total devastation in Irpin, in a harrowing image that summed up the atrocity of the ongoing war

The poll, conducted Thursday and Friday, suggests that U.S. outrage is growing over Russia's invasion of Ukraine, which in recent days has increasingly involved Russian bombing of urban areas.

It puts pressure on President Joe Biden to take more aggressive actions against Moscow, although he has dismissed the notion of no-fly zones because of the risk of open conflict between NATO and Russian forces.

An equally bipartisan 80 percent of Americans said the United States should stop buying Russian oil, which accounts for about 7 percent of US oil imports.

The White House on Friday said it was weighing cuts to U.S. imports of Russian oil, though it is proceeding cautiously, concerned about a spike in gasoline prices that would add to high inflation.

Meanwhile, Russia said its forces had stopped firing near two besieged Ukrainian cities on Saturday to allow safe passage to civilians fleeing fighting, but officials in one of the cities said Moscow was not fully observing the limited ceasefire.

The Russian defense ministry said its units had opened humanitarian corridors near the cities of Mariupol and Volnovakha which were encircled by its troops, as Russia's invasion of Ukraine entered into its 10th day.

But in Mariupol, the city council said Russia was not observing the ceasefire and asked residents to return to shelters and wait for further information on evacuation.

Smoke rise after shelling by Russian forces in Mariupol, March 4, 2022

This map shows a planned humanitarian route from Mariupol, through Nikolske, Rozivka, Polohy and Orikhiv, to Zaporizhzhia

Russia's defense ministry accused Ukrainian 'nationalists' of preventing civilians from leaving, RIA news agency reported.

The southeastern port has endured heavy bombardment, a sign of its strategic value to Moscow due to its position between Russian-backed separatist-held eastern Ukraine and the Black Sea Crimean peninsula, which Moscow seized from Ukraine in 2014.

'This night the shelling was harder and closer,' a staff member from Doctors without Borders/Medecins sans Frontieres (MSF) said, according to the aid agency, adding there was still no power, water, heating or mobile phone links and food was scarce.

The Ukrainian government said the plan was to evacuate around 200,000 people from Mariupol and 15,000 from Volnovakha, and the Red Cross is the ceasefire's guarantor.
Andres is the owner of the scuba company the two Americans were diving with. He told DailyMail.com another company's boat interrupted their dive and sailed over them

The owner of the Cancun scuba diving company in charge of two Americans who were killed in the water in a propeller accident on Friday has revealed to DailyMail.com that another company's boat struck them on the head, causing them to die.

The two Americans have not yet been identified but they are understood to be two men, both single, aged 60 and 65. Local media reports initially identified them incorrectly as being a man and a woman.

DailyMail.com can reveal that they were experienced divers and marine biologists with over 20 years of experience.

Their families are now on the way to Isla Mujeres and Cancun to retrieve their bodies.

The pair were taking part in a four hour, two tank dive at a shipwreck in Isla Mujeres that was arranged by Squalo Adventures.

The owner of the company, who gave his name only as Andres, told DailyMail.com that they were nearing the end of their dive and using buoy lines to make their way back to their boat when Mr. Tom, a larger vessel owned by the Cancun-based Scuba Cancun, sailed over them.

Mr. Tom's propellers' struck the two Americans fatally on the head, according to Andres. The other two divers and the divemaster survived.

This boat - owned by Scuba Cancun - arrived at the shipwreck while the Americans were still in the water. Andres says its 'huge' propellers struck the two Americans on the head and killed them. Courtesy Riviera Maya News

The 'Mr Tom' boat has now been seized by the authorities in Isla Mujeres

'It was a tragic accident,' Andres said on Saturday.

He added that it is an 'international pact' among divers to wait at a dive site if another boat is already there to avoid such an accident, but that Scuba Cancun ignored it.

Instead, they sailed through in a hurry, their propellers chugging through the water, to drop their own divers off.

Mexican media reports that the captain of Mr. Tom is now in custody. He has not been named.

Andres was not on the dive but his divemaster and the other two divers who survived relayed to him what happened in horrifying detail.

'We were diving on a shipwreck... the other big huge boat was passing through and it hit us.

'They didn't take any precautions - we were the only ones there.

'The propellers are very large - they hit the two experienced divers on the head and they did not survive. It killed them.'

'They did not follow the rules, they just wanted to drop their divers off. They did not respect the area

'When you are diving, you have to wait in line. Everyone knows,' he added.

The Americans were diving with Squalo Adventures, which has operated on the island for 16 years

This is the type of boat the Americans were making their way back to when the much larger boat sailed over them and fatally injured them

Photos from the scene shows forensics teams working on one of the victims

Andres has been running the center on Isla Mujeres for 16 years. He runs various snorkel and scuba excursions.

The trip the Americans were taking part in was a four-hour dive to the wreckage of the USS Harlequin which the Mexican Navy sank in 1980 in order to create an artificial reef. Squalo sells the dive for $115 per person.

The company advises on its website that the shipwreck is more suitable to advanced divers.

Scuba Cancun, which operates out of mainland Cancun, sells a four-hour dive at the shipwreck for only $77 per person.

That is the tour they were preparing to drop people off for on Friday when the Americans were killed. It is not known how many people were taking part but it is advertised on Scuba Cancun's website as being for certified divers only.

The two Americans were part of a larger group who have been visiting Isla Mujeres for years, Andres added.

The US Embassy in Cancun did not respond to inquiries on Saturday about what kind of consular assistance it is providing.
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Hundreds of Ukrainians, Russians and Brits gathered in London's Trafalgar Square on Saturday to protest against Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine in a rousing show of solidarity.

A huge banner was unfurled in front of the National Gallery which warned Britain: 'When the last Ukrainian soldier falls, Putin will come for you ladies and gents.'

Another banner which had the appearance of being soaked in blood simply read 'Stop Putin', while others held signs comparing the warring president to Adolf Hitler and branding him a 'monster'.

Before a series of speeches, the Ukrainian national anthem sang out, which was carried by the crowds when the speakers stopped working.

Archbishop Claudio Gugerotti, the papal nuncio to Great Britain, also led a prayer, telling the crowds: 'Today we are all Ukrainians.'

Briton Kevin Greenan, 75, a retired hotel manager from Pimlico, said: 'You have to stand up against injustice. I just find the West to be weak and this poor country is paying for weakness.

'Women and children are being murdered by an insane man. If he's insane, take him out.

'I don't have any connection with Ukraine, but we are connected by mankind.'

While Russians were a minority in number, those who showed said they were there to fight against Putin's war.

Katja, 22, who declined to give her last name, said she wanted to show solidarity with Ukraine.

She added: 'My entire family live in Russia but what Putin is doing the Ukrainian people is against human rights and he needs to be stopped.

Woman shouts slogans while carrying a placard reading: 'Protect Ukraine, save Europe' during a protest to support Ukraine in Trafalgar Square, central London on Saturday

People take part in a demonstration in Trafalgar Square, London, to denounce the Russian invasion of Ukraine

A demonstrator carries a Ukrainian flag while donning a floral wreath on her head during a protest against Russia's invasion of Ukraine

A woman with a Ukrainian flag holds a banner reading: 'My friends are on the front line... STOP', as she takes part in a protest against Russia's invasion of Ukraine, at Trafalgar Square, in London, Britain March 5, 2022

A man holds a banner depicting Russian President Vladimir Putin and Adolf Hitler, as he takes part in a protest against Russia's invasion of Ukraine, at Trafalgar Square, in London

A woman holds a banner reading: 'Putin child killer', as she takes part in a protest against Russia's invasion of Ukraine, at Trafalgar Square

A child looks on during a protest against Russia's invasion of Ukraine, while holding a sign reading: 'Stop Putin, stop war!'

People marching in solidarity with Ukraine hold up signs simply reading: 'Stop war'

A woman holds a banner with the colours of the Ukrainian flag as she takes part in a protest against Russia's invasion of Ukraine, at Trafalgar Square, in London on Saturday

Demonstrators gather in front of the National Gallery in Trafalgar square in central London on March 5, 2022 to take part in a rally to show their support for Ukraine

Demonstrators hold a banner reading: 'Putin will come for you', as they gather in front of the National Gallery in Trafalgar square

A family embrace one another during a protest against Russia's invasion of Ukraine in Trafalgar Square

A woman wearing a badge with the colours of the Ukrainian flag on her cap reading 'Glory to Ukraine' takes part in a protest against Russia's invasion of Ukraine, at Trafalgar Square

'He's a dictator. It's indescribable what he's doing. It's another Stalin, another Hitler. He needs to be stopped.

'I had to come out because Russians are being arrested for doing what I am doing now.

'In England we have a right to protest. In Russia, people have been arrested, been beaten up, some people I know have been threatened to be drafted if they protest - that's why I have to speak up.

'It's shocking. It's disgusting. I'm ashamed it's done. We have to fight against him instead of recoil in fear.

'Some people have tried to flee Russia because of the sanctions, but they need to stand and fight.

'I've been coming out since last Sunday, every day, and I think it shows that more Russians need to stand up.

'I know some people have been scared to come to these protests, like they fear they're going to be picked on, but it's actually the opposite: Ukrainian people know that not every Russian person supports this.'

Nikolai Alekseyev, 41, a funeral director from Moscow but now lives in Ealing, said: 'My heart breaks when I see the news and I see what Putin is doing.

'It's not in my name. Ukraine deserves every Russian person to stand up against Putin to tell him that he will be stopped.

'We stand with all the sanctions. I have family who still believes his lies, so I hope that the truth breaks through to them.'

Anna Korenkova, 31, a market researcher originally from Ukraine, has been at the protests nearly every day.

She said: 'It gets harder and harder to digest the amount of death and destruction every day.

People take part in a protest against Russia's invasion of Ukraine, at Trafalgar Square, in London

A girl sitting on a relative's shoulders holds a placard reading: 'We support Ukraine', during a protest against the Russian invasion of Ukraine, in Trafalgar Square

Demonstrators carry banners, with one reading: 'Putin kills', at a protest against Russia's invasion of Ukraine, at Trafalgar Square

A woman holds up a sign telling Putin: 'f off', during a protest in support of Ukraine at Trafalgar Square on Saturday

Hundreds gather in Trafalgar Square waving Ukrainian and Union Jack flags during a protest against Russia's invasion

Demonstrators carry banners at a protest against Russia's invasion of Ukraine, at Trafalgar Square, with a huge one reading: 'When the last Ukrainian soldier falls, Putin will come for you'

Protestor carries a sign urging the west to 'be more Zelensky' - referencing the bravery shown by the Ukrainian president

People hold banners - one depicting Russian President Vladimir Putin - as they take part in a protest against Russia's invasion of Ukraine

A woman appears to get emotional while taking part in a protest in support of Ukraine in Trafalgar Square on Saturday

A woman holds a banner reading: 'Stop the war', as she takes part in a protest against Russia's invasion

'I don't know if we can avoid further conflict with Russia given the conditions and now is the time to act.

'I spoke to my grandmother today, who is 83 and alone in Kyiv, and my friends on the front line, who badly need support.

'She's really scared that people don't realise what is happening. The Ukrainian people really appreciate the support of people in the UK, but it's not enough. There needs to be more sanctions.

'I'm speaking today and I read the Winston Churchill speeches this morning: it's incredible the similarities, the same calls to action.

'Putin has bigger ambitions and it doesn't stop at Ukraine. This isn't going to stop if we don't try and stop it.'

Nadiya Tokarisha, 52, of Lancaster Gate, was with her mother Maria, 75, and her father Voldimir, 79, at the protest.

The family are from the west of Ukraine, and have been in the UK since 2000.

She said: 'This protest today proves that when Ukraine is victorious against Russia, it will not just be a Ukrainian victory.

'It will be a victory for the UK. It will be a victory for the Poles, the Lithuanians, the Georgians - everyone who is standing up against injustice.

'My mum's family are still there. We speak every day. They inspire us every day and it reminds us to be strong.

'With God everything is possible, I pray for peace every day.'

Ginte Regina, 27, a filmmaker from Lithuania, said: 'We share a lot of the same history with Ukraine and understand the threat first hand and know that it's not just about Ukraine, it's about eastern Europe and all of Europe.

'I've been every day this week. I think it's good for me personally as well because at least once a day you're with people who understand and care.

'I've never thought I would advocate for war but the only way to do with a terrorist is force, and that's how we should deal with Putin.'

A woman wearing a ribbon with the colours of the Ukrainian flag takes part in a protest against Russia's invasion of Ukraine, at Trafalgar Square, in London

Man holds up sign reading: 'My cat hates Putin!' during central London protest on Saturday

A woman holds banners - one depicting Russian President Vladimir Putin, while the other pleading: 'No war' - as she takes part in a protest against Russia's invasion of Ukraine

'Putin - wanted for genocide and war crimes': Protestors hold up signs in Trafalgar Square on Saturday

Protestor holds up an image of Putin with the word 'Monster' emblazoned above his head

A man and a woman hold a banner reading: 'Stop Russian genocide on Ukraine' as they take part in a protest against Russia's invasion

The Elizabeth Tower, more commonly known as the Big Ben, is seen as people take part in a protest against Russia's invasion of Ukraine, at Trafalgar Square

A woman appears to pray during a central London protest on Saturday against Russia's Ukraine invasion

Woman holds up a sign reading: 'World with Ukraine' during a protest against Russia's invasion of the eastern European country

People take part in a demonstration in Trafalgar Square, London, to denounce the Russian invasion of Ukraine, as one sign on the floor is made to look blood-soaked while reading: 'Stop Putin'

Protestors speak to the crowds at Trafalgar Square on Saturday during a protest to support Ukraine

A demonstrator holds a sign reading: 'Putler hands off' - referencing an amalgamation of the names Putin and Hitler

A demonstrator holds a yellow placard reading: 'Protect Ukraine, save Europe' as she takes part in a rally in Trafalgar square in central London, on March 5, 2022

Two protestors hold up signs simply reading: 'Stop Putin', during a protest against Russia's invasion

A man donning a yellow and blue mask holds up a sign reading: 'Putin, don't be like your dad...learn to pull out', during a protest in Trafalgar Square on Saturday

Demonstrators hold placards and Ukranian national flags as they gather in Trafalgar square in central London, on March 5, 2022

Natalia Ravlyuk, a Ukrainian volunteer who helped organise the protest, told the crowd: 'For those 10 days, Ukraine is fighting Russia alone. Ukraine is fighting Russia for Europe and for the world.

'They say Russia is strong, but it is not. Because Ukraine has showed that Russia is not that strong and Ukraine will win.

'Ukraine is not afraid to stand against Russia. Ukraine is not afraid to stand up to protect Europe and to protect the world.

'If Ukraine gives up, then you are all in trouble. Ukraine is fighting to the end.

'I wake up wondering every day if my family is still alive. I wake up wondering if I have a home to go back to. I wake up wondering if I have any childhood memories left.

'But that is not a reason to cry because we have to stay strong for Ukraine..'
RUSSIA-UKRAINE day 10 as it happened: Boris Johnson says 'Putin must fail', Russians keep attacking Mariupol despite 'ceasefire' and Foreign Office tells Brits to quit Russia

Ukraine has dramatically cancelled an evacuation of more than 200,000 civilians from Mariupol after it accused Russian forces of derailing a promised ceasefire by continuing to shell the strategic port city.

Plans to evacuate the population have now been delayed as the Russian invasion enters its 10th day.

Help refugees by donating to the Mail's Ukraine Refugee Appeal here.

Here, follow MailOnline's live blog for all the updates on the crisis in Ukraine today:
Tiangong scheduled for completion this year

12:08, March 05, 2022 By ZHAO LEI ( China Daily

Screen image taken at Beijing Aerospace Control Center on Jan 8, 2022 shows the Shenzhou XIII astronauts in China's space station core module conducting the manual rendezvous and docking experiment with the Tianzhou 2 cargo craft. [Photo/Xinhua]

China's Tiangong space station is scheduled to be completed before the end of this year and will become a massive spacecraft stack with a combined weight of nearly 100 metric tons, according to a program leader.

Zhou Jianping, chief designer of the nation's manned space program, said the assembly phase of the Tiangong program will begin in May and will involve the launch of two astronaut crews, two space labs and two cargo ships.

Zhou made the remarks on Friday afternoon at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing before the opening of the fifth session of the 13th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference.

The scientist is a member of the CPPCC National Committee, the top political advisory body in China.

"We will send six astronauts in the Shenzhou XIV and XV mission crews. The Shenzhou XIV crew will be responsible for monitoring the docking between the Tianhe core module and the two space labs and then configuring the two labs," he said.

"The Shenzhou XV crew will fly to the station around year's end to meet their Shenzhou XIV peers and that will be an exciting moment that all of us are eager to see."

Upon Tiangong's completion, it will consist of three major componentsa core module linked with two large space labs, two Shenzhou spacecraft and one cargo ship, weighing around 100 tons.

A total of six astronauts will stay inside the station, the largest space-based infrastructure China has ever built, for a certain period of time before the Shenzhou XIV crew return to Earth, according to Zhou.

He said the Tiangong station will be a platform for scientific experiments and technology demonstrations in a wide range of research fields like biology, materials science and micro-gravity hydrodynamics.

China launched the first, and central, component of its Tiangong stationthe Tianhe core modulein April and sent the Shenzhou XII crew to stay inside it from mid-June to mid-September.

The 22.5-ton, three-section module is now occupied by the Shenzhou XIII crewMajor General Zhai Zhigang, Senior Colonel Wang Yaping and Senior Colonel Ye Guangfuwho arrived at the station in mid-October and are scheduled to stay there for six months.

In their first spacewalk in November, Wang became China's first female spacewalker.

She performed extravehicular operations that lasted six and a half hours together with mission commander Zhai.

"The Shenzhou XIII crew have traveled in space for 140 days. They are doing well and have fulfilled all of the tasks we gave them. They will return to Earth in mid-April," Zhou said.

(Web editor: Xia Peiyao, Liang Jun)
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An ex-con and reputed gang member will spend 25 years to life in prison for killing a city firefighter in a fit of road rage.

Joseph Desmond was sentenced in Brooklyn Supreme Court on Friday for the Dec. 9, 2018, bludgeoning death of FDNY Firefighrer Faizal Coto on the Belt Parkway. He was found guilty of the crime in January.

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Joseph Desmond leaving the NYPD's 62nd Precinct stationhouse in Brooklyn, on Tuesday, Dec. 18, 2018. (Gardiner Anderson for New York Daily News)

The killer showed no remorse and proclaimed his innocence Friday as dozens of firefighters crammed into the courtroom and cheered the maximum sentence handed down by Judge Vincent Del Giudice.

Desmond clobbered Coto, fracturing his skull, after a minor car accident on the Belt Parkway. After that, he calmly walked back to his Infiniti and drove off, prosecutors said. Cotos battered body was found beside his 2008 Ford Mustang on the shoulder of the highway near Exit 4 in Bath Beach.

The entire encounter lasted 15 seconds, prosecutors said.

Coto was rushed to Coney Island Hospital, where he died.

Desmond was nabbed at a motel in South Amboy, N.J., a day after the slaying.

When he killed Coto, he was on parole after a four year prison stint for an anti-gay attack in Queens.

In that case, Desmond stormed up to his 23-year-old victim, called him a f-----t, and blasted him in the chest with the stun gun, court papers reveal.

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FDNY Firefighter Faizal Coto (FDNY)

Desmond, a reputed member of the Latin Kings gang, said, I object to the trial in its entirety, when given the chance to speak before his sentence was read Friday.

He claimed cops framed him and used tampered evidence in the case.

But Del Giudice shot down the killers argument, saying hed presided over the entire trial and he knew Desmond was guilty beyond any doubt.

You deprived people of this city a person whos dedicated to responding to their need for help and assistance in times of crisis, Del Giudice said. Its this courts earnest hope and desire that you never, ever be released from prison.

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His goal was to help people in times of their most need. You, sir, also have demonstrated your impact by your behavior, the judge said. Your contribution to society not only has been negative but its been devastating.

Coto was a three year FDNY veteran, assigned to Engine 245 / Ladder 161 in Brooklyn.

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Faizal Coto should be alive today with his family. He should be serving his community as a firefighter, said Assistant District Attorney Andy Palacio.

The fact that Desmonds birthday was Friday was not lost on Cotos brother.

Today you turn 33 years old, the same age my brother was when you took his life, said Ishmael Coto, calling it poetic justice.

The devastated sibling said the crime not only robbed him of a brother and his parents of a son  but stole a dedicated public servant from New Yorkers.

There were more lives for him to save, and you took it away, an emotional Ishmael Coto said as family members wept in the courtroom.
New York Times columnist John McWhorter has criticized his own paper's decision to capitalize 'Black' when writing about race, calling it pointless and a waste of time and energy.

In his latest editorial on Friday, McWhorter, a critic of 'woke vocabulary,' revealed that he always writes 'black' with a lowercase 'b' and that it's the Times editors who uppercase the word when linked to race because of the Time's house style. The august paper and hundreds of other outlets began capping up black when discussing race in summer 2020, after George Floyd's murder and ensuing Black Lives Matter protests.

'With the 'black' issue, my ultimate sentiment is that we spend an inordinate amount of time concerning ourselves with how matters of power and diversity are expressed,' wrote McWhorter, a linguist and senior fellow at the conservative Manhattan Institute think tank.

'I suspect that activists and agitators of yore would find our obsession with such things rather peculiar and worry that it siphoned off energy from more grounded efforts.'

New York Times columnist John McWhorter, a critic of 'woke vocabulary,' called the paper's insistence to capitalize 'Black' a waste time

The NY Times was among hundreds of news outlets that announced in 2020 that they would be capitalizing 'Black' in the wake of the Black Lives Matter Movement

The Times made the decision in June 2020 to capitalize 'Black' saying it 'best conveys elements of shared history and identity,' for black Americans and reflects the paper's 'goal to be respectful of all the people and communities' it covers.

Other outlets like USA Today, the Los Angeles Times, NBC News, BuzzFeed and the Associated Press made the same decision.

Sarah Glover, an NBC executive and former president of the National Association of Black Journalists, championed the movement and said in a statement in June 2020 that it affirmed 'the experience and existence of an entire group of people who built this country and have contributed to every sector.'

Both the AP and the NY Times also decided to keep 'white' lowercase, claiming the white race doesn't have the same culture as black people, and that capitalizing white when referring to race has associations with the white supremacist movement.

CNN, the Washington Post and Fox News decided to capitalize both 'White' and 'Black' when referring to race.

McWhorter explained that while he wasn't adamantly against the move to capitalize the word, he said he has 'a hard time caring that much whether we write 'black' or 'Black.'

The death of George Floyd and the subsequent Black Lives Matter Protests led news outlets across the country to re-examine how they write about race

Sarah Glover, an NBC executive and former president of the National Association of Black Journalists, was one of the leaders pushing news outlets to capitalize 'Black'

'It's fine with me that others embrace the capitalization of 'Black.' Maybe I will someday,' McWhorter wrote.

'But when I think of social change, my mind lingers more on, say, the Year Up program,' he added, referring to the organization of the same name providing underprivileged high school graduates with full-tuition who are seeking jobs in the tech field.

'Compared to this type of practical problem-solving, 'black' or 'Black' just isn't as interesting.

McWhorter added that he also never liked the term 'African American,' which he said inappropriately linked black Americans to Africa despite generations of differences.

'To stress that connection in what we call ourselves always struck me as forced,' he wrote.

'Although opinions will differ on such things, in my view, the connection to Africa, for most of us, is too many generations removed for 'African American' to truly work.'

McWhorter has previously criticized woke language in his book, 'Woke Racism: How A New Religion Has Betrayed Black America,' where he likens the new, 'woke' anti-racist movement to a self-flagellating religious cult  one that not only stifles debate but actually hurts black people.

He was hired by the Times as the paper was hit by allegations that it had become obsessed with kotowing to hard-left progressives' often-authoritarian stance on social issues.
A Brooklyn woman captured a horrifying moment on video after a rabid raccoon tried to claw its way into her apartment through the light fixture.

Yesenia Irizarry, a student at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City, had recently moved into the new apartment with three roommates, she told Pix 11.

However, a raccoon - which was feared to have rabies - had already made itself at home in the crawlspace over their kitchen ceiling.

'I'm calling 911' Irizarry can be heard saying in the video after a raccoon paw begins to poke out of their kitchen light fixture, in the video taken back in November 2021.

'Can you send animal control or something?' she tells the dispatcher as her fellow roommates scream while the raccoon continues to stick its paw out of the fixture menacingly.

'There is no way you can go to sleep. They're like "go to bed, and see about it in the morning" and there is no way (I'm going to sleep) with that (in the house).'

'What do you do?!' she yells.

Scroll down for video

Pictured: the raccoon's paw can be seen menacingly poking out of the kitchen's light fixture

The raccoon, paw pictured above, had made itself at home in the crawlspace over their kitchen ceiling

Pictured: Yesenia Irizarry, a student at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City, had recently moved into the new apartment with three roommates

It was past midnight by the time the raccoon made its unwanted presence felt, with the local animal-control service already closed, Irizarry said.

So the women called 911, who responded, but said they 'wouldnt even know what to do,' and suggested that the women wait for their landlord to call them back in the morning, according to Irizarry.

Meanwhile, the raccoon could be seen making a bigger gap in the light fixture, as if it was trying to enter Irizarry's kitchen.

'We were literally just waiting and watching,' said Irizarry, who was alerted to the incident by the screams of her roommates.

'Its arm just stuck out. At one point, we saw its ear, like it was opening the gap wider so it could come in.'

'No one slept that night,' she added.

'We huddled in our rooms. The scratching kind of died down, but then it started again a little later. It was getting more aggressive. We could hear the raccoon moving (in the ceiling above) the living room, above the bedrooms.'

Eventually, Irizarry said the landlord responded at around 7 am, who sent over a handyman to fix the loose light fixtures where the raccoon was attempting to break in through.

The next day, an animal-control officer came to Irizarry's apartment and set traps in the building's crawlspace, where the raccoon is said to have made its home, on the roof, and on the fire escape.

Irizarry and her roommates ended up discovering some interesting facts about the history of the apartment, learning that they were far from the first tenants to encounter raccoon problems.

'Past tenants would come home to raccoons in their living room,' Irizarry claimed.

Pix 11 reported that the building's management had placed caps on the chimneys in an effort to fix the raccoon issue, she said, however the caps eventually were torn off.

Another raccoon then found its way into the building using the chimney, which it climbed to gain access to the crawlspace above their kitchen ceiling.

Irizarry added that the animal-control officer had made several comments suggesting the raccoon was rabid and was raising babies in the crawlspace prior to being caught and removed.
Westerners have bought up thousands of Airbnb holiday homes in Ukraine in a bid to support people living in the war-torn country.

Almost 1.5million was spent on 61,000 holiday home bookings between March 2 and 3, for stays that will never happen because of Vladimir Putin's barbaric invasion.

Instead, people in Europe and the US booked the holiday homes as a means of donating directly to those on the ground who are stricken by the bombardment.

And the donations  kicked-started by a social media campaign  have led to hosts breaking down in tears, with many using their homes to help shelter those whose own houses in the shelling.

Westerners have bought up thousands of Airbnb holiday homes in Ukraine to support people living in the war-torn country. Writing on social media, one host Victoria said: 'I'm crying! I'm just crying right now!'

Almost 1.5million was spent on 61,000 holiday home bookings between March 2 and 3. Igor, a host in Irpin near Kyiv that has come under heavy shelling for the last three days, pledged to use his apartment to provide accommodation to those who lost their homes

Host Natalia said: 'You can't even imagine how pleased we are to hear that we are not alone, tears in our eyes. I am very grateful for your support in this difficult time for us and all of Ukraine'

Another named Elena wrote: 'Your help and your letter moved me to tears. 'I re-read your letter several times and weep with happiness. It has everything that is very important now: love, support, it gives additional strength'

Writing on her Airbnb page to someone who booked a room, host Victoria said: 'I'm crying! I'm just crying right now!

'I'm shocked! I am incredibly grateful for your support! I have no words! Only thank you! THANK YOU!'

Another named Elena wrote to someone who donated: 'Your help and your letter moved me to tears.

'I re-read your letter several times and weep with happiness. It has everything that is very important now: love, support, it gives additional strength.

'I am incredibly happy to meet new friends, I invite you to our free country after the war.'

The money raised by the Mail Force charity  in record-breaking time  has already been put to good use, with mothers and children arriving over the border to Slovakia yesterday greeted by aid workers funded by our generous readers

Marina Yatsko, left, and her boyfriend Fedor mourn over her 18 month-old son Kirill's lifeless body, killed in shelling, as he lays on a stretcher in a hospital in Mariupol, March 4, 2022

People lie on the floor of a hospital during shelling by Russian forces in Mariupol, March 4, 2022

Ukraine war: latest Russia announces a ceasefire to allow civilians in the besieged port of Mariupol, on the Sea of Azov, to escape after days of bombardments. They also announce a ceasefire in the nearby town of Volnovakha;

Officials in Mariupol accuse the Russians of violating the ceasefire by continuing to shell the city and say they have to delay plans to evacuate the population;

Mariupol has been without electricity, water and heating for days;

Russian forces inch closer to the capital Kyiv from the north but encounter stiff resistance along the way, including in Kyiv's western suburbs and the northern town of Chernihiv;

On Thursday, 47 people were killed in a Russian airstrike on a residential neighbourhood in Chernihiv, local authorities said;

A fire at Europe's biggest nuclear power station at Zaporizhzhia is put out, with Ukraine accusing Russia of 'nuclear terror' in shelling the plant. Advertisement

Natalia said: 'You can't even imagine how pleased we are to hear that we are not alone, tears in our eyes.

'I am very grateful for your support in this difficult time for us and all of Ukraine.'

Igor, a host in Irpin near Kyiv that has come under heavy shelling for the last three days, pledged to use his apartment to provide accommodation to those who lost their homes.

Airbnb announced it is working on offering free short-term housing to as many as 100,000 Ukrainian refugees fleeing from the Russian invasion.

It is also working with neighboring European countries to provide long-term stays.

Ukraine has more than 17,000 short-term holiday homes, according to market research firm AirDNA.

While the vast Russian armoured column threatening the capital remained stalled outside Kyiv, Putins military has bombarded cities and other sites across the country.

Russian forces did not make significant progress on Friday in their offensive to sever Ukraines access to the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov, which would deal a severe blow to its economy.

There were also no changes in the north and the east, where the Russian offensive has stalled, meeting fierce Ukrainian resistance.

Ukrainian presidential adviser Oleksiy Arestovich said battles involving airstrikes and artillery continued north-west of Kyiv, and the north-eastern cities of Kharkiv and Okhtyrka came under heavy fire.

He said Ukrainian forces were still holding the northern city of Chernihiv and the southern city of Mykolaiv.

Ukrainian artillery also defended Ukraines biggest port city, Odesa, from repeated attempts by Russian ships, he said.

More than 840 children have been wounded in the war, and 28 have been killed, according to Ukraines government.

A total of 331 civilians had been confirmed killed but the true number is probably much higher, the UN human rights office said.
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The Kremlin today threatened Britain with 'tough retaliatory measures' as President Vladimir Putin said devastating Western sanctions against Russia are verging on a declaration of war, and warned that any country imposing a no-fly zone over Ukraine would be considered to have entered the on-going conflict.

The threats came as Moscow's brutal assault on Ukraine saw a mass civilian evacuation from Mariupol derailed when Russian forces ignored a promised ceasefire and continued shelling the southern city.

Britain's Ministry of Defence (MoD) said Saturday evening that Russia's proposed ceasefire was likely an attempt to regroup its forces for a new onslaught, while also an attempt to deflect international condemnation.

'By accusing Ukraine of breaking the agreement, Russia is likely seeking to shift responsibility for current and future civilian casualties in the city,' the British defence ministry said in an intelligence update.

Russia's defence ministry accused Ukrainian 'nationalists' of preventing civilians from leaving, RIA news agency reported. But Mariupol's city council said Russia was not observing the ceasefire.

Ukraine war: latest Vladimir Putin says Western sanctions on Russia are almost a declaration of war and that anyone imposing a no-fly zone on Ukraine would be considered to have entered the conflict;

Russia announces a ceasefire to allow civilians in the besieged port of Mariupol, on the Sea of Azov, to escape after days of bombardments. They also announce a ceasefire in the nearby town of Volnovakha;

Officials in Mariupol accuse the Russians of violating the ceasefire by continuing to shell the city and say they have to delay plans to evacuate the population;

Russian forces inch closer to the capital Kyiv from the north but encounter stiff resistance along the way;

On Thursday, 47 people were killed in a Russian airstrike on a residential neighbourhood in Chernihiv, local authorities said;

A fire at Europe's biggest nuclear power station at Zaporizhzhia is put out, with Ukraine accusing Russia of 'nuclear terror' in shelling the plant;

Putin in a phone call with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz says Moscow is ready for dialogue over Ukraine if all its demands are met;

Putin signs a law imposing harsh jail sentences for the publication of 'fake news' about the invasion;

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken warns that the war in Ukraine 'may not be over soon' and that the US and European allies must sustain tough pressure on Russia until it ends;

G7 foreign ministers warn that Russia will face further 'severe sanctions' for its invasion, and call on Moscow to stop its attacks near nuclear power plants;

NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg says the alliance will not impose a no-fly zone over Ukraine after Kyiv calls for one to help stop Russia's bombing of its cities;

Russia is more isolated than ever after a historic vote at the UN Human Rights Council for a probe into violations committed during the war on Ukraine, with only Eritrea siding with Moscow;

More than 1.3million people have fled Ukraine into neighbouring countries since Russia invaded last week, the UN says;

The United Nations' World Food Programme warns about a looming food crisis in Ukraine in conflict areas, while disruptions in production and exports could lead to food insecurity globally;

Russia's flagship airline Aeroflot said that it was suspending all of its international flights except to Belarus from March 8. Advertisement

A defiant Putin today called the West's economic, diplomatic and cultural boycott of the country tantamount to a declaration of war and warned that his regime would consider any third-party declaration of a no-fly zone as 'participation in the armed conflict'.

In an astonishing display of sabre-rattling, Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova warned London: 'Russia will not forget Britain's desire to co-operate with ultra-nationalist forces in Ukraine and the supply of British weapons to the Kiev regime'.

She added: 'The sanctions hysteria in which London plays one of the leading, if not the main, roles, leaves us no choice but to take proportionately tough retaliatory measures. London has made a final choice of open confrontation with Russia.

'Such a development convinces us once more that Russophobia and the aim to undermine the Russian state are integral elements of Britain's foreign policy.'

In a dramatic escalation of tensions between Russia and the West last week, Putin announced that Moscow was putting its nuclear deterrence on 'alert'.

Speaking to a group of female pilots at an Aeroflot training centre near Moscow, the Russian despot reiterated that his war aims are the 'demilitarisation' and 'de-Nazification' of Ukraine and its neutrality  dismissed as baseless pretexts by Kyiv and her partners including Washington and London.

'These sanctions that are being imposed are akin to a declaration of war, but thank God it has not come to that', Putin jibed.

Talking about the prospect of a NATO state enforcing a no-fly zone over Ukraine, the Russian warmonger continued: 'That very second, we will view them as participants of the military conflict, and it would not matter what members they are.'

Ukraine's president Volodymr Zelensky last night railed against the West over its refusal to impose a no-fly zone over his country  an action which would compel third parties such as Britain and the United States to shoot down Russian aircraft that flew in Ukrainian airspace, and turn the war in Ukraine into a full-scale global war.

But as the United States and other NATO members send weapons for Kyiv and more than 1million refugees spill through the continent, the conflict is already drawing in countries far beyond Ukraine's borders.

In a bitter and emotional speech late on Friday, Zelensky warned that 'all the people who die from this day forward will also die because of you'.

The comic-turned-wartime leader said NATO 'has given the green light to the bombing of Ukrainian cities and villages', adding that 'the history of Europe will remember this forever'. In a separate video message to anti-war protesters in several European cities, he said: 'If we fall, you will fall'.

Ukrainian officials on Saturday blamed Russian shelling for breaching a ceasefire arranged in two cities in the country's south to evacuate more than 200,000 civilians.

Ukraine war: Latest updates from cities under attack Mariupol - Britain said on Saturday that Russia's proposed ceasefire in the Ukrainian city of Mariupol was probably an attempt to deflect international condemnation while giving itself a chance to reset its forces for a renewed offensive; Kherson - In Kherson, southwest Ukraine, the only regional capital to have changed hands during the invasion so far, several thousand people demonstrated on its main square on Saturday; Kharkiv - President Zelensky announced Ukrainian forces were counter-attacking around Kharkiv, the country's second largest city, which has seen Russian incursions and fierce bombardments; Kyiv - Heavy fighting continues in the outer regions of Kyiv, Ukraine's capital, with Ukrainian forces there still resisting the advance of Russian forces. Russia's assault becomes more determined and indiscriminate; Bucha and Irpin - towns on the outskirts of Kyiv have come under heavy fire from long-range shelling; Odessa - Fears that Russian forces could be close to taking the port city of Odessa. If they do, they could 'completely take the Ukrainian coast... and consolidate their hold on the Black Sea', said Igor Delanoe, a specialist on the Russian navy; Dnipro - Thousands of people queued for hours on Saturday in the city on the edge of eastern Ukraine, trying to catch a train to the country's west, as Russian forces bombard their cities; Enerhodar - Russian forces have taken control of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in Enerhodar. Other plants are also under threat Lviv - Thousands of women and children fleeing the conflict arrived in Ukraine's western city of Lviv. Advertisement

The struggle to enforce the ceasefire in the strategic port city Mariupol and Volnovakha showed the fragility of efforts to stop fighting across Ukraine, as the number of people fleeing the country reached 1.4million just 10 days after Russian forces invaded.

Putin accused Ukraine of sabotaging the evacuation and even claimed Ukraine's leadership was calling into question the future of the country's statehood, saying that 'if this happens, it will be entirely on their conscience'.

Ukraine's military claims that it has killed around 10,000 Russian troops since the invasion on February 24  far beyond the 498 claimed by Moscow. Kyiv estimates that Russian losses also include 269 tanks, 105 artillery systems, 39 aircraft, 40 helicopters and 409 vehicles.

The Russian defence ministry said on Saturday that its units had opened humanitarian corridors near the two cities encircled by its troops for five hours between 12pm and 5pm Moscow time, Russia's RIA news agency reported.

In Mariupol, citizens would be allowed to leave during a five-hour window, it quoted the city's officials as saying. The Russian defence ministry said a broad offensive would then continue in Ukraine, RIA said.

The Ukrainian government said the plan was to evacuate around 200,000 people from Mariupol and 15,000 from Volnovakha, and the Red Cross would be the ceasefire's guarantor.

The evacuation would have been seen as a prelude to a final assault that, if successful, would see the Russian army push north from occupied Crimea and link up with their forces from the east and take control of Ukraine's coast on the Sea of Azov.

Since Russia invaded on February 24, Moscow has pummelled Ukrainian cities, with officials reporting hundreds of civilians killed. Russian forces have now seized two Ukrainian nuclear power plants and are advancing toward a third, Ukraine's president said during a call with U.S. senators Saturday.

But Russia has so far only seized two key cities, Berdiansk and Kherson on Ukraine's southern Black Sea coast.

Capturing Mariupol represents a bigger prize for Russian forces as it would deal a severe blow to Ukraine's maritime access and connect with troops coming from annexed Crimea and the Donbas.

In comments carried on Ukrainian television, Mariupol mayor Vadym Boychenko said thousands of people had gathered for safe passage out of the city and buses were departing when shelling began.

'We value the life of every inhabitant of Mariupol and we cannot risk it, so we stopped the evacuation,' he said.

Before Russia announced the ceasefire, Ukraine had urged Moscow to create humanitarian corridors to allow children, women and the older adults to flee the fighting, calling them 'question number one'.

Putin's lapdog Sergey Lavrov on Saturday said Russia was ready for a third round of talks on that and other issues, but he said that 'the Ukrainian side, the most interested side here, it would seem, is constantly making up various pretexts to delay the beginning of another meeting'.

Meanwhile, European Union's foreign policy chief Josep Borrell called on China to mediate future peace talks between Russia and Ukraine as Western powers cannot fulfil the role. Beijing has so far abstained from condemning Moscow's assault on its neighbour as an 'invasion' as it seeks to maintain close ties with Russia.

This handout picture released by the State Emergency Service of Ukraine on March 5, 2022, shows what is said the wreckage of a Russian military aircraft on the outskirts of the city of Chernihiv

Pictured: A burned car where 4 people died as a result of a shelling on March 5, 2022 in Markhalivka, Ukraine

Neighbours and relatives help remove the rubble of a house destroyed with shelling on March 5, 2022 in Markhalivka, Ukraine

The Russian President poses for a photo with Aeroflot employees during his visit to Aeroflot aviation training complex outside Moscow on March 5

Russian President Vladimir Putin (L) gives flowers to women flight crew of Russian airlines during his visit to the aviation training center of PJSC Aeroflot on the eve of International Women's Day Moscow, Russia, March 5, 2022

Local resident walks through the rubble as a result of shelling in Markhalivka, March 5, 2022

Debris are scattered around the hole in a road at the site where several houses have been damaged by an explosion, following an air strike in Bila Tserkva, Kyiv Oblast, March 5, 2022

Video from the frontlines, shared on social media, showed clips of an aircraft dropping rapidly from the air as cheers form Ukrainians could be heard in the background

A second Russian aircraft was also captured going down in the country's Mykolaiv oblast; a second video on Telegram seems to suggest the pilot was captured

Smoke rise after shelling by Russian forces in Mariupol, March 4, 2022

A man with a child in his arms at the Porubne border crossing on March 5, 2022, in western Ukraine. According to the latest information, Ukraine today suspended the evacuation of civilians from Mariupol after a ceasefire broke down

An elderly woman is helped while crossing a destroyed bridge as she tries to leave the city of Irpin, in the Kyiv region, Ukraine March 5, 2022

A woman carries a child as she arrives at the border crossing in Medyka, Poland, Saturday, March 5, 2022

Ukrainians crowd under a destroyed bridge as they try to flee crossing the Irpin river in the outskirts of Kyiv, March 5, 2022

People wait to board an evacuation train at Kyiv central train station on March 5, 2022

A woman is visible through the condensation on a window of an evacuation train at Kyiv central train station on March 5

A man says goodbye to his loved ones while they board an evacuation train at Kyiv central train station on March 5, 2022

A man reacts in front of an evacuation train at Kyiv train station on March 5, 2022

Marina Yatsko, left, and her boyfriend Fedor mourn over her 18 month-old son Kirill's lifeless body, killed in shelling, as he lays on a stretcher in a hospital in Mariupol, March 4, 2022

Servicemen of the Ukrainian Military Forces prepare their equipment to repel a tank attack on a position in the Lugansk region on March 5, 2022

Servicemen of the Ukrainian Military Forces prepare their equipment to repel a tank attack on a position in the Lugansk region on March 5, 2022. Lugansk is one of the two break-away regions in the east of Ukraine, controlled by Pro-Russian forces

Pictured: Ukrainian soldiers are seen holding anti-tank missile launchers

Pictured: A tank driven by pro-Russian forces is seen moving through the Donetsk region

Service members of pro-Russian troops in uniforms without insignia are seen in a truck in the separatist-controlled settlement of Rybinskoye during Ukraine-Russia conflict in the Donetsk region, Ukraine March 5, 2022

In an astonishing display of sabre-rattling, Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova warned London: 'Russia will not forget Britain's desire to co-operate with ultra-nationalist forces in Ukraine and the supply of British weapons to the Kiev regime'

Russia is continuing to advance in southern Ukraine, with Mariupol under bombardment and Odessa and Mykolaiv under threat. Chernihiv, in the north, and Kharkiv, in the east, continue to come under heavy bombardment. The capital Kyiv is also under threat, though Ukrainian counter-attacks took out some Russian forces early on Friday

The money raised by the Mail Force charity  in record-breaking time  has already been put to good use, with mothers and children arriving over the border to Slovakia yesterday greeted by aid workers funded by our generous readers

The Daily Mail, Mail on Sunday and MailOnline UKRAINE REFUGEE APPEAL Readers of Mail Newspapers and MailOnline have always shown immense generosity at times of crisis. Calling upon that human spirit, we are now launching an appeal to raise money for refugees from Ukraine. For, surely, no one can fail to be moved by the heartbreaking images and stories of families  mostly women, children, the infirm and elderly  fleeing from Russia's invading armed forces. As this tally of misery increases over the coming days and months, these innocent victims of a tyrant will require accommodation, schools and medical support. All donations to the Mail Ukraine Appeal will be distributed to charities and aid organisations providing such essential services. In the name of charity and compassion, we urge all our readers to give swiftly and generously. TO MAKE A DONATION ONLINE Donate at www.mailforcecharity.co.uk/donate To add Gift Aid to a donation  even one already made  complete an online form found here: mymail.co.uk/ukraine Via bank transfer, please use these details: Account name: Mail Force Charity Account number: 48867365 Sort code: 60-00-01 TO MAKE A DONATION VIA CHEQUE Make your cheque payable to 'Mail Force' and post it to: Mail Newspapers Ukraine Appeal, GFM, 42 Phoenix Court, Hawkins Road, Colchester, Essex CO2 8JY TO MAKE A DONATION FROM THE US US readers can donate to the appeal via a bank transfer to Associated Newspapers or by sending checks to dailymail.com HQ at 51 Astor Place (9th floor), New York, NY 10003 Advertisement

The roads on Kyiv's western edge bear witness to a human tragedy whose scale grows ever greater as Russia's assault on the Ukrainian capital becomes more determined and indiscriminate.

The Russian forces' initial assault on Kyiv  launched with missile strikes and an airborne assault on an airbase  stalled at the end of last week.

The two sides have since been locked in a long-range shelling war along Kyiv's outskirts that has put working class towns such as Bucha and Irpin in the line of fire.

But people fleeing the two towns said their resolve to stay broke down when Russian warplanes started circling overhead and dropping bombs on Friday.

'Warplanes. They are bombing residential areas  schools, churches, big buildings, everything,' accountant Natalia Dydenko said after a quick glance back at the destruction she left behind.

The 58-year-old was one of thousands of people walking with their children and whatever belongings they could carry down a road leading toward central Kyiv and away from the front.

The metric booms of Russia bombs dropped from warplanes circling over Bucha and Irpin provided a morbid backdrop for their desperate march.

'It began two days ago. It wasn't as heavy before, but two days ago it started getting really heavy,' she said.

People were trying to get to the remains of a bridge leading to Kyiv over the Irpin River which Ukrainian forces blew up last week to stall the Russian advance.

Ukrainian soldiers with assault rifles swinging off their shoulders helped wheelchair-bound pensioners and mothers with prams cross a few wooden planks tossed over the river on Saturday.

Thousands of people massed in stony silence under the shattered remains of the original concrete bridge while awaiting their turn to pass.

A group of soldiers was digging anti-tank missile launchers into foxholes on the Kyiv side of the river.

Another group was preparing new supplies of shoulder-launched missiles and Kalashnikovs that could be ferried back across the wooden planks toward the front.

A long-range missile whistled overhead. A hollow thud about half a minute later signalled still more destruction somewhere in the general vicinity of northern Kyiv.

'We were waiting it out. But yesterday, when a plane flew by and dropped something on us, we simply had to run,' said Galina Vasylchenko, walking with her 30-year-old daughter toward the makeshift bridge.

A supermarket and petrol station that on Friday stood at a large junction on the border between Bucha and Irpin was just ruins on Saturday.

Soldiers were ushering the fleeing residents onto buses on the Kyiv side of the Irpin River because walking on that part of the city's streets was no longer safe. Thousands more piled their belongings into cars and tried to get out of Irpin by taking a circuitous route that leads to Kyiv's main train station from the southwest.

A queue of cars stretching at least 3 miles snaked its way past dozens of sandbagged checkpoints manned by armed Ukrainian volunteers in western Kyiv on Saturday.

Many had signs reading 'children' taped to their windshields.

'Putin must fail': Boris Johnson says Russian leader's 'hideous and murderous assault' on Ukraine will backfire as he thanks Britons who have offered help to Ukrainians Boris Johnson has vowed that Vladimir Putin 'must fail' as he condemned the Russian warmonger's 'hideous and barbarous' assault on Ukraine. In a video message published on his Twitter account, Britain's prime minister thanked businesses, community groups, individuals and sports clubs which have sanctioned the Kremlin over its lawless invasion of the former Soviet republic 10 days ago. Calling the Western effort to punish Putin 'absolutely vital', he signed off with 'Slava Ukraini', a national salute used by the Ukrainian Armed Forces which means: 'Glory to Ukraine'. 'I want to say a massive thank you to everyone who has been working so hard to support Ukraine and Ukrainians in the wake of this horrific invasion by Vladimir Putin,', Johnson said. 'I want to thank business, community groups, individuals, sports clubs who have been coming together to support Ukraine. I think of the group in Northern Ireland that's got a local warehouse as a centre for supplies to go to the war zone. I think of Inna Schorr, a London-based Ukrainian who's raising thousands of pounds while her own family is back in Ukraine. 'Don't forget for all Ukrainian families here in the UK, we have ways of bringing our wider relatives back to the UK. We have a humanitarian route where you can sponsor people to come from Ukraine. And we also have through the Disasters and Emergencies Committee, the UK government is supporting the giving of yet more funds to Ukraine, in addition to all the work we're doing on military support and of course the massive massive package of economic sanctions that we're helping to impose. 'The UK government started the ball rolling with 20million and we will match fund everything that you give. Thank you for what you are doing. 'It is absolutely vital that Vladimir Putin understands that this hideous, barbarous assault cannot succeed and that he will fail, and believe me, I think he will. Putin must fail. Thank you for everything you're doing, and Slava Ukraini.' Advertisement

Diplomatic efforts continued as US secretary of state Antony Blinken arrived in Poland to meet the prime minister and foreign minister, a day after attending a NATO meeting in Brussels in which the alliance pledged to step up support for eastern flank members.

In the wake of Western sanctions, Aeroflot, Russia's flagship state-owned airline, announced that it plans to halt all international flights. except to Belarus, starting on Tuesday.

While a vast Russian armoured column threatening Ukraine's capital remained stalled outside Kyiv, the shelling in Mariupol showed Russia's determination to cut Ukraine off from access to the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov, further damaging the country's economy.

Even in cities that have fallen to the Russians, there were signs of resistance  peaceful or otherwise.

As homes in the northern city of Chernihiv burned from what locals blamed on the Russian shelling that has targeted Ukraine's urban areas from the start, Ukrainian officials released images showing a Russian plane they said was shot down there.

Presidential adviser Oleksiy Arestovich said the situation was generally quiet Saturday and Russian forces 'have not taken active actions since the morning'.

Instead it was Putin who was most on the offensive with his comments warning against a wider war.

The White House on Friday said it was weighing cuts to US imports of Russian oil, though it is proceeding cautiously, concerned about a spike in gasoline prices that would add to already high inflation.

On Friday, the United States flew B-52 Stratofortress bombers over NATO's eastern flank above Romania, exercising with the German and Romanian militaries.

The largest strategic bombers in the US Air Force took off from RAF Fairford, a Royal Air Force station in England, and conducted 'close air support and integration mission training', according to a statement from US Air Forces in Europe. The B-52s then flew to Romania, where they conducted more close air support training as part of the Bomber Task Force (BTF) missions.

The White House announced that US Vice President Kamala Harris will travel to Poland and Romania next week to meet with officials to discuss the Russian invasion of Ukraine and impact the war is having on the region.

Harris' agenda for the March 9-11 visit to Warsaw and Bucharest is expected to centre on economic, security and humanitarian assistance for Ukraine.

'The Vice President's meetings will also focus on how the United States can further support Ukraine's neighbours as they welcome and care for refugees fleeing violence,' Harris' deputy press secretary Sabrina Singh said.

Biden spoke on Friday with Poland's President Andrzej Duda. Poland is assisting about 700,000 Ukrainians and others who have fled the war so far. The United States has also more than doubled its military presence in Poland, which is a member of NATO, to 9,000 troops in recent weeks.

While the vast Russian armoured column threatening Kyiv remained stalled outside the capital, Putin's military has launched hundreds of missiles and artillery attacks on cities and other sites across the country.

Russian forces did not make significant progress Friday in their offensive to sever Ukraine's access to the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov, which would deal a severe blow to its economy. There were also no changes in the north and the east, where the Russian offensive has stalled, meeting fierce Ukrainian resistance.

Invading Russian troops have blockaded the strategic Ukrainian port city Mariupol, its mayor announced Saturday, as Moscow and Kyiv aimed to hold new talks over the weekend.

People crowd as they try to get on a train to Lviv at Kyiv station, Ukraine, March 4, 2022

People lie on the floor of a hospital during shelling by Russian forces in Mariupol, March 4, 2022

People evacuate the city of Irpin, northwest of Kyiv, on day 10 of the Russia-Ukraine war on March 5, 2022

Two women carry children as they arrive at the train station in Zahony, Hungary, Saturday, March 5, 2022

A child has a drink at the border crossing in Medyka, Poland, Saturday, March 5, 2022, after fleeing from Ukraine

People wait to board a train towards Poland as they flee Russia's invasion of Ukraine, in Lviv, March 5, 2022

A child sitting in a shopping trolley eats bread at a temporary accommodation centre, after fleeing Russian invasion of Ukraine, in Korczowa, Poland, March 5, 2022

Women are seen with children through a bus window as they arrive at a temporary accommodation centre, after fleeing Russian invasion of Ukraine, in Korczowa, Poland, March 5, 2022

MILITARY ANALYSTS SAY NATO WILL NOT IMPOSE A NO-FLY ZONE Military analysts say there is no chance that the US, Britain and their European allies will impose a no-fly zone because it could easily escalate the war in Ukraine into a nuclear confrontation between NATO and Russia. WHAT IS A NO-FLY ZONE? A no-fly zone would bar all unauthorized aircraft from flying over Ukraine. Western nations imposed such restrictions over parts of Iraq for more than a decade following the 1991 Gulf War, during the civil war in Bosnia and Herzegovina from 1993-95, and during the Libyan civil war in 2011. WHY WON'T NATO TAKE THIS STEP IN UKRAINE? In simple terms, because it would risk a direct military conflict with Russia that could escalate into a wider European war with a nuclear-armed superpower. While the idea may have captured the public imagination, declaring a no-fly zone could force NATO pilots to shoot down Russian aircraft. But it goes beyond that. In addition to fighter planes, NATO would have to deploy refueling tankers and electronic-surveillance aircraft to support the mission. To protect these relatively slow, high-flying planes, NATO would have to destroy surface-to-air missile batteries in Russia and Belarus, again risking a broader conflict. 'The only way to implement a no-fly zone is to send NATO fighter planes into Ukrainian airspace, and then impose that no-fly zone by shooting down Russian planes,' NATO Secretary Jens Stoltenberg said Friday. 'We understand the desperation, but we also believe that if we did that, we would end up with something that could end in a full-fledged war in Europe.' 'We have a responsibility as NATO allies to prevent this war from escalating beyond Ukraine,' he said. WHAT WOULD A NO-FLY ZONE ACHIEVE? Ukrainian authorities and people cowering night after night in bomb shelters say a no-fly zone would protect civilians - and now nuclear power stations - from Russian air strikes. But analysts say it's Russia's ground forces, not aircraft, that are causing most of the damage in Ukraine. What Ukrainians actually want is a broader intervention like the one that occurred in Libya in 2011, when NATO forces launched attacks on government positions, said Justin Bronk, a research fellow at the Royal United Services Institute in London. That's not likely to happen when the opponent is Russia. 'They want to see the West kind of sweeping in and taking out the rocket artillery that's pummeling Ukrainian cities,' Bronk said. 'We're not going to go to war against the Russian army. They are a massive nuclear-armed power. There is no way that we could possibly model, let alone control, the escalation chain that would come from such an action.' WHAT IS HAPPENING IN THE SKIES OVER UKRAINE? Predictions that Russia would quickly control the skies over Ukraine have not come to fruition. Military experts are wondering why Russia has chosen to leave most of its fixed-wing combat aircraft on the ground during this massive land offensive. One explanation may be that Russian pilots aren't well trained in supporting large-scale land operations, engagements that require coordination with artillery, helicopters and other assets in a fast-moving environment. 'I think that maybe they're a little bit worried that that is a very constrained area. It's not like the Middle East, where there's all kinds of space to roam around in the air,' said Robert Latif, a retired U.S. Air Force major general who now teaches at the University of Notre Dame. 'They could very easily stray over borders,' he explained. 'With both Ukrainian and Russian air defense systems and Ukrainian, what little they have, and Russian airplanes all flying around - that could be a very confusing. I think maybe they're a little bit worried about actually being able to pull it off.' Advertisement

While laying siege to Mariupol for days, Russian forces also cut its electricity, food, water, heating and transportation in the depths of winter, prompting comparisons to the Nazi blockade of Leningrad in World War II.

Ukraine's foreign minister Dmytro Kuleba claimed that Russian troops have raped women in cities they have already captured. He did not give evidence to back his claim, but Ukrainian media reported that 11 cases of rape had been reported in Kherson, the only major city captured by Russia after more than a week of fighting.

Earlier, it was revealed that no radiation was released from a Russian attack at Europe's biggest nuclear power plant in Ukraine.

The International Atomic Energy Agency's director-general, Rafael Mariano Grossi, said on Friday the building hit by a Russian 'projectile' at the Zaporizhzhia plant was 'not part of the reactor' but instead a training centre at the plant.

Nuclear officials from Sweden to China said no radiation spikes had been reported, as did Grossi.

Ukrainian officials have said Russian troops took control of the overall site, but the plant's staff were continuing to ensure its operations. Grossi said the Ukrainians were in control of the reactor.

As Russia cracks down on independent media reporting on the war, major international news outlets said they were pausing their work inside the country. Moscow also blocked Facebook and Twitter.

And in a warning of a hunger crisis yet to come, the UN World Food Programme has said millions of people inside Ukraine, a major global wheat supplier, will need food aid 'immediately'.

Ukraine's president was set to brief US senators on Saturday by video conference as Congress considers a request for billions of dollars in emergency funding for humanitarian aid and security needs.

And the UN Security Council scheduled an open meeting for Monday on the worsening humanitarian situation.

The United Nations estimates that 12million people in Ukraine and four million fleeing to neighbouring countries in the coming months will need humanitarian aid.

At least 351 civilians have been confirmed killed since Russia's invasion on February 24, but the true number is probably much higher, the UN human rights office has said.

Kyiv's central train station remained crowded with people desperate to flee. 'People just want to live,' one woman, Ksenia, said.

In the frenzied initial aftermath when the risk of a radiation release was not clear, the attack caused worldwide concern  and evoked memories of the world's worst nuclear disaster, at Ukraine's Chernobyl.

Facing worldwide indignation over the attack, Russia sought to deflect blame. Without producing evidence, defence ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov blamed arson rather than artillery fire.

He claimed a Ukrainian 'sabotage group' had occupied the training building at the plant, fired on a Russian patrol and set fire to the building as they left.

There had been conflicting reports earlier over which part of the Zaporizhzhia facility had been affected in the attack, with an official saying at one point that shells fell directly on the facility and set fire to a reactor not in operation as well as a training building. Grossi later said that the fire was in the training centre.

The confusion itself underscored the dangers of active fighting near a nuclear power plant. It was the second time since the invasion began just over a week ago that concerns about a nuclear accident or a release of radiation materialized, following a battle at Chernobyl.

Grossi said only one reactor of six at Zaporizhzhia is currently operating, at about 60 per cent capacity, and that two people at the site were injured in the fire.

Ukraine's state nuclear plant operator Enerhoatom said three Ukrainian soldiers were killed and two wounded.

The plant fire came as the Russian military advanced on a strategic city on the Dnieper River near where the facility is located, and gained ground in their bid to cut the country off from the sea.

That move would deal a severe blow to Ukraine's economy and could worsen an already dire humanitarian situation.

With the invasion in its second week, another round of talks between Russia and Ukraine yielded a tentative agreement to set up safe corridors to evacuate citizens and deliver humanitarian aid to the country, overturned by a war that has sent more than 1million fleeing over the border and countless others sheltering underground.

A handful of cities are without heat and at least one is struggling to get food and water.

In the centre of the capital, Kyiv, frequent shelling could still be heard Friday, although more distant than in recent days, with loud thudding every 10 minutes resonating over the rooftops.

The West has heaped sanctions on Russia, and most of the world lined up to demand Russia withdraw its troops in a vote in the UN General Assembly this week.

In the latest show of international opposition to the invasion, the UN's top human rights body voted 32-2 on a resolution that would among other things set up a panel of experts to monitor human rights in Ukraine. Only Russia and Eritrea opposed; there were 13 abstentions.

The attack on the nuclear facility led to phone calls between the Ukrainian president and Biden and other world leaders. The US Department of Energy activated its nuclear incident response team as a precaution.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson called for an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council to raise the issue of Russia's attack on the plant.

Russian armoured vehicles and troops attacked the nuclear power plant in the early hours of Friday, shooting and shelling guards holed up in administrative buildings near the nuclear reactors - setting one of them on fire

Sparks erupt from an administration building (bottom right) as a live steam video shot from a larger office block behind it films Russian tanks opening fire on the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in the early hours of Friday morning

Rafael Mariano Grossi, head of the UN's nuclear energy watchdog, outlines where the building that caught fire was in relation to the six reactors at Zaporizhzhia

As fears of a nuclear disaster continue, Russian planes also bombed a thermal power plant in Okhtyrka (pictured), 220 miles east of Kyiv, on Friday

Fire-damaged buildings at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear complex are pictured on Friday morning after coming under attack by Russian forces overnight, leading to international condemnation

Queen's cousin Prince Michael of Kent who was caught in cash-for-access sting boasting of his ties to Putin's regime hands back Kremlin's Order of Friendship award Prince Michael of Kent, the Queen's cousin, has returned the Order of Friendship award he was given by the Kremlin following Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Michael, 79, released the news in a short statement on Thursday after he was gifted the honour by then-President Dmitry Medvedev in 2009. Prince Michael has previously been caught in a cash-for-access scandal after getting caught boasting that he could set up relationships with Vladimir Putin's inner circle for a fee. The statement read: 'I can confirm that HRH Prince Michael of Kent is returning his Russian Order of Friendship. There will be no further comment.' Prince Michael is a relative of Nicholas II, the last Tsar of the Russian Empire who was overthrown and killed in the Russian revolution. Michael bares a striking resemblance to the Russian monarch who was the first cousin of his grandmother Grand Duchess Elena Vladimirovna. He attended the burial of Nicholas and the entire Romanov family in 1998 - 70 years after they were shot by Bolsheviks, and is also patron to organisations with close links to Russia like the Russo-British Chamber of Commerce and the St Gregory's Foundation. He attended an event with Vladimir Putin in 2003 at Kensington Palace to promote an obscure Russian martial art. In 2020, fictitious executives were reportedly told Prince Michael of Kent could be hired to endorse their company to Vladimir Putin's inner circle. The Queen's cousin told undercover reporters posing as investors from South Korea in a virtual meeting that he could be hired for 10,000 a day to make 'confidential' representations to Putin's regime. Advertisement

In an emotional speech in the middle of the night, Zelensky said he feared an explosion that would be 'the end for everyone. The end for Europe. The evacuation of Europe'. But most experts saw nothing to indicate an impending disaster.

'The real threat to Ukrainian lives continues to be the violent invasion and bombing of their country,' the American Nuclear Society said in a statement.

Putin's forces have brought their superior firepower to bear over the past few days, launching hundreds of missiles and artillery attacks on cities and other sites around the country and making significant gains in the south.

The Russians announced the capture of the southern city of Kherson, a vital Black Sea port of 280,000, and local Ukrainian officials confirmed the takeover of the government headquarters there, making it the first major city to fall since the invasion began just over a week ago.

A Russian airstrike destroyed a power plant in Okhtyrka, leaving the northeastern city without heat or electricity, the head of the region said on Telegram.

'We are trying to figure out how to get people out of the city urgently because in a day the apartment buildings will turn into a cold stone trap without water, light or electricity,' Dmytro Zhyvytskyy said.

Another strategic port, Mariupol on the Azov Sea, was 'partially under siege,' and Ukrainian forces are pushing back efforts to surround the city, Ukrainian presidential adviser Oleksiy Arestovich said.

'The humanitarian situation is tense,' he told reporters, adding that Ukrainian authorities are in talks with Russian representatives and international organisations to set up humanitarian corridor to evacuate residents and supply food.

Battles in the area have knocked out the city's electricity, heat and water systems, as well as most phone service, officials said. Food deliveries to the city were also cut.

Video from the port city showed the assault lighting up the darkening sky above deserted streets and medical teams treating civilians, including a 16-year-old boy who could not be saved.

The child was playing football when he was wounded in the shelling, according to his father, who cradled the boy's head on the trolley and cried.

Ukraine's defence minister said Friday that the flagship of its navy has been scuttled at the shipyard where it was undergoing repairs in order to keep it from being seized by Russian forces.

Oleksii Reznikov said on Facebook that the commander of the frigate Hetman Sahaidachny decided to flood the ship.

Ukraine's state emergency agency issued mass text messages on Friday with advice on what to do in case of an explosion: Lie on the ground and cover your head with your hands; use available shelter; do not rush to leave the shelter; help the wounded; do not enter damaged buildings.

Overall, the outnumbered, outgunned Ukrainians have put up stiff resistance, staving off the swift victory that Russia appeared to have expected.

But Russia's seizure of the Crimean Peninsula in 2014 gives it a logistical advantage now in the country's south, with shorter supply lines that smoothed the offensive there, said a senior US defence official.

Ukrainian leaders called on the people to defend their homeland by cutting down trees, erecting barricades in the cities and attacking enemy columns from the rear.

In recent days, authorities have issued weapons to civilians and taught them how to make Molotov cocktails.

As the Russian and Ukrainian negotiators met in Belarus on Thursday, Putin warned in a call with Macron that Ukraine must quickly accept the Kremlin's demand for its 'demilitarisation' and declare itself neutral, renouncing its bid to join NATO.

The two sides said they tentatively agreed to allow cease-fires in areas designated safe corridors, and that they would seek to work out the necessary details quickly.

A Zelensky adviser also said a third round of talks will be held early next week.

The Pentagon set up a direct communication link to Russia's ministry of defence earlier this week to avoid the possibility of a miscalculation sparking conflict between Moscow and Washington.
More than 60 Brits are thought to have crossed into war-torn Ukraine to fight invading Russian forces.

Polish border guard officials at the frontier point of Medyka told MailOnline that several UK nationals in 'military fatigues' had gone through passport control in the last few days.

Earlier this week, it emerged that former British Army and Special Forces veterans had been among those who had answered a 'call to arms' from Ukrainian president Volodymr Zelensky to join the fight.

Construction company owner Neil Broome, 42, was carrying two bergens, one of which had a helmet and body armour

On Saturday, MailOnline met a group of four Brits who had flown into Poland and were heading across after flying into nearby Krakow on easyJet flights from Stansted and Edinburgh.

Among them was grandfather-of-two Neil Broome, 42, who is originally from Northern Ireland but moved to Scotland after 13 years with the British Army.

Construction company owner Neil was carrying two bergens, one of which had a helmet and body armour.

Neil said: 'There must have been around 30 Brits at the hotel where we stayed after I flew into Krakow from Edinburgh and they were all talking about going over to fight.

'I've got three grown up kids and two grandkids of two and three [years old] so I would like to get back in one piece to see them.

'I've left the boys back home running the business.

'I'm prepared to fight because what's going on is wrong.

'Like I said, I've got kids and grandkids and to see those wee children suffering just gets to you.

'I'm prepared to stay three weeks but then I need to get back and run my business.'

As he went through passport control Neil joked: 'I know it might be a one way ticket so that's why I sorted my will out before I left.'

A man who gave his name only as Paul, 55, from the south coast said: 'I'm ex-Army and want to help, simple as that. I can't tell you who I served with mate, but I did more than 15 years.'

Charlie Banton, 26, from Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, who admitted he had no military experience said: 'I saw what was happening on the TV, to all those poor women and kids and decided to do something about it.

'I just couldn't watch helpless as Vladimir Putin's thugs just indiscriminately killed these people so I jumped on a plane.

'I understand the dangers and I know I may have to use a gun, I don't know how to but I'm sure the Ukrainians will teach me.

'My mum and dad know I'm here, they are worried about me but at the same time they are proud of me for doing what I'm doing.

'I lost my son to cot death about five years ago and I've had other issues but this will give me a chance to do some good with my life.

'I met some other guys on the plane who are doing the same thing and we were told by the Ukrainian Embassy in London to just let the border guards know when we get over the they will take care of everything.

More than sixty Brits are thought to have crossed into war-torn Ukraine to fight invading Russian forces

'It is foolhardy, dangerous and risky but I'm grown up and I know what I'm doing.'

Another man, who would only give his name as Joe, 25, and who said he was from south-east England, said: 'I got out of the British Army six months ago.

'I did six and half years but I'm not prepared to say with which unit and haven't really done anything since then, so I wanted to see how I could Ukraine.

'Having served in the forces I know the risks.

'Am I prepared to die? Well, we will see what happens but everyone thinks they are Superman but you never know.

'I will just do what I can to help because the Ukrainians are being bombed by that a*****e Putin.

'I've struggled since I left the Army so this gives me a chance to put into use what I've learnt.

'My family know I'm out here and of course they aren't very keen but I just told them I was going to help at the border, I didn't tell them I was going over.'

Another of the group, who gave his name only as Paul, 55, from the south coast, and also said he was ex-military, said: 'I came out Friday from England and met these guys in the hotel in Poland.

Commander Mamuka Mamulashvili, of the Georgian National League, which was formed to fight Russia after the 2008 invasion of Georgia is also battling Putin's army in Ukraine

I'm ex-Army and want to help, simple as that. I can't tell you who I served with mate, but I did more than 15 years.

'I've seen action in the past so I know what I am getting myself into.

I'm a little bit on the older side now so would prefer to do something more humanitarian but if they need military personnel I'm willing to get stuck in and fight if I have to.'

Commander Mamuka Mamulashvili, of the Georgian National League, which was formed to fight Russia after the 2008 invasion of Georgia is also battling Putin's army in Ukraine.

Mamuka told MailOnline: 'I'm expecting several British volunteers this weekend. Some of them are old comrades and others are new.

'They have been told to get to Poland, cross the border into Ukraine and then make their way to the city of Lviv where they will receive further instructions.

'It's going to be very tough and intense and now it is the civilians who are paying the price but we will hold on to the end and for victory.'
Apple has set April 11 as the deadline for U.S. corporate employees to return to office at least one day a week.

The iPhone maker has been attempting to bring employees back to office since June last year, but had postponed the move several times as COVID-19 cases rose through autumn and the winter of 2021 thanks to the Delta and Omicron variants.

Employees will be required to work from the office at least one day per week by April 11, CEO Tim Cook said in an internal memo on Friday, according to Bloomberg News.

The memo said that by three weeks after April 11, staff will be required to work twice a week from office and from May 23, at least three days a week, the report added.

Apple, whose global headquarters is in Cupertino, California, joins a wave of technology and finance companies that have begun mandating a return to office as COVID cases ease.

Apple employees will be required to work from the office at least one day per week by April 11, CEO Tim Cook said in an internal memo on Friday

Google from April 4 will require employees back about three days a week in some of its U.S., U.K. and Asia Pacific offices, its first step to end policies that allowed remote work because of COVID concerns.

However, Twitter has said that employees can continue to work from home forever if they wish.

Twitter CEO Parag Agrawal said in a tweet on Thursday that the company is ready to fully open up business travel and all its offices around the world, however, said it would be the employees' choice on where they work.

Twitter was one of the first in the tech business to urge employees to work remotely when coronavirus first emerged in the US in mid-March 2020.

At the time human resources boss Jennifer Christie said that the company would 'never probably be the same' in its work culture post-pandemic.

She predicted: 'People who were reticent to work remotely will find that they really thrive that way.

'Managers who didn't think they could manage teams that were remote will have a different perspective. I do think we won't go back.'

An aerial view of Apple Park is seen in Cupertino, California, United States

Apple, on the other hand, has pushed hard to get staff to return to the office, and the company believes in-person collaboration is key to its success.

The company's push to force workers back into the office has drawn backlash from some employees,

'Over the last year we often felt not just unheard, but at times actively ignored,' Apple employees wrote in a letter to CEO Tim Cook last summer.

Apple has cited the fact that it produces hardware as the reason why staff must return to the office, and says in-person collaboration yields better results.

Facebook, also facing pressure from employees, last summer said that all employees would be able to request a permanent remote status.

Annie Dean, who was head of remote work for Facebook earlier in the pandemic and is now vice president of 'team anywhere' at software developer Atlassian Corp, told the Wall Street Journal that bosses who force staffers back to offices in rigid ways will lose credibility with their workforces.

'Our sense of place has been permanently disrupted,' she said. 'That's just not going to be the way that we go forward.'
The United States has approved a flight chartered by Moscow to fly out Russian diplomats who were expelled this week from their posts at the United Nations over U.S. national security concerns and alleged abuse of their privileges of residence.

They've been stuck in America after Joe Biden banned all Russian aircraft from entering the country's airspace.

'This special exception was done in accordance with federal regulations to ensure Russian mission personnel and their families departed by the date we had instructed,' a state department spokesperson said on Saturday.

A Rossiya Special Flight Squadron is flying to Washington from St. Petersburg to bring the New York City-based diplomats to Russia.

Russia has denied the allegations against its diplomats and says it will retaliate for their expulsion.

'This plane will bring back home the Russian diplomats whom the Government of the United States has declared personae non grata,' Russian foreign ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said over messaging app Telegram.

According to tracking website FlightAware, the charter flight is due to arrive at Dulles International Airport, located outside of D.C., shortly after 2pm. The plane had to re-route itself north of Europe to avoid flying through banned airspace.

The United States has approved a flight chartered by Moscow to fly out Russian diplomats who were expelled this week from their posts at the United Nations. The charter flight is due to arrive at Dulles International Airport, located outside of D.C. , shortly after 2pm. The plane had to re-route itself north of Europe to avoid flying through banned airspace

Tensions have flared between Washington and Moscow since Russia invaded Ukraine a week ago, fueling Europe's biggest humanitarian disaster in decades.

The U.S., Canada, European Union, U.K. and some other countries have closed their airspace to Russia as part of a package of punitive measures against the nation. Russia calls its actions in Ukraine a 'special operation.'

President Joe Biden announced the U.S. was closing its airspace to all Russian aircrafts during his State of the Union address Tuesday night.

'Tonight I am announcing that we will join our allies in closing off American air space to all Russian flights - further isolating Russia and adding an additional squeeze on their economy,' the president told Congress, adding: 'Putin is now isolated from the world more than he has ever been.'

On Saturday, Russia's state aviation authority recommended Russian airlines with foreign-leased aircraft to suspend flights of passengers and cargo abroad from Russia from March 6 and from foreign countries to Russia starting on March 8.

Tensions have flared between Washington and Moscow since Russia invaded Ukraine a week ago. President Joe Biden (left) on Tuesday the U.S. was closing its airspace to all Russian aircrafts. Ukraine is pushing NATO to impose a no-fly zone over its country, prompting Russian President Vladimir Putin (right) on Saturday to say that any country trying to impose a no-fly zone over Ukraine will be considered a participant in the conflict

Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky met virtually with the U.S. Congress and pressed Washington for more assistance fighting the invasion of his country.

The full Senate and House were invited to participate in the Zoom meeting that lasted roughly an hour, as Russian President Vladimir Putin's forces push toward the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv and the invasion enters its second week.

In the meeting, Zelensky repeated his plea for NATO to impose a no-fly zone over his country to blunt Russian air superiority, and requested tougher sanctions against Russia and increased military aid, according to sources familiar with the matter.

However, the Biden administration and lawmakers from both parties have expressed strong opposition to the idea of a no-fly zone, because enforcing it would require shooting down Russian planes, drawing NATO into direct conflict with Russia.

Putin on Saturday underlined the stakes involved, saying that any country trying to impose a no-fly zone over Ukraine will be considered a participant in the conflict.

Zelensky is seen meeting with US senators on Sunday over Zoom, in an image shared by Senator Marco Rubio

Smoke rise after shelling by Russian forces in Mariupol, March 4, 2022

Debris are scattered around the hole in a road at the site where several houses have been damaged by an explosion, following an air strike in Bila Tserkva, Kyiv Oblast, March 5, 2022

Ukrainians crowd under a destroyed bridge as they try to flee crossing the Irpin river in the outskirts of Kyiv, March 5, 2022

Ukraine war: latest Vladimir Putin says Western sanctions on Russia are almost a declaration of war and that anyone imposing a no-fly zone on Ukraine would be considered to have entered the conflict;

Russia announces a ceasefire to allow civilians in the besieged port of Mariupol, on the Sea of Azov, to escape after days of bombardments. They also announce a ceasefire in the nearby town of Volnovakha;

Officials in Mariupol accuse the Russians of violating the ceasefire by continuing to shell the city and say they have to delay plans to evacuate the population;

Mariupol has been without electricity, water and heating for days;

Russian forces inch closer to the capital Kyiv from the north but encounter stiff resistance along the way, including in Kyiv's western suburbs and the northern town of Chernihiv;

On Thursday, 47 people were killed in a Russian airstrike on a residential neighbourhood in Chernihiv, local authorities said;

A fire at Europe's biggest nuclear power station at Zaporizhzhia is put out, with Ukraine accusing Russia of 'nuclear terror' in shelling the plant;

Russian troops later take over the site of the reactors, which generate a fifth of Ukraine's electricity, after firefighters say they were prevented from reaching the blaze for hours.

At a United Nations Security Council meeting, the US ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield says Russia's 'reckless' overnight attack 'represents a dire threat to all of Europe and the world';

Moscow's UN ambassador Vassily Nebenzia denies that Russian forces had shelled the plant, saying the statements 'are simply untrue';

Rafael Grossi, director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), offers to travel to Ukraine to negotiate with Ukraine and Russia on ensuring the safety of nuclear sites;

One of Ukraine's negotiators says a third round of talks with Russia on ending the fighting is planned this weekend;

Putin in a phone call with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz says Moscow is ready for dialogue over Ukraine if all its demands are met;

Russian newspaper Novaya Gazeta says it will stop reporting on the war and the BBC suspends the work of its journalists in Russia as Putin signs a law imposing harsh jail sentences for the publication of 'fake news' about the invasion;

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken warns that the war in Ukraine 'may not be over soon' and that the US and European allies must sustain tough pressure on Russia until it ends;

G7 foreign ministers warn that Russia will face further 'severe sanctions' for its invasion, and call on Moscow to stop its attacks near nuclear power plants;

NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg says the alliance will not impose a no-fly zone over Ukraine after Kyiv calls for one to help stop Russia's bombing of its cities;

Russia is more isolated than ever after a historic vote at the UN Human Rights Council for a probe into violations committed during the war on Ukraine, with only Eritrea siding with Moscow;

More than 1.3million people have fled Ukraine into neighbouring countries since Russia invaded last week, the UN says;

The United Nations' World Food Programme warns about a looming food crisis in Ukraine in conflict areas, while disruptions in production and exports could lead to food insecurity globally;

Russia's flagship airline Aeroflot said that it was suspending all of its international flights except to Belarus from March 8, as Moscow faces down waves of Western sanctions over its military incursion in Ukraine. Advertisement

Also on Saturday, Kyiv cancelled a planned evacuation of more than 200,000 civilians from Mariupol and Volnovakha after Moscow ignored a promised ceasefire and continued pounding the strategic port city.

Zelenskys office said that talks are underway to establish a ceasefire and ensure the humanitarian corridor originally agreed for five hours between 12pm and 5pm Moscow time after local authorities told people to shelter.

Mariupols deputy mayor Serhiy Orlov told the BBC: The Russians are continuing to bomb us and use artillery. It is crazy. There is no ceasefire in Mariupol and there is no ceasefire all along the route. Our civilians are ready to escape but they cannot escape under shelling.

An official told NPR: When the people organized in evacuation points, they [Russians] started attack on evacuation points. Not all the city. Just evacuation points.

However, Russias defense ministry claims that the firing came from inside both communities against Kremlin positions, that no one was using the two humanitarian corridors provided, and that Ukraines nationalists had prevented civilians from leaving, RIA news agency reported.

In a defiant address on Saturday morning, Zelensky also urged Ukrainians to continue fighting Putins forces. Ukraines comic-turned-wartime president then thundered what more is needed to convince Joe Biden to enforce a no-fly zone  an action which could widen the war and suck in NATO  after he accused the West of cowardice in the face of Russian aggression.

Ukraines military claims that it has killed around 10,000 Russian troops since the invasion on February 24  far beyond the 498 claimed by Moscow. Kyiv estimates that Russian losses also include 269 tanks, 105 artillery systems, 39 aircraft, 40 helicopters and 409 vehicles.

The Russian defense ministry said on Saturday that its units had opened humanitarian corridors near the two cities encircled by its troops for five hours between 12pm and 5pm Moscow time, Russias RIA news agency reported.

In Mariupol, citizens would be allowed to leave during a five-hour window, it quoted the citys officials as saying. The Russian defense ministry said a broad offensive would then continue in Ukraine, RIA said.

The Ukrainian government said the plan was to evacuate around 200,000 people from Mariupol and 15,000 from Volnovakha, and the Red Cross would be the ceasefire's guarantor.

The evacuation would have been seen as a prelude to a final assault that, if successful, would see the Russian army push north from occupied Crimea and link up with their forces from the east and take control of Ukraine's coast on the Sea of Azov.

Since Russia invaded on February 24, Moscow has pummelled Ukrainian cities, with officials reporting hundreds of civilians killed. Europes largest atomic power plant has even come under attack sparking fears of a catastrophic nuclear accident. But Russia has so far only seized two key cities, Berdiansk and Kherson on Ukraine's southern Black Sea coast.

Capturing Mariupol represents a bigger prize for Russian forces as it would deal a severe blow to Ukraine's maritime access and connect with troops coming from annexed Crimea and the Donbas.

Zelensky said on Saturday: We managed to get an agreement to provide assistance to those cities in Ukraine that are in the dire and worst situation, Mariupol and Volnovakha, to save children and women and older people. To provide medication and food to those who stay there in those places.

Those people willing to leave these places should be able to do so now using the humanitarian corridor, but those who can should continue fighting.

We do everything we can on our side to make sure this agreement works, regarding the humanitarian corridors and we will see if we can move even further about our negotiations with Russia.

Aid agencies have warned of an unfolding humanitarian disaster as food, water and medical supplies run short and refugees stream into western Ukraine and neighboring European countries.

In the southeastern port city of Mariupol  whose capture would be a key prize for Russia  there is no water, heat or electricity and food is running out, according to Mayor Vadym Boychenko.

We are simply being destroyed, he said.
A clueless criminal who stole a taxi less than 30 minutes after he was released from prison was caught after leaving his release papers on the front seat.

Gerard Graham, 31, had only been released from HMP Grampian for 20 minutes before he stole the cab because he was 'too impatient' to wait for a short bus ride back to Aberdeen.

He grabbed the vehicle from a petrol station while the driver was paying for fuel, before breaking into his ex-girlfriend's car where he left another damning piece of evidence behind - his prison travel voucher.

Graham was eventually traced to a residential street in Aberdeen the next day, where he was found to be in possession of a stolen bicycle.

He was put back behind bars for another 10 months, with his own exasperated solicitor describing the career criminal's actions as 'absolutely insane'.

Graham pleaded guilty to six charges at court, where he was told he will serve another 10 months behind bars and be banned from driving for more than a year.

Gerard Graham, 31, had only been released from HMP Grampian for 20 minutes before he stole the cab because he was 'too impatient' to wait for a short bus ride back to Aberdeen

The 31-year-old stole the minibus taxi from a petrol station in Peterhead before abandoning it in Aberdeen with the crucial clue, his release papers, still on display.

Fiscal depute Lucy Simpson said the taxi's owner was paying for fuel when Graham jumped in and drove off on October 28 last year.

But that wasn't the end of his ineptitude.

He next stole his ex-girlfriend's car and left another damning piece of evidence behind - his prison travel voucher.

Graham has been now been placed back behind bars for another 10 months following the incidents with his own solicitor describing it as 'absolutely insane.'

Graham's own lawyer, Alex Burn, branded the crime spree 'absolutely insane'

He was eventually traced in Millbank Lane the next day, in possession of a stolen bicycle.

Graham's own lawyer, Alex Burn, branded the crime spree 'absolutely insane' before adding: 'I don't wish to be disparaging to Mr Graham.

'However, this is perhaps some of the most inept and unsophisticated criminal behaviour I have ever seen.'

Graham pleaded guilty to six charges, including two thefts of a vehicle, driving without a licence and driving without insurance.

Sheriff Andrew Miller ordered Graham to serve a further 10 months of his unexpired sentence concurrent with an added 123 days for the latest offences.

He also banned him from the roads for 18 months.
A Michigan dad turned in his son to police after finding out the 30-year-old had been sending nude photos of himself to a minor, it is claimed.

Michael Raymond-Ulrich Simmons, of Cadillac, was arrested on Wednesday following an investigation from Michigan State Police after they got a tip from his father two years ago, WJHG reported.

Police officials said they were first contacted by the dad in October 2020, when he told state troopers that his son may have sent inappropriate photos of himself to a minor.

Simmons faces up to nine years in prison and a $4,000 fine if convicted. It is unclear who the recipient of the images was, what they depicted, and how Simmons' dad found them. The age of consent in Michigan is 16.

Michael Raymond-Ulrich Simmons, 30, of Cadillac, Michigan, was arrested on Wednesday following a two-year investigation that began when his own father tipped police off that Simmons had sent a nude photo of himself to a minor

Simmons surrendered on Wednesday and was detained at the Missaukee County Jail before being released on a personal recognizance bond

The department's Computer Crime Crimes Unit conducted lengthy interviews and searches to analyze Simmons' web activity, leading Missaukee County prosecutors to authorize a warrant for his arrest on February 24.

Simmons turned himself into police custody a week later and was detained at Missaukee County Jail before being released on a personal recognizance bond.

Michigan State Police did not immediately respond to DailyMail.com's request for comment.

He is charged with accosting a child for immoral purposes, intentional dissemination of sexually explicit material and using a computer to commit a crime.

In the state of Michigan, the charge for accosting a child for immoral purposes carries up to four years in prison with a maximum fine of $4,000.

Intentional dissemination of sexually explicit material carries a maximum one-year sentence, and using a computer to commit a crime has a maximum four-year sentence.

If convicted, Simmons would also have register as a sex offender.

His next court date is scheduled for March 17.
Champagne drinkers in the Netherlands have been warned to check their bottles after a man died after gulping down ecstasy-spiked Moet & Chandon

Champagne drinkers in the Netherlands have been warned to check their bottles after a man died after gulping down ecstasy-spiked Moet & Chandon.

Four people took ill after drinking from a tampered 365 bottle, Dutch health authorities said.

It came after eight were hospitalised in Germany after receiving a three-litre bottle at a restaurant on February 13, with a 52-year-old dying from the spiked booze.

The bottles were bought from the same website but authorities do not know why they were spiked or if more are in circulation.

The Dutch Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority said: 'Recently, both in Germany and the Netherlands, a bottle of [three-litre Moet & Chandon Ice Imperial] was found to be filled with the hard drug MDMA (also known as ecstasy).

'Touching and/or drinking the contents of the bottles is life-threatening. This has led to seven very serious illnesses and one death in Germany.

'According to the producer, there were four cases of illness in the Netherlands. In both cases, the affected bottles were purchased through a hitherto unknown website.'

Manufacturer Moet Hennessy informed the Dutch Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority about the tampered bottles this week.

It is not known how or why the drug ended up in these bottles, the authority said.

Picture: The label of the tampered bottle found in the Netherland, where four people became ill because of the ecstasy

It continued: 'The NVWA is therefore unable to estimate whether there are any more of these bottles containing the hazardous substance in circulation.

'It cannot be ruled out that there are other bottles of the same brand in circulation that also contain MDMA.'

Dutch people buying bottles with the code LAJ7QAB6780004 on the bottom of the label were told to be careful.

MDMA has a reddish-brown colour in the liquid and solidifies over time. It also produces an anise scent that differs to Champagne.

The bottles that led to the man dying in Weiden, Bavaria, also hospitalised seven other people aged 33 to 52.

German police are continuing to investigate how the substance got in the bottle, suspecting a case of negligent homicide.

A man, named locally as Harald Georg Z, had met with eight friends at the La Vita restaurant in Weiden, Germany (pictured) when the group ordered a 430 bottle of Champagne

Georg Z died shortly after he was admitted to the hospital on Sunday night and the result of the toxicological-chemical investigation is currently pending

The victim who died, named locally as Harald Georg Z, had met with eight friends at the La Vita restaurant in Weiden, Germany when the group ordered a bottle of Champagne.

One of those present had appeared as a contestant on the TV dating show Take Me Out and the group had decided to celebrate.

However, shortly after the bottle was 'opened at the table', all the guests were experiencing extreme symptoms of poisoning by having 'seizures and foaming at the mouth'.

Project manager Georg Z. took 'a large sip of the champagne' and 'collapsed whilst foaming at the mouth', according to witness statements seen by German news website Bild.

'There were things in it that normally are not in Champagne.' senior prosecutor Gerd Schaefer said. 'It had a toxic, a poisonous effect.'

Police reports have suggested that the three-litre bottle of Champagne contained 1,000 times the 'normal' dose of ecstasy and was believed to be drugged with a lethal amount of MDMA.
Professional boxers, self-proclaimed Satanists and run-of-the mill crooks have all had their day in court in front of Wilfredo Cotto.

The longtime arraignments prosecutor has retired after three decades in Brooklyn Criminal Court.

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With his signature bow tie, shaved head and white beard, Cotto, 67, was a hard-to-miss fixture in Brooklyn Criminal Court on Schermerhorn St., a public-defender-turned-prosecutor who prided himself on working with defense attorneys as colleagues as opposed to adversaries.

Its not a win-lose situation for anyone, he told the Daily News. Its not so adversarial that we dont take the time to talk about what needs to be done so that fairness overrules the entire process.

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Cotto  who grew up in the Manhattanville Houses in Harlem alongside seven brothers and sisters  began his tenure at the Brooklyn District Attorneys Office in 1991, leaving his job as a staff attorney at Legal Aid.

He started at the public defenders office as a prison legal assistant, visiting indigent clients every day at Rikers Island to discuss their cases. He left to become a prosecutor after a unique interview with then District Attorney Charles Hynes.

I went in and stood on soapbox and talked about how DAs office was oppressive and how they arrested people of color, Cotto recalled. But the outburst didnt stop Hynes from hiring the young lawyer.

Wilfredo Cotto in Brooklyn Criminal Court. (Barry Williams/for New York Daily News)

A progressive prosecutor, Cotto supports the states bail reform laws  which made it so prosecutors cannot ask for bail in most misdemeanors and nonviolent felony cases. The law helps the criminal justice system treat Black and brown defendants fairer, Cotto believes.

Its long overdue. Long, long overdue, he said.

He noted that in Brooklyn, the DAs Office under Eric Gonzalez largely stopped asking for bail in misdemeanor cases before the law took effect in 2020.

Still, he said, a major concern in his job is public safety and making sure victims are protected and those who commit violent felony offenses are not allowed to hurt anyone else. Yet, he thinks its key to understand what situations led defendants to the courtroom.

Its a difficult balancing act.

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It bothers me when Im not taking into account all of the various things that might lead a person to commit a crime, Cotto said.

He would often speak with defense attorneys before cases were heard, to let them know if the office would seek bail, and consider lawyers arguments as to why he should not.

When I was in The Bronx, that was not done. When I was at Legal Aid I dont recall ever speaking to a prosecutor before arraigning a case, said the Puerto-Rican born Muslim convert.

Prosecutors these days have more time to make those decisions than they used to, Cotto said. When he was handling arraignments in Brooklyn more than a decade ago, there might be 500 cases at any moment waiting to go before a judge, he said.

Now if were looking at 120 people in the system everyone is running around like theyre busy, he laughed. The sheer number of people that were in the system, theres no comparison.

Cotto does not think of himself as retiring as a prosecutor or as a public defender.

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I just see myself as retiring, he said. From a system which I entered in hopes that I could make a difference. I hope that I have done that even in the smallest way.
Criminal gangs are cashing in on the wave of refugees fleeing war torn Ukraine and targeting them for sex work and human slavery.

More than one million people  mostly women and children  have fled the country since last week's invasion by Russian despot Vladimir Putin.

European Union officials and the United Nations fear that as many as seven million people, could cross into neighbouring countries such as Poland, Moldova, Romania, Slovakia and Hungary which campaigner say will create a 'disturbing spike in human trafficking'.

It is feared some of those escaping will end up as sex workers, involved in criminal activity, domestic slavery or forced labour with many potentially ending up in the UK

It is feared some of those escaping will end up as sex workers, involved in criminal activity, domestic slavery or forced labour with many potentially ending up in the UK.

Already there have been reports of women and young families accepting offers of 'free' transport once over the border into neighbouring countries only for them to then in the hands of criminal gangs who demand payment from them.

One Ukraine 27-year-old woman said: 'I heard from a friend who crossed into Poland and told me she went with a guy who said he would take her to Warsaw for free but when they got there he asked for money.

'He got aggressive with her but he didn't get physical just saying he owed her the money and would have to pay her by working for him.

'She started shouting and managed to run away as people were watching. We are spreading the word among people to be careful.'

Lauren Agnew, human trafficking policy expert for the charity CARE, told MailOnline: 'The war in Ukraine will create a worsening situation in terms of human trafficking.

'It will have a vulnerable domino effect across Europe and refugees are at an increasingly high risk of exploitation.

'It is certain that as time goes on we will see a spike in numbers caused by refugees being exploited by traffickers and ending up potentially as sex workers, involved in criminal gangs or forced labour and domestic slavery.

A woman holds her dog after fleeing Ukraine, at the border checkpoint in Medyka, Poland

MailOnline has seen groups of men holding up signs once over the border into Poland, offering free transportation to cities across Poland but also onward to Belgium and Germany

More than one million people  mostly women and children  have fled the country

'Not only is there an alarming loss of life because of the war but this mass displacement of possibly up to seven million people from Ukraine means that some will undoubtedly end up trafficked.

'The countries the refugees are fleeing into are hotspots for criminal gangs and they will see these people as a rich source for them to be exploited.

'These gangs prey on the precariousness of refugees and the war is a business opportunity for them to make a profit and get people into Europe and ultimately the UK.'

Ms Agnew explained how one method for gangs to exploit women was to offer them 'free transport' to other locations only for them to later order them to hand over money to pay for the trip which they don't have, forcing them into debt and leaving them in their hands.

She added: 'Human traffickers will be waiting in the wings to exploit the situation in Poland, and elsewhere in countries neighbouring Ukraine.

'We have seen that the majority of people coming over are women and children, men are restricted from leaving the country, so it means this group is more vulnerable.

'They are desperate and in such a state some are willing to accept the first offer of help they get without perhaps thinking it through.

MailOnline has seen groups of men holding up signs once over the border into Poland, offering free transportation to cities across Poland but also onward to Belgium and Germany.

There are fears locally that some of them are gangs using the situation to trick women into hands of traffickers

An elderly woman is helped while crossing a destroyed bridge as she tries to leave the city of Irpin, in the Kyiv region

Although many are genuine there are fears locally that some of them are gangs using the situation to trick women into hands of traffickers.

Rafal Wlodek, an aid worker at a reception centre which has been set up in High School Number One, just over the border in the Polish town of Przemysl, said: 'We have had reports of people picking up refugees and offering to take them elsewhere in Poland but instead they have end up in secluded spots and ordered to pay 1000 Zloty (200) or be dumped.

'There is no doubt that people are taking advantage of the situation so that's why we are compiling a trusted list of people who can transport women and children because we want to avoid the situation of people being trafficked and exploited.'

CARE said it would be lobbying MPs for greater protection in law for victims of human trafficking and to 'step up efforts' to spot and prevent crime given the situation in Ukraine.

Lauren added: 'We are going to see numbers of people trafficked rise because of this situation in the coming months and statistically it is women who are the largest number of victims as they end up sexually exploited.

'The gangs will see this war as a extremely profitable opportunity for their evil business and sadly it is women and children who will be the victims.'

Joanna Garnier, spokesperson for the National Consulting and Intervention for Victims of Trafficking based in Warsaw, told MailOnline women crossing the border into Poland from Ukraine were being handed flyers warning them of dangers.

She said: 'We have had reports that some nasty people, pimps and people looking for cheap labour, have been operating at the frontier crossings.

'They have been demanding money and we have also heard of some sexual assaults and other dangerous behaviour and we expect this to increase in the future.

'We know people are out to gain from the crisis so that's why we are giving safety tips to women such as don't get into a stranger's car and try and travel in groups.

'If something or someone looks suspicious do not get involved and instead inform one of the border guards or police officers.

'Colleagues have been liaising with the National police in Warsaw to monitor the situation because Polish people want to help but others want to exploit.'

Joanna Garnier, from the National Consulting and Intervention for Victims of Trafficking, said women crossing the border into Poland are given flyers (above) warning them of dangers

A Home Office spokesperson said: 'The government is committed to tackling the heinous crime of human trafficking. We will continue to clampdown on those who continue to exploit vulnerable people while providing tailored support for victims to help their recovery.

'We are keeping the situation in Ukraine under review and remain in close contact with the Ukrainian government.'
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Hundreds more residents in the Florida panhandle were evacuated on Saturday as a wildfire continued to spread, fueled by trees downed by Hurricane Michael four years ago, tinder dry conditions and strong winds.

Those living in and around Springfield, east of Panama City, were told that they had to get out of their homes immediately.

'I've never seen anything like it,' said Florida State Fire Marshal Jimmy Patronis in a post on Twitter.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said that hundreds of thousands of acres of downed trees from the hurricane in 2018, together with low humidity and strong winds, created 'the perfect storm' for hazardous fire conditions in Bay County.

Firefighters using powerful searchlights can be seen close fo the wildfire that continues to rage in Bay County, Florida

Floridas Urban Search & Rescue teams are seen standing after another day battling a wildfire raging across the state

The sun hangs like a red ball in the sky as smoke billows across the sky on Saturday evening

The sky glows orange while a fire burns close to the roadside in Bay County, Florida

Smoke can be seen rising from a wildfire in the Florida panhandle

Smoke could still be seen billowing into the air on Saturday evening as the sun set across the Florida panhandle

Thick smoke could be seen hanging in the air in Bay County, Florida as the sun set on Saturday

Firefighters and the Sheriff's Office are still on sight as authorities battle to get the wildfire contained

A Forest Fire Service helicopter is seen refueling before heading back into the skies to monitor the situation again

A band of smoke can be seen drifting across an otherwise cloudless sky in Florida on Saturday afternoon

Bay County Sheriff's Office say that the flames may soon begin to die down as the humidity increases

Residents began salvaging what was left of their homes while others still worked to save theirs as the Adkins Fire entered day two on Saturday. The scene behind burned out homes on Whitehead Boulevard was still smoldering on Saturday

Laurie Shuman's home on Whitehead Boulevard was destroyed by the Adkins Avenue fire on Friday. The Shuman family had moved into the new home after losing their house to Hurricane Michael

Only the shell of homes would be seen having been struck by the wildfire on Saturday

Residents began picking up what was left of their homes while others still worked to save theirs

Only the burned out shell of homes was left standing in homes on Whitehead Blvd in Panama City, Florida

Eli Dunyak, Thor Magnuson, Logan Hernandez and Nash Dunyak work behind homes along Alva Thomas Road cutting back debris and moving it further away from homes. Hernandez lives in one of the homes and had friends show up to help him save his home from the fire

'This is not a surprise,' DeSantis said speaking at a news conference in Panama City on Saturday. 'These fires are something that people have been discussing for several years now.'

More than 200 firefighters and emergency workers from across the Florida Panhandle worked overnight on Friday to strengthen containment lines and protect homes.

As of Saturday afternoon, the 1,500-acre Adkins Avenue Fire was 30 percent contained, according to the Florida Forest Service. The cause of the fire is still under investigation.

A wildfire in the Florida Panhandle destroyed two homes and damaged 12 as 600 residents were forced to evacuate

The fire began on Friday and spanned more than 1,400 acres before firefighters contained 30 per cent of it on Saturday. Neighbors (left to right) Emily Homeric, Robert O'Connor and Wandi Blanco poured water on hotspots behind the burned homes in Panama City, Florida

Emily Hamric pulls water from her neighbors' pool to put out hotspots behind the homes on Whitehead Boulevard after the Adkins Fire tore through the area in Panama City, Florida on Saturday

Randall Shuman (pictured) took out boxes of his belonging from his destroyed home in Panama City

The Florida Forest Service said there was no timeline for when residents would be allowed to return to their homes

Residents used pools from damaged homes in the community to extinguish lingering flames and hotspots

Gov. Ron DeSantis said the Bay County has been plagued by wildfire conditions after Hurricane Michael took down hundreds of thousand of trees in 2018. He thanked first responders for their quick action during a news conference on Saturday

The agency has deployed more than a dozen tractor plow units as well as multiple helicopters, and burn bans were in effect in parts of the Florida Panhandle, officials said in a news release.

DeSantis praised firefighters for saving scores of homes overnight.

'This is a really significant, fast-moving fire,' DeSantis said. 'It obviously has done some damage, but I thought given where it was, that you would have way more homes that would have been destroyed by now.'

'I think it's a testament to what they [first responders' did to protect this community.'

Officials with the Florida Forest Service said there was no timeline for when residents would be allowed to return to their homes.

This photo provided by Florida Forest Service shows smoke from the wildfire as it receded a bit on Saturday

Dry conditions in Florida have created elevated fire dangers, with 143 active wildfires burning across the state

The state deployed more than a dozen tractor plow units as well as multiple helicopters, and burn bans were in effect

Fire fighters and emergency workers were still working into Saturday afternoon to contain the blaze

At the news conference, Florida Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis recommended that evacuated homeowners contact their insurance companies since it will speed up the claims process should their homes be damaged or destroyed.

'Have patience as we ask you to evacuate from your homes,' Patronis said.

Dry conditions in Florida have created elevated fire dangers, with 148 active wildfires burning across the state, including the 3,000-acre Bertha Swamp Fire in neighboring Gulf County, according to the Florida Forest Service.

It means that across the state of Florida, 12,000 acres are currently ablaze, according to the Florida Forest Service.

Michael was the first Category 5 hurricane to make landfall in the U.S. since Hurricane Andrew in 1992, and only the fourth on record, when it tore through Mexico Beach and Tyndall Air Force Base in October 2018.

The hurricane was directly responsible for 16 deaths and about $25 billion in damage in the U.S., according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

It also left behind 2.8 million acres of shredded and uprooted trees in the Florida Panhandle, Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Nikki Fried said at the news conference.

'Hurricane Michael left an additional threat to our communities - wildfires,' Fried said.

'Wildfires are never easy control. This added fuel and dense pockets of vegetation from Hurricane Michael will increase the intensity of wildfires.'
Press conferences in Kyiv appear intent on showing fighters are being captured

The Ukrainian army has paraded Russian prisoners of war in front of press cameras in the latest embarrassment to Vladimir Putin as casualties in the war continue to mount.

In an attempt to prove its claim of capturing significant numbers of Russian soldiers, officials in Ukraine have organised for groups of POWs to be presented in a number of press conferences.

It comes as President Volodymyr Zelensky's forces attempt to combat Russian propaganda, including claims the war is a 'special operation' and that Zelensky had fled the country.

Images show a group of three Russians, believed to hold military ranks, sitting behind a table in a press briefing run by the Ukrainian Independent Information Agency (UNIAN).

In an attempt to prove its claim of capturing significant numbers of Russian soldiers, officials in Ukraine have organised for groups of POWs to be presented in a number of press conferences

Images show a group of three Russians, believed to hold military ranks, sitting behind a table in a press briefing run by the Ukrainian Independent Information Agency (UNIAN). A masked Ukrainian soldier sits with a rifle in between his legs nearby

Two of the troops are seen to be visibly injured, one with wounds on his face and another nursing a black eye.

A masked Ukrainian soldier sits with a rifle in between his legs facing them nearby.

Under rules for the treatment of prisoners of war in the Geneva Conventions, a military power should not parade prisoners for 'public curiosity'.

It is not known what questions the men were asked at the press conference.

The sight of POWs being presented to the media are a frequent occurrence, with captured soldiers in another reported conference reading out statements that admit the Russian offensive had suffered setbacks early in the war.

'The whole column burned,' said one soldier with a Russian tank unit.

Two of the troops are seen to be visibly injured, one with wounds on his face and another nursing a black eye

Ukraine's military said Russia today renewed its assault 'on all fronts', with paratroopers landing in Kharkiv, tanks and trucks rolling into the centre of Kherson, and strikes in Mariupol and Zhytomyr

He said his unit was attacked with what he believed to be projectiles from a drone and shoulder-fired anti-tank missiles near Sumy, in northeastern Ukraine.

He fled from the unit into a forest and later surrendered to Ukrainian forces.

Ukraine claims that around 9,000 Russians have been killed or captured in the conflict so far. Russia disputes the figures, claiming to have suffered far fewer losses than Ukraine.

It comes as Ukraine released the names of more than 100 Russian prisoners of war captured during the ongoing conflict in the country, urging their mothers to come and 'take your sons' home.

Anton Herashchenko, advisor to the Ukrainian Ministry of Internal Affairs, published the 'very important' list of POWs on Facebook on Friday, according to Newsweek.

Captured Russian soldiers have been filmed describing themselves as 'cannon fodder' and warning 'everyone is going in columns and they all die'

The post included a spreadsheet containing personal details of the Russian soldiers, as well as specific details on how their families can travel to the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv to collect them.

Ukraine on Wednesday invited the worried mothers of Russian troops captured on the battlefield to come and collect their sons, in Kyiv's latest apparent attempt to embarrass Moscow after opening a telephone hotline for Russian parents to find out if their sons are among the dead or captured.

Dozens of video uploaded to social media show wounded and captured Russians saying they had no idea they were being sent to invade Ukraine and were used like 'cannon fodder' by commanders who threw them into battle against 'peaceful people defending their territory'.

'No one has attacked us and what Russia wants from the war, I cannot understand. Mum, Dad, I love you,' one said.

At least one of the soldiers urged Kyiv and Moscow to evacuate children from the warzone while another warned 'no-one wants war'.

This handout picture released by the State Emergency Service of Ukraine on March 5, 2022, shows what is said the wreckage of a Russian military aircraft on the outskirts of the city of Chernihiv

Local resident walks through the rubble as a result of shelling in Markhalivka, March 5, 2022

Meanwhile a handcuffed prisoner of war burst into tears and was filmed wiping his eyes after what sounded like a female relative told him 'I love you' down the phone.

He went on to urge the person to call for the end to the war because 'to these b****es it's just a case of killing everyone'.

The young soldier also appeared to shed tears for those who die on the battlefield because 'they have no funeral'.

'You don't touch the corpses because otherwise the FSB (Russian federal security service) will arrest you,' he said.

Another soldier, injured during the fighting, was positioned in front of a Ukrainian flag as he spoke to the camera.

He maintained the claim his troops did not know they were about the invade Ukraine and urged Moscow to end the conflict.

'We are killing peaceful people,' he said. 'This is not our war. Mothers and wives, collect your husbands. There is no need to be here.'
A former British military dog trainer whose pal was killed in Ukraine has paid tribute to him by vowing to help refugees fleeing Russian invaders.

Dad-of-one Tom Bell, 37, broke down as he described how Igor Icarus Bakun, 35, was murdered by Russian soldiers as he walked in countryside close to his home in Kyiv.

Tom revealed how Igor's father and one of his dogs was shot dead but another stayed by his side until he was found by rescuers, lying in a ditch next to his owner's body.

Speaking close to the Medyka border where he had arrived to distribute medical supplied he said: 'The best thing I can do to honour Igor is to be here and help the Ukrainian people for him.

Dad-of-one Tom Bell, 37, broke down as he described how Igor Icarus Bakun, 35, pictured, was murdered by Russian soldiers as he walked in countryside close to his home in Kyiv

'The Russians killed him and his dad in cold blood and they even shot one of his dogs but another stayed with him until his body was recovered.

'I saw some video I had been sent of Igor in a ditch dead with his dog by his body and his dad's. I can't just sit by my lap top and do nothing I have to do something to honour Igor.

'I was looking into the Foreign Legion that's been set up but now I've decided to just help medically as I am an emergency first responder.'

Tom, who is originally from Milton Keynes but now lives in Wilkanow, southern Poland, with his wife and four year old son.

Since arriving at the crossing he has provided help and medical support for dozens of refugees who have arrived from Ukraine.

He told MailOnline: 'There are so many people coming through, it's incredible and at the same time heartbreaking. I have been up for 22 hours a day and having just two hours sleep.

Tom (pictured) revealed how Igor's father and one of his dogs was shot dead but another stayed by his side until he was found by rescuers, lying in a ditch next to his owner's body

'You try and get your head down but it's so f***ing cold that you think I may as well carry on helping because there are so many people flooding through.'

Choking back tears he added: 'I sat in the car for a bit to keep warm and then you see a four year old kid walking through who has been on the move for more than two days and you just have to help.

'I've got a four-year-old son as well so it's really hard to deal with. I've bought a few beanie babies to give the kids when they come through to play with and it's surprising the difference it makes.

'You see the transformation from a child in floods of tears to one of smiles because someone is here to support and help them.'

He added: 'I used to train police and military dogs in Kyiv and that's why I have a lot of friends in Ukraine and it's where I met Igor.

'He was a great guy and I'm heartbroken by what happened. He was one of the top dog trainers in Ukraine. This is why I'm doing what I am doing.

'The video I saw was overwhelming. He was shot and his father was shot as well and then they killed the dog.

'I don't think I could go over there and possibly die and leave my four-year-old son here. Everybody has to do what they feel is right with them.

'I've seen a lot of foreign guys going over saying they are going to fight, I haven't seen any British but I've seen some Americans and Canadians.'

Tom, who has set up a Just Giving Page, said on the site: 'Give what you can if you feel you can support, if not that's OK too, just please share this message, that oppression is not acceptable and that the only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for people to do nothing.'

Just Giving page
Britain said on Saturday that Russia's proposed ceasefire in the Ukrainian city of Mariupol was probably an attempt to deflect international condemnation while giving itself a chance to reset its forces for a renewed offensive.

The Ministry of Defence (MoD) said Russia's proposed ceasefire in the Ukrainian city of Mariupol on Saturday was 'likely an attempt to deflect international condemnation while resetting its force for renewed offensive activity'.

In an intelligence update on Saturday afternoon, the MoD said: 'By accusing Ukraine of breaking the agreement, Russia is likely seeking to shift responsibility for current and future civilian casualties in the city.'

Russia said earlier it had opened humanitarian corridors near the besieged cities of Mariupol and Volnovakha. Russia's defence ministry then accused Ukrainian 'nationalists' of preventing civilians from leaving, RIA news agency reported.

But Mariupol's city council said Russia was not observing the ceasefire.

Ukrainians crowd under a destroyed bridge as they try to flee crossing the Irpin river in the outskirts of Kyiv, Ukraine, Saturday, March 5, 2022

Ukrainian soldiers help a fleeing family to cross the Irpin river in the outskirts of Kyiv, Ukraine, Saturday, March 5, 2022

Marina Yatsko, left, runs behind her boyfriend Fedor carrying her 18 month-old son Kirill who was killed in shelling, as they arrive at a hospital in Mariupol, Ukraine, Friday, March 4, 2022

'By accusing Ukraine of breaking the agreement, Russia is likely seeking to shift responsibility for current and future civilian casualties in the city,' the British defence ministry said in an intelligence update

After Russia's defence ministry declared the ceasefire to the war's fiercest battles, officials said the city's 450,000 people could begin to leave by bus and private cars.

However city officials then called a delay in the evacuation, saying: 'The Russian side does not adhere to the ceasefire and has continued shelling both Mariupol itself and its environs, and for security reasons, the evacuation of the civilian population has been postponed.'

Kyrylo Tymoshenko, the deputy head of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's office, said the evacuation effort was stopped because the city of Mariupol remained under fire on Saturday.

'The Russian side is not holding to the ceasefire and has continued firing on Mariupol itself and on its surrounding area,' he said. 'Talks with the Russian Federation are ongoing regarding setting up a ceasefire and ensuring a safe humanitarian corridor.'

Russia later announced the assault on the port city was back on.

'Due to the unwillingness of the Ukrainian side to influence nationalists or extend the regime of silence, offensive actions have been resumed at 18:00 Moscow time (1500 GMT),' defence ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov said in a video briefing.

Konashenkov said that 'not a single civilian' was able to exit via the humanitarian corridors, and claimed 'nationalist battalions' used the ceasefire to 'regroup and reinforce their positions'.

'The population of these cities is held by nationalist formations as a human shield,' Konashenkov added, parroting similar accusations made by President Vladimir Putin.

Britain said on Saturday that Russia's proposed ceasefire in the Ukrainian city of Mariupol was probably an attempt to deflect international condemnation while giving itself a chance to reset its forces for a renewed offensive. Pictured: Smoke rises in Mariupol on Friday

Medical workers try to save the life of Marina Yatsko's 18 month-old son Kirill, who was fatally wounded by shelling, at a hospital in Mariupol, Ukraine, Friday, March 4, 2022

A view from a hospital window broken by shelling in Mariupol, Ukraine, Thursday, March 3

Russia is continuing to advance in southern Ukraine, with Mariupol under bombardment and Odessa and Mykolaiv under threat. Chernihiv, in the north, and Kharkiv, in the east, continue to come under heavy bombardment. The capital Kyiv is also under threat, though Ukrainian counter-attacks took out some Russian forces early on Friday

The money raised by the Mail Force charity  in record-breaking time  has already been put to good use, with mothers and children arriving over the border to Slovakia yesterday greeted by aid workers funded by our generous readers

The Daily Mail, Mail on Sunday and MailOnline UKRAINE REFUGEE APPEAL Readers of Mail Newspapers and MailOnline have always shown immense generosity at times of crisis. Calling upon that human spirit, we are now launching an appeal to raise money for refugees from Ukraine. For, surely, no one can fail to be moved by the heartbreaking images and stories of families  mostly women, children, the infirm and elderly  fleeing from Russia's invading armed forces. As this tally of misery increases over the coming days and months, these innocent victims of a tyrant will require accommodation, schools and medical support. All donations to the Mail Ukraine Appeal will be distributed to charities and aid organisations providing such essential services. In the name of charity and compassion, we urge all our readers to give swiftly and generously. TO MAKE A DONATION ONLINE Donate at www.mailforcecharity.co.uk/donate To add Gift Aid to a donation  even one already made  complete an online form found here: mymail.co.uk/ukraine Via bank transfer, please use these details: Account name: Mail Force Charity Account number: 48867365 Sort code: 60-00-01 TO MAKE A DONATION VIA CHEQUE Make your cheque payable to 'Mail Force' and post it to: Mail Newspapers Ukraine Appeal, GFM, 42 Phoenix Court, Hawkins Road, Colchester, Essex CO2 8JY TO MAKE A DONATION FROM THE US US readers can donate to the appeal via a bank transfer to Associated Newspapers or by sending checks to dailymail.com HQ at 51 Astor Place (9th floor), New York, NY 10003 Advertisement

Capturing Mariupol represents a bigger prize for Russian forces as it would deal a severe blow to Ukraine's maritime access and connect with troops coming from annexed Crimea and the Donbas.

Mariupol has endured heavy bombardment, a sign of its strategic value to Moscow due to its position between Russian-backed separatist-held eastern Ukraine and the Black Sea Crimean peninsula, which Moscow seized from Kyiv in 2014.

The International Committee of the Red Cross said planned civilian evacuations from Mariupol and Volnovakha were now unlikely to start on Saturday.

Russia's Defence Ministry said its forces were carrying out a wide-ranging offensive in Ukraine and had taken several towns and villages, Interfax news agency reported.

In an aerial combat near Zhytomyr, about 100 km (62 miles) west of Kyiv, it said, four Ukrainian Su-27 fighter jets had been shot down. Reuters could not independently confirm the report.

A United Nations monitoring mission said at least 351 civilians had been confirmed killed and 707 injured in Ukraine so far since the start of the invasion on Feb. 24, adding that the real figures were likely to be 'considerably higher'.

The number of refugees could rise to 1.5 million by Sunday night from 1.3 million now, the U.N. refugee agency chief said.

Meanwhile, it was announced today that Russia and Ukraine will hold a third round of talks on Monday about ending hostilities.

Ukrainian negotiator David Arakhamia announced the next round of talks in a Facebook post on Saturday, without providing further details.

Delegations from Ukraine and Russia have had two rounds of talks since Russia launched a full-scale invasion of its neighbour on February 24.

In previous talks on Thursday, the sides agreed to open the humanitarian corridors to allow civilians out of some combat zones. Ukraine said on Saturday the talks had not produced results but that it would keep pursuing negotiations.

'The third round of talks will take place on Monday,' Arakhamia, who is also the parliamentary faction leader of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy's party, wrote in his post.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Saturday that Zelenskiy's attempt to secure direct NATO help in the conflict between their countries was not helping talks between the two sides, but that Moscow was ready for a third round.

Wary of being dragged into Moscow's war on its neighbour, NATO on Friday turned down Zelenskiy's appeal to create a no-fly zone over Ukraine.

This prompted the Ukrainian president to say that the alliance had given Russia the green light to continue its bombing campaign.

Earlier on Saturday, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said he was open to talks with Lavrov, but only if they were 'meaningful'.

The Kremlin said on Friday that progress in the negotiations would depend on Kyiv's reaction to Moscow's position on how to end the war, which had been conveyed to Ukraine on Thursday.

The Russian TASS news agency quoted Russian negotiator Leonid Slutsky as saying the Ukrainian side had shown some openness in the second round to reaching an agreement.
A high-profile criminal probe into Donald Trump's finances fell apart when prosecutors working on bringing charges were unable to convince their new district attorney to do so.

Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg stress-tested his office's case against Trump behind closed doors on January 24, with prosecutors Carey Dunn and Mark Pomerantz laying out the case against the former president.

A grand jury had already heard the case against Trump in secret, and was set to expire in April, leading to a push to file charges. Doing so would have made Trump the first president - sitting or past - to ever have faced criminal charges.

But Bragg - sworn into office on January 1 - halted the case because his own team couldn't convince him that Trump had inflated the value of his assets to gain more favorable loan terms on purpose, according to The New York Times.

He was unconvinced that the probe could prove Trump had a criminal intent when doing so, with the president repeatedly denying claims of wrongdoing.

A key issue is thought to have been Trump's dislike of email. The former president is known to prefer meeting contacts in person, or calling them up, making it far harder to identify any paper trail of alleged criminality.

Shortly before taking office, new District Attorney Alvin Bragg vowed on CNN to 'personally' focus on the high profile investigation

The DA - who has hit the headlines over his soft-on-crime policies - was also concerned about his team's star witness being Michael Cohen.

Cohen, Trump's former fixer, is a convicted fraudster who spent time in jail for tax evasion and campaign finance violations. Bragg feared that, regardless of how sincere and credible Cohen's evidence may have been, Team Trump could have fatally-undermined their case by highlighting the lawyer's status as an ex-con.

The probe was kicked-off by Bragg's predecessor Cyrus Vance, who is said to have pushed for the probe to be rapidly-advanced in the final days of his time in office.

But that behavior is said to have spooked Bragg, who felt a rushed case had more chance of failing. Separate controversies about Bragg's plans to avoid sending suspected petty criminals to jail, and a spate of violent crimes in New York, are further said to have taken his eye off the Trump case, leading to its failure.

Attorneys Mark F. Pomerantz (left) and Carey Dunne (right) abruptly stepped down from the Southern District of New York's investigation

Three other veteran prosecutors left the Manhattan DA's office because they were uncomfortable with Vance pushing the case forward faster as he was set to leave office.

The decision to move advance the investigation and bring charges against the ex-president by spring was made on December 9, less than a month before Bragg was sworn into office.

Dunne and Pomerantz resigned from the DA's office in February when Bragg refused to move the case forward.

Dunne told his colleagues in the prosecutor's office that he had 'to disassociated myself with this decision because I think it was on the wrong side of history,' according to the Times.

The two top lawyers grew disenchanted with Bragg after he iced them out of key meetings on whether or not to move forward on the case.

The Manhattan District Attorney under Vance launched the investigation at least two years ago, twice fighting all the way to the Supreme Court to get tax and other financial records out of the ex-president.

Trump has called the investigation into his finances a 'witch hunt' and charged that Bragg and Attorney General Letitia James, who is carrying out a civil fraud investigation into the ex-president, are racists. Both officials are black.

Trump himself hasn't been accused of any wrongdoing and has denounced both probes as 'witch hunts'

Bragg's investigation is examining whether Trump's company placed artificially high values on several major commercial properties in documents used to secure favorable loan arrangements, while diminishing the value of those properties in filings used as a basis for calculating its tax bills. Pictured: Trump Tower on Fifth Avenue in Manhattan

Trump lashed out at both James' and Bragg's investigations after his longtime accounting firm Mazars cut ties with his company and distanced itself from 10 years of financial data

So far, Trump's long-time accountant Allen Weisselberg, has been the only one charged. He was accused of not reporting $1.7 million in off-the-books gifts, like a rent-free apartment and private school tuition for his granddaughter. Attempts by prosecutors to flip him to their side and get him to testify against his ex-boss have been unsuccessful.

Weisselberg denies wrongdoing, and is seeking to have the case against him dismissed.

Cohen had already testified before Congress that Trump was a 'con man' who 'inflated his total assets when it served his purposes.'

DA Bragg questioned the viability of a fraud probe that hung on the testimony of Michael Cohen, who did three years in federal prison for income tax evasion and campaign finance charges

Vance had launched another investigation during his first term in office into the Trump Organization misleading buyers of apartment in the Trump SoHo hotel, which eventually fizzled out.

Allen Weisselberg is accused of evading taxes on $1.7 million in pay and benefits from the Trump Org off the books

The office took heat for dropping the investigation when they also found it difficult to prove intent.

Pomerantz, 70, a former Assistant U.S. Attorney who headed the Southern District's criminal division, came out of retirement and agreed to work the case for free. During his time as a federal prosecutor he put away Gambino mob boss John Gotti using the untested Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organization Act (RICO). He became a defense lawyer, defending former New Jersey Senator Robert Torricelli against campaign finance charges in 2002.

Dunne is a veteran of the Manhattan DA's office and has been working on the Trump probe for years.

A civil case into fraud by the Trump Organization is moving forward. A New York State Supreme Court judge ruled recently that the ex-president, Ivanka (pictured) and Donald Trump Jr (right) will have to testify

Bragg's office denied that the investigation had been scotched.

'The investigation is ongoing,' Manhattan DA spokeswoman Danielle Filson. 'Susan Hoffinger, executive assistant district attorney in the Investigation Division will lead the strong team that is in place.'

Hoffinger previously worked in the Manhattan DA's office in the trials and then civil asset forfeiture division before starting her own firm. She's turned to head up the Trump case under Bragg.

The parallel civil investigation run by James will try to prove that the Trump Organization pumped up the value of his properties and paid with off-the-books perks to help executives skirt federal taxes.

A judge recently ruled that Trump, his daughter Ivanka Trump and son Donald Trump Jr must testify in the case.

The floundering investigation into the former president isn't Bragg's only stumble after taking office.

After running on a platform of lower incarceration and not prosecuting of low-level offenses, the city's crime rate has spiked, including hate crimes against Asians and Jews.

His first week in office he released a memo promising not to prosecute corner-store stickups, prostitution and resisting arrest.

After several high-profile murders and increased fear among residents, Bragg has reversed some of his policies.
It was a bold assignment. On the morning of October 22, 1992, the Royal car pulled up outside the Kreuzkirche church in Dresden, to be greeted by an uncomfortable silence. Next came a few boos. Then came the first egg.

It was in this same square that the bodies of tens of thousands of German civilians had been piled up and cremated in February 1945, following one of the Royal Air Force's most devastating raids of the Second World War.

So, strong emotions were in play as the Queen embarked on her 1992 state visit to Germany. It was her first since the fall of the Berlin Wall, reunification and the collapse of Communism across Eastern Europe. Hence her visit to Dresden.

The Queen pictured with her late husband The Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Philip

At the end of the service of reconciliation, the Queen emerged from the church to find that the atmosphere had thawed a little.

'The Queen was binding up the wounds as only she could do,' recalled Douglas Hurd, accompanying her as Foreign Secretary.

Her speech at the German president's banquet touched millions, as she proclaimed: 'The Iron Curtain melted in the heat of the people's will for freedom.'

Reflecting on her symbolic walk through Berlin's Brandenburg Gate  from West to East  several German newspapers carried editorials hailing it as nothing less than the closing moment of the Cold War.

For many world leaders, this sort of visit might have been the crowning moment of a lifetime of public service. Not so for the Queen.

That a trip of this sensitivity and magnitude should have barely registered in British minds at the time  or since  is testimony to the relentless and enduring awfulness of 1992.

In terms of their scale, suddenness and variety, the calamities which befell the Monarch in the course of that dismal year still seem incredible.

She was marking her 40th anniversary on the throne. Not that she was in much of a celebratory mood at the start of 1992, as Cabinet papers have since revealed. The Queen even rejected the idea of a fountain in Parliament Square.

In a memo to the Prime Minister, John Major's private secretary, Andrew Turnbull, added a handwritten note: 'Prime Minister to be aware of the Queen's attitude to her 40th anniversary.'

The other was for a luncheon given by the City of London. That lunch would go down in history for a single phrase: 'Annus horribilis.'

Just two ideas met her approval.

One was former premier Jim Callaghan's proposal for a dinner given by her Prime Ministers. The other was for a luncheon given by the City of London. That lunch would go down in history for a single phrase: 'Annus horribilis.'

The trouble had started in January, when newspapers discovered photographs of the Duchess of York on holiday with an American oil executive, Steve Wyatt. Their existence reinforced widespread gossip that the Yorks' marriage was close to collapse.

The Duke of York 'hit the roof' and the couple began consulting divorce lawyers. Meanwhile, the marriage of the Prince and Princess of Wales was also starting to unravel in public.

In February, the Princess posed for the cameras in front of that eternal symbol of love, the Taj Mahal, while all alone. The messaging was clear.

Then in April, the divorce of the Princess Royal was finalised. She had been separated  amicably from Mark Phillips for some years. The Princess stuck doggedly to her duties through it all.

The Queen was very sad about her children's marital problems  but not shocked. As she put it to one courtier: 'You know, I've decided I'm not old-fashioned enough to be Queen.'

That same month there was a General Election, when, to the surprise of almost everyone, John Major was returned to office for another five years.

'Intimate photos of topless Duchess with her financial advisor'

He set about deploying the Queen to improve Britain's relations with the EU. She addressed the European Parliament for the first time and embarked on two European state visits, including a major one to France.

The UK barely noticed  the visit had been completely upstaged by the most toxic Royal memoir in living memory: Andrew Morton's book, Diana: Her True Story.

This alleged that the Princess of Wales had been driven to self-harm and had even attempted suicide.

The trouble had started in January, when newspapers discovered photographs of the Duchess of York on holiday with an American oil executive, Steve Wyatt

Meanwhile, the marriage of the Prince and Princess of Wales was also starting to unravel

A few months later, during the summer holiday season, the Daily Mirror recorded one of the highest sales in its entire history with intimate photographs of a topless Duchess of York on yet another holiday, this time with her 'financial adviser', John Bryan.

The Duchess was staying with the Queen at Balmoral, together with her daughters, when she came down in the morning to find members of the family agog at ten pages of unvarnished ignominy.

No sooner had she left the castle than the Mirror's arch rival, The Sun, produced an equally devastating counter-scoop, a recording of an innuendo-charged conversation between the Princess of Wales and James Gilbey, an old friend who had been one of the sources for Morton's book. Could things get worse? Yes  but the Queen continued to hold her nerve.

Months before, the Prince and Princess of Wales had committed to undertaking a major tour of Korea in November at the invitation of the Foreign Office, but now the Princess told Palace officials that she was not going. At this point, the Queen intervened.

If the Prime Minister was going to devote precious time to the financial arrangements of the Royal Family  and several papers were now renewing their attacks on the Royal finances  then the family could at least honour their commitments to the Government. At her insistence, the tour went ahead.

Just days after their arrival home, Charles and Diana had a row which would push their marriage to the point of no return. Their sons were about to have an exeat weekend from prep school.

The Prince had arranged for the couple to present a united front over a family-oriented shooting weekend with friends at Sandringham.

With only a week to go, however, the Princess announced that she wanted to take William and Harry elsewhere, thus tearing up the Prince's plans.

Just days after their arrival home, Charles and Diana had a row which would push their marriage to the point of no return

It was starting to feel like the end of the road for both parties.

At the end of that week, the Prince resolved the time had come to commence separation plans and to call in his lawyers the following week.

At the very moment he was preparing to welcome his house-party guests to Sandringham, however, a catastrophe was unfolding.

It was late on the dull, grey morning of Friday, November 20, 1992 that the first clouds of smoke were suddenly seen billowing out from the state apartments of Windsor Castle.

A major maintenance project was in progress, shielded from view by some heavy drapes. The fire began in the Queen's private chapel.

'Behind the curtains, which were obviously closed, were spotlights that lit up the altar and the ceiling,' the Duke of Edinburgh explained to me, after the restoration. 'After a bit, the lights got hot and set fire to the curtains, and the flames went up.'

Within an hour, fire engines from all over London and the Home Counties were arriving. Miraculously, there were no serious injuries or deaths and only one painting was lost  Sir William Beechey's colossal 1798 portrait George III And The Prince Of Wales Reviewing Troops.

The Duke of Edinburgh was overseas at the time, but the Queen quickly drove down from London. She had a very specific mission in mind.

'She went into her own apartments to take a few precious things to safety, because only she knew what they were and where they were,' says Charles Anson, her press secretary at the time. As a result, she suffered a small amount of smoke inhalation on top of a nasty cold.

A mere four days after the fire, the Queen arrived at Guildhall in the City of London for the civic luncheon to mark her 40 years on the throne.

It was late on the dull, grey morning of Friday, November 20, 1992 that the first clouds of smoke were suddenly seen billowing out from the state apartments of Windsor Castle

Within an hour, fire engines from all over London and the Home Counties were arriving

With her throat still hoarse from both her cold and the smoke, she began: 'Nineteen Ninety-Two is not a year on which I shall look back with undiluted pleasure. In the words of one of my more sympathetic correspondents, it has turned out to be an 'annus horribilis'.'

Though this would be the phrase remembered for ever more, the main point of the speech was not to dwell on her own misfortune (or 'One's Bum Year', as The Sun put it). Rather, it was to ask for a little more understanding from the Monarchy's critics.

But media attacks on the Monarchy continued after the Secretary of State for National Heritage, Peter Brooke, assured the Commons that the Government stood ready to fund the repair work.

Even the Conservative press called for the Royal Family to 'listen' and to offer up some sort of financial sacrifice. The Monarchy would end up providing the money.

'In the words of a sympathetic correspondent, it's been annus horribilis'

What the critics were unaware of was that the Queen and her officials had, for more than a year, been planning a voluntary end to a historic but complex Royal tax exemption, agreed by her father after the Abdication crisis of 1936.

'Anything in the way of a dictum her father had left her was very important,' says her former private secretary, Sir William Heseltine.

John Major also says he was against any such reform. However, stung by the latest row about fire repairs, the Queen wanted to bring the plan forward.

So, just two days after her Guildhall speech, Mr Major told Parliament that the Queen and the Prince of Wales would, in future, voluntarily pay tax at the regular rate.

That the Queen was now prepared to go against her father's wishes  and indeed her Prime Minister  on such a sensitive point defines this decision as one of the most important judgment calls of her reign.

The Monarchy would end up providing the money for the repairs to their home

There was yet further misery to come, back in that long 'annus horribilis'. On December 9, Mr Major stood up in the Commons to announce the separation of the Prince and Princess of Wales.

There was a brief glimmer of happiness for the Queen at the end of that week, as the Royal Family gathered at Crathie Church, Balmoral, for the most modest Royal Wedding in history.

The Princess Royal had insisted on a low-key ceremony for her second marriage, to Commander Tim Laurence. Following a reception of soup and sandwiches, the couple enjoyed a 36-hour honeymoon on the estate while the other guests flew home.

The entire affair is believed to have cost less than 2,000.

But the year ended with the contents of the Queen's Christmas broadcast being leaked to The Sun.

When the broadcast finally appeared on Christmas Day, the nation heard her acknowledge her woes, without dwelling on them. 'As some of you may have heard me observe, it has, indeed, been a sombre year. But Christmas is surely the right moment to try to put it behind us.'

In fact, the events of 1992 were the prelude to a succession of grave dynastic challenges over several years, including the Princess of Wales's fateful 1995 Panorama interview  'there were three of us in this marriage, so it was a bit crowded'  the eventual divorces of both the Waleses and the Yorks, the decommissioning of the Queen's beloved Royal Yacht and, above all, the tragic loss of Diana in 1997.

Though it has become received wisdom that Tony Blair and his new Labour administration somehow 'saved' a dithering Monarchy in the febrile days after the Princess's death in that Paris car crash, a very different, more balanced picture now emerges 25 years on.

Within hours, a key team inside the Palace, led by the Lord Chamberlain, the Earl of Airlie Lord Airlie, and the Comptroller, Lieutenant-Colonel Malcolm Ross, were already drawing up the main elements of Diana's funeral, which would be one of the most watched Royal events in history.

'Anne's soup and sandwiches second wedding cost less than 2,000'

Lord Airlie recalls his very first instruction to Ross and his colleagues: 'I said, 'The one thing is this  don't look at a file. This has to be de novo.' In other words, this had to be done quite differently.'

He wrote a memo to the Queen outlining a general plan.

'For instance,' he says now, 'the importance of catching and reflecting the public mood of 'the people's Princess', and ensuring that the ceremony was not overwhelmed by officialdom. I felt, too, that the procession of the coffin to Westminster Abbey should break with tradition and be somewhat radical.'

The key elements were that the event should be public, not private, and as unique as Diana herself. Invitations to the Abbey should range widely and not be governed by what was done at previous Royal funerals. The very next day, he sent all these points to the Queen at Balmoral.

'The answer came back, saying, 'Go ahead.' So that let Malcolm Ross and his chaps get on with the job, which they did brilliantly.'

All this had already been agreed by the time the first emissaries from Downing Street, including Blair's spin doctor Alastair Campbell had so much as set foot inside Buckingham Palace to discuss the nation's farewell to the Princess.

As that memorable 1992 visit to the former East Germany had shown, the contrast between domestic dramas and international milestones would be a recurring feature of the 1990s.

One minute, the younger members of the Royal Family would be in the news following a fresh marital spat. The next, the Queen was making history in a rapidly changing world.

There was her landmark state visit to Moscow and the magnificent sight of Britannia sailing into Cape Town harbour where a beaming Nelson Mandela was waiting on the quayside.

The Queen gave a televised speech to the nation in the week after Diana's death

In May 1994, the Queen opened the Channel Tunnel with President Mitterrand of France (she tactfully hosted the British end of the festivities in Ashford, Kent, rather than at the new Eurostar terminal in London; inviting the French President to celebrate this bilateral triumph in a station called Waterloo would have been going too far).

Four weeks later, the Queen and Mitterrand reunited to honour another cross-Channel endeavour, though this occasion would be among the most emotionally charged state occasions some Palace staff could ever recall  the 50th anniversary of the D-Day landings in Normandy.

Running the British side of things was the Defence Minister, Lord Cranborne (now the Marquess of Salisbury). He well recalls the clash between Royal punctuality and French presidential timekeeping.

Mitterrand was nowhere to be seen as thousands of British veterans gathered on the beach at Arromanches, determined to march past their Queen on the sacred sands. One pressing factor was the incoming tide, yet there was still no sign of the French head of state.

It was Prince Philip who cut through the diplomatic niceties with the immortal line: 'Who does he bloody think he is? King Canute?'

At which point, says Lord Cranborne, the regimental sergeant major from the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst, marched up to the Queen and announced: 'Eight thousand, four hundred and eighty-two veterans on parade, Your Majesty.' And off they marched, despite the protestations of French authorities.

'The local mayor was complaining that the regulations would permit no more than 400 people on the beach,' laughs Cranborne, whose only concern was the tide. 'We just made it, though it got a bit damp by the end.'

'The death of Margaret left the Queen as sad as she had ever been'

No sooner had the celebrations started than Princess Margaret died, aged 71

'It took a long time to get rid of that sense that, round every corner, lay a new problem,' says Charles Anson, the Royal press secretary during some of the darkest days of the 1990s.

Ahead of the 50th anniversary of VE Day in 1995, the Government was planning a major commemoration in front of Buckingham Palace, just like in 1945. Once again, Defence Minister Lord Cranborne was in charge of the party. He received several messages that the Queen was worried.

'It was clear that she was very nervous about people not turning out and it looking a bit thin,' says Cranborne. 'It was her suggestion that we should go to Horse Guards instead.

Cranborne decided to take a gamble. As a Minister, he would advise the Queen to stick to the Government plan and appear on the Palace balcony.

And if the crowds were looking threadbare, he would get two military bands to lead the public down from the huge 1945 festival taking place in nearby Hyde Park. 'I thought that if I get this wrong, I'm in trouble,' he recalls.

On the big day, Cranborne was checking on Hyde Park when a call came through from the brigadier on duty at the Palace.

'He said, 'We've got a problem.'

'So I said, 'OK, we'll get the bands down there.' '

The problem, however, was not a lack of crowds  it was the opposite. Police outside the Palace were worried that the 1995 crowds were actually larger than those that had been there in 1945.

'That's when I realised what a strong institution the Monarchy is,' says Cranborne. 'After all the problems with the Royal Family, there were these huge crowds cheering their heads off.'

Behind the scenes, the 1990s saw an extraordinary series of reforms to the management, the finances and even the core functions of the Monarchy.

The big test was to come in 2002, as the Queen marked 50 years on the throne. Could her Golden Jubilee replicate the astonishing success of the 1977 Silver Jubilee?

In May 1994, the Queen opened the Channel Tunnel with President Mitterrand of France

'But how is it at 2mph?' To mark her Golden Jubilee in 2002, the Queen received a present from the car industry: a new State Bentley. She asked her chauffeur, Joe Last, to put it through its paces. He informed her that he had driven it comfortably at 100mph, and that it could go very much faster than that. 'Yes, but what's it like at two miles per hour?' the Queen replied. Along with the Popemobile, this was one of very few vehicles specifically designed to enhance the view from the outside looking in, rather than the other way round. Advertisement

'There's no doubt she was not confident about it,' a former senior staff member told me. 'She had been knocked by those many years of trials and tribulations.'

No sooner had the celebrations started than Princess Margaret died, aged 71. The Queen was as sad as she had ever been.

Always protective of free-spirited, mercurial Margaret since the nursery, she had spoken to her almost every day of her life. Weeks later, she lost her mother, too.

An estimated one million people turned out to watch the Queen Mother's coffin make its final journey from Westminster Abbey to St George's Chapel, Windsor.

Yet, just days later, after a bare minimum of Court mourning, the Queen embarked on her Golden Jubilee tour of the UK.

The crowds were colossal and deeply appreciative wherever she went.

For many, however, the spirit of that Jubilee summer was summed up by the sight of Queen guitarist Brian May playing a national anthem riff on the Palace roof.

Tony Blair looks back on it all as a lesson in the Queen's staying power. 'In a small 'p' political sense  nothing to do with party politics  she has a near genius. That is what 2002 was about.'

 2022 Robert Hardman

Extracted from Queen Of Our Times: The Life Of Elizabeth II, by Robert Hardman, to be published by Macmillan on March 17, priced 20. To order a copy for 18, go to mailshop.co.uk/books or call 020 3176 2937.
A box filled with human heads destined for medical research was stolen from a truck used to transport body parts in Denver, and police are currently on the lookout for both the thief and the grisly stolen items.

The truck was parked along 23rd Avenue in the city's Central Park neighborhood around 11 am on Thursday morning when someone broke into the truck and took a dolly and a box of human remains, Fox21 News reported.

The human heads were in a blue and white cardboard box, about 20 x 15 x 18 inches in size, with the label 'Science Care' scrawled across the sides of it, referring to a body and body part donation program used to to help improve scientific research and education.

Authorities said the human heads were en route to be used for medical research. It is unclear if the thief realized what they were stealing, and whether officials will still be able to use the heads if they're recovered, but haven't been kept refridgerated.

The heads were stolen from a van parked at this intersection in Denver

Local resident Isaac Fields, who moved to the typically-safe and residential neighborhood about three years ago, told the news outlet that takes his dog, Margot, to the dog park where the human heads were stolen nearly every day.

'Pretty shocking. I guess I dont see too many strange things happening around here usually, but you know you never know,' said Fields.

'Wow! I would have been so terrified.'

'Well, my wife actually does Ph.D. research at the University of Colorado Anschutz,' Fields added.

Science Care was in custody of the heads, and which were destined for medical research

'So cadavers are definitely utilized in certain situations. And I'm assuming that was probably the case.'

Authorities were unable to release any more information regarding the stolen appendages, but did confirm that an investigation into the bizarre crime is still active and ongoing.

Meanwhile, neighbors in the area are left wondering whether the thief in question was targeting the human heads or simply grabbed the first item he saw, locals told Fox21 News.

No arrests have been made as of Saturday, according to authorities.

Science Care, which advertises its body donation services online, did not immediately return a request for comment.
A $40,000-a-year- private school in Chicago had allegedly injected critical race theory into its physics classes as far back as 2016 and tracked students' attitudes to the courses to see to see if they were successful.

Emails from The Latin School of Chicago obtained by The Federalist, a conservative news outlet, revealed that former director Elizabeth Denevi introduced a new curriculum to ninth grad students called 'Social Justice in Physics' six years ago.

According to one email, which was addressed to parents, the course was meant to 'address power dynamics, systematic racism, white privilege and the shortage of people of color and women in the field of science, especially physics.'

The Latin School of Chicago, a $40,000-a-year private institution, allegedly added critical race theory into its physics classes in 2016

Elizabeth Denevi, (left) former director of The Latin School and co-founder of Teaching While White, allegedly introduced the program designed by Moses Rifkin, a Seattle physics teacher. Both are involved in working with white educators on how to be anti-racist in the classroom

In an email obtained by The Federalist, a conservative news outlet, Denevi introduced a new curriculum to ninth grad students called 'Social Justice in Physics' in 2016

The email explained that the course was designed by Moses Rifkin, a physics teacher at University Prep in Seattle who claims to work with white teachers to help them understand 'their privilege and the role they can and must play in working for social justice,' according to his bio on the Learning for Justice, a branch of the Southern Poverty Law Center.

The course began with discussing the 'significant underrepresentation of Black American physicists' and asked students to complete a survey on a range of statements regarding race and racism.

The email also stated that the effectiveness of the course would be tracked through the survey as they hoped students would 'reflect deeply' on their lessons.

It is unknown if the course is still ongoing in the school, and The Latin School did not immediately respond to DailyMail.com's request for comment.

The lessons and theory taught are markedly similar to the types of 'equity' instruction that have roiled school boards across the US over the last year, with critics condemning the teachings as divisive and simplistic.

A separate email from a parent in the school, also obtained by The Federalist, showed that the parent was concerned about the course and the questions on the survey.

The course addressed racism and bias in physics and asked students to complete a survey so that the school could track the effectiveness of the course

An email from a concerned parents revealed that students were asked on whether or not they believed various statements centered around racism

Denevi works at Teaching while white with her husband, Randolph Carter (above), a member of the Black Panther Party and graduate of the Harvard University School Leadership program

According to the email, the students were asked to rate the statements with how much they believed in it.

Some of the statements read: 'American society fits my definition of racist, Talking about race makes me uncomfortable and having questions about another race is an example of racism.

One statement read: 'White Americans must recognize that justice for black people cannot be achieved without radical changes in the structure of our society.'

Months after the course was implemented, Denevi went on to co-found Teaching While White, and education group working to help white educators become 'anti-racist in the classroom.'

She works as the assistant professor at Lewis & Clark College in its Graduate School of Education and Counseling.

Denevi works at Teaching While White with her husband, Randolph Carter, a member of the Black Panther Party and graduate of the Harvard University School Leadership program.

Carter is the founder and associate director of the Eastern Educational Resource Collaborative, which works to promote equity and diversity in education.

Denevi and Teaching While White did not immediately respond to DailyMail.com's request for comment.

This year, San Francisco School District recalled three board members over their woke obsessions - keeping schools shut for far longer than other US cities because of 'safety.'

The same board infuriated the city's parents by removing merit-based entry to the city's top public high school, Lowell, in favor of a lottery system to enhance 'equity' by increasing the number of black and Latino attendees.

While depriving students of in-class instruction, San Francisco's School District got stuck into renaming local schools whose current titles were deemed 'problematic' - including one facility named after Abraham Lincoln.

The board also sought to destroy an almost 100 year-old mural by a well-regarded Depression-era artist over its depiction of Native Americans.

Similar incidents have played out across the US this year, with boards in Virginia also roiled by their obsession with 'equity' based topics and race.
It was an unusual admission for a future Queen. On an official visit last week to a farm near the Welsh town of Abergavenny, the Duchess of Cambridge let slip a little-known snippet about her pedigree  she is descended from a goat farmer.

'I was looking into my ancestry and there was someone there who was a rare-breed goat farmer,' she said on a tour of Pant Farm, Llanvetherine, which supplies goat milk from its herd to a local cheesemaker. 'I'll have to find out which one it was. It was just after the First World War.'

Now The Mail on Sunday has done the work for Kate  and we can today reveal that she is indeed descended from a goat-breeder  though her forebears were hardly horny-handed toilers in the fields.

In fact, her goat-loving relatives are the former Lady Mayoress of Leeds, Dr Elinor Lupton, and her sister Elizabeth, who ran a herd of rare-breed goats at Beechwood, a Georgian mansion in Roundhay, seven miles north of Leeds.

Now The Mail on Sunday has done the work for Kate  and we can today reveal that she is indeed descended from a goat-breeder  though her forebears were hardly horny-handed toilers in the fields

In fact, her goat-loving relatives are the former Lady Mayoress of Leeds, Dr Elinor Lupton, and her sister Elizabeth, who ran a herd of rare-breed goats at Beechwood, a Georgian mansion in Roundhay, seven miles north of Leeds. Pictured: Elinor Lupton and Princess Mary

The unmarried sisters were first cousins to Kate's paternal great-grandmother Olive Lupton and her sister Anne. Olive and her children, including Kate's grandfather Peter Middleton, regularly visited Beechwood Estate and its home farm with the famous rare breed of goats.

Elinor, who inherited the Beechwood estate after all three of Olive Middleton's brothers died in the First World War, shared her love of animal husbandry with her friend Princess Mary, the only daughter of King George V and Queen Mary and the aunt of the current Queen, who lived nearby at the Harewood estate with her husband Henry Lascelles, 6th Earl of Harewood.

Historian Michael Reed said: 'Kate is absolutely related to goat breeders. Farming and the land are in her blood. Her great-grandmother Olive Middleton's first cousins won awards from the Royal Agricultural Society for their expertise in rare goat breeding in the years between the world wars.'

The family house at the Beechwood estate was central to the lives of the Lupton clan  and to the Middletons once Olive Lupton had married Kate's great-grandfather, solicitor Richard Noel Middleton.

Much of the Lupton family wealth ended up in a trust fund for Olive's four children and their descendants  which paid for Kate and her siblings Pippa and James to be privately educated

In his family memoir The Next Generation, Kate's grandfather Peter Middleton wrote: 'We were somewhat in awe of our cousins Elinor and Bessie [Elizabeth].

'Visits to them at Beechwood were always rather special occasions before which my mother held careful inspections for dirt behind the ears, clean hankies etc.

'An even greater ordeal was the annual Beechwood Party, for which I still remember the horrors of trying to tie a black bow tie for my first dinner jacket. Nor will I forget my terror of Elinor and Bessie's aunt, Lady Bryce.'

The tragedy of the three brothers being killed in the First World War meant Kate's great-grandmother Olive and her spinster sister Anne shared their father's 70,538 inheritance, the equivalent of 5 million today.

Much of the Lupton family wealth ended up in a trust fund for Olive's four children and their descendants  which paid for Kate and her siblings Pippa and James to be privately educated.

The young Middletons did not, however, inherit the goat herd, which was given to another farmer after Elinor died in 1979, aged 92.
Russia and Ukraine will hold a third round of talks on Monday about ending Moscow's on-going invasion, a Kyiv official has claimed.

Ukrainian negotiator David Arakhamia announced the news in a Facebook post on Saturday, without providing further details. The Russian side was less definitive, saying merely that the talks might start on Monday.

Delegations from Ukraine and Russia have held two rounds of talks since Russia launched a full-scale invasion of its neighbour on February 24.

On Thursday, the sides agreed to open humanitarian corridors to allow civilians out of some combat zones, although there have been delays in implementing them after Ukraine accused Russia of not upholding the ceasefire.

Ukraine said on Saturday the talks had not produced results but that it would keep pursuing negotiations.

Meanwhile, Israel's premier stepped into the role of mediator Saturday as Russia's invasion of Ukraine intensified, holding a three-hour meeting at the Kremlin with Vladimir Putin before calling Ukraine's president and flying to Berlin.

Prime Minister Naftali Bennett's sit-down with Putin was the first by foreign leader since the day Russian forces invaded Ukraine last week, and came after Kyiv had asked Israel to launch a dialogue with Moscow.

Russia and Ukraine will hold a third round of talks on Monday about ending hostilities, Ukrainian negotiator David Arakhamia said in a Facebook post on Saturday, without providing further details. Pictured: The two sides hold a second round of talks on Thursday

'The third round of talks will take place on Monday,' Arakhamia, who is also the parliamentary faction leader of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy's party, wrote.

Russian news agency Interfax later quoted Russian negotiator Leonid Slutsky as saying 'the third round really could take place in the coming days, it's possible it will be on Monday.'

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Saturday that Zelenskiy's attempt to secure direct NATO help in the conflict between their countries was not helping talks between the two sides, but that Moscow was ready for a third round.

Wary of being dragged into Moscow's war on its neighbor, NATO on Friday turned down Zelenskiy's appeal to create a no-fly zone over Ukraine.

This prompted the Ukrainian president to say that the alliance had given Russia the green light to continue its bombing campaign.

Earlier on Saturday, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said he was open to talks with Lavrov, but only if they were 'meaningful.'

The Kremlin said on Friday that progress in the negotiations would depend on Kyiv's reaction to Moscow's position on how to end the war, which had been conveyed to Ukraine on Thursday.

Russia's TASS news agency quoted Slutsky as saying the Ukrainian side had shown some openness in the second round to reaching an agreement.

News of the third round of talks came as Britain said Russia's proposed ceasefire in the Ukrainian city of Mariupol was probably an attempt to deflect international condemnation while giving itself a chance to reset its forces for a renewed offensive.

A man with a child in his arms at the Porubne border crossing on March 5, 2022, in western Ukraine. According to the latest information, Ukraine today suspended the evacuation of civilians from Mariupol after a ceasefire broke down

The money raised by the Mail Force charity  in record-breaking time  has already been put to good use, with mothers and children arriving over the border to Slovakia yesterday greeted by aid workers funded by our generous readers

The Daily Mail, Mail on Sunday and MailOnline UKRAINE REFUGEE APPEAL Readers of Mail Newspapers and MailOnline have always shown immense generosity at times of crisis. Calling upon that human spirit, we are now launching an appeal to raise money for refugees from Ukraine. For, surely, no one can fail to be moved by the heartbreaking images and stories of families  mostly women, children, the infirm and elderly  fleeing from Russia's invading armed forces. As this tally of misery increases over the coming days and months, these innocent victims of a tyrant will require accommodation, schools and medical support. All donations to the Mail Ukraine Appeal will be distributed to charities and aid organisations providing such essential services. In the name of charity and compassion, we urge all our readers to give swiftly and generously. TO MAKE A DONATION ONLINE Donate at www.mailforcecharity.co.uk/donate To add Gift Aid to a donation  even one already made  complete an online form found here: mymail.co.uk/ukraine Via bank transfer, please use these details: Account name: Mail Force Charity Account number: 48867365 Sort code: 60-00-01 TO MAKE A DONATION VIA CHEQUE Make your cheque payable to 'Mail Force' and post it to: Mail Newspapers Ukraine Appeal, GFM, 42 Phoenix Court, Hawkins Road, Colchester, Essex CO2 8JY TO MAKE A DONATION FROM THE US US readers can donate to the appeal via a bank transfer to Associated Newspapers or by sending checks to dailymail.com HQ at 51 Astor Place (9th floor), New York, NY 10003 Advertisement

The Ministry of Defence (MoD) said Russia's proposed ceasefire in the Ukrainian city of Mariupol on Saturday was 'likely an attempt to deflect international condemnation while resetting its force for renewed offensive activity'.

In an intelligence update on Saturday afternoon, the MoD said: 'By accusing Ukraine of breaking the agreement, Russia is likely seeking to shift responsibility for current and future civilian casualties in the city.'

Russia said earlier it had opened humanitarian corridors near the besieged cities of Mariupol and Volnovakha. Russia's defence ministry then accused Ukrainian 'nationalists' of preventing civilians from leaving, RIA news agency reported.

But Mariupol's city council said Russia was not observing the ceasefire.

Also today, Russian President Vladimir Putin said Western sanctions were akin to war as his forces pressed their assault on Ukraine on Saturday for a 10th day and the IMF warned that the conflict would have a 'severe impact' on the global economy.

Moscow and Kyiv traded blame over the failure of plans to impose a brief ceasefire and enable civilians to evacuate two cities besieged by Russian forces.

Russia's invasion has already driven nearly 1.5 million refugees westwards into the European Union.

Putin said he wanted a neutral Ukraine that had been 'demilitarised' and 'denazified', adding: 'These sanctions that are being imposed are akin to a declaration of war but thank God it has not come to that.'

Ukraine and Western countries have rejected Putin's arguments as a baseless pretext for invading and have sought to squeeze Russia hard with sanctions.

The International Committee of the Red Cross said planned civilian evacuations from Mariupol and Volnovakha were now unlikely to start on Saturday.

The city council in Mariupol had accused Russia of not observing a ceasefire, while Moscow said Ukrainian 'nationalists' were preventing civilians from leaving.

Britain said the proposed ceasefire in Mariupol - which has been without power, water and heating for days - was likely an attempt by Russia to deflect international condemnation while it resets its forces.

The port of Mariupol has endured heavy bombardment, a sign of its strategic value to Moscow due to its position between Russian-backed separatist-held eastern Ukraine and the Black Sea Crimean peninsula, which Moscow seized from Kyiv in 2014.

Russia's Defence Ministry said its forces were carrying out a wide-ranging offensive in Ukraine and had taken several towns and villages, Interfax news agency reported.

Pictured: A tank driven by pro-Russian forces is seen moving through the Donetsk region

Russia is continuing to advance in southern Ukraine, with Mariupol under bombardment and Odessa and Mykolaiv under threat. Chernihiv, in the north, and Kharkiv, in the east, continue to come under heavy bombardment. The capital Kyiv is also under threat, though Ukrainian counter-attacks took out some Russian forces early on Friday

In an aerial combat near Zhytomyr, about 100 km (62 miles) west of Kyiv, it said, four Ukrainian Su-27 fighter jets had been shot down. Reuters could not independently confirm the report.

A United Nations monitoring mission said at least 351 civilians had been confirmed killed and 707 injured in Ukraine so far since the start of the invasion on Feb. 24, adding that the real figures were likely to be 'considerably higher'.

The number of refugees could rise to 1.5 million by Sunday night from 1.3 million now, the U.N. refugee agency chief said.

Women and children, often numb with exhaustion, continued to pour into Poland and other neighbouring countries as well as into western Ukrainian cities such as Lviv.

'I've barely slept for 10 days,' said Anna Filatova, arriving in Lviv with her two daughters from heavily bombed Kharkiv, Ukraine's second city near its eastern border with Russia.

'The Russians want to flatten Kharkiv... We hate Putin.'

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, on a visit to Poland, met refugees staying in a disused shopping mall near the border. Poland has taken in the vast majority of the Ukrainian refugees.

Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett's sit-down with Putin was the first by foreign leader since the day Russian forces invaded Ukraine last week, and came after Kyiv had asked Israel to launch a dialogue with Moscow.

Russian President Vladimir Putin (left) welcomes Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett during their meeting, in Sochi

Bennett has so far walked a very cautious line on the Ukraine crisis, seeking to preserve delicate security cooperation with Russia, which has a large military presence in Israel's northern neighbour, Syria.

Bennett has not joined Western leaders - notably key ally the United States - in forcefully condemning the invasion, instead stressing Israel's strong relations with both Russia and Ukraine.

Ahead of his Moscow trip, Bennett had spoken by telephone repeatedly with both Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

Bennett's office said he left Israel for Moscow early Saturday, itself an extraordinary move for a religious Jew who does not conduct state business on the Jewish Shabbath, except in extraordinary circumstances.

Bennett and Putin met for three hours, in a visit that was coordinated with the US, Germany and France, an Israeli official said.

Bennett's delegation included his housing minister, fluent Russian speaker Zeev Elkin, who was born in Ukraine when it was part of the Soviet Union.

The Kremlin said 'different aspects of the situation in Ukraine' were discussed during 'the short working visit'.

After the Putin meeting, Bennett called Zelensky - who is Jewish, has family in Israel and has visited the country many times.

Bennett then headed to Germany for talks with Chancellor Olaf Scholz scheduled for late Saturday.

A statement from the French presidency said Emmanuel Macron also spoke to Bennett before he left for Moscow on Saturday, as part of joint efforts to 'obtain a ceasefire in Ukraine'.
Labour's bid to banish the hard-Left legacy of Jeremy Corbyn is in turmoil after one of Sir Keir Starmers frontbenchers raised hopes that the ex-leader would be readmitted to the parliamentary party.

Shadow Attorney General Emily Thornberry infuriated Starmer loyalists by saying Mr Corbyn as much as anyone had a role in the broad church that was Labour.

She stressed that Mr Corbyn  currently barred from sitting as a Labour MP  must first apologise over a long-running antisemitism row with Sir Keir. But the remarks come after claims that Labour under Sir Keir must distance itself completely from its former leader to regain the trust of voters.

Shadow Attorney General Emily Thornberry said Mr Corbyn as much as anyone had a role in the broad church that was Labour

They also follow Labour fury at Mr Corbyn for refusing to take his name off a Stop the War Coalition letter on Ukraine which accused the West of sabre-rattling and criticised Natos eastward expansion.

Last night, one Shadow Cabinet colleague slammed Ms Thornberrys remarks, saying: Weve got to signal to voters who abandoned us that weve changed over key issues such as defence of the realm. To signal change, its important Corbyn doesnt come back.

And a former member of Sir Keirs frontbench team insisted it was utterly unacceptable for Mr Corbyn to be readmitted to the parliamentary party.

Mr Corbyn has been forced to sit as an Independent MP for more than a year after appearing to downplay the problem of antisemitism in the party.

Addressing a Labour in Communications online meeting last Monday, Ms Thornberry was asked if notwithstanding the things hes said in the past, Jeremy Corbyn should be readmitted into the party and given the whip.

Ms Thornberry was asked if notwithstanding the things hes said in the past, Jeremy Corbyn should be readmitted into the party and given the whip.

She said Mr Corbyn needed to apologise and could not demand to come back.

But she added: I wish there could be a compromise that is found and I think as a former leader it would be good if Jeremy was back in the party. Were a broad church and Jeremy has a role to play in that coalition as much as anyone else does.

One senior Labour moderniser last week claimed there had to be blood on the carpet between the new leadership and Corbynista supporters to show the party was electable.

And Sir Keir himself has warned MPs that any of them who try to attack Nato and indulge in false equivalence with Russian aggression will be kicked out of the party.

Ms Thornberry last night stressed that she was referring to the partys official position on Mr Corbyns reaction to a 2020 report into antisemitism in Labour  not on his views on Nato.

A spokesman said in a later meeting: Emily made clear she profoundly disagreed with him about Nato when he was party leader and profoundly disagrees with him now.

A spokesman for Mr Corbyn pointed out how he had condemned Russias shocking invasion of Ukraine and how he had previously accused Putin of war crimes in Syria in 2016.
Americans are purchasing freedom convoy merchandise in support of the truckers driving cross-country to Washington DC in protest of coronavirus mandates.

Apparel, flags, signs, stickers and pins are being sold at convoy rally stops across the U.S. as supporters aim to raise awareness for the trucks caravanning nationwide.

Much of the merchandise featured patriotic designs, such as the American and Canadian flags, and messages promoting the right-wing agenda, such as 'Trump 2024' and 'Let's Go Brandon' - a phrase that has became code for insulting President Joe Biden.

While many of the items for sale seem to issue support for former President Donald Trump and initiatives associated with his presidency, such as the U.S. Space Force, the vendors' intent is still to support the truck convoys.

The 30-mile People's Convoy - which is the largest of the cavalcades traveling across the U.S. - is set to arrive in Washington D.C. on Sunday morning.

Convoyers are demanding that Biden end the national emergency originally declared at the start of the pandemic, as well as scrap any remaining coronavirus mandates. The group alleges the government has infringed upon their constitutional rights with the mandates, and claims to be made up of both Republicans and Democrats.

The U.S. truck convoys were modeled after Canada's self-styled Freedom Convoy which resulted in blockades at a handful of Canada-U.S. border posts. Hundreds of trucks eventually occupied the streets around Parliament Hill in Ottawa, shutting down key parts of the capital city for more than three weeks. The Canadian protest also inspired convoys in France, New Zealand and the Netherlands.

LORE CITY, OHIO - MARCH 3: Americans are purchasing freedom convoy merchandise in support of the truckers driving cross-country to Washington DC in protest of coronavirus mandates

LORE CITY, OHIO - MARCH 3: Apparel, flags, signs, stickers and pins are being sold at convoy rally stops across the U.S. as supporters aim to raise awareness for the trucks caravanning nationwide

LEBANON, TENNESSEE - MARCH 4: Much of the merchandise featured patriotic designs, such as the American and Canadian flags, and messages promoting the right-wing agenda, such as 'Trump 2024' and 'Let's Go Brandon' - a phrase that has became code for insulting President Joe Biden

HEBRON, OHIO - MARCH 3: While many of the items for sale seem to issue support for former President Donald Trump and initiatives associated with his presidency, such as the U.S. Space Force, the vendors' intent is still to support the truck convoys

LEBANON, TENNESSEE - MARCH 4: Let's Go Brandon racing tires were selling for $10 each

The pro-convoy merchandise varied in price, with stickers and pins selling for as little as $5 each.

Miniature Let's Go Brandon racing tires were selling at $10, metal signs at $12 and the popular flags - which supporters have been waving from overpasses and along interstates as the truck caravans roll through - at $20.

Apparel seemed to be the money maker with hats, shirts and hooded sweatshirts each priced at $20, $25 and $35 to $40, respectively.

Some vendors appear to be holding pop-up shops along the convoy routes.

Other merchants seem to be traveling with the various convoys, however it is unclear if the money raised by their products are being used to support each individual shop or the convoy as a whole.

The People's Convoy, as of Saturday, has raised over $1.6million from donations on its website. The group has also received donations of fuel, food and other supplies at various stops along its route.

HEBRON, OHIO - MARCH 3: Flags - which supporters have been waving from overpasses and along interstates as the truck caravans roll through - were listed for sale at $20

LEBANON, TENNESSEE - MARCH 4: Apparel seemed to be the money maker with hats, shirts and hooded sweatshirts each priced at $20, $25 and $35 to $40, respectively

LEBANON, TENNESSEE - MARCH 4: A Space Force hat is pictured for sale at a convoy rally

HEBRON, OHIO - MARCH 3: Holly Lama, of Lancaster, Ohio, and her son in front of their Back the Blue pop-up booth in Hebron, Ohio. The People's Convoy had travelled through Hebron on its cross-country drive

LORE CITY, OHIO - MARCH 3: A pop-up merchandise shop is set up at the Shenandoah Travel Plaza in Lore City, Ohio

HEBRON, OHIO - MARCH 3: Various pro-Trump hats are pictured at a pop-up shop in Ohio along the People's Convoy route

HEBRON, OHIO - MARCH 3: The pro-convoy merchandise varied in price, with stickers and pins selling for as little as $5 each

LEBANON, TENNESSEE - MARCH 4: Some vendors appear to be holding pop-up shops along the convoy routes

LEBANON, TENNESSEE - MARCH 4: Other merchants seem to be traveling with the various convoys, however it is unclear if the merchant pictured above is a pop-shop, regularly stationed at the James E Ward Agricultural Center in Lebanon, Tennessee or traveling with the Southeast American Freedom Convoy, which is a large caravan moving through the south

The People's Convoy started their journey in California last week on an 11-day trek to Washington, D.C. They are expected to arrive in the capital city Sunday morning for a rally, however it remains unclear when or where it will take place.

'Well, we're going to do something,' organizer Brian Brase, told supporters at a Friday night rally in Hagerstown, Maryland. 'What this is is yet to be determined. Please be patient.'

Organizer Mike Landis echoed Brase's claims, saying: 'We're going to keep annoying D.C.  Just make them wonder a little bit.'

'Look, we're truck drivers; we're very spontaneous,' Landis added.

It remains unclear how many will attend Sunday's rally in D.C. but a significant turnout is expected, given the large welcome the People's Convoy has been met with nationwide.

Some convoyers have mentioned 'blocking the Beltway,' the 64-mile highway surrounding the city, however organizers have routinely claimed they do not intend to disrupt roads or bridges, like the Canadian Freedom Convoy protest did.

'I can tell you now that there will be select trucks going to the White House,' organizer Dan Fitzgerald revealed on his Friday morning livestream. 'I don't want people thinking we are invading D.C. This is not the convoy going into D.C. commons. This is a few select drivers.'

The group is primarily protesting COVID-19 mandates, although some political analysts allege the group is also calling for over-arching federal accountability and addressing additional political issues such as the alleged 'fraudulent' 2020 election and Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

LORE CITY, OHIO - MARCH 3: The People's Convoy is the largest truck caravan traveling the U.S. As of Saturday, it has raised over $1.6million from donations on its website

LEBANON, TENNESSEE - MARCH 4: Anti-Joe Biden pins are sold to convoy supporters in Tennessee

HEBRON, OHIO - MARCH 4: The People's Convoy, which rallied through Ohio on Thursday, is expected to arrive in D.C. Sunday morning for a rally. A pop-up Back the Blue shop in Hebron, Ohio is pictured above

LORE CITY, OHIO - MARCH 3: The U.S. truck convoys were modeled after Canada's self-styled Freedom Convoy which resulted in blockades at a handful of Canada-U.S. border posts

LEBANON, TENNESSEE - MARCH 4: During the Canadian Freedom Convoy hundreds of trucks eventually occupied the streets around Parliament Hill in Ottawa, shutting down key parts of the capital city for more than three weeks. Convoy supporters are seen shopping in Tennessee

HEBRON, OHIO - MARCH 4: The Canadian protest also inspired convoys in France, New Zealand and the Netherlands

LEBANON, TENNESSEE - MARCH 4: Pastor and author William Owens, who has been traveling with the Southeast American Freedom Convoy since it rolled through Texas, is selling his books along the convoy route

LEBANON, TENNESSEE - MARCH 4: Convoyers are demanding that Biden end the national emergency originally declared at the start of the pandemic, as well as scrap any remaining coronavirus mandates

The trucker protests come as nearly every state in America either has lifted mask orders or has scheduled a day to do so in the near future, with the exception of Hawaii.

Even the U.S. Capitol, which has had a controversial mask mandate since legislators returned in the summer 2020, lifted mask orders last weekend.

Vaccine mandates, possibly the most controversial COVID-related mandates, are starting to become a thing of the past, as New York City has dropped them for businesses like bars and restaurants.

The policy changes are in response to virus case loads across the country having dropped precipitously since their early January peak, with the Omicron variant proving to be less likely than earlier strains to cause death or serious illness, especially in vaccinated and boosted individuals.

The CDC also issued new coronavirus guidelines last Friday that resulted in the lifting of mask recommendations for 70 percent of Americans.

LEBANON, TENNESSEE - MARCH 4: The convoyers allege the government has infringed upon their constitutional rights with the mandate

HEBRON, OHIO - MARCH 4: Some political analysts allege the group is also calling for over-arching federal accountability and addressing additional political issues such as the alleged 'fraudulent' 2020 election and Russia's invasion of Ukraine

LORE CITY, OHIO - MARCH 3: The trucker protests come as nearly every state in America either has lifted mask orders or has scheduled a day to do so in the near future, with the exception of Hawaii
Italy has seized 118 million worth of luxury yachts and villas from Russian oligarchs to add to the growing pressure on Russian President Vladimir Putin to cease his brutal invasion of Ukraine.

Several European governments are moving against Russian oligarchs, seizing superyachts and other properties from billionaires on sanctions lists.

Since Friday, Italian authorities have seized 143 million euros (118 million) in luxury yachts and villas in some of its most picturesque destinations, including Sardinia, the Ligurian coast and Lake Como.

'We must be able to stop Putin's attack, bringing him to the table, and he won't go with niceties,' Italian foreign minister Luigi Di Maio told Italian state TV on Friday, announcing Italy's plans to begin the seizures of property belonging to oligarchs close to Putin.

Italian financial police moved quickly, seizing the superyacht Lena belonging to Gennady Timchenko, an oligarch close to Putin, in the port of San Remo.

Since Friday, Italian authorities have seized 143 million euros (118 million) in luxury yachts and villas in some of its most picturesque destinations. A superyacht belonging to oligarch Gennady Timchenko (pictured) was one of the assets seized

A picture taken on March 5, 2022 shows a view of the yacht 'Lena', belonging to Gennady Timchenko, an oligarch close to Russian President, in the port of San Remo

The 215ft Lady M, owned by Alexei Mordashov in nearby Imperia - featuring six suites and estimated to be worth 65 million euros (53 million) - was also seized, as well as villas in Tuscany and Como, according to government officials.

The villa of Russian-Uzbek business magnate Alisher Usmanov was seized along the Emerald Coast in northern Sardinia, long the playground of the world's wealthiest.

This came after German officials this week denied reports that they had seized Usmanov's yacht in the port of Hamburg.

According to the UK Government, he also owns Beechwood House in Highgate, worth an estimated 48 million, and the 16th-century Sutton Place estate in Surrey.

Furthermore, a villa on Lake Como owned by Vladimir Soloviev - a Russian state TV host - was also taken by Italian authorities, according to The Guardian,

Activists say that going after the oligarchs is tantamount to going after Putin.

The 215ft Lady M, owned by Alexei Mordashov in nearby Imperia - featuring six suites and estimated to be worth 65 million euros (53 million) - was also seized, as well as villas in Tuscany and Como, according to government officials

A view of the yacht 'Lady M', owned by Russian oligarch Alexei Mordashov, at it is docked at Imperia's harbor, Italy, Saturday, March 5, 2022

'Vladimir Putin keeps all his money with the oligarchs,' said William Browder, a US-born and London-based financier and human rights activist who was once a major investor in Russia but ran afoul of the government in the late 2000s.

'And this is a very effective psychological warfare, to start seizing yachts.

'I think it's demoralising for the oligarchs, and it's demoralising for Vladimir Putin.

'And he's a guy who ... rules by image, you know, is the person who has pictures of himself with the shirt off on a horse.

'And so it's a bad image to have one of his best friends' yacht seized in the south of France,' Browder said.

The Daily Beast reported that Vladimir Soloviev bemoaned the fact that he might lose his Italian assets while speaking on live TV.

'Suddenly someone makes a decision that this journalist is now on the list of sanctions. And right away it affects your real estate. Wait a minute. But you told us that Europe has sacred property rights,' he said, the news outlet reported.

The villa of Russian-Uzbek business magnate Alisher Usmanov was seized along the Emerald Coast in northern Sardinia, long the playground of the world's wealthiest

Pictured: Sardinia, Italy - which has for a long time been a destination for Europe's billionaires

A villa on Lake Como owned by Vladimir Soloviev - a Russian state TV host (pictured) - was also taken by Italian authorities, according to The Guardian ,

Pictured: A view of the second home of Russian state TV host Vladimir Soloviev

Germany's economy ministry said it was in the process of 'swiftly and effectively implementing the Russia sanctions' but declined to say publicly which assets had been seized, if any.

So far, French authorities have seized a yacht linked to Igor Sechin, a Putin ally who runs the Russian oil giant Rosneft, in the Mediterranean resort of La Ciotat where it arrived in January for repairs.

French officials said Thursday that the crew was preparing for urgent departure when they arrived, even though the repairs were still under way.

Britain meanwhile is set to make it easier to penalise Russian oligarchs and align those sanctions with the European Union and the US over the invasion of Ukraine, the government said on Saturday.

The UK has been criticised for not doing enough to clamp down on oligarchs' ill-gotten gains which are frequently invested in luxury real estate in London, a popular destination.

Several European governments are moving against Russian oligarchs, seizing superyachts and other properties from billionaires on sanctions lists. Pictured: The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, speaks at the press conference after a meeting with the President of the Government, at La Moncloa, on March 5, 2022

Amendments will be introduced to the Economic Crimes bill, which the government now wants to be passed by the lower House of Commons on Monday

A statement said the bill will 'crack down on corrupt elites and ramp up pressure on (President Vladimir) Putin's regime.'

Moscow in turn vowed retaliatory measures against 'the sanctions hysteria in which London has played one of the leading roles, if not the main one'.

British Economic Secretary to the Treasury John Glen said Saturday that the UK amendments will 'allow us to move harder and faster' with sanctions.

'What we're trying to do is make it more straightforward to get a legal basis to move on these individuals. We believe that these changes will make that difference,' Glen told BBC radio.

'We need to look at how we can expedite these decisions more swiftly.'

The amendments 'will allow the UK to align more rapidly with the individual designations imposed by our allies such as the US, Canada and the EU via an urgent designation procedure,' the government said after criticism that sanctions lists were not always aligned.

They will also reduce the deadline for foreign companies to register their beneficial owners from 18 months to six months, to 'help crack down on money laundering through UK property'.

Pictured: A tank driven by pro-Russian forces is seen moving through the Donetsk region

The money raised by the Mail Force charity  in record-breaking time  has already been put to good use, with mothers and children arriving over the border to Slovakia yesterday greeted by aid workers funded by our generous readers

The Daily Mail, Mail on Sunday and MailOnline UKRAINE REFUGEE APPEAL Readers of Mail Newspapers and MailOnline have always shown immense generosity at times of crisis. Calling upon that human spirit, we are now launching an appeal to raise money for refugees from Ukraine. For, surely, no one can fail to be moved by the heartbreaking images and stories of families  mostly women, children, the infirm and elderly  fleeing from Russia's invading armed forces. As this tally of misery increases over the coming days and months, these innocent victims of a tyrant will require accommodation, schools and medical support. All donations to the Mail Ukraine Appeal will be distributed to charities and aid organisations providing such essential services. In the name of charity and compassion, we urge all our readers to give swiftly and generously. TO MAKE A DONATION ONLINE Donate at www.mailforcecharity.co.uk/donate To add Gift Aid to a donation  even one already made  complete an online form found here: mymail.co.uk/ukraine Via bank transfer, please use these details: Account name: Mail Force Charity Account number: 48867365 Sort code: 60-00-01 TO MAKE A DONATION VIA CHEQUE Make your cheque payable to 'Mail Force' and post it to: Mail Newspapers Ukraine Appeal, GFM, 42 Phoenix Court, Hawkins Road, Colchester, Essex CO2 8JY TO MAKE A DONATION FROM THE US US readers can donate to the appeal via a bank transfer to Associated Newspapers or by sending checks to dailymail.com HQ at 51 Astor Place (9th floor), New York, NY 10003 Advertisement

The government said the bill would be 'expedited' through the Commons on Monday with a view to it becoming law 'as soon as possible'.

The UK has already passed a swathe of sanctions against Russian oligarchs, banks and businesses, as well as banning Russian aircraft and vessels over Moscow's invasion of Ukraine.

The British sanctions regime 'leaves us no choice but to take retaliatory proportional harsh measures,' Russia's Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova told journalists on Saturday.

'London has made a final choice of open confrontation with Russia. Such a development convinces us once more that Russophobia and the aim to undermine the Russian state are integral elements of Britain's foreign policy.'

News of the Italian sanctions came after British dockers on Saturday refused to unload Russian oil from a tanker, calling for the government to close a 'loophole' in sanctions allowing foreign-flagged ships to deliver the fuel.

The Seacod is currently moored near the Stanlow refinery in northwest England, and unions say its cargo is not covered by a ban on Russian vessels because it is German flagged.

UK sanctions introduced over the invasion of Ukraine ban all ships that are Russian owned, operated, controlled, registered or flagged from entering British ports.

Unite union general secretary Sharon Graham said that 'due to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, Unite workers at the (Stanlow) facility will under no circumstances unload any Russian oil regardless of the nationality of the vessel.'

'Unite urges the Transport Secretary Grant Shapps to close this loophole immediately.'

The refinery's operator, India's Essar, said it was 'deeply concerned by the humanitarian crisis unfolding in Ukraine and is fully complying with the statutory framework implemented by the UK government with regard to Russia-related entities'.

The UK is less dependent on Russian energy than many other European nations.

The Unison union said two other Cyprus-flagged tankers carrying Russian gas, the Boris Vilkitsky and Fedor Litke, were turned away from the Isle of Grain in Kent, southeastern England, on Friday.

'While it looks like our intervention has been successful in seeing these ships turned away, a more fundamental problem remains,' Unison national officer for energy Matt Lay said in a statement.

'The government must act immediately to close the loophole that does not cover the origin of vessels' cargo and stop Russian goods continuing to arrive in the UK under the cover of another country.'
Actor Tim Allen has spoken out to condemn Russian leader Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine, calling it 'the definition of wrong'.

The Last Man Standing star, 68, joined many other prominent figures in voicing his disgust with warmonger Putin, tweeting on Thursday: 'This is the definition of wrong. My head, heart and soul pray for the people of Ukraine.'

'My mind and body are full of anger and disgust at the coward putin ghouls that have attacked a sovereign country,' he wrote, concluding with: 'F-putin'.

On Saturday, the invasion entered its 10th day and the situation grew ever more dire for Ukrainians, as Russia shelled encircled cities and a humanitarian ceasefire to allow civilian evacuation broke down under Russian bombardment.

Actor Tim Allen (left) has spoken out to condemn Russian leader Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine, calling it 'the definition of wrong'

The number of Ukrainians forced to flee their country as refugees has grown to 1.4 million. The UN says more than 350 civilians have been killed since Russia's invasion last week.

It is not the first time that Allen, of Home Improvement fame, has commented on the unfolding crisis.

On February 24, he tweeted 'Pray if you will for all those attacked today by the Russians.'

He also paraphrased a quote from Winston Churchill, which he mistakenly attributed to Franklin D. Roosevelt: ''Appeasement' is the policy of feeding your friends to a crocodile, one at a time, in hopes that the crocodile will eat you last.'

Allen is far from the only Hollywood star to speak out against Russia, and at the 28th Screen Actors Guild (SAG) Awards last week, Lady Gaga and Michael Douglas were among those voicing support for Ukraine.

Several other performers, including SAG President Fran Drescher, used their speeches to address the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine.

Michael Douglas sported a blue-and-yellow pocket square resembling the Ukrainian flag, at the SAG awards. He pointed to the pocket square and said: 'This is not the LA Rams'

Actor and producer Tyler Perry wears a ribbon with the colors of the Ukrainian flag as he arrives for the 28th Annual Screen Actors Guild

'First, I would like to extend prayers to the people of Ukraine,' Drescher, 64, best known for her television sitcom The Nanny, told the audience as she arrived on stage mid-ceremony.

Her remarks were echoed by 40-year-old Hamilton star Leslie Odom Jr. who kicked off the annual awards show, saying: 'We're holding a place in our hearts for Ukraine and sending our thoughts, prayers and hopes for impending peace.'

Ukraine's leader made a 'desperate' plea Saturday to American lawmakers for the United States to help get more warplanes to his military and cut off Russian oil imports as Kyiv tries to stave off the Russian invasion.

President Volodymyr Zelensky opened the private video call with U.S. lawmakers by telling them this may be the last time they see him alive. He has remained in Kyiv, the capital, which has a vast Russian armored column threatening from the north.

In a Zoom meeting with the US Congress, Zelensky repeated his plea for NATO to impose a no-fly zone over his country to blunt Russian air superiority, and requested tougher sanctions against Russia including a ban on oil exports

A view of destroyed settlements after recent shellings in the city of Irpin, northwest of Kyiv on Saturday

Russian forces are now attempting to encircle Kyiv and pressing forward in the northeast and southeast

Appearing in what is now his trademark army-green shirt in front of a white wall with the Ukrainian flag, he told them Ukraine needs to secure its skies, either through a no-fly zone enforced by NATO or through the provision of more warplanes so Ukraine could better defend itself.

Zelensky has been pleading for a no-fly zone for days, but NATO has refused, saying it could provoke a widespread war with nuclear-armed Russia.

The hourlong exchange with some 300 members of Congress and their staffs came as Russian troops continued to shell encircled cities and the number of Ukrainians who have fled the country grew to 1.4 million.

'President Zelensky made a desperate plea,' said Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer.

He said Zelensky wants the U.S. to facilitate the transfer of planes from Eastern European allies. 'I will do all I can to help the administration to facilitate their transfer,' Schumer said.
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Boris Johnson has drawn up a six-point plan to defeat Vladimir Putin as he moves to assume leadership of global efforts to end the horror of war in Ukraine.

The Russian President faced an unprecedented wave of international fury yesterday for offering safe passage to Ukrainian refugees  only to bombard them with artillery as they fled.

Some 200,000 civilians had been set to leave the port city of Mariupol and 15,000 from Volnovakha in eastern Ukraine at 7am yesterday (UK time) as part of a temporary ceasefire deal overseen by the Red Cross.

However, just 400 refugees managed to flee Volnovakha before the ceasefire was shattered.

The Prime Minister led the condemnation of Russia and said the world must unite under his plan to thwart the aggression.

In his action plan, Mr Johnson called for: the creation of an international humanitarian coalition for Ukraine; a boost to Kyiv's military self-defence; a ratcheting up of sanctions on Moscow; concerted diplomatic efforts to de-escalate the crisis; and 'a rapid campaign to strengthen security and resilience across the Euro-Atlantic area'.

In addition, Mr Johnson wants to combat 'the creeping normalisation of what Russia is doing in Ukraine' as he fears that the shock value of Putin's actions will start to fade.

It comes as dramatic footage emerged yesterday of the final moments of Russian attack helicopter shot down by Ukrainian soldiers over a rural village around 25 miles outside Kyiv.

The Mi-24 was struck by a rocket before plummeting to the earth, hitting the ground nose-first, with all its pilots and navigators feared killed.

Their deaths came on a day when Russian aerial forces lost as many as eight aircraft, as well as multi-role, strike and close air support aircraft and a drone.

And in another remarkable development yesterday, Putin came under pressure from his own soldiers to stop the war.

At a press conference in Kyiv, captured Russian troops condemned the mission and called on their fellow citizens to rally against the conflict.

Boris Johnson has drawn up a six-point plan to defeat Vladimir Putin as he moves to assume leadership of global efforts to end the horror of war in Ukraine

The Russian President faced an unprecedented wave of international fury yesterday for offering safe passage to Ukrainian refugees  only to bombard them with artillery as they fled

A mass evacuation of more than 200,000 civilian refugees from the encircled cities of Mariupol and Volnovakha was derailed yesterday morning when Russian forces ignored a promised ceasefire and continued artillery attacks. Pictured: Shelling has destroyed homes in the village of Markhalivka

Pictured: Ukraine's State Emergency Service press service released an image showing the debris of a shot down Russian aircraft in Chernihiv, north of Kyiv. This city is one of the most heavily bombarded by Russia

Meanwhile, in the space of a fortnight, Mr Johnson has transformed from beleaguered leader, assailed by endless allegations about lockdown parties, to burgeoning international statesman  defusing the pressure from rebel backbenchers for a leadership challenge.

Even previously sceptical Tory MPs have speculated that the crisis could prove to be Mr Johnson's 'Falklands moment'  a reference to the 1982 war which transformed Margaret Thatcher's political fortunes.

The analogy is enhanced by the fact Mr Johnson has moved his daily 8.30am briefing from his No 10 study to Thatcher's old office on the floor above.

It means that Mr Johnson and his inner circle of six key advisers are dissecting the conflict under the steely painted gaze of the Iron Lady.

The war has also pleased many of Mr Johnson's aides by pushing to the margins issues such as the 'woke agenda' which, in the words of one source, 'are now realised to be as trivial as they always were'.

Mr Johnson will cement his place at the centre of the international diplomatic effort this week with a series of Downing Street meetings.

The Russian defence ministry claimed that its units were opening humanitarian corridors near the two cities for a period of five hours to allow families to flee. Ukrainian authorities, however, announced that both evacuations had to be called off because Russian forces had continued to pound the cities. Pictured: Ukrainians crowd under a destroyed bridge as they try to flee crossing the Irpin river in the outskirts of Kyiv, March 5, 2022

People crowd as they try to get on a train to Lviv at Kyiv station, Ukraine, March 4, 2022

A child has a drink at the border crossing in Medyka, Poland, Saturday, March 5, 2022, after fleeing from Ukraine

Since Russia invaded on February 24, Moscow has pummelled Ukrainian cities, with officials reporting hundreds of civilians killed. Europe's largest atomic power plant came under attack sparking fears of a catastrophic nuclear accident. But Russia has so far only seized two key cities, Berdiansk and Kherson. Capturing Mariupol represents a bigger prize for Russia as it would deal a severe blow to Ukraine's maritime access and connect with troops coming from annexed Crimea and the Donbas

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte will be welcomed to No 10 tomorrow, followed by the leaders of the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia  the countries on the front line of the humanitarian crisis caused by the conflict.

The Prime Minister said yesterday: 'Putin must fail and must be seen to fail in this act of aggression.

'It is not enough to express our support for the rules-based international order  we must defend it against a sustained attempt to rewrite the rules by military force. The world is watching. It is not future historians but the people of Ukraine who will be our judge'.

In other developments in the conflict yesterday:

Moscow threatened to hit Britain with 'tough retaliatory measures' in response to the swingeing economic sanctions and boycotts imposed on Russia  which Putin likened to a 'declaration of war';

The Russian leader warned the West that implementing a no-fly zone over Ukraine would have 'colossal and catastrophic consequences';

Russia experienced its worst day in the skies with dramatic footage emerging of an attack helicopter being brought down and Ukrainian sources claiming that eight enemy aircraft had been destroyed, including fighter jets;

The world was shocked by deeply distressing images of a mother cradling the lifeless body of her 18-month-old boy who was killed in an artillery strike on Friday;

Russia appeared to be using bases in Belarus to launch long-range missiles into Ukraine for the first time;

The total raised by the Mail Force Ukraine Appeal hit a record 3.6 million, with the charity making a 250,000 donation to Unicef;

Some 2,000 civilians stood up to Russian troops occupying the city of Kherson, marching through the streets and shouting: 'Russians go home';

Demonstrations against Russia's invasion were held in cities across the world, including London, Manchester and Bath;

Boris Johnson praised the bravery of a team of Sky journalists who were shot and injured in an ambush by a Russian 'assassination squad';

Ukraine's defiant President Volodymyr Zelensky claimed his forces have killed around 10,000 Russian troops  far more than the 498 Moscow concedes that it has lost'

Mr Zelensky attacked Nato leaders for refusing to impose a no-fly zone, claiming the West had given Russia a 'green light' to continue its blitz of towns and cities;

The Disasters Emergency Committee's appeal for Ukraine raised 85 million in two days, including donations from the Queen, Prince Charles and Prince William.

A mass evacuation of more than 200,000 civilian refugees from the encircled cities of Mariupol and Volnovakha was derailed yesterday morning when Russian forces ignored a promised ceasefire and continued artillery attacks.

The Russian defence ministry claimed that its units were opening humanitarian corridors near the two cities for a period of five hours to allow families to flee.

Ukrainian authorities, however, announced that both evacuations had to be called off because Russian forces had continued to pound the cities.

Mariupol deputy mayor Serhiy Orlov said: 'The Russians are continuing to bomb us and use artillery. It is crazy. There is no ceasefire in Mariupol and there is no ceasefire all along the route.

'Our civilians are ready to escape but they cannot escape under shelling.'

Defence Secretary Ben Wallace last night led the worldwide condemnation, saying: 'Russian generals have sunk to a new low.

'The world can see them for what they are. Shelling civilians is not the mark of a real soldier but a coward.'

Servicemen of pro-Russian militia walk next to a military convoy of armed forces of the separatist self-proclaimed Luhansk People's Republic on a road in the Luhansk region, February 27, 2022

The money raised by the Mail Force charity  in record-breaking time  has already been put to good use, with mothers and children arriving over the border to Slovakia yesterday greeted by aid workers funded by our generous readers

Richard Dannatt, a former head of the British Army, accused Vladimir Putin of 'war crimes'.

'Having agreed upon a ceasefire and humanitarian corridor and then violating it, it shows what a dishonourable individual Putin is,' he added.

The UK has played a central role in the international community's effort against Russia's invasion of Ukraine, including coordinating a 38-country referral to the International Criminal Court to ensure Putin will be held to account for his crimes.

British courts are also expected to be given new powers to strike out vexatious claims by oligarchs trying to muzzle journalists under plans being considered by Ministers. MPs are this week tabling an amendment to the Economic Crime Bill to give courts the powers to strike out 'strategic lawsuits' used by the super-rich to stifle critics.

Tory MP Jonathan Gullis said: 'The Prime Minister is showing leadership on the international stage. History will look back at this as his Falklands moment.'
Belarusian exiles have formed the first unit of foreign fighters taking up arms for Ukraine following President Volodymyr Zelenskys call for a new international brigade to join their war against Russia.

They have set up a special unit in the Ukrainian army that is fighting to defend the capital Kyiv after scores of Belarusians flooded into the country to join the battle.

Their leaders have issued a warning to Belarusian troops massing on Ukraines northern border to either stay at home or join their side fighting for freedom against both Russias president Vladimir Putin and his ally Alexander Lukashenko in Minsk.

Lukashenko hosted the Russian invasion forces and allowed his land to be used for missile launches. The veteran dictator has became reliant on Putin since crushing pro-democracy protests after a disputed presidential election result two years ago.

Belarusian exiles have formed the first unit of foreign fighters taking up arms for Ukraine following President Volodymyr Zelenskys call for a new international brigade to join their war against Russia. Pictured: The unit stands with the white and red flags of Belarus

Some dissidents fled to Ukraine - but following warnings from US defence officials, there are fears that Lukashenko may send his own troops over the border to fight alongside Putins armed forces despite the despots firm denials on Friday.

Now Yan Melnikov, who has been fighting for the airfield in Vasilkyv, near Kyiv, has announced that he is heading the first unit of foreign volunteers in the Ukrainian armed forces with more than 50 recruits from his country.

We urge every Belarusian who has a desire to fight shoulder to shoulder with Ukrainians for the common ideals of freedom and the value of sovereignty to join us, he said in a video released by the nationalist Azov Battalion.

He was flanked by seven other armed Belarusian fighters. There have also been suggestions on social media that people fighting Lukashenkos regime have been sabotaging rail and phone communications to frustrate the war effort.

Zelensky called for foreigners to join their fight at the weekend when announcing a new military unit - the International Legion of the Territorial Defense of Ukraine - to combat Putin. This is the beginning of a war against Europe, he said.

Several British volunteers have declared their intention to sign up - although Boris Johnson has warned they could face terrorism charges upon their return. At least one Briton is thought to be encircled in fierce fighting around the port of Mariupol.

Melnikov, a veteran of the eight-year conflict with pro-Moscow separatists in east Ukraine, said 30 Belarusian comrades in Ukraine had been joined by newcomers arriving last week in the unit fighting under the Territorial Defence Forces, made up of military reservists.

We share the same concept of freedom as the Ukrainian people, he said. But today Belarus is occupied by pro-Russian forces with a government totally under their control. Belarusian freedom depends on the freedom of Ukraine.

Pictured: Vadim Kabanchuk, a member of the special unit in the Ukrainian army that is fighting to defend the capital Kyiv after scores of Belarusians flooded into the country to join the battle

The money raised by the Mail Force charity  in record-breaking time  has already been put to good use, with mothers and children arriving over the border to Slovakia yesterday greeted by aid workers funded by our generous readers

Other prominent Minsk activists have revealed that more than 200 Belarusians have joined other units of the Territorial Defence Forces in support of Kyiv.

Two of them have released a video appeal to Belarusian soldiers not to follow Lukashenkos criminal orders, instead urging them to make a moral choice to stay at home or alternatively to defect in Ukraine.

Guys, this is not your war, stay at home. If it happens that you are sent to Ukraine, surrender as soon as possible, said Vadim Kabanchuk, a former political prisoner, and Vadim Prokopyev, a former business owner. Make the right choice.

Prokopyev, who arrived in a convoy of seven cars from Warsaw on Monday, said that Belarusian recruits have been pouring over the Polish border in recent days to join exiles already in Ukraine.

The destiny of Belarus is going to be determined in this battle between the Russian world and the free people of Ukraine. This is our battleground too. If we win here, then the days of Lukashenko are numbered.'
As a self-styled strongman, Vladimir Putin has been ridiculed in recent weeks for keeping his distance in meetings with his top generals and world leaders amid speculation he is terrified of catching Covid.

But yesterday, the Russian President saw no issue with sidling up close to a group of glamorous air hostesses  in stark contrast to his meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron last month when both leaders sat metres apart at opposite ends of a long table.

Putins visit to the Aeroflot training centre near Moscow was ostensibly held to celebrate the upcoming International Womens Day.

The Russian President gets up-close and personal for a photo with Aeroflot employees during his visit to Aeroflot aviation training complex outside Moscow on March 5, despite demonstrating concerns for social distancing when meeting heads of state and officials

Russian President Vladimir Putin attends a meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron in Moscow, Russia February 7, 2022

Russian President Vladimir Putin (right) and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz give a joint press conference following their meeting over Ukraine security at the Kremlin, in Moscow, on February 15, 2022

But it was overshadowed by Aeroflots announcement that it will halt all international flights  except to Belarus  from Tuesday.

The state-owned airlines move comes amid fears Russian airlines will have their foreign-leased planes impounded as part of sanctions imposed by Western governments.

Despite the bouquets of flowers, Putin used his meeting with the air hostesses to liken the sanctions regime to a declaration of war.

Putin gives flowers to female flight crew of Russian airlines during his visit to the aviation training centre of PJSC Aeroflot on the eve of International Women's Day

Putin speaks during his meeting with Aeroflot employees outside Moscow on Saturday

The Russian President is pictured sitting in the cockpit of an airplane simulator as he visits the aviation school outside Moscow today

Putin poses for a photo and congratulates female flight personnel ahead of International Women's Day

But thank God it has not come to that, he added.

The Russian despot also warned that any attempt to impose a no-fly zone over Ukraine would be seen as participation in the armed conflict.

Russias foreign ministry said the UK had chosen to move towards open confrontation with Moscow with its sanctions.

The Kremlin vowed to impose its own measures to undermine British interests in Russia.

The money raised by the Mail Force charity  in record-breaking time  has already been put to good use, with mothers and children arriving over the border to Slovakia yesterday greeted by aid workers funded by our generous readers
Never have we been more interested in the air we breathe  and how contaminated it is. But it's not just in cities that we're vulnerable to the toxic impact of air pollution.

Last month, Yale scientists published a report saying that indoor pollution, which includes dust and dust mites, smoke, mould and volatile organic compounds (VOCs), has claimed up to four million deaths prematurely.

Our homes, where we spend more than 60 per cent of our time, can be five times more polluting than on a busy street, according to U.S. scientists.

Health threat: Our homes, where we spend more than 60 per cent of our time, can be five times more polluting than on a busy street, according to U.S. scientists

The pollutants can come in surprising forms  from toxic cleaners to paint on the walls, the upholstery in sofas and scented candles. One of the main culprits is the wood-burning stove.

But it's not all doom and gloom  there are ways to mitigate the damage. The first place to start combatting toxic fumes is to ventilate your rooms  as well as simple swaps, investment upgrades and new tech.

Add smart tech

Purifiers have come on in leaps and bounds. Not long ago they were enormous, ugly pieces of kit that took up a large amount of space, but now they blend in seamlessly  meaning you're more likely to use them.

Research has shown that purifiers by the brand Molekule destroy more than 99 per cent of Covid virus particles in one hour and inactivates H1N1 flu virus by up to 99.99 per cent: the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Molekule's Air Mini+.

But most pleasing is its design: the smaller version is 30 cm high with a sleek vegan-leather handle (1,049 and 449).

It's not the only good-looking air purifier: IKEA's latest product in the 'smart air' division is a purifier incorporated into a side table, which has a two-filter system to catch big particles such as hair and dust, and a smaller filter that captures 99.5 per cent of smaller airborne particles, such as PM2.5 particles, dust and pollen (Starkvind, 165).

Twice as useful: Starkvind table and air purifier, 165

Meanwhile, the new Beurer Fresh Breeze Purifier and Fan can cool you in summer, purify your air and with a little handle on the top can be carried around (54.99, lakeland.co.uk).

Cleaner heat

It's no secret that wood burners are not great for our lungs; a report, published by the European Environmental Bureau last year, found that even the new Ecodesign-ready stoves  which have some of the highest eco-credentials on the market  can emit up to 750 times more tiny particles than a modern HGV truck.

But there are still options: the Stove Industry Alliance launched its 'clearSkies' certification recently, which offers higher efficiency than before.

British manufacturer Burley Appliances claims to produce one of the cleanest and most efficient stoves.

'Our stoves are so clean one of them can be 300 times less polluting than an open fire,' says Steve Barson, managing director of Burley. Stoves start at 900.

New paints

Traditional paints can release VOCs, but there is a new breed of eco-friendly paints on the market. Some, including Edward Bulmer and Little Greene, have stripped out nasty chemicals and are entirely natural.

But other brands have gone a step further and now use formulas that actively absorb CO2 from your walls, such as those from innovative paint company Graphenstone.

'As the paint cures over its lifetime, the lime coatings absorb up to 5.5 kg of CO2 per 15 litres of paint from the room where it's applied,' Patrick Folkes, director of Graphenstone, says.

Fresh scents

Another major source of air pollution is the cleaning products we use, according to a report in the journal Science. But a range of new brands are there to tempt us away from the toxic cleaners.

'Generic cleaning products contain harsh, toxic chemicals which, when regularly breathed in, can leave us more vulnerable to irritation, allergies and illnesses,', says Charlotte Figg, co-founder of the eco brand Purdy & Figg.

'When switching to gentle, natural alternatives we are not only protecting our health, but the planet, too.'

As well as using natural scents, the new breed of cleaners arrive in concentrate form to reduce packaging. Other 'waterless' brands include Neat (available at Lakeland) and gethomethings.com.

When adding fragrance to your home watch out, too, for scented candles, which can be a source of toxins.

Opt for beeswax or soy candles instead of paraffin, such as the range by Evermore London.

Light them up and breathe deeply, knowing the air inside your home is so much cleaner.
Roman Abramovich will demand guarantees from prospective Chelsea owners that they have the resources to maintain the clubs place among the European elite before agreeing to sell.

The Russian is understood to regard the buyers plans for the future of the club as equally significant as the price in determining whether to sanction a sale, a factor not to be overlooked as other potential bidders emerged yesterday.

Abramovich is deeply concerned by his image and legacy at Chelsea, as has been made evident by the number of carefully choreographed statements released on his behalf over the last week.

Turkish billionaire Muhsin Bayrak has said that he has begun negotiations to buy Chelsea

A desire to secure his legacy was his main motivation in his plans to rebuild Stamford Bridge at a cost of between 1.4billion and 2.2bn, an extraordinary project that made little financial sense, as even if it was achieved it would have delivered only a modest increase in revenue. Abramovichs advisers have set his initial asking price at around 3bn, but future owners will also have to demonstrate they have the finances to continue funding the clubs large wage bill.

Turkish businessman Muhsin Bayrak yesterday claimed he had opened negotiations about buying the club, but a source close to Abramovich expressed scepticism about all the bidders who have publicly revealed their hands to date, including the Swiss/American partnership of Hansjorg Wyss and Todd Boehly.

Bayrak is the chairman of Istanbul-based investment company AB Group Holdings, who have many of their investments in cryptocurrency.

Abramovich is understood to regard the buyers future plans for the club as equally significant

We are negotiating the terms of the purchase of Chelsea with Roman Abramovichs lawyers, said Bayrak.

We are in the negotiation phase for the signatures. We will fly the Turkish flag in London soon.

Our lawyers and Roman Abramovichs lawyers have been in touch since the first day Chelsea entered the sales process. We are planning to sign soon.

Abramovichs main sales adviser, Joe Ravitch, insisted yesterday that the sale would not be fast-tracked despite fears of Government sanctions.

It is very important that Chelsea have the right owner to guide the club forward, he said.

The Raine Group, an American merchant bank, have set a deadline of March 15 for potential buyers to submit their bids.
Jurgen Klopp has confirmed he intends to leave Liverpool in 2024 and will consider staying only if he has the energy for the challenge.

The German has revolutionised Liverpool in six and a half years at the club and his appetite for lifting more trophies is bigger than ever following last Sundays Carabao Cup triumph, which he likened to winning the Champions League.

Klopp is at the top of his game, mentally and physically, but he addressed the idea of whether he is intending to go on and on in the hot-seat by making it clear that his thoughts are based on walking away when his contract ends in two years.

Jurgen Klopp has revealed he plans to leave Liverpool when his contract expires in 2024

He signed his last deal in December 2019 but, as things stand, there will not be another extension to his terms.

If I have the energy levels for it is important, said Klopp. I love what I do but there must be something else out there in the world apart form always thinking about very well-skilled, good looking, fantastically nice players! But I really dont think about it.

Im full of energy but I have to make sure that is the case (in the future). I dont want to sit around and be more tired and think, Wow! Why is everyone bothered about the things out there because I couldnt care less? 

Klopp ended Liverpool's 30-year wait for the league and also won the Champions League

This all feels significant because this is the first time Klopp has spoken at length about there being an end in sight. His initial plan was to stay for seven years  as he did at Mainz and Borussia Dortmund  but he penned that five-year extension in 2019 after Liverpool had won their sixth European Cup.

Should he get to June 2024, Klopp will become the clubs longest-serving manager since Bob Paisley, who was in charge from 1974 to 1983.

His priority at present is cutting the gap on Manchester City in the title race but he has promised that when the time comes for him to move on, whoever succeeds him will walk into a club that has the strongest foundations.

The German said he would only consider staying if he felt he has the energy for the challenge

When I talk about a plan, I mean for the future of the club, said Klopp. My future will be OK. I dont have to plan. I could book last minute  lets put it like this. It is not a problem.

The things we do, they are for a long, long time. So many things weve tried to improve over the years. At the beginning, a lot of people thought I was from Germany and wed do it like the Germans but thats not the case.

I was 20 years nearly working in Germany but I never thought: Oh my God! We are perfect, we should bring all that stuff to other countries! No, just doing the right things, employing the right people in the right positions.

It doesnt mean you win the title. It means you have the right people for the right job. Thats what we try and these people  a lot of them here at the moment  will be good. It will be fine whenever it will be after I leave. The plan is 2024, thank you very much.
Twenty-three time Grand Slam champion Serena Williams said she would have faced far harsher punishment had she engaged in similar behaviour to German Alexander Zverev, who was thrown out of a tournament last month for unsportsmanlike conduct.

The world No 3 was kicked out of the ATP 500 event in Acapulco after he smashed his racket repeatedly against the umpire's chair after a doubles defeat.

Zverev was later fined $40,000 for the incident, in which he came perilously close to hitting umpire Alessandro Germani.

Serena Williams has taken a swipe in the aftermath of Alexander Zverev's outburst

Williams was placed on probation for two years after clashing with a line judge in 2009

'There is absolutely a double standard,' former world number one Williams told CNN reporter Christiane Amanpour.

'I would probably be in jail if I did that - like, literally, no joke.

'I was actually on probation once,' she added, but declined with a chuckle to discuss further when Amanpour inquired about the incident.

In 2009, the Grand Slam committee placed Williams on probation for two years and fined her $175,000 for a 'major offence of aggravated behaviour' during her semi-final against eventual champion Kim Clijsters at the U.S. Open.

The American clashed with a line judge after she was called for a foot fault on a second serve at 15-30, 5-6 in the second set having lost the first.

'You see that (double standard) when you see other things happening on the tour, like, 'wait - if I had done that? Hmm,'' said Williams.

'But it's okay. At the end of the day I am who I am and I love who I am.'

Alexander Zverev was kicked out of the Mexican Open after attacking the umpire's chair
The Project's Lisa Wilkinson has spoken out against sexism in the media ahead of International Women's Day on Tuesday 8 March.

Speaking to news.com.au this week, the popular host said that there have been many gender-based barriers to overcome in her successful career in journalism.

The 62-year-old said that one of the biggest challenges has been being confronted by out-dated ideas.

Speaking out: The Project's Lisa Wilkinson - seen here hosting the show - has spoken out against sexism in the media ahead of International Women's Day on Tuesday 8 March

'Like a lot of women, the most common obstacle I've encountered was in challenging stale ways of thinking and firmly entrenched power structures more suited to generations past,' she said.

'It always happens when those in power want to do all the talking and none of the listening.'

Wilkinson famously left her job hosting the Today show in October 2017.

At the time it was widely reported the Nine Network was 'unable to meet her expectations' after she demanded equal pay with her co-host Karl Stefanovic.

Dispute: Wilkinson famously left her hosting job on the Today show in October 2017. At the time it was widely reported the Nine Network was 'unable to meet her expectations' after she demanded equal pay with her co-host Karl Stefanovic (pictured)

She alleges Stefanovic proposed in August 2015 they join forces to renegotiate their Nine contracts - not unlike how the cast of American sitcom Friends famously worked together to broker better deals with NBC.

But she claims he ended up ditching this idea and instead played rival networks Nine and Seven off against each other in order to secure a better deal for himself.

'Weeks later... the media became awash with stories that Stefanovic was restless at Today and looking for greener pastures  and more civilised working hours  at Channel Seven,' she wrote in her memoir It Wasn't Meant To Be Like This.

Stefanovic was soon at the centre of a bidding war between Nine and Seven that resulted in him re-signing a five-year deal with Nine worth at least $2million per year.

Wilkinson's deal was worth significantly less, about $780,000 a year, and was only for two years.

'There was no doubt about it: Karl certainly knew the art of the deal,' she wrote, adding that the resulting pay disparity between them 'was so off the charts that no-one would have believed it'.

Claims: She alleges Stefanovic proposed in August 2015 they join forces to renegotiate their Nine contracts - not unlike how the cast of American sitcom Friends famously worked together to broker better deals with NBC. But she claims he ended up ditching this idea and instead played rival networks Nine and Seven off each other to secure a better deal for himself

However, this allegedly doesn't tell the full story, with news.com.au later reporting Wilkinson had in fact earned more than Stefanovic for years when they first joined forces on Today, and it was only at the end of their partnership that the roles reversed.

Last year, an article written by respected political journalist Samantha Maiden reported that when Karl first signed up to the breakfast show in 2006, he was on half of Lisa's pay packet, which was a reported $700,000.

'When they were first on the show, she was paid a lot more than he was,' an alleged Nine insider told the publication.

'Then, he was able to wedge a fee increase because Seven made him a big offer. If Nine wanted to keep him, they had to pay him, which is what happened.

'If you look at what he's paid now, it's probably not too dissimilar to what she was offered. So, you know, you can take things in a point of time, but I don't think there would have been much difference between the two now.'

Husband and wife: Peter FitzSimons and Lisa Wilkinson are both high profile media stars

Married to journalist, former international rugby star and best-selling Australian author Peter FitzSimons, Wilkinson has also been a strident critic of PM Scott Morrison and the coalition especially on gender matters.

In February, she threw her support behind Grace Tame after the 2021 Australian of the Year made headlines when critics uncovered a photo of the then-19-year-old holding a large water-pipe, commonly called a bong, used to smoke cannabis.

Discussing what happened on the Sunday Project Project, Wilkinson praised the advocate for victims of sexual assault for confronting the situation head on.

'If all of us had everything we did in our teenage years up for comment from everyone, how would we deal with it?' the media veteran said.

Wilkinson's first big break came at 21-years-of-age, when she was made editor of Dolly, a popular teen magazine in Australia.

She later guided other mass-circulation titles like Cleo and The Australian Women's Weekly as editor before starting her career in television where she became a huge audience favourite first on Seven's Weekend Sunrise and then Channel Nine's Today.
She's at the centre of Married at First Sight's huge cheating scandal after finding love with groom Daniel Holmes - despite being 'married' to Dion Giannarelli.

And this week, 9Now revealed exactly what Carolina Santos was looking for when she decided to sign up for the series, by giving fans a glimpse of her audition tape.

In the footage, the 34-year-old said she likes to be in a relationship where it's 'my way or the highway', before ironically claiming she'd 'lose it' if her partner flirted with another woman.

Her perfect partner: This week, 9Now revealed exactly what Married at First Sight's Carolina Santos was looking for when she decided to sign up for the series, by giving fans a glimpse of her audition tape

'I tend to be a bit controlling and jealous,' she said.

Admitting that her take-charge style caused issues in her last three-year romance, Carolina was unapologetic.

'I don't like my boyfriend going out, having a boys night. I'm like, "No, you can't go",' she added.

At one point producers were heard laughing along with Carolina as she described how if she ever caught her partner flirting, there would be trouble.

'I don't like my boyfriend going out having a boys night. I'm like, "No, you can't go",' she added

'With my ex-partner, if he was flirting I would definitely lose it,' she said.

'He would not be able to talk to the girl anymore, not even look at her, not even say hi to her!'

She then added: 'I can be a bit flirty, so I hope that's not an issue,' she said.

Saucy: Carolina said she liked to pose and post provocative shots on her social media - which her ex-boyfriend hated - adding: 'But I thought, "well, you'll just have to put up with that!"'

Wedding Day: Carolina and Dion's (right) marriage has so far proven rocky, with Carolina's flirtatious tendencies emerging as a dramatic highpoint this season

Still going strong! Carolina and Daniel Holmes (pictured) confirmed they are very much still an item after filming wrapped this week, by sharing a passionate kiss at Sydney Airport

Carolina added that she loves to pose and post provocative shots on her social media - a move which her ex-boyfriend hated.

'...But I thought, "Well, you'll just have to put up with that!"' she added.

After tying the knot with Dion on the show, the match has so far proven rocky with Carolina's flirtatious tendencies emerging as a dramatic highpoint this season.

After her groom accused Carolina of deliberately sabotaging the experimental marriage before it ever had a chance, she decided to take her friendship with co-star Daniel Holmes to the next level.

Daily Mail Australia spotted the pair secretly meeting up during filming in November.

MAFS producers were mortified after discovering Carolina and Daniel's drivers had accidentally dropped them off at the exact same time in front of photographers.

The pair confirmed they are very much still an item after filming wrapped this week, by sharing a passionate kiss at Sydney Airport.
Ozzy Osbourne says he is quitting Los Angeles and moving back to the UK because he pays too much tax in California.

The Black Sabbath rocker, 73, and his music manager wife Sharon, 69, are planning to relocate to their Buckinghamshire pile Welders House, with the couple having resided in Beverly Hills for more than 25 years.

According to the Mirror, Ozzy said: 'We are leaving LA. We are a bit sad. But the tax is getting too much. I am sad because I really really like staying and living there.

On the move: Ozzy Osbourne, 73, says he is quitting Los Angeles and moving back to the UK because he pays too much tax in California (pictured with wife Sharon in 2020)

'If they do the taxes better then I may come back. I do not know.'

He added: 'I am taking my recording studio with me. I am going to build a barn there and make my own studio at Welders. I will still be making music and my band will come over.'

The US federal tax rate is understood to be 28% while there is an additional 13% tax in the state of California.

Home country: The Black Sabbath rocker and his music manager wife Sharon, 69, are planning to relocate to their Buckinghamshire pile Welders House

Musician Ozzy and his one-time X Factor judge partner Sharon became known to many along with their children Jack and Kelly after they welcomed MTV cameras into their American home for their reality series The Osbournes which ran on the channel from 2002 to 2005.

Ozzy and Sharon are also parents to daughter Aimee, and Ozzy is father to daughter Jessica, and sons Louis and Elliot Kingsley who he shares with his first wife Thelma Riley, none of whom were regulars on their series.

The news comes after it emerged Ozzy and Sharon's love story is to be made into a feature film written by Oscar nominee Lee Hall.

Life in the sun: Musician Ozzy and partner Sharon became known to many along with their children Jack and Kelly after they welcomed MTV cameras into their American home

The untitled project will take the form of a biopic and will tell the tale of their decades-long romance.

Sharon told Variety: 'Our relationship at times was often wild, insane and dangerous but it was our undying love that kept us together.

'Were thrilled to partner with Sony Pictures and Polygram to bring our story to the screen.'

Hit show: The Osbournes debuted on MTV in 2002 and ran for four seasons. It made household names of Ozzy and Sharon along with Kelly and Jack (pictured 2002)

The soundtrack will feature songs from Ozzy's band Black Sabbath as well as hits from his solo career.

Ozzy and Sharon first met in 1970 when Sharon was just 18 but their relationship did not turn romantic until 1979.

Performer Ozzy was first married to Thelma Riley from 1971 to 1982 and Ozzy and Sharon wed in 1982.

Things took a shocking turn in 1989 when Ozzy attacked Sharon and he was arrested for attempted murder.

The businesswoman hit a panic button and police arrived but she remained married to the star.

Speaking on the Biography: Nine Lives of Ozzy Osbourne documentary in 2020, she said: 'I told him, "I dont want the money  but if you do this again, either I am going to kill you or you are going to kill me. And do you want that for the kids?"'
Russian model Irina Shayk was pictured leaving the home of her ex-partner Bradley Cooper on Friday.

Dressed head-to-toe in black, the fashion figure carried a case of luggage as she was said to be on her way to LAX airport.

Bradley and Irina share four-year-old daughter Lea De Seine Shayk together, and he resides in the Pacific Palisades area of California.

Pictured: Russian supermodel Irina Shayk leaves ex Bradley Cooper's home in Pacific Palisades... after voicing her support for Ukraine

The sighting comes amid Shayk, 36, speaking out in support of Ukraine.

The Yemanzhelinsk, Russia native on Monday took to Instagram with an image of a peace sign, in expressing her support for the people of Ukraine.

She continued: 'I will be donating to @unicef and @redcrossukraine - Please check my stories for donation links and resources, give what you can. Praying for peace.'

Off she goes: Dressed head-to-toe in black, the fashion figure carried a case of luggage as she was said to be on her way to LAX airport

Not staying silent: The sighting comes amid Shayk speaking out in support of Ukraine

The catwalk beauty earlier this year spoke with Vogue UK about her upbringing in Russia.

'I was born and raised in a town called Yemanzhelinsk, in the middle of nowhere in Russia. My father was a coal miner and my mom was a pianist  she couldnt find a job, so she played for kids in kindergarten. It was a very simple life: one main street, no movie theatre, no restaurants.'

Shayk opened up about the death of her father when she was 14.

'He was the healthiest man alive, and at 44, out of the blue, he was coughing for a while then got pneumonia and died,' she said. 'Me, my mom and my sister were left. Three women. We learnt how to early in life, even when we had a father, because in Russia you have to.

'In summer you grow vegetables and bury them, so in wintertime you have potatoes, carrots, everything, so you can survive. When I moved to New York, I was shocked that people go to the supermarket and buy potatoes. I was like, "Thats crazy."'

The Russian invasion of Ukraine was in its sixth day Tuesday, as Russian forces in tanks and armored vehicles were headed into the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv.

The Yemanzhelinsk, Russia native on Monday took to Instagram with an image of a peace sign, in expressing her support for the people of Ukraine
Tim Considine, best known as a popular Disney actor in the 1950s and as the eldest brother on the hit series My Three Sons, has died at the age of 81.

The veteran actor passed away at his home in the Mar Vista neighborhood of Los Angeles on Thursday, March 3, surrounded by family.

His death was announced publicly by his son Christopher Considine, and then was shared on Facebook by his My Three Sons co-star Stanley Livingston.

RIP: Veteran actor Tim Considine passed away at his home in the Mar Vista neighborhood of Los Angeles on Thursday, March 3

'Just want to say how sad I am to learn that my life-long friend and surrogate older brother, TIM CONSIDINE, passed away yesterday,' wrote Livingston, who played Richard 'Chip' Douglas during the sitcom's 12 season run.

'On screen, Tim also played my older brother MIKE on MY THREE SONS. Tim and I have been friends for more than 70 years.'

He ended the post by sharing, 'Our hearts go out to his wife, Willie and his son Christopher - and the entire Considine family. Tim went through life HIS WAY! He will be missed by all those who knew him. I love you Bro... RIP!'

RIP: My Three Sons co-star, Stanley Livingston, shared a touching tribute to Considine on social media, one day after his passing

RIP: Disney paid tribute to Considine in a Twitter post on March 4, one day after his passing

Born into a show business family, his father, John Considine Jr. was an Oscar-nominated film producer for Boys Town, while his mother was the daughter of theater magnate Alexander Pantages, who's empire included the famed RKO Pantages Theatre, built at Hollywood & Vine in Hollywood in 1930.

Considine's most noted acting roles as a young teenager was arguably in Spin and Marty, and later in the 1950s on the Hardy Boys, both of which appeared as 15 minute segments on The Mickey Mouse Club.

More than six decades after those roles, Disney took to social media to pay tribute to Considine, writing, 'We are sorry to report that Disney Legend Tim Considine has passed away,' it read in a Twitter post.

Breakout: After having success with Disney in the 1950s, Considine starred on My Three Sons from 196-1965, although the show's run went on until 1972; he is pictured on the right with Don Grady, Stanley Livingston,, William Frawley, and Fred MacMurray

By 1960, Considine had scored the role on My Three Sons, a series about three brothers being raised by their widowed father, played by Fred MacMurray, turned out to become an enormous hit.

He would play the role of Mike Douglas from 1960 to 1965 before leaving the show to pursue other opportunities. The series' run would continue on through 1972, and wrap after 12 seasons.

His film resume began with the drama The Clown, starring Red Skelton and Jean Greer, and included the likes of Her Twelve Men (1954), the comedy The Shaggy Dog (1959), and most notably epic biographical war film Patton (1970). The epic biographical war film went on to win seven Academy Awards, which included Brest Picture, Best Director and Best Original Screenplay, among others.

The actor excelled behind the camera as well, writing TV episodes for NBC. He also published books and wrote a guest column in The New York Times Magazine.

Considine leaves behind his wife of more than 42 years, Willette Hunt, and their son Christopher.
Sara Sampaio could hardly contain her joy on Friday afternoon as she stepped out with a mystery man in Los Angeles.

The 30-year-old supermodel was captured beaming at the brown-haired hunk after grabbing a bite to eat at a nearby restaurant.

The duo strolled on the sidewalk together, with Sara's male companion walking an adorable dog on a leash.

Beaming: Sara Sampaio could hardly contain her joy on Friday afternoon as she stepped out with a mystery man in Los Angeles

The Portuguese beauty was noticeably makeup-free and kept comfy in a red sweatshirt from Brunette the Label, which featured the slogan 'wine not' across the front, and a pair of black leggings.

She slipped her feet into some black trainers and wore her flowing brunette hair in a high bun.

A pair of sunglasses rested on Sara's head and she appeared to be carrying a small cup of water.

At one point during the outing, Sara could be seen whispering something into the mystery man's ear before erupting into laughter.

Lunch date: The 30-year-old supermodel was captured beaming at the hunk after grabbing a bite to eat at a nearby restaurant

Cozy: At one point during the outing, Sara could be seen whispering something into the mystery man's ear before erupting into laughter

The runway maven previously dated entrepreneur Oliver Ripley, 38, from 2015 until their split in 2020.

Last night, Sara put on a very leggy display as she head to the opening of Revolve Social club in West Hollywood.

She flaunted her incredible figure in a bright orange halter neck mini dress.

Sara elevated her height in an eye-catching pair of silver heels as she stepped out of the car and into the event.

Incredible: Sara put on a very leggy display in a fluorescent orange min dress as she head to the opening of Revolve Social club in West Hollywood on Thursday

The former Victoria's Secret Angel accessorized with a transparent rectangle clutch bag and some dainty silver jewelry to match her shoes.

The brunette beauty wore her long locks slicked back in a bun and opted for a bright red lip to make her look pop.

Sara posed up a storm as she stepped out onto the sidewalk and entered the exclusive event,

Stunning: The Portuguese supermodel wowed as she stepped out of the car in an eye-catching pair of silver heels

Glowing: The brunette beauty beamed as she wore her long locks slicked back in a bun and opted for a bright red lip to make her look pop

The Revolve Social Club is only open for a limited time and will feature pop-ups from designer brands, private events, and Instagrammable content.

It has hosted many famous guests including Kim Kardashian, Jessica Alba and Paris Hilton and is opening its doors to the public for the first time.

Guests will be invited to shop styles from the fashion retailer, hang out in lavish lounge areas, and experience panel discussions and master beauty classes from special guests.

The club will be open from March 4 until Aril 24 and will operate everyday 11am until 7pm.

Inside: The Revolve Social Club is only open for a limited time and will feature pop-ups from designer brands, private events, and Instagrammable content

The Lions-backed talent recently enjoyed a quick getaway to Las Vegas where she celebrated her fellow model friend Jasmine Tookes' 30th birthday in style.

Sara went for a fun look with a long-sleeved white mini dress.

The dark-haired beauty was scorching as she showed off her long stems and pulled her locks up into a cute topknot bun.

The full look was elevated by a pop of color provided by a swipe of red lipstick.

Quick trip: The Lions-backed talent recently enjoyed a quick getaway to Las Vegas where she celebrated her fellow model friend Jasmine Tookes' 30th birthday in style

Sara turned to Instagram to share a slideshow of snapshots and videos from the quick getaway.

She wrote in the caption of the carousel, 'One night is Jas Vegas!' and added a dice emoji.

The top model gave her 7.9 million admirers on Instagram a closeup look of her white hot outfit and red hot lip.

Her statement-making pout even ended up on the birthday girl's bum, which she shared in one picture.
Bindi Irwin revealed on Saturday that Australia Zoo has been impacted by the devastating floods affecting northern New South Wales and Queensland.

The wildlife warrior, 23, shared video footage to Instagram of herself cradling her nearly one-year-old daughter Grace at home in Queensland, and detailed the extent of damage to her family's zoo.

Bindi said that while they were able to 'clean up and reopen', it's been a long journey with 'hundreds of trees having fallen' and 'enormous flood waters passing through'.

'It's been a long road': Bindi Irwin, 23, took to her Instagram on Saturday to reveal the 'unfathomable damage' as Australia Zoo was hit by the devastating floods. The wildlife warrior accompanied the post with a video of herself cradling nearly one-year-old daughter Grace

'My heart goes out to everyone that has felt the hurt and experienced unfathomable damage from these unrelenting storms here in Oz,' Bindi began her post.

'We were hit at Australia Zoo and had hundreds of trees fall and enormous flood waters passing through. At one point, the hail was raining down so hard that I had to get Grace out of her cot and sit in our closet with her, away from windows.'

Bindi, who shares Grace with husband Chandler Powell, 25, said luckily the animals and the Australia Zoo team are safe.

'It's been a long road, however, thanks to our incredible team we've been able to cleanup and reopen. Our animals and team are safe. The Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital never closed and is busier than ever.

Updating her fans: Bindi said that while they were able to 'clean up and reopen', it's been a long journey with 'hundreds of trees having fallen' and 'enormous flood waters passing through'

Challenging: 'We were hit at Australia Zoo and had hundreds of trees fall and enormous flood waters passing through. At one point, the hail was raining down so hard that I had to get Grace out of her cot and sit in our closet with her, away from windows,' Grace wrote online

'If you find an animal in need around our area, you know where to come. Take care guys. Sending strength,' she concluded.

Rain and floods continue to batter New South Wales and Queensland with warnings the bad weather will continue into next week.

Minor flooding is also expected along the Dawson River at Baralaba, in central Queensland, with more severe thunderstorms headed to the south-east of the state.

Safe: Bindi, who shares Grace with husband Chandler Powell, 25, said luckily the animals and the Australia Zoo team are safe. Pictured: Australia Zoo

'It's been a long road, however, thanks to our incredible team we've been able to cleanup and reopen. Our animals and team are safe. The Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital never closed and is busier than ever' she wrote. Pictured: Australia Zoo

Startling: Rain and floods continue to batter New South Wales and Queensland with warnings the bad weather will continue into next week (pictured, an aerial view of the floodwaters surrounding Gympie on February 27 on the Sunshine Coast)

The Bureau of Meteorology has forecast the bad weather to continue in both states into next week with heavy rain and strong winds this weekend.

Queensland schools will remain shut with more torrential flooding on the way after a historic week of rain.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk announced the decision on Thursday with only children of essential workers permitted at schools, as more dangerous storms are expected.

The death toll from the floods in Queensland has climbed to 10, after the body of a 53 year old man found under a wharf near Port of Brisbane. He was reported missing on Monday.
Some of Australia's biggest stars are doing their bit to help locals affected by the devastating floods in northern New South Wales.

Photos posted to the This is Byron Instagram page, as well as Ben Gordon's Instagram page on Saturday, saw Liam and Luke Hemsworth, Pat Rafter and Shannon Bennett, assisting with the clean-up of a damaged home in Lismore.

Actor Simon Baker and Shannon's former partner, actress Madeleine West, have also been lending their support.

Star power: Liam and Luke Hemsworth (both left), Pat Rafter (right) and Shannon Bennett have been doing their bit to help locals affected by the devastating floods in northern NSW

The This is Byron Instagram page re-shared photos from Ben Gordon's Instagram page, where Liam, Luke, Pat and Shannon, were seen assisting with the clean-up.

Both Ben and the This is Byron Instagram page called on the government to provide 'serious support' during this national disaster.

While Simon was not seen in the Instagram photos, he was praised by the This is Byron Instagram page for his support.

Giving their time: The This is Byron Instagram page re-shared photos from Ben Gordon's Instagram page on Saturday, where the stars assisted with the clean-up of a damaged home in Lismore

Sending an important message: Both Ben and the This is Byron Instagram page called on the government to provide 'serious support' during this national disaster

Extensive damage: Luke Hemsworth is pictured sorting through damaged furniture and timber outside the property

On Friday, Madeleine was also pictured assisting with the clean-up of the wreckage strewn streets of Lismore's CBD.

Meanwhile on Tuesday, Chris Hemsworth's wife Elsa Pataky, 45, praised the heroes helping save people in flood-stricken northern NSW.

The Fast & Furious actress shared a series of photos to Instagram of the flood crisis and thanked people saving those stranded by the floodwaters.

'Northern Rivers and beyond had been hit by the worst floods in history. People have spent hours waiting on rooftops to be rescue,' Elsa wrote.

Charitable: Pictured is Pat Rafter doing his part to help

Familiar face: Pictured is celebrity chef Shannon Bennett assisting with damage to the inside of the property

'You are real heroes': On Tuesday, Chris Hemsworth's wife Elsa Pataky (pictured with Chris) praised the heroes helping save people in flood-stricken northern NSW. The Fast & Furious actress shared a series of photos to Instagram of the flood crisis and thanked people saving those stranded by the floodwaters

'Thanks to all those who are able to help save people and animals stranded by the floodwaters, you are the real hero's.'

She continued: 'So amazing to watch how everyone pulls together in a disaster and helps the community. Our hearts go out to those affected by the floods. Stay safe.'

Countless towns in Northern NSW and Queensland have been left devastated by catastrophic floods in recent days, with the clean-up effort only now able to begin in some areas while others remain submerged.

Crisis: Countless towns in Northern NSW and Queensland have been left devastated by catastrophic floods in recent days, with the clean-up effort only now able to begin in some areas while others remain submerged

Floodwaters are easing but the state is not out of danger yet as attention turns to the recovery effort ahead of more bad weather forecast this weekend.

More than 280 Australian Defence Force members are being deployed to support the clean-up, working alongside about 600 police and emergency crew members.

Premier Dominic Perrottet said the state has a mammoth task ahead and "it is vital we get boots on the ground to begin the immense recovery process".

While the Premier has focused on the recovery he acknowledged the disaster is not yet over.

Using her platform: 'So amazing to watch how everyone pulls together in a disaster and helps the community. Our hearts go out to those affected by the floods. Stay safe,' Elsa wrote

NSW SES Commissioner Carlene York gave a similar warning.

"We are not past the danger period yet. The rivers are very high, fast-flowing," NSW SES Commissioner Carlene York said.

Over the next four days parts of NSW could see up to 100mm of rain and parts of the Hunter up to 150mm with severe thunderstorms, heavy rains and damaging winds forecast, said the BoM.

The estimated current cost of claims across Queensland and NSW is now just over $1 billion, the Insurance Council of Australia said on Friday.
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Kristen Stewart looked incredible as she attended the Santa Barbara International Film Festival on Friday.

The acclaimed actress, 31, wore a long, sheer black gown as she accepted the American Riviera Award at The Arlington Theatre.

The Twilight star showed off her glamorous side in a high ponytail and a full face of feature-highlighting makeup.

Glam: Kristen Stewart looked incredible as she attended the Santa Barbara International Film Festival on Friday

The actress, who's engaged to screenwriter Dylan Meyer, showed off her svelte figure in the long-sleeved gown.

Her flat stomach was exposed in the number, which featured a low-cut black and white ombre skirt piece on top of the dress.

A black bra was visible underneath the high-fashion piece, which boasted a mock neck and flared out at the bottom.

Kristen's sleek updo sat atop her head and put her flawlessly made up face on full display.

Her gown: The acclaimed actress, 31, wore a long, sheer black gown as she accepted the American Riviera Award at The Arlington Theatre

Stunning: The Twilight star showed off her glamorous side in a high ponytail and a full face of feature-highlighting makeup

Two thin strands were left out on either side of her face near her ears, which were free of jewelry.

She stunned in shimmering silver eyeshadow that brought out her green eyes.

It was complemented by fluttery eyelashes and chic black eyeliner.

Additionally Stewart's cheeks were blushed with soft pink and her pout was coated with a hydrating lip gloss.

Slender: The actress, who's engaged to screenwriter Dylan Meyer, showed off her svelte figure in the long-sleeved gown

The Oscar-nominated star was the recipient of the prestigious American Riviera Award at the 37th annual event.

The award recognizes talent for outstanding achievement in American Film.

Last year's recipient of the award was Delroy Lindo, and in 2020 Renee Zellweger took home the coveted prize.

This year's festival is being held from March 2 - 12.

Detail: Her flat stomach was exposed in the number, which featured a low-cut black and white ombre skirt piece on top of the dress

Industry giants: At the star-studded event Kristen posed with executive director Roger Durling and fellow actress Charlize Theron

At the star-studded event Kristen posed with executive director Roger Durling and fellow actress Charlize Theron.

Charlize turned heads in a tri-color fringe dress that was layered on top of a black turtleneck.

The mini dress showed off her long, toned legs, and the ensemble was punctuated with a pair of glittery silver pumps.

The Monster star looked gorgeous with her blond hair bulled back into an updo as she took photos with her fellow movie star.

Pretty ladies: The Monster star looked gorgeous with her blond hair bulled back into an updo as she took photos with her fellow movie star

Industry vet: English actress Jacqueline Bisset made an appearance at the festival in a charcoal blazer and black skirt

Last week Kristen accepted Best Actress for her spot-on portrayal of Princess Diana in Pablo Larrain's Spencer at the fifth annual Hollywood Critics Association (HCA) Film Awards.

'I took more joy into my body doing this than anything. Its been a long run, I f**king appreciate this, seriously,' she told the audience while putting on a dazzling display in a burgundy sequined gown, which highlighted her toned figure.

After expressing her gratitude, the Oscar nominee talked about the 'wild storm' of landing her role-of-a-lifetime and how the People's Princess as a 'human being and figure' was so 'completely alone' all the time.
Kristen Stewart and Charlize Theron had a sweet reunion on Friday as they attended the 37th Annual Santa Barbara International Film Festival at the Arlington Theatre.

The glammed up duo posed together on the red carpet after the 31-year-old actress accepted the coveted American Riviera Award during the festival.

Kristen and Charlize, 46, famously starred alongside one another in Snow White And The Huntsman, which was released in theaters in June 2012.

Reunited: Kristen Stewart and Charlize Theron had a sweet reunion on Friday as they attended the 37th Annual Santa Barbara International Film Festival at the Arlington Theatre

In the live-action fairytale film, Charlize played the evil Queen while Kristen played a warrior-like version of Snow White.

For the festival, Kristen highlighted her svelte figure in a long, sheer black gown and showed off her glamorous side in a high ponytail.

Her flat stomach was exposed in the number, which featured a low-cut black and white ombre skirt piece on top of the dress.

A black bra was visible underneath the high-fashion piece, which boasted a mock neck and flared out at the bottom.

Glam: The glammed up duo posed together on the red carpet after the 31-year-old actress accepted the coveted American Riviera Award during the festival

Kristen's sleek updo sat atop her head and put her flawlessly made up face on full display.

Two thin strands were left out on either side of her face near her ears, which were free of jewelry.

She stunned in shimmering silver eyeshadow that brought out her green eyes. It was complemented by fluttery eyelashes and chic black eyeliner.

Co-stars: Kristen and Charlize famously starred alongside one another in Snow White And The Huntsman, which was released in theaters in 2012; Kristen pictured

Dark tale: In the live-action fairytale film, Charlize played the evil Queen while Kristen played a warrior-like version of Snow White

Additionally Stewart's cheeks were blushed with soft pink and her pout was coated with a hydrating lip gloss.

Charlize turned heads in a tri-color fringe dress that was layered on top of a black turtleneck.

The mini dress showed off her long, toned legs, and the ensemble was punctuated with a pair of glittery silver pumps.

Industry giants: At the star-studded event Kristen posed with executive director Roger Durling and fellow actress Charlize Theron

Dressed up: For the festival, Kristen highlighted her svelte figure in a long, sheer black gown and showed off her glamorous side in a high ponytail

The Monster star looked gorgeous with her blond hair bulled back into an updo as she took photos with her fellow movie star.

Charlize and Kristen also graciously posed for photos with the festival's executive director Roger Durling.

Kristen was the recipient of the prestigious American Riviera Award at the 37th annual event.

Stunning: The Twilight star showed off her glamorous side in a high ponytail and a full face of feature-highlighting makeup

Slender: The actress, who's engaged to screenwriter Dylan Meyer, showed off her svelte figure in the long-sleeved gown

The award recognizes talent for outstanding achievement in American Film.

Last year's recipient of the award was Delroy Lindo, and in 2020 Renee Zellweger took home the coveted prize.

This year's festival is being held from March 2 - 12.

Coveted: Kristen was the recipient of the prestigious American Riviera Award at the 37th annual event

Last week Kristen accepted Best Actress for her spot-on portrayal of Princess Diana in Pablo Larrain's Spencer at the fifth annual Hollywood Critics Association (HCA) Film Awards.

'I took more joy into my body doing this than anything. Its been a long run, I f**king appreciate this, seriously,' she told the audience while putting on a dazzling display in a burgundy sequined gown, which highlighted her toned figure.

After expressing her gratitude, the Oscar nominee talked about the 'wild storm' of landing her role-of-a-lifetime and how the People's Princess as a 'human being and figure' was so 'completely alone' all the time.
She's an A-list actress who never fails to turn heads on many a red carpet.

And Angelina Jolie looked just as chic away from the glitz and glam of Hollywood as she enjoyed a low-key shopping trip with daughter Shiloh, 15, in Los Angeles on Friday.

The film star, 46, wrapped up in a long black shawl which she teamed with stylish dark sunglasses and a black facemask as she strolled down the street with the teen and a nearby bodyguard.

Glam: Angelina Jolie looked just as chic away from the glitz and glam of Hollywood as she enjoyed a low-key shopping trip with daughter Shiloh, 15, in Los Angeles on Friday

She added smart black trousers and shoes, while she carried her essentials in a black leather bag which hung in the crook of her arm.

Shiloh meanwhile kept things casual in a black hoodie, shorts and black and white lace-up trainers.

The youngster was also seen carrying plastic bags full of clothes as she walked alongside her famous mother.

Mother and daughter: The film star, 46, wrapped up in a long black shawl which she teamed with stylish dark sunglasses and a black facemask as she strolled down the street with the teen

The shopping trip comes after Angelina took to Instagram last week to share a sweet snap of herself smiling alongside daughter Shiloh in Cambodia.

Shiloh was seen resting her hand on her face while sitting barefoot on a chair, with the teen seen grinning from ear-to-ear.

Angelina also grinned broadly as she gazed down and placed her hand over her heart and explained in the caption that being around the people in the Southeast Asian nation always picks up her spirits.

Low-key look: Shiloh meanwhile kept things casual in a black hoodie, shorts and black and white lace-up trainers

She wrote to her 12.3million followers: 'A few days in Cambodia among the warm local people, and I feel my soul is recovering. This has always been a special country for me and our family.'

Jolie's family has strong ties to the country as she adopted eldest child Maddox Chivan Jolie-Pitt, 20, from the country and even founded a non-profit charity organization dedicated to environmental security, improving health, and creating peace and stability in all communities in his name called the Maddox Jolie-Pitt (MJP) Foundation.

She also shared an image of herself during a meeting with men in both business and military attire and also addressed the image in the caption as she wrote: 'Happy to be reunited with friends and colleagues at MJP Foundation in Samlot district.

Bonding time: The shopping trip comes after Angelina took to Instagram last week to share a sweet snap of herself smiling alongside daughter Shiloh in Cambodia

'The entirely local team runs programs for health and education and conservation. I spent some time with forest rangers discussing land encroachment, poaching and mapping patrol routes.'

Angelina first witnessed the effects of the humanitarian crisis in war-torn Cambodia while filming 2001 film Lara Croft: Tomb Raider.

She later bought a home in the country in 2003 in order to connect son Maddox with his heritage in an area which had become infiltrated with poachers and threatened endangered species so she purchased it and turned it into a wildlife reserve paving the way for the MJP foundation.

Meeting: The A-lister also shared an image of herself during a meeting with men in both business and military attire, writing the caption: 'Happy to be reunited with friends and colleagues at MJP Foundation in Samlot district'

She wrote to her 12.3million followers: 'A few days in Cambodia among the warm local people, and I feel my soul is recovering. This has always been a special country for me and our family'

Angelina shares Shiloh and Maddox, 20, with ex-husband Brad Pitt, with the former couple also parents to Pax, 17, Zahara, 16, Shiloh, 15, and Vivienne and Knox, 13.

The pair, who wed in 2014 and split in 2016, have been entangled in the legal system amid battles on multiple issues over the past five years-plus.

Brad and Angelina met and by their own admission 'fell in love' while filming Mr and Mrs Smith in the summer of 2004 while he was still married to Jennifer Aniston.

Family: Angelina shares Shiloh and Maddox, 20, with ex-husband Brad Pitt, with the former couple also parents to Pax, 17, Zahara, 16, Shiloh, 15, and Vivienne and Knox, 13

After a controversial start, they quickly became Hollywood's golden power couple and quickly grew their family.

They eventually married in 2014 at their Chateau Miraval in France in front of all six of their children.

But by August 2016, their high-profile romance had collapse and Angelina filed for divorce and requested primary custody of their children, marking the beginning of the long and ugly legal war.

In 2019, Pitt revealed that he turned to Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) after his split from Angelina because his drinking had got out of control.
She's no stranger to putting on a glamorous display at many a showbiz event.

But Sofia Richie proved she could nail casual chic just as well on Friday as she stepped out for a low-key breakfast with pals.

The model, 23, donned a white sweater and grey copped jeans for her outing to La La Land organic cafe in Santa Monica.

Walk this way: Sofia Richie proved she could nail casual chic on Friday as she stepped out for a low-key breakfast with pals

Sofia teamed her relaxed look with white trainers and dark sunglasses, while she carried a slouchy cream handbag over her arm.

The daughter of music legend Lionel Richie, 72, kept her caramel locks loose for the occasion while she also opted to keep her make-up to a minimum.

The beauty looked relaxed and content as she strolled hand-in-hand with her pal on their way to the eatery.

Absent from the outing was Sofia's current boyfriend Elliot Grainge, with their relationship said to be 'very serious' to the point where they're already living together and have talked about the future.

Casual: The model, 23, donned a white sweater and grey copped jeans for her outing to La La Land organic cafe in Santa Monica

'They have talked about getting engaged and it's something that Sofia wants and is looking forward to,' an insider divulged to E! News in November 2021.

'They are a great match and it's going really well. Sofia and Elliot currently live together and the adjustment has been so easy and seamless.'

It was added that the ex of Scott Disick loves that her relationship with the more age appropriate music executive is free of 'drama.'

'They have truly formed a solid bond recently and Sofia loves that they don't have any drama,' the source shared, noting that she 'loves how chill and calm' he is.

Love: Absent from the outing was Sofia's current boyfriend Elliot Grainge, with their relationship said to be 'very serious' to the point where they're already living together and have talked about the future

The pair first aired their romance to the world in the spring 2021 but had known each other for years as family friends.

Elliot's dad, Lucian Grainge (the CEO of Universal Music Group), and Sofia's dad, Lionel, had forged a bond over the years, making the pair's relationship a 'natural progression' per a source.

On Elliot's 28th birthday (November 6) she gushed: 'You are everything to me. I love you, happy birthday babe.'
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She recently jetted to the idyllic location of Tulum, Mexico for a work trip.

And Molly-Mae Hague looked incredible in a taupe bikini on Thursday as she enjoyed some downtime from shooting her latest campaign for her tanning range.

The former Love Island star 22, looked chilled and relaxed as she showed off her figure while relaxing on the beach with her team.

Beach babe: Molly-Mae Hague looked incredible in a taupe bikini on Thursday as she enjoyed some downtime from shooting her latest campaign for her tanning range

Molly-Mae was sure to turn heads as she wowed in her string halterneck two-piece which featured wooden bead detailing.

The PrettyLittleThing creative director swept her blonde locks into a half up, half down style, while she accessorised her beach look with a smattering of delicate gold jewellery.

Making the most of her break away from work, Molly-Mae opted to go make-up free for the beach day as she displayed her natural beauty.

Life's a beach: The former Love Island star 22, looked chilled and relaxed as she showed off her figure while relaxing on the beach with her team

Work it: Molly-Mae was sure to turn heads as she wowed in her string halterneck two-piece which featured wooden bead detailing

Soaking up the sun: Molly-Mae was simply glowing as she caught some rays during the low-key beach outing

Style: The PrettyLittleThing creative director swept her blonde locks into a half up, half down style, while she accessorised her beach look with a smattering of delicate gold jewellery

Lovely: Making the most of her break away from work, Molly-Mae opted to go make-up free for the beach day as she displayed her natural beauty

The beauty appeared to be having a great time as she sat and chatted to her pals who were congregated on a row of sun loungers.

While she also enjoyed a walk up to the sea, with her and a pal seen chatting by the water's edge.

The girlfriend of boxer Tommy Fury ensured she stayed hydrated during her day in the sun as she sipped on a large bottle of water.

While she also got her caffeine fix as she later enjoyed a tall glass of iced coffee.

Aand relax! The beauty certainly appeared content as she kicked back on sunlounger

Showing some skin: Molly-Mae flashed some flesh in her tiny taupe bikini

Walk this way: The influencer looked incredible as she strolled along the sand towards her pals

Dressed for sunshine: Moll-Mae and her pal looked great in their bikinis

Friends like these: The star was surrounded by close members of her team on the relaxing beach trip

Molly-Mae certainly appeared in good spirits amid the relaxing day, which came just days before the crew wrapped up filming for the Filter By Molly-Mae campaign.

During her trip, she has also been sharing snaps of the beautiful Mexican scenery, alongside her bikini-clad content.

On Thursday she showcased her sun-kissed tan, as she shared a series of herself modelling a white bikini top.

Pals: The beauty appeared to be having a great time as she sat and chatted to her pals who were congregated on a row of sun loungers

Kicking back: The stunner occupied herself on her mobile phone while soaking up the sun

Time of her life: Molly-Mae is in Mexico for a work trip, with the star sharing teasing updates on her social media channels

Letting her hair down: Molly-Mae flipped her long blonde hair back as she adjusted her hairstyle

Is that Tommy? She was seen busying herself on her mobile phone

Refreshments: The girlfriend of boxer Tommy Fury ensured she stayed hydrated during her day in the sun as she sipped on a large bottle of water

Just the ticket: While she also got her caffeine fix as she later enjoyed a tall glass of iced coffee

The influencer also sported a pair of white baggy trousers and a pair of matching slippers while she styled her tresses into loose waves.

Molly-Mae shared a glimpse of the resort she was staying in as she went outside and relaxed by the pool.

Molly-Mae also shared a stunning snap of herself wearing a dark brown sleeveless dress as she headed out for dinner.

Chill time: Molly-Mae certainly appeared in good spirits amid the relaxing day, which came just days before the crew wrapped up filming for the Filter By Molly-Mae campaign

Tasty treats: Molly-Mae sipped on an ice coffee and munched on crisps as she fuelled up during the beach excursion

Whoops: Molly-Mae's neat hairstyle came undone after she'd spent time lying on the sun lounger

Jet-set: The Love Island star is back travelling again, jetting off for a number of work trips and beach shoots over the past few months

Cheers: She held on carefully to her drink so as not to spill a drop

Childhood friend: Molly-Mae's beloved stuffed elephant Elly Belly of course accompanied her on the trip

The garment featured a high leg split while the star added height to her frame with a pair of dark boots.

Molly-Mae shared another dinner snap alongside the team who works on her self-tan range, Filter By Molly-Mae and wrote: 'Feeling so blessed for this insane team'.

While she wet on to reveal that she 'filming something very special' to her fans.

By the sea shore: She also enjoyed a walk up to the sea, with her and a pal seen chatting by the water's edge

Fun in the sun: Molly-Mae larked about in the sun while chit-chatting to her pal

Fine and sandy: The TV star was certainly in fine spirits during her fun filled trip to the beach

Glorious: The blonde beauty was see staring out at the beautiful blue ocean as she enjoyed the Mexico sunshine

Much to talk about:: Molly-Mae put on a very animated display as she chatted to her pal

But while the star has been mixing business with pleasure, she took to Instagram on Monday to reveal her 'guilt' for posting content during the ongoing Ukraine crisis.

Reaching out to fans via her story, Molly admitted she felt it was 'impossible' to go on with life as normal.

She created a poll, in which she asked fans whether they thought she should continue posting updated about her life - or whether she should take a break from social media.

Despite Molly's guilt, 69% of her fans voted for her to continue to post as normal, as she shared a number of messages she had received.

Many of her followers described her content as light relief, offering reassurance for Molly to continue posting.

The influencer also offered her support in the series of stories, writing: 'My DM's are always open, I really want to find other ways I can continue using my platform to raise awareness.'

What a view: The two took a moment to take in the stunning scenery

Unsure: While the star has been mixing business with pleasure, she took to Instagram on Monday to reveal her 'guilt' for posting content during the ongoing Ukraine crisis

Question: She created a poll, in which she asked fans whether they thought she should continue posting updated about her life - or whether she should take a break from social media
She's well-known for her love of fitness and her incredible figure.

And bikini-clad Halle Berry, 55, showed she likes to have fun when she gets in some exercise as she went skateboarding in her bikini on Friday.

The Hollywood actress went barefoot as she picked on some speed on her wheels, wearing bikini bottoms and a T-shirt she tied into a knot.

Barefoot Halle Berry, 55, showed off her skateboarding skills in her bikini and a cropped T-shirt on Instagram on Friday

Zipping down a tree-lined street, Halle could be seen giving her handsome shirtless personal trainer a high-five as she caught up with him.

She added a youthful spin to her ensemble wearing retro heart-shaped sunglasses.

Halle posted the pictures to her Instagram page and tagged her digital health and wellness brand, Respin.

She wrote: 'Lets get fit on this #FitnessFriday with @respin! Whos joining us?'

Two's company: Zipping down a tree-lined street, Halle could be seen giving her handsome shirtless personal trainer a high-five as she caught up with him

She also penned: 'You already know what day it is! #FitnessFriday . and @peterleethomas and I are BACK with another Fitness Friday classic.

'Head over to @respin to check out this weeks workout and let us know how many reps you get in today!!

'Always work to be the best version of yourself while landing on two feet..or four wheels #respinyourfit.'

On Tuesday, the star took to her Instagram to remember a historic moment she made 20 years ago.

Monsters Ball: Complex News shared an Instagram post, which Berry re-shared on her Instagram Story, that said, 'Halle Berry made history in 2002 when she became the first African American to win the best actress for her role in Monsters Ball'

Complex News shared an Instagram post, which Berry re-shared on her Instagram Story, that said, 'Halle Berry made history in 2002 when she became the first African American to win the best actress for her role in Monsters Ball.'

'New Black History moments are being created every day. We salute you Halle Berry.'

The 2001 drama-romance landed the actress her first Oscar. In the film, she starred alongside Billy Bob Thornton, Heath Ledger, Sean Combs, Mos Def and Will Rokos.

In her pwesonal life, the Ohio native is a mother to her daughter Nahla Ariela - turning 14 next month and her son, Maceo Robert Martinez, 8.

She shares Nahla from her four-year relationship with Canadian model Gabriel Aubry, which ended in 2010. Halle shares Maceo with French actor Olivier Martinez, whom she was married to for two years before separating in 2015.

Her son recently officiated a 'commitment ceremony' between Berry and her Grammy winner boyfriend Van Hunt - turning 52 next month - in the backseat of her car 'of his own volition.'
Danniella Westbrook's new man has been revealed to be the father of former The Only Way Is Essex star Grace Andrews.

48-year-old Danniella enjoyed a romantic lunch date with office furniture businessman Terry Andrews in Essex on Wednesday.

And he has now found to have famous connections, with a source revealing his identity to OK!

'She really doesn't seem his type': Danniella Westbrook's new man is revealed to be office furniture businessman Terry Andrews - the father of TOWIE star Grace Andrews

Familiar face: Grace (pictured) first stepped on the Essex scene in 2014 - she is best friends with Georgia Kousoulou

Speaking to the publication, an insider said: 'Terry has four daughters from three different relationships.

'His second eldest, Grace, was on TOWIE, and was Georgia Kousoulou's best friend. He's estranged from at least one of the girls.'

They added that his family were 'shocked' to see him out with Danniella, and that she didn't seem 'his type'.

Living it up: Grace pictured out on the town with Georgia back in 2014

They said: 'His family own an office furniture business in Essex. Everyone is shocked by the pictures of Terry with Danniella. He usually goes for brunette 'dolly bird' types. She really doesn't seem his type.'

Danniella stepped out with her new fella as they grabbed a table at celebrity hotspot Smiths of Ongar on Wednesday.

The mother-of-two was seen leaving the restaurant with her new man after they had tucked into oysters and sipped on champagne.

The former EastEnders actress - who recently claimed she was planning to sue the BBC - cut a chic figure in an all black ensemble which she teamed with a Louis Vuitton handbag.

Terry went for a smart casual look as he donned a jumper over a blue shirt and wore a pair of jeans.

Danniella shared a series of snaps from the date at swanky Essex restaurant Smiths of Ongar and wrote 'lunch time love'.

Date day: The actress was seen leaving the restaurant with her new man after they had tucked into some oysters and sipped on expensive bubbly

The outing comes after Danniella recently sparked romance rumours between herself and Matthew Postlethwaite after sharing a snap of them together on her Instagram.

She went on a night out with the Peaky Blinders actor, 30, after attending Cabaret All Stars and documented the evening on her Instagram grid.

The photo showed the pair looking cosy as Matthew, who played a Peaky Blinders henchmen, wrapped an arm around Danniella, who leaned on his shoulder and pointed at his face.

Captioning the snap, Danniella did nothing to squash speculation as she wrote: 'He makes me smile. Had a fabulous night last night.'

Love is in the air: Danniella shared a series of snaps from the date at swanky Essex restaurant Smiths of Ongar and wrote 'lunch time love'

Yum: The pair tucked into oysters and sipped on champagne during their lunch date

She recently showed off the results of a year's worth of face surgery, filler and Botox in glamorous snaps as it's revealed she's set to go under the knife to have part of her rib put in her cheek.

The actress opened up on her upcoming operation which she hinted may take its 'toll' on her, with the star having the procedure after her cheek was left damaged by botched dental work.

Danniella, who looked amazing in new images, also shared that she's currently going through 'a lot of operations at the moment' as she told of her ongoing treatments to restore her face.

Romance? Danniella recently stirred up romance rumours between herself and Matthew Postlethwaite after sharing a snap of them together

She had previously undergone the rib procedure in 2018, after osteoporosis rotted away her cheekbones and gums.

And speaking to OK! magazine about her latest bout of facial reconstruction, she explained: 'I'm going through a lot operations at the moment. They're good but they're very hard.'

Danniella continued: 'The first two of my operations haven't taken a toll on me but the next lot will do. I'm seeing a bone surgeon next who is going to be removing a rib.'

Transformation: Danniella Westbrook showed off the results of a year's worth of face surgery, filler and Botox in glamorous snaps as it's revealed she's set to go under the knife to have part of her rib put in her cheek

The way she was: The actress' battle with drugs has been well-publicised, and she famously had her nose reconstructed after her septum collapsed from excessive cocaine use in 2002

Danniella recently hit out at EastEnders for reportedly not informing her that her role as Sam Mitchell had been recast.

Kim Medcalf has been chosen to reprise the role over her.

Speaking to The Sun, Danniella said she was 'shocked' not to have been told about the casting decision prior to it being made public.

She said: 'Ive been known as Sam Mitchell for 32 years. But nobody at EastEnders contacted me to let me know they had recast Kim in the role. There wasnt even an email to my agent. I was shocked because they do have a responsibility to tell me and someone should have.'

The star - who has struggled with drug addiction since the age of 14 - added: 'The bosses have seen me go through addiction and they have no idea where I am today.

'Thankfully Im OK. But if I hadnt been it could have had very serious consequences for me.'
It was recently revealed that she's set to star in a new drama with actor boyfriend Ioan Gruffudd which will detail her experience with Multiple Sclerosis.

And ahead of her new project, Bianca Wallace looked sensational as she posed in a black bikini in a new snap shared to Instagram on Saturday.

The actress, 29, showed off her figure in the the skimpy swimwear as she beamed at the camera while enjoying a sunny break to France.

Looking good; Bianca Wallace looked sensational as she posed in a black bikini in a new snap shared to Instagram on Saturday

Bianca looked delighted as she posed for the snap with an idyllic backdrop of the sea behind her.

Amid several shots of scenery she uploaded, the Australian beauty also shared a snap of herself standing on a diving board looking out to see, with Bianca dressed in an all-white outfit.

It comes after Ioan, 48, announced that he is working on a project with his partner, 29, on his Instagram page earlier this month, as he gushed: 'I am so proud to be able to bring Bianca's extraordinary story to life.'

In January, Bianca revealed she was diagnosed with 'aggressive' multiple sclerosis three years ago and told how she didn't know if she would ever walk again after being told she had the condition at the age of 25.

New project: It was recently revealed that she's set to star in a new drama with actor boyfriend Ioan Gruffudd which will detail her experience with Multiple Sclerosis

Holiday: Amid several shots of scenery she uploaded, the Australian beauty also shared a snap of herself standing on a diving board looking out to see, with Bianca dressed in an all-white outfit

Bianca and Ioan both reshared a Deadline article which announced they would be working with director Jimmy Gadd on the drama, dubbed A Ray Of Sunshine.

Ioan said he was 'looking forward to sharing this', while Bianca said in response: 'Two truly incredibly humans telling my story!? If only B 3 threes ago could see this... I can't believe my luck. I love you [heart].'

Sharing the post on her own page, Bianca wrote: 'Incredibly excited to share this with you all. Love to all.'

Delighted: Ioan announced that he is working on a project with his partner, 29, on his Instagram page earlier this month

'Excited!' Sharing the post on her own page, Bianca wrote: 'Incredibly excited to share this with you all. Love to all'

Bianca has taken from her own experience of MS to write the script for the project, which will be co-directed by Ioan and Jimmy.

The story follows a chronically ill newly married young woman finds herself alone at rock bottom, struggling to come to terms with her life-altering diagnosis.

Ioan, who announced his relationship with Bianca in October, told Deadline: 'Bianca's unique way of approaching such a sensitive and personal topic as Multiple Sclerosis, with such raw emotion and the perfect glimmer of humor, made me certain that there was something special ahead and I knew I wanted to be involved.'

Couple: Bianca has taken from her own experience of MS to write the script for the project, which will be co-directed by Ioan and Jimmy (pictured with Ioan in January 2022)

He added: 'Jimmy was already signed on, but he graciously agreed to co-direct with me when I reached out expressing my interest. We both knew that we had to be a part of bringing this story to life.'

Bianca recently shared a nine-minute long video captioned 'I think it's time', where she explained that she didn't know if she would ever walk again after being told she had the condition at the age of 25.

She revealed that she first went to doctors after being unable to pick up a pen to write, and that after that 'everything changed'.

Difficult: Bianca recently revealed she was diagnosed with 'aggressive' multiple sclerosis three years ago

Bianca detailed how she now suffers with occasionally going blind in her left eye, has a tremor, and that the whole right side of her body has nerve damage.

The beauty went on to say that the diagnosis has actually been her 'lucky charm' and pushed her to get into acting and 'appreciate life for what it is'.

Bianca has recently hit headlines for her new relationship with Ioan, with the pair both frequently coming under fire from Ioan's estranged ex Alice.

Multiple sclerosis is a chronic inflammatory disease of the central nervous system that attacks the myelin sheaths protecting neurons in the brain and spinal cord.

Common symptoms include tiredness, vision problems and problems with walking or balance. Multiple sclerosis cannot be cured, but medicines and other treatments can help ease some of the symptoms

Sad news: Bianca detailed how she now suffers with occasionally going blind in her left eye, has a tremor and that the whole right side of her body has nerve damage

Bianca said in the video: 'I haven't always had the same outlook on life. I haven't always been about following your heart and living your life to the best of your ability. That's actually come with a diagnosis of aggressive multiple sclerosis.

'In October 2018 I was diagnosed with MS, I was diagnosed with an aggressive form, it was very aggressive in nature, it came on hard and fast. I was at work in accounting and I tried to pick up a pen and I couldn't.

'There was an initial shock, I can't really describe how I felt, I've never been able to put it into words, this is why I haven't spoken about it in the last three years as I don't quite know what to say.'

She continued: 'It has been the most confronting this to be dealt in life. It's not something a 25 year old would have ever expected. I then put the pen in my other hand to try to write and I just couldn't.

'I was sent to the emergency room and from there everything changed. Within the next few weeks I couldn't walk anymore, the entire right side of my body was completed whacked out. I had to start a journey I wasn't ready for. You're never ready for a diagnosis like this.

'I've always been a bubbly positive person but when you are faced with aggressive MS something changes. It put a question mark over my head but now I think it's the luckiest thing that could have happened to me as I was able to ask the hard, heavy questions in life.

Diagnosis: She revealed that she first went to doctors after being unable to pick up a pen to write, and that after that 'everything changed'

'Will I ever walk again? The neurologist answered that with "I don't know". At 25 I didn't know if I was going to walk again. I realised I had to make some changes in my life. I realised that starts with me. I was miserable, unhappy, I didn't know if I would walk again.'

Bianca went on to explain: 'I was living with regret. I didn't know what was going to happen to me. I still don't. It was hardship that has made me who I am. That's why I always tell people to just follow their heart as I know how how debilitating regret can be.

'I deal with a lot of drama because of the diagnosis. I go blind in my left eye, I have Botox to lift it up. My entire right side has nerve damage, this is my tremor look. When I'm stressed I lose my walk. So I had to learn how to control my emotions.

Positive: The beauty went on to say that the diagnosis has actually been her 'lucky charm' and pushed her to get into acting and 'appreciate life for what it is'

'I know how it feels to lie in bed and regret everything and I don't want to do that again ever. Without MS I would never have become an actress, it's the big question mark that did that. I don't know how it will progress I don't know what's going to happen.'

She signed off by saying: 'That knocked all the fear off me. It taught me to appreciate life for what it is. I hope this has cleared up some questions you may have of me. So now you know!'

The heartfelt clip came a week after Ioan's ex Alice dramatically quit Twitter after slamming the actor's new girlfriend Bianca over a perceived 'lack of empathy'.

102 Dalmations star Alice announced her split from the Welsh actor in a series of angry tweets last January, with Ioan subsequently confirming a new romance with Bianca in October.

Bold move: The heartfelt clip came a week after Ioan's ex Alice dramatically quit Twitter after slamming the actor's new girlfriend Bianca over a perceived 'lack of empathy'

While her Instagram page remained open, Alice set her Twitter page to private before deleting it after users of the social media platform expressed their opinions on her situation.

One user wrote: 'She left. She had to close her account. She went too far,' while another person claimed it was her followers who forced her off Twitter.

Earlier in the week, Alice responded to a slew of photos posted by Bianca, which included one of Bianca holding hands with Ioan while on holiday in Nice.

Infuriated, Alice branded the snaps 'sick' and 'evil', adding that it was a 'stake in the heart' to see the images.

Moving on: While her Instagram page is still open, Alice set her Twitter page to private before deleting it this weekend

Alice has previously accused Ioan and Bianca of conducting a three-year affair - there is no evidence to suggest Ioan has been unfaithful.

Taking to Twitter on Wednesday, Alice reposted the photo Bianca had shared, writing: 'YEAH. This has been causing me quite a big amount of stress. I'm so happy for them. It's like one long holiday. It's not that they don't deserve it- I hear B only is on vacay so why should she change.

'It's the hurt - the real pain that this photo causes me.'

Responding to another fan, Alice further lashed out at Bianca, writing: 'Thank you and the recent "shadow picture" in Nice. She wants to put a stake in my heart. I've never seen such a lack of empathy.

Couple: Bianca posted a montage of photos of her year last month - including a snap of her and Ioan holding hands in Nice - which Alice branded 'sick' and 'evil' and claimed seeing the image was like a 'stake in the heart'

'Pity, because we could have all been friends if they'd played this right. I have no problems with forgiveness. But this is evil.'

The 102 Dalmatians actress then revealed Ioan had come to the pair's former marital home in LA to collect his belongings - claiming he told her he had been accompanied by a police officer, but that she suspects Bianca was with him.

She wrote: 'Just got back and Ioan came and took all his stuff. He told me he came with a police officer but several witnesses said he came with a short dark haired woman! Yuk!

'I'll be so upset if she did. Guess I'll never know so I have to just forget it. He definitely said the 'off duty cop' (?) was male.'

Alice then referenced her housekeeper's belief that Ioan was accompanied by Bianca when he visited the marital home, adding: 'Gloria thinks so. He came to her house to get the key, even though I had hired to friends of mine to be there to let him in.

'She thinks there was a woman in the car who didn't get out.'
Love Island star Zara Holland is engaged to boyfriend Elliott Love after he popped the question in Dubai.

The former Miss Great Britain, 26, who rose to fame on the ITV2 show in 2016, has finally found her happy ending with Elliott, 31, who she's been dating for nearly six years.

Zara celebrated her engagement to Elliott with a big party in February, wearing a beautiful bridal-inspired dress as close friends and family congratulated her on the happy news.

Bride to be: Love Island star Zara Holland is engaged to boyfriend Elliott Love after he popped the question in Dubai

A source told MailOnline: 'Zara is over the moon to be engaged to Elliott.

'She went on Love Island years ago to find the man of her dreams  and meeting Elliott came just at the right time.

'Elliott proposed in the most perfect way in Dubai, and they couldn't be happier, now they're just excited to start planning their big day.'

Zara and Elliott, who prefers to stay out of the spotlight, met shortly after she starred on the dating series, where she became a much-loved Islander.

Engaged: The former Miss Great Britain, who rose to fame on the ITV2 show in 2016, has finally found her happy ending with Elliott,who she's been dating for nearly six years

Speaking about her romance Zara previously said: 'We're very happy together and have such a great time. He is absolutely amazing and he's definitely The One.

'When I did just come out the villa and I was on nights out or at public appearances guys would be like "Can I buy Zara from Love Island a drink?" But he just likes me for me which was so refreshing.'

The reality star landed a place on Love Island in 2016 but left the series early after she was unfairly stripped of her Miss Great Britain title.

Zara was punished by beauty pageant bosses for having sexual intercourse with co-star Alex Bowen on TV during the early years of the ITV2 show.

Miss Great Britain faced a backlash over their old-fashioned views while Zara defended her right to make her own decisions as a grown woman.

Alex, 30, is now married to Olivia Bowen, 28, who starred on the same season, and the pair are expecting their first baby together.

Gorgeous: The reality star landed a place on Love Island in 2016 but left the series early after she was unfairly stripped of her Miss Great Britain title

Zara hit the headlines last year when she was spared prison for flouting Covid-19 laws on holiday in Barbados after she tried to flee the country alongside Elliott, who had tested positive for the virus.

The couple were intercepted by police at the airport trying to board a plane back to the UK.

Since appearing on Love Island, Zara has taken a step away from celebrity life and has focused on running her fashion business Mimi Boutique.

She has previously spoken out about the intense trolling and scrutiny Love Island contestants face after rising to fame on the show.
Fashion Week has taken over Paris as designers get ready to showcased their latest collections.

And Chloe Moretz was beaming as she arrived in the French capital ahead of Louis Vuitton's Autumn Winter show, on Saturday.

The actress, 25, nailed Parisian chic in her elegant all-black ensemble as she stepped out of the car.

Sophisticated: Chloe Moretz, 25, nailed Parisian chic in an elegant all-black ensemble with chunky loafers as she arrived in the French capital during Fashion Week on Saturday

Arriving at her hotel, Chloe donned an all-black ensemble with a turtle neck jumper and smart trousers.

She layered over a longline double breasted wool coat and a pair of chunky Louis Vuitton loafers with the iconic brown monogram print.

She showcased her incredible glowing complexion as she went makeup free for her travels and carried a leather shoulder bag with a gold chain strap.

Radiant: She showcased her incredible glowing complexion as she went makeup free for her travels

Taking to her Instagram Story, the Diary of a Wimpy Kid star shared a photo of her plane ticket as she jetted from Los Angeles to Paris.

Holding her Louis Vuitton emblazoned passport cover, she tagged the fashion brands creative director Nicolas Ghesquiere ahead of his show.

Her outing comes after Chloe the release of her her latest sci-fi feature film Mother/Android in December.

Chic: Taking to her Instagram Story, the Diary of a Wimpy Kid star shared a photo of her plane ticket as she jetted from Los Angeles to Paris

Chloe stars as an expectant mother at war with AI 'killing machines' in the Mattson Tomlin-directed film.

The trailer begins with a pregnant Georgia (Chloe) hiding out in a tent in the wilderness as her boyfriend Sam, played by Algee Smith, 27, approaches.

The duo is faced with one goal in the sci-fi mystery: get to safety from a pack of androids intent to kill, in order to give their child a fighting chance.
She walked in the incredible Vivienne Westwood show during Paris Fashion Week on Saturday.

And Bella Hadid stepped out for dinner in a casual ensemble after the catwalk extravaganza as she went for a meal with her boyfriend Marc Kalman.

The model, 25, rocked an edgy all-black ensemble and looked rather tired and downcast after a long day of shows while leaving the hotel.

Busy day: Downcast Bella Hadid rocked an edgy all-black ensemble as she stepped out with her beau Marc Kalman during Paris Fashion Week on Saturday

She wore a grey and red logo T-shirt which she teamed with a black bomber jacket and baggy trousers.

Bella completed her look with chunky, shiny boots and wore dark shades to cover her eyes while appearing to go makeup free.

Meanwhile Marc looked just as low-key in a white T-shirt and light blue jeans which he wore with black shoes.

Stepping out: Marc looked just as low-key in a white T-shirt and light blue jeans which he wore with black shoes

Bella went public with the romance this past July when she posted a picture of her and Marc locking lips at Cannes.

They are said to have carried on the romance in New York amid the coronavirus pandemic while assiduously making sure they never got caught together.

Bella has made a name for herself in the modeling world for the past several years.

Style: Bella wore a grey and red logo T-shirt which she teamed with a black bomber jacket and baggy trousers

At the beginning of her career in 2016, Bella was voted Model of the Year by industry professionals.

This was the same year she walked in her first ever Victoria's Secret fashion show.

It is no surprise that Bella has rose to superstardom fame, following in her mother, Yolanda Hadid and sister, Gigi's footsteps.

Laid-back fashion: Marc wore baggy logo jeans and a Miss Oklahoma 1985 T-shirt to head out in Paris

The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star was a major model in the '80s and '90s and got Gigi into modeling when she was just two-years-old.

Bella recently walked in the Michael Kors runway show during New York Fashion Week.

She was joined by her older sister, Gigi, 26, and other top models including Irina Shayk and Emily Ratajkowski.
She always puts on a stunning display.

And Victoria Silvstedt looked sensational in a leggy mini dress as she stepped out to attend the Elie Saab show for Paris Fashion Week in the French capital on Saturday.

The Swedish model, 47, showcased her incredibly toned legs in the coral number as she posed for photos outside the event.

Stunning: Victoria Silvstedt, 47, looked sensational in a plunging leggy mini dress for the Elie Saab show during Paris Fashion Week on Saturday

The glamorous number featured a plunging neckline and nipped in at her tiny waist with a matching fabric belt that tied into a bow at the side.

It was embellished all over with sequins in a striking pattern that continued down the semi-sheer sleeves.

She added a pair of strappy perspex heels with a gold ankle strap to elongate her bronzed pins.

Sensational: The glamorous number featured a plunging neckline and nipped in at her tiny waist with a matching fabric belt that tied into a bow at the side

Victoria carried a metallic shoulder bag with a gold chain strap and later added a pair of oversized cat eye shaped sunglasses.

She wore her bright blonde in voluminous curls and added lashings of mascara to highlight her blue eyes.

Victoria has enjoyed a lengthy stint in the spotlight after being chosen to represent her country in the Miss World pageant in 1993.

Incredible: Her dress was embellished all over with sequins in a striking pattern that continued down the semi-sheer sleeves

Leggy! Victoria carried a metallic shoulder bag with a gold chain strap and later added a pair of oversized cat eye shaped sunglasses

After her pageant days, the Scandinavian stunner was spotted by Hugh Hefner and went on to become a Playboy Playmate.

Since her career rocketed, Victoria has modelled for some of the world's most prestigious fashion houses, including Chanel, Dior and Valentino.

Despite the glamorous veneer to her lifestyle as a young model, she revealed there was a dark side in a recent interview with Female First.

Glowing: Victoria has enjoyed a lengthy stint in the spotlight after being chosen to represent her country in the Miss World pageant in 1993

Victoria said: 'I started very young to model in Paris when I was 18, I remember like starving myself to fit into the clothes.

'It was an amazing experience but you know I did shows for Valentino, Chanel, so it was really prestigious.'

She is currently dating a businessman named Maurice Dabbah, and the couple have been together since 2011.
Seattle, WA (98195)

Today

Rain likely. High 52F. Winds S at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 80%. Rainfall near a quarter of an inch..

Tonight

Showers in the evening, then cloudy overnight. Low 44F. Winds S at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 60%.
The COVID-19 pandemic, according to experts, is in the midst of transition.

The Earth is moving, said Dr. Asha Shah, director of infectious diseases at Stamford Hospital. Theres a shift happening. Were shifting from pandemic to endemic.

But, she said, COVID is still something to be concerned about.

This is a respiratory virus that has the ability to mutate, Shah said. And so we would be fooling ourselves to think that this is it.

A host of factors  how immunity might wane, the continued evolution of the virus, the further development of therapeutics, human behavior and seasonality among them  will determine Connecticuts COVID future.

Dr. Syed Hussain, chief clinical officer for Trinity Health, said the transition toward an endemic state means learning to live with COVID.

We are in the process of moving to an endemic state, which means we need to learn how to coexist with this virus, he said.

Variants

Theres no doubt, Hussain said, that people in Connecticut will get sick with COVID-19 over the next year.

People will come down with symptoms. Hopefully, well reach the stage where the symptoms are milder because so many people have been vaccinated, he said. The only curveball with all of this is will there be a variant thats able to completely dodge immunity.

That, according to Scott Roberts, Yale New Haven Hospitals associate medical director of infection prevention, is a worst-case scenario.

The worst-case scenario is an unexpected variant that mutates in some way to have either a much increased transmissibility or much increased immune evasion or, doomsday scenario, both, where we see a very transmissible virus that is evading both natural immunity and the vaccine immune response, he said.

Variants are inevitable, Roberts said, but he believes one that completely evades immune responses is not as likely.

While I am 100 percent certain we will have new variants as this virus continues to evolve and mutate, I think the full doomsday scenario is unlikely, he said.

There is a natural ebb and flow to pandemics, according to Dr. Rahul Gupta, division chief for geriatrics and chair of the Health Information Committee at St. Vincents Medical Center.

Under normal circumstances, he would expect the pandemic to be over by the spring of next year, perhaps by March 2023. But COVID has been somewhat unpredictable.

Between now and then, traditionally, pandemics usually last a year or two and then fizzle out, and thats what you should expect from this, but then COVID has proven us wrong once or twice, Gupta said. Thats the normal expectation. Its all dependent on if we have another variant, which is much more virulent than what weve had in the past.

Masking and distancing

There are already variants of concern on the horizon. For example, the omicron subvariant, known as BA.2, is about 30 percent more transmissible than its progenitor, according to Yale researcher Nathan Grubaugh.

Grubaugh runs the Yale New Haven Health laboratory that conducts most of the DNA sequencing of coronavirus samples in the state.

BA.2, first detected in Connecticut last month, is gaining steam, he said.

People have to understand that theres this wild card in this conversation, Grubaugh said. If youre going to lift mask requirements, you should also be willing to reinstate them.

Much of that comes down to what Hussain called personal responsibility, which he said, will be key.

I have my parents visiting for the first time in two-and-a-half years, he said. My mother is immunocompromised. I take personal responsibility because they are staying with me. When I go anywhere in a public space, I wear a mask.

That personal responsibility, he said, will be necessary to protect immunocompromised and older patients, who remain at risk from severe disease.

There will be spikes here and there. It will live with us, it will be everywhere, he said. We need to protect the most vulnerable within our communities.

Spike in October

Public health experts in Connecticut tend to agree that COVID should continue to wane through the spring and summer, though there may be another wave in the fall.

While there may be another surge, and probably will be, the question is, is this going to be a seasonal thing? Is this slowly going to become, you have your winter surge of flu and you have your winter surge of COVID-19? Shah said.

The data over the last two years seems to bear that out.

You look at the winter of 2020 to 2021, and then you look at this winter, theyre kind of similar, except that this one was predated by delta, Shah said. We started to see a rise in the late summer, went down a little bit, and then really spiked up with omicron. So, is that pattern going to kind of even out and become more of a seasonal thing?

Charles Motes, who finished a 54-year career in public health as health director at the Bristol-Burlington Health District, said he also anticipates a quiet spring and summer.

I expect that the incidence of coronavirus cases and hospitalizations will continue to fall through the spring and summer of 2022, he said. Incidence will again increase in the fall, after the first frost.

Ulysses Wu, chief epidemiologist at Hartford HealthCare, said the virus will never completely disappear.

What I continue to predict is that numbers will continue to drift down all the way to October, but never zero out, he said.

Seasonal shifts are dependent, Wu said, on the continued mutation of the virus. A new variant might emerge in the southern hemisphere over the summer, and make the fall and winter in Connecticut a difficult time for hospitals.

If the variant doesnt happen, then we will continue to have low numbers, he said. Next fall, toward the end of October, were going to start seeing cases rise again.

The concern is the nature of that variant. If it evolves to evade immunity then there is a potential, Wu said, for it to be worse than last year.

Theres a positive side to that possibility. The omicron variant spread quickly and offered some measure of immunity against the virus for those who survived.

Its almost like a variant in the summer would increase immunity very nicely, Wu said. The problem is that it would kill a lot of people.

The warmer weather could make things easier, but Grubaugh said mitigation efforts would make a big difference.

Going into the spring and summer I think a lot of outbreaks will be self-limiting, Grubaugh said, with immunity and warmer, more humid temperatures keeping an outbreak at bay. But that may not last. We dont know how people will behave should another wave begin to crest. Will they wear masks? Will they take an outbreak seriously?

Immunity and pockets of infection

Pedro Mendes is a researcher and professor in computational biology at the University of Connecticut. When the pandemic hit, he developed computer models to try to predict the need for supplies and staffing in state hospitals.

One problem with predictive computer models, Mendes said, is they are based on assumptions.

For example, the model does not allow an individual that has already been vaccinated and also infected, to be infected again, he said. It assumes that the immunity given by the vaccine does not wear off with time.

Mendes said waning immunity could result in further COVID waves.

The immunity wearing-off effect, if fast enough, would make the population susceptible again, and new waves would appear even without a new variant, he said.

Even without waning immunity, there is a lot of heterogeneity in levels of immunity, Grubaugh said. The vast majority of the state is vaccinated, but booster rates are lower. Natural immunity granted by the disease itself is not as easy to determine, and some patients have had COVID twice.

So, while a widespread COVID wave could be in the offing for the region, Grubaugh said there may be pockets of disease, small metaphorical fires that must be extinguished with control measures like masking.

It could lead to pockets of outbreaks where schools could be closed really quickly, Grubaugh said.

That, though, is standard public health practice.

When you see pockets of transmission, you respond to it. This is how we deal with measles. Thats really how our public health systems work the best, when there are small fires, Grubaugh said. Its harder when there are infernos.

That heterogeneity of immunity could get more complex if, as Motes believes, federal regulators recommend more vaccines. Some immunocompromised patients have already received a fourth shot, and if expectations of seasonality bear out, that could become standard practice.

I wouldnt be surprised if we were encouraged to receive a fourth coronavirus immunization, in addition to the annual influenza shot, he said.
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DARIEN  Two years after the pandemic upended her life, Rose DeVito sat at the table in her kitchen  the same kitchen she spent years cooking the Sunday family dinners her husband Anthony loved.

And the table is where she and her youngest son John Jack DeVito would talk politics, usually in agreement with each other on the issues of the day.

Both Jack and Anthony DeVito died in the span of just weeks in April and May 2020. They were among the states earliest COVID-19 casualties.

For 91-year-old Rose, a longtime Darien resident who grew up in Stamford, life has irrevocably altered.

Its been a lot. A lot, Rose said. Ill tell you one thing, I will never be the same person again.

Rose connected with Anthony in 1950 when he wrote her a letter of introduction  which she still has tucked away  after meeting briefly through a mutual friend.

Anthony had graduated from Stamford High School in 1945 before attending Pace University and obtaining a degree in accounting.

When my mother gave me the letter, I laughed, Rose recalled. I said This is stupid. But he had no other way of meeting me. And we started to go out.

Anthony was a veteran of the Korean War and after he was discharged in 1952, he returned to Darien. Later becoming a CPA, he opened his own accounting firm with partner Canio LoRusso in Stamford.

The couple moved in with Anthonys parents after they were married and raised four children in the family home, Rose said.

Jack was her youngest son, Rose said. The DeVitos are known to have long lifespans, making it even more of a shock when Jack succumbed to the virus on April 7.

At 60 years old, he had everything going for him, Rose said. Jack had just started Rodowita z Roztocza, a natural mineral water company based in Warsaw, Poland.

He also had three beloved children and a longtime companion, Rose said.

He was friendly. He was funny. He loved people, Rose said. He knew how to talk to people. He had you laughing all the time with totally silly jokes.

A charmer with an easy laugh, Jack had graduated from Darien High School in 1977. Like his father, he graduated with a degree in accounting  his was from Iona College in New Rochelle  and started working first as an accountant and later a CPA.

He had everything to live for, this kid, Rose said. He had everything going for him. And then God took him.

The family surmises that Jack caught the virus in March after visiting his girlfriend in the hospital while she recovered from surgery. He came down with what seemed like a bad cold, Rose said, but initially brushed it off.

With limited testing available in the early days of the pandemic, Jack could not get into a testing site to confirm suspicions that he had COVID-19. He tried, Rose said, but his symptoms and age did not meet the qualifications at the time.

Jacks health quickly deteriorated and he died at his New Canaan home on April 7, 2020. He had no pre-existing conditions, according to his family.

Jacks daughter called Rose to break the news. It was a shock she will never recover from, Rose said.

You bring a child into the world and then you see them go, Rose said. I should have been the one to go, not him. Thats the way I look at it. God took the wrong person.

The family never told Anthony, who had dementia, that his son had died.

Anthony had recently undergone a series of medical complications, including pneumonia. When he contracted the virus, then developed aspiration after choking on some food, it proved too much for the 92-year-old, Rose said. He died from COVID-19 related complications on May 6, 2020.

He was a generous man who loved his grandchildren and his large family, Rose said. Their decades-long home is filled with photos of children and relatives across generations and continents.

He was a good guy, gave me everything, Rose said.

Father and son resemble each other, Rose said, pointing to their smiling faces in miniature photos. She keeps those photos on the kitchen table, where she can always see them.

Theyre with me all the time, she said.
Dayton Live is lifting its mask requirement for audiences attending performances in its venues from this weekend.

As of Saturday, March 5, 2022  and per CDC guidelines and recommendations  Dayton Live is lifting its mask requirement for audiences attending performances in its venues  the Victoria Theatre, Benjamin & Marian Schuster Performing Arts Center, The Loft Theatre, and the PNC Arts Annex.

However, DEAR EVAN HANSEN (March 8-13) at the Schuster Center, EVERYTHING THATS BEAUTIFUL (through March 13) at The Loft Theatre, and FROM SUMMIT TO SEA WITH ANDY MANN (March 13 & 14) at the Victoria Theatre will still require all audience members to be masked.

Other events or artists may also have different requirements. Always check DaytonLive.org for the most current information on any performance.

Patrons are welcome to wear masks at any performance in Dayton Lives venues.

Health and safety policies will continue to be regularly evaluated and adjusted based on community health data, and public health and government guidance. To learn more about our additional health and safety procedures, visit daytonlive.org/health-safety.
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So far, the IAF has flown 10 flights to bring back 2,056 passengers while taking 26 tonnes of relief load to Romania, Slovakia and Poland (ANI)

New Delhi: The Indian Air Force on Saturday brought back 629 evacuated Indian nationals from Ukraine's neighbouring countries Romania, Slovakia and Poland as part of the ongoing 'Operation Ganga'.

"Three C-17 heavy-lift transport aircraft of the IAF, which had taken off from Hindan Airbase on Friday, landed back to the base on Saturday morning with the evacuated Indians," said the official release.

"They had carried 16.5 tonnes of relief material on the outbound journey," IAF Tweeted.

So far, the IAF has flown 10 flights to bring back 2,056 passengers while taking 26 tonnes of relief load to these three countries.

Earlier in the day, Minister of State for External Affairs V Muraleedharan informed that over 11,000 Indians have been evacuated from Ukraine so far.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday chaired a meeting to discuss the ongoing evacuation drive of Indian nationals and the situation in conflict-hit Ukraine.

The government has also deployed 'special envoys' to four neighbouring countries bordering Ukraine to coordinate and oversee the evacuation process of Indian nationals.

Russian forces launched military operations in Ukraine on February 24, three days after Moscow recognized Ukraine's breakaway regions - Donetsk and Luhansk - as independent entities.
A man checks his mobile phone as he looks up from his sleeping cot, at a reception center for displaced persons from Ukraine, at the Ukrainian-Polish border crossing in Korczowa, Poland, Saturday, March 5, 2022. (Photo:AP)

HYDERABAD: Hundreds of Indian students, who have been stranded in five international hostels in Sumy of Ukraine, still do not have drinking water, food and power supply, according to reports reaching here.

Though the Russian external ministry announced a ceasefire for five-and-a-half hours on Saturday, there was no proper response from authorities in shifting the students stuck in Sumy and Kharkiv.

Lokesh, an MBBS student, staying in the international hostel in Sumy, said they had been waiting for 10 days for assistance. Every day, we hope for a new advisory from the embassy and now we have decided to leave for the border, he said. "We have been stranded for 10 days and the situation has worsened due to lack of food and drinking water. We request the embassy officials to shift us from Russian borders," Lokesh requested.

An Indian student, Mahtab, said they were still in a pathetic situation in Sumy. Even though the Russian armed forces declared ceasefire, there was shelling near Sumy and the students are under the grip of fear. "Around 800-900 Indians are waiting for help. Today, four explosions took place in Sumy, close to the hostels where Indian students are living," Mahtab said.

The embassy officials said they were exploring all possible mechanisms to evacuate Indian citizens in Sumy, safely and securely.

Meanwhile, officials identified at least 298 Indian students in Pisochyn, a region near Kharkhiv. They provided buses to shift the students from the region. At least 184 Telugu students arrived in New Delhi from Romania on Saturday. Telugu students were shifted to the AP and the Telangana Bhavans in Delhi and later shifted them to their native places.
Manipur Chief Electoral Officer Rajesh Agrawal told reporters that 4,988 personnel were deployed in 1,247 polling stations in the six electoral districts to conduct the exercise. (Representational Image/ PTI)

Guwahati: Amid reports of sporadic incidents of violence, the final phase of Assembly elections for 22 seats in Manipur recorded a voter turnout of 76.04 per cent on Saturday.

According to police one person was killed and another was injured during the police firing at Karong in Senapati district, which incidentally also had the highest voter turnout, while in Thoubal district a BJP activist was gunned down allegedly by a Congress worker.

In an incident in Thoubal in the early hours when the victim, L. Amuba Singh, along with other BJP activists, went to the residence of the Congress worker and asked him to stop campaigning as the stipulated time was over, a police officer said. During an altercation, the Congress worker allegedly fired at Singh. In Karong, police opened fire when some people tried to snatch the EVM from a polling station after beating up the official.

The Congress activist, who is yet to be arrested, was also injured after BJP workers hurled stones at him when Singh was shot.

In another incident, unidentified miscreants lobbed a crude bomb at the residence of expelled BJP leader Ch Bijoy in Lamphel area in Manipurs Imphal West district, police said. No one was injured during the incident.

Polling halted at the 36 Tobumai polling station after the clash between supporters of both the Naga Peoples Front and Independent candidates. It is said that clashes broke out when two buses carrying voters from Kohima in Nagaland were attacked by miscreants.

While the Thoubal district falls in the valley area, the other five electoral districts are in the mountainous areas bordering Assam and Nagaland, as well as Myanmar, making security forces maintain maximum vigil along both the international and the inter-state borders. Manipur Chief Electoral Officer Rajesh Agrawal told reporters that 4,988 personnel were deployed in 1,247 polling stations in the six electoral districts to conduct the exercise.

The second phase of polling was extremely crucial for all parties as it would play a decisive role in formation of the next government in the state. Of the total 92 candidates in the fray, 22 candidates are from the BJP, 18 from the Congress, 10 each of Janata Dal-United (JD-U) and Naga Peoples Front (NPF), 11 of National Peoples Party (NPP), two each of Shiv Sena and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), three of Republican Party of India-Athawale (RPI-A), one each of Rashtriya Janhit Sangharsh Party (RJSP) and CPI, and 12 independent candidates.
Andhra Pradesh students stranded in Ukraine are returning home in installments. About 96 people arrived at AP Bhavan in New Delhi on Saturday, 5 Mar 2022. (Photo: D. KamraJ)

VISAKHAPATNAM: The moment before the Russian missile smashed into the Ukraine building exploding in a fireball at Kharkiv on March 1 around 8 am local time, I was in a metro train at the nearest railway station after leaving my hostel in the early hours, said 18-year-old Reddy Nomula Satya Sreeja from Visakhapatnam.

Sreeja, who safely reached her home at Ramapuram in Pendurthi on Friday, spoke to Deccan Chronicle on Saturday.

She is one of the students of Kharkiv National Medical University who reached India safely. Almost all the students, who came back to India from Ukraine, are requesting the governments of both India and Ukraine, or Russia to ensure that the colleges are reopened after summer vacation in June with online classes or even examinations after April at least.

Sreeja said, We do not want to see our education getting a gap as we have already faced a similar situation during the Covid. We hope that the governments take the right decision for safeguarding the interests of students.

Narrating her days in Kharkiv, Sreeja said, We came to know about the airstrike in Kharkiv when our train was stopped for hours. After escaping from the bullets and terrific firing sounds, we managed to reach the station on March 1. Finally reached Poland from where we reached Delhi on Friday, Sreeja said.

Another girl, K.S. Harika from Arilova, said, Even though we safely reached home, our concerns and memories are still going around the days we spent in Ukraine and fellow Indians. I wait for normalcy to go back to my college to collect my MBBS degree certificate as I am a final year student waiting for my final exams in May.

A first-year student Gorli Tarun from Sabbavaram said at present he was not worried about the education as he was just a first-year student, but would take his final decision after some time as he had not yet come out from the memories of war-hit Ukraine.

Speaking to this newspaper while travelling from Hungary to India after being evacuated from Kharkiv on Wednesday, N. Prasad, another student, said he had left everything including luggage and bags at Kharkiv. He even left his pet dog, Tyson, behind.

On March 1, a Ukraine soldier helped me when we shared his duties by giving him a chance to sleep for a while in our place. The soldier also felt sad about the losses of lives and destruction of the country in the war between two people, Prasad narrated the days he passed in Kharkiv since February 24.

Varahalara Rao, the parent of a student at Samarlakota in East Godavari district, said, We all first thank the Indian government, particularly Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy for safe passage of our children.
VIJAYAWADA: The Telugu Desam will skip the AP Assemblys Budget Session that starts on March 7, Monday. The main opposition demanded an unconditional apology from YSRC ministers and legislators for their anti-Chandrababu Naidu utterings during the last session.

Opposition leader Chandrababu Naidu had boycotted the last assembly session, alleging insult to his wife, and vowed that he will return to the assembly only as the next chief minister. Recently, the TD leaders however proposed to attend the coming budget session to expose the wrong steps of the YSR Congress government.

The TD politburo discussed the scheduled budget session and the chances of the YSRC government reintroducing the Three Capitals bill and the bill for the formation of new districts. Several MLAs said TD members should attend the budget session to raise various public issues. Chief Minister Jagan received a big blow from the high court over the Three Capitals initiative, they noted.

Naidu addressed the politburo meeting and labelled the state assembly as Kuru Sabha while recalling the bitter experience he had when there were verbal assaults directed at his wife from some YSRC legislators.

The meeting considered whether it was fine if TD MLAs attended the house in the absence of Naidu, and arrived at the conclusion that it was not appropriate.

The Opposition TD has only 19 MLAs as four members, namely Vallabhaneni Vamsimohan, Karanam Balaram, Maddali Giridhar and Vasupalli Ganesh had shifted loyalties to the YSRC even as they did not quit the TD for fear of disqualification under the anti-defection law. Interestingly, among the 19 MLAs, Visakhapatnam (north) MLA Ganta Srinivasa Rao has not been attending the meetings of TD.

Naidu has announced that he wont be attending the assembly for the rest of the five-year term. So, technically, only 17 MLAs of the TD can attend the session.

TD general secretary Nara Lokesh said they will attend the assembly if the YSRC ministers and legislators expressed an unconditional apology for the insult they hurled on his parents. But, there was no response from the YSRC. Hence the TD will skip the budget session, he said.

TD sources said that practically four or five MLAs like K Atchannaidu, Payyavula Kesav, Nimmalarama Naidu, Anagani Satyaprasad and Buchaiah Chowdary will play an active role in the assembly and others were not very serious in attending the session. Even if TD MLAs try hard, they will not get a chance to speak. If they get a chance, YSRC MLAs and ministers would shout them down.

Considering all these, Naidu suggested the legislators to instead go to the people to win their support in the next two years and enable TD to wrest power from the YSRC.
HYDERABAD: Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan expressed displeasure over the decision of the state government to commence the budget session of the legislature from March 7 without the customary Governor's address.

The Governor reacted for the first time after the state government announced its decision on February 28 that the session would commence without the Governor's address as it contended that it was a continuation of the previous session.

In a press release issued on Saturday, the Governor stated that the state government while seeking the recommendation of the Governor for the introduction of the Financial Bill (Budget) had mentioned that the session would commence with the Governor's address.

Unfortunately, on clarification, it was stated that it was inadvertent. Ironically, the note following democratic convention was stated as inadvertent, Dr Soundararajan said.

"I, however, respecting the constitutional convention and going beyond political considerations and keeping up with the spirit of cooperative federalism, have conveyed my recommendation for the introduction of the Financial Bill. I had the liberty to take my time to give my recommendation. But knowing well that peoples welfare is involved, and giving primacy to peoples welfare, I gave my recommendation without any time lag," the Governor said.

The Governor found fault with the government's explanation that because it is not a new session but a continuation of the earlier session, it has not been possible to commence the budget session with the Governors address. The government said it was because of this technical aspect, the Governors address was not possible.

"The House is meeting after a period of five months. Under normal circumstances, when the House is convened after such a long interval, the House is convened for a new session. Despite the long recess, the government has chosen to continue the earlier session and do away with customary Governors address by citing technical reasons," Dr Soundararajan noted.

"The Governors address is an important instrument in upholding the democratic principles of making the government responsible to the elected members. The Governors role is limited to being a catalyst to the democratic ideals enshrined in our Constitution. By not holding the Governors address in this budget session, the members now stand to lose out on the opportunity to discuss the previous year performance of the government," she said.

Official sources in the Chief Minister's Office (CMO) and the TRS late on Saturday strongly reacted to Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan's media statement that faulted with the state government on the issue of the Governor's address being dropped during the Budget Session starting on Monday.

They held the Governor responsible for the gap between Raj Bhavan and the Chief Minister and for this situation to arise.

They said Governor should be apolitical and discharge Constitutional duties but Dr Soundararajan was favouring a political party for which she had worked as state president earlier, and also confronting the government's decisions for political reasons.

They cited instances of the Governor rejecting Cabinet's nomination of Padi Kaushik Reddy as MLC under Governors quota, delaying the appointment of a protem chairman for the Legislative Council, delivering portions of her speech that were not approved by the Cabinet in a previous Budget Session and also during recent Republic Day celebrations at Raj Bhavan.

They said Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao had the highest regard for Raj Bhavan and the Governor, but Dr Soundararajan had created a situation where the government was forced to take certain decisions.
Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) is all set to target the BJP in the budget session of the legislature to begin on March 7. (File Photo)

HYDERABAD: The Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) is all set to target the BJP in the budget session of the legislature to begin on March 7.

The ruling party used to target the Congress in previous sessions.

The change of prime opponent highlights new political equations with TRS president and Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao declaring an all-out war on the BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi since Huzurabad Assembly bypoll result in November last.

Sources in the TRS said the 'political strategy' towards the BJP would be the main agenda of the Cabinet meeting convened by the Chief Minister at Pragathi Bhavan on Sunday. Although the meeting is usually held a day before the presentation of the budget, the Chief Minister is understood to have decided to discuss at length and brief ministers on how to deal with the BJP in the House.

The tussle between the TRS and the BJP reached its peak after senior TRS leader and former health minister Etala Rajender quit the TRS to join the BJP and tendered resignation to Huzurabad MLA seat in June last year forcing bypoll in October last. Rajender won the bypoll as the BJP candidate with a handsome majority trouncing the TRS even after the Chief Minister, ministers, scores of TRS MLAs, MLCs and MPs campaigning in Huzurabad to defeat Rajender.

Now, Rajender's entry into the Assembly for the first time as a BJP member is something which treasury benches are unable to digest. Rajender who represented the TRS in Assembly for nearly 17 years is expected to attack the Chief Minister and the TRS in his new avatar as the BJP MLA.

Party leadership wants ministers and TRS MLAs to counter Rajenders charges against the TRS government. The ruling party plans to debate the Modi government's 'lopsided' policies on farmers, power reforms besides 'discrimination' towards Telangana in the sanction of funds and projects to attack the BJP.
Russian President Vladimir Putin attends a flag raising ceremony on the ferry Marshal Rokossovsky via a video link at the Novo-Ogaryovo state residence outside Moscow on March 4, 2022. (Alexey NIKOLSKY / SPUTNIK / AFP)

MOSCOW: Russian President Vladimir Putin in a phone call with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz denied that Russian troops were bombing Ukrainian cities, dismissing such information as fake, the Kremlin said Friday.

Putin said reports about "the alleged ongoing air strikes of Kyiv and other large cities are gross propaganda fakes," the Kremlin said in a statement.

He added that dialogue on Ukraine would be possible only if Russian demands are met.

Putin "confirmed that Russia is open to dialogue with the Ukrainian side, as well as with everyone who wants peace in Ukraine. But under the condition that all Russian demands are met," the Kremlin said.

These include the neutral and non-nuclear status of Ukraine, its "denazification", recognition of Crimea as part of Russia and of the "sovereignty" of separatist territories in eastern Ukraine.

"Hope was expressed that during the planned third round of talks, the representatives of Kyiv will take a reasonable and constructive position," the Kremlin added.

The next meeting of delegations from Russia and Ukraine is expected during the weekend, according to one of Kyiv's negotiators.
Voting began in Manipur to seal the electoral fate of 92 candidates in 22 constituencies across six districts in the second and last phase of assembly elections on Saturday. All arrangements to hold the voting in 1247 polling stations adhering to the Covid-19 safety protocols have been completed, Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Rajesh Agarwal said on Friday. Prominent candidates in the second phase include former three-time chief minister O Ibobi Singh and ex-deputy CM Gaikhangam Gangmei, both from Congress.
Tesla CEO Elon Musk, who started the electric vehicle (EV) revolution to save the climate, on Saturday asked the world governments to increase oil and gas production.

Referring to the world's dependence on Russian pipelines which has stopped several governments from sanctioning President Vladimir Putin following the invasion of Ukraine, he apparently suggested that we need to reduce dependency on Russian oil and gas.

"Hate to say it, but we need to increase oil and gas output immediately. Extraordinary times demand extraordinary measures," Musk posted.

He admitted that this would negatively affect Tesla and its EV business.

"But sustainable energy solutions simply cannot react instantaneously to make up for Russian oil and gas exports," he added.

Last year, Musk said on Joe Rogan's podcast: "I'm not in favour of demonising the oil and gas industry. We're gonna need to burn fossil fuels for a long time. The question is just at what rate do we move to a sustainable energy future?"

Also read: Russia running out of oil customers

On Friday, the SpaceX and Tesla CEO warned Ukrainians to use the Starlink satellite system with caution as his commercial Internet network can be targeted by Russians to hamper the entire system at work.

As a non-Russian communications system, the Starlink satellite internet service has a "high" probability of being targeted, Musk said.

"Important warning: Starlink is the only non-Russian communications system still working in some parts of Ukraine, so the probability of being targeted is high. Please use with caution," Musk posted in a tweet.

He advised users to only turn on Starlink when needed.

"Turn on Starlink only when needed and place the antenna as far away from people as possible," Musk said and also suggested visibly camouflaging antennas.

As promised, Elon Musk-run SpaceX sent a truck full of Starlink user terminals to Ukraine amid the Russian invasion.

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India's pharmaceuticals market (IPM) is expected to grow between 6 and 8 per cent on a year-on-year (YoY) basis in FY23.

Accordingly, the growth has been capped due to high base effect and inventory stocking in FY21 on account of Covid-19-led disruption in supplies of key starting materials.

Besides, API (Active Pharmaceuticals Ingredient) businesses are expected to report high single-digit growth in FY23 due to a demand uptick, the overall revenue growth is expected at 9-to-10 per cent YoY.

In a research note, India Ratings and Research (Ind-Ra) said it has maintained a neutral outlook for the Indian pharmaceutical sector for FY23.

The agency said that higher Capex in lieu of the 'Production-linked Incentives' (PLI) scheme will restrict the quantum of free cash flow generation during the year.

"Large players are adequately capitalised to make bigger investments to adjust for the ongoing fundamental shift in market opportunities," the note said.

"Cost-cutting measures remain a priority for Indian companies. However, interim disruptions such as high raw material costs and logistic expenses will put pressure on the level of free cash flow generated."

Besides, the agency said that with the significant improvement in the free cash flow generated in the near term, M&A activities will continue to provide inorganic push in FY23.

"Ind-Ra does not expect the sector's liquidity to face a major risk, despite similar maturities levels in FY23 and FY24. Large pharma companies generally have large cash balances, which typically account for 14-16 per cent of their revenue."

Furthermore, most companies have sufficient headroom under debt covenants and diversified funding sources.

"The interest coverage of large pharma players is likely to increase with scale and margin expansion."

"Ind-Ra expects large pharma companies to continue with their healthy debt-funded capex and research and development programme, given higher visibility in terms of sales growth and profitability."

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The Congress on Saturday slammed Prime Minister Narendra Modi for campaigning in his constituency Varanasi for the Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls at a time when thousands of Indian students are stranded in war-torn Ukraine.

Taking to Twitter, Congress leader Kapil Sibal said, "Ukraine: Our students stranded at Pisochyn, Roadshow at Varanasi, No show at Pisochyn, Sad but true."

Ukraine:

Our students stranded at Pisochyn Road show at Varanasi No show at Pisochyn Sad but true  Kapil Sibal (@KapilSibal) March 5, 2022

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Modi chaired the fifth high-level meeting on Friday to review the progress of the ongoing evacuation of Indians from Ukraine under 'Operation Ganga'.

During the meeting, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla briefed Modi about the progress of the evacuation mission and informed him that over 18,000 Indians have been brought back since the initial advisories by the Indian Embassy in Kyiv were put out.

For latest updates on Assembly polls, click here

The Prime Minister was also briefed on the status of Indians, mostly stuck in Odessa and Sumi areas close to the Russian border and discussed the possible ways for their safe evacuation. Sumi is located close to the Russian border and a gunfight is going on there.

Modi has been chairing meetings almost every day since Sunday evening to discuss the evacuation progress.

The evacuation process was ramped up soon after the four Union Ministers went to the neighbouring countries of Ukraine to oversee 'Operation Ganga'.

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Underlining that the government has been keeping an eye on the situation in Ukraine since January, senior BJP leader and Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday said the successful evacuation of Indians from the war-hit country will have a positive impact on the ongoing assembly polls.

Addressing a press conference at the BJP headquarters, Shah said the government had issued an advisory as early as February 15 for Indians in Ukraine.

Russia launched its military offensive against Ukraine on February 24.

Also Read: Indian students stuck in Ukraine's Sumy appeal to Centre for help

The government has been keeping an eye on the situation in Ukraine since January, he said.

"Over 13,000 citizens have reached India and more flights are coming in. This process had a positive impact on elections and on the people also," Shah said.

The government launched 'Operation Ganga' for the evacuation of Indians from Ukraine.

Shah said, "The government sent Russian-speaking teams to four nearby countries of Ukraine and also set up a control room. Till March 4, we were successful in bringing out 16,000 citizens from Ukraine."

With the Ukrainian airspace having been shut since February 24 due to the ongoing Russian military offensive, Indian citizens who were stuck in Ukraine are being airlifted via its neighbouring countries such as Romania, Hungary, Slovakia and Poland.

The last of the seven-phase assembly polls in Uttar Pradesh will be held on March 7. Votes will be counted on March 10, along with that of Punjab, Uttarakhand, Goa and Manipur.

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In what can be termed as a "grand show of unity", the entire Yadav clan is campaigning for the Samajwadi Party (SP) candidate from the Malhani assembly seat in Jaunpur.

The SP candidate is Lucky Yadav, son of the party's founding member late Paras Nath Yadav.

Shivpal Yadav has addressed two public meetings in Malhani seeking votes for Lucky and Mulayam Singh Yadav has also made an appeal for the candidate.

Akhilesh Yadav also campaigned for Lucky on Friday.

Also Read | Road show in Varanasi, no show in Pisochyn: Sibal

This is the second time that the three leaders are campaigning together for a candidate. Earlier, they jointly held a public meeting and a rally in Karhal for Akhilesh Yadav who is contesting the Assembly elections for the first time.

Mulayam Singh Yadav, so far, has campaigned for only Akhilesh in Karhal.

Paras Nath Yadav, a seven-time MLA, two-term MP and two-term minister, was one of the few SP stalwarts who remained with Mulayam Singh Yadav during the battle of supremacy within the Yadav clan in the run-up to the 2017 Assembly polls.

Also Read | Politicians throng Varanasi for final battle in Uttar Pradesh

A seasoned politician and a known Mulayam loyalist, Paras Nath was also close to Shivpal.

Party sources said that after the demise of Paras Nath in June 2020, Mulayam reached out to his children and assured them all of the help.

In 2020 by-poll, necessitated by Paras Nath's death, Lucky Yadav won the seat by a narrow margin of a little over 4,000 votes against his nearest rival, Dhananjay Singh.

This time, Lucky is again being challenged by Dhananjay Singh who has been fielded by Janata Dal-United (JD-U), a BJP ally in Bihar.

Also Read | UP Polls: Allies role crucial in poll battle in Varanasi

the BJP has fielded former MP K.P. Singh, while Shailendra Yadav is in the fray as a BSP candidate.

The SP is unwilling to take any chances and will make sure that it retains the seat.

SP sources have claimed that Dhananjay was a dummy candidate for the BJP and his ticket was routed through JD-U to avoid any controversy over his "gangster" label since a number of criminal cases are pending against him.

Dhananjay, however, claims that he would get at least 50 per cent of the total votes polled in his constituency.

Jaunpur goes to the polls on March 7 in the final phase of the elections.

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BJP national president J P Nadda on Saturday accused the Congress of misleading farmers in the name of loan waiver, and said Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given Rs 6,000 to farmers every year under the PM-Kisan Samman Nidhi scheme.

"Today many people call themselves farmer leaders, but they did nothing for the community. The Congress has misled the farmers in the name of loan waiver. (On the other hand) Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given Rs 6,000 every year to farmers under PM-Kisan Samman Nidhi," he said at an election meeting.

Also Read: Jaunpur's Malhani emerges as high-stake seat among high-profile candidates

"When the prime minister started the Jan Dhan Yojana, the opposition made fun of it. (SP chief) Akhilesh ji, who was born with a silver spoon, and Rahul (Gandhi) ji asked what will happen with bank accounts for the poor? Today, the money given under the PM-Kisan Samman Nidhi, Prime Minister Awas Yojana and other schemes goes directly into the bank accounts of the poor, and there are no middlemen," he said.

Nadda also claimed that the Samajwadi Party (SP) deceived the NISHAD party, and it was the BJP which worked to fill the plate (of the people).

"Under the double engine government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and UP Chief MInister Yogi Adityanath, work is being done to fill the plates of the poor people, while the SP, BSP and the Congress have committed the sin of emptying the plate of the poor people," he said.

NISHAD party is an ally of the BJP and its election symbol is a plate filled with food.

Also Read: High-octane campaigning for last phase ends in UP with Modi, Akhilesh, Priyanka rallies

The BJP leader further asserted that only the saffron party brought the poor, dalits, deprived, exploited sections of the society, women, farmers and youth to the mainstream.

"We asked Akhilesh ji -- what have you done for Uttar Pradesh, but he did not answer. When their work is to get illegal arms factories opened and give patronage to goons, what will they do for the people?" he asked.

Intensifying his attack on the opposition party, Nadda said, "For the past two months, I have been asking a question to Akhilesh Yadav that as soon as you became the chief minister, why did you withdraw the cases registered against terrorists involved in bomb blasts in Gorakhpur, Varanasi, Ayodhya and Lucknow, and the terror attack on CRPF camp in Rampur? But, Akhilesh did not answer.

"Akhilesh ji, what relationship do you have with the family of the terrorists?... Samajwadi Party and criminals are two sides of the same coin," he added.

Bhadohi will go to polls in the seventh and final phase of the Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections on March 7.

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The high-octane campaigning in the last phase of Uttar Pradesh assembly elections ended on Saturday with PM Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah. and Samajwadi Party (SP) president Akhilesh Yadav addressing rallies in Varanasi and other parts of Poorvanchal. Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra held a roadshow in Jaunpur.

Polling on 54 assembly seats in nine districts, including Varanasi, the Lok Sabha constituency of Modi, Azamgarh, Mirzapur, Bhadohi, Jaunpur, Chandauli, Sonebhadra, Ghazipur and Mau would be held on Monday.

Modi, who addressed an election rally in Varanasi, attacked his rivals for "humiliating" the country even when the entire nation should have been united. "The dynasts have always tried to humiliate the country....they see politics even in the evacuation of stranded Indian students from Ukraine," he said.

The prime minister claimed that there was a "pro-incumbency wave" in favour of the BJP government in the state. "For the first time I have seen a government seeking support of the people in the name of development and law and order," he added.

Also read: UP Polls: BJP faces tough battle in Varanasi

Shah, who addressed an election rally at Jaunpur, said that India's stature in the world had risen under the Modi government. "Modiji ended the special status of Jammu & Kashmir but the opposition did not like it," he said.

SP president Akhilesh Yadav, who addressed a series of election meetings at Azamgarh and Jaunpur, said that BJP was staring at defeat in the polls. "The body language of the BJP leaders has changed completely in the past few days.....they have realised that they are losing the elections," Akhilesh said.

Akhilesh's alliance partner Om Prakash Rajbhar also addressed several rallies in Varanasi and its adjoining areas on Saturday.

Priyanka, who had been camping in Varanasi for the past three days, on Saturday held a roadshow in Jaunpur in favour of her party nominee Nadeem Javed.

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BJP flags fluttering atop rooftops, wide roads, a world class railway station, a renovated Kashi Vishwanath Temple and comparatively cleaner Ganga ghats may leave an impression that for BJP there is no challenge in Varanasi, the Lok Sabha constituency of prime minister Narendra Modi, a saffron stronghold since 2014.

An interaction with the people, both locals and outsiders, while taking a stroll on the iconic Assi Ghat on the bank of the Ganga, where one can witness the grand Ganga Arti at dawn and also in the evenings, also reveals that Modi enjoys considerable support of the electorate and is credited with the rapid development of the temple town, which is thronged by the Hindus from across the world.

"The entire credit for whatever development that has taken place in the city goes to Modiji. The roads are wider, traffic congestion has eased, Ganga has also become cleaner," says Ram Niwas Tripathi, a resident of Bhelupur locality in the city.

Read | Polls in UP 'pro-incumbency', people want BJP again: PM

Arun Kumar Upadhyaya, who lived in the Chowk area of the city, also echoed a similar sentiment. "You will not find any one who speaks against Modiji here...even his opponents can not deny that he has done a lot for the city," Upadhyaya said.

Sadal Prasad, who had come to the city to pay obeisance at the Kashi Vishwanath Temple from the neighbouring Ghazipur district, also agreed with the claims of development. "I have been visiting the city for the past several years. Earlier it used to take more than an hour to reach from Cantt railway station to Dashashwamed Ghat owing to the traffic snarls because of the narrow roads. Now we can reach within 15-20 minutes," he says.

People's opinion in the city coupled with the fact that the BJP and its alliance partners had won all the eight seats in Varanasi district in the 2017 should leave no doubt that the saffron party was poised to repeat its old performance.

But the scene changes drastically as one moves into the rural pockets of the district in Rohaniya, Pindra, Shivpur and Sevapur assembly constituencies, where caste continues to play a crucial role in supporting a candidate.

Read | How international issues dominate UP polls narrative

"This time it will not be easy for the BJP to win all the seats. The Samajwadi Party (SP) is giving a tough fight to the BJP on many seats, especially in the rural areas," says Amarnath Yadav, a resident of Mohan Sarai, a few kilometres from the city.

Similarly, Congress candidate from Pindra assembly seat Ajai Rai is also giving a tough fight to the BJP nominee. "It may surprise many but the Congress candidate is in a strong position here," said Bhanu Pratap, a resident of Pindra.

Even in the city, BJP candidate and UP minister Neelkanth Tewari was locked in a close contest with the SP nominee Kishen Dixit on Varanasi South seat. A video showing Tewari seeking forgiveness of the electorate of his constituency for not being able to visit them also went viral recently.

That the fight in Varanasi was not easy could be gauged from the fact that Modi had to spend two days here to campaign for the party nominees. Modi not only held a roadshow in the city but also addressed an election meeting besides visiting many localities of the town. He enjoyed tea at a roadside stall near Assi and also had a taste of the iconic 'paan'.

Interestingly many people, who voiced their support for Modi, appeared to be angry with the state government over shortage of fertilisers, stray cattle, cancellations of several competitive examinations following leakage of papers.

Locals feel that the desertion of the Suheldev Bhartiya Samaj Party (SBSP), which enjoyed considerable influence over the Rajbhar voters and whose leader Om Prakash Rajbhar was now with the SP, could hurt the BJP's prospects on at least three seats in the district, where Rajbhar voters were in sizable numbers. SP president Akhilesh Yadav also held a roadshow and addressed an election rally with West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee.

It remains to be seen if Modi's extended stay in his LS constituency does help his party maintain its grip on this saffron bastion.

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A suicide bomber blew himself up inside a crowded Shia mosque during the Friday congregation here in northwest Pakistan, killing at least 56 people and wounding nearly 200 others, in one of the deadliest attacks in the restive province, bordering Afghanistan.

The blast occurred at an Imambargah located near the Qissa Khwani Bazaar area of Peshawar when the worshippers were offering Friday prayers.

No group immediately claimed responsibility for the blast in Peshawar, the provincial capital of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa which borders Afghanistan. However, the Islamic State and sectarian militant groups have claimed responsibility for the deadly attacks targeting Shias in the past.

Mohammad Asim, a spokesperson for Lady Reading Hospital (LRH), confirmed that at least 56 people were killed while 194 were injured in the blast.

An eyewitness identified a person as dressed in black as the suicide bomber, saying he entered the mosque, shot and killed the security guard first and then fired five to six bullets.

"After that, he quickly entered the [mosque's] main hall and blew himself up in front of the pulpit. Following this, there were bodies and injured people lying everywhere," the eyewitness told Geo News.

Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa government spokesman Barrister Mohammad Ali Saif said that two terrorists were involved in the suicide bombing.

Talking to the media, Peshawar SSP Operations Haroon Rasheed Khan said the explosion was a suicide blast.

There were two attackers but only one of them was a suicide bomber, he said.

Inspector-General of Police Moazzam Jah Ansari the terrorist first opened fire at the worshippers after entering the mosque and then blew himself up.

Ansari said that about five to six kilogrammes of explosives were used in the blast, which took place in the third row of the mosque.

An emergency has been declared in the hospital and doctors on leave were summoned.

Officials said the condition of some of the injured is stated to be critical.

Capital City Police Officer Peshawar Ijaz Ahsan said two attackers tried to enter the mosque and fired at the policemen standing guard. One policeman was killed while the other was critically injured, he said.

The blast occurred following the firing incident, he added.

President Arif Alvi condemned the blast and expressed grief over the precious lives lost.

Prime Minister Imran Khan strongly condemned the blast and directed authorities to provide medical treatment to the injured. He also sought an inquiry report from the authorities concerned.

Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed sought a report of the incident from the Chief Secretary and IG of the province.

"No threat alert was received  we had a meeting a couple of days ago but no threat was received; we had no information about it," the interior minister said.

Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Mahmood Khan condemned the blast and vowed to bring the perpetrators of this heinous act to justice.

He said targeting people in a place of worship is an inhuman and cruel act and directed authorities to ensure the best medical care to the injured.

He has convened an emergency meeting at Chief Minister's House to review the overall security situation in the province, bordering Afghanistan.

"Heart-wrenching terrorist incident in Peshawar in which so many precious lives have been lost. Words can't adequately condemn the sheer brutality. Terrorism continues to remain our foremost national challenge. Prayers & condolences are with the bereaved families!" PML-N President and Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Shehbaz Sharif tweeted.

Former President Asif Ali Zardari said that the attack would not have happened if "nurseries of terrorism had been destroyed".

Chairman Pakistan Peoples Party Bilawal Bhutto Zardari also condemned the terrorism incident in Peshawar in a separate statement, saying the terrorists attacked humanity by targeting innocent worshipers.

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In a virtual address to thousands of protesters across major European cities, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that if his country fell to Russia in the ongoing war, then the whole continent of Europe will fall.

On Friday night, protests against the ongoing Russian military assault on Ukraine took place in Vienna, Tbilisi, Prague, Frankfurt, Vilnius, Lyon and Bratislava.

In his address via video link, Zelenskyy said, "Don't be silent. Go out onto the streets. Support Ukraine. Support our freedom. This would be a victory not only over Russian troops, but it would also be a victory of light over darkness. A victory of good over evil. A victory of freedom over what is happening now, here, on Ukrainian land.

"Don't be silent, support Ukraine. Because if Ukraine falters, Europe will falter. If Ukraine falls, Europe will fall.

Also Read | Sanctions, no-fly zone, diplomacy: West's complex calculus to stop Putin

"And if we win and I have faith in our people, I have faith in you it would be a big victory for democracy, for our values, a victory for freedom."

Earlier on Friday in another video message reportedly from his office in Kyiv, the President condemned the NATO leaders for failing to establish a no-fly zone over Ukraine, the BBC reported.

"All the people who die, starting today, will also die because of you. Because of your weakness, because of your disconnection.

"The NATO summit took place today. A weak summit. A confused summit. A summit that shows that not everyone considers the fight for freedom for Europe the number one goal.

"All the intelligence agencies of the NATO countries are well aware of the enemy's plans. They confirmed that Russia wants to continue the offensive.

Also Read | Russia isolated as UN council votes to probe rights abuses in Ukraine

"NATO has deliberately decided not to close the skies over Ukraine. NATO countries created a narrative that closing the skies over Ukraine would provoke Russia's direct aggression against NATO.

"This is the self-hypnosis of those who are weak, insecure inside, despite the fact they possess weapons many times stronger than we have," the President added.

As the conflict in Ukraine entered the ninth day on Friday, Aleksey Arestovich, an adviser to Zelenskyy, said that resistance by the Ukrainian armed forces as well as by the general public would "grind down the Russian war machine".

"The Russian army is not strong. It's just big," the BBC quoted Arestovich as saying in a Facebook post.

Also Read | Anti-war elements in Russia thwarted assassination attempts on Zelenskyy

"Our success is a pattern, with specifically built and clearly implemented cause-and-effect relationships... Eight-tenths of Putin's army is here. This is where we will bury them," he added.

Since Russia's invasion began on February 24, Ukrainian forces have continued with stiff resistance against Moscow's advances.

However, Russian troops on Friday captured the Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant, the largest in Europe, where a fire had erupted earlier in the day due to shelling.

Also Read | Ukraine digital army brews cyberattacks, intel and infowar

The previous day, the port city of Kherson was also seized by Russian forces, becoming the first city to fall.

In the south, Russian forces captured areas along the Black Sea coast, and the port city of Mariupol remained surrounded.

Kharkiv, the country's second-largest city has also remained under siege.

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Pakistan's Interior Minister on Saturday vowed to arrest the masterminds behind a deadly suicide attack claimed by the Islamic State terror group on a crowded Shia mosque during Friday prayers here that killed at least 62 people and injured nearly 200 others.

A suicide bomber, belonging to the ISIS-Khorasan, blew himself up inside a mosque in Qissa Khwani bazaar in Peshawar, capital of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province on Friday, in one of the deadliest attacks in the restive region, bordering Afghanistan.

The death toll on Saturday rose to 62 after five more people injured in the explosion succumbed to their wounds, a hospital official said.

"The death toll from the mosque blast has touched 62 after five more people injured in the explosion succumbed to their injuries. The numbers might go up, " Muhammad Asim, the spokesman at Lady Reading Hospital, Peshawar, where the injured are being treated, said.

The Islamic State affiliate in the region known as Islamic State in Khorasan province and headquartered in Afghanistan claimed responsibility for the devastating attack on the imambargah in Koocha Risaldar, a largely Shia neighbourhood in the old city of Peshawar.

Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed said that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa police and investigation agencies have identified all three suspects connected to the attack and have closed in on them.

In a video message shared on Twitter, Ahmed said the police and investigation agencies would reach those suspects in one or two days.

Peshawar SSP (Operations) Haroon Rasheed Khan said the explosion was a suicide blast.

There were two attackers but only one of them was a suicide bomber, he said.

An eyewitness identified a person as dressed in black as the suicide bomber, saying he entered the mosque, shot and killed the security guard first and then fired five to six bullets.

"After that, he quickly entered the [mosque's] main hall and blew himself up in front of the pulpit. Following this, there were bodies and injured people lying everywhere," the eyewitness told Geo News.

Soon after the news of the bomb blast spread, many people, including women, rushed towards the mosque to inquire about the well-being of their family members, who had gone there to offer Jumma prayer, the Dawn newspaper reported.

Every house located in the vicinity of imambargah and in the nearby streets was in mourning as the residents either lost one or two members or had members seriously injured in the bomb blast.

The last major terrorist attack was also carried out in a mosque in Dir Colony on Oct 27, 2020, killing eight students and injuring around 120 injured as a timed device went off on the premises, where a large number of seminarians were attending a class.

Friday's attack was the biggest terrorist activity in Peshawar, the report said.

President Arif Alvi and Prime Minister Imran Khan have strongly condemned the Peshawar blast.

Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Mahmood Khan has vowed to bring the perpetrators of this heinous act to justice.

He said targeting people in a place of worship is an inhuman and cruel act and directed authorities to ensure the best medical care to the injured.

He has convened an emergency meeting at Chief Minister's House to review the overall security situation in the province, bordering Afghanistan.
The number of Ukrainian refugees was expected to reach 1.5 million on Sunday as Russia continued its attack 11 days after invading Ukraine and Kyiv pressed for further Western action, including more sanctions and weapons. Moscow and Kyiv, on Saturday, traded blame over a failed ceasefire plan that would have let civilians flee Mariupol and Volnovakha, two southern cities besieged by Russian forces. Meanwhile, the Indian Air Force evacuated more than 210 Indians from the war-hit country under Operation Ganga and more flights are on the way. Stay tuned to DH for the latest updates.
Russia's demand for written guarantees from the United States that sanctions on Moscow would not damage its cooperation with Iran is "not constructive" for talks between Tehran and global powers to revive a 2015 nuclear deal, a senior Iranian official told Reuters on Saturday.

Also read: Moscow seeks US guarantees before backing Iran nuclear deal

"Russians had put this demand on table since two days ago. There is an understanding that by changing its position in Vienna talks Russia wants to secure its interests in other places. This move is not constructive for Vienna nuclear talks," said the official in Tehran.

Russia said on Saturday that Western sanctions imposed over the conflict in Ukraine had become a stumbling block for the Iran nuclear deal, warning the West that Russian national interests would have to be taken into account.

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Russia's invasion of Ukraine has plunged far-right movements across Europe into an identity crisis, as they struggle to square their loyalty to Vladimir Putin with the public's overwhelming solidarity with Kyiv.

From Germany to France to Italy, extremist groups have condemned the assault, but some have in the same breath championed President Putin's line of blaming the West for triggering the conflict in the first place.

"When someone attacks, it is clear that we must be on the side of the one that was attacked," said Matteo Salvini of Italy's far-right Northern League, who has in the past openly declared his admiration for Putin.

Also Read | Russia to punish 'fake' war news, blocks Facebook, Twitter

France's Marine Le Pen has also joined the chorus of condemnation of Russia violating international law.

Openly denouncing the violence in Ukraine is in sync with the rest of the political spectrum and, most importantly, in line with pro-Ukrainian public opinion, said Hajo Funke, a political scientist at the Free University of Berlin.

But that's where the similarities end.

When it comes to an analysis of the responsibilities of the war, far-right parties appear to be singing from Putin's hymn sheet.

Alice Weidel, head of Germany's far-right AfD party, has denounced the "historical failure" of the West, accusing it of offering Ukraine a perspective of joining NATO rather than pushing for the country to be a neutral buffer nation between the alliance and Russia.

Also Read | Russia isolated as UN council votes to probe rights abuses in Ukraine

Likewise, Eric Zemmour, another far-right candidate in France's presidential elections in April, charged that while "Putin is the guilty one, those responsible are in NATO which has not stopped expanding".

Zemmour had in 2018 said he wished there could be a "French Putin" in France.

The parties are aligned with "the Russian position that the conflict should not be attributed exclusively to Vladimir Putin but rather to a great extent to the West", Wolfgang Schroeder of the University of Kassel told AFP.

Kyriakos Velopoulos of the small nationalist Greek Solution party also rejects the West's argument that Russia had sparked an unprovoked war as it was never under threat.

"Then what is NATO doing on (Russia's) borders?" he retorted.

Also Read | Anti-war elements in Russia thwarted assassination attempts on Zelenskyy

"The way I see it, Russia didn't have much of a choice," said Dutch extremist Thierry Baudet of the Forum for Democracy formation, drawing fire from other parties which accused him of disseminating Russian propaganda.

At the same time, with public opinion overwhelmingly against Putin, far-right figures who over the years cultivated close links with the Kremlin chief are seeking to distance themselves.

Today's Putin is "not the one" who received her in Moscow in 2017, Le Pen said, after she came under heavy fire over a photo immortalising their meeting that features in election campaign leaflets printed ahead of the war.

"The European far right is trapped between its own radical and neo-fascist ideology, which they share with Putin," and the risk of losing its influence in public opinion said Funke.

The stakes are particularly high for Le Pen and Zemmour in the run-up to France's April elections, as opinion polls show they could scoop about a third of the votes.

Follow live updates on Ukraine crisis

In another apparent contradiction, several deeply anti-migrant parties like Le Pen's National Rally, Germany's AfD, Spain's Vox and a splinter of FPOe in Austria have said they were open to welcoming Ukrainian refugees.

Yet the far-right parties could still find resonance with the public as the salvo of unprecedented economic sanctions imposed on Russia ricochets on Western allies.

Germany on Thursday acknowledged that it expects a "big impact" on its economy.

"In the long term, it is not impossible that the AfD benefits," said Schroeder, noting that the party which has morphed from an anti-euro outfit to an anti-immigrant party could still re-position itself as the "protector of the common man".

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Around 30,000 protesters gathered in Hamburg on Saturday to demonstrate against Russia's invasion of Ukraine, local police said.

The protests in Germany's second-largest city took place under the slogan "Peace in Ukraine and Security in Europe" against the military assault which has forced nearly 1.5 million refugees to flee westward into the European Union.

"Let us jointly say no to war," Iryna Tybinka, consul general of Ukraine in Hamburg, told protesters during a speech, according to local broadcaster NDR, adding the fight would continue and "we must win it".

Also Read: IMF says war in Ukraine will have 'severe impact' on global economy

In France, several thousands protesters gathered in the Place de la Republique in Paris to express their solidarity with Ukraine and opposition to the Russian invasion. Many waved Ukrainian national flags and banners denouncing President Vladimir Putin.

Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo, who was at the demonstration, said it was important to deliver arms to Ukraine while also ensuring the conflict did not spread.

"I totally support what is being done at a European-wide level," she said. "We need to show Vladimir Putin that he is isolated."

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North Korea fired at least one suspected ballistic missile toward the sea to the east of the Korean peninsula on Saturday, militaries in the region said, an apparent test just days before the South's presidential election.

South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff said it detected the launch of one suspected ballistic missile on Saturday, while the office of Japan's Prime Minister also said it was a suspected ballistic missile.

The launch would be the ninth this year. The last was on Feb. 27 when North Korea said it tested systems for a reconnaissance satellite.

The South Korean military said Saturday's launch came from a location near Sunan, where Pyongyang's international airport is located. The airport has been the site of previous tests, including the Feb. 27 launch.

Also Read | North Korea fires suspected missile into sea off east coast

South Korea's National Security Council will convene an emergency meeting, the presidential Blue House said.

The launch underscores the challenges facing whoever wins Wednesday's presidential election in South Korea.

With denuclearisation talks stalled, North Korea conducted a record number of missile launches in January. It appears to be preparing to launch a spy satellite in the near future, and has suggested it could resume testing of nuclear weapons or its longest-range intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) for the first time since 2017.

Analysts say North Korea could use the upcoming presidential transition in South Korea or a big national holiday on April 15 to test-fire a major new missile or another weapon.

"The timing of North Korea's missile testing may seem odd to us, given the global focus on Ukraine," Jean Lee, a fellow at the Washington-based Wilson Center, said on Twitter. "But it makes perfect sense in North Korea, where scientists are focused on perfect new weapons for Kim to show off at a big military parade in mid-April."

North Korea's ballistic missile launches are banned by United Nations Security Council resolutions, which have imposed sanctions on the country over its weapons programmes.

The United States has said it is open to talks without preconditions, but Pyongyang says talks are only possible after the United States and allies drop hostile policies.

On Friday, the U.S.-based 38 North project, which monitors North Korea, said the country's main nuclear facility is in full swing, producing fuel for potential nuclear weapons and an expansion of its nuclear production facilities.

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A Russian flight was en route to Washington on Saturday to collect Russian diplomats who were expelled this week from their posts at the United Nations over US national security concerns, officials said.

Russia denies the allegations and says it will retaliate for their expulsion. A Rossiya Special Flight Squadron is flying to Washington from St. Petersburg to bring the diplomats to Russia, foreign ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said.

"This plane will bring back home the Russian diplomats whom the Government of the United States has declared personae non grata," Zakharova said over Telegram.

Tensions have flared between Washington and Moscow since Russia invaded Ukraine a week ago, fuelling Europe's biggest humanitarian disaster in decades.

A State Department spokesperson said the United States approved a flight chartered by the Russian government to fly out Russian diplomats at the United Nations who were expelled for abuse of their privileges of residence.

"This special exception was done in accordance with federal regulations to ensure Russian mission personnel and their families departed by the date we had instructed," the spokesperson said.

Flight tracking website FlightRadar24 showed the Russian flight was due to arrive at Dulles International Airport, outside of Washington, around 2 p.m. (1900 GMT).

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Russia appeared more isolated than ever following a historic vote at the UN Human Rights Council on Friday to trigger an investigation into violations committed in Moscow's Ukraine war.

"The message to (Russian President Vladimir) Putin has been clear: You're isolated on a global level and the whole world is against you," Ukrainian ambassador Yevheniia Filipenko told reporters after the overwhelming vote.

Thirty-two of the council's 47 members voted to establish the highest-level probe possible, in a bid to hold perpetrators responsible.

Only Russia itself and Eritrea voted against, while 13 countries abstained, including Moscow's traditional backers China, Venezuela and Cuba.

Follow live updates on Russia-Ukraine crisis here

The heavy blow to Russia came after the UN General Assembly in New York on Wednesday issued its own powerful rebuke, with a 141-5 vote to deplore Moscow's invasion and demand an immediate withdrawal.

The council in Geneva also condemned "in the strongest possible terms" the violations "resulting from the Russian Federation's aggression against Ukraine".

The text, presented by Kyiv, called for the "swift and verifiable withdrawal of Russian Federation troops and Russian-backed armed groups from the entire territory of Ukraine".

Most importantly, Friday's vote opens the way to create an independent international commission of inquiry "to investigate all alleged violations and abuses... in the context of the Russian Federation's aggression against Ukraine."

It calls for the appointment of three investigators to "establish the facts, circumstances, and root causes of any such violations and abuses," and to gather evidence "with a view to ensuring that those responsible are held accountable".

Also Read | Anti-war elements in Russia thwarted assassination attempts on Zelenskyy

The International Criminal Court in The Hague has already begun investigating possible war crimes in Ukraine.

"I thank all those who voted for the right cause," Filipenko said, calling for the investigation to start "as soon as possible, given the urgency of the situation".

"This will be an important body to complement the work of the ICC," she said.

Flanked by many of her counterparts from across the globe, Filipenko celebrated that "the whole world is standing by Ukraine".

Some of Kyiv's backers echoed her sentiment.

"The vote was a powerful condemnation of Russia's actions," US ambassador Sheba Crocker said.

"Members of the international community stand with Ukraine, and it is clear that Russia stands alone."

Her British colleague Simon Manley hailed the "unprecedented show of unity of the international community."

Russian ambassador Gennady Gatilov however said he did not believe Friday's council vote reflected "all the nuances" of the positions of countries who voted in favour or abstained.

"I wouldn't say we are isolated," he told reporters in Geneva.

"A number of countries were heavily pressed by the US and their Western allies."

Eritrea, Moscow's sole overt backer, decried those trying to create a "unipolar world order" through the "encirclement and containment of Russia".

"Ukraine is sadly a victim and has been scapegoated in their overarching scheme of tightening the noose on Russia," the foreign ministry in Asmara said in a statement.

Filipenko however hailed Friday's "historic" resolution, stressing that "those from Russia directing and committing violations against my people should be paying attention".

"The evidence is going to be collected. You're going to be identified and you're going to be held to account."

Friday's decision was considered an extremely strong one by the rights council, which has never before passed a resolution directly targeting Russia.

Nonetheless, rights groups suggested the text should have gone further and called for the investigation to extend to widespread abuses inside Russia itself.

A number also called for the text to include a request for the General Assembly to consider revoking Russia's membership of the Human Rights Council, with some countries seeming to back the idea.

Asked about it, Filipenko stressed to reporters that "nothing is off the table".

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Russian President Vladimir Putin said that his country wishes to continue a dialogue with Ukraine and wants peace, provided that all of Moscow's security demands are met amid the war on Kyiv.

Putin made the remarks on Friday during a phone call with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz as the Russian assault on Ukraine continued for the ninth day, reports Xinhua news agency.

The President also expressed hope that Kyiv will take a "reasonable and constructive stance" during the third round of talks between Russia and Ukraine.

According to Ukrainian Presidential Adviser Mykhailo Podolyak, the third round of peace talks between the two warring sides may take place on Saturday or Sunday.

Also Read | Russia to punish 'fake' war news, blocks Facebook, Twitter

Podolyak said that the talks will take place despite Russia and Ukraine's tough position, which will likely make the negotiations difficult.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will not make any concessions that could "humiliate" Ukraine's resistance, Podolyak added.

Meanwhile, the Ukrainian parliament called for the introduction of peacekeeping forces to the country, First Deputy Chairman Oleksandr Korniyenko said.

Parliament also called for the immediate introduction of "a no-fly zone" over the territory of Ukraine.

Also Read | Russia isolated as UN council votes to probe rights abuses in Ukraine

During a telephone conversation with UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Friday, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that Ankara will continue to make efforts for an immediate ceasefire in Ukraine.

Also on Friday, the Finland Chamber of Commerce published a survey saying that the sanctions imposed by some Western countries against Russia in some way will affect up to 90 per cent of Finnish export companies.

The impact of sanctions on companies' operations was generally seen as negative.

Also Read | Anti-war elements in Russia thwarted assassination attempts on Zelenskyy

About 85 per cent of companies responded to the negative effects of sanctions, while only 3.6 per cent of companies thought the sanctions would have a positive impact on the company's business.

A quarter of the companies that responded to the survey said there could be a significant impact on their business.

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Russias invasion of Ukraine is an attack on not only this country but also on the security of Europe, US President Joe Biden has said.

In an interaction with reporters during a bilateral meeting with President Niinisto of Finland on Friday, Biden said the two nations have been in regular touch for some time now.

He said they have coordinated on a united, transatlantic response to the Russians and holding them accountable for their unprovoked and unjustifiable aggression against Ukraine.

And we agreed it's not only an attack on Ukraine, but it's also an attack on the security of Europe and on global peace and stability, Biden said in the Oval Office of the White House.

Also Read | Ukraine digital army brews cyberattacks, intel and infowar

Earlier in the day, Biden spoke with President Andrzej Duda of Poland to discuss their countries response, and those of allies, to Russias invasion of Ukraine, including ongoing efforts to impose severe consequences on Russia.

Biden underscored the United States commitment to the security of Poland and all of our NATO Allies, White House said in a statement of the call.

He welcomed Polands partnership in hosting 9,000 US forces, including 4,700 additional service members deployed there in recent weeks, to reassure eastern flank allies, deter Russian aggression against NATO, read the statement.

In Brussels, Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, said the US has sent an additional 7,000 troops to Europe and repositioned its forces already on the continent to strengthen NATOs eastern flank.

Also Read | 'Heckled, walked miles with Indian flag to cross Ukraine border': Odia students narrate ordeal

We continue to tighten our severe economic sanctions on Russia, he said.

Yesterday, President Putin said his so-called special military operation is proceeding exactly as planned.

Well, its hard to imagine that his plan included inspiring the Ukrainian people to defend their country with such tenacity; strengthening the resolve and solidarity of NATO and the EU; uniting the world in opposition to Moscow, including 141 countries at the United Nations, he said.

Blinken continued saying that the Russian invasion has apparently come to unite an unprecedented number of international businesses, associations, cultural institutions that have cut ties with Russia and caused the Russian economy to go into freefall".

Follow live updates on Ukraine crisis

He said the country's financial state has motivated tens of thousands of Russians to protest and countless more to leave the country and is "increasingly turning Russia into a pariah state.

If that was President Putins plan, well, you can say its working. Russia has never been so isolated; we have never been more united, Blinken said.

Earlier, Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin had a chance to speak with the Polish Minister of Defence Mariusz Blaszczak to discuss the impacts of the precious unprovoked and unjust war against Ukraine, his spokesperson John Kirby said.

A deconfliction line has been placed between the US and Russia, he said.

It's only been in place for a couple of days, I think since early this week. It is basically a phone line, a phone connected to the Russian Ministry of Defense. It is being administered out of European Command Headquarters, Kirby said in response to a question.

Also Read | Russia isolated as UN council votes to probe rights abuses in Ukraine

When we tested it, they did pick up the other end. And they acknowledged that they got the call. So, we know it works. We think again, this is as we've done before, like in Syria, we think it's valuable to have a direct communication vehicle at that level at an operational level. To reduce the risks of miscalculation, Kirby said.

And to be able to communicate in real-time if need be. Particularly because now the airspace over Ukraine is contested by both Russian and Ukrainian aircraft.

So that contested airspace now buttress is right up against NATO. So smart thing to do. And we're glad it's in place. We're glad that the Russians have acknowledged that they will use it, he added.

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Invading Russian troops have blockaded the strategic Ukrainian port city Mariupol, its mayor announced Saturday, as Moscow and Kyiv aimed to hold new talks over the weekend.

While laying siege to Mariupol for days, Russian forces also cut its electricity, food, water, heating and transportation in the depths of winter, prompting comparisons to the Nazi blockade of Leningrad in World War II.

"For now, we are looking for solutions to humanitarian problems and all possible ways to get Mariupol out of the blockade," said mayor Vadim Boychenko. He called for a ceasefire and a humanitarian corridor for food and medicine.

Since President Vladimir Putin's army invaded on February 24, Russia has pummelled Ukrainian cities, killed hundreds of civilians and assaulted Europe's largest atomic power plant.

Also Read | Sanctions, no-fly zone, diplomacy: West's complex calculus to stop Putin

The invasion has drawn condemnation and severe sanctions from Western nations balancing punishment of the Kremlin with fears of a hazardous escalation.

Moscow has seized two key cities in its 10-day-long invasion, Berdiansk and Kherson on Ukraine's southern Black Sea coast.

But capturing Mariupol, a city of about 450,000 people on the Azov Sea, would represent a bigger prize for Russian forces as it would deal a severe blow to Ukraine's maritime access and connect troops coming from annexed Crimea and the Donbas.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said late Friday that Moscow was waiting for a third round of talks with Ukraine in Belarus, and one of Kyiv's negotiators said it hoped to hold them this weekend.

"The third leg could take place tomorrow or the day after, we are in constant contact," Ukrainian presidential advisor Mykhailo Podolyak said Friday.

As Russia bombed cities across the country, the Ukrainian military said on Facebook that Moscow's main focus was to encircle Kyiv.

In a hospital in the Ukrainian capital, wounded soldiers told AFP of their grim battle against the Russian advance, and vowed to return to the frontline.

"We were on reconnaissance and came across an enemy column that had made a breakthrough," said Motyka, 29, who was hit by shrapnel on his right side.

"We fought them and killed their soldiers on foot, but they showered us with mortar fire."

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was set to appeal to Washington for more assistance Saturday. He will address the US Senate as some lawmakers urged President Joe Biden to take tougher measures, including banning Russia's oil imports.

Zelensky had earlier criticised NATO for ruling out a no-fly zone, saying the Western military alliance had essentially given "the green light for further bombing of Ukrainian cities and villages".

In the northern city Chernihiv, 47 people died Thursday when Russian forces bombed residential areas, including schools and a high-rise apartment block, according to local officials.

"We are faced together with what is President Putin's war of choice, unprovoked, unjustified, and a war that is having horrific, horrific consequences," US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in Brussels.

"We're committed to doing everything we can to make it stop."

Putin on Friday told his Belarusian counterpart Alexander Lukashenko that "the tasks set for the (Ukraine) operations are going according to plan and will be fulfilled in their entirety".

With fears growing of nuclear conflict, the US and Russian armed forces have set up a new direct phone line to reduce the risks of "miscalculation," the Pentagon said Friday.

Russian forces attacked and seized the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant on Friday, pushing Kyiv to accuse Moscow of "nuclear terror".

Ukrainian monitors say there has been no spike in radiation after a fire in a training facility.

Moscow denied it had shelled the plant.

Peskov called on Russians "to unite around our president" after thousands braved mass arrests at anti-war demonstrations this week.

In an apparent response to the unrest, Russian authorities have imposed a news blackout and several media outlets have halted operations.

Multiple media websites, including the BBC, were partially inaccessible in Russia.

Twitter was restricted and Facebook blocked.

The BBC and Bloomberg said they were suspending work in Russia after lawmakers in Moscow approved legislation to impose fines and jail terms of up to 15 years for anyone publishing "fake news" about the army.

"This legislation appears to criminalise the process of independent journalism," BBC Director-General Tim Davie said in a statement.

CNN said it would halt broadcasting in Russia, while independent Russian newspaper Novaya Gazeta said it would remove Ukraine content in the wake of the new law.

Putin has been unmoved as Russia has become an economic, sporting and cultural pariah.

But UN prosecutors at The Hague are investigating a possible war crime in the eastern city of Kharkiv, where authorities say residential areas were indiscriminately shelled.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba demanded a special tribunal, alleging there were "numerous cases of, unfortunately, when Russian soldiers rape women in the Ukrainian cities".

In Geneva, the UN Human Rights Council voted to create a top-level investigation into violations committed in the invasion.

"The message to Putin has been clear: you're isolated on a global level and the whole world is against you," Ukrainian ambassador Yevheniia Filipenko said after the vote.

The UN Security Council will hold an emergency meeting Monday on the humanitarian crisis in Ukraine and discuss a possible draft resolution, diplomats told AFP Friday.

The UN says more than 1.2 million refugees have flooded into neighbouring countries.

The global body's food agency has warned the conflict will create a food crisis in Ukraine and worsen global food insecurity, with Moscow and Kyiv providing around 29 percent of the global wheat trade.

"The bullets and bombs in Ukraine could take the global hunger crisis to levels beyond anything we've seen before," said agency director David Beasley.

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The UK government on Saturday told British nationals to consider leaving Russia if their presence is not essential amid ongoing tensions over the war in Ukraine.

"If your presence in Russia is not essential, we strongly advise that you consider leaving by remaining commercial routes," the Foreign Office website said.

With tit-for-tat sanctions hitting airlines, the government said it may not be possible to fly directly to the UK, or via EU countries, but that travelling via the Middle East or Turkey may be possible.

Previous advice to Britons was not to travel to Russia "due to the lack of available flight options to return to the UK, and the increased volatility in the Russian economy."

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Exploding shells blew apart roadsides Saturday and Russian warplanes bombed stretches of the horizon as thousands of Ukrainians scrambled to escape Kyiv's war-shattered outskirts by any means possible.

The roads on Kyiv's western edge bear witness to a human tragedy whose scale grows ever greater as Russia's assault on the Ukrainian capital becomes more determined and indiscriminate.

The Russian forces' initial assault on Kyiv -- launched with missile strikes and an airborne assault on an airbase -- stalled at the end of last week.

Also Read | Ukrainian city empties as Russia blasts path to Kyiv

The two sides have since been locked in a long-range shelling war along Kyiv's outskirts that has put working class towns such as Bucha and Irpin in the line of fire.

But people fleeing the two towns said their resolve to stay broke down when Russian warplanes started circling overhead and dropping bombs on Friday.

"Warplanes. They are bombing residential areas -- schools, churches, big buildings, everything," accountant Natalia Dydenko said after a quick glance back at the destruction she left behind.

The 58-year-old was one of thousands of people walking with their children and whatever belongings they could carry down a road leading toward central Kyiv and away from the front.

The metric booms of Russia bombs dropped from warplanes circling over Bucha and Irpin provided a morbid backdrop for their desperate march.

"It began two days ago. It wasn't as heavy before, but two days ago it started getting really heavy," she said.

Also Read | Evacuation trains from war zone pour into Lviv in western Ukraine

People were trying to get to the remains of a bridge leading to Kyiv over the Irpin River which Ukrainian forces blew up last week to stall the Russian advance.

Ukrainian soldiers with assault rifles swinging off their shoulders helped wheelchair-bound pensioners and mothers with prams cross a few wooden planks tossed over the river on Saturday.

Thousands of people massed in stony silence under the shattered remains of the original concrete bridge while awaiting their turn to pass.

A group of soldiers was digging anti-tank missile launchers into foxholes on the Kyiv side of the river.

Another group was preparing new supplies of shoulder-launched missiles and Kalashnikovs that could be ferried back across the wooden planks toward the front.

A long-range missile whistled overhead.

Also Read | Ukraine says Mariupol evacuation delayed by Russian ceasefire violations

A hollow thud about half a minute later signalled still more destruction somewhere in the general vicinity of northern Kyiv.

"We were waiting it out. But yesterday, when a plane flew by and dropped something on us, we simply had to run," said Galina Vasylchenko, walking with her 30-year-old daughter toward the makeshift bridge.

The seeming shift in Russia's strategy from shelling to aerial bombings is a bad omen for the Ukrainian capital.

Russian warplanes have bombed and killed dozens in the central town of Chernihiv and the eastern city of Kharkiv in the past week.

Many analysts felt that Kyiv's heritage -- as well as a plethora of churches that answer to the Moscow patriarchate -- would keep Russia from bombing the city of three million people.

But the destruction is creeping closer to Kyiv.

The town of Bucha -- the further out of the two towns -- had witnessed the first fighting and parts of the area are now all but razed to the ground.

That same level of violence is now raining down on Irpin.

Also Read | MEA 'deeply concerned' about Indian students in Ukraine's Sumy

A supermarket and petrol station that on Friday stood at a large junction on the border between Bucha and Irpin was just ruins on Saturday.

Soldiers were ushering the fleeing residents onto buses on the Kyiv side of the Irpin River because walking on that part of the city's streets was no longer safe.

Thousands more piled their belongings into cars and tried to get out of Irpin by taking a circuitous route that leads to Kyiv's main train station from the southwest.

A queue of cars stretching at least five kilometres (three miles) snaked its way past dozens of sandbagged checkpoints manned by armed Ukrainian volunteers in western Kyiv on Saturday.

Many had signs reading "children" taped to their windshields.

Fifteen-year-old Masha Shuta estimated that about 100 people might still be hiding in basements in her part of Irpin.

"They have nowhere to go," she said. "But it is very unsafe to stay."

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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy lashed NATO on Friday for ruling out a no-fly zone over his country saying the Western military alliance knew further Russian aggression was likely.

"Knowing that new strikes and casualties are inevitable, NATO deliberately decided not to close the sky over Ukraine," he said in a video published by the presidency.

"Today the leadership of the alliance gave the green light for further bombing of Ukrainian cities and villages, refusing to make a no-fly zone."

Earlier Friday, NATO rejected pleas from Ukraine to impose a no-fly zone to halt Russia's bombing, but Western allies did warn President Vladimir Putin of fresh sanctions if he does not stop his war.

NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg said the alliance would not intervene in the conflict over fears of a direct clash with Moscow that could spiral into a wider conflict.

"The only way to implement a no-fly zone is to send NATO fighter planes into Ukraine's airspace, and then impose that no-fly zone by shooting down Russian planes," Stoltenberg said after the urgent meeting.

"If we did that, we'll end up with something that could end in a full-fledged war in Europe, involving many more countries and causing much more human suffering."

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Five persons including a Bangladesh national were arrested in Assam's Barpeta district for their alleged links with Ansarullah Bangla Team (ABT), a terror outfit based in neighbouring Bangladesh having links with Al-Qaeda.

Assam director general of police, Bhaskar Jyoti Mahanta told reporters that five were arrested on Friday night in Howly, Barpeta and Kalgachia in Barpeta in western Assam based on an intelligence report shared by the special branch of the state police

"During preliminary enquiry conducted so far, it has been found that Saiful Islam alias Harun Rashid alias Mohammad Suman, who is a citizen of Bangladesh having illegally entered India was working as a teacher of Dhakaliapara Masjid in Barpeta district. Islam had successfully indoctrinated and motivated four others to join the module of the Ansarullah Bangla Team with a view to developing Barpeta district as a base for Jihadi work and unlawful activities of Al-Qaeda and its related organization," Mahanta said.

He said their personal digital accessories including mobile phones have been seized for further investigation and unearthed digital evidence about their activities so far and plans in the state. "They were planning to indoctrinate more persons to expand the network," he said.

Saiful is a resident of Araihazar village in Narayanganj district in Bangladesh. The four others have been identified as Khairul Islam, 27 of Balapathar village in Kalgachia, Badshah Suleiman Khan, 28, Naushad Ali, both hailing from Kharbali village in Kalgachia and Taimur Rajman Khan, a resident of Dhakaliapara village in Howly.

Assam shares a 263 km border with Bangladesh.

Mahanta said some "incriminating" documents have been seized from their possession. But no arms have been found from them.

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Chinese mainland reports 102 new local COVID-19 cases

Xinhua) 14:17, March 05, 2022

BEIJING, March 5 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese mainland on Friday reported 102 locally transmitted COVID-19 cases, the National Health Commission said Saturday.

Of the new local infections, 46 were reported in Guangdong, 19 in Jilin, eight in Inner Mongolia, six in Hebei, five in Shandong, three each in Tianjin, Shanghai and Guangxi, two each in Hainan and Yunnan, and one each in Shanxi, Heilongjiang, Hubei, Hunan and Sichuan, the commission said in its daily report.

A total of 179 imported COVID-19 cases were reported on Friday, said the commission.

Five new suspected cases, all arriving from outside the mainland, were reported in Shanghai, said the commission. It added that no deaths from COVID-19 were reported on the day.

A total of 166 asymptomatic cases were reported Friday, including 93 arriving from outside the mainland, according to the commission.

The total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases reported on the mainland, both local and imported, had risen to 110,539 by Friday.

There were 3,465 patients still under treatment on Friday, of whom 14 were in severe condition. A total of 4,636 patients had died of the virus on the mainland since the outbreak of the disease.

(Web editor: Xia Peiyao, Liang Jun)
Holding tricolour, scores of Indian students gathered at open space in Sumy State University to make their last appeal on the tenth day of the Ukraine war  we are moving to the Russian border 600 km away and if something happens, the Indian government and embassy are responsible.

However, the students did not finally embark on the journey after Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Arindam Bagchis request not to take any unnecessary risks and that the Indian government had strongly pressed Russian and Ukrainian governments through multiple channels for an immediate ceasefire to create a safe corridor for our students.

We are deeply concerned about Indian students in Sumy, Ukraine. Have strongly pressed Russian and Ukrainian governments through multiple channels for an immediate ceasefire to create a safe corridor for our students.  Arindam Bagchi (@MEAIndia) March 5, 2022

For the past ten days, they have been waiting to be evacuated but authorities were not able to due to intensified war in Sumy, the eastern city of Ukraine that is close to the Russian border.

Also Read | Get us out or else we will die for sure: Indian students send frantic SOS following explosion near campus

Soon after Russia on Saturday announced that they would cease-fire and allow humanitarian corridors in two cities, the students gathered at the University and shot a video, which was shared with the media.

VIDEO: Indian students at Sumy State University says this is their last video as they head to Mariupol, which is 600 km away. Russia has announced ceasefire in 2 cities. They say if anything happens to them govt and Indian embassy are responsible @DeccanHerald pic.twitter.com/i2S5sI01VB  Shemin (@shemin_joy) March 5, 2022

One of the students who spoke on behalf of the gathering said that they have heard about the Russians announcing humanitarian corridors in two cities, including Mariopul that is 600 km from Sumy.

Also Read | Stranded in Ukraine's bunkers, thousands of Indian students desperate for rescue

Since morning we are constantly listening to bombardments, shellings, shooting, street fights. We are afraid. We have waited for a long time. We cannot wait for more. We are risking our lives. We are moving towards the border. If anything happens to us, all the responsibility will be on the government and the embassy. If anything happens to us, or to anyone, it will be the biggest failure, the girl student said.

Another girl student said, just pray for us while a boy student was heard saying, we need our government right now.

One of the students told DH that the hostel caretaker also advised them not to step out without proper direction from the authorities. Asked how they would travel to Maripoul, she said they dont have buses to travel and maybe, they will have to walk.

Indian students at Kharkiv and Sumy, which are in eastern Ukraine, have faced difficulties in getting out of the war-hit country. While a number of students from Kharkiv managed to reach the western border with Poland and returned to India, students at Sumy are yet to get a chance to get out.

There is a shortage of food and water and some students on Friday shared a video of them collecting ice and using it for water after heating it.
India on Saturday said it has "strongly pressed" the Russian and Ukrainian governments through multiple channels for an immediate ceasefire to create a safe passage for the Indian students stuck in the eastern Ukrainian city of Sumy.

Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said the students have been advised to take safety precautions such as staying inside shelters and to avoid taking unnecessary risks and that the government is "deeply concerned about them".

On Friday, he put the number of Indian students stranded in Sumy, which is nearly 60 kilometres from the Russian border, at around 700.

The students have been sending SOS messages and posting videos on social media platforms, pleading for their urgent evacuation from the conflict zone as the city has been witnessing fighting and airstrikes.

Also Read | Indian students stuck in Ukraine's Sumy appeal to Centre for help

"We are deeply concerned about Indian students in Sumy, Ukraine. Have strongly pressed Russian and Ukrainian governments through multiple channels for an immediate ceasefire to create a safe corridor for our students," Bagchi tweeted on Saturday.

"Have advised our students to take safety precautions, stay inside shelters and avoid unnecessary risks," he said.

Bagchi said the MEA and Indian embassies are in regular touch with the students.

The students have been staying in the hostels of the Medical Institute of Sumy State University.

India's comments came on a day the Russian defence ministry announced a temporary ceasefire around the cities of Mariupol and Volnovakha from 9 am to 4 pm local time (07:00-14:00 GMT).

However, no temporary ceasefire was announced for cities where several hundred Indians are stranded, including Kharkiv and Sumy.

India has been urging both Russia and Ukraine to create safe corridors for the evacuation of its nationals from the conflict zones in eastern Ukraine.

Earlier in the day, the Indian embassy in Ukraine said it is exploring all possible ways to safely evacuate the Indian nationals from Sumy and Pisochyn.

The embassy specifically said it is reaching out to 298 Indian students in Pisochyn and buses are being arranged to evacuate them.

"Reaching out to our 298 students in Pisochyn. Buses are en route and expected to arrive soon. Please follow all safety instructions and precautions. Be Safe Be Strong," it said in a tweet.

The mission also said it is in touch with all the interlocutors concerned, including the Red Cross, to identify the exit routes to take out the Indians from Sumy.

"Exploring all possible mechanisms to evacuate Indian citizens in Sumy, safely & securely. Discussed evacuation & identification of exit routes with all interlocutors including Red Cross," it said.

"Control room will continue to be active until all our citizens are evacuated. Be Safe Be Strong," it added.

The Indian students stuck in Pisochyn had reached there from Kharkiv following an advisory issued by the embassy on Wednesday.

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The NIA has arrested a suspected smuggler for his alleged involvement in smuggling gold and Fake Indian Currency Notes (FICN) in the country, an official said on Saturday.

Abdul Wahid of Uttar Pradesh's Sant Kabir Nagar who currently resides in Delhi's Bhajanpura was arrested Friday, the official of the premier investigation agency said.

The case pertains to the January 12 seizure of FICN of face value of Rs 10 lakh and 175 grams gold worth Rs 8.5 lakh at terminal-3 of Delhis Indira Gandhi International Airport by Customs officials from Mohammad Shahjan, the NIA official said.

After forensic examination, it was found that the seized FICN was of high quality and subsequently sections of the stringent Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act were invoked, the official said.

Earlier, two accused were arrested by the NIA in the case.

Wahid has revealed that he is an active member of a gang involved in smuggling of FICNs and gold into India, the official said.

He was produced before the special NIA court, Patiala House, on Saturday and taken on police remand, the NIA official said, adding that further investigation in the case continues.

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The Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) police along with the security forces have arrested a terrorist who was injured during an encounter in Handwara in north Kashmir, officials said on Friday.

"Today, an army patrol was fired upon by terrorists in Dand Kadal area of Langat, which was retaliated. In the meantime, additional reinforcement of police/security forces rushed to the spot followed by a joint cordon and search operation by the police, Rashtriya Rifles and CRPF," the police said.

During the search operation, one injured terrorist was apprehended by the joint team. He has been identified as Abrar, a resident of Azadgunj Baramulla.

"As per police records, Abrar was a stone-pelter earlier and several FIRs were registered against him. He joined the proscribed terror outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba recently," the police said.

Incriminating materials, arms and ammunition, including one pistol, one magazine and two rounds, and cash worth Rs 1,41,500 were recovered from his possession.

"The cordon and search operation in the nearby areas is still going on," the police said.

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The National Green Tribunal has formed a committee and sought an action taken report on a plea against the execution of the Polavaram Irrigation Project without requisite fresh environmental clearance.

A bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice A K Goel constituted a committee comprising officials from the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF), Ministry of Jal Shakti, state pollution control board and the project proponent.

"The committee will be at liberty to interact with stakeholders concerned. MoEF will be the nodal agency for coordination and compliance. The report may be furnished within one month by e-mail," the bench said.

The tribunal was hearing a plea filed by Pentapati Pulla Rao against the execution of the irrigation project, now renamed as Indira Sagar Polavaram Project, by the Polavaram Project Authority, Hyderabad, without requisite fresh environmental clearance (EC).

The plea filed through advocate Sravan Kumar further stated that the MoEF issued a stop-work order but it has been kept in abeyance for more than 11 years.

"This is resulting in continued violations of the requirement of fresh EC before any substantial changes are effected in the original project for which EC was taken. The State of Andhra Pradesh has given various assurances from time to time but in breach of the same, execution of the project is continuing with serious adverse impact on the environment," the plea said.

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Eleven flights with more than 2,200 Indian evacuees will operate from Ukraine's neighbouring countries to India on Sunday, the Civil Aviation Ministry said.

About 3,000 Indians were airlifted on 15 flights to India on Saturday, the ministry's statement noted.

"These included 12 special civilian and 3 Indian Air Force (IAF) flights," it added.

The Ukrainian airspace has been shut since February 24 due to the ongoing Russian military offensive against it. Indian citizens who were stuck in Ukraine are being airlifted via its neighbouring countries such as Romania, Hungary, Slovakia and Poland.

Follow live updates on Russia-Ukraine crisis, here

The IAF is conducting its flights using C-17 military transport planes. The civilian flight are being operated by Indian carriers such as IndiGo, Air India, Vistara and SpiceJet.

"Today's (Saturday's) civilian flights included five from Budapest (Hungary), four from Suceva (Romania), one from Kosice (Slovakia) and two from Rzeszow (Poland)," the ministry said.

Tomorrow, 11 special flights are expected to operate from Budapest, Kosice, Rzeszow and Bucharest, bringing more than 2,200 Indians back home, it noted.

"These included 12 special civilian and 3 Indian Air Force (IAF) flights," it added.

The Ukrainian airspace has been shut since February 24 due to the Russian military offensive against it. Indian citizens who were stuck in Ukraine are being airlifted via its neighbouring countries such as Romania, Hungary, Slovakia and Poland.

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Just when it appeared that Nepal was headed the Sri Lanka way and would have the $500 million infrastructure grant offered to it by the US under the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) Compact scrapped, with China quietly working towards that end, Kathmandu has pulled back from the brink.

Nepal's Parliament finally ratified the long-pending MCC Compact on February 27, just a day before the US deadline. Both the US and India have reasons to be pleased. Earlier, Sri Lanka was offered a $480 million grant under the MCC, but its China-leaning government rejected the financial aid.

The PM Sher Bahadur Deuba-led government in Nepal was under immense pressure from Washington to ratify the deal. Washington had not just threatened to scrap the MCC Compact but indulged in some uncalled for sabre-rattling, too, saying it would review bilateral ties if the MCC weren't ratified by February 28.

Also Read | Nepal must get on with US-funded projects

The ratification will enable Nepal to avail of the grant to build roads and high voltage transmission lines. The US Secretary of State, Antony J Blinken, "noted" that "Nepal's decision to move forward with the MCC Compact would allow the electricity transmission and roads project to create jobs, infrastructure and improve the lives of the Nepali people".

India is obviously pleased. For one, the Deuba-led coalition government is no longer headed for a collapse on account of the festering differences over the MCC.

India has always viewed with great concern political instability in any of its neighbouring countries, more so now with China lurking in the region, ever willing to take advantage of the rift between political parties and their leaders as has been the case with Nepal. Indeed, its role in Nepal's polity has been growing with the Chinese envoy publicly trying to play the role of peace-maker among rival groups during K P Sharma Oli's tenure as PM.

Nepal's politicians, and not just the Left-leaning ones, have thought nothing of the Chinese meddling in Nepal's domestic politics. Besides, the jostling for power among Nepalese politicians and parties has been so intense that it has come at the cost of the country's political stability and consequently good governance.

Also Read | Irked by Nepalese Parliament approval to MCC, China asks US to respect Nepals sovereignty

If Deuba's predecessor Oli was busy fending off challenges to his leadership from rival factions within his party, Deuba, too, has had his share of troubles. His bid to see the MCC Compact get the parliamentary nod had led to political jousting and opposition.

In the case of the MCC, Leftist parties like the Pushpa Kamal Dahal-led Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist Centre) and the Madhav Kumar Nepal-led CPN (United Socialist) were opposing the Compact tooth and nail, threatening the coalition's break-up.

Also not on board was another coalition partner, the Janata Samajbadi Party (JSP), one of whose leaders is former PM Baburam Bhattarai. But this outfit, too, decided to finally support the ratification.

Those opposing the Compact ever since it was signed in 2017 contended that Nepal's sovereignty was at stake amidst the belief that it was a part of Washington's Indo-Pacific stratagem, with a military component to it. Therefore, the Compact signed in 2017 could only be ratified after five years.

This too after the Deuba government came up with an 'interpretative declaration' to go along with the MCC Compact. The aim was to assuage the concerns of the Left parties, and the declaration has done so by stating, among other things, that it is not above Nepal's Constitution and is only a development grant.

Also Read | Nepal's ruling coalition divided on endorsing US-funded MCC

For India and the US, the green signal to the Compact also means it can be a counter to China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), which Nepal has joined. India sees the BRI as a part of China's hegemonic ambitions. Ironically, China has often hinted at Nepalese sovereignty at stake in the context of the MCC Compact.

The Compact's ratification is also a setback for China which was believed to have been working behind the scenes to have the deal scuttled. The battle for influence between the US and China will only get more intense in Nepal, with the MCC seen as a geo-strategic counter to the BRI. And New Delhi, with its pronounced US-tilt, is unlikely to complain as the MCC-funded projects would help check China's growing influence in Nepal.

India also stands to gain from projects under the MCC, both in terms of regional connectivity and to meet its ever-growing energy needs. Apart from the roads to be constructed with the US grant, a 315-km long 400 kV transmission line is also envisaged, which is expected to help Nepal export surplus power from its electricity grid to India via the Butwal-Gorakhpur transmission line.

Nepalese politicians do not hesitate to play the China card with India, and of course, increasing meddling by Beijing in Kathmandu's domestic politics have given New Delhi many sleepless nights. So, the MCC Compact at least should bring India some cheer.

(The writer is a senior journalist.)

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In the crowded streets of Raviwar Peth in Belagavi is an old stone mansion that has fallen on hard times. Potted plants grow in the balcony but small saplings grow on the building. A plaque bears the name Shri Rangubai Palace, and the year 1931.

Go around the building and you notice the unusual cast-iron railings of the balconies. A closer look reveals the design to be of a woman with her head covered and with Shri Rangubai Palace, Belgaum written in Devanagari script.

Who was Rangubai?

I turned to historian Smita Surebankar from the INTACH Belagavi Chapter, author of the book Architectural Splendours of Belagavi. It was not easy finding out about Rangubai, said Surebankar. There are different stories about her.

A few years ago, as part of her research, Surebankar interviewed some old-timers who lived near the Rangubai Palace, including some who were more than 80 years old. According to these residents, Rangubai had been a courtesan. According to another rags-to-riches version, Rangubai was born poor and then became a wealthy philanthrope through hard work. Perhaps both stories are partially true.

Surebankar informs me that Rangubai was born in Balekundri, a village about 12 km east of Belagavi. When her father Ramachandra Rao died at a young age, she and her mother Balabai moved to Belagavi where her mother set up a business selling butter.

Balabais business grew and soon she was travelling to other towns, sometimes accompanied by Rangubai. On one such visit to Pune, Rangubai came in contact with a jeweller and was fascinated by his process of assessing the value of diamonds and pearls. The jeweller took Rangubai under his wing and taught her the tricks of the trade. He also helped set up her own shop in Pune.

The story goes that in 1920, Laxmanrao Bhosale of Nagpur visited Pune and was impressed with Rangubais acumen. Bhosale was a member of the so-called junior branch of the royal Bhosale family. He invited Rangubai to move to his residence in Nagpur. There, she developed an interest in Ayurveda. It is said that she even started her own manufacturing unit producing Ayurvedic medicines.

Four years later, Rangubai returned to Belgaum. Shortly after, in 1927, the foundation stone for the Rangubai Palace was laid. The building was inaugurated in 1929 but work on it was completed only around 1931.

Rangubai was active in Belgaums social and political circles. She is believed to have contested but lost the general elections that were held in 1937. Popular lore also credits her with owning a theatre company, and a company that manufactured Ayurvedic medicines.

She established the Shri Rangubai Saheb Bhosale Trust in 1937. Her support of education is one reason why she was later also called Tyagamurti Rangubai.

Rangubai was a woman who contained multitudes. Records show that she was active in Belagavis cultural circuit. Known as Princess Rangubai, she enjoyed and patronised dance, including classical dance. The large hall on the second floor of Rangubai Palace once hosted various cultural programmes.

Rangubai Bhosale died in 1962. The Rangubai Palace that she built now houses the Rangubai Bhosale Girls High School in its upper floors. The ground floor is currently being rented out to a political party.

The structure

Like many other buildings in Belagavi from the early 1900s, the Rangubai Palace is built of black basalt and has a prominent arched facade. The pillars, arches and quoins are accentuated with beige coloured stone, which strikingly contrast with the black basalt.

The compound wall which Surebankar says had an entrance flanked with two lions, was lost to road widening a few years ago so the erstwhile palace now opens directly onto the street. Numerous wires run above and in front of the building. Ad hoc additions along the side further mar its facade.

Entering the small entrance hall on the ground floor, the first thing I see is a large portrait of Rangubai Bhosale. But as I stand in front of the determined-looking woman in the painting, my eyes wander to the grimy floor, the rusting beams of the jack arch roof, the missing stained glass in the ventilators and the broken shuttered windows.

Rangubais palace, legacy and story all seem to be fading into the past.

(Meera Iyer is the author of Discovering Bengaluru and the Convenor of INTACH Bengaluru Chapter.)
The last four decades can safely be called the Age of the woman writer in Karnataka. The history of womens writing in the state dates back to the vachanakarthis in the 12th century, who challenged gender and patriarchal norms in a big way.

But women writers have really come into their own in the past two decades, representing their world in multi-voiced narratives.

Though oral folk narratives are generally attributed to women, they cannot be ascribed to one person.

Throughout Karnatakas history, patriarchy has held absolute power over every institution in the political, cultural, social and domestic space. Notwithstanding the sidelining of womens voices in every sphere, folk artists and writers have critiqued these patriarchal structures and tried to find their own foothold.

Most feminist historians now agree  it wasnt that women did not write or express themselves; their creative and cultural expressions were unheard and sidelined.

During the early 20th century, pioneers like Nanjanagudu Tirumalamba and R Kalyanamma were at the forefront of discussing the womens question. Tirumalamba was one of the first womens voices in Kannada fiction, publishing her novel in serial form in the monthly magazine Maduravani.

In 1913, she began the publication of a book series Hitaishini. It is clear from the writings of Tirumalamba and others of her generation that they took the task of improving the status of women seriously.

Another important pioneer in the field of publishing was R Kalyanamma, whose monthly magazine Saraswathi first published in 1921, continued for 42 long years. R Kalyanamma not only wrote articles pertaining to politics, law, religion among others but was also instrumental in inspiring a generation of women to take to writing.

More than anybody else, Saraswatibai Rajawade (1913-1994) was the one who explored patriarchal structures in society and criticised them openly during the first half of the 20th century.

Her tumultuous but fiercely independent life is captured beautifully by Vaidehi  who interviewed Rajawade during the last few years of her life.

These and other pioneers like Kodagina Gauramma, Lakshmamma, Padukone Sitabai laid the foundation for the powerful body of womens writing. These writings have shaped outlooks and are giving rise to passionate debates  not just about the womens question but all the issues pertaining to Kannada society and culture.

During the last two decades of the 20th century, women writers in Karnataka asserted their identity and explored multiple aspects of womanhood in a conservative, patriarchal set-up.

Dismissed as kitchen literature, women writers continued to write and their writings  even while talking of domestic, familial structures and politics  resonated strongly with feminist concerns.

In her short stories, Vaidehi explored the womans voice with astounding clarity. Her Shakuntala asserts that she did not lose Dushyantas ring, rather she wanted Dushyanta to remember her for herself.

She finds it humiliating that he should remember his ring and not her. On the other hand, Saugandhi is cursed to remain silent and her desires just become unvoiced soliloquies amidst the brutal morality of her middle class family. At the same time, writers like Sara Abubakar were exploring patriarchal strongholds and their effects on Muslim women through their short stories and novels.

This social-feminist concern was balanced by the deeply personal poetic explorations by many gifted poets like Sa Usha, Pratibha Nandakumar, Lalitha Siddabasavaiah and Savitha Nagabhushan.

Double-edged sword

With the increased interest in feminism, womens writing has been seen as distinctive in academia. This is a double-edged sword  while on one hand womens writing is being given the space it deserves, on the other, there is the danger of ghettoising womens writing.

Kannada women writers, however, have refused to fit into any such readymade frameworks. While women-centric writing has remained their preoccupation, most have not hesitated to give their opinion about the traditionally male-dominated spheres of influence including politics, crime, culture and society. H Nagavenis Gandhi Banda is a case in point.

How did such a paradigm shift happen in women writing in Kannada? D R Nagaraj described this shift as moving away from the Kutumbini stage. Though a great deal of genuinely powerful writing took place, the field of experience was limited to the domestic world.

One reason was the division of the spheres into Home and the World with women confined to the Home.

The pressures of nationalism and modernity mean women were also the flag bearers of traditional Indian values.

With better access to education, middle-class women stepped into an expansive social world, which is reflected in their writing in the 1970s and 80s. The Navya literary movement also made it possible to write more openly about private experiences, including sexuality.

At the same time, tabloids like Lankesh Patrike encouraged and gave space to a host of women writers from diverse backgrounds, including Muslim and Dalit women. The Bandaya movement also unleashed the creative energies of women writers, who started exploring and offering great insights into issues pertaining to caste, gender, religion and sexual violence.

Importantly, women writers today have also taken up the cause of the under-represented sections of society. Du Saraswathi, Dalit-feminist writer and poet, has been working unceasingly for Dalit, adivasi, sexuality minorities, trans-people, sex-workers etc.

H S Anupama, poet and essayist, who along with like-minded women friends started the Mahila Daurjanya Virodhi Okkoota has been addressing issues pertaining to school girls, menstrual hygiene, sexual violence and gender equity.

Today womens writing in Karnataka has not remained in the margins but has the reach to shape policies and change attitudes. The writing by women today brims with a new dynamism, which bodes well not just for the literary field but to society at large.

(The author is an educationist and a former senior journalist based out of Shivamogga)
Aland incident that took place on Tuesday looks like pre-planned. Timely action taken by the district administration and the police has prevented the incident from spiraling into a major crisis, Superintendent of Police Isha Pant.

Addressing a joint press conference along with Deputy Commissioner Yeshwanth V Gurukar here on Friday, she said the police have clues about who instigated stone-pelting on the vehicles and will arrest them soon. We have videos and photos about those who pelted stones at the vehicles and stocked wooden logs at Ladle Mashak Dargah in Aland.

A few outsiders might have joined the stone-pelting. Cutting across party and religion lines, a total of 165 people including women and children have been arrested in this connection. Some others are absconding and we will arrest them soon. Roiting, Section 353 and prevention of damage to public property have been registered against the arrested, explained Isha.

A cognizance report has been submitted to the court against 200 people who took out a rally by violating the prohibitory orders clamped under section 144 of CrPC. Aland tahsildar has submitted the report under section 188 of IPC, she said.

On a suspicion that an untoward incident may take place on Tuesday, the district administration had clamped prohibitory orders in Aland from February 27. Police personnel began patrolling on February 28. As we found stones on the terraces of the house the same day, they have been cleared and an FIR has been registered against those who stocked the stones. As a preventive measure, a total of 900 police personnel were deployed in the town. Hence, we prevented the incident from spiraling into a major crisis, he told.

When 21 people were returning after offering pooja to Raghavachaitanya Linga inside the dargah, some miscreants hurled stones but the mob has been dispersed in just two minutes. However, some miscreants are spreading false information on social media about the incident. Stern action will be taken against them, she said.

Gurukar said as there were chances of two leaders delivering provocative speeches, the district administration had banned them from entering the district and Karuneshwar Mutt Pontiff Siddaling Swamy was barred from entering Aland taluk.

The district administration had called a peace meeting on February 24 and leaders of both Hindu and Muslim communities took part in it and they promised of maintaining peace. As some people gave uncalled-for statements, the situation turned into a tense, he explained.

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Home Minister Araga Jnanendra stated that discussions on banning Popular Front of India and Social Democratic Party of India are in progress. But the Centre has to take a call in this regard.

Speaking to media persons in Shikaripur town on Saturday, he said the state government is making necessary preparations in this regard and a report would be submitted to the Centre soon.

When questioned on National Investigation Agency's possible probe into Harsha's murder case, he said the government has not taken any step in this regard so far. However, police will take a call.

Also Read: Karnataka to hand over Harsha case to NIA: Shobha Karandlaje

Referring to the Bajrang Dal worker's murder, he said police have already arrested the culprits and situation is slowly returning to normalcy. He said he would thank people of the city for extending co-operation with police to restore peace in the city.

On video showing assault by Hosanagar sub inspector on a man that went viral, he said he has seen the video and has directed police to initiate suitable action.

On role of police in drugs, he said, he has already sought report on role of police in two police stations in Shivamogga city.

"If police are found guilty, they will face action. Drug abuse is prominent in the city," the Home Minister said.

He further asked people to share details of drug users and peddlers with police.

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Reparation is seemingly obvious in Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommais maiden Budget that contains some damage control measures in the run-up to the 2023 Assembly polls.

One such measure is the establishment of schools named after social reformer Narayana Guru, whose exclusion from the Republic Day parade is said to have hurt the BJP.

In memory of Sri Narayana Guru - messiah of humanity and equality, Sri Narayana Guru Residential School will be started, one each in the districts of Udupi, Dakshina Kannada, Uttara Kannada and Shivamogga, Bommai said in his budget speech.

The BJP had to face a lot of flak for the Centres decision to exclude Keralas tableau featuring Guru from the Republic Day parade.

Bommai has also tried to address another area of concern - stray cattle, which is already a major poll issue in Uttar Pradesh.

That cows will be abandoned to roam the streets in an election year is a possibility staring the BJP government, which imposed a blanket ban on cattle slaughter early last year.

For the first time in the state, the government will launch Punyakoti Dattu Yojane to encourage public and the private institutions to adopt cows in the goshalas by paying Rs 11,000 annually, Bommai said.

In addition, the CM said the number of state-run goshalas will be increased.

Our government has given more importance to the preservation of cattle resources. In this background, the Karnataka Prevention of Slaughter and Preservation of Cattle Act, 2020, has been implemented last year. For effective implementation of this Act, the number of goshalas will be increased from the present 31 to 100. For this purpose, Rs 50 crore will be provided, Bommai said.

In the aftermath of the hijab controversy, Bommai has reached out to the minorities, especially Muslims.

Multiple residential schools operating in a single place under various schemes of the Minority Welfare Department will be merged. At least one school in each district will be upgraded to PU college and modernized by providing smart classes, computer and science labs, he said.

These schools would be renamed as APJ Abdul Kalam Residential School and action will be taken to obtain CBSE accreditation. A total amount of Rs 25 crore is allocated for this purpose.

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Congress Leader C M Ibrahim said on Saturday that he had an altercation with the Leader of Opposition in Legislative Assembly Siddaramaiah as the latter, when he was chief minister, didn't allocate a grant of Rs 6,000 crore to Muslim community which forms about 21 per cent of the state's total population.

Participating in a discussion on the state's present developments organised by the minority community here, he stated that Siddaramaiah had set aside Rs 30,000 crore to the scheduled caste and tribes and Rs 20,000 crore to other backward classes but earmarked less grant to the Muslim community.

"The state has more than one crore Muslim population but the facilities are not available in line with the population. Not even a single person from this community has become the chief minister of the state. It is not difficult for a leader from the community to become CM if all Muslims unite. Institutions like Anjuman-E-Islam should be established," Ibrahim advised.

The leader added that "about 99 per cent of Hindus are not communal and will not hate Muslims. We should take them into our confidence".

He will meet the deputy commissioner to appeal him to conduct an impartial probe into the incident that took place recently at Aland town. The community leaders should extend financial help to get the community youths who are currently in different jails in connection with Aland incident released, he appealed.

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Union Jal Shakti Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat on Saturday offered to facilitate talks between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu on the Mekedatu project, which he hopes will see the light of day this year.

We are in the process of doing that, Shekhawat said at a news conference when asked if the Centre would make the two states sit together. I cant assure you how long itll take as consensus has to be built.

Shekhawat was in the city to review the Jal Jeevan and Swachh Bharat missions.

By sitting together, any sort of problem can be addressed. I wish all stakeholder states can sit together and address the issue so that this year onward the new Mekedatu project can see the light of day, he said and cited the example of how Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh had resolved water disputes through talks.

Both states have agreed on providing water to the fields of water-parched Bundelkhand area and linkage of the Ken-Betwa rivers, he said.

I also hope [Mekedatu] project is completed, but I shouldnt speak much on this as the matter is sub-judice, he said.

The Mekedatu project was first announced in 2013 and it is estimated to cost Rs 9,000 crore. The balancing reservoir-cum-drinking water project to regulate the flow of water to Tamil Nadu will be used to generate 400 MW power and utilise 4.75 tmc water for Bengaluru. Tamil Nadu has opposed the project even as Karnataka waits for central clearances.

This week, the Congress concluded its padayatra demanding implementation of the Mekedatu project.

Congress was in power for 55 years in this country. They didnt do their job properly and thats why these types of problems are there, Shekhawat said. Congress was there when the Constitution was made...they couldnt foreseethis is why this difficultyand all the states are fighting for water, he said, adding that the Congress had no moral right to question the BJP. With pride I can say that we are resolving issues. Even [Mekedatu] only the BJP can address, he said.

The minister, however, pointed out that water is a state subject. So, states have to come together and solve issues. The Government of India isnt going to solve issues. Its the power and prerogative of the states. Technically, we can and are ready to facilitate states by making them sit together, he said.

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On February 16, the Latino Committees meeting featured the panel discussion, A Conversation with Promised Land. In dialogue moderated by Latino Committee Director Category Representative Regina Ainsworth (Sharp by Design), Producer/Director Ed Ornelas, 1st AD Vincent Gonzales and Promised Land creator Matt Lopez spoke about what goes into the making of this ABC series.

Promised Land is an epic, generation-spanning drama about two Latino families vying for wealth and power in California's Sonoma Valley. Stating that this is a Latino tale but an American story, Lopez discussed his inspiration for bringing the farm workers story to television and said he wanted the Directors to feel empowered and in control of their episodes. He also revealed his initial nervousness as there had never been a network show with this much Spanish speaking dialogue up front and how, commendably, ABC didn't push back on that.

Ornelas, who felt the show in many ways was his family story, discussed bringing in a Latino AD team and the camaraderie they felt throughout a challenging shooting schedule. He added that working on the series has been one of the highlights of his career.

Gonzales talked about the unique experience of having a full complement of an AD team that spoke Spanish to work with the large number of Latino background actors, catering, and crew, and the challenges of working against time, going up against nature and the vineyards losing their leaves.

Following the moderated portion of the discussion, the panelists took questions from the online audience.

ABOUT THE PANELISTS:

Ed Ornelas

In addition to his work on Promised Land, Ornelass directorial credits include the independent feature film, The Legend of Billy Fail; and episodes of Greys Anatomy, Private Practice, NCIS: New Orleans, Code Black, The Resident and Roswell, New Mexico. Ornelas has been a DGA member since 2009 and also serves as a Co-Chair of the Latino Committee, as an Alternate on the DGA National Board, and as a mentor on the DGA Director Development Initiatives Television Mentorship Program. Vincent Gonzales

In addition to his work on Promised Land, Gonzaless Assistant Directing credits include feature films such as Benny Booms All Eyez on Me and Nathan Frankowskis Te Ata; as well as episodes of series including Cobra Kai, Bigger, The Passage, Legacies, Mind Games and The Walking Dead. Gonzales has been a DGA member since 1996. Regina Ainsworth (moderator)

A DGA member since 2015, Ainsworth previously served two terms as a Co-Chair of the Latino Committee. Her directorial credits include co-direction of the feature length documentary Red Dog & Bates; the spec pilots The Project and Law & Order: The Musical; and the short films Sharp by Design, Recombined, Perchance to Dream and Better Together. Matt Lopez

In addition to his work on Promised Land, Lopezs credits include serving as the writer/Executive Producer on the series Gone and Anand Tucker's movie for television Gothica; as well as working on the screenplays features such as Jon Turteltaubs The Sorcerer's Apprentice, Andy Fickmans Race to Witch Mountain and Adam Shankmans Bedtime Stories.

About the Committee:

The Latino Committee was created as a networking group to advance career and job opportunities for Latino DGA members by improving craft skills, networking, and making Latinos better known to the Hollywood creative community.
Harrisonburg, VA (22801)

Today

Mostly cloudy skies this morning will become partly cloudy this afternoon. High near 70F. Winds NE at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Cloudy skies early, then off and on rain showers overnight. Low 56F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 50%.
Three million euro has been raised for Ukraine aid as part of The Late Late Show Irish Red Cross fundraising appeal.

The significant amount was raised in less than 24 hours after a funding appeal on the show last night (Friday March 4), which was dedicated to the crisis.

It comes as the city of Mariupol in Ukraine remains under fire, despite a ceasefire pledge today (Saturday March 5) by Russian state media to allow for civilian evacuation.

Deputy head of President Volodymyr Zelensky's office, Kyrylo Tymoshenko, said, "The Russian side is not holding to the ceasefire and has continued firing on Mariupol itself and on its surrounding area.

"Talks with the Russian Federation are ongoing regarding setting up a ceasefire and ensuring a safe humanitarian corridor."

Over one million Ukrainians have fled the conflict into neighbouring European countries such as Poland, according to The Guardian.

Late Late Show viewers heard from Ukrainians living in Ireland who spoke about their concerns and worries for families and friends in the war-torn country.

Taoiseach Micheal Martin, band Aslan and Hollywood actor Alan Cumming are among the humanitarians who supported the appeal.

Host Ryan Tubridy praised the public for rising to the occasion and donating.

He said, "We were taken aback in a really good way by what happened last night. The Irish people rose to the occasion and donated over three million euro which is just remarkable. The story in Ukraine has touched the nation's hearts and the bravery and courage of the Ukrainian people to come to the audience last night, it wont be forgotten and is greatly appreciated. As always, the whole Late Late Show team, are gratefully beyond belief to the Irish people for what they did last night."

Director General of RTE, Dee Forbes, also commented and said, "The tragedy unfolding in Ukraine over the past week has been extremely difficult to watch and to comprehend. We are all now acutely aware of the scale and impact of Russia's shocking attack on Ukraine and the personal stories of loss, suffering and fear among those living in and around Ukraine, as well as their loved ones living here.

"These events are having an enormous impact on all of us, but it is vital that we continue to tell these stories in every way we can. The truth matters. I'd like to once again thank the Irish public for giving so generously to last night's Late Late Show appeal which will help the Red Cross cope with the crisis on the ground."
ADA [ndash] Memorials services for Clifford Brent Hall, 63, of Ada are 10:00 A.M. Thursday, May 5, 2022 at Trinity Baptist Church, Doug Brewer will officiate. Mr. Hall passed away Monday, April 25, 2022 at a local nursing home surrounded by family. He was born August 8, 1958 in Shawnee, OK t
National Hunt racing returns to Navan on Saturday, with 104 horses declared across an eight-race card, and 128,500 in prize money on offer.

The afternoons action gets underway at 1.10pm, with the final race at 5.05pm - find the latest horse racing betting here.

With a mainly dry forecast ahead of the meeting, the ground is described as Yielding to Soft.

Worth 36,500, the feature race in Co. Meath is the Grade Three Flying Bolt Novice Chase (3.58pm), for five-year-olds and up, over two miles.

Six have been declared to run, with the standout runner being the Willie Mullins-trained Gentleman De Mee - who put 34 lengths between himself and his nearest rival, when winning a beginners chase over the trip at Thurles last month. The six-year-old finished behind Triumph Hurdle third, Haunt En Couleurs the time before, and looks progressive.

Grange Walk brings plenty of chase experience to the table, and shaped as though this furlong shorter trip will suit.

Streets Of Doyen takes a significant step back in trip, following a refusal three out in a three-mile chase, back in November. Stand Off won well over this distance at Fairyhouse back in November, Velvet Elvis had the better of Fancy Foundations over two-mile-four in December and the latter could reverse the form, with a half-mile less to travel.

At 4.32pm is the Veterans Handicap Chase, with 10 runners due to jump off for the three-mile contest.

Nobody Home rallied late to finish second to a subsequent Grade B Handicap fourth in Gevrey, over two-mile-five at Fairyhouse, and this step up is likely to suit.

Kavanaghs Corner finished a head third behind Nobody Home on that day, and is a pound better off with his rival this time.

Wishmoor probably needed the run here last month, but stayed on stronger than Kavanaghs Corner to win at Limerick in December. Not the most reliable of late, but the twelve-year-old has put in some decent performances in this race previously.

Tesseract has slipped to a decent mark and is the best of the remainder.

Ronan McNallys All Class is looking for a hat-trick, in the final race of the afternoon (5.05pm), the two-mile four-furlong Mares Handicap Chase - following a comfortable hurdle success over the distance, here in December.

His previous run was an emphatic chase success at Punchestown and the chase, hurdle and flat winner is the one theyll all need to beat - with the majority conceding weight.

Last months Catterick winner Alohamora has to shoulder top-weight, but has had the beating of some of these, including Thats Lifebuoy, who hasnt had a terrible season.

Exit To The West is another to watch, depending which horse shows up.

Navan Selections

1.10pm Douglas Dc

1.40pm Global Export

2.13pm Belle Metal

2.48pm Gain De Cause

3.23pm Pats Pick

3.58pm Gentleman De Mee

4.32pm Kavanaghs Corner

5.05pm All Class
Chief Superintendent Christy Mangan informed March's meeting of Dundalks Joint Policing Committee that a sergeants competition has recently been held and a number of gardai in Dundalk are awaiting postings.

He was responding to a query from Independent councillor Maeve Yore as she sought an update on Garda vacancies and progress in getting a replacement sergeant for Blackrock

Ive made it abundantly clear to city hall in Dublin that I dont want to be losing the five people and that I also want an increase in sergeants, so I cant put it any more stronger than that,  Supt Mangan said.

Ive been diplomatically strong in saying that we need to keep the people we have promoted, but that we also need to get a significant increase.

I had a meeting with our deputy commissioner Ann Marie McMahon recently and I really emphasised the fact that we need supervision and a sergeant in Blackrock forthwith.

He also informed the committee that Dundalk would be getting its own District Community Action Team (D-CAT) at some stage in the future, similar to the one currently operating in Drogheda.

The team in Drogheda was originally set up to reduce anti-social behaviour and tackle quality of life issues within the community.

Weve amalgamated the D-CAT programme with the community policing, so its a community action team we have now, so we will be implementing it in Dundalk although at the minute I cant give a specific date, because it has proved very fruitful in Drogheda.
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North Andover, MA (01845)

Today

Mainly sunny to start, then a few afternoon clouds. High 69F. Winds NW at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Mainly cloudy. Low around 45F. Winds NW at 5 to 10 mph.
By David Stevens The Staff of The News

CLOVIS - A 38-year-old Clovis man is accused of shooting at a school janitor on Wednesday outside the Freshman Academy.

No one was physically injured, but the janitor was "visibly shaken" after the bullet hit "approximately two feet above his head as he entered the building," court records show.

The incident happened in the evening after school was out, District Attorney Brian Stover said. "As far as we know, no children were at risk."

Marcus Phillips was in the Curry County Adult Detention Center on Friday facing multiple felony charges including assault with intent to commit a violent felony. He was being held without bond.

According to a criminal complaint filed in Curry County Magistrate Court:

Police were dispatched to the school and found a man later identified as Phillips "pacing in the middle of the parking lot just north of the freshman center." One of the arresting officers wrote that "I could see Marcus was irritated and was only yelling."

After a brief standoff with officers, Phillips "knelt and threw" a gun to his right, allowing officers to apprehend him without further incident.

After Phillips was in custody, police met with the school custodian who was inside the building.

"I observed him visibly shaken," the report reads. "The male told me he was going to throw trash from the cafeteria when he encountered Marcus. He told me Marcus startled him as there is usually no one outside and if they are they are friendly."

The custodian told police Phillips "began yelling at him then displayed the silver in color handgun as we walked to go inside. As he approached the door Marcus shot in his direction hitting approximately two feet above his head as he entered the building."

Police have since determined the gun had been reported stolen out of Oklahoma.

Stover said prosecutors have filed a motion to detain Phillips until a trial is scheduled in connection with the case. A preliminary hearing on the issue is expected sometime this week, Stover said.

Phillips has a long criminal history. Curry County jail records show he's been booked into the facility at least 19 times since 2012. Charges against him have included assault, battery, kidnapping, unlawful carrying of a deadly weapon and multiple drug-related issues.

Jail Administrator Mark Gallegos expressed frustration Friday that Phillips was back in custody at the Clovis jail for at least the fourth time since August 2020.

"This is a guy who should be in the (state) Department of Corrections due to his progressive criminal conduct and criminal behavior within our community," Gallegos said.

Phillips' history of criminal-case dispositions was not immediately available on Friday.
The books listed below are now available for checkout at the Clovis-Carver Public Library. The library is open to the public, but patrons can still visit the online catalog at cloviscarverpl.booksys.net/opac/ccpl or call 575-769-7840 to request a...
By Steve Hansen The Staff of The News

Last updated 3/5/2022 at 10:52am

PORTALES -- A modified recreational cannabis business ordinance that applies a 300-foot minimum distance between cannabis businesses and schools and day care centers but eliminates other minimum distance requirements received final approval Tuesda...
By Grant McGee The Staff of The News

The State of the Union address is a mediated ritual of democracy. Voters expect it, presidents have to do it, presidents want to do it.

So says Josh Bramlett, assistant professor of communications at Eastern New Mexico University. Bramlett was as...
By the Staff of The News

The Volunteer Action Center, part of the United Way of Eastern New Mexico believes there are people worthy of the Presidents Volunteer Service award in eastern New Mexico.

Casey Peacock, coordinator for the UWENMs Volunteer Action Center say...
Glenn Tallar of Mesa is one of the two organ players at Organ Stop Pizza.
Effingham, IL (62401)

Today

Rain likely. High 62F. Winds ESE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall near a half an inch..

Tonight

Rain showers in the evening with thunderstorms developing overnight. Low 57F. Winds SE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 70%.
Elkhart, IN (46516)

Today

Cloudy early, then off and on rain showers for the afternoon. High 61F. Winds ESE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 60%..

Tonight

Rain. Low around 50F. Winds E at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 90%. Rainfall around a quarter of an inch.
Washington, MO (63090)

Today

Rain early...then remaining cloudy with showers in the afternoon. High 66F. Winds ESE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall possibly over one inch..

Tonight

Rain early with thunderstorms developing late. Low 56F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 90%.
Cherry Lee Ward Yeager age 87 of Athens died Monday at Athens Limestone Hospital. Mrs. Yeager was born October 21, 1934 in Giles County Tennessee. She was a longtime member of First Baptist Church Athens where she sang in the chrior, and was active in the WMU. Mrs. Yeager was a Red Cross vol
SpaceX CEO Elon Musk said some governments recently told the company to block Russian media outlets from its Starlink satellite broadband service. In a tweet he sent out early Saturday, Musk declared the company would not comply with the request "unless at gunpoint." According to Musk, the demand hadn't come from Ukraine. "Sorry to be a free speech absolutist," he added.

Starlink has been told by some governments (not Ukraine) to block Russian news sources. We will not do so unless at gunpoint.



Sorry to be a free speech absolutist.  Elon Musk (@elonmusk) March 5, 2022

Musk also said SpaceX would temporarily shift its priorities to focus on cybersecurity and overcoming signal jamming, a decision he noted would cause "slight delays" in the rollout of its Starship reusable rocket and Starlink V2 satellites.
Mildred Dresselhaus' life was one in defiance of odds. Growing up poor in the Bronx  and even more to her detriment, growing up a woman in the 1940s  Dresselhaus' traditional career options were paltry. Instead, she rose to become one of the world's preeminent experts in carbon science as well as the first female Institute Professor at MIT, where she spent 57 years of her career. She collaborated with physics luminaries like Enrico Fermi and laid the essential groundwork for future Nobel Prize winning research, directed the Office of Science at the U.S. Department of Energy and was herself awarded the National Medal of Science.

In the excerpt below from Carbon Queen: The Remarkable Life of Nanoscience Pioneer Mildred Dresselhaus, author and Deputy Editorial Director at MIT News, Maia Weinstock, tells of the time that Dresselhaus collaborated with Iranian American physicist Ali Javan to investigate exactly how charge carriers  ie electrons  move about within a graphite matrix, research that would completely overturn the field's understanding of how these subatomic particles operate.

MIT Press

Excerpted from Carbon Queen: The Remarkable Life of Nanoscience Pioneer Mildred Dresselhaus by Maia Weinstock. Reprinted with permission from The MIT Press. Copyright 2022.

A CRITICAL ABOUT-FACE

For anyone with a research career as long and as accomplished as that of Mildred S. Dresselhaus, there are bound to be certain papers that might get a bit lost in the corridors of the mindpapers that make only moderate strides, perhaps, or that involve relatively little effort or input (when, for example, being a minor consulting author on a paper with many coauthors). Conversely, there are always standout papers that one can never forgetfor their scientific impact, for coinciding with particularly memorable periods of ones career, or for simply being unique or beastly experiments.

Millies first major research publication after becoming a permanent member of the MIT faculty fell into the standout category. It was one she described time and again in recollections of her career, noting it as an interesting story for history of science.

The story begins with a collaboration between Millie and Iranian American physicist Ali Javan. Born in Iran to Azerbaijani parents, Javan was a talented scientist and award-winning engineer who had become well known for his invention of the gas laser. His helium-neon laser, coinvented with William Bennett Jr. when both were at Bell Labs, was an advance that made possible many of the late twentieth centurys most important technologiesfrom CD and DVD players to bar-code scanning systems to modern fiber optics.

After publishing a couple of papers describing her early magneto-optics research on the electronic structure of graphite, Millie was looking to delve even deeper, and Javan wanted to help. The two met during Millies work at Lincoln Lab; she was a huge fan, once calling him a genius and an extremely creative and brilliant scientist.

For her new work, Millie aimed to study the magnetic energy levels in graphites valence and conduction bands. To do this, she, Javan, and a graduate student, Paul Schroeder, employed a neon gas laser, which would provide a sharp point of light to probe their graphite samples. The laser had to be built especially for the experiment, and it took years for the fruits of their labor to mature; indeed, Millie moved from Lincoln to MIT in the middle of the work.

If the experiment had yielded only humdrum results, in line with everything the team had already known, it still would have been a path-breaking exercise because it was one of the first in which scientists used a laser to study the behavior of electrons in a magnetic field. But the results were not humdrum at all. Three years after Millie and her collaborators began their experiment, they discovered their data were telling them something that seemed impossible: the energy level spacing within graphites valence and conduction bands were totally off from what they expected. As Millie explained to a rapt audience at MIT two decades later, this meant that the band structure that everybody had been using up till that point could certainly not be right, and had to be turned upside down.

In other words, Millie and her colleagues were about to overturn a well-established scientific ruleone of the more exciting and important types of scientific discoveries one can make. Just like the landmark 1957 publication led by Chien-Shiung Wu, who overturned a long-accepted particle physics concept known as conservation of parity, upending established science requires a high degree of precisionand confidence in ones results. Millie and her team had both.

What their data suggested was that the previously accepted placement of entities known as charge carriers within graphites electronic structure was actually backward. Charge carriers, which allow energy to flow through a conducting material such as graphite, are essentially just what their name suggests: something that can carry an electric charge. They are also critical for the functioning of electronic devices powered by a flow of energy.

Electrons are a well-known charge carrier; these subatomic bits carry a negative charge as they move around. Another type of charge carrier can be seen when an electron moves from one atom to another within a crystal lattice, creating something of an empty space that also carries a chargeone thats equal in magnitude to the electron but opposite in charge. In what is essentially a lack of electrons, these positive charge carriers are known as holes.

MIT Press

FIGURE 6.1 In this simplified diagram, electrons (black dots) surround atomic nuclei in a crystal lattice. In some circumstances, electrons can break free from the lattice, leaving an empty spot or hole with a positive charge. Both electrons and holes can move about, affecting electrical conduction within the material.

Millie, Javan, and Schroeder discovered that scientists were using the wrong assignment of holes and electrons within the previously accepted structure of graphite: they found electrons where holes should be and vice versa. This was pretty crazy, Millie stated in a 2001 oral history interview. We found that everything that had been done on the electronic structure of graphite up until that point was reversed.

As with many other discoveries overturning conventional wisdom, acceptance of the revelation was not immediate. First, the journal to which Millie and her collaborators submitted their paper originally refused to publish it. In retelling the story, Millie often noted that one of the referees, her friend and colleague Joel McClure, privately revealed himself as a reviewer in hopes of convincing her that she was embarrassingly off-base. He said, Millie recalled in a 2001 interview, Millie, you dont want to publish this. We know where the electrons and holes are; how could you say that theyre backwards? But like all good scientists, Millie and her colleagues had checked and rechecked their results numerous times and were confident in their accuracy. And so, Millie thanked McClure and told him they were convinced they were right. We wanted to publish, and we... would take the risk of ruining our careers, Millie recounted in 1987.

Giving their colleagues the benefit of the doubt, McClure and the other peer reviewers approved publication of the paper despite conclusions that flew in the face of graphites established structure. Then a funny thing happened: bolstered by seeing these conclusions in print, other researchers emerged with previously collected data that made sense only in light of a reversed assignment of electrons and holes. There was a whole flood of publications that supported our discovery that couldnt be explained before, Millie said in 2001.

Today, those who study the electronic structure of graphite do so with the understanding of charge carrier placement gleaned by Millie, Ali Javan, and Paul Schroeder (who ended up with quite a remarkable thesis based on the groups results). For Millie, who published the work in her first year on the MIT faculty, the experiment quickly solidified her standing as an exceptional Institute researcher. While many of her most noteworthy contributions to science were yet to come, this early discovery was one she would remain proud of for the rest of her life.
Some of Samsungs confidential data has reportedly leaked due to a suspected cyberattack. On Friday, South American hacking group Lapsus$ uploaded a trove of data it claims came from the smartphone manufacturer. Bleeping Computer was among the first publications to report on the incident.

Among other information, the collective says it obtained the bootloader source code for all of Samsungs recent devices, in addition to code related to highly sensitive features like biometric authentication and on-device encryption. The leak also allegedly includes confidential data from Qualcomm. The entire database contains approximately 190GB of data and is actively being shared in a torrent. If the contents of the leak are accurate, they could cause significant damage to Samsung.

According to The Korean Herald, the company is assessing the situation. Weve reached out to Samsung for comment.

If Lapsus$ sounds familiar, its the same group that claimed responsibility for the recent NVIDIA data breach. In that incident, Lapsus$ says it obtained approximately 1TB of confidential data from the GPU designer, including, the group claims, schematics and driver source code. The collective has demanded that NVIDIA open source its drivers and remove the cryptocurrency mining limiter from its RTX 30-series GPUs. Its unclear what, if any demands, Lapsus$ has made of Samsung. The group has previously said its actions havent been politically motivated.
Weather Alert

...FLOOD WATCH NOW IN EFFECT THROUGH THURSDAY EVENING... * 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...Through Thursday evening. * 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. Area creeks and streams are running high and could flood with more heavy rain. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS... - Showers and thunderstorm chances will continue through Thursday evening, with an additional 1 to 3 inches of rainfall expected in the watch area. Rainfall totals across the watch area have already exceeded 4 inches for some locations near the I-44 and I-40 corridors across eastern Oklahoma. - 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. &&
ENID, Okla.  As Autry Technology Center nears its sixth decade in Enid, its new superintendent says the CareerTech center is keen on continuing to offer students a buffet of practical skills to learn.

Dwight Hughes, superintendent and CEO, began his position last fall. He said recently he expects the citys health care and manufacturing industries to continue to grow, prompting Autrys corporate training specialists to spend the most time working with those two sectors.

Getting hands-on education

The turnover from COVID, Hughes said, has called for more health care workers to come to Northwest Oklahoma, where no student residency program currently exists.

Hughes said he is grateful Autrys students can learn trade skills in-person again with sessions back in full swing since the COVID pandemic began nearly two years ago. He said he would like Autry to eventually have a model hospital to serve as a backup facility for local hospital systems if future crises emerge.

Having grown up on a farm in western Oklahoma, Hughes said he personally understands the importance of having hands-on learning.

Its hard to learn  a hands-on skill, if you cant get your hands on something, he said.

On the path forward 2022: Bulding a resilient community: ALL EDUCATION STORIES On the path forward 2022: Building a resilient community is a special section that will publish in the Enid News & Eagle for eight Sundays

Opening new opportunities

Autry is in the midst of enrollment for the 2022-23 school year to fill more than 800 total seats, prioritizing, in order, current students, those from Autrys 10 partner school districts and any adult students.

High school sophomores began touring the campus a couple weeks ago in preparation for taking courses in the fall, Hughes said.

The CareerTech center has 25 full-time adult programs, which, aside from advanced medical programs also are available to accepted high school juniors and seniors who attend Autry half of the school day.

Hughes said the school is now working with NOC to create a high school student pathway option to receive college credits for any of the programs Autry offers.

If thats a route somebody wants to take, we ought to make it easy for them. It shouldnt be a hard thing to do, he said. So probably in just a little over a year, you could have an associate degree after you graduate high school.

Finding a career

Each program at Autry has an advisory committee of local industry professionals to suggest new directions or acquiring the latest equipment.

Since Autry Techs long-touted respiratory care program opened in 2006, 118 students have graduated, with a 96% pass rate on board examinations conducted by National Board for Respiratory Care. Of those graduates, 94% have found positions working in the field, according to Autry.

Autry partners with Northern Oklahoma College so students go on to receive an associate of applied science degree in respiratory care from the college in Enid.

These graduates often go to work at Enids hospitals, St. Marys Regional Medical Center and Integris Bass Baptist Health Center, as well as hospitals in Oklahoma city, Dallas, Houston and Alaska, program director Dr. Deryl Gulliford said in a recent news release.

Today, anyone who graduates from our program and wants to practice will find a position, Gulliford said.

Jaznee White, a graduate of the Autry respiratory care program who already had a bachelors degree, said she was finished with the program in less than two years.

A big decision factor for me was I didnt want to be in school another four years or be in more student debt, White said. Thats when I learned about Autry Techs respiratory care program and fell in love.

Hughes quote "If thats a route somebody wants to take, we ought to make it easy for them. It shouldnt be a hard thing to do. So probably in just a little over a year, you could have an associate degree after you graduate high school." ~ Dwight Hughes, superintendent and CEO, Autry Technology Center

Applying to attend

Applications for Autrys five advanced medical programs, including respiratory care, are due May 4.

Potential students must complete a short, online application; submit three letters of recommendation; provide transcripts and test scores; and attend one of the required orientation sessions. One observation and a personal interview will be scheduled for qualified applicants.

Autry also offers evening and weekend short-term courses and certifications in many career fields to students and to area employees.

Meeting industry demand

Hughes said companies already limited on potential workforce are now looking to train current employers to develop new skills.

Hughes said he could see Autry offering other training certifications in health care such as an advanced CNA (certified nursing assistant) to meet advancements in the industry.

As those things come along, I could see us adding those certifications just to meet the industry demand on that, he said.

Autrys corporate training team has provided certifications such as industrial maintenance, AC/DC, hydrologic schematics and rigging for cranes. A manufacturing company was in need of certification in poly fusion welding  used to create casings for fiber-optic cable  for example, so Autry began providing it, Hughes said.

Businesses know they have a place to go and land, he said.
ENID, Okla.  For the last 15 years, Northern Oklahoma College and Northwestern Oklahoma State University have been assisting students in eliminating barriers to attaining their educational goals.

The NOC-NWOSU Bridge Program was approved in 2007, allowing students to be jointly admitted and concurrently enrolled at both NOC and Northwestern. The two campus, which sit diagonally from each other in eastern Enid, even installed a bridge as a visual symbol of the program and the campuses willingness to work toward improving academic program articulation, expanding options for college services and providing seamless transfer from NOC to Northwestern.

Students can be admitted to the program at any time prior to receiving an associate degree and should meet either the freshman or transfer admission criteria of Northwestern, dependent on the number of hours of college credit completed at the time of application. Course enrollment and programs and services for dual students are available based on the semester calendar.

Once accepted to the Bridge Program, students may enroll in classes at any NOC campus in Tonkawa, Enid or Stillwater, as well as any Northwestern campus in Alva, Enid or Woodward. Academic advisors are available at each.

Educational, financial perks

Grace Hise, a current BP scholarship recipient, graduated with an associate degree in English from NOC and is now working toward a bachelors in psychology through Northwestern. She is on target to complete that degree in 2023 and hopes to become a counselor.

I get a pretty good discount for being a part of the Bridge Program. Its awesome, said Hise, who attends Northwestern-Enid.

She takes quite a few ITV classes, she said, and if there is a class in Alva she wants, she is able to do so over Zoom.

Financially, you can save so much money, and youre getting a good degree with the education that you need to pursue, whatever career you want, Hise said. I have a lot of support here from my parents. They just want me to focus on school and be successful. Its a lot easier to do that when you are not worried about finances.

On the path forward 2022: Bulding a resilient community: ALL EDUCATION STORIES On the path forward 2022: Building a resilient community is a special section that will publish in the Enid News & Eagle for eight Sundays

Bridge students have access to student services, such as the library and computer labs, at all campuses in the dual-based program, according to Northwesterns website.

Bridge students will be issued ID cards granting access to services and activities. Students may reside in NOC campus housing on a space-available basis. Eligible students will be able to participate in all recognized student organizations at both institutions, according to Northwesterns website

Non-traditional path

Non-traditional students are able to benefit from the ease of educational access and scholarship, as well. Julie Mayer is a senior in the social work program at Northwestern. She said she is a great-grandma and has grown children who are older than some of her classmates.

Mayer quote I could not have gone to NOC at a better time. I got to attend class with some of the brightest, nicest, caring people. That was an awesome student body. It was so smooth. The Bridge scholarship also helped smooth that transition from junior college to university. Julie Mayer, non-traditional, Bridge program student

I could not have gone to NOC at a better time, Mayer said, who started at NOC in 2017. I got to attend class with some of the brightest, nicest, caring people. That was an awesome student body. It was so smooth. The Bridge scholarship also helped smooth that transition from junior college to university.

Mayer thought she was going to be an accountant but changed paths and went into general studies. She said she wasnt exactly sure what to do after that. I figured it would be toward social work.

Mayer previously worked as a child support investigator for seven years in Texas. She has had many experiences and careers that she believes has pushed her to reinvent herself while continuing to serve people.

She is interested in serving victims of domestic violence and abuse, as she looks toward getting involved in support and educational groups.

I had to, to do this for myself or settle for a life of mediocrity or even discomfort, Mayer said. I had to reinvent myself, gain a new skill set, where I could still contribute and belong.
ENID, Okla.  What do you want to be when you grow up?

Thats a question often asked of girls and boys when theyre young.

And thanks to EHS Works, juniors and seniors at Enid High School are able to test-drive potential careers to see if thats what they really want to be when they graduate.

What better time to find out? said Gabe Watts, director of Enid Public Schools career prep and training program that pairs students with Enid industries.

While they are still in high school, Watts said, students are able to intern for local companies and businesses to get a taste of what a career field is like before they  and/or their parents  spend time and money on college or tech school.

EHS Works benefits student, through hands-on experiences as they explore career paths, and employers, who gain a hard-working employee for six months, or longer in some cases.

My students want to be there, Watts said. Theyre very driven, and they want to work.

Getting started

Juniors and seniors at EHS fill out an application with Watts, and he determines if theyre eligible to participate in the internship program. He said applicants are vetted based on criteria such as grades and attendance; not everyone is selected. Once selected, Watts then will diligently work to pair the student with a business in his or her chosen career field.

Students in the program initially attend a career-training course with Watts that focuses on tenets of success in the workforce, such as work ethic, best practices, business management and more.

Then students invest up to three hours a day during the school day with the employer, learning skills and completing tasks assigned.

At present there are 61 students enrolled in the 2021-22 program and 31 participating business partners.

EHS at the forefront

When EHS Works began four years ago, Enid Public Schools was at the forefront of the state initiative. Only a handful of schools in Oklahoma were focusing on post-secondary skills and job shadowing.

There wasnt a road map, Watts said about building the program.

He modeled EHS Works after Duncan Public Schools Pathways to Future Careers Internship, which had been in place a year at the time, and relied on his business background in marketing to tweak the program to EPS standards.

Watts approached several businesses in Enid about the possibility of internships because he considers EHS Works as a great recruiting tool.

Supporting the youth

Keith Holsten, who owns K/H Financial and has had three interns so far, including one who is now a permanent employee, agreed immediately to participate.

We are big on community and supporting the youth, he said.

Holsten discovered one of the biggest advantages to partnering with EHS Works is his chance to connect to and learn from the younger generation.

Its important to stay fresh and engaged, he said, adding his interns have become great assets for his life-planning and wealth management firm, affiliated with Raymond James, particularly in the area of marketing and communications.

Gretchen McKee, the laboratory supervisor at Envirotech, which also has been an EHS Works partner since the beginning, concurred with the benefits of EHS Works.

Envirotech elected to sponsor the internship program because McKee, along with the former company president and the current company president, are all EHS grads. The civil engineering and environmental consulting firm sees high school, and college, students as having unlimited potential.

They do valuable work for us, McKee said, adding that because of that Envirotech pays its interns. Students participate in quality assurance, testing through the Army Corps of Engineers lab on site, design and drafting.

On the path forward 2022: Bulding a resilient community: ALL EDUCATION STORIES On the path forward 2022: Building a resilient community is a special section that will publish in the Enid News & Eagle for eight Sundays

Opportunities at home

Many students who have been interns through EHS Works find the experience they gain invaluable.

Nicole Dirks said her internship with K/H Financial not only bolstered her interest in the financial world but also changed her mind about staying in Enid.

I was raised here, and it was set in stone I was going to leave. That was my plan, said the University of Central Oklahoma (UCO) student who graduated from EHS in 2020. I had no idea workplaces like this existed right here in my hometown.

Dirks credits Holsten with changing her mind thanks to his commitment to helping her find her niche. She started out as an intern for the required six-month period her senior year and has since worked over summers and school breaks. She now does her college courses in finance online and serves as K/H Financials client communications coordinator.

Dirks is on track to graduate from UCO in December 2023 and already is pursuing her license to become a registered financial adviser at age 20, which makes Holsten very proud.

Im ecstatic. She has a bright future, he said, commenting hes actually hoping in about 15-20 years she will buy him out so he can ride off into the sunset.

Narrowing the choices

An internship with Envirotech has helped Moksh Mohan zero in on his plans after graduation.

I wasnt 100% sure of what I wanted to do, the EHS senior said, adding he only knew he wanted to go into engineering like his brother, Roshan, who started out as an EHS Works intern at Envirotech, too. Now, Mohan said, hes narrowed his choices thanks to the experience hes gained there.

220306-progress-interns 4 BH.jpg Moksh Mohan, an intern at Envirotech, prepares a cell of a test. (Billy Hefton / Enid News & Eagle)

McKee is excited the Mohan brothers will continue to work for Envirotech during the school breaks from Oklahoma State University, adding shes glad her company is able to ignite passion in students about civil engineering.

In fact, Roshan helped establish Envirotechs drone service during his internship, providing a valuable deliverable to clients, McKee stated.

That department continues to grow, she said, adding now eight of Envirotechs employees are planning to get licensed to fly drones for the company  all thanks to Roshans initiative to learn how drones could benefit engineering.

Beneficial partnership

Its that type of business professionalism and etiquette that Enid business leaders look for and what EHS Works aims to provide, according to Watts.

Its a phenomenal program to support, McKee said. Both she and Holsten encourage other Enid companies to partner.

Watts quote Let us in the door, and youll see firsthand how the students want to better the community and want to experience life. Gabe Watts, director of Enid Public Schools EHS Works

Watts added if a company isnt sure if the internship program is a good fit, he can reached via email, ggwatts@enidk12.org, or text, (580) 402-3299. He is willing to do a presentation and even bring a student along.

Let us in the door, and youll see firsthand how the students want to better the community and want to experience life, Watts said. We have a high caliber of students.
.

The irruption and acceleration of war between Russia and Ukraine has made it necessary once again on our part to attempt a normative assessment of military war as a tragic reality. Arguably, on humanitarian grounds, it is difficult to defend the irruption of any war, including the one between Ukraine and Russia. The irruption of war becomes more problematic when it involves an enormous cost to the entire humanity, which is why war affects sensitive beings everywhere, including the countries that are at war against each other. Speaking against war thus becomes a shared moral responsibility for all.

The social media footage and narratives of trauma shared by both the civilians fleeing Ukraine and the Indian students trapped in the conflict situation suggest the highly questionable role of soldiers in mishandling the question of security and immunity of the civilians. Reports suggest that soldiers from both warring camps were allegedly involved in inflicting violence against civilians as well as Indian students, and in some cases, even allegedly maiming and killing some of them.
The origins of the present crisis are located in the history of Ukraine, Russia, and the Soviet Union. The decisive role of the continuous expansion of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and the hegemonic designs of the United States in precipitating the crisis is analysed. A possible road to dialogue and peace is outlined in the face of intensifying escalation.

On 24 February 2022, the President of Russia, Vladimir Putin, declared to the world that Russia was commencing a special military operation in the Ukraine with the

purpose being,
Wes Andersons Isle of Dogs asks whether we are willing to align ideals with actions or remain mute spectators unmoved by the plight of animals.

Film-maker Wes Anderson is known for his unique and bold takes on pressing issues. Isle of Dogs (2018) is no exception. A sinister plot unravels, and at its centre, a laboratory-made epidemic leads to the mass exodus of dogs from the city. It is a part of an elaborate ploy designed to hoodwink citizens into parting ways with their best friends, dogs. The narrative is driven by conspiracy, corruption, capitalism, and self-serving interests. The film is set in a dystopian future where an outbreak of snout fever, eerily similar to COVID-19, leads to the banishment of dogs. Spots, the mayoral households guard dog, is the first to be forced into exile. Atari, the mayors nephew, and other young citizens appeal to the mayor and his administration on several occasions to explore all options but to no avail. The murder of a scientist, the sole opposition leader, who formulated a cure for the disease is the breaking point that compels a group of young, diligent, and well-meaning animal activists to risk it all in trying to save an entire species from annihilation.

A stark contrast is highlighted in the film. Older citizens are coerced into silence using violence and intimidation. Young idealistic students continue to draw attention to the issue. The students are persistent, from drawing graffiti to protesting outside the Municipal Dome, they keep the pressure on the administration. The creative, innovative, and non-violent methods employed by animal activists in the film are met with a backlash. Every effort is made to silence the voice of dissent. There is no place for a voice of reason or science either. Young idealistic activists who dared to speak the truth and demand accountability are penalised, ridiculed, and further marginalised. For instance, an exchange student, Tracy Walker, writes an expose on the nexus between the administration, mafia, and industry. As an investigative student journalist, she draws attention to the launch of robotic dogs, a new range of replacement pets. The mayor sanctions her, cancelling her visa, and the deportation process is initiated. Often, telling the truth comes at a heavy price.
Friday, March 4, 2022

Rapidly Rising Grain Prices

The Russian navy has completelyblockaded the Black Sea preventing maritime vessels from entering or departingthrough which 90% of Ukraines agricultural products are shipped through itsvarious ports. This present-day nightmare scenario was articulated in my SAarticle entitled BuyOpportunities with Tightening Global Agriculture Marketspublished on 19 February 2022 less than a week before the Russian invasion andbefore grain prices rose dramatically. Furthermore, according to the IMF andwell before the Russian invasion in late February, wheat prices had already increasedby 80% from April 2020 through December 2021.

Undervalued Grain Prices |Buying Opportunities Still Abound

For those investors who may besuffering the condition of fear of missing out (FOMO) of not purchasing farlower pre-invasion grain prices, I believe that the the bull run has just begunand that there is considerable near-to-medium term upward movement as theRussians intensify their all in invasion efforts.

The Russo-Ukrainian war hasprofoundly impacted energy prices because Russia is a major energy provider toEurope. However natural gas supplies continue to flow to European countries throughRussian and Ukrainian pipelines with increasing energy prices reflecting therisk of supply reductions.

On the other hand,agricultural exports from Ukraine have been shutdown entirely with Russiasblockade of the Black Sea while draconian sanctions against Russia prevent thepurchase and export of Russian agricultural products.

Since the start of theinvasion the rise in energy and grain prices have generally moved in tandem. HoweverI believe that grain prices are lagging far behind the actual risk and presenta brief buying opportunity window.

Major containercompanies, notably the largest ones like A.P. Moller Maersk and MediterraneanShipping, have temporarily suspended service to Russian and Ukrainian ports. Russiasinvasion of Ukraines southern region has resulted in damage to portinfrastructure. Furthermore, maritime freight and insurance rates haveincreased as several vessels came under attack by Russian naval fire creatingan economically unviable hot zone.

With respect to wheat, TeucriumWheat ETF (WEAT) has provided robust returns since the start of the war andcontinues to provide an excellent investment opportunity.

The Global Food SecurityPerspective

This section will review thepresent-day and near-future dynamics with respect to an ever-shrinking globalinventory and crop yield for grains.

According to the US Departmentof Agriculture the total grain exports of Russia and Ukraine represent 30% ofglobal exports. The following chart entitled UkraineCrisis Likely to Push Up Wheat Prices provided by the UN ComtradeDatabase presents a visual with respect to the worlds largest wheat exporters.

Chinas Insatiable GrainPurchases

An important fact to consideris that China and India, each with a population of 1.4 billion, are the leadinggrain producers yet most of these grains are consumed domestically.

The enormity of Chinasproduction is articulated in the following chart entitled Kingof Crops: Chinas Gigantic Agricultural Productionprovided by the US Department of Agriculture.

According to Reuters, in 2019Ukraine surpassed Russia in becoming Chinas trading partner with an 80%increase from 2013, the largest importer of barley and purchaser of 30% of itscorn production.

Despite Chinas prodigiousproduction they face two huge threats that have degraded their ability to feedtheir population through domestic crop production which is directly correlatedlike most emerging countries to internal security controls.

Michael Beckley, author of theupcoming book Danger Zone: The Coming Conflict with China, describes twothreats that explains Chinas increasing needs for grain imports:

1. Thefirst threat is the rampant commercial development and poor environmental planningover the decades that has eliminated 40% of Chinas arable land.

2. The secondthreat is that China is severely water-stressed and present-day has a percapita freshwater availability equal to that of Saudi Arabia.

2022 Projections | DecliningInventory & Crop Yields

Data from S&P GlobalPlatts provides a sobering trend that forecasts a dramatically tighteningagricultural market.

Production for Exports 2022

Country/Region Projected Exports (in metric tons) Russia and Ukraine 60 million USA 22 million Canada 15.2 million EU 37.5 million

According to the US Departmentof Agriculture (USDA) February 2022 reports for 2019/2020, US and world wheatproduction was 296.54 metric tons. Their projection for 2022 is 278.21 metrictons, a decline of 6.2% which did not factor in the Russian invasion of Ukrainewhich took place later in the month. Underscoring the criticality of the sourceof agricultural products, the US exports are less than half of Russia andUkraine. This means that the US (and its allies) are unable to come close inmaking up the shortfall to highly dependent clients of Russian and Ukrainiangrain exports.

Another measure of upcomingseverity of a global grin shortage is provided by the Food and AgricultureOrganization whose stocks-to-use ratio 2022 forecast for wheat demand is28.7% vs. 31.9%. 4 years ago.

According to the USDA to calculate the stocks-to-use ratio, takethe ending stock number, and then divide that by the total demand usage number whichcan then be expressed as a percentage. Each crop has its established normalstocks-to-ratio level. For wheat the normal stock to ratio is 35%.

Furthermorea stocks-to-ratio of 20% is the equivalent of 75 days global inventory ofwheat. This means that the 2022 forecasted inventory is just over 107 days vsthe normal inventory of 131 days, a difference of 3 weeks.

The alarming medium tolong-term trends impacting future crops and inventory in addition to the BlackSea blockade as provided by S&P Global Platts are the following:

1. Russiahas prohibited the export of fertilizer until April. As the worlds largestexporter of fertilizer, global crop yields will be diminished.

2. Withrespect to Ukraine, wheat is planted in September/October and harvested in July.If pesticides and fertilizers are unavailable under war conditions theestimated crop yield could decrease as much as 33%.

3. Theglobal wheat carry-over (inventory) from past crops is at its lowest since2008 at only 16.9 million metric tons.

Global grain supply is in aprecarious position as, unlike energy, agricultural production is highlydependent on environmental factors with generous technical assistance such asfertilizer and pesticides, both of which are in short supply and quiteexpensive.

Radioactive Risk to Crops

In a world where theimpossible is now the plausible, another potential risk to the global foodsupply is radiation leaks from Ukraines nuclear power plants, all of which arein combat zones. Already the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant, Europes largest and locatedin the Ukrainian agricultural heartland, suffered a fire after a Russian bombardment.The fluidity of war has not allowed a definitive answer as to the extent of thedamage and whether there was any radiation leakage. Any radioactive soilcontamination represents a long-term major threat to grain production.

The following chart entitled UkrainesNuclear Power Plants provided by Statista research, an online informationfirm, presents the names and locations of Ukraines nuclear power plants.

Conclusion

The meteoritic rise in agricultureprices will continue to rise aggressively because of present-day logistical,near-term production and medium-to-long term environmental factors, each ofwhich provide a solid price floor.

For the aforementioned reasonsI believe that the rising grain prices are under-valued compared to theirenergy counterparts. This represents an enormous opportunity for investments ingrains, specifically wheat, which is classified by the USDA as a strategicgrain.

 Copyright 2022 CeruleanCouncil LLC

The Cerulean Council is aNYC-based think-tank that provides prescient, beyond-the-horizon, contrarianperspectives and risk assessments on geopolitical dynamics and global urbansecurity.
Friday, March 4, 2022

Bookpleasures.com welcomes as our guest, Dr. Loren A. Olson, author No More Neckties: AMemoir In Essays and Finally Out: Letting Go of LivingStraight.

Dr. Olson is aDistinguished Life Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association. Heis a physician for over 50 years and served as a flight surgeon inthe US Navy.

Norm: Good day Dr.Olson and thanks for taking part in our interview.

Thanks for inviting me,Norm.

Norm: How did you getstarted in writing? What keeps you going?







Dr. Olson: Id alwayswritten small pieces, but in the last several years I approachedwriting as a craft I wanted to develop. I find great joy in searchingfor the right words, putting them together rhythmically, and knowingthey convey the meaning I intended. I used to say Im apsychiatrist who likes to write or a gay man who writes, but now Ithink of myself as an author, a psychiatrist, and a gay father.

Norm: What has beenyour greatest challenge that youve overcome in getting to whereyoure at today?

Dr. Olson: With my firstbook, Finally Out, I questioned how an unknown author whowrote a book for a hidden population of closeted, middle aged gay mencould be successful.

People continue todiscover it through word of mouth, but it was a slow process. Ivewritten NO MORE NECKTIES for a broader audience, and I nowhave a larger platform, but getting this book into the hands of theright audience still presents challenges.

Norm: What inspiresyou?

Dr. Olson: What inspiresme is the opportunity to offer others hope when they feel there isntany. I write about the hard stuff in our lives because gettingthrough the pain builds confidence that one can do it again whenneeded. And being human means our lives are filled with hard stuff.

Norm: What has been thebest part about being published?

Dr. Olson: The best parthas been hearing the stories from people all over the world who havebeen deeply touched by something Ive written. These connectionsproduce the greatest rewards for a writer. These people have enrichedmy life in ways I never could have imagined.

Norm: What motivatedyou to write No More Neckties and how did you decideyou were ready to write the book?

Dr. Olson: Early in theCOVID pandemic, my husband and I went into a self-imposed quarantinebecause we were fearful of dying alone in a hospital surrounded onlyby people in hazmat-like suits.

To deal with my anxiety, Ibegan to write essays about my life. I had written some of the mostpersonal stories several years ago, but I needed more time to healbefore I was ready to publish them.

One day I realized I hadwritten enough for another book.

Norm: Why did youentitled your book No More Neckties?

Dr. Olson: The first working titlewas Fitting in Is Not Belonging, but it felt too limiting andtoo pop psychology.

When I turned sixty, timebegan to feel more urgent. I promised myself: No more cocktailparties to network with people I didnt like; no more boringlectures; and I would never wear a necktie again.

No More Necktiescaptured the one main message of the book: I will throw off othersexpectations of how I should live.

Norm: What is the mostimportant thing that people don't know about the subject of the book,that they need to know?

Dr. Olson: When we livefor others approval, we lose control over our lives. Approval islike an addiction. We take a hit and then go into withdrawal. Then weneed another hit. The number of likes we receive on socialmedia does not determine our worth as a human being.

Norm: What do you hopewill be the everlasting thoughts for readers who finish your book? Asa follow up, what were your goals and intentions in this book, andhow well do you feel you achieved them?

Dr. Olson: Whenever wemeet challenging decisions, we have only three choices: Fix it, putup with it, or get out. Thats it, three choices.

If things cant befixed, you either must put up with it or get out. Sometimes itsnecessary to upend our lives.

My goal was to tell peoplethat when we do that the losses are less and the rewards are greaterthan we imagine. I believe I succeeded by asking the reader to pauseand consider whether they are living the life they were always meantto live.

Norm: What was the mostdifficult part of writing this book and what did you enjoy most aboutwriting this book?

Dr. Olson: Telling mystory inevitably touches on the stories of people I love who may notwant their stories told. I did not want to hurt them.

Writing about anexperience tapped into fragmented memories of people and places thatId long forgotten. Looking through those memories like an oldfamily album was sometimes painful, but always delightful.

Norm: Did you learnanything from writing your book and what was it?

Dr. Olson: Ireceived this comment from one of my early reviewers: Grab a cupof coffee and a slice of banana bread for what feels more like aconversation with an old friend than a book.

When I write, I picturemyself as if I am speaking with an imaginary friend. I learned thatwriting in this conversational style makes my writing accessible andallows the reader to know me as I am.

Norm: What challengesor obstacles did you encounter while writing your book? How did youovercome these challenges?

Dr. Olson: Over-thinkingwhat the finished product will look like blocks us from beginning towrite.

I write the first draftquickly--without editing or censoringto capture the emotionsbefore I try to understand them.

Then I begin the detailedand time-consuming process of analyzing and editing which uses a verydifferent part of the brain. But I get impatient to finish it.

Norm: Where can ourreaders find out more about you and No More Neckties?

Dr. Olson: This questionmakes me smile. After I published Finally Out, one of mypatients said, Dr. Olson, I read your book. You told us a lot morethan you needed to. Now, with No More Neckties, yourreaders will know even more about me.

For those who still wantmore, they can go to my WEBSITE, where they willfind an excerpt of the book, my Ask the Doc blog, mynewsletter, and links to my social media accounts. I also respond toall personal contacts.

Norm: Are you workingon any books/projects that you would like to share with us? (We wouldlove to hear all about them!)

Dr. Olson: I havepracticed psychiatry for almost fifty years, and I have written anearly first draft of a memoir about those experiences. Ive put iton hold as I prepare to launch No More Neckties. I hope Idont have to wait for another pandemic to finish it.

Norm: As this interviewcomes to an end, if you could invite three authors (dead or alive) toyour dinner table, who would they be and what would you ask them?

Dr. Olson: If I had threeauthors I admire coming to dinner, I would probably be too awe-struckto speak. David Sedaris would be on the list because I love to laugh.James Baldwin would be there to challenge us to dig deeper into oursouls. Finally, Garth Greenwell, to lacerate and liberate anydiscussion of our sexual selves.

Norm: Thank you so muchfor taking the time to answer my questions. It's been an absolutepleasure to meet with you and read your work. Good luck with NoMore Neckties.

Dr.Olson: Thank you for giving me this opportunity.

Follow Here To Read Norm's Review of No More Neckties






Commentary From Crisis Management Expert Edward Segal, Author of the Award- Winning Book "Crisis Ahead: 101 Ways to Prepare for and Bounce Back from Disasters, Scandals, and Other Emergencies " (Nicholas Brealey)

In responding to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, President Joe Biden last week provided a textbook example on how to tell your side of the story about an unfolding corporate emergency, disaster or scandal.

In the excerpts below from the transcript provided by the White House, I've inserted subheads to single out the strategies, tactics and techniques Biden used in his televised speech to the nation to help tell the U.S.'s side of the crisis and how he was responding to the situation.

Summarize What Happened

Yesterday, Vladimir Putin recognized two regions of Ukraine as independent states and he bizarrely asserted that these regions are no longer part of Ukraine and their sovereign territory. To put it simply, Russia just announced that it is carving out a big chunk of Ukraine.

Last night, Putin authorized Russian forces to deploy into the region  these regions. Today, he asserted that these regions are  actually extend deeper than the two areas he recognized, claiming large areas currently under the jurisdiction of the Ukraine government.

He's setting up a rationale to take more territory by force, in my view. And if we listen to his speech last night  and many of you did, I know  he's  he's setting up a rationale to go much further.

This is the beginning of a Russian invasion of Ukraine, as he indicated and asked permission to be able to do from his Duma.

Yesterday, the world heard clearly the full extent of Vladimir Putin's twisted rewrite of history, going back more than a century, as he waxed eloquently, noting that  well, I'm not going to go into it, but nothing in Putin's lengthy remarks indicated any interest in pursuing real dialogue on European security in the year 2022.

He directly attacked Ukraine's right to exist. He indirectly threatened territory formerly held by Russia, including nations that today are thriving democracies and members of NATO. He explicitly threatened war unless his extreme demands were met.

And there is no question that Russia is the aggressor. So we're clear-eyed about the challenges we're facing.

Tell People What You Think

Who in the Lord's name does Putin think gives him the right to declare new so-called countries on territory that belonged to his neighbors? This is a flagrant violation of international law, and it demands a firm response from the international community.

Explain Your Response

So, let's begin to  so, I'm going to begin to impose sanctions in response, far beyond the steps we and our Allies and partners implemented in 2014. And if Russia goes further with this invasion, we stand prepared to go further as  with sanction.

Announce Next Steps

So, today, I'm announcing the first tranche of sanctions to impose costs on Russia in response to their actions yesterday. These have been closely coordinated with our Allies and partners, and we'll continue to escalate sanctions if Russia escalates.

We're implementing full blocking sanctions on two large Russian financial institutions: V.E.B. and their military bank.

We're implementing comprehensive sanctions on Russian sovereign debt. That means we've cut off Russia's government from Western financing. It can no longer raise money from the West and cannot trade in its new debt on our markets or European markets either.

Starting tomorrow [today] and continuing in the days ahead, we will also impose sanctions on Russia's elites and their family members. They share in the corrupt gains of the Kremlin policies and should share in the pain as well.

And because of Russia's actions, we've worked with Germany to ensure Nord Stream 2 will not  as I promised  will not move forward.

Discuss What You Are Prepared To Do

As Russia contemplates its next move, we have our next move prepared as well. Russia will pay an even steeper price if it continues its aggression, including additional sanctions.

The United States will continue to provide defensive assistance to Ukraine in the meantime. And we'll continue to reinforce and reassure our NATO Allies.

Nonetheless, there is still time to avert the worst-case scenario that will bring untold suffering to millions of people if they move as suggested.

The United States and our Allies and partners remain open to diplomacy if it is serious. When all is said and done, we're going to judge Russia by its actions, not its words.

And whatever Russia does next, we're ready to respond with unity, clarity, and conviction.

Recap The Danger

We still believe that Russia is poised to go much further in launching a massive military attack against Ukraine. I hope I'm wrong about that hope we're wrong about that. But Russia has only escalated its threat against the rest of Ukrainian territory, including major cities and including the capital city of Kyiv.

There arethere are still well over 150,000 Russian troops surrounding Ukraine. And as I said, Russian forces remain positioned in Belarus to attack Ukraine from the north, including war planes and offensive missile systems.

Russia has moved troops closer to Ukraine's border with Russia. Russia's naval vessels are maneuvering in the Black Sea to Ukraine's south, including amphibious assault ships, missile cruisers, and submarines.

Russia has moved supplies of blood and medical equipment into position on their border. You don't need blood unless you plan on starting a war.

And over the last few days, we've seen much of the playbook that Secretary Blinken laid out last week at the United Nations Security Council come to pass: a major increase in military provocations and false-flag events along the line of contact in the Donbas; dramatically staged, conveniently on-camera meeting of Putin's Security Council to grandstand for the Russian public; and now political provocation of recognizing sovereign Ukrainian territory as so-called independent republics in clear violation, again, of international law.

Share Your Priorities

As we respond, my administration is using every tool at our disposal to protect American businesses and consumers from rising prices at the pump. As I said last week, defending freedom will have costs for us as well, here at home. We need to be honest about that.

But as we will do but as we do this, I'm going to take robust action and make sure the pain of our sanctions is targeted at the Russian economy, not ours.

We are closely monitoring energy supplies for any disruption. We're executing a plan in coordination with major oil-producing consumers and producers toward a collective investment to secure stability and global energy supplies.

This will bethis will blunt gas prices. I want to limit the pain the American people are feeling at the gas pump. This is critical to me.

We have no intention of fighting Russia. We want to send an unmistakable message, though, that the United States, together with our Allies, will defend every inch of NATO territory and abide by the commitments we made to NATO.

###
Democratic gubernatorial candidate Beto ORourke is making Texans a promise: If they elect him as governor, hell legalize marijuana.

Shortly after his resounding victory in Tuesday nights primary, ORourke asked a crowd of supporters in Fort Worth: Don't you think it's time we legalize marijuana in the state of Texas? I do too. We can get that done.

He reiterated his position again on Twitter in the days following.

The issue could come up often on the campaign trail later this year, as ORourke prepares for a face-off against Gov. Greg Abbott in November. Abbott, a Republican, has only gone as far as to suggest the drug should be decriminalized.

Marijuana is fully legal in 18 states and the District of Columbia. Texas has so far rejected recreational access to the drug, though the state Legislature recently approved a minor extension of its medicinal use.

Abbott has been lukewarm on the subject, suggesting for years that marijuana possession should not lead to jail time. Possession of up to two ounces of cannabis in Texas is a Class B misdemeanor punishable by up to 180 days in jail and a $2,000 fine.

IN-DEPTH: Gov. Abbott signs Texas medical marijuana expansion into law

One thing that I believe in  and I believe the state Legislature believes in  and that is prison and jail is a place for dangerous criminals who may harm others, and small possession of marijuana is not the type of violation that we want to stockpile jails with, Abbott said in January.

Still, the Legislature has made no moves to decriminalize the drug over the course of Abbotts two terms in office. Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, a conservative Republican, has been the main source of resistance  and the state Senate, the chamber he leads, has killed or watered down several proposals that would relax marijuana laws.

In 2019, a Patrick spokesman told the Texas Tribune that he was strongly opposed to weakening any laws against marijuana (and) remains wary of the various medicinal use proposals that could become a vehicle for expanding access to this drug.

The November general election is widely expected to benefit Republicans, and Abbott is the favorite in the gubernatorial contest. But if ORourke pulled off an upset, hed still have to work with the conservative state Legislature  including Patrick, potentially  on any proposals.

A June 2021 poll by the University of Texas at Austin found that 60 percent of Texans believe possession of small or large amounts of marijuana for any purpose should be legal.

Another 27 percent said the drug should only be allowed for medical purposes, and 13 percent said it should be outlawed entirely.

cayla.harris@express-news.net
Before the pandemic, this was the time youd be seeing photographs of people in colorful striped skirts or knee pants gathered in front of San Fernando Cathedral. For health and safety reasons, the Canary Islanders Descendants Association will forgo the Annual Arrival Mass again this year, but their ancestors contributions are built into the church and the city that grew up around it.

The original 15 families, plus a few unmarried men who formed another group, were the first permanent European settlers here. They had made an incredible journey to get to the barely there community of San Antonio de Bejar.

Recruited for a chance at land and a better life, the 56 Islenos, as they would be called in New Spain, made the decision to leave behind the drought, famine and volcanic eruption that had plagued their home on the rocky archipelago southwest of Spain.

They left Tenerife on March 27, 1730, for a voyage with stops in Cuba and Veracruz, Mexico, then an arduous overland journey to their final destination. Some died along the way; others took a leap of faith and got married, forming new households for the new land.

They arrived March 9, 1731, nearly a year after they had started, and presented themselves at the presidio, where the young, single men would strengthen the Spanish forces against incursions by the French and hostile tribes. They joined a shifting population of Spanish soldiers and their families at the presidio or fort, missionaries, Native Americans and frontier adventurers.

The islanders would be given some big assignments  to form the first civilian government, plan a town, the Villa de San Fernando, and plant crops with an eye to becoming a self-sustaining community. In exchange, they were given seeds, oxen, a small basic income for the first year and most importantly, the promised land, along with a minor noble title, hidalgo, proclaiming their status as landowners.

On ExpressNews.com: Canary Islanders brought civil government to Texas

The immigrants got their jobs done, planning a Spanish-style town of 12 streets around the open square that would become Main Plaza. With land grants in hand, they built houses  progressing from jacals, or thatched huts, to substantial stone houses  and establishing farms along the river.

William Luther /Staff file photo

For civic leaders, they chose male heads of household who had taken on those roles on the long trip from the Old World to the new. The first mayor was Juan Leal Goras (also spelled Goraz), and Juan Curbelo (whose homestead was covered here March 28, 2010, and April 4, 2010) was his second-in-command. With the help of several other men from their group, these officials acted as city planners, law enforcement and arbiters of dispute among the settlers.

Although a site was set aside on the west side of the plaza for a church, building one wasnt in their original remit, and it took them longer to get there.

On ExpressNews.com: Curbelo House likely on Dwyer

Islander families, all Catholics as far as is known, first attended Mass in the chapel at the presidio, an uninspiring room without a tabernacle (for safe storage of Communion elements) and (baptismal) font and (where) for an altar, clods of earth were used, says Frederick Chabot in San Antonio and Its Beginnings, 1691-1731.

The settlers moved on to use the church at Mission San Antonio de Valero (now the Alamo), established in 1718 and intended for the conversion of Native Americans. The islanders were assigned a parish priest by the Diocese of Guadalajara, but without a parish church, Father Jose de la Garza had to grant permission to a mission friar to perform the communitys first baptism Aug. 31, 1731.

The locals and the Spanish government were in a standoff, each hoping the other would come up with the funds for a church for the village of San Fernando.

On ExpressNews.com: Curbelo house demolished in 1922

The Governor General of Texas issued a proclamation Feb. 17, 1738, citing the crumminess (no ornaments requisite for decorum in the administration of the sacraments) of the military chapel, resolved that a parish church should be erected, dedicated to the Virgin of Candelaria and Guadalupe, patroness of the Canary Islands.

The governor got the ball rolling with the largest cash donation on the list, which would include gifts in kind, such as yearling bulls, cartloads of stones and quantities of corn. Even with help from the presidio, it wasnt enough to buy all the materials, and a sizable contribution finally was made from the royal treasury.

The cornerstone was laid May 11, and it would take another 11 years, more government funding and an exasperated work order to everyone in the village to help finish the church  all stone, with a dome  before it was completed. By far the grandest building in the area, the church was named San Fernando after the Spanish King Ferdinand III and was blessed Nov. 6, 1749.

San Fernando was at first the only church  and for decades the only Catholic church  in what became San Antonio. Its still the oldest standing church in Texas and has seen a lot of history.

On ExpressNews.com: San Fernando Cathedral is one of oldest in U.S.

Mexican Gen. Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna used it as a lookout during the 1835 Siege of Bexar, the first major battle of the Texas Revolution, and flew a red flag that meant no mercy to the Texians. Well-known couples got married there, including Alamo defender James Bowie and Ursula Veramendi as well as Judge Roy Bean and Virginia Chaves. The church founded a cemetery, San Fernando No. 1, in 1840, where two signers of the Texas Declaration of Independence  Jose Antonio Navarro and Jose Francisco Ruiz  were buried. San Fernando installed the first pipe organ in the city in 1884, and was visited in 1987 by Pope John Paul II.

The church became a cathedral in 1874 when the Diocese of San Antonio was formed. It has been renovated several times, most notably in 1868 by architect/Mayor Francois Giraud, whose design enlarged it and made its facade the Gothic Revival landmark it is today, with the walls of the sanctuary denoting the original worship space. An award-winning 2003 renovation helped stabilize the building and added a community center to extend the cathedrals services to parishioners and visitors.

Staff file photo

Distances in or around San Antonio are traditionally counted from the dome of San Fernando. The Zero Milestone Marker, a 5-ton boulder marking the approximate midpoint of the Old Spanish Trail on the grounds of City Hall, still pays tribute to San Antonios Spanish Colonial origins and to its historic center. Texas Gov. Pat Neff, who presided over the March 24, 1924, dedication of the 5-ton granite measuring marker, describes it as within the shadow of the age-old San Fernando Cathedral, whose uplifted iron cross has always been used as the beginning point for land surveys and  represents the geographical center of the Alamo City.

The Canary Islanders, soon joined in San Antonio by other Spaniards, Anglo Americans, Mexicans, Germans and people from all the world, assimilated quickly. San Fernando doesnt keep records of descendants who are current parishioners, and many probably dont even know of their connection to this tough little group of city builders.

On ExpressNews.com: Founders Monument to honor San Antonios early settlers

One who does is Stewart Skloss of Fredericksburg, who calls himself fortunate to trace my family history back to the Goras and Curbelo families. Juan Curbelo and his wife, Gracia Umpierres, were his ninth great-grandparents. Working with a professional genealogist, he discovered he was also descended from John W. Smith, another Curbelo descendant who was mayor of San Antonio during the Republic of Texas and after statehood.

After Skloss and his wife, Kaitlyn Skloss, welcomed their second child, Mae, on Aug. 9, 2021, they made the decision to return to those deep roots for her baptism. (Elder daughter Ella was baptized in Houston.)

For the Rev. Carlos Velazquez, rector of the cathedral since last summer, performing the sacrament for a young descendant of a long-ago founder was a first. For baby Mae, it could be the start of a lifelong tie to the church at the heart of the city that grew up around it.

For those who would like to explore their heritage, the Canary Islands Descendants Association is a lineage society whose members trace their family history to the original Canary Islands families in San Antonio. For information about activities and membership, visit https://cida-sa.org.

historycolumn@yahoo.com | Twitter: @sahistorycolumn | Facebook: SanAntoniohistorycolumn
The family of a man fatally shot by a Bexar County sheriff's deputy in Elmendorf two years ago is suing the county and the officer, alleging excessive force and other civil rights violations.

The federal lawsuit filed Thursday says police were called to an Elmendorf trailer home for a domestic dispute involving Jesus Benito Garcia and his wife on March 9, 2020. Garcia was pleading with his wife not to leave him, and held a screwdriver to his neck, the suit said.

The suit says Elmendorf police Sgt. David Reyes initially responded and was there for about four minutes trying to de-escalate the situation.

Bexar Deputy Brandin Moran arrived minutes later, and within 10 seconds shot Garcia, who was on his knees holding the screwdriver to his neck, according to the lawsuit.

On ExpressNews.com: South Texas judge dismisses $20M lawsuit against SpaceX after fatal crash near Boca Chica facility

Moran did not issue a warning he was going to fire, did not identify himself and did not confer with Reyes, the suit claims.

For about 17 minutes, Deputy Moran did nothing to help the man he just shot, says the lawsuit, filed by Texas Rio Grande Legal Aid. He ignored Bexar County Sheriffs Office policy requiring him to render aid and his own extensive first aid training while he paced around the inside of the Garcias trailer.

The sheriffs office was unavailable for comment Friday. The district attorneys office plans to present the matter in April to a grand jury, which will decide if charges against the deputy are warranted.

But if it doesnt return an indictment, our office will release a publicly available memo explaining the facts of the individual case and its analysis, the DAs office said.

Sheriff Javier Salazar said in March 2020 that the man had a screwdriver and approached the officer and deputy in a threatening manner.

But legal aid lawyer Matthew Garcia, no relation to the family, said Garcia only held the screwdriver to his own neck, and never threatened anybody or gestured towards anybody else.

On ExpressNews.com: San Antonio restaurant workers who alleged they were fired over COVID-19 fail to win big court verdict

Moran had been on patrol for about a year, but had been with BCSO for about five years. Morans status with the sheriffs office was unclear Friday.

The lawsuit names as plaintiffs Garcias three daughters and three sons, and his widow, Lisa Garcia.

The suit also claims the sheriffs office has a pattern of violations in light of controversial police shootings that included the deaths of Gilbert Flores on Aug. 28, 2015; and the Dec. 21, 2017 shooting deaths of Amanda Jones and Kameron Prescott. Prescott, 6, was an innocent bystander hit by deputies bullets when they fired repeatedly at Jones, who was trying to elude deputies by going into the boys home.

Flores family sued but the case was dismissed and their appeal was denied, records show. The county paid $4.5 million to Prescotts family and $500,000 to Jones relatives to settle civil claims.

Since the Garcia shooting, the sheriffs office has announced policy changes around use-of-deadly force, though the Garcia suit says the changes remain vague.

In January, Bexar County commissioners forced Salazar to change office policy to release body cam footage within 10 days in fatal officer-involved shootings, cases involving use of force that results in death or serious injury, and deaths of individuals while in the custody of law enforcement or jail personnel.

Matthew Garcia said the body cam footage has not been released, and urged the sheriffs office to make it public.

guillermo.contreras@express-news.net | Twitter: @gmaninfedland
Getty Images

A San Antonio man was arrested Tuesday after Google reported him to authorities more than a dozen times about files containing child pornography being uploaded to his account, court documents said.

Mel Alan Loeffler, 65, was charged with five counts of possession of child pornography. He is being held on $375,000 bail.
Hours after city of San Antonio and police union officials reached an agreement on a new labor contract, Deputy City Manager Maria Villagomez said the deal  which took a little over one year to negotiate  was one of the most expeditious in recent history.

Joined by union officials and key members of the citys negotiating team, Villagomez said she was very satisfied with the proposed contract.

I feel good, Villagomez, who lead the citys negotiating team, said Wednesday. I think we are delivering an agreement that is beneficial to our community and is also fair to our police officers.

The proposed 140-page agreement  which strengthens disciplinary measures for officers accused of misconduct and includes a significant wage increase  needs to be voted on by the unions members, with 51 percent required for approval. The City Council must also approve it.

Sgt. Christopher Lutton, head of the unions negotiating team, expects the unions roughly 2,300 members to vote on the contract in April. Villagomez hopes the City Council will vote by summer.

At that point, the contract would go into effect immediately and run through September 2026.

On ExpressNews.com: San Antonio officials, police union reach tentative deal for new contract

The deal marked a significant milestone for city and union officials. Last time, it took them more than two years of intermittent and often contentious negotiations to reach terms of a new collective bargaining agreement.

The process went faster because of a host of factors, including mounting community pressure for police reform, a change in union and city leadership, and the continued threat of rising health care premiums, people familiar with the negotiations said.

William Luther /San Antonio Express-News

The city and the unions current agreement expired at the end of September. An evergreen clause kept most terms of the contract in place for eight years  including a clause regarding health care that increased premiums for union members by 10 percent annually.

Its a conglomerate of things that made negotiations a little bit smoother, a little bit more amicable, said Demonte Alexander, a political and public affairs consultant. Its a different time. Its different leadership. Its the city and union learning from their mistakes. All of those things played a role.

On ExpressNews.com: A wake-up call for the union: Close race on Prop B signals need to address discipline in contract, experts say

The agreement comes less than a year after voters rejected a ballot measure that would have stripped the San Antonio Police Officers Association of its right to collectively bargain with the city.

While Proposition B failed by a razor-thin margin, political experts and community activists said the close vote served as a wake-up call for the union.

I do think that the union and city was feeling some pressure from the community, and maybe even from City Council, to reach certain terms, said Ananda Tomas, executive director of ACT 4 SA, a nonprofit group focused on police reform. The union was probably aware that it needed to make some concessions in order to show the community that it was acting in good faith.

Why things were different

City and police union officials credited the quick deal to the congenial tone of the negotiations.

A lot of credit goes to the association and the membership, Villagomez said. I think they showed up with the intent of negotiating in good faith.

Villagomez said the threat of no pay increases, while health care premiums continue to increase, likely pushed union leadership to quickly work out a deal. During the evergreen period, premiums for union members continue to increase 10 percent annually, but there are no cost of living adjustments.

With the new deal, union members will continue to have two options for health insurance: a consumer-driven plan that has high deductibles but no monthly premiums for officers, their spouses or their children; or a standard plan with lower deductibles that includes monthly premiums for dependents but not the officers themselves.

Alexander, the political consultant, said a few more factors likely influenced the negotiations.

Marvin Pfeiffer /San Antonio Express-News

One key difference in this round of negotiations was a change in leadership.

Last year, John Danny Diaz took over as president of the Police Officers Association. He replaced retired Detective Mike Helle, who served five terms as the union boss and often had a contentious relationship with city leaders.

City Manager Sheryl Sculley also retired, replaced by City Manager Erik Walsh.

Erik has a completely different style, Alexander said. Thats not to say that Sheryl had a bad leadership style. It was just different.

Since well before the last agreement expired, Sculley had been warning that the city could face financial hardships if it didnt rein in spending on health care for police officers and firefighters.

For decades, public safety personnel had been receiving health insurance for themselves, their spouses and their dependents essentially for free. Sculley pushed hard to implement monthly premiums, shifting some of the burden to the employees.

On ExpressNews.com: Police union funds ads attacking Sculley

But rank-and-file police officers didnt see it that way, describing it as an attack on their livelihoods. At one point, the union launched a series of personal attack ads on Sculley.

That campaign did get a little personal, Alexander said. That maybe stalled negotiations, and prevented them from moving along as fast as they could have.

Alexander said city and union officials also likely learned a lot during the last round of negotiations.

Over two years, the two sides traded countless proposals. They seemed near a deal in fall 2015 after reaching a consensus on salary and health care issues, but things fell apart after the city insisted on eliminating the contracts evergreen clause.

At one point, the city filed lawsuits against the police union, as well as the San Antonio Professional Firefighters Association, asking the court to declare the evergreen clause a violation of the Texas Constitution.

In 2016, after the 4th Court of Appeals ordered the city and the police union into nonbinding mediation, the two sides finally reached a deal. As a part of the agreement, the city dropped its lawsuit.

People are learning from their previous mishaps, Alexander said. I think the city learned that lawsuits are costly. The union learned that it needs to make some concessions.

New focus

This time around, the negotiations garnered a different focus  partly because of the murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis in 2020.

His death and the subsequent conviction of former officer Derek Chauvin cast an intense spotlight on police misconduct.

After Floyds death, some community activists  locally and nationally  turned their attention to what they described as the overwhelming influence of police unions and how to rein that in.

City and police union negotiators began meeting in February, and they met about three dozen times over the course of one year.

In the end, the two sides reached a deal on several elements of the disciplinary process.

Monte Bach / Express-News

Under the new contract, police officers must be informed 24 hours prior to being questioned by internal affairs  down from 48 hours in the previous contract. The internal affairs unit investigates allegations of misconduct against police officers.

Villagomez said that change allows us to schedule those interviews a lot quicker and be able to address that discipline in a more steady, fast manner.

During such an interview or interrogation, which is led by internal affairs staff, the officer involved is able to review statements, video recordings, audio recordings and photographs regarding the incident.

However, the officer wont be able to view statements or recordings from other officers being investigated  another key change from the last contract. Officers also arent able to take copies of evidence or home interrogatories  written questions that police officers used to be able to take home and return at a later date.

Monte Bach / Express-News

That gives those officers the ability to be on the same playing field, Villagomez said. Theres fairness in the process because they dont get to see what the other officers said. Theyre just basing it on their own understanding and their own knowing of the facts.

After an investigation is complete, it is forwarded to the police chiefs complaint and administrative review board, which consists of seven community members and seven police officers.

The board suggests discipline to the police chief, who makes the final determination. However, it does not have the authority to request additional evidence or make policy recommendations.

On ExpressNews.com: Arbitrators excuse allegations of racism in police

At that point, the chief imposes discipline. Under the proposed contract, the chief must punish officers within 180 days of learning about allegations of misconduct, rather than 180 days after the misconduct occurred.

Theres a two-year statute of limitation, meaning the chief cant impose discipline if the misconduct occurred after two years. However, that statute of limitations doesnt apply for allegations of criminal behavior.

Perhaps the biggest change to the disciplinary process involves arbitrators ability to overturn the chiefs disciplinary decisions.

By various estimates, about two-thirds of fired officers who appealed their terminations in the past decade have returned to the force  either reinstated by Police Chief William McManus to avoid a drawn-out appeals process or by independent arbitrators.

Monte Bach / Express-News

Under the deal reached Wednesday, if the city proves that the misconduct occurred and the officers conduct is in some way detrimental to effective law enforcement and the needs of the department or fails to meet community expectations, the arbitrator cannot reinstate the officer.

The deal also gives the city more power to appeal an arbitrators decision to District Court.

If the arbitrator does not stay within those parameters, then the ability for us and the opportunity for us to appeal that decision is much broader than before, Villagomez said.

Lutton, the lead negotiator for the union, said the changes to the disciplinary provisions helped solidify the process.

We believe the process has stayed true to give the employee a chance to give their side of the story and also try to rebut anything, Lutton said. I think it still gives the employee a recourse if they believe something has been done wrong.

Pay increases

Tomas of ACT 4 SA said the proposed contract is a good start.

We have a contract with more oversight and more accountability than ever before, said Tomas, who helped lead the effort to put Proposition B on the ballot last year. But it should be clear that more reform is still needed.

Tomas believes two key contract provisions still need to be changed: the evergreen clause and the scope of the chiefs complaint and administrative review board.

Its not really a civilian oversight system, Tomas said. We should have an independent office of civilian oversight thats not part of the contract. They should have the ability to make policy recommendations to the chief, the ability to run independent investigations if they need to. They should be able to subpoena officers, or have the ability to host community conversations.

On ExpressNews.com: Police oversight board in San Antonio lacks authority, investigative powers, researchers find

Under the proposed contract, police officers will receive wage increases of 3.5 percent in 2023 and 2024 and 4 percent in 2025 and 2026. Each officer will also receive a lump sum payment equal to 2 percent of their total compensation within 30 days of the City Council approving the agreement.

The increase makes San Antonio police officers the second-highest-paid in the state behind their counterparts in Austin, a city spokeswoman said.

Tomas said she worries the pay increases would prohibit the city from achieving its own goal of maintaining public safety spending at less than 66 percent of the general fund budget.

Marvin Pfeiffer /San Antonio Express-News

I am concerned about what this means  if cuts are going to be made to other parts of the budget to keep up, Tomas said. Its a double-edged sword because we need to make sure police officers are well-paid and taken care of, but also they are the second-highest-paid officers in the state, and there are other areas that are already underfunded.

Villagomez said the city will be able to afford the pay increases while still maintaining public safety spending.

On ExpressNews.com: San Antonio police officers, regardless of gender, may soon receive 4 weeks of parental leave

She noted that a roughly 15 percent increase in wages over four years is much lower than what the union proposed. At one point in the negotiations, the union called for a roughly 21 percent increase, Villagomez said.

She also pushed back against calls to shorten the evergreen clause and increase the scope of the chiefs review board.

From our perspective, the way that our current disciplinary process works, the jurisdiction of the arbitrator was most important to change, Villagomez said. Negotiation takes two, and you have to make adjustments.

Alexander, the political analyst, said he expects the City Council to approve the contract  though there likely will be some objections from the councils more progressive and conservative members.

I imagine some of your more progressive folks will say it doesnt go far enough, and then you may have some people on the far right side that say it goes too far, Alexander said.

But if Im an elected official, any step in the right direction is something I want to be part of, Alexander said. Im not saying this contract is perfect, because no contract is. But I think a majority of the council members and a majority of the community will see this as a step in the right direction.

Note: An earlier version of this story reported an incorrect date for the end of the new contract. This story has also been updated to reflect how health care premiums and cost of living adjustments are handled during the contract and evergreen period.

eeaton@express-news.net
21 Pro Video

Two pedestrians were killed in separate incidents overnight,within an hour of each other, according to police.



Officers were called to the 8200 block of Culebra Road around 12:53 a.m. Saturday morning. The victim was crossing Culebra Road at a non-designated crosswalk when he was struck by an unknown vehicle, police said.



The man was transported to University Hospital with life-threatening injuries. He later died.



Next of kin was notified. Police said the driver will be charged with failure to stop and render aid when found.

On ExpressNews.com: San Antonio man arrested after Google told authorities many times about child porn on his account



Officers received another call around 1:51 a.m. regarding a female who had been hit by a car in the 600 block of Roosevelt Avenue.



According to police, the officers who arrived on the scene were told an unknown dark colored sedan hit a female pedestrian as she walked across the street.



The woman suffered life-threatening injuries and was transported to the hospital, where she later died. Investigators went to the scene and attempted to locate the vehicle but were unsuccessful.



It remains an ongoing investigation.
President Cynthia Teniente-Matson of Texas A&M University-San Antonio has been emphatic lately in her support for the universitys Bilingual and English as a Second Language Education Program.

Though it has suffered enrollment loses, the program continues to prepare students for work in area school districts that desperately need them.

Were not eliminating, discontinuing or dismantling the program, she said. I want this program to be one of the best programs at the university because our community needs it. Our superintendents need it.

That a university president has had to repeat this  and meet with those who teach in the program to reassure them of her support reflects months of uncertainty about the programs fate.

It also reflects a wider battle in academia between advocates for bilingual education and those hostile to it. The struggle mirrors the attacks on other fields of study that focus on race and diversity.

For several months this year and last, faculty members sought to block a plan which, according to a report by a Faculty Senate committee, would move the Bilingual and ESL program from one department to another within the College of Education and Human Development and downgrade bilingual-ESL from a separate degree to a supplemental certificate.

On both accounts, the programs faculty  five women of color trained in the field  werent allowed a full part in the process, according to the report.

Instead, decisions were made by deans and faculty chairs, most of them white and none trained in bilingual, ESL or dual-language education.

In November, several bilingual-ESL faculty members took their concerns to the Faculty Senate, which voted 15 to 0, with four abstentions, to form an ad hoc committee to investigate.

The senate asked for and was granted a moratorium on changes to the program so the committee could gather evidence and write a report and recommendations.

The final report, delivered Dec. 9, found that two universal academic principles  shared governance and academic freedom  had been violated.

The report said faculty members were concerned that their disciplinary knowledge and expertise did not sufficiently factor into decisions made by their superiors.

The committee also found that serious issues both at and below the surface ... have been at play for years, including a toxic workplace climate and toxic behaviors.

Faculty members articulated feeling a loss of control over the educational content of their program and a diminishment in their roles, the report said.

It noted the senates own concerns about the future of a discipline largely led by women of color for students of color.

That faculty identity and curricular oversight are both being taken away from women of color is particularly concerning when one considers our institutional context and the communities to which we are accountable, the report said.

The senate recommended that a leadership position be created for a bilingual-ESL faculty member in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction, which could become the programs home.

The senate also urged the university to regularly rotate faculty chairs, as recommended by the American Association of University Professors. And it called on the university to recommit itself to principles of academic freedom and shared governance.

Outside the university, academics and activists whove championed bilingual, biliterate and bicultural education in San Antonio say the episode mirrors what has happened in other institutions, where bilingual programs have met a resistance that echoes the wider political divisions in the country.

Ellen Riojas Clark, a national expert in the field and professor emeritus at the University of Texas at San Antonio, said proposed cuts in bilingual programs have been driven by politics, not academic concerns or needs.

Bertha Perez, also a UTSA professor emeritus whose name is on an endowed professorship in biliteracy research, said the field had made steady advances until the last five years.

Theres been a chipping away, she said.

UTSA is widely seen as having the citys most robust bilingual education and ESL programs. A&M-San Antonio may come in second. In the fall of 2019, pre-pandemic, its enrollment of declared bilingual education students stood at 163. In the fall of 2020, the number fell to 141, and by fall 2021 it was down to 109.

Meanwhile, a recent study by the University of Houston pointed to critical teacher shortages in Texas, especially among bilingual teachers.

Teniente-Matson pledges that A&M-San Antonio will produce more bilingual educators because our community needs more.

But the chair of the bilingual and ESL program no longer will play a role in potential changes to the program, several sources said.

Nor, apparently, will Carl Sheperis, dean of the College of Education and Human Development. He is on administrative leave. Asked why, an official said the university doesnt comment on personnel issues.

Teniente-Matson said changes to the program could be in place by the fall semester. She reiterated what advocates for bilingual education outside the university say  that A&M-San Antonios role in educating bilingual teachers is vitally important.

San Antonios colleges and universities must not only fill the demand for bilingual, biliterate, bicultural teachers and other professionals. It must champion them.

eayala@express-news.net
As election results came in Tuesday night for the Texas primary, a realization struck me pretty quickly: I underestimated the Texas House campaign of former North Side Councilwoman Elisa Chan.

I did so for several reasons.

Chan hadnt run for office in eight years; and when she last did so, she was handily defeated by Donna Campbell in a GOP primary for Texas Senate.

That humbling defeat happened only a few months after Chan endured the public embarrassment of a leaked audio recording, first written about by Express-News reporter Brian Chasnoff, that captured Chan discussing LGBTQ issues with her staff.

The conversation was in anticipation of a 2013 council vote on a proposed nondiscrimination ordinance, and it revealed Chan to be thoroughly ignorant on matters of sexual orientation and gender identity.

When one of her aides suggested it was possible to identify gay men by looking at their faces, Chan said that hormone shots were the cause.

She said that when gay and lesbian couples adopted children, they created an environment that was suggestive for the kids to be corrupt.

Chan said straight people were born with their sexual orientation, but she couldnt accept the idea that anyone was born with a same-sex orientation.

Chans long exile from electoral politics  and the bad taste of her final days as an elected official  made me question how viable her candidacy would be in the race to fill the District 122 Texas House seat being vacated by Republican Lyle Larson.

I was also swayed by the emergence of Adam Blanchard, a trucking industry executive who had Larsons endorsement and the backing of key players in the business community.

Nonetheless, when the votes were counted, Chan scored a comfortable plurality in the Republican primary, with 37 percent of the vote. Shell compete in the May 24 runoff against former Bexar County Republican Party Chairman Mark Dorazio, who received 27.5 percent. (Blanchard finished third with 23.4 percent.)

Chans strong performance was a reminder of why voters had been drawn to her in the first place.

Because Chan became so identified with the anti-LGBTQ sentiments heard on the leaked conversation, and because San Antonio culture warriors rallied with great vehemence to her defense in 2013, it became difficult to remember the Chan who burst on the San Antonio political scene in 2009.

Chan didnt run on social issues and never emphasized them in her public messaging.

As both a candidate and a council member representing District 9, she spoke about economic development and relieving traffic congestion, boosting international commerce and keeping taxes low.

She entered the 2009 race with the support of Democratic County Judge Nelson Wolff (whose wife, Tracy, was Chans campaign treasurer) and entrepreneurial superstars such as auto dealer Red McCombs, retired AT&T CEO Ed Whitacre and NuStar Energy Chairman Bill Greehey.

Shes going to bring a voice that weve not had before, Wolff said at the time.

Chan was born in Taiwan, studied in mainland China and emigrated to Texas in 1988. She earned degrees in software engineering and computer science. With her husband, she founded a successful San Antonio engineering design firm called Unintech Consulting Engineers.

Before running for office, she served on the city Planning Commission and was president of the Alamo Asian Chamber of Commerce.

Her personal story was so compelling and unique that political observers quickly identified her as a potential future mayor, a bit of speculation she seemed to enjoy.

As a council member, Chan could come across as tone deaf. A prime example occurred in February 2010, during a discussion of a CPS Energy rate-structure proposal that would place a greater burden on the biggest energy users.

When Chan expressed hope that CPS would be sensitive to how the rates were structured, South Side Councilwoman Jennifer Ramos said residents living in large homes could afford a rate increase.

Those of us who choose this lifestyle work hard for it, Chan shot back.

Nonetheless, Chan was elected to three terms in convincing fashion, largely because she kept her focus on the basic concerns of her district. She might have inadvertently become the hero of culture warriors, but she didnt run for City Council to make social statements.

During her current run for Texas House, Chan has sounded very much like the pro-business fiscal conservative who campaigned across the North Side in 2009.

She hasnt made much of a fundraising push, choosing instead to sink $750,000 of her own money into the campaign. That might explain why the North Side has been a sea of Chan campaign signs in recent weeks.

A runoff victory over Dorazio is by no means assured. But Chan already has rehabilitated a political career that, as recently as six months ago, looked moribund.

ggarcia@express-news.net | Twitter: @gilgamesh470
I am a physician who has always had a keen interest in the field of genetics and congenital abnormalities. In medical school, I was awed and humbled by the magnificence that creation of a human being represented. From a single ovum and sperm, a human being with all the potential of the world would come to exist.

I was also awed and humbled by the sheer fortune that most of us as parents and individuals enjoy when all goes correctly with this magnificent development. I saw how devastating and painful it can be when this genetic dice roll that God gives each parent at the moment of conception does not follow the usual embryology.

I met Amber (not her real name) in my fifth year of practice. It was 1996. She was 18 and born with genetic mosaicism. She had two X chromosomes and one Y chromosome, and was born with ambiguous genitalia. This means her external and internal gender parts were not representative of either gender. At age 2, she underwent gender assignment surgery. As was the practice then, she was made a female because it was technically easier, in her specific case, surgically to create the female appearance of the external genitalia and internal organs.

But Amber had been disowned by her family. Since age 7, she had known that she was in the wrong body. She identified with all the activities and interests that boys her age did and did not have any interest in typical behaviors of girls her age. This only worsened with puberty. She came to me in tears, simply asking that I listen to her story  because no one would listen. She was told to visit a priest and ask for forgiveness. She was frequently beaten when she went out. There were no resources to help her.

Thus began my career-long study of gender dysphoria. I have studied and attended medical conferences. What I say is not politically motivated but motivated by the desire to communicate the deep pain that these human beings and their families suffer. Her story is not as rare as the opinion of Gov. Greg Abbott would indicate.

Each persons story is unique, nuanced and does not lend itself to a statewide policy that attempts to punish any parent, teacher or caregiver of any sort who may be active in the daily life of a human being with gender dysphoria.

You cannot wish this away. You cannot legislate against it. As we learn more from the human genome project, and as we discover the devastating impact that even a single molecule on a single strand of DNA being transposed can affect human development, I am absolutely certain that with time, the genetic sources of gender dysphoria will be elucidated. Indeed, there is active research in the field of neurobiology identifying the loci in our brains where gender identification lies.

I am not a lawyer, but it seems that an opinion from the attorney general is not the same as the law, as indicated by Abbott in his letter.

This move is politically motivated. The intense care and caution that all of us who deal with individuals and their families suffering from gender dysphoria issues strive to perform is not. It is difficult enough on all involved without the onus of government overreach.

When is enough, enough? When does government overreach so widely condemned by political parties become a liability in an election?

Governor, I have always admired your remarkable grace and courage that you never mention your injury or its impact on your life as a burden but as a challenge to be surmounted. By your leadership, you have created an immense advance in the cause of spinal cord injured patients. Please use this grace and leadership to reconsider your position and rescind this missive. Those human beings were given a set of genetic material that impacted the remainder of their lives, much as your accident impacted yours. God bless you for being a role model.

Dr. Timothy C. Hlavinka practices urology in San Antonio.
Las Vegas Sands is doubling down on its commitment to bringing casinos to Texas with a new political action committee that is starting out with over $2 million to spend.

In its first report with the Texas Ethics Commission, Texas Sands PAC showed initial funding of $2.3 million from Miriam Adelson, Las Vegas Sands majority shareholder. She is the widow of Sheldon Adelson, a GOP megadonor and former CEO of the Sands. It already has spent over half a million dollars, mostly to help incumbents who were facing primary competition.

The company made a high-profile push last year to legalize casino gambling in Texas, though its legislation to let voters decide on the issue did not get far at the Capitol, only receiving a committee hearing in the House. Still, the gaming empire has insisted it is not giving up and says the PAC is part of a long-term commitment to Texas.

We appreciate the willingness of these legislators to engage in an open dialogue about the tremendous economic benefits, including the tens of thousands of jobs, these destination resorts will create for Texas, Matt Hirsch, a spokesperson for Sands PAC, said in a statement. We will continue to actively engage local and state leaders over the course of this year and be prepared to come back next session ready to pass legislation that will ultimately allow voters to decide on this issue.

On ExpressNews.com: Las Vegas Sands went all in on legalizing casinos in Texas.

The initial recipients of the PACs largesse include over 30 incumbents from both parties in the House and Senate, as well as a handful of candidates for open seats, according to the report filed in the last week of February. The combined donations in each of the House races ranged from $3,000 to $25,000. The larger sum went to some incumbents who are a high priority for House Speaker Dade Phelan and his allies, like Republican Ryan Guillen, the party-switching representative from South Texas.

The PAC gave Senate candidates $4,000 or $30,000, with the larger amount going to candidates like Pete Flores, the former Republican senator from Pleasanton who is vying to return to the chamber. Flores primary was a top priority of Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, who has been the most resistant to the Las Vegas Sands effort in Texas among the states top three leaders.

The PAC also gave $75,000 to Gov. Greg Abbott.

Texas has some of the most restrictive gaming laws in the country, but last year, Las Vegas Sands made the most serious effort yet to open the door to casinos in the state. The centerpiece of its proposal was to ask voters if they wanted to build destination resorts with casino gambling in the states four biggest metropolitan areas.

But the legislation was hindered by several factors, including its late filing, Patricks perceived opposition and a slew of other major issues that were occupying lawmakers at the time.

The Texas Tribune is a nonprofit, nonpartisan media organization that informs Texans about public policy, politics, government and statewide issues.
Fairfield, MT (59436)

Today

Mainly cloudy. High 76F. Winds SSW at 15 to 25 mph..

Tonight

Cloudy and windy early, becoming partly cloudy late. Low 47F. Winds SW at 20 to 30 mph.
WASHINGTON  A federal court ruled recently that a uranium mine near the Grand Canyon can operate, even though it sits on 1 million acres that the federal government has declared off-limits to new mining.

A three-judge panel of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals rejected claims by tribal and environmental groups that the U.S. Forest Service erred when it reviewed the mine owners rights to operate the Pinyon Plain Mine, by improperly calculating its potential profitability.

The permit for the mine, formerly known as the Canyon Mine, was first issued in 1986, meaning it was grandfathered in when the mining moratorium near the canyon was imposed in 2012. But operations have been largely stalled for decades by a depressed uranium market.

We are of course pleased that the 9th Circuit ruled in favor of the Forest Service, so we can advance this clean energy resource under the watchful eye of our state and federal regulators, said Curtis Moore, vice president of marketing and corporate development at Energy Fuels Resources, which owns the mine.

An attorney for the Grand Canyon Trust, one of the groups suing to block mine, said plaintiffs were disappointed in the outcome and are evaluating our options. But other opponents were more vocal.

Todays ruling  only deepens our resolve to stop this mine and its deadly pollution threat to Grand Canyons precious springs and aquifers, said Taylor McKinnon, a senior campaigner with the Center for Biological Diversity.

This is the second time the circuit court has considered Grand Canyon Trust v. Provencio, and at least the third ruling it has issued on this particular mine, going all the way back to the 1980s when the project was first proposed.

The Forest Service first approved a plan of operations for what was then the Canyon Mine in 1986, sparking a legal challenge by the Havasupai Tribe. But courts upheld the approval for the mine, and its owner at the time, Energy Fuels Nuclear Inc., began to build surface structures and sink what was to be a 1,400-foot mine shaft.

By 1992, however, falling uranium prices drove the company to suspend operations with just 50 feet of mine shaft drilled.

A spike in uranium prices in 2007 renewed interest in mining and led to thousands of new mining claims near the Grand Canyon, according to Circuit Judge Jay S. Bybees ruling Tuesday. That led the Interior Department to propose  and eventually adopt, in 2012  a 20-year moratorium on mining on about 1 million acres.

Before that ban took effect, however, Energy Fuels told the Forest Service that it wanted to resume operations at the Pinyon Plain Mine. Bybee said the mining company did not need Forest Service approval to resume operations, but agreed to hold off while the service conducted a valid existing rights review.

The governments review determined that a valuable mineral deposit had existed before the moratorium was proposed and that, under market conditions at the time, the uranium deposit on the claims could be mined, removed, transported, milled and marketed at a profit.

Opponents sued, claiming that the financial analysis was faulty and that the mines approval violated environmental and historic preservation regulations. A district judge threw out the case, and the 9th Circuit upheld most of that dismissal but ordered the lower court to reconsider the Forest Services handling of the financial review.

The district court again ruled against the opponents, and the circuit court this time agreed, rejecting the claim that the Forest Service should have included sunk costs  unrecoverable expenses from the original development of the mine.

Bybee said that Interior Department policy for more than 40 years has been to exclude sunk costs, and that the Forest Service decision was not, therefore, arbitrary and capricious.

He cited several other courts which have ruled that counting sunk costs is a foolish notion that should not be entertained by anyone who has had even a single undergraduate economics course.

Moore welcomed the ruling, saying carbon-free energy sources like nuclear are seeing a massive resurgence globally due to climate change concerns, and the U.S. needs to expand its production of uranium at home to keep up.

Developing our domestic sources of uranium is becoming increasingly important due to Americas current overreliance on Russia and its allies for our uranium and nuclear fuel, Moore said.

But McKinnon questioned the need for mining near the iconic Grand Canyon, which she said will only worsen environmental problems in the watershed.

Aquifer pollution would be impossible to clean up, McKinnon said. Its not a risk worth taking, and no amount of uranium industry drivel will change that fact.

For more stories from Cronkite News, visit cronkitenews.azpbs.org.
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Bhumi Pednekar. Shes the archetypal new-age Hindi film heroine. Someone who isnt satisfied by being just arm candy to her leading man. She wants an equal length in roles, equal pay, equal billing...the works. And she also wants to be taken seriously as an actor. Hence, she searches for roles with meaning. Roles that find an echo in real life. Roles which the common Indian women can relate with. Roles that have the power to bring about a change. And she isnt satisfied playing a warrior in films. She wants to be one in real life as well. Bhumi started a campaign championing climate change. She also used her immense clout to fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. She didnt just utilise her efforts on social media but went to ground zero as well, helping people procure medicines, hospital beds, oxygen cylinders. The army of volunteers she amassed is working tirelessly still. And shes connected to the cause with double the enthusiasm. Its something that has become part of her life and something shed invest in till her last breath. Excerpts from an explosive interview with the gutsy actor, who says social work has changed her life around...

You launched COVID WARRIOR, a social media initiative to fight the pandemic. It was not a superficial show, you were actually online 24/7... getting oxygen cylinders, ventilators, mobilising people etc...



You know all this work that I do off-camera is something that is a part of me. It comes naturally to me. It does not require me to think out of the ordinary. From a young age, Ive seen my parents show compassion for other people. All the work I did for Covid Warrior was something that just happened.

Does being a celebrity help in these initiatives?

What has this unprecedented journey been like?

I started this journey alone and ended up with 300 volunteers. A family of faceless strangers who were only there to help people. These groups are still active and trying to help as many people as possible. It was one of the greatest learnings of my life. An experience that gave me so much more perspective on how I wanted my life to go from here. And how I wanted to serve and give back with everything that God had given me. I feel very fortunate that I could be a part of this experience. Unfortunately, it happened at a very high cost. There was a lot of death, there was a lot of tragedy but there were many more moments of

joy as well.

Can you relate some instances of joy and others which were very tragic?



There were times when we got calls that four members of a family had tested positive for COVID-19, or got an SOS for oxygen as hospitals were running out of it. There were times when we lost a patient on the way to the hospital and at times it took me seven to eight days to arrange a BiPAP machine or a ventilator bed for patients. There were many heartbreaking moments, but thanks to Twitter I could create enough noise about it. Weirdly with time I kept getting conditioned to it and I kept hardening up but there were one or two instances where I really broke down. There were certain patients to whom I really got attached. The family looks at you with a lot of hope. But we only had limited power and we all were trying to do whatever we could to help those people. There were happier times too. Like when I would just give up hope and somebody from somewhere would answer my message at the last moment. It could be a doctor or a ward boy from a hospital, a minister or an IAS officer. There was a case I had in Bulandshahr where it took me two days to arrange oxygen for a pregnant woman. Then we managed to arrange an ambulance and a bed for her in Delhi which is good four-five hours away. You know anything could change any minute. But after three long days, she reached the hospital, gave birth and the baby girl was named after me. There cannot be a bigger honour than this. It literally felt like a thriller film. This birthday I got the maximum love ever. I got boxes of mangoes, mithai, and handmade cards. My volunteers made videos for me. These are not your fans, these are people who have helped me.

I am speaking about this experience after many months. I was overwhelmed.

You have also been a vocal advocate for womens safety, womens empowerment. Could you say its been your roles in Sonchiriya, Dum Laga Ke Haisha which have formed a symbiotic relationship?



Hundred per cent! I also consciously pick up roles that empower my gender and the vulnerable. Because of my work, I stepped out of my bubble of a protected life as a Mumbai girl. And because of these films and roles, I got the opportunity to learn and understand so much about discrimination, the caste system etc. Its definitely a healthy relationship because through my work I can understand these problems and can make a difference.

Have you faced discrimination at work?



Not in a very underlined way but I would be lying if I said I havent faced gender discrimination.

Could you please specify.

The biggest is the huge pay gap. You know I was paid five per cent of what my male co-star was paid even though our achievements were pretty much the same. That pinches. But you do certain things, you take certain calls because you know at some point you are going to create an environment, where this gap keeps reducing for yourself, for the other girls that come in and my colleagues. The discrimination could be in the smallest of things as well. It could mean that your male co-star gets a bigger car or the hotel rooms are different. Like the gentleman who is driving my car in an outdoor location will not take me seriously but if my male co-star is with me then instructions will be followed to the T. So women are not taken seriously but I dont care. I just make sure people hear me because thats the only way. Having said that, most of the sets I have worked in treat both male and female actors equally.

How have your roles contributed to your being more socially aware? Especially Sonchiriya where women were treated like cattle. That was very moving.



Sonchiriya was a lot more than just a learning. It introduced me to a different world where a large part of our younger population doesnt even get their basic rights. I think it tapped more into the maternal side of me than the feminist side. I visited the ashram where the little girl was being cast from. The first time I went into that ashram and saw these little kids, it gave me shivers. The people in the ashram tried to give them whatever they could but unfortunately, they didnt have enough donors, etc. We tried to change that around and today we are trying to give them a state of the art education system. This is the kind of change it brought into my life. Sonchiriya was set in the 70s but every issue you see in the film still exists be it child marriage, rape, violence, abuse, everything. Luckily, the film made a strong impact on certain classes.

There was also Saand Ki Aankhand Dum Laga Ke Haisha.

Saand Ki Aankh speaks about different biases. You realise you are privileged and you realise you need to do something about making an equal environment in the world. Dum Laga Ke Haisha was about body shaming and the discomfort that women feel about themselves because they are not a certain way. After the film was released, I got so many letters from women. And I still do, where they say I made them feel that they belonged, they are important and beautiful and deserved love.

Yes. Thats the time you realise your own privilege and power. As an actor, there is so much more you can do, while helping people. During the first wave, you knew it was a different kind of crisis. There were actors who were helping financially while others were doing online activities to raise money. We all know what happened during the second wave -- our entire health structure was completely damaged. You know my mum was in the hospital and I was personally recovering from COVID-19. Thats when I realised how tough it must be for a person who did not have the power that I have.
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - March 4, 2022) - Potent Ventures Inc. (CSE: POT) (FSE: 0OS2) (OTCQB: POTVF) ("Potent" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has completed a first closing of a non-brokered private placement of up to $2,000,000 (the "Offering"). The Company accepted subscriptions for 13,000,000 units at a price of CDN $0.025 per Unit, raising gross proceeds of CDN$325,000. Each unit consists of one common share and one share purchase warrant entitling the holder to purchase an additional common share for CDN$0.05 for a period of 2 years from the issue date. All of the securities issuable in connection with the offering will be subject to a hold period expiring four months and one day after date of issuance.

Insiders participation in the offering was for an aggregate amount of CDN $35,000 comprising 1,400,000 Units representing 11% of the offering. Such participation is considered a related party transaction within the meaning of Multilateral Instrument 61-101 - Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions ("MI 61-101"). The related party transaction is exempt from minority approval and valuation requirements pursuant to the exemptions contained in Sections 5.5(a) and 5.7(1)(a) of MI 61-101, as neither the fair market value of the securities to be issued under the Offering nor the consideration to be paid by the insiders exceeds 25% of the Company's market capitalization.

In connection with the closing of the private placement, the Company paid finder's fees of $11,800 in cash and issued 472,000 finder's warrants. The finder's warrants hold the same terms of the warrants issued as part of the Units. A second tranche closing is expected to take place on or before March 25, 2022. The proceeds will be used for general working capital purposes.

For further information, please contact:

Charlie Lamb, President & CEO, Director

Telephone: 1(236) 317-2812 - Toll free 1(888) 556-9656

E-mail: investors@potent-ventures.com

www.shopgummies.com

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain information set forth in this news release may contain forward-looking statements that involve substantial known and unknown risks and uncertainties. All statements other than statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements, including, without limitation, statements regarding future financial position, business strategy, use of proceeds, corporate vision, proposed acquisitions, partnerships, joint-ventures and strategic alliances and co-operations, budgets, cost and plans and objectives of or involving the Company. Such forward-looking information reflects management's current beliefs and is based on information currently available to management. Often, but not always, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "predicts", "intends", "targets", "aims", "anticipates" or "believes" or variations (including negative variations) of such words and phrases or may be identified by statements to the effect that certain actions "may", "could", "should", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved. A number of known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors may cause the actual results or performance to materially differ from any future results or performance expressed or implied by the forward-looking information. These forward-looking statements are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, certain of which are beyond the control of the Company including, but not limited to, the impact of general economic conditions, industry conditions and dependence upon regulatory approvals. Readers are cautioned that the assumptions used in the preparation of such information, although considered reasonable at the time of preparation, may prove to be imprecise and, as such, undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking statements. The Company does not assume any obligation to update or revise its forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise, except as required by securities laws.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/115702
The Cash Consideration (as defined below) of CAD $4.00 per Macro Common Share (as defined below) represents a significant premium of approximately 46% to the 20-day volume weighted average price of the Macro Common Shares on the TSXV (as defined below) as of February 11, 2022

Macro Shareholders (as defined below) and Macro Optionholders (as defined below) are encouraged to vote well in advance of the proxy deadline of March 31, 2022 at 10:00 a.m. (Vancouver time)

Macro Shareholders and Macro Optionholders who have questions or need assistance in voting should contact Laurel Hill Advisory Group by telephone at 1-877-452-7184 (North American Toll Free) or 1-416- 304-0211 (Outside North America), or by email at assistance@laurelhill.com

Fort St. John, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - March 4, 2022) - MACRO ENTERPRISES INC. (TSXV: MCR) (the "Company" or "Macro") is pleased to announce the mailing of its management information circular (the "Circular") for the special meeting (the "Meeting") of Macro Shareholders and Macro Optionholders (collectively, "Macro Securityholders") to consider the previously announced plan of arrangement (the "Plan of Arrangement") under Division 5 Part 9 of the Business Corporations Act (British Columbia) (the "Arrangement") with 1325996 B.C. Ltd. ("AcquireCo"), an entity to be controlled by Frank Miles ("Miles"), and jointly owned by Miles, Jeff Redmond, and Kenneth Mastre, (the "Participating Shareholders"), pursuant to which AcquireCo will acquire all of the outstanding shares in the capital of the Company.

In connection with the Arrangement, holders ("Macro Common Shareholders") of common shares in the capital of Macro (the "Macro Common Shares"), other than the Participating Shareholders with respect to certain Macro Common Shares, will receive C$4.00 (less applicable withholdings) per Macro Common Share (the "Cash Consideration") for each Macro Common Share held, including those Macro Common Shares held by holders (the "Macro Preferred Shareholders" and together with the Macro Common Shareholders, the "Macro Shareholders") of Class A convertible preference shares in the capital of Macro (the "Macro Preferred Shares" and together with the Macro Common Shares, the "Macro Shares"), other than Miles, following conversion of the Macro Preferred Shares into Macro Common Shares in accordance with the Plan of Arrangement.. The Cash Consideration represents a premium of approximately 46% to the 20-day volume weighted average price of the Macro Common Shares on the TSX Venture Exchange (the "TSXV") as at February 11, 2022 (the last day the Macro Common Shares traded prior to the announcement of the Arrangement).

In connection with the Arrangement, the board of directors of Macro (the "Macro Board") formed a special committee of independent directors of Macro (the "Special Committee") to, among other things, evaluate and consider whether the Arrangement is in the best interests of Macro, including to consider the effects of the Arrangement on Macro Securityholders and other stakeholders of Macro, and to negotiate the terms and conditions of the Arrangement.

The Special Committee has unanimously recommended, and the Macro Board unanimously determined, upon the recommendation of the Special Committee and with the abstention of Miles, that the Arrangement is fair to Macro Securityholders (excluding the Participating Shareholders) and is in the best interests of Macro. The Macro Board, subject to abstention by Miles, unanimously recommends that Macro Securityholders (other than the Participating Shareholders) vote in favour of the Arrangement Resolution (as defined below).

REASONS TO SUPPORT THE ARRANGEMENT

Significant Premium to Market Value: The Cash Consideration represents a premium of approximately 46% to the 20-day volume weighted average price of the Macro Common Shares on the TSXV as of February 11, 2022, being the last trading day prior to the announcement of the Arrangement.

Certainty of Value and Immediate Liquidity: The Cash Consideration to be received by Macro Shareholders (excluding the Participating Shareholders but including Miles in respect of the Miles Common Shares (as defined in the Circular)), and the Option Consideration (as defined in the Circular) to be received by the holders ("Macro Optionholders") of stock options of Macro ("Macro Options") (excluding the Participating Incentiveholders (as defined in the Circular)), are payable entirely in cash and provide such Macro Shareholders and Macro Optionholders, as the case may be, with certainty of value and immediate liquidity and remove the investment risk associated with owning shares of a corporation that operates in a volatile and cyclical business and economic environment, as well as other risks that are beyond the control of the Company and its management.

Recommendation of the Independent Special Committee: The Arrangement was recommended by the Special Committee, a committee of the Macro Board composed of two directors who are considered to be independent in respect of the Arrangement, being Robert (Bob) L. Fedderly (Chair) and William McFetridge.

To assist in making its recommendation, the Special Committee engaged CIBC World Markets Inc. ("CIBC") and Deloitte LLP ("Deloitte"), as financial advisor and independent financial advisor and valuator, respectively, in connection with the Arrangement.

CIBC provided the Special Committee with: (a) a fairness opinion to the effect that, as of the date of such opinion and based upon and subject to the assumptions, limitations and qualifications set forth therein, the Cash Consideration to be received by the Macro Common Shareholders under the Arrangement is fair, from a financial point of view, to the Macro Common Shareholders (excluding the Participating Shareholders) (the "CIBC Common Share Fairness Opinion"); and (b) a fairness opinion to the effect that, as of the date of such opinion and based upon and subject to the assumptions, limitations and qualifications set forth therein, the Cash Consideration to be received by Macro Preferred Shareholders per Macro Common Share issued upon conversion of the Macro Preferred Shares into Macro Common Shares under the Arrangement is fair, from a financial point of view, to the Macro Preferred Shareholders (excluding the Participating Shareholders) (the "CIBC Preferred Share Fairness Opinion", and together with the CIBC Common Share Fairness Opinion, the "CIBC Fairness Opinions").

The Special Committee also engaged Deloitte to prepare an independent formal valuation of the Macro Common Shares (the "Valuation") in the manner prescribed by Multilateral Instrument 61-101 - Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions, which valuation is in the range of $3.75 to $4.65 per Macro Common Share. In addition to the Valuation, Deloitte has provided the Special Committee with an independent fairness opinion (the "Deloitte Fairness Opinion", and together with the CIBC Fairness Opinions, the "Fairness Opinions") to the effect that, as of the date of such opinion and based upon and subject to the assumptions, limitations and qualifications set forth therein, the Cash Consideration to be received by Macro Common Shareholders and Macro Preferred Shareholders in respect of Macro Common Shares issued upon conversion of the Macro Preferred Shares into Macro Common Shares under the Arrangement is fair, from a financial point of view, to the Macro Shareholders (excluding the Participating Shareholders).

Copies of the Valuation and each of the Fairness Opinions, which in each case should be read carefully and in their entirety, along with other relevant background information related to the involvement of CIBC and Deloitte, have been included in the Circular.

Support Agreements: The Participating Shareholders and the Other Support Agreement Directors and Officers (as defined in the Circular), who hold Macro Common Shares, Macro Preferred Shares and/or Macro Options have entered into support agreements pursuant to which they have agreed, subject to the terms thereof, to vote the Macro Shares and Macro Options over which they exercise voting control in favour of the Arrangement. In the aggregate, parties holding or controlling approximately 31.8% of the total number of issued and outstanding Macro Shares, 32.0% of the total number of issued and outstanding Macro Shares and Macro Options, 31.9% of the Macro Common Shares and 97.3% Macro Preferred Shares, have agreed to vote in favour of the Arrangement Resolution.

Reasonable Likelihood of Completion: The Arrangement is not subject to a financing condition and is otherwise subject to a limited number of customary conditions. Further, based upon representations and warranties from AcquireCo, no regulatory issues are expected to arise in connection with the Arrangement so as to prevent or delay the consummation of the Arrangement. Should the Arrangement not be completed, in certain limited circumstances, the Participating Shareholders, in their capacity as the Guarantors (as defined in the Circular), have jointly and severally, irrevocably and unconditionally guaranteed the payment by AcquireCo to Macro of the Macro Enterprises Expense Reimbursement (as defined in the Circular).

Arrangement is Preferable to the Status Quo: In recent years, changes in the commercial landscape in which the Company operates, due in part to COVID-19, the fluctuation of oil and gas prices and the cancellation of a major pipeline project, have had an impact, directly and indirectly, on the Company's business. In addition, the pipeline industry has also faced uncertainty due to ongoing environmental, Indigenous and political matters in Canada, the United States and internationally.

VOTING AT THE MEETING

At the Meeting, Macro Securityholders will consider and, if deemed advisable, pass, with or without variation, a special resolution to approve the Arrangement (the "Arrangement Resolution"). The Meeting will be held on Monday, April 4, 2022 at 10:00 a.m. (Vancouver time) at the offices of Norton Rose Fulbright Canada LLP at 510 West Georgia Street, Suite 1800, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6B 0M3.

Macro has mailed the Circular, applicable form of proxy or voting instruction form and letter of transmittal, as applicable, for the Meeting to Macro Securityholders. These documents contain comprehensive information with respect to how registered and beneficial Macro Securityholders may vote in advance of the Meeting. A copy of the circular is also available on the Company's profile at www.sedar.com and on its website at http://www.macroindustries.ca. The record date for determining Macro Common Shareholders eligible to vote at the Meeting is February 23, 2022.

The deadline for Macro Securityholders to return their completed proxies or voting instruction forms is Thursday, March 31, 2022 at 10:00 a.m. (Vancouver time).

QUESTIONS AND VOTING ASSISTANCE

Macro Securityholders who have questions or need assistance in voting should contact Laurel Hill Advisory Group by telephone at 1-877-452-7184 (North American Toll Free) or 1-416- 304-0211 (Outside North America), or by email at assistance@laurelhill.com.

RECEIPT OF INTERIM COURT ORDER

The Company today also announce that on February 28, 2022 it was granted an interim order by the Supreme Court of British Columbia (the "Interim Order") regarding the Arrangement. The Interim Order authorizes Macro to proceed with various matters, including the holding of the Meeting to consider and vote on the proposed Arrangement.

Subject to the receipt of the requisite approval of the Macro Securityholders and the final approval of the Arrangement by the Supreme Court of British Columbia, and subject to the satisfaction or waiver of the other conditions to completion of the Arrangement, the Arrangement is expected to close on or about April 8, 2022.

About Macro Enterprises Inc.

Macro's core business is providing pipeline and facilities construction and maintenance services to major companies in the oil and gas industry in northeastern British Columbia and northwestern Alberta. The Company's corporate office is in Fort St. John, British Columbia. The Macro Common Shares are listed on the TSXV under the symbol "MCR". Information on the Company's principal operations can be found at www.macroindustries.ca.

Forward-Looking Statement Cautions:

This news release contains certain forward-looking information and forward-looking statements (collectively, "forward-looking statements"), as such terms are defined under applicable securities law, regarding the Company's business and operations. Forward-looking statements are statements that relate to future, not past, events. In this context, forward-looking statements often address expected future business and financial performance and often contain words such as "anticipate", "believe", "plan", "estimate", "expect", and "intend", or other similar expressions. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, many of which are beyond the Company's control, that could cause actual results, performance, prospects and opportunities to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements (including execution risk, market risk, industry risk, market sentiment, the impact of general economic conditions and competition from other industry participants, as well as stock market volatility). In this news release, forward-looking statements relate to, among other things, information regarding: (a) the terms and conditions of the Arrangement; (b) satisfaction of the conditions precedent to the Arrangement, if at all; (c) timing and consummation of, the Arrangement, if at all (on the same terms and conditions or otherwise); (d) the reasons for supporting the Arrangement; (e) the anticipated benefits of the Arrangement, if any, to Macro Securityholders and other stakeholders of Macro (including economic, business, competitive and other benefits); (f) the likelihood of the Arrangement being completed within a reasonable period, if at all; (g) the commercial prospects of the pipeline industry; and (h) the Meeting. Readers are referred to the Company's public disclosure record, including the Circular which is available on SEDAR (www.sedar.com). While such forward-looking statements are expressed by the Company, as stated in this release, in good faith and believed by the Company to have a reasonable basis, they are subject to important risks and uncertainties including, without limitation, risks relating to stock exchange, court, regulatory and other approvals required in connection with the Arrangement, risks relating to the satisfaction or waiver of the conditions precedent to the Arrangement (if at all) and adverse changes in applicable laws or regulations, which in each case could cause actual results to differ materially from future results expressed, projected or implied by the forward-looking statements. As a result of these risks and uncertainties, the proposed transaction could be modified, restructured or not be completed, and the results or events predicted in these forward-looking statements may differ materially from actual results or events. These forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance, given that they involve risks and uncertainties. The Company is not affirming or adopting any statements made by any other person in respect of the proposed transaction and expressly disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except in accordance with applicable securities or to comment on expectations of, or statements made by any other person in respect of the proposed transaction. Investors should not assume that any lack of update to a previously issued forward-looking statement constitutes a reaffirmation of that statement. Reliance on forward-looking statements is at investors' own risk. Although the Company believes that the assumptions and factors used in preparing the forward-looking statements are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on these statements, which only apply as of the date of this news release, and no assurance can be given that such events will occur in the disclosed timeframes or at all. In addition, this news release contains future-oriented financial information and financial outlook, as such terms are defined under applicable securities laws. The future-oriented financial information and financial outlook contained herein are made solely based on information available to the Company as of the date hereof and are subject to the same assumptions, risk factors and other qualifications as all other forward-looking statements, and are presented solely for the purpose of conveying the current anticipated expectations of the Company and may not be appropriate for any other purposes. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as of the date of this news release and, except as required by applicable laws and the policies of the TSXV, the Company disclaims any intention or obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. Trading in the securities of the Company should be considered highly speculative. There can be no assurance that Company will be able to achieve all or any of its proposed objectives.

For further information please contact:

Frank Miles

President and C.E.O.

Phone: (250) 785-0033

Bob Fedderly

Special Committee

Phone: (250) 787-0398

Neither the TSXV nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSXV) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/115732
LONDON (dpa-AFX) - WPP plc (WPP.L, WPPGY) said it decided to discontinue operations in Russia. It stands with Ukraine and the international community in condemning the Russian invasion, which has created a humanitarian crisis in the heart of Europe. WPP said it has about 1,400 people in Russia who have been dedicated and valued members of itsorganisation, and we thank them for their commitment to the company and clients. It will provide support to them and work closely with clients and partners as the company discontinues activities in the country. Russia represented 0.6% of WPP's revenue less pass-through costs in 2021. Copyright(c) 2022 RTTNews.com. All Rights Reserved Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
CHICAGO (dpa-AFX) - Ethiopian Airlines has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Boeing (BA), planning to purchase five 777-8 Freighters, the twin-engine freighter. Boeing said it launched the new 777-8 Freighter in January and has already booked 34 firm orders for the model, which features the advanced technology from the new 777X family. With payload capacity nearly identical to the 747-400 Freighter and a 30% improvement in fuel efficiency, emissions and operating costs, the 777-8 Freighter will enable a more sustainable and profitable business for operators, Boeing said. Ethiopian Airlines currently operates nine 777 Freighters, connecting Africa with more than 40 cargo centers throughout Asia, Europe, the Middle East and Americas. Copyright(c) 2022 RTTNews.com. All Rights Reserved Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
MediThrive Dispensary and Delivery Service has partnered with 17+ cannabis brands in response to the Ukrainian crisis. They plan to donate Sunday's in-store and online sales proceeds to support people affected by the violence in Ukraine.

On March 6th, 2022 at 8 am, the cannabis dispensary in the Mission District will open its doors and welcome adults age 21 and over with a valid ID or passport. All cannabis sales proceeds collected will be donated to a non-profit organization whose fundraising efforts provide medical and humanitarian aid to those affected by the Russian military invasion in Ukraine.

While many charitable efforts focus on providing Ukraine with food and military aid, the medical professionals responding to the crisis in Ukraine struggle to treat the wounded and sick. They require more medical and survival supplies.

The War in Ukraine

As the Russian invasion intensifies in Ukraine, there are more than 2,000 confirmed civilian casualties and over 1 million refugees have fled the country.

Russian forces have bombed schools, hospitals, and churches. Over a dozen children are dead and many more have been injured. The hospitals are overwhelmed and running out of necessities like antibiotics and oxygen.

About MediThrive

The Russian invasion of Ukraine hits home for the founders of MediThrive. CEO Misha Breyburg and his colleagues are Ukrainian Jewish refugees who immigrated from Odessa, Ukraine to the United States as children in the 1970s.

MediThrive believes that everyone should have access to medicine and quality health care. The Medi in our name tells of our humble beginning as a medical cannabis dispensary that filled the cannabis prescriptions of cancer and AIDS patients.

In the 1990s, the dispensary opened its doors to patients under the United State's Compassionate Care Act. We are the oldest cannabis dispensary and delivery service location in San Francisco. Today, we are more than just a medical and recreational cannabis provider; our roots run deep in our community.

On Sunday, March 6th, 2022, from 8 am to 10 pm, 100% of the sales proceeds will be donated to a non-profit organization dedicated to providing supplies for the benefit of families in Ukraine. With the help of our community, we can offer assistance to the victims of this war when they need it most.

We call on everyone to come join us and show their support.

Together, we can make a difference.

Visit MediThrive at:

1933 Mission Street

San Francisco CA

94103

Or order online www.MediThrive.com

Visitors must be 21 years of age or older with a valid ID.

For more information and updates on this event, check out our social media and follow us on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook!

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220304005603/en/

Contacts:

MediThrive Dispensary and Delivery

Founder and CEO Misha Breyburg

Direct Cell: (415) 760-2264

Misha@MediThrive.com
Final night of Arab Music Days series in Berlin culminates in performance by oud masters Bechir Gharbi Trio

BERLIN, March 5, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- After almost two years of the pandemic closing concert venues worldwide, a five-day programme of live performances, poetry readings, artist conversations, visual arts exhibitions and film screenings at Berlin's historic Pierre Boulez Saal hall, culminates this evening.

Abu Dhabi Festival, run by the Abu Dhabi Music & Arts Foundation (ADMAF), is the principal partner of the week-long Arab Music Days celebration at Berlin's Pierre Boulez Saal. Arab Music Days closes on Saturday evening in Berlin, after a successful run from 1-5 March, which has seen events livestreamed around the world.

The week-long celebration of diverse Arab music, performed in Berlin's iconic Frank Gehry-designed concert hall, was curated by Iraqi born oud maestro and UNESCO Artist for Peace Naseer Shamma, and featured a line-up of influential world class Arab artists.

The Naseer Shamma Trio, whose performance was accompanied by live calligraphy with Nja Al Mahdawi, were also joined by the Trio Abozekry, the Hany Elbadry Trio, the Anwar Abu Dragh Trio and the Bechir Gharbi Trio.

ADMAF founder, Her Excellency Huda Ebrahim Alkhamis-Kanoo believes 2022 is more important than ever for the foundation's mission.

"In the wake of the pandemic, which hit the arts and culture sector extremely hard, it is truly wonderful to be able to have incredible live music performed live for audiences in an iconic venue, as well as streamed digitally around the world.

"We emerge from the pandemic into a challenging world with uncertainty all around us. When we work together, the power of the arts to build bridges between peoples and nations makes progress possible."

Curator of the series, Naseer Shamma, said:

"This year, for the festival's fifth edition, we presented a theme of musical trios. It is perhaps an image reflective of the world today: social distancing, reduced gatherings, people unable to be together. But with this comes the message that no matter how far apart we are, we will continue to create moments of beauty - whether we perform individually or in duets or trios, art will bring us safely to the shore.

"Accordingly, a trio is very much dependent on the individual skills and strengths of each musician and of his or her ability to convince an audience of the musical ideas they are expressing.

"This programme marks the first time Tunisia, with its rich artistic heritage and musical traditions, has been part of the festival. Bechir Gharbi is among the most skilled our players in the world and has a powerful artistic presence. They were the perfect performers to end this wonderful series."

In December 2021, Abu Dhabi joined the likes of Liverpool, Auckland and Kingston in its official designation as a 'City of Music' by the UNESCO Creative Cities Network.

The Abu Dhabi Festival Abroad programme, which gives visibility to Arabi world artists abroad, showcases the artistic talent of the region to a global audience.

Founded in 2004 and organised by ADMAF, the annual multidisciplinary Abu Dhabi Festival is the largest cultural celebration in the entire Middle East and reaches across the world through commissions of great international artists and performers as well as the presentation of innovative Arab creativity around the globe. The Abu Dhabi Festival strives to deepen global cross-cultural dialogue whilst inspiring a deeper interest in the cultures of the Arab world.

The 2022 Festival's extensive international output also includes the co-commission EDEN featuring a worldwide tour with Joyce DiDonatoand Il Pomo d'Oro, and new co- productions with the Teatro Real and the Festival d'Aix-en-Provence.

Amidst a vast programme in Abu Dhabi, the Festival features a new exhibition,Portrait of a Nation II: Beyond Narratives, featuring 100 important artworks by 62 pivotal artists, tracing the UAE's transformative development over 50 years.

ADMAF nurtures the arts, education, culture and creativity in the UAE and beyond, with the belief that culture and the arts unlock a nation's creativity and creates connections that transcend borders. ADMAF undertakes a broad range of initiatives and events each year to bring together diverse audiences in the UAE and internationally.

Abu Dhabi Festival

Under the Patronage of Her Highness Sheikha Shamsa bint Hamdan bin Mohamed Al Nahyan

Held under the theme: "Crafting the Emirates State of Mind: Creation, Innovation & Joy", the 19th edition of Abu Dhabi Festival 2022 is held under the patronage of Her Highness Sheikha Shamsa Bint Hamdan Al Nahyan and supported by lead partner Mubadala Investment Company (Mubadala) and energy partner GS Energy.

The Abu Dhabi Festival 2022 encompasses over 1,000 participating artists from around the world to present more than 300 performances and events. The 19th edition will also include two world tours and 17 world premieres.

The 2022 Abu Dhabi Festival programme is part of the contribution that the Abu Dhabi Music & Arts Foundation makes to the UAE capital's designation as a UNESCO City of Music. For more information on Abu Dhabi Festival's upcoming events, please visit:

https://abudhabifestival.ae

Find the Festival on: Facebook (@abudhabifestival), Twitter (@abudhabi_fest) and Instagram (@abudhabifestival).

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1760233/ADMAF_Logo.jpg
AbbVie (NYSE: ABBV) completed the acquisition of Syndesi Therapeutics SA, a Belgium-based clinical stage biotechnology company pioneering the development of novel therapeutics that modulate synaptic function to relieve the symptoms of cognitive impairment.

Under the terms of the agreement, AbbVie will pay Syndesi shareholders a $130m upfront payment with the potential for shareholders to receive additional contingent payments of up to $870m based on the achievement of certain predetermined milestones.

Syndesi will help to expand AbbVies neuroscience portfolio. This acquisition gives AbbVie access to Syndesis portfolio of novel modulators of the synaptic vesicle protein 2A (SV2A), including its lead molecule SDI-118. The mechanism is currently being evaluated for the potential treatment of cognitive impairment and other symptoms associated with a range of neuropsychiatric and neurodegenerative disorders, such as Alzheimers disease and major depressive disorder.

The lead molecule, SDI-118, is a small molecule currently in Phase 1b studies, which is being evaluated to target nerve terminals to enhance synaptic efficiency. Synaptic dysfunction is believed to underlie the cognitive impairment seen in multiple neuropsychiatric and neurodegenerative disorders.

Founded in December 2017 and led by Jonathan Savidge, chief executive officer, Syndesi Therapeutics was created through a partnership between UCB Biopharma SRL and a syndicate of Belgian and international investors to further develop novel SV2A modulators that had been originally discovered by UCB. Syndesis Series A financing was co-led by Novo Holdings together with Fountain Healthcare Partners, with participation from Johnson & Johnson Innovation  JJDC, Inc., SRIW (Societe Regionale dInvestissement de Wallonie), V-Bio Ventures and Vives Fund, along with UCB Ventures. The company has also benefited from support from the Walloon Region.

The lead molecule, SDI-118, was discovered by UCB before being out-licensed to Syndesi as of 2018.

FinSMEs

05/03/2022
The Six Triple Eight was the only all-Black, Women Army Corps Battalion to serve overseas during World War II.
South Carolina Rep. Marvin Pendarvis, D-North Charleston, left, promises the parents of Jamal Sutherland he will work to pass bills written after his son died when jail officers shocked him several times and kneeled on his back, at a news conference on Feb. 23 in Columbia, S.C.
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Hong Kong: KS Wong visits restricted area

Secretary for the Environment KS Wong today said all members of the Environment Bureau (ENB) and the Environmental Protection Department (EPD) are united and fully committed to anti-epidemic efforts.

While the ENB works on the sewage surveillance programme, the EPD has mobilised about 30% of its staff members, involving over 800 people, to implement restriction-testing declaration (RTD) operations. Since the end of January, the ENB and EPD co-ordinated and conducted about 30 such operations in around five weeks, constituting more than one-third of all the RTD operations in city in the same period.

Yesterday, Mr Wong inspected the RTD exercise carried out by the EPD in Tak Shan House and Tak Kei House of Tak Long Estate in Kowloon City to show his support for colleagues.

Noting that over 3,600 people are living in the two buildings, he said: Counting only the manpower from the EPD, we have mobilised around 100 staff members.

The staff had to conduct a site inspection one day before the operation and supervise the setup the next day, Mr Wong noted.

As the operation started, they arranged for thousands of residents to register and undergo testing. Anti-epidemic proprietary Chinese medicines donated by the central government, rapid antigen test kits and food packs were also distributed.

Furthermore, upon completion of the RTD operations, the staff have to arrange to send those who tested preliminary positive to isolation facilities as well as distribute extra food packs and daily necessities to assist those under home quarantine.

The entire operation, including transmission of preliminary positive cases to isolation facilities, usually takes over 30 hours.

I would like to express my gratitude to our staff members who work on the frontline and show their unwavering efforts in conducting the RTD operations in addition to their daily work, fully demonstrating team spirit. I would also thank those subject to compulsory testing for their support and understanding.

The environment chief also said the EPD workers draw on their professional knowledge to launch Hong Kong's sewage surveillance plan. The 400-member sewage testing team formed by the EPD, the Drainage Services Department and the University of Hong Kong has been working to apply scientific knowledge to help fight the epidemic.

At the same time, the departments environmental science experts provide professional advice on virus transmission in the environment and utilise their skills in the fight against the epidemic.

Highlighting that with the central governments staunch support, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government is making all-out efforts to fight the epidemic, Mr Wong said that the ENB and the EPD will continue to support the anti-epidemic work, including compulsory universal testing to be launched later.

This story has been published on: 2022-03-05. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
Keywords from Xi's two sessions speeches since 2013

(People's Daily App) 16:24, March 05, 2022

President Xi Jinping has joined 50 panel discussions at China's two sessions since 2013. What does Xi talk about with the legislators and advisers? What's on the top of Xi's agenda?

Some words frequently used by Xi will give you the big picture of his priorities.

(Web editor: Xia Peiyao, Liang Jun)
Restaurants are re-opening, mask mandates are lifting, and people in the mid-valley are returning to work and pre-COVID-19 employment rates.

But thats a problem, say state economists, because there werent enough workers to fill job vacancies even before fear of one the deadliest viruses in the nations history sent people home for two years of social distancing and Zoom meetings.

In Benton County, where students aren't shopping, dining or working as much as they used to, the employment rate isnt even that good. The pool of job candidates remains relatively low, and the citys economy lags behind the rest of Oregon, state economists said.

Its like a cruise ship that never goes anywhere, Oregon Employment Department economist Pat OConnor said of Corvallis.

OSU's impact

OConnor, who covers labor trends and their economic effects in Linn and Benton counties, said the universitys dollar impact to the region is huge. The school now enrolls more than 34,000 students, experiencing an enrollment increase even in 2020, and thousands of faculty and staff work at the university, mostly in Corvallis.

But students attended class remotely and stayed home that first year of the pandemic. OSU's gains were mostly in its Ecampus program.

With in-person instruction this academic year, Corvallis campus numbers are down about 900 from pre-COVID-19 numbers.

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That doesn't mean the students who returned went to work. Or are even partaking in local shops and restaurants with pre-2020 glee.

A lot of these businesses rely heavily on the student population. When theyre not there, it slows things down a lot, restaurant manager Caitlin Daddario said.

Daddario runs McMenamins on Monroe, at the edge of campus, where the books show a decline in business over the run of the pandemic, she said. Normally the fall sees an upturn in business and new applicants for part-time jobs.

And it was not that case, she said, even with classes back in session.

Oregon is set to lift indoor mask mandates March 12, and warm weather typically brings more customers to restaurants and bars. The good news, Daddario said, is business and applicants finally have surged since February.

Not all made it. Around the corner, Nearly Normals Gonzo Cuisine closed at the start of the pandemic. The Corvallis fixture and vegetarian restaurant survived for a time by mailing products before selling the building in 2021, 42 years after it opened.

The daycare conundrum

In 2020, some people fell out of the workforce, driving up the unemployment rate. OConnor said child care providers stopped watching children, and parents stayed home to educate or care for children when workplaces reopened.

Daddario said her young child was sent home from daycare for a month. She was lucky, she said, compared to some parents; she was able to split child care duties with her husband so that neither had to stay home.

Some employees complain about not being able to find child care while daycares are still short-staffed. And even for parents who can find a daycare accepting children, Daddario said the threat of coronavirus causes interruptions for every runny nose and cough.

You have to test, she said. You have to pull them out.

Dodging certain jobs

Some mid-valley employees and parents can work from home, OConnor said, but face-to-face industries like food service were hard hit and slower to rebound.

Its restaurants everywhere. Industries that are impacted are impacted everywhere in similar ways, O'Connor said.

Many restaurant employees switched industries. Workers with less education moved from food service to jobs in warehouses or labor that isnt public- facing, he said.

You have Jeff Bezos there, hungry and looking for workers," OConnor said.

Local labor market churn explains total employment rates returning to their previous rates while industry-specific numbers appear lower. Now vacancy rates that were high before the pandemic are even higher.

OConnor said there is fewer than one person looking for work for any given job posting in the state.

Theres just not enough bodies to fill the labor demands right now, he said.

In Linn County, anchored around the city of Albany, employers are still looking for 12,700 workers and may be running out of people to ask to work for them.

Meanwhile, in Albany

People returning to work in Albany had pushed the total number of workers in December to 47,260, led by a large swell in newly filled jobs in kitchens and hotels, where 3,870 workers were employed, according to state data  a 34% surge in those industries from the year before.

Thats up more than 6,000 from the pandemic low in April 2020, when closures brought the workforce in Linn County to 41,170, the lowest employment rate since March 2015, according to state data. And its close to the regions pre-pandemic high of 47,640.

By comparison, Corvallis saw a 36% increase in mostly restaurant jobs over 2021, with 3,970 in the industry. There were 7,300 jobs to fill across Benton County. Total employment bottomed out at 37,220 in 2020 and was at 41,000 in December, well below a pre-pandemic high of more than 45,000.

OSU is the difference between the communities, OConnor said.

Smaller metros are recovering faster as long as you dont have a big university in the middle of a small county, he said.

So employment rates in towns like Albany that have nearly recovered dont match or explain vacancy rates, where demand for labor appears to be higher than the supply.

OConnor said offered wages dont necessarily count for the disparity.

In construction, for example, where jobs have held steady or increased across the mid-valley under an average wage of $20.35, employers already are finding the prospective worker market tapped out.

If the stars aligned I could see even more construction coming on line. Were certainly in need of it from a housing perspective, O'Connor said.

Not working by choice

Some people who are working age just dont look for work. In Oregon, 24,000 were marginally attached to the workforce, meaning they werent looking for work and not visible to the state in a way that adds them to prevailing unemployment figures, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics numbers.

Even if all of those people unattached to the market came out to apply for work, they would fall short of the 102,000 job openings Oregon employers were hoping to fill in the fall, according to state data.

OConnor said one explanation for the high vacancy rate is potential employees just dont exist. Baby boomers, the aging generation leaving the workforce, retire in large numbers while too few people are born or immigrating to Oregon replace them.

Just 10% of Oregons workforce was 55 or older, approaching retirement age in 1992. By 2019, that number was nearly one in four.

Thats a long-term demographic challenge that is not going to be easily overcome, McConnor said.

Alex Powers covers business, environment and healthcare for Mid-Valley Media. Contact him at 541-812-6116 or alex.powers@lee.net.

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As a therapist, the topic of self-care comes up a lot for me.

Normally, the conversation starts with things such as regular meals, hot baths, outdoor hikes and the like. While those things are certainly important and can be part of self-care, they do not represent the full extent of what self-care can be, and are, in my view, the low-hanging fruit.

In my opinion some of the richest, most nourishing acts of self-care are found within spiritual practice. At its root, before the overlay of theology or religion, spiritual practice is about taking time to nurture connection  with oneself, the natural world and whatever else one may choose (e.g., spirit, God, ones ancestors, etc.).

So what might this look like?

For different cultures, faiths and traditions, it can manifest in different ways. That said, there are some similarities: Most religions have practices built on meditation, prayer and contemplation. Whether theyre performed in a formal group setting or as a solo practice, these are the practices that I, personally, find the most rejuvenating.

I started down this road more than 20 years ago with meditation. My practice slowly grew over the years, supported by my connection with a local sangha (a group of Buddhist practitioners). As time passed, I discovered the gifts of investing myself in this way, and this led to an organic, incremental deepening.

As part of that deepening, I have taken part in a number of silent meditation retreats over the years. But when the pandemic hit, that option  like everything else  went virtual. This transition encouraged me to consider new ways of doing things. As a result, I tried a few personal retreat days on my own and found them to my liking.

The solitude, the quiet, the spaciousness that came from cordoning off time for myself was so nourishing. And it was relatively easy because I didnt have to coordinate my schedule with anyone elses, or fit into a predetermined structure.

When I heard that Gandhi took one day of silence each week, the idea beckoned and I decided to try it for myself. Those first few Saturdays felt a bit uncomfortable. There was so much to do that it seemed wasteful and unproductive. I would look at my phone and have the compulsion to listen to a podcast, read the news or make a phone call.

But as the weeks passed and I gently but firmly held the boundary, I started looking forward to the peace and spaciousness of the day. Over the months, it has become an island of respite in an otherwise overstimulating and frenetic world.

Whats more, the peace from the island follows me throughout the week. I have more clarity, more patience and more insight. And as is true with other acts of self-care, the benefits ripple out in subtle and not-so-subtle ways.

Of course, not everyone wants to or can take a day for silence. Spiritual practice isnt a one-size-fits-all; its as individual as we are and changes as our lives change. Some people will have time for only 10 minutes of meditation a day. Others may say a prayer before dinner or bedtime.

The important thing is to tune in to the extraordinary compass within, notice what is nurturing and move in that direction while understanding that spiritual practice is an ever-evolving process of discovery, a journey in and of itself.

Its not about doing it right, comparing oneself to another, or being rigid or hard on oneself. Rather, it is about feeling ones way, moving forward as one is able and creating space to listen for the echo from deep within.

Heather Krimsly is a co-founder of Buddhists Responding, a local ecumenical group of Buddhist practitioners working to address suffering and injustice in social, political and environmental contexts.

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Oregon lawmakers have passed a measure meant to ensure that future extreme heat waves, such as the one last summer that accounted for more than 100 deaths, will not have similar results.

Senate Bill 1536, which got final clearance on Friday, March 4, would allow tenants to use portable cooling devices  defined as air conditioners and evaporative coolers, either mounted in a window or sitting on a floor  with some conditions and exceptions.

It also sets aside millions for the Oregon Department of Energy, Oregon Health Authority and Oregon Department of Human Services to help pay for cooling systems, provide portable air conditioners and promote community shelters for cooling and heating.

The final votes were 22-3 in the Senate and 49-9 in the House.

The bill combines elements of a separate bill (HB 4058) that was considered Feb. 4 in the House Committee on Environment and Natural Resources. Chairwoman Pam Marsh, D-Ashland, said lawmakers decided to merge them into one bill.

"Oregon has been a place where we didn't think we needed cooling devices. But conditions are changing  and rapidly," Marsh said. "Protecting the health and safety of vulnerable residents now requires us to make sure they have access to both cooling and heating. We must do everything we can to make sure we never see the kind of suffering we saw in the summer of 2021."

The heat wave occurred June 26-29, 2021; the Legislature adjourned its regular session on June 26.

Tenants would still face some restrictions. Among them: compliance with building codes, state and federal laws; compliance with written standards for device safety; no damage to the premises, and no power usage beyond what a building's electrical system can handle.

Tenants, not landlords, would be liable for injuries or damages caused by devices they install.

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Rental units with construction permits after April 1, 2024, would be subject to new requirements for cooling in at least one room.

This provision prompted Rep. Kim Wallan, R-Medford, to vote against the bill. She said it would add to the already high cost of housing construction.

Proposed spending

The bill also sets aside these amounts in the state budget:

 For the Department of Energy, $15 million plus $6.6 million in other funds for grants to the governor's regional solutions teams and Oregon's federally recognized tribes for heat pumps and other devices. Another $10 million, plus $5.6 million in other funds, would go toward rebates to contractors for installation of residential heat pumps. About 25% of that money is for housing built for people who earn less than the area median income, and 25% for loans to housing owners whose tenants earn 80% or less of the area's median income.

Cooling centers would get $2 million, and a study of cooling needs in public housing. manufactured home parks and recreational vehicle parks would get $500,000.

 For the Oregon Health Authority, $5 million for distribution of portable air conditioners and air filters, with priority going to people who rely on state and federal medical assistance.

 For the Department of Human Services, $2 million for grants to organizations that run community shelters for cooling and warming.

These programs are separate from a five-year, $11.5 million program that the Portland City Council approved Dec. 1 to upgrade 15,000 homes and apartments, drawing from the Portland Clean Energy Fund that city voters approved in 2018.

But the state bill drew praise from Candace Avalos, executive director at Verde, an environmental justice nonprofit based in the Cully neighborhood of Northeast Portland.

"I applaud communities and lawmakers who came together and passed emergency heat relief to protect the health of Oregon's communities of color, renters, low-income folks, children, our elders, and people with disabilities," she said.

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Gettysburg, PA (17325)

Today

A mix of clouds and sun during the morning will give way to cloudy skies this afternoon. High 71F. Winds NE at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Cloudy this evening with showers after midnight. Low around 55F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 60%.
2022 International Research Conference on Suigetsu Varves

SUERC researchers Charlie Rex and Richard Staff contributed to the 2022 International Research Conference on Suigetsu Varves, held jointly with researchers from Ritsumeikan University (Japan), the Fukui Prefectural Varve Museum, and the University of Adelaide (Australia).

The focus of the conference was on understanding of the isotopic signals of precipitation, river water, and lake water within the Lake Suigetsu catchment in central Japan. In turn, this understanding will facilitate interpretation of the palaeo- (i.e., past-) record from the varved (annually layered) sediments underlying Lake Suigetsu, leading to better understanding of the behaviour of the East Asian Monsoon in relation to broader climatic change.

For further information, see the project website at www.suigetsu.org or recent SUERC newsletter items at https://sway.office.com/xQ4WFGHVf0zWoElS.
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, March 04, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Core One Labs Inc. (CSE: COOL), (OTC: CLABF), (Frankfurt: LD6, WKN: A3CSSU) (the Company or Core One) is pleased to announce that its wholly owned subsidiary Akome Biotech Ltd. (Akome), has entered into an agreement with the Universidad Complutense de Madrid (Universidad Complutense), officially commencing neurogenesis stimulation and modeling studies research, to advance the development of the Companys patent pending psychedelic bioactive compounds that target Alzheimers Disease, Parkinsons Disease, Major Depressive Disorder and Ischemic Stroke.



Neurogenesis is the ability of the brain to grow new neurons. Until recently, neuroscientists believed that the central nervous system, including the brain, was incapable of neurogenesis and unable to regenerate. However, research conducted over the last two decades confirms, not only that adult neurogenesis is a normal process that occurs in the healthy brain, but also that it can be enhanced by psychedelics among other potent stimulants. Neurogenesis is considered important in neuroplasticity, the ability of the brain to form new connections and pathways and change how its circuits are wired. Through Akomes initial data mapping of how psychedelic substances and selected bioactive substances cooperate, there is potential for significant stimulus in adult neurogenesis in the brains of individuals that are afflicted with certain neurological disorders, and Akomes research with Universidad Complutense seeks to prove that its chosen bioactive-compounds can enhance such processes.

The research, which is currently underway, is being led by Dr. Jose A. Morales-Garcia, PhD, of the Universidad Complutense de Madrid, a leading institution with extensive experience in psychedelics research, and neurodegenerative processes responsible for conditions such as Alzheimer's disease, Major Depressive disorder, Parkinson's disease and ischemic stroke. The scope of research is designed to advance the Companys hypothesis that the selected candidate bioactive compounds included in its patent submissions, are viable candidates and will react positively upon targets in the Central Nervous System, and have the potential to stimulate neurogenesis in the brain of individuals afflicted with neurological disorders, and subsequently result in groundbreaking clinical implications for the indications of Ischemic stroke, Alzheimer's disease, Major Depressive disorder and Parkinson's disease.

Dr. Morales is an Assistant Professor and Honorary fellow in the Cellular Biology Department at the Complutense University of Madrid, Medical School, a scientist at the Center for Networked Biomedical Research on Neurodegenerative Diseases, as well as a professor in the Master of Pharmacological Research at the Autonoma University of Madrid. Dr. Morales has over 40 scientific publications in peer-reviewed journals.

Dr. Morales has a vast research background in the identification and analysis of new cellular targets implicated in neurogenesis and neurodegeneration as well as focused work in the study in vitro and in vivo of the mechanism underlying neurodegenerative disease, mainly Alzheimers and Parkinsonism in order to develop new neuroprotective, anti-inflammatory and neurogenic compounds for the treatment of these disorders.

I believe that the treatment of individuals with neurological disorders through the use of psychedelic based pharmaceuticals, will become a major focus of mental healthcare in the near future. The groundbreaking work that Universidad Complutense is doing for Akome, will contribute significantly to the advancement of our drug formulations as we work to commercialize our patents. By developing unique psychedelic based pharmaceutical formulations that can be used for the treatment of Alzheimers, Parkinsons, Depression and Ischemic Stroke, the Company is positioning itself to serve a larger and more diverse patient base, stated Joel Shacker, the Companys CEO.

About Core One Labs Inc.

Core One is a biotechnology research and technology life sciences enterprise focused on bringing psychedelic medicines to market through novel delivery systems and psychedelic assisted psychotherapy. Core One has developed a patent pending thin film oral strip (the technology) which dissolves instantly when placed in the mouth and delivers organic molecules in precise quantities to the bloodstream, maintaining excellent bioavailability. The Company intends to further develop and apply the technology to psychedelic compounds, such as psilocybin. Core One also holds an interest in medical clinics which maintain a combined database of over 275,000 patients. Through these clinics, the integration of its intellectual property, R&D related to psychedelic treatments and novel drug therapies, the Company intends to obtain regulatory research approval for the advancement of psychedelic-derived treatments for mental health disorders.

Core One Labs Inc.

Joel Shacker

Chief Executive Officer

FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:

info@core1labs.com

1-866-347-5058

Cautionary Disclaimer Statement:

The Canadian Securities Exchange has not reviewed and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of the content of this news release.

Information set forth in this news release contains forward-looking statements that are based on assumptions as of the date of this news release. These statements reflect managements current estimates, beliefs, intentions, and expectations. They are not guarantees of future performance. The Company cautions that all forward-looking statements are inherently uncertain, and that actual performance may be affected by a number of material factors, many of which are beyond the Companys control. Such factors include, among other things: risks and uncertainties relating to the Companys limited operating history and the need to comply with strict regulatory regulations. Accordingly, actual and future events, conditions and results may differ materially from the estimates, beliefs, intentions and expectations expressed or implied in the forward-looking information. Except as required under applicable securities legislation, the Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise forward-looking information.

In addition, psilocybin is currently a Schedule III drug under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act (Canada) and it is a criminal offence to possess substances under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act (Canada) without a prescription or authorization. Health Canada has not approved psilocybin as a drug for any indication. Core One does not have any direct or indirect involvement with illegal selling, production, or distribution of psychedelic substances in jurisdictions in which it operates. While Core One believes psychedelic substances can be used to treat certain medical conditions, it does not advocate for the legalization of psychedelics substances for recreational use. Core One does not deal with psychedelic substances, except within laboratory and clinical trial settings conducted within approved regulatory frameworks.




Washington, March 04, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Today, Administrator Isabella Casillas Guzman , head of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and the voice for Americas 32.5 million small businesses in President Bidens Cabinet, issued today the following statement after the release of strong jobs data showing 678,000 jobs were added in the last month and unemployment down to remarkably low levels at 3.8 percent:

Todays jobs report confirms what weve seen on the ground in cities and towns across the country  our economy, under President Bidens leadership, is back on track, and Americas small businesses, our nations job creators, are helping to lead the way. Thanks to the American Rescue Plan and the Presidents comprehensive vaccination strategy, businesses and schools are open and more Americans are safely returning to work. This is especially critical for our small businesses that need a strong workforce to reopen and ready their businesses to thrive.

As the Biden-Harris Administration focuses on Building a Better America, we are working every day to ensure we have a level playing field for our small business owners so we can strengthen supply chains and open doors of opportunity so they can keep doing what they do best  creating good paying jobs and powering the strongest economic growth our nation has ever seen.

The SBA is also focused on rebuilding our manufacturing sector and strengthening our supply chains to help make our companies more competitive. That is why Im especially enthused by the robust development weve seen in the manufacturing area, including the creation of over 36,000 manufacturing jobs in February alone, bringing us to more than 423,000 manufacturing jobs created since President Biden took office  and more than any administration since 1994.

Small businesses are a critical part of the American story. As small businesses continue to recover, pivot, and grow, were committed to helping all our entrepreneurs access the resources and capital they need to succeed. I look forward to continuing to work with President Biden and the rest of the Biden-Harris Administration to keep small businesses at the heart of our economic comeback and do all we can to help lower the costs of goods for our small business owners and their families so that every American can benefit from this historic growth.

###

About the U.S. Small Business Administration
NEW YORK, March 04, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Pomerantz LLP announces that a class action lawsuit has been filed against C3.ai, Inc. (C3.ai or the Company) (NYSE: AI) and certain of its officers. The class action, filed in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California, and docketed under 22-cv-01413, is on behalf of a class consisting of all persons and entities other than Defendants that purchased or otherwise acquired: (a) C3.ai Class A common stock pursuant and/or traceable to the Offering Documents issued in connection with the Companys initial public offering conducted on or about December 9, 2020 (the IPO or Offering); and/or (b) C3.ai securities between December 9, 2020 and February 15, 2022, both dates inclusive (the Class Period). Plaintiff pursues claims against the Defendants under the Securities Act of 1933 (the Securities Act) and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the Exchange Act).



If you are a shareholder who purchased or otherwise acquired C3.ai Class A common stock pursuant and/or traceable to the IPO; and/or securities during the class period, you have until May 3, 2022 to ask the Court to appoint you as Lead Plaintiff for the class. A copy of the Complaint can be obtained at www.pomerantzlaw.com . To discuss this action, contact Robert S. Willoughby at newaction@pomlaw.com or 888.476.6529 (or 888.4-POMLAW), toll-free, Ext. 7980. Those who inquire by e-mail are encouraged to include their mailing address, telephone number, and the number of shares purchased.

[Click here for information about joining the class action]

C3.ai operates as an enterprise artificial intelligence (AI) software company. The Company offers a variety of software-as-a-service applications for enterprises and software solutions and integrated turnkey enterprise AI applications for oil and gas, chemicals, utilities, manufacturing, financial services, defense, intelligence, aerospace, healthcare, and telecommunications market segments. The Company also purports to have strategic partnerships with Baker Hughes related to oil and gas markets; FIS related to financial services markets; Raytheon; and AWS, Intel, and Microsoft.

The complaint alleges that the Offering Documents were negligently prepared and, as a result, contained untrue statements of material fact or omitted to state other facts necessary to make the statements made not misleading and were not prepared in accordance with the rules and regulations governing their preparation. Additionally, throughout the Class Period, Defendants made materially false and misleading statements regarding the Companys business, operations, and compliance policies. Specifically, the Offering Documents and Defendants made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (i) C3.ais partnership with Baker Hughes was deteriorating; (ii) C3.ais was employing a flawed accounting methodology to conceal the deterioration of its Baker Hughes partnership; (iii) C3.ai faced challenges in product adoption and significant salesforce turnover; (iv) the Company overstated, inter alia, the extent of its investment in technology, description of its customers, its total addressable market, the pace of its market growth, and the scale of alliances with its major business partners; and (v) as a result, the Companys public statements were materially false and misleading at all relevant times.

On February 16, 2022, during pre-market hours, Spruce Point Capital Management (Spruce Point) issued a report and strong sell research opinion regarding C3.ai (the Spruce Point Report). Specifically, Spruce Point alleged that it had uncovered, inter alia, [e]vidence of a severely challenged partnership with Baker Hughes, a related-party and C3.ais largest customer; [s]igns of problematic financial reporting and accounting regarding the Baker Hughes joint venture and a revolving door in C3.ais Chief Financial Officer position; that [c]hallenges in product adoption and significant salesforce turnover make it unlikely that C3.ai will meet aggressive analyst estimates; [e]vidence of exaggerated or irreconcilable claims made by C3.ai[,] including numerous discrepancies regarding the value of and cumulative investment made by C3.ai in its technology, description of its customers, its total addressable market, the pace of its market growth and the scale of alliances with companies such as Microsoft, Hewlett Packard Enterprises, Google Cloud, Intel and Amazon Web Services; and [w]orrisome corporate governance practices and insider enrichment. As a result, Spruce Point conservatively estimate[d] 40% - 50% downside risk to C3.ais share price.

Following publication of the Spruce Point Report, C3.ais stock price fell $1.01 per share, or 3.93%, to close at $24.70 per share on February 16, 2022.

As of the time this Complaint was filed, the price of C3.ai Class A common stock continues to trade below the $42.00 per share Offering price, damaging investors.

Pomerantz LLP, with offices in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, Paris, and Tel Aviv, is acknowledged as one of the premier firms in the areas of corporate, securities, and antitrust class litigation. Founded by the late Abraham L. Pomerantz, known as the dean of the class action bar, Pomerantz pioneered the field of securities class actions. Today, more than 85 years later, Pomerantz continues in the tradition he established, fighting for the rights of the victims of securities fraud, breaches of fiduciary duty, and corporate misconduct. The Firm has recovered numerous multimillion-dollar damages awards on behalf of class members. See www.pomlaw.com
NEW YORK, March 04, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Pomerantz LLP is investigating claims on behalf of investors of Gatos Silver, Inc. (Gatos or the Company) (NYSE: GATO). Such investors are advised to contact Robert S. Willoughby at newaction@pomlaw.com or 888-476-6529, ext. 7980.



The investigation concerns whether Gatos and certain of its officers and/or directors have engaged in securities fraud or other unlawful business practices.

[Click here for information about joining the class action]

On January 25, 2022, post-market, Gatos issued a press release disclosing that [d]uring the Companys resource and reserve update process for the Los Gatos Joint Venture (LGJV) . . . the Company concluded that there were errors in the technical report entitled Los Gatos Project, Chihuahua, Mexico with an effective date of July 1, 2020 (the 2020 Technical Report), as well as indications that there is an overestimation in the existing resource model. Accordingly, [o]n a preliminary basis, the Company estimates a potential reduction of the metal content of CLGs mineral reserve ranging from 30% to 50% of the metal content remaining after depletion and advised that the mineral resource and reserve estimates in the 2020 Technical Report should not be relied upon.

On this news, Gatos stock price fell $7.02 per share, or 68.89% percent to close at $3.17 per share on January 26, 2022.

Pomerantz LLP, with offices in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, Paris, and Tel Aviv, is acknowledged as one of the premier firms in the areas of corporate, securities, and antitrust class litigation. Founded by the late Abraham L. Pomerantz, known as the dean of the class action bar, Pomerantz pioneered the field of securities class actions. Today, more than 85 years later, Pomerantz continues in the tradition he established, fighting for the rights of the victims of securities fraud, breaches of fiduciary duty, and corporate misconduct. The Firm has recovered numerous multimillion-dollar damages awards on behalf of class members. See www.pomlaw.com .

CONTACT:

Robert S. Willoughby

Pomerantz LLP

rswilloughby@pomlaw.com

888-476-6529 ext. 7980
NEW YORK, March 04, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Pomerantz LLP is investigating claims on behalf of investors of TAL Education Group (TAL or the Company) (NYSE: TAL). Such investors are advised to contact Robert S. Willoughby at newaction@pomlaw.com or 888-476-6529, ext. 7980.



The investigation concerns whether TAL and certain of its officers and/or directors have engaged in securities fraud or other unlawful business practices.

[Click here for information about joining the class action]

On April 25, 2021, media reports revealed that the City of Beijing had fined four online education agencies, including TAL, the maximum fine of 500,000 yuan (approximately $80,000) each for misleading customers with false advertising regarding course pricing. On May 12, 2021, news reports revealed that an impending crackdown by the Chinese government on the private tutoring sector would be further reaching and more drastic than previously publicly known, including that regulators had already taken adverse actions against TAL and other for-profit tutoring companies.

On this news, TALs American Depository Share (ADS) price fell $6.89 per ADS, or 13%, over the following two trading sessions to close at $46.25 per ADS on May 13, 2021.

On June 1, 2021, Chinese regulators announced that they had fined 15 off-campus training institutions, including TAL, for illegal activities such as false advertising and fraud. On this news, TALs ADS price fell $7.24 per ADS, or nearly 18%, over the following two trading sessions to close at $33.27 per ADS on June 3, 2021. Finally, on July 23, 2021, China unveiled a sweeping overhaul of its education sector, banning companies that teach the school curriculum from making profits, raising capital or going public, effectively ending any potential growth in the for-profit tutoring sector in China.

On this news, TALs ADS price fell $16.12 per ADS, or 78.56%, over the following two trading sessions to close at $4.40 per ADS on July 26, 2021.

Pomerantz LLP, with offices in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, Paris, and Tel Aviv, is acknowledged as one of the premier firms in the areas of corporate, securities, and antitrust class litigation. Founded by the late Abraham L. Pomerantz, known as the dean of the class action bar, Pomerantz pioneered the field of securities class actions. Today, more than 85 years later, Pomerantz continues in the tradition he established, fighting for the rights of the victims of securities fraud, breaches of fiduciary duty, and corporate misconduct. The Firm has recovered numerous multimillion-dollar damages awards on behalf of class members. See www.pomlaw.com .
05 March 2022

Fitch Downgrades Acrons Credit Rating to B

Fitch Ratings downgraded Acron's Long-term Issuer Default Rating (IDR) to 'B' from BB- and placed ratings on Rating Watch Negative (RWN) following the agencys downgrade of Russia's sovereign ratings.





Media Contacts:

Sergey Dorofeev

Anastasia Gromova

Tatiana Smirnova

Public Relations

Phone: +7 (495) 777-08-65 (ext. 5196)

Investor Contacts:

Ilya Popov

Strategy and Investor Relations

Phone: +7 (495) 745-77-45 (ext. 5252)

Background Information

Acron Group is a leading vertically integrated mineral fertiliser producer in Russia and globally, with chemical production facilities in Veliky Novgorod (Acron) and Smolensk region (Dorogobuzh). The Group owns and operates a phosphate mine in Murmansk region (North-Western Phosphorous Company, NWPC) and is implementing a potash development project in Perm Krai (Verkhnekamsk Potash Company, VPC). It owns transportation and logistics infrastructure, including three Baltic seaport terminals and distribution networks in Russia and China. Acron subsidiary North Atlantic Potash Inc. (NAP) holds mining leases and an exploration permit for ten parcels of the potassium salt deposit at Prairie Evaporite, Saskatchewan, Canada. Acron also holds a minority stake (19.8%) in Polish Grupa Azoty S.A., one of the largest chemical producers in Europe.

In 2020, the Group sold 7.8 million tonnes of its main products to 74 countries, with Russia, Brazil, Europe and the United States as key markets.

In 2020, the Group posted consolidated IFRS revenue of RUB 119,864 million (USD 1,661 million), with EBITDA of RUB 35,311 million (USD 489 million). Acrons shares are traded on the Moscow Exchange and its global depositary receipts are traded at the London Stock Exchange (ticker AKRN). Acron employs over 11,000 people.

For more information about Acron Group, please visit www.acron.ru/en.




MIAMI, March 05, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Ultimate Publishing House's seamless publishing formula makes becoming a published author easier than ever. In today's rapidly changing business environment, having a published book is the key to increasing credibility, visibility, distinction, prestige, and multiple streams of income. Whether fiction or nonfiction, physical or electronic, UPH authors have attracted opportunities they never anticipated as published authors.

Ultimate Publishing House (UPH) has combined traditional book publishing with intellectual property creation for all types of professionals looking to expand their personal and business brands through the power of a published book. UPH has created a marketing formula that includes a published book to establish a position of authority within our author's industries. It is the perfect publishing firm for anyone who has the desire to publish a book, explains Dr. John Demartini. Ideal for entrepreneurs, physicians, health care providers, real estate agents, technology professionals, and influencers because our authors/clients have an entire team working to create the perfect book. A published book will attract unprecedented unique opportunities.

According to bestselling author, Dr. Samantha Loren of Hormone Logic, "the Ultimate Publishing process includes epic book titles, manuscript ideas, and income streams in one concise package. It is the best publishing process I have experienced because the journey is tons of fun and offers unmatched opportunities for authors." The Ultimate Publishing House's "bestseller program" includes a title and book cover creation, author website, celebrity book foreword and testimonials, a ghostwriter, and editing with worldwide distribution. Often the book publishing process can be lengthy; Ultimate Publishing has condensed the timeline with the aid of the "ultimate creative genius team." The "book multiple streams" of revenue generation campaign includes: a pre-order campaign, streams of income arising from the book, such as creating a companion journal, supplement line, or online school. Ultimate Publishing also offers worldwide distribution, as well as translation options in 52 languages. All book distribution channels are utilized, including Amazon and hundreds more. According to personal development teacher Bob Proctor, "the process is effortless and the book is the key to residual income. The Ultimate team has some of the most creative people I have ever met." https://ultimatepublishinghouse.com/about/

Dr. Roger Garcia, Author of Aged to Perfection, says, "With my busy schedule, the author meetings with my editor and project manager made it easy for me to get my book completed with less than a two-hour weekly commitment, meeting via Zoom for only seven weeks."

The Ultimate Publishing House book publishing system has been put to the test by CEO Felicia Pizzonia, who has written seven best-selling books - with the latest, Mind Candy, frequently appearing on The Ellen Show - and the next book, the Science of Closing Sales, scheduled for November 2022 release.

Felicia Pizzonia - Publisher@UltimatePublishingHouse.com

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NEW YORK, March 05, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- WHY: Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, reminds purchasers of the securities of TAL Education Group (NYSE: TAL) between April 26, 2018 and July 22, 2021, inclusive (the Class Period), of the important April 5, 2022 lead plaintiff deadline.



SO WHAT: If you purchased TAL Education securities during the Class Period you may be entitled to compensation without payment of any out of pocket fees or costs through a contingency fee arrangement.

WHAT TO DO NEXT: To join the TAL Education class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=3137 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email pkim@rosenlegal.com or cases@rosenlegal.com for information on the class action. A class action lawsuit has already been filed. If you wish to serve as lead plaintiff, you must move the Court no later than April 5, 2022. A lead plaintiff is a representative party acting on behalf of other class members in directing the litigation.

WHY ROSEN LAW: We encourage investors to select qualified counsel with a track record of success in leadership roles. Often, firms issuing notices do not have comparable experience, resources or any meaningful peer recognition. Many of these firms do not actually handle securities class actions, but are merely middlemen that refer clients or partner with law firms that actually litigate the cases. Be wise in selecting counsel. The Rosen Law Firm represents investors throughout the globe, concentrating its practice in securities class actions and shareholder derivative litigation. Rosen Law Firm has achieved the largest ever securities class action settlement against a Chinese Company. Rosen Law Firm was Ranked No. 1 by ISS Securities Class Action Services for number of securities class action settlements in 2017. The firm has been ranked in the top 4 each year since 2013 and has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors. In 2019 alone the firm secured over $438 million for investors. In 2020, founding partner Laurence Rosen was named by law360 as a Titan of Plaintiffs Bar. Many of the firms attorneys have been recognized by Lawdragon and Super Lawyers.

DETAILS OF THE CASE: According to the lawsuit, defendants throughout the Class Period made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (1) TAL Educations revenue and operational growth was the result of deceptive marketing tactics and illicit business practices that flouted Chinese laws, regulations, and policies, and exposed TAL Education to an extreme risk that more draconian measures would be imposed on TAL Education; (2) TAL Education had engaged in misleading and fraudulent advertising practices, including the provision of false and misleading discount information designed to obfuscate the true cost of TAL Educations programs to its customers, the creation of fake customer reviews designed to fraudulently lure new customers to TAL Education programs, the misrepresentation of teacher qualifications and course qualities, and the marketing of rigged promotional events; (3) TAL Education had defied Chinese policies designed to alleviate the burden imposed by tutoring services on students and their families, including by imposing hefty advances and recurring debt payments on course enrollees, by offering courses designed to give affluent students unfair advantages, by holding courses outside of allowable tutoring hours, and by linking for-profit courses to government-mandated schooling; (4) as a result, TAL Education was subject to an extreme undisclosed risk of adverse enforcement actions, regulatory fines, and penalties, and the imposition of new rules and regulations adverse to TAL Educations business and financial interests; and (5) consequently, TAL Educations historical growth was not sustainable or the result of legitimate business tactics as represented, and defendants positive statements about TAL Educations business, operations, and prospects were materially false and misleading and lacked a reasonable factual basis. When the true details entered the market, the lawsuit claims that investors suffered damages.

To join the TAL Education class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=3137 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email pkim@rosenlegal.com or cases@rosenlegal.com for information on the class action.

No Class Has Been Certified. Until a class is certified, you are not represented by counsel unless you retain one. You may select counsel of your choice. You may also remain an absent class member and do nothing at this point. An investors ability to share in any potential future recovery is not dependent upon serving as lead plaintiff.

Follow us for updates on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-rosen-law-firm, on Twitter: https://twitter.com/rosen_firm or on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rosenlawfirm/.

Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.

-------------------------------

Contact Information:

Laurence Rosen, Esq.

Phillip Kim, Esq.

The Rosen Law Firm, P.A.

275 Madison Avenue, 40th Floor

New York, NY 10016

Tel: (212) 686-1060

Toll Free: (866) 767-3653

Fax: (212) 202-3827

lrosen@rosenlegal.com

pkim@rosenlegal.com

cases@rosenlegal.com

www.rosenlegal.com
SAN FRANCISCO, March 05, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Hagens Berman urges Oak Street Health, Inc. (NYSE: OSH) investors with significant losses to submit your losses now. A securities fraud class action has been filed and certain investors may have valuable claims.



Class Period: Aug. 6, 2020  Nov. 8, 2021

Lead Plaintiff Deadline: Mar. 11, 2022

Visit: www.hbsslaw.com/investor-fraud/OSH

Contact An Attorney Now: OSH@hbsslaw.com

844-916-0895

Oak Street Health, Inc. (OSH) Securities Class Action:

The lawsuit focuses on defendants' repeated statements about Oak Streets purported innovative community outreach approach to engage Medicare eligible patients and repeated claims that its strong at- risk patient and revenue growth are largely the product of its internal sales and marketing efforts.

According to the complaint, defendants misled investors by failing to disclose that: (1) Oak Street maintained relationships with third-party marketing agents likely to provoke law enforcement scrutiny; (2) Oak Street provided free transportation to federal health care beneficiaries in a manner that would provoke law enforcement scrutiny; and, (3) these activities might violate the False Claims Act.

Investors began to learn the truth on Nov. 8, 2021, when Oak Street announced its Q3 2021 financial results, which included a slight miss from the consensus loss estimate. However, the company also disclosed it received a civil investigative demand (CID) on Nov. 1, 2021, indicating the U.S. Department of Justice is investigating the companys relationships with third-party marketing agents and whether the companys provision of free transportation to federal health care beneficiaries violated the federal False Claims Act.

This news sent the price of Oak Street shares sharply lower on Nov. 9, 2021.

Were focused on investors losses and proving Oak Street and senior management misled investors about the true sources of the companys patient and revenue growth, said Reed Kathrein, the Hagens Berman partner leading the investigation.

If you invested in Oak Street and have significant losses, or have knowledge that may assist the firms investigation, click here to discuss your legal rights with Hagens Berman.

Whistleblowers: Persons with non-public information regarding Oak Street should consider their options to help in the investigation or take advantage of the SEC Whistleblower program. Under the new program, whistleblowers who provide original information may receive rewards totaling up to 30 percent of any successful recovery made by the SEC. For more information, call Reed Kathrein at 844-916-0895 or email OSH@hbsslaw.com.

About Hagens Berman

Hagens Berman is a global plaintiffs rights complex litigation law firm focusing on corporate accountability through class-action law. The firm is home to a robust securities litigation practice and represents investors as well as whistleblowers, workers, consumers and others in cases achieving real results for those harmed by corporate negligence and fraud. More about the firm and its successes can be found at hbsslaw.com. Follow the firm for updates and news at @ClassActionLaw.
Kanye West, left, and Kim Kardashian attend the WSJ. Magazine Innovator Awards on Nov. 6, 2019, in New York. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP, File)
Goshen, IN (46526)

Today

Considerable cloudiness. Occasional rain showers this afternoon. High around 60F. Winds ESE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 60%..

Tonight

Cloudy with periods of rain. Low near 50F. Winds E at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 90%. Rainfall near a half an inch.
Tripoli, Libya (PANA) - The Secretary General of the League of Arab States, Ahmed Aboul Gheit, has said that the conditions in Libya today have become more than ever, a reason to hold elections, renew the legitimacy of Libyan institutions and put an end to the many and long transitional stages, which have become ineffective in achieving the goals for which they were formed
Austrian bus company Osterreichische Postbus AG (OBB Postbus) has signed another framework agreement with Solaris for the delivery of up to 106 battery-electric and hydrogen buses that would be deployed throughout Austria. The models offered include Urbino 9 LE electric and Urbino 12 hydrogen buses.

OBB Postbus is the largest bus company in Austria and a leader in regional public bus transport. Possible orders are to be fulfilled in the years 2022-2025 with an option to prolong this period until 2028.

Buses to be purchased by OBB include up to 24 of the latest, zero-emission Urbino 9 LE electric buses, and up to 82 Urbino 12 hydrogen buses.





The framework agreement is yet another agreement for hydrogen buses concluded between Osterreichische Postbus AG und Solaris. The previous contract signed in February 2021 assumed, among other things, the delivery of up to 40 Solaris Urbino 12 hydrogen buses.

The energy that powers the hydrogen buses is generated by 70 kW fuel cell systems.The hydrogen needed to propel the bus will be stored in gaseous form in five tanks with a total volume of 1560 liters, mounted on the buss roof. Additionally, every ordered vehicle will be equipped with a Solaris High Power battery.

The contract also provides for the possibility to purchase Urbino 9 LE electric buses, the youngest member of the electric Solaris family, which was launched in September 2021. This versatile model has been designed in such a way that it can be adapted for class I or class II type approval. Thus, the bus provides an excellent link between the urban and suburban road networks.

With its compact dimensions, the vehicle will perform excellently on steep climbs and on tight mountain bends in Austria. These 9-meter buses will be equipped with a central electric motor. The propulsion system will be powered by energy derived from a set of Solaris High Energy batteries with a total capacity of about 280 kWh, and the interior will take at least 65 passengers.

Solaris has been present in Austria since 2003 and so far the bus maker has delivered more than 400 buses to 40 towns and cities there. Nearly 70 of them are zero-emission vehicles.
The Community Announcements calendar publishes twice weekly on Thursday and Saturday. The submission deadline for Thursday announcements is noon on the previous Tuesday. The submission deadline for Saturday is noon on the previous Wednesday.
The writer is a Philadelphia-born journalist and author. He is currently a professor of journalism at Asbury University in Kentucky. Copyright 2022 Rich Manieri, distributed by Cagle Cartoons newspaper syndicate.
JACKSON  Internet crimes against children, ranging from sexual abuse and trafficking to distributing pornography, are on the rise nationally and statewide.

We are busier than weve ever been in the history of Wyoming, said Chris McDonald, special agent of the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation and commander of the Internet Crimes Against Children task force since early 2019.

McDonald receives and investigates all tips in Wyoming, from undercover operations to phone-in tips and all reporting that social media sites are required to share if they detect what they believe to...
LARAMIE  When Anastasiia Pereverten traveled to the University of Wyoming from Ukraine last month to study abroad, she and her parents discussed the possibility of a Russian invasion into their home country.

They decided that if it were to happen, Pereverten would do her best where she was far from home and continue with her education.

Now that Russian military forces are invading Ukraine, there isnt an option to return home. For the past week, the UW cultural studies student has watched from afar as explosions erupted just a 5-minute walk from her home in Kyiv, the nations capitol...
Kigali, Rwanda (PANA) - International environmental network, Environment and Development in the Third World (ENDA-Third World), has called for the preservation of Africa's natural resources
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GREENWICH  Frances Carino has four secrets for making it to her 100th birthday: I prayed a lot, ate organic food, thought good thoughts and put SweetN Low in my coffee.

Carinos propensity to think good thoughts  and to be transparent about them  brought friends to her side as she celebrated her centennial in the Nathaniel Witherell chapel Friday.

Among the partygoers was First Selectman Fred Camillo, who issued a town proclamation that declared March 4 as Frances Carino Day in Greenwich.

The proclamation highlights Carinos nature of saying exactly what is on her mind. She didnt blush when telling the Greenwich Time about her childhood in Mount Kisco, N.Y., where she got her hands dirty on the familys land.

She will stick up for anyone she feels needs help, whether its family, friends or someone she has just met, the proclamation says.

When her brother Rocco fought in World War II, a newspaper published his photo because of his status as a champion boxer in the Army. But Carinos mother, who only spoke Italian, thought the photo had been published because her son had died.

Frances Carino tried to explain the photo to her mother, but without a recent letter from Rocco, she was unsuccessful and went to the Red Cross to inquire about her brothers status.

The worker told her a version of no news is good news, to which she replied, Go to hell.

Bob Carino, one of her two children, said the story is a key example of his mothers blunt manner.

Although her mother remembers many stories from the past with great detail, the wartime stories are the most vivid for her, he said, when people she loved came home with trauma.

Her family is a central part of Carinos 100 years. Growing up, she lived with her parents, uncle and aunt, five siblings and eight cousins.

When she met her husband, Angelo Carino, he said he wanted to go steady. Frances Carino told him she wanted to be married within six months to a year.

They settled down in Greenwich on Pemberwick Road  in a two-story home where she resided until the age of 86.

The couple had two sons, Bob and Peter. Now, Carino has two daughter-in-laws and two grandchildren.

When asked what are you most proud of, Carino said, Everything I do. The man I married, the kids I have, that nobody did drugs.

When her granddaughter Elizabeth Carino got married last June, she had one venue in mind: the Nathaniel Witherell. She wanted her grandmother to be there.

A few months before the wedding, Frances Carino was told she needed a pacemaker and had to decide whether she wanted to have the operation. She told the doctor she had to make it to the wedding and underwent surgery.

Frances Carino told the Greenwich Time that she never wanted to live to be 100 but is glad to anyway. If God lets me live, I live, she said.

She lived independently in a single-story house on Bible Street until 2018.

She never thinks shes old, Bob Carino said. She looks frail. But really, deep down, shes pretty rugged.

annelise.hanshaw@hearstmediact.com
The Ukrainian military has mounted an unexpectedly fierce defense against invading Russian forces, which have been dogged by logistical problems and flagging morale. But the war is barely two weeks old, and in Washington and European capitals, officials anticipate that the Russian military will reverse its early losses, setting the stage for a long, bloody insurgency.

The ways that Western countries would support a Ukrainian resistance are beginning to take shape. Officials have been reluctant to discuss detailed plans, since they're premised on a Russian military victory that, however likely, hasn't happened yet. But as a first step, Ukraine's allies are planning for how to help establish and support a government-in-exile, which could direct guerrilla operations against Russian occupiers, according to several U.S. and European officials.

The weapons the United States have provided to Ukraine's military, and that continue to flow into the country, would be crucial to the success of an insurgent movement, officials said. The Biden administration has asked Congress, infused with a rare bipartisan spirit in defense of Ukraine, to take up a $10 billion humanitarian aid and military package that includes funding to replenish the stocks of weapons that have already been sent.

Should the United States and its allies choose to back an insurgency, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky would be the pivotal force, officials said, maintaining morale and rallying Ukrainians living under Russian occupation to resist their powerful and well-equipped foe.

The possible Russian takeover of Kyiv has prompted a flurry of planning at the State Department, Pentagon and other U.S. agencies in the event that the Zelensky government has to flee the capital or the country itself.

"We're doing contingency planning now for every possibility," including a scenario in which Zelensky establishes a government-in-exile in Poland, said a U.S. administration official, who, like others, spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss a sensitive security matter.

Zelensky, who has called himself Russia's "target No. 1," remains in Kyiv and has assured his citizens he's not leaving. He has had discussions with U.S. officials about whether he should move west to a safer position in the city of Lviv, closer to the Polish border. Zelensky's security detail has plans ready to swiftly relocate him and members of his cabinet, a senior Ukrainian official said. "So far, he has refused to go."

Mykhailo Podolyak, an adviser to Zelensky, declined to describe any contingency plans Ukraine was making in the event that Russian forces capture the capital.

"One can only say that Ukraine is preparing for the defense of Kyiv as purposefully as Russia is preparing for its attack on Kyiv," Podolyak said.

"This war has become a people's war for Ukrainians," he continued. "We must win the war. There are no other options."

Volodymyr Ariev, a member of Ukraine's parliament from the opposition European Solidarity party, expressed confidence that the Rada, Ukraine's parliament, would continue to be able to meet despite the wartime situation and noted that many lawmakers remain in Kyiv.

"In our party, we didn't discuss any plan of evacuation, because we don't want to give up," Ariev said. "We are not in this government, but we have arms, and we will fight against invaders here, together with the people. This is the only plan we have - no evacuation, nothing."

Nevertheless, European diplomats, like their American counterparts, are starting to prepare for how to support the Ukrainian government if Kyiv falls or the country is entirely occupied by Russia. A United Nations resolution this past week condemning the invasion, which drew 141 votes, is one element of "laying the groundwork" to recognize Zelensky's administration as Ukraine's legitimate government and to keep it afloat even if it no longer controls territory, said a senior European diplomat.

"We haven't made a plan yet, per se, but it would be something we would be ready to move on right away," the diplomat said. "In our experience, it helps to know generally you have international support."

As early as last December, some U.S. officials saw signs that the Ukrainian military was preparing for an eventual resistance, even as Zelensky downplayed the threat of invasion.

During an official visit, a Ukrainian special operations commander told Rep. Michael Waltz, R-Fla., Rep. Seth Moulton, D-Mass., and other lawmakers that they were shifting training and planning to focus on maintaining an armed opposition, relying on insurgent-like tactics.

Ukrainian officials told the lawmakers that they were frustrated that the United States had not sent Harpoon missiles to target Russian ships and Stinger missiles to attack Russian aircraft, Moulton and Waltz said in separate interviews. The United States diverted some military aid to Ukraine that it had planned to send to Afghanistan, but that package mostly included small arms, ammunition and medical kits meant for a fight against the Taliban, not Russia, said Waltz, who served in Afghanistan as a Special Forces officer.

As the Russian military struggles with logistical challenges - including fuel and food shortages - Waltz anticipates that the Ukrainians will repeatedly strike Russian supply lines. To do that, they need a steady supply of weapons and the ability to set improvised explosive devices, he said.

"Those supply lines are going to be very, very vulnerable, and that's where you really literally starve the Russian army."

Moulton, who served in Iraq as a Marine Corps infantry officer, said that he is in favor of sending Harpoons and Stingers - the administration has decided to send the latter weapons, according to a U.S. official and a document obtained by The Washington Post - but that using them also will require training.

"You can't ship them to Ukraine at the last minute and expect some national guardsman to pick up a Stinger and shoot down an aircraft," he said. Continuing a resistance campaign will require continued clandestine shipments of small arms, ammunition, explosives and even cold-weather gear.

"Think about the kinds of things that would be used by saboteurs as opposed to an army repelling a frontal invasion," Moulton said.

Officials remain cautious about overt support for a Ukrainian insurgency lest it draw NATO member countries into direct conflict with Russia. In Moscow's eyes, support for a Zelensky government operating in Poland could constitute an attack by the alliance, some officials warned.

But Ukraine's leaders and its citizens aren't likely to be deterred by NATO's concerns.

"I doubt very much that the Ukrainians will not continue an underground resistance campaign even after the Russians establish control," said a senior Western intelligence official.

Moscow has "grossly underestimated Ukraine's ability to resist," the official said. "I'm reminded, especially by my eastern colleagues, about Ukrainians themselves. Ukrainians were some of the fiercest fighters . . . for the Soviets during World War II." He predicted that a resistance would continue for months and possibly years.

The United States has backed and fought against successful insurgencies. Veterans of such conflicts say that the Ukrainians so far have demonstrated the key ingredient.

"The number one thing you have to have is people on the ground who want to fight," said Jack Devine, a retired senior CIA officer who ran the agency's successful covert campaign to arm Afghan fighters who drove out the Soviet military in the 1980s.

If Russian and Ukrainian negotiators who have been meeting near the border in Belarus reach some settlement, that will likely diminish the momentum for an insurgency and support for it, Devine predicted.

Marta Kepe, a senior defense analyst at the Rand Corp. who studies resistance movements, said that they often change during the course of a war.

"As occupation progresses and extends for a longer time, what can start out as a more centralized resistance often changes into smaller resistance groups or units. It is not a negative thing," she said. "In fact, smaller groups allow more resilience."

NATO policymakers admire the spirit of the Ukrainian forces, but they also say that their ability to hold out against Russia is not unlimited, especially as stocks of ammunition dwindle and the Russian military extends its encirclement of major cities.

"Russia has more troops than Ukraine," said a second senior European diplomat. "Ukrainian troops are very brave, but they are already fighting more than a week."

Experts in resistance and urban warfare said Russian occupation forces will try to squeeze supply pipelines and cut off cities.

Rita Konaev, director of analysis for Georgetown University's Center for Security and Emerging Technology, said Ukraine should be preparing its citizens for combat in cities accompanied by mass air and artillery bombardment, which Russia will use to try to reduce the amount of door-to-door fighting that taking cities requires.

Konaev said that Ukrainians should also lay in supplies in advance, because Russian forces will likely disable the electrical grid and cut off access to water in the cities, and that they should establish safe areas underground to survive the aerial bombardment.

Once Russian forces try to move into the cities, Ukrainians will have an advantage because they know the terrain, she said. They can build barriers, destroy bridges to limit entrances into the city, and place snipers on rooftops.

"In urban warfare, defense has the advantage," Konaev said.

European leaders have been trying to game out what Russian President Vladimir Putin would accept as a potential end state for a defeated Ukraine. Policymakers say they don't have a clear sense, although the first European diplomat said that Putin might attempt to reduce Ukraine "to a much smaller state."

Under that scenario, western Ukraine would remain independent. The other territories would be incorporated into Russia, occupied, or declared independent states, as the Kremlin has already done with the Donetsk and Luhansk regions.

But Russia's ability to impose that vision is "most improbable," the diplomat said, given the profound anger in Ukraine against the Russian invasion.

"This is a country of 40 million [people]," the diplomat said. The Kremlin "can try to have a strategy. But I think in our strategic calculations we are always forgetting one small obstacle, and that's the will of the people. Putin has forgotten how to be elected in a democratic way."

NATO leaders also say that even if Russia captures Kyiv, that would not end the resistance, nor the existence of the Ukrainian state.

"Russians cannot occupy all the country and subdue it," said Latvian Defense Minister Artis Pabriks, whose country maintained a diplomatic service in exile for 51 years after it was occupied in 1940 by the Soviet Union. Washington never recognized the annexation of the three Baltic states.

"There will be a partisan war, there will be resistance. So even if Kyiv falls that does not mean the end of the war," Pabriks said.

- - -

Stern reported from Mukachevo, Ukraine. The Washington Post's Ellen Nakashima and Paul Sonne contributed to this report.
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GREENWICH  Long COVID compelled Melissa Wynne, a Greenwich-raised resident of Los Angeles, to return to her Connecticut roots and enjoy her recovery time in the comfort of her parents house before spurring her to a more adventurous lifestyle.

Wynne, a documentary producer, became ill in April 2020 and developed symptoms that seemed to get worse and weirder, she said. She believed she had COVID-19 in April and confirmed her suspicion with a positive antibody test months later.

She documented chest pain and pressure, trouble breathing, hormone problems, new allergic reactions, nerve pain and anxiety stemming from her illness.

An estimated 10 percent of those who contract COVID-19 will display symptoms beyond 12 weeks, according to data by the United Kingdoms Office for National Statistics. There are studies showing both greater and smaller prevalence of long COVID.

Wynne sought help in Los Angeles but received only cavalier advice from specialists. The neurologist that examined her for the tingling sensation in her hands, face, eyes and stomach thought she might have carpal tunnel or anxiety.

I dont expect a doctor to understand, like, the ins and outs of long COVID at a point where COVID is a brand new virus, but I do expect to be treated with respect and to really be believed, Wynne said of her frustration.

She asked a cardiologist, who was dumbfounded by her trouble breathing, to order a COVID-19 antibody test. Wynne thought it would help convince the doctors that COVID-19 had damaged her body, but even the positive antibody test was met with skepticism, she said.

Wynne didnt experience a loss of taste or smell, infamous signs that separate COVID-19 from a cold. A pulmonologist, another doctor Wynne paid to see, said that without a loss of taste or smell, he couldnt make a diagnosis.

As late as June 25, 2020, Jay Butler, deputy director for infectious diseases at the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, told reporters he didnt know whether or not (lingering symptoms) could be something that could persist for more than a few months.

Now, long COVID is recognized as a disability in Connecticut, and the National Institutes of Health has launched research to learn more about the condition.

Wynne, frustrated with the lack of help in Los Angeles, flew to Connecticut in August 2020 to live with her parents. It was the first flight of many that year between the two coasts.

She had just started a new job, and living with her parents allowed her to work full-time remotely and concentrate on her health.

This isnt like because Ive like failed and have to move back in with my parents or whatever; its actually something I want to do, Wynne said of her decision to return to Connecticut. I just felt very comforted to be home, and it took a lot off my plate in terms of having to take care of just even cooking.

By October, she knew she wanted more time with her parents. Wynne moved out of the house she shared with roommates in Los Angeles and stayed in Connecticut from November until late April.

She continued to see doctors but found the best relief from receiving lymphatic massage, a gentle massage intended to reduce swelling related to fluid produced by the lymph nodes. There appear to be no studies on the effects of lymphatic massage on long COVID, though research suggests massage can treat fatigue during a patients recovery.

Ultimately, Wynnes COVID-19 vaccination gave her the largest boost toward recovery.

Once I got vaccinated, my symptoms were greatly reduced, pretty much immediately. Id had this like pressing feeling in my chest the whole time I was sick. And within like 24 hours, that feeling had been relieved, she said.

Other long haulers in online long COVID communities reported similar results from the vaccines, she said. Yale Medicine researchers launched a study in 2021 on the effect of the COVID-19 on long COVID; findings have not yet been published.

Wynne received her vaccination early when she volunteered at a vaccination site in Los Angeles, which prompted her emotional move back to the West Coast.

I had such a nice time in Connecticut. It was just like a nice opportunity to just sort of like spend a lot of family time and cook with my mom and really relax, she said.

Wynne signed a lease on an apartment in Los Angeles. And when production ended on the show where she was working, Wynne applied for an opportunity that would encourage her to travel.

I wanted to start working out in the world again, like in the field producing, and start just getting back out there. I felt safe that I was vaccinated and just wanted to be working on site and stuff, Wynne said.

Now she has been working nonstop and traveling a lot since October.

Wynne still doesnt feel quite back to her pre-COVID self. She wrestles with brain fog, hormone stuff, acid reflux and newfound food sensitivities.

But shes hopeful that the spreading awareness of long COVID leads to more treatment options and, even better, a cure.

Its not just people who got sick at the very beginning, Wynne said. Its people who are getting sick now are still like having issues a few months later. So it seems like (long COVID) is something that isnt going away.

annelise.hanshaw@hearstmediact.com
Its the most magical time of the year for those of us with a sweet tooth and a love of nostalgia  Girl Scout Cookies season has finally arrived!

Whether you prefer classics like Thin Mints or newfangled cookies like the Toast-yay!, youre bound to find something to set the heart and taste buds of your inner child aglow.

Due to COVID-19, Girl Scout Cookies season looks a little different these days. In the interest of social distancing, traditional cookie booths may not be as prevalent, if they happen at all.

In lieu of popping up outside a grocery store, Guam Girl Scouts partnered with Good To Go We Deliver. Cookies will be available for pre-order beginning Monday, with deliveries beginning Thursday.

Its like an online cookie booth. We offer curbside pickup here to the customers. There are some who also choose to have it delivered to their home or place of work. And then, even if they were to purchase on Good To Go, they can select a troop that their cookie sales can benefit.  We also include the villages or the schools that you know the troop from, said Karina Quito, executive director of Guam Girl Scouts.

If they know the Girl Scout, we also incorporate a place where they can type in the girls name so the girl can still get the credit for the sale on it, Quito said. Its a bit different. Weve had to think outside the box, really, especially last year, and it worked out really well and Good To Go is awesome; theyve agreed to partner with our girls again this year.

New cookie

The good news doesnt stop there. According to Quito, there is also a brand new Girl Scout cookie on the market, which may console folks sad to see that Girl Scout Smores are no longer on the menu.

This new cookie is Adventurefuls and its been getting a number of good reviews. Its a brownie-inspired cookie with caramel and a little sprinkle of sea salt, Quito said.

As if it werent enough to simply bless the world with access to these bites of edible joy, Girl Scouts are actually up to some serious business throughout these cookie sales.

Entrepreneurship

The process intentionally focuses girls of all ages on the skills of entrepreneurship, including goal setting, decision-making, money management, people skills and business ethics.

During our cookie season and while we prep for it, the girls are learning these skills and carrying out different activities so that they perfect these skills along the way. Its a progressive program. So as they move up from one level to the next, their skills and their challenges are different. It grows with them. As they get older, theyre focused on the same five skills, but their tasks are different, Quito said.

If you start off with our Girl Scout Daisies, usually they have them gather the customer, where they practice their people skills and communicate, get them to the booth. When you get to the booth, you may have another Girl Scout level thats actually talking to you about the different cookies, telling you more about them  the vegan option, the different flavors. And then if you come to making the purchase and giving the money, then you may be dealing with a Girl Scout Junior, Quito said.

You really do see them progress from level to level. And then, before you know it, when theyre in high school, they know how to run a business. Or they have this entrepreneurial spirit. They want to try different things and launch their own business.

Developing skills.

Sophia Taitano, an eighth grader at Science is Fun and Awesome Learning Academy Charter School, has been a Girl Scout for six years and is now a Girl Scout Cadette. She credits her experience in the program with developing her social and leadership skills.

Its really been a journey, socially. When I first started, I noticed that I was really shy and even speaking in front of small crowds, like my family or even my classmates, I was just terrified, Taitano said. And now, throughout the years, Ive noticed that Im able to do things like this, you know, an interview  or public speaking in Student Council and eighth-grade council at my school.  And also my charge to take leadership roles, Ive noticed that Im just more prone to leadership since Ive been in Girl Scouts. So thats been amazing.

Beyond necessary interpersonal skills, money management is an integral part of the work Girl Scouts do through their cookie sales.

For Girl Scout Brownie Alnessa Nanipol, a fifth grader at Agana Heights Elementary School who has been with the organization for five years, its one of the best parts.

Ive learned my people skills and math skills. Because you have to count your orders and the boxes and thats really fun, Nanipol said.

That is something Ive gained a lot of, things like money management, dealing with the incoming money from customers and making sure its the right amount and that its written down. I think thats a skill that Ive really, really worked on and Ive been able to improve, Taitano said.

Funding

According to Quito, the money earned by Girl Scouts goes toward funding annual membership fees, group activities and their community service. Taitano and Nanipol were both ambitious in setting their goals this time around.

Normally in the start of a Girl Scout season for cookies, well have a meeting together and well just set an initial number of boxes that wed like to meet. And then, down the line, well talk about some things that wed like to do with the funds that we get from those cookies. For me in boxes, (the goal) was about 1,000. And I was able to reach that in, I believe, a little less than a week, Taitano said.

For this year, my goal was 800. But I hadnt looked at my orders and like, at a couple of days it reached 1,000. And that was amazing. So I had to set a new goal. So now my new goal is like 2,500, Nanipol said.

Community service

In addition to outdoor or artistic activities, troops commit to Take Action community service initiatives. According to Quito, the focus of recent projects has been on the environment and mental health.

Aside from our fun activities, we also like to plan out our upcoming community outreach activities. So anything pertaining to the community that we can help out with, those are the things that we keep in mind when were selling, Taitano said.

We normally like to do Take Action Projects each year. In the past weve repainted bus stops that were not up to par, they just were an eyesore, so weve done that in the past. ... And one of our most recent ones was a take-a-book-leave-a-book little library that we were able to give to schools, mayors offices and businesses.

Participating in community service while growing the skill sets of local girls and providing the rest of us with incredibly delicious cookies is a pretty incredible combination of activities. The Girl Scouts truly have it all.

To me, being a Girl Scout means that youre able to naturally go to leadership. Thats what you look for, thats what you seek. But aside from leadership roles, part of being a Girl Scout is helping your community, as Ive said before, so those two aspects along with being able to talk to people in your community, your friends, your family and build connections, not only with them, but with the girls in your troop and others around you, Taitano said.
To help provide essential items such as hand sanitizer and toiletries to those in need on island, the Guam Association of Realtors reached out to the community through supply drives at local stores.

The most recent event was held Saturday at Pay-Less Sopermarkey in Maite. Enthusiastic members of the associations community service committee asked customers to buy and donate items to St. Dominics Senior Care Home.

Items the care home asked for included Lysol products, hand sanitizer, rubbing alcohol, KH95 masks, shampoo, mouthwash, lotion and body wash.

Were overwhelmed by the amount of support from the community. They have been very generous, Madelene Campos, chairperson of the community service committee, said as she stood in front of an almost full table with bottles of hand sanitizer and rubbing alcohol.

Campos said association members used to visit the residents of St. Dominics, but after the COVID-19 pandemic began, they thought of new ways to safely help, such as supply drive donations.

It really touches my heart when people actually care and donate, said Mark Candelaria, co-chair of the community service committee. When you explain to them what this is for, they come back and give so much. Its really heartwarming.

Previous drives

The association also held a food and supply drive Friday at Cost-U-Less in Tamuning for Victim Advocates Reaching Out. The organization provides free services to victims and families of domestic violence, abuse, sexual assault, violent crime and traumatic events.

Campos said the association plans to continue initiatives to assist the community the whole year.

The next event, planned for the end of March, is a packaged meal distribution to the homeless in Hagatna.
Tripoli, Libya (PANA) - The rival prime minister in Libya, Fathi Bachagha, and his government say they welcome the statement issued by five Western countries known as the "2 + 3" group, condemning "acts of violence, kidnappings and intimidation"
With the rules and regulations for cannabis growers, manufacturers and retailers being finalized, one big question still remains: What happens to the money a recreational cannabis industry will produce?

Cannabis has been legal for adult recreational use since 2019, but the plant still is classified as a Schedule 1 controlled substance federally. Many banks are hesitant to accept money from marijuana-related businesses because of potential penalties from federal regulators, such as the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation.

The Cannabis Control Board and Banking and Insurance Board both discussed the problem last week.

According to Cannabis Control Board member Adrian Cruz, the money issue is unresolved.

Growers, manufacturers and sellers wont be able to bank their revenuemuch of which will end up coming in as cash because of federal regulations, Cruz said. He said numerous people were interested in applying for licenses to sell or grow cannabis, but they wouldnt invest if there was no way to store their money.

Cash-only businesses also would invite money laundering and theft.

Tax collections

The banking problem is an issue with tax collections too, Cruz told board members, as the Department of Revenue and Taxation wouldnt be able to store any of tax money collected without a bank to accept money from cannabis businesses.

According to Rev and Tax Director Dafne Shimizu, also present at both meetings, the insurance and banking commission in Hawaii used a third-party vendor  a bank in Colorado  to handle the processing of payments for Hawaiis medicinal cannabis industry.

Rev and Tax was in contact with Hawaiian officials, but it was still unclear to her how the Hawaiian government received payments from licensees, she said.

Cruz said the Colorado bank used an electronic system similar to PayPal to process payments.

I cant speak for the other banks, but I know that we do have a department that is researching this matter, said Danilo Rapadas, chief risk officer for Bank of Guam. Weve developed policies based on what were doing in San Francisco, that may or may not address everybodys concerns.

Rapadas said that businesses that were related to the cannabis industry, like fertilizer suppliers and accountants, were easily banked. But businesses that actually handled the cannabis were probably still unbankable.

John McKinnon, regulatory risk officer for BankPacific, said regulators for his company were advising that accepting cash from cannabis businesses would be very risky.

Cruz advised the board to make the banking issue a priority.

It would be such an incredible waste of our time that we spent putting together rules and regs, and at the end of the day, when day one happens, we cant take their money.

The Legislature is expected to approve the rules and regulations for the licensing of cannabis businesses within the next 90 days.




Haiti - FLASH : USA opens a permanent office of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in Haiti





Thursday, February 3, 2022, , U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcements (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) officially opened a permanent HSI office at the U.S. Embassy in Port-au-Prince.



The permanent office in Haiti intend to further strengthen country relations to combat gang related crimes, bring criminals to justice, and protect public safety.



Port-au-Prince office will develop and foster relationships with host government law enforcement partners to exchange information, coordinate, and support investigations, and facilitate enforcement actions and prosecutions to deter the ability of transnational criminal organizations and gangs to smuggle contraband with a nexus to Haiti and the United States. HSI Port-au-Prince will work with its counterparts in Haiti to identify and target sources of supply and illuminate and disrupt transportation and smuggling routes.



HSI Port-au-Prince has begun working towards the establishment of a Transnational Criminal Investigative Unit in Haiti by building relationships with the host country law enforcement and customs organizations. HSIs TCIUs comprise trained and vetted foreign law enforcement officials who work closely alongside HSI to investigate and prosecute individuals involved in transnational criminal activity. These units facilitate information exchange and rapid bilateral investigation of many of the violations of law within HSIs investigative purview.



"For more than 15 years, HSI has worked alongside international law enforcement agencies around the world, to investigate and prosecute individuals involved in transnational criminal activity," said Francis. "As partners, and most importantly allies, we are united in our resolve to support Haiti as they seek ways to prevent further gang violence and restore safety for Haitian citizens."



In the last year, HSI has deployed multiple special agents to Haiti in support of Operation CITADEL. Operation CITADEL acts as a force multiplier and is designed to strengthen law enforcement, customs, and immigration enforcement capabilities of host nations, while supporting HSI investigations. Operation CITADEL focuses on identifying and disrupting transnational criminal organizations by targeting the mechanisms used to move migrants, illicit funds, and contraband throughout the Caribbean and South and Central America.



HL/ HaitiLibre






















Haiti - Gonaives : An ex-prisoner graduated in troubled circumstances at the Law School





The Rectorate of the State University of Haiti (UEH) in a note dated March 4, 2022, said it had learned "with dismay that a former prisoner, recently released, has just graduated in troubled circumstances at the Gonaives School of Law and Economics (EDSEG). He would have successfully completed the study cycle of the 4 years of the 2017-2021 promotion, which nevertheless includes the last two years of his imprisonment."



The Rectorate recalls that the package of measures adopted in April and August 2020 https://www.icihaiti.com/en/news-31956-icihaiti-gonaives-school-of-law-and-economics-reminder-of-the-ueh.html remains in force, including the non-recognition of all activities and academic evaluations carried out by the illegal leaders of EDSEG, including entrance examinations, session examinations, dissertation defenses, graduations.



"The Rectorate declines all responsibility in this story which once again confirms the descent into hell of EDSEG and the need for its profound restructuring."



The Rectorate recalls that it is in this perspective that a Restructuring Commission was created in August 2020 deploring "Unfortunately the latter was prevented from giving its full measure, the School's premises still being taken hostage by usurpers without title or quality, some of which have just been called to order by the Superior Council of the Judiciary."



See also :

https://www.icihaiti.com/en/news-31956-icihaiti-gonaives-school-of-law-and-economics-reminder-of-the-ueh.html



HL/ HaitiLibre


















News and commentary on organized crime, street crime, white collar crime, cyber crime, sex crime, crime fiction, crime prevention, espionage and terrorism.




Haiti - Diaspora Covid-19 : Daily Bulletin #715





GLOBAL SITUATION 2019-2022:

Epidemiological situation:



Saturday March 5, 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 444,122,016 cases (+1,599,963 in 24 hours ), the day before (+1,757,609)



Number of infected countries: 224



*Healings: 376,951,678 people have been cured of Covid-19 worldwide (+1,487,059 in 24 hours), the day before (+2,121,080)

*Deaths: 6,010,312 people died of Covid-19 worldwide (+7,289 in 24 hours), the day before (+8,898)

*Active cases (minus deaths and recoveries) in the world is currently 61,160,026 cases (+105,615 in 24 hours), the day before (-372,369)



Average cure rate in the world: 84.87% (+)



Average mortality rate in the world: 1.35% (=)



World: Number of daily confirmed cases





(Day-1)



Vaccination: 10.90 billion doses of vaccine injected (+20 million doses injected in 24 hours. Update March 4, 2022 (latest data available).



HAITI:

Epidemiological situation:

According to the Ministry of Public Health, +32 new cases of Covid-19 and its variants have been confirmed in Haiti as of March 1, 2022 (latest partial data available ) for a total of 30,382 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 (+14 cases on February 26, 2022).



Healings: 25,485 (+255)



Cure rate: 83.88% (+)



Deaths: 820 deaths (+0)



Death rate: 2.69% (-)



5th Wave (Omicron Dominant):

Total of the 5th wave (starting December 27, 2021) amounts to 4,387 confirmed cases and 54 deaths



Haiti: Active Cases Trend: (less recoveries and deaths)





(Day-1)



Screening since the start of the pandemic: 180,587 tests (+1,470 in 3 days) 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: 729 (+3); Petion-ville 613 (+1); Port au Prince 405 (+1); Tabarre 282 (+4); Cross-Bouquets 228 (+4)



Confirmed cases by department (2022 / 2021 / 2020):

West: 2022: 2,507 cases; (2021: 9.890); (2020: 6,945 cases)

North: 2022: 262 cases; (2021: 664); (2020: 677 cases)

Center: 2022: 215 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: 230 cases; (2021: 768); (2020: 274 cases)

South: 2022: 212 cases; (2021: 891); (2020: 262 cases)

North West: 2022: 245 cases; (2021: 383); (2020: 229 cases)

Grand'Anse: 2022: 144 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:

155,824 Haitians (1.34% of the population) +591 in 3 days have received a 1st dose of vaccine since July 16, 2021, date of the first injection through 149 open vaccination centers and 104,984 Haitians are fully vaccinated (2 doses, 0.9% of the population) +595 in 3 days. Update February 26, 2022 latest information available (source MSPP).



List of the 149 Vaccination Centers open in Haiti (and hours) by department:

(updated October 20, 2021, latest information available)

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-35051-haiti-covid-19-list-of-149-vaccination-centers-open-in-the-country.html



DIASPORA:

Epidemiological situation:



USA:

*Cases since the first case (February 29, 2020): 80,895,651 cases (+52,081 in 24 hours), the day before (+72.966)

*Healings: 54,344,934 healings (+207,970 in 24 hours), the day before (+191,175)

National Cure Rate: 67.17% (+)

*Deaths: 983,486 deaths (+1,757 in 24 hours), the day before (+2,004)

National death rate: 1.21% (=)

*Active cases (minus deaths and recoveries): 25,567,231 (-157,646 in 24 hours), the day before (-120,213)

Tests: 955,780,795 last data available.



USA: Number of daily confirmed cases





(Day-1)



Vaccination: 554.64 million doses of vaccine injected since December 14, 2020, date of the first injection in the United States (+370,000 doses in 24 hours). Updated March 5, 2022 (latest data available).



DOMINICAN REPUBLIC:

Confirmed cases since March 1, 2020: 575,592 cases (+156 in 24 hours) the day before (+279 in 24 hours). First case (March 1, 2020)

Healings: 569,533 healings (+239 in 24 hours), the day before (+347)

National Cure Rate: 98.94% (+)

Deaths: 4,370 deaths (+0 in 24 hours), the day before (+0)

Death rate: 0.75% (=)

Positive rate over 4 epidemiological weeks: 4.6% (-)

Active cases: (excluding deaths and recoveries) 1,689 cases (-83 in 24 hours) the day before (-68)



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:

Santo Domingo: +40 new cases in 24 hours

La Altagravia: +36 new cases in 24 hours

Santiago: +24 new cases in 24 hours

National District: +14 new cases in 24 hours

San Jose de Ocoa: +13 new cases



Tests (since the 1st case): 3,134,774 tests (+6,219 in 24 hours), the day before (+6,439)



Vaccination: 15.29 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). Updated March 5, 2022 (latest data available).



QUEBEC:

Confirmed cases since the first case (February 27, 2020): 926,920 (+2,611 in 48 hours), previous (+1,630 in 24 hours)

Healings: 898,498 people (+3,425 in 48 hours), previous (+1,228 in 24 hours)

Cure rate: 96.93% (+)

Deaths: 14,056 deaths (+40 in 48 hours), previous (+20 in 24 hours)

Death rate: 1.51% (=)

Active cases: (excluding death and recovery) 14,366 15,220 cases (-854 in 48 hours), previous (+382 in 24 hours)



Quebec: Confirmed case trend:





(average weekly trend)



Test: 16,764,228 people tested since the first case (+30,656 in 48 hours)



Vaccination: 18,456,842 doses of vaccine injected since December 14, 2020, date of the first injection (+8,739 doses in 48 hours), latest data available - MSSS as of March 4, 2022)



FRANCE:

*Confirmed cases since the first case (January 24, 2020): 22,958,320 cases (+57,789 cases in 24 hours), previous (+60,225)

*Healings: 21,483,142 healings (+118,843 in 24h), previous (+131,196)

National Cure Rate: 93.57% (+)

Deaths: 139,123 deaths (+181 in 24 hours), previous (+180)

Death rate: 0.60% (=)

Active Cases: 1,336,055 (-60,822 in 24h), previous (-71,151)

Test: 246,629,975 (last data available February 27, 2022)



France: Number of daily confirmed cases:





(Day-1)



Vaccination: 141.06 million doses of vaccine injected since December 27, 2020, date of the first injection in France (+70,000 doses injected in 24 hours. Update March 5, 2022 (latest data available)



Previous bulletin : https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-36099-haiti-diaspora-covid-19-daily-bulletin-714.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...





The file of Me Monferrier Dorval Reconstituted

The file of Me Monferrier Dorval president of the Bar Association of Port-au-Prince assassinated on August 28, 2020 https://www.icihaiti.com/en/news-31661-icihaiti-pelerin-5-assassination-of-the-president-of-the-bar-of-port-au-prince.html and whose file had disappeared after the burglary of the registry of the Court of First Instance (TPI) of Port-au-Prince in November 2021 https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-35209-haiti-flash-the-safe-of-the-general-registry-of-the-tpi-of-port-au-prince-has-disappeared.html was finally reconstituted by the Central Directorate of the Judicial Police, confirmed Me Bernard Sainvil, Dean of the TPI of Port-au-Prince.



Evans Paul suggests declaring a state of siege

Former Prime Minister Evans Paul suggests declaring a state of siege in order to deal with the climate of terror established by the armed bandits who control the capital. Read also about the State of Siege : https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-34168-haiti-flash-the-state-of-siege-is-declared-in-haiti.html



Fraud : The ULCC investigates in Papaye

While prevention work continues, the Anti-Corruption Unit (ULCC) works on the ground to suppress corruption. Investigators traveled to Hinche to investigate corruption in the management of state properties in the locality of Papaye



CARICOM mission soon in Haiti

"Soon a Caricom exploratory mission will visit Haiti to examine how they can help us put in place the structure and conditions for fair and transparent elections," announced Prime Minister ai Ariel Henry "We want to talk about the Electoral Council Provisional and many other non-functional institutions. This mission will also meet all of the country's defense forces for assessments and recommendations necessary for the fight against insecurity."



Training on seismic stations

On March 4, 2022, training for technicians from the Technical Unit of Seismology (UTS) of Haiti on the configuration and maintenance of seismic stations ended. This training was supported by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP-Haiti) and the Japanese Embassy in Port-au-Prince.



Petit-Goave : New Director at the DGI

Thursday March 3, 2022, a delegation of DGI executives composed of Frantz Georges Director of the Carrefour Tax Center, Gedeus Esaie Inspector Controller, the Departmental Director of the South, proceeded to the installation of Lafontant Wilfrid Jean-Baptiste, former Director of Taxes of Leogane as the new Director of the Tax Center of Petit-Goave in replacement of Ernst Jean Brice transferred to Leogane. HaitiLibre/ Guyto Mathieu (Petit-Goave correspondent).



HL/ HaitiLibre


















Published on 2022/03/05 | Source

Korean movie "Take Care of My Mom" added to HanCinema database

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"Take Care of My Mom" (2021)

Directed by Park Kyung-mok

With Kim Young-ok, Kim Young-min, Park Sung-yeon, Kim Hye-na, Lee Jung-eun,...

Synopsis

Stranger like family, family like stranger

What is 85-year-old Mrs. Jeong Mal-im's choice?

Mrs. Jeong Mal-im, an 85-year-old lady enjoys living alone with her longtime friend's dog in an old Western-style house in Daegu. Her only son, Jong-wook, will visit from Seoul after a long time, and while preparing here and there, her arm broke, and through the accident, a caregiver named Mi-seon was hired. She really hates being indebted to her children, and she doesn't feel comfortable with others so she insists on sending Mi-seon away, and Jong-wook who installed CCTVs due to his worries for her mother is frustrated at what's happening.

Meanwhile, Mrs. Jeong seems to disappear from objects and side dishes after Mi-seon came, but there is no physical evidence, and Mi-seon, who takes care of her more gently than her real son, is proud of her, and the two become like real mothers and daughters.

Then, one holiday, when Jong-wook's family suddenly visited, the conflict in the relationship that had been buried, bursts when they saw Mi-seon wearing the clothes of Mrs. Jeong, which was a gift from her daughter-in-law Yoo-jin...

What's wrong with this family? We'll live together now so "Take Care of My Mom".

Release date in Korea : 2022/04
Published on 2022/03/04 | Source

New poster added for the upcoming Korean movie "Yaksha: Ruthless Operations" (2022)

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Directed by Nah Hyeon

With Sol Kyung-gu, Park Hae-soo, Yang Dong-geun, Lee El, Song Jae-rim, Jinyoung,...

Synopsis

"Yaksha: Ruthless Operations" is a story about the leader of a spy agency's secret operation team in Shenyang, China, and the prosecutor who was demoted to the spy agency as he searched for a missing high-ranking North Korean official.

Release date in Korea : 2022/04/08
Quincy, IL (62301)

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China launched six small communication satellites on Saturday afternoon. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

China launched six small communication satellites on Saturday afternoon, which are tasked with establishing the country's first low-orbit, broadband internet network.

Designed and built by the Beijing-based private satellite maker GalaxySpace, the satellites were carried into low-Earth orbit at an altitude of about 500 kilometers by a Long March 2C rocket that blasted off at 2:01 pm from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in Sichuan province, according to a statement from the company.

Each of the six satellites weighs about 190 kilograms, and has a large transmission capacity of 40 gigabytes per second over multiple bands.

They will work with GalaxySpace 1  launched in January 2020  to form an experimental communication network called the "Mini Spider Constellation" to verify broadband internet technologies.

The experimental network will give users 30-minute, nonstop access to broadband internet each time they connect terminals like mobile phones and laptops to the satellite system through ground-based gateway stations, according to engineers.

Widely considered the country's first 5G-capable satellite, GalaxySpace 1 has conducted numerous in-orbit tests with ground stations, extensively advancing the research and development of satellite-based internet technology.

It remains in operation in orbit and is China's most powerful low-orbiting communication satellite, as well as the biggest spacecraft ever built by a private Chinese company.

In the near future, GalaxySpace aims to build a commercial satellite system in low-Earth orbit with global coverage that offers broadband internet and other communication services.
The East Carolinian has created a forum that centers around topics within the community where readers can express their experiences and concerns. With Valentine's Day coming up, do you think the ECU community and the City of Greenville is doing all they can to make people feel loved and supported?

Survey
Henderson, NC (27536)

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Partly cloudy skies this evening will become overcast overnight. Slight chance of a rain shower. Low 57F. Winds light and variable.
Federal judge tosses challenge to Cawthorn candidacy

U.S. Rep. Madison Cawthorn will not face a legal challenge to his candidacy based on claims that his actions on and around Jan. 6, 2021, violated a section of the U.S. Constitution meant to keep Confederates out of federal office, a federal judge ruled Friday.

U.S. District Court Judge Richard Myers II, appointed by then-President Donald Trump in 2019, said there is a possible harm to democracy when political opponents use challenge statutes to keep opposing candidates for office off the ballot.

The federal court is tasked with protecting the soap box, the ballot box and the jury box, Myers said. And when these fail, people proceed to the ammunition box.

This case arrived in Myers courtroom after a nonpartisan nonprofit called Free Speech for People backed a challenge to Cawthorns candidacy back in January. They did so under a state law that says candidates can be prevented from being put on the ballot if a reasonable suspicion exists that they do not meet state or federal criteria for office.

In this case, that criteria was under Section 3 of the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which states that anyone who has taken an oath of office to support the Constitution and subsequently engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the nation, or aided people who did, cannot hold public office.

Cawthorn, the freshman Republican from Hendersonville, then sued the State Board of Elections, which oversees candidate challenges, in the Eastern District of North Carolina federal court to block the state proceedings.

Since Cawthorn did not name the actual challengers in the case, they had to ask to intervene. Myers denied that request.

Now, on the outside looking in, Free Speech for People called on the State Board of Elections and the N.C. Department of Justice to appeal.

The state board is reviewing the courts decision with its counsel, according to the state boards spokesperson, Pat Gannon.

The candidate challenge Free Speech for People filed with the state made similar arguments as Myers about protecting democracy. Only, in the groups argument, democracy is protected by keeping Cawthorn off the ballot.

To back its claims, Free Speech for People points to several statements Cawthorn has made in support of people arrested during the Jan. 6 insurrection, making false claims about election integrity and hinting at political violence.

If our elections systems continue to be rigged, and continue to be stolen, its going to lead to one place, and its bloodshed, Cawthorn told a gathering of over 200 people at an event hosted by Macon County Republicans.

Elections in North Carolina are secure and accurate, and the 2020 results, which handed North Carolina to Trump, though he lost nationally, are uncontested. The same is true across the country, as decided in dozens of state and federal lawsuits, many in front of Trump-appointed judges, and by state and federal agencies.

Now, under Myers ruling, whether Cawthorns actions and statements reach the threshold of insurrection or aiding insurrectionists will not be heard by a panel of county election officials appointed by the State Board.

Cawthorns lawyer made four arguments for why the federal court should block the state challenge from going forward. Three of them were constitutional claims, and one was over the interpretation of a law Congress passed in 1872.

Myers focused his ruling on a narrow part of the arguments relating to an 1872 law and avoided the thorny constitutional questions, a move that at first surprised University of Iowa law professor Derek Muller, who said there was a likely explanation.

When federal judges can sidestep big constitutional questions and instead focus a ruling on a narrow legal interpretation, thats often the road they will take.

The 1872 Amnesty Act reversed the ban on insurrectionists from serving in public office for most former Confederates, with an exception for people serving in the judiciary, military or foreign ministers.

Congress was allowed to do this without amending the U.S. Constitution because of a provision in Section 3 of the 14th Amendment that says Congress may by a vote of two-thirds of each House, remove such disability.

Cawthorns argument is that the plain language of that act forgave insurrectionists past and future. Under that logic, Cawthorn could not be challenged under the 14th Amendment because even if he was found to be an insurrectionist or a supporter, he would already have been forgiven, according to the arguments.

During the hearing, Terence Steed, lawyer for the State Board of Elections, argued that interpretation of the 1872 act is absurd. It was within Congress power to retroactively forgive insurrectionists, but to do so prospectively for all time would require a constitutional amendment.

Myers sided with Cawthorns argument. Congress could pass another act to reinstate the disqualification if it so chooses, Myers said from the bench.
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All Henry County employees to receive 8.5% pay raise

Special Photo The Henry County Board of Commission approved an 8.5% pay raise for all employees during the boards March 1 meeting. Special Photo Board of Commission Chair Carlotta Harrell signs the resolution awarding Henry County employees with an 8.5% raise.

McDONOUGH  Henry County employees are getting a pay raise.

After months of presentations, discussions and disagreements among Board of Commissioners members, the BOC was finally able to agree on an 8.5% raise for all employees retroactive to Dec. 1, 2021.

Henry County staff members offered two options  a 10.5% or 7% increase  during the March 1 meeting.

Board members could not agree on either proposal, both motions failing during the meeting.

An exasperated Chair Carlotta Harrell said giving the full raise was the right thing to do to stop the bleed (of employees) and remain competitive.

If youre here to do a job you need to be paid, she said. Its not up to us to dictate that individuals that make a certain amount of money shouldnt make more. They come here every single day and do their jobs.

Her remarks were in response to Commissioner Bruce Holmes claims that a 10.5% raise for all was not equitable. He proposed that only employees making under $80,000 receive the increase.

He said he had a problem with employees making well over $100,000 getting a raise of $10,000 to $20,000 overnight.

We really should be looking after all employees at the lower spectrum, he said.

Commissioner Dee Clemmons wanted to give some employees 7% and others 10.5%. However, as explained by Human Resources Director Harold Cooper in January, such a proposal would create pay compression, which occurs when pay between employees and supervisors is too close together or causes employees with more tenure and a higher pay grade to make less than those with less time on the job or lower pay grade.

He called it a pothole to avoid.

Commissioner Vivian Thomas proposed giving the 7% increase and revisiting additional raises in July.

Commissioner Johnny Wilson brought up the possibility that board members across the state will receive a $5,000 annual pay increase under Gov. Brian Kemps mid-year fiscal year 2022 budget.

He displayed his own W-2 tax form as proof of pay.

We dont want to give our employees a 10.5% increase, and were going to take a 13.5%, Wilson said.

He said the increase to part-time pay will result in commissioners making more money than the starting salary of a full time Henry County police officer.

We need to rethink that one, he said, noting that Henrys workforce has decrease while the workload has increased.

I want to thank all the men and women who come to work and do their job everyday, Wilson said.

Wilson made the motion to split the difference and give an 8.5% increase.

The measure passed unanimously.

During his presentation to the board, Cooper said since Jan. 1, or 55 business days, the county lost another 78 employees with 61 of those resigning.

In February, Cooper reported the county had 306 vacancies across all job families.
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A Place for All Conservatives to Speak Their Mind.
Los Angeles - TIEWN (Travel Industry Executive Womens Network) announces the completion of several initiatives in extended support of diversity, equity, and inclusion in the travel, tourism, and hospitality industries.

During these difficult times in our world, TIEWN is humbled to announce sweeping changes in our Network as we grow activities exponentially. TIEWN, as one of the oldest established organizations, has been bringing women together since 2008 and even before that under another umbrella. The Network continues to grow at a rate of more than 500 annually, showing the continued importance of TIEWNs advocacy of industry women and the sentiment that there is still much work to be done in the boardrooms, in the C-suites and on the stages of many conferences and events.

Frances Kiradjian, Founder & CEO of TIEWN & BLLA stated, I could not be prouder of this incredible group of global women who have stood by us for the past 14 years as we patiently built a strong foundation for this network. The supporters along the way have been steadfast in their belief in our principles and we are grateful.

The programs being delivered thus far in 2022 include:

New Sponsors of the Network DISH Network is a Founding Corporate Sponsor . Sonya Jamula is the official Committee Head of the TIEWN Mentorship Program. DISH Business is honored to be the first Corporate Founding Sponsor of TIEWN! We are grateful for the opportunity to support an organization that continues to tirelessly promote diversity and inclusion within the industry. Our goal with this sponsorship is to prepare the next generation of women to successfully carry the torch of those that blazed the trails before them, stated Sonya Jamula, Head of Hospitality at DISH Network. EHL Hospitality Business School , headquartered in Lausanne, Switzerland has become the TIEWN Founding University Partner , working jointly with the Network on custom surveys, white papers, trend reports and research as well as assessing the need for advanced educational programs for women in the industry. We are absolutely delighted to be the University Founding Sponsor of TIEWN! We look forward for a fruitful partnership to promote and educate the travel, tourism, and hospitality industry on leadership, culture, and policies that foster gender diverse and inclusive environments that enable individuals and organizations to thrive, stated Dr. Sowon Kim, EHL Professor and Founder of Women In Leadership (WIL). Choice Hotels joined as a Corporate Sponsor for TIEWNs new Mentorship Program, supplementing Choices own inclusion and diversity programs. Choice Hotels is excited to be a Corporate Sponsor for TIEWNs new Mentorship Program. As part of Choices ongoing diversity, equity and belonging efforts, this sponsorship aligns with our mission to create and bridge leadership pathways for women in all sectors of the travel and hospitality industry, said Janis Cannon, senior vice president, upscale brands, Choice Hotels. We look forward to working collaboratively with TIEWN to light the torch and provide opportunities for the next generation of women through mentorship, education and collaboration.

The new TIEWN Membership Program brings together the almost 13,000 group members onto a platform to better connect with each other and includes many benefits, such as: Education and awareness through access to past event, conference and webinar videos The ability to join the Mentorship Program as a Mentor or Mentee A Directory of Members with the opportunity to showcase a full bio and connection links Resources such as trend reports, educational learning documents and access to international event listings

brings together the almost 13,000 group members onto a platform to better connect with each other and includes many benefits, such as: TIEWN recently announced a partnership with the African Association of Women in Tourism and Hospitality (AAWTH), a community of female change-makers and achievers on a mission to assist and support the African hospitality and tourism industry.

with the African Association of Women in Tourism and Hospitality (AAWTH), a community of female change-makers and achievers on a mission to assist and support the African hospitality and tourism industry. New Events to Educate and Inspire Our Community The Events series for 2022 includes a virtual celebration on March 8, 2022 which is International Womens Day and an in-person conference on July 11-12, 2022 in Los Angeles. The upcoming virtual event will address the theme of Embracing Change and Leveraging New Opportunities. The program will begin with a panel discussion focused on ways to transform the dynamic state of the travel industry into valuable opportunities for women. The featured experts will include Heather McCrory  CEO of Accor North & Central America, Shailja Gulati  Executive Director of JPMorgan Chase & Co., Flo Lugli  Founder and Principal, Navesink Advisory Group  Travel, technology and hospitality consulting, and Susan Black  Founder of Our Travel Circle and Wowzitude. Following this conversation, Frances Kiradjian  Founder & CEO of BLLA & TIEWN, and Ariela Kiradjian  COO of BLLA & President of TIEWN, will speak on the exciting updates within the Network. The event will conclude with a workshop led by bestselling author, Monica Dubay leading a workshop on Utilizing Clubhouse to Expand Your Presence, and the finale will be a virtual networking session for all attendees. The live July event taking place in Los Angeles will gather women leaders in the travel and hospitality industries and will offer further insight on the growing influence of women in these fields. The program will spark dialogue surrounding the theme of Money, Abundance, and Manifestation.

to Educate and Inspire Our Community

About TIEWN (Travel Industry Executive Womens Network)

The Travel Industry Executive Women's Network, powered by BLLA, is a global organization founded in 2008 for the purpose of bringing executives and professionals who currently or recently have worked in the travel, tourism, and hospitality industries. Their common goal is to support diversity and inclusive programs and processes while acknowledging the importance of female and inclusive leaders within a dynamic industry. Membership includes both direct members as well as vendors and suppliers who provide products and services to these industries. This group holds an annual conference (listed on bllaevents.com and tiewn.com). Email [email protected] to connect.

About the Boutique Lifestyle Leaders Association (BLLA)

Founded in 2009, the Boutique Lifestyle Leaders Association (BLLA) is the official association for the world's top visionaries in the boutique lifestyle industry. Membership with the BLLA includes not just a strengthened sense of communityit offers all the resources necessary for small and independent businesses to thrive in this growing sector, including access to distribution channels, marketing tools, webinars, white papers, reports about the evolving boutique landscape, and more. The organization promotes connection, education, and advocacy. As a pioneer in forecasting the boutique movement, the BLLA's network has grown beyond its hotel foundation to welcome more passionate entrepreneurs, businesses, and purveyors that amplify the boutique lifestyle. BLLA is a catalyst for trends and the future of boutique. blla.org

Boutique & Lifestyle Leaders Association (BLLA)

BLLA
Russia will not forget Britain's desire to cooperate with ultra-nationalist forces in Ukraine and the supply of British weapons to the Kiev regime, the Russian Foreign Ministry said on Saturday.

"Let's not forget the cooperation of the British with the Kiev regime and ultra-nationalist forces in Ukraine, the continued supply of British weapons these days, which are being used against the civilian population of Donbass and the Russian military," the Russian Foreign Ministry said.

In fact, London has completely subordinated its foreign policy to the task of causing as much damage as possible to Russian national interests, Moscow noted.

"For now, British Foreign Minister Elizabeth Truss is calling on her compatriots to go fight for Ukraine, and there are calls in the House of Commons to send all Russians out of Britain," the ministry said, RT reported.

The official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry, Maria Zakharova, said that Russia would not allow the Anglo-Saxons to interfere in the affairs of the country.

"We will not tolerate the attempts of the Anglo-Saxons to interfere in the internal political processes in our country, to destabilize the situation, to instill values that are alien to us," she said.
Q. I am trying to make a copy of files saved on my Google Drive to my tablet drive and haven't been able to make the copies. Is there an app, menu driven, for someone with limited technical ability that you would recommend?

A. Google makes its own app for Google Drive. You can search for the Google Drive app in the Google Play store and the Apple App Store. You can even download the desktop client for a Mac or a PC at google.com/drive/download.

The app makes it very easy to move files back and forth between your device and the online Google Drive and will also let you setup automatic synchronization so that you can easily back up your data and make it accessible to any device.

Keep in mind that free Google accounts are limited to 15GB of storage. This includes your Gmail message, files in your Google Drive as well as any photos you have saved there.

This makes Google a decent online storage option, but not a great one unless you plan to upgrade your account for more storage.

One last thing to note about this is that if you exceed your quota on your Google account, you will no longer be able to send or receive email until you get your storage reduced. It is one of the main reasons I limit my Google account to email only as I cannot afford to have my email break down.

Helpline all the time: Jay Lees columns can be found at HoustonChronicle.com

Q. I am running Windows 10 and it seems to be fine, but I would like to upgrade to Windows 11. My PC is pretty powerful and up to date, but Microsoft tells me that my PC is not capable of running Windows 10 because TPM 2.0 must be supported and enabled on my PC. What is this and how can I fix it?

A. TPM stands for Trusted Platform Module and is chip on your motherboard that controls the ability to enable encryption on your computer.

Most, but not all, computers made in the last few years have this chip. And some that do have this chip may not have it enabled.

Windows 11 requires that this chip be present and enabled or you simply cannot install the new operating system.

If youre really wanting to update to Windows 11 and if youre very lucky, you may find that your computer has the TPM module, but its just turned off. You will need to get into your system BIOS to see if this option is present and if it can be enabled.

The reality is that many consumer grade computers simply dont have this functionality and those that do will typically have it enabled so theres no need to go on a wild goose chase in the system BIOS. But if youre comfortable doing that, it might be worth a look.

Unfortunately, TPM cannot be added to computers that dont have it without replacing the entire system board. If youre in this position you may just want to wait till its time to buy a new PC to get a chance to play with Windows 11.

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For the Hanson family, being active members of Kinsmen Lutheran Church has been a multigenerational experience.

In 1990, two-year-old Andrew Hanson and his parents began attending the church, where he celebrated many of his lifes milestones: the birth and baptism of his younger brother, first communion, confirmation. Its where he learned leadership skills through his youth group and held one of his first jobs.

On HoustonChronicle.com: Pearls of Art Gala to be held in person for first time since 2019

He recalls years ago when his mother, Kathy Hanson, chaired the event committee for Kinsmens 25th anniversary. Though, the realization has inspired some mixed feelings.

Theres a part of me in my head thats like theres no way Im old enough to remember the 25th anniversary, he said, especially now that Kinsmen is celebrating its 50th.

Kathy chairs that committee too.

She wants to do the 75th, joked his father, Mark Hanson.

Kinsmen has been celebrating five decades of service in northwest Houston with a series of events marking significant milestones.

On HoustonChronicle.com: Houston area woman wins new roof as Christmas gift

The church held a fall festival last year to commemorate the congregation moving their worship services from their homes to the Greenwood Elementary School cafeteria in October of 1971.

Another event was held on Dec. 31, 2021, in conjunction with New Years Eve to mark the day 50 years ago when they became incorporated in the state of Texas.

Over the weekend of Feb. 26, the Hansons, along with other current and past members of the church, gathered at Kinsmen to honor the 50th anniversary of the churchs formal organization.

The program looks at Kinsmens history and how it fits into the community, Kathy said.

Foundation for the future

The theme for Kinsmens celebration: Changing SeasonsUnchanging God.

Senior Pastor Beth Warpmaeker said the theme reflects why Kinsmen wants to celebrate its history not only within the church, but the surrounding community as well.

Weve been through a lot of changing seasonsand I dont mean just the congregation community, I mean the community at large  a lot of changing seasons in these 50 years, Warpmaeker said. But Gods mission is unchanging.

In her sermon over the weekend, Warpmaeker outlined the different seasons Kinsmen has experienced. As she described each era, she asked congregants to raise their hand if they joined the church during that period.

The first season, the forming season, occurred in 1971 back when the congregations name was Mission 435.

The group initially met for worship in the home of founding Pastor John Harpel and other members residences.

They eventually moved their services to Greenwood Forest Elementary Schools cafeteria. There were 32 people at their first meeting in the school.

The period from 1972 to 1974 was the organizing season, Warpmaeker said.

When Mission 435 became formally organized, the church changed its name to Kinsmen to reflect a sense of closeness and family.

The congregation was able to move worship services from the school cafeteria into their new home: a cozy metal building on land they obtained in the Greenwood Forest area.

This was followed by a chapter she referred to as the planning season, from 1975 to 1978, during which the church designed a master plan for their facilities.

Kinsmen broke ground on a new sanctuary in June of 1976 and held its first worship service in the new facility on Easter Sunday the following year.

One of the defining features of the next era, from 1978 to 1990, was change.

During the building season, the Kinsmen bid farewell to the founding pastor and welcomed new ones as the congregation grew. The church also constructed its Education and Administration Building in 1980.

Church member Renee Alfaro began attending Kinsmen in 1988, the summer before her eighth-grade year.

Some of her fondest memories at Kinsmen stem from playing in the handbell choir. At the time she joined, she was the youngest in the group.

I was the only school-aged person that played in the handbells (choir), but I had played handbells at my church in Nebraska before we moved here, and the ladies just took this high schooler under their wing and accepted me, Alfaro recalls.

Now, Alfaro chairs the churchs outreach committee whose responsibilities include arranging volunteer service events and identifying mission partners for the church.

Those can be other organizations that are part of the (Evangelical Lutheran Church of America) like Lutherhill Camp out in La Grange, Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Services, Lutheran Disaster Response, and its also charitable organizations within our community that we support, Alfaro said.

Among those charitable community organizations is Northwest Assistance Ministries, a nonprofit whose mission is to provide assistance for families in need. Kinsmen became one of the founding congregations of NAM during the building season.

Next came the growing season, from 1991 to 2001. As its name suggests, Kinsmen experienced a significant increase in the number of people joining the congregation.

The church completed construction of their Community Life Center and saw the expansion of certain programs including their before and after school ministry, and their music program.

The period that followed, from 2001 to 2007, Warpmaeker said, was the expanding season, when Kinsmen placed even more of a focus on helping people in the surrounding community.

One major milestone was the introduction of Camp Hope, a summer day camp program that is not only attend by, but also run by, youth.

The Hansons know firsthand the impact Camp Hope can have on children and teens.

Andrew was an avid participator in the program, at first as a camper, then support staff, and eventually paid staff. Working now as an engineering manager, Andrew believes he wouldnt have considered management without the leadership opportunities he had through Camp Hope.

It helped me developmentallyto have the opportunity to lead. And to be honest, to start out, it kind of put me put me outside of my comfort zone, but then helped me develop into (being) more comfortable with taking on leadership opportunities, he said.

Vision for the future

Andrew attended college at the University of Texas where he met his future wife Jackie through the Lutheran campus ministry.

When we were dating, I had the opportunity to visit Kinsmen several times and from day one it always felt like I was part of the church, Jackie said.

They married upon returning to Houston after college. Jackie officially became a member of Kinsmen in 2011, during a period Warpmaeker referred to as the aligning season  from 2007 to 2013.

Kinsmen established a new tradition during this time: its Thanksgiving feast and run when each year, the church provides free Thanksgiving meals to hundreds of people in the community.

Warpmaeker came on board as Kinsmens senior pastor in 2014 at the beginning of what she calls the visioning season.

The church began a long-range vision process to answer the question: What is God doing in this community now and how can we be a part of it?

The community has certainly changed over the last 50 years, said Peter Abt, a Kinsmen member since 1988.

Abt has been actively involved in church affairs through committees and leadership positions, including as the immediate past president of the church council.

He was among the members of a committee to develop a long-range vision for the church.

We evaluated and investigated several factors that would influence our decision on what we thought the vision should be going forward including the changing demographics in the area, the changing socioeconomic background of the people that lived in the vicinity of the church, the changing demographics of our congregation, he said.

One of the new initiatives that sprung from the long-range vision was Kinsmens Spanish speaking ministry called Sagrada Familia, meaning Holy Family.

Shortly after a pastor was called to lead the new ministry, the pandemic reached Houston.

We started this against all odds, said Adan Plata, who serves on the church council and is involved in the Spanish speaking ministry.

The arrival of the pandemic and resulting shutdowns limited their outreach options. Nonetheless, Plata said, the ministry has managed to grow attendance at Spanish speaking services.

We have seen more than 150 people, Plata said.

In addition to services, the ministry now offers a variety of activities including ESL classes, Zumba, and immigration forums.

Growth was achieved by paying attention to the needs of the people, Plata said.

Pastor Gabriel (Marcano), he started communicating with people and trying to make friends and inviting them to the services, he said. Kinsmen Lutheran Church had presence on the internet and so we started having online services and that kept a lot of people interested.

The church already had the equipment necessary for livestreaming thanks to a capital campaign launched before the pandemic began, allowing for a relatively seamless transition to online services, Warpmaeker said.

The theme that keeps coming up again and again for me is for such a time as this God was preparing us, she said.

Now, at the beginning of a redefining season, Kinsmen continues hybrid services while striving to meet the communitys needs, whether serving as the site of vaccine clinics or partnering for food distributions.

The mission that had 32 people at its first meeting in the school cafeteria, has grown to over 1,000 members strong.

Andrew and Jackie now have small children of their own  the next generation of Hansons who will get to experience growing up at Kinsmen.

It just makes me feel happy and comforted that even at 34, (Kinsmen) still remains as relevant and important to my life as it did when I was three, Andrew said.

What changes will come in the next 50 years remains to be seen. But their hope is that Kinsmen continues to be a relevant force in the community and a second family for theirs.

Its really neat to see that Kinsmen has remained and been able to do this ministry for so long and my hope is that it continues, Jackie said. Its really exciting, especially bringing kids up in the church, to kind of see what thats going to look like going forward. But my hope is that its still always kind of a home to come back to and to be grounded and centered.

Kinsmen will hold its final anniversary event on May 21, marking the 50th anniversary of the first charter member Sunday. The celebration will be held in conjunction with Kinsmens annual crawfish boil.

For more information, visit kinsmenlutheran.org.

mfeuk@hcnonline.com
Facing a May runoff election after failing to win Tuesdays GOP primary outright, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton would like conservative voters to see his coming face-off with Land Commissioner George P. Bush as an opportunity.

We can end the Bush dynasty, he said Wednesday morning

Paxtons right, in a way. There may be other Bushes in the pipeline  Jenna, anybody?  but George P. is the only one currently in elective office in Texas, or on the ballot this cycle. If he loses the runoff to Paxton, it will feel like the end of an era to many Texans.

But perhaps that era  in which moderate Republicans prevail  has already ended anyway.

The establishment got what they wanted  a runoff in my race, Paxton tweeted plaintively, the day after the election..

Paxton is seeking a third term, having been first elected in 2014. Prior to that, he served 12 years in the Texas Legislature. In this campaign he received, and relied heavily on, the endorsement of former President Donald J. Trump, who is now the de facto leader of the GOP. In other words, the image hes trying to present here  of himself as an outsider, an underdog, a man in the arena  simply does not align with reality.

In fact, Paxton has to be considered the front-runner, heading into the runoff. He remains under indictment for felony securities fraud charges from 2015, a case that really should go to trial at some point. He has also been the subject of an FBI investigation arising from allegations by then-senior staff that hed abused his office to help an Austin developer whod contributed to his campaigns. Still, he placed first in the primary, with 43 percent of the vote to Bushs 23 percent.

It was striking, then, to see Bush bring some brio to the challenge before him.

Asked if he had a message for Paxton at his election-night watch party, Bush said, Ken, I know youre sitting at home, as you usually are, and its time for you to get off the couch.

Engage conservatives, Bush continued. Be truthful about your felony counts and the FBI investigation. And lets have debates  Im offering that opportunity for the people of Texas to see you.

This is the version of Bush  relaxed, confident, clear-sighted  that could win statewide. In fact, this arguably is the version of Bush that won a place in the runoff over former Texas Supreme Court Justice Eva Guzman and East Texas congressman Louie Gohmert. (Bush and Paxton both aired TV ads attacking Guzman, which makes one wonder who they were really worried about).

Paxtons challengers all ran to the right. The far right, really. But Guzman and Bush are widely perceived as moderates, at least relative to the competition. And in a Feb. 24 debate  in which Paxton declined to participate  Bush established himself as the stronger candidate in that lane.

A simple question was posed to the three challengers on stage, along with a request for a show of hands: Do you believe Joe Biden won the 2020 election?

Bushs hand went up immediately, all the way up, as if the question was easy. It is, as it happens. But the other two Republicans on stage struggled mightily, surely conscious of how Trump has attacked Republicans who dont echo his false claims of a rigged election.

I dont know whether he did or not, said Gohmert, almost sadly, his hands folded on the lectern.

Guzmans hand darted around, as did her eyes. She appeared to be peeking at Bush and Gohmert before making up her own mind.

Its undetermined, from my perspective. But yes, Im raising my hand. Hes our president, and  hes our president, she explained.

Bush is not a perfect candidate. He began currying favor with Donald Trump in 2016, when he endorsed the New York real estate mogul and reality TV star in the fall election despite the latters attacks on his dad and uncle.

He began the cycle with a bid for Trumps favor, going so far as to print koozies  those things you use to keep a can of beer or soda cold  with himself and the former president, along with a passive-aggressive compliment the latter once gave him. (This is the only Bush that likes me. This is the Bush that got it right. I like him.)

Trump wound up endorsing Paxton, who had shamelessly filed an outrageous  and quickly dismissed  lawsuit seeking to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election. But Trump has not directed his fire at George P. Bush, presumably good news for P in a GOP primary.

For voters in Harris County, too, Bushs placement in the runoff may be a bitter pill to swallow. The Bush family has deep roots in Houston, with former President George H.W. Bush having begun his career in electoral politics as the congressman from Texass 7th Congressional District in the 1960s.

Yet George P. acted as if hed never heard of the place in 2021, when the Texas General Land Office announced that Houston and Harris County would not receive any of more than $1 billion in federal flood mitigation funds appropriated as a result of Hurricane Harvey. Its more than a little troubling.

In fact, Bush received just shy of 18 percent in Harris Countys GOP primary, compared to 25 percent for Guzman, who grew up in Houstons East End and graduated from the University of Houston and the South Texas College of Law Houston.

Still, here we are: our next attorney general will be Paxton or Bush. Or a Democrat. And the odds of the latter are higher, if Paxton becomes the nominee. Democrats will also have a runoff for the AG nomination, which now looks like it will pit top finisher Rochelle Garza, a civil rights attorney, against former Galveston mayor Joe Jaworski. Both are considered credible candidates, and neither is under indictment.

If the Bush legacy is at stake in this years GOP attorney general runoff, then its up to George P. Bush to defend that legacy by running a principled campaign.

Such an approach may not work out for him electorally. But that would say more about the GOP establishment, in the era of Trump and Paxton, than the Bush family or its legacy in this state.

erica.grieder@chron.com
A Katy woman is facing intoxication manslaughter charges in a Harris County crash on New Years Day that left three people dead and others seriously injured, according to authorities and court documents.

Court records show Jennifer Velasquez, 32, is charged with intoxication manslaughter in the deaths of Hoa Huynh, Minh Nguyen and Nancy Pham. She also faces an intoxication assault charge in connection to the serious injuring of another person, according to court documents.

Velasquez had been driving a Toyota Rav4 in the 3600 block of Barker Cypress Road around 1:06 a.m. , heading northbound, when the driver of a southbound Toyota Sienna failed to yield the right of way as they tried to turn left in front of her vehicle, according to the Harris County Sheriffs Office.

Her vehicle hit the Toyota Siennas right side, per the sheriffs office release.

On HoustonChronicle.com: 2 dead, 5 injured in northwest Harris County crash

There were multiple people in the Toyota Sienna, and two of its passengers  Hoa Huynh and Minh Nguyen  didnt have signs of life at the scene, according to the sheriffs office. Nancy Pham was pronounced dead at a hospital, and other occupants of the Sienna were seriously injured and sent to a hospital, the sheriffs office release read.

A deputy who did a crash reconstruction found the Toyota Rav4 was going 90 mph in a zone with a posted 45 mph speed limit, according to a charging document.

Additionally, had the RAV4 been traveling the speed limit, the Sienna would have completed the left turn and the crash would not have happened, the document read.

On HoustonChronicle.com: Nine adults at unpermitted Crosby boarding home sent to hospitals

Charging documents also state that Velasquez told a deputy that shed had five beers and two fireball shots before driving. Preliminary testing showed she had a 0.144 blood alcohol concentration, according to the documents. A person is "legally intoxicated in Texas" when the blood alcohol concentration reaches 0.08, according to state guidelines.

Court records Friday night did not show appointed legal representation for Velasquez, aside from a public defender for a probable cause hearing. Velasquez is in jail, according to online court records.

The news of Velasquez charges was earlier reported by ABC13.
A man died Friday night after a shooting in west Houston, according to authorities.

Officers responding to a call about a shooting about 7:20 p.m. found a man dead in the 700 block of Country Place, Houston police said.

More on HoustonChronicle.com: Fight over remodeling job turns fatal in Cloverleaf area, authorities say

There are no suspects at this time but authorities are trying to locate a gray Chevy Silverado as a vehicle of interest, authorities added.

No other information is available at this time.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.

NEWS IN YOUR INBOX: Sign up for breaking news email alerts from HoustonChronicle.com here.

leah.brennan@chron.com

Joel.Umanzor@chron.com
OnScene.Tv

A man was injured early Saturday after an apparent gas leak explosion at an east Houston residence, according to fire officials.

Firefighters responded just after midnight at the 7100 block of Sherman and found a man in front of the a residence with first- and second-degree burns, HFD said. He was taken to Memorial Hermann Hospital in an unknown condition.
Local and state Democratic leaders on Friday condemned the GOP's criticism of them for primary election day problems in Harris County, and instead pointed the blame at the Republican-backed voting bill enacted last year.

Citing a large quantity of mail-in ballot rejections and deficiencies during the in-person voting process, Harris County Democrats  alongside state party leaders  said the issues voters experienced in Tuesday's primary went exactly how Republican leaders calculated when the law went into effect on Jan. 25.

"The thing that shocks me in all this is, why is anyone actually surprised that this happened? We have been telling you this was going to happen since last year," Rep. Gene Wu (D-Houston) said. "We said time and time again, this exact thing would happen and it all went to deaf ears for Republicans because this is what they intended."

More on HoustonChronicle.com: 40% fewer mail ballots cast in Texas early voting amid confusion, delays caused by new law

Massive delays was an inevitability when Senate Bill 1 was passed, Wu added. He disputed claims by GOP leaders that Tuesday's primary was a "fiasco" after election results were delayed past the 24-hour deadline.

Harris County Republicans released a statement and held a press conference Thursday blaming County Judge Lina Hidalgo and Elections Administrator Isabel Longoria for the issues.

"The ballots were delayed. The count was delayed, people got antsy and had to go to bed. Boohoo," Wu said. "A fiasco is if people who have a right to vote are rejected for technical and nonsensical reasons. The fiasco, that is here, is the bill and legislation that Dan Patrick and Gov. Abbott passed."

As of Feb. 28, 30,508 mail-in ballots were received in Harris County with 11,375 of the ballots flagged for correction, according to data from the Harris County Elections Division. Of those ballots flagged for correction, 11,135 fell under the new SB 1 criteria for identification.

Voters whose ballots were flagged have until March 7 to visit the county elections office to confirm their identity for their ballot to be counted, elections officials said.

The problem lies with voters either not including any ID information or not matching their information with the driver's license or Social Security number they used when they registered which, in some cases, might be decades ago, according to Nadia Hakim of the Harris County Elections Division.

U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee said Texas has become a voting rights battleground since the passing of SB 1.

"Let me tell you what is being created here, it's a battleground," she said, adding the recent calls by Harris County GOP leaders for Longoria to step down or be fired were unnecessary. "What gets headlines? Firing people who you think are Democrats and blaming them for what you have done in criminalizing voting and not giving resources."

Jackson Lee said the situation in Texas is now at a point where she believes Washington should intervene.

"We are ripe for federal intervention."

More from Joel Umanzor: Harris County finally releases election results after denied GOP petition stopped vote counts

Texas State Rep. Jon Rosenthal of Cypress detailed his confusion when poll workers at the precinct he frequently votes at told him he wasn't eligible to cast a ballot in Tuesday's primary election.

"It's where I always go," Rosenthal said, adding he noticed the election judge's look after scanning his driver's license. "It came up for me, a Texas state representative, that I wasn't eligible."

Rosenthal was able to fix his voting issue Tuesday with a provisional ballot, but questioned how other voters would react if given the same notice.

"How many people are just going to walk away and say 'Oh no'," Rosenthal said. "People know that we have had folks sentenced to years in jail for casting a wrong provisional ballot or an improper ballot. It's voter intimidation in the highest form."

Odus Evbagharu, chair of the Harris County Democrats, said the party is hoping to sit down with Republican county leaders and elections officials in the coming days to discuss ways to improve as the General Election in November nears.

Joel.Umanzor@chron.com
Texas Childrens Hospital has stopped prescribing gender-affirming hormone therapies  a move that could affect thousands of transgender children in Texas  in response to a controversial directive from state leaders to investigate medical treatments for transgender youth as child abuse.

The nations largest pediatric hospital revealed the decision Friday, dealing a blow to parents of transgender children who were seeking access to medicine that slows the onset of puberty or hormone treatments that help older children develop into bodies that match their identities.

The mission of Texas Childrens Hospital is to create a healthier future for all children, including transgender children, within the bounds of the law, the hospital said in a statement. After assessing the Attorney Generals and Governors actions, Texas Childrens Hospital paused hormone-related prescription therapies for gender-affirming services. This step was taken to safeguard our healthcare professionals and impacted families from potential criminal legal ramifications.

Armed with a nonbinding opinion by Attorney General Ken Paxton, Gov. Greg Abbott last month ordered the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services to investigate parents who seek gender-affirming care as child abusers. Earlier this week, a Travis County district judge stopped the state agency from investigating the parents of a 16-year-old who underwent gender-affirming care.

But the court stopped short of blocking such investigations statewide  at least for now.

Paxtons opinion followed multiple failed attempts by Republican state lawmakers in the GOP-led Texas Legislature to pass measures that would punish parents and health care providers who support such interventions.

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Abbott and Paxton, who are Republicans, are both seeking re-election and made these announcements shortly before Tuesdays GOP primary.

Most major professional medical organizations support evidence-based care for treatment of gender dysphoria, which is defined by the American Psychiatric Association as psychological distress and anxiety due to a mismatch between a persons sense of their gender and their assigned sex at birth. According to the American Medical Association, gender-affirming care has been linked to dramatically reduced rates of suicide attempts, a decrease in depression and anxiety, reduced drug use, improved HIV medication adherence and a drop in harmful self-prescribed hormone use.

Dr. Moira Szilagyi, president of the American Academy of Pediatrics, said parents trust pediatricians to help their children stay healthy and thrive.

What is happening in Texas directly undermines the care pediatricians provide their patients, Szilagyi said in a statement after Paxton issued his opinion. This harmful directive leaves families seeking gender-affirming care in Texas with nowhere to turn.

There were an estimated 13,800 transgender kids in Texas between the ages of 13 and 17, according to a 2017 study from the University of California, Los Angeles.

Lou Weaver, a transgender man in Houston and community advocate for transgender children and adults, said very few facilities offer gender-affirming care for children. Texas Childrens is among the biggest programs in the state that offer it, he said.

This is a truly frightening time for trans youth and their parents and guardians, he said. The doors to lifesaving health care are literally being shut in their faces.

According to reports, GENECIS, a program at Childrens Medical Center Dallas that offers hormone treatment for transgender youth, last year stopped taking new pediatric transgender patients.

Weaver said teens who already have a prescription for hormone-related therapy should be OK, but those who havent begun puberty blockers or hormones would have to seek help elsewhere. He said people in the community are already going into a headspin, especially after Texas Childrens announced the official pause.

They are likely already planning whether theyll have to go out of state or to Mexico for care, he said.

One Houston mother who asked not to be identified for safety reasons said her preteen transgender daughter has been undergoing blood tests at Texas Childrens to keep tabs on the onset of puberty.

The hospital on Friday informed her that her daughter can still undergo blood tests, but doctors will not be able to prescribe puberty blockers.

The mother said she is looking for appointments with a specialist at UCLA.

Another mother who asked to remain anonymous said she drove from her Dallas-area home to Texas Childrens on Monday to explore treatment options for her transgender child. The mother had sought appointments at GENECIS but the program had already stopped accepting new patients.

At the mothers appointment, a doctor told her that the hospitals legal department said they can no longer prescribe gender-affirming care.

I think this particular issue is just so shocking and painful because its such a cruel assault on children, she said. Its just very hard to put into words. Theres such a callous disregard for the mental and physical affects on children.

Taylor Goldenstein contributed to this report.

julian.gill@chron.com

gabrielle.banks@chron.com
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The University of Texas at Austin on Friday publicly launched a $6 billion fundraising campaign, setting the largest goal for a philanthropic drive in the history of Texas higher education.

The What Starts Here campaign comes as Austin undergoes rapid population growth, which university officials say expands UTs potential for influence in the capital city, state and beyond. The push, they said, aims to move the university toward its aim of becoming the highest-impact public research university in the world.

Were really at a moment where we believe UT Austin has truly special opportunities, said Jay Hartzell, the campus president. If you look at all the ways the state is growing or developing  theres just such momentum.

The university is in a very fortunate place with a really bright future How do we seize it? he added. This campaign is that fuel that will help us get there.

On HoustonChronicle.com: Enrollment, diversity increases at some Texas colleges

Campus leaders hope to support a $1 billion allotment for scholarships and student programs, as well as faculty recruiting and retention efforts, philanthropy, healthcare research, and new and renovated facilities. The fundraising goal is also believed to be one of the largest of any public university in the country, university leaders said.

The scholarships will help UT attract the best and brightest students, Hartzell said, especially as more and more top-tier universities recruit with merit-based aid. That push, in turn, should convert to better graduation rates, he said.

UT Austin already provides a level of income-based aid. The UT System Board of Regents in 2019 established a $167 million endowment that covers tuition and fees for students whose families earn up to $65,000 a year. The school also provides financial aid to students whose family incomes are below $125,000 and have demonstrated financial need, The Texas Tribune reported.

Academic freedom: Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick is in for a fight as he seeks to end tenure at Texas universities

Faculty recruiting is also increasingly competitive across the country, and the What Starts Here campaign will provide resources to attract faculty despite the higher cost of living in Austin, the president said. Some of those resources include gifts to establish endowed faculty chairs and more professorships and fellowships.

Fridays announcement came two weeks after Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick proposed to eliminate tenure eligibility for new hires at public universities, citing concerns about professors who indoctrinate their students in critical race theory. Academics widely decried Patricks proposal, arguing that political attempts to interfere with tenure would seriously harm the states public universities. Revoking tenure would deviate both from the norm and from industry best practices, potentially driving both students and potential faculty elsewhere, they say.

Healthcare research will additionally expand as a result of the campaign, through work led by Dell Medical School. More philanthropic investments stemming from the campaign will help fund energy solutions and biodiversity research.

The quiet phase of the campaign began in September 2016, garnering $3.3 billion from more than 240,000 donors, according to the university. That amount already exceeds contributions to UTs previous fundraising campaign, which lasted from 2006 to 2014.

Mindy Hildebrand, a volunteer on the campaign, urged other UT alumni to fund the campaign.

"We benefited from the donors who came before us, and now its our turn, Hildebrand, of Houston, said in a news release. By supporting UT students and faculty, we are investing in the future of Texas and beyond. Every gift really does matter.

UTs goal stands higher than Texas universities previous, similar campaigns. The University of Houston closed a campaign in 2020 with $1.2 billion. Rice University last year announced a $2 billion campaign. And Texas A&M University ended a nine-year fundraising effort with $4.25 billion.

samantha.ketterer@chron.com
The 40 mile convoy of Armoured Russian vehicles moving from the north of Kyiv has been verified by satellite. But, it appears, to have come to a standstill, stationed for days outside the capital Kyiv.

by Victor Cherubim

Conflicting reports coming out of Ukraine state that President Volodymyr Zelensky has questioned the preparedness and knowledge of Russian soldiers of Ukrainian territory. He has urged Moscow to help restore peace.

There are further stories that women are being raped by Russian soldiers in a sickening update.

The word is going the rounds that first it was civilians throwing Molotov cocktails towards the invading army, then it was ordinary people attempting to sleep in front of tanks, then it was the Russians had no will to fight and were deserting, now it is rape?

Who is spreading all these stories, is it NATO, Ukraine or UK?

Is it to demoralise the war?

The 40 mile convoy of Armoured Russian vehicles moving from the north of Kyiv has been verified by satellite. But, it appears, to have come to a standstill, stationed for days outside the capital Kyiv. The Brits have said that the convoy may have been stalled by the Ukrainian resistance.

Do you really believe this story? Do you think the opposite?

I for one, think that the Russian Army is much cleverer than what credit it has been given?

Looking at the map of Ukraine today and the plan of military action so far by the Russians, we can see a well-planned vicious pincer movement strategy of Russia to stall on Kyiv, waiting for the right time for Russian troop movements to sweep from the South, the East and elsewhere, to take Kyiv by storm.

To add to the confusion, today (04 March 2022) a fire broke out at Europes largest Nuclear Power plant at Zaporizhzhia, which sits on the banks of the Dnieper River and its estuary on the Black Sea, sparking panic of a nuclear disaster. The blaze has since been successfully extinguished and radiation levels reported as negative.

This destruction if it had been caused by the Russians could have been equal to six Chernobyls. Why would the Russians want to destroy their own troops in this way? The

Head of the Atomic Energy Agency has promptly offered to negotiate with both Russia and Ukraine on the security of all nuclear sites.

What action is being taken to contain this perilous war?

For some comfort, both Russia and Ukraine yesterday (03 March 2022) at its second meeting have agreed at establishing humanitarian corridors within. There are also reports that over a million people from Ukraine are seeking refuge in border countries and warning, as much as four (04) million displaced, mostly Ukrainians.

Boris Johnson, the British Prime Minister, has upped the quota of Ukrainians to be admitted as refugees into UK to 200,000. While Liz Truss, the Foreign Secretary, has stated: we could seize the Oligarchs mansions and house Ukrainian refugees in there?

What fantasy? The Oligarchs have the necessary funds to pay for essential lawsuits.

Other reports

There are also further reports of warnings by Finland over their Defence Policy, stating, We make our own decisions? There are also unconfirmed reportsthat Turkey has had a request from Russia for safe passage of its naval fleet in the Black Sea. Turkey has in the meantime, closed the entrance to the Black Sea to both Ukraine and Russia. An Estonian owned cargo ship, mv.Helt has today sunk near the port of Odessa, with six crew rescued.

Why this war?

The key elements of the cause of this war were:

1. NATO expansion  closer and closer, thereby threatening Russia.

2. EU membership request of Ukraine, Georgia and Moldova  closer ties with Europe prevailed over common political sense.

3. Perhaps, miscalculation about Ukrainian capacity to defend its statehood.
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The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals has overturned the conviction of a Beaumont man who was sentenced to death for capital murder five years ago. Now he will now get a new trial.

Joseph Kenneth Colone Jr., won his appeal based on allegedly mishandled evidence and false testimony during the May 2017 trial that ultimately resulted in his sentence.

Colone is accused of killing a mother and her teenage daughter.

According previous Enterprise reporting, Colone Jr. claimed that he did not get a fair trial in Jefferson County, where "a powerful combination of individuals" decided he should die.

The three-page opinion delivered on Wednesday by the court concluded that evidence used in the states case against Colone, specifically a dark knit glove and a blue towel from the crime scene, were mishandled prior to DNA testing. If true, this could have violated Colones due process.

Related: Colone's appeal claims he didn't get fair trial

The court said Colone also claimed that one of the DPS analysts who testified during the trial either knowingly or unknowingly gave a false impression when he suggested that there was nothing awry with the manner in which DPS handled the glove and towel.

According to court documents, due process is violated when the state knowingly or unknowingly uses materially false testimony to obtain a conviction.

The Office of Capital and Forensic Writs, which handled the post-conviction writ, in a statement said it became clear that the DNA evidence had been mishandled during a series of postconviction depositions, and the Jefferson County District Attorneys Office joined with Colones attorneys to recommend that he should get a new trial. Unlike an appeal, a writ allows new evidence to be presented.

The statement said the evidence allegedly containing Colones DNA had been left in an unrefrigerated cooler for 30 days. In that time, the cold packs had thawed, and an unidentified, foul-smelling liquid coated the bottom of the cooler. Additionally, FedEx envelop containing the evidence was damp and soggy.

This case shows that no one involved in the criminal justice system - not lawyers, not judges, not jurors -- can take forensic evidence for granted - not even DNA evidence, OCFW Executive Director Benjamin Wolff said in a statement. It is also a reminder that the justice system is as fallible as the people involved and that even the highest profile cases need scrutiny to avoid wrongful convictions. We are gratified that the Court remedied this miscarriage of justice.

Colone previously was sentenced for fatally shooting Mary Goodman, 41, and her 16-year-old daughter Briana Goodman at their Hartel Street home in July 2010. According to a probable cause affidavit filed in the case, retaliation was believed to be the motive in the deaths.

The judgment of conviction  is set aside, Wednesdays opinion said.

Colone was represented in trial by defense attorneys Robert Loper and Gerald Bourque. Bourque said Colones family is ecstatic about the decision.

He pointed to a potential other suspect that was the states star witness during the initial trial. But when pressed, Bourque noted that its juries, not lawyers, that decide who is guilty in a case.

He confirmed the case will come back down to the trail court. It is unclear if it will be in the court of Judge Raquel West, who heard the first trial, and if Bourque will be reassigned to represent Colone.

Right now, everything is up in the air other than the fact that we are starting over, he said, adding that the case has been a battle since the beginning.

Now, that fight continues.

Bourque commended the appellate division of the Jefferson County District Attorneys Office for the confession of the error in this particular event, congratulated the Office of Capital and Forensic Writs and spoke on the significance of the appeal courts decision to overturn a capital murder conviction with a death sentence.

It is virtually unheard of, Bourque said. I would say, it was a one-in-a-thousand result.

Its also a significant win for him and his team.

Im 72 years old, Bourque said. I have fought these wars for 30 years.

This may be one of my, he paused, happier moments.

While it doesnt happen very often, the Jefferson County District Attorneys Office wasnt surprised about this verdict.

We knew it was coming, said Assistant Criminal District Attorney Wayln Thompson. This was a technical issue that came up  involving a notation that was made in the laboratory file that our lawyers at trial were not aware of at the time. And, it was information that the defense attorneys were entitled to, in order to at least to prepare their defense based around it. From the defense lawyers perspective it would have impacted their preparations for trial  how they went about preparing defense.

What it means, is basically it is going to be back to square one and we are going to retry the case.

Thompson is confident that the DAs office has the right suspect to prosecute and they feel they can address the concern about the evidence without impacting the admissibility for the DNA results.

Thompson said Colone is in custody as the case returns to the indictment and both legal teams move proceed once again.

meagan.ellsworth@beaumontenterprise.com

twitter.com/megzmagpie
Regarding Looking for the real endgame in Ukraine and West gives Putin a refresher course in physics, (March 3): Thank you for two excellent columns. Both Ross Douthat and George Will shined light on Putins invasion of Ukraine and the actual and possible outcomes of his action. Will reminds us that while the ever-thickening fabric of globalization is still insufficient to prevent all wars, non-combatant nations can inflict economic wounds with strong effect. Douthat warns, however, that financial and cultural isolation of Russia could drive them to forge an even stronger economic alliance with China creating a Eurasian financial and economic system unto itself. Both opinion pieces deal with the complexities of the current crisis, unlike Marc Thiessens column: The White Houses pathetic response to Putins invasion, which dithered on about out-of-context remarks made by Biden and other White House officials during the Russian build-up along the borders of Ukraine.

Alice Lively, Kingwood

Marc Thiessens state of the union speechsounded much like what I heard from President Bidens speech. Mr. Thiessen is literally plagiarizing President Biden.

President Bidens heroic efforts and success in rallying the world was almost unimaginable before this week. At a time of horrific assaults on a blossoming democracy that is literally changing every moment, Bidens steadfast leadership deserves praise. He has quickly organized massive sanctions with more to come. We are supplying Ukraine with arms and intelligence.

Mr. Biden was very clear what is at stake in dealing with Russias naked aggression. Biden clearly stated this will not stand.

Thiessen needs to be reminded that President Biden is dealing with a cornered, maniacal dictator who has nuclear weapons. Unfortunately, the answers are not easy. Thank goodness President Biden has the experience, patience and wisdom to lead us forward.

Ilona Thomson, Houston

Let me get this straight: we want to punish Russia for their invasion of Ukraine, but we will import many millions of dollars of oil from them which fuels their war machine? We know Iran is a state sponsored country that chants death to America  but we are relying in part on Russia to broker a deal for the Iran nuclear agreement releasing sanctions on Iran to sell more oil, which will fuel them to pay for more state sponsored terrorism, and yes, death to America? Lastly, we wont open up our federal lands for drilling and allowing major pipelines to be built so we can be energy independent (and have cheaper gas) once again and sell excess gas and oil to countries dependent on Russia for said oil and gas which would cut off the Russian money machine needed for their war on Ukraine. Maybe it is just me, but none of this seems to make any sense.

Brian Binash, Houston
Regarding Harris County finally releases election results after denied GOP petition stopped vote counts, (March 3): In engineering project circles, there is a philosophy that the customer always wants: faster, cheaper, and better results. But, the reality is that one always has to give. This theory applies to Harris Countys new voting machines which are better (i.e. selected to provide a paper backup compared with the previous system). The trade-off, upon rollout, was a more time-consuming procedure for counting.

And, just like the new carrier envelope design (more time needed to screen and cure mail-ins), poll workers and elections staff across the state will be going up the learning curve one election at a time. I would prefer that government officials support them in their efforts and promote the sharing of best practices rather than calling them incompetent.

A more constructive approach would be to evaluate the processes by which paper ballots are handled and damaged prior to machine-feeding. Similarly, a new carrier envelope design should come with clear, illustrated instructions. Harris Countys experience will help Texas avoid similar problems multiplied by 253. We should understand that changes always come with consequences and budget resources (including extra time) accordingly.

J. P. Oppenheim, Friendswood

I want Cindy Siegel to walk a mile in Isabel Longorias shoes. And then speak up.

I (a 65-plus-year-old with no dementia or even mental slowness) listened carefully to the voting instructions yet still found the process bizarre, confusing, extra time-takingunreasonable and unnecessary!

Whoever dreamed up these new rules is overtly sinister. Greg Abbott and our state legislators?

Nancy Higgs, Houston

What a Rube Goldberg setup. Took at least twice as long to vote. If you want the preliminary votes fast, do it digitally as in the past. The carefully go through the wrinkled paper for the final.

And though my wife and I voted by mail the last election cycle, we did not even attempt it this time after comparing the front and back of the application and seeing inconsistencies.

David Rosenberg, Houston

Regarding Grieder: The biggest loser in Harris Countys botched election night count may be voter confidence, (March 2): As a polling location judge, I can tell you the main problem is the amount of people that step up to work the polling locations. The location on Hwy 6 did not have any Democrats there to process their voters. When the polls close, it takes about 1.5 hours to pack up and close out the voting machines. Then wait in line for an hour or so to deliver the ballots and reports. So, it has more to do with having enough people to process the closing, delivering and counting of the votes than any B.S. you hear.

Robert Flanary, Houston

As a Republican presiding judge, I had reserved the voting location just after the November election, just in case the county failed to do so. The elections department listed the location in publications, but did not actually call me to ask that the location be shared with the Democrats until a month before the election.

They can repeatedly waste our time, and they are relentlessly disorganized.

On election day, we had 9 ballot-generating machines, and one scanner. We fought constantly with ballots stuck in the device. Most we could save, although 20 sheets were fouled by the printers out of 297 votes cast. Every machine had at least one instance where the paper jammed. On the Democrat side, they had numerous paper jams, but they barely had 100 votes cast. The technician who visited said problems were worse at other location, and that he was unable to get through to the help line.

No one seems to have kept track of the tens upon tens of millions of federal, state and local tax dollars that the county has squandered on elections in the past three years, let alone be willing to admit to the voters of the creation of another METRO-like boondoggle.

Thomas Bazan, Houston

Regarding 40% fewer mail ballots cast in Texas early voting amid confusion, delays caused by new law, (Feb. 27): Guess where the designated line for adding your all-important ID to your mail-in ballot is located? Yep! Its under the flap of the outside mailing envelope. As hidden as possible! Thats why many attempts, including ours, to vote by mail end up badly. We just spent over an hour at our local voting precinct canceling our mail-in ballots in order to vote in person. Both of us, with six advanced degrees between us, had failed to notice this obscure location for an ID number before sealing and signing the outer envelope. Then it was too late.

Cynthia and Burr Furlong, Houston

Follow-up

Regarding Editorial: Voters hit pause on Paxton and Railroad Commissioner Wayne Christian. Well take it. (March 2): While I tend to side more with Democrats on issues, I voted in the Republican primary. Lets face it, Texas is a red state and turning it blue will be difficult. So, if our leaders do end up being Republican, can we at least have ethical Republicans with integrity? Surely there are qualified Republican candidates to support instead of Ken Paxton, Wayne Christian, Dan Patrick, and Sid Miller. And there are. Or rather I should say there were. Dan Patrick and Sid Miller won their primaries. To Texas Republicans, you have a chance to choose better with the Attorney General and Railroad Commissioner on the May 24 runoff. Please do your research.

Gwen Roberts, Friendswood
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March is Massachusetts Maple Month

Agricultural Resources Commissioner John Lebeaux, Energy and Environmental Affairs Undersecretary Beth Card, and state and local officials visit Grand Maple Farms in New Braintree to celebrate Maple Month.

NEW BRAINTREE  Gov. Charlie Baker has declared March as Massachusetts Maple Month in the Commonwealth.

"Our administration is happy to continue the tradition of recognizing our maple sugar producers who have long been a unique and important part of the Massachusetts agricultural industry, contributing over $12 million to the local economy and employing more than 1,000 workers," said Baker. "We are proud to support them and hope everyone will do the same by purchasing locally produced maple products this season."

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's 2017 Census of Agriculture, Massachusetts is home to approximately 300 maple syrup producers who produce over 70,000 gallons of syrup each year. Producers help to maintain thousands of acres of open working landscapes across the commonwealth.

Maple sugaring profits allow many farms to stay in business year-round by serving as a secondary crop and supplemental source of income.

As one of the region's unique agricultural foods, visitors come from all over the world to buy products during the sugaring season. Farms, restaurants, bed and breakfasts, country inns, and other tourist businesses share in this income, which primarily flows into small towns and farm communities, helping the local economy.

Massachusetts ranks among the top 10 maple producing states in the nation.

"The start of maple season is always an exciting time, ushering in a new growing season here in the commonwealth," said Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito. "With snow still on the ground, visiting a Massachusetts sugarhouse offers a picturesque New England experience while supporting our local economy by providing a boost that not only benefits our maple producers but also provides other surrounding tourist destinations, such as restaurants and bed and breakfasts, with additional revenue opportunities."

In celebration of this declaration, Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources Commissioner John Lebeaux, state and local officials, and representatives from the Massachusetts Maple Producers Association today visited Grand Maple Farms in New Braintree to raise awareness of the state's many maple producers and to encourage residents to purchase locally-produced maple products.

The visit to Grand Maple Farms included a tour of their facility along with a ceremonial tapping of a maple tree to commemorate the start of the sugaring season. Owners Justin and Paul Schur began their business with 23 taps in 2011, which has now grown to over 900 taps including sugar maple and red maple trees.

In the past six years, the Baker-Polito administration, through MDAR, has awarded $341,785 in Agricultural Energy grants to maple producers throughout the state. These grants have been used to offset the costs of installing updated, environmentally friendly equipment, including high efficiency evaporators, heat recovery and reverse osmosis equipment.

"Maple syrup is a delicious local product that is part of our agricultural heritage in Massachusetts and maple sugar producers are true stewards of our land, protecting over 15,000 acres of woodland," said Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Kathleen Theoharides. "The commonwealth's maple sugar producers have also been pioneers and innovators, adopting cutting-edge energy efficient and environmentally-friendly technologies for harvesting and managing their maple groves."

Maple syrup has been produced and consumed for centuries in North America and its initial availability during the tail end of the winter season signals the start of the agricultural awakening in Massachusetts and a sign that spring is around the corner.

Tree tapping in Massachusetts can start as early as late January and continue through April, though March is officially Maple Month. Most importantly, the temperatures must be below freezing at night and above freezing during the days for the tree sap to flow. Furthermore, weather, soil, and genetics of the tree can affect maple syrup flavor.

"As we shake off another winter season and as residents are eager to venture out, I can't think of a better way to usher in a new growing season than to bring the family out to a local sugarhouse this month for a pancake breakfast complete with some freshly produced local Massachusetts maple syrup," said MDAR Commissioner John Lebeaux. "Like with so many other aspects of our culture, the history of Massachusetts is tied to the history of maple, and when you buy Commonwealth produced products, you are not only supporting local farmers but you are honoring the history and legacy of our agricultural past."
Clarios: Full Confidence in Chinese Market

By:Zhao Chunyuan/Chen ZHeyu | From:english.eastday.com | 2022-03-05 21:42

"Decades ago, car battery only powered engine startups. This is different today: higher standards are required for batteries since vehicles have multiple systems, including audio, electric doors and windows, automatic locks, and navigation functions, etc." said Mr. Leslie Wong, Vice president and General Manager of Clarios in Asia.

2022 marked the 50th anniversary of the Shanghai Communique released by China and the United States. On this occasion, Mr. Wong shared the story of Clarios developing together with China over the past decades with a reporter from Eastday.com.

Clarios business ties with China can be traced back to 1979. Its former entity was the first American company to sell automobile battery manufacturing equipment and trade with China after the establishment of Sino-US diplomatic ties.

In July 1980, a delegation from the Beijing Storage Battery Factory visited the US headquarters where the former entity of Clarios was located and exchanged gifts. Guests toured four battery factories in the United States.As an experienced professional in the auto industry, Mr. Wong has personally witnessed how cars changed from a luxury to day-to-day product supported by Chinas rapidly growing auto market. "Since reform and opening-up, China has become the world's largest automobile consumer market. At present, the approximate number of automobiles in Shanghai has reached 4.8 million, among which many are equipped with Clarios battery products," he said.

Clarios has formulated a sustainable development plan for the Chinese market. To address the demand for new energy vehicle (NEV) batteries, Clarios' AGM start-stop battery is made for both current and future vehicles with multi-electronic needs. A smart low-voltage battery designed for NEVs will also to be launched in the next two to three years.

If the car breaks down when you go shopping or take your child to school in the morning, it's very likely a battery problem. At this time, you can only call for help and wait. In the future, Clarios smart low-voltage battery will help avoid such situations. According to Mr. Wong, the companys new battery can self-monitor in real-time to provide continuous and stable power supply for a low-voltage power supply system. The battery would also predict and notify vehicle owners for battery maintenance and battery replacement and provide supplemental energy at critical moments.

In terms of low-voltage lithium batteries, Clarios has in-depth cooperation with many traditional and emerging automakers in the world. In November 2021, Clarios entered a strategic collaboration with China Aviation Lithium Battery Co. Ltd. (CALB), a power battery manufacturer, to develop and manufacture low-voltage lithium-ion battery systems with lithium iron phosphate (LFP) cells. This strategic collaboration combined CALB's lithium-ion cell expertise with Clarios' battery system and vehicle integration capabilities, to meet the rising demand for NEVs in China and the world.

Over the years, Clarios has grown deep roots in the Chinese market. The company witnessed great changes in the business environment of Shanghai and the wider Chinese market. "The Shanghai Municipal Government cares very much about the business environment and has given great support to local operations of foreign businesses in all aspects. For example, multinational companies usually enable talents to work across different countries. In 2021, Shanghai government launched a series of measures to facilitate the entry and exit of personnel under the normalized COVID-19 control, said Mr. Wong. The Citys open and inclusive business environment, smooth communication mechanism, institutional protection of business encouraged Clarios to choose Shanghai as its Asia headquarters.

According to data from IHS Markit, the number of cars in China has increased from 156 million to 254 million in the past five years, with a compound annual growth rate of 10.3%. In addition, the China Automobile Association predicts that the automobile industry will grow by 5%, and NEVs will increase by 34% in 2022.

At the end of the interview, talking about the future development of the company in Chinese market, Mr. Wong believes technology and innovation will drive more high-quality products and services. It is expected that China's automotive aftermarket will usher in vigorous development in the next few years, and companies will also deploy new service offerings based on the purchasing behaviors of Chinese consumers. "China is the fastest growing market in the world, and it is also the most important market for Clarios in the world. We have full confidence for our continued growth in Chinese market, said Mr. Wong.
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Have you seen him? Authorities ask for help in finding child rapist on the run in the South Sound
This is a story about leadership, power, and emotional intelligence.

It's also about a big error that many promising leaders make: letting their emotions dictate decisions, without realizing how they're undermining their power in the process.

I call this phenomenon the American Airlines rule, but that's not because the folks at American Airlines are especially prone to this mistake.

Instead, it's because it was Doug Parker, the outgoing American Airlines CEO, who offered the best simple explanation of the problem that I've ever seen (along with how to avoid it).

Don't change the priority

Parker gave an interview just before the pandemic in which he explained what it's like for him to fly his own airline as the CEO. Among his points:

First, besides flying for transportation as we all do, Parker flies to keep his eyes open, and to see what's really going in the company that he's led for many years.

Second, it turns out that Parker flies largely incognito, because while he goes by the name of Doug, that's in fact his middle name. His boarding pass, credit card, and ID read "William Parker," so employees might not recognize him.

Third, and this is the real takeaway, Parker said he's learned to hold his tongue when he's in airports or on a plane and sees airline processes that aren't working correctly.

Here's why, as he told Micheline Maynard for The Points Guy:

You don't want to change the priority of something that wasn't a priority. You want to be careful not to have people drop what they are doing so they can take care of something you noticed.

Double impact

I don't know how early in his career Parker came to this realization, but I think it's a timely point, especially given that he'll be moving on from his post as CEO later this month.

It applies to almost any leader, in any industry, or any relationship. And, it illustrates two key tenets of emotional intelligence when it comes to business:

Be careful not to let emotional reactions dictate your practical reactions (as opposed to reasoned, thoughtful actions), and

be aware of emotional messages you might communicate to the people you lead (intended or not), along with your actual, practical guidance.

Here, we have a situation with double impact, where the making of fast suggestions based on emotional reactions also creates an additional emotional reaction in other people.

The mere fact that the CEO tells someone to do something makes it take on more importance.

Watch the borders

Let's illustrate this with another example from history -- one that's a bit dated, but that you might find hilarious. It's about J. Edgar Hoover, who was the director of the FBI for nearly 50 years.

As the story goes, an agent once wrote a memo for the director about an investigation. Hoover returned it to him with a handwritten note across the top: "Watch the borders!"

Instead of asking for more guidance (Hoover was intimidating), the agent simply made an educated guess about what the director meant, and diverted other FBI agents to the international borders with Mexico and Canada.

Only later did someone realize what Hoover had actually meant: His note had nothing to do with international borders; he was simply annoyed that the agent had used very narrow margins ("borders") on the memo.

"The boss was just down here ..."

One more example, a bit more generic: You don't need to be running an airline or a massive government investigative force for this rule to apply.

Imagine that you're the CEO of a small factory, and that your strategic assessment has consistently been that quality control has to be the number-one priority.

But while out on the floor, you notice that the pace of production is lagging behind. You feel anxious, or awkward, or else maybe you just want to inspire people and be perceived as a good boss. So, you offer encouragement, and a challenge:

If we can make X widgets by the end of this shift, everyone gets a bonus.

The team is excited, and they work a bit faster. But look at what you've done: You've introduced a competing "most important thing" to your operation, and you've done it in an off-the-cuff way.

Your employees now hear:

Yes, quality control is the top priority. Except for when the boss comes down here and decides that speed is more important.

Doing this occasionally probably doesn't have a significant impact, but imagine the cumulative effect if you make a habit of it.

"The boss wanted to know why there were so many people standing in the front of the factory floor."

"She wondered why the break room was so messy."

"He mentioned that our travel expenses were up 10 percent over last month."

You're even more likely to create unintentional priorities if you show significant emotion in the process.

The boss was down here, and he wanted to know why so many people were standing around, he was ticked off about it.

"If everything's a priority ..."

It's not that you can have or communicate only one priority. In fact, it's a truth of business that you probably have to manage a whole bunch of competing demands.

Practicing the American Airlines rule (I guess we could also call it the J. Edgar Hoover Rule, but I'm now sure how many readers will remember who he was) means thinking first, before making these kinds of pronouncements.

We spent a lot of time examining emotional intelligence and leadership, and rightly so. If you can learn to leverage both your emotions and the emotions of those around you to make it more likely that you'll achieve your ultimate goals, that's probably a good thing.

As I make the point in my free e-book, 9 Smart Habits of People With Very High Emotional Intelligence, this is also about controlling emotions so that you don't dilute your power.


remaining of

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Indiana, PA (15701)

Today

Partly cloudy. Areas of patchy fog. High near 70F. Winds light and variable..

Tonight

Cloudy with occasional rain late. Low 56F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 80%.
Rishab Kaushik, a Dehradun resident who refused to leave war-torn Ukraine without his pet dog Maliboo, arrived in India early on Friday via Budapest, Hungary.

Kaushik is an undergraduate student of software engineering at the Kharkiv National University of Radio Electronics Engineering.

He had posted a video on Instagram regarding the difficulties he is facing in bringing his dog along with him to India, urging the Government to allow NOC.

PTI

His video led People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) to appeal to the Indian government to press for allowing the Indians to take their pets along with in the flights.

"There was a lot of documentation in India, the procedure was long. But in war-like situations, they should've allowed their own citizens. So, I had put up the appeal. A memorandum had come recently which stated that pets and even strays are now being allowed without NOC," Kaushik told ANI.

ANI

He was one of the few Indian students who had refused to leave the war-hit country without their pets.

Not the only student

Arya Aldrin, a medical student at National Pirogov Memorial Medical University in Vinnytsya, had reportedly said she won't leave her five-month-old Siberian Husky puppy Zaira behind.

After days of uncertainty, Arya was able to take a flight from Romania and landed in Delhi on Wednesday night.

IPRD Kerala

A total of 798 stranded Indians were evacuated through the four Air Force flights that reached the Hindon airbase on Thursday. Besides them, there was a dog and a cat on one flight and two other cats on another flight.

The dog, a Siberian Husky, belonged to Yukta, a fourth-year MBBS student from Maharahstra's Pune. She boarded the special IAF flight from Poland.

She was in Lviv, a city in western Ukraine around 70 km off Poland border, where she got the dog along with her friends and named it "Neela".

BCCL

"I am sure the puppy would have been a well-behaved passenger," Minister of State for Civil Aviation VK Singh, who is in Poland to facilitate the evacuation of Indian nationals, said on Twitter.

"Will see both (Yukta and Neela) of you again when I am back. Take care. Jai Hind," he added.

A cat belonging to another MBBS student was also on board the same flight, which reached Hindon around 6.15 am.

Two other cats came to India with their Indian master, who had got them in Ukraine.

AFP

They came in a flight that reached around 5.30 am.

Three cats and a dog were among the evacuees from war-hit Ukraine besides 798 stranded Indians who returned home early on Thursday.

Earlier on Tuesday, the Government of India issued a memorandum facilitating "a one-time relaxation measure" for bringing back pet dogs and cats along with stranded Indians who are being evacuated from war-hit Ukraine.

For more on news, sports and current affairs from around the world, please visit Indiatimes News.
Amid the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine, China has hiked its annual defence budget by 7.1 per cent to US $230 billion from last year's US $209 billion, in a move that has raised eyebrows in India.

The Chinese government has proposed the defence budget for the fiscal year 2022 at 1.45 trillion yuan (USD 230 billion), a 7.1 per cent year-on-year increase, state-run China Daily reported quoting the draft budget proposals presented by Premier Li Keqiang to the National People's Congress (NPC), the country's parliament today.

China's budget 3 times that of India

The hike makes China's defence budget over three times that of India's defence budget of 5.25 lakh crore (about USD 70 billion) for 2022.

Last year, China's defence spending for the first time crossed USD 200 billion.

File Photo

In 2021, the defence budget grew by 6.8 per cent to USD 209 billion.

In his work report presented to China's Parliament, Chinese Premier Li called for "deepening comprehensive combat readiness" from the People's Liberation Army (PLA).

He said the Chinese Army needs to "carry out military struggles in a resolute and flexible manner" to defend the country's sovereignty, security and development interests.

China's increase in this year's defence budget came amid the standoff with India in eastern Ladakh and its increasing political and military tensions with the US.

China has the world's second-largest defence budget after the United States.

India's abstention in UNGC

AFP

So far, India has abstained from voting at the United Nations General Assembly to condemn Russias invasion of Ukraine.

India also has a concern that the anti-Russian vote could cement Moscows strategic partnership with China, with which it has a troubled relationship.

India has not supported Russias aggression tacitly or otherwise, but it has consciously refrained from publicly condemning it.

For more on news and current affairs from around the world, please visit Indiatimes News.
Stichting AAP, a Dutch foundation based in Almer is looking to make sure there are safe living conditions for lions, a tiger, and an African wild dog rescued from a shelter for wild animals in Ukraine, as per Nltimes.

The foundation said that the employees of the wildlife shelter braved the odds to bring the creatures to safety.

They managed to sneak them into Poland on Thursday while Russian soldiers reportedly fired at them.

The animals, mostly lions, are on their way to Zoo Poznan in Poland which is a partner of Stichting AAP.

Getty

"AAP focuses on animals in need in the EU, but we cannot leave these brave Ukrainians and their animals out in the cold," the foundation tweeted.

"They took a huge risk to find a safe haven for their animals and AAP is happy to offer it. We hope to collect the animals soon," the tweet also said.

Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine on February 24. The fighting is getting intense and many are dead along with several wounded.

Getty

The world has condemned this action and several sanctions have been imposed but Russia is not backing down and the Ukrainians are fighting to defend their nation from an external invading force.



For more on news and current affairs from around the world, please visit Indiatimes News.


Woodbridge, VA (22192)

Today

A mix of clouds and sun during the morning will give way to cloudy skies this afternoon. High 67F. Winds NE at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Mostly cloudy. Slight chance of a rain shower. Low 56F. Winds light and variable.
A priest who threw red paint over the Russian embassy in Dublin has urged people in Ireland to continue to protest against the war in Ukraine.

Fr Fergal MacDonagh was among speakers who addressed a rally in Dublin city centre that was attended by several thousand protesters on Saturday.

Ukrainian ambassador to Ireland Larysa Gerasko also spoke to the crowds outside the GPO on OConnell Street, warning that her country was on the brink of a humanitarian catastrophe.

People on OConnell Street in Dublin protest against the Russian war in Ukraine. Picture: PA

Fr MacDonagh, from Dolphins Barn parish in south-west Dublin, threw the paint over the gates of the Russian embassy on Friday in protest at the invasion.

Organisers thanked him for the act on Saturday and invited him to address the rally.

The cleric explained what motivated him to vandalise the property.

Yesterday morning when I woke up I heard on the radio that a maternity hospital had been bombed in Ukraine during the night, he said.

Its appalling and horrific and its the work of evil what is happening in Ukraine, its a war crime and Putin will face justice in this world or in the next.

Ukrainian Ambassador to Ireland Larysa Gerasko at the anti-war rally (Niall Carson/PA)

He added: Ive been frightened and worried and anxious all week, all the last 10 days.

We must protest, the people of Ukraine must know that they are not alone.

Ms Gerasko thanked those who came out to voice their opposition to the war.

Many cities in Ukraine are destroyed, many civilians are killed, many children, women and many Ukrainians flee the country, many refugees, she said.

We are at the brink of a humanitarian catastrophe.

People march through Dublin city centre to protest against the Russian war in Ukraine (Niall Carson/PA)

Tanya White, who is originally from Kyiv, demanded that Nato impose a no-fly zone in her homeland.

My relatives, my classmates, my family they are all being bombed with rockets, she said.

The house that I lived in in Kyiv its being shelled by rockets continuously, its a nightmare.

The main point is close the skies, close the skies over Ukraine and Ukraine will do the rest  they will win it.
Amateur Radio, ISS and STEM In an unforgettable demonstration of STEM education in action, students at Tarwater Elementary School in Arizona used ham radio equipment to communicate directly with the International Space Station



An article by Robert Keim published on All About Circuits says:



I began my undergraduate studies with no knowledge of amateur radio. I grew up in the digital age when dissecting electronic devices produced little more than uninspiring green boards populated by anonymous black rectangles, and when circuit tinkering involved microcontrollers and CAD software (EAGLE, of course). Today, prospective EEs are even more likely to begin their journey with software and processor platforms instead of a radio kit.



However, after a recent conversation with two engineers from NXPs facility in Chandler, Arizona, I have a renewed appreciation for the things that you cannot do with an MCU evaluation board. For example: establishing a real-time voice link with someone who lives 250 miles above the Earth and is careening through space at 17,500 miles per hour.



NXPs collaboration with Tarwater Elementary was supported by ARISS (Amateur Radio on the International Space Station). This multinational organization facilitates educational projects that introduce students (and adults) to wireless technology in general and ham radio in particular. It is difficult to imagine a more effective way to convince young folks that old-fashioned RF techniques are still useful and interesting. A thousand-dollar iPhone can do many things, but it cant call an astronaut on the ISS.



Read the full story at

https://www.allaboutcircuits.com/news/with-help-from-nxp-engineers-young-students-chat-with-iss-astronauts/
A judge has branded a young Wicklow woman who carried out a violent assault on a 13-year-old girl outside a teenage disco in Wicklow Town as a bully and a complete thug.

Judge Martina Baxter said the assailant, Shannon Kehoe (19), had ruined another persons life after hearing of the traumatic impact of the assault on the young girl. After seeing a video of the assault taken by a bystander that had been posted on Facebook, Judge Baxter described the incident as appalling and shocking.

The judge said the fact that the incident, which involved a girl that looked even younger than 13, had been displayed on social media had added to the indignity of the assault.

In statements, the victims parents said their daughter was having a really hard time since the assault almost three years ago as she had stopped attending school, lost all her friends and was suffering various health problems.

Kehoe of Ocean View, Ballyguile, Wicklow Town, who was aged 17 at the time of the incident, pleaded guilty at Wicklow Circuit Criminal Court to assault causing harm to the girl outside The Old Forge nightclub in Wicklow Town on June 28, 2019.

The court heard the victim had gone to the garda station in Wicklow with her father, who was waiting to collect her from the disco, after the incident to report the attack.

Garda Sarah Kearney said Kehoe had come to the attention of gardai after being arrested for public order offences and had subsequently admitted carrying out the assault. Garda Kearney said the victim had been pushed to the ground before going into the disco by another girl with whom there had been ongoing issues.

She described how the victim was called by Kehoe, who knew the other girl, while she was in the nightclub even though she did not have her number. A video of the assault shown in court recorded Kehoe punching her victim on the head and body while shouting: You dirty c**t. Wait until I get you.

The girl was brought by ambulance to Tallaght University Hospital where she was required to have an overnight stay to treat injuries to her head and neck.

Victim impact statement

In a victim impact statement, the girls mother said her daughter was even scared around her house following the attack and had been diagnosed with depression and diabetes.

She said she and the girls father had to take time off work, as their daughter needed 24/7 supervision, as well as pay medical bills which had placed a lot of financial strain on the family. The mother said her daughter had lost her self-confidence and had engaged in various acts of self-harm.

She described how her once-happy daughter no longer had any friends as they had all turned against her and she would refuse to eat, drink and take a shower. Our lives changed in one night, said the woman. What happened to my daughter changed our lives forever.

She recalled how her daughter was physically ill on leaving her house when she returned to school and eventually did not go back after a mid-term break. Every day I think about her future and I am very worried, she added.

Remorse

When arrested, Garda Kearney said Kehoe had claimed that the victim had called both her and her friend names before the disco. Kehoe claimed the girl had pushed past her group and she had told her victim to cop on and stop.

Asked if the victim was a friend, Kehoe replied: She is now. The court heard Kehoe had been drinking beer and vodka earlier that evening but admitted she was the person filmed assaulting the girl.

Counsel for Kehoe, Niamh Foley BL admitted her client was responsible for a shocking incident. Ms Foley said Kehoe, who is unemployed, was extremely remorseful.

However, Judge Baxter said the accused had shown a lack of empathy and insight, while her statement to gardai was self-serving as she had been caught on camera punching a girl half her size repeatedly.

Adjourning sentencing until a date in November, the judge said she would have remanded Kehoe in custody but for the fact that she was 17 at the time of the offence.
It is a busy day for Ciaran Murphy, a native of Swords, Co Dublin. It started with cooking breakfast for his guests, a family of refugees from Ukraine  Nadiia, her daughter (who wished to remain anonymous) and her niece Yana.

Later that day, he would drive out to Modlin airport, about an hour away from Warsaw, to pick up another Ukrainian family who needed transportation back into Warsaw. Only to be back to the airport again in the evening to drive Nadiia and the girls to catch their Ryanair flight to Shannon.

In between those chores, Mr Murphy managed to teach an online English class, walk his cheerful golden retriever Fella a few times, and meet with a journalist, myself.

When I visit them in a cosy two-bedroom apartment in the northern district of Warsaw, Mr Murphy and his guests are finishing breakfast. The 37-year-old Irishman has been living in Poland for eight years and teaches English in a language school run by his wife Kasia. Together, they are raising little Zuza.

In the first days of the war, he saw images of refugees crossing the border and asked himself: What can I offer? I have a car, so I can offer transport. I have a spare room and a sofa bed, so I can offer that as well.

He believes it is in the nature of the Irish to respond to personal suffering and loss.

There is a bit of a language barrier between Mr Murphy and his guests, but with his broken Polish and their broken English and Google translate, they manage. As I speak Russian and easily understand Ukrainian, we spend over an hour talking about the war, the bravery of Ukrainians, the mental state of Vladimir Putin, and the shocking scale of propaganda in Russia.

Ciaran Murphy: In the first days of the war, he saw images of refugees crossing the border and asked himself: 'What can I offer? I have a car, so I can offer transport. I have a spare room and a sofa bed, so I can offer that as well.'

The family comes from Ivano-Frankivsk in western Ukraine. Nadiia had to leave her husband behind. Yanas family is back home as well: her mother is a medical worker and is liable for military service, as is her older brother, whos just turned 18. Their trip to Poland took over 24 hours. They were first dropped off at the border by Nadiias husband but later crossed it on foot carrying small backpacks.

They have not lost hope of returning home after a while, but for now, they are heading to Co Mayo. Its the closest they can get to Britain, where Yanas godmother is waiting for them.

While Ireland has lifted its visa requirement for Ukrainians fleeing war, the UKs procedure is less straightforward. The British government has promised to launch a new humanitarian sponsorship visa route. Nadiia and the girls will try to apply for those visas from Ireland.

They have lots of questions about the place theyre going to. Yana had to leave her beloved school behind. Together, we are trying to calculate how many years of school she has left in Ireland. When I mention that some schools in Ireland are single-sex, Yana is surprised.

But thats no fun, she says. The overwhelming majority of schools in the countries from the former USSR, are mixed. Including Yanas Catholic lyceum.

The teenager is also very curious about sports and wonders if she could play soccer or rugby in Ireland. The last time they were forming a soccer school team back home, the girls were not accepted.

Nadiia asks me whether it is easy to buy medicine for diabetes in Ireland. But she is not too worried: after several days of constant help from strangers, she knows she will not be left alone with that problem.

While we talk, Mr Murphy keeps arranging their departure, including their Covid documents.

Despite the pandemic rapidly becoming ancient history for everyone in the region, Mr Murphy felt it was important to prepare every document so there will be no trouble at the Irish border. He drove them to take PCR tests, while his friends in Warsaw helped to cover the cost of that, still rather expensive, service.

Mr Murphy repeats a few times that others are doing much more". But it is worth trying to make a difference, even for three people, he adds.

Another humanitarian project he and his wife are setting up are free Polish language classes for Ukrainians. The first lesson is on Sunday and is fully booked. Despite their yearning to return to Ukraine, most refugees understand they will have to start settling abroad.
Burma Junta Watch: Myanmar Military Not Worried as World Shuns Main Supplier Russia

Russian Deputy Defense Minister Alexander Fomin (left) meets Myanmar armed forces chief Senior General Min Aung Hlaing in Naypyitaw in March 2021. / AFP

Russia sanctions send chill through Naypyitaw

Myanmar junta spokesman Major General Zaw Min Tun told the BBC that the regime might have some difficulties purchasing arms from Russia after the U.S., European Union and Canada announced on Feb. 26 that key Russian banks would be excluded from the SWIFT interbank messaging system in response to Russias invasion of Ukraine. The move will harm the banks ability to operate globally.

Maj-Gen Zaw Min Tun did his best to downplay the development, saying it did not worry the regime because its contacts with Russia date back to the days when Myanmar was under the previous military regime and sanctioned by Western governments, adding that the junta maintains communication channels with Russia to procure arms and spare parts from it.

Despite the spokesmans apparent lack of concern, however, sources tell The Irrawaddy that Myanmar generals who have bank accounts in Russiaas well as the military cronies who act as intermediaries between Russian arms manufacturers and the regimeare extremely concerned about the latest developments in relation to Russia.

On Feb. 26, the regime held an emergency meeting to discuss the implications of the Russia-Ukraine crisis on Myanmar, according to a source. The junta has voiced support for Russia since the invasion began on Feb. 24.

Min Aung Hlaing pledges boost for farmers while destroying their lives

In his message to mark Peasants Day on Wednesday, junta leader Min Aung Hlaing said he attached great importance to improving the socioeconomic conditions of the countrys farmersan astonishing claim given that his forces, acting on his orders, have torched villages, farms, fields and silos, and conducted deadly air raids in Sagaing and Magwe regions, the countrys agricultural heartland.

Thanks to Min Aung Hlaing, tens of thousands of farmers from those regions have had to flee and many have been left homeless after their houses were burned down in junta raids. Many dare not return to their villages to harvest their crops for fear of junta soldiers and pro-junta Pyu Saw Htee militias.

Recently, almost all the houses in Thabyayaye Village in Sagaing Regions Yinmarbin Township were reduced to ashes in junta arson attacks. And nine civilians were killed in Chin Pone Village in the same township. Junta troops and Pyu Saw Htee militias also torched villages in Magwe Regions Gangaw, killing seven villagers.

Undeterred by the arbitrary killings and arson attacks, many farmers in Magwe and Sagaing regions marked Peasants Day by expressing their opposition to the military regime.

Power cuts go from bad to worse

A few months after the coup last year, Min Aung Hlaing revealed his wild economic plans for the country, including creating a metro rail system and launching fleets of electric buses. But one year after the coup, far from getting around in electric vehicles, Myanmar people cant even use their electric fans to cope with the searing heat of the hot season.

Many places across the country including the commercial capital Yangon have reported longer electricity blackouts, from around three hours previously to more than six hours a day since last week, with people and businesses being seriously affected by power cuts.

Power cuts strike seemingly at random; people do not know when the electricity will be cut off and when it will return. This has reminded many of former military dictator Than Shwes era, when blackouts were so common that people would burst into applause when the electricity came back on. Businesses ranging from SMEs to factories are facing various difficulties as a result of the outages.

Myanmar people realized they were in for a long power crisis when they saw an advertisement placed in the March 2 issues of local newspapers by the juntas Electricity Ministry announcing an open tender to supply a diesel-run electricity generator for its office.

At a regime meeting on the development of the capital, Naypyitaw, on Aug. 17 last year, junta leader Min Aung Hlaing instructed officials to create a neat, smart, green city with an underground metro rail system and electric buses for residents. But nearly seven months after he unveiled his big dreams, the fact that even his administrative seat is in need of a generator has become a grim joke among Myanmar people.

Russian Embassy raps incorrect reporting on Ukraine

The Russian Embassy released a statement on March 3 saying that several articles published by Myanmar media sources are based on faulty information regarding Russias invasion of Ukraine.

Though many countries and even many Russians themselves have condemned the invasion, the embassy in its statement described it as a special military operation.

It said the Russian army does not attack civilians or cities, targeting only military infrastructure, that nuclear sites in Ukraine are safe and secure as confirmed by the IAEA, and that Russian military personnel together with the National Guard of Ukraine would ensure the safety of the Chernobyl and Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plants.

The embassy apparently ignores the fact that scores of civilians were killed by Russian missile strikes on Kharkiv, the second-largest city in Ukraine; this was widely covered in international media. Though the embassy said the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant is safe, Ukraine claims that Europes largest nuclear power plant caught fire after it was shelled by Russia. The fire has been extinguished and Russian forces have taken control of the plant, international media reported. The statement of the Russian Embassy is in fact similar to those of the Myanmar junta (which supports Russias war on Ukraine), in that it is completely at odds with reality.

Junta blames Ukraine people for Russias aggression

The Myanmar junta has reiterated its support for Russian President Vladimir Putin less than a week after his invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 24, blaming the invasion on Ukraines people.

In a commentary published in its Burmese-language mouthpieces Myanma Alin and Kyemon on Feb. 27 and 28, the junta accused the US of being primarily responsible for modern-day aggression.

The commentary put the blame on the Ukrainian people, saying they are responsible for what is happening now because they chose the wrong leader for themselves.

Calling Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy a puppet of the West, the commentary argues that he is incompetent and irrationalfailings it says have cost the lives of many Ukrainians.

The regime also accused the US and its NATO allies of plotting to pit Russia and Ukraine against each other.

The commentary at the same time praises Putin as a leader of vision who had the foresight to quietly build up his countrys military and economic strength.

While Min Aung Hlaing is persecuting them with military hardware it obtained from Russia, the Myanmar people are showing their support for the efforts of their Ukrainian counterparts to repulse Russian forces.

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Lolita, the 56-year-old orca who has made the Miami Seaquarium her home for the past 52 years, will no longer be performing attractions before loving fans.

Also known as Tokitae, the orca has been reportedly ill and Miami Seaquarium officials have not decided what to do with her.

But the Miami Seaquariums new operator, MS Leisure Company  a transition that was completed this week  wants to bring back the excitement at the facility for people and their family to enjoy.

We are very excited to finally have completed the process to proceed with the operation and administration of the Miami Seaquarium, said Eduardo Albor, CEO for The Dolphin Company, which is the parent company of MS Leisure. This is indeed a process that could only be completed with the support and guidance of Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava and County Commissioner Raquel Regalado, who, like our company, are also committed to seeing the Miami Seaquarium once again become the family attraction many of us enjoyed in our youth.

I also want to acknowledge and give credit to the real heroes, the people who have dedicated their lives taking care of all the animals in this unique park, including the rescued manatees, sea lions, dolphins and indeed our beloved Lolita, he added.

Effective March 4, The Dolphin Company is the licensed operator of the Seaquarium, taking full responsibility of the iconic attraction..

Mayor Levine Cava said the parks new operator will do a good job.

Today marks a new day for the Miami Seaquarium and all of the creatures within its care,she said, noting that the shared priority of the county and The Dolphin Company remains providing the highest standard of care for all the Seaquarium marine inhabitants, including the beloved orca Lolita (Tokitae).

The Dolphin Company operates 32 parks and habitats in Mexico, Argentina, the Caribbean, Italy and Florida.

As in all of the other (facilities), the Miami Seaquarium will have our full commitment to first review and improve the well-being of its aquatic species and second, to review and improve the overall guest the experience in a safe, exciting environment for our visitors, said Travis Burke, Regional Director for North America for The Dolphin Company.

The shake up at Miami Seaquarium stems from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which cited numerous maintenance, water quality and animal welfare problems during an inspection at the Miami Seaquarium last summer.

And then, there were wide-spread reports about the declining health of Lolita that prompted Regalado to take action.

In a Feb. 18 memo to Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava and others, Commission Raquel Regalado requested an independent assessment of animal welfare at Miami Seaquarium.

Regalado is also proposing to modify the renewing lease for the Seaquarium so the county can evaluate and inspect the attraction whenever necessary.

Regalado, whose district includes the Miami Seaquarium, said the county received several emails from concerned people  including animal conservative groups  about the health of Tokitae the ocra, also known as Lolita.

Recent reports have questioned whether enough is being done to provide for the health and welfare of Tokitae, Regalado said in the memo.

While the veterinarians assigned to Tokitae have acknowledged that she has been ill, she is monitored constantly and was reported as of (last) week to be improving, she wrote. My understanding is the Seaquarium staff have cooperated fully with both the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) inspection and in providing updates to Miami-Dade County.

She added, however, that she thinks having an independent evaluation of Tokitae would be good.

I want to see them agree to a third-party vet, right now, without having the county commission have to approve my item, said Regalado. Then, ideally, I would like my colleagues to support my amendment to the lease to include safety checks on the animals if there are concerns about their health.

When the commissioners approved a reassignment of the facilitys lease in 2021, it called for improvements to the facility and the maintaining quality care of the animals..

Officials from Miami Seaquarium declined interviews but released a statement saying they continue to monitor Toki's condition, including stepped up monitoring of her health.

Twenty-hour hour observation is an important and common practice utilized when an animal is feeling unwell, especially one such as Toki, who is well beyond the average life expectancy of her species, the statement said. Toki has been resting comfortably overnight and steadily improving. Like any geriatric animal or human, however, some days are better than others While her veterinary team is optimistic, it is important to keep in mind that as animals age, their immune systems weaken, making them more susceptible to disease and more difficult to combat and recover from illness."

At age 56, Toki (aka Lolita), is believed to be the oldest killer whale living under human care, Seaguarium officials said in their release. Tokis unprecedented longevity speaks to the quality care she receives.

According to published reports, the Seaquarium has to fix violations discovered by a USDA inspection last summer. The feds recently returned to check on Toki and a new report is expected shortly.


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Ericsson chief executive Borje Ekholm has been named as a defendant in the class action.

Swedish telecommunications equipment company Ericsson has been hit with a class action lawsuit in the US over claims that it misled investors over its dealings in Iraq.

The news agency Reuters said chief executive Borje Ekholm and chief financial officer Carl Mellander [seen below, right in a company photo] were named as defendants in the suit which was filed on Friday.

News of the class action came soon after Ericsson released its annual report for 2021. The company has lost about a third of its market value after reports of the alleged bribery were made public in February.

In an update issued in an email accompanying the report, the company said: "After the annual report was finalised on 3 March, Ericsson learned that Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson and certain officers of Ericsson were named as defendants in a putative class action filed in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York.

"The complaint alleges violations of United States securities laws, in connection with allegedly false and misleading statements principally concerning the companys adherence with its compliance and disclosure policies and obligations and the conduct of its business in Iraq."

On Wednesday, as iTWire reported, Ericsson issued a media statement admitting it had not met the terms of a deal it struck with the US Department of Justice in 2019 over claims of alleged corrupt dealings in Iraq.

The company said it had been informed by the DoJ on 1 March that disclosure it had made prior to a deferred prosecution agreement, which was inked on 6 December 2019, was insufficient.

The DPA was in connection with Ericsson's internal investigation into its conduct in Iraq between 2011 and 2019. The statement said the DoJ had determined that it [Ericsson] had failed to make subsequent disclosures relevant to the investigation after the DPA was struck.

Reuters said the filing, by a law company known as Pomeranz, claimed the company had misled investors by exaggerating the extent to which it had eliminated the use of bribes.

As iTWire reported on Tuesday, based on a report in The Guardian, details of alleged bribery by Ericsson in Iraq were leaked to the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists which shared the data with the British newspaper and also the BBC and the Washington Post.

The firm was said to have allegedly paid bribes to the Islamic State terrorist group in order to continue doing business in the country.

The Guardian story said, apart from the allegations of payments to Islamic State, the leaked documents also listed allegations that the company was involved in corruption in at least 10 countries on four continents.

In 2019, when Ericsson admitted wrongdoing. it agreed on a a US$1 billion (A$1.37 billion) settlement with the DoJ.

Contacted for additional comment on the 2 March statement, Ericsson said through a spokesperson: "We have noted the media coverage by the ICIJ, including The Guardian. Ericsson takes any allegation of misconduct extremely seriously.

"At this moment, we refer to our press releases, issued on 15 February and 2 March, for further information."
The Republican-controlled Georgia House of Representatives gave final passage Friday to new district boundaries for the state Public Service Commission (PSC) over objections from Democrats that the map discriminates against minority voters.

The bill, which originated in the Georgia Senate, cleared the House 97-68 along party lines and now goes to GOP Gov. Brian Kemps desk for his signature.

The new map makes significant changes to the five PSC districts, moving 44 of the states 159 counties into a different district than the current map.

Recommended for you +21 Favorites to win the Kentucky Derby More than 150,000 spectators will pack into Churchill Downs on May 7 to watch the 148th Kentucky Derby: the race thats been dubbed the greatest two minutes in sports. Whether youre picking a dark horse or sticking with the favorite, we at Stacker have ranked all the thoroughbreds running t Click for more.

The changes were necessary to bring the population deviation between the districts to plus-or-minus 1%, said Rep. Bonnie Rich, R-Suwanee, chairman of the House Legislative & Congressional Reapportionment Committee.

House Democrats argued the bill perpetuates the current system requiring commissioners to run statewide even though they must live inside their districts.

A federal lawsuit currently pending claims electing commissioners statewide violates the federal Voting Rights Act because it dilutes minority voting strength.

It makes no sense for us ... to perpetuate statewide election of members of the PSC, said Rep. Sam Park, D-Lawrenceville. It could be seen as thumbing our noses at the court.

House Minority Leader James Beverly, D-Macon, said the new map is politically motivated, a bid by majority Republicans to avoid creating a majority-minority PSC district centered around Gwinnett County, which has seen huge growth in its minority population since the current map was drawn a decade ago. The new map moves Gwinnett into a district dominated by heavily white communities in Northeast Georgia.

Intentional racial discrimination is wrong, Beverly said.

But Rep. Houston Gaines, R-Athens, said its too late to change the method of electing PSC members when the candidate qualifying period is set for next week. Such a change from the current system of statewide elections would require a constitutional amendment, he said.

Qualifying for congressional, statewide and legislative offices begins on Monday and runs through noon next Friday.
More than 150,000 spectators will pack into Churchill Downs on May 7 to watch the 148th Kentucky Derby: the race thats been dubbed the greatest two minutes in sports. Whether youre picking a dark horse or sticking with the favorite, we at Stacker have ranked all the thoroughbreds running t Click for more.
The battlefield thats 5 khz wide The airwaves are full of news from the battle in Ukraine, with TV and radio journalists providing coverage at all hours. But for those with a bit of patience theres something else from the conflict that can be found with a radio receiver, the battle over 5 kHz of spectrum starting at 4625 kHz. This has for many years been the location on the dial for the Buzzer, a Russian military transmitter whose nickname describes its monotonous on/off buzzing transmission perfectly. As the current Ukrainian situation has taken shape it has become a minor battleground, and the Buzzer now shares its frequency with a variety of other stations broadcasting music, spectrograms, and other radio junk intended to disrupt it.

For the curious this can be watched unfolding on a spectrogram or through headphones by anyone within range who has an HF receiver, or for everyone else, with a WebSDR. In Western Europe its best listened to in hours of darkness, we suggest you consult the webSDR.org list to see which has the best signal. Weve heard it on receivers in Poland, Russia, and the ever-reliable uTwente WebSDR in the Netherlands. Over the time weve been monitoring it weve heard overlaying speech, and music varying from the Soviet and American anthems through dance music and K-pop to 1960s British rock and of course Boney Ms Rasputin, with a few slightly macabre choices such as Final Countdown and an air raid siren. Weve even heard TV intros from the Benny Hill Show, the A-Team and Mission Impossible, so whoever is doing this has a wide taste.







Alongside the music at about 4628kHz meanwhile weve watched a series of spectrogram messages scroll past in Ukrainian, Russian, and English, ranging from Stop war to lewd suggestions about the Russian President. Its fair to say that none of these transmissions have obscured the Buzzer, but they have had the effect of significantly increasing the noise on the channel.





To have a listen yourself, point a receiver within range at the appropriate time of day towards 4625 kHz and select USB demodulation and a 5 kHz bandwidth. Meanwhile, for some background on the Cold War HF relics, have a read about numbers stations.


Johnson City, TN (37604)

Today

A mix of clouds and sun. High 81F. Winds NW at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Partly cloudy skies early will give way to cloudy skies late. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low around 65F. Winds SSE at 5 to 10 mph.
Bir Lahlou, 5 March 2022 (SPS) - President of the Republic, Secretary General of the Polisario Front, H.E. Mr Brahim Ghali, has received a message of congratulations from the President of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste, H.E. Dr. Francisco Guterres Lu Olo, on the occasion of the 46 Anniversary of the proclamation of the Saharawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR).



"On the occasion of the anniversary of the proclamation of the independence of your country, the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR), I would like on behalf of the people of Timor-Leste and of my own behalf to express to your excellency our warm congratulations," said the President of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste, H.E. Dr. Francisco Guterres Lu Olo.



"With great attention and much hope, we accompany the developments of your cause, taking into account our own experience, we are convinced that your victory is a matter of time," he added.



Based on the struggle of National liberation of his own country, he expressed support for a negotiated peaceful political solution in Western Sahara, emphasizing that it is not acceptable the exploitation of a situation of peace for the prejudice of the interests of people that have all the right to choose freely their future, recalling in this regard that all the United Nations resolutions recognize the inalienable right of the Sahrawi people to choose freely their future.



Finally, he reiterated support for the Sahrawi people, reaffirming wish for happiness and success to President Ghali and to the Sahrawi people and the government of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic.



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Weather Alert

...The National Weather Service in Springfield MO has issued a Flood Warning for the following rivers in Missouri...Kansas... Elk River near Tiff City affecting McDonald County. Spring River above Baxter Springs affecting Cherokee County. Spring River at Carthage affecting Jasper County. Spring River near Waco affecting Jasper County. For the Elk River Basin...including Tiff City...Minor flooding is forecast. For the Spring River Basin...including Baxter Springs, Waco, Carthage...Minor flooding is forecast. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Turn around, don't drown when encountering flooded roads. Many flood deaths occur in vehicles. 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. late tonight at 300 AM CDT. && ...FLOOD WARNING IN EFFECT FROM THIS MORNING TO LATE SATURDAY EVENING... * WHAT...Minor flooding is forecast. * WHERE...Spring River at Carthage. * WHEN...From this morning to late Saturday evening. * IMPACTS...At 14.0 feet, moderate flooding occurs at the gage site. The levee system closes due to flood waters affecting the north central industrial section of Carthage. Flood waters affect low lying areas and country roads north and west of Carthage along the river. Kellogg Lake Park floods and is closed. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS... - At 1:45 AM CDT Thursday the stage was 7.7 feet. - Forecast...The river is expected to rise above flood stage this morning to a crest of 13.0 feet just after midnight tonight. It will then fall below flood stage late tomorrow evening. - Flood stage is 10.0 feet. - Flood History...This crest compares to a previous crest of 13.0 feet on 06/06/2014. - http://www.weather.gov/safety/flood &&
Geneva, 5 March 2022 (SPS) - Morocco is manipulating the international public opinion, distorting the reality about its military occupation of Western Sahara and building a "lie industry," Algeria's permanent representative at the United Nations in Geneva Lazhar Soualem has said.



Exercising its right to reply following Morocco's minister of Justice who had devoted "the third of his address to attacking Algeria," during the high-level segment of the 49th session of Human Rights Council, the Algerian delegation through its head, Lazhar Soualem, denounced Thursday the Kingdom's practices and the media blackout imposed to silence the events taking place in the country, while for weeks, "protestors have been occupying the public space in 50 Moroccan cities to denounce plunder, predation and social injustice (...) and to demand change."



The Algerian diplomat said "the allegedly constitutional Kingdom fakes its performance (in various fields), including in terms of human rights."



"It distorts the situation brought about by the military occupation of a territory (Western Sahara) it does not own (...), manipulates the international public opinion, violently suppresses its opponents, including through its digital police, and spies on its own allies."



Morocco has "built and mounted" an "industry of lies backed by a rating machine to ensure the complacency of its protectors, and promote, as has been the case for the past four decades, the inaction of UN deliberative and sanctioning bodies," Soualem said.



Such practices are motivated by Algeria's "commitment to international legality" and "solidarity with a people who refuses the fait accompli of the occupation."



Algeria has been demanding for more than four decades the organization of a referendum on self-determination for the people of the (Western Sahara) territory, considered as a non-autonomous territory and a decolonization issue at the United Nations," the Algerian ambassador said.



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Masses of refugees from Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria, Somalia, Yemen, and elsewhere have faced racially motivated hostility in Europe. Now, Ukraines refugee crisis is revealing Western double standards.

by Sonali Kolhatkar

It was inevitable that when brown-skinned Afghan refugees fleeing war were turned away from European borders over the past few years, the callous actions of these governments would come back to haunt them. A whopping 1 million people have fled Ukraine from Russias violent invasion in the span of only a week. They are being welcomedas refugees should beinto neighbouring nations, inviting accusations of racist double standards.

Poland offers the most egregious example of national racism. Its government, whose nation borders Ukraine, has warmly welcomed traumatized Ukrainians, just months after turning away Afghans. If these optics werent bad enough, Polish nationalists have sought out people of color who are among the refugees fleeing Ukraine and violently attacked them. According to the Guardian, three Indians were beaten up by a group of five men, leaving one of them hospitalized. African nationals studying in Ukraine joined the exodus after Russias invasion, and have been stopped at the Polish border. Poland might as well erect a giant sign on its border declaring, whites only.

In elevating such disparate skin-tone-dependent attitudes toward refugees, Europe is giving its colonialist heritage a new lease on life. We see echoes today of the dehumanization that enabled European colonization of the Global South and the enslavement of generations.

Its not just Poland. The Arab and Middle Eastern Journalists Association has denounced the overtly racist language of many Western journalists, including American ones like Charlie DAgata of CBS who said of Ukraine that this isnt a place, with all due respect, like Iraq or Afghanistan, that has seen conflict raging for decades. (In fact, Ukraine has seen plenty of conflict in the past years.)

DAgatas insertion of with all due respect was perhaps his belated realization that he was veering into dangerous territory by contrasting Ukrainian civilization against the presupposed barbarity of the darker nations. But then, he continued, saying, this is a relatively civilized, relatively EuropeanI have to choose those words carefully, toocity where you wouldnt expect that, or hope that its going to happen.

Again, DAgata likely realized as the words were escaping his mouth just how racist he was sounding. He needed to choose his words carefully in order to avoid the appearance of bias. He clearly failed. His later apology was not very convincing.

DAgata exposed his personal allegiance with the Global North when he expressed hope against war breaking out in a nation whose people look like he does. The implied flip side is that he harbors no such hope when the conflict-ridden nations of the Global South are embroiled in violence.

Serena Parekh, professor of philosophy at Northeastern University in Boston, told me in a recent interview, it is very human to feel connections to people that you perceive to be like you and to feel more remote from people you perceive as being not like you. At the very least, this is a good reason why newsrooms across the United States need to diversify their staff.

Parekh, who has written two books, including No Refuge: Ethics and the Global Refugee Crisis and Refugees and the Ethics of Forced Displacement, says that one assumption she has heard justifying favorable treatment of the latest wave of refugees in Europe is that Ukrainians are not terrorists and they are not criminals, and so we can let them in safely, without having to worry about screening them. She calls such views racialized assumptions largely unsustainable by any evidence.

Such assumptions are infectious. Social media platforms abound with images sporting the now-ubiquitous blue and yellow of the Ukrainian flag. Ukraines President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has emerged as a larger-than-life hero to the morally outraged. So invested are people in believing Zelenskyys heroism that many have shared a photo (including several of my own Facebook friends) of him in military fatigues as evidence of his courage in standing up to Russian militarism, when in fact the image was captured well before Russias invasion.

Similar expressions of solidarity with brown-skinned resisters of Western militarism or victims of Western wars have been far less common.

Pointing out the double standards of governments and the press at a time when Ukrainians are watching their nation getting utterly destroyed will inevitably spark accusations of insensitivity and of engaging irresponsibly in whataboutism to make a point.

But now is the time to clearly call out what human rights groups and independent journalists have for years been saying: that the U.S. and NATO-led wars in Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria, Somalia, and elsewhere are racist, and that the callous dismissals of the resulting humanitarian catastrophes are equally barbaric.

Theres another reason why brown-skinned refugees are seen as undesirable. Welcoming those people fleeing wars that the West has fomented would be an admission of Western culpability. Not only do Ukrainian refugees offer palatable infusions of whiteness into European nations, but they also enable governments to express self-righteous outrage at Russias imperialist ambitions and violent militarism. If Ukrainian refugees are evidence of Russian brutality, then Afghan and Iraqi refugees are evidence of the same kind of brutality on the part of the U.S. and NATO.

While Europes double standard toward refugees is on full display in Russias war on Ukraine, the United States is certainly not innocent either. Former President Donald Trump effectively slammed shut the door on refugees during his tenure and bolstered his anti-refugee policies with racist language.

President Joe Biden, who campaigned on reversing Trumps anti-refugee rules, initially faltered on keeping his promise when he took office. But, even after the limits on allowing refugees into the U.S. were eventually lifted, few have been admitted into the country. Last year, when U.S. troops left Afghanistan at the mercy of the Taliban, Afghans were, naturally, desperate to flee. While the Biden administration laudably fast-tracked U.S. resettlement for Afghans, problems remain, with one refugee advocate calling the process, kind of abysmal.

Parekh says that decisions by Poland and other nations to admit fleeing Ukrainians with open arms, [show] that the European Union can take in large numbers of asylum seekers and can do so in a relatively efficient way.

In light of the sudden wellspring of compassion toward Ukrainian refugees emerging from Western nations, media, and the public, a simple thought experiment could protect governments, journalists, and us from further accusations of racist double standards: we could treat all refugees as though they were white-skinned Ukrainians, as though they were human.

This article was produced by Economy for All, a project of the Independent Media Institute.

Sonali Kolhatkar is the founder, host and executive producer of Rising Up With Sonali, a television and radio show that airs on Free Speech TV and Pacifica stations. She is a writing fellow for the Economy for All project at the Independent Media Institute.
Wharton, TX (77488)

Today

Cloudy early with scattered thunderstorms developing this afternoon. High 87F. Winds S at 15 to 25 mph. Chance of rain 50%. Higher wind gusts possible..

Tonight

Scattered thunderstorms early, then partly cloudy after midnight. A few storms may be severe. Low 69F. S winds shifting to N at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 60%.
Reporter

Susan covers the towns of Somers and Enfield. She joined the JI in May 2021 and graduated from Skidmore College. She recently completed docent training for the Wadsworth Atheneum and hopes to start giving tours some time next year.
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.
Opinion Columnist

Chris Powell has worked for the Journal Inquirer since 1967, first as a reporter, then as an editor, and now as a columnist. He was managing editor from 1974 until retiring from that position in 2018.
An effort to nab motorists breaking the law by skirting around lowered or lowering railroad crossing gates did that and much more in Lake Worth Beach recently.

Dubbed Operation Safe Tracks, the Palm Beach County Sheriffs Office stepped-up its patrols around the FEC railroad tracks after two horrific crashes in a matter of days in Lake Worth last month.

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[ RELATED: With so many deadly train strikes what will the future hold for Brightline? ]

In just two weeks, the Sheriffs Office issued 226 traffic citations. It also handed out 233 warnings and made seven arrests, four of them for possession of drugs and three for outstanding warrants.

We had numerous units out there, said Sheriffs Office spokeswoman Teri Barbera.

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Brightline, a higher-speed passenger train, runs along the FEC corridor at speeds of 79 mph between Miami and West Palm Beach multiple times a day. When it expands to Orlando, it will travel up to 120 mph in rural expanses.

The fourth accident in a week involving a Brightline train as a driver in Lake Worth Beach went around the crossing gate and tried to beat the train at an intersection near the 500 block of Washington Avenue. The driver was alive when first responders got to the scene and they were taken to a hospital. (Eileen Kelley/South Florida Sun Sentinel)

Just a year into operations, and Brightline was dubbed the deadliest railroad in the country, according to an analysis of crashes by The Associated Press. None of the nearly 60 Brightline fatalities to date were the fault of the railroad.

We try and educate as much as we can, Barbera said.

[ RELATED: Watch as motorist drives around lowered gates just when train is passing ]

Eileen Kelley can be reached at 772-925-9193 or ekelley@sunsentinel.com. Follow on Twitter @reporterkell.
03/04/2022



JSU is receiving two Emmy statuettes. Photo courtesy of the Midsouth Emmys.

by Buffy Lockette

And the Emmy goes to...JSU! The universitys Longleaf Studios has won two Midsouth Emmy awards for "The Fire in Anniston: A Freedom Riders Story."

It was announced in December that the film was nominated in two categories of the 36th annual Midsouth Regional Emmy Awards - Documentary: Cultural and Photography: Long-Form Content. JSU filmmakers learned they won both during a virtual awards ceremony on Feb. 26.

"I was shocked and elated for us to receive such an honor," said Seth Johnson, director of Longleaf Studios and head of JSUs Department of Art and Design.

Produced for Alabama Public Television, the one-hour documentary tells the story of the Freedom Riders of the 1960s, who were greeted with violence during their peaceful mission to protest racial segregation in the South.

The film features interviews with those who witnessed an angry mobs attack on two buses in Anniston, along with reenactments by JSU theatre students. The talents of JSU graphic design students were also used in the production. The documentary may be viewed on the Alabama Public Television website.

Based in Nashville, the Midsouth Region of the Emmys encompasses North Alabama and most of Tennessee and North Carolina.
Invading Russian troops have blockaded the strategic Ukrainian port city Mariupol, its mayor announced Saturday, as Moscow and Kyiv aimed to hold new talks over the weekend.

While laying siege to Mariupol for days, Russian forces also cut its electricity, food, water, heating and transportation in the depths of winter, prompting comparisons to the Nazi blockade of Leningrad in World War II.

For now, we are looking for solutions to humanitarian problems and all possible ways to get Mariupol out of the blockade, said mayor Vadim Boychenko. He called for a ceasefire and a humanitarian corridor for food and medicine.

Since President Vladimir Putins army invaded on February 24, Russia has pummelled Ukrainian cities, killed hundreds of civilians and assaulted Europes largest atomic power plant.

The invasion has drawn condemnation and severe sanctions from Western nations balancing punishment of the Kremlin with fears of a hazardous escalation.

Moscow has seized two key cities in its 10-day-long invasion, Berdiansk and Kherson on Ukraines southern Black Sea coast.

But capturing Mariupol, a city of about 450,000 people on the Azov Sea, would represent a bigger prize for Russian forces as it would deal a severe blow to Ukraines maritime access and connect troops coming from annexed Crimea and the Donbas.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said late Friday that Moscow was waiting for a third round of talks with Ukraine in Belarus, and one of Kyivs negotiators said it hoped to hold them this weekend.

The third leg could take place tomorrow or the day after, we are in constant contact, Ukrainian presidential advisor Mykhailo Podolyak said Friday.

As Russia bombed cities across the country, the Ukrainian military said on Facebook that Moscows main focus was to encircle Kyiv.

In a hospital in the Ukrainian capital, wounded soldiers told AFP of their grim battle against the Russian advance, and vowed to return to the frontline.

We were on reconnaissance and came across an enemy column that had made a breakthrough, said Motyka, 29, who was hit by shrapnel on his right side.

We fought them and killed their soldiers on foot, but they showered us with mortar fire.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was set to appeal to Washington for more assistance Saturday. He will address the US Senate as some lawmakers urged President Joe Biden to take tougher measures, including banning Russias oil imports.

 No no-fly zone 

Zelensky had earlier criticised NATO for ruling out a no-fly zone, saying the Western military alliance had essentially given the green light for further bombing of Ukrainian cities and villages.

In the northern city Chernihiv, 47 people died Thursday when Russian forces bombed residential areas, including schools and a high-rise apartment block, according to local officials.

We are faced together with what is President Putins war of choice, unprovoked, unjustified, and a war that is having horrific, horrific consequences, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in Brussels.

Were committed to doing everything we can to make it stop.

Putin on Friday told his Belarusian counterpart Alexander Lukashenko that the tasks set for the (Ukraine) operations are going according to plan and will be fulfilled in their entirety.

With fears growing of nuclear conflict, the US and Russian armed forces have set up a new direct phone line to reduce the risks of miscalculation, the Pentagon said Friday.

Russian forces attacked and seized the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant on Friday, pushing Kyiv to accuse Moscow of nuclear terror.

Ukrainian monitors say there has been no spike in radiation after a fire in a training facility.

Moscow denied it had shelled the plant.

 Media exodus 

Peskov called on Russians to unite around our president after thousands braved mass arrests at anti-war demonstrations this week.

In an apparent response to the unrest, Russian authorities have imposed a news blackout and several media outlets have halted operations.

Multiple media websites, including the BBC, were partially inaccessible in Russia.

Twitter was restricted and Facebook blocked.

The BBC and Bloomberg said they were suspending work in Russia after lawmakers in Moscow approved legislation to impose fines and jail terms of up to 15 years for anyone publishing fake news about the army.

This legislation appears to criminalise the process of independent journalism, BBC Director-General Tim Davie said in a statement.

CNN said it would halt broadcasting in Russia, while independent Russian newspaper Novaya Gazeta said it would remove Ukraine content in the wake of the new law.

 Whole world against you 

Putin has been unmoved as Russia has become an economic, sporting and cultural pariah.

But UN prosecutors at The Hague are investigating a possible war crime in the eastern city of Kharkiv, where authorities say residential areas were indiscriminately shelled.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba demanded a special tribunal, alleging there were numerous cases of, unfortunately, when Russian soldiers rape women in the Ukrainian cities.

In Geneva, the UN Human Rights Council voted to create a top-level investigation into violations committed in the invasion.

The message to Putin has been clear: youre isolated on a global level and the whole world is against you, Ukrainian ambassador Yevheniia Filipenko said after the vote.

The UN Security Council will hold an emergency meeting Monday on the humanitarian crisis in Ukraine and discuss a possible draft resolution, diplomats told AFP Friday.

The UN says more than 1.2 million refugees have flooded into neighbouring countries.

The global bodys food agency has warned the conflict will create a food crisis in Ukraine and worsen global food insecurity, with Moscow and Kyiv providing around 29 percent of the global wheat trade.

The bullets and bombs in Ukraine could take the global hunger crisis to levels beyond anything weve seen before, said agency director David Beasley.

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The Ukrainian port city of Mariupol delayed a planned evacuation of residents Saturday, blaming Russian forces for breaking their temporary ceasefire to allow civilians to flee one of the wars fiercest battles.

Russia has besieged the strategic city, which proudly resisted Moscow-backed rebels during a 2014 conflict, cutting off electricity, food and water in the dead of winter.

Due to the fact that the Russian side does not adhere to the ceasefire and has continued shelling both Mariupol itself and its environs, and for security reasons, the evacuation of the civilian population has been postponed, city officials said in a statement posted on social media.

Civilians who gathered to leave were told to return to shelters.

Negotiations were underway to establish a ceasefire and ensure a safe humanitarian corridor, Mariupol authorities added.

An evacation had been seen as a prelude to a final assault that, if successful, would see the Russian army push north from occupied Crimea and link up with their forces from the east and take control of Ukraines coast on the Sea of Azov.

After Russias defence ministry declared a ceasefire to allow humanitarian corridors out of Mariupol and neighbouring Volnovakha, officials announced that the port citys 450,000-strong population could begin to leave by bus and private cars.

Mariupol mayor Vadim Boychenko said: This is not an easy decision, but  Mariupol is not its streets or houses. Mariupol is its population, it is you and me.

An aid worker in Mariupol for Doctors Without Borders said: Last night the shelling was harder and closer. We collected snow and rain water yesterday We tried to get free water today but the queue was huge.

The Mariupol siege came as more Russian forces inched closer to the capital Kyiv, encountering stiff resistance and shelling the western suburbs and the northern town of Chernihiv, where there have been heavy civilian casualties in recent days.

 Scenes of devastation 

AFP reporters who visited the town on Saturday saw scenes of devastation  despite Moscows insistence it is not targeting civilian areas.

Fears are rising in Kyiv that the capital will suffer the same fate once Russian missile artillery is deployed within range.

Ukrainian Defence Minister Oleksiy Reznikov alleged that Russia had changed tactics after encountering tough resistance.

Ukraine, he said, had defeated Russias plan to quickly storm major cities and overthrow President Volodymyr Zelenskys government, forcing Moscow to resort to cowardly attacks on civilians.

Zelensky remains defiant and announced on Saturday that Ukrainian forces were counter-attacking around Kharkiv, the countrys second largest city, which has seen incursions by Russian forces and fierce bombardments.

Ukrainian armed forces bravely hold all the key areas of our defence, he declared. We inflict such losses on the invaders that they have not seen even in their worst dream.

Since Putins army invaded on February 24, Russia has pummelled Ukrainian cities, with officals reporting hundreds of civilians killed. Europes largest atomic power plant has even come under attack sparking fears of a catastrophic nuclear accident.

But Moscow has so far only seized two key cities in its 10-day-long invasion  Berdiansk and Kherson on Ukraines southern Black Sea coast.

Capturing Mariupol represents a bigger prize for Russian forces as it would deal a severe blow to Ukraines maritime access and connect with troops coming from annexed Crimea and the Donbas.

The Kremlin said late Friday that Moscow was waiting for a third round of talks with Ukraine in Belarus, and one of Kyivs negotiators said it hoped to hold them this weekend.

The third leg could take place tomorrow or the day after, we are in constant contact, Ukrainian presidential advisor Mykhailo Podolyak said Friday.

In a Kyiv hospital, wounded soldiers told AFP of their grim battle against the Russian advance, and vowed to return to the frontline.

We were on reconnaissance and came across an enemy column that had made a breakthrough, said Motyka, 29, who was hit by shrapnel.

We fought them and killed their soldiers on foot, but they showered us with mortar fire.

Zelensky was to appeal to Washington for more assistance Saturday with an address to the US Senate after some lawmakers urged President Joe Biden to take tougher measures, including banning Russias oil imports.

 No no-fly zone 

Zelensky had earlier criticised NATO for ruling out imposing a no-fly zone, saying the Western military alliance had essentially given the green light for further bombing of Ukrainian cities and villages.

With fears growing of direct conflict between Western forces and Russia  both nuclear armed  the US and Moscow have set up a new direct phone line to reduce the risks of miscalculation, the Pentagon said Friday.

Russian forces attacked and seized the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant on Friday, pushing Kyiv to accuse Moscow of nuclear terror.

Ukrainian monitors say there has been no spike in radiation after a fire in a training facility.

Moscow denied it had shelled the plant.

 Media exodus 

Russian authorities have imposed a news blackout and several media outlets have halted operations.

Multiple media websites were partially inaccessible in Russia. Twitter was restricted and Facebook blocked.

The BBC and Bloomberg said they were suspending work in Russia after lawmakers in Moscow passed legislation to impose fines and jail terms of up to 15 years for publishing fake news about the army.

CNN said it would halt broadcasting in Russia, while independent Russian newspaper Novaya Gazeta said it would remove Ukraine content.

The Kremlin on Saturday defended the new law, saying it was necessary as the country was facing an unprecedented information war.

 Global hunger 

Putin has been unmoved as Russia has become isolated in economic, sporting and cultural fields.

But UN prosecutors at The Hague are investigating a possible war crime in Kharkiv, where authorities say residential areas were indiscriminately shelled.

The UN says more than 1.2 million refugees have flooded into neighbouring countries.

The global bodys food agency warned the conflict will create a food crisis in Ukraine and worsen global food insecurity, with Moscow and Kyiv providing around 29 percent of the global wheat trade.

The bullets and bombs in Ukraine could take the global hunger crisis to levels beyond anything weve seen before, said agency director David Beasley.

At the Winter Paralympics in Beijing, Ukrainian athletes overcame all the hurdles to hit the top of the medal table with a haul of seven on day one.

In the mens vision-impaired biathlon race, Vitalii Lukianenko took gold and said: I want to dedicate this medal to the guys who protect our cities.

bur-dc/bp/ach

Meta
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken praised Poland Saturday for its open embrace of hundreds of thousands of fleeing Ukrainians and said Washington was preparing to set aside another $2.75 billion for the humanitarian crisis.

The people of Poland know how important it is to defend freedom, he said after talks with Polish Foreign Minister Zbigniew Rau in Rzeszow, near the border with Ukraine.

Poland is doing vital work in response to this crisis.

He said the White House was seeking $2.75 billion (2.51 billion euros) to provide support for those fleeing Ukraine, and countries that accept them, after Russia began its invasion on February 24.

Speaking next to Blinken, Rau said Poland would remain open to refugees.

Russias aggression in Ukraine caused a humanitarian crisis of an unimaginable scale, said Rau.

Our priority is organizing effective aid to hundreds of thousands, and soon to be millions of refugees.

Rau also pledged not to discriminate between refugees of different nationalities, after reports circulated in Washington that Africans and others fleeing from Ukraine were being impeded at the border with Poland.

He accused Russian forces of committing war crimes by shelling in residential areas.

Blinken arrived in Poland on Saturday for talks with officials on cooperation on defense and humanitarian support related to the conflict.

More than 780,000 people have fled Ukraine into Poland since the invasion began on February 24.

Including other neighbouring countries, more than a million have left Ukraine and a million more are estimated to be displaced within the country.

After meeting with Blinken in Rzeszow, Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki called for tougher sanctions against Russia saying they should be hitting Vladimir Putins war machine.

Morawiecki called for all Russian banks to be excluded from the SWIFT payment system and said asset freezes should be as extensive as possible.

Blinken is visiting key allies in Europe to demonstrate Washingtons support for their security and shore up Western unity against Moscow.

He will travel next to Moldova, which has also experienced an inflow of Ukrainians, and the three Baltic states, particularly concerned about Russia.

Blinken spent Friday in Brussels in meetings with counterparts at NATO and the European Union to discuss putting more pressure on Russia and add support for refugees.

The Kremlins attacks are inflicting an ever increasing toll on civilians there. Hundreds if not thousands of Ukrainians have been killed, many more wounded, he said in Brussels Thursday.

More than a million refugees have fled Ukraine to neighboring countries, he said, pledging more support from Washington.
The Ukrainian port city of Mariupol postponed a planned evacuation of residents Saturday, blaming Russian forces for breaking their temporary ceasefire to allow civilians to flee one of the wars fiercest battles.

Russia has laid siege to the strategic city, which proudly resisted Moscow-backed rebels during a 2014 conflict, cutting off electricity, food and water in the dead of winter.

The Russian side does not adhere to the ceasefire and has continued shelling both Mariupol itself and its environs, and for security reasons, the evacuation of the civilian population has been postponed, city officials said in a social media post.

Negotiations were underway to establish a ceasefire and ensure a safe humanitarian corridor, Mariupol authorities added.

An evacuation had been seen as a prelude to a final assault that, if successful, would see the Russian army push north from occupied Crimea and link up with their forces from the east and take control of Ukraines coast on the Sea of Azov.

After Russias defence ministry declared the ceasefire, officials announced that the port citys 450,000-strong population could begin to leave by bus and private cars.

Mariupol mayor Vadim Boychenko said: This is not an easy decision, but Mariupol is not its streets or houses. Mariupol is its population, it is you and me.

An aid worker in Mariupol for Doctors Without Borders said: Last night the shelling was harder and closer. We collected snow and rainwater yesterday We tried to get free water today, but the queue was huge.

The siege came as more Russian forces inched closer to the capital Kyiv, encountering stiff resistance in the western suburbs and the northern town of Chernihiv.

Dozens of civilians have been killed in shelling, missile attacks and air raids, and now those remaining live among the towns ruins and in craters.

There were corpses all over the ground, Sergei told AFP, as air raid sirens wailed once more. They were queueing here for the pharmacy thats just there, and theyre all dead.

 Scenes of devastation 

AFP reporters who visited the town Saturday saw scenes of devastation  despite Moscows insistence it is not targeting civilian areas.

Fears are rising in Kyiv that the capital will suffer the same fate once Russian missile artillery is deployed within range.

Ukrainian Defence Minister Oleksiy Reznikov alleged Russia had changed tactics after encountering tough resistance.

Ukraine, he said, had defeated Russias plan to quickly storm major cities and overthrow President Volodymyr Zelenskys government, forcing Moscow to resort to cowardly attacks on civilians.

Zelensky remains defiant and announced Saturday that Ukrainian forces were counter-attacking around Kharkiv, the countrys second largest city, which has seen Russian incursions and fierce bombardments.

We inflict such losses on the invaders that they have not seen even in their worst dream, he said.

Since Putins army invaded on February 24, Russia has pummelled Ukrainian cities, with officials reporting hundreds of civilians killed. Europes largest atomic power plant has even come under attack sparking fears of a catastrophic nuclear accident.

But Moscow has so far only seized two key cities in its 10-day-long invasion  Berdiansk and Kherson on Ukraines southern Black Sea coast.

Capturing Mariupol represents a bigger prize for Russian forces as it would deal a severe blow to Ukraines maritime access and connect with troops coming from annexed Crimea and the Donbas.

The Kremlin said late Friday that Moscow was waiting for a third round of talks with Ukraine in Belarus, and one of Kyivs negotiators said it hoped to hold them this weekend.

The third leg could take place tomorrow or the day after, we are in constant contact, Ukrainian presidential advisor Mykhailo Podolyak said Friday.

Zelensky was to appeal to Washington for more assistance Saturday with an address to the US Senate after some lawmakers urged President Joe Biden to take tougher measures, including banning Russias oil imports.

 No no-fly zone 

Zelensky had earlier criticised NATO for ruling out imposing a no-fly zone, saying the Western military alliance had essentially given the green light for further bombing of Ukrainian cities and villages.

With fears growing of direct conflict between Western forces and Russia  both nuclear armed  the US and Moscow have set up a new direct phone line to reduce the risks of miscalculation, the Pentagon said Friday.

Russian forces attacked and seized the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant on Friday, pushing Kyiv to accuse Moscow of nuclear terror.

Ukrainian monitors say there has been no spike in radiation after a fire in a training facility.

Moscow denied it had shelled the plant.

 Media exodus 

Russian authorities have imposed a news blackout and several media outlets have halted operations.

Multiple media websites were partially inaccessible in Russia. Twitter was restricted and Facebook blocked.

The BBC, Bloomberg and German public broadcasters ARD and ZDF said they were suspending work in Russia after lawmakers in Moscow passed legislation to impose fines and jail terms of up to 15 years for publishing fake news about the army.

CNN said it would halt broadcasting in Russia, while independent Russian newspaper Novaya Gazeta said it would remove Ukraine content.

The Kremlin on Saturday defended the new law, saying it was necessary as the country was facing an unprecedented information war.

 Global hunger 

Putin has been unmoved as Russia has become isolated in economic, sporting and cultural fields.

Spanish clothing giant and Zara fast-fashion chain owner Inditex on Saturday joined the list of major companies suspending operations in Russia.

Flagship airline Aeroflot said it was suspending all its international flights beginning March 8, citing circumstances that impede the operation of flights.

At The Hague, UN prosecutors are investigating possible war crimes in Kharkiv, where authorities say residential areas were indiscriminately shelled.

The UN says some 1.37 million refugees have fled into neighbouring countries.

The global bodys food agency warned the conflict will create a food crisis in Ukraine and worsen global food insecurity, with Moscow and Kyiv providing 29 percent of the global wheat trade.

The bullets and bombs in Ukraine could take the global hunger crisis to levels beyond anything weve seen before, said agency director David Beasley.

At the Winter Paralympics in Beijing, Ukrainian athletes overcame all the hurdles to hit the top of the medal table with a haul of seven on day one.

In the mens vision-impaired biathlon race, Vitalii Lukianenko took gold and said: I want to dedicate this medal to the guys who protect our cities.

bur-dc/bp/gw

Meta
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Saturday visited a crossing on Polands border with Ukraine where hundreds of thousands of people have been fleeing from advancing Russian forces.

Blinken also visited a cavernous Polish holding centre with around 3,000 refugees and said Washington was preparing to set aside another $2.75 billion (2.5 billion euros) for the humanitarian crisis.

The people of Poland know how important it is to defend freedom, he said after talks with Polish Foreign Minister Zbigniew Rau earlier on Saturday in the nearby city of Rzeszow in southeast Poland.

Poland is doing vital work in response to this crisis.

He said the White House was seeking $2.75 billion (2.51 billion euros) to provide support for those fleeing Ukraine, and countries that accept them, after Russia began its invasion on February 24.

Polish border guards on Saturday said around 827,600 people have fled from Ukraine into Poland, making it by far the highest flow of refugees.

Ukraines other neighbours to the west, Hungary, Moldova, Romania and Slovakia, have also taken in refugees.

Speaking next to Blinken, Rau said Poland would remain open to refugees.

Russias aggression in Ukraine caused a humanitarian crisis of an unimaginable scale, said Rau.

Our priority is organising effective aid to hundreds of thousands, and soon to be millions of refugees.

Rau also pledged not to discriminate between refugees of different nationalities, after reports circulated in Washington that Africans and others fleeing from Ukraine were being impeded at the border with Poland.

He accused Russian forces of committing war crimes by shelling in residential areas.

After meeting with Blinken, Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki called for tougher sanctions against Russia saying they should be hitting Vladimir Putins war machine.

Morawiecki called for all Russian banks to be excluded from the SWIFT payment system and said asset freezes should be as extensive as possible.

Blinken is visiting key allies in Europe to demonstrate Washingtons support for their security and shore up Western unity against Moscow.

He will travel next to Moldova, which has also experienced an inflow of Ukrainians, and the three Baltic states, particularly concerned about Russia.

Blinken spent Friday in Brussels in meetings with counterparts at NATO and the European Union to discuss putting more pressure on Russia and additional support for refugees.
Kenosha Unified is expected to receive $1 million of the $15 million in stimulus funding announced Thursday by Gov. Tony Evers to help with plans to locate a technology education-based high school in the proposed Kenosha Innovation Neighborhood at the former Chrysler engine plant site.

While the School Board has yet to formally take up the proposed project for LakeView Technology Academys relocation from Pleasant Prairie to the Innovation Neighborhood, the funding is helping ensure the progress of its future move to the innovation neighborhood, Mayor John Antaramian said. LakeView Technology Academy is the districts choice school specializing in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics education.

Weve put together a number of different funds going to Unified from the city through different parts of the program, Antaramian told the Kenosha News late Thursday night. This is moving forward and I believe you will see this occurring.

Of the $15 million in state stimulus funds, he said $1 million is targeted for the proposed LakeView project. Including the state funding, the city is committing roughly $4 million toward the project, with just over $3 million in federal stimulus funds and TIF resources combined, for establishing the high school at the new site, he said.

The funding that we need is available at this point in time, said Antaramian.

City and Kenosha Unified officials have been in discussions since last spring over how to incorporate the academy, currently located at 9449 88th Ave. in Pleasant Prairie, into the proposed Innovation Neighborhood site. The district, the Kenosha Area Business Alliance and Gateway Technical College have been looking at where the academy could relocate to accommodate future growth, eventually moving from the building it shares at Gateway Technical Colleges satellite campus.

I have every confidence in the school district and what theyre going to do. This is a wonderful opportunity for the community and a tremendous opportunity for the city and the county to really move forward for our young people, Antaramian said. I just think all the partners  the school district, KABA, Gateway ... all of us are going help create a tremendous opportunity for young people.

A catalyst for change

The citys Innovation Neighborhood proposal is focused on transforming the 107-acre former Chrysler site east of 30th Avenue between 52nd and 60th streets into a hub for innovation. The property has laid dormant for more than a decade. The project envisions an innovation center  a 60,000 square-foot incubator facility for new business start-ups  with an intrinsic connection to its surrounding neighborhoods. Those neighborhoods are: Lincoln, Columbus, McKinley, Wilson, Roosevelt and Uptown. It is also intended to provide opportunities not just for education, but workforce training, entrepreneurial development and job placement in high-growth digital and STEM fields.

Last summer, the city requested the $15 million in state stimulus funds after the state Legislature, dominated by Republicans, balked at reintroducing the $9.75 million designated for the innovation neighborhood that had originally been proposed in Evers version of the Wisconsins biennial budget.

School Board President Yolanda Santos Adams in a statement on the districts social media late Thursday said she looks forward to the project eventually becoming a reality.

Kenosha Unified is honored to be a part of this forward-thinking partnership that will bring the Kenosha Innovation Neighborhood to our community, Adams said. This project enables the district to expand LakeView Technology Academy, thereby, affording more families the opportunity to participate in this amazing choice school focused on science, technology, engineering and mathematics. We cant wait to see this come to fruition and the positive impact it will have on our students, families and community.

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It has been written that the the truth will set us free. While I dont doubt the veracity of that statement, the corollary is also true, and that is this: Before we are set, the truth will really disappoint us and tick us off.

I am part of a small group of people seeking to help resettle Afghan refugees. Our group is focused mainly on the Kenosha area, but there are other groups working at this across the state. Our partners in this work are an interfaith group of various Kenosha faith communities, Lutheran Social Services, and CUSH (Congregations United to Serve Humanity). I am a retired priest of the Episcopal Church and currently a member at St. Matthews Episcopal Church as well as a CUSH board member.

These refugees came to us at the end of last summer as the military presence of United States was coming to an end in Afghanistan. In that context, the Taliban became the predominate political entity in Afghanistan, and the refugees we are seeking resettle were placed in grave danger.

During the long period the U.S. was at war in Afghanistan, the people who became refugees were employed by and allied with the U.S. They served as translators and as logistical support for our forces. They and their families would have been executed if captured by the Taliban. They fled for their lives and are seeking to build a new life. We are trying to help with that.

We anticipated that there would be difficulties in doing this. We collected furniture. Raised funds. Participated in endless meetings. And generally prepared to receive our refugee families or individuals. We encountered one problem we didnt anticipate: As we sought housing for our eventual refugees it became very difficult to housing to rent. Neither houses nor apartments were available. This was not related funding. LSS had guaranteed the payments. The rentals that seemed to be available on initial contact suddenly became unavailable when the landlord or property managers found out the housing was to be used by Afghan refugees.

I was stunned by what can be named as blatant racism. That realization is what led to my opening sentence. I am deeply disappointed by how blatantly racist we remain as a people. And we are not simply racist; we are dishonestly racist. Our small team has been told that the Afghan men particular were all rapists. This in spite of the fact that they were our allies in Afghanistan and thus fully vetted.

Yes, the Afghans are different from us. They come from a different culture. They eat different foods. In most cases they practice a different religion, but they are still human beings and brothers and sisters of ours, differences not with standing.

On my better days, I believe that our better angels will prevail. We will attain housing for our refugees. My hope in writing this piece is to encourage us to be honest about our short comings, at least in part, and in thus doing be partially freed from our prejudices.

The Rev. Gari Green is a retired Episcopal priest, a member of the Congregations United to Save Humanity (CUSH) board of directors, a member of St Matthews Episcopal Church, and the Afghan resettlement team working under the auspices of CUSH and St Matthews. This commentary was written on behalf of CUSH.

The Rev. Gari Green is a retired Episcopal priest, a member of the Congregations United to Save Humanity (CUSH) board of directors, a member of St Matthews Episcopal Church, and the Afghan resettlement team working under the auspices of CUSH and St Matthews. This commentary was written on behalf of CUSH.
Hopkinsville, KY (42240)

Today

Scattered thunderstorms in the morning, then mainly cloudy during the afternoon with thunderstorms likely. A few storms may be severe. High around 80F. Winds SSE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 60%..

Tonight

Scattered thunderstorms during the evening becoming more widespread overnight. Low 64F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 80%.
Russian President Vladimir Putin attends the Independent Trade Union Federation congress in Moscow, Russia, Wednesday, May 22, 2019. Putin emphasized the need for a more active dialogue between trade unions and business in dealing with social issues. (Alexei Nikolsky, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP) (Alexei Nikolsky/AP)

Russian President Vladimir Putin said Saturday that Moscow would consider any third-party declaration of a no-fly zone over Ukraine as participation in the armed conflict.

Speaking at a meeting with female pilots on Saturday, Putin said Russia would view any move in this direction as an intervention that will pose a threat to our service members.

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That very second, we will view them as participants of the military conflict, and it would not matter what members they are, the Russian president said.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has pushed NATO to impose a no-fly zone over his country, warning that all the people who die from this day forward will also die because of you as Russian forces were battering strategic locations in Ukraine.

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NATO has said a no-fly zone, which would bar all unauthorized aircraft from flying over Ukraine, could provoke widespread war in Europe with nuclear-armed Russia.

A limited cease-fire that Russia declared to allow civilians to evacuate two cities in Ukraine quickly fell apart Saturday, and Ukrainian officials blamed Russian shelling for blocking the promised safe passage as Moscow tightened its grip on the southern coast and residents raced to escape areas not under siege.

The Russian defense ministry said it had agreed on evacuation routes with Ukrainian forces for Mariupol, a strategic port in the southeast, and the eastern city of Volnovakha. The two cities have been under attack for days, producing scenes of desperation, destruction and death that mirrored those elsewhere from the war in Ukraine.

The struggle to enforce the cease-fire showed the fragility of efforts to stop fighting across Ukraine as the number of people fleeing the country reached 1.4 million on the 10th day after Russian forces invaded its neigbor.

We are doing everything on our part to make the agreement work, President Volodymyr Zelenskyys said. This is one of the main tasks for today. Lets see if we can go further in the negotiation process.

The Russian side is not holding to the cease-fire and has continued firing on Mariupol itself and on its surrounding area, said Kyrylo Tymoshenko, the deputy head of President Volodymyr Zelenskyys office. Talks with the Russian Federation are ongoing regarding setting up a cease-fire and ensuring a safe humanitarian corridor.

Russia breached the deal in Volnovakha as well, Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk told reporters. We appeal to the Russian side to stop firing, she said. Meanwhile, Moscow outlet RIA Novosti carried a Russian defense ministry claim that the firing came from inside both cities against Russian positions.

Mariupol had been the scene of growing misery in recent days amid an assault that knocked out power and most phone service and raised the prospect of food and water shortages for hundreds of thousands of people in freezing weather. Pharmacies are out of medicine, Doctors Without Borders said.

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A top official in Mariupol, Pavlo Kirilenko, the head of the Donetsk military-civil administration that includes the city, had said the humanitarian corridor would extend to Zaporizhzhia, 226 kilometers (140 miles) away.

In comments carried on Ukrainian television, Mariupol Mayor Vadym Boychenko said thousands of people had gathered for safe passage out of the city and buses were departing when shelling began.

We value the life of every inhabitant of Mariupol and we cannot risk it, so we stopped the evacuation, he said.

Before Russia announced the limited cease-fire, Ukraine had urged Moscow to create humanitarian corridors to allow children, women and the older adults to flee the fighting, calling them question No. 1.

But Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on Saturday asserted that the Ukrainian side, the most interested side here, it would seem, is constantly making up various pretexts to delay the beginning of another meeting. He said Russia was ready for a third round of talks.

Diplomatic efforts continued as U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived in Poland to meet with the prime minister and foreign minister, a day after attending a NATO meeting in Brussels in which the alliance pledged to step up support for eastern flank members.

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Aeroflot, Russias flagship state-owned airline, announced that it plans to halt all international flights. except to Belarus, starting Tuesday in the wake of Western sanctions imposed on Russia.

While a vast Russian armored column threatening Ukraines capital remained stalled outside Kyiv, the new shelling in Mariupol showed Russias determination to cut Ukraine off from access to the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov, further damaging the countrys economy.

Despite the shelling, presidential adviser Oleksiy Arestovich said the situation was generally quiet Saturday and Russian forces have not taken active actions since the morning.

Ukraines president has lashed out at NATO for refusing to impose a no-fly zone over his country, warning that all the people who die from this day forward will also die because of you.

NATO has said a no-fly zone, which would bar all unauthorized aircraft from flying over Ukraine, could provoke widespread war in Europe with nuclear-armed Russia. But as the United States and other NATO members send weapons for Kyiv and more than 1 million refugees spill through the continent, the conflict is already drawing in countries far beyond Ukraines borders.

Russia continues to crack down on independent media reporting on the war, also blocking Facebook and Twitter, and more outlets say they are pausing their work inside the country.

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And in a warning of a hunger crisis yet to come, the U.N. World Food Program has said millions of people inside Ukraine, a major global wheat supplier, will need food aid immediately.

Ukraines president was set to brief U.S. senators Saturday by video conference as Congress considers a request for $10 billion in emergency funding for humanitarian aid and security needs.

In a video message to antiwar protesters in several European cities, Zelenskyy appealed for help. If we fall, you will fall, he said.

The U.N. Security Council scheduled an open meeting for Monday on the worsening humanitarian situation. The United Nations estimates that 12 million people in Ukraine and 4 million fleeing to neighboring countries in the coming months will need humanitarian aid.

At least 351 civilians have been confirmed killed since Russias invasion on Feb. 24, but the true number is probably much higher, the U.N. human rights office has said. Russia said Wednesday 498 of its troops had been killed and has not updated since.

As homes in the northern city of Chernihiv burned from what locals blamed on the Russian shelling thats targeted Ukraines urban areas from the start, one resident accused Europe of merely looking on. We wanted to join NATO and the EU and this is the price we are paying, and NATO cannot protect us, she said.

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Kyivs central train station remained crowded with people desperate to flee. People just want to live, one woman, Ksenia, said.

Elsewhere in the capital, in a sign of nerves near breaking point, two people on a sidewalk froze in their tracks at the sound of a sharp bang. It was a garbage truck upending a bin.
Secretary of State Michael Adams announced on Tuesday that the "Yes for Life" Kentucky constitutional amendment, which would state there is no right to abortion or funding for abortion in the Commonwealth if Roe v. Wade were overturned, will be put on the November ballot as Amendment 2.
Ketchikan, AK (99901)

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Showers in the morning, then partly cloudy in the afternoon. High around 50F. Winds SE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 50%..

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Partly cloudy. Low 37F. Winds light and variable.
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Ive had doctors listen to my heart many times in my life. Recent work I did in Pakistan as an anthropologist let me listen to theirs.

A few months ago, I embarked on an ethnographic study to understand what health care professionals saw as the psychosocial needs of pediatric patients. This involved conversations with several doctors in Pakistan, who had volunteered to share their views about pediatric patient care. As I engaged in deep, organic discussions with my interlocutors, I found doctors willing to explore personal experiences which had left indelible memories. I had somehow tapped into a need for them to reflect on their own struggles to gain trust, counsel, and understand patients psychologically and the impact this had on them. An unexpected by-product of my research was that I had created a safe space for doctors to unpack their emotions. While they appear clinical and detached, doctors have a heartbeat that races when they share personally meaningful stories about their work in rare places where they feel completely comfortable.

I learned that doctors had a common need to talk about their work. Encouraged by the ethic of confidentiality and anonymity promised by my study, they welcomed a cathartic opportunity to open up and share unfiltered feelings about their own personal journeys while working with pediatric patients. As the bonds of formality between us became subtly looser, we were able to engage in discussions much deeper than I had expected. Once the restraint of professionalism had been penetrated, I seemed to touch a perceptible sensitivity. Emotions, brimming within, spilled out so easily. One doctor described his desperation when he could not perform dialysis for a girl who was so terrified that it made the procedure impossible. It was a question of saving her life, so he even reached out to a psychiatrist for help. He invested his personal efforts at many levels to help the child overcome her fear. The extent of his involvement and ultimate success made the case unforgettable for him. Even as we talked about it, I found him moved to tears, a grown man whom I had never even met before.

My realization was significant that doctors set out in their careers with hearts filled with passion for healing and helping, but the heartbeat gets silenced over time. They craft their responses for medical school interviews, making sure to tell that life-changing story that compelled them to choose this field. Once they become practicing physicians, however, the demands of the profession take over. Altruism and excellence are core expectations from doctors, and the challenge to live up to these expectations is constant. The pressure can result in feeling disillusioned and overwhelmed and may lead to the abandonment of the profession altogether. In the recent extreme situation of the COVID-19 epidemic, The Physicians Foundation found 61 percent of doctors reporting feelings of burnout; 57 percent reporting feelings of anger, tearfulness, or anxiety, and 46 percent isolating themselves, even contemplating and attempting suicide. What I sensed was that doctors bottle up their feelings. Giving them a forum where they can really open up liberates them. It brings forth stories and experiences which can rekindle and validate all the reasons why they chose medicine in the first place.

There are various forums that offer opportunities for doctors to express themselves. One is meetings in which honest, bidirectional communication with frontline health care workers is seen as a way to overcome the compounding of stress due to work-related or even personal concerns. However, this may not help to overcome systemic racism where frontline health care workers are predominantly from diverse ethnic backgrounds, and feel intimidated expressing their views before administration in which their groups are not represented. Among my interlocutors, junior doctors from ethnic minorities described how they would never feel comfortable sharing stories they told me with their colleagues or superiors from different backgrounds. Another forum was created by Michael Balint, a British psychoanalyst who proposed a structure for regular meetings among physicians to reflect on clinical encounters. Balint groups have facilitators and members, where conversations allow for seeking multiple perspectives on cases in a supportive environment. The advice needed is not necessarily about medical approaches, but about the personal side of caring about patients. Thus, these groups offer a middle ground between professional and private life. Michael Roberts says the group meetings allow him to emotionally metabolize clinical experiences. However, both these forums remain within the professional realm, where I believe doctors will continue to maintain their clinical composure and exercise some restraint in communication.

For doctors to hold back what is in their hearts can be exhausting and lonely. A common theme that emerged from my discussions was that my interlocutors said they never take their emotions home. Many patients remained on their minds even after they left the hospital, but as doctors, they didnt talk about their cases outside work. No one ever asked them about the details of their day, nor did they wish to burden friends and family. And yet, they felt comfortable sharing their intimate thoughts with someone they had never met and would likely not meet again. I found that my conversations with doctors seemed to give them heartfelt relief, a professional catharsis to speak of children they had treated without conforming to their customary detachment. It is where I discovered their sensitivity and vulnerability. Many of them contacted me afterward to thank me for providing a safe space where they could speak so freely. What I offered was a neutral presence in the world of health care during my ethnographic research. As an anthropologist bound by the ethics of IRB, I was an impartial third party. With me, doctors had no reservations, which is what made a difference.

My experience has inspired me to think of some avenues to provide doctors emotional release. Hotlines, such as Physician Support Online, were optimized during COVID-19 for doctors to call in and talk whenever they needed to. This can offer great relief in times of emotional stress. Another possibility is a service that asks for volunteers to advise aspiring medical students. Contributing their responses confidentially to a researcher can encourage doctors to share their memories and stories as they had with me. In the process, they might reconnect with a former version of themselves. The notion of hotlines and safe spaces opens new avenues for research into physicians and medical staffs mental health and well-being. Its time for listening to the doctors heart.

Maryam Chloe Pervaiz is an anthropologist.

Image credit: Shutterstock.com
PHNOM PENH, March 5 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia's insurance industry reported a total premium of 293.4 million U.S. dollars in 2021, up 9.5 percent year-on-year, despite the economic fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a report of the Insurance Regulator of Cambodia (IRC) on Saturday.

The growth was generated from 18 general insurers, 14 life insurers, seven micro-insurance companies and one reinsurance firm, the report said.

The gross premium of general insurance market in 2021 was almost 123 million dollars, an increase of 7.4 percent compared to 2020, while life insurance premium totaled 170.4 million dollars, up 11 percent, the report added.

IRC's director general Bou Chanphirou said at a dissemination seminar on sub-decree on insurance on Friday that the insurance industry has been playing an important role in supporting social and economic sectors.

"With Cambodia's political stability and positive economic growth under the leadership of Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen, the insurance market has been growing rapidly," he said.

Chanphirou said the insurance industry contributed about 1.1 percent to the kingdom's gross domestic product (GDP).

According to the IRC, the country's insurance penetration stood at 1.1 percent last year, slightly up from 1.04 percent in the year before, while insurance density amounted to 17.5 dollars per capita, up from 16.3 dollars. 
Former Vice President Mike Pence will urge Republicans to move on from the 2020 election and will declare that there is no room in this party for apologists for Putin as he further cements his break from former President Donald Trump.

Pence, in a speech Friday evening to the partys top donors in New Orleans, will take on those in his party who have failed to forcefully condemn Russian President Vladimir Putin for his unprovoked invasion of Ukraine.

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Former Vice President Mike Pence speaks at the National Press Club in Washington, Nov. 30, 2021. Pence will urge Republicans to move on from the 2020 election. And he will say "there is no room in this party for apologists for Putin" as he escalates his break with former President Donald Trump. (Manuel Balce Ceneta/AP)

Where would Russian tanks be today if NATO had not expanded the borders of freedom? There is no room in this party for apologists for Putin, Pence will say, according to excerpts from the speech. There is only room for champions of freedom.

Pence does not directly reference the former president in excerpts shared ahead of his remarks. But Trump has repeatedly used language that has been criticized as deferential to Putin, including calling the Russian leader smart while insisting the attack never would have happened on his watch.

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Pence will also continue to push back on Trumps lies about the 2020 election as he lays the groundwork for a possible 2024 presidential run. Trump, who has been teasing his own comeback bid that could potentially put the two in direct competition, has continued to falsely insist that Pence had the power to overturn the 2020 election, which he did not.

Elections are about the future, Pence will say. My fellow Republicans, we can only win if we are united around an optimistic vision for the future based on our highest values. We cannot win by fighting yesterdays battles, or by relitigating the past.

Pence has been increasingly willing to challenge Trump  a dramatic departure from his deferential posture as vice president.

Pence has said the two men will likely never see eye to eye on the Capitol insurrection of Jan. 6, 2021, when Trump supporters stormed the building in an effort to stop certification of Joe Bidens election victory And last month, he directly rebutted Trumps false claims that he, as vice president, could have overturned the results, telling a gathering of lawyers in Florida that Trump was wrong.

Still, he will join the oft-stated view of Trump and others in the Republican Party Friday evening in blaming President Biden for Putins actions, accusing the current president of having squandered the deterrence that our administration put in place to keep Putin and Russia from even trying to redraw international boundaries by force.

Its no coincidence that Russia waited until 2022 to invade Ukraine, Pence will say, according to excerpts. Weakness arouses evil, and the magnitude of evil sweeping across Ukraine speaks volumes about this president.

While Pence allies believe that he can forge a coalition that brings together movement conservatives, white Evangelical Christians and more establishment-minded Republicans, Trumps attacks on Pence have made him deeply unpopular with large swaths of Trumps loyal base, potentially complicating his bid for the Republican presidential nomination.

Pence on Jan. 6 had to be whisked to safety with his family as a mob of Trump supporters breached the Capitol building, some chanting Hang Mike Pence!
Those who bought a home long ago in South Florida, when prices were super low, have been stunned to see their home values as much as quadruple in the past decade.

When the housing bubble of 2006 and 2007 burst, the market dropped precipitously, with values reaching their lowest levels around 2012. The typical home value in South Florida in 2007, for example, peaked at $339,171 before falling to $162,918 in the beginning of 2012, according to numbers from Zillow.

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During the low period, people grabbed up homes at very low prices, hoping, of course, that the market would rebound  but not knowing just how much it would skyrocket years later.

Lantana homeowner Blair Alshut is a homeowner who saw such gains. She purchased her three-bedroom, two-bathroom home with a pool in east Lantana in a short sale for $95,000 in January of 2011. Working as a waitress at the time, she was searching for a property that would fit her budget of $100,000. Eleven years later, shes a realtor in Palm Beach County, and estimates her property could now go for $425,000.

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It was a home she saw potential in, as she and her husband put about $12,000 in renovations, redoing the kitchen themselves, and updating the floors in her home. Buying during the downturn gave her the chance to afford something that was closer to the water, a location shes always wanted to be in.

Its honestly crazy how much it has risen, said Alshut. I would expect it to be a multiple offer situation, she says of what would happen if she listed it.

Blair Alshut bought her Lantana home when prices were low, and was able to renovate her kitchen, seen here. (Blair Alshut)

[ RELATED: These South Florida ZIP codes have seen home values rise as much as 320% in the past 20 years ]

Though it would be nice to sell now and make a profit, she doesnt know where she would be able to go in todays market.

Many homeowners are realizing how much equity they have gained after buying low decades ago. Home values rose steadily from 2013 to 2020 in South Florida, but have skyrocketed throughout the pandemic, fueled by dwindling inventory in the region, intense demand from out-of-state buyers and low mortgage rates. These factors have combined to create a market where bidding wars are the norm and homes are flying off the market in a matter of days.

Take Lantana, where the average home value dropped in the beginning of 2012 to $124,867, according to numbers from Zillow. The current average home value is $350,339.

After the downturn, it wasnt unusual for homeowners to wait out the market to see if values would return.

It was very common for people to stay in their property for a long period of time, said Ken H. Johnson, real estate economist with Florida Atlantic University. They were waiting for values to go where it was or slightly above where it was.

And property taxes for some of these homeowners who bought decades ago havent skyrocketed too much, despite home values soaring. Many of them have homestead protections under the Florida Save our Homes law, which caps how much homesteaded properties can raise in value, either by 3% annually or the change in the National Consumer Price Index, which ever one is less.

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A homestead property is defined as the primary residence inside a municipality up to one-half acre, and those outside of a municipality up to 160 acres.

Is cashing out possible?

If homeowners were expecting to cash out in the current market, they may be in for a shock.

What really factors into that decision is where can I go? What can I buy? said Eliot Koolik with the Koolik Group at Compass Boca.

Some people have ended up refinancing to keep their overhead low. They are looking at this market that they might as well stay in the house with a lot of space and still have a decent sized mortgage, Koolik added.

Its a decision Shauna, who preferred not to use her last name, and her family were weighing. They were looking to sell their Boynton Beach home they bought in foreclosure in 2011 for about $240,000. Similar homes in their neighborhood are now selling for about $700,000 and up, bringing them the possibility of a handsome $500,000 return.

Its nuts; Id be able to afford my kids colleges, she said.

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However, they realized their decision has been limited by how little inventory there is left in South Florida and how high prices have risen. Not only would it be almost impossible to find a home in the right school district for her kids, but the market has also become so pricey and competitive, that they would probably end up in a far more expensive home. They decided against selling.

Its frustrating because where do you go? Shauna said. You can make a lot of money, but then you end up buying a home that is between $800,000-$900,000. What does that house look like that I dont already have?

Inventory levels in South Florida have dropped, leaving buyers with few options.

One of the trends I am seeing is individuals selling their second homes, or investment properties. These sellers do not have the concern of low inventory and the fear of not being able to find a home, said Karen Pica, real estate agent with Lang Realty in Delray Beach.

Brenda and Michael Smith, a retired couple living in Lake Worth, bought their rental property for around $24,000 in 2011. After fixing it up and renting it out for the past 10 years, theyve realized they could get about four times the amount on their investment.

They dont plan on selling due to their current tenant, who is disabled.

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Were here to help her, Smith said. Otherwise we would be selling it in the peak of the market.

[ RELATED: State of the market: South Florida home prices soar as inventory dwindles ]

Paula Mendez, 36, is another homeowner who was able to purchase a home a decade ago on the cheap. She bought a two-bedroom, two-bathroom townhome in Boynton Beach for $50,000 and has used it as a rental property to generate income over the years.

Now she says homes in her area are selling for around $200,000. She doesnt plan on selling, as she wants to make sure she has a home in case of an emergency.

If I would have to sell and then buy again, there is no capital gain there. I want to have a roof that is paid off if anything should happen, she said.
Follow @KDRV12 on Facebook and @KDRV on Twitter for the latest news, sports, and weather in Southern Oregon and Northern California.
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UPDATE 5/3/22 12:29pm:

A ceasefire to evacuate residents from two cities in Ukraine has quickly fallen apart, with officials saying work to remove civilians had halted amid shelling hours after Russia announced the deal.

The Russian defence ministry said early today (Saturday March 5) that it had agreed on evacuation routes with Ukrainian forces for Mariupol, a strategic port in the south-east, and the eastern city of Volnovakha. The vaguely worded statement did not make clear how long the routes would remain open.

But a short time later, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskys office said the ceasefire had already failed.

The Russian military will observe a ceasefire in two areas of Ukraine starting on Saturday to allow civilians to evacuate, according to state media reports.

The Russian defence ministry said in a statement carried by the RIA Novosti and Tass agencies it has agreed on evacuation routes with Ukrainian forces to allow civilians to leave the strategic port of Mariupol in the south-east and the eastern town of Volnovakha.

There was no immediate confirmation from Ukrainian forces, and it is not immediately clear how long the evacuation routes would remain open.

If confirmed, the move would be the first breakthrough in allowing civilians to escape the war.

The head of Ukraines security council, Oleksiy Danilov, had called on Russia to create humanitarian corridors to allow children, women and the elderly to escape the fighting, calling such corridors question No 1.

As Russian forces batter strategic locations, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has lashed out at Nato for refusing to impose a no-fly zone over his country, warning that all the people who die from this day forward will also die because of you.

Nato says a no-fly zone could provoke widespread war in Europe with nuclear-armed Russia.

But as the United States and other Nato members send weapons for Kyiv and more than one million refugees spill through the continent, the conflict is already drawing in countries far beyond Ukraines borders.

Russia continues to crack down on independent media reporting on the war, also blocking Facebook and Twitter, and more outlets say they are pausing their work inside the country.

Nuclear terrorism requires decisive action in response. At the #UN Security Council meeting, we called for closing the sky over and launching an operation to maintain peace and security. The goal is to save hazardous facilities. The world must not watch, but help!    (@ZelenskyyUa) March 4, 2022

And in a warning of a hunger crisis yet to come, the UN World Food Programme says millions of people inside Ukraine, a major global wheat supplier, will need food aid immediately.

Ukraines leader is set to brief US senators on Saturday on a video conference call as US congress considers a request for 10 billion dollars (7.5 billion) in emergency funding for humanitarian aid and security needs.

In a bitter and emotional speech late on Friday, Mr Zelensky criticized Nato over the lack of a no-fly zone, saying it will fully untie Russias hands as it escalates its air attack.

The alliance has given the green light to the bombing of Ukrainian cities and villages, he said, warning that the history of Europe will remember this forever.

Nato Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg had earlier ruled out the possibility of a no-fly zone, saying Nato planes would have to shoot down Russian aircraft.

In a separate video message to anti-war protesters in several European cities, Mr Zelensky continued to appeal for help. If we fall, you will fall, he said.

The UN Security Council will hold an open meeting Monday on the worsening humanitarian situation.

#NATO Foreign Ministers & #Finland, #Sweden & the #EU addressed #Russia's brutal invasion of #Ukraine, which the whole world condemns. We call on President Putin to stop this war immediately. He tried to divide us, but NATO is more united, more determined & stronger than ever. pic.twitter.com/c5Up9UKKNz  Jens Stoltenberg (@jensstoltenberg) March 4, 2022

The UN estimates that 12 million people in Ukraine and four million fleeing to neighbouring countries in the coming months will need humanitarian aid.

While the vast Russian armoured column threatening Ukraines capital remained stalled outside Kyiv, Mr Putins military has launched hundreds of missiles and artillery attacks on cities and other sites across the country.

Russian forces did not make significant progress on Friday in their offensive to sever Ukraines access to the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov, which would deal a severe blow to its economy.

There were also no changes in the north and the east, where the Russian offensive has stalled, meeting fierce Ukrainian resistance.

Ukrainian presidential adviser Oleksiy Arestovich said battles involving airstrikes and artillery continued north-west of Kyiv, and the north-eastern cities of Kharkiv and Okhtyrka came under heavy fire.

He said Ukrainian forces were still holding the northern city of Chernihiv and the southern city of Mykolaiv.

Ukrainian artillery also defended Ukraines biggest port city, Odesa, from repeated attempts by Russian ships, he said.

More than 840 children have been wounded in the war, and 28 have been killed, according to Ukraines government.

A total of 331 civilians had been confirmed killed but the true number is probably much higher, the UN human rights office said.

Kyivs central train station is still crowded with people desperate to flee the capital.

People just want to live, one woman said.
Primary school students in Kilkenny and nationwide are being asked to design a poster that encourages greater conservation of Irelands native fish.

The national poster competition, organised by Inland Fisheries Ireland in conjunction with Blackrock Education Centre, is part of the Something Fishy educational programme and officially kicks off this month.

Open to fifth and sixth class pupils, the winning posters will be used as part of an awareness campaign to promote the catch, photo and release (CPR) method of angling in Ireland.

Under the CPR approach, a fish that is caught with a rod by an angler is quickly photographed and then returned safely back into the same water to swim away.

As a result, greater numbers of fish can be conserved in rivers, lakes and around coastlines, putting less pressure on fish populations and boosting biodiversity.

To enter, primary school students are being asked to create a poster with the catch, photo and release message, take a photograph of it and then submit it by email before the closing date of Friday, April 15, 2022.

The winning students in fifth and sixth class categories will receive a tablet to the value of 500 and will have their work featured in an awareness campaign.

Launching the competition, Suzanne Campion, Head of Business Development with Inland Fisheries Ireland said: Every generation has a vital role to play in taking care of our native fish and that includes protecting and conserving them. Catch, photo and release is just one conservation measure, but its a very important one when you consider that angling is increasingly popular in Ireland with over 320,000 people enjoying it as a hobby or sport. Ireland is also a major angling destination, attracting around 130,000 tourists from all around the world in an average year.

For this years competition, were enlisting primary schools in Kilkenny and across the country to help us create a message that will encourage more anglers to practice catch, photo and release the next time theyre going fishing. Were very fortunate to have lots of active angling clubs, associations and federations all over this country. We will be working closely with them to help get the catch, photo, release message out there as widely as possible.

The Something Fishy poster competition has been designed to fit in with the primary school curriculum, according to Niamh Murray, Director of the Blackrock Education Centre.

Our children are the future and promoting the simple act of releasing the fish that you catch, shows the power of an individual in conserving our environment, she said.

To enter the 2022 competition, parents, guardians or teachers are asked to email original entries to 'outreach@fisheriesireland. ie' before Friday, April 15.

Only one entry is allowed per student and all winners will be announced in early June.

Free resources with further details about the competition are available from 'www.somethingfishy.ie'.
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Jasper, TX (75951)

Today

Cloudy skies this morning followed by scattered showers and thunderstorms during the afternoon. High 86F. Winds S at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 50%..

Tonight

Thunderstorms likely this evening. Then a chance of scattered thunderstorms overnight. A few storms may be severe. Low 63F. Winds W at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 90%.
Shenandoah, IA (51601)

Today

Showers this morning, becoming a steady rain during the afternoon hours. High 58F. Winds ENE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 70%..

Tonight

Considerable cloudiness with occasional rain showers. Low around 50F. Winds NNE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 60%.
Kokomo, IN (46901)

Today

Cloudy with occasional rain during the afternoon. High 59F. Winds E at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 70%..

Tonight

Rain likely. Low 53F. Winds E at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 80%. Rainfall around a half an inch.
Kendallville, IN (46755)

Today

Partly cloudy early then becoming cloudy with periods of rain this afternoon. High 58F. Winds ESE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 70%..

Tonight

Cloudy with periods of rain. Low 49F. Winds E at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 90%. Rainfall around a half an inch.
Lauren Bridgeman, a teacher at Lake Central School Corp., said House Bill 1134 dying was a sigh of relief.

House Bill 1134 was a bill in the Indiana legislature that would have limited what teachers can say in schools. The bill would have required schools to post educational activities and curricular materials on their schools website.

The house version of the bill also listed a series of divisive concepts that would be banned in Indiana classrooms, and it created regulations in the discussion of issues involving sex, race, ethnicity, religion, color, national origin and political affiliation.

School corporations would also have been required to request, in writing, the provision or administration of mental, social-emotional or psychological services to their children before providing those services. A significantly weakened version of the bill was proposed in the Indiana Senate.

Todd Shafer, a teacher for Culver Community School Corp., said he was initially overjoyed. He was thankful that all the effort from people who went down to the statehouse worked. Approximately 200 people signed up to testify regarding the Senate version of the bill when it was heard, including educators and parents.

Emily Maurek, a teacher in the Lake Central School Corp., said she feels like she still has to have her guard up, aspects of 1134 could be added into other bills during the conference committee.

However, Senate President Rodric Bray said the future of 1134 doesnt look good. House speaker Todd Houston said House Republicans wanted what they had and were unwilling to accept anything less.

Kristin McMurtrey, the chairwoman of the Northwest Indiana Coalition for Public Education and a licensed English teacher, said while she is thankful the bill did not pass, she is hesitant to be completely relieved.

Even if aspects of 1134 are not added this session, McMurtrey said this bill or something similar could come back next session.

Maurek said she feels like when she interacts with legislators, there is good conversation where they are civil, but when it comes to vote, they vote against local education. She said it is part of a national movement against education and a culture of fear.

She said Indiana is not a friendly place to be an educator. Shafer said he feels like there is some sort of animosity from the legislature toward the education profession and he does not know why it exists.

Bridgeman said the legislators are claiming these issues come from their constituents. She asked where those constituents are, because the majority she knows are in support of public education.

Travis Scherer, a teacher at Tri-County High School, said education in general is viewed as adversarial and it doesnt have to be.

Bob DeRuntz, a teacher at Chesterton High School, said he appreciated that Senators, both Democratic and Republican, took a stand against HB 1134s overreach.

Rather than making efforts to restrict our teachers we should be making every effort to increase respect for the profession and support teachers to help attract good people into the noble profession, DeRuntz said in an email.

Eric Gappa, math teacher at North Judson-San Pierre Schools, said people he knows are feeling better about being in education and are not as inclined to leave the profession or retire early.

Bridgeman said she knew more than five teachers who were planning to leave had the bill passed.

She said she is thankful that, at least for another year, children can learn factual information in schools.
Auburn, IN (46706)

Today

Partly cloudy skies this morning will give way to occasional showers during the afternoon. High 58F. Winds E at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 60%..

Tonight

Rain likely. Low 49F. Winds E at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 80%. Rainfall near a half an inch.
(File photo: Drone view of crowd attending Big W Trail Ride on June 12 in Grand Cane. One person was shot as the crowd swelled out of control, prompting the Police Jury to put a new special event policy in place)
KALISPELL, Mont. - 19-year-old Andrii Mykhailiuk was born and raised in Ukraine. He moved to the Treasure State to attend Montana State University Billings and now lives in Kalispell, but still has an influx of friends and family who live in Ukraine.

His dad was separated from his mom and sister, who are now in nearby Germany with friends and family. His dad is working to help provide food to children in the area. If you're interested in donating to that organization, you can click here.

Right now, with Russian soldiers invading the country, many are forced to leave with little-to-nothing.

For Mykhailiuk, the hardest part about being so far away is having to wait for a response from his loved ones.

"Every time I text them, I try to support them. They try to tell me what's going on right now," Mykhailiuk said. "How they hear bombing, how they can't sleep. I feel bad I can't do nothing more than I'm doing right now."

As time without communication grows stronger, Mykhailiuk's worry and fear grows stronger, but he gets a small sense of relief when he finally gets a response.

"Every time I text somebody and ask, 'how are you?' and they respond, I'm like, 'thank you so much,'" he said.

As people pick up their lives, they're heading into days of the unknown, hoping to find nothing but safety.

"You see that you are safe, but your soul is hurting," Mykhailiuk said. "It's incredibly hard to be far from there. I don't know, I feel like for me it would be easier to be there with my dad."

Mykhailiuk said he'd like to return to Ukraine when it's safe, but his dad wants him to stay put.

As he looks ahead to the future, Mykhailiuk said children are at the forefront of his mind.

"Especially, I worry about kids," he said. "Because they'll remember it forever. But I really hope they'll remember the time with peace ... They'll remember more than the time they stayed in the bunkers."

As the invasion in Ukraine continues, we're going to keep checking in with Mykhailiuk.
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?
BURLINGTON  A man allegedly walked up to a deputy conducting a traffic stop on another car and told him I will kill you, before fleeing.

Dylan J. Hanson, 31, of Bristol, was charged with a felony count of attempting to flee or elude an officer and misdemeanor counts of obstructing an officer and disorderly conduct.

According to a criminal complaint:

At 7:02 p.m. Wednesday, a deputy with the Racine County Sheriffs Office was conducting a traffic stop on Durand Avenue and Highway J.

When the deputy went back to the squad car to check the driver file, he saw a man walking towards the stopped car to speak to the driver. The deputy told him to get away from the car, and he responded with Why? The deputys patrol service dog was barking loudly, and the man said If you send that dog on me I will kill you (expletive). When the deputy responded with Excuse me? the man then said (Expletive) you, I will kill you. He then ran towards a nearby bar and out of sight.

The man, later identified as Hanson, got into a car and left on Highway J at a high rate of speed. He was reportedly traveling more than 100 mph in a 55 mph zone and blew through the intersection. He was later apprehended at his home in Kenosha.

Hanson was given a $1,000 cash bond in Racine County Circuit Court on Thursday. A preliminary hearing is set for March 9 at the Racine County Law Enforcement Center, 717 Wisconsin Ave., online court records show.
RACINE  Colored Union Baptist Church held its first services on March 22, 1857, in the home of its founders, Charles and Sarah Ware, only 16 years after the incorporation of the then-Village of Racine.

Almost 165 years later, Saint Paul Missionary Baptist Church, as it is now known, is celebrating the anniversary of its founding; all are invited to a celebratory service on Sunday at the church, 1120 Grand Ave.

Bishop Lawrence Kirby said: Were inviting the public to come, particularly all former members who maybe got their start at this church.

He said thousands of people have come through the church, some of whom are now members of other churches.

Services will be held on Sunday at 8 a.m. and 11 a.m. The services also are to be livestreamed; details are listed on the churchs Facebook page and website.

Saint Paul

Kirby has been the pastor at Saint Paul Missionary Baptist Church since 1981. He began his service in Tennessee and also preached in Mississippi before moving north to become the pastor of Saint Paul.

The Saint Paul congregation has much to remember and celebrate, he said.

Sometime in the 1850s, Charles and Sarah Wear moved from Virginia, a slave state, to Wisconsin, which was part of the 1787 Northwest Ordinance and therefore came into the Union as a state that prohibited slavery, sometimes called a free state.

We do not know what brought them here, Kirby said, and added they do know the couple had four daughters; the church has tried to track their ancestry, without success.

Saint Paul remains the oldest active, registered African American church in Wisconsin, and is the largest predominantly black church in Racine.

In the 1880s, the church purchased a little white schoolhouse and moved it to Campbell Street, later renamed Grand Avenue, between 11th and 12th Streets on property owned by the Wares, according to the church history.

The congregation worshiped in that schoolhouse until 1950, Kirby said, after which Saint Paul Missionary Baptist Church became to first African American congregation to build a church from the ground up.

The little church was relocated to an area near the current church and stood there until the late 1970s when it was finally demolished.

In 1986, a modern church was built on the property, facing Center Street.

The church had several names over the past 165 years. In 1888, it was reorganized and recorded in the Register of Deeds Office as Second Baptist Colored Church of Racine County, WI.

In 1916, following a dispute over the deed, the church was reorganized and recorded again, this time as Saint Paul Baptist Church Society.

In 1949, when it was discovered the church was registered under two different names in the Register of Deeds Office, the two names were consolidated into Saint Paul Baptist Missionary Baptist Church.

Community

Kirby said churches have always been the central gathering place for the black community, whose members were blackballed from other types of community clubs and public institutions.

So the church became that gathering place for the community, he added. And in a real sense it was and still is, in my opinion, the strongest institution in the African American community.

It is the church, I believe, that led the struggle and the fight for more equality in the United States of America, right on the forefront of leading the movement in the 50s and 60s that did cause the country to enact more laws that are more fair to all the citizens, not just part of the citizens.

He pointed out almost all of the leaders of the Civil Rights movement were connected to the church.

In the midst of all the things African Americans went through, the church was the institution that gave them hope, Kirby said.

Colored Union Baptist Church was a stop on the Underground Railroad, and a historical marker has been placed on the property to memorialize its history.

While the church started off serving the black community, it has long been integrated and has had a racially diverse membership.

The future

When asked what the church had to do to have another 165 years, Kirby said it has to continue to have outreach programs, particularly for children, youths and young adults.

He said its important to show them the church is an institution that can still instill hope in them and a sense of self-worth and belonging.

He said some young people, particularly African American youth, do not have the kind of connection to the church that their parents and grandparents had, and are cut off from the hope the church can provide.

African American churches in particular, he said, are reaching out to young people and saying: This is the place for you.

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A walking path in the Village of Walworth that has caused some concerns among village officials is one step closer to being abandoned.

Members of the Village of Walworth Plan Commission unanimously approved, Feb. 21, to abandoned a walking path located across the street from Walworth Elementary School.

Whether to vacate the walking path still has to be approved by Walworth Village Board members, who are set to vote on the issue March 14.

The walking path is located at the end of unmarked Hamlin Street, across from Walworth Elementary School, then travels down Freemont Street.

The walking path, at the end of Hamlin Street, extends toward a new development in the Walworth Prairie neighborhood development. The path then connects with Savannah Drive east of the Spring Drive intersection.

Village officials have expressed concern about the safety of Walworth Elementary School students crossing the area of Fremont Street and the walking path.

The plan commission added a provision that abandoning the walking path would be subject to sending a notice to representatives of Immanuel United Church of Christ, because a portion of the path leads to the church.

Thats the only place it would go, Village Planner Shaun Murlarkey said. It would be a public path that dead ends into private property.

Mularkey said church officials have not indicated how they feel about the possibility of the path being abandoned.

There might be some benefit keeping it abutted to the church property, but we dont have clear direction from them, Mularkey said.

Louise Czaja, village president and plan commission chairperson, said she received an email message from a representative of the church, but their position regarding the path was not clear.

Frankly, I wasnt very satisfied with the email, Czaja said. It just said, UCC Church. I dont know if it was an individual, perhaps, drafting a letter for them to acknowledge that this is whats going to happen.

Plan commission member Annie Zambito recommended that the village clerk send a written notice to the church.

Murlarkey said if the path is abandoned it would have to be removed from the villages comprehensive outdoor recreation plan.

At some point, we would have to amend that document to remove it if it is abandoned, Murlarkey said. I think it makes sense. It doesnt go anywhere. It doesnt serve much of a purpose.

The plan commission members also unanimously approved to vacate Hamlin Street under the condition that the owners of the properties adjacent to the street develop an access and maintenance agreement regarding how the properties will be maintained.

There will be a maintenance agreement between those two parties, said Edward Snyder, a plan commission member. This eliminates the road that goes to nowhere and a walking path that goes to nowhere, basically.

The maintenance agreement would have to be drafted by both property owners attorneys.

The proposal to vacate Hamlin Street also still has to be approved by the village board.

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Lancaster Farming's Courtney Love recognizes the grit it took to prove that women can accomplish the same to-do list as a male farmer.
Price increases and supply shortages facing Roundup arent enough to force farmers away from no-till this planting season. Alternative herbicides and changes to application rates and schedules may have to be implemented, however, if Roundup cant be obtained this spring.
AgConnect Ministries has been teaching modern practices for almost 20 years to farmers in Moldova, but as refugees have streamed into the country, the Christian group has found itself in a position to help.
The Mill, a farm-supply business serving customers in Pennsylvania and Maryland has been honored as the agriculture industry of the year for York County.
New Delhi [India], March 5 (ANI/NewsVoir): Lexar, a leading global brand of flash memory solutions, is proud to receive the award, 'Best Memory Card Editor's Choice' - Lexar Professional CFexpress Type B Memory Card GOLD Series in the 2021 Photography News magazine Awards.

Photography News magazine celebrates the world of photography by sharing industry news, photo tips and techniques, informative and extensive buyers guides, and product reviews monthly.

Also Read | Snapchat Turns Off Public 'Heatmap' for Ukraine As Safety Precaution.

Each year, the Photography News staff and readers' poll their favorite photography technology ranging from cameras, lenses, and accessories leading to be one of the most anticipated award announcements in the photography industry.

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Also Read | SC East Bengal vs Bengaluru FC ISL 2021-22 Live Streaming Online on Disney+ Hotstar: Watch Free Telecast of SCEB vs BFC in Indian Super League 8 on TV and Online.

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This story is provided by NewsVoir. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/NewsVoir)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Kolkata, Mar 5 (PTI) Leader of Congress in Lok Sabha Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury Saturday questioned the silence of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in the mysterious death of student activist Anis Khan and said that she has forgotten the Muslims who had reposed faith in her since her party's win in the state election.

Also Read | Russia-Ukraine Conflict: No Indian Left in War Torn Kharkiv, Says MEA Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi.

Also Read | Gujarat Shocker: 30-Year-Old Man Arrested for Raping 10-Year-Old Daughter in Surat.

Chowdhury, who is also the WBPCC president, alleged that the state government is trying to hide the truth behind the incident and stop investigation into it.

Chowdhury, who met the the student activist's family members at their house at Amta in Howrah district during the day, claimed that the special investigating team formed by the state government to probe the death "would yield nothing but rubbish".

He raked up the death of Rizwanur Rahman, a graphics trainer, who according to the CBI probe was driven to commit suicide in 2007. "Didi (Banerjee) had spearheaded the movement following Rizwanur's death because she had no option then. Now because the elections are over, the Muslims have been dumped by her."

Rizwanur was found dead near the rail track in Kolkata in Sptember 2007, a month after his marriage to the daughter of industrialist Ashok Todi. The Supreme Court had in March 2011 had asked CBI proceed with the case as suicide.

The death had rocked the state and Banerjee had spearheaded a movement against the then Left Front government of Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee and demanded the CBI probe into it.

"Why is the chief minister silent in this case? Why hasn't she sent any of her ministers to meet Anis' family members? The people of Bengal want to know the mystery behind his death. But it seems that the state government is trying to stop the investigation as the chief minister and the TMC government are trying to hide the truth behind the death. We will not let them succeed in that," Chowdhury told reporters.

"There will be no investigation done by the SIT ... Nobody will believe that a civic police man would kill somebody unless he was ordered".

A civic police man was among the four police personnel who had reportedly forced their way into Anis' house on the night of February 18 and took him to its second floor. His body was later found by his family members from outside the building.

Chowdhury alleged that Anis's family members are being given death threats to force them withdraw their demand for a CBI probe.

He said that Congress will move the National Human Rights Commission in the case. "We will continue with our protests and if needed help Anis' family to meet President Ram Nath Kovind and take the case to the National Commission for Minorities".

Chowdhury also was critical about the state government's Deucha Pachami coal project and questioned its "commercial viability".

"Nobody is willing to invest here. This is a concealed coalfield and several hundred metres have to be dug to get coal. Nobody knows whether this will be a viable project or not," he said.

The the state government is yet to publish any notification with regard to the project though it has already planned to evacuate around 21,000 people from the area, he said.

The state government is investing about Rs 35,000 crore in this project which is spread across 3.04 lakh acres and Banerjee has announced jobs for one member of each family that donates land, besides increasing the compensation package.

(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, March 5: Bharatiya Janata Party on Saturday exuded confidence that the party will retain power in Manipur and added that governments both at the Centre and the State have worked together in harmony to end the differences between hills and valleys.

BJP National President Jagat Prakash Nadda and Home Minister Amit Shah addressed a joint press conference at the party headquarters in New Delhi on Saturday. Manipur Assembly Elections 2022: From Okram Ibobi Singh to Gaikhangam, Here Are Five Key Candidates Contesting In Phase 2 Of State Polls.

Speaking here today, Shah said, "BJP will form a government in Manipur again. The state has transformed from blockades, bandhs, violence, drugs to organic farming, medical institutions and more. PM Modi and our CM of Manipur have worked hard to end the differences between hills and valleys."

Assembly elections are being held in Manipur from February 28 to March 5, 2022, in two phases, to elect 60 members of the Manipur Legislative Assembly.

Former BJP chief Shah emphasized that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is enjoying maximum popularity among all the Prime Ministers of India since independence and BJP will benefit from it in these poll-bound states.

"For almost 7 and a half years, BJP's full majority government is running in the country under the leadership of Narendra Modi. Our government under the leadership of the Prime Minister has made the people of the country realize that an elected government wants to raise the standard of living of the citizens," he said.

Shah added, "In these five states, the popularity of PM Narendra Modi ji was seen above the popularity of any Prime Minister of independent India and BJP is getting direct benefit of this in this election."

2022 Legislative Assembly elections are being held in five states namely Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Goa, Punjab and Manipur. The results will be declared on March 10.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
New Delhi [India], March 5 (ANI): Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Saturday met Indian students, who were evacuated from Ukraine amid ongoing Russian military operations, at Uttarakhand Sadan in Delhi.

The Chief Minister enquired about their well-being.

Also Read | Russia-Ukraine War: Ukrainian Woman Married to Kashmiri Appeals to PM Narendra Modi to Help Her Country.

"Today met with the children who returned from Ukraine at Uttarakhand Sadan in Delhi. It was possible only with the efficient leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji and the efforts of the Government of India that today our children have returned safely even from adverse situations like war," Dhami tweeted (roughly translated from Hindi).

The Uttarakhand government has appointed a nodal officer for students of the state returning from Ukraine and a toll-free number has been also launched, where people can give information about students stuck in Ukraine.

Also Read | India Reports 5,921 New COVID-19 Cases in Past 24 Hours, Daily Positivity Rate Dips to 0.63%.

Notably, the Indian Air Force on Saturday brought back 629 evacuated Indian nationals from Ukraine's neighbouring countries Romania, Slovakia and Poland as part of the ongoing 'Operation Ganga'.

Earlier in the day, Minister of State for External Affairs V Muraleedharan informed that over 11,000 Indians have been evacuated from Ukraine so far.

Meanwhile, the Union Government has been ramping up its efforts to evacuate Indian nationals from Ukraine.

The government has deployed 'special envoys' to four neighbouring countries bordering Ukraine to coordinate and oversee the evacuation process of Indian nationals.

Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas Hardeep Singh Puri is overseeing evacuation efforts in Hungary, Union Law Minister Kiren Rijiju in Slovakia, Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia in Romania and Gen VK Singh in Poland.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi also chaired several meetings on the evacuation of Indian nationals from Ukraine. In the meeting, he chaired on Friday, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, Minister of Commerce & Industry Piyush Goyal, Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla, National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval and other senior officials were present. (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Patna, Mar 5 (PTI) The Congress on Saturday came out with the names of its candidates for eight out of 24 seats in Bihar legislative council for which polls are scheduled next month, in a clear signal to domineering former ally RJD that it was unwilling to go down without a fight.

The list of eight candidates was issued by AICC general secretary Mukul Wasnik with the approval of party president Sonia Gandhi, with whom RJD supremo Lalu Prasad's excellent personal rapport has proved to be of no avail.

Also Read | Manipur Assembly Elections 2022: BJP Will Retain Power in the State, Says Amit Shah.

Polling is scheduled for the 24 seats on April 4.

Among the seats for which the Congress came out with names of its candidates is West Champaran (Mohd Afaq Ahmed). The Congress had won the seat in 2015 but its MLC Rajesh Ram crossed over to Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's JD(U) last year.

Also Read | Maharashtra: Drunk Driver Mows 2 Minor Girls, Truck Gutted While Escaping in Palghar.

We understand this is the first list. More names, for other seats, are expected shortly, state Congress media in-charge Rajesh Rathore told PTI.

The RJD, which had rebuffed the Congress in October last year when it fielded its candidates for by-polls to two assembly polls ignoring protestations of the latter, is contesting 23 seats, leaving one for the Left.

The Congress-RJD alliance in Bihar, which has been in place for more than two decades despite minor ups and downs, is going through a rough patch since the assembly elections of 2020.

The Grand Alliance comprising the two parties besides CPI(ML), CPI(M), and CPI put up a better than expected performance but fell short of a majority.

The Congress was singled out for its poor performance as it had contested 70 seats but could win less than 20. Things reached a flashpoint during by-polls for Tarapur and Kusheshwar Asthan assembly segments.

There have been speculations in a section of the media that the RJD has been cross with the Congress over the induction of CPI leader Kanhaiya Kumar who is seen as a potential rival to Prasad's son and heir apparent Tejashwi Yadav.

Terms of the 24 seats had expired in July last year but the elections were delayed since fresh panchayats and urban local bodies could not be elected within time on account of the COVID pandemic.

Half of the two dozen poll-bound seats had been won by the BJP last time. Its alliance partner, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's JD(U), had eight. The RJD held two while another seat was won by an independent candidate.

The NDA has its own share of problems with smaller allies Vikassheel Insaan Party, headed by minister Mukesh Sahni and Hindustani Awam Morcha of former CM Jitan Ram Manjhi expressing resentment over being ignored.

The NDA is yet to announce its candidates, though it has come out with a formula of seat-sharing wherein the BJP will be contesting 13 seats while the JD(U) will fight the remaining 11.

(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], March 5 (ANI): Amid the ongoing Russian military operations in Ukraine, over 11,000 Indian nationals evacuated from the conflict-torn country, informed Minister of State for External Affairs V Muraleedharan on Saturday.

The minister received 170 Indian citizens at Indira Gandhi International Airport who were evacuated from Ukraine.

Also Read | Rajnath Singh on Russia-Ukraine Conflict: Entire World Will Have to Pay the Price, If Their Economies Are Affected.

Taking to Twitter, Muraleedharan said, "Operation Ganga is in full swing, with over 11,000 Indians evacuated from Ukraine so far. Happy to have received a group of 170 Indians at New Delhi airport, evacuated through AirAsia India. Thank our Missions, foreign governments, and volunteers for their constant support."

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday chaired a meeting to discuss the ongoing evacuation drive of Indian nationals and the situation in conflict-hit Ukraine.

Also Read | Ukraine Crisis: Indian Embassy in Kyiv Advises Students to Pass Through Polish Borders of Budomeirz, Shehyni-Medyka.

The government has also deployed 'special envoys' to four neighbouring countries bordering Ukraine to coordinate and oversee the evacuation process of Indian nationals.

The Ministry of External Affairs said on Friday that 16 flights were scheduled for the next 24 hours including Indian Air Force's C-17 aircraft under Operation Ganga.

Russian forces launched military operations in Ukraine on February 24, three days after Moscow recognized Ukraine's breakaway regions - Donetsk and Luhansk - as independent entities. (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Jaipur, Mar 5 (PTI) The Additional Sessions Court here issued notices to Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot, PHED Minister Mahesh Joshi and others, asking them to appear before it on March 16 in the matter of an alleged phone tapping.

The court also issued notices to former chief secretary Rajeeva Swarup, former additional chief decretary Rohit Kumar Singh, former DGP Bhupendra Singh, Special Operations Group (SOG) ADG Ashok Rathore, SOG police station SHO Ravindra Kumar Bhuria and the chief minister's OSD Lokesh Sharma.

Also Read | Gujarat Shocker: 30-Year-Old Man Arrested for Raping 10-Year-Old Daughter in Surat.

Notices have been issued on a revision petition filed by Advocate O P Solanki. The next hearing in the matter is on March 16.

Solanki had filed the petition in the lower court over the phone-tapping allegations during the power tussle within the ruling Congress in 2020.

Also Read | Nawab Maliks Arrest Politically Motivated, BJP Links Any Muslim Party Worker With Dawood Ibrahim, Alleges NCP Chief Sharad Pawar.

A case had also been filed in the Delhi crime branch in the alleged phone-tapping.

The case was filed on the complaint of Union Jal Shakti Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat.

CM's OSD Lokesh Sharma had also appeared before the crime branch for questioning.

The phone-tapping controversy erupted in July 2020 in Rajasthan.

Audio clips of alleged telephonic conversations between Gajendra Singh and Congress leaders surfaced amidst a rebellion against Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot by his the then deputy Sachin Pilot and 18 party MLAs supporting him.

It was alleged that Lokesh Sharma circulated the audio clips purportedly having the conversation about a conspiracy to topple the Congress government.

On the basis of the audio clips, Congress leader Mahesh Joshi had lodged complaints with the SOG and the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) of the Rajasthan Police but the FIR did not mention that Gajendra Singh referred to in a clip was Union minister Shekhawat.

The SOG later closed the case after the Congress high command intervened to resolve the issues between Gehlot and Pilot. Sharma has rejected the allegations of phone tapping.

(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], March 5 (ANI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi will chair a high-level meeting on the Ukraine issue on Saturday.

The Prime Minister has held regular high-level meetings over the Ukraine crisis. Over 13,300 people have returned to India so far under Operation Ganga from crisis-ridden Ukraine.

Also Read | Maharashtra: Drunk Driver Mows 2 Minor Girls, Truck Gutted While Escaping in Palghar.

Tensions have escalated following Russia's military action against Ukraine.

The External Affairs Ministry on Saturday said that almost all Indians have left Kharkiv city in Ukraine and the main focus of the government is to evacuate citizens from the Sumy area as it is challenging amid ongoing violence and lack of transportation.

Also Read | Court Dismisses Tahir Hussains Bail Plea in Money Laundering Case Over Alleged Funding of Northeast Delhi Violence.

The government has also deployed 'special envoys' to four neighbouring countries bordering Ukraine to coordinate and oversee the evacuation process of Indian nationals.

Russian forces launched military operations in Ukraine on February 24, three days after Moscow recognized Ukraine's breakaway regions - Donetsk and Luhansk - as independent entities. (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Raipur (Chhattisgarh) [India], March 5 (ANI): Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel said that Samajwadi Party (SP) and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) fought Uttar Pradesh elections on issues similar to Congress, hours after campaigning for the seventh and the final phase of Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections concluded on Saturday.

Baghel, who is also the Congress party's senior observer for Uttar Pradesh elections, told reporters today, "We fought elections on issues in Uttar Pradesh. Seeing us, the Samajwadi Party and BJP also had to come to the same issues. For the first time, SP, BJP had to leave their issues and come to our issues."

Also Read | Russia-Ukraine Conflict: No Indian Left in War Torn Kharkiv, Says MEA Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi.

"Congress has nothing to lose in Uttar Pradesh, everything has to be gained. The more the BJP talks about PM Modi, the more they are going to regret it," he said.

The Chief Minister slammed the Centre for failing to save the people of India impacted in the Ukraine crisis.

Also Read | Gujarat Shocker: 30-Year-Old Man Arrested for Raping 10-Year-Old Daughter in Surat.

"The government failed to save its people. Half a million people were brought back from the Gulf countries during the Inder Kumar Gujral's government. Today there is no food and water for the Indians trapped in Ukraine. If we recall all these things, Congress will benefit in UP polls. The country will wait for the 10th of March."

The Chief Minister said, as soon as the elections are over, the price of petrol will increase within one hour after 5 pm.

Polling for six phases of the seven-phased Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections has already concluded. Voting for the seventh and final round will be held on March 7. The results will be declared 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)
Fort Polk, LA (71446)

Today

Cloudy. A stray afternoon thunderstorm is possible. High 87F. Winds S at 10 to 20 mph..

Tonight

Thunderstorms. A few storms may be severe. Low around 65F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 70%.
New Delhi, Mar 5 (PTI) The National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) will hear on March 7 and March 9 matters related to approval of the Suraksha group's bid to acquire debt-ridden realty firm Jaypee Infratech Ltd.

In a regulatory filing, Jaypee Infratech Ltd (JIL) said the listing of matter of resolution plan, along with related pleas, is listed for consideration before the National Company Law Tribunal, Principal Bench, New Delhi, on March 7 and March 9.

Also Read | PM Narendra Modi to Inaugurate Metro Rail Project in Pune on March 6.

In June last year, Mumbai-based Suraksha group received the approval of financial creditors and homebuyers to take over the JIL, raising hopes for around 20,000 homebuyers of getting possession of their dream flats.

Suraksha group got the approval of the committee of creditors (CoC) to acquire JIL, after the 10-day-long voting process.

Also Read | COVID-19 Vaccine Update: Govt Panel Recommends Permission For Phase 3 Trial of Sputnik Light Vaccine as Booster Dose.

Suraksha group won the bid with 98.66 per cent votes and it got 0.12 per cent more votes than NBCC.

As many as 12 banks and more than 20,000 homebuyers have voting rights in the CoC.

Homebuyers and creditors have 56.63 per cent and 43.25 per cent voting rights, respectively. Fixed deposit holders have 0.13 per cent voting rights.

This is the fourth round of bidding process to find a buyer for JIL, which went into the corporate insolvency resolution process (CIRP) in August 2017. Anuj Jain is JIL's interim resolution professional (IRP).

Lenders have submitted a claim of Rs 9,783 crore.

In its final resolution plan, Suraksha group had offered to bankers over 2,500 acres of land and nearly Rs 1,300 crore by way of issuing non-convertible debentures.

It has also proposed to complete all pending flats over the next four years.

JIL went into the insolvency process in August 2017 after the NCLT admitted an application by an IDBI Bank-led consortium.

In the first round of insolvency proceeding, the Rs 7,350-crore bid of Lakshadweep, part of Suraksha group, was rejected by lenders.

The CoC had rejected the bids of Suraksha and NBCC in the second round held in May-June 2019.

In November 2019, the Supreme Court directed that the revised bids be invited only from NBCC and Suraksha.

Then, in December 2019, the CoC approved the resolution plan of NBCC with a 97.36 per cent vote in favour during the third round of the bidding process.

In March 2020, NBCC had got approval from the NCLT to acquire JIL.

However, the order was challenged before the NCLAT and later in the Supreme Court.

The apex court on March 24, 2021, ordered for fresh round of bidding between the NBCC and the Suraksha group only. HRS hrs

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
'This Is Us' star Milo Ventimiglia has been tapped to star in the ABC drama 'The Company You Keep', which has received a formal pilot order at the Disney-backed broadcast network. As per Variety, the actor will also serve as an executive producer on the project. The show is based on the Korean drama 'My Fellow Citizens', which aired in 2019. Milo Ventimiglia, Gilmore Girls Fame Actor, Honoured With Hollywood Walk Of Fame Star (View Pics).

The actor will be seen playing a conman in the drama from writer Julia Cohen, known for her work in 'The Royals' and 'A Million Little Things'. Apart from writing, Cohen is also executive producing 'The Company You Keep'. Jon M. Chu and Caitlin Foito of Electric Somewhere will also executive produce, along with Russ Cundiff of DiVide Pictures, Todd Harthan, and Lindsay Goffman. Deanna Harris of DiVide will produce. 20th Television is the studio, with DiVide currently under an overall deal there.

ABC's formal description of the project reads, "A night of passion leads to love between con-man Charlie (Ventimiglia) and undercover CIA officer Emma, who are unknowingly on a collision course professionally. While Charlie ramps up the 'family business' so he can get out for good, Emma's closing in on the vengeful criminal who holds Charlie's family debts in-hand -- forcing them to reckon with the lies they've told so they can save themselves and their families from disastrous consequences." Milo Ventimiglia Birthday Special: 5 of Jack Pearsons Most Tearjerking 'This Is Us' Quotes About Family and Love.

Coming back to Ventimiglia, he is widely known for playing family man Jack Pearson on NBC's 'This Is Us' for the past six seasons. The series is currently in the midst of its sixth and final season, which wraps up with the show finale on May 24. While 'The Company You Keep' marks the Emmy-nominated actor's first leading venture in his post-Jack era, he recently filmed a guest-starring role on the fourth season of 'The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel'.

The appearance reunited him with the show's creator Amy Sherman-Palladino, who also created 'Gilmore Girls', where Ventimiglia played Jess, the boyfriend of Alexis Bledel's Rory. Ventimiglia has also starred in films such as 'Rocky Balboa', 'The Art of Racing in the Rain', and 'Pathology'.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Three buses organised by the Government of India reached Pisochyn

Kyiv [Ukraine], March 5 (ANI): Three buses arranged by the Government of India have reached Pisochyn and will shortly be making their way westwards, said the Indian Embassy in Ukraine on Saturday.

The embassy added that more buses will be arriving soon, amid the ongoing crisis.

Also Read | Ukrainian FM Dmytro Kuleba Urges European Nations to Close All Their Ports for Russian Ships.

"3 buses organised by GoI have reached Pisochyn and will shortly be making their way westwards. 2 more buses will be arriving soon. Safe travels to all our students," India in Ukraine tweeted.

Meanwhile, External Affairs said on Friday that over 20,000 Indians have left Ukraine since our first travel advisory was issued.

Also Read | Ukraine Claims 10,000 Russians Killed Since Beginning of War.

During a daily briefing on Friday, the official spokesperson of MEA Arindam Bagchi said that there are more people, but it's reassuring to see that these many people have left Ukraine.

"Over 20,000 Indians have left the Ukraine borders since we issued our advisories. There are more people, but it's reassuring to see that these many people have left Ukrainian borders," he said.

"During the 24 hours, 18 flights have landed in India with around 4,000 Indians on board. The total number of flights that have landed have been 48, carrying 10348 Indians," he said.

He mentioned that sixteen flights were scheduled for the next 24 hours including Indian Air Force's C-17 aircraft.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, yesterday chaired a meeting to discuss the ongoing evacuation drive of Indian nationals and the situation in conflict-hit Ukraine.

The government has also deployed 'special envoys' to four neighbouring countries bordering Ukraine to coordinate and oversee the evacuation process of Indian nationals.

Russian forces launched military operations in Ukraine on February 24, three days after Moscow recognized Ukraine's breakaway regions - Donetsk and Luhansk - as independent entities. (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
San Juan (Puerto Rico), Mar 5 (AP) Last week, phones across Puerto Rico began to ring as members of a private WhatsApp group dedicated to helping others in the US territory stared at their screens in disbelief.

The businessman they knew as administrator of that chat  someone who organised philanthropic efforts such as a Christmas toy drive for needy children and renovations for an elementary school  had just been arrested.

Also Read | NATO Countries Sending Terrorist Fighters to Ukraine, Warns Russian Intelligence Service.

Conor Vincent D'Monte, who went by Johnny Williams in Puerto Rico, was allegedly a leader of a violent gang sought by Canadian authorities on charges including first-degree murder. He had been on the run for more than a decade.

It's like a Netflix story, said Antonio Torres, chief deputy US marshal for the district of Puerto Rico.

Also Read | India Urges Ukraine, Russia to Announce Ceasefire for Evacuation of Indian Nationals.

Authorities don't know exactly when D'Monte, 44, arrived in Puerto Rico, but they believe he had been using the alias Johnny Williams for a while.

The 6-foot, 1-inch fugitive settled into a rural, eastern mountain community near El Yunque rainforest, living in a working-class neighbourhood on a street with no name, Torres said.

Every month, D'Monte would accompany employees of a nonprofit organisation known as Karma Honey Project to a farmer's market in the nearby city of Carolina, said a woman who lived in the same community and sold goods next to his stall. She declined to give her name out of fear.

No one knew anything, she said, adding that she remembers his quiet demeanour the most. We were surprised.

Others who met D'Monte said they were struck by his charisma, good looks, and biological knowledge about bees, adding that he was a frequent name-dropper who easily made connections with Puerto Rico's wealthiest residents. He didn't like having his picture taken but didn't make any effort to hide.

He even met with Puerto Rico's agriculture secretary and a local senator and was invited to the governor's mansion last month for his role in trying to save honeybees after Hurricane Maria as part of his involvement with the Karma Honey Project, a nonprofit company created in February 2019. Its president, Candice Galek, is a Miami entrepreneur and former model. Neither Galek nor her company returned messages for comment.

The guy fooled us all, said a Puerto Rican businessman who asked that his name not be used out of fear.

He said he met D'Monte in the early days of the pandemic after being added to his WhatsApp group, and that D'Monte was known as Johnny Teeth, because his teeth were so white and straight. The businessman described D'Monte as a tremendous sales guy who was very jovial.

It struck me that he didn't have Facebook or any of those things because he truly was a great networker, the businessman said, adding that D'Monte once called him asking if he could borrow a hammer since he was helping repair a school.

D'Monte remains in federal prison in Puerto Rico as he awaits an extradition process. His public defense attorney declined comment, but she noted in a court hearing on Thursday that D'Monte, who has Canadian and Irish citizenship, requested that the consulates of those countries be notified.

It's unclear why D'Monte chose Puerto Rico or if he knew anyone in the US territory.

He is accused in the killing of a rival gang member at a Vancouver strip mall in February 2009, at a time when that part of British Columbia was experiencing one of the worst gang violence outbreaks in its history, according to a police statement.

D'Monte also is accused of conspiring to murder two alleged rival gang members known as the Bacon Brothers, according to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.

The United Nations gang that D'Monte allegedly belongs to is considered one of the most powerful ones in British Columbia and is best known for exporting one of the most popular marijuana strains in the US mainland: the B.C. bud.

Anyone thinking that Mr. D'Monte was a street corner hustler, it couldn't be further than the truth, he said. Mr. D'Monte was a fairly sophisticated individual.

McConnell said it's highly unusual for fugitives to be on the run for as long as D'Monte and to successfully assimilate themselves into a community.

D'Monte, who police said has travelled to Asia and allegedly is associated with a drug network in Mexico, was last seen in the Vancouver area in January 2011. He then fled to Spain and travelled up to Ireland where he obtained a fake passport, said Spencer, the retired detective.

He noted that authorities tried to catch D'Monte by monitoring all calls to his daughter's phone every year on her birthday, but that never worked out. That tells you how smart he is. He knows not to do that.

After stopping in Ireland, D'Monte vanished until he reappeared in Puerto Rico more than a decade later.

As D'Monte drove through the popular tourist district of Isla Verde on February 25, the agents closed in.

He acted surprised, Torres said, adding that he didn't resist arrest.

D'Monte was alone, except for a 9mm at his side. (AP)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Phnom Penh [Cambodia], March 5 (ANI): Cambodian Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn is set to travel to Myanmar later this month for a four-day visit for talks with top representatives of the country's military government.

Sokhonn became the ASEAN special envoy after Cambodia assumed this year's chair for the regional grouping.

Also Read | NATO Countries Sending Terrorist Fighters to Ukraine, Warns Russian Intelligence Service.

This will be his first official trip as a special envoy for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), which is scheduled to take place from March 20-23.

Sokhonn is set to inch forward the implementation of ASEAN's Five-Point Consensus peace plan, which reached a special summit last April, The Diplomat magazine reported.

Also Read | India Urges Ukraine, Russia to Announce Ceasefire for Evacuation of Indian Nationals.

This visit comes as the Southeast Asian bloc is seeking to implement a five-point consensus on Myanmar it reached last year stressing dialogue, humanitarian assistance and an end to violence.

Analysts believe that this visit could lead to some progress on the humanitarian front but a genuine cessation of violence and political negotiations - seems unlikely.

Earlier, Sokhonn said that he was seeking permission to meet with representatives of the National Unity Government (NUG), which was set up last year by members of the National League for Democracy (NLD) administration that the military overthrew last February.

Media reports said Myanmar's military has recently given permission for ASEAN's envoy to meet with members of the NLD party. (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Boise (Idaho), Mar 5 (AP) An Idaho man who hit a police officer with a pipe as part of the mob that stormed the US Capitol last year has been sentenced to more than four years in federal prison.

Duke Edward Wilson, a 68-year-old logger from the small city of Nampa, who was convicted Friday, told US District Judge Royce Lamberth that he didn't remember many of his actions.

Also Read | NATO Countries Sending Terrorist Fighters to Ukraine, Warns Russian Intelligence Service.

Prosecutors said he attacked at least three officers in a tunnel in the US Capitol Building on January 6, 2021.

Lamberth said the 51-month sentence  the maximum allowed under federal sentencing guidelines  was necessary because the insurrection was a horrible day for our country.

Also Read | India Urges Ukraine, Russia to Announce Ceasefire for Evacuation of Indian Nationals.

It's a message that the court has to send, that our country cannot deal with that, Lamberth said.

The federal judges overseeing the hundreds of cases against those accused of participating in the insurrection have heard a litany of excuses and expressions of remorse from those convicted during dozens of sentencing held so far.

More than 700 people have been charged with crimes connected to the Capitol siege, and more than 200 of them have pleaded guilty.

Besides Wilson, at least five other defendants have been sentenced for assaulting police and most received prison sentences ranging from 41 to 63 months.

Wilson pleaded guilty last September to assaulting, resisting or impeding officers, and obstructing an official proceeding, both felonies.

In exchange for his plea, federal prosecutors agreed to drop several other related charges.

Wilson and his attorney, Charles Peterson, did not physically appear in court for the sentencing hearing at a Washington, DC federal court and called in to it from Peterson's Boise, Idaho office.

US Capitol Police Sgt. Aquilino Gonell told the judge during the hearing that he is still suffering from the injuries he suffered after Wilson's attack, underwent surgeries to fuse a bone in his foot and to repair his shoulder and may need additional shoulder surgeries.

Prosecutors said Wilson charged a set of doors in the tunnel and prevented officers from closing them, and then tried to rain blows on the officers using a thin PVC pipe that he had apparently found on the ground.

Gonell tried to block the pipe from hitting a fellow officer who had no helmet, he said.

Both my hands were bleeding at that time from blocking, Gonnell said.

He insisted on continuing to fight me to prevent us from closing that door, that would enable him and his fellow insurrectionists to advance in the tunnel and the Capitol as members of Congress and the Senate were being evacuated from the very same route.

But Wilson characterized his actions differently in a written statement given to the court, contending he was swept along by the crowd and was pushed forward toward the doors.

Wilson also claimed he didn't remember the most aggressive of his actions, but acknowledged that he had committed them based on videos from the scene.

It was stupid for me to do something like that, he told the judge.

I made a very bad decision by going in that place that day.

Gonell criticized what he said was Wilson's fake remorse, and said he believes that Wilson would attack the Capitol again if he hears the same rallying cry that he did on January 6.

I remember vividly what happened that day to me, to him, Gonell said.

More than one year later I am still not able to put on my police uniform due to those injuries because of what he did to me and my fellow officers.

Wilson must serve three years of supervised probation after he is released from prison, the judge said.

He will also have to pay restitution that is still being determined for damage to the US Capitol building and to Gonell. (AP)

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Rawalpindi [Pakistan], March 5 (ANI): The recent leak of data from Credit Suisse, an investment banking firm registered in Switzerland which implicated the ex-ISI chief, General Akhtar Abdur Rahman Khan, has again brought to light the extent to which greed and corruption run amok in the Pakistan Army, especially among its Generals, a report said on Friday.

General Rahman had reportedly helped funnel billions of dollars in cash and other aid from the United States and other countries to the mujahedeen in Afghanistan to support their fight against the Soviet Union in the 1980s.

Also Read | NATO Countries Sending Terrorist Fighters to Ukraine, Warns Russian Intelligence Service.

These leaked documents only touch the tip of the iceberg as far as how much the top Generals of the Pakistan Army skimmed in the name of the Holy War against the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan, The Times of Israel said.

The report asserted that the motto of the Pakistan Army officers seems to be 'Greed is Good'. There are innumerable scandals and sordid stories of the financial bungling, bribery, extortion, influence peddling by serving and retired generals for personal profit. There are also reports of their involvement in smuggling rackets and narcotics trafficking.

Also Read | India Urges Ukraine, Russia to Announce Ceasefire for Evacuation of Indian Nationals.

In fact, in the 1990s, then Army Chief Aslam Beg and ISI Chief Asad Durrani proposed to start their own narcotics business to fund the 'jihad' against India and in Afghanistan, as also other parts of the world, the report said, citing a Washington Post article.

It is suspected that many Pakistani generals and bureaucrats have had secret Swiss Bank accounts with some of these accounts getting closed later because the money was either moved elsewhere or invested in business or property, the report said, citing the example of General Rahman's sons who are one of the richest families in Pakistan with vast business interests.

The report enlists several examples of scandals and corrupt deals that the Pakistani Generals have been involved in over the past few years, including running extortion networks and protecting and partaking in smuggling networks in Balochistan, leasing out government properties at extremely low prices and even taking bribes in defence deals.

The corruption reaches the highest levels of the army with former Army Chief General Ashfaq Kiyani's brothers involved in a multi-billion rupee housing scandal in Islamabad.

A Quetta Corps Commander Lt Gen Asim Saleem Bajwa gained notoriety as "General Papa Jones" or "General Pizza" after an expose of how his family had invested tens of millions of dollars in the Papa Jones Pizza chain in the US and his sons were given lucrative contracts when this General was serving as the head of the ISPR. Despite the furore, no action, not even an inquiry was ordered.

The report also highlighted that it is not as if the Generals of Pakistan Army are underpaid and hence incentivised to be corrupt. A three-star general in the Pakistan Army retires as a billionaire in Pakistani rupees as the Pakistani state gives concessional plots, both commercial and residential and also huge grants of agricultural land. Officers of other ranks also get the goodies from the state.

A former army chief Raheel Sharif was allotted over 100 acres of prime agricultural land on the outskirts of Lahore after his retirement. This was in addition to all his other entitlements while another former Chief and Dictator General Pervez Musharraf built nearly 30 properties, including fancy farmhouses, luxury apartments in the Middle East and London, and houses in Karachi and other Pakistani cities, the report says.

The sordidness that exists in the Pakistan Army is no secret. And yet, the Army has painted itself as a knight in shining armour that is ever ready to sacrifice everything for the sake of the country, the report says, adding that the corruption is hardly surprising as the State of Pakistan does not have an army, the Pakistan Army has a State. (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, Mar 5 (AP) President Joe Biden has met with Finland's President Sauli Niinisto with the Fins at a crossroads: Whether to move closer to the rest of Europe and the West by trying to join NATO as neighbouring Russia pummels Ukraine.

Biden said at the start of their meeting on Friday, We agree it's not only an attack on Ukraine, it's an attack on the security of Europe.

Also Read | NATO Countries Sending Terrorist Fighters to Ukraine, Warns Russian Intelligence Service.

The Finnish leader thanked the US for leading in very difficult times. And he added in brief public remarks before the leaders began their private White House meeting, "We will do our best to help Ukraine.

Also Read | India Urges Ukraine, Russia to Announce Ceasefire for Evacuation of Indian Nationals.

Finland, as well as neighbour Sweden, for years has resisted joining NATO, with Nordic European Union members seeking to remain neutral between Russia and the West. But the Russian invasion of Ukraine is changing the dynamic.

A poll commissioned by Finnish broadcaster YLE this week showed that, for the first time, more than 50 per cent of Finns support joining the Western military alliance. In Sweden, a similar poll showed those in favour of NATO membership outnumber those against.

The attack on Ukraine also has prompted Finland and Sweden to break with their policy of not providing arms to countries at war. They have sent assault rifles and anti-tank weapons to Kyiv.

Biden thanked the Finnish president for the country's help for Ukraine.

He said, Finland is a critical partner to the United States, a strong defence partner, a partner to NATO."

Biden joked that when his old boss, President Barack Obama, was in office, Obama would sometimes say leave everything to the Nordic countries to sort out.

Niinisto dryly responded: Well, we usually don't start wars. (AP)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
New York, Mar 6 (AP) UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres says the United Nations is committed to scaling up its humanitarian operations to help both those who have stayed in Ukraine and the millions who have fled.

Guterres relayed the promise to Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba in a phone call on Saturday, UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said.

Also Read | Russia Ends Ceasefire Due to Unwillingness of Ukraine, Says Igor Konashenkov.

____

NEW YORK  Hundreds of people rallied in New York City's Times Square on Saturday to show solidarity with Ukraine.

Also Read | Russia-Ukraine War: Volodymyr Zelenskyy to Address Bipartisan Group of US Senators as Vladimir Putin Warns Over Imposing No-Fly Zone.

Many attendees were waving Ukrainian flags or draped the flag around their shoulders at a demonstration.

Others brought signs decrying Russian President Vladimir Putin or calling for a no-fly zone to be imposed over Ukraine.

About 140,000 people of Ukrainian descent live in New York, making it the largest Ukrainian population in the U.S., according to population data from the federal government.

____

PHOENIX  An Arizona-based ammunition company is offering to donate 1 million bullets to Ukraine's military amid Russia's invasion of its European neighbor.

CEO Fred Wagenhals of AMMO Inc. has said it was his response to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's appeal for international assistance.

There was no immediate indication whether the US government will approve the proposed export of the ammunition, which has a retail of about $700,000, Phoenix television station KSAZ-TV reported.

The company is based in Scottsdale, a Phoenix suburb.

___

MARIUPOL, Ukraine  Doctors relied on light filtering in through windows and emitted from cellphones to tend to wounded Ukrainian soldiers at a hospital in the besieged port city of Mariupol, where a promised cease-fire collapsed.

Dr Evgeniy said the hospital had no power or heat. Patients were lined up in beds along the corridors, and some people were curled up on the floor to protect themselves.

We have some issues with supplies, not enough analgesics, Dubrov said. We've worked more than a week without a break.

A soldier, Svyatoslav Borodin, said a blast blurred his vision, and he thought he might have lost his legs. Another soldier applied a tourniquet.

Scary, he said. Very scary.

______

SIRET, Romania  Romanian President Klaus Iohannis visited a refugee camp in Siret and declared that no Ukrainian would be denied entry to his country.

He pledged food, clothing, transportation and help with personal documents.

It is a situation that no Ukrainian and no Romanian wanted, but we are very determined to deal with it here in Romania, as it should be, Iohannis said.

___

KYIV, Ukraine  The next round of talks between Ukraine and Russia will be held on Monday, Ukrainian official Davyd Arakhamia has said.

Arakhamia is head of the parliamentary faction of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's Servant of the People party and a member of Ukraine's delegation at the talks.

Monday's will be the third round of talks as the two sides try to negotiate a cease-fire and safe passage corridors for civilians.

___

LVIV, Ukraine  Russian forces have now seized two Ukrainian nuclear power plants and are advancing toward a third, Ukraine's president said during a call with US senators.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Saturday the third plant currently under threat is the Yuzhnoukrainsk nuclear power plant, located 120 kilometers (75 miles) north of Mykolaiv, one of several cities the Russians were trying to keep encircled Saturday.

One of the plants under the Russians' control is the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant in the southeastern city of Enerhodar, the biggest nuclear power plant in Europe. The other is Chernobyl, which is not active but is still staffed and maintained. Previous Russian shelling sparked a fire at the Zaporizhzhia plant that was extinguished without a release of radiation.

_________

WASHINGTON  Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has urged US lawmakers to sanction Russia's oil and gas sector and suspend credit card access, and backed an idea to ban Russian oil imports to the US that's been gaining support in Congress.

Sen. Lindsey Graham, a Republican from South Carolina, said Zelenskyy emphasized during a private call Saturday with the U.S. lawmakers that the energy sector needs to be sanctioned.

Anything that could hurt the Russian economy will help the Ukrainian people and may make this war more difficult for Russian President Vladimir Putin, Graham said in a video. (AP)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Seoul [South Korea], March 5 (ANI): North Korea fired an unidentified projectile, appearing to be a ballistic missile, towards the East Sea on Saturday, said a media report citing South Korea's military.

Notably, the ninth missile launch conducted by Pyongyang this year comes just four days ahead of the Presidential election in South Korea on March 9, Yonhap news agency reported.

Also Read | Russia-Ukraine War Live Updates: Russia Restricts Twitter; Ukrainian Port City Mariupol 'Blockaded' by Russian Forces, Says Mayor.

"Currently, our military is tracking and monitoring (North Korean) movements regarding the possibility of an additional launch and maintaining a readiness posture," the news agency quoted South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) in its report.

The launch comes merely a week after North Korea had test-fired a ballistic missile that it claimed was a "reconnaissance satellite" development test.

Also Read | Russia-Ukriane War: 'Jihadists, Mercenaries From Third Countries Fighting Ukraine War', Says Vladimir Putin.

As many as nine missile tests since the start of this year have raised concerns that North Korea would continue to engage in provocative acts as it made a veiled threat in January to lift its self-imposed hiatus on nuclear and intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) tests since late 2017, according to the media outlet.

Meanwhile, the Japanese government has also voiced a protest over the missile test conducted by North Korea, Sputnik reported citing Japan's Defense Minister Nobuo Kishi. (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
CAIRO, March 2 (Xinhua) -- Egypt's Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation Mohamed Abdel-Aty held talks in Cairo with visiting European Union's special envoy for the Horn of Africa Annette Weber on the developments of Ethiopia's grand dam built on the Nile River.

During the meeting, the two officials discussed the current situation of tripartite negotiations between Egypt, Sudan, and their upstream counterpart Ethiopia regarding the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), said the Egyptian Water Ministry in a statement on Wednesday.

Abdel-Aty highlighted "the great flexibility shown by Egypt during the various stages of negotiation due to its desire to reach an agreement and build confidence," according to the statement.

He added that achieving cooperation requires "political will and seriousness" on the part of Ethiopia to reach an agreement regarding the filling and operation of the GERD.

The Egyptian minister stressed that "reaching an agreement on the GERD would pave the way for achieving regional cooperation and integration."

For her part, Weber said the EU seeks to advance negotiations regarding the Ethiopian dam with a bid to reach an agreement that satisfies all parties and guarantees the stability and development of all concerned countries.

The EU envoy urged reaching a tripartite agreement that would also meet the requirements of regional integration through the interconnection between water and energy, infrastructure and trade in light of climate change.

Ethiopia started building the dam in 2011, while Egypt is concerned it might affect its 55.5-billion-cubic-meter annual share of the Nile water and Sudan is also worried about its 18.5-billion-cubic-meter annual share.

Decade-long tripartite negotiations failed to reach an agreement regulating the filling and operation of the dam, including those mediated by the United States and the African Union.

In February, Ethiopia announced it began operation of the first two turbines of its multi-billion-dollar hydropower dam to generate electricity. Egypt, in response, sent a new letter to the United Nations Security Council to protest the move. 
Bratislava [Slovakia], March 5 (ANI): Union Minister Kiren Rijiju, who is currently in Slovakia as a part of Operation Ganga, on Friday called on the prime minister of the Slovak Republic and conveyed Prime Minister Narendra Modi's message of gratitude for the help extended in evacuating of Indian nationals from Ukraine.

"Called on Prime Minister of Slovak Republic HE @eduardheger and conveyed Prime Minister @narendramodi Ji's message, and expressed gratitude for the critical help extended in evacuating back to India the Indian nationals who have come from Ukraine," Kiren Rijiju tweeted.

Also Read | NATO Countries Sending Terrorist Fighters to Ukraine, Warns Russian Intelligence Service.

On Thursday, Rijiju had interacted with Indian students there and assured them that the government is ensuring their safe return to India.

As many as 20,000 Indians have left Ukraine since the embassy issued its first travel advisory.

Also Read | India Urges Ukraine, Russia to Announce Ceasefire for Evacuation of Indian Nationals.

Addressing the special briefing on Operation Ganga, External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi on Friday said that there are more people left in Ukraine.

"During the 24 hours, 18 flights have landed in India with around 4,000 Indians on board. The total number of flights that have landed have been 48, carrying 10348 Indians," Bagchi said.

UN humanitarians on Friday described as "unprecedented," the continuing outflow of children and families fleeing the "relentless shelling" of Russian military action in Ukraine - as they await assurances for the safe passage of relief teams to provide urgently needed assistance.

"500,000 children have been forced to flee their homes in just seven days... unprecedented in scale and speed," James Elder, spokesperson for the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF), said via video link from Lviv in western 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)
Kabul [Afghanistan], March 5 (ANI): Sirajuddin Haqqani, the acting head of Taliban's Interior Ministry, who is on the UN sanctions list as well as FBI wanted terrorist, was seen in front of media for the first time on Saturday in a graduation ceremony from the police academy.

Sirajuddin Haqqani is wanted for questioning in connection with the January 2008 attack on a hotel in Kabul, Afghanistan, that killed six people, including an American citizen. He is believed to have coordinated and participated in cross-border attacks against the United States and coalition forces in Afghanistan. Haqqani also allegedly was involved in the planning of the assassination attempt on Afghan President Hamid Karzai in 2008, reported the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Also Read | Russia Welcomes Indias Independent Foreign Policy, Its Influence in International Arena, Says Envoy Denis Alipov.

Taking to Twitter, Payk Media, an Afghanistan-based media outlet, wrote, "Sirajuddin Haqqani, the acting head of the #Taliban's Interior Ministry, appeared in front of the media for the first time on Saturday at a graduation ceremony from the police academy. He is on the UN sanctions list as well as the US award list."

Sirajuddin is strongly associated with the Taliban, which provides him funding for his operations. He also receives funding from various other groups and individuals, including drug lords. He is a key conduit for terrorist operations in Afghanistan and supporting activities in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas of Pakistan, as per the UN.

Also Read | Ukrainian FM Dmytro Kuleba Urges European Nations to Close All Their Ports for Russian Ships.

He is actively involved in the planning and execution of attacks targeting International Security Assistance Forces (ISAF), Afghan officials and civilians, mainly in the eastern and southern regions of Afghanistan. He also regularly recruits and sends fighters into the Khost, Paktia and Paktika Provinces in Afghanistan, as per the UN. (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, March 5: As the Russian military operation in Ukraine entered the tenth day today, Russian President Vladimir Putin on Saturday said any country trying to impose a no-fly zone over Kyiv would be a party to the military conflict. On the other hand, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will address the bipartisan group of US senators.

"We will immediately consider them as participants in a military conflict, and it doesn't matter members of which organizations they are," Putin said in a meeting with flight crewmembers of Russian national airlines, CNN reported.

Russia-Ukraine War: Any Country Trying to Impose No-Fly Zone Over Ukraine Will be Considered a Participant in the Conflict, Says Vladimir Putin.

"It is impossible to do it, on the very territory of Ukraine, it's possible only from the territory of some neighbouring states. But any movement in this direction will be considered by us as participation in an armed conflict," he added.

Meanwhile, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said that Volodymyr Zelenskyy is trying to provoke a conflict between Russia and NATO.

Also Read | Russia Welcomes Indias Independent Foreign Policy, Its Influence in International Arena, Says Envoy Denis Alipov.

"I have a question. If he (Zelenskyy) is so upset that NATO did not step up for him as he hoped, it means that he did hope for the conflict's resolution through the involvement of NATO in this whole affair, rather than by negotiating," Lavrov told a briefing.

Following it, Russian flag carrier Aeroflot halted all international flights from March 8, reported The Moscow Times on Saturday citing news agencies.

Russia's Defense Ministry announced a ceasefire today to allow civilians in the port city of Mariupol and the town of Volnovakha for facilitating the evacuation of civilians.

Ukraine's Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba called on the European countries to close all their ports for the Russian ships amid the heightened tensions in Ukraine.

The Ukrainian Embassy in Washington extended an invitation to Democratic and Republican US senators to attend a Zoom meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Saturday amid the ongoing Ukraine-Russia conflict.

The meeting which includes the bipartisan group of US senators and Zelenskyy is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. ET Saturday, according to one of the sources, reported CNN News.

Moreover, Zelenskyy spoke with the Prime Minister of Australia Scott Morrison and discussed the ongoing invasion of Ukraine by Russia and the threat to Ukrainian nuclear facilities. He thanked Morrison for defence and humanitarian support.

Earliar today Russia declared a ceasefire in Ukraine for opening up humanitarian corridors for civilians to be evacuated.

"Today, March 5, from 10 am Moscow time, the Russian side declares a regime of silence and opens humanitarian corridors for the exit of civilians from Mariupol and Volnovakha," Sputnik news agency reported citing the Russian defence ministry.

According to the ministry, the opening up of the corridors would enable residents of the cities of Mariupol and Volnovakha, including the strategic port town of Mariupol, to evacuate.

"Russia Declares Ceasefire in Ukraine From 06:00 GMT to Open Humanitarian Corridors for Civilians," tweeted Sputnik.

Moscow recognized Ukraine's breakaway regions - Donetsk and Luhansk - as independent entitiesMeanwhile, Ukraine plans to hold the third round of talks with Russian officials to try to end the fighting triggered by Moscow's invasion this weekend, said one of Kyiv's negotiators.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Kyiv, March 5: Ukraine's Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba on Saturday called on the European countries to close all their ports for the Russian ships amid the heightened tensions in Ukraine.

Taking to Twitter, Kuleba said, "Help us stop Putin. Close all European ports for Russian ships. The time to act is now."

Also Read | Ukraine Claims 10,000 Russians Killed Since Beginning of War.

In a separate tweet, Ukraine's Ministry of Defence shared a video of a shot-down aircraft falling from the sky adding, "Just on the outskirts of Chernihiv, air defence specialists shot down another enemy attack aircraft!"

Earlier, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said that Turkey has also warned all coastal and non-coastal countries it would not allow warships through its straits Bosporus and the Dardanelles as a part of the Montreux Convention adopted in 1936.

Also Read | Russia Declares Temporary Ceasefire in Ukrainian Cities of Mariupol and Volnovakha for Evacuation of Civilians.

"We warned all riparian and non-riparian countries not to let warships go through the straits," Cavusoglu told reporters, as quoted by the Anadolu agency. "To date, there has been no request for passage through the straits."

The Montreux Convention was adopted in 1936. It ensures the freedom of passage through the straits for merchant ships both in times of peace and war, but regulations may differ by country.

The document also limits the period of stay in the Black Sea of warships of non-Black Sea states to three weeks. In emergency situations, Turkey has the right to prohibit or restrict the passage of military ships through the Bosporus and the Dardanelles.

Russia launched a military operation against Ukraine on February 26, 2022.

This comes at a time when tensions have escalated between Russia and Ukraine after Russian President Vladimir Putin announced the recognition of the independence of two Ukraine breakaway regions.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Kyiv, March 5: Volodymyr Zelenskyy had attempted to use provocations at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) in order to convince Western countries to establish a no-fly zone over Ukraine, Ukrainian Former Prime Minister Mykola Azarov has told Sputnik.

On Friday, the Russian Defense Ministry said that Ukrainian authorities attempted a provocation overnight by accusing Russia of creating a source of radioactive contamination at the Zaporizhzhia NPP. While patrolling the area adjacent to the station, a group of the Russian National Guard was attacked by a Ukrainian sabotage unit who opened fire on them from the windows of several floors of an educational and training complex located outside the NPP. The firing points of the Ukrainian sabotage group were suppressed by return fire. Russia Declares Temporary Ceasefire in Ukrainian Cities of Mariupol and Volnovakha for Evacuation of Civilians.

"Of course, it was a deliberate provocation because, first of all, no sane Russian or Ukrainian soldier would ever dare to carry out this sort of provocation on the territory of Europe's largest nuclear power plant, which has six nuclear power units," Azarov said.

He noted that "even a minor fire at the training and retraining centre was still an emergency situation at such a supercategory nuclear facility."

"So, firstly, it is absolutely obvious that this was a well-considered provocation. Secondly, Zelenskyy's instant reaction which was at night and his instant message to the Americans and to the United Kingdom with absolutely false information itself show that this was a prepared provocation, which he was aware of, because he used this provocation to create a no-fly zone over Ukraine," Azarov concluded.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Lucknow, March 5: 54 seats in 9 districts will be up for grabs in the seventh phase in Uttar Pradesh Assembly Elections 2022 as the state gears up for the voting on Monday , March 7. Election campaigns of all parties will end at 5 pm on Sunday.

The districts going to polls are Azamgarh, Mau, Jaunpur, Ghazipur, Chandauli, Varanasi, Bhadohi, Mirzapur and Sonbhadra.

Prime Minster Narendra Modis personal connection with Varanasi, along with his larger Hindutva and backward caste identity, had worked well for the BJP in 2017. In the capacity of being the Member of Parliament from Varanasi, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been probably the single biggest influence in the region since the 2014 general election. The partys performance in the region is also linked to the impact of Brand Modi.

Here are 5 important contests to watch out for in Phase 7 of the Uttar Pradesh Assembly Elections 2022.

Zahoorabad

In Zahoorabad, an assembly seat in Ghazipur district, BJPs former ally Om Prakash Rajbhar is against BJPs Kalicharan Rajbhar in 2022.

In 2017, Om Prakash had contested on a BJP ticket and defeated Kalicharan Rajbhar by 18,081 votes. He then contested on a BSP ticket. But the contest in Zahoorabad is not two-sided. It is a triple contest as former SP minister Sayeda Shadab Fatima has filed her nomination on a BSP ticket this time. Uttar Pradesh Assembly Elections 2022: Only BJP Will Be Visible in UP After March 10, Says Yogi Adityanath

In 2012, Sayeda won the seat on an SP ticket. She enjoys popular support among the people as a lot of developmental work was done under her watch from 2012-2017. In 2017, however, she did not contest the elections.

In the 2022 assembly elections, the three candidates have underlined political opportunism. Sayeda who was an SP minister is now contesting on a BSP ticket. Om Prakash Rajbhar who contested as an ally of BJP in 2017 has switched over to the SP in 2022; while Kalicharan Rajbhar who won the seat 2002 and 2007 on a BSP ticket has now in 2022 moved to the BJP.

MUGHALSARAI

The Mughalsarai seat in Chandauli district will see a new BJP candidate Ramesh Jaiswal in 2022. In 2017, BJPs Sadhna Singh had won the seat but was denied the ticket this time. Sadhna though has not spoken on this issue but a few days back at a college program in Jhansi, the incumbent MLA shed some tears when she took the stage.

On the other hand, Jaiswal is a wealthy merchant in the Galla Mandi in Mughalsarai and enjoys affluent support from the traders. Along with his family, he has been a BJP worker for years now. The strategy of the BJP in Mughalsarai is to get the OBC, Brahmin and the support of traders association, which Jaiswal has strong links with.

Jaiswal is up against SPs Chandra Sekhar Yadav, Congresss Chhabbu Patel and AAPs Sajjad Ansari. Uttar Pradesh Assembly Elections 2022: 'Pariwarwadi' Parties Still Stuck in Old Alliances With Mafias, Says PM Narendra Modi

In all, the fight in the last phase of UP elections 2022 will be a formidable test for the allies of SP and BJP. Phase 7 of the UP polls are on March 7, followed by the results on March 10.

Rohania

The Rohania seat in Varanasi is important because it is a strong turf for BJP ally Apna Dal (Sonelal) led by Union minister Anupriya Patel. In 2017, BJPs Surendra Narayan Singh won the seat. But in 2022, Apna Dal fielded its state vice-president of the party Sunil Patel from this seat. In 2017, Apna Dal contested on 11 seats but in 2022, the party is contesting on 17 seats in UP elections.

The seat has a large number of Patel voters that makes it a strong Apna Dal seat. In fact, out of eight districts of Varanasi, 3 seats; Sewapuri, Rohania and Pindara have large number of Patel voters. Thereby, Anupriya Patel bargained for this seat with the BJP.

Moreover, BSP, SP and Congress too have pitched Patel candidates in Rohania to get the Patel votes. While SP seeks to get the Patel, Yadav, Muslim votes, the BSP banks on Jatav, Brahmin and Patel votes too.

Mau Sadar

A very interesting batte in the seventh phase is the one in Mau Sadar in Ghazipur district, where Purvanchal don Mukhtar Ansaris son Abbas Ansari is marking his debut on his fathers traditional seat, on an SBSP ticket. Abbas had in 2017 also contested on a BSP ticket from Ghosi, but lost to BJPs Fagu Chauhan.

This is also the first time since 1996 that Purvanchal Baahubhali Mukhtar Ansari is not contesting the seat. Mukhtar has won the seat five times in a row since 1996. In 2017 too, while being in jail, Mukhtar contested on a Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP ticket) and won the seat. He defeated SBSP's Mahedra Rajbhar by 8,698 votes.

Though it was said that Om Prakash Rajbhar wanted Mukhtar Ansari to contest from the seat, SP supremo Akhilesh Yadav was not in favour. Yadav was apprehensive of Mukhtars political contest from Mau being used by the BJP towards pushing SP's links with the gangster.

This is one of the reasons why Mukhtar had to step back and pitch his son for the seat. At present, the Ghazipur MLA from the seat is lodged at Banda jail.

Abbas is up against BJPs Ashok Singh and BSPs Bheem Rajbhar. UP CM Yogi Aditynath held rallies in Mau where he chided Ansaris hooliganism in the region.

Varanasi South

UP Tourism, Culture and Religious Affairs Minister Neelkanth Tiwari, who had in his Facebook Live address sought apology from his constituency voters.

Neelknath had won the Varanasi South seat in 2017. He had defeated former Congress MP Rajesh Mishra by around 17,000 votes. He was allowed to contest over BJP's former seven-time winner from this seat, Shayamdev Rau Choudhri.

Since the margin was so narrow in 2017, the opposition is banking on a high volt contest in Varanasi South this time. SP has pitched Mahamritunjay Mandir priest, Mahant Pujari Kishan Dixit against Neelkanth this time.

Also, the constituency has around 1 lakh Muslim voters which form a good base for SP in Varanasi south. The other groups are Brahmins (60,000) Yadavs (20,000) Baniya (90,000), Punjabi (10,000) Dalit (10,000), Mallah (25,000) and Gujarati (5,000).

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Mar 05, 2022 03:28 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
Amid Russias military operation in Ukraine, Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi on March 5 urged Ukraine and Russia for immediate ceasefire so evacuation of Indians can be done smoothly. MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said that Indian students have been advised to stay inside shelters and avoid unnecessary risks.

See Tweet:

We are deeply concerned about Indian students in Sumy, Ukraine. Have strongly pressed Russian and Ukrainian governments through multiple channels for an immediate ceasefire to create a safe corridor for our students.  Arindam Bagchi (@MEAIndia) March 5, 2022

(SocialLY brings you all the latest breaking news, viral trends and information from social media world, including Twitter, Instagram and Youtube. The above post is embeded directly from the user's social media account and LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body. The views and facts appearing in the social media post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY, also LatestLY does not assume any responsibility or liability for the same.)
Washington, March 5: After seven-year of space odyssey, a three-tonne piece of Chinese rocket debris slammed into the Moon, creating a 65 feet wide crater on the lunar surface, the media reported. According to experts, the event took place at 7:25 a.m. EST on the lunar far side, on Friday, Space.com reported. As a result, NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter could not get a look at the crash.

"We certainly have an interest in finding the impact crater and will attempt to do so over the coming weeks and months," John Keller, the deputy project scientist for the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter mission, emailed to The Verge in a statement. "We will not be near the impact site when it takes place so we won't be able to directly observe it. The onboard narrow-angle cameras have sufficient resolution to detect the crater but the Moon is full of fresh impact craters, so positive identification is based on before and after images under similar lighting conditions, he added. Mysterious Rocket Part To Crash Into Moon; Here's All You Need To Know.

The doomed space debris was first reported by Bill Gray, an astronomer running Project Pluto. In his blogpost, Gray first claimed that the debris is from billionaire Elon Musk owned SpaceX rocket. But later Gray predicted that the object is a leftover piece of a Chinese rocket, specifically a Long March 3C that launched China's Chang'e 5-T1 mission to the Moon. But China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs rejected the claim, Space News reported.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Mar 05, 2022 02:04 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
Kabul, March 5: The Taliban government in Afghanistan have urged civilians to handover government property, including weapons, as house-to-house searches continued in Kabul and neighbouring provinces, the media reported.

In a statement, Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid said to prevent further continuation of the ongoing searches, termed by the regime as "clean-up operations", it would be better if people voluntarily handed over all government property, reports Khaama Press. Ahmad Massoud and Taliban Agree to Not Fight Until Next Round of Talks.

"The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA) asks all Afghans to hand over weapons, government property, and illegal items and share information about kidnappers and thieves before the searching teams reach out to their houses. We ask people to cooperate with the IEA and voluntarily hand over weapons," he was quoted as saying.

The searches were launched by the IEA last week. Friday was the eighth day of the raids, TOLO News reported. A spokesman for the Kabul security department, Khalid Zadran, said that the Taliban forces had seized military equipment from houses in Kabul.

"Hundreds light and heavy weapons were seized in these clearing operations. In PD2 of (Kabul city) we detected six Humvees," he said. Earlier the IEA in a statement said that seven Humvees were seized from a residence in PD2. According to some reports, the house-to-house raids began in the northern provinces of Balkh and Faryab.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Mar 05, 2022 11:32 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
Moscow, March 5: Russia on Saturday declared a temporary ceasefire in the two southern Ukrainian cities of Mariupol and Volnovakha to facilitate the evacuation of civilians via humanitarian corridors, the Defence Ministry in Moscow announced. The ceasefire went into effect from 10 a.m. (about 1.30 p.m. IST), reports Xinhua news agency.

As was agreed by the Ukrainian side, the humanitarian corridors will allow the exit of civilians from the two cities, the Ministry said, without disclosing how many days the ceasefire will remain in place. Russia-Ukraine War: Moscow Declares Ceasefire in Mariupol, Volnovakha To Open Civilian Evacuation Corridors.

During their second round of peace talks on Thursday, Russian and Ukrainian negotiators agreed on the establishment of humanitarian corridors for the exit of civilians and on a temporary cessation of hostilities along the evacuation routes.

In Ukraine, head of the Donetsk region's military administration, Pavlo Kirilenko has confirmed the temporary ceasefire and said that his administration is currently working on the details of the evacuation, the BBC reported.

Meanwhile, the Mariupol City Council said the ceasefire will last from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and evacuations started at 11 a.m. It added that the route of the corridor is from Mariupol to Zaporizhzhia, a city to the west. The Council further said that buses will leave three locations in the city, and private transport will also be allowed to travel along the designated route.

While it urged drivers to make full use of all the space they have in their vehicles, the Council said that travelling away from the agreed route is strictly forbidden, the BBC reported.

In response to the ceasefire announcement which came on the 10th day of Russian invasion of Ukraine, Mariupol Mayor Vadym Boichenko said in a statement: "Mariupol is not streets and houses... It is its residents. "Under the conditions of constant, ruthless shelling from the occupiers, there is no other choice but to give residents...the opportunity to safely leave Mariupol."

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Mar 05, 2022 03:32 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
BEIJING, March 5 (Xinhua) -- In optimizing the structure of government spending, China will provide priority support for key projects that have been included in the 14th Five-Year Plan and specific plans in key areas, according to a draft budget report submitted to China's top legislature on Saturday.

The country will practice an appropriate degree of advance investment for infrastructure projects, and increase support for major regional development strategies and in areas including scientific and technological advancement, ecological and environmental protection, basic public wellbeing, and modern agriculture, read the draft report.

The document shows that expenditures in the central general public budget are projected to be 13.4 trillion yuan (about 2.12 trillion U.S. dollars), with a yearly increase of 14.3 percent, and expenditures in the local general public budget are projected at 23.1 trillion yuan, up 8.9 percent.

The budgeted national spending on education is expected to increase by 10.6 percent, the budgeted national expenditure on science and technology will grow 7.2 percent, and the planned national defense spending will increase by 7.1 percent year on year, read the report. 
New Delhi, March 5: The official representative of the Russian Defense Ministry, Igor Konashenkov, said that due to the unwillingness of the Ukrainian side to influence the nationalists or extend the silence period, offensive operations have been resumed.

"Due to the unwillingness of the Ukrainian side to influence the nationalists or extend the 'silence regime', offensive operations have been resumed," Konashenkov said, RT reported. Russia-Ukraine War: Any Country Trying to Impose No-Fly Zone Over Ukraine Will be Considered a Participant in the Conflict, Says Vladimir Putin.

According to him, the nationalist battalions took advantage of the "silence regime" to regroup and strengthen their positions.

Russia had announced a silence regime so that civilians in Mariupol and Volnovakha could use the humanitarian corridors.

The Russian army took control of a military base near Kherson, the Ukrainian military "left their positions in a hurry", leaving their positions with equipment, weapons and ammunition, the Russian Defense Ministry said.

"Russian military personnel took control of the military base of the armed forces of Ukraine near the village of Radensk in Kherson region. The Ukrainian military left their positions in a hurry, leaving the base with equipment, weapons and ammunition," the ministry said.

Among the trophies discovered were Ukrainian T-64 and T-80 tanks, as well as armored personnel carriers and infantry fighting vehicles, and Ural vehicles.

Presumably, various units were trained at this base, including marines, sappers, signalmen, tankers and artillerymen. In total, about 4,000 people could be accommodated at the base.

Konashenkov said that the troops of the Lugansk and Donetsk People's Republics took control of eight new settlements.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Mar 05, 2022 11:54 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
Brussels, March 5: Without giving a specific timeline, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said that Ukraine can "absolutely" win the ongoing war against Russia and praised the "extraordinary resilience" of the Ukrainian people. Blinken made the remarks during an interview with the BBC on Friday night following a meeting with his European Union (EU)counterparts in Brussels.

When asked if he was convinced that Ukraine would win the war, Blinken said: "Over time, absolutely. I can't tell you how long this will go on. I can't tell you how long it will take. But the idea that Russia can subjugate to its will 45 million people who are ardently fighting for their future and their freedom, that does not involve Russia having its thumb on Ukraine, that tells you a lot." Russia-Ukraine War Live Updates: 14 Cargo Planes Carrying Military Aid Land Near Ukrainian Border; Samsung Suspends Product Shipment to Russia.

Despite his optimism, the Secretary of State also expressed concerns over further escalation of the ongoing situation. "It's something we care about and are focused on because the only thing worse than a war which is contained to Ukraine is one that escalates even further and goes beyond it," he told the BBC.

He warned that Russian forces were using "increasingly brutal" methods against civilians in Ukraine, and that there had been tremendous human suffering as a result. "We're seeing Russia go after critical infrastructure that's denying Ukrainians water, denying them electricity, denying them heat," he said.

"Those methods are, unfortunately, tragically, part of the Russian playbook under President (Vladimir) Putin. And I think we're likely to see more of that." Asked if the US would seek a change in Moscow's leadership to bring an end to the invasion, he replied: "We don't seek that, and in any event it's not up to us. The Russian people need to decide their leadership.

"What I would say to the Russian people is: How in the world is this war of aggression... advancing your interests, your needs?" Since Russia's invasion began on February 24, Ukrainian forces have continued with a stiff resistance against Moscow's advances.

However, Russian troops on Friday captured the the Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant, the largest in Europe, where a fire had erupted earlier in the day due to shelling.

The previous day, the port city of Kherson was also seized by Russian forces, becoming the first city to fall. In the south, Russian forces captured areas along the Black Sea coast, and the port city of Mariupol remained surrounded. In Kharkiv, the country's second largest city, has also remained under siege.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Mar 05, 2022 11:43 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
When old soldiers who fought in the Abraham Lincoln Brigade during the Spanish Civil War are called onstage to be recognized during a 50th anniversary commemoration Sunday afternoon at the Berkeley Community Theater, Marion Merriman Wachtel, 76, will take her rightful place among her compadres.

Wachtel--then 27-year-old Cpl. Marion Merriman--was the only American woman to serve as a member of the battalion in the International Brigades, opting to be by the side of the husband she adored, Robert Hale Merriman, the first combat commander of the Abraham Lincoln Brigade, who was to give his life for the cause of the Spanish Loyalists.

Widowed for Second Time

After all these years, Wachtel, who is widowed for the second time and for 32 years has lived in a book-filled house in Palo Alto, has decided to tell their story in a biography written in collaboration with Warren Lerude, a Pulitzer Prize-winning former newspaperman now teaching journalism at the University of Nevada in Reno.

Their book is American Commander in Spain (University of Nevada Press: $16.95) and Marion Merriman, the name she chose to use as co-author, has dedicated the book to Merriman, A giant among men, a fighter who chose his enemies carefully--and who fought to the death for a better world.

This war, which began in July of 1936, was Ernest Hemingways war, too; he covered it as a correspondent and, later, wrote passionately about it in his novel, For Whom the Bell Tolls. Robert Hale Merriman is believed by many, among them John Kenneth Galbraith, who was a graduate student at UC Berkeley along with Merriman, to be the model for the hero of that novel, Robert Jordan. Galbraith has called Merriman the bravest of our contemporaries. . . . 

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Hemingway Account

From the front, in September, 1937, Hemingway wrote: Robert Merriman, a former California university professor . . . was leader in the final assault. Unshaven, his face smoke-blackened, his men tell how he bombed his way forward, wounded six times slightly by hand-grenade splinters in the hands and face, but refusing to have his wounds dressed until the cathedral was taken. . . . 

Merriman, whose only military credentials were college ROTC and a second lieutenants commission in the Army Reserve, was an unlikely soldier. Martha Gellhorn, writing from Spain for Colliers, described him: There was dust on his glasses and he had very white teeth. He was a big man, but shy and stiff, and his voice made you want to call him professor. 

Others--some who fought in that war--have written of its bloody battles; Marion Merriman has written a poignant love story. It begins in 1928 at the University of Nevada. Fifty-one years later, she made a sentimental journey to the semi-arid hills of Aragon in northeastern Spain--where she believes Merriman was fatally shot--to find a final connection and, with it, some peace of mind.

It is almost certain that she will never know how, or where, he died, but she is not obsessed with finding out. I feel hes part of the dust of Spain, she said, which is the way it should be. I dont want him locked up in the ground.

Marion Merriman had thought several times of writing this book but, she said, It was just too difficult. Id get so far and Id block. I was afraid Id crack up, it was so intense. I just couldnt do it.

Indeed, it was farthest from her mind when, about four years ago, she received a telephone call from Lerude; Robert Laxalt, then director of the University of Nevada press (and brother of Nevada Sen. Paul Laxalt) had encouraged Lerude to pursue the story after learning that both Merrimans were alumni of the university.

After Lerude and Marion Merriman agreed on the project, their research took them to the battlefield sites of Spain and to the Soviet Union, where the recently wed Merrimans--neither of whom had been east of Nevada--had moved in the winter of 1935 after Robert Merriman had won a $900 scholarship for a years study of the Soviet experiment in collectivist economics.

While Merriman plunged into his research and Russian studies, his wife, whod been an English major, found work as a typist at the Moscow Daily News. Their first home was a room in an apartment occupied by a Russian couple and their child--a black market deal at about $30 a month. (The government position was that, if a family had more space than it needed, that space should be assigned by the state).

They made friends, some of them revolutionaries. They binged on gray caviar served in crystal bowls at the National Hotel. Together, they traveled to the old German villages in the Crimea. With other Americans, they engaged in long, and heated, discussions about politics and economics. They watched a May Day parade in Red Square, sipped coffee at gypsy cafes.

Then, in the summer of 1936, thinking they needed a new perspective, they made a trip through Central Europe; it was to turn their lives around. Hitler was taking over one country after another, she said. Wed seen storm troopers marching in Vienna. And they saw doom and gloom where once there had been gaiety.

We knew we hated fascism, she said. And, gradually, like the more than 3,000 other Americans who would volunteer to fight for the cause of the Loyalists, they became convinced that World War II could be averted on the battlefields of Spain.

So, on a cold December day in Moscow in 1936, Merriman boarded a train that would take him to Valencia and the war in which he would die, as would more than half of the American volunteers.

Marion Merriman remembers that day with clarity. She had argued his decision with him through a long night, in a futile attempt to persuade him that it was more important for him to go home, to America, to share his knowledge as a teacher, that this war in Spain was not his war. But his mind was made up.

When the telegram from the front arrived on March 2, 1937--"Wounded. Come at once"--Marion Merriman swung into action. Within three days she had cut through governmental red tape to get the necessary papers for departure from the Soviet Union, had given away everything that would not fit in one suitcase (she took with her their steamship tickets for their planned return to America and two home-made wool suits) and had booked passage on a 40-seater, no-frills airplane that would take her to Germany to connect with a flight to Paris.

In Paris, after an agonizing week spent convincing the French government that her mission was purely humanitarian and of no threatening consequences to anyone (Spain was closed to Americans by the Neutrality Act and France was on the alert for American volunteers sneaking over the Pyrenees) she was on her way by train to the southeast of France, the jumping-off spot for Spain, where she would find her husband in a hospital in a farm community near Valencia.

He was fine--save for a cumbersome cast encasing his left shoulder, which had been shattered by a bullet. And, she soon learned, he had quickly made his mark. When, two months earlier, the American volunteers had formed the Abraham Lincoln Battalion (more popularly known as the Brigade), they had chosen Merriman as the commander and it was he who took them into their first combat in February at the bloody battle at Jarama in the hills south of Madrid, where he had been wounded.

He was a born leader, she said, and the International Brigades, which she describes as an amorphous group, all sorts of adventurers and dedicated people, had been in a state of confusion under the command of a couple of Americans who had dreams of glory. They faded fast.

For a while, Marion Merriman said, the men called him Bob Murderer. He had to lead them into action when he knew it was suicidal. After Jarama, where 127 of the 400 Americans died and 200 were wounded, more American volunteers began pouring into Spain.

What quickly became apparent to Marion Merriman when she reached Spain was that her plan--"I was going to bring Bob out, to the French Riviera"--was unrealistic. She recalled, Bob said, Do you want to go home? I said, Are you going home? He said no. I said, Im not, either. 

Got Her Stripe

Merriman approached Lucien Vidal, a French colonel in the International Brigades, about the possibility of her volunteering. They werent taking any women, she said, but her husband promoted her as a typist and linguist and finally Vidal said yes--on one condition--"that she promises never to try to get to the front.

It was typical of Marion Merriman that she quickly agreed, on one condition of her own. She told her husband, I wont, unless youre wounded. And then you cant stop me.

So, Marion Merriman got her corporals stripe, a culotte uniform with a Sam Brown belt, a military I.D. card--and the standard salary of six pesetas a day. I still have my papers, she said, and a slightly moth-eaten uniform. Even during the McCarthy days I wouldnt get rid of those.

She was the American commanders wife, she had been granted a special favor and, she acknowledged, A few of the men resented it. That was completely understandable. The other men didnt have their wives. But I tried to conduct myself so there wasnt any criticism. She quickly set about being just another soldier. When we went on marches, I marched right along, to show I could do it. And I slept on the ground, too.

Marion Merriman does not exaggerate the importance of her soldiers role. The nurses had a much heavier job, she said, and much more dangerous, particularly at the front, at the stations where they decided who would live and who would die. Bob described these as butcher shops. They were chopping off arms, chopping off legs. . . . 

But Marion Merriman had a job, too. Her duties included copying American military manuals for her husband to use in training his soldiers, sending out newsletters to the English-speaking volunteers and keeping personal records on the volunteers. A lot of them used aliases, she said, which complicated matters. Every now and then, she would be sent up to the front to get eyewitness accounts of a soldiers death to satisfy an insurance company at home and help his frantic family collect on his policy.

But she came to be more than a clerk-soldier. She became friend and confidante to the men who served with her husband. She would scrounge food to offer any and all who would drop by the room the Merrimans kept at the Regina Hotel in Albacete. She made new acquaintances, among them Hemingway and John Dos Passos. And she learned to duck bullets from fascist snipers crouched in church towers and to endure the sweet stench of burning flesh.

During the nine months she was in Spain, Marion Merriman kept detailed diaries and it was these diaries, and those kept by her husband, that became the basis for her book.

One day, as she was reading aloud from one of her own diaries, Merriman stopped short. She realized that she was revealing a secret she had never told anyone and, no, she wasnt ready to tell it to the world. One night in Murcia, she had been raped by a Slav officer fighting for the Loyalists.

Lerude persisted--this must be in the book, he said, because the way she had handled that crisis said so much about her. Finally, she agreed to tell the story:

 . . . I cried into the cold, early morning darkness. The next morning I didnt know what to do. What could I do? . . . I had to calm myself. This is a war, I told myself. Men are dying and maimed. This is my burden. . . . 

Bob Merriman died without knowing. Why burden him, she asked, with something he couldnt do anything about? What was he going to do, shoot the man? Nor could she tell any of the other men. One of them would have shot him, she was convinced, because I wasnt just the commanders wife. I was their friend.

Friendship and Respect

That she had both the friendship and respect of the men was attested to in this interview with Steve Nelson, another of the Americans in Spain:

It was an odd thing to have a good-looking young woman around. You could call her a beauty. . . . The guys respected her like a saint. What they dreamed and thought may have been different but she was treated very well. Out of respect for Bob and for her, the guys behaved a certain way with her. . . . 

Marion Merriman had come a long way from Reno, where by her own description she had been a somewhat dizzy co-ed going to college to find a good husband, a young woman with not the slight est political orientation. Her mother, who had died recently, had been determined that Marion, the eldest of her five children, get an education and she did, despite responsibilities to her siblings who received little guidance from their father, an alcoholic.

The man she met in college, and married on their graduation day in 1932, a Santa Cruz High School graduate, had been a Big Man on Campus type--"Bob wasnt interested much in politics. But Bob was interested in fairness.

In November, 1937, soon after the first anniversary of the International Brigades in Spain, Bob Merriman told his wife that he wanted her to leave Spain, to go to America and undertake a six-week speaking tour to raise money for food, medical supplies and clothing. To this day, she is not certain that this was not simply a ploy to keep her safe.

She had protested, But Ive never made a speech in my life! He said she would learn--"and thats an order. The night before she left Spain, she recalled, It had been storming. We walked in the moonlight down the road in Ambite. He told me unless we got help the Republic was not going to win. They talked about their hopes for a family, their dreams of a home, of peace in Europe.

And he told her, If Im killed I want you to promise youll marry again. She promised.

When they reached British headquarters, they heard the soldiers singing and decided to accept an invitation to share their tea and brandy, sitting around a roaring fire singing.

It would be the last night they ever spent together.

At home, Marion Merriman talked about the cause wherever she could be heard, even before conservative groups such as the Rotary Club of Reno, telling them: If you dont take your stand against fascism in Spain your sons will die in Germany. Looking back, she said, I just told the truth. I told about seeing children shot from planes as they fled Malaga and Albacete. . . . 

The Spanish Civil War was not a popular cause with mainstream America, which at the time was embracing isolationism and neutrality and suspected the volunteers of being un-American.

Marion Merriman talked up the cause in New York and, in Hollywood, at the invitation of Dorothy Parker, whom she had met briefly in Spain, where Parker had been a correspondent. At one gathering Parkers guest list included Edna Ferber (intimidating), Lillian Hellman (Very interested in Spain, though quite cynical, I thought) and Dashiell Hammett and Ira Gershwin. By evenings end there were several thousand dollars in contributions.

Returning to San Francisco that March, Merriman took a job at $125 a month as executive secretary to the Friends of the Medical Bureau to Aid the Spanish Democracy, the group that raised money for ambulances and medical supplies. Her plans to return to Spain were dashed both by lack of money--she had spent their savings on the cause--and by discouraging news from the war front.

For almost a year, the cause would consume her energies. Finally, she said, I was burned out, what with the worry over Bob and trying to support my two (younger) sisters. Her $20-a-month apartment at Fulton and Divisidero had become home base, too, for returning vets who were jobless and disoriented.

The dreaded news, following closely a Dearest Girl letter from Merriman, came in April of 1938. On April 2 the Americans, having slipped through enemy territory, had run into a Fascist encampment at Corbera in the Ebro Valley. Hemingway, arriving at the scene the next day, recorded survivors confusion about what had happened, about the rout of the Americans amid a great deal of shouting and yelling:

Standing in the dusty brush beside the very nervous-making road, already well up behind the fascist advance down the Ebro, I listened to the story of their breakthrough after the battalion was surrounded; of the stand before Gandesa with mechanized columns and tanks already past them; of a wild night when the battalion split in two parts, one going south, one east. . . . 

When those survivors came out, Merriman said, Hemingway asked them, Wheres your commander? They said, We dont know. 

Robert Merriman--by then Maj. Robert Merriman, chief of staff of the 15th brigade--had simply disappeared. No one saw him fall and for months Marion Merriman clung to the hope that he was a prisoner. But by October, when the Americans marched as heroes in their last parade through the streets of Barcelona before withdrawing in defeat from Spain, she had accepted the inevitable: Bob was not in a prison camp in Bilbao nor was he anywhere else.

Bob was so clever, so ingenious, she said. If he were alive, he would have gotten word out in two months, three at the most. And, she remembered, He always told me, If Im about to be captured Ill use every bullet in my gun, but Ill save one for me. 

Late in 1939 Marion Merriman and Emil Wachtel, an attorney and Department of Agriculture employee she had met about a year earlier, were married in a wooden church in San Franciscos Mission District by a minister who had been sympathetic to the Spanish cause. It was a happy marriage that would produce three sons who now run the industrial fasteners company founded by their father in 1949 in the Silicon Valley. Wachtel died in 1977.

As her sons were growing up, Wachtel embraced causes closer to home, becoming president of this PTA and that PTA, lady do-gooder. For a long time, she said, Ive had the theory you better do what you can at home.

There were a few rough spots in the marriage. At first I was having terrible nightmares, she said. What if Bob came back and I was married to Emil? Id wake up in a cold sweat. And in the McCarthy period, she said, Emil worked for the government and he was discriminated against in some ways because he was married to me. There was a government report that alleged we were Communists, which she emphasized neither she nor Merriman was, but its true, we had a lot of liberal and radical friends.

Later, she had part-time and full-time jobs at Stanford University until I retired the first time, at 65. Painful sciatica forced a second, and final, retirement. For her, retired does not mean inactive, although her activities are somewhat curtailed by her refusal to drive the freeways since being in two major accidents, the second involving a double dumpster that dumped 40,000 pounds of dirt on me.

Now, half a century after the war, the passion of the cause is still at the surface of her emotions. For her, this book is testimony to idealism turned into action, to doing what is right, what is just. She thinks of the Americans who fought in Spain as premature anti-fascists. And she believes We need moral commitment. Of course, sometimes things dont turn out the way you want. . . . 

She returned to Spain first in 1974 (a bittersweet journey made with Emil Wachtel), again in 1979, hoping to learn how Robert Merriman died, the last time in 1982. Villagers have told her vague stories about having seen some tall men that tragic night in 1938; there is nothing more specific.

But now she has done what she had to do--she has seen that rocky plateau in Aragon where he disappeared, felt it. In psychology they have a term, closure, she said. It was a closure of that period.

It was, for Marion Merriman, the end of an extraordinary journey that began one fall day in 1928 when a Big Man on Campus came along in his Dodge roadster, grinned and told Marion Stone, Jump in. Were taking off.

Marion Merriman thought about that long-ago day and said, And we did.
The death toll of Mexico Journalist killings rose to seven on Friday, after another reporter was killed in the country's central state, Zacatecas.

The victim was identified as Juan Carlo Muniz, a journalist known to cover crime stories for the online news website Testigo Minero in Fresnillo, Mexico, per Associated Press.

Muniz's death was confirmed by Governor Monreal on Friday, as well as the media outlet he worked for, El Pais reported.

It was unclear how the journalist died on Friday, but authorities assured that the investigation about Muniz's death is underway.

"At this time the first investigative procedures are carried out and the data that leads to establishing the line of investigation is collected," the Zacatecas prosecutor's office said in a statement on Twitter.

Aside from being a reporter, fellow journalist Alfredo Valadez said that Muniz also drove a taxi in the city to make ends meet.

In addition, reports also mentioned that Muniz also collaborated with other media outlets in making news stories during his career.

READ NEXT: Mexico Journalists Engage in Protests Calling Government for Protection Following Reporters' Death This Year

Entities Condemn the Recent Mexico Journalist Killing

In the light of Muniz's killing, his company Testigo Minero, Miner's Witness in English, commented on the death of the Mexican journalist through a statement posted on social media.

The outlet noted that the "cowardly murder" of their colleague and friend did not only shock the state and society of Fresnillo, but also the journalist guild.

"All of us who work in Multimedios Witness Minero, condemn the murder of our fellow journalist Juan Carlos Muniz, occurred today Friday, March 04, 2022, in the municipality of Fresnillo, Zacatecas," the media outlet underscored.

Testigo Minero also directly asked the attorney general of the state justice to take over Muniz's case.

Zacatecas Governor David Monreal avila also sympathized and "condemn" the death of a Mexican journalist.

Condeno el acto en el que fue privado de la vida, la tarde de hoy, en Fresnillo, Juan Carlos Muniz, trabajador del portal de noticias Testigo Minero y expresamos nuestra solidaridad a sus familiares, amigos y colegas.  David Monreal Avila (@DavidMonrealA) March 4, 2022

"We express our solidarity with his family, friends, and colleagues," the Zacatecas governor highlighted.

Muniz's death came as Mexico continues to be known as one of the world's most dangerous countries for journalists.

Associated Press noted that journalists are often killed in Mexico by drug cartels who seek to intimidate the press to manipulate the coverage of their activities and their rivals.

Meanwhile, Zacatecas, the state where the seventh Mexican journalist died, was known to be one of Mexico's most violent states.

"Violence is an abnormal act in our society, it is a clear reflection of the social decomposition that has leaked into our state and society, which has overflowed; however, that does not mean that we should get used to living in fear," Testigo Minero said, condemning the violence in their state.

Mexico President on Journalist Killings

The impunity against journalists in Mexico has reached the United States, with Secretary of State Antony Blinken commenting on the issue and calling out for "accountability," The Hill reported.

However, Mexico President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador rebuked Blinken's statement saying that the Mexican government is acting on all the cases of journalist killings and that "there is no impunity" in the country.

"[I would] as [Blinken] as a favor to get informed and for them not to act in an interventionist manner," Lopez Obrador said, adding that Mexico is not a colony of the United States nor its protectorate.

READ NEXT: Haiti Protests: 1 Dead, 2 Injured After Police Fired into Haitian Protesters in Port-au-Prince

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written By: Joshua Summers

WATCH: Sharp Rise in Murders of Journalists in Mexico Prompts Calls for Change - From PBS NewsHour
Tesla and SpaceX chief executive Elon Musk warned that the Starlink satellite broadband service could be "targeted" in Ukraine, which Russia is invading.

Considered SpaceX's first consumer product, Starlink is one of the fastest and most robust satellite internet systems powered by a network of thousands of small low-orbit satellites.

Musk tweeted that Starlink is the only non-Russian communications system still operational in portions of Ukraine. Thus, he noted that the "probability of being targeted is high."

"Please use with caution," Musk added.

The "important warning" came days after an internet security researcher warned that satellite communication devices might become "beacons" that Russia could target for airstrikes, Reuters reported.

Twitter Users Asked Elon Musk Some Questions About Starlink

Elon Musk also asked users to use Starlink only when necessary and put the antenna as far away from people as possible. He also told the netizens to "place light camouflage over antenna to avoid visual detection."

As more people began to pay attention to Musk's tweets about the Starlink internet in Ukraine, many questions were raised. Musk replied to one user that spray paint also works, "provided no metal participles in paint."

Another Twitter user asked Musk if the Starlink system could really be under the threat of a Russian cyberattack. Musk said "yes," as it did already happen to almost all Viasat Ukraine user terminals, which "were rendered permanently unusable," on the first day of the Russian invasion.

When the SpaceX chief was asked if "there anything to stop it on Starlink," Musk responded with just two words: "Game on."

In a related tweet, Ukrainian Vice Prime Minister and minister of digital transformation, Mykhailo Fedorov, thanked Musk. Fedorov said Starlink keeps their cities "connected and emergency services saving lives."

Fedorov also steered the tweet in the direction of other major companies like Honda, Champion Gen, Westinghouse, and DuroMax Power, asking for their help, too.

Elon Musk also posted a tweet saying that SpaceX was also helping Ukraine with civilian internet outages. He wrote about updating software to reduce peak power consumption "so Starlink can be powered from car cigarette lighter."

"Mobile roaming enabled, so phased array antenna can maintain signal while on moving vehicle," he added.

READ NEXT: Disney, Warner Bros., Sony Halt All Upcoming Film Releases in Russia Over Ukraine Invasion

Elon Musk Puts Starlink Terminals to Help Ukraine Amid Russia Invasion

On Saturday, Mykhailo Fedorov asked Elon Musk for help with its internet amid its war with Russia. He asked Musk to provide Ukraine with Starlink stations from SpaceX.

The billionaire replied: "Starlink service is now active in Ukraine. More terminals en route." Ukraine said it had received the donated Starlink satellite internet terminals on Monday.

Musk reportedly sent a truckload of Starlink antennas to Ukraine that can be used to connect to Space X's satellite-based internet service. However, an internet security researcher warned that these could become Russian targets.

John Scott-Railton, a senior researcher at the University of Toronto's Citizen Lab who has spent years studying hacking and surveillance in conflict zones, tweeted that Elon Musk's assistance was "good to see" but warned users to be careful.

In a series of 15 tweets detailing the risks, he noted that "Russia has decades of experience hitting people by targeting their satellite communications."

"...if #Putin controls the air above #Ukraine, users' uplink transmissions become beacons... for airstrikes," he said.

During the second round of peace talks on Thursday, Russia and Ukraine agreed to organize humanitarian corridors to allow civilians to flee and tackled maintaining a temporary ceasefire in areas where the humanitarian corridors would be located, the first apparent sign of progress in talks between the warring sides.

READ MORE: Ukraine Vice PM Asks Elon Musk for Starlink Help Amid Russia Crisis, SpaceX Boss Gives Perfect Response!

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Jess Smith

WATCH: Elon Musk Warns Ukrainians Starlink Likely to Be Targeted - From News.com.au
"Proud Ukrainian" Mila Kunis and her husband Ashton Kutcher have vowed to match up to $3 million in donations to help refugees fleeing her native country amid an intensifying Russia's invasion.

On Thursday, the Hollywood couple launched a GoFundMe campaign called "Stand With Ukraine" in the hopes of raising $30 million for Flexport.org and Airbnb.org, which they described as the two organizations that are "actively on the ground providing immediate help to those who need it most."

Born 1983 in Chernivtsi, Ukraine - then part of the Soviet Union - Kunis moved with her family to America at the age of 7. The "Black Swan" star said she could not forget her roots while acknowledging all that the U.S. has done for her and her family.

Kunis said in a statement shared on the fundraising page that she was "a proud Ukrainian." She added that "Ukrainians are proud and brave people who deserve our help in their time of need."

Mila Kunis, Ashton Kutcher GoFundMe Campaign Approaches $10M Mark

According to Deadline, the GoFundMe campaign of the couple has already accumulated pledges of $9.3 million in just 24 hours.

The fundraising page said the freight transporter Flexport is organizing shipments of relief supplies to refugee locations in Hungary, Moldova, Poland, Romania, and Slovakia, while nonprofit organization Airbnb provides free and short-term housing to Ukrainian refugees.

Mila Kunis also appeared alongside her husband in a video shared to his Instagram account. She spoke out about the "devastating" events in Ukraine, adding that this kind of unjust attack on humanity has no place in the world.

In the clip, Kutcher applauded the bravery of the Ukrainians while emphasizing to more than 4 million Instagram followers "the needs of those who have chosen safety."

Earlier, the "That '70s Show" actor tweeted that he "stand with Ukraine."

READ NEXT: Disney, Warner Bros., Sony Halt All Upcoming Film Releases in Russia Over Ukraine Invasion

Mila Kunis Talks About U.S. Immigration Experience

In 2008, Mila Kunis opened up about immigrating to the United States in an interview with the Los Angeles Times. Kunis told the outlet that she and her family fled the country and immigrated to the U.S. "right at the fall [of the Soviet Union]."

The actress said it was "very communist," and her parents essentially abandoned everything because they wanted her and her brother to have a future.

Kunis noted that she adjusted "fairly quickly and fairly well," but struggled to fit in during second grade. She said, "I cried every day," adding that she did not understand the people and the language.

The couple is the latest celebrities to express their support for Ukrainians affected by the conflict. Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds are also helping the country's refugees through fundraising.

Reynolds tweeted on Saturday that countless Ukrainians were forced to flee their homes to neighboring countries in the past 48 hours, and they need protection.

"When you donate, we'll match it up to $1,000,000, creating double the support," he said, promoting donations to the United Nations refugee agency.

According to the UN, at least one million refugees have fled across the borders of Ukraine in just one week.

READ MORE: Ukraine Vice PM Asks Elon Musk for Starlink Help Amid Russia Crisis, SpaceX Boss Gives Perfect Response!

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Jess Smith

WATCH: Ashton Kutcher & Mila Kunis Launch Ukrainian Refugee Fundraiser, Pledge $3M Donation - From Access
Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) is inviting Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel to visit New Mexico for a tour of the most pressing and unique broadband challenges, especially in Pueblos and rural and unincorporated communities.

READ NEXT: Sen. Martin Heinrich Offers Well Wishes to Sen. Ben Ray Lujan Who Suffered a Stroke

In a letter to Rosenworcel, Heinrich wrote: "the lack of access to broadband internet service in New Mexico has created an uneven playing field for our communities. This impacts our school children, our businesses, and our healthcare."

New Mexico has the highest percentage of residents in the Southwest without adequate broadband internet service. According to the White House, 22 percent of New Mexico residents do not have access to adequate broadband infrastructure and nearly 70 percent have to rely on only one Internet Service Provider.

Recent National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) data also shows that in at least 5 out of 33 New Mexico counties, more than 40 percent of households do not have internet access at all.

Heinrich added: "Without broadband connectivity, entire rural, unincorporated, and Tribal communities are left without the means to diversify and grow their economies."

Heinrich championed into law the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act that provides substantial formula funding to begin addressing broadband infrastructure needs across New Mexico.

The senator welcomed President Joe Biden's nomination and designation of Rosenworcel to serve as permanent Chair of the FCC after she, through her role as then-Acting Chairwoman, updated the FCC rulebook to allow more Tribes to connect to the E-rate program.

This effort mirrors provisions in Heinrich's Tribal Connect Act that he will soon be reintroducing to create more paths for Tribes to access to the internet.

Read the full text of the letter below:

Martin Heinrich's Letter to the FCC Chairwoman

Dear Chairwoman Rosenworcel:

Congratulations on your historic confirmation to chair the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). And thank you for your recent actions to update the FCC rulebook to allow more Tribes to connect to the E-rate program. I write today to invite you to visit New Mexico for a tour of the most pressing and unique broadband challenges that our communities face, from Pueblos to rural and unincorporated communities.

While broadband mapping and access figures have their limitations, what the current mapping numbers show is already extremely troubling. New Mexico has the highest percentage of residents in the Southwest without adequate broadband internet service.

According to the White House, 22 percent of our residents do not have access to adequate broadband infrastructure and nearly 70 percent have to rely on only one Internet Service Provider. Recent National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) data also shows that in at least 5 out of 33 New Mexico counties, more than 40 percent of households do not have internet access at all.

The lack of access to broadband internet service in New Mexico has created an uneven playing field for our communities. This impacts our school children, our businesses, and our healthcare. Too many of our children had to rely purely on handouts through much of the pandemic, because the virtual school provided to so many children elsewhere was wholly unavailable to those without broadband internet. But even before and long after the pandemic, the lack of broadband internet has and will continue to hold New Mexico back through its economic and health impacts.

Without broadband connectivity, entire Tribes and rural and unincorporated communities are left without the means to diversify and grow their economies. They cannot attract tourists to their communities and the beauty of their lands without an online presence and reliable online access once those tourists arrive. They cannot access national, much less global, markets to sell their unique goods and services. They are, in short, left to compete in 2022 with infrastructure from the 1970s.

New Mexico's severe shortage of healthcare providers is also directly exacerbated by the lack of broadband access in our rural and unincorporated communities. Thirty-two of New Mexico's 33 counties are considered Health Professional Shortage Areas by the Health Resource and Services Administration (HRSA) within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). While New Mexico continues to work to remedy this long-standing shortage and its severe impacts on the residents of our state, the lack of broadband access deprives us of relying on telehealth as the solution it could be otherwise.

The bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act provides substantial formula funding to begin to address the desperate need for broadband infrastructure across New Mexico and to some of our must vulnerable and disconnected communities. I will be working with our communities to apply for as much of the competitive funding as they are eligible for. Because we recognize the extraordinary opportunity this infrastructure development presents to our state's future. This is also why I am excited to extend this invitation to you.

Your in-person visit to New Mexico will include visiting with local stakeholders to learn firsthand about New Mexico's geographic challenges and unique opportunities. My team stands ready to assist in preparing an itinerary for your visit. Thank you for your consideration of this request.

READ MORE: Heinrich, Murkowski Applaud House Passage Of Bipartisan Legislation To Safeguard Tribal Items
Portland, TN (37148)

Today

Cloudy early with thunderstorms developing later in the day. High 81F. Winds SSE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 70%..

Tonight

Thunderstorms likely. Low 64F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 80%.
BEIJING, March 5 (Xinhua) -- The National People's Congress (NPC), China's top legislature, on Saturday morning started to deliberate a draft amendment to the Organic Law of the Local People's Congresses and Local People's Governments.

Wang Chen, vice chairman of the NPC Standing Committee, delivered an explanatory speech on the draft amendment at the opening meeting of the fifth session of the 13th NPC. 
Tanaiste Leo Varadkar has confirmed to Independent TD for Laois Offaly, Carol Nolan, that the Government is to review issues surrounding the level of fuel rebates currently available to Irish hauliers as part of efforts to address the rising cost of living.

The Tanaiste was responding in the Dail to a request from Deputy Nolan that Irish fuel rebate levels are brought in line with those of other EU states, which in some instances are up to three times the rate available in Ireland.

Deputy Nolan also raised the need for Government to actively support the upgrading of the national haulage fleet to EURO 6 engines which have a dramatically increased capacity to reduce emissions:

I have been in continuous contact with the Irish Road Hauliers Association recently and they have made it clear to me that there is an urgent need to immediately revise the fuel rebate system, Deputy Nolan said.

For the last number of years, the rebate system here has been placing our hauliers at a serious competitive disadvantage. If the status quo is maintained that disadvantage will deepen significantly, especially as the Ukrainian crisis is likely to push up energy and transportation costs right across the board.

I have repeatedly highlighted the fact that the National HGV Fleet, which is about 24,000 vehicles, do 86% of the movement of goods for the Irish economy.

They travel over 5 million KMs per day and use over 1.5 million litres of fuel per day. This works out to nearly 500 litres per truck per week, which supports the statement that a haulier's artic burns in a week what a house burns in a year in fuel oil.

"Given this level of fuel consumption, and the strategic importance of the haulage and transportation sector, it is absolutely critical that the rebate and the upgrading issues are acted on as soon as possible, concluded Deputy Nolan.
The Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Darragh OBrien TD, has made a final call for homeowners, landlords, directors of Owners Management Companies and Property Management Agents throughout Laois to share their experiences of housing defects relating to fire safety, structural safety and water ingress in purpose-built apartment and duplex buildings constructed in Laois between 1991 and 2013. The deadline for completing the surveys is Monday 14 March 2022.

These experiences are sought by the Independent Working Group to Examine Defects in Housing which was established by Minister OBrien in February 2021. Views are sought from people across Laois regardless of whether such defects in those properties in Laois are currently known, unknown or where no such defects have arisen.

Encouraging as many people as possible to participate in the survey before the March 14th deadline, Minister OBrien emphasised: Since this consultation was launched in late January there has been a very positive public response. Today, Im making a final call to homeowners, landlords, directors of Owners Management Companies and Property Management Agents across Laois, who own or manage purpose-built apartments or duplex buildings constructed in Ireland between 1991 and 2013, to complete these surveys. We want you to complete them whether the property in question has defects or not, or if the presence of defects is not known.

I understand the working group wants to hear in particular from Owners Management Companies and Property Management Agents of these types of properties as we know there is a significant number who have not yet responded to the survey. If you live in a duplex or purpose-built apartment complex in Laois, built between 1991 and 2013, we ask you to contact your Owners Management Company to encourage them to participate. Acknowledging the Working Groups work to date, the Minister added: I look forward to receiving the Working Groups report later this year and will give it my full consideration.

The working group will use the survey information to inform its report to the Minister with particular regard to the following:

 the nature and scale of the issue of fire safety, structural safety and water ingress defects

 the difficulties that arise following the discovery of these defects

 the costs and levies associated with the remediation of the defects
THIS week, Id like to share with you, three questions I received recently from readers and the answers I gave to each.

Question

Liam, can a Bank in any instance withdraw money from my account without my permission or instruction?

Answer

Yes, they can but only in a very specific set of circumstances.

There is a term known as set off or sometimes its referred to as having the right to offset and its a condition where a bank can take money from any savings account you have with them and transfer those funds into a loan account or an overdraft if you happen to be in arrears on said accounts.

And to be absolutely sure, I directed your question to a Bank.

I asked them what I thought was a fairly simple question i.e. Can a Bank take money from an individuals savings account without their consent?

And I was back and forth with them I think about four times via email because they just werent answering my question.

I just wanted a simple, yes or no.

Im not sure whether the person I was interacting with, knew or not, so I said to them very politely that if they didnt know the answer that was fine, absolutely no issues, just direct me to someone who does.

But no, they kept on telling me about how a bank would work with the individual and come to an arrangement if they were in arrears.

And you know thats fine and the least Id expect them to do, but I still wanted to know, could they take money out of someones account without their consent and direct the funds into a loan account that was in arrears.

And still nothing.

So, I decided to try find out the answer myself because I was just clearly wasting my time, so I found a copy of the terms and conditions of a term loan from the Bank in question and there it was, waving up at me on the page, stating:

The Bank may at any time with or without notice, combine or consolidate some or all of your accounts with the Bank in any currency or location including any current, deposit or other form of account, accounts payable on demand and not payable on demand and any account in your sole name or in the names of you and another or others, set off or transfer any sum standing to the credit of any such account in full or partial payment of any amount you owe the bank. This clause is in addition to and does not amend or qualify any other present or future right of the Bank to combine or set off any of your accounts with it.

Im sure it would be a last resort for the Bank to apply this condition because Ive no doubt they would exhaust every last avenue to come to some agreement, without having to push the nuclear, set off option.

When I received this question, and when I began my interaction with the Bank, I was never asking them a question about will the bank take money from someones account without their permission, I was only ever asking can they, and the answer is, yes, they can.



Question

I am getting married in a few months and wonder what I could/should think of in relation to this, and especially where it would give me a financial advantage? I thought myself about getting a prenuptial agreement. What do you think?



Answer

You can certainly arrange a pre-nup but they have no basis in law in Ireland.

And because of this, they are not strictly binding. This means that if you have a pre-nup agreement in place and your marriage breaks down and you appear before the courts, the judge is not bound by the terms of the pre-nuptial agreement you both wrote and agreed to.

Having said that, what Ive read and what Ive been told, is that the courts will look at the issue of intention i.e. what were both of you trying to achieve and or protect when you signed the pre-nup.

And if the agreement makes proper provision for each party, it is more likely to be persuasive with the judge i.e. in situations where one person is likely to inherit a significant asset or business or part thereof, it will guide the judge in the divorce or judicial separation on what the parties intentions were from the outset, and how the assets will be divided in divorce.

The judge will also be influenced by the situation you find yourselves in at the time of divorce i.e. do you now have kids and who will have custody of them, what are their costs going to be, is one of you suffering an illness or from ill health and so on.

And importantly, you have to show that there was full disclosure at the time of signing the pre-nup i.e. you both knew everything about the others finances and what assets they had, and very importantly at the time of signing, you both had obtained legal advice.



Question

Liam, for the next 9 months I'm considering reducing my monthly pension contribution from 11% to 2% in order to fund some short-term home improvement costs. I'm aware that my employer pension contribution will reduce to 2% as well. I am considering this option over taking out a personal loan (5,000) from the bank. My salary for context is 80,000. Can you advise if this is common approach to fund short term commitments and any important implications I should consider before I go down this path?



Answer

Okay, if you borrow 5,000 at say 6.80% (about the average personal loan rate at the moment from banks) the amount of interest you'd pay back over 9 months is 139.55.

So, that's the cost of those borrowings.

If you forego the loss of the 9% contribution from your employer over those same 9 months that amounts to 5,400 i.e. 80,000 x 9% / 12 x 9 = 5,400.

So, you are giving up 5,400 for the sake of paying 139.55 in interest which makes no sense. In fact, you're giving up more because if you stop your contributions, you're also giving up the tax relief that comes with it.

You'd be contributing the same 5,400 but you're getting tax relief at 40% so its only costing you 3,240 where the tax relief is 2,160.

So, not making those contributions for 9 months, youre leaving behind 7,560 for the sake of a loan of 5,000 which is only costing you 139.55 in interest.

I know the cost of the loan is 571 per month, and the total payback is just 5,139.55 but when you stand that alongside the loss in pension contributions i.e. 12,960 (yours and your employers contributions combined and tax relief on your contributions), it absolutely makes sense to borrow the money and not suspend pension contributions.

Liam Croke is MD of Harmonics Financial Ltd, based in Plassey. He can be contacted at liam@harmonics.ie or www.harmonics.ie
County Sligo woman used the stilettos from her high heel shoes and a stool to break a pub window in Leitrim Village while in an intoxicated state, Carrick- on-Shannon District Court was told.

Sinead Relihan, Carrownadarbeny, Geevagh, Co Sligo pleaded guilty to a charge of criminal damage at Carthys Bar, Leitrim Village.

She also pleaded guilty to charges of being drunk and a danger to herself and others and to using threatening and abusive behaviour on December 31 last year.

Sergeant John OReilly told the court that gardai got a report about a woman in an intoxicated state in Leitrim Village and who was refusing to leave a premises.

There was a strong smell of alcohol from the defendant and she became abusive towards gardai, the court heard.

She told the officers to f*** off, you shower of useless c***s and also called them useless f***ing c***s.

The sergeant added that the defendant had broken a window with her high heels and a stool.

Defence solicitor Tom MacSharry said that 100 of compensation was in court for the window.

The court heard the defendant had a previous conviction for a refusal in a suspected drunk driving case in 2019 and had been banned from driving for four years.

Mr MacSharry said these matters happened over the Christmas period after the defendant had got some disturbing medical news.

She was a woman of 40 who has had difficulties with alcohol in the past, but to her credit, had been sober for quite some time but sadly had a relapse.

The defendant also had underlying mental health issues and was on Disability Allowance.

She accepted that these were very serious matters and had no ill will towards the gardai.

On her own initiative she contacted Garda Mannion and made a full apology which was accepted.

She was pleading guilty, had compensation in court and was very embarrassed and very remorseful about these matters.

Mr MacSharry said that other than these two matters, this was out of character and the defendant was most apologetic.

He asked the court to be as lenient as possible.

In noting the previous conviction in 2019 and the 2021 matter, Judge Sandra Murphy said there was a pattern of alcohol here.

Mr MacSharry said the defendant had a long spell of sobriety and she had got some troubling news and had a relapse.

Her memory of what happened on the night was poor.

She was very keen to approach Garda Mannion to apologise and eager to pay compensation for the criminal damage.

Judge Murphy said alcohol was the underlying issue here and she wanted a probation report to deal with it.

The case was adjourned to June 21 for the production of a report.
A JUDGE told a County Limerick man he had a narrow escape and I hope he realises it.

Denis ONeill, aged 31, of Ballyvouden, Kilteely pleaded guilty, at Kilmallock Court, to possession of drugs.

Inspector Sandra Heelan said gardai carried out a search under warrant at the defendant's home at 8am on May 31, 2021.

A quantity of cocaine was found. It was valued at 40. He made certain admissions, said Insp Heelan, who confirmed to the judge that Mr ONeill was co-operative.

Con Barry, solicitor for Mr ONeill, said his client wished to apologise to the court and gardai.

He is a mechanic by trade. He has no previous convictions for drugs offences, said Mr Barry, who asked the judge to consider not giving his client a conviction.

Judge Harney said gardai attended his house with a search warrant.

The judge said if he pays 200 to the court poor box she would strike the matter out.

Mr ONeill gave the money to his solicitor who handed it into court.

Judge Harney said: This is your one and only chance. You had a narrow escape and I hope he realises it.
Deputies to the 13th National People's Congress (NPC) are interviewed via video link ahead of the opening meeting of the fifth session of the 13th NPC in Beijing, capital of China, March 5, 2022. (Xinhua/Li Xin)

Wang Fang, a deputy to the 13th National People's Congress (NPC), attends an interview via video link ahead of the opening meeting of the fifth session of the 13th NPC in Beijing, capital of China, March 5, 2022. (Xinhua/Li Xin)

Wu Chen, a deputy to the 13th National People's Congress (NPC), attends an interview via video link ahead of the opening meeting of the fifth session of the 13th NPC in Beijing, capital of China, March 5, 2022. (Xinhua/Li Xin)

Chai Shanshan, a deputy to the 13th National People's Congress (NPC), attends an interview via video link ahead of the opening meeting of the fifth session of the 13th NPC in Beijing, capital of China, March 5, 2022. (Xinhua/Li Xin)

Chen Liang, a deputy to the 13th National People's Congress (NPC), attends an interview via video link ahead of the opening meeting of the fifth session of the 13th NPC in Beijing, capital of China, March 5, 2022. (Xinhua/Li Xin)

Ma Huijuan, a deputy to the 13th National People's Congress (NPC), attends an interview via video link ahead of the opening meeting of the fifth session of the 13th NPC in Beijing, capital of China, March 5, 2022. (Xinhua/Li Xin)

Dong Caiyun, a deputy to the 13th National People's Congress (NPC), attends an interview via video link ahead of the opening meeting of the fifth session of the 13th NPC in Beijing, capital of China, March 5, 2022. (Xinhua/Li Xin)

Jiang Tao, a deputy to the 13th National People's Congress (NPC), attends an interview via video link ahead of the opening meeting of the fifth session of the 13th NPC in Beijing, capital of China, March 5, 2022. (Xinhua/Li Xin)

Xiawu Zhuoma, a deputy to the 13th National People's Congress (NPC), attends an interview via video link ahead of the opening meeting of the fifth session of the 13th NPC in Beijing, capital of China, March 5, 2022. (Xinhua/Li Xin)

A journalist raises a question during an interview with deputies to the 13th National People's Congress (NPC) via video link ahead of the opening meeting of the fifth session of the 13th NPC in Beijing, capital of China, March 5, 2022. (Xinhua/Yin Gang)

Journalists interview deputies to the 13th National People's Congress (NPC) via video link ahead of the opening meeting of the fifth session of the 13th NPC in Beijing, capital of China, March 5, 2022. (Xinhua/Yin Gang)

Journalists interview deputies to the 13th National People's Congress (NPC) via video link ahead of the opening meeting of the fifth session of the 13th NPC in Beijing, capital of China, March 5, 2022. (Xinhua/Yin Gang)
A VILLAGE community gathered together to celebrate the highly anticipated launch of their national schools brand-new website, thanks to the help of one Limerick University.

Many months of hard, fastidious work had gone into the redesign of County Clare based, Parteen National Schools new website by principal Miriam Smyth, along with two other tech savvy staff members.

The school teamed up with third-level institute TUS Limerick, who captured video and photo content, assisted by staff member Aisling OHara and well-known Limerick photographer, Eamonn Andrews.

Principal Smyth, who spoke at the event, addressed the crowd: Children, your enthusiasm each and every day makes this school a joy to teach in.

With such enthusiasm from pupils around the new website, the school decided to mark the occasion with song, music and dance.

The event was chaired by two 6th class pupils, Kara Foley and Niall Cox, who are also members of the School Council.

Parents were treated to Edelweiss from the Broadway Musical and 1965 film The Sound of Music, performed by staff members, Ruth Andrews on clarinet and Judy Meskell on flute.

Following this, the newly formed Parteen School trad band, comprised of teachers, pupils and relatives of pupils performed: John Ryans Polka, Maggie in the Woods and The Kerry Polka.

Five fantastic Irish dancers from the student body danced along to the three tunes.

After, Principal Smyth thanked teachers, who, she said, give 100% to ensure that the children are not only receiving an excellent education, but are also enjoying each and every lesson they experience.

Your combined input has made our website a vibrant celebration of the essence of Parteen National School in Clare, Principal Smyth, who was appointed in 2021, concluded.

Visit the schools new website here: parteenschool.ie
THE PUBLIC have until Wednesday to lodge appeals to An Bord Planeala regarding a planned solar farm in East Limerick.

There have been a number of objections from locals regarding the proposed 350 acre farm on four land parcels on the bounds of Pallasgreen and Oola.

The applicant, Harmony Solar Limerick Limited, has sought a 10-year permission and 35 year operation for the solar farm.

The development addresses are Ballyvalode, Garryduff, Gortnakistin, Gortyvahane, Keeloges, Kilmacogue, Moanoola and Moanroe. It is to be called Ballyvalode Solar Farm.

Locals in the area say they feel it is not an appropriate location for such a development and have opposed the project.

The proposed development comprises of 755,000sqm of solar photovoltaic panels on ground mounted steel frames; inverter/transformer stations; underground power and communication cables and ducts; boundary security fencing; new internal access tracks; associated drainage infrastructure; site entrances to the main solar farm and north arcel; CCTV cameras and all associated site services and works.

Among their concerns are leaching of contamination into water table potentially affecting local household water supplies and water into local rivers; industrialisation of prime agriculture land, adjacent to many homes on small local secondary roads; devaluation of all properties; severe environmental impact on farm animals and wildlife, including bats; and increase in large plant traffic on a narrow winding local road, not suited to heavy traffic.

The public have until Wednesday, 10 March to lodge their appeals to An Bord Planeala.
A LIMERICK manufacturer of personal protective equipment (PPE) has delivered a truck-full of medical aid to a local collection bound to hospitals in Ukraine.

SuirSafe Technologies, based in Bedford Row in Limerick city, says it is completely shocked by the atrocities occurring in Ukraine since the invasion began.

To see so many people flee their homes, neighbourhoods, communities and their families is nothing short of heart-breaking, Head of Operations Ryan Toohey told the Limerick Leader.

As a manufacturer of PPE, with international business connections, we wanted to help in whatever way we could, he added.

That is when the company came across Anna and Kamilas plea to the public, Help For Ukraine, for donations as they organised the transport of a container from Limericks Cleeves Industrial Estate.

These items will go to the border in Poland where they will try and get goods and supplies into people in crisis in Ukraine especially in hospitals in the western regions where people are fleeing to.

It was great to see other people in the community gathering in support, Ryan stated.

After receiving confirmation, SuirSafe Technologies CEO Mario Kistner immediately released the budget to fulfil their commitment.

Ryan confirmed that 10 pallets of essential gowns, masks and coveralls were donated.

These will be used both by doctors and the general public to aid in both surgical and medical settings and of course settings where covid will spread.

The delivery was made by their logistics partner, Martin Ryan Haulage of Cappamore Limerick, who donated their time to help out.

Its a product we use and sell on a daily basis, its first-hand and fresh out of the box. The volume and quality were really appreciated when we pulled up to the collection, Ryan concluded.
The shelling of a nuclear power station in south-eastern Ukraine is a new red flag that the war does not just affect Ukraine and Russia, Irelands foreign affairs minister has said.

Russian forces shelled the station  the biggest nuclear plant in Europe  in the city of Zaporizhzhia overnight, with the attack continuing even as emergency services tried to put out the resulting fire.

Simon Coveney said the assault concerns everyone on the continent who could have been impacted by a disaster there.

A breach of the facility could release higher radiation levels than those seen after the worlds worst nuclear accident at Ukraines Chernobyl in 1986, he warned.

The #SecurityCouncil will hold an urgent meeting at 11:30am EST on #Russia's attack on #Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant in #Ukraine. Ireland joined in calling for the meeting. It's essential that the #UNSC meets immediately on this extremely concerning attack. pic.twitter.com/0kb81sB6qA  Ireland at UN (@irishmissionun) March 4, 2022

Mr Coveney joined foreign ministers from the European Union, the UK, US and Canada in Brussels to show his support for Ukraine.

He said the ministers would not be signing off on a new raft of sanctions, though further measures will be agreed later.

I think its really about sending a very clear message to the world that we in the European Union and our other partners are really disgusted and outraged by what we continue to see day after day in Ukraine, and Russias actions, which clearly are a breach of international law, Mr Coveney said.

He said he does not think theres any credible arguments now that war crimes arent being committed on a daily basis, saying civilians and civilian areas had been targeted.

He said: I think what well see is some very strong statements today and a determination to work together to ensure that we continue to isolate Russia internationally, not just in Europe.

We will send a very clear message to Moscow that this simply isnt acceptable, and to increase the calls for a ceasefire and an end of hostilities, and a return to political dialogue and diplomacy.

The targeting of the violence and the fire at this nuclear facility, I think, raised a new red flag, if you like, in relation to this conflict, that this is not just about Ukraine and Russia.

Its about all of us who live on the continent of Europe who could potentially be impacted by an accident or a breach of that facility that obviously could release radiation that would be multiples of the volume and size of what happened at Chernobyl.

I think that has added a sense of urgency on that particular issue.

Meanwhile, Irelands premier Micheal Martin said senior ministers met on Thursday to discuss the arrangements for refugees travelling to Ireland after fleeing Ukraine.

Russias attack on the #Zaporizhzhia nuclear power station is utterly reckless. Russias military activity in the area must cease immediately. This is a grave threat to the European continent. Our full support to the @iaea and DG @rafaelmgrossi in their essential work. @dfatirl https://t.co/BPaYnJwBOu  Simon Coveney (@simoncoveney) March 4, 2022

The Fianna Fail said Cabinet ministers discussed how the country will provide education for Ukrainian children and access to healthcare facilities, the social protection system, and the right to work.

Some ministers have been tasked to work on those issues, Mr Martin added.

In terms of the energy issue, we know that is very pressing and we will work with our European Union colleagues but also the key ministers in that area.

Its something we have to work through for the medium term as to how we deal with this exponential growth and the price of fuel and gas, which has risen to extraordinary heights.

As we emerge from Covid and because of the war in Ukraine and the decision of Russia to hold back supplies in advance of that, and other factors, now the war will make it worse.

Mr Martin warned that the war will have a real impact on Ireland due to the amount of grain that is exported by Russia and Ukraine.

Mr Martin added: We are very concerned overall. The multilateral order has been turned upside down. This is a very serious moment in the history.

We need cool heads to deal with this. The Russian aggression is morally unacceptable and its in everyones interest that the spread of nuclear radioactive material doesnt happen.

Referring to Irelands militarily neutral standing, Mr Martin said it has not hindered Irelands stance against Russia.

In the first instance, our military non-alignment has in no way hindered our approach to the war in Ukraine. We have been very pro-active, he added.

We are not neutral in what has happened in Ukraine.
A rally in Dublin has heard calls for government action to accelerate progress on womens equality issues in Ireland, with Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald stating "Change is coming" to gathered crowds.

Hundreds of people attended the No Woman Left Behind demonstration outside Leinster House.

The rally was organised by the National Womens Council (NWC) of Ireland ahead of International Womens Day on Tuesday (March 2).

The crowd heard calls for decisive action to tackle violence against women, as well as demands for more to be done to improve provision of childcare and and access to abortion services.

Particular challenges faced by one-parent families and traveller, migrant, trans and disabled women were also highlighted.

Access to state housing was also cited as a major problem.

Deputy McDonald was among opposition politicians who did speak at the rally.

She told the event: We demand the right to decent work, to fair pay, to equal pay, we demand the right to live and raise our families without constant choices to be made between heating the room and feeding a hungry mouth, the right to learn and grow, to explore every horizon, to reach for very dream, we demand the right to be free, to be ourselves, without fear, without apology and without humiliation  the right to live a full and free life together.

The political system can choose to listen or not, they may choose to look the other way but be very clear sisters  the old Ireland is gone and change is coming.

Addressing the crowds from the platform, NWC director Orla OConnor said: Its an important day for all of us to be here. Today is the day that we want our voices to be heard and its time for the government to listen and to take action on the issues affecting our lives.

She added: You have told us loud and clear that the key issues affecting womens equality are not advancing and progress is much, much too slow.

The lead up to the event attracted controversy after it emerged that Government ministers were not on the list of political speakers invited to address the rally.

Organisers defended the move, arguing the event was an opportunity for the Government to listen to the messages being delivered by women.

Deputy McDonald also expressed solidarity with the women of Ukraine amid the ongoing war.

The scenes of horror that we witness daily are matched only by the expressions of incredible courage and bravery as civilians go toe to toe with the Russian aggressor, she said.

Labour TD Ivana Bacik also used the rally to voice support for Ukraine.

In a peaceful Dublin city centre I know all our thoughts and all our solidarity are with the women, children and people of Ukraine as they endure the brutal bombardment and assault from Russian troops and Russian forces, she said.

At this, their darkest hour, we stand with them and we condemn this appalling and brutal invasion.
NATIONAL Broadband Ireland has announced that works to bring high-speed broadband to more than 4,000 premises in the Adare area.

The company, which is rolling out the new high-speed fibre broadband network under the Governments National Broadband Plan says fibre build works are well underway in the local area.

More than 4,600 premises have been surveyed to date with network designs completed to deliver the new Fibre-to-the-Home (network in the area with an anticipated date for connection.

NBI crews have started initial works for the build in townlands across Adare and the company says these will pave the way for the next stage of deploying fibre on poles/ducts. The works also include the erection of poles, unblocking of ducts, and the insertion of subduct into existing ducts, for the fibre to be installed.

Across Limerick, there are 21,598 premises in the Intervention Area (identified in the plan) which includes homes, farms, commercial businesses and schools.

Commenting on the roll-out in Limerick, NBI Chief Executive Peter Hendrick said the company was satisfied with the progress being made: Momentum has been steadily building in the progression of the National Broadband Plan rollout, with homes across the country being connected to high-speed broadband. Our teams continue to work on the rollout plan and substantial progress has been made from surveying, design, build to connection works.

He continued: As an increasing number of homes and businesses are being connected, we are confident that the rollout will continue to gather pace as we look to connect thousands more homes and businesses. We are currently working closely with retail service providers, and other stakeholders, to connect homes in County Limerick. Minimum speeds of 500Mb will be available.
RAMALLAH, March 4 (Xinhua) -- More than 130 Palestinian protesters were injured on Friday during clashes with the Israeli soldiers in the northern West Bank, said medics and eyewitnesses.

Palestinian eyewitnesses said the fierce clashes broke out near the villages of Beita and Beit Dajan, located to the south and east of Nablus city respectively, and near the village of Kafr Qaddum, east of Qaqilya city.

The Palestine Red Crescent Society said in a statement sent to Xinhua that at least 128 Palestinian demonstrators were injured, including 36 by rubber bullets fired by Israeli soldiers. The others suffered from inhaling the teargas, the medics added.

Meanwhile, Murad Ishteiwi, the Palestinian coordinator of the popular resistance in Qalqilya, told Xinhua that two more protestors were injured by rubber bullets during clashes with the Israeli soldiers in the Kafr Qaddum village.

The eyewitnesses said dozens of anti-settlement demonstrators threw stones at the Israeli soldiers stationed at the outskirts of the villages and burned tires.

Israeli authorities have yet to give any comment on the incidents.

Beita and Beit Dajan have seen at least weekly protests against the expansion of Israeli settlements in the two villages and clashes with the Israeli soldiers.

Early on Friday, four Palestinians, including three children, were injured after an Israeli settler opened fire at them near an Israeli settlement in the old city of the southern West Bank city of Hebron, according to medics and eyewitnesses.

The city witnesses weekly confrontations every Friday in protest of Israel's settlement policy and the closure of large parts of the city center to the Palestinians.

Israel occupied the West Bank and East Jerusalem, which are claimed by the Palestinians, in the 1967 Middle East war and has controlled them ever since. 
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Two men landed behind bars after shots rang out in the downtown bar district, according to Laredo police.

On Monday, Benito Martinez, 20, and Humberto Misael Garcia, 28, were arrested in relation to the case. Martinez was charged with discharge of a firearm in certain municipalities while Garcia was charged with evading arrest with a vehicle.
People who left Ukraine wait for a bus to take them to the train station in Przemysl, at the border crossing in Medyka, Poland, on Friday. More than 1 million people have fled Ukraine following Russia's invasion in the swiftest refugee exodus in this century, the United Nations said Thursday. (AP Photo/Visar Kryeziu)
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BEIJING, March 5 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese mainland on Friday reported 102 locally transmitted COVID-19 cases, the National Health Commission said Saturday.

Of the new local infections, 46 were reported in Guangdong, 19 in Jilin, eight in Inner Mongolia, six in Hebei, five in Shandong, three each in Tianjin, Shanghai and Guangxi, two each in Hainan and Yunnan, and one each in Shanxi, Heilongjiang, Hubei, Hunan and Sichuan, the commission said in its daily report.

A total of 179 imported COVID-19 cases were reported on Friday, said the commission.

Five new suspected cases, all arriving from outside the mainland, were reported in Shanghai, said the commission. It added that no deaths from COVID-19 were reported on the day. 
Business & Finance, Travel & Local Attractions

By Ls Cohen Published: March 05 2022

Expanded service from Long Island to Florida.

Discount airline Frontier has announced that it is now flying nonstop to Fort Lauderdale from Long Island MacArthur Airport with introductory fares as low as $39.

Were thrilled to grow again at MacArthur Airport with nonstop flights to Fort Lauderdale, said Daniel Shurz, senior vice president of commercial, Frontier Airlines. We continue to see strong demand for travel between New York and Florida and look forward to providing customers affordable access to sunny South Florida from the convenience of ISP.

According to Islip Town Supervisor, Angie Carpenter, Fort Lauderdale is a much sought-after destination for residents across Long Island.

...Frontiers vision to bring this service to MacArthur Airport further expands travel options for Floridians and Long Islanders alike, she said.

Frequency and times are subject to change, so check FlyFrontier.com for the most updated schedule.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said that the next world war conflict could be devastating to the world because it would involve nuclear weapons.

"A third World War would be a devastating nuclear war," Minister Lavrov said.

RIA reported Lavrov's declarations via video to the Geneva Disarmament meeting.

Lavrov managed one of the rhetorics used by Putin's invasion. He said Russia invaded Ukraine seeking nuclear weapons without providing any evidence.

"Ukraine still has Soviet nuclear technologies and the means of delivery of such weapons," Lavrov said.

Russia's Foreign Minister also mentioned that Russia faces "real danger" if Ukraine acquired nuclear weapons.

However, on Sunday, Vladimir Putin put the strategic nuclear forces on alert. Putin's actions raised world tensions even more after his invasion.

The President of Russia said he decided to put his nuclear forces on alert after NATO allies made "aggressive statements" and imposed financial sanctions against Russia and himself.

According to evidence, Russia has the largest nuclear arsenal in the world. The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute counted 6,255 Russian warheads.

"We were ready for sanctions but did not expect that they would affect athletes, intellectuals, actors, and journalists, Lavrov said.

Last night during the State of the Union address, President Biden said Putin wanted to attack Ukraine. He described the Kremlin's actions as a "premeditated" effort, and Vladimir Putin would "pay a price" for "invading" a foreign country.

President Joe Biden also mentioned, "the U.S. Department of Justice is assembling a dedicated task force to go after the crimes of Russian oligarchs."

"We are joining with our European allies to find and seize your yachts, your luxury apartments, your private jets."

In the last events of retaliation for the invasion, the United States joined the European Union in banning Russian flights from its airspace.
People look at the damage following a rocket attack the city of Kyiv, Ukraine.

People look at the damage following a rocket attack the city of Kyiv, Ukraine. Emilio Morenatti AP

As Russia's invasion of Ukraine continues into its second weekend, we continue to keep you up to date on all the latest from Ukraine and from Russia, as well as the most important responses from around the world. In this live blog on the situation Ukraine, we'll be bringing you the latest developments this Saturday.

Russia Ukraine Live Blog

Stay up to date with the latest developments in Ukraine in this live blog.

07:00 GMT/ 01:00 CST: Trump brags about threatening Putin with 'hitting Moscow'.

In a surreal exchange with golfer John Daly, Doland Trump bragged he threatened Vladimir Putin with attacking Moscow if he made any sudden moves.

06:43 GMT/ 00:43 CST: China disapproves of Russia's invasion.

During a call with the US Secretary of State, China's Foreign Minister offered his views on Russia's actions but also condemned NATO.

05:52 GMT/ 23:52 CST: Kharkiv suffers worst attacks to date.

With multiple bombings in civilian areas, Kharkiv is arguably the most attacked Ukrainian city since the Russian invasion began. Tonight was the most lethal, by far.

05:08 GMT/ 23:08 CST: Russia is dropping missiles in residential area, there's proof.

Images can't leave room for any doubt, Russia has been dropping ballistic missiles in residential areas across Ukraine. A war crime without question.

04:08 GMT/ 22:08 CST: Geopolitical risk reaches 9/11 levels.

Since the biggest terrorist attack took place back in September 11, 2001, the geopolitical risk index hadn't been that high. Today, that has completely changed with the Russian invasion in Ukraine.

03:30 GMT/21:30 CST: Nuclear Power levels remain low in Zaporizhzhia Plant.

In a recent update from the International Atomic Energy Agency, nuclear power levels remain normal after the attack on Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant.

02:31 GMT/ 20:31 CST: U.S. to provide aircraft to Ukraine through Poland.

According to a report from the Wall Street Journal, the United States military is exploring a way to provide jets to Ukraine. Since they can't directly offer United States aircraft, a trade with Poland for Soviet era jets might be in the works.

01:50GMT/ 19:50 CST: President Biden approved Visa-Mastercard decision.

Visa and Mastercard are two of the biggest credit card companies in the world, they recently withdrew operations from Russia. In a recent report from Bloomberg, they confirmed President Joe Biden approved the decision.

01:13 GMT/ 19:13 CST: Marchs against the Russian invasion continue.

Here are many images showing how marchs and protests against the Russian invasion in Ukraine continue all over the world.

00:15 GMT/ 18:15 CST: Zelensky invites Elon Musk to Ukraine.

In a video of their conversation, we can see president Zelensky inviting Elon Musk to Ukraine when the war is over.

23:40 GMT/ 17:40 CST: President Zelensky spoke with Elon Musk directly.

Thanks to one of his tweets, president Zelensky revealed he spoke directly with Elon Musk about the Starlink aid Ukraine is getting.

23:11 GMT/ 17:11 CST: 100,000 Ukrainians join volunteers armed forces branch.

According to Ukraine's National Guard, 100,000 Ukrainians have decided to join the volunteer branch of the country's armed forces. This excludes all foreign volunteers, it only counts Ukrainian nationals.

22:58 GMT/ 16:58 CST: Religious statue as been evacuated from Lviv's Armenian Cathedral and taken to a bunker

The statue is part of a medieval iconostasis that had survived even WWII.

22: 53 GMT/ 16:53 CST: Viral video shows a grandma baking dessert for Ukranian soldier so they "have the strength" to return alive

Grandma Melania bakes cakes for the Ukrainian military "so that the children have the strength to fight and return alive"

22:41 GMT/ 16:41 CST: An 18-month-old child was killed in a shooting in Mariupol

22:37 GMT/ 16:37 CST: Visa and Mastercard leave Russia and will stop operating in the upcoming days

Ukraine's Minister of Digital Transformation said Visa and Mastercard are leaving Russia.

21: 56 GMT/ 15:56 CST: 100,000 territorial defense troops enlisted in Ukraine within 10 days

Defense reporter of the The Kyiv Independent Illia Ponomarenko reported 100,000 territorial defense troops enlisted in Ukraine within 10 days.

21: 29 GMT/ 15:29 CST: Reuters reported Russia calls on EU and NATO to stop arms supplies to Ukraine

Russia's foreign ministry called on European Union and NATO countries on Saturday to "stop pumping weapons" to Ukraine.

20:48 GMT/ 14:18 CST: The international hacker group Anonymous hacked the website of the Russian Federal Security Service

20:18 GMT/ 14:18 CST/ Forbes reported Ukrainian army has destroyed about USD 3 billion worth of the Russian military equipment

The Ukrainian army destroyed 33 aircraft, 37 helicopters, 251 tanks, and 939 armored fighting vehicles.

19:45 GMT/ 13:45 CST: Ukraine's General Staff confirmed they shot down two Russian planes and five helicopters

Ukraine's General Staff confirmed they shot down two Russian planes and five helicopter. Three pilots were taken prisioners.

19:17 GMT/ 13:17 CST: Secretary of State Antony Blinken stood at the Poland-Ukraine border to meet Dmytro Kuleba

Secretary of State Antony Blinken stood at the Poland-Ukraine border to meet Dmytro Kuleba, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine.

18:30 GMT/12:30 CST: More information on Bennett-Putin meeting

The meeting between Israeli prime minister Naftali Bennett and Russian president Vladimir Putin lasted three hours, according to CNN's Hadas Gold. She also reports that Bennett spoke with Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskiy after meeting with Putin.

18:00 GMT/12:00 CST: Ukraine demands more sanctions against Russia

Dmytro Kuleba, Ukraine's foreign minister, has called for a new round of sanctions on Russia.

17:30 GMT/11:30 CST: Americans in Russia advised to leave the country

The US government has issued a warning to American citizens living or traveling in Russia, encouraging them to "depart immediately".

16:45 GMT/10:45 CST: Israeli prime minister flies to Russia

Naftali Bennett, the Israeli prime minister, has travelled to Russia today to speak with Vladimir Putin in Moscow about the Ukraine crisis.

16:15 GMT/10:15 CST: Psychiatric hospital seized by Russian forces

Russian forces have taken control of a psychiatric hospital with 670 people inside in the town of Borodyanka, the regional governor Oleksiy Kuleba has confirmed.

"Today we do not understand how to evacuate these people, how to help them," said Kuleba.

"They are running out of water and medicines. These are people with certain special needs, they need constant help... many of them have been bedridden for years."

15:45 GMT/09:45 CST: Putin blames Ukraine for failed evacuation of citizens

The safe passage of citizens from Mariupol and Volnovakha did not occur after Ukraine stated that Russia continued their attacks, however Vladimir Putin has claimed that Ukraine sabotaged the evacuations.

15:15 GMT/09:15 CST: Putin's threat to other countries

Vladimir Putin has warned that Russia will consider any country that imposes a no-fly zone over Ukraine as having entered the conflict.

14:45 GMT / 08:45 CST: Red Cross expect evacuations of Mariupol and Volnovakha to be delayed

The plan had been for the evacuations of Mariupol and Volnovakha to take place this Saturday, but the Red Cross has stated that it no longer believes this safe passage of civilians will be possible today.

14:20 GMT / 08:20 CST: Explosions in Bucha near Kyiv

Drone footage, which has been verified by Sky News, shows military vehicles, explosions and soldiers in Bucha, a city in the Kyiv Oblast and near to the Ukrainian capital.

14:00 GMT / 08:00 CST: Putin gives a speech

In Russia, Vladimir Putin has spoken and given an update on the situation. He has stated that the sanctions imposed by the West on Russia are akin to a declaration of war

13:40 GMT / 07:40 CST: Aeroflot is halting international flights

Aeroflot, Russia's main airline, has announced that it will stop running international flights except to Belarus. This won't be immediate, but it will start from March 8, which is Tuesday.

13:10 GMT / 07:10 CST: Ceasefire talks continue

A humanitarian corridor was supposed to have been created for people to leave Mariupol and Volnovakha this Saturday, but Russian forces have not been respecting this. Representatives from both sides are believed to be in talks to try to reestablish ceasefire terms that will allow ordinary residents to get to safety.

12:45 GMT / 06:45 CST: Ukrainian hero Chybineiev has been killed

Russia forces have killed Ukrainian hero Valeriy Chybineiev in a battle near Hostomel. That took place on March 3, which was actually Chybineiev's birthday.

12:15 GMT / 06:15 CST: Mariupol evacuation is halted

With Russian troops not respecting a ceasefire agreement, according to city officials in Mariupol, the planned evacuation of citizens has been postponed. Residents have been asked to return to the city's shelters.

11:50 GMT / 05:50 CST: US secretary of state Antony Blinken is in Poland

Antony Blinken, the US secretary of state, has arrived in Poland, visiting Rzeszow close to the Ukrainian border. He will discuss humanitarian aid and other security issues.

11:30 GMT / 05:30 CST: British nationals urged to leave Russia

The UK government is urging British nationals in Russia to leave the country if they can. "The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) advises against all travel to the whole of Russia due to the lack of available flight options to return to the UK, and the increased volatility in the Russian economy," a statement read. "If your presence in Russia is not essential, we strongly advise that you consider leaving by remaining commercial routes."

11:05 GMT / 05:05 CST: Rally against Russian occupiers in Kherson

Residents of the city of Kherson are holding a rally against the Russian troops that have occupied the city. Footage of this protest has been shared by Anton Gerashchenko, advisor to the interior minister of Ukraine.

10:45 GMT / 04:45 CST: Speech from Zelensky

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy has addressed the nation. "Today is Saturday but it means nothing as our country doesn't have weekends anymore," he started. "It doesn't matter what's on the clock or in the calendar. And it will be this way until we win."

10:20 GMT / 04:20 CST: Reports that Russian troops aren't observing the ceasefire

According to the Mariupol authorities, Russian troops are not respecting the agreed ceasefire along the entire length of one of the planned humanitarian corridors. Negotiations are taking place between city officials and Russian forces to confirm the evacuation route.

09:50 GMT / 03:50 CST: More humanitarian corridors are expected

In addition to the humanitarian corridor currently ongoing in Mariupol and Volnovakha, more should take place in the coming days. "There will definitely be more agreements like this for all other territories," Ukrainian interior ministry adviser Anton Herashchenko stated.

09:20 GMT / 03:20 CST: Ukraine claim to have shot down a Russian helicopter

A video shared by Ukraine's military apparently shows the country's army shooting down a Russian military helicopter in the early hours of Saturday morning.

09:00 GMT / 03:00 CST: The partial ceasefire begins now

The temporary Russian ceasefire in Mariupol and Volnovakha is beginning right now, running from 09:00 to 14:00 GMT. Russian troops will allow citizens to pass and flee the city.

08:25 GMT / 02:25 CST: Ukrainians return from abroad to join the fight

Many Ukrainians have returned to their homeland over the past two weeks in order to join the fight against Russia. According to the defence ministry, more than 66,000 Ukrainians have come back to join the resistance.

07:55 GMT / 01:55 CST: Russia will allow humanitarian corridors in Mariupol and Volnovakha

At 12:00 Moscow time this Saturday, Russian troops will stop firing in order to open up a humanitarian corridor for residents in Mariupol and Volnovakha to leave. These two cities have so far been subject to some of the heaviest Russian attacks, so this ceasefire will allow citizens to evacuate the area.
Weather Alert

...FLOOD WATCH NOW IN EFFECT THROUGH THIS EVENING... * 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 this evening. * IMPACTS...Significant and potentially life threatening flash flooding is ongoing just south of I-44 across Okfuskee and Okmulgee counties. Numerous main-stem rivers will likely rise above flooding. Extensive low land flooding will be likely, especially where the heavier rain has already occurred. Many low-water crossings will likely become flooded. Area creeks and streams are already running high. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS... - Widespread heavy rainfall has fallen over the past 24 hours across much of northeast Oklahoma and far northwest Arkansas. Heavy rains will continue to spread east and southward through the morning. Additional showers and storms are likely to develop through the day Thursday. Any locally heavy amounts could lead to rapid onset flooding. Rains will taper off by late afternoon from west to east. - 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. &&
UNITED NATIONS, March 4 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations on Friday launched humanitarian appeals worth 620.4 million U.S. dollars for two landlocked countries -- Burkina Faso and Malawi.

The Burkina Faso 2022 humanitarian response plan seeks 591 million dollars to help 3 million vulnerable people, said the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).

Burkina Faso suffers from the effects of COVID-19, climactic variances and violence at the hands of non-state groups operating through the Sahel, said OCHA.

The outlook for 2022 indicates a probable worsening of the situation in Burkina Faso. Despite insecurity and access constraints, aid workers and organizations have stayed and are delivering.

The three-month flash appeal for Malawi seeks 29.4 million dollars, focusing on six districts hit hardest by Tropical Storm Ana, where an estimated 680,000 people require humanitarian assistance and protection, the office said. The humanitarians hope to provide vital relief to 542,000 people.

The Malawi appeal brings together 44 partners, including 10 UN agencies, and complements government relief efforts, OCHA said.

The United Nations earlier released 3 million dollars from its Central Emergency Relief Fund but said Malawi needed further support. 
Woburn, MA (01801)

Today

Sunshine and a few clouds. High 69F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Partly cloudy skies this evening will become overcast overnight. Low 46F. Winds NW at 5 to 10 mph.
People gather at the blast site in northwest Pakistan's Peshawar on March 4, 2022. A powerful blast hit a mosque in Pakistan's northwestern city of Peshawar in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province on Friday.

According to a spokesperson of the Lady Reading Hospital where the bodies and the injured were being shifted, 57 bodies were handed over to relatives on Friday, and six more succumbed to injuries at the hospital, raising the death toll to 63. (Photo by Saeed Ahmad/Xinhua)

ISLAMABAD, March 4 (Xinhua) -- At least 56 people were killed and nearly 200 others injured in a mosque blast in Pakistan's northwest Peshawar city of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province on Friday, according to hospital and police officials.

Muhammad Asim, a spokesperson for the Lady Reading Hospital in Peshawar where all the injured have been shifted, confirmed the casualties to Xinhua, saying that more than 195 people are injured.

Several among the injured are in critical condition, he said, adding that a state of emergency has been declared as the injured are being provided with medicines and blood on an emergency basis at the hospital.

Haroon Rasheed, senior superintendent of police operations of Peshawar, told Xinhua that two terrorists tried to enter the mosque and engaged in an exchange of fire with the police personnel on duty there. One policeman was killed and another was seriously injured before the huge explosion occurred.

Following a preliminary investigation, the official said it was a suicide bombing targeting civilians.

Condemning the terrorist attack, Pakistan's Interior Minister Sheikh Rasheed Ahmad said that there was no threat alert issued for the attack.

He termed the attack a bid to destabilize Pakistan under a planned conspiracy, saying some foreign forces are trying to ruin peace in Pakistan.

Eyewitness Mushtaq Khan told Xinhua that a large number of worshippers were present in a two-floor building of the mosque when the blast happened during prayers.

"Following the blast, there were bodies strewn all over the place and people were crying for help ... It was the most massive explosion that I have ever seen in my life," Khan said. 

People gather at the blast site in northwest Pakistan's Peshawar on March 4, 2022. A powerful blast hit a mosque in Pakistan's northwestern city of Peshawar in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province on Friday.

According to a spokesperson of the Lady Reading Hospital where the bodies and the injured were being shifted, 57 bodies were handed over to relatives on Friday, and six more succumbed to injuries at the hospital, raising the death toll to 63. (Photo by Saeed Ahmad/Xinhua)

Rescuers gather at the blast site in northwest Pakistan's Peshawar on March 4, 2022. A powerful blast hit a mosque in Pakistan's northwestern city of Peshawar in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province on Friday.

According to a spokesperson of the Lady Reading Hospital where the bodies and the injured were being shifted, 57 bodies were handed over to relatives on Friday, and six more succumbed to injuries at the hospital, raising the death toll to 63. (Photo by Saeed Ahmad/Xinhua)

People gather at the blast site in northwest Pakistan's Peshawar on March 4, 2022. A powerful blast hit a mosque in Pakistan's northwestern city of Peshawar in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province on Friday.

According to a spokesperson of the Lady Reading Hospital where the bodies and the injured were being shifted, 57 bodies were handed over to relatives on Friday, and six more succumbed to injuries at the hospital, raising the death toll to 63. (Photo by Saeed Ahmad/Xinhua)

People attend a funeral ceremony of victims following a blast in northwest Pakistan's Peshawar on March 5, 2022. A powerful blast hit a mosque in Pakistan's northwestern city of Peshawar in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province on Friday.

According to a spokesperson of the Lady Reading Hospital where the bodies and the injured were being shifted, 57 bodies were handed over to relatives on Friday, and six more succumbed to injuries at the hospital, raising the death toll to 63. (Photo by Saeed Ahmad/Xinhua)

People attend a funeral ceremony of victims following a blast in northwest Pakistan's Peshawar on March 5, 2022. A powerful blast hit a mosque in Pakistan's northwestern city of Peshawar in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province on Friday.

According to a spokesperson of the Lady Reading Hospital where the bodies and the injured were being shifted, 57 bodies were handed over to relatives on Friday, and six more succumbed to injuries at the hospital, raising the death toll to 63. (Photo by Saeed Ahmad/Xinhua)
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Kovac's three dogs will be among 25 pets that participate in trials of the vaccine."The great thing is that being based on a human vaccine technology where more than 6 million doses have been safely administered, we can be confident it is also very safe for pets," he told News Corp Australia on Friday."Unlike other respiratory viruses, it is now proven that many domestic pets including cats, dogs and pocket pets like ferrets can catch Covid-19 from human close contacts. Just like us, they can catch it via direct contact and handling by an infected human."They are at risk of myocarditis, pericarditis, respiratory failure, but may also just have a mild or asymptomatic infection," he said.Australia on Friday reported more than 25,000 new human coronavirus infections and 37 deaths -- 26 in Victoria, seven in Queensland, two in New South Wales (NSW) and two in South Australia."(Unapproved RATs) have not been assessed by the TGA, meaning they do not come with the same assurances of safety, effectiveness and quality as those that have met Australian regulatory requirements."Unapproved versions may not work as expected, or work at all," the TGA said.Source: IANS
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Owen the Wanderer and the New Kid in Class co-authors Amanda Owen and Ashley Wedding realized their dream Friday of putting their book in the hands of children locally through a partnership with Independence Bank.

Owen is the executive director for Puzzle Pieces, a local nonprofit that works with individuals with disabilities. She, along with Wedding, Puzzle Pieces public relations director, originally published the book in March, 2021 on World Down Syndrome Day.

The book is centered around a young boy named Owen and his curiosity about McKenzie who is a new student with Down syndrome. It is meant to help children learn more about disabilities and how to open a line of communication to ask questions and interact with others around them who have disabilities.

Through funding provided by Independence Bank, Puzzle Pieces was able to hand-deliver a copy of the book to each elementary school throughout Daviess County to be placed in school libraries.

When we first wrote the book, the vision when we wrote the book was to have little hands and eyes reading it and the impact that would make on those people in school, Owen said. It was hard for us to get that to be where everybody bought into it. Its just another book to most people, but to us, its everything  the impact is everything, so joining forces with Independence Bank has made that dream come true.

The book not only celebrates individuals with disabilities, but it also celebrates Owensboro, Owen said, as characters and settings of the book are all inspired by local people and places, including McKenzie, one of the main characters, who is modeled after one of the first clients at Puzzle Pieces, as well as Owen, who was inspired by Weddings son.

We really tried to embrace our own community, Owen said.

The book also includes guided questions at the end which are meant to help parents and even teachers discuss key points of the book with children, according to Owen, which will make it easier for teachers to work the book and its themes and lessons into instruction.

Susanne Story, a representative with Independence Bank, also worked with Owen and Wedding to deliver books to schools Friday.

This has been such a positive day, Story said. All the schools have been so welcoming and so many people already knew about the book, so to be able to help them have a copy of this and share this message with their classrooms is absolutely making my heart smile today.

Story said the bank decided to help provide copies of the book to children locally because it incorporated many of the values of the bank, including education and a focus on community.

Wedding said getting to this point and getting the book out into the community has inspired herself and Owen to keep going with the series and help children learn more about other disabilities and inclusiveness in general.

It means its time for us to write book two, Wedding said. Its kind of scary and exciting at the same time, but it just pushes us to keep writing and keep spreading awareness for different aspects of disabilities.

Book two, which will focus more on cerebral palsy and individuals with limited mobility, is in the finishing stages, according to Owen, and will likely be completed and published by some time this summer.

Weve already printed the cover, we already have a rough draft, we already have the characters in the book and the setting and everything, again, is showcasing and centered out of Owensboro, she said. This has just kick-started us to finalize the details and make sure its making the impact that we want to make.

Book deliveries to local schools will continue through Monday, ultimately reaching 25 elementary schools through Daviess County.

Christie Netherton, cnetherton@messenger-inquirer.com, 270-691-7360
While indoor plumbing changed the world, the conveniences that come with this innovation of the modern age also come with dedicated hard work that can be dangerous and oftentimes a dirty job.

Victor Cernius, Regional Water Resource Agency director of operations, said the agencys employees take those challenges in stride.

A crew of RWRA maintenance technicians were on hand at the agencys pump station located near the intersection at Southtown Boulevard and Back Square Drive Friday.

Right now, they are doing a replacement of the third pump, Cernius said.

The brick pump station fits discreetly into the surrounding landscape of the Towne Center Mall and other area businesses. But there is a lot going on underground, and a lot that needs to be maintained by RWRA.

We have already replaced two of the pumps in there, but we have three pumps in this pump station that convey sewage to the wastewater treatment plant from our collection system, Cernius said. We are upgrading these to more power efficient pumps that hopefully will be less maintenance and more cost effective going forward.

The job involved a crew that includes maintenance technicians, a crew leader, as well as a maintenance supervisor. One crew member must be lowered 35 feet down into the pump station, working from a chair suspended from a davit crane.

Louis Brake, maintenance supervisor, said working from the suspended seat is not an easy job to do.

It is like working in outer space, so when they are pulling that big pipe and stuff around, so they really have to pay attention to what they are doing, Brake said.

The maintenance technician tasked with being lowered into the hole will spend about seven hours of his day working from the suspended seat.

Cernius said welding and pipe fitting will be completed all while suspended in the air.

This project has been going on for a few weeks, he said. This is a pretty big project.

Cernius said the general RWRA customer might not be aware of just how skilled the employees are that sign on to do this type of work actually are.

Our guys are multi-craft technicians, Cernius said. They replaced all of the electrical components, the controls, the power inside this pump station as well. This is a big renovation project that a lot of utilities our size would probably have to contract this out, but we are fortunate we have a lot of really talented guys that work here.

Cernius added that that skillset not only includes welding, pipe fitting and electrical, but also electronics as well.

They are programming all of our controls and our equipment; they are writing software programming, he said.

Brake said the job description for RWRAs maintenance technicians is just about anything and everything.

We do a lot of rehabs like this, he said Then we do a lot of repairs, so if the pump is clogged or if there is some type of issue we will come out and address those.

The number of employees working on a job depends on what the job entails, Brake said.

Generally, there are crews of two, he said. On this type of job, we have a crane operator, a guy in the whole, a crew leader and then you have to have someone to do well markers.

Jordan Sapp, crew leader, said an important part of his job is monitoring the air quality while someone is working in the hole.

We have a monitor that monitors the oxygen level, hydrogen sulfide level and carbon monoxide the whole time that he is in the hole and we take record of that every 30 minutes, he said.

The monitor also has an alarm, and will sound an alert if those levels reach a dangerous level.

Cernius said RWRA is hopeful to have the job finished in roughly a week or a week and a halfs time.

It is dirty work, but these guys dont complain, he said. They go at it, they are on call 24/7 and I think it would surprise most people really how skilled these guys are and their abilities.
He Lifeng, head of the National Development and Reform Commission, attends an interview via video link after the opening meeting of the fifth session of the 13th National People's Congress (NPC) in Beijing, capital of China, March 5, 2022. (Xinhua/Li Xin)

Minister of Finance Liu Kun attends an interview via video link after the opening meeting of the fifth session of the 13th National People's Congress (NPC) in Beijing, capital of China, March 5, 2022. (Xinhua/Li Xin)

He Lifeng, head of the National Development and Reform Commission, attends an interview via video link after the opening meeting of the fifth session of the 13th National People's Congress (NPC) in Beijing, capital of China, March 5, 2022. (Xinhua/Li Xin)

Minister of Finance Liu Kun attends an interview via video link after the opening meeting of the fifth session of the 13th National People's Congress (NPC) in Beijing, capital of China, March 5, 2022. (Xinhua/Li Xin)

Minister of Agriculture and Rural Affairs Tang Renjian attends an interview via video link after the opening meeting of the fifth session of the 13th National People's Congress (NPC) in Beijing, capital of China, March 5, 2022. (Xinhua/Li Xin)

Journalists raise questions via video link in an interview attended by ministers after the opening meeting of the fifth session of the 13th National People's Congress (NPC) in Beijing, capital of China, March 5, 2022. (Xinhua/Yin Gang)

Minister of Agriculture and Rural Affairs Tang Renjian attends an interview via video link after the opening meeting of the fifth session of the 13th National People's Congress (NPC) in Beijing, capital of China, March 5, 2022. (Xinhua/Li Xin)

Minister of Agriculture and Rural Affairs Tang Renjian attends an interview via video link after the opening meeting of the fifth session of the 13th National People's Congress (NPC) in Beijing, capital of China, March 5, 2022. (Xinhua/Li Xin)
Until this week, I wouldnt have been able to find Ukraine on a map. And I still dont know much about this country at all. In fact, I find myself calling it the Ukraine, for reasons unknown.

I can find Russia on a map, but only because its so big.

What I cant find is any good reason for any country to just plow over a border into another country.

I have nothing to add to the political posturing and discourse on this subject. I hear about sanctions and oligarchs and boycotts and other stuff, but I dont completely understand what most of those things are or how, whether or if they matter at a time like this.

What I do understand is that it is wrong to oust people from their homes, to send women and children scrambling for safety in subway tunnels, to force people to make the terrible choice of fleeing their country altogether.

I have seen only a very few, very random images, but they universally depict a courageous and patriotic people who stand up, in whatever way they can, against this invasion of their homes and country.

I watched a video of a woman confronting a Russian soldier, insisting that he accept a handful of sunflower seeds and put them in his pocket, so that when he falls on her native soil, his grave will be marked by sunflowers. The video includes a lot of curse words and an actual curse.

The soldier, for his part, looks miserable. Im not sure he knows why hes there either, standing in someone elses street, holding a gun. He all but begs this angry woman not to escalate the situation, to which she sneers, From this moment, you are cursed.

Another video seems to show a farmer towing away a tank with his tractor as a hapless soldier runs after it. And in yet another scene, a crowd of civilians  their hands in their air, shouting repeatedly that they are unarmed  blocks a convoy of military vehicles. A Russian soldier fires his weapon in the air as a warning, but nobody flinches, nobody moves, except to try to push the vehicle back with their bare hands.

Then there is the photograph of the grandmother training with an assault rifle.

When an invader comes, I will resist and I will be furious, she said.

As the reporter questioned her, she added, Your mother would do it, too.

My friend  hero, actually  Greta McDonough shared her personal experiences with the people of Ukraine in a column earlier this week, closing with a question: What are we to do?

I dont know the answer to that question.

I dont know what we are to do on behalf of the Ukrainian people.

Nor do I know what we would do on behalf of the United States, should such an occasion fall to us.

Would we spend our time and energy blaming one another, accusing this leader or that one for the downfall of our nation?

Or would we stand up, together? Would we be the United states, the United people?

And if we could do that then, why cant we do it now?
In summer 2020, The New York Times coordinated a nationwide project to document the lives of Americans out of work because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The study involved collaborating with 11 other local newsrooms around the U.S. The Messenger-Inquirer was the only newspaper from Kentucky in the collaboration. The resulting collection of stories was published Oct. 23, 2020, in the New York Times print edition and at nytimes.com/outofwork. The following list is the Messenger-Inquirer's local unemployment coverage from that time period; read more by clicking the "New York Times Project" header. Click on "Out Of Work In America" to go to the full
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

March 3, 2022

Contact: Press@michigan.gov

Gov. Whitmer's Food Security Council Issues Recommendations to Ensure Michigan Families Have Access to Affordable, Nutritious Food

LANSING, Mich. - Governor Gretchen Whitmer's Food Security Council released their final report which includes recommendations to decrease food insecurity in Michigan and highlights the swift action the state has already taken to improve this issue. Recommendations include increasing funding for fresh food through local and regional programs, increasing feedback from Michiganders who use community food programs, and ensuring Medicaid beneficiaries, such as those with diabetes, can access medically appropriate food.

"Putting Michiganders first means making sure they can access healthy, affordable food, especially during hard times," said Governor Gretchen Whitmer. "Implementing the recommendations from the Food Security Council will help us build on the positive momentum we have and find more ways to feed Michigan families during challenging times. I thank the members of this council for their hard work and creative solutions to an issue that affects the entire nation. I will continue working with anyone to make sure Michigan families can access healthy, affordable food."

Governor Whitmer created the council in August 2020 and appointed Dr. Phil Knight of the Food Bank Council of Michigan as chair. The council?consists of the directors of the state departments of Health and Human Services, Agriculture and Rural Development, and Labor and Economic Opportunity, and the superintendent of public instruction, or their designees, as well as 16 other appointees.?

The council is part of the governor's ongoing efforts to improve food security in Michigan, which have expanded as families have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. During the pandemic, the Governor requested and gained approval to increase monthly food assistance benefits for families and worked with the federal government to make Michigan the first state to gain federal approval for the Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer Program. The program, which reached more than 1 million students, provided nutritious food to children who were affected by school closings due to COVID-19.??

The Food Security Council's report provides recommendations that are broken down under three main recommendations:

Increase availability of healthy, fresh food

Understand and support Michiganders experiencing hunger

Improve navigation to connect to food and nutrition programs

Under the three main categories, there are 11 more specific proposals that include:

Increasing funding for fresh food through local and regional programs.

Increasing feedback from Michigan residents who use community food programs.

Improving access to food that meets the medical needs of certain Medicaid beneficiaries, such as Michiganders with diabetes. The report recommends Michigan pursue a federal waiver that would allow Michigan to develop a pilot program that addresses the social determinants of health for Medicaid beneficiaries. The program would include evidence-based interventions that improve access to medically supported food and nutrition services, such as medically tailored meals that are home-delivered to the homes of patients with diabetes. Improving infrastructure for food insecurity screening and referral in health care organizations.

"Our department continues working hard to provide easier access to nutritious food so that Michigan families can be healthy and successful," said Michigan Department of Health and Human Services Director Elizabeth Hertel. "We will work to heed the valuable advice from our partners from the Food Security Council, and continue to collaborate with our partners to ensure that people in Michigan can put food on the table."

"Members of the Food Security Council are passionate about this complex challenge because most of us see its effects on a daily basis," said Dr. Phil Knight, chair of the Food Security Council. "Families and individuals faced with food insecurity deal with toxic stress that impacts all parts of their lives - including their health and their ability to maintain employment and support their children. We appreciate Governor Whitmer's leadership in tackling the issue of food insecurity."

While final statistics for 2020 are yet to be reported, estimates show that during the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, food insecurity increased to approximately 1.9 million people in Michigan, including 552,000 children.

Cost-effective policies that enhance federal and state food and nutrition programs, increase charitable food assistance and clinically integrate food-as-medicine programs in health care have the potential to decrease food insecurity, the council said in the report.

Food assistance through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, Women, Infant and Children (WIC) benefits, school meals and pandemic-related waivers and flexibilities including Pandemic EBT have demonstrated favorable economic and health impacts.

The Food Security Council final report can be found here.

# # #
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The Four Lakes Task Force (FLTF) is seeking an additional $10 million through a grant and/or bond in order to continue progress on restoring the Tittabawassee River dams and their corresponding lakes in Midland and Gladwin counties.

This comes as an update to the task force's May 2021 restoration plan. It still anticipates receiving state funding.

The FLTF was required to hold a public hearing regarding its intentions to comply with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), a hearing which preceded its regular board meeting scheduled for Thursday at the Grace A. Dow Memorial Library in Midland.

Now, the FLTF is requesting resolutions from Midland and Gladwin counties to approve its plan of financing and to request "full faith and credit" as secondary security for these potential notes. This comes after the FLTF board approved a resolution declaring intent for seeking the funds and voted to approve the financing plan.

The FLTF, a delegated authority for the two counties, has the intention of receiving a bond, loan and/or grant after anticipating it may need more funding when the restoration plan was developed and shared with the four lakes communities last May. The board plans to meet again on March 31. The action it takes at that meeting will depend on the potential state funding.

State Sen. Jim Stamas, R-Midland, of the 36th District and chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, was virtually in attendance while sitting at his office desk in Lansing to update the residents. He said the state does not typically 100% fund a proposed bill package. In addition, FLTF Dave Kepler said this is probably one of the largest monetary requests to the state of Michigan in recent times.

"I feel strong that we will see something soon," Stamas said.

The property owners near the Secord, Smallwood, Sanford and Wixom lake communities voiced concerns and points of support to the board during the public comment portion of the gathering.

Thursday's regular board meeting

More chaos unfolded as FLTF forged forth with its efforts to restore the lakes. On Thursday, FLTF said it will need an additional $10 million as it awaits state support. That left a lot of uncertainty among some residents during the board meeting.

In terms of regular business, the board members talked about the overall recovery progress.

Kepler said this includes winter shoreline stabilization projects that secured eight homes on Wixom Lake and 20 homes on Sanford Lake. To date, the task force has completed 12 projects and has protected two miles of shoreline and 89 homes. A cost of $9.05 million in total spending for this effort was paid for by the National Resource Conservation Service and the FLTF.

The group has completed post-dam stabilization on Secord, Smallwood and Edenville dams and is in progress of completing the Sanford dam project. The cost for these stabilization projects is expected to total $25.3 million.

The total spending estimate for flood debris removal is $500,000 to date. This includes removal from the Sanford Dam, Sanford Village, and Sanford Lake County Park. These projects are complete. Work is starting on River Trails County Park with Midland County.

Kepler talked about the Secord and Smallwood stabilization progress, noting that most of the work has been completed and there is a total investment of $2 million. Engineering for the final restoration is underway, with the FLTF engineers finalizing alternative options and in the permitting process.

The Edenville Dam stabilization progress on the Tobacco River side is expected to need a $4.5 million investment through NRCS and the state of Michigan, Kepler said. Portions have been demolished, other parts have been stabilized with concrete, and the tailrace (the water channel below the dam) is stable.

The Edenville Dam work on the Tittabawassee side is expected to cost $7.4 million. The work includes the embankment being stabilized between M-30 and the dam, demolition of the former spillway, and restoring the tailrace and downstream riverbanks. It also includes the I-wall being installed through the breachway, finishing the breachway grading, and seeding by late spring this year.

Sanford Dam stabilization is expected to be completed in the fall. There are three phases to the project. The first phase is expected to be completed this month, including installing the temporary bridge and prepping the site for construction. Phase two is the spillway modification, which includes partially demolishing the spillway, constructing a new mass concrete weir, removing the spillway gate and re-routing the river to its natural path.

The third phase includes driving steel sheet pile through the breachway, placing a riprap (used to protect soil) downstream along the riverbank, and removing sediment from the river.

FLTF member Adam Beebe talked about the safety booms that will be added this spring or summer to all the dams. They will provide safety for recreation and will be engineered to sustain debris and ice. Beebe said the cost to cover all four dams with the safety booms is $1.2 million.

Kepler said the timeframe for the lakes to come back has not changed.

Smallwood and Secord lakes are expected to return in 2024. Sanford Lake is expected to return in 2025 and Wixom Lake in 2026.

The restoration planning cost estimates are $25 million for Secord Lake, $18 million for Smallwood Lake, $121 million for Wixom Lake and $51 million for Sanford Lake.

Some residents are all for the lakes coming back at any cost, such as Secord Lake resident Jeff Sorensen.

One, we have a plan, two, there is an end game and three, we have people capable of doing the work, he said at the meeting.

Karen Licquia disagreed.

I dont want any of this. I dont understand any of you people," she said.

I didnt make this mess and I dont want to clean it up."

Resident Elaine Arnold was supportive of the board.

I think you are doing all you can to restore what was ours in the first place, she said.

Other residents, like Allen Dodge, who lives on Wixom Lake, wants to see the lake come back, but he is not sure at what cost. He fears the money needed from residents will force him out of his 400-square-foot cabin with two bedrooms which he planned to retire in.

Do I just have to walk away now? Dodge asked, wondering if should do that or wait to be taxed out of his home later when the Special Assessment District (SAD) tax comes due.

Sanford Lake resident Darin Lunsford said there are three types of residential approaches: those who live on the back lots; those like him who dont mind paying but dont want to pay a different amount every three years, such as the special assessment district; and those who are about doing whatever it takes to bring the lakes back.

Endre Sefcsik, of Wixom Lake, said he wants to see more oversight on the project. He works on a website titled, No-2-SAD.

He said county commissioners would balk over the sheriff asking for $200 for bullets, but they will easily hand over thousands of dollars to the FLTF.

The FLTF notes there was no action taken related to the Four Lakes Special Assessment district at the Thursday meeting.

How do we know at the end of this we wont have to pay another $250 million? Sefcsik asked. There needs to be oversight.
BEIJING, March 5 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese government work report pledged efforts to help Hong Kong and Macao develop the economy and improve the people's wellbeing, see that the two regions better integrate themselves into the country's overall development, and maintain their long-term prosperity and stability.

The report was submitted Saturday to the national legislature for deliberation. 
HAMDEN  Quinnipiac University soon will pack up the Irelands Great Hunger Museums collection and transfer it to a new home 30 minutes away, where it will fall under the purview of the Gaelic-American Club of Fairfield.

That the collection will remain intact, in Connecticut and in a place where its cared for, is a good news story for Irish America, said John Foley, the GACs vice president, though he acknowledged his team has a lot of work to do before opening the new museum in downtown Fairfield.

Quinnipiac University leadership say moving the collection from northern Whitney Avenue to a higher-traffic area will amplify the story it tells. The school also plans to create an educational partnership with the Gaelic-American Club, according to officials.

But some have reservations and concerns about the news.

John Lahey, Quinnipiacs former president, expressed disappointment Friday, while Turlough McConnell, executive director of the Committee to Save Irelands Great Hunger Museum, questioned whether the decision was appropriate.

Lahey struggled to see how the move was in the universitys best interest.

The museum was an important part of Quinnipiacs brand and its marketing and its connection to the Irish-American community, he said. Frankly Im embarrassed that a university of Quinnipiacs standing would be closing a museum near their campus at a time like this, a museum dedicated to educating people about bigotry and discrimination.

The move could be a boon to two of Quinnipiacs Fairfield-based competitors, Fairfield University and Sacred Heart University, Lahey contended.

Im just sad, he said. I think (Quinnipiac is) the loser in all this.

But while it is relocating the museum collection, the university will continue to advance the academic and research programs of Irelands Great Hunger Institute at Quinnipiac, the Irish collection in the Lender Reading Room, according to a release.

Current university President Judy D. Olian said the university will repurpose the museum building.

There are a couple of ideas that are prominent for us, she said when asked how it will be used. Were not ready to make a public statement about it.

Questioning the move

The Committee to Save Irelands Great Hunger Museum vocally has opposed the universitys decision to close the Hamden museum. McConnell, the groups executive director, met with Quinnipiac officials and offered to work with them to keep the museum open at its current location.

After learning the university instead chosen the GACs plan to house the collection in Fairfield, McConnell was shocked, he said.

His number one issue with the announcement, he said, is that it comes before state Attorney General William Tongs office has released the results of its inquiry into the universitys decision to move the collection.

They have to wait for the attorney general to give the results of the inquiry, he said. Thats the most important part.

Whatever donations there were, we are going to follow whatever steps there are, but the reality is that most of the art in the museum was acquired by Quinnipiac University, Olian said when asked about McConnells concern. Nothing here has been done without consultation with the (Attorney Generals) office.

While Quinnipiac purchased and owns the vast majority of the collection, according to Provost Debra Liebowitz, Olian said the attorney generals purview is making sure that whatever philanthropy occurred is dispensed with appropriately.

The university has been working with the Attorney Generals office and has provided the information requested, Quinnipiac said later in a written statement. We remain committed to keeping the collection together and honoring the terms of the original donor agreements for any items donated to IGHM.

Asked why Tongs office got involved, spokesperson Elizabeth Benton said she could not share details.

I can confirm we have an active and ongoing inquiry but cannot comment further, she said.

Keeping the collection together

Ultimately, McConnells hopes for the museum are similar to Foleys. While he would rather see the museum stay in Hamden, our secondary purpose is to ensure that the collection remains intact, whole, not broken up or sold.

He worried about the sustainability of handing the collection over to the GAC.

The plan needs to be thoroughly investigated to see that its at the standard for the collection, McConnell said. The GAC is a lovely social club  but its a club  its a social club. Its not a museum.

There are many people with a real emotional connection to this collection, Foley said when asked about McConnells concerns. I fully understand that. When I saw (it), as an Irishman, it took my breath away.

But there are others who accept that its probably the best solution, to take it into a place its cared for, he said. Itll be cared for here, and itll be grown.

Representatives from other Irish-American organizations such as the Ancient Order of Hibernians already have expressed their support, according to Foley. Mark Ryan, president of the John F. Kennedy Division 1 AOH chapter, which is based in Fairfield County, confirmed he supported the plan.

We will reach out to (the committee) and ask them to join us, Foley said. We want the entire Irish community to get behind this effort, and its going to make this happen and its going to be beautiful.

Foley emphasized he is not working on the project alone. He and other GAC leaders have put in hours of work to figure out how to house the museum, he said.

While he declined to disclose the new location, Foley said it is a seven-minute walk from the Fairfield train station, which should draw visitors. It also is near the GAC, a hub of cultural activity with a large event space, he said.

The GAC will to work to ensure the museum is an academic center that hosts Irish studies events and gives scholars access to its materials, according to Foley.

If the GAC did not come up with its plan, Foley said, he worried the collection would not stay in Connecticut.

I feel we would have lost the collection, he said. We did not want to lose the collection.

meghan.friedmann@

hearstmediact.com
MIDDLETOWN  The Middletown superintendent of schools has resigned, citing recent threats to him and his family, which caused him to reevaluate personal priorities.

At this time, my priority is my family, Michael Conner wrote in the letter addressed Thursday to Board of Education Chairwoman Deborah Cain.

Conners letter said he planned to have his resignation take effect in 90 days.

However, Cain accepted his resignation, effective immediately, according to Middletown Public Schools Communications Director Jessie Lavorgna.

The Board wishes Dr. Conner well in his future endeavors, Lavorgna wrote in an email.

Conner received he called a hate packet, containing death threats and racially charged language mailed to his home.

The schools chief reported the incident to police, who are still investigating the matter.

Conner has been on leave from his job since mid-October, after the district launched an independent investigation into alleged misconduct by top school district administrators.

I am not resigning because of the baseless claims, political posturing, and a one-sided investigation process that is more interested in reaching a result in lieu of finding the truth, Conner wrote in the resignation letter.

Conners wife Viviana Conner described the material as racist, hateful and threatening. She believes media coverage of the school board probe has emboldened and enabled the individual whose name was on the letter.

Since no charges have been filed, Hearst Connecticut Media Group is withholding the identity of the person.

I will be making an extensive outreach and communication to this community in the coming weeks, Michael Conner said in his resignation letter.
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MIDDLETOWN  The Community Foundation of Middlesex County recently awarded a $2,000 grant to UR Community Cares to allow it to connect volunteers with older and disabled residents of Middlesex County.

The young and healthy often take their age and well-being for granted, UR Cares said in a press release. Older and disabled adults ... each day are reminded of the challenges they face with even common tasks. Raking leaves, dusting and shopping for groceries  these can seem insurmountable.

Even with a full pantry, the agency said, some sit at home, alone, hungry for companionship.

These are the people UR Community Cares hopes to reach, it said in the news release.

The volunteer organization uses a digital platform to connect adults 70 and older and/or 18 and up with temporary or permanent disabilities with community volunteers who want to help them, the agency said.

We look forward to making a great impact in Middlesex County by connecting people who are interested in improving the lives of neighbors to those that need a little extra help at home to stay independent. Someone may ask to take a ride to see the beautiful Connecticut River or go to a show at the Goodspeed Opera House, friendships develop and companionship is vital as we are coming out of two very difficult years. Michelle Puzzo, co-founder and president of UR Community Cares, said in a prepared statement.

Fanny Koller, an 85-year-old resident of Clinton, has firsthand experience. She tried to keep up with her yard work, but could only do so much, the organization said. My back just wouldnt take it, and I would just do a little bit at a time and have to quit.

UR Community Cares partnered with the Clinton Police Department to get help for people such as Koller.

Connecticut has the seventh oldest population in the nation. UR Community Cares is addressing that need on a community level.

The CFMC grant is a chance to expand its reach even more in 15 towns of Middlesex County. The volunteer program is funded in part through a grant from the Community Foundation of Middlesex County/Sherry and Herb Clark Family Fund, River View Cemetery Fund and St. Lukes Home Fund.

For information, visit urcommunitycares.org or middlesexcountycf.org.
The Connecticut Supreme Court upheld the conviction of a New York man for an execution-style killing in a New Haven nightclub that occurred in 2013, rejecting his attempts to toss witness testimony that tied him to the crime.

In a unanimous ruling, the court noted that despite a lack of direct witnesses, security footage from inside the Cheetah Club captured Jean Bruny walking up within several feet of the victim, Torrance Dawkins, and shooting him in the back of the head before fleeing the club.

There were no such eyewitnesses, Justice Raheem Mullins wrote in the majority opinion. The overwhelming nature of the states case hinged, instead, on the fact that the defendant was captured on the surveillance video shooting the victim.

Bruny was arrested more than two years after the killing when police reviewed footage from the scene. During a trial in 2018, four witnesses testified that Bruny was the person seen in the footage shooting Dawkins.

A forensic expert also presented enhanced footage tracking individuals through the club before, during and after the shooting.

The victim was celebrating his 22nd birthday by attending a concert at the Cheetah Club the night of the shooting. Some of his family who were with him that night later testified that they had bad blood with members of Brunys group at the club.

Bruny was convicted of murder and a firearms charge and was sentenced to 50 years in prison.

On appeal, his attorneys sought to reverse the conviction on the grounds that the witnesses should not have been allowed to testify as to Brunys identity in the surveillance footage.

The court rejected that argument, with Mullins writing that the state's code of evidence should not prohibit such testimony.

We conclude that, viewed under the totality of the circumstances, the trial court acted within its discretion in admitting the testimony of all four witnesses, which was rationally based on their perception and helpful to the jury, Mullins wrote.

Brunys attorney, Pamela Nagy, did not respond to a request for comment Thursday.

The case was a companion to another appeal brought by a Hartford man, Antron Gore, who challenged his conviction for a fatal 2017 shooting in that city. Gore similarly argued about bar witnesses testifying to his identity in surveillance footage, but the court ruled to amend the states evidentiary rules to allow such testimony.

Both decisions were handed down by the court in early February, and published in the Connecticut Law Journal on Tuesday.

A single concurrence in the case, written by Justice Steven Ecker, argued that another witness who testified at Brunys trial saw the defendant with a handgun weeks before the shooting should have qualified as a jailhouse informant, with the judge instructing the jury to consider this when weighing the testimony.

However, Ecker wrote that the error was harmless and that he agreed with the rest of the justices in the decision to uphold Brunys conviction.

Bruny is incarcerated at the Cheshire Correctional Institution with the maximum date of release set in 2066.
Contributed Photo / Hartford Police Department

Tips have led to the arrest of a New Mexico man in the fatal shooting of 26-year-old Jumar Joiner in May 2008, according to the state Division of Criminal Justice.

Law enforcement on Wednesday charged Mark White, 44, of Albuquerque, N.M., with murder. He is being held on a $1 million bond and is scheduled to appear in Hartford Superior Court on March 17, the Division of Criminal Justice stated.
MOSCOW, March 5 (Xinhua) -- The Russian Armed Forces have destroyed 2,037 Ukrainian military infrastructure objects since the start of the operation, Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov said Saturday.

Among them were 71 command posts and communication centers of the Ukrainian armed forces, 98 anti-aircraft missile systems, and 61 radar stations, Konashenkov told a regular briefing.

In addition, some 66 aircraft on the ground and 16 aircraft in the air were hit, while 708 tanks and other armored combat vehicles, 74 multiple rocket launchers, 261 field artillery and mortars, 505 units of special military vehicles as well as 56 unmanned aerial vehicles were also destroyed, he added.

Russia used long-range precision weapons to destroy an ammunition depot in Ukraine, where Javelin and NLAW anti-tank missile systems were stored, Konashenkov said. 
The Department of Veterans Affairs hospital in Spokane, Washington, suspended patient admissions and most outpatient appointments Thursday after the facility's electronic health records system was found to be corrupted.

Mann-Grandstaff VA Medical Center Director Robert Fischer sent an email Thursday morning to staff ordering them to stop using the digital records system "until further notice" and assume that "all electronic patient data is corrupted/inaccurate."

According to the email, the hospital stopped taking new admissions and clinics were instructed to see patients and offer only services medical staff was "comfortable providing assuming all electronic sources of data are unreliable."

Read Next: F-18 Crashes and Explodes at Former South Carolina Gov's Family Plantation; Pilots Eject Safely

The facility's chief of surgery also was assessing whether operations could continue safely.

"This current downtime in [sic] unlike previous episodes insofar that all data residing in [the systems] may be corrupted," Fischer wrote in the email, obtained by Military.com.

A staff member said the issue stemmed from a systems update Wednesday evening at the VA's West Consolidated Patient Account Center in Las Vegas.

While the problem appeared to be fixed by Friday morning, most appointments and procedures for the day had already been suspended, said the employee, who requested anonymity because they werent authorized to speak with the media.

"They pretty much suspended anything that has to do with patient records because it was a patient safety issue," the employee said.

The medical center referred all questions to the VAs headquarters in Washington, D.C., which didnt respond by publication.

The episode marks another chapter in the troubled rollout of the VA's $16 billion electronic health system, developed by Missouri-based Cerner Corp.

The VA launched the platform at Mann-Grandstaff, its pilot site, in November 2020 following two months-long delays to address the department's information technology infrastructure and training and respond to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Just six months after its introduction, the VA then undertook a "strategic review" of the system following complaints from providers and patients that the platform was not user-friendly and did not improve data sharing, management and workflow capabilities.

"[It has never worked correctly] from the inception," the employee said during an interview Friday. "The rollout was poor, the training was poor. ... The people who brought it on board actually never seemed to consult with the people who use it, a communication gap that I don't think is uncommon."

Adoption of an electronic health records system compatible with the Department of Defense's medical records system has been decades in the making, with the VA and DoD under a congressional requirement since at least 2008 to make their systems interoperable.

The VA awarded the contract worth up to $16 billion in May 2018 to Cerner, which also developed the Defense Department's MHS Genesis electronic health records system.

The DoD is currently rolling out the Cerner electronic medical records system across its health facilities with a goal to complete deployment by 2023. Few issues have been reported with that system, which also is used by the U.S. Coast Guard.

But the VA continues to face problems with deployment of its system, now called Cerner Millennium.

VA officials announced in December that the department was replacing the leadership team over the project and would increase training ahead of expanded use beginning in 2024.

The next facility slated to receive the system is in Columbus, Ohio, with rollout expected this month, followed by the VA medical center in Walla Walla, Washington.

According to a schedule released by the VA in December, 12 VA medical centers were to receive the system by the end of this year and 21 more by the end of 2023, with a goal to have it operational at all sites in 2028.

Cerner did not respond to a request for comment by publication. Brian Sandager, the company's manager for government services, told the Spokesman-Review that the company is working to address the problem.

"Cerner remains steadfast in its support of VA efforts to provide timely, high-quality care to Veterans through a modern, interoperable electronic health record," Sandager told the paper, which first reported the problem. "We are working hand-in-hand with our VA partner to address any and all concerns."

-- Patricia Kime can be reached at Patricia.Kime@Monster.com. Follow her on Twitter @patriciakime.

Related: Defense Department Restarts Massive Military Health System Overhaul
SEOUL, South Korea (AP)  North Korea on Saturday fired a ballistic missile into the sea, according to its neighbors militaries, extending Pyongyang's streak of weapons tests this year amid a prolonged freeze in nuclear negotiations with the United States.

South Koreas Joint Chiefs of Staff said the missile fired from an area near the North Korean capital flew about 270 kilometers (168 miles) eastward at a maximum altitude of 560 kilometers (348 miles) before landing in waters between the Korean Peninsula and Japan. It said U.S. and South Korean intelligence officials were closely analyzing the launch.

The launch was North Koreas ninth round of weapons tests in 2022 as it continues to use a pause in diplomacy to expand its military capabilities while attempting to pressure the Biden administration for concessions.

The flight details roughly matched an earlier assessment by the Japanese military and were similar to North Koreas previous launch last Sunday that was also conducted from the Sunan area near Pyongyang.

North Korean state media said last week's launch was designed to test a camera system it plans to install on a spy satellite that is under development.

The missile was fired just as the international community is responding to Russias invasion of Ukraine, while also in the middle of the Beijing Paralympics, said Japanese Defense Minister Nobuo Kishi. He canceled an appearance at a military academy graduation to respond to the launch, calling it "absolutely unacceptable.

The U.S. Indo Pacific Command said the launch did not pose an immediate threat to U.S. personnel or territory, or that of its allies. It called on North Korea to refrain from further destabilizing acts and said it was closely consulting with South Korea and Japan as well as other regional allies and partners over the launch.

Officials in Seoul convened an emergency National Security Council meeting and called on the North to refrain from actions that further raise tensions in the face of an international crisis created by Russias invasion of Ukraine, and at a time when South Korea is holding a presidential election.

They also vowed stronger cooperation with the United States to deal with the North Korean threat and more closely monitor its nuclear and missile facilities as well as a nuclear testing ground that had been active until 2017, Seouls presidential office said.

The launch came as South Koreans waited in long lines Saturday morning for early voting ahead of a presidential election on Wednesday. Two major candidates have clashed over whether South Korea should continue to pursue engagement with the belligerent North or take a harder line to check its nuclear threat.

Lee Jae-myung, the candidate for the ruling center-left party who has called for a conciliatory approach toward Pyongyang, criticized the launch but reiterated his commitment to dialogue. In a statement on Facebook, he promised he wouldn't "tolerate actions that raise tensions, without specifying how he would respond.

The Norths other tests this year included a purported hypersonic missile and its first launch since 2017 of an intermediate range missile with a potential of reaching Guam, a major U.S. military hub in the Pacific.

Analysts say North Korea could up the ante in coming months and possibly resume its testing of major weapons like intercontinental ballistic missiles as it tries to move the needle with Washington, which is now preoccupied with Russias invasion of Ukraine and regional competition with China.

The (Kim Jong Un) regime may be unhappy with Washington coordinating global efforts against Russian aggression in Ukraine and disappointed with Seouls inward focus ahead of the South Korean presidential election, said Leif-Eric Easley, a professor of international studies at Ewha University in Seoul.

But North Korea does not simply test missiles for international attention. Pyongyangs current priorities are military modernization and domestic politics, Easley added.

During a ruling Workers Party conference called by North Korean leader Kim Jong Un last month, Politburo members issued a veiled threat to resume the tests of nuclear devices and ICBMs, which Kim had unilaterally suspended in 2018 to make room for diplomacy with then-President Donald Trump.

But negotiations have stalled since 2019, when the Americans rejected North Koreas demands for major sanctions relief in exchange for dismantling an aging nuclear facility, which would have amounted to a partial surrender of its nuclear capabilities.

The Biden administration has offered open-ended talks with Pyongyang but shown no willingness to offer badly needed economic benefits unless the North takes real steps to cut down its nuclear weapons and missile program.

The Norths claim that it is testing camera systems for spy satellites suggests it could possibly conduct a banned long-range rocket test disguised as a space launch to advance its weaponry and apply more pressure on Washington.

Some analysts predict that North Korea will launch a rocket carrying a satellite ahead of a major political anniversary in April, the birthday of state founder Kim Il Sung, the late grandfather of Kim Jong Un.
LVIV, Ukraine (AP)  What looked like a breakthrough cease-fire to evacuate residents from two cities in Ukraine quickly fell apart Saturday as Ukrainian officials said continued shelling had halted the work to remove civilians hours after Russia announced the deal.

The Russian defense ministry earlier said it had agreed on evacuation routes with Ukrainian forces for Mariupol, a strategic port in the southeast, and the eastern city of Volnovakha. The vaguely worded statement did not make clear how long the routes would remain open.

The Russian side is not holding to the cease-fire and has continued firing on Mariupol itself and on its surrounding area, said Kyrylo Tymoshenko, the deputy head of President Volodymyr Zelenskyys office. Talks with the Russian Federation are ongoing regarding setting up a cease-fire and ensuring a safe humanitarian corridor.

Russia breached the deal in Volnovakha as well, Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk told reporters. We appeal to the Russian side to stop firing, she said. Meanwhile, Russian outlet RIA Novosti carried a Russian defense ministry claim that the firing came from inside both cities against Russian positions.

The struggle to enforce the cease-fire showed the fragility of efforts to stop fighting across Ukraine as people continued to flee the country on the 10th day after Russian forces invaded the country.

"We are doing everything on our part to make the agreement work, Zelenskyy said. This is one of the main tasks for today. Lets see if we can go further in the negotiation process.

Mariupol had become the scene of growing misery in recent days amid an assault that knocked out power and most phone service and raised the prospect of food and water shortages for hundreds of thousands of people in freezing weather. Pharmacies are out of medicine, Doctors Without Borders said.

A top official in Mariupol had said the evacuations were to start at 11 a.m. (9 a.m. GMT) and the cease-fire was to last until 4 p.m. (2 p.m. GMT). Pavlo Kirilenko, the head of the Donetsk military-civil administration that includes the city, said the humanitarian corridor would extend to Zaporizhzhia, 226 kilometers (140 miles) away.

In comments carried on Ukrainian television, Mariupol Mayor Vadym Boychenko said thousands of people had gathered for safe passage out of the city and buses were just departing when shelling began.

We value the life of every inhabitant of Mariupol and we cannot risk it, so we stopped the evacuation, he said.

Before Russia announced the limited cease-fire, Ukraine had urged Moscow to create humanitarian corridors to allow children, women and the older adults to flee the fighting, calling them question No. 1.

Diplomatic efforts continued as U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived in Poland to meet with the prime minister and foreign minister, a day after attending a NATO meeting in Brussels in which the alliance pledged to step up support for eastern flank members. Blinken would visit a border post to meet refugees later in the day.

As Russian forces batter strategic locations elsewhere, Zelenskyy has lashed out at NATO for refusing to impose a no-fly zone over his country, warning that all the people who die from this day forward will also die because of you.

NATO said a no-fly zone could provoke widespread war in Europe with nuclear-armed Russia. But as the United States and other NATO members send weapons for Kyiv and more than 1 million refugees spill through the continent, the conflict is already drawing in countries far beyond Ukraines borders.

Russia continues to crack down on independent media reporting on the war, also blocking Facebook and Twitter, and more outlets say they are pausing their work inside the country.

And in a warning of a hunger crisis yet to come, the U.N. World Food Program says millions of people inside Ukraine, a major global wheat supplier, will need food aid immediately.

Ukraines president was set to brief U.S. senators Saturday by video conference as Congress considers a request for $10 billion in emergency funding for humanitarian aid and security needs.

In a bitter and emotional speech late Friday, Zelenskyy criticized NATO over the lack of a no-fly zone, warning that the history of Europe will remember this forever.

A no-fly zone would bar all unauthorized aircraft from flying over Ukraine.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg had ruled out that possibility. The only way to implement a no-fly zone is to send NATO fighter planes into Ukrainian airspace, and then impose that no-fly zone by shooting down Russian planes, he said.

In a separate video message to antiwar protesters in several European cities, Zelenskyy appealed for help. If we fall, you will fall, he said.

The U.N. Security Council scheduled an open meeting for Monday on the worsening humanitarian situation. The United Nations estimates that 12 million people in Ukraine and 4 million fleeing to neighboring countries in the coming months will need humanitarian aid.

Russia's attack on Friday on Ukraine's largest nuclear power plant, in Zaporizhzhia, caused global alarm, but Russian forces did not make significant progress in their offensive to sever Ukraines access to the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov, which would deal a severe blow to the country's economy.

A vast Russian armored column threatening Ukraines capital remained stalled outside Kyiv, but Russia's military has launched hundreds of missiles and artillery attacks on cities and other sites across the country.

As homes in the northern city of Chernihiv burned from what locals described as Russian shelling, one resident accused Europe of merely looking on. We wanted to join NATO and the EU and this is the price we are paying, and NATO cannot protect us," she said.

At least 331 civilians have been confirmed killed since the fighting began but the true number is probably much higher, the U.N. human rights office said.

Kyivs central train station remained crowded with people desperate to join the more than 1.4 million who have fled Ukraine. People just want to live, one woman, Ksenia, said.
How to use the mindat.org media viewer

Click/touch this help panel to close it.

Welcome to the mindat.org media viewer. Here is a quick guide to some of the options available to you. Different controls are available depending on the type of media being shown (photo, video, animation, 3d image)

Controls - all media types

Zoom in and out of media using your mousewheel or with a two-finger 'resize' action on a touch device.

Use the mouse or your finger to drag the image or the view area of the image around the screen.

< and > at the left and right hand side of the screen move forwards and backwards for the other images associated with the media you selected. Usually this is used for previous/next photo in a gallery, in an article or in search results. Keyboard shortcuts: use shift + the left and right arrow keys.

< and > in the bottom center are used for switching between the photos of the same specimen. Keyboard shortcuts: use the left and right arrow keys.

> in the bottom center, raises the information box giving details and further options for the media, < at the top of this box then hides it. Keyboard shortcuts: use the up and down arrow keys.

? opens this help window. Keyboard shortcuts: use the H key or the ? key.

Other keyboard shortcuts:

1 Fit image to screen 2 Fill screen with image 5 Display at full resolution < Make background darker > Make background lighter space Hide/dim titles and buttons

Scalebar

If the field of view (FOV) is specified for the photo, the scalebar appears in the left bottom corner of the viewer. The scalebar is draggable and resizeable. Drag the right edge to resize it. Double click will reset the scalebar to it's default size and position. If the scalebar is in default position, double click will make it circular.

Controls - Video

Video files have a standard set of video controls: - Reset to start, - Skip back, - Play, - Pause, - Skip forwards. Keyboard shortcuts: You can stop/start video play with the P key.

Controls - Animation (Spin Rotation)

Animation (usually 360 degree spin rotations) have their own controls: - enable spin mode. Note that while images are loading this option will not be available but will be automatically activated when the animation has loaded. Once active you can spin the image/change the animation by moving your mouse or finger on the image left/right or by pressing the [ or ] keys.

The button switches to move mode so that you can use your mouse/fingers to move the image around the screen as with other media types.

The button, or the P key will start playing the animation directly, you can interrupt this by using the mouse or finger on the image to regain manual movement control.

Controls - 3D Stereoscopic images

If a stereoscopic 3D image is opened in the viewer, the 3D button appears in the bottom right corner giving access to "3D settings" menu. The 3D images can be viewed in several ways:

- without any special equipment using cross-eyed or parallel-eyed method

- with stereoscope

- with anaglyph glasses.

- on a suitable 3D TV or monitor (passive 3D system)

For details about 3D refer to: Mindat manuals: Mindat Media Viewer: 3D

To enable/disable 3D stereo display of a compatible stereo pair image press the 3 key. If the left/right images are reversed on your display (this often happens in full-screen mode) press the 4 key to reverse them.

Controls - photo comparison mode

If a photo with activated comparison mode is opened in the viewer, the button appears in the bottom right corner giving access to "Comparison mode settings" menu.

Several layouts are supported: slider and side by-side comparison with up to 6 photos shown synchronously on the screen. On each of the compared photos a view selector is placed, e.g.: Longwave UV . It shows the name of currently selected view and allows to select a view for each placeholder.

Summary of all keyboard shortcuts
04.03.2022 LISTEN

In the face of pressing rent issues being a major bane of the average Ghanaian, actor turned politician John Dumelo has made a few recommendations to landlords and property owners.

In a recent post on social media, Mr. Dumelo proposed that landlords reduce their tenure of advance payments to a short term of five months.

Let landlords take 5 months deposit first. Then they can receive monthly rent from the tenant. If anything happens to the property due to the fault of the tenant, they use part of the deposit to fix it. If the tenant misses a monthly payment, they deduct from the deposit, he wrote.

One of the contributing factors of the tough and high living standards in Ghana especially Accra has always been the high cost of rent coupled with two or more years advance payment.

Government has on countless number times raised concerns and issued proposed sanctions to landlords who keep to the two years or more advance payment, but it appears they all have remained recalcitrant.

https://www.facebook.com/100044599291964/posts/490018762494763/
After about six years of parting ways, two of Ghanas creative and talented rappers Pappy Kojo and Joey B will unite to headline the maiden edition of the 3music Awards Fan Festival 2022.

The event which will be Ghanaian pop cultures biggest carnival will be held at the Untamed Empire on Saturday, March 12, 2022.

Activities on the day will include Ghanaian street arts, fashion, DJing, cuisine, and culture.

There will be a 24-hour convergence of the nations hottest hip-hop stars to blast live music.

The event according to proprietors, 3Media Networks says day is dedicated to fans and will be focused on celebrating Ghanaian music.

This falls in line with the theme of the month of March being the Ghana month as the event will be aimed at celebrating their music.

Meanwhile, the full list of nominees of this year's edition of the 3Music Award is yet to be announced.
Microsoft, a multinational technology entity has announced new initiatives to accelerate the growth of 10,000 African startups and fast-track investment in Africa's startup ecosystem over the next five years.

The company's recently launched global Founders Hub will now be available to African startups through the Africa Transformation Office (ATO), according to its release.

The Founders Hub is a self-service hub that provides startups with a wide range of resources, including access to mentors, skilling content, tools like Microsoft Azure and GitHub, and go-to-market and business support.

Microsoft is also creating new partnerships with accelerators and incubators across Africa, including Grindstone, Greenhouse, FlapMax and Seedstars to provide industry-based startups with access to markets, technical skills and funding opportunities.

These partnerships will provide Africa startups with access to skilling programmes, access to markets, including opportunities to co-sell with Microsoft, and access to technology, with support from Microsofts engineering and product teams for co-innovation opportunities.

To enable startups to rapidly scale using investment funding, Microsoft is establishing industry alliances and partnerships with venture capital investors that will facilitate access to $500m in potential funding for African startups.

This funding will come from a network of venture capital investors, who will dedicate a portion of their financial support to startups in the Microsoft network.

Microsoft has already established partnerships with several key venture capital investors, including Banque Misr, Global Venture Capital and Get Funded Africa, and the intention is to grow this network of venture capital investors in the next five years to increase funding and enable them to scale up and drive economic growth.

Africas startup market is booming

Microsoft believes the vibrant African startup market is well placed to become a cornerstone of the continents digital economy, supporting local innovation through relevant solutions to societal challenges.

Investments into Africas startup ecosystem are growing at an exciting pace. According to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), there are more than 640 active tech hubs across Africa, accelerating innovation and creating employment, particularly among the youth, says Wael Elkabbany, managing director, Microsoft Africa Transformation Office.

However, Elkabbany points out, currently the African startup market represents less than 1% of total investments worldwide. This needs to change.

He reveals that Microsofts endeavour to dramatically scale its impact will be driven by an overarching strategy with three key focus areas.

The Founders Hub

The Founders Hub includes opportunities for startups to sell to Microsofts corporate and enterprise customers. Microsoft will also support startups in geo-expansion activities, where startups can scale up by selling in new countries or regions.

The Founders Hub allows Microsoft to engage with accelerators, incubators and tech hubs across the continent. Our partnerships with key African accelerators provide crucial support to accelerate growth-stage startups with their business development and market expansion plans, says Gerald Maithya, Startups Lead, Microsoft Africa Transformation Office.

Partnerships with key startups

Microsoft will partner with B2B-focused startups, scaleups, soonicorns (businesses with the potential to become unicorns) and unicorns across a range of leading African industries, and those concentrated on working with SMEs.

We understand that each startup is unique and exists beyond the limitations of a one-size-fits-all partnership model. This is why Microsoft will tailor each partnership to the needs of individual startups, providing support and access  whether to technology, markets and co-sell opportunities, funding or digital skills  to enable them to grow and contribute to the wider economic growth of Africa, says Maithya.
04.03.2022 LISTEN

Health facilities extorting money from clients have been advised to desist from such behaviours because, it had the tendency of breaking people's interest in the National Health Insurance Scheme(NHIS), Mr Alexander Fordjour, Acting Ahafo Regional Director, National Health Insurance Authority(NHIA) has said.

According to him, despite the NHIA improving its payment of claims, some providers exploit clients by demanding payment for services covered by the scheme when they seek medical treatment at their facilities.

He said the introduction of the NHIS in 2004, had shown to be the robust way of health financing for the country.

Mr Fordjour was speaking at the 2021 end of year review meeting of the Ahafo Region of the NHIA at Hwidiem in the Asutifi South District.

The meeting was attended by close to 50 participants from five districts who are District Managers ,Public Relation Officers , Accountants ,Management Information System officers, regional staff ,Claim Processing Centre (CPC) and invited service providers.

Mr Fordjour highlighting on the region's performance during the year under review said the active membership currently stood at 410,535 which, represents 104 per cent of the annual target of 393,666

Indicating, the active membership of 410,535 represented 72.7 per cent of the total population of Ahafo which is 564,668.

He added, 178,671 NHIS members in the region renewed their memberships through the mobile renewal service during the year under review as against 168,777 in the year 2020 , registering an increase of 6 per cent.

Mr Fodjour said the region embarked on free registration where over 59,000 people were enrolled onto the scheme, indicating it was part of their mandate to make healthcare accessible to the poor and vulnerable.

Mrs Edna Gyau Baffour, Deputy Director , CPC Kumasi NHIA,in an interview with the media on the sidelines of the meeting expressed how the country was relying on the staff of the NHIA to achieve the UHC and reminded them of the daunting task required from them.

She told the staff of the NHIA to encourage the usage of mobile renewal by the clients which is more convenient, easy and less stressful and as well would also afford the staff more ample time to do more registration of new clients.
BEIJING, March 5 (Xinhua) -- China's defense budget will increase by 7.1 percent to 1.45 trillion yuan (about 229 billion U.S. dollars) this year, maintaining the single-digit growth for the seventh consecutive year, according to a report on the draft central and local budgets for 2022 submitted to the national legislature.

China pursues a national defense policy that is defensive in nature. Government spokespersons and official documents have stressed on multiple occasions that no matter how much defense expenditure is invested or how modernized its armed forces are, China will never seek hegemony, expansion, or sphere of influence.

This is in stark contrast to the United States. China's defense budget is just about one-third of the U.S. figure, which exceeds 768 billion U.S. dollars in the 2022 fiscal year. On a per-capita basis, China's defense spending is only one-sixteenth that of the United States.

China's increased defense expenditure helps provide the forces with better training and more advanced equipment. It also supports the military in tackling non-conventional security threats such as major epidemics and natural disasters.

In 2020, when Wuhan was hit hard by the COVID-19 outbreak, the Chinese military sent over 4,000 medics to assist in the epidemic fight.

According to China's National Defense Law, military personnel have an obligation to participate in emergency rescue and disaster relief.

Last summer, over 70,000 troops were sent to areas across China inundated by floods. They rescued and evacuated more than 210,000 people and offered medical services to about 8,000 patients.

In 2017, the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Macao Garrison sent soldiers to boost local disaster relief efforts after a typhoon wreaked havoc in the region.

China's armed forces are also committed to providing the international community with more public security goods to the best of their capacity.

In accordance with UN Security Council resolutions, the PLA Navy has provided protection to over 7,000 Chinese and foreign ships in the Gulf of Aden since 2008.

China is a major contributor to the UN peacekeeping budget and the largest troop-contributing country among the permanent members of the UN Security Council. Since 1990, about 50,000 Chinese peacekeepers have been dispatched to 25 UN peacekeeping missions around the world.

In a bid to build a community with a shared future for humanity, the Chinese military has extended its disaster relief efforts overseas.

China sent its naval hospital ship Peace Ark across the world to provide medical services, dispatched anti-pandemic materials and vaccines to people in need, and aided countries battered by natural disasters.

Earlier this year, when Tonga was hit by a massive volcanic eruption and tsunami, the Chinese military sent more than 1,400 tonnes of disaster relief materials, including prefabricated houses, tractors, generators, and drinking water.

The Chinese armed forces actively provide public security goods, including UN peacekeeping participation, vessel escorting, humanitarian assistance, and disaster relief efforts, which have made robust contributions to world peace and regional stability, military experts say. 
When 2,500 migrants stormed Morocco's border with a Spanish enclave this week, Mahjoub Abdellah wasn't among the hundreds who made it across -- but he is determined to try again.

The 22-year-old from the war-devastated region of Darfur in western Sudan was nursing a foot injury on Friday at a makeshift camp in a Moroccan forest near Melilla, a tiny Spanish territory which he sees as his route to "a dignified life".

"If I get a chance, I'll try again," he said.

Spanish authorities say Wednesday's incident was the biggest such crossing attempt on record, with almost 500 managing to cross into European Union territory.

Melilla and Ceuta, Spain's other tiny North African enclave, have the European Union's only land borders with Africa.

That makes them a magnet for migrants desperate to escape poverty, violence and hunger both at home and during their journeys across Africa.

"I'm tired. I spent three months living in this forest, under the rain," Abdellah said.

"Even animals couldn't live in these conditions."

He plans to leave the drab town of Nador, near Melilla, to try to earn some money elsewhere -- and prepare another attempt.

Cat and mouse

Melilla, a welcoming city for sunseeking European tourists, sits a stone's throw across the border from the Gourougou Massif, a forested mountain that has long served as a grim hideout for migrants hoping to reach European territory.

Migrants walk along a mountain path after a failed attempt to cross the border fence separating Morocco from Spain's North African enclave of Melilla. By FADEL SENNA AFP

To do so, they have to brave successive layers of razor wire, ditches and high fences -- and an at times violent game of cat-and-mouse with both Moroccan and Spanish security forces.

Spain says over 800 migrants managed to cross Melilla's heavily fortified 12-kilometre (eight-mile) frontier this week, compared to 1,092 in the whole of last year.

They said the migrants had thrown rocks and used "violence" against security forces.

Moroccan Association for Human Rights (AMDH) said some 30 migrants were injured in Wednesday's rush, three or four of them seriously.

On Friday, Moroccan police were deployed along the fence near the town of Beni Ansar as migrants walked in freezing gusts of wind along the rugged paths of Gourougou.

'No hope back home'

Ahmed Mohamed, another migrant from Sudan, also tried to reach Melilla on Wednesday.

Paramilitaries of the Moroccan security forces speak with a man as they stand guard by the border fence with the Melilla enclave. By FADEL SENNA AFP

He is just 17 years old, but has lost count of how many times he has attempted the crossing since he arrived in Morocco eight months ago.

After his failed attempts, he is sent back each time to the Casablanca or Safi regions, hundreds of kilometres (miles) away.

"One day, I'm going to achieve my dream," he told AFP. "Back home, there's no hope any more."

Like many of his companions, he said he entered Morocco via neighbouring Algeria, but he prefers not to reveal the exact route.

Another 17-year-old, a Chadian girl with a tattooed forehead, begged to be let into Europe.

"Open the borders, help us! We're sick of being chased and harassed," she said.

She had not tried to cross this week but would stop at nothing to succeed.

In mid-May 2021, Spain was caught off guard when more than 10,000 people swam or used small inflatable boats to enter Ceuta as Moroccan border forces looked the other way.

The incident, at the height of a diplomatic spat between Rabat and Madrid, showed how heavily Spain relies on Moroccan cooperation to rein in clandestine migration.
A batch of 174 Nigerians who fled Ukraine following the Russian invasion landed home late on Friday, bringing the total number of citizens evacuated to almost 600.

Earlier Friday, a group of 415 people, most of whom were students, arrived from Romania's capital Bucharest, one of the hubs from where African governments are scrambling to extract stranded citizens.

"The second batch of Nigerians (174) have arrived (in) Abuja from Poland," Nigerian airline Air Peace tweeted, bringing the total number to 589.

After landing in the capital Abuja, many among the first group to arrive looked tired but relieved that their ordeal was over.

"I'm very happy to be back home, thank you, Nigeria!" one young woman said as she walked off the tarmac and into the terminal.

As they filled out government forms, many still wearing their winter clothes, one student recounted his traumatic experience.

"There were a lot of heavy artillery, missiles, bombs and all that," said Oyewo Elisha, 22, who was studying in Kharkiv.

"My school, everywhere... it's really bad. We couldn't stay there."

Haroun Rukayat, 20, said she had to wait 14 hours in the cold before she was able to cross into Romania.

"I'm one of the lucky ones... some people are still stuck in different cities, especially in Sumy where the war is really going on," she said.

"I am thankful that I was able to get out."

Minister of Foreign Affairs Geoffrey Onyeama said there were about 5,600 Nigerian students in Ukraine and an estimated 8,000 Nigerian citizens in the country before the war.

On Monday he said an estimated 1,000 citizens were ready for pickup from Romania, 200 others in Slovakia, and 250 both in Hungary and Poland.

A million refugees have fled Ukraine so far, the UN said Thursday, warning that unless the onslaught ended immediately, millions more were likely to flee.

Ghana on Tuesday became the first African country to return its citizens, flying home 17 out of 500 stranded students.
Thousands of Sufi Muslim pilgrims gathered in Dakar on Friday for the first time 2019 without restrictions related to Covid-19.

The followers of the Layene Sufi Muslim brotherhood, dressed in long white cotton robes, met in the Camberene district in the northeast of the city, one of their strongholds.

One of the Layene pilgrims enters a sacred cave in Dakar. By JOHN WESSELS AFP

Men on one side, women on the other, they sang their traditional songs and chanted prayers.

Several Senegalese television stations aired the ceremony.

The mass annual pilgrimage was cancelled in 2020 and 2021 due to the restrictions imposed to tackle the Covid-19 pandemic.

The Senegalese Muslim brotherhood of the Layene, founded by Seydina Limamou Laye (1843-1909), advocates unity and equality. This, the pilgrims said, is why all of them were dressed the same way, and all are named Laye.

One of the pilgrims, Ousmane Laye, told AFP that "the founder of the brotherhood announced that he is the reincarnation of the Prophet Mohammed, which is why he is considered a messenger of God".

In Senegal, which is nearly 95 percent Muslim, most followers of one of the four main Sufi brotherhoods; the Mouride, Tidiane, Layene and Khadre, all of which are very influential and play a major social role.
The government of Hungary is ready to enroll Ghanaian students who have escaped the crisis in Ukraine if only they are interested.

This has been revealed by Ghanas Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Mr. Kwaku Ampratwum Sarpong.

The Ministry in charge of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration has been leading the charge for the government as it pushes to ensure the safety of all Ghanaians that have safely moved out of Ukraine amid the attacks from Russia.

Speaking to Journalists in Accra, Mr. Kwaku Ampratwum Sarpong said there is hope for students whose education has suffered a setback due to the crisis in Ukraine.

According to the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Hungarian government is willing to enroll interested Ghanaian students into some of the countrys universities.

The government of Hungary has agreed to take those of you who will be prepared to transfer to universities or to continue your education in Hungary and they are prepared to match whatever facilities, whatever financial assistance or financial fees that you were paying in Hungary.

So there is a window of opportunity and window of hope, Mr. Kwaku Ampratwum Sarpong told journalists.

The Ghana government says it remains committed to the safe return of all Ghanaians affected by the Ukraine crisis.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is in contact with other governments besides Hungary to reach various agreements that will benefit the affected Ghanaian students.
05.03.2022 LISTEN

It is clear that the United States, which has covertly and overtly fought to protect the principle of spheres of influence, and in the process overthrew governments thought to be against its interests all over the Western hemisphere and beyond (including Ghana), is actively working to undermine that same principle against Russia.

The invasion of sovereign countries can never be justified. So is the spilling of innocent blood, and the destruction of property.

Therefore, Russia should never have been allowed to have a casus belli against Ukraine.

This is why I stressed that the United States and Europe have no business luring Ukraine into the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). For Ukraine falls directly into Russia's sphere of influence. No Russian President will allow Europe and America to have a missile system at its doorstep - which is what NATO Membership for Ukraine will do.

Unfortunately, for this singular miscalculated act by the United States and Europe, several innocent Ukrainians have lost their lives, and property worth millions of dollars destroyed.

Lest we forget, in July 1962, Fidel Castro, the Cuban leader entered into a security agreement with Nikita Khrushchev, the Premier of the Soviet Union, to supply Cuba with ballistic missiles.

When America got wind of Russia's security marriage with Cuba, a country less than 780 miles from the coast of the United States, we all know what happened.

The United States fiercely resisted Russia's attempt. Bringing the two super powers to the brink of a Nuclear War.

Just like Ukraine, Cuba was and still is a sovereign country, free to enter into any agreement with any country.

Why then did the United States President, J. F. Kennedy place a naval blockade on Cuba to stop it from getting access to Soviet missiles?

Simple, just as Russia view the United States as hostile to its interests, so does the United States see Russia as a security threat to its interests.

Therefore, none should have its weapons at the door step of the other. That is the only way both can prevent a surprise attack. By extension, prevent a nuclear catastrophe, and a possible world war.

It was based on this understanding that, on the 28th of October, 1962, Krushchev called Kennedy to inform him he had canceled the agreement with Cuba and that the missiles already in Cuba would be returned to the Soviet Union, averting the United State's attempt to conduct air strikes in Cuba.

What then stops the United States and Europe from doing what Russia did in 1962 to save innocent Ukrainian lives?

What happened to U.S. Secretary of State James Bakers famous not one inch eastward assurance about NATO expansion in his meeting with Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev on February 9, 1990?

Indeed, in a Confidential Cable to the U. S. Secretary of State, former CIA Director Robert Gatess criticized Europe and the United States for pressing ahead with expansion of NATO eastward, when Gorbachev and others were led to believe that wouldnt happen.

A good start to the end of the Russian invasion of Ukraine is a written guarantee that Ukraine will never be accepted into NATO.

The longer it takes to reach an agreement the more innocent people lose their lives.

Just leave Ukraine out of NATO.

Alhassan Ahmed

[email protected]
The ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) says it will examine various petitions it has received in some constituencies over the conduct of the Party's Polling Station elections and consider deadline extension where necessary.

The Party said it would extend the deadline for the election of polling station officers for the affected constituencies if the issues raised in the petition warrant an extension in the interest of the Party.

Per the Party's guidelines, the polling station elections, which commenced on February 19, 2022, in more than 38,000 polling stations nationwide, will end on today, March 5, 2022.

Mr Evans Nimako, Director of Research and Elections, NPP, told the Ghana News Agency that leadership of the Party had received petitions from a few constituencies, including Bantama, Keta, Ejisu, Mampong, and Kwadaso.

He said the petitions largely bothered on procurement of forms and vetting related issues.

So far, the elections have been successful. There are a few places of disagreement. However, leadership has taken steps to get those issues resolved.

It expected that when the process ends tomorrow and there are any other areas where there has to be some extension, leadership will take the decision, he said.

Mr Nimako further explained that: Except where petitions have been submitted, and when considerations are given, and leadership feels that there has to be an extension, that would be given.

The NPP's Polling Station election recorded pockets of disturbances in some constituencies including, Manhyia, Kade, and Ningo Prampram over the sale of nomination forms.

The Party explained that the issues encountered with the sale of forms were largely as a result of the operational arrangements put in place by the election committees that supervised the elections.

The Party subsequently extended the deadline for filing of nominations forms from February 21, 2022 to February 22, 2022.

The Party also placed the election in some constituencies, including Techiman South, Akwatia, Savelugu, Jomoro, Assin North on hold due to some internal arrangements.

Mr Nimako said the Techiman South constituency will very soon conduct its internal arrangement to elect officers for the Party.

When leadership is certain, directive will be given for them to go ahead with the conduct of their elections, he said.

The NPP, on Friday, January 28, 2022, issued guidelines to guide its internal elections at all levels this year.

The electoral area elections will be held from March 18 to March 20, 2022, followed by constituency elections to be held between April 22 and April 24, 2022.

The regional executive elections will be held between May 20 and May 22, 2022.

The National Executive elections and the Annual National Delegates Conference is slated for July 14 to July 16, 2022.

GNA
Senegal has condemned the Ukrainian embassy for calling for fighters to join its effort to repel Russia's invasion, warning that recruiting mercenaries or even volunteers breached its laws.

In a statement Thursday evening, Senegal's foreign ministry said it had summoned the Ukrainian ambassador after reading, "with astonishment", an embassy Facebook post urging foreigners to enlist.

Kyiv's ambassador to Senegal, Yuril Pyvovarov, told the foreign ministry that 36 Senegalese citizens had already volunteered, according to the statement.

The ministry said it "firmly condemns" the move and urged the embassy to withdraw its call.

"The recruitment of volunteers, mercenaries or enemy combattants on Senegalese territory is illegal," the statement added.

On Wednesday, Senegal abstained from voting on a United Nations resolution, which was overwhelmingly adopted, that demanded that Russia immediately withdraw from Ukraine.

The government stated afterwards that it was gravely concerned with the situation in Ukraine but that it adhered to "principles of non-alignment and the peaceful settlement of disputes".

(With AFP)
Mr John Peter Amewu, the Member of Parliament for Hohoe, has called for unity and oneness in discussions on on the Electronic Levy (E-Levy) Transaction Policy.

He said discussions on the levy should be focused on the rapid socio-economic development of the country and not along political party lines.

Mr Amewu, who is also the Minister for Railway Development, said this during the Government's Town Hall Meeting on the economy and the E-Levy in Ho.

E-levy should not bring confusion and hatred among the citizens. Politics is all about development and development can only materialise with the payment of taxes in the country, he said.

The MP said there was no single alternative to domestic revenue mobilisation anywhere in the world and so the best form was to internally mobilise revenue for infrastructural developmental.

"Everyone should endeavour to understand the issues concerning the policy because not everyone in Ghana currently pays tax, especially the informal sector of the economy," he added, saying it was the government's intention to ensure that the players in the informal sector also contributed to payment of tax for development.

The Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta, called on the Clergy and Traditional Authorities in the Volta Region to help educate their followers and the youth about the policy.

Mr Pius Hadzide, the Chief Executive Officer of the National Youth Authority, said young people in the country needed support to expand their creativity into entrepreneurship, hence the need for the government to generate revenue to support them.

"How do we support the youth to develop, provide infrastructural development among others if the people are refusing to pay taxes to generate the needed revenue," he asked.

Dr Archibald Yao Letsa, the Volta Regional Minister, said instead of going to borrow to sustain the economy, we need to have burden sharing, which should involve everybody.

Some participants expressed concerns about hardships in the country and said it was important for everyone, including politicians, to sacrifice to revive the economy

GNA
Paul Adom-Otchere's attack on Professor Ramond Atuguba for describing Ghanas current terrible economic and political crises that can easily lead to a coup, is the most foolish thing to do, the fact that what he said doesnt mean he is either planning or inciting a coup.

The massive corruption which has overflowed the shores of Ghana has made mentioning the word 'coup' become an abomination in the country. As a journalist, Paul Adom-Otchere, everyone expects you to help build your country by writing on problems affecting our dear nation, Ghana.

Unfortunately, you are in chains because you have to serve and protect your master, who has driven Ghana into an abysmal tunnel of no return.

Just like your master himself, who is allergic to criticism and now incarcerating critics and journalists, you are easily provoked by anyone against the NPP government.

Being the pot calling the kettle black, you are now judging Prof. Ramond Atuguba to repent because he said Ghana may be ripe for a coup partly springs from the knowledge he gained from accompanying his friend through part of his doctoral research on this topic. This is just an assessment.

Paul Adom-Otchere doesn't only need repentance but also baptism to cleanse him after the disgraceful Christmas tree corruption scandal

However, looking into things, if you need to evaluate yourself with Prof. Atuguba, who needs repentance very badly? You are the one that inflated the cost of a common Christmas tree and kept the proceeds in your pocket, therefore, you must first seek repentance.

If I were you, following the corruption scandal about the Christmas tree, I will keep my mouth shut. Anyway, I dont blame you because Akufo Addo who promised to protect the publics purse keeps every corrupt politician and journalist in his administration with impunity, so you have the guts to tell someone to repent.

I was following the background of the Dean of the University Of Ghana School Of Law, Prof. Raymond Atuguba and I was shocked to find out that the Harvard University graduate was once Paul Adom-Otcheres law teacher at the University of Ghana.

Later, I had more information from 'Mugabe Maases' TV that Prof. Atuguba taught Paul Adom-Otchere Conflict of Law between 2000 and 2003. According to the information I had, Paul Adom-Otchere failed his exams in 2005 and again in 2006, therefore, he quit law school.

Bishop Duncan Williams expressed his dissatisfaction over the comments Paul Adom-Otchere made against Professor Ramond Atuguba

Thus; even though you are parading yourself to be a lawyer, you are neither qualified to be a lawyer nor to practice law anywhere. It seems to me that you have certain bitterness against Prof. Atuguba, probably you were expecting him to clear you despite failing twice your law examinations.

So many Ghanaians are talking about the arrogance of Paul Adom-Otchere, therefore, I am not surprised you were offered a post by the president, who is also not a humble person. Akufo Addo seems sober now because he is begging the people to accept E-Levy.

Like many NPP politicians and tribal bigots, Paul Adom-Otchere, you find it hard to accept the failure of Akufo Addos government. How blind and unreasonable to compare Mahamas time with this terrible time of Akufo Addo?

Education is very important but not all educated people are intelligent. If you have neglected your work as a journalist for a political post, don't attack anti-NPP critics because the NPP did the same to Mahama, who did better than Akufo Addo.

If I were you, I will just keep my mouth shut or resign after this disgraceful Christmas tree corruption scandal. My advice is you must first repent for stealing Ghanas money, after that, follow up with baptism to be cleansed.
As Russia's war on Ukraine entered Day 10, Russian state media reported the military is observing a temporary cease-fire in two areas of Ukraine to allow civilians to evacuate.

Ukraine's president was set to brief U.S. senators Saturday on a video conference call a day after calling out NATO for refusing to impose a no-fly zone over his country. The briefing comes as Russian forces continued to batter strategic locations with missiles and artillery.

The UN Security Council scheduled an open meeting Monday on the worsening humanitarian situation.

Here's a look at key things to know about the conflict Saturday:

Cease fire in two areas

The cease-fire in two areas marks the first breakthrough in allowing civilians to escape the war.

The Russian Defense Ministry statement said it agreed on evacuation routes with Ukrainian forces to allow civilians to leave the port of Mariupol in the southeast and the eastern town of Volnovakha from 10 am Moscow time.

The head of Ukraine's security council, Oleksiy Danilov, had called on Russia to create humanitarian corridors to allow children, women and the elderly to escape the fighting.

A top official in Mariupol said the cease-fire there is to last until 4 pm (2 pm GMT) and an evacuation along a humanitarian corridor would begin at 11 am (9 am GMT.)

Nuclear safety concerns

The office of President Emmanuel Macron said France will propose concrete measures to ensure the safety and security of Ukraine's five main nuclear sites. The safeguards will be drawn up on the basis of International Atomic Energy Agency criteria, a statement from the French presidency said.

The announcement comes after Russian troops seized the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant  the country's largest  in the southeastern city of Enerhodar. The attack caused global alarm, evoking memories of the world's worst nuclear disaster, at Ukraine's Chernobyl.

The International Atomic Energy Agency said no radiation spikes were detected, however. The chief of the UN agency, Rafael Mariano Grossi, said a Russian projectile hit a training center, not any of the six reactors.

Zelensky's angry with Nato

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy criticized NATO for refusing to impose a no-fly zone over his country. He warned that all the people who die from this day forward will also die because of you.

In a bitter and emotional speech late Friday, Zelenskyy criticized NATO over the lack of a no-fly zone, saying it will fully untie Russia's hands as it escalates its air attack.

On Saturday, Ukraine's Defence Minister Ukraine Oleksii Reznikov added that "arguments that the current refusal to implement (a no fly-zone) is related to the fact that NATO is trying to avoid the nuclear war is not convincing, since Russia has already started it. Historical lessons are severe and they must be taken into account," he says.

Meanwhile, on the ground ...

Russian President Vladimir Putin's military has launched hundreds of missiles and artillery attacks on cities and other sites across the country. But a vast, mileslong Russian armored column threatening Ukraine's capital remained stalled outside Kyiv.

Ukrainian presidential adviser Oleksiy Arestovich said battles involving airstrikes and artillery continued northwest of Kyiv.

He said the northeastern cities of Kharkiv and Okhtyrka also came under heavy fire. Ukrainian forces still held the northern city of Chernihiv and the southern city of Mykolaiv, Arestovich said. Ukrainian artillery also defended Ukraine's biggest port city, Odessa, from repeated attempts by Russian ships, he said.

Humanitarian crisis

The UN World Food Program says millions of people inside Ukraine, a major global wheat supplier, will need food aid immediately.

Ukraine's president was set to brief U.S. senators on Saturday on a video conference call as Congress considers a request for $10 billion in emergency funding for humanitarian aid and security needs.

Human toll

Russia has acknowledged that nearly 500 Russian troops have been killed and around 1,600 wounded. Ukraine has not released casualty figures for its armed forces.

The UN human rights office says at least 331 civilians have been killed and 675 wounded in Ukraine since the start of the invasion. Ukraine's State Emergency Service has said more than 2,000 civilians have died, though it's impossible to verify the claim.

More than 840 children have been wounded in the invasion, and 28 have been killed, according to Ukraine's government.

What's happening at the UN?

The UN Security Council will hold an open meetingMonday on the worsening humanitarian situation in Ukraine.

The United States and Albania requested the meeting, which will hear briefings by UN humanitarian chief Martin Griffiths and Catherine Russell, executive director of the UN children's agency UNICEF, diplomats said.

The United Nations estimates that 12 million people in Ukraine and 4 million fleeing to neighboring countries in the coming months will need humanitarian aid.

(With AP)
BEIJING, March 5 (Xinhua) -- The National People's Congress (NPC), China's top legislature, on Saturday deliberated a draft decision on the number of deputies to the 14th NPC and their election.

Wang Chen, vice chairman of the NPC Standing Committee, delivered an explanatory speech on the draft at the opening meeting of the fifth annual session of the 13th NPC. 
President Nana Akufo-Addo has given approval for the grant of Presidential Charter to three university colleges to award their own degrees.

The institutions are the Methodist University College, Ghana, the Presbyterian University College, Ghana and the Catholic University College, Ghana.

A statement issued by the Office of the President and signed by the Secretary to the President, Nana Bediatuo Asante, urged the Colleges to take the necessary steps to prepare their respective Presidential Charters for the signature of the President.

The three universities were previously affiliated with other institutions of higher learning.

The charter would make them independent degree-granting institutions.

GNA
AGRITECH WEST AFRICA, the largest agriculture agribusiness, food and beverage, and processing exhibition covering the entire value chain of agriculture launched.

The event scheduled from 23rd-25th March 2022 at Accra international conference centre aimed at creating a sustainable connecting platform for all stakeholders of the agricultural sector.

AGRITECH West Africa 2022, with the support of the Ghana Ministry of Food Agriculture, will host exhibitors/suppliers from India, the United Kingdom, South Africa, Italy, Turkey, Spain, France, and Egypt seeking partnership opportunities with potential domestic and regional importers and distributors of agri-equipment and inputs, agriculture technology, agrochemicals and allied products and services suppliers needed for agriculture practices.

According to Agritech West Africa project director, Mr. Thomas James, the event concurrently with Food and Beverage Ghana and Food pack Tech Ghana, co-located events will have food beverage and processing and packaging industries and enterprises to meet the Ghanaian and West African business partners, manufacturers and valve adding to meet, introduce and discuss new products and introduce their innovations and offers of partnerships.

"Ghana is going to witness the one of its kind largest exhibition covering the entire value chain of agriculture from agriculture machines to agrochemicals to food processing and packaging to processing and packed food and beverage items under one roof, ie Agrictech West Africa exhibition".

Adding that, " the event is very much in line with the development goals of the Ghana government's commitment to value-added agriculture to the national economy and targeted food security. The event would be vital in helping the agriculture and food processing industry to know and adopt new practices, products and innovate themselves with the innovations happening in the sphere."

Mr. Jeremy Opoku-Agyemang, deputy director and head of the agribusiness unit speaking on the behalf of the director of policy and evaluation directorate of the ministry of food and agriculture said, the exhibition is in the right cause, hence the ministry fully supports it.

He said agriculture continues to be key to Ghana's agriculture development contributing 19.1% to GDP in 2020 and employing 38.3% of the Labour force.

Adding that, the ministry recognises agribusiness as a key driver of investment in the sector.

Mr. Jeremy Opoku-Agyemang, commended Agritech West Africa for giving the opportunity for companies in agribusiness and private sector in the agriculture and food and beverage sector to come showcase, visit, network, and make business deals.

Mr. Frederick Adu Amoako, COO of Ghana national Chamber of Commerce and Industry seized the opportunity to call on Ghanaians to visit the exhibition centre on the day of the exhibition.

The two days exhibition will see one hundred (100) exhibitors in attendance will and give Ghana and West Africa Companies the opportunity to connect with the manufacturers and suppliers one to one prefixed meetings scheduled and get to know the profile of exhibitors in advance to understand and prioritise whom all they wish to meet with for potential collaboration, partnership distribution, joint venture, and investment tie-ups.
05.03.2022 LISTEN

As we mark International Women's Day, it is right and duly appropriate for the world to give women a standing ovation. Women are the salt in our society; without them, the world will be such a tasteless place.

The role of women in changing the world cannot be overlooked. Women like Yaa Asantewa from Ghana, who led a war against the British, Harriet Thubman who freed many African American slaves in America and the Queen Nanny from Jamaica who led the enslaved Africans to revolt against the British. In the area of education and politics, we have women like Maya Angelo and our own Efua Sunderland, whose impact in our society continues to illuminate our paths for generations. There are many great women who have changed the world by raising great leaders of our time.

As we lit the candle on our women today, the challenges women face are enormous and as we celebrate them, these challenges must be addressed with urgency to give women the peace and strength to play their role in our social development.

Over the years, domestic violence against women has been something that our society has failed to address it with the needed urgency.

According to the statistics available at the Accra Regional Office of the Domestic Violence and Victims Support Unit (DOVVSU), as of August 2020, 31.9% of Ghanaian women have faced at least one form of domestic violence being physical, economic, psychological, social, or sexual.

This might not even be the real figures since many domestic violence cases are not reported. The time has come for Government to put up stringent measures to deter the perpetrators of these crimes.

The lack of jobs and access to basic amenities like housing make women vulnerable at the hands of these men.

Government must provide shelter to victims of domestic violence while giving them emotional and psychological support to overcome the trauma.

Education of women will do magic by making them independent and expose them to the structures they need to address or avoid domestic violence. Education should, therefore, be made easily accessible for women empowerment.

Individuals, NGOs, and institutions must sensitize the public on the need to protect our women and not to harm them.

When women are given the needed love and care, they will carry our nation on their shoulders to the promised land.

Happy International Women's Day.

By: Richard Tawiah
05.03.2022 LISTEN

The name of the country Ghana may been independent but the people may not be independent! Extreme poverty has given them no choice than to rely excessively on aids for survival. Even the presidential palace in Ghana relies on aids from elsewhere to pay its utility bills and maintaining the place. The people of Ghana will prepare a meal but upon the charity of others: the name Ghana is what is independent but the country comprising the people and what she stands for is not independent.

One would wonder what was on the minds of the ancestors who fought for Ghanas independence, when they declared on the 6th of March 1957 that Ghana was free. What type of independence where those men and women talking about that the contemporary Ghanaians are not seeing? Did they have a package to really prove that the people were from that time on independent and free? How was the package like if current Ghanaians would want to know? Hmmmmmm!!!

Ghanaians are not independent but rather dependents: they depend on someone to even shit, eat, wash, drink, school, read, and many more. The whole nation even prepares budget here in Ghana and has China, Hungary, the UK, U.S, and the EU member countries in mind for assistance to carry out her various activities. The attitude of the nation can be compared to a mother who baths her son, get him dressed and ready for school but has to wait for the sons uncle to pass by to give the son some money so he can go to school. If in a week the uncle does not pass by, may be as a result of the uncle traveling, the conclusion is, that the child will for that week forfeit going to school. This is the situation of the country called Ghana.

Perhaps, those leaders who declared Ghanas independence had in mind ways of mobilizing the natural resources available to present independence into the lives of Ghanaians. The Declaration of independence since the time of Nkrumah till now has been an abstract reality and not a tangible thing. The ordinary Ghanaians must feel that they are independent. Evidence of this will be shown in the lives they live. In todays Ghana, its difficult for most Ghanaians to afford good drinking water, let alone maize to prepare their local foods. There is a free but expensive education in the country. Most university students cannot afford hostels. This has been as a result of not regulating house rentals in the country. The youths on which the future of this country rest on are restless due to the hardships in the country and the pain of not getting a job, and when one has been able to find one, poor salaries put many of them in situation that is too awful to talk about. Hmmmmm! When?

What is the assurance that there is going to be a new dawn that the independence of the people will be sounded? The first sound from the the throat of Nkrumah was declaring the name of Ghana independent. When are the people going to hear that theyre independent too? The nation has gold but on the land of a hand few bourgeois. There are other minerals too but they are being extracted by some family members only. And individuals have claimed ownership over the vegetation and claim the money alone. They have enriched themselves and have taken their children abroad-where they can have independence.

Announcing the independence of the Ghanaian people is the least of their concern. Painfully, they tell those who have not eaten not to frown their faces though they are satisfied. Nothing of the independence of the people concerns them.

Yearly however, platforms are mounted, security agencies train, students are made to rehearse matching, only for the bourgeois to re-echo the same words Nkrumah spoke in 1957 with some few editing made:even with their editing it is lies upon lies that they speak using the Queens language to make it sound sugary. What are workers conditions I. The country? They are always threatening to go on one strike or the other. How has the nation helped secured the economic and social lives of the people of Ghana? But all hope is not lost though.

All Ghanaians will be needed on board to work out the means to better the lives of one another. But first, the strict doctrine of selfishness being followed religiously must be rooted out form your hearts. When this is done, resources of the nation will be well managed and individuals put in certain positions will not be afraid to render public accounts to his/her fellow people. And most about all, Ghanaian, if they all want a good life must be welcoming fresh ideas as to how to raise revenue to bridge the huge gap.

Thank you everyone for coming.

Be proud to be a Ghanaian and lets workout to declare independence to ourselves. Only this, when done, will give meaning to those words and to us as Ghanaians. As we work to achieve that lets wish our country Ghana a happy 65th Independence Day.

God bless our homeland Ghana and make her the greatness we now will for ourselves.

Thank you.

From Emmanuel Graham Nyameke (inside UCC, weeping as Ghana gains 65 years and she is wretched)
05.03.2022 LISTEN

There is a dangerous Nuclear Power Plants war game in Ukraine that will not stop there. It can only be stopped by Palace Coup. Swahili proverb says when the elephants fight, it is the grass that suffers. It's a shame that after the overthrow of Lumumba in Congo, Gadhafi in Libya, regime changes by three SuperPowers occupations of Afghanistan, we are back to Russian occupation of Nuclear Power Plants in Ukraine. The Non-aligned nations lost their moral authority to expose hypocrisy after the overthrow of Nkrumah. So, there are no fervent debates and action at the United Nations against Nuclear excuses of powerful nations to occupy weaker nations.

If we call out the hypocrisy of liberal democracy for placating the rights of the minorities, what do we call Authoritarian countries that defend the powers of the Dictators to capture Nuclear power in Iraq and now Ukraine? The logical expectation is that citizens would shape their countries according to what they want by their will and votes. That is, create the system of government they want. However, strongmen around the world are convinced that they know better than the citizens. So, they do not leave such decisions in the hands of people who are too "naive" to understand what is good for them.

Authoritarian leaders in the West or East are not only dangerous to their people, they are instinctual killers, unstable and willing to use the nuclear option to preserve the power of one and only one man. A clear and convincing victory is hard to come by in the face of skilful guerrilla Fighters resulting in the devastating loss of lives, properties and livelihoods. Even if a superpower cannot win a war outright, they brag about bombing weaker countries into past centuries.

There are people that derive their pleasure from the humiliation or capitulation of a fellow man. Call them Narcissist, sadist or Schadenfreude, they are held in awe by their followers. No matter how they become leaders, they end up destroying the lives of masses including that of their silent majority. What is the fascination of followers with this group of leaders?

Greed, arrogance and the cronies that give the leaders false sense of security. Their deranged anger against any minority or people because of ethnicity is an opportune time waiting for their next group of victims. Citizens of World Powers have to be better informed with the consequences of choosing leaders with killer instincts just as other countries. Contrary to the notion that all politics are local, once the leader of a powerful nation unleashes on weaker countries, the reverberation of Nuclear Option, even in a Nuclear Power Plant goes beyond borders.

We have seen the bloodshed and refugees created in Ukraine too many times around the world. We have people whose only disposition is to get whatever they want by the share use of brutal force. Appeal, persuasion and logical enticement are out of question. Though repulsive qualities are demonstrated in their character, some of us prefer them as leaders out of parochial interest.

Who is going to hold their reckless behavior responsible or enforce restraint against Nuclear powers? We are racing to the bottom of the jungle in immoral survival of the fittest. Fake news, state sponsored misinformation and Hackers Group Anonymous, one of the irresponsible virus attackers of our computers are now looking for a just cause to champion, by warning Russia. How many more people and countries are these opportunists going to attack after Russia, looking for spoils of war and ransom they depend on for a living?

Those of us crying against the Ukraine War have been called hypocrites that kept silent or ignored the Iraq War. They went further and asked if Libya is a better country today than it was during Gadhaffi's reign. If you did not speak out against the Iraq War of deception, you have no moral conviction to speak out today on the Ukraine War, unless you resign to the lesser of all evil.

Even China is poised to invade Taiwan just as North Korea is flagging its Nuclear Power against the South. Japan also expressed intention to come out of the defensive mode. China, out of self interest opposed. Their nuclear power status has conferred an instrument of impunity. Only brave people within each country can check the absolute power of their leaders before it could be contained outside.

Russia needs a Palace Coup. We have seen all this before. We must wonder and ask ourselves why some people remain indifferent to the massacre of others after demonizing them while they are moved and touched by the plight of those that are close or look like them. As terrible as War is, some soldiers pose with dead bodies as souvenirs. Civilians hang and lynch humans!

These cannot be justified as collateral damages. It is the saying that if you want to hang a dog, you give it a bad name. It boils down to the cave mentality of the survival of the fittest. The same reason humans take humans as serfs or slaves to enhance their economic circumstances.

Historically, if Empires grow too big for too long they overextend their power and lose grip on conquered territories. Wars and defense by guerrilla tactics of the weaker countries they prey on has taken tolls over time. It is said that people deserve the leaders they get but most of them lack the remedy to recall or vote out the quagmire they found themselves in. Hello, Putin cannot be voted out!

The refugee crisis around the world has created right wing extremist parties and Nationalist leaders changing their policies and governments. Ukraine refugees, become magnanimous with open arms for Ukraine refugees. They have not extended the same warm welcome to all refugees that happen to be living in Ukraine regardless of their color or origin. They won't welcome Afghanistan, Syrian and African refugees from Ukraine.

Nevertheless, if all countries throw their borders open, where would most of the masses gravitate? Most people around the world have made their choice about what type of political economy they want but vacillate between political parties that can deliver the maximum benefit from the economy. It is not a coincidence that some countries are trying to keep people inside by force while others are trying to keep migrants out by force.

In fairness to many Europeans and the International Human Rights organizations, they have been consistent. The invasion of Czechoslovakia, Hungry, Georgia or the British, Russian and American invasions of Iraq have been condemned by American author Michael Haas and people of conscience.

Farouk Martins Areas @oomoaresa
Saboba (N/R), March 05  The Saboba District Community Foundation has been inaugurated to mobilise the people of the area to take action in securing the future of the area by contributing their own resources to address their development needs.

The inauguration meant that the Saboba District Community Foundation had begun formal operations in the district, and had also become the second Community Foundation to be founded and inaugurated in the entire northern part of the country to contribute to improving the quality of lives in the area.

Madam Grace Wumbidin, Chairperson of the Saboba District Community Foundation, who spoke during the inauguration at Saboba in the Northern Region, said it was a paradigm shift from dependence on What society can do for us to what we can give back to our community.

The event was attended by traditional rulers, women groups, youth groups, community members, the Clergy and Imams, leaders of other settler groups, Secretary of Konkomba Youth Association among others.

Madam Wumbidin said efforts to establish the Foundation began in April, 2021 where several meetings were held to explain the concept, its aims and objectives and to seek community members' buy-in since the Foundation was devoid of tribal and partisanship, which implied that everybody living within the territorial boundaries of the Saboba District was ultimately a potential member.

A Community Foundation is a registered independent public charity or a non-profit organisation voluntarily established by people living in a geographical area to contribute to improving the quality of lives in the area through pooling their financial resources, expertise, time amongst other resources.

Madam Wumbidin spoke about activities the Foundation had undertaken so far saying it collaborated with the Ghana Education Service to hold talks with 2021 Basic Education Certificate Examinations (BECE) candidates on career guidance, assertiveness and confidence during the examinations.

She also mentioned activities planned for this year, which included working to reduce teenage pregnancy/nursing mothers among BECE candidates, outbreak of diseases related to insanitary condition, encourage regular self check ups, reduce unemployment through career guidance, and hold regular town hall meetings for duty-bearers to account to the citizenry.

She welcomed the people of Saboba to participate effectively in the functioning of the Foundation saying "Giving back to our community and developing it is our right and privilege. All must come on board and develop the Saboba District under the theme reviving the spirit of volunteerism to make our place of residence happier and healthy to live in."

Mr Charles Nyojah, Chief Executive of Saboba District Community Foundation called on members of the community both home and abroad to help the Foundation to raise a seed fund of GHc200,000.00 saying If 200 people make a donation of of GHc1000.00 each, the seed fund could be raised easily.

Mr Habib Haruna, Chief Executive of PureTrust Foundation and the Country Project Leader of the Ghana Community Foundations Development Project said the dwindling donor support necessitated the need to explore, harness, mobilise and utilise local philanthropic resources through the promotion of active citizenship to complement what government and other development partners could provide hence the need to sensitise community leaders to establish Community Foundations.

The Pure Trust Foundation LBG in partnership with Charles Stewart Mott Foundation from USA in the year 2020 began efforts to promote the establishment of Community Foundations in the country.

Mr Haruna said I am glad to report that together with our local implementing partner Ghana Philanthropy Forum, since inception of Ghana Community Foundations development project in the year 2020, the Community Foundation concept has been introduced to 55 communities in Ghana.

He said 23 of the communities across the country were at the moment working to establish functional Community Foundations, 10 of the number were legally incorporated with four inaugurated so far.

He added that More than GHc97,000.00 of local funds have been mobilised by the respective Community Foundations to fund their incorporation and start-up resources. Community members have also donated in-kind items and their expertise to their communities.

Mr George Bingrini, District Chief Executive for Saboba, whose speech was read on his behalf by Mr Haruna Abdulai, Saboba District Coordinating Director, said the inauguration marked the beginning of Our commitment to collaborate in protecting the future of our towns by establishing a shared community to leverage local philanthropic knowledge, and volunteer resources to support development activities in our communities.

He described the Foundation as a life-changing intervention calling on all to support it to grow by devoting part of their resources into its activities.

The Paramount Chief of Saboba Traditional Area, whose speech was read on his behalf by Ubor Tagme Majoiba, Chief of Kimoatek, wholeheartedly embraced the Foundation saying that was the way to go to help solve immediate challenges affecting the District.

Meanwhile, a nine member Board of Directors of the Saboba District Community Foundation was sworn into office to support the management of the Foundation.

Also, during the event, a number of community members made cash donations to the Foundation to support its operations.
France's National Anti-Terrorist Prosecutor's Office on Thursday opened an inquiry into the violent attack in a southern jail which left Corsican militant Yvan Colonna in a coma.

Meanwhile, tension has mounted after his supporters blocked a ferry in the port of Ajaccio on Friday in a bid to prevent police reinforcements arriving on the island.

The National agency in charge of anti-terrorism cases (Pnat) said they would investigate the actions of the attacker, Franck Elong Abe, a 36-year old Cameroonian national currently serving a 9 year term for "association with groups planning a terrorist act".

According to sources close to the case, the suspect told investigators his act was in response to "blasphemy" attributed to the victim, who "spoke ill of the prophet".

Yvan Colonna, incarcerated at the Arles prison was attacked on Wednesday while he was working out alone, the victim of "strangulation with bare hands and then choking," according to Tarascon prosecutor Laurent Gumbau.

"The circumstances of this attack and the initial elements leads us to believe it was not motivated on personal grounds. We are pursuing Elong Abe for attempted murder in relation to a terrorist group" the Pnat said, adding the suspect would be transferred to Marseille.

The family's lawyer Patrice Spinosi said the 61-year-old Colonna was in a stable condition, insisting on the fact that he was not brain dead, contrary to some earlier media reports.

Tensions simmering

The pro-independence militant was arrested in 2003 and jailed for life over the murder of police chief Claude Erignac in 1998, an accusation he has systematically denied.

In Corsica, angry Colonna supporters have reiterated that they hold the French state responsible for the turn of events and have organised protests in solidarity with the Colonna family.

Requests made primarily by Colonna, who has been placed under the status of "detainee of particular interest" (DPS), which prevents him from being incarcerated in the Corsican prison of Borgo, were all refused.

The entrance to University of Corte was taken over and blocked on Thursday, where banners read "French State Assassin" and "Glory to you Yvan". Student unions said they were planning another rally in Corte on Sunday, joined by members of the independence group Corsica Libera.

The collective of prisoners in Ajaccio and Borgo put up banners and announced a hunger strike to show their support for Colonna and call for the transfer of all Corsican prisoners to the island's jails.

Around a hundred riot police have been dispatched to the island in view of further protests, a decision criticised by unions for ferry companies who put out a statement calling on their workers to "block their arrival".

The ferry arriving from Toulon at 7h in Ajaccio port was unable to reach the quay, according to journalists at the scene on Friday.

"The police regret this action as the transport in question only concerns regular gendarme vehicles, that are not carrying personnel or material designed for crowd control," the prefecture said in a statement.

The president of Corsica Ferries Pierre Mattei said there were 250 people on board, including a dozen police officers, and most people were trying to get back home after the end of the school holidays. Negotiations were underway to find a solution to disembark the passengers.

"It's an extremely tense situation," Gilles Simeoni, president of the executive council of Corsica and former lawyer for Colonna told the press, as he called for calm on Thursday.

"Corsica has nothing to gain from entering into a spiral of tension and confrontation...but so far we have only received one response from Paris, and that has been silence, contempt and a refusal to apply law."

Simeoni has called for an immediate independent parliamentary inquiry into the Colonna attack, adding that "there are many grey zones in this affair," expressing a longtime feeling of mistrust for mainland authorities when it comes to Corsica.

Around 50 members of the STC ferry union were present during the blockade. They said that even if they managed to stop a handful of police from disembarking, their mission would still be a success.
The Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) in partnership with COGNOS International, an Ontario-based business intelligence and performance management company, is working at creating decent sustainable jobs for young people in the country.

Under the Invest for Jobs initiative, it is expected that about 10,000 jobs would be created, while the working conditions of about 18,000 people in Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in the country would be improved by 2025.

Funded by the German Government through the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, the initiative has put together measures to also support European and other African companies in investment activities that have a high impact on employment.

Three cohorts of 20 each, from agribusiness/and cosmetics sectors, furniture/wood industry, and fashion/textile, went through two-weeks of the Ghana-German SME Exchange and Training Programme, which ended on Friday in Accra.

The first phase of the programme, being implemented and managed by COGNOS, saw beneficiaries provided with capacity building trainings on leadership, international business, design thinking, sales, marketing and financial planning.

The next phase of the programme would be a two-week business trip to Germany with all the 60 companies to create strong partnerships with German counterparts, meet potential business partners, and create a win-win situation for both sides in May and June 2022.

In a media engagement at the end of the workshop for the last cohort (fashion/textile), Mr John Duti, the Ghana Team Lead for Invest in Jobs, said the choice of SMEs was because most of the employment opportunities in the country were largely in the private sector, where SMEs operated.

He said: The private sector is the backbone of the Ghanaian economy. They represent about 85 per cent of businesses and contribute about 70 per cent of Ghana's Gross Domestic Product (ITC, 2018). It is, therefore, imperative that they are supported to grow and to expand their frontiers by joining the international markets.

He explained that the exchange programme was to empower young Ghanaian entrepreneurs to expand their businesses, and create sustainable and decent employment for others.

It was to also enable them to become globally competitive, be ambassadors of change in their respective fields, and generate at least 300 jobs by the end of the programme.

Mr Duti asked beneficiaries to be innovative in using the waste generated from their respective fields to support the climate change agenda and urged them to begin to learn about how to go green.

Mr Timo Tekhaus, Head of Operations of COGNOS, said: We are extremely happy with the results of this two-week workshop in Accra and look forward to the programme in Germany by end of May. It will be exciting to see the young Ghanaian entrepreneurs connecting and exchanging with representatives of the German fashion industry in Hamburg and Berlin.

A beneficiary, Mr Johnson Opoku Donkor, the Creative Director of Jonmmo, an indigenous arts and fabric design company, told the Ghana News Agency that they were positioned to be globally competitive and create jobs for others.

For her part, Ms Mabel Simpson, Team Lead for mSimps, a handmade accessories and clothing company, said, the training served as a refresher course, and an opportunity to know and network with others for mutual benefit.

They expressed gratitude to GIZ and COGNOS International for the opportunity and support.

GNA
Contextually, the conditions that gave rise to the overthrow of constitutionally-elected governments in some West African countries recently are not the same as Ghana, Senior Advisor at the Africa Parliamentarians Network Against Corruption, Professor David Abdulai has said.

Professor Abdulai was reacting to an assertion by the Dean of the Faculty of Law at the University of Ghana, Professor Raymond Atuguba that Ghana is currently a fertile place for coup due to the bad economic conditions.

Prof Atuguba asked the government to acknowledge the economic mess and try to deal with it.

We do not want coup in this country but if we do not act quickly we may have one in our hands. There is one thing to do now, prevent coup in Ghana since the climate and the environment, national and immediate international, are conducive for one. We must compel the government to acknowledge the current economic mess, they mostly, and previous governments, to a larger extent.

Ghana's economic problems started before Covid-19. On balance, Covid-19 was a good thing for Africa and Ghana. he said at a forum held by Solidare Ghana.

But speaking on the Key Points on TV3 Saturday March 5, Professor Abdulai said I think if the inference is to to support what happened in Mali, in Guinea , Burkina Faso, I wont think it is right because each country has its context and culture.

So if you infer that in the case of Ghana I dont think contextually it is right. One must also look at the fact that if you look at the developmental stages of coups of these countries, I can tell you Ghana is way beyond that.

Nobody really wants a coup detat because first of all, in the current digital and globalized environment we are, it is going to impact our economy heavily, it will take years to recover because once some of the businesses leave they are not going to come back. Also the brand Ghana is going to be damaged. But in a democracy such talks or the warnings should be listened to.

A civil society activist who is the chairman of the Civil Society Platform on Oil Gas, Dr Steve Manteaw, had also said earlier that one of the causes of coups in most countries is the absence of an alternative to the governing party.

He explained that the people must have no other opportunity for changing the government before they will think of taking the law into their own hands.

But, he said, that is not the case in Ghana.

In a Facebook post, Dr Manteaw said Professor Atuguba was candid and brutally frank. No malice. However, he omitted one precondition for coups i.e. the people must have no other opportunity for changing the gov't, which is not the case in Ghana.

Adansi Asokwa Member of Parliament Kobina Tahir (KT) Hammond has also taken a swipe at Professor Atuguba following the coup comment he made.

KT Hammond questioned why, in his view, all the time some members of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) who he described as irresponsible call for the Military intervention in the administration of the country when the New Patriotic Party (NPP) is governing.

Responding to him at a press conference in Parliament on Wednesday March 2, KT Hammond said Why is it that in the course of NPP administration every opportunity that the NDC get, not all of them to be fair, but the irresponsible ones are calling for intervention of the military?

What is it about the Military?

Let me tell Professor Atuguba that he doesn't have the liberty to take leave of his brain, he does not have the liberty to take even half of his brain.

He owes it to his students and he owes it to the constitution that everybody including him has no reason to say the kind of things he has said. He is a Professor and of no other thing but of law, he understands the constitution.

This is the constitution that has made it very clear, anybody who attempts to subvert it commits the offence that he knows, he goes to make a statement like this.

He added The Military knows what they are up to, they are a professional institution, their responsibility is to guide the territorial integrity of this country, period, they know it, they are not interested in dabbling in politics. The group before them had dabbled in politics and we are all witnesses to these happenings. They are not interested, the officers are professionals, the rank and file, they are professionals they know their duties. It is not the likes of Atuguba to invite them to hold the country to ransom.

Clearly, he is NDC sympathizer and indeed, I do know that at a point in time he worked with the office of the president , he is an NDC sympathizer but no problem with that but the constitution allows for the people of Ghana to speak at periodic times.

The last one was 2020, we had the election, four more years, we have spent almost one and a half years thereafter, we will go for election.

If the people do not like the NPP administration because they feel that we messed up it is for the people of the country to pass their judgement, it is not for the person who thinks he knows the law and who thinks he has studied the law to go about and brandishing foolishness like that.

I will be surprised if they have not already invited him. Clear foolishness.

3news.com
The Nhyiaeso lawmaker, Dr Stephen Amoah has lamented the overreliance on imported products in the country as Ghana celebrates 65 years of independence on Sunday March 6.

He blamed Ghanas first president Dr Kwame Nkrumah for contributing to this problem because he married from Egypt.

Contributing to a discussion on the 65th independence day celebration of Ghana on TV3s Key Point on Saturday March 5, Dr Amoah said We have come far, we havent done bad but to me, both the NPP and the NDC who have had the opportunity to rule this country for over 30 years should have done far better.

Some of the issues we have failed, fuel prices we, both the NPP and the NDC, shouldnt have used it to do politics, because it is not our fault. What is our fault is the currency because whether government has not done well or not we always want to use short term approach and blame each other.

Why we have failed in this sense is the fact that somebody can finish school three or four years and is not getting jobs to do.

He added almost everything here we import them. Kwame Nkrumah said that the black man is capable of managing his own affairs but he even contributed to all these because he married from Egypt and not a Ghanaian. I am talking about domesticating our things. We had a lot of beautiful Fathias here.

3news.com
A man blows bubbles on a street in Istanbul, Turkey, March 5, 2022. Turkish people have welcomed the government's decision to ease COVID-19 restrictions in public spaces with caution since the country's daily cases remain at a high plateau. (Xinhua/Shadati)

ISTANBUL, March 5 (Xinhua) -- Turkish people have welcomed the government's decision to ease COVID-19 restrictions in public spaces with caution since the country's daily cases remain at a high plateau.

Turkish health authorities on Wednesday lifted the requirements of wearing face masks for outdoor activities and for indoor areas with effective ventilation. Entering public spaces such as shopping malls also no longer requires a health code, except for hospitals.

Wearing masks is still mandatory for public transport, according to the new decision.

The country's daily case number has been on a downward trend since early February but the seven-day average number is running well above 50,000 for the week of March 4.

Kadriye Ozdemir, manager of a women's clothing store in Istanbul's bustling Sisli district, said she was pleased with the rolling back of the outdoor mask mandates, but for the indoor ones it should be more cautious.

"I am still in favor of putting them on indoors where there is a large flow of people," she told Xinhua, adding wearing masks gives good protection against the virus.

During business hours, "up to 30 people can be inside, and everyone is on the move, with some coughing, others sneezing," she said.

And she believes masks should still be obligatory in indoor places with good airflow or ventilation.

"I will keep reminding my clients to put on their masks in the store," she noted.

Ayse Yavuzer, a 73-year-old Istanbul resident who said she has closely complied with all health guidelines, still got infected recently with the Omicron variant.

"I am against the easing of COVID-19 restrictions and the lifting of wearing masks outdoors. Everyone around me thinks the same," Yavuzer told Xinhua.

"My family and I will continue to wear a mask. I will not meet friends and will continue to walk alone," she said, adding she would also avoid shopping malls and restaurants.

Meanwhile, Sude Yildiz, a high school senior student from the western coastal city of Izmir, told Xinhua that she was happy to take off the mask which was "really breathless" to wear outside, but said she would keep them on indoors as her friends were lately infected because of "carelessness."

Alper Sener, a specialist in infectious diseases and clinical microbiology at Izmir Katip Celebi University, said it would be very ambitious to say pandemic is over as daily cases are still around 50,000.

"But the priority of the pandemic has changed," Sener was quoted by local media as saying. "The vaccination rate in the group over the age of 65 is very high. That gives us self-confidence, and the number of patients in intensive care units has been decreasing each passing day."

The daily cases in five metropolitan Turkish cities, including Istanbul and the capital Ankara, have decreased by half compared to the previous weeks, noted Sener, also a member of the Health Ministry's Scientific Committee. 

People are seen on Taksim Square in Istanbul, Turkey, March 5, 2022. Turkish people have welcomed the government's decision to ease COVID-19 restrictions in public spaces with caution since the country's daily cases remain at a high plateau. (Xinhua/Shadati)

Ayse Yavuzer, a 73-year-old Istanbul resident, is pictured on a street in Istanbul, Turkey, March 3, 2022. Turkish people have welcomed the government's decision to ease COVID-19 restrictions in public spaces with caution since the country's daily cases remain at a high plateau. (Xinhua/Shadati)

Kadriye Ozdemir, manager of a women's clothing store, is interviewed in Istanbul, Turkey, March 3, 2022. Turkish people have welcomed the government's decision to ease COVID-19 restrictions in public spaces with caution since the country's daily cases remain at a high plateau. (Xinhua/Shadati)

A woman walks on a street in Istanbul, Turkey, March 3, 2022. Turkish people have welcomed the government's decision to ease COVID-19 restrictions in public spaces with caution since the country's daily cases remain at a high plateau. (Xinhua/Shadati)
Ken Ofori Atta, the Minister of Finance, has bemoaned the swirling deep-seated misinformation on the proposed electronic transaction Levy (E-levy) and said it affected recognition and passage.

He said widespread distortion of facts caused many to reject the levy in reflex and that the situation threatened to deny the nation the revenue needed for development.

The Minister, who was speaking at the fifth government town hall meeting on the proposed levy in Ho, noted that opposition to the levy placed covers on plans to provide a favourable threshold for exemption and relayed the concept as a desperate means to rob the people.

The Minister said although returns from the E-levy diminished when compared with other sources of the nation's revenue, it would grant the consistency to move forward and take clearly the reins of development into our hands.

We must help bring on the E-Levy to be able to transform our economy, he noted, lamenting that, the E-levy has become a battle ground.

Mr Ofori-Atta further stated the dire consequences of opposing the levy and said the negative propaganda had affected the nation's credit worthiness.

He said that the nation had for long been running a budget deficit and that the E-levy would help pay for interests and service its loans in an era where e-commerce had grown exponentially.

The Finance Minister said the E-levy would ultimately widen the tax net and additionally with other digital infrastructure help rope in all eligible tax contributors.

You don't have to spite small changes, he said, furthering that it was an opportunity to burden share as a society to move forward.

The Minister added that the levy would be cemented to support future governments dealing with unemployment and tackle infrastructure development.

We should not use excuses as a way to run from our problem, but as a way to address it. It calls for some very sober discussion on our role in nation-building, he appealed.

Mr Pius Enam Hadzide, CEO of the National Youth Authority, said the nation's youth suffered the rungs of unemployment and that the E-levy should be considered in their interest as it would help cater for the various interventions aimed at improving their lot.

He said interventions including the ten billion cedis Youstart, youth entrepreneurial programme, awaited breath from the proposed levy and thus the youth must impress upon their MPs to approve it, and that it is unfair to pass the budget and the appropriation but not the money that would fund it.

Mr Peter Amewu, the Minister for Railways Development, said a large chunk of the population was staying clear of tax obligations, hence the E-levy must be accepted to help boost growth in tax mobilisation.

He said the government did not seek to burden the nation with the levy and would be held accountable and urged Ghanaians to consider the proposal in the interest of development and not politicise it.

Mr Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, Minister for Information, who led the meeting, said the government had shown commendable fiscal responsibility by maintaining a stable economic environment and social protection programmes despite a crippling pandemic.

He said the government currently had the economy on recovery, and, therefore, the citizenry should consider the responsibility sharing being advocated in the interest of development.

Dr Archibald Yao Letsa, the Volta Regional Minister, said burden-sharing had become necessary in addressing the challenges, and that the nation should not scurry away from bearable sacrifices that would help secure the future for all.

Our economic challenges do not deny us the future we deserve, he stated.

The town hall was attended by opinion leaders, political and nonpolitical organisations, members of the Regional Security Council, religious groups, and students.

An open forum granted personal interaction with the state leaders, who took the pain to offer clarity on matters related to the recommended levy.

Officers of the Ghana Revenue Authority were also on hand to help understand the tax concept, and the meeting was streamed live across the nation's media channels.

GNA
05.03.2022 LISTEN

In October 1962, a Third World War  a thermonuclear war between the Western allies and the Soviet Union, was averted by the narrowest of margins.

Like the invasion of Ukraine by the Russia today, the cause of that crisis was the fear of borders that were changing in nature.

Suddenly, the USA found its security being threatened by nuclear missiles that the USSR had been trying to station in Cuba.

Now, Cuba is only 90 miles from the United States mainland, and the Americans, who had gone to the extent of trying to safeguard their security from Soviet nuclear attack by forming an alliance with European countries called the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO), found the sudden change in their proximity to hostile nuclear weapons controlled by the Soviet Union, unacceptable.

So, the Americans told the Soviets to remove their missiles from Cuba.

They were in deadly earnest.

They sent warships to form a quarantine zone in the waters that separate Cuba from Europe.

The Soviets would have to cross the quarantine zone before reaching Cuba with their nuclear missiles.

Soviet ships carrying missiles that attempted to break the quar- antine zone and reach Cuba would be attacked, the Americans threatened.

This challenge by the Ameri- cans to the Soviets was the nearest thing to what historians call a casus belli (cause of war) the world had seen since the end of the Second World War, in 1945.

How would the Soviets react to this challenge?

The situation amounted to what is called an immovable object paradox. This seeks to answer the question, What hap- pens when an unstoppable force meets an immovable object?

It took unusual diplomatic footwork to avert a Third World War that would have destroyed both the USA and the USSR. Plus a huge section of Planet Earth besides.

But the Soviets, fortunately, withdrew their missiles from Cuba. To help them save face, the Americans too agreed to withdraw some missiles they had stationed in Turkey. The world heaved a sigh of relief.

The world lived under this condition  whereby a balance of forces made it suicidal for the USSR to attack the USA and vice versa  over half a century.

But then, the Berlin Wall fell in 1989. That event constituted a major disgrace to the USSR, for it had demonstrated that the people of East Germany were not satisfied with the standard of living, plus the political conditions, under which they were forced to live as members of the Soviet empire.

Many Eastern European coun-tries  including Hungary and Poland also escaped from the Soviet net, taking advantage of the fall of the Berlin Wall.

The Americans and their NATO allies do not seem to have considered one factor as they began triumphantly to absorb countries that had previously been members of the Soviets Warsaw Pact. That factor was Russian pride.

Now, the Russians had not liked it one bit when the Soviet Prime Minister of the time, Mr Nikita Khrushchev, climbed down in 1962 and turned back Soviet ships going to Cuba rather, than let them break the American quarantine.

Neither had the Russians liked it when their leader, Mikhail Gor-bachev (in their view) capitulated to President Ronald Reagan, at a meeting with Mr. Gorbachev in November 1985.

The Americans and their allies rejoiced at what had happened to the crumbled Soviet Empire, and did not take seriously, warnings from some of their elder statesmen, such as George F. Kennan, that they should not be too triumphalistic over the breakup of the Soviet Empire, as that could give rise to Russian revanchism in Europe.

That is precisely what has happened with regard to Russias invasion of Ukraine.

President Vladimir Putin, a former KGB officer who unhappily observed the slow breakup of the Soviet Empire from right inside the Soviet power structure, believes that the NATO allies deceived Russia by assuring her that they would not threaten Russias security. What they did, instead, was to try and turn Russias former Soviet subjects into countries now hostile to Russia, at the instance of NATO.

Putin has seen the Americans absorb into NATO, Poland, Hungary, Latvia and other former Soviet allies (some of which have borders with Russia). Yet, the organisation that had pitted itself against NATO, the Warsaw Pact, had been dissolved. Who was NATOS new enemy then?

If the NATO allies had peaceful intentions towards Russia, why would they absorb the Eastern European countries into NATO, in the first place? Why, in particular, would they promise to admit Ukraine into NATO, when they knew that Ukraine had been a former constituent member of the USSR itself, not just a member of the Soviet empire at large?

The unanswerable question Putin has put to NATO is this: Would the USA allow a country it does not trust  such as China or Russia  to station nuclear missiles in Americas neighbours, Canada or Mexico?

Cuba was a whole ninety miles away from the US. Yet the US was willing to risk nuclear war to turn Soviet nuclear missiles away from Cuba. Why should the US, by admitting Ukraine into NATO, enforce one law against Russia with regard to Ukraine, which the US did not allow to be applied to Cuba?

Unfortunately, many people are going to die or suffer great misery, whilst this abstruse question is tossed about by Russia and NATO. This is the time when a strong Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) should be talking sense to the nuclear-missile-wielding antagonists, and thereby saving the lives of hapless Ukrainians.

But where is the NAM today? Meanwhile, lets hope that Ghana can bring her students in Ukraine safely back home!!
Vice President Alhaji Dr Mahamudu Bawumia has cut the sod for the construction of an ultra-modern lower secondary solely dedicated to Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education in the Essikado-Ketan constituency in the Western Region.

The two-storey facility, when completed, would have five different laboratories, ten classrooms to encourage the learning of STEM from the lower level of secondary education.

The educational complex, named 21t century lower secondary, falls under the 21st-century community schools project and is expected to be completed within 10-months.

The Vice President said the current industrial revolution called for major attention to the sciences to engineer growth and Ghana could not afford to dwell in the trenches should real progress and the aim of Ghana beyond Aid is to be achieved.

Our quest is to build a strong foundation in the STEM arena and reposition our education system to produce that critical mass with the requisite knowledge in critical thinking, problem-solving, data, digital and computer literacy. Actually, STEM education goes beyond school to skills acquisition.

Dr Bawumia added that to spur economic growth, much effort was being made by the government to invest in the area of STEMwe are building such STEM education Complex across the country to realize that vision of rapid socio-economic growth, a job for all and holistic advancement of the Ghanaian people.

The overall agenda of the government was to ensure that Ghanaian students become globally competitive through the integration of relevant academic content with experiences that nurtured the skills and mindsets needed to participate meaningfully for socio-economic transformation.

Reverend John Ntim-Fordjour, the Deputy Minister for Education, said the various government's interventions in STEM and TVET were to help address the weak-link that had existed since the introduction of the 1987 educational reforms that introduced the Junior and Senior high school.

The Western Regional Minister, Mr Kwabena Okyere Darko-Mensah, lauded the government for thinking generational and beyond electoral gains to groom the next generation of talents with the requirements to turn the country's fortunes in the right direction.

Mr Joe Ghartey, the MP for Essikado-Ketan constituency, noted how the UMAT campus was already engendering economic growth in the area and prayed that the Constituency could become a hub for STEM and TVET education.

GNA
March 05, 2022 Zelensky And The Fascists: "He will hang on some tree on Khreshchatyk" Yves Smith of Naked Capitalism states: Lambert and I both find this is the worst informational environment either of us have faced, orders of magnitude worse than the war in Iraq, ... and: Dear patient readers, Lambert and I, and many readers, agree that Ukraine has prompted the worst informational environment ever. We hope readers will collaborate in mitigating the fog of war  both real fog and stage fog  in comments. None of us need more cheerleading and link-free repetition of memes; there are platforms for that. I ask readers and commentators here to live by the same standard. There are too many comments now for me to read and police. Please notify me via email if there are certain trolls or offenders who deserve to be excluded from this site. Now back to Ukraine and the big question: Why is Russia doing this? At the Grayzone Alexander Rubinstein and Max Blumenthal have published a piece about Zelensky's turn from the peacemaker he had promised to be before his election to an active supporter of the fascist 'ultranational' militia. They pin that turn to a frontline meeting between Zelensky and militia fighters in the fall of 2019: In a face-to-face confrontation with militants from the neo-Nazi Azov Battalion who had launched a campaign to sabotage the peace initiative called No to Capitulation, Zelensky encountered a wall of obstinacy. With appeals for disengagement from the frontlines firmly rejected, Zelensky melted downon camera. Im the president of this country. Im 41 years old. Im not a loser. I came to you and told you: remove the weapons, Zelensky implored the fighters.

... Once video of the stormy confrontation spread across Ukrainian social media channels, Zelensky became the target of an angry backlash. Andriy Biletsky, the proudly fascist Azov Battalion leader who once pledged to lead the white races of the world in a final crusadeagainst Semite-led Untermenschen, vowed to bring thousands of fighters to Zolote if Zelensky pressed any further. Meanwhile, a parliamentarian from the party of former Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko openly fantasized about Zelensky being blown to bits by a militants grenade. Though Zelensky achieved a minor disengagement, the neo-Nazi paramilitaries escalated their No Capitulation campaign. And within months, fighting began to heat up again in Zolote, sparking a new cycle of violations of the Minsk Agreement. By this point, Azov had been formally incorporated into the Ukrainian military and its street vigilante wing, known as the National Corps, was deployed across the country under the watch of the Ukrainian Interior Ministry, and alongside the National Police. In December 2021, Zelensky would be seen delivering a Hero of Ukraine award to a leader of the fascistic Right Sector in a ceremony in Ukraines parliament. That is all correct. But let me point out that death threats from the fascists to Zelensky were already made much earlier. On May 27 2019, a week after Zelensky's inauguration as president, the Ukrainian internet news site Obozrevatel published a long interview with Dmytro Anatoliyovych Yarosh, a co-founder of the Right Sector who was then the commander of the Ukrainian Volunteer Army. Yarosh and others like him have had little support when they tried to get elected to parliament but they, as demonstrated during Maidan, have the guns and the will to use them. I now get an 'access denied' when I try to fetch the original interview but found a copy at archive.org. The headline of the interview carries his main message (machine translations): Yarosh: if Zelensky betrays Ukraine, he will lose not his position, but his life

bigger As the interview is quite long I will concentrate on two parts. Zelensky had promised peace and to implement the Minsk agreement. Here is Yarosh's thought about Minsk: Interviewer: What do you mean? Yarosh: The Minsk format - and I talk about this all the time - is an opportunity to play for time, arm the Armed Forces, switch to the best world standards in the system of national security and defense. This is an opportunity for maneuver. But no more. The implementation of the Minsk agreements is the death of our state. They are not worth a drop of blood of the guys and girls, men and women who died in this war. Not a drop. We were better prepared during this diplomatic game for a possible large-scale Russian invasion. I: Do you think it's time to abandon "Minsk"? Y: Undoubtedly. I: But Zelensky was told immediately after the elections that he had no alternatives. Y: "They told Zelensky" ... Did Zelensky say anything at all? I: Not. Y: And it's scary. The Supreme Commander, who says nothing at all. It's kind of empty. And it's very strange. I: Waiting for what the newly elected president will say? Y: Not only. Let's fight and get ready. We are waiting for what he will say and, most importantly, how he will act. "By their fruits you will know them," says Scripture. "Fruits" we will see somewhere in the fall. Zelensky is an inexperienced politician. And the retinue makes the king. And we already see who is there, "in the retinue", is beginning to appear. It does not add optimism. Because Zelensky promised his voters (I was not Zelensky's voter) that he would break the oligarchic system. But already from the first appointments, we see that the oligarchic system continues to live and flourish. And, obviously, it will continue to be so. Just the streams will be transferred. To the 'ultranationalists' in the Ukraine the Minsk agreement was always just a fig-leaf to have time for rearming. In 2019, five years after Minsk, they already felt capable and ready to again attack and overwhelm the Donbas rebels. Yarosh's remark about Zelensky and the oligarchs is not wrong. The streams of money sucked from Ukrainians and foreign donors were redirected under Zelensky to benefit those oligarchs, most prominently Igor Kolomoyskyy, who had supported him. The interviewer then asks Yarosh about his relation to Kolomoyskyy who had called the conflict with Donbas a civil war. Yarosh does not mind Kolomoyskyy but rejects the 'civil war' claim: Yarosh: [P]erhaps, something is pushing him to make such statements. Apparently, some kind of business interest. This is the main danger of the oligarchy, as for me. They, the oligarchs, are talented people, because without talent it is impossible to build such businesses and earn billions. But the danger of the oligarchs is that they are compradors. They don't give a damn about the Motherland. They need money. Profit turns a blind eye to everything. And then you can negotiate with Russia on any terms. And that is why Zelensky is very dangerous for us Ukrainians. I feel it. Interviewer: What is the danger? Y: His statements about peace at any cost are dangerous for us. Vladimir simply does not know the price of this world. He may have been with concerts close to the front. But when my boys were torn apart by Russian shells into small pieces and then these pieces had to be collected and sent to their mothers, the price somehow looks completely different.

...

I: Are you trying to meet him now? Y: Yes. I have already made a couple of messages, but he is silent. Perhaps they didn't reach him. He is a busy man... But even if this meeting does not happen, it's okay. He just needs to understand one truth: Ukrainians cannot be humiliated. Ukrainians, after seven hundred years of colonial slavery, may not yet have fully learned how to build a state. But we learned how to make an uprising very well and remove all those "eagles" who are trying to parasitize on the sweat and blood of Ukrainians. Zelensky said in his inaugural speech that he was ready to lose ratings, popularity, position... No, he would lose his life. He will hang on some tree on Khreshchatyk - if he betrays Ukraine and those people who died in the Revolution and the War.

bigger Khreshchatyk is the main street of Kiev. The above and other threats to Zelensky certainly helped to convert him from peacemaker to warmonger and friend of the various 'ultranational' militia formations. In spring 2021 Zelensky announced that the Ukraine would retake Crimea by force. Russia then held large military maneuvers and Zelensky backed down. By November 2021 the Ukraine again made noise and said it would be retaking Donbas by force. Russia again held military maneuvers as a show of force but this time the situation deteriorated further. Starting in mid February the OSCE observers around Donbas noted in their daily reports a strong increase in ceasefire violation and explosions.

bigger Most of the violations came from the Ukrainian site and the explosions of the fired shells and missile happened on Donbas held grounds. On February 19, at the hight of the fire, Zelensky gave a speech at the Munich Security Conference. He prominently mentioned the Budapest Memorandum under which the Ukraine had given up the nuclear weapons it had inherited from the USSR*: Since 2014, Ukraine has tried three times to convene consultations with the guarantor states of the Budapest Memorandum. Three times without success. Today Ukraine will do it for the fourth time. I, as President, will do this for the first time. But both Ukraine and I are doing this for the last time. I am initiating consultations in the framework of the Budapest Memorandum. The Minister of Foreign Affairs was commissioned to convene them. If they do not happen again or their results do not guarantee security for our country, Ukraine will have every right to believe that the Budapest Memorandum is not working and all the package decisions of 1994 are in doubt. One of the package decision Ukraine took in 1994 was the entering of Ukraine into the Treaty on Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons. Russia understood Zelensky's remark in Munich as a threat by Ukraine to acquire nuclear weapons. It already has the expertise, materials and means to do that. A fascist controlled government with nukes on Russia's border? This is not about Putin at all. No Russian government of any kind could ever condone that. I believe that this credible threat, together with the artillery preparations for a new war on Donbas, was what convinced Russia's government to intervene by force. On February 22 Russia recognized the Donbas republics as independent states. On February 24 Russian troops crossed the borders into the Ukraine. The aim set for the Russian military is to de-militarize the Ukraine and to de-nazify it. The first is easy to understand. The Russian military will simple destroy or disable all heavy weapons the Ukraine has. The second aim requires more explanation than the above interview with Dmytro Yarosh. As the Grayzone notes: In November 2021, one of Ukraines most prominent ultra-nationalist militiamen, Dmytro Yarosh, announced that he had been appointed as an advisor to the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Yarosh is an avowed follower of the Nazi collaborator Bandera who led Right Sector from 2013 to 2015, vowing to lead the de-Russification of Ukraine. The threats from the fascists make it impossible for any Ukrainian politician to implement a sane policy that would lead to peace in the country. The fascists in Ukraine are relatively few. But they have the guns and they will kill anyone who opposes them and their aims. They have been put into important state positions. (Besides that oligarchs like Kolomoyskyy pay and use them for their own purposes.) The problem is that such ideological groups, once firmly established, tend to grow. The Right Sector is holding 'patriotic' summer camps for young Ukrainians and the Ukrainian state is financing those. They are successful and Ukrainian youths is looking up to them. These developments are what Russia is afraid off. As Patrick Armstrong wrote at the start of the current intervention: What [Putin] is talking about is what the Soviet Union tried to do from 1933 onwards: namely to stop Hitler before he got started. This time Russia is able to do it by itself. In other words, Putin feels that he is making a pre-emptive attack to stop June 1941. This is very serious indeed and indicates that the Russians are going to keep going until they feel that they can safely stop. The Russian military will destroy the militia formations like the Right Sector and the Azov battalion which is currently holding the people of Mariupol as hostages. It will try to get all their leaders - dead or alive. When the task is done the Russian military will leave the Ukraine. Being freed from powerful fascists will enable Ukrainian politicians to re-institute sane policies. That's the plan. But will it work? That is probably the wrong question. One should ask to what degree and for how long will it work. After Ukraine's independence it took the 'ultranationalists' 22 years, and the help of the CIA, to come to power. Once eliminated they may claw back, but it will take them some time. The Ukraine will be busy with reviving its economy. It will have little money to spend on arms. Thirty years later Russia may see a repeat of the confrontation. But 30 years are quite a long time. ---

* Ukraine could not break the permissive action link security codes of those nuclear weapons so it actually gave up nothing. Posted by b on March 5, 2022 at 16:57 UTC | Permalink Comments next page  next page 
HEFEI, March 5 (Xinhua) -- Chopping pork meat, hollowing out green peppers, and then stuffing the meat into them, Adrien Brill was learning to make a Chinese delicacy at a local household in a small village in east China's Anhui Province.

The whole process was filmed as well. Brill, an American expat living in Huangshan City of Anhui, was making yet another culinary video to cater to the tastes of his 100,000 followers on the short-video platform Douyin, the Chinese version of TikTok.

"I started making short videos on Douyin last September. I make all kinds of delicacies, including Chinese and Western delicacies. I think it's meaningful because this gives me an opportunity to share my cultural experiences and learn about the cultural experiences of others," said the 32-year-old.

In 2014, Brill met his then-girlfriend Qiu Tong in Chengdu, capital of southwest China's Sichuan Province, when he was learning Chinese at Sichuan University. He followed Qiu to her hometown of Huangshan after graduation, and they got married in 2019.

Brill's relationship with China goes back to his infancy when he was babysat by a Chinese nanny.

"The nanny didn't speak much English, so I was exposed to many Chinese words every day. The first sentence I spoke, being an infant, was Chinese, not English, according to my parents," he recalled.

His interest in China and Chinese culture grew stronger after he spent a month in China during the summer of 2006 with his mother, a language teacher who got a summer job there.

"That was my first time in China. Since then, the idea of coming to China was rooted deeply in my mind. The idea was like a little fire at first, but it gradually lit up my whole world," said Brill, who finally decided to come to China in 2009 to volunteer at a kindergarten in Chengdu.

Brill had a good time savoring different Chinese delicacies in Chengdu, and he also cooked for himself when he missed the food in America.

In order to satisfy his stomach, Brill had to cook more often after he resided in Huangshan with his wife Qiu, as it is difficult to find authentic Western food in a small city like Huangshan. He has called his parents multiple times for the recipes of different foods he used to have during his childhood, such as lasagna, strawberry tart and pumpkin pie.

As a result, his Western culinary skills improved quickly despite residing in China.

Brill also learned how to make Chinese food, including moon cakes, fried rice and braised pork with brown sauce, to please his wife and mother-in-law, and of course himself, as well.

He has posted 54 culinary videos so far on his Douyin account, with one episode receiving over 158,000 likes alone. Besides showing people how to make food, Brill also shares the cultural background and his personal story behind each food, which adds more flavor to his show. It only took him five months to attract more than 100,000 followers on his account.

"Food is a big part of the culture. I look forward to exploring more places in China and learning to cook more dishes. I really enjoy my life here in China. It has become my second home," said Brill. 
Crude prices soared into triple digits for the first time since 2008 as Russias invasion of Ukraine fueled fears of a significant supply shortage if Russian oil is taken off the market.

West Texas Intermediate on the New York Mercantile Exchange crossed over the $100 threshold Tuesday as it rose four of five trading days. The only decline was Thursday, as hopes of a ceasefire were raised by talks between Russia and Ukraine. Those fears returned Friday amid Russias attack on a Ukrainian nuclear plant, which sent WTI climbing $8 a barrel to end the week at $115.96, up from $95.72 at Mondays close.

Russias attack also sent natural gas prices higher Friday on the NYMEX, with Henry Hub gaining 29 cents Friday to close at $5.016 per Mcf. Prices rose three of five trading days, including a 17-cent jump Tuesday and a 19-cent rise Wednesday.

The surge in prices is unquestionably related to the Russia-Ukraine conflict and concerns about what will happen with Russian oil, said Tim Dunn, chief executive officer of CrownQuest Operating. Amid rising calls to ban imports of Russian oil not only by the US but other nations, he said, the question is, is Russian oil going to come back? I dont know.

There has been such a visceral, strong reaction against Russia amid the invasion, he said, an almost unanimous adverse reaction by both governments and the private sector. Not only have governments slapped sanctions on Russian and Belarusan officials and companies but private companies are pulling out of Russia, among them BP, ExxonMobil, Shell and even Chevron, which had a stake in a pipeline moving oil from Kazakhstan to the Black Sea.

Edward Moya, senior market analyst, the Americas with OANDA, wrote in a newsletter that there is potential price relief in the possible return of Iranian oil to what he called a very tight market. He pointed to an upcoming visit by the chief of the International Atomic Energy Agency to Tehran that could lead to a breakthrough in nuclear talks between the US and Iran.

Even so, he said, If energy traders believe an Iran nuclear deal is imminent, whatever dip we see in crude prices might be short-lived. Iran claims they will be able to ramp up production quickly, but the potential disruptions of Russian supplies is too big of a shock for energy markets.

Despite oil prices being well over $100, the rig count is not growing at a fast pace, which means the energy market will be seeing higher oil prices throughout the rest of the year, Moya added.
The Neely School of Business and Ralph Lowe Energy Institute at Texas Christian University gathered a panel of Permian oil and gas operators at the Petroleum Club this week to discuss their thoughts on the energy transition and other issues facing their companies.

Kaes Van't Hof, president and chief financial officer of Diamondback Energy, started emphasizing the impact the industry has not just locally or statewide, but nationally and internationally.

What this business does for the US economy and the world economy is nothing short of spectacular, he said, citing the environmentally and socially friendly barrels produced in the US.

I hope people realize what we do in the Permian Basin has a great impact on the world economy and the US economy.

At Diamondback, he said, the company is holding to its goal of returning cash to shareholders, meaning the company will keep production flat in 2022. Between returning 50 percent of free cash flow to shareholders and a $2 billion stock buyback program announced last September, he said the company will return about $4 billion this year.

He predicted flaring will be an issue this year and next largely because he foresees takeaway capacity constraints before two or three new pipelines are announced next year.

Approximately 82 percent of the Permians flaring was due to midstream issues, he said. We need to get together and solve this together.

Tim Dunn, chief executive officer of CrownQuest Operating, noted that he had seen energy transitions throughout his career.

I saw it transition from $12 to $20; then we ran out of that, so we transitioned to $30 oil, then we ran out of that and transitioned to $40 oil, he said. Now were transitioning to $60 oil, and well see what comes next.

CrownQuest calculated the optimum way to develop its acreage so it has as much running room in the strike zone as possible, Dunn said, keeping in mind the industry will continue to see cycles.

He, too, sees flaring becoming an issue again in 12 to 18 months as takeaway capacity again becomes constrained.

Im starting to hear people recognize it is a problem, and at some point, someone will have to say We need to do something about it, Flaring is a systems issue and the misstatements about the subject have been amazing.

Colgate Energy is a small private company that has gotten less smaller through a series of acquisitions, said Will Hickey, president and co-CEO. He said the company has modeled its corporate practices after those demonstrated by companies like Diamondback, Concho (now part of ConocoPhillips) and others, he said.

There continues to be a need for consolidation in the industry and as that consolidation occurs, he said smaller companies need to step up and fill the void left by giving back to their communities.

This is a call to arms for the smaller companies from a social aspect, he said.

The company plans to meaningfully grow its production and add rigs to take advantage of commodity prices and strong returns. At the same time, he said there will be planning for future down cycles.

With the massive swing in prices, I can relate to the people who have left the industry, saying theyd seen enough cycles. I dont think its a surprise were struggling to find people. People still make this industry work, people still drive this business.

Aaron Hunter, vice president, Midland Basin at ConocoPhillips, said there is a call for public companies like his to return cash to investors. At the same time, he said, its the companys responsibility to look for opportunities like Concho Resources or Shells Permian Basin assets to help grow the company.

Finding people is a challenge, he said, but its a challenge everywhere. The best thing we can do is keep trying, keep people engaged.

Flaring will be an issue, he agreed, especially as takeaway capacity tightens.
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As Permian Basin producers coax oil and natural gas out of the Earth, they also face the challenge of managing the water that follows, as well as other impacts on the ground.

Theres a magnifying glass on you by the world, said Todd Staples, president of the Texas Oil and Gas Association.

Addressing the Permian Basin Water in Energy Conference, Staples told the audience, The world is watching what you do and how you address seismicity and water management.

There has been a lot of disinformation about how the industry operates, he continued, which is why conferences such as the Water in Energy Conference are so important. Its important to tell of the positive things the industry is doing, he said.

Permian Basin oil and gas activity is where its at, said Ben Shepperd, president of the Permian Basin Petroleum Association, who addressed a joint PBPA-Water in Energy Conference luncheon.

The industry has made a sharp recovery from the pandemic, he said, noting that Permian Basin oil production is back to pre-pandemic levels and drilled, uncompleted wells have fallen from 3,641 in 2020 to 287 in the most recent tally.

He cited predictions from Morgan Stanley that West Texas Intermediate would rise to $97.50 a barrel this summer, similar to a forecast from Goldman Sachs while Bank of America is forecasting WTI at $117 by July.

A lack of capital to invest in activity, low spare capacity and low oil inventories, combined with surging demand will keep prices high for a while, he said.

We hear of supply chain constraints, and we have summer driving season to look forward to. It will be a rough ride for what will hopefully be a short period, Shepperd said.

The biggest challenges facing the industry come from regulatory agencies, Shepperd told his audience, from New Mexico legislators seeking to pass environmentally-related legislation that isnt friendly to oil and gas production to federal regulations expected on everything from endangered species to oil and gas permitting on federal lands.

Climate change is everything in DC, he stated.

Texas is the energy capital of the US, its the energy capital of the world, Staples said. Thats not rhetoric, thats reality. Texas leads in total electric production, in wind power, in natural gas-fired electric generation, in natural gas consumption and in total electricity consumption. And there are three reasons: Resources, population and policies.

The key takeaway for how to stay the energy capital are: If you dont define yourself, others will. If youre not telling your story yourselves, youre going to get beat. Two, energy security is national security. Without the work of the oil and gas industry in Texas and the US, I cant imagine the level of suffering there would be in the world today. And third, the world needs more energy, not less. Its not energy transition, its energy addition, he said.

Shepperd went on to remind his audience that the industry has a social license to operate, and if we cant keep the public happy, if we cant tell our story, were in trouble.
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About 70 Midlanders showed up to a prayer vigil for Ukraine on Thursday night at The Tailgate. The event was organized by Neil Dufford, an owner of Murrays Deli which has a second location at The Tailgate.

Ive had a passion for Eastern Europe and Russia from an early age, he said. I studied Russian in college. Ive traveled to Eastern Europe multiple times so I just have a passion for those people over there.

Dufford said the last eight days have hit people very hard in Ukraine.

They need a lot of prayer, Dufford said. I couldnt think of a better way -- other than writing a check or praying from my house -- than calling together our community of believers who want to contribute in prayer and show solidarity to our Ukrainian brothers and sisters.

Dufford added he believed in the power of prayer and that gathering together as a group to pray amplifies that power.

During the evening of prayer, the Redeemer Church worship team played songs, pastor Evghenii Sologubenco provided a video message from Chisinau, Moldova, and First Baptist Church of Midland Pastor Darin Wood spoke and then led the group through prayer.

Sologubenco is an ethnic Russian, but his family settled in Moldova during the days of the Soviet Union. He has visited Midland multiple times, the latest visit happening in November, to raise support for ministries he is a part of worldwide. Moldova borders Ukraine on the southeast of the country.

I want to give you an update, Sologubenco said in the video. About 10 hours ago, over 140,000 Ukrainian citizens, not including all the foreign students or foreigners coming into Moldova, entered the country as refugees. Many of them are also leaving every single day into Romania and other European countries.

Sologubenco said churches are working to help the wave of refugees. He also said they are helping transport people away from the border, providing food and water to centers across the city and helping with the logistics of border paperwork. He then asked Midlanders to pray for several things.

I want to ask you to pray for wisdom for us, he said. How to properly serve, organize and distribute resources. ... You can also be praying for God to give us peace because we are anxious.

Sologubenco also thanked the people at The Tailgate for praying for them and said he hoped to be able to shake their hands someday once this crisis is over.

Wood then asked Midlanders to pray specific things.

I invite you to pray for an end to hostilities, Wood said. To that end we pray for a change of heart for Vladimir Putin. ... If we believe God shapes the hearts of kings then he can change the heart of a dictator too.

He asked them to pray for Gods protection over the people engaged in the conflict, pray for those who need to hold the rope on the other end, pray for what God would ask them as individuals to do, pray for those who are fleeing from the conflict, pray for those who are fighting, pray for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, pray for President Biden and Vice President Harris.

I know thats a thing (praying for President Biden) that some do not want to hear, Wood said. But God raised him up for such a time as this. I invite you to pray for him even if you didnt vote for him.

The event ended with those gathered lighting candles and worshiping.
DAR ES SALAAM, March 4 (Xinhua) -- At least seven people, including five members of same family, have been killed by lightning strike in Tanzania's southern highlands region of Katavi, police said on Friday.

This brings to 14 the number of people killed by lightning strike in the east African nation's southern highlands in less than a week.

Seven farmers were killed and 14 others injured on Feb. 26 by lightning strike in the southern highlands region of Rukwa, which borders Katavi region, police said.

Katavi regional police commander Ally Makame said on Friday that five members of the same family were struck by lightning on March 2 at 10 p.m. local time while sleeping in the same room of their house in Kamsisi, a village in Mlele district.

Two others were killed by lightning strike in Milibanzi, a village in Tanganyika district, on March 3 evening, he said.

The two were struck while they were farming, Makame said. 
AMC Global Hires Former Kadence MD Konz

In the US, custom MR firm AMC Global has appointed Miriam Konz as Executive Vice President, heading up an additional Client Services team to support expansion of the firm and project capacity.



Headquartered in Blue Bell, PA, the company focuses on product launches, offering a suite of tools spanning product lifecycle. Its proprietary PFU tool (Purchaser Follow-up) aims to capture insights from real purchasers of new or restaged products immediately following launch, and has been followed by a range of others designed to help brands optimize products for launch and understand purchaser and shopper perspectives.



Konz (pictured) joins from Kadence International, where she served as US Managing Director. Prior to this she held leadership roles at in4mation insights, TNS, Knowledge Networks (now part of GfK), Stratford Associates and CLT Research Associates. Throughout her career, she has been involved in studies with an emphasis on product development, market segmentation, product line extensions, pricing and new product / concept testing.



In her new role, Konz is also tasked with creating innovative MR solutions for global clients, as well as applying her quantitative MR and analysis experience on studies in a variety of sectors. Ken Roshkoff, CEO at AMC Global, comments: 'Miriam's wealth of market research experience in key verticals, coupled with her overall strategic research knowledge and expertise, will be of great value to our clients and our internal teams'.



Web site: www.amcglobal.com .




Muskogee, OK (74401)

Today

Showers and thunderstorms. Potential for flooding rains. High 68F. Winds S at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 100%. 1 to 2 inches of rain expected..

Tonight

A few clouds. Low 51F. Winds W at 10 to 15 mph.
Surveillance camera footage shows a flare landing at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant during shelling in Enerhodar, Zaporizhia Oblast, Ukraine on March 4, 2022, in this screengrab from a video obtained from social media.
CAPE TOWN, March 4 (Xinhua) -- South Africa's national electricity utility, Eskom, on Friday said it has decided to defer the replacement of steam generators at Unit 2 of the Koeberg Nuclear Power Station due to expected delay that could impacts electricity supply during the high-demand winter season.

The replacement is part of a requirement for extending the operation of Koeberg, in northern Cape Town, for 20 more years after its original lifespan ends in 2024.

Koeberg, South Africa's only nuclear power station, is a significant contributor to meeting the country's electricity demand, according to Eskom.

Its two units, at 920 megawatts (MW) each, are the largest generating units on the African continent.

"Due to the potential severe impact of returning this unit later than June 2022 as initially planned, the decision has been made to defer the SGR to the next outage on this unit, planned for August 2023," Eskom said in a statement.

The deferral does not impact the safe operation of the plant or its life extension plan, which requires the replacement of the steam generators on both units, Eskom said.

The replacement on Unit 1 will start in this September as planned, it said.

The extension plan is opposed by some local residents who are concerned about the operation safety and complain of lack of transparency. 
Illinois library users are celebrating a milestone  the 150th anniversary of the Public Library Act.

The act, which was signed on March 7, 1872, created the tax-supported, free-usage public libraries that Illinoisans know today. It revolutionized statewide library usage and remains a standard by which libraries are governed today.

Gov. John M. Palmer signed the act into law, a move that likely was influenced by his love of reading and education. Accounts of Palmers life repeatedly refer to books, and he taught school before entering politics. Palmer also is credited with teaching many members of his own family how to read.

Before 1872, Illinois residents had no access to free reading and had to join private organizations to gain access to library materials.

Social libraries date to 1818 with the founding of such organizations in Albion and Edwardsville. A subscription library was founded in Belleville in 1821 and, by 1872, there were an estimated 40 such libraries across the state.

As the decades passed, a movement arose to promote the formation of public libraries, and it came to a head when Palmer signed the Public Library Act into law. The act passed the Illinois House 124-4 and carried the Senate 34-1.

The act authorized cities, incorporated towns and townships to maintain free public libraries and reading rooms for the use and benefit of the inhabitants of each city.

A public library board was to consist of nine members and was charged with creating rules and regulations for governing and financing the library. The board also had the power to appoint a suitable librarian and necessary assistants and in general, carry out the spirit of the act.

Under the law, every library and reading room ... shall be forever free to the use of the inhabitants of the city.

Some historians also trace the act to the catastrophic Chicago Fire of the previous Oct. 8. All libraries in the city were lost in the flames.

The first Illinois community to establish a public library was Elgin, on April 2, 1872. Chicago followed one day later.

The act was not Palmers only contribution to librarianship. He directed the state librarian to distribute high numbers of surplus books at the state library to various library associations and educational institutions across the state.

This devotion to the dissemination of information is one of the state librarys earliest efforts at what became one of its primary functions, the distribution of reading materials to Illinois residents.

Palmer was elected governor of Illinois in 1868 and is considered one of the finest chief executives in state history. He lived in Carlinville, where his home still stands, from 1839 to 1867, and then settled in Springfield.

A U.S Senator from 1891 to 1897, Palmer received a groundswell of support to run for U.S. president early in 1892. In 1896, he ran for president on the third-party Gold Democratic ticket.

He married Hannah Lamb, Springfield's librarian, in 1888, three years after his first wife's death. Visitors to the Palmer home in Springfield at the time recalled Palmer sitting contentedly as his wife read classic works to him.

A 2003 study of U.S. Senators from Illinois called Palmer second only to Lincoln among the greats of 19th-century Illinois political history. Palmer died at his Springfield home on Sept. 25, 1900, and is buried in Carlinville Cemetery.

On Oct. 16, 1923, a statue of Palmer was dedicated on the grounds of the current Illinois statehouse.
BEARDSTOWN  An animal rights group is calling for an investigation into whether reported mistreatment of animals at a Cass County pork production facility warrants criminal charges.

PETA  short for People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals  wrote to Cass County State's Attorney Craig Miller this week, urging action in light of a U.S. Department of Agriculture investigator's reports from April and May while at JBS USA in Beardstown.

The site is a pork production facility that employs more than 1,900 people.

On April 6, a USDA investigator reported being in the facility's livestock barn and seeing an employee trying to keep about four hogs from getting away.

"As I watched, a hog started to pass the driver and he stuck out his paddle in front of the hog, but the hog continued walking. The driver then drew back the paddle and struck the hog in the face at about the level of the eyes," the investigator said in a Food Safety and Inspection Service report. "I heard the impact of the paddle and the hog squealed and ran faster, continuing past the driver."

Striking a hog in a sensitive area such as the face with a driving aid is not in compliance with USDA regulations involving the humane handling of livestock.

The inspector said the employee was told to stop and a supervisor was notified.

But the investigator said compliance was "either not implemented or ... insufficient to prevent reoccurrence," because a similar incident was observed May 3.

A hog was standing facing the wrong way and an employee "drew back the paddle and struck the hog on the left side of the face at approximately the level of the eye and ear," according to a report on non-compliance. "The hog squealed and jerked its head and body away from the paddle and ran away from the driver."

JBS representatives did not return a call Friday morning asking for comment.

PETA said it reached out to the state's attorney after reviewing the USDA reports.

When someone strikes a dog or cat, people rightfully demand that charges be filed, and pigs are also protected by law, said Dan Paden, the organization's vice president of evidence analysis. Pigs feel pain and fear, just like the dogs and cats who share our homes, and PETA is calling for a criminal investigation into the violence inflicted on these animals.

Paden said the documented acts "arent the normal good husbandry practices otherwise exempt from prosecution."

Miller acknowledged he had received an email about the incidents, but had yet to receive the complete report. He declined to comment about whether his office would investigate until he was able to review all the information.
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Americans place our presidents on lofty pedestals while forgetting they were real humans. All too human, in some cases, especially when it comes to fooling around.

The problem began early on. Thomas Jefferson fathered at least one child, and possibly more, with a slave.

James Garfield is next on the presidential philanderers list. The long-suffering Mrs. G. eventually issued an ultimatum. Garfield remained married and reportedly stayed faithful from then on.

Did Woodrow Wilson have a pre-presidential affair? He seemed to have conducted some kind of romance during a rough patch in his first marriage. Historians are divided over whether it was platonic or physical.

FDR came within a whisker of destroying his marriage (and his presidential prospects) over his well-known affair.

Eisenhower is widely thought to have carried on a wartime dalliance with his much younger female British chauffeur.

Finally, there were the Big Three cheaters: JFK, LBJ, and Bill Clinton. Their extramarital exploits are far too numerous to fit in this limited space, and too well-known to require rehashing.

But one presidents trysts stand out from all the others. Because it produced a love child.

Warren Harding was among the most handsome presidents weve had. A newspaper owner from Marion, Ohio, he parlayed his good looks and likable smalltown demeanor into a Senate seat.

As he was rising to the top, teenage Nan Britton developed an infatuation with Harding that bordered on obsession. She stalked him on Marions sidewalks and plastered her bedroom walls with his photos.

Her dad eventually asked Harding to help Nan get over her crush. He had a fatherly chat with her saying, The right man will come along one day, dearie. (Harding was already engaged in an extramarital affair at the time. It lasted more than a decade, with him writing hundreds of love letters  some even on U.S. Senate stationery, a spectacularly stupid move for a guy in the national spotlight.)

It was eventually off to a secretarial job in New York for Nan. That, her family hoped, would be the end of that.

But Harding began making trips to the Big Apple, and Nan began turning up in cities around the country where Harding was lecturing.

The pair got a major jolt in early 1919: Nan was pregnant.

The baby was quietly born on Oct. 22 and named Elizabeth Ann Christian on the birth certificate so there was no paper trail.

Almost exactly one year later, Harding was elected president. The affair continued. Nan later claimed she and Harding were intimate in a closet just off the Oval Office. (John Kennedy reportedly was interested to learn which closet it was 40 years later.)

According to Nan, Harding slipped her cash for the babys upbringing.

In the blink of an eye, everything changed.

Harding died out of the blue in a San Francisco hotel room on Aug. 2, 1923. The shock was followed by a bigger jolt for Nan: the child support money was now gone. When attempts to hit up various Harding relatives and political insiders didnt work, she upped the ante.

She released The Presidents Daughter in 1928, Americas first political tell-all expose. And Nan told all, in the truest sense of the word, with lurid details that even shocked the racy sensibilities of the Roaring Twenties.

It was the last thing Hardings reputation needed. Soon after his death, word broke of one scandal after another including the granddaddy of them all, Teapot Dome. While Harding was personally honest, many officials around him werent. They schemed ways to make a fast buck at the governments expense. Word that Warren experienced afternoon delight in an Oval Office closet only increased his legacys downward spiral.

There was also official outrage. Congressman John Tillman of Arkansas even introduced a bill trying to keep Nans book off store shelves, calling it a blast from hell.

The Harding family never responded to Nans claims, but a family friend did. Charles Klunk, a hotel owner back in Marion, wrote his own book which essentially called Nan a tramp. The infuriated former presidential paramour sued for libel in 1931.

Calling the trial nasty is an understatement. Nans reputation was dragged through the mud, and there was lots of mud to be dragged through. Testimony showed Nan was, in the terminology of the day, a girl who got around.

In the end, jurors found Nan had shown herself to be of low moral character by publishing her book. It also found no evidence proving Elizabeth Ann was the presidents daughter.

Time marched on. In 1964, a reporter found Nan living near Chicago, but she refused to talk to him. She insisted to her death in 1991 that she had borne Hardings love child.

Like her mother, Elizabeth Anne shunned interviews, although she did tell one reporter in the 1960s her mother had confirmed Hardings paternity to her in 1934, adding, Its not something that you bring up in casual conversation. DNA testing arrived, yet she went to her grave in 2005 refusing to take one. Her children likewise declined.

But a decade later, relatives changed their minds. In 2015, The New York Times carried this headline: DNA Is Said to Solve Mystery of Warren Hardings Love Life. The evidence revealed Elizabeth Ann was Hardings daughter.

History is littered with much gossip and innuendo. Every so often, some of it turns out to be true.
SEOUL, March 5 (Xinhua) -- The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) fired an unidentified projectile, presumed to be a ballistic missile, into its eastern waters, South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said on Saturday.

The JCS said it detected the suspected ballistic missile launched from the Sunan area in Pyongyang at about 8:48 a.m. local time (2348 GMT Friday).

The JCS noted in a statement that the South Korean military was tracing relevant situations and maintaining defense readiness posture in preparations for possible further launches.

South Korea's presidential Blue House convened an emergency meeting of the National Security Council after the projectile launch.

It was the DPRK's ninth missile test this year. The DPRK said that it conducted a reconnaissance satellite development test on Feb. 27, which South Korea called a ballistic missile launch. 
MOSCOW, March 5 (Xinhua) -- Russian forces will observe a truce in Ukraine starting 10:00 a.m. Moscow time (0700 GMT) on Saturday to facilitate the evacuation of civilians via humanitarian corridors, the Russian Ministry of Defense said.

As was agreed by the Ukrainian side, the humanitarian corridors will allow the exit of civilians from Mariupol and Volnovakha in south Ukraine, the ministry said, without disclosing how long the ceasefire will last.

During their second round of peace talks on Thursday, Russian and Ukrainian negotiators agreed on the establishment of humanitarian corridors for the exit of civilians and on a temporary cessation of hostilities along the evacuation routes. 
A clerk at Stripes was reportedly assaulted by a group of suspects on Feb. 23.

According to the Plainview Police Department, five suspects entered the store around 10:30 p.m. and allegedly threw ash trays, napkin dispensers and candy at a clerk they were familiar with. One of the suspects was reportedly asked to leave by the employee. That individual returned with another to assault the employee.

The suspects had left the scene when officers responded to the location at the 2700 block of Olton Road.

Police observed the suspects on camera throwing items at the clerk and saw one attempt to punch the clerk.

Everyone was identified and the case remains under investigation. The suspects could face misdemeanor assault charges and criminal mischief charges for causing damage to property.
Feb. 28

Police were called out to the 1100 block of Borger St. on Feb. 28 in reference to criminal mischief. Damaged to a vehicle was reported.

Theft from a vehicle was reported on Feb. 28 at the 600 block of W. 11th St.

A theft was reported at the 1000 block of Borger St. on Feb. 28.

March 1

A theft was reported at the 3000 block of W. 19th St. on March 1.

A stolen vehicle was reported at the 900 block of Lexington St. on March 1.

Theft was reported at the 1500 block of N. I-27 on March 1.

An assault was reported on March 1 at the 1400 block of Yonkers St. A 28-year-old man was arrested for assault causing bodily injury, family violence.

A theft was reported at the 100 block of W. 8th St. on March 1.

A hit-and-run crash was reported at the 1000 block of W. 16th St. on March 1. Damage to a vehicle was reported.

A 36-year-old man was arrested on March 1 at the 1500 block of N. I-27. Officers were called to the location in reference to criminal mischief. The individual was arrested for trespassing on private property. He was arrested for criminal trespass.

March 2

Police responded to a theft at the 1300 block of N. I-27 on March 2. Upon arrival at the church (Plains First Assembly), it was discovered that tires and rims were missing from a vehicle in the parking lot. The suspects were observed on video.

Theft from a vehicle was reported at the 1000 block of N. I-27 on March 2. Police were dispatched to the location (Plainview Furniture Exchange) where the reporting party gave them details about parts taken from underneath an orange van parked outside the business. Two saw blades were found on the outside of the building and were taken as evidence.

Officers were called to the 2400 block of N. Columbia on March 2 where a known person was observed taking merchandise and walking out of the store without paying.

Theft from a vehicle was reported on March 2 at the 1100 block of Kermit St. An unknown person took a catalytic converter from a parked vehicle in the 806 Pizza parking lot.

Another catalytic converter was stolen from a vehicle parked at the 1000 block of N. I-27 on March 2.

A crash resulting in vehicle damage was reported at the 600 block of Quincy St. NO injuries were reported.

A traffic stop was conducted on March 2 at the 600 block of Quincy. Officers observed an odor of marijuana coming from the vehicle and searched it with probable cause. A glass pipe was found in the vehicle.
Priscilla Aguirre, MySA.com

I have a confession. When I first started my hiking journey at the start of the coronavirus pandemic, I was that person who blared their music while walking along trails. I sometimes even sang along loudly. Yes, I'm a tad embarrassed.

Unaware of how it can be annoying to others, my volume was at the highest level on my speaker that played Dua Lipa and Lady Gaga (I'm a pop diva). The bad habit occurred about five times before I began to notice the disapproved faces and ugly stares.
A man shot at another male with an AK-47 because the male wanted to get to know his on and off wife, according to Laredo police.

Juan Carlos Rodriguez Jr., 18, was arrested and charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and evading arrest.
MOSCOW, March 5 (Xinhua) -- Russian forces will observe a truce in Ukraine starting 10:00 a.m. Moscow time (0700 GMT) on Saturday to facilitate the evacuation of civilians via humanitarian corridors, the Russian Ministry of Defense said.

As was agreed by the Ukrainian side, the humanitarian corridors will allow the exit of civilians from Mariupol and Volnovakha in south Ukraine, the ministry said.

The ceasefire will be held from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Moscow time (0700-1400 GMT) and the evacuation will begin at noon (0900 GMT), RIA Novosti news agency reported, citing a message of Mariupol city authorities.

Those who want to leave can take municipal buses from three locations or use private transport, it said.

The fleet must strictly follow the Mariupol-Nikolske-Rozivka-Polohy-Orikhiv-Zaporizhzhia route, it added.

More than 200,000 people from Mariupol and over 15,000 from Volnovakha are expected to be evacuated, TASS news agency reported, quoting a senior Ukrainian official.

During their second round of peace talks on Thursday, Russian and Ukrainian negotiators agreed on the establishment of humanitarian corridors for the exit of civilians and on a temporary cessation of hostilities along the evacuation routes. 
Yves here. Sonali Kolhatkar is correct to excoriate the open racism in the preferential treatment of Ukrainian refugees, disconcertingly confirmed by too frequent approving comments by talking heads about how European they and their cities are.

And let us not forget that the reason Germany uncharacteristically was willing to accept large numbers of Syrian refugees (and then failed to make remotely adequate measures to help get them assimilated) was that Syria had very high educational standards, and the assumption was theyd make good additions to Germanys labor force.

Of course, another reason to use bias as a quick and dirty sorting mechanism is there are way too many humanitarian crises in remote parts of the world, and its hard to tell who is a bona fide claimant versus what we like to call an economic refugee (putting aside the fact that in parts of Central America that have descended into gang warfare, expecting the locals to be able to earn a safe and reasonable living is a tad optimistic).

By Sonali Kolhatkar, the founder, host and executive producer of Rising Up With Sonali, a television and radio show that airs on Free Speech TV and Pacifica stations. She is a writing fellow for the Economy for All project at the Independent Media Institute. Produced by Economy for All, a project of the Independent Media Institute

It was inevitable that when brown-skinned Afghan refugees fleeing war were turned away from European borders over the past few years, the callous actions of these governments would come back to haunt them. A whopping 1 million people have fled Ukraine from Russias violent invasion in the span of only a week. They are being welcomedas refugees should beinto neighboring nations, inviting accusations of racist double standards.

Poland offers the most egregious example of national racism. Its government, whose nation borders Ukraine, has warmly welcomed traumatized Ukrainians, just months after turning away Afghans. If these optics werent bad enough, Polish nationalists have sought out people of color who are among the refugees fleeing Ukraine and violently attacked them. According to the Guardian, three Indians were beaten up by a group of five men, leaving one of them hospitalized. African nationals studying in Ukraine joined the exodus after Russias invasion, and have been stopped at the Polish border. Poland might as well erect a giant sign on its border declaring, whites only.

In elevating such disparate skin-tone-dependent attitudes toward refugees, Europe is giving its colonialist heritage a new lease on life. We see echoes today of the dehumanization that enabled European colonization of the Global South and the enslavement of generations.

Its not just Poland. The Arab and Middle Eastern Journalists Association has denounced the overtly racist language of many Western journalists, including American ones like Charlie DAgata of CBS who said of Ukraine that this isnt a place, with all due respect, like Iraq or Afghanistan, that has seen conflict raging for decades. (In fact, Ukraine has seen plenty of conflict in the past years.)

DAgatas insertion of with all due respect was perhaps his belated realization that he was veering into dangerous territory by contrasting Ukrainian civilization against the presupposed barbarity of the darker nations. But then, he continued, saying, this is a relatively civilized, relatively EuropeanI have to choose those words carefully, toocity where you wouldnt expect that, or hope that its going to happen.

Again, DAgata likely realized as the words were escaping his mouth just how racist he was sounding. He needed to choose his words carefully in order to avoid the appearance of bias. He clearly failed. His later apology was not very convincing.

DAgata exposed his personal allegiance with the Global North when he expressed hope against war breaking out in a nation whose people look like he does. The implied flip side is that he harbors no such hope when the conflict-ridden nations of the Global South are embroiled in violence.

Serena Parekh, professor of philosophy at Northeastern University in Boston, told me in a recent interview, it is very human to feel connections to people that you perceive to be like you and to feel more remote from people you perceive as being not like you. At the very least, this is a good reason why newsrooms across the United States need to diversify their staff.

Parekh, who has written two books, including No Refuge: Ethics and the Global Refugee Crisis and Refugees and the Ethics of Forced Displacement, says that one assumption she has heard justifying favorable treatment of the latest wave of refugees in Europe is that Ukrainians are not terrorists and they are not criminals, and so we can let them in safely, without having to worry about screening them. She calls such views racialized assumptions largely unsustainable by any evidence.

Such assumptions are infectious. Social media platforms abound with images sporting the now-ubiquitous blue and yellow of the Ukrainian flag. Ukraines President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has emerged as a larger-than-life hero to the morally outraged. So invested are people in believing Zelenskyys heroism that many have shared a photo (including several of my own Facebook friends) of him in military fatigues as evidence of his courage in standing up to Russian militarism, when in fact the image was captured well before Russias invasion.

Similar expressions of solidarity with brown-skinned resisters of Western militarism or victims of Western wars have been far less common.

Pointing out the double standards of governments and the press at a time when Ukrainians are watching their nation getting utterly destroyed will inevitably spark accusations of insensitivity and of engaging irresponsibly in whataboutism to make a point.

But now is the time to clearly call out what human rights groups and independent journalists have for years been saying: that the U.S. and NATO-led wars in Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria, Somalia, and elsewhere are racist, and that the callous dismissals of the resulting humanitarian catastrophes are equally barbaric.

Theres another reason why brown-skinned refugees are seen as undesirable. Welcoming those people fleeing wars that the West has fomented would be an admission of Western culpability. Not only do Ukrainian refugees offer palatable infusions of whiteness into European nations, but they also enable governments to express self-righteous outrage at Russias imperialist ambitions and violent militarism. If Ukrainian refugees are evidence of Russian brutality, then Afghan and Iraqi refugees are evidence of the same kind of brutality on the part of the U.S. and NATO.

While Europes double standard toward refugees is on full display in Russias war on Ukraine, the United States is certainly not innocent either. Former President Donald Trump effectively slammed shut the door on refugeesduring his tenure and bolstered his anti-refugee policies with racist language.

President Joe Biden, who campaigned on reversing Trumps anti-refugee rules, initially faltered on keeping his promise when he took office. But, even after the limits on allowing refugees into the U.S. were eventually lifted, few have been admitted into the country. Last year, when U.S. troops left Afghanistan at the mercy of the Taliban, Afghans were, naturally, desperate to flee. While the Biden administration laudably fast-tracked U.S. resettlement for Afghans, problems remain, with one refugee advocate calling the process, kind of abysmal.

Parekh says that decisions by Poland and other nations to admit fleeing Ukrainians with open arms, [show] that the European Union can take in large numbers of asylum seekers and can do so in a relatively efficient way.

In light of the sudden wellspring of compassion toward Ukrainian refugees emerging from Western nations, media, and the public, a simple thought experiment could protect governments, journalists, and us from further accusations of racist double standards: we could treat all refugees as though they were white-skinned Ukrainians, as though they were human.
(Natural News) Joe Biden, who was literally installed as president by the deep state, continues to play his role in helping the globalists shift reliance and influence away from the United States and towards other great powers including China and Russia.

On Tuesday, during his lie-filled State of the Union Address, Biden was told to announce he is closing all U.S. airspace to Russian commercial and government jets following Vladimir Putins invasion of neighboring Ukraine.

Tonight I say to the Russian oligarchs and the corrupt leaders who built billions of dollars off this violent regime, no more, Biden the Weak announced.

President Biden: Tonight I say to the Russian oligarchs and the corrupt leaders who built billions of dollars off this violent regime, no more. [] Tonight Im announcing that we will join our allies in closing off American air space to all Russian flights. pic.twitter.com/L4S3izFYJD  The Hill (@thehill) March 2, 2022

Tonight Im announcing that we will join our allies in closing off American air space to all Russian flights, he added.

Making good on another pledge to go after the assets of Russian oligarchs, Fox Business reported this week that Alisher Usmanovs $600M yacht was seized in Germany:

The Dilbar, a 512-foot vessel belonging to billionaire Alisher Usmanov, was taken over by authorities while it was being refitted in a German shipyard, Forbes reported.

The business magazine learned about the move Wednesday, just two days after Usmanov was sanctioned by the European Union as part of its response to Russias invasion of Ukraine, the report said.

In a statement, Usmanov responded by confirming the seizure.

On 28 February 2022 I became the target of restrictive measures imposed by the European Union I believe that such decision is unfair, and the reasons employed to justify the sanctions are a set of false and defamatory allegations damaging my honor, dignity, and business reputation, he noted on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, in another move to push the world away from America and towards other centers of finance and power, aircraft maker Boeing said it will no longer be providing parts and maintenance to Russian airlines who bought or leased its aircraft.

BREAKING: Boeing is suspending parts, maintenance and technical support services for Russian airlines,' Air Current magazine editor Jon Ostrower tweeted.

BREAKING: Boeing is suspending parts, maintenance and technical support services for Russian airlines. The company will be suspending major operations at its Moscow offices, which do a significant amount of fleet support and design work.  Jon Ostrower (@jonostrower) March 2, 2022

The company will be suspending major operations at its Moscow offices, which do a significant amount of fleet support and design work, he added.

Meanwhile, as Biden plays his role in helping the globalists destroy America, China and Russia continue to consolidate their considerable power and resources in a bid to shift the world more towards their sphere of influence.

In January, for instance, before Putin ordered his army into Ukraine, the Financial Times reported that he and Chinese President Xi Jinping were anticipating just the sort of sanctions regime that our puppet president laid out:

A decade ago, such a relationship seemed unlikely: China and Russia were as much rivals as partners. But after a period when both countries have sparred persistently with the US, Xis support for Putin reflects a growing identity between the interests and world views of Moscow and Beijing. According to the Chinese media, Xi told Putin that certain international forces are arbitrarily interfering in the internal affairs of China and Russia, under the guise of democracy and human rights.

In 1917, President Woodrow Wilson of the US talked of making the world safe for democracy. In 2022, Putin and Xi are determined to make the world safe for autocracy, the FT report continued.

Of course, they are getting loads of help from German economist Klaus Schwab and his World Economic Forum.

And now, Joe Biden.

Sources include:

FT.com

FoxBusiness.com
(Natural News) It is now becoming abundantly obvious what the next phase is going to be for achieving global depopulation. The vaccine bioweapon phase has achieved some level of morbid success in the eyes of the globalists, likely killing 1  2 billion human beings over the next decade as the spike protein damage takes its toll. But even this is nowhere near enough for the demonic entities controlling our planet, as they seek something closer to a 90% total reduction of the human population.

Suddenly their strategy is crystal clear. The spike protein mRNA injections cause about a 90% suppression of the DNA repair mechanism known as NHEJ  Non-Homologous End-Joining. This is a cellular mechanism that exists inside the cells of humans, animals and plants to maintain genetic integrity  a necessary condition for life.

Because of the NHEJ mechanism, we are able to automatically repair Double Strand Breaks (DSBs) in our chromosomes when we are subjected to ionizing radiation. Common sources of ionizing radiation include sunlight exposure, commercial jet flights and mammograms. When our NHEJ engine is working normally, chromosomes damaged by ionizing radiation are repaired and do not become cancer tumors. But when NHEJ is suppressed, the body cannot repair DNA damage and begins to grow micro tumors.

The following chart is taken from the bombshell NHEJ suppression study published in the journal Viruses. You can find it here. It shows the near-90 percent suppression of NHEJ in the presence of the spike protein which we now knows penetrates the nucleus of the cell.

In the conclusion of the paper, the authors write, We found that the spike protein markedly inhibited both BRCA1 and 53BP1 foci formation (Figure 3DG). Together, these data show that the SARSCoV2 fulllength spike protein inhibits DNA damage repair by hindering DNA repair protein recruitment.

Micro tumors, over time  and especially in the toxic blood environment of the average vitamin D-deficient person  become large tumors. And those tumors lead to death (sometimes death by chemotherapy).

Five billion people now injected with mRNA gene therapy can be easily killed with low levels of ionizing radiation from ANY source

So right now, all across the world, there are about five billion people who have received covid vaccination injections (source) which are actually experimental gene therapy treatments that alter their DNA and suppress their DNA repair mechanisms. All that is necessary for globalists to kill those five billion people is to unleash a new source of low-level ionizing radiation that circulates across the globe and then let physics do the rest.

Starting to get the picture of how evil these globalists really are?

This nefarious goal can be achieved by the globalists in any of the following ways:

Unleashing a new nuclear accident in Ukraine or anywhere else.

Setting off a nuclear bomb anywhere in the Northern hemisphere, including doing so as a false flag event to blame Russia.

Detonating a dirty bomb anywhere in the Northern hemisphere, potentially as an act of nuclear terrorism.

In any of these three scenarios, ionizing radiation is released and spreads across the globe due to winds. Various radioisotopes likely to be released in these events include iodine-131, cesium-137, strontium-90, plutonium-241 and others. These isotopes have various half-lives that will unleash intense iodine-131 exposure for about 10 weeks or so, followed by cesium-137 which will contaminate soils, waterways and the food supply for about 300 years (thats about 10 half-lives). Strontium-90 has a similar half life and decay time.

No one will be able to escape the radiation exposure in the Northern hemisphere.

When mRNA vaccinated people are exposed to low levels of ionizing radiation, they will immediately start growing a swarm of new micro tumors across their entire body

A normal, healthy person with functioning NHEJ can repair ionizing radiation damage, especially if the exposure is spread out over time. But mRNA vaccinated people have lost around 90% of that repair capability. This is why mRNA-injected people are already experiencing 2000% increases in cancer rates, anecdotally reported, and its why were seeing shocking increases in all-cause mortality as reported by several life insurance providers.

The addition of a new source of global, low-level ionizing radiation would be devastating to those who have taken the mRNA injections. They would lose genetic integrity across their bodies, with tissues and organs mutating into non-functioning attempts at blood vessels and protein strands. In effect, these peoples own cells would turn against them, and it wouldnt be long before they would suffer catastrophic failures of one or more organs or organ systems such as the circulatory system. During autopsies, it would appear as if their bodies were ravaged by a sudden wave of cancer (similar to acute radiation poisoning, but acting more slowly).

Importantly, these deaths would be diagnosed as cancer deaths, not vaccine deaths. And if a nuclear bomb could be blamed on Russia in any way, then Putin could be the scapegoat for global cancer deaths and the near-extermination of humanity.

Of course, the mRNA injections were necessary to set up the conditions for this mass die-off. Once in place, all the globalists needed was a new source of ionizing radiation to be released. And thats fairly simple for the deep state, since Russian-made nuclear materials were smuggled out of Ukraine during the fall of the USSR in 1991, and western intelligence sources got their hands on Russian nuclear material during the chaos.

This means the globalist deep state has Russian nukes on hand and can set them off anywhere they want, then blame Russia for the heinous act. The obedient propaganda media of the west will gladly go along with the lie.

Similarly, Putin might actually be pushed into using his own nuclear weapons due to the extreme economic war actions that have been unleashed against Russia. We could then experience a global nuclear exchange involving several nuclear powers.

Either way, its clear that America and NATO are attempting to drive the world into a nuclear event of some kind, and as Ive described in this story, I think we know the reason why. Its the second part of the binary weapon for global depopulation.

The world is run by a suicide cult of demonic lunatics who seek the total destruction of the human race

Ive stated this many times before, but only now are many people seeing how the dots connect. Its now obvious that the attacks on humanity have been planned to take place in multiple vectors: Economic, biological, radiological, psychological, etc. When they are layered together on unprepared or weak-minded individuals, the result can be so devastating that their lives are quickly ended. This process is already under way and is being rapidly accelerated with the conflict in Europe. Bill Gates must be thrilled.

About 63% of the world has been injected with mRNA. Nearly 100% will be exposed to ionizing radiation as soon as the nuclear detonations (or dirty bombs) can be achieved by the globalists. 100% of the world population will face famine, starvation, fiat currency collapse and insane fuel prices due to the economic war that has recently been unleashed. And of course, nearly 100% of the population is subjected to the psychological terrorism of the lying corporate media and government propaganda.

Not surprisingly, very few individuals can withstand all of this with their minds and bodies intact. Count your blessings, because you are among these very few people.

Understand, though, that if the globalists achieve their desired escalation, many of the people you know will be dead within two years. They will die from cancer, from famine, suicide, lawless violence, immunological disorders, etc. Very few people who did not prepare will survive what is coming. For the most part, only the prepared will have a chance of making it through.

Get prepared to survive a nuclear war

Listen to my detailed podcast today to hear:

Where you can download the Nuclear War Survival Skills book for free as a PDF.

What you need to understand about radioisotope half lives and how to CLEAR them out of your body if you ingest them.

Where and how to stock up on survival meats, human-powered vehicles, survival gear and other similar solutions.

What key things you need to know about ionizing radiation and how your body repairs it.

How to store digital files and information in a format that can survive an EMP attack and most wars.

All these solutions (and many more) are found in todays hard-hitting Situation Update podcast:

Brighteon.com/787e2691-1c08-486c-835d-d5de871e782c

Find more information-packaged podcasts each day, along with special reports and emergency updates, at:

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(Natural News) It is being reported that an internal memo circulating among Democrats is urging them to declare victory over the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) and immediately end all associated restrictions and mandates before the 2020 midterm elections arrive.

It may already be too late, though, as the Democrats have all but destroyed their chances at any kind of victory this fall. Even so, they are still desperately scrambling to scrap the narrative that they have been pushing for the past two years as if voters will somehow forget everything they did.

The reason why Democrat states have suddenly been dropping all their restrictions in tandem, the Democrat consulting firm Impact Research said, is because the Democrat Party knows that leaving them in place any longer will result in massive voter backlash.

Dated February 24, the memo advises Democrat politicians to take credit for ending the COVID crisis phase of the COVID war, point to important victories like vaccine distribution and providing economic stability to Americans, and fully enter the rebuilding phase that comes after any war.

Twice as many voters are now more concerned about COVIDs effect on the economy (49 percent) than about someone in their family or someone they know becoming infected with the coronavirus (24 percent), the memo further stated.

Two-thirds of parents and 80 percent of teachers say the pandemic caused learning loss, and voters are overwhelmingly more worried about learning loss than kids getting COVID. Six in 10 Americans describe themselves as worn out by the pandemic. The more we talk about the threat of COVID and onerously restrict peoples lives because of it, the more we turn them against us and show them were out of touch with their daily realities.

COVID will never go away completely so Democrats need to just give it up already, says Impact Research

The memo goes on to suggest that Democrats stop aiming for a COVID zero target, which is completely unrealistic. Instead, it advises a much laxer approach of basically ending the plandemic now regardless of what the numbers show.

[Americans] think the virus is here to stay, and 83 percent say the pandemic will be over when its a mild illness like the flu rather than COVID being completely gone, and 55 percent prefer that COVID should be treated as an endemic disease, the memo said.

And thats what most Americans are dealing with  a disease with fatality rates like the flu  because most of us took the personal responsibility to protect ourselves and our families by getting vaccinated.

Impact Research insists that Democrats acknowledge the fact that the Fauci Flu is no longer what it was even a year ago and therefore should not be treated as such  meaning no more mask mandates, jab mandates or lockdowns.

If we focus on how bad things still are and how much worse they could get, we set Democrats up as failures unable to navigate us through this, the memo concluded.

When 99 percent of Americans can get vaccinated, we cause more harm than we prevent with voters by going into our third year talking about restrictions. And, if Democrats continue to hold a posture that prioritizes COVID precautions over learning how to live in a world where COVID exists, but does not dominate, they risk paying dearly for it in November.

As of this writing, there are only three states left, along with several U.S. territories, that still have a statewide mask mandate in place. These include Hawaii, Oregon and Washington, along with Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

The Associated Press (AP) also admitted about a year ago  though many people missed it or forgot  that California and Florida have experienced almost identical outcomes in COVID-19 case rates, despite the former imposing some of the most severe restrictions in the country.

More related news can be found at Pandemic.news.

Sources include:

LifeSiteNews.com

NaturalNews.com
(Natural News) Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is finally backing off from martial law by rescinding the Emergencies Act, but it took a fight to accomplish this.

The Freedom Convoy trucker protests demanded an end to all Wuhan coronavirus (Covid-19) restrictions in Canada, and Trudeau continually refused because covid fascism is how the World Economic Forum (WEF) plans to impose a Great Reset through its Build Back Better (6uild 6ack 6etter) agenda.

Build Back Better, as you probably know, is also fake president Joe Bidens slogan, as well as that of Trudeau and British Prime Minister Boris Johnson. All of these deep state hacks pushed the lockdowns and mandates because they had no choice: This is what WEF founder Klaus Schwab needed them to do to usher in his global new world order.

The trucker protests exposed all of this and more, revealing that the fight against covid fascism is really a fight against being enslaved by the globalist cabal. It was never about health, in other words.

For now, Trudeau has scrapped his authoritarian declaration of martial law due to widespread backlash, claiming that existing laws and bylaws are now sufficient. We will see if it lasts, though, because the Great Reset is still on the agenda even if things seem to be relaxing a bit.

Trudeau and other tyrants are just puppets of the hidden globalists

It turns out that Schwab and his friends at the WEF and other associated entities have been at this thing for quite some time now. They are a cabal of globalist predators who hire and train politicians like Trudeau to do their bidding.

Biden is another political hack being controlled by this cabal, as is Emmanuel Macron of France and Jacinda Ardern in New Zealand. All of the major players who have been oppressing their people openly for the past two years are in on the agenda.

None of Trudeaus actions should be viewed as that of a national leader, reports explain. He is simply implementing the tactics he learned at WEF founder Klaus Schwabs Young Global Leaders program, from which he is a graduate.

Hence, any of the other Western nations now being led by politicians also committed to the WEF vision of the world would act exactly the same way given the same set of circumstances in their countries. We know Biden is one of their cronies. He even named his landmark piece of legislation after the WEF slogan, Build Back Better.'

Biden, to be fair, is probably being controlled by Barack Hussein Obama, seeing as how the latter admitted during an interview that his ideal leadership style for a third term would be to do it incognito through an earpiece.

Either way, these figureheads are just puppets on a string doing the bidding of their masters. And their masters, for the past two years, have instructed them to impose harsh tyranny on the people in order to get them to revolt so that the next phase of the Great Reset can be implemented.

The global predators knew their forced masking and mandated injections would eventually lead to worldwide uprisings and civil unrest, reports explain.

They predicted it in the Rockefeller Foundation document from 2010 called Lockstep. How to handle these popular uprisings was all discussed and rehearsed ahead of time  label them as criminals and hit them where it hurts, shut down their finances. This is the Great Reset, in our faces.

While Trudeau has stepped back from his Emergencies Act martial law, at least for now, Biden, Macron and many others are still moving forward with theirs. Chances are, the cabal still has something sinister up its sleeve for the entire world.

More related news about the Great Reset can be found at Fascism.news.

Sources for this article include:

NationalPost.com

ActivistPost.com

NaturalNews.com

YouTu.be

LibertyNow.com
(Natural News) Another holocaust is happening to the Jewish people, this time at the hands of Tony Fauci, Donald Trump, Joe Biden, Albert Bourla of Pfizer and every other jab-pushing globalist who foisted Wuhan coronavirus (Covid-19) vaccines on them and the rest of the world.

According to new reports, the vast majority of fully vaccinated Israelis are now suffering adverse reactions, many of them serious, because of the injections. The bodies are piling up, in other words.

Israels Ministry of Health published data from a recent survey showing that more than 66 percent of the people in Israel who got fully injected, then boosted, suffered some kind of reaction to the shots that has made living normal life much more difficult.

Some 2,049 citizens were asked three to four weeks after getting a third dose of a Fauci Flu shot how they feel now. Most of them revealed that they feel terrible, and roughly half of them say that carrying out normal, everyday activities is now exceptionally difficult.

The survey was conducted by phone back in September and October of 2021. Only people aged 18 and over who had recently been jabbed with a third covid needle within a period of 21 to 30 days after getting the first two needles were included in the results.

The adverse events reported from this demographic ranged from mild to serious. Many of the women, for instance, said they now suffer menstrual irregularities, while some have even had to be hospitalized. The most jab-injured respondents, it turns out, were women and young people.

The most common side effects among women were menstrual irregularities, reported LifeSiteNews.

The most reported symptoms were delays in menstruation (37.8%), increase in menstrual bleeding (31.1%), premature menstruation (28.9%), longer bleeding duration (26.7%), and severe menstrual pains (20%).

Covid vaccines killed 260 times more young people than would have died if everyone stayed unvaccinated

Israel, as we reported last year, imposed one of the most aggressive jab mandates in the world. The country also issued a green pass to verify proof of injection as a condition of entry into theaters, restaurants and other public venues.

Israelis have been told that they now need to get boosted pretty much forever in order to stay protected against the Wuhan Infection. And now, the consequences of this policy are coming on like a whipsaw.

Israel was one of the first countries in the world to launch a national booster vaccination campaign; it began in August of last year, LifeSiteNews added.

Nevertheless, so-called breakthrough infections continued to occur among those who received the top-up jabs.

Within the first week of Israels booster campaign, the government there reported that 14 people who rushed out to obey as part of the initial wave of compliance immediately tested positive for covid afterwards. Since that time, serious injuries and deaths among boosted Israelis have soared.

Another recent study found that the death rate among elderly people who got jabbed with the Pfizer mRNA shot is 40 times higher than what it would have been had everyone remained unvaccinated.

The same dataset revealed that the death rate among young people is even higher, clocking in at 260 times higher than it would have been had all young people left their immune systems alone.

75 years later  Truth is stranger than fiction, wrote someone in response to an article about this latter study, referring to the Holocaust of World War II.

Of all the nations on the planet, I would never have guessed that Israel would force its citizens to take genetic manipulation  euphemistically referred to as the vaccine, or be treated like lepers. Bring on the cattle trucks!

More Fauci Flu shot news can be found at ChemicalViolence.com.

Sources for this article include:

LifeSiteNews.com

NaturalNews.com

LifeSiteNews.com
(Natural News) As Russian forces continue to stream into neighboring Ukraine, they have begun using heavier weapons and ramping up bombing and missile attacks, but in doing so, Vladimir Putins troops may have violated international law governing warfare.

As such, the international community is looking to have Russias use of force investigated and potentially sanctioned as war crimes, according to reports this week.

NBC News noted:

Ukraines foreign affairs minister condemned what he called barbaric Russian missile strikes in central Kharkiv Tuesday morning and called on the international community to do more.

In a tweet, Dmytro Kuleba accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of war crimes following the incident.

The tweet contained a video clip of a massive explosion at a government building as vehicles were passing by.

Barbaric Russian missile strikes on the central Freedom Square and residential districts of Kharkiv. Putin is unable to break Ukraine down. He commits more war crimes out of fury, murders innocent civilians. The world can and must do more. INCREASE PRESSURE, ISOLATE RUSSIA FULLY! pic.twitter.com/tN4VHF1A9n  Dmytro Kuleba (@DmytroKuleba) March 1, 2022

Putin is unable to break Ukraine down, he said. He commits more war crimes out of fury, murders innocent civilians.

The world can and must do more, he said, while also calling on the international community to INCREASE PRESSURE, ISOLATE RUSSIA FULLY!

In response, the International Criminal Court pledged to investigate whether Russia is guilty of committing war crimes or crimes against humanity  not that the court has any power to enforce its ruling should it find Russia guilty.

That said, its amazing there are no calls for the United States to be investigated for similar violations after reports noted that the U.S. government has, for years, funded more than two dozen bioweapons labs, some of which conduct dangerous gain of function research like that which created the COVID-19 bug. And lo and behold, one of those labs is in Ukraine.

The funding of those labs is in direct violation of the United Nations Convention, though the U.S. military has been actively involved in the development of deadly toxins, bacteria and viruses at labs in 25 different countries; besides Ukraine, the labs controlled by the Pentagon are located in former Soviet Georgia, Iraq, Jordan, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Azerbaijan, Laos, Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Cameroon, Senegal, Guinea, Sierra Leone, Liberia, South Africa and the Ivory Coast.

The labs are reportedly linked to a $2.1 billion military program run by the Defense Threat Reduction Agency, while the program itself is known as the Cooperative Biological Engagement Program or CBEP.

In the former Soviet Union country of Ukraine, the Pentagon funds a shocking 11 bio-laboratories through the Department of Defense (DoD) Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA). Contrary to what its name implies, the DTRA does not reduce threats; it creates more of them by funding new bio-laboratories, Natural News reported this week.

Ukraine has no control over the military bio-laboratories on its own territory, reports the Exploring Real History blog.

According to the 2005 Agreement between the U.S. DoD and the Ministry of Health of Ukraine, the Ukrainian government is prohibited from public disclosure of sensitive information about the U.S. program and Ukraine is obliged to transfer to the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) dangerous pathogens for biological research.

In partnership with Canada, Sweden and Ukraine, the U.S. devised a protocol to develop these weapons of mass destruction at a location known as the Science and Technology Center in Ukraine. That is an international organization that the American government primarily funds and has been given diplomatic status. Officially, the center supports scientists who once worked in the Soviet Unions bioweapons programs.

Over the past two decades, the STCU has invested more than $285 million in funding for some 1,850 projects of scientists who previously had involvement in creating weapons of mass destruction, Natural News reported.

So  war crimes for both the U.S. and Russia?

Sources include:

NaturalNews.com

NBCNews.com
(Natural News) Students at the University of Pennsylvania largely rejected a financial incentive offered by the school in exchange for uploading their vaccine records.

The Ivy League university offered to provide $25,000 to celebrate annual class traditions if at least 95 percent of the students from a particular class year agreed to upload information about their COVID-19 booster shots and flu vaccines and complete biweekly surveillance tests by the end of February. However, as of March 1, just 60 percent of the students in the schools four classes had provided the university with this information.

This means that none of the class years reach the level required to obtain the money the university was offering for class traditions, which are annual events that take place to celebrate the end of the school year. Some examples include walking around campus with canes and hats and barbecues with music.

The chief wellness officer at the school claimed that the incentives aim was to encourage what it termed good behaviors and smart choices and foster a community of care.

Although it is easy to think of reasons students were unwilling to comply, it is also worth noting that the university had never even committed to holding the events in the first place. The executive director of public health and well-being at the school told the campus newspaper: We are very hopeful that we will get to release and remove restrictions, which is why we are hopeful that the events we tied the money to will happen.

The schools students, faculty and staff are required to have COVID-19 vaccines and boosters, except for online students who do not intend to visit campus. Students can apply for religious or medical exemptions, however.

Despite the universitys ongoing push to get students to comply with uploading their booster vaccine status, COVID-19 positivity rates on the campus have remained fairly stable. The rate for the week from February 20 to 26 was 1.17 percent, which is only slightly higher than the 0.98 percent noted the week before. The positivity rate decreased among graduate students, however, falling below 1 percent for the first time in the semester to 0.99 percent.

On March 1, administrators sent an email announcing that the university would be extending its deadline for uploading booster shot information until March 14. Those community members who fail to upload this information by the deadline will be required to undergo COVID-19 screening testing through the school twice a week. Vaccinated students, meanwhile, are only required to undergo screening testing once every other week. Those who have tested positive for the virus within the last 90 days will be exempt from screening testing but must continue to report symptoms and exposures using the schools PennOpen Pass system.

Positivity rate dropping in Pennsylvania

The stable campus positivity rate echoes statewide trends. Pennsylvania recently noted its lowest average daily case count since August. The number of students in isolation has also been dropping steadily, hitting a semester low of 48 students from February 20 to 26, which was significantly lower than the 96 noted the week before. A semester high was recorded during the week from January 9 to 15, when a total of 1,318 students were in isolation.

In late February, administrators announced that double masking and using KN95 or similar masks in campus buildings would no longer be required, although community members must still wear masks inside all campus buildings.

Its hard to believe that the university thought that extra funding for year-end social events would be enough to convince holdouts to share their vaccination records with administrators, and the fact that they did not even come close to reaching their target says a lot about how students view these requirements.

Sources for this article include:

LifeSiteNews.com

TheDP.com
(Natural News) If anyone needed to see the bigger picture of everything now happening in Ukraine, Russia, here in America and all across the world, we get it in numerous new stories out recently, and some time ago, across the internet.

Summed up perfectly in this new story over at The Week titled REMEMBER AFGHANISTAN: U.S. and Britain reportedly believe the Ukraine war could last 10-20 years, become a Russian quagmire, the military industrial complex we were warned of over 61 years ago by then President Dwight Eisenhower NEEDS new wars to fill the coffers with the 20-year war/occupation of Afghanistan having come to an end.

(Article by Stefan Stanford republished from AllNewsPipeline.com)

And while we could never see whats happening in Ukraine going on for 10 to 20 years with Russias unstoppable hypersonic nuclear missiles and the potential of an EMP or two that sends America and Europe back to the dark ages thrown into the mix, we get several HUGE pieces of the puzzle into what is REALLY going on in Ukraine, and why, if we look back at news stories over the past several years.

As well explore within this ANP story, Ukraine is nothing less than the Playground of the global elite crime cabal that runs the world, with huge amounts of drugs and human trafficking being run out of the country, along with their world disinfo/control operation, and Ukraine also gives them a front doorstep into Russia, not a word of any of this reported by their controlled mainstream media.

Each of the videos at the bottom of this story take looks at various aspects of that Ukrainian cabal playground that Joe Biden is risking Americas nuclear annihilation over, with the 1st video below featuring US Army Colonel Doug MacGregor joining former US Senator Trey Gowdy on Fox News and telling him and America that the Ukrainian government is deeply corrupt, and Biden and America definitely shouldnt help them.

Yet it appears another one of the real reasons that Biden will most likely get America involved in the quagmire there is because there are some absolutely devastating Biden family secrets hidden in Ukraine, as well as secrets held by the global crime cabal, secrets that Russia could possibly get ahold of if they take Ukraine if they havent all been destroyed by then.

And just listen to the desperation and panic in the voices of Hillary Clinton and Nancy Pelosi as heard in these linked twitter videos. What are they hiding? After everything thats now happening we can surely see that the globalist crime cabal playground runs deep in Ukraine.

So are you ready to financially support a US war in Ukraine that lasts for 10 to 20 years as this new story over at The Week suggests is a very real possibility? Reporting within it that lawmakers at the US Capitol had been told on Monday that this mess that just recently restarted will likely last 10, 15, or 20 years, although ultimately in their minds, Russia will lose, just think about how much TAXPAYER money a long, drawn-out quagmire would bring in to that military-industrial complex President Eisenhower warned us about 61 years ago!

And while Joe Biden, Democrats, the mainstream media and the globalist cabal attempt to paint Ukraine as a democracy and a free country which freely elected their President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, anybody paying attention to real history remembers that Ukraines government consists of very real neo-Nazis, many who were installed as puppets by the globalists cabal.

And while this story is certainly no attempt to paint Vladimir Putin as a hero, as we hear in the 1st video below, Ukraine is one of the most corrupt, globalist-owned countries in the entire world, quite literally the headquarters of the globalist crime cabal.

One of the only countries in the world that they can fully control that has had the stability and infrastructure to be used for money laundering, bioweapons research and fully controlled by the puppets of the cabal itself, Ukraine in 2022 is also much like America in 2022, a country where nearly all the govt movers and shakers are totally compromised so theres a big fat ZERO PERCENT chance of anything being investigated.

100% proven by none other than Joe Biden himself as seen in the 3rd video at the bottom of this story when he was talking to the Council on Foreign Relations and he quite literally bragged about how hed hold back a Billion Dollars in aid to Ukraine unless a Ukrainian prosecutor stopped investigating him and his sons dealings, then laughed about it as the crowd joined in, let that sink in for a moment.

Read more at: AllNewsPipeline.com
(Natural News) The myth of the mask and the nonsense of social distancing are merely for compliance. The longer the pandemic goes, the more information is revealed  such as the fraud of the PCR test and the dangers of the vaccines.

So why is the government doing this, and more important, what is their endgame? In the video posted by the Thrivetime Show on March 1, Dr. Sherri Tenpenny talked about the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) and the vaccine agenda.

Tenpenny said when the pandemic began in March 2020, she took a step back, realizing that COVID-19 has the same playbook as SARS, MERS, the bird flu and H1N1. Its the same thing that the government is doing, but bigger.

She also said the great global reset is a coup designed to replace truth with lies, and is being implemented using corruption and abuse of power. By inoculating people multiple times using toxic serums, they are annihilating the population, and doctors are doing it even to children.

The whole point is to make people chronically ill, customers for life, thats either youre going to be a customer for life chronically ill, youre going to be moved into the transhumanism movement, or youre going to be dead. Thats whats happening with all of this, Tenpenny said.

Vaccines designed to experiment on humans

Former Pfizer executive Dr. Mike Yeadon believes the coronavirus vaccines are created to experiment on humans and to find out what dosage is needed to kill people.

According to Yeadon, the mortality rate linked to the vaccines is traceable in terms of lot numbers of different batches, and some appear to be more lethal than others. Upon taking a look at the available evidence, it seems that the main goal of creating these vaccines is to depopulate the planet.

A lawyer looking into the vaccines is Reiner Fullmich, who said he and a group of international lawyers have been preparing an international lawsuit, as they are no longer in doubt that poisoning and mass murder through the so-called coronavirus vaccine is being perpetrated against people.

Ulf Bittner, a journalist, and Sverige Granskas, a writer, stated in an interview that these traceable lot numbers are related to the number of injuries and deaths based on different health care regions in Sweden. Bittner, through a coordinator, dug through documents that keep track of how many people have been injured and lost their lives to the vaccines. (Related: Norwegian media say some people have to die from coronavirus vaccines as a sacrifice to humanity.)

A Slovenian chief nurse revealed that in her country different numbers of the barcodes on the bottom of the vaccines indicate placebos, which are given to politicians. Yeadon said the lot numbers of some shots of Moderna, Johnson & Johnson and Pfizer are related to much higher mortality rates than other manufacturers.

For Fullmich, this is compelling evidence for attempted mass murder.

Tenpenny said the destruction of the temple is real, and these vaccines are attacking right at the heart. Men under 40 who received Pfizer vaccines double their risk of developing myocarditis after the first shot, then double it again after the second. For those who received boosters, the risk of myocarditis increases 16-fold. Theyre literally killing hearts. Theyre also literally killing your immune system, Tenpenny said. (Related: REPORT: Pfizers coronavirus vaccine killed 40 times more old people than the virus itself would have.)

Going into the third year of the pandemic, Tenpenny said people still believe the lies that the government tells them and turn their ears away from the truth.

More related stories:

Mainstream scientists now embracing vaccine depopulation explanation for why the vaccines are killing so many people.

If the Covid vaccines begin killing millions of adults, they will unleash an ORPHAN HOLOCAUST of homeless kids everywhere.

MAKING A KILLING: Pfizer demands global indemnity against lawsuits before it provides Wuhan coronavirus vaccines.

Dr. Peter McCullough: Covid vaccines are killing babies in the first trimester at an astonishing rate an atrocity to vaccinate expectant mothers.

Contaminated Moderna covid vaccines are KILLING people in Japan how does anyone know whether contaminated batches were already administered in the USA or elsewhere?

Watch the full March 1 video below of Dr. Sherri Tenpenny talking about COVID-19 and the vaccine agenda.

This video is from the Thrivetime Show channel on Brighteon.com.

Follow Pandemic.news for more updates related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Sources include:

Brighteon.com

FreeWestMedia.com
COPENHAGEN, March 4 (Xinhua) -- Denmark and the United Kingdom inked a declaration on Friday that will strengthen military cooperation between the two countries.

The agreement was drawn up by Denmark's Minister of Defense Morten Bodskov and his visiting UK counterpart Ben Wallace, during a meeting of the Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF).

It will ensure that "we will have a much stronger, practical exercise collaboration around the Baltic region and the Baltic Sea," said Bodskov.

Denmark and the United Kingdom are both members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) defense alliance and the JEF, a NATO-based emergency force comprised of eight NATO countries as well as Sweden and Finland.

"NATO is at the heart of our common security structure. This is basically about an addition to NATO. A practical exercise collaboration," said the Danish minister.

The declaration came in the context of a joint JEF military exercise based in Denmark since the end of February, which Bodskov described as a demonstration of "unity, stability, and security in our region."

Swedish Defense Minister Peter Hultvist, who was also in Copenhagen on Friday for the JEF meeting, will take part in the military exercise alongside the Danish frigate and Swedish corvette. 
(Natural News) Russia is becoming increasingly isolated from the rest of the globe as the worlds three biggest container shipping companies announced that they will be suspending cargo deliveries to and from the country as a result of sanctions imposed against them for invading Ukraine.

Shipping giant Maersk announced that it will be suspending all bookings to and from Russia except for food, medical and humanitarian supplies. In a statement, the company noted: We are deeply concerned by how the crisis keeps escalating in Ukraine.

They added that the stability and safety of their operations have already been impacted by sanctions. Maersk said it has been seeing the effect on global supply chain flows such as delays, detention of cargo by customs authorities across various transshipment hubs, unpredictable operational impacts. They have also been unable to make or receive payments to and from sanctioned Russian banks and other sanctioned parties.

The company operates container shipping routes to Kaliningrad and St. Petersburg in the Baltic Sea, along with Vladivostok and Vostochny on Russias east coast and Novorossiysk in the Black Sea. Last week, they temporarily stopped port calls in Ukraine, where they have around 60 employees in Odessa. They have around 500 employees in Russia.

Copenhagen-based Maersk, which has been active in Russia since 1992, owns a 31 percent stake in Russian port operator Global Ports, who runs six terminals in Russia along with two in Finland. Global Ports shareholders also include Russian businessman Sergey Shiskarev and Russian state nuclear company Rosatom.

At the same time, the biggest container shipping company by capacity in the world, Mediterranean Shipping Company, announced that it will also stop cargo bookings to and from Russia covering all access areas. This includes Far East Russia, the Black Sea and the Baltics. MSC had previously introduced a temporary stoppage to cargo bookings to and from the country.

However, the Swiss-owned container shipping line added: MSC will continue to accept and screen bookings for delivery of essential goods such as food, medical equipment and humanitarian goods.

The company said that it will be contacting customers directly regarding Russia-related cargo that is currently in transit and will be monitoring governmental advice related to any new sanctions that are issued.

Similar decisions have already been made by Germanys Hapag Lloyd, Frances CMA CGM and Singapores Ocean Network Express. This means Russia is now effectively cut off from top global container shipping companies and adds to the existing freight challenges that have been leading to supply chain problems throughout the world.

Container shipping companies play a vital role in global trade, carrying most of the manufactured goods made in the world today. This means that Russia will now be excluded from a significant proportion of the worlds shipping capacity.

Escalating conflict and severe sanctions will have a long-term impact on the shipping industry

The news comes as Russia continues to intensify its onslaught of major Ukrainian cities. Fighting is ongoing in the countrys north, east and south, with the UN reporting that a million refugees have now fled to nearby countries.

Experts believe that the escalating conflict and the severe nature of Russian sanctions will continue to impact the shipping industry for a long time. Although halting sailings has not been required by the sanctions placed by Western nations on Russia in response to its Ukraine invasion so far, it is another sign that many businesses are choosing to cut ties with the country, which is certain to add to Russias economic woes.

Sources for this article include:

ZeroHedge.com

CNBC.com
(Natural News) Oil prices are climbing to multi-year highs as the ongoing conflict Russia has embroiled itself in is preventing it from exporting a vast supply of crude, causing a ripple effect on global oil supplies.

Russia is the second-largest producer of oil in the world. According to 2020 data from the Energy Information Administration, Russia produced over 9.8 million barrels of oil per day, second only to the U.S. daily oil production of over 11.3 million barrels per day.

It is also the worlds largest exporter of crude oil and refined oil products, with about seven million barrels-worth of crude oil and refined oil products exported per day, about half of which go to Europe. (Related: Russia selling crude oil at massive discounts as regional conflict turns away regular trading partners.)

American stockpiles of crude oil are also at multi-year lows, contributing to the surging global price of crude oil.

Brent crude oil prices climbed to $119.84 per barrel on Thursday, March 3, the highest since 2012. Brent crude is one of the worlds main benchmarks for determining the price of oil.

In the past 30 days alone, the price of Brent crude has surged by about 37 percent. Brent crudes six-month futures also rose on Thursday to more than $21 a barrel. This is an indication that investors and economic analysts do not believe oil supplies will recover to pre-Ukraine invasion levels in the next few months.

The price of U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude, another benchmark for oil prices, also rose to a 14-year high of $116.57 on Thursday before settling to an end-of-day price of $113.12. This is still a 2.3 percent increase from the previous days price of West Texas crude.

Price of crude oil to keep rising as Russia-Ukraine conflict continues

The recent price surges for crude oil came after the United States passed a fresh round of sanctions. The latest economic attacks against Russia specifically targeted the countrys lucrative oil refining sector. This raised concerns from analysts and traders that Russian oil and gas exports could be targeted next.

America and its allies in the West are using sanctions to try and stop Russia from continuing its invasion of Ukraine. The White House has so far stopped short of directly targeting the countrys oil and gas exports, which would have a significant impact on global oil markets as well as U.S. energy prices.

The current sanctions will still have an impact on Russian oil exports. Jarand Rystad, CEO of Norwegian energy consulting company Rystad Energy, predicted that Russian oil exports will plunge by around one million barrels per day due to the indirect impact of the sanctions and by companies all over the world voluntarily withdrawing their business relations with Russian corporations.

Oil prices are likely to continue to climb  potentially beyond $130 per barrel, said Rystad.

Speaking to CNBCs Squawk on the Street, ExxonMobil CEO Darren Woods warned that crude oil prices could keep surging.

If there is a significant supply disruption with respect to Russian crude  that will be very difficult for the market to make up and therefore that will lead to, I think, significantly higher prices, said Woods.

The ExxonMobile CEO added that his company is shutting down its Russian operations. In a statement released on Tuesday, March 1, the oil giant said it would make no further investments in Russian oil prospects and all of its ongoing projects in the country would be halted.

This came after BP and Shell also said they would divest their assets in Russia.

Our business engages significantly with the government, the host governments where we operate. We felt like the decisions that were being made by the Russian government with respect to its incursion in Ukraine were inconsistent with our philosophies and how we run our business, said Woods.

The Russian invasion was the tipping point in terms of working with the Kremlin, said Woods, but he added that ExxonMobil may reopen its operations in Russia at a later date.

Well keep an open mind, he said. Things would have to change pretty significantly, frankly.

To make up for the shortfall in oil production, Woods said ExxonMobil is maximizing production in its other oil fields, including expanding drilling operations in the Permian Basin  a large oil-rich area in West Texas and Southeastern New Mexico.

More related articles:

Trump calls on Biden administration to boost domestic oil production.

US oil prices rise to a 7-year high as conflict between Russia and Ukraine continues.

Inflation, food shortages and the ongoing energy crisis are all coinciding with escalating war.

Sen. Cotton says gas prices will continue to rise, calls for deregulation of energy production in US.

Ukraine invasion highlights the need to boost U.S. domestic energy production.

Listen to this episode of the Health Ranger Report podcast as Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, talks about how the unfolding global financial crisis will hit America as planned.

This video is from the Health Ranger Report channel on Brighteon.com.

Learn more about the current state of the global oil industry at MarketCrash.news.

Sources include:

TheEpochTimes.com

EIA.gov

CNBC.com

Brighteon.com
(Natural News) French President Emmanuel Macron warned Ukraine to prepare for the worst after a disappointing call with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

On Thursday, March 3, Macron called Putin for the third time since the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine in an attempt to negotiate peace. A senior French official in Macrons office reported that Macron made no diplomatic progress with the third call.

The official added that Putin seemed determined to carry out the ongoing war until the end. He also told Macron that Russias goals in Ukraine would be fulfilled and that the war is going according to plan despite reports of heavy Russian losses in men and material.

In a statement released after the call, the Kremlin reiterated that its goals are for the demilitarization of Ukraine and for the country to be made completely neutral.

The Russian government reportedly also has a list of demands for Ukraine, and the longer Kyiv attempts to delay negotiations, the more items the Kremlin will add to its list.

Vladimir Putin outlined in detail the fundamental approaches and conditions in the context of negotiations with representatives of Kyiv. It was confirmed that, first of all, we are talking about the demilitarization and neutral status of Ukraine, so that a threat to the Russian Federation will never emanate from its territory, read the statement.

It was emphasized that the tasks of the special military operation will be fulfilled in any event, and attempts to gain time by dragging out negotiations will only lead to additional demands on Kyiv in our negotiating position.

The statement further claimed that reports of Russian forces bombarding civilian centers, including non-military targets in Kyiv, were part of an anti-Russian disinformation campaign and that Russian forces in Ukraine were doing all they can to protect civilians. (Related: Russian ambassador to the UN claims his country does not plan to occupy Ukraine.)

Putin wants to annex all of Ukraine

While Russias progress into Ukraine has slowed down significantly due to strong resistance, Russian forces are still slowly inching their way into Ukrainian territory. On Wednesday, March 2, the country captured its first major city, Kherson, near Russian-occupied Crimea, after nearly a week of failing to break Ukrainian resistance in the city.

Russian forces elsewhere in Ukraine have also ramped up their attacks on other major cities, especially Kyiv and the countrys second-largest city of Kharkiv in the northeast.

In the Kremlin statement, it again insisted that Russia has no intention of occupying Ukraine once the special military operation achieves its goal of demilitarizing the country. But the senior French official in Macrons office believes otherwise.

Our analysis of the military operations is that Russian ambitions are to take control of all of Ukraine, said the official. He added that nothing is certain about the progress of the Russian invasion, but we have to expect that the worst is to come. There is nothing in what President Putin said that should reassure us.

The French official added that Putin gave Macron a lengthy list of grievances and perceived slights from Ukraine and Western countries that the Russian leader claims are what forced him to act. The official said some of the demands Putin made of Macron and Ukraine are just unacceptable.

Macron reportedly told Putin that he was making a serious mistake and was deluding himself into thinking the invasion of Ukraine is a defensive conflict by looking for pretexts, including the assertion that the government in Kyiv was run by Nazis.

He added that innocent Russians who are not responsible for this war will pay very dearly as the economic sanctions against Russia will leave the country weakened, isolated and with no chance of properly recovering for a very long time.

It is unclear how Macron will attempt to move forward with his attempts to get Putin to call off the invasion from here. But the French president stressed that his country would keep diplomatic lines open with Russia to allow for communication on different matters regarding the invasion, including organizing the passage of humanitarian aid into Ukraine.

More related stories:

Cyber attacks now much more likely as Putin escalates ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine.

World War III will be nuclear and destructive, warns Russian foreign minister.

Russian authorities arrest anti-war protesters as citizens fear economic collapse.

Putin demands Ukraine surrender so as to spare the country bloodshed as Kyiv mayor calls on citizens to hold the capital.

Ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict pushing global economy closer to collapse.

Listen to this episode of the Health Ranger Report, as Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, talks about how the West is committing economic suicide by imposing severe sanctions against Russia.

This video is from the Health Ranger Report channel on Brighteon.com.

Learn more about the ongoing conflict in Ukraine at WWIII.news.

Sources include:

ZeroHedge.com

BusinessInsider.com

Reuters.com

NYTimes.com

Brighteon.com
(Natural News) Ukraines Special Operations Command announced Thursday on Facebook that Russian soldiers who try to surrender henceforth will be slaughtered like pigs while theyre begging for mercy.

(Article by Chris Menahan republished from InformationLiberation.com)

Ukraines special operations command just issued a warning to Russian soldiers that they will not be taken prisoner and will be slaughtered like pigs without the option of surrendering. That is public admission of a war crime. pic.twitter.com/fFVwkKu4Ib  Joe Shikhman (@JoeShikhman) March 2, 2022

Ukraines special operations command wrote on Facebook:

The SSO Brotherhood of Ukraine sends its greetings to the Russian artillery! We congratulate you: after you bombarded our peaceful cities, our relatives, children, loved ones  you, worms, became our number one target. We explain to you, Vanki: you seem to be far away and shoot at targets you cant see. You dont see little children, old people, homes, kindergartens, schools and hospitals  all these are just goals for you. Pressed, flew, got hit  f*cked, right guys? Now look, worms: you dont see your goals and you seem to be relieved. But believe me: it will never be easier for you scum. We already have the information about you. And if it is not for someone else, then it is a matter of minutes. From now on, there will be no more captured Russian artillery. No mercy, no please dont kill, I surrender will be getting away. Every calculation, no matter: commander, driver, guide, charger  will be slaughtered like pigs. Tie your pants up, weve already come for you. Call your mom one last time. Say you gonna die soon jackal. We are not death, we are worse!

The post is still live [UPDATE: They stealth edited the post, see below]:

Remember how Facebook banned a ton of right-wing extremists and labelled them dangerous individuals for their politically protected speech?

The Ukrainian military is allowed to announce their plans to commit war crimes.

Facebook even manually removed the neo-Nazi Azov Battalion group from their dangerous individuals and organizations list just last week so they could be showered with praise.

UPDATE: Ukraines SpecOps command quietly edited the post on Thursday morning to remove their plan to commit war crimes.

You can still see the original if you click Edit History in the top right (HT: @Deus_Abscondis}

Read more at: InformationLiberation.com
(Natural News) The question remains, why are Globalists supporting Ukraine?

Klaus Schwab, the founder of the World Economic Forum, and George Soros, the Hungarian-born billionaire behind the globalist open borders Open Society Foundations, support Ukraine and their President, Volodymyr Zelensky. Both controversial Globalists are promising to do everything to help the country in the fight against Vladimir Putin and Russian aggression.

(Article by Amy Mek republished from RAIRFoundation.com)

World Economic Forum

On Sunday, Schwab and WEF President Borge Brende wrote in a joint statement that they deeply condemn the aggression by Russia against Ukraine and the attacks and atrocities, report Russian media, RT.

They express their full solidarity with the Ukrainian people and all those who are suffering innocently from this totally unacceptable war, they stated.

They also stated that they hope that reason will prevail in the long term; there would eventually be room for reconciliation and building bridges.

In February 2020, a few months before the Great Reset meeting, Ukrainian President Zelensky called on Western investors during a speech at the World Economic Forum to become the stakeholders, shareholders of the success of a new Ukraine. He also said Ukraine was a place where miracles come true.

WEF Deletes Putin Profile

In addition, the WEF has removed Russian President Putins profile from its website.

In 2017, during a lecture at the Harvard Kennedy School, Schwab boasted that Putin was a Young Global Leader of the World Economic Forum.

(VIDEO)

It looks pretty likely that the Globalist organization has disowned the Russian president. However, they are proudly displaying Ukrainian President Zelenskyys profile.

George Soros

In 2019, Globalist George Soros was named the second-most influential figure in Ukraine according to a prominent Russian-language Ukrainian newspaper, Vesti. The newspaper publishes a list of the 100 most influential people in the country. The financier Soros was second only to President Volodymyr Zelensky.

The Kyiv-based newspaper points out that through the organizations financed by him, Soros can influence economic and political life in all of Ukraine.

The paper also writes that Soros, known for his active involvement in Ukraines economic and political life for more than 20 years, maintains a unique position of power through the Open Society Foundation and the dozens of other organizations he funds in the country.

Soros slammed Russias military invasion of Ukraine and encouraged the world to stand by Kiev.

At this point, Ukraine has the support of Joe Bidens White House, State Department, U.S. Intelligence Agencies, Silicon Valley, United Nations, European Union, NATO, World Economic Forum, U.S. Foreign Relations Committee, and George Soros to defeat Russia. So the question remains, why are Globalists supporting Ukraine? Support from Soros, the WEF, or left-wing leaders never comes without a price tag or an ulterior motive.

Read more at: RAIRFoundation.com
(Natural News) Most thinking Americans know full well that President Donald Trumps reelection was stolen from him in a meticulously planned, multifaceted manner that included one of the worlds richest tech giants, Meta/Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg.

The ability to flood deep blue cities and districts with fraudulent mail-in ballots is something that had to be financed, and during the 2020 election cycle, Zuckerberg spent some $400 million of his own money to fund local efforts to get out the vote during the pandemic  that is, the unconstitutional expansion in several key states of vote-by-mail measures.

But in doing so, Zuckerberg appears to have broken the law in the battleground state of Wisconsin, according to the findings of a special counsel this week.

Nearly $9 million in Zuckerberg grant funds directed solely to five Democratic strongholds in Wisconsin violated the states election codes prohibition on bribery. That conclusion represents but one of the many troubling findings detailed in the report submitted  by a state-appointed special counsel to the Wisconsin Assembly, The Federalists Margot Cleveland reported.

She went on to explain that in August 2021, Wisconsin Assembly Speaker Robin Vos gave authorization for the Office of Special Counsel, to be led by retired state Supreme Court Justice Michael Gableman, to look into concerns regarding election integrity pertaining to the 2020 election generally. He delivered an interim report to the GOP-controlled state assembly in November.

Then this week, Gableman delivered another interim report to state lawmakers in which he noted that the report is final in the sense that it provides a list of recommendations with time for the Legislature to act before the close of its session in March.

In other words, state lawmakers needed to move quickly to pass legislation ensuring fair elections ahead of the 2022 midterms in November.

To that point, Gablemans 150-page report did end with some recommendations for the state assembly, but he made it clear from the outset that his report would not re-litigate the 2020 election or the post-election recount in late 2020. Also, he noted that the report was not designed to challenge the certification of Wisconsin electors for Joe Biden.

Instead, the purpose of the report is to advance the duty of all citizens of our State and our nation to work hard to secure our democracy for this generation and the next, the special counsel explained.

Judging by Gablemans findings in his report, the state Assembly has a lot of work to do in order to address the numerous questionable and unlawful actions of various actors in the 2020 election. For instance, the first illegal act, the report noted, centered around the payment of grant funds to five Wisconsin counties that were utilized to facilitate balloting.

The arrangement, the report notes, violated Wis. Stat.  12.11, which prohibits election bribery by providing it is illegal to offer anything of value to or for any person in order to induce any elector to go to the polls or vote, Cleveland wrote.

According to the report, Priscilla Chan and Mark Zuckerberg provided financing that allowed the Center for Tech and Civic Life to offer nearly $9 million in Zuck Bucks to Milwaukee, Madison, Racine, Kenosha and Green Bay counties, she added. In exchange, the Zuckerberg 5, as the report called the counties, in effect, operated Democratic get-out-the-vote efforts. Those grant funds then paid for illegal drop boxes to be placed in Democratic voting strongholds.

That illegal use of drop boxes was the second finding by Gableman that concerned him, according to the report, which added that according to state election codes, there are limits to the manner in which ballots can be cast; voters are required to personally mail or deliver their ballots to the county municipal clerk, except where the laws allow an agent to act on the voters behalf.

The Zuckerberg 5 also violated the federal and state constitutional guarantee of equal protection, according to the special counsel report. The grant money targeted specific voters for special voting privileges, to the disadvantage of similarly situated voters located in other Wisconsin counties, Cleveland wrote, citing Gablemans findings.

The special counsels report also highlighted the Wisconsin Election Commission (WEC) illegal directive to clerks to ignore the state election code governing voting in nursing homes. In several nursing home locations throughout the state, 100 percent of registered voters cast a ballot in the 2020 electionan unheard-of rate that included many ineligible voters, she added.

The special counsel also found that non-citizens and those who are incapacitated remained on Wisconsin voting rolls, in violation of federal and state laws.

Besides the plethora of violations of state law that he found, Gableman also noted that an even more troubling aspect of his investigation were efforts by state election agencies and officials to impede it.

And heres the thing: What happened in Wisconsin was repeated in other battleground states including Michigan and Pennsylvania, both of which went for Biden though Trump had leads in both on Election Night.

Trumps reelection was stolen from him, and according to Gableman, Mark Zuckerberg and his wife illegally contributed to that.

Sources include:

TheFederalist.com

NaturalNews.com
Many coastal regions are facing risks of coastal flooding as a result of rising sea levels. Some cities are putting up walls in an effort to protect land from flooding while others are looking for more creative alternatives.

An independent organization called Climate Central created a Coastal Risk Screening Tool that reveals the region likely to be submerged. By selecting "water level," one can discover which locations are at risk of being submerged by as much as 30 feet of water if sea levels continue to rise.

Cities Likely to Experience Flood

According to Interesting Engineering, rising sea levels may affect more than 226 million people in 36 cities, according to a study published in The Swiftest. Their visual revealed the 36 greatest cities at risk of flooding if sea levels rise by 5 feet.

Many major cities throughout the world, including Amsterdam, New York City, Bangkok, and Venice, appear to be at risk in this scenario. These cities' historic landmarks are likewise at jeopardy. Let take a peek at some of these;

Venice - St. Mark's Basilica

Venice's well known St. Mark's Basilica has been repeatedly inundated in recent years. An increase in sea level would have a devastating effect on Venice's geography. The city is only 3.2 feet above the water's surface and has been sinking for several millennia. 120 cm of sea level rise is projected by the end of this century, which is 50% greater than the average projection for sea level rise around the world by 2100, as per The Swiftest.

Also Read: Mid-Atlantic Cities to Experience Another Round of Coastal Flooding

Florida - Miami Beach

Miami is also a city with a low elevation above sea level. It's just 7 feet above the surface of the ocean. Years of severe flooding have plagued Miami Beach, a famous vacation attraction. Installing pumps and elevating roads are among the solutions that are being implemented. Florida is also investing $4 billion to avert more damage, but the city faces a race against time given the fast increasing sea level.

New York City - Statue of Liberty

Last year, New York City saw its first flash flood emergency as a result of an increasing number of floods. In addition, the city's 32-foot elevation above sea level puts it at risk from rising ocean levels. Between 7 and 29 inches will be added to the height of the oceans by the year 2050.

East Side Coastal Resiliency Project is New York City's way of protecting its inhabitants from future extreme weather events. In addition, rising sea levels and other extreme weather conditions pose a significant threat to the Statue of Liberty.

How Can Sea-level Rise be Reduced?

Preventative trials have already taken place in a number of countries. A sea wall is currently being built in Jakarta, Indonesia's sinking capital. Another idea to defend the shorelines of New York City from storm surges and rising sea levels is the Hudson River Storm Surge Barriers.

When it comes to fighting Mother Nature, these approaches may not be up to the task. There is no doubt, however, that considerable engineering and technology will be required.

Related Article: Risk of Coastal Flooding on Low-Cost Housing Triples by 2050

For more news, updates about flooding and similar topics don't forget to follow Nature World News!
The enormous space rock was projected to swing past Earth at a "close" distance, and space aficionados were able to see it live.

Asteroid 138971 (2001 CB21) is estimated to be up to 4,265 feet broad, about three times the size of the Empire State Building, however, it was not projected to impact Earth and did not do so on Friday, March 4.

The asteroid that passed earth

NASA monitors asteroids through a network of partner telescopes and space observations coordinated by the Planetary Defense Coordination Office, as per Space.

Although no imminent threats have been identified, the agency is continuing its search in order to remain proactive.

The organization also conducts testing on asteroid defense technology (not that we need them yet), such as one that will soon arrive at an asteroid moon.

The DART spacecraft will collide with a minor asteroid named Dimorphos in late September or early October 2022, altering its orbit around its bigger partner, Didymos.

We know approximately 750,000 asteroids in all, however, the vast majority will never go near to Earth. Scientists have discovered over 27,000 near-Earth asteroids, with new ones being discovered daily.

Potentially dangerous asteroids are defined as space rocks that are brighter above a given threshold implying a specific size, though the correlation isn't perfect) and pass within 4.65 million miles 7.48 million km of Earth.

The average diameter of 138971 is around 742 meters, which is rough twice the size of the Empire State Building.

According to WGN9, while NASA has classified the asteroid as potentially hazardous due to its size of more than 500 feet and proximity to Earth's orbit of 4.7 million miles, it will not come dangerously near to our planet. The asteroid will fly by Earth roughly 3 million miles distant, according to the JPL's Center for Near-Earth Object Studies.

According to NASA, Asteroid 138971 was found in February 2001 and is classified as an Apollo-class Asteroid since its orbit crosses that of the Earth. It last crossed Earth in February 2021 and is not projected to return until February 2023.

Read more: Gigantic Asteroid Will Pass By Earth in 7 Years, Do We Have Defense Against Such Threats?

Types of asteroids around space

According to NASA, asteroids are divided into three classes depending on their compositions

C-type (chondrite) asteroids are the most frequent. They are most likely composed of clay and silicate rocks and have a dark appearance.

S-types (stony): consist of nickel-iron silicate minerals.

M-types (nickel-iron): These are metals. The compositional differences of asteroids are related to their distance from the Sun. Some of them sustained high temperatures after they formed and partially melted, with iron sinking to the center and propelling basaltic (volcanic) lava to the surface.

The impact of asteroid struck down earth

An asteroid collision on Earth might be an extinction-level catastrophe, depending on the size of the space rock, and experts have constructed models to assess how awful it could be.

Not all asteroids would be catastrophic to humanity, and a space rock would have to be rather massive to kill us all.

If an asteroid the size of the one that most likely killed the dinosaurs struck Earth today, everything would change instantaneously owing to the power of the impact and its effects on the ecosystem.

Related article: Update: Massive Asteroid '2001 CB21' Nears its Approach to Fly by Earth on March 4
KIEV, March 5 (Xinhua) -- Ukraine and Russia will hold the next round of peace talks on Monday, David Arakhamia, member of the Ukrainian delegation, said Saturday.

"The third round of talks will take place on Monday," Arakhamia wrote on Facebook.

Ukrainian Presidential Advisor Mykhailo Podolyak said Friday the third round of talks between Ukraine and Russia will take place on Saturday or Sunday, according to local media.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said in a telephone conversation with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz Friday that Russia is open to dialogue with Ukraine. He hoped that Kiev would take a "reasonable and constructive stance" during a third round of talks between Russia and Ukraine.

Ukraine and Russia held the previous two rounds of talks on Feb. 28 and March 3. 
New Castle, PA (16103)

Today

Cloudy skies this morning will become partly cloudy this afternoon. Areas of patchy fog. High near 70F. Winds light and variable..

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Showers this evening, becoming a steady rain overnight. Low 54F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 70%.
Head of Supporter Relations vacancy Head of Supporter Relations vacancy

Hope Into Action is looking for a professionally excellent and spiritually passionate person for the role of Head Of Supporter Relations.

INTRODUCTION FROM THE CHAIRMAN

Hope Into Action is a relational organisation yet strive to be highly professional. This is a critical appointment: we view our supporters as part of our network, vital to the success of who we are. Making them feel included, excited, valued, informed, inspired and appreciated is the essence of this role.

Sarah, who will be leaving in April, has built a very strong foundation for the organisation: with a strong data base, strong brand, strong social media presence, strong appeal history, excellent record of winning grants.

We are looking for someone to build on this foundation and help lead the organisation onto the next level of supporter relations. Visionary leadership to expand our reach, support, and relationships across the country is what we are looking for.

As with all staff we commit to caring for you well. We realise for you to perform to your best you need to rest well and have time for your family or other commitments. Built into our staff care policies, therefore, are strong holiday allowance, retreats, generous pension, sabbaticals after 4 years, death in service, training opportunities to name a few.

ABOUT THE PERSON AND ROLE

This role, reporting into the Executive Director, is a critical member of our Executive Team. We say we want to be professionally excellent and spiritually passionate. The first quality we look for in our staff, therefore, is a passion for the work we do. This will need to be matched by integrity and commitment to leading by our values.

As a member of the Executive you will have responsibility to work closely with all other departments in the organisation. Therefore building and maintaining strong relationships in a rapidly growing and constantly changing organisation is essential. Handling conflict maturely is another important quality for us.

As a leader you will be responsible for line-managing our supporter relations team (currently 3) and work which covers: branding, social media, data management, grant writing, external communications with supporters, planning and executing appeals, policy writing and management and event management. Experience working in a larger fundraising department would be preferable but a willingness to learn and grow essential. In the 2022-23 budget roughly 500,000 is budgeted for grants and roughly 400,000 from individual and church giving.

You will be working with Executive and Trustee to deliver a strategy and plans to fit with the organisational goals and 5 year vision of working with 200 churches by the end of 2025.

A deep commitment to the Christian faith is essential as is the ability to communicate the nuance of our faith driven work sensitively, maturely and passionately.

While our office hours are 0900-1700 we support staff in their flexible working. For this role you will be expected to be in Peterborough / other locations / events / conferences for 6-8 days per month. This will be to run team meetings, attend executive meetings, visit other cities and other critical occasions. Our office is located 5 minutes walk from Peterborough railway station and with good parking facilities available.

ABOUT THE ORGANISATION

Hope into Action believes everyone has a right to a home and churches have the power to meet the tragedy of homelessness in their community.

We are passionate about churches reaching and loving the homeless in practical, relational, long-term ways.

We began in 2011 with the purchase of one house in Peterborough. The house was opened in partnership with Bretton Baptist church who agreed to provide pastoral support to the tenants. We now have 88 church partners running 96 homes across 35 towns housing over 260 tenants every night. Initially we had a real heart for men coming out of custody now we help a range of people in recovery from homelessness including refugees, those fleeing domestic violence, addiction, rough sleeping and far more.

We directly manage 4 towns (Peterborough, Cambridge, Norwich and Nottingham) with teams and homes in each. This is where we gestate and develop best practice. We replicate into other towns through a franchise model where we roll out our best practice.

This role is responsible for bringing in c1,000,000 per annum from a mixture of grants and giving from individuals and churches.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

Hours of work - 30-34 per week with a flexible and professional approach. Some hours may need to be worked in the evenings and at weekends. A firm commitment to this is required given the needs and vulnerability of the tenants.

Salary - 36,000 - 37,000 per annum pro rata

Annual leave -25 days per annum + bank holidays and all the days between Christmas and New Year on a pro rata basis

Sickness leave - as per agreed policy

Pension - Group Personal Pension Pllan 8% employer contribution

Maternity & Paternity Leave - as per agreed policy

HOW TO APPLY
The Ignite Youth Festival of the Diocese of East Anglia returned to Swaffham this year with an extravaganza of light, sound and teenage enthusiasm.

The Ignite Youth Festival of the Diocese of East Anglia returned to Swaffham this year with an extravaganza of light, sound and teenage enthusiasm.

Services to bid farewell to the Dean of Norwich A day of special services took place at Norwich Cathedral to bid farewell to the Dean of Norwich who is retiring after 42 years in ministry including eight years in Norwich. Read more

We should respect our individuality and identity Robert Ashton reminds us that God made us all as individuals, and feels that we should respect peoples desire not to conform, especially if it is driven by their beliefs. Read more

Dereham Baptist Church launches Support Hub for Ukrainians A Ukrainian who has been living in Dereham is helping to build a welcome for her compatriots as the Baptist Church opens a new support centre. Read more

An opportunity come aside and rest a while at Bungay David Males will be leading a series of retreats at the Quiet Waters Christian Centre in Bungay on the theme of seeking Gods healing grace. Read more

Harrys skydive raises 1K for Yarmouth church Harry Woods, Community Manager at Great Yarmouth Salvation Army has taken part in a skydive to raise fund for the centre, and its not too late to sponsor him. Read more

Volunteers success at N Norfolk Christian centre A team of volunteer gardeners have been making a big difference at The Pleasaunce Holiday Centre in Overstrand, and invite more to join them for their next work-party day later this month. Read more

Barrie's love affair with Norfolk's big blue sky Norfolk church leader and ex-dentist Barrie Lawrence has six daughters and 20 grand-children living in five different continents, but his favourite place is his life-long home under those famous big blue skies. Read more

Author Patrick is just crazy about horses The varied strands of Patrick Coghlans life as a minister, counsellor, author and former riding school owner have come together in his most recent book Crazy about Horses. Sandie Shirley reports. Read more

70 years of loving care at Christian ethos home Staff and residents at Corton House, a not-for-profit care home situated on City Road, Norwich, recently enjoyed a 70th birthday tea attended by the Deputy Lord Mayor of Norwich, Cllr. Caroline Ackroyd and guest, Mr Gareth Phillips. Read more

Sustainable fashion on Cathedral catwalk Sustainable fashion will be taking centre stage at Norwich Cathedral at a special event on May 6 encouraging everyone to be kinder to the planet. Read more

Jamie says 'thanks for being With us' as Ditchingham community closes The innovative With Community at the former All Hallows Convent at Ditchingham is set to close its doors, with staff made redundant after a lack of bookings. Read more

Dorothy dedicated 95 years to Salvation Army A Thetford Salvation Army member, who dedicated more than 95 years to the church, has died just weeks before her 100th birthday. Read more

Norwich Franciscans say farewell to a lively brother The Norwich Pax et Bonum Franciscan Fraternity held a farewell celebration this week for Brother Robert Hardie. Read more

Fuel the Fire leaders day in South Norfolk Fuel the Fire leaders day is an opportunity for Christian leaders in churches to meet one another in an atmosphere of worship and prayer and for relevant prophetic preaching or teaching. Read more

Job vacancies at Norfolk Christian holiday centre The Pleasaunce Christian holiday centre at Overstrand in North Norfolk is looking for a Cook, a Kitchen Assistant and a General Assistant. Read more

Children and Families Worker vacancy Are you excited by the prospect of sharing the gospel with children and with families? St Andrews Church, Eaton are looking for a person for this role as part time maternity cover. Read more

Christian Aid pilgrimage to Walsingham A group of Christians will be leading an informal pilgrimage from Norwich to Walsingham next month to raise funds for Christian Aid. Read more
NEW YORK, March 4 (Xinhua) -- Oil prices spiked on Friday as the ongoing military conflict between Russia and Ukraine kindled fears about energy supply disruptions.

The West Texas Intermediate (WTI) for April delivery added 8.01 U.S. dollars, or 7.4 percent, to settle at 115.68 dollars a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange, the highest finish since September 2008.

Brent crude for May delivery increased 7.65 dollars, or 6.9 percent, to close at 118.11 dollars a barrel on the London ICE Futures Exchange, the highest settlement since February 2013.

The oil rally came as the news regarding the Russia-Ukraine conflict is still dominating the developments on the markets.

As the fighting continues, the West has imposed further sanctions and more and more Western companies are withdrawing from Russia.

Concerns about energy supplies persist and markets remain correspondingly nervous, You-Na Park-Heger, analyst at Commerzbank Research, said Friday in a note.

The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and its allies, a group known as OPEC+, announced on Wednesday that it would stick to existing plans for a modest oil output increase of 400,000 barrels per day in April, despite supply fears amid the Ukraine crisis.

"OPEC+ has drawn criticism for its decision to entirely disregard the war in Ukraine during its meeting on Wednesday," as the production hike it decided "will hardly prove sufficient to reassure the oil market," said Carsten Fritsch, energy analyst at Commerzbank Research.

For the week, the U.S. crude benchmark spiked 26.3 percent, while Brent soared 25.5 percent, based on the front-month contracts. 
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WASHINGTON, March 4 (Xinhua) -- An Amtrak engineer was acquitted on Friday by a jury in the deadly 2015 train derailment in Philadelphia, the largest city in U.S. state Pennsylvania.

Brandon Bostian, 38, was cleared of charges including causing a catastrophe, involuntary manslaughter, and reckless endangerment.

The derailment on May 12, 2015, killed eight passengers and injured more than 200 others.

Court documents showed Bostian "accelerated the train's movement to a speed of 106 miles (about 170.6 km) per hour," where the speed limit was less than half of that.

The train, according to the documents, was unable to navigate a curve, jumped the tracks, and derailed.

Investigators later determined Bostian was not impaired while he was in the driver's seat and was not distracted by his phone.

Bostian's lawyer argued the engineer was distracted by people throwing rocks in the area before the crash.

Amtrak, a federally chartered corporation, reached a settlement worth 265 million U.S. dollars in 2016 with families of victims who were killed or injured in the catastrophe. 
Pikeville, KY (41501)

Today

Sun and clouds mixed. High near 80F. Winds light and variable..

Tonight

Cloudy with occasional showers overnight. Thunder possible. Low 66F. Winds ESE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 70%.
Champaign, IL (61820)

Today

Periods of rain. High 57F. Winds E at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall near a half an inch..

Tonight

Rain showers early will evolve into a more steady rain overnight. Thunder possible. Low near 55F. Winds E at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 80%.
HOUSTON, March 4 (Xinhua) -- Two people were injuried in a shooting in Albuquerque, the largest city in southwestern U.S. state of New Mexico, on Friday afternoon, authorities said.

A report from local media outlet KRQE News 13 said the two victims are reportedly in "stable condition", citing police sources.

Following the shooting, Albuquerque Public Schools placed at least two elementary schools, together with Albuquerque High, Career Enrichment Center (CEC) and the Early College Academy (ECA) on lockdown temporarily, said the report. 
Longview, TX (75601)

Today

Scattered thunderstorms during the morning becoming more widespread and possibly severe this afternoon. Damaging winds and large hail with some storms. High 78F. Winds S at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall possibly over one inch..

Tonight

Scattered thunderstorms during the evening. Mainly clear skies after midnight. A few storms may be severe. Low 56F. Winds W at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 50%.
Do we enjoy our time more when we are alone, or when we're in the company of others? A new study by researchers from Bar-Ilan University in Israel has found that the element of choice in our daily social interactions plays a key role in our well-being.

Stable social relationships are conducive to well-being. But the effects of daily social interactions (or of time spent alone) on momentary feeling of happiness is not well understood. The current study, published in the Journal of Happiness Studies, suggests that our sense of choice of being with others (or of being alone) is a central factor which shapes our feelings in these contexts. Importantly, it was suggested that choice matters more 'with others' than alone, because experiences with others are more intense.

The research, led by Dr. Liad Uziel, of the Department of Psychology of Bar-Ilan University, with Dr. Tomer Schmidt-Barad, a postdoc in his lab now at the Peres Academic Center, consisted of two studies: an experiment that manipulated social context and choice status, and a ten-day experience-sampling study, which explored these variables in real-life settings.

The experience-sampling study involved 155 students. Each participant reported three times a day for ten consecutive days on episodic social experiences. Participants were asked in each "sample" to report on their social status (alone/with other people), whether they were in this situation by choice or not by choice, and their feelings (positive or negative emotion, satisfaction, sense of meaning, and sense of control). In total, more than 4,200 episodic reports were received. Of these, people were with others 60% of the time and alone 40% of the time. They were in these situations by their choice in 64% of the situations, and not by their choice in 36%. This indicates that the students spent about a third of their daytime in non-chosen social (or alone) situations.

Participants felt greater satisfaction (happiness) in the company of others than in being alone. However, there were great variations in the experience of being with others. The greatest degree of happiness was felt when in the company of others by choice, but the lowest degree of happiness when in the company of others not by choice. Effects of being alone on happiness also varied by choice status, but to a lesser extent.

In a previous study Dr. Uziel found that social situations intensify emotions, while being alone was linked to calmer emotions and to a more relaxed overall experience.

The current research expands upon these conclusions by learning about people's experiences in real life, outside the lab, and by addressing the choice element as an important moderating factor. In both cases, social experiences are more intense, for better or worse." Dr. Liad Uziel, Department of Psychology, Bar-Ilan University

Dr. Uziel says that choice, or even a subjective sense of choice, is a crucial factor in influencing the sense of well-being. People will feel better if they are alone by choice than if they are with others not by choice. Yet being in the company of others by choice contributes most to improving sense of well-being at any given moment.
This study is led by Prof. Zhimou Yang and Prof. Quan Chen (College of Life Sciences in Nankai University), and Prof. Jianfeng Liu (Institute of Radiation Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences). Prof. Zhimou Yang, who is working in the research field of peptide self-assembly biomaterials for more than 15 years, designed the peptide hydrogel for cell spheroids production. "Supramolecular hydrogels of self-assembling short peptides are promising for cell 3D culturing because they are biocompatible and are composed of nanofibers similar to the extracellular matrix. However, peptide hydrogels for cell spheroid production are rarely reported." Prof. Zhimou Yang says.

The peptide that formed the hydrogel contained two parts: one is the self-assembling part that contains biotin groups and the other is the bioactive part for regulating cell adhesion and growth. A peptide fragments derived from laminin and an integrin-binding peptide are encoded into the peptide sequence of the bioactive part.

The hydrogel formed by the supramolecular self-assembling of this peptide is termed "SupraGel" by the team. The team in Prof. Yang's lab performed rheological measurements of SupraGel and found that it could transform into a solution by simply vigorously shaking by hand, and the resulting solution could form a hydrogel again after approximately 10 min.

These features are critical for incorporating cells and isolating cell spheroids." Prof. Zhimou Yang, College of Life Sciences, Nankai University

Yang's team cultured several kinds of cancer cells in SupraGel. After 7 days of growth, each single cell divided into many cells and formed spheroids spontaneously. Then they collaborated with Prof. Quan Chen, who is an expert in cell biology, to test whether SupraGel was suitable for stem cells culturing and spheroids producing.

The researchers found that intestinal stem cells (ISCs) could grow into spheroids after15 days of cell culture in SupraGel. They also compared ISCs spheroids in both SupraGel and commercially available Matrigel and found that SupraGel helped to maintain the stemness of ISCs during the formation of the spheroids better than Matrigel did.

" We envision significant potential for SupraGel in cell spheroid preparation and a range of related applications, such as studying cellular complexities and screening drugs. " Prof. Zhimou Yang says.
Jeffersonville, IN (47130)

Today

Cloudy early, then off and on rain showers for the afternoon. High 74F. Winds E at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 50%..

Tonight

Showers this evening then thundershowers developing overnight. Low 64F. Winds SE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 90%.




UNITED NATIONS, March 5 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations Security Council held an emergency meeting Friday on the safety of nuclear facilities in Ukraine.

UN Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs Rosemary DiCarlo called on all parties to work with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to ensure the safety of Ukraine's nuclear sites, voicing concern over Friday's fighting around the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in southern Ukraine.

China's permanent representative to the United Nations Zhang Jun also called on parties to the Ukraine conflict to act with caution and work together to ensure the safety of relevant nuclear facilities inside Ukraine.

A fire broke out on Friday in a training building outside the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, the largest one in Europe, raising concerns over safety of nuclear facilities in the ongoing Russia-Ukraine military conflict. The blaze has already been extinguished.





Produced by Xinhua Global Service
















(Newser)  The Ukrainian president's office says civilian evacuations have halted in an area of the country where Russian defense officials had announced a ceasefire. Kyrylo Tymoshenko, the deputy head of President Volodymyr Zelensky's office, said the evacuation effort was stopped because the city of Mariupol remained under fire on Saturday, reports the AP. "The Russian side is not holding to the ceasefire and has continued firing on Mariupol itself and on its surrounding area," he said. "Talks with the Russian Federation are ongoing regarding setting up a ceasefire and ensuring a safe humanitarian corridor." The Russian Defense Ministry said earlier in a statement it had agreed on evacuation routes with Ukrainian forces for Mariupol, a strategic port in the southeast, and for the eastern city of Volnovakha.

But a city official reported that shelling continued in his area Saturday despite the deal, a sign of the fragility of efforts to stop fighting across the country. Mariupol had become the scene of growing misery amid days of shelling that knocked out power and most phone service and raised the prospect of food and water shortages for hundreds of thousands of people in freezing weather. Pharmacies are out of medicine, Doctors Without Borders said. Pavlo Kirilenko, head of the Donetsk military-civil administration that includes Mariupol, said the humanitarian corridor would extend from the city to Zaporizhzhia, about 140 miles away. But Mariupol deputy mayor Serhiy Orlov later told the BBC that the Russians "continue to use hard artillery and rockets to bomb Mariupol."

The head of Ukraine's security council, Oleksiy Danilov, had urged Russia to create humanitarian corridors to allow children, women, and older adults to flee the fighting, calling them "question No. 1." Ukraine's president was set to brief US senators Saturday by video conference as Congress considers a request for $10 billion in emergency funding for humanitarian aid and security needs. At least 331 civilians have been confirmed killed since the fighting began, but the true number is probably much higher, the UN human rights office said. Kyiv's central train station remained crowded with people desperate to join the more than 1.4 million who've fled Ukraine. "People just want to live," one woman said.

(Read more Russia-Ukraine conflict stories.)
(Newser)  The Canadian trucker convoy may be over, but American versions are now in full swing, and they could snarl traffic this weekend in and around their ending point of the nation's capital. The convoys, anti-COVID mandate/restriction processions that are converging from various locales, are set to arrive in and near Washington, DC, sometime on Saturday for their final protests. Here, the latest developments on these Freedom Convoy offshoots, with Virginia State Police calling it a "still-fluid situation," per the Washington Post:

Coming from California: NBC News reports that the cross-country "People's Convoy" that originated in Southern California on Feb. 22 made its final pit stop on Friday in Hagerstown, Md., with organizers offering murky statements on whether they plan to enter DC proper. One said in a Friday YouTube livestream, "I can tell you now that there will be select trucks going to the White House." Another, however, tells the Post that the convoysaid to have a few dozen tractor-trailers and hundreds of RVs, pickups, and cars, with vehicles joining and leaving throughout the journeyplans on staying put in Hagerstown on Saturday and then targeting another site "only 2 miles from the Beltway."

NBC News reports that the cross-country "People's Convoy" that originated in Southern California on Feb. 22 made its final pit stop on Friday in Hagerstown, Md., with organizers offering murky statements on whether they plan to enter DC proper. One said in a Friday YouTube livestream, "I can tell you now that there will be select trucks going to the White House." Another, however, tells the Post that the convoysaid to have a few dozen tractor-trailers and hundreds of RVs, pickups, and cars, with vehicles joining and leaving throughout the journeyplans on staying put in Hagerstown on Saturday and then targeting another site "only 2 miles from the Beltway." Coming from the Midwest: CNN notes that at least two other convoys are on their way to the area as well, including one that's deemed itself the "American Freedom Convoy." That convoy is said to be slightly behind the California one and not expected to arrive in the DC region until Monday. Members of that convoy told the news outlet they aren't going in with the intent for violence, but that it's not off the table if troops are sent in "to prevent the protests."

CNN notes that at least two other convoys are on their way to the area as well, including one that's deemed itself the "American Freedom Convoy." That convoy is said to be slightly behind the California one and not expected to arrive in the DC region until Monday. Members of that convoy told the news outlet they aren't going in with the intent for violence, but that it's not off the table if troops are sent in "to prevent the protests." How law enforcement is preparing: Virginia State Police have issued a travel advisory for the weekend, while Maryland State Police say in their own statement they'll have road patrol troopers and other backup "to assist public safety partners in Maryland and neighboring states to address any violations of law and to maintain the free flow of traffic," per WJLA. Dustin Sternbeck, a spokesman for DC's Metropolitan Police, tells the Post that officers will be stationed along highway entrances to the district and on some exit ramps, and that trucks from the Department of Public Works will be used to block or divert traffic, if needed. And if the convoys do try to get into the heart of DC? "It is fair to say we would explore all mitigation options," he notes.

Virginia State Police have issued a travel advisory for the weekend, while Maryland State Police say in their own statement they'll have road patrol troopers and other backup "to assist public safety partners in Maryland and neighboring states to address any violations of law and to maintain the free flow of traffic," per WJLA. Dustin Sternbeck, a spokesman for DC's Metropolitan Police, tells the Post that officers will be stationed along highway entrances to the district and on some exit ramps, and that trucks from the Department of Public Works will be used to block or divert traffic, if needed. And if the convoys do try to get into the heart of DC? "It is fair to say we would explore all mitigation options," he notes. Conspiracy theory: NBC notes that as COVID cases dwindle and restrictions are lifted, the convoys' "COVID mission has become less clear." In its place, conspiracy theories are proliferating, and one in particular is popular among convoy members: that Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin are working together to shell secret labs in Ukraine where Dr. Anthony Fauci is making bioweapons. "I don't think they know what they want," extremism researcher Sara Aniano says of the QAnon-driven theory. "They are just mad, and they want a reason to express that."

(Read more truckers stories.)
(Newser)  After fleeing her home in now-Taliban-controlled Afghanistan, Mozhgan Entazari did everything she could to find a new one for her family in the sunny, palm tree-lined communities of Southern California. The 34-year-old mother of two scoured options on Zillow with her husband, while the family lived at a hotel in Irvine, south of Los Angeles. She spent $200 for an Uber ride to see an apartment 90 minutes away only to find it had been rented. Entazari needed a place not just for her immediate family but for seven members of her extended family. In the end, it took four months. On Sunday, they'll move into a five-bedroom house in Corona, about 50 miles southeast of LA, which is renting for $4,000.

The family's struggles are emblematic of what tens of thousands of Afghans are finding since they moved off US military bases and into American cities and towns following last summer's dramatic airlift operation, per the AP. Many hope to settle in Southern California and the Washington, DC, area, where Afghans previously established vibrant communities with halal grocery stores and mosques. But these communities also are among the country's priciest housing markets, and units, especially those suitable for often larger Afghan families, are in short supply. Resettlement agencies report it's taking longer to get refugees out of temporary housing like hotels, Airbnbs, and churches. The search for housing for Afghans comes amid a tightening housing market as the US crawls out of the pandemic.

The nationwide vacancy rate for rental units dropped about 1 percentage point, to 5.6%, in the last quarter of 2020, according to recently released US Census data. The typical US rent was up nearly 16%, to more than $1,850 in January compared to last January, according to the online real estate marketplace Zillow. About half of all Afghan immigrants to the US, many who came decades ago, live in five major metropolitan areas: Washington; Sacramento, Calif.; San Francisco; New York; and Los Angeles, according to the Migration Policy Institute. As a result, these areas are often attractive for Afghan newcomers, and many list the names of relatives or acquaintances already living there as contacts when resettlement agencies are considering where to send them.

But with some 76,000 Afghans arriving in the US since the Taliban takeover of their country last year, many of these cities are reaching their saturation point, per Krish O'Mara Vignarajah of the Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service. The top states for Afghans arriving following the Taliban takeover are Texas (nearly 10,500); California (over 8,200); Virginia (over 5,100); and Washington (over 2,800), per State Department data. Entazari will share a roof with her husband and kids, along with her mother, teen sister, and her brother and his family. Without a job, credit history, or co-signer, she said it was incredibly difficult to find housing. And without an address, she said she and her husband couldn't get jobs and her kids couldn't enroll in school. "All our life depends on housing," Entazari said in Farsi through a volunteer interpreter.

(Read more housing market stories.)
(Newser)  The head of the Polish bishops conference has done what Pope Francis has so far avoided doing: He publicly condemned Russia's invasion of Ukraine and urged the head of the Russian Orthodox Church to use his influence with President Vladimir Putin to demand that the war be ended and that Russian soldiers stand down. "The time will come to settle these crimes, including before the international courts," Archbishop Stanislaw Gadecki warned in a letter to Patriarch Kirill, the AP reports. "However, even if someone manages to avoid this human justice, there is a tribunal that cannot be avoided."

Gadecki's tone was significant because it contrasted sharply with the comparative neutrality of the Vatican and Francis to date. The Holy See has called for peace, humanitarian corridors, a cease-fire, and a return to negotiations, and even offered itself as a mediator. But Francis has yet to publicly condemn Russia by name for its invasion or publicly appeal to Kirill, and the Vatican offered no comment on the Russian strike on Europe's largest nuclear plant that sparked a fire Friday. For a pope who has declared the mere possession of nuclear weapons immoral and cautioned against using atomic energy because of the environmental threat posed by radiation leaks, the silence was even more notable.

The Vatican has a tradition of quiet diplomacy, believing that it can facilitate dialogue better if it doesn't take sides or publicly call out aggressors. Francis took an unprecedented step last week when he went to the Russian Embassy to the Holy See to meet with the ambassador. But the only thing the Vatican said about the meeting was that Francis went to "express his concern about the war." He also spoke by phone with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The Vatican secretary of state, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, took a similarly unusual step this week when, in an interview with four Italian newspapers, he named Russia in saying the war had been "unleashed by Russia against Ukraine."

(Read more Pope Francis stories.)
Read the original article on Business Insider.

The United States and other countries have rushed to support Ukraine following Russia's renewed invasion on February 24, providing security assistance to Ukraine itself and bolstering their military presence along NATO's eastern flank.

Those efforts mean more U.S. and allied aircraft are operating near Ukraine as Russian military aircraft operate there, and their close proximity raises the chances of a close encounter that leads to a clash and possible escalation.

The U.S. "retains a number of channels to discuss critical security issues with the Russians during a contingency or emergency," a U.S. defense official told Insider on Thursday.

But they were without a de-confliction line to manage their air operations until March 1, when the U.S. Defense Department set up such a hotline with Russia's Defense Ministry, "for the purposes of preventing miscalculation, military incidents, and escalation," the official told Insider. NBC first reported the de-confliction line.

NATO air forces already have a sizable presence across Eastern Europe, conducting air-policing operations over the Baltic and Black Sea regions. More U.S. jets headed to the Baltics in the weeks before Russia's invasion, and in the hours and days after it, NATO jets patrolled the alliance's eastern flank as the US and others deployed more jets to the region.

With Russia's military buildup and NATO's reinforcement efforts, "there's a lot of steel in the Black Sea" and in Poland, but under the current circumstances an incident leading to escalation was less of a concern, said Aaron Stein, director of research at the Foreign Policy Research Institute.

"The two sides have professional militaries," Stein told Insider on Friday. "As of now, it appears that the Russians have their hands full in Ukraine, and the U.S. and NATO itself has been very clear that they're not coming across the border."

Under those conditions, confusion could be mitigated "by just an increased ability to transmit information between the two sides," which a basic de-confliction line provides, Stein added.

A U.S. defense official said Friday that the de-confliction channel was "basically an open phone line" run out of U.S. European Command headquarters in Germany and had been used at least once. "The Russians have acknowledged it. In our initial test of it, they answered the phone, so we know that they know who's calling," the official told reporters.

U.S. Air Force Capt. Jason Howze (left) and Capt. Alexander Harvey (right), pilots take off from RAF Fairford, England, in a B-52H Stratofortress for a mission with the Swedish Air Force in support of Bomber Task Force Europe, Feb. 24, 2022. (Corban Lundborg/U.S. Air Force)

'Unwanted Escalation'

The risk of close encounters and clashes is likely to grow as the conflict grinds on, particularly if Russia increases its operations in western Ukraine, which borders four NATO countries.

Stein, who has researched Russia's role in the air war over Syria, pointed to Russia's bombing of convoys there as a sign of what may come.

"Not necessarily all those convoys were weapons. Probably a lot of those convoys were aid," Stein said. "So you just start bombing convoys as they come across and then you have Russian air activity right on the border."

The U.S. and other countries continue to provide security assistance, which includes weapons, to Ukraine through overland routes. Mara Karlin, assistant secretary of defense for strategy, plans, and capabilities, told lawmakers Tuesday that the Pentagon was "looking absolutely hard at" keeping those routes open as Russia takes control of more of Ukraine.

U.S. officials say they have not seen Russian forces try to interfere with those resupply efforts, but Russian aircraft have reportedly started interdiction flights near Ukraine's border with Poland.

Russian forces showed restraint in the first days of the war, suggesting they want to "avoid any unwanted escalation" around NATO troops, said Mathieu Boulegue, a defense researcher at the Chatham House think tank.

"That said, it's not because you have a clear rule of engagement that a 20-year-old hothead in a cockpit starts doing what he's not supposed to do, which could lead to escalation," Boulegue told Insider on Tuesday.

"A targeting error leading to a strike on NATO territory is far more plausible in the fog of war," Samuel Charap, a senior political scientist at the Rand Corporation think tank, wrote in the Financial Times this week. Moscow could also come to see NATO's reinforcement efforts as an attempt to intervene "and might well respond accordingly," Charap added.

U.S. officials have stressed that US aircraft are not operating in Ukraine's airspace, and NATO leaders have said the alliance would not send troops or aircraft into Ukraine, but mistakes or miscalculations by personnel on either side could bring NATO and Russian forces into close contact, Boulegue and Stein said.

Pilots can mistakenly fly across borders, and Russian aircraft in particular might pursue Ukrainian aircraft into NATO airspace "on accident or on purpose to punish Ukrainians," Stein said.

"History is full of technical errors and accidents degenerating into something wider," Boulegue said.

A U.S. Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft assigned to the 480th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron at Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany, takes off from the 86th AB, Romania, March 1, 2022. (Ali Stewart/U.S. Air Force)

'There Is No Off-Ramp'

U.S. and Russian forces have a history of close encounters around Europe, and the U.S. has often labeled Russian conduct in those incidents "unsafe and unprofessional."

Many of those incidents have taken place over the Black Sea, and Stein said there is a worrying possibility that in the weeks ahead NATO aircraft patrolling over that sea "will rub up against" Russian aircraft doing the same, potentially raising already heightened tensions.

There are already signs of Russia responding forcefully to the pressure its neighbors are applying in response to the invasion. Four Russian fighter jets briefly entered Swedish airspace on Wednesday, flying over the strategically located Gotland Island and drawing official condemnation from Stockholm.

The incident comes as public support for NATO membership risings in Sweden and Finland, and as tens of thousands of NATO troops gather in Norway for Cold Response 22, an exercise that will be conducted in the sea and air around Norway, which borders sensitive Russian military installations in the Arctic.

The exercise, which a Norwegian Joint Headquarters spokesperson said is expected to involve some 30,000 troops, "will be a really important stress test in terms of restraint and in terms of avoiding escalation," Boulegue said.

Stein said Russia was unlikely to seek direct confrontation with its European neighbors. "I actually think that the Russians want to keep this contained as well, but that doesn't mean that they won't use coercion if they feel it's necessary to try and solicit concessions."

In Ukraine, the fighting as has intensified in recent days, with Russian forces advancing on Ukrainian cities and firing on civilian areas as Ukrainian troops and civilians mount stiff resistance.

Leaders on both sides have made statements of resolve, but a resolution remains out of sight.

"The larger war is something to really worry about," Rep. Adam Smith, chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, told MSNBC on Thursday.

"What's the off-ramp? I will tell you, I've asked that question of a lot of leaders, and at the end of the day the answer comes down to, simply, right now there is no off-ramp," Smith said. "We're trying to blunt Putin's invasion, but then what? What does he do? Nobody can picture Putin just giving up."
(Newser)  China announced Saturday it has decided to increase military spending at the fastest clip since 2019. The 7.1% boost would put the defense budget for this year at $230 billion, CNBC reports. The increase for 2021 was 6.8%, while spending rose 7.5% in 2019. "We will move faster to modernize the military's logistics and asset management systems, and build a modern weaponry and equipment management system," Premier Li Keqiang said in a statement included in a separate document released Saturday. In comparison, the US defense budget for the current fiscal year rose about 2%, to $768.2 billion.

Only the US has a bigger defense budget than China, which boasts the world's largest standing military. The spending increase demonstrates China's determination to strengthen its armed forces despite a slowing economy and high government debt, per the AP. The government says most of the increase will be used to improve the welfare of troops. The defense budget doesn't include all spending on weapons, analysts say, which mostly are produced domestically. Li told the opening of the National People's Congress on Saturday that China will follow President Xi Jinping's "thinking on strengthening the armed forces and the military strategy for the new era."

The top US Air Force commander in the Pacific said Thursday that he's keeping an eye on China's military movements, especially anything that would suggest an attack on Taiwan. "I haven't seen anything so far, but that doesn't mean they havent talked about it internally and doesnt mean that they wont try something," Gen. Kenneth Wilsbach said. In his speech, Li said his government will "advance peaceful growth of relations across the Taiwan Strait and the reunification of China" while warning against foreign involvement in the issue. (Read more China military stories.)
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TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune  www.newsofbahrain.com

An enormous dust storm swept across Bahrain yesterday, darkening the skies, fluctuating the temperatures violently and dropping horizontal visibility to dangerously low levels.

Warning from the Meteorological departments had said that Bahrain was experiencing a wave of a dust storm, which covered large areas of the Arabian Peninsula. The conditions, the Met office said, could reduce the visibility to less than 1000m.

Temperatures in the Kingdom, the met data showed, fluctuated violently, with the temperature hitting as high as 34 Degree Celsius and then dropping down to 21 degree celsius in a matter of two hours.

The atmosphere also witnessed the sudden intrusion of northerly wind packed with dust, causing a low level of horizontal visibility, strong enough even to mask skyscrapers from view. Meteorological Department said they spotted rain clouds forming in the eastern region of Saudi Arabia, which would bring scattered rain today in Bahrain.

The Meteorology Department also called on citizens to remain cautious. Meanwhile, low visibility forced authorities here to cancel Formula 2s final pre-season test session at Bahrain as the sandstorm hit the desert-based circuit yesterday afternoon.

The storm, however, failed to interrupt Formula 3 sessions, which got going and completed at 5 pm.
TDT | Manama



The Daily Tribune  www.newsofbahrain.com

Bahrain signed six agreements with the United States giving a significant boost to Bahrains economy during the visit of His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa to the United States of America.

The deals, which included partnerships and memoranda of understanding, bring investments to Bahrains digital information sector, industrial, logistics and space sciences sectors.

Several government bodies and companies in both countries signed the deals, which comes as Bahrain slowly emerges from the pandemic by relaxing the COVID-19 measures. Three agreements were in the digital information sector.

These include a deal renewing an agreement between the Information and eGovernment Authority with Microsoft to support the national digitisation drive. Bahrain has also granted the US sovereignty over data stored at cloud computing centres in Bahrain.
Agencies | Washington

The Daily Tribune  www.newsofbahrain.com

His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, today met with the Vice President of the United States of America, Kamala Harris, at the White House, Washington DC.

His Royal Highness highlighted the Kingdoms long-standing strategic alliance with the United States, a relationship that continues to develop and strengthen, with the support of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa.

HRH Prince Salman bin Hamad emphasised the strength of Bahrain-US ties, exemplified by formal diplomatic relations for over 50 years, and US Fifth Fleets headquarters being based in Bahrain for over 75 years, making it the longest standing permanent US military headquarters in the Middle East. His Royal Highness also reaffirmed the Kingdom's commitment to an international rule-based order to safeguard global security.

His Royal Highness noted the importance of further strengthening bilateral cooperation and coordination for both the United States and the Kingdom of Bahrain to meet shared aspirations.

His Royal Highness also noted the recent inauguration of the US Trade Zone in the Kingdom of Bahrain, expanding Bahrain-US relations and part of a package of new strategic projects designed to create further opportunities to spur economic growth and attract investment.

His Royal Highness recognised the United States prominent role in leading efforts to maintain regional and international peace, security, and stability, as principles of international development.

For her part, Vice President Harris expressed her pleasure to meet with His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad and reaffirmed the strength Bahrain-US relations, adding that Bahrain is a major non-NATO ally.

Vice President Harris confirmed that Bahrain is also a valuable strategic security partner, that hosts the headquarters of the Fifth Fleet and the Joint Naval Forces Command. Whilst also noting the strategic support provided by the Kingdom of Bahrain during last year's relief efforts and evacuations from Afghanistan.
Visiting Kyoto could be an overwhelming experience for you, as you can experience the ancient Japanese way of harmony.

And with my "Kyoto top 11 attractions" travel guide, you will know which place you must visit and what food and sweets you must have. Get a taste of landmarks such as Kinkaku-ji, Kiyomizu-Dera, Fushimi Inari-Taisha and so on you must see in your next vacation in the Millennium City.
An attempt by Republicans to add an amendment that could have created a major legislative obstacle to this years version of the aid-in-dying bill failed Friday in the Democratic-controlled Public Health Committee.

After the amendment was defeated, the bill, similar to other states in which terminally ill patients may use a lethal combination of drugs to take their own lives, passed with support from three Republicans including Sen. Tony Hwang, R-Fairfield. Currently, there are aid-in-dying laws in Washington, D.C., California, Colorado, Hawaii, Maine, Montana, New Jersey, New Mexico, Oregon, Vermont, and Washington.

It next goes to the Senate, where it might have its the best chance for passage since it was first introduced in the General Assembly, back in 1994. The Republican amendment, defeated 17-12, mostly along party lines, would have required the legislation to next go to the Judiciary Committee, where in recent years it has failed.

This has been a tough conversation. We are granting a choice for a small group of people, said state Rep. Jonathan Steinberg, D-Westport, co-chairman of the committee, noting that it also failed last year, so committee members were familiar with the issues. I cant tell you what incomparable pain they have. Were telling them they are allowed to do something that they can choose to do. Its a very emotional subject, in and of itself.

This bill is somewhat more restrictive than the bills in other states, said Sen. Saud Awar, D-South Windsor, a physician who is co-chairman of the committee. Its far-more restrictive. I think the safety net we have created is much more than many of the other states.

Now, if Senate leaders decide that it can immediately go to a floor debate rather than other committees, the aid-in-dying bill may soon be acted on, and then go to the House of Representatives well before the General Assemblys midnight, May 4 deadline.

Real people from Connecticut need your help, said first-term state Rep. Aimee Berger-Girvalo, D-Ridgefield, a committee member recalling testimony of terminally ill patients going back to at least 2013, many of whom have died while the General Assembly has annually shelved the bill.

Under the legislation, physicians would have to rule that a patient has terminal illness with less than six months to live. Four witnesses would be required to watch the patient sign a declaration of intent. Patients who take their own lives would not be ruled suicides, but as having availed themselves of the aid-in-dying law.

State Sen. Heather Somers, R-Groton, a top Republican on the committee, submitted the amendment, which would have created criminal penalties in cases of misuse of the drugs used in what opponents of the bill call assisted-suicide. If we truly are trying to be a little more diligent than other states in providing stopgap measures and safety measures, we should absolutely have this in there, Somers said.

Steinberg and other Democrats replied that the amendment isnt needed because there are already statutes in place on the misuse of such substances. Given the history now, which year after year expands in other states, we believe that the other states experience gives us reason to be confident the legal restrictions we put in this bill are adequate and appropriate, Steinberg said.

Members of the committee admitted they are conflicted over what has become a perennial committee debate, especially after the recent public hearing in which patients and families from throughout the state, in emotional pleas, asked again for the option to determine when to end their own lives in battles with terminal illness.

This is something thats such a personal issue, said Sen. Julie Kushner, D-Danbury, adding that her fathers death after suffering from terminal lung cancer was aided by about five days of morphine supervised by medical professionals. What I think the people in my district want are these choices.

Rep. Michelle Cook, D-Torrington, shared similar stories of her family members who suffered from terminal illness. While she has opposed the legislation in the past, she is keeping an open mind this year. Were talking about people who can make decisions for themselves, she said. We treat our animals often better than we treat humans. She voted in favor of the bill.

kdixon@ctpost.com Twitter: @KenDixonCT
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RIDGEFIELD  Selectman Bob Hebert is making another run at representing the town in Hartford.

Hebert announced this week his candidacy for the 111th House district, a seat he unsuccessfully ran for in 2020. He is running against incumbent state Rep. Aimee Berger-Girvalo, D-Ridgefield.

Hebert has served on the Board of Selectmen for more than six years. In addition to municipal experience, he has a professional background in business and finance. He also has a history of community service, having formerly chaired the Ridgefield Housing Authority.

Hebert discussed his platform before a crowd of supporters and fellow Republican candidates at the Lounsbury House on Thursday night. He is advocating for good-faith government, public safety, affordability, local control and the needs of Connecticuts businesses.

He cited the fund he started during the pandemic to support struggling businesses, recognizing that Ridgefield would be less vibrant if dotted by empty storefronts. And although he believes in smart development, he wants to protect local zoning laws.

We do have issues impacting all the towns (with the) mandates coming out of Hartford, and while some of them are important, others  we need to have a strong voice and opposition, a voice of reason, Hebert told Hearst Connecticut Media. I look forward to doing the work.

Berger-Girvalo is in her first term and spearheaded legislation to require health clubs and gyms to have an automatic external defibrillator, or AED, on-site, among other work.

I will continue to work hard and advocate for the residents of Ridgefield while campaigning, she said in a statement. I am proud of the work I did last year, helping make Ridgefield a brighter community, and with re-election I pledge to do even more.

Republican John Frey, who represented the 111th House district for more than 20 years, endorsed Hebert for his former seat.

Bobs a thinker.  Hes a humble man, he listens, hes available (and) he follows through, he said. Theres several roles to being a legislator: theres the legislation (and) constituent service, and I know Bob has the empathy thats required to do it right.

Hebert said he plans to maintain his seat on the Board of Selectmen if elected. And while Democrat First Selectman Rudy Marconi was surprised by Heberts decision to run, he wished him luck for the campaign ahead.

Bob has been a fair and reliable member of the board, Marconi said. Hes proactive, he attends meetings, he participates and he does his homework.

alyssa.seidman@hearstmediact.com
GROTON  State police are reminding Connecticut drivers of the importance of keeping their distance and slowing down when approaching emergency vehicles after an accident this week.

On Wednesday afternoon, a Jeep Wrangler traveling north on Interstate 95 crossed into the shoulder lane, narrowly avoided a state police cruiser and struck a vehicle that had been pulled over, state police said.

The vehicle was stopped in the shoulder lane in Groton after a state trooper stopped it for speeding on I-95, police said. During the stop, the trooper learned the driver had a suspended license, police said.

The trooper went to his cruiser, activated its emergency lights and arrow bar, and started to issue the driver a misdemeanor summons when the incident took place, police said.

The crash caused a minor injury to one of the drivers, and also disabled both vehicles, according to police.

Police said they discovered the driver of the Jeep Wrangler, a 68-year-old Rhode Island man, had no insurance for his vehicle. The driver was given a courts summons for failing to move over for an emergency vehicle, failure to maintain the lane and driving without insurance.

State law requires drivers traveling on a highway with at least two lanes in each direction to immediately slow down to a reasonable speed below the posted limit and, if driving in an adjacent lane, to move over one lane if they approach one or more emergency vehicles.

This applies to any emergency vehicle with activated flashing lights, including ones used by fire departments, police officers, medical personnel and other emergency personnel, as well as tow trucks and any state, municipal or utility company maintenance vehicle.

The state law can help reduce needless secondary crashes, and save lives, state police said.
OTTAWA, ON, March 3, 2022 /CNW/ - The Union of Safety and Justice Employees (USJE) will be convening a virtual press conference on Monday, March 7, 2022 at 10 am Eastern time to release a report by leading public safety academic Dr. Rosemary Ricciardelli and colleagues entitled 'The Mental Health and Well-being of Detachment Services Assistants in the Royal Canadian Mounted Police: A Qualitative Investigation.'

The report focuses on the experiences of Detachment Services Assistants, who are largely women and serve as the first point of contact in every RCMP detachment across the country. It highlights their particular challenges as predominantly female workers, including risk of violence and occupational stress injury.

The report provides 12 key recommendations to improve the mental health and efficacy of DSAs working in the RCMP, including the installation of bullet proof glass, mandatory inclusion in critical incident debriefs, the development and implementation of comprehensive training for DSAs across the country, as well as access to mental health supports that reflects their needs and reduces the risk of stigma.

Dr. Rosemary Ricciardelli of Memorial University of Newfoundland, the lead author of the report, sums up her findings: "Detachment service assistants are foundational to the functioning and effectiveness of the RCMP. Their needs, risks, and well-being must be recognized and responded to in wholistic ways  including the realities of vicarious or secondary trauma which impact nearly all DSAs."

David Neufeld, President of USJE explains why they commissioned Dr. Ricciardelli for this research: "Detachment Service Assistants enable the crucial public safety work of every RCMP detachment in the country. They provide key operational support to RCMP members when it comes to responding to emergencies, criminal background checks and investigations, oversight of offenders on release, as well as the maintenance of crucial RCMP databases. We have already met with Commissioner Lucki on the findings of this report, and are pleased to be working together to implement some of the recommendations as quickly as possible."

"In the lead up to International Women's Day, it is particularly important to reflect on how work historically done by women has not always received the recognition or resources it deserves. We trust with this report, and continuing dialogue with the Commissioner and her team, we can help shift the culture and tools for DSAs for the decades ahead", added President Neufeld.

Location: Zoom

https://psac-afpc.zoom.us/j/68795482447?pwd=ZUxPekJSWE9WSXZ5RGdIKzhoK2FqUT09

Meeting ID: 687 9548 2447

Passcode: 078316

Date and time: Monday March 7 2022 at 10 am Eastern

SOURCE Union of Safety and Justice Employees

For further information: Sebastien Bezeau, Director of Policy, Projects, and Media Relations, 902 240-2222, [email protected]
The future of thousands of students who were pursuing medicine in Ukraine is hanging by a noose due to the tensions between Russia and Ukraine. As the students return home safely, their future in Ukraine remains bleak. Considering the plight of these students, NewsX recently launched Operation Jamuna, asking the a pertinent question, How to rehabilitate these students and make them fulfill their dreams of becoming a medical professional?.

As part of the impact driven journalism, the National Medical Commission has now announced internships of foreign medical graduates, provided they clear FMGE. The foreign medical graduates, who could not complete their internship due to Covid-19 and war, would now be able to complete their internship in India.

Meanwhile, the Indian Medical Association has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to allow MBBS students from Ukraine in Indian medical colleges as a one-time measure. The letter reads that the number of medical students who have sought admission in medical colleges in Ukraine are substantial and considering the unprecedented times, such students should be permitted in Indian medical schools to complete their MBBS course.

Ukraine is considered a popular destination for Indians to pursue medicine. Several students who are not willing or able to crack the gruelling medical entrance exams In India, opt to do their MBBS degree in Ukraine. Considering the evolving situation in Ukraine, thousands of students have sent SOS calls from Ukrainian cities like Sumy & Kharkiv for safe evacuation.
The voting for second phase of assembly elections in Manipur is currently underway. In this phase, which is also the final phase of assembly elections in Manipur, 92 candidates are in fray across 22 constituencies across six districts, i.e Chandel, Jiribam, Senapati, Tamenglong, Thoubal and Ukhrul. Out of these 92 candidates, 12 candidates have been fielded by BJP, 18 by Congress, 11 by National Peoples Party and 10 each by Janata Dal United and Naga Peoples Front.

The polling, which began at 7 am today, will continue till 4 pm. Arrangements have been made at 1,247 polling stations adhering to the Covid-19 protocol. As of 5 PM, Manipur has witnessed an approximate voter turnout of 76.62%. Talking about the districts, 76.71% voter turnout has been witnessed in Chandel, 75.02% in Jiribam, 82.02% in Senapati, 66.40% in Tamenglong, 78.00% in Thoubal and 75.34% in Ukhrul.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday took to Twitter to urge the people of Manipur to cast their vote. He tweeted that he calls upon all those whose constituencies are polling today to vote in large numbers and mark the festival of democracy.

After casting his vote, BJP candidate Thokchom Radheshyam Singh, who is contesting from Heirok assembly seat, expressed confidence of winning by a minimum of 5000 votes. The retired IPS officer said, Polls will decide future of Manipur. Ill win by a margin of at least 5000 votes.
Operation Ganga, a mission to bring Indian nations back home, is its full swing. On Saturday morning, three C-17 IAF aircrafts, that took off yesterday from Hindan airbase landed back, having evacuated 629 Indian nations from Romania, Slovakia and Poland. These three aircrafts also carried 16.5 tonnes of relief load from India to these countries.

As per schedule shared by the Indian government on Friday, 11 civilian have been scheduled to bring back more than 2200 citizens today. Out of these 11 special civilian flights, 10 would be landing in New Delhi and one in Mumbai. 5 of these flights will be originating from Budapest, 2 from Rzeszow and 4 from Suceava. Under Operation Ganga, over 10,000 Indians have been evacuated by 43 special civilian flights. 7 flights of C-17 have so far evacuated 1428 passengers and taken 9.7 tonnes of relief material.

As the evacuation operation continues, the future of Indian students, who were pursuing medicine in Ukraine and are now coming back home amid Russia-Ukraine war, lies in jeopardy. Taking a note of their plight, the National Medical Commission has allowed foreign medical graduates with incomplete internships to complete their internships in India, provided they clear FMGE.
More than 13,700 Indians have been brought back to India since the special flights began on 22nd February, 2022.

In a continued effort to safely evacuate Indian nationals from Ukraine, about 3000 Indians have been airlifted today by 15 special flights under Operation Ganga. With this, more than 13,700 Indians have been brought back to India since the special flights began on 22nd February, 2022.

The number of Indians brought back by 55 special civilian flights has reached 11,728, while the IAF has flown 10 sorties to bring back 2056 passengers. As part of the operation, India has also sent about 26 tonnes of relief load to these countries.

Three C-17 IAF aircrafts , which had taken off yesterday from the Hindan air base, landed back at Hindan today morning, evacuating 629 Indian nationals from Romania, Slovakia and Poland. These flights also carried 16.5 tonnes of relief load from India to these countries. Meanwhile, 5 civilian flights, including 5 from Budapest, 4 from Suceva, 1 from Kosice and 2 from Rzeszow took off today. Of which, all civilian flights except one have landed today. The flight from Kosice to New Delhi is expected to arrive late in the evening.

According to the schedule shared by the Government of India, 11 special flights are expected to operate tomorrow from Budapest, Kosice, Rzeszow and Bucharest, evacuating more than 2200 Indians back home.
Nuclear power : Recent developments at the Ukraines Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant has pressed a panic button across the world. After Ukraine raised an alarm over Russia attacking the Zaporizhzhia NPP, the world has come together to condemn Russia. While the fire has been put off and no radiations have been emitted out of power plant, the war of words between Ukraine and Russia continues.

Ukraine has claimed that a blast at Zaporizhzhia NPP would be 10 times worse than Chernobyl and if the world doesnt step in to stop Russias advances, it could be worst disaster of the 21st century. Russia, on the other hand, has claimed that it was the Ukrainian saboteurs who fired at the nuclear plant.

Amid all of this, India has stepped up to school the troublemakers and called for utmost restraint. Indias permanent representative to the United Nations TS Tirumuti, speaking at an emergency session of the UNSC, said the escalation of the situation is regrettable and there should be an immediate cessation of violence and hostilities.

TS Tirumurti emphasised that India attaches the highest importance to ensuring safety and security of nuclear facilities as even the smallest accident could have severe implications on public health and the environment. He added that India will accord the highest priority to the International Atomic Energy Agencys monitoring activities and implementing safeguards in accordance with the agencys statutes in an effective, non-discriminatory and efficient manner.
As the Russia Ukraine war enters its ninth day, resolution between the two countries seems no way close. Despite two round of talks, the Russian aggression on major Ukrainian cities like Kiev and Kharkiv continues. In these 9 days, a lot has happened. US and its allies have imposed heavy sanctions on Russia, Ukraine has become a part of EU and several sessions of UNSC have taken place to determine how to end the war.

Meanwhile, India, who is standing on a critical juncture with thousands of Indians stuck in Ukraine, has called for a peaceful and diplomatic solution. Meanwhile, several flights are operating under Operation Ganga to bring Indian nationals back home.A

A day after Russia targeted Europes largest nuclear power plant in Ukraine, Russia has now gone ahead to closing in on Ukraines second largest nuclear facility. US Ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield said at the UN that Russian forces are now 20 miles and closing from Ukraines second largest nuclear facility  the Yuzhnoukrainsk Nuclear Power Station in southern Ukraines Mykolaiv Oblast. As per the Mayor of Ukraine, Russian forces have also blocked strategic Ukrainian port city Mariupol.

Meanwhile, NATO refused to impose a no-fly zone over Ukraine, stating that it could provoke widespread war in Europe with Russia. Criticising the move, Ukraines President Volodymyr Zelensky said that NATO had given the green light for further bombing of Ukrainian cities and villages
Rejecting Volodymyr Zelenksys appeal to set up a no-fly zone over Ukraine to prevent the entry of Russian missiles and warplanes, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said that they are not part of this conflict.

As the Russian aggression on Ukrainian soil continues to escalate, NATO and Ukraine have come to loggerheads over NATOs decision of not declaring Ukraine a no fly zone. Rejecting Volodymyr Zelenksys appeal to set up a no-fly zone over Ukraine to prevent the entry of Russian missiles and warplanes, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said that they are not part of this conflict.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg further expressed that they have a responsibility as NATO allies to prevent this war from escalating beyond Ukraine. He added that declaring a no-fly zone over Ukraine would be even more dangerous, more devastating and would cause even more human suffering.

Strongly criticizing the move, Zelenksyy, in a televised address later on Friday, called the NATO summit a weak summit, a confused summit and a summit where it was clear that not everyone considers the battle for Europes freedom to be the number one goal. He added that that with this decision, NATO gave a green light for further bombing of Ukrainian cities and villages.

The latest development comes ahead of Volodomyr Zelenksys virtual address to the US Senate on Saturday evening. Latest information coming in from Ukraine suggests that the Russian forces have blockaded the strategic Ukrainian port city of Mariupol. Meanwhile, Ukraines second largest nuclear facility, Yuzhnoukrainsk Nuclear Power Station in southern Ukraines Mykolaiv Oblast, is being closed in by the Russian forces.
A major fight is unfolding over whether Connecticut will become the second state with a law outlawing captive audience meetings, one of the weapons unions say is regularly deployed to thwart organizing campaigns at a time of worker unrest and union popularity.

Hospitals, the insurance industry and other business interests are lobbying against a bill that has bubbled to the top of labors priority list after being eclipsed in recent years by other union initiatives, including COVID-19 protections, a $15 minimum wage and paid family and medical leave.

Ive introduced this bill several times, and I believe this is the year we can get it across the finish line, Senate President Pro Tem Martin M. Looney, D-New Haven, told a labor audience Friday.

Businesses say the measure infringes on the ability of companies to freely communicate with employees and is preempted by federal law allowing them to lobby against unions as long as that expression contains no threat of reprisal or force or promise of benefit.

Unions say it only bars management from coercion by allowing employees to opt out of meetings.

These are mandatory closed-door meetings during work hours, where workers are often threatened and harassed about joining the union, said Ed Hawthorne, the president of the Connecticut AFL-CIO.

Two-thirds of Americans approved of unions in a Gallup poll last year, the highest point since 1965. But union membership fell to 10 percent of the workforce, a statistic labor leaders say is evidence of an unfair playing field produced by adverse laws, a hostile Supreme Court and sophisticated union-busting techniques.

Connecticut is a decidedly labor-friendly state, but one with a decades-long history of anemic job growth that sometimes makes lawmakers wary of putting the state at the forefront of labor fights  a concern that business is trying to exploit in fighting more than three dozen pending labor bills.

Weve got a serious issue in this state in terms of getting people back into the workplace, said Eric Gjede, a lobbyist for the Connecticut Business and Industry Association. These guys keep focusing on other things, rather than this critical issue thats really stopping our ability to recover. And the captive audience bill is just one of those things.

Gov. Ned Lamont, a Democrat and cable entrepreneur with a keen sensitivity as to how the states business climate is viewed nationally, supported passage of the $15 minimum wage and paid leave, but he has resisted labors calls for a more progressive tax structure.

One of his prime talking points in last months State of the State address was that Connecticut has jumped 11 places to a middle-of-the-pack ranking of 24th in the CNBCs list of best places for business, and the state had the unfamiliar experience of an upgraded bond rating on Lamonts watch.

His administration submitted no testimony on a captive-audience bill in 2019, his first year in office, or on Friday when the latest version was up for a public hearing before the legislatures Judiciary Committee. Hawthorne said talks are continuing with the administration.

Were hopeful the governors office is on board, he said.

Wisconsin passed a captive audience bill in 2009 before rescinding it. Oregons bill has been the subject of a court fight, with the National Labor Relations Board arguing it is in conflict with federal labor law.

When George Jepsen, a Democrat and former union lawyer, was attorney general, he issued a legal opinion warning that a proposed captive-audience law would be preempted by federal law.

His successor, William Tong, also a Democrat, took a similar view in 2019 on one version but concluded that a narrower version could withstand a legal challenge. The bill reached the Senate floor but never came to a vote.

CBIA, the Connecticut Hospital Association and the Insurance Association of Connecticut are opposed. John D. Blair, a CBIA lawyer, told the Judiciary Committee on Friday that even the current version is intrusive.

The practical impact of this bill is that employers will never be able to hold a meeting and have honest conversations with employees without the risk of people walking out, Blair said. For instance, an employer could not update employees regarding the law and regulations impacting their jobs, wages, benefits, FMLA, and corporate and community charitable giving and social activities.

Craig Becker, the general counsel for the AFL-CIO, said the bill is constitutional.

The bill in no way prevents employers or anyone else from discussing religion, politics or any other subject, he said. The only thing the bill prohibits is threatening to discharge or discipline or actually discharging or disciplining employees who do not wish to listen to such speech.

Versions of the bill have been proposed in Connecticut for two decades, a period in which the influence of unions waxed and waned at the General Assembly, tracking the strength of Democrats.

Republicans slowly eclipsed Democratic power from 2010 to 2016, when the GOP won half the seats in the Senate and came within five of a majority in the House of Representatives. But Democrats, and labor, have since rebounded.

Democrats currently hold majorities of 23-13 in the Senate and 97-54 in the House.
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EAST HAVEN  Richard Nigro dedicated his life to teaching North Haven and North Branford students music. Now his family is organizing a memorial scholarship for North Haven high school students in his honor.

Nigro, who died unexpectedly of a heart attack at age 66, lived in Connecticut his entire life. He grew up in Meriden, raised his family in East Haven and then moved to Berlin. He attended Western Connecticut State University for both his undergraduate and graduate degrees in music education.

He began teaching in North Branford before teaching in North Haven later in his career, but was always a music teacher, daughter Kristina Nigro said.

He did chorus, he did band, he did jazz band and classroom music, Kristina Nigro said Tuesday.

Richard Nigro taught for 40 years and had retired, planning on moving to South Carolina with his second wife. The pair bought a house and were spending their first night at a hotel in South Carolina in April 2021 while they waited for their items to be shipped to their new state.

He never made it into the new house.

My stepmother took my grandmother out to get dinner, to bring it back, and they found him dead, Kristina Nigro said.

Her father was relatively healthy and his death was a surprise, his daughter said.

He had two knee replacements, was excited to go retire with his wife and didnt even get there. Well, he got there. He never even got into the house, she said.

Kristina Nigro said she wanted to turn her fathers passing into a positive experience instead of a negative one, starting a memorial scholarship in her fathers name.

Before she mentioned it to her family, she shared the idea with one of her fathers close friends, who told her that he and another friend had been thinking the same thing.

Nigro began doing research and was trying to reach out to a lawyer about setting up the scholarship when her fathers friend connected her with Nancy Parkos, an administrator who handles scholarships at North Haven High School.

The school will be the agency giving out the Richard J. Nigro Scholarship, but the Nigro family will have a say in who it is awarded to.

While setting up the scholarship, Nigro was told people usually contribute $1,000 and then split it between two students. With that in mind, she set her fundraising goal at $1,000. After just a week, she had raised $1,500, surpassing her fundraising goal.

More funds can still be raised before the April deadline of when Nigro has to hand a check over to the school, she said.

More money than expected is a good problem, she said. Now, she and her sisters can figure out if they want to split the entire sum between two students for their college careers or if they should carry some of the money over for next year. The family hopes to award the scholarship to a creative student in either music or chorus, because that was Richard Nigros career and passion.

Each of his daughters took up a musical instrument, with Kristina Nigro picking up the clarinet  her fathers favorite instrument. She now has his clarinet in her possession and while she has yet to play it, she hopes to teach her nieces or nephews the instrument as well, she said.

Nigro does not plan to limit the scholarship to those planning on studying music education like her father but to those who perform or play instruments.

While a lot of the technical work for the scholarship is done by the school, part of the reason Nigro partnered with them, she said, is that she hopes to hand the scholarship over to the winners in person and wish them luck.

Creating the memorial scholarship itself was and is a positive experience, but so is hearing the stories from donors about her father, Nigro said.

She now works at one of the schools her father used to work at, something she called a full-circle experience, and other educators who knew her father have told her stories about him.

Those with questions about the scholarship or looking for more information can contact Nigro at Kristina.Nigro82@gmail.com.

Parkos, the North Haven High School administrator, said checks can be mailed to her and should be made out to NHHS Scholarship Drive with Richard Nigro Memorial Scholarship in the memo. Checks can be mailed to: NHHS Attn:Nancy Parkos 221 Elm St., North Haven, CT 06473.

christine.derosa@hearstmediact.com
Connecticut State Police / Contributed

BETHLEHEM  After nearly 10 years of evading police on charges related to the sexual assault of a child, a Florida man was found living under an alias in Connecticut and arrested Saturday morning, according to the U.S. Marshals Service.

Benjamin Quinn, 37, was taken into custody by the U.S. Marshals Violent Fugitive Task Force at about 8:30 a.m. Saturday in the area of Nonnewaug Road in Bethlehem.
Ben Lambert / Hearst Connecticut Media

HAMDEN  A 22-year-old New Haven man was shot and killed in what police believe was a domestic-related dispute early Saturday, according to the Hamden Police Department.

Police identified the man as Noel Adon, 22, of New Haven.
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), on Friday, said there may be no extension of registration deadline for candidates, fo...

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), on Friday, said there may be no extension of registration deadline for candidates, for the 2022 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).

The Registrar of the board, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, made this known while monitoring the registration exercise in some centres on Friday, in Lagos State.

He noted that from observation and feelers reaching the board from states across Nigeria reveal that the exercise has been seamless, hence there may be no room for an extension.

UTME registration began on Saturday, Feb. 19 and will be concluded on March 26.

Were not expecting any extension. I want to say that we are very happy with the way the exercise has been going, two weeks after it started, Oloyede.

He mentioned that there has been no complaint concerning the code 55019, where candidates should send their NIN numbers to.
The UK government on Saturday asked British nationals to consider leaving Russia if their presence is not essential amid ongoing tensions ...

The UK government on Saturday asked British nationals to consider leaving Russia if their presence is not essential amid ongoing tensions over the war in Ukraine.

If your presence in Russia is not essential, we strongly advise that you consider leaving by remaining commercial routes, the Foreign Office website said.

With tit-for-tat sanctions hitting airlines, the government said it may not be possible to fly directly to the UK, or via EU countries, but that travelling via the Middle East or Turkey may be possible.

Previous advice to Britons was not to travel to Russia due to the lack of available flight options to return to the UK, and the increased volatility in the Russian economy.

AFP
Watertown, NY (13601)

Today

Mostly sunny skies this morning will give way to mostly cloudy skies during the afternoon. High 62F. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Mainly cloudy. Low 42F. Winds light and variable.
No. The money should go to something that would benefit all citizens of the county, not just Watertown.

Yes. The community would benefit from the indoor pools the project would provide.

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Artist and musician Lonnie Holley has come to New Orleans many times. In recent decades, hes been invited to assemble work from found materials following Hurricane Katrina and to present a suite of pieces involving broken and discarded instruments as part of Prospect.3, the 2014 installment of the citys international art triennial. Before the pandemic, he began work on a new installment at the Music Box Village, and this week  following a pandemic delay  hes here to officially introduce and perform using the musical sculpture.

Titled The Sound of Freedom in Captivity, the interactive piece was created in collaboration with Davis Hart of Pulp Arts in Florida and features a contribution from New Orleans artist Dawn DeDeaux. The work has been on display for months, and it features a large eagle with spread wings, with cutouts in the flat image.

There are cutouts of a tree that is growing, talking about our roots, from our very existence, Holley told Gambit. I am still talking about myself as an artist and my parents and great grandparents and whoever was brought over and put into captivity, and we had to work to get to that type of freedom, but a lot of times we never did get there. A lot of our songs  down through the pages of history  all of the songs were a little bit about freedom.

The eagle is housed in an open cage, and visitors can step into the cage and touch the eagle to activate sounds or use microphones to add their own vocals.

It makes sounds of me singing, it makes sounds of me groaning, it makes sounds of me whistling, Holley says.

The Music Box Village opened its performance season March 5, and Holleys shows on Friday, March 11, and Saturday, March 12, highlight a busy season of art and music. Holley will be joined by Kyp Malone, best known for his work with the band TV on the Radio, and jazz drummer Michael Avery, who will direct the ensemble, as well as Spirit McIntyre, Emily Mikesell and Justin Peake. The group is familiarizing themselves with the Music Boxs musical architecture and developing the performance under Holleys direction this week. Holley also will improvise some of the lyrical content at the shows.

The first time Holley came to New Orleans, he was 9 years old and had run away from Alabama. His young life in Alabama was anything but stable, as he was the seventh of 27 children in a poor family living in the vestiges of Jim Crow. He says for a while he was taken in by a burlesque dancer when he was a few years old and then lived in a juke joint, or whiskey house. He says that at least those environments exposed him to music. He was sent back home from New Orleans and later incarcerated at the Alabama Industrial School for Negro Children, where he was forced to pick cotton. A relative rescued him from the facility when he was 14.

Holley worked at many jobs before he broke through in the art world, which came from him carving sandstone tombstones for a niece and nephew who died in a fire. That inspired him to make more stone sculptures. Much of his work is abstract, and his interest in found objects is infused with the notion of recovering or recontextualizing their meanings.

A decade ago, at the age of 63, Holley released Just Before Music, the first in a string of albums. He has an open-ended approach to exploring the nexus of art and music, and hes worked with many musicians, often singing and incorporating the sounds of found objects. In an early collaboration, On the Other Side of the Pulpit, Holley sang a sort of gravelly blues and added keyboards and percussion from found metal objects while accompanied by Black Lips guitarist Cole Alexander and Bradford Cox of Deerhunter and the solo project Atlas Sound.

The performance at the Music Box will be the first time Malone has collaborated with Holley, but hes a fan of Holleys art and music. He describes Holleys success as a sort of alchemy.

Artists, musicians  one of the things we should be doing, and one of the things Lonnie is very successful at is presenting alternatives, Malone says. If you are looking at the poetry of his music and having to explain what hes talking about  escaping the slave ships and waking up in a Fucked Up America, there is more room inside of that poetry, I believe, for understanding American history and the contemporary American landscape Take something people have a difficult time facing, like the truth of American history, and not sugarcoating it, but there is something in his spirit that is building the beauty of the ugly truth.

Lonnie Holley performs at 8 p.m. Friday, March 11, and Saturday, March 12, at Music Box Village. Tickets $25 via musicboxvillage.com.
Louis Armstrong was a prolific letter writer and made numerous audiotapes, all of which have provided a detailed account of his perspective on a life largely lived as an international celebrity. A few of those letters and a cassette tape help ground the account of one part of his life mostly kept secret. Those typed and handwritten letters and audio messages went to Sharon Preston-Folta, who in 2012 announced she was Armstrongs daughter. In the correspondence, he calls her Little Satchmo.

Preston-Folta followed up the announcement with a memoir released digitally. Now, shes telling her story in the hour-long documentary, Little Satchmo, in which she explores the gap in their relationship. Following some film festival screenings, it kicks off a theatrical release at The Broad Theater on Friday, March 11. Filmmakers will participate in a Q&A after that screening.

There were rumors and some biographers believed Armstrong had a child, but in spite of his four marriages and numerous affairs, he never spoke publicly about a child. In his will, Armstrong left everything to his wife Lucille Armstrong, except for some money for a sister and cousin. The will didnt mention a daughter, and Lucille Armstrong signed an affidavit saying he had no children.

Louis and Lucille Armstrong were married in 1942. Sharon Preston-Folta was born in 1955 to Lucille Preston, a dancer who was known as Sweets. She and her husband Luther Slim Preston were a popular performing duo known as Slim and Sweets. Preston-Folta says her mother and Armstrong began their two-decade affair soon after Slim Preston died in 1950.

Louis Armstrong always took care of Lucille Preston and Sharon financially. He provided income, bought Sharon an accordion and asked about her musical education, bought them a house in Mount Vernon, New York, and sent savings bonds to pay for her college education. Most of these arrangements were handled by Armstrongs manager Joe Glaser.

Her mother often bought her new outfits for Armstrongs visits, and he spent time with them. Occasionally they traveled with him, until a trip to Atlantic City erupted into a confrontation, Preston-Folta says in the film.

The documentary is narrated by Preston-Folta, with some additional contributions from John Boutte. Preston-Folta reads from Armstrongs letters and plays snippets from his tapes. She also thumbs through old photos as she puzzles between Armstrongs professed affection and his long absences. She questions ways in which it might mirror Armstrong growing up with a mostly absent father. She also lends credence to the notion that the existence of a child born out of wedlock might have damaged his career and fame.

The film is loaded with photos and clips of Armstrong in the 1950s and 60s, performing and being interviewed on TV. Much of that came at a time when he was both incredibly successful and also subject to great expectations. He was an international cultural ambassador for the U.S. during the Cold War. He also was criticized for not speaking out more prominently on civil rights issues. But regardless of the reasons, Preston-Felta felt left out in the cold, and the film casts his fame and privacy in a new light.

Preston-Foltas narration feels overly scripted at times, and the film might have benefitted from including a more candid interview style. Even in short pans of her face, she often is not looking at the camera.

No-one else is interviewed in the film, though there are few survivors who could shed light. Lucille Preston previously declined interviews and died in 2020.

Preston-Folta gets to tell her story, though now the letters and memorabilia are a public record. Shes donated them to the Library of Congress.
Katie Crory Kosta and her husband opened the door to their Uptown home one night after a recent trip to Chicago. Luggage in tow, they flipped on their kitchen light, only to discover broken dishes and shattered glass strewn across the kitchen floor.

For a split second, there was a moment of confusion. What happened? Had they been robbed?

But once they saw their cabinet on the floor, they knew what the real culprit was: the infrastructure nightmare that has haunted them ever since they moved into their home at the corner of Short and Green streets 14 years ago.

For as long as theyve lived there, the 1600 block of Short Street hasnt had a working drain. A normal rain can quickly transform the street into a moat around their home, which typically doesnt subside for days. Kosta has learned to keep rain boots in her car.

If I have to check the mail, I have to put on waders, she says. If we have workers, I have to either tell them not to come or they have to have waders.

Over the years, the standing water has done a number on their roads and sidewalks, too. And recent construction over the last year or so has made Short Street the main route for moving heavy equipment.

It's just the steady parade of backhoes and trucks, and they leave the trucks idling, so d-d-d-d-shake-shake-shake-shake, she says. The house has become a little bouncy.

Kostas story isnt just a tale of bad luck nor is it even an anomaly anymore. Residents across New Orleans are having to pay the price for the citys failing infrastructure  on top of the taxes they already pay the government to handle these issues.

Between damage to their vehicles and homes from potholes, flooding, construction and drainage problems, it feels like New Orleanians are always just a moment away from a costly calamity. Then, once something does happen, dealing with the fallout and trying to get remedy from the responsible party can be a giant headache and a saga that lasts years.

And as roads get older and climate change increases the frequency of natural disasters, this isnt a problem thats going away anytime soon.

In fact, it was something Kosta had worried about just days before they left town.

It's funny because I was thinking when one of the backhoes went by like two days before we left, You know, the house is shaking  this is kind of a disaster waiting to happen, she says, and then there was the disaster.

Infrastructure-related repairs can be so expensive because they can affect peoples two most valuable possessions: homes and cars.

TRIP, a national transportation research nonprofit, found in a 2021 report that New Orleans residents spend an average of $685 a year in vehicle operating costs due to driving on rough roads, and an additional $1,312 due to lost time and wasted fuel while sitting in traffic congestion. The report classified 30% of the citys roads as in poor condition, 29% as mediocre, 17% as fair and just a quarter as good.

Its hard to measure how much New Orleans residents specifically spend on flat tires, suspensions, frontend alignments and other repairs as a result of potholes, because people often pay these costs out of pocket. Most drivers do not file insurance claims on pothole damages because the costs for repair or replacement are generally below the deductible, Don Redman, an AAA spokesperson, told Gambit.

What we do know is about 5% of recent AAA claims customers made in the Greater New Orleans area involved wheel suspension and/or frontend damages that came with a hefty price tag  averaging $2,881 per claim  though they only confirmed a fraction of those to be pothole-related.

A 2021 AAA survey also found that one in every 10 drivers nationwide had their vehicles damaged enough to warrant a repair after hitting a pothole. At an average repair cost of nearly $600, thats $26.5 billion in repair costs in 2021 alone. And many of these drivers needed an average of two pothole-related repairs throughout the year, the survey reported, signaling that Americas roadways need immediate attention.

Then, theres the ongoing road work in New Orleans, sending heavy machinery down sinking and cracking streets  and for longer stretches than in other places in the state.

City Council Member Joe Giarrusso says contractors recently reported to the council that work orders typically take five to six months in the city  with some taking a year or longer  while they average one or two months in surrounding parishes.

One major efficiency and thing to keep costs down would be to make sure that work that is on the street is being completed as timely and as well as possible, he says.

Part of the problem is that the Department of Public Works, which is responsible for the administrative side of infrastructure projects in the city, is down approximately 70 people. Currently, the department is responsible for handling traffic signal complaints and other issues on top of the major task of answering roadwork complaints and contracting the roadwork out.

Giarrusso says he and Council Member Lesli Harris want there to be a group separate from the department assigned to the bigger roadwork projects. He also wants to ensure theres someone out on each project site every day. Public Works told the council thats happening, but the trade association representing the states general contractors  and neighbors  say thats not the case.

Anecdotally, we hear from neighbors that we haven't seen anybody on site for a long period of time, Giarrusso says. So you need somebody to keep situational awareness of what's happening and to be able to ensure, particularly if there's an open roadway, that that's being addressed as quickly as possible.

Trying to get the damage repaired, and the responsible party to rectify it, can be such a time-consuming and frustrating process that some people end up giving up altogether.

First, you have to figure out who is even responsible for the damage. Is it the city? Sewerage & Water Board? Or perhaps the construction company? If its a contractor, youll have to deal with their insurance company.

And even if you end up suing the city and winning, it could potentially be decades before you actually get the money.

In 2019, the city owed at least $45 million in various unpaid judgments dating back to 1996, The Times-Picayune reported. The citys payments in December 2017 were the first it had made toward judgments and settlements since 2009. The city had not provided Gambit with updated totals as of press time.

Since 2017, Giarrusso says, City Council has gotten the city to issue a line of credit covered by recurring revenue to begin chipping away at the backlog, and he hopes increased revenue this year from Carnival, festivals and March Madness will help put a larger dent in the debt.

I think there's probably some people who  much like Sewerage & Water Board bills  are just (like), 'I'm gonna take care of this myself, because if it's my car, for example, good luck trying to get money out, Giarrusso says.

Maryann Liuzza Cote, whose longtime family home is near City Park, understands the frustration all too well.

In June 2021, S&WB contractor Fleming Construction Co. was doing piping work on the side of her home and didnt secure a valve at the end of a hose properly, Liuzza Cote says. In the middle of the night, the valve blew and sent the hose  which she says had the strength of a fire hose  pounding on her window.

Stopping the hose was a major ordeal. It was so powerful it took like three people to wrangle the hose, and then they had to tie it with a chain to a tree  that's how powerful the thing was  to get it to stop shooting in that direction, Liuzza Cote says.

By that point, the hose had already completely flooded her den, ruining her carpet, sofas, curtains, musical organ and the tile in the adjoining room in the process. She says the damage totals more than $41,000.

But Liuzza Cote says Flemings insurance company wants to pay her just $17,000, only giving her what they estimate her items were worth rather than the cost to replace them.

All my carpet and everything have to be replaced, she says. After depreciation they want to give me $600 to replace my carpet, and my estimates are like $8,000 to $9,000  I'm like, how is this fair?

Eight months later, shes still going back and forth with the insurance agent. It doesn't look like it's going anywhere, so I'll probably get an attorney involved, she says. It's just been a nightmare.

Meanwhile, Kosta is eating out of small bowls and storing her few remaining dishes on the sofa as she searches for a contractor to replace or repair her cabinet. To add insult to injury, she says shes having difficulty finding a contractor because many are busy with Hurricane Ida-related work.

She also worries about her wood floors, which were damaged by all the shattered dishes. Ill be stepping on glass until my dying day, she tweeted after the incident.

This is far from the first infrastructure-related cost Kosta has incurred. She estimates she and her husband have spent $10,000 over the years in an attempt to protect their home and bide time while they wait on the city to put a drain in their street.

I spent $5,000 to put a driveway gate and build up a driveway, so that at least my elderly father can get into the house, she says. We have rocks and stuff delivered to hopefully soak up some of the standing water in front and side of the house. Of course, all that washes away because they haven't fixed the problem. So we've had to do that over again  all at our own expense.

Kosta says when they built up the driveway, $5,000 was all their savings at the time. But they spent it after their hot water heater went out and they had to send away a worker who came to fix it because their street was flooded.

Over the years, theyve had to turn away roofers and plumbers and have had trouble getting suitcases out of their house and into an Uber when traveling because of the standing water.

It's a very disruptive way to live, she says, and she still has no idea when the city will ever fix the problem. According to communications Rich Arnold, a neighbor, received from the city, the current construction project in the neighborhood originally didnt include adding a drain to Short Street, though neighbors have been contacting the city about it for more than a decade.

Due to this area not originally being included in this project it is taking some time to survey, formulate the best approach to address the matter and work with the contractor to execute the work, Lauren Muse, a spokesperson for RoadworkNOLA, told Arnold over email last month. We are still working through this process but the drainage concerns have been approved to be added to this project.

When Kosta posted her fallen cabinet and shattered glassware on Twitter, people responded to her sharing similar infrastructure woes. She says she wasnt surprised by their comments at all because shes lived in the city her whole life.

I know what it's like, she says. I know just the neglect, and you want them to do better  People we know that have moved here, friends that we said, 'Oh, you'll love it,' they move here and they're like, 'Holy hell, this place just is not functioning.'

That is on top of the boil water advisories, your power just going out for no reason, she adds. All that stuff I take that stride. I know that. It's been my way of life the whole time I've lived here  storms, hurricanes, we lost everything in Hurricane Katrina. So I know that's how it is. It's this stuff that drives me crazy because it's just 100% neglect. Its neglect and malfeasance at this point.

After everything shes been through and the rising cost of living in the city, Kosta says sometimes she thinks about leaving New Orleans, though she acknowledges that likely wont happen.

There are days more and more where I look at my husband and I say, 'I don't care where  I just want to leave here, she says. I don't want to do that, and I probably never will, between you and me. But when you come home to the mess 

But its not just New Orleans. Neil Kleiman, research director of the Mayor Leadership Institute on Smart Cities and a professor at Tulane Universitys School of Professional Advancement, says nationally weve reached a breaking point with infrastructure.

For example, he cites New Yorks subway system with signaling from the 1930s as a parallel to the significant number of S&WB pipes from before 1940.

You're seeing the whole system about to crack because they have this decision of do we uproot the entire signaling system, the guts of how the subways work that nobody sees, and spend billions of dollars, or do we continue to just keep Scotch taping the thing? Kleiman says.

In New Orleans, Kleiman says, city government has a lot of room to improve in terms of its communication to residents about the status of road projects and who to contact with questions about various projects.

We now have the technology and the ability to do that in such a way that it shouldn't be someone just waking up and having like drilling down on their street and having to run and catch all the china before it falls on the floor, he says.

One option could be creating a Chief of Streets position similar to the one then-Boston Mayor Martin Walsh created in 2015. Its a role in city government specifically dedicated to spearheading the maintenance and repair of the citys roadways and serving as a line of communication between the mayors office, Public Works and other related agencies to make that happen.

It's not someone that has 500 people working for him or her, but it's someone that has authority and a direct line to the mayor and authority over the three to four to five agencies that actually have to do with streets, road repair and public transit, Kleiman says. It's that kind of visibility for infrastructure that residents are looking for.

And though the situation is dire right now  especially for residents like Kosta and Liuzza Cote  federal money from both Hurricane Ida relief and the infrastructure act is on its way to New Orleans, providing city government with an opportunity to substantially improve the citys infrastructure as we know it.

There's a part of me who looks at at least the dynamics and just feels like if there's ever a time when New Orleans can pull it together and really begin to address our infrastructure issues and make sure that china and the cutlery doesn't keep falling on the floor, it's right now in 2022, Kleiman says.

+7 The Hole Truth There are plenty of reasons to be angry about the state of New Orleans roads. They shred our tires, overturn our bikes, wreck the suspension o
A new study from researchers at Tulane National Primate Research Center suggests the coronavirus may infect four different areas of the male genital tract, adding to evidence that a COVID-19 infection may impact male fertility.

The primate center, a 500-acre complex in Covington with a population of roughly 4,800 primates, found that the coronavirus infected the penis, prostate, testicles and a network of temperature-regulating veins in three male rhesus macaques.

When the study began, the scientists thought the coronavirus might be discovered in the gut, like other similar viruses. But thats not what they found, said Ronald Veazey, a professor of pathology at the Tulane University School of Medicine and an author of the study.

Surprisingly, the male reproductive tract lit up like a Christmas tree, said Veazey. We werent even thinking male  it just happened to be a male macaque.

The study is a preprint and has not yet been peer-reviewed. It also doesn't address whether the effects on the male organs are long-term or whether the high viral load corresponds to symptoms like pain, erectile dysfunction or low sperm count. Still, it adds evidence to a growing number of reports linking COVID infection to male reproductive issues.

A number of studies have shown lower sperm counts in men of reproductive age with COVID-19, according to an analysis of medical literature published in the journal Urology in Jan. 2022. In a small study from researchers in Italy, men were almost six times more likely to report erectile dysfunction after COVID infection.

The effect of the virus is not only on the respiratory system, but almost all organ systems  the GI tract, the nervous system and now there is more evidence it might go to the male genital tract, said Dr. Yujiang Fang, a urologist, professor of pathology at Des Moines University and adjunct faculty in the urology division at University of Missouri.

But Fang, who was not involved in the primate study, also points out that this study is preliminary, and results from animal studies are not always replicated in humans. How much virus stays in a humans genital tract may depend on their immune system and whether they are vaccinated.

Fang said some patients do report erectile dysfunction after a COVID infection, reflected in a growing body of research. But that could be due to another way the virus affected the organ, such as an inflammatory response or damage to the muscle, or other factors, such as stress.

Regardless, both the study authors and Fang said follow-up will be important to measure how the coronavirus impacts male fertility.

"This is going to open new doors to study the SARS-CoV-2 with male genital tract cells," said Fang.

The findings also highlight the growing contrast between what scientists have learned about COVID and the misinformation that's spread on social media and through other channels. There are widespread myths that COVID vaccines can cause infertility in women and impotence in men, which researchers have not found any evidence of. The Tulane study and others suggest, however, that there could be a risk of infertility from COVID infection.

Health news in your inbox Reporter Emily Woodruff shares weekly updates and insights on local health news, including COVID coverage and medical research. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up

The Tulane study took place a year and a half ago, as scientists were deepening their understanding of COVID-19 as more than just a respiratory disease and one that could affect the cardiovascular system.

Male reproductive organs have a large network of blood vessels and a high number of ACE2 enzymes, which the coronavirus uses to bind to cells. It made sense that that area would see a higher concentration of coronavirus, Veasey said.

What tissue in the body would be the most responsive and have the most expansion and contraction? The penis, said Veazey. Its a major target.

Getting approval to work with the coronavirus and primates is a lengthy process, but the group was able to try the same thing with two other subjects. The process involved injecting the infected primates with an altered, fluorescent antibody that would bind to the virus, and then light up the most infected organs using a special imaging scan.

All three monkeys showed the same bright spots on the male organs, even as other infected areas, such as the lungs, started to resolve over two weeks.

While just three cases might sound small, testing of this nature in animals is much more controllable than in a human study, Veazey said. Scientists know exactly when they were infected and can use scans to easily look for reproductive issues rather than relying on people to self-report symptoms after incidental infection.

Three out of three is pretty phenomenal, said Veazey.

In order to better understand the issue, Veazey said people experiencing symptoms of erectile dysfunction should report it to their doctor. The researchers also urged vaccination, which limits the level of virus replication.

It certainly is another excuse to get vaccinated, said Veazey. Any strong virile males who think the vaccines going to hurt them probably should reconsider.

The Tulane Primate Center has conducted COVID research since the beginning of the pandemic as one of seven primate research facilities studying infectious diseases around the country. The facility has received $17.8 million to conduct COVID research thus far.
A woman under house arrest, accused of a fatal 2019 Mid-City shooting, removed a court-ordered tracking device and left her New Orleans home before being rearrested during a frenetic half-day period Thursday, officials said.

Byrielle Hebert, 20, who is awaiting trial in the killing of Zelda Townsend, was released from jail Feb. 16 after Criminal District Court Judge Angel Harris reduced her bail from $302,000 amid three years of trial delays. Heberts attorneys had asked Harris to release their client without any bond obligation, citing the lengthy delays during the coronavirus pandemic. The judge instead let the defendant out on a $7,600 bail, put her on 24-hour house arrest and ordered her to wear an ankle monitor that would track her movements, records show.

The company overseeing the ankle monitoring, Assisted Supervision Accountability Program Release, received an alert that Hebert had tampered with the device Thursday morning, company co-owner Matt Dennis said. After company bail agents confirmed Hebert had removed the monitor, they went searching for her and found her at a relatives home about 13 hours later, Dennis said.

Hebert at one point slipped out of an agents handcuffs and tried to run from the agents car. She was ultimately recaptured and booked into jail by 5:50 p.m., according to Dennis and records at the lockup.

Dennis said Heberts family cooperated in the case. He argued that her capture within hours of her absconding shows that ankle monitor companies can effectively supervise criminal defendants who are conditionally released from custody.

New Orleans should be proud about yesterday, Dennis said Friday.

Car burglaries precede killing

Police allege that Hebert, along with two others, burglarized a string of cars May 8, 2019, before arriving in the 2700 block of Cleveland Avenue, where Zelda Townsend lived with her husband, Danny. The couple heard an alarm, came outside and found a teen boy inside their SUV.

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As Danny Townsend tried to hold the SUVs door closed, another vehicle drove by, and someone inside it fired a gun, killing Zelda Townsend and injuring her husband, police said.

Authorities arrested Hebert, Emanuel Pipkins and Alvin Robinson in the killing. The defendants were 18, 17 and 16 at the time, and all face a first-degree murder charge. Each has pleaded not guilty. Pipkins is accused of firing the fatal shot.

Earlier shooting

Prosecutors have also charged Pipkins and Hebert with attempted murder, accusing them of firing at two people who tried to stop them from rifling through a car outside Lakeviews Homedale Inn bar in a separate May 2019 confrontation.

After her arrest, which occurred within days of Townsends slaying, Hebert was questioned by police for hours even though she asked 11 times for the interrogation to end. She allegedly acknowledged being at the scene of the killing, but the Louisiana Supreme Court ruled in 2021 that Heberts statement couldnt be used against her because police had violated her constitutional right to remain silent.

Criminal District Court jury trials are scheduled to resume March 7, since being suspended for the pandemic. The trials of Hebert and Pipkins are tentatively set June 6.

Prosecutors opposed Heberts bail reduction on Feb. 16, and indicated they would challenge it in the Louisiana's 4th Circuit Court of Appeal.

Pipkins remains in jail in lieu of $1.5 million bail. He had been previously been held without bail.
Six weeks after 48-year-old grandmother Charlene Jones was gunned down in the parking lot of the Gatehouse Apartments in Metairie, investigators have arrested two women in the case, including a suspect accused of solicitation to commit murder, arrest records show.

Monica Every, 49, of LaPlace, was booked Wednesday on counts of second-degree murder and solicitation to commit murder. Deja Walls, 26, of New Orleans, has also been booked on second-degree murder in the case, said Capt. Jason Rivarde, a Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office spokesperson.

As of Thursday, Every was jailed at the Jefferson Parish Correctional Center in Gretna, the same facility where her son, Joshua Every, 29, is awaiting trial for first-degree murder in 2016's deadly armed robbery of a Kenner Raising Cane's restaurant.

The Sheriff's Office did not comment on the case, so it's not known why investigators believe Monica Every wanted Jones dead or how the two women knew one another.

"They took something precious. They took our whole entire world," Jones' cousin Semoine Jones, 34, said Thursday.

Charlene Jones lived in the gated apartment complex in the 300 block of Gatehouse Drive. She was in her vehicle, about to leave for work at 5 a.m. on Jan. 27 when someone shot her, according to authorities.

Jones, who suffered multiple gunshot wounds, was pronounced dead at the scene.

Beautiful person

Charlene Jones was a mother of three and a grandmother of eight with a great-grandchild on the way, according to her obituary. She was born in Corpus Christi, Texas, said Elicia Jones, 54, another cousin.

Charlene Jones and her children, two daughters and a son, followed when Elicia Jones moved her family to New Orleans in the mid-1990s and fell in love with the Crescent City.

"We made our stamp in this city. We raised our children here. I wanted to grow old with her, here," Elicia Jones said.

A 15-year employee of Walmart, Charlene Jones was a floating staffer who moved around to the company's various stores in the New Orleans area, according to Semoine Jones.

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Charlene Jones was like the neighborhood's second mom, the woman who cared for her children as well as the other kids in the area. A fashion plate, she loved to dress well, travel and to be with her family.

"I don't care if she was going to the mailbox, she was fly from head to toe, and it was effortless," Semoine Jones said. "She was such a beautiful person."

Charlene Jones' relatives say Every was a friend of one of her male friends and had been harassing her for quite some time, according to Elicia Jones.

"I'm mad. I'm broken. I'm sad. I'm confused," Semoine Jones said of her cousin's death and the arrests that followed.

Broken spirit

Monica Every's son, Joshua, is accused of masterminding the June 29, 2016, hold up of the Raising Cane's restaurant in 3300 block of Williams Boulevard in Kenner. That robbery ended with the slaying of manager Taylor Friloux, 21, who authorities said was stabbed several times by Joshua Every just before he fled.

On the day of the robbery, Joshua Every was arrested at the same River Oaks home in LaPlace where his mother was taken into custody. A trial date for Joshua Every has not been set.

In the hours after his arrest, Monica Every expressed sympathy for the family of Taylor Friloux and said she would work with law enforcement.

"I don't condone violence," she said at the time.

Monica Every has never been implicated in the Raising Cane's robbery, which led to the guilty pleas from three other defendants in the case. She was being held without bond Thursday at the Gretna jail.

Walls, who was also booked on auto theft in an unrelated case, was being held on a $525,000 bond.

Meanwhile, in the wake of Charlene Jones' death, some of her relatives say they are making plans to move from the city they love.

"I don't want to live here anymore," Elicia Jones said. "This death has really torn my spirit in New Orleans. I didn't think it would ever hit this close to home."
Hugh Wilson Long, a Tulane University professor whose broad realm of interests embraced teaching, music and health care management, died Wednesday in a snowmobile accident in Yellowstone National Park. He was 82.

A faculty member since 1969, Long held appointments in Tulanes School of Law, A.B. Freeman School of Business and School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, which houses the health administration program he helped establish.

He used his expertise in health care management as a member - and former president - of Touro Infirmarys governing board. Under his leadership, the Uptown New Orleans hospital implemented its first electronic medical system, competed the $3.1 million Family Birthing Center and opened the Prytania Imaging Center, said Manny Linares, Touros president and CEO.

Helped Touro join LCMC

Long also played a major role in Touro's joining LCMC Health, a six-hospital network, said Greg Feirn, LCMC Healths CEO. Long served on LCMC Healths board, too.

He understood health care, and its complicated, Feirn said. He was a great asset, and he truly loved it.  I think he was sort of living what he taught.

Music also played a major role in Longs life, starting in childhood in Ohio, when he sang in the Columbus Boy Choir and raised money for piano lessons by selling apples that had fallen from neighbors trees, said his wife, Susan Krinsky. Long, who had played the French horn in high school, was also a trustee and former president of the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra and a member of the board of the League of American Orchestras.

With Longs death, the LPO has sustained a devastating loss, said Mimi Kruger, the orchestras associate executive director.

'Brilliant'

He was one of those people who did everything, said Valborg Gross, Longs longtime assistant. He devoted his whole self to everything that he set out to do, and he was brilliant.

A native of Columbus, Long obtained a bachelors degree with honors in mathematics at Ohio State University, where he was elected to Phi Beta Kappa, the countrys oldest scholastic honor society. He received masters and doctoral degrees in business at Stanford University and a law degree at Tulane, where he was elected to Order of the Coif, a scholastic honor society for law students.

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Students hailed him as a mentor and regularly recognized his teaching skill with awards.

'Born teacher'

He pushed me to challenge myself more than anyone I had met before, and made me feel confident in myself, said Sasha Truscott, his teaching assistant at Tulane and a graduate student in health administration. He cared so much about the program and truly was (its) guiding light.

Longs financial expertise has been vital to the LPO, said Gross, a violist in the orchestra. She said he also worked with other orchestras around the country.

Gross started as Longs assistant when he was called to testify as an expert witness in matters of health care, business and medical economics.

He was a born teacher, Gross said. When I started working [for him], I knew very little about computers. Everything I learned about a spreadsheet, I learned from Hugh.

Long also was an adviser on health policy to U.S. House and Senate committees, and he served four three-year terms on the board that reviews and modifies the geographic status of hospitals for Medicare payment purposes. He led that board, too.

He had a passion, Linares said, and he certainly conveyed it in everything he did.

In addition to his wife, survivors include a son, Benjamin Alan Long of New Orleans; a daughter, Dr. Kira Nicole Long, of Seabeck, Washington; a sister, Amanya Wasserman, of Burbank, California; and three grandchildren.

The funeral service is scheduled March 13 at 1 p.m. at Touro Synagogue, 4238 St. Charles Ave.
Perry Young. Place: First Baptist Church of Norman 211 W. Comanche. May 26th, 2022. 1:30 pm. Lunch will be served 12:00pm at FBC before the service. If wanting to attend lunch, please let us know so there is enough food.
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.
OKLAHOMA CITY  Oklahoma lawmakers Tuesday vowed that Oklahoma would be the most pro-life state in the nation after learning that the U.S. Supreme Court appears poised to allow states to choose whether to allow abortion access. State abortion rights advocates at the same time said they were terrified at this point.
Williamsport, Pa. -- Avery Sauers life has been anything but ordinary. Never taking the adversities life has dealt her as an excuse, she has cleared her own path to her ultimate passion: digital art.

Born deaf, the 16-year-old Williamsport Area High School juniors interest in digital art grew from her love of cartoons and video games  an interest cultivated and nurtured by her parents and teachers alike that is now driving her toward a career in animation or game design.

The young artist recently was accepted into Moore College of Art and Designs premiere Summer Art and Design Institute (SADI) in Philadelphia. The four-week, pre-college summer program will provide Sauers with the opportunity to explore popular tracks of study for credit, including animation, illustration, painting and game design.

Art has and continues to be the way in which I can express myself to others and to the world, Sauers said. It has given me a voice to share my views and the way in which I see and experience the world.

We knew something was off when she was just a few months old, her mother, Erin, recalled. We did not know at birth due to an unknown reason for passing the hearing screening at Williamsport Hospital.

At 9 months old, after months of doctor appointments, Sauers was diagnosed with bilateral sensorineural hearing loss, thus qualifying her as a candidate for cochlear implants to help her hear.

We did a lot of research and decided to start the process when she was 1 year old, Erin said.

Sauers underwent her first implant surgery at 21 months old, followed by a second at 35 months old. She continues to use the cochlear implants to this day.

Life isnt easy, but if you work hard and believe in yourself, anything is possible, Sauers said. Every person with hearing loss is unique, along with their needs and best learning environment. I am grateful for the supportive teachers at WASD who recognize not only my challenges but my potential.

The high school junior, who also plays the saxophone and piano, already has a running list of awards from art shows and exhibitions.

My brain works creatively, so drawing has always felt comforting and exciting to me, she said. It became an escape, and that escape soon blossomed into my passion and drive for excellence.

While self-taught in some respects, Sauers said shes grateful for the guidance received from her teachers to help make sure shes successful in high school and beyond.

Ms. (Carrie) Bosch is the teacher who I feel truly recognized my talent and provided me the needed encouragement at a very crucial time, Sauers said.

I have seen WASDs visual arts program help Avery develop her skills as an artist in many ways, Erin said, citing her daughters middle and high school teachers and flexible scheduling as contributing factors in the development of her talent. Everything that WASDs visual arts program has done will assist Avery to learn the skills necessary to assemble a strong portfolio along with an amazing academic transcript to apply to the best art schools on the East Coast.

I hope to be able to create things that Im proud of and that may inspire or bring joy to others, Sauers said. Just like how those things inspired me and made me happy when I was younger.

To help cover the cost of SADIs tuition and fees, Sauers plans to hold two fundraising events at Eat-and-Run Catering, 1000 Commerce Park Drive. At her first event, "Bold Beginnings," shell lead participants in painting a landscape beginning at 6:30 p.m. on March 31. The second event will run from 4-7 p.m. on April 10. That event will include an Italian dinner, basket raffle, an auction of her original paintings and a 50/50 drawing.

Registration is required for both functions. For more information or to register, visit www.averysboldbeginnings.com.

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Lewisburg, Pa.  There were moments when students and Bucknell Universitys new Chief of Public Safety, Anthony Morgan, had to agree to disagree during a forum Thursday held on campus.

However, the forum was a step toward beginning what the university hopes to be a continuous dialogue between the campus community and department of public safety.

The forum, which was attended by just over 50 students and university staff, was the first in a series of Community Conversations with Morgan, who began in his position on Feb. 1. Students had the opportunity to ask questions following a 30-minute presentation by Morgan about his vision for the public safety department.

Several students propped up signs saying, "Disarmament now" and "Listen to Students" during the event. They also passed out a list of demands, which included having forums more than twice a semester, more engagement between students and public safety, body cameras, increased campus lighting, and transparency from the department.

Student Griffin Perrault asked Morgan why its necessary for campus officers to walk around with guns on their hips? He added it can cause fear and intimidation.

Morgan said every situation could turn out to be one in which the officer would need to be armed, noting that he wasnt necessarily talking about an active shooter situation.

Things happen on campuses across the nation, and we have to be prepared for it, Morgan said, adding that its a safety issue. Morgan conceded that the issue of arming officers is one in which they may "agree to disagree."

The university-led Community Conversations forum comes just over a week after a group led a campus walkout event in response to allegations of corruption as part of a whistleblower lawsuit against the university. The plaintiff, former public safety officer Colby Snook, claims that former Chief of Public Safety Steve Barilar mishandled campus crime investigations and allowed a student to destroy cell phone evidence in a sexual harassment case.

Student Jillie Santos asked about the allegations in the lawsuit regarding Barilars alleged coverup up crimes such as the sexual harassment incident. Morgan said he was aware of the allegations.

Santos, who is forming a student-run public safety advisory committee, also brought up the need to have conversations with the public safety department that are not university-monitored. The administration seems like a bit of a barrier, Santos said.

Morgan mentioned he's already met with a number of student groups on campus. "I'm open to the opportunity to meet with more."

Perrault, who is the President of the Bucknell University Democratic Socialists (BUDS), also pointed out that his group held a student-led forum last week that Morgan was invited to. But last minute, Morgan canceled his attendance. Morgan had previously said he didnt want distract from the conversation.

What happens when we speak, we get together to meet these student demands and youre not there? Perrault asked.

Morgan pointed out that he has met with a number of student groups since taking on the position last month, including Perrault and BUDS. Im always willing to have a conversation, but that wasnt the right environment, Morgan said.

As questions continued, students also brought up concerns of the treatment of brown and black persons on campus and how the queer community will be protected and feel safe on campus following the Frans House incident in May 2021.

That incident involved several fraternity members who allegedly harassed and threatened students at Frans House, the LGBTQ+ affinity house on campus. When public safety officers responded to the scene, they allegedly fraternized with the suspects and promised them access to the house once finals were over.

Public safetys true service is to provide for service and protection of a community, Morgan said. Morgan acknowledged that the history of policing has included oppression. However, although the percentages of police brutality overall are low, those kind of incidents are a stain on this profession, Morgan said.

During Morgans presentation, he said he wants to meet with as many stakeholders as possible to help maintain a safe campus environment and gain trust. I want to make sure students feel heard, Morgan said. He added that its important for him to learn what barriers would impede relationship building with his department.

Morgan said forming a safe campus environment is a partnership and wants to create community engagement by having officers out on campus more. Officers will be stopping in common areas such as residence halls and dining rooms. Morgan encouraged students and staff to say hi when they see a campus officer.

Morgan, who has 19 years of experience in public safety, most recently served as Chief of Police at Humboldt State University in Arcata, California. Morgan said his experiences have led him to approach some situations differently, such as providing a crisis counselor on scene when an officer responds to a victim of sexual assault.

One new initiative that Morgan is starting is Guardian Score. Officers will give out cards when theyre called to a scene that has a QR code on the back. The individual can scan the QR code and fill out a survey to score the transaction. The surveys are handled by a third-party vendor, Morgan said.

Morgan said the department is currently working on revamping their policies and procedures on everything from use of force to firearms and hopes to have these posted online by the fall. By 2024, Morgan is hoping to have Bucknells public safety department accredited by the Pennsylvania Chiefs of Police Association.

Morgan, who pointed out that several public safety officers also were attending the forum to interact with the group, said Thursdays meeting is the first of many forums the university will have.

I have a team of officers who want to serve this community and wants a chance, Morgan said.

Later in the day, a group of students sent an email to Bucknell President Jonathan Bravman, Vice President Eileen Petula, General Counsel Karin Rilley, and Morgan, attaching a copy of the students' demands. In the email as well as the demands attachment, the students asked that the university respond to the campus community directly regarding the recent allegations from the lawsuit and requested a response to their demands by 5 p.m. March 10.

"These allegations have deeply upset the Bucknell community and compounded students distrust in their universitys leadership  the very people who were supposed to make their campus community a safe and secure place. This should concern you as deeply as it does me," the letter stated.

They also requested a plan of action to be formed in response to a letter sent two years ago by the Coalition of Concerned Students about the mistreatment of the Black campus community.

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Allenwood, Pa. -- On Friday, March 4, 2022, at approximately 12:40 p.m., inmate Tulio Lopez was found unresponsive at the Federal Correctional Institution (FCI) Allenwood Medium in White Deer, Pennsylvania, according to a press release.

Responding staff immediately initiated life-saving measures. Staff requested emergency medical services (EMS) and life-saving efforts continued. Lopez was transported by EMS to a local hospital and subsequently pronounced deceased by hospital staff.

The FBI was notified. No staff or other inmates were injured and at no time was the public in danger, according to the release.

Lopez was a 56-year-old male who was sentenced in the Southern District of New York to a 120-month sentence for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute cocaine and conspiracy to import cocaine. He had been in custody at the FCI Allenwood since August 24, 2021.

FCI Allenwood Medium is a medium security facility and currently houses 1,155 male offenders.

Additional information about the Bureau of Prisons can be found at www.bop.gov.

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Williamsport, Pa.  On Sept. 24, 2021 former Mount Carmel Doctor Raymond Kraynak ended a 13-day trial when he took a plea deal.

Kraynak remained free on $500,000 bail throughout the court proceedings even after he pled guilty. That all changed Friday when Chief Judge Matthew Brann ordered Kraynak held in custody until a sentence can be worked out.

Related reading: Mt. Carmel doctor pleads guilty to operating a massive "pill mill"

Kraynak was charged with 19 counts stemming from what authorities said was a pill mill that prescribed more than nine million pills from January to July in 2017. Kraynak, who authorities said was the lead prescriber of opioids in Pennsylvania from 2014 to 2016, could still face a 15-year prison term for each one of the counts.

Prior to the sentencing hearing, Kraynak had been released on $500,000 bail. Brann changed that Friday, citing several reasons as to why Kraynak should be in custody.

The court said the likelihood of Kraynak receiving a new trail or being granted an acquittal in not likely. The Judge also said Kraynak could prove to be a flight risk if he remained released.

No date has been set for sentencing.

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Resolution: Family remembers Queen White as her killer pleads guilty, sentenced to life without parole

John Bailey Rome Circuit District Attorney Leigh Patterson listens during a hearing for Timothy Tyrone Foster on Friday. A portrait of Queen Madge White, the victim in the 1986 case, sits in the background. Her killer, Timothy Tyrone Foster, pleaded guilty and agreed to be sentenced to life in prison without parole. In return, the district attorneys office agreed to take the death penalty off the table in the case. John Bailey Floyd County Superior Court Judge William Billy Sparks reviews a plea deal with Timothy Tyrone Foster on Friday. Foster pleaded guilty and was sentenced to life without parole in the case. John Bailey Timothy Tyrone Foster is handcuffed after pleading guilty to the 1986 murder of Queen Madge White. He agreed to be sentenced to life without parole in prison in order to get the death penalty dropped from his case. John Bailey One of Timothy Tyrone Fosters attorneys, Christian Lamar with the Georgia Capital Defenders Office, watches as Foster is led from the courtroom on Friday.

Bringing a nearly 36-year-old murder case to a close, Timothy Tyrone Foster pleaded guilty to the murder of a 79-year-old schoolteacher and accepted a life term in prison without parole.

Fosters case began in 1986 with the murder of Queen Madge White. Hed burglarized her home on Highland Circle and attacked her with a piece of wood when shed woken up, Rome Circuit District Attorney Leigh Patterson told the court.

Queen Madge White

She had been brutally beaten, sexually assaulted and then strangled. He had been arrested and sentenced to death. Fosters case made headlines later when the U.S. Supreme Court overturned his conviction in 2016, because a prosecutor had struck Black jurors to get a conviction, and the case was sent back for retrial.

But, Patterson argued Friday as part of the plea hearing, the case is and always was about the retired school teacher. Shed returned from church that night with her sister and was looking forward to a short trip to Marietta the next day.

This case is about what happened to Queen Madge White, Patterson said who spoke of the loving, church going person who had been murdered that night on Aug. 27, 1986. She reminds me of the woman who was mentioned in Proverbs 31. A woman of virtue is worth more than rubies.

Patterson described the crime in bitter detail before talking about White again, a woman described by neighbors as immaculate and kind. She had taught at Johnson School for 40 years and attended the North Broad United Methodist Church. Her husband, Otis White, had died in 1972 and on their shared grave an inscription reads together forever.

Contributed The gravesite for Otis and Queen White reads Together Forever.

Born in 1906, shed lived through World War I, the Great Depression, World War II, the Korean War and Vietnam. Shed been loved by her neighbors, the community and her family.

That night, Patterson said, Whites sister asked her if shed locked the doors to her home.

The crime

That night was nearly 36 years ago, on Aug. 28, 1986, when police found White on the floor of her home. Foster had snuck over from his apartment on Stonewall Street and removed a window-mounted air-conditioning unit to enter the home.

He ransacked the home before killing White and stashed several suitcases worth of stolen jewelry and items in an abandoned home nearby before later retrieving it.

Police combed the community for clues and a month later hit pay dirt  an ex-girlfriend of Timothy Tyrone Foster turned him in.

It started when Foster attacked his then girlfriend Lisa Stubbs and she fled. Stubbs told police that Foster had said he killed White. On top of that, Foster had stashed items taken from Whites home in her home.

During 2021 hearing, former Rome police detective Wayne Craft testified Stubbs approached police with the information and identified items that only police knew had been stolen from Whites residence. They then arrested Foster.

Foster confessed to the killing and police found Whites possessions, which had been stolen from her home, in his home as well as the homes of his two sisters.

Foster, who is now 54, was 18 at the time of the murder.

Timothy Tyrone Foster

There was never much question of whether or not Foster had committed the crime. Years of appeals generally centered around his mental capacity and went to the Georgia Supreme Court more than once. But a claim of prosecutorial misconduct in the 1987 trial took the case to the U.S. Supreme Court...and back to Floyd County.

U.S. Supreme Court and retrial

His case had been appealed a number of times on the state level before getting to the Supreme Court, which cited Batson v. Kentucky in its 2016 ruling overturning Fosters conviction.

That precedent  set just prior to Fosters original trial  holds that prosecutors cannot strike potential jurors on the basis of race, ethnicity or sex.

Justices ruled 7-1 to overturn the conviction on a number of factors, but some of the most damning evidence came from former DA investigator Clayton Lundys notes  recovered 19 years later  had the name of each potential Black juror highlighted only because prosecutors were planning a defense against discrimination claims.

That and other markings on the notes, including having three of the possible black jurors identified as B#1, B#2, and B#3, showed an intent to single out black jurors.

Lundys notes also ranked the possible black jurors against each other in case it comes down to having to pick one of the black jurors.

Adding to that, additional testimony later pointed to the justification of the ruling.

Prior to the original trial for Timothy Tyrone Foster in 1987, a man who was then an assistant district attorney for Floyd County testified during a pre-trial hearing in 2019 that he heard the district attorney at that time and his lead investigator arguing about the case.

As he walked up the steps Harold Chambers, who was then a sitting judge, testified he heard then District Attorney Steve Lanier arguing with his chief investigator Clayton Lundy.

Mr. Lundy told Lanier they had to put a black person on the jury, Chambers said. Lanier kept saying no, Im not going to do it.

Chambers said Lundy then told Lanier If you dont put a black juror on this jury this is going to come back to haunt you. As he approached they quit talking and Chambers said he didnt mention it to anyone at that time or for years afterward.

Lanier served three terms as DA from 1985 through 1996. He passed away in July 2018. In 2016, Lanier denied to the Rome News-Tribune that hed struck jurors on the basis of their race and said he was floored by the decision.

After his conviction was overturned, Foster was brought to the Floyd County Jail in March 2017 from Georgias death row in Jackson. In 2018, the state expressed its intent to seek the death penalty.

Resolution and remembrance

Our family has known what you put Aunt Queen through for years, Whites nephew Tony McCollum told Foster in the court. He was delivering mail in 1986 when a family member pulled up and told him what had happened.

It shattered the family.

They spoke of how close Aunt Queen was with her sisters and how they had to go in the ransacked home to clean up after the crime. They spoke of the lasting trauma the murder had caused and how that trauma had been revived with each appeal.

When my mother had purchased Aunt Queens bed I couldnt stand for it to be in the house, Tammy McCollum Cox said. She missed and loved her aunt but seeing the bed reminded her what had happened to her aunt.

However, they also spoke of their aunts loving nature and devotion to Jesus Christ and they spoke of needing to forgive Foster for what he had done to their aunt, and to their family.

Aunt Queen got the death sentence executed by Mr. Foster, she didnt get it overturned by the supreme court, Tim McCollum said. But I forgive Mr. Foster as Aunt Queen would have.

Foster didnt speak on his behalf during the sentencing but answered that he understood the proceedings when asked by Floyd County Superior Court Judge William Billy Sparks.

At the end of the hearing, Judge Sparks addressed Foster specifically.

Mr. Foster you have wasted your life but in doing so you unfortunately wasted another, Sparks said. Today you have done the only thing you could to end it and my hope is you have peace for the rest of your life.
Napoleon, OH (43545)

Today

Partly cloudy this morning. Increasing clouds with periods of showers this afternoon. High 62F. Winds ENE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 50%..

Tonight

Rain. Low around 50F. Winds ENE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 80%. Rainfall near a half an inch.
Economic Development Corp. Michigan City will host an upcoming virtual seminar on business tax abatements.

Business owners can learn how they can qualify for reductions in their property tax bills if they invest in or grow their operations.

Dan Botich with Short Elliott Hendrickson will lead the informational session from 8 to 10 a.m. March 8.

Attendees can learn about the tax abatement process, filing for one and requirements to maintain the benefits, which are typically phased over a 10-year period in Indiana, though the legislature recently allowed local governments more flexibility in setting length.

Companies that get tax abatements in exchange for investment and job creation in the Hoosier State typically get most of their property taxes on the new facility or addition waved in the first year. The property taxes then get phased in more and more every subsequent year until the full tax burden is realized after a 10-year period.

Botich also will cover Urban Enterprise Zone tax benefits and compliance.

The seminar will be conducted via Zoom. Advance registration is required. For more information, visit edcmc.org, call 219-873-1211 or email info@edcmc.com.

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LOS ANGELES  For the last month, PJ Masten says her Facebook inbox has been filled with death threats.

"You're a piece of s. You're a liar. You're a f this and f that," Masten says, repeating the content of the messages.

She is no stranger to public attacks. In 2014, she alleged she had once been drugged and raped by Bill Cosby  a claim later echoed by dozens of women. But speaking out against nude magazine impresario Hugh Hefner has roused far more vitriol, Masten says. Not only for tarring the reputation of a beloved public figure but for breaking ranks with a tightknit community: Playboy itself.

"It's all from Bunnies," says Masten, referring to the waitresses whose uniforms at the once-famous Playboy Clubs paid homage to the company's mascot. "These are 85-year-old women running around with their bunny ears on, and I'm bursting their bubble. Being a bunny was the best experience of my life. It was a great sorority of sisters. But the filth and language they're attacking me with? I'm frightened of these vicious women."

Masten, 71, is one of nearly 30 women who appear in "Secrets of Playboy," a 10-episode docuseries that takes aim at the legacy of Hefner, the company's late founder. Since premiering in January, the series has featured Hefner's former lovers, colleagues and magazine centerfolds making damning allegations about Playboy and its creator. One former Playmate, Susie Krabacher, claims that Hefner raped her. Sondra Theodore, his girlfriend in the late 1970s, says she witnessed Hefner masturbating his dog; she also claims he turned her into a "drug mule" who was forced to retrieve his cocaine. Numerous women say Hefner filmed all of the sex he had in his bedroom at the Playboy Mansion  often without consent  and kept the tapes.

Hefner is no longer alive to defend himself against such claims, but in his absence, a legion of Playboy alumni have come out against the A&E series. At the behest of Hefner's 30-year-old son, Cooper, hundreds signed an open letter denouncing the "unfounded allegations" and praising Hefner's "upstanding character, exceptional kindness, and dedication to free thought." Playboy, meanwhile  which the Hefner estate unloaded its remaining shares of in 2018  released a statement voicing support for the women in the A&E series and noting that "today's Playboy is not Hugh Hefner's Playboy."

The controversy has deepened a major schism in the Playboy community. On one side are those who forged such close bonds while living or partying at the mansion that they still gather for an annual reunion at a park in Holmby Hills on the anniversary of Hefner's passing. On the other are women like onetime Playboy Club "Bunny Mother" Masten, who have drawn closer through the shared trauma of what they claim to have witnessed while in Hefner's orbit.

The battle within the world of Playboy has also epitomized the emerging fault lines of a culture in which public allegations of sexual misconduct are ostensibly given more credence, but individuals remain reluctant to speak out against friends and colleagues. And it's all focused on Hefner, who died in September 2017, just more than a week before New York Times reporting on the accusations against Harvey Weinstein set the #MeToo movement in motion.

Alexandra Dean, the director of "Secrets of Playboy," began work on the series in October 2020. She was coming off the successful release of "This Is Paris," a YouTube documentary in which Paris Hilton claims she was abused as a teenager at disciplinary boarding schools. One of Dean's producers on the film suggested their next project tackle "the legacy of Playboy." So she began cold-calling former Bunnies, including Masten, who suggested the filmmaker connect with her two close friends, Theodore, 65, and Miki Garcia, 77, who once served as Playboy's director of promotions. Although the three women had recently begun to share some of their feelings about their time at Playboy on Facebook  Garcia ran a page for former Playmates  they initially rejected Dean's interview requests.

"When I started speaking out online, my own children said: 'It's over. It's in the past. Get over it. Move on,'" Theodore recalls. "They were confused by my feelings. They asked me, 'If it was so dangerous, why did you take us up to the mansion?' Well, because I didn't know. I stopped drinking the Kool-Aid very late."

Hefner and Theodore stayed on good terms for years following their 1981 split. Her wedding reception to Ray Manzella  a pal of Hefner's who managed Playboy stars like Pamela Anderson and Jenny McCarthy  was held at the mansion in 1985, and she says he gave them $25,000 as a gift. Eleven years later, when she and Manzella separated, Theodore says Hefner temporarily loaned her money so she could obtain a divorce lawyer.

But as she aged, Theodore started to see her time at the mansion differently. She was 19 when she met Hefner; he was 50. He was her first big love affair, so she stayed quiet when things alarmed her, like the time she says she watched her then-boyfriend use a skeleton key to unlock another room in the mansion and proceed to have sex with a sleeping woman inside.

"He broke me like a horse," says Theodore, who now lives in the San Bernardino Mountains revamping vintage furniture. "He led me to believe that what our life was was the way life should be, and everybody else was in the Dark Ages."

It's this kind of attitude shift that has been difficult for Hefner loyalists to swallow. Critics of the series argue that Theodore  and fellow Hefner ex Holly Madison  appeared thrilled to be in the Playboy world while they were dating him and are making false claims to attract attention. (Madison, a veteran of the E! reality show "The Girls Next Door," did not respond to requests for comment.)

"If it wasn't for Hugh, Holly would be a middle-aged woman with her original nose and breasts selling slices of pizza in Ketchikan, Alaska," says Joel Berliner, one of Hefner's backgammon buddies. "It's one thing if someone wants to speak their truth. But no one was upstairs that didn't want to be there. They're trying to pick at the culture of the '70s from the woke-ass  frankly Calvinist  2022 view of sexuality, when it's supposed to be open and free for all people."

Berliner and his wife, Alison Reynolds, participated in "Secrets of Playboy" and are now incensed at how it portrays their longtime friend. Reynolds, who served as Hefner's social secretary in the late 1970s, says she sat for two days' worth of interviews with Dean, only to have "little snippets making me out like I'm some dumb s" included.

"I wanted to throw something at the television when I saw that first hour. Oh, my God, I was so pissed," Reynolds recalls. "I told the director: 'Listen, Hef never raped anyone. He was a gentleman. If you didn't want to have sex with him, that was fine. There were plenty of other girls who did.' I told her I hope I never see her again. I hate this woman for what she has done to Hef."

Dean says she invited the couple, as well as other members of Hefner's inner circle, to respond to the allegations in the program before it aired. Comments from the one individual who replied to Dean's inquiry are included on a card in the series.

"I didn't cut anyone from the series because they had more positive recollections," insists Dean, who put together "Secrets of Playboy" in a year. "I did include many supportive voices but also included the stories of abuse that kept surfacing, sometimes from women who wanted me to know the truth but did not want to go on camera. It's also important to note there were negative stories we chose not to include because they did not meet our standards for reporting."

Even before the series launched in January, rumors about the allegations it might raise were circulating in the Playboy community. Renee Sloan Baio, who dated Hefner for two years in the early 2000s, is a member of the "Playboy Mansion West Family" on Facebook  a group that she says welcomes about 500 "former Playmates, mansion dishwashers [and] people who worked in Hef's zoo." The forum was originally meant as a place to share memories of Hefner and keep in touch, but in recent months it's become a rallying ground for those against the A&E show.

"I was reading posts from people who had been interviewed, and they said the minute [the filmmakers] couldn't get anything negative out of them, the interview was shut down," says Baio, who is now married to the actor Scott Baio. "When I was there, I never saw drugs. I never saw Hef force anyone to drink. He never forced anyone to do anything against their will. However, if you lived there, there were certain rules. It's the man's house."

After Baio encouraged her Facebook friends to reach out to The Times, 19 additional Hefner supporters e-mailed their positive recollections of him to this reporter. Some were rageful, calling the series a "sad, ill-conceived, wildly one-sided glittering jewel of colossal bias and unfairness." Others just wanted to share special memories, like a onetime Playmate who recalled how Hefner personally brought her father a drink during a mansion visit despite the availability of his staff. And then there were those who wrote to express their regret for taking part in the series: "Are the many hundreds that liked and loved the man, were we all fooled? Are we all fools? I don't think so," said actor Leon Isaac Kennedy.

These individuals  the majority of whom signed the open letter  all shared varying degrees of closeness with Hefner. That's troublesome to Crystal Hefner, who was married to the Playboy head from 2012 until his death. The 35-year-old, who does not appear in the show, says she doesn't put much stock in the support of the signatories.

"I'm not sure how getting thousands of letters from people who didn't know Hef as well as say someone who was married to him would make a difference," she said in a direct message on Twitter. "Knowing Hef peripherally isn't the same as knowing him day in and day out for many years."

Days after writing those words, Hefner, who is vice president of the nonprofit Hugh M. Hefner Foundation and was not interviewed for the A&E series, announced on Instagram that she would be writing a memoir about her time at the mansion. "I've been on the fence about telling my story because it's complicated and conflicting in ways," she wrote in her post. "One of my therapists (yes I've seen many to try to make sense of it all) said "it's like you went trick or treating at a house and then wasn't let back out for ten years." It was kind of like that."

Theodore, meanwhile, is considering purchasing "a dark wig and sunglasses" for fear that she might be recognized even at the local grocery in her small mountain town.

"I don't think anybody wants this kind of fame," she says through tears. "Why would I throw myself under the train and expose things that are so humiliating and embarrassing? It's all alive to me again. I can smell the mansion. I can smell the different rooms. But that's maybe a good thing, because it keeps me resilient. It keeps me determined to get the truth out. He can't hurt me anymore. And I don't want any other girls to fall prey to a man like him. He may be gone, but there's always a man like him coming up around the corner."

The day before "Secrets of Playboy" premiered in January, Theodore received a call from a woman in Boston. The stranger told Theodore that during a trip to L.A. at 19 to do a test shoot for Playboy, she was sexually assaulted at the mansion. Over the phone, the two women cried together. Such connections  and her friendships with Masten and Garcia  fortify Theodore's intent: "We've come together to get a very important message out. And we couldn't have done it without each other."

Masten, a retiree who lives in Naples, Florida, with her dog, says her doctors and attorneys have encouraged her to stay off social media. She already sees a therapist for her post-traumatic stress and anxiety disorders, and she's trying to maintain her health as best she can.

Garcia too has kept away from her Facebook account. But she has trouble comprehending why those with positive memories of Hefner can't reconcile the fact that others had negative experiences with him.

"Nobody else was Miss January 1973. Nobody sat behind the desk as director of Playboy promotions for six years except me. Listen to the experiences I had. Give me that respect," Garcia urges from her home near Sacramento. "To be fair, I think that Hefner should be known for the incredible work that he did with civil rights and the First Amendment  although he didn't respect our rights. No one is perfect, but his imperfections  they're monstrous. And those things need to be added to his legacy. Let's pull it all out  everything out of the dirty drawer  and find out who the man really was. The women have not been free to speak before. None of us are healed. None of us. And we're hoping that this docuseries will do something towards that."

___

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GARY  Police said intoxication was a factor in a crash that wrecked three vehicles and sent two people to the hospital early Saturday.

At 4:35 a.m. Indiana State Police troopers from the Lowell post were called to a three-vehicle crash on the eastbound lanes of Interstate 80 at the 7.4 mile-marker, 1.6 miles west of the Grant Street exit, said ISP Trooper James M. Brasseur.

Preliminary investigations showed that Sophia Settle, 28, of Hammond was driving a red 2014 Kia Forte eastbound in the left lane when she rear-ended a silver 2002 Ford F-150 pickup truck, police said.

The collision caused both vehicles to spin out and the Kia struck a 2002 Chevrolet Monte Carlo.

The left three lanes were temporarily blocked as a result of this crash.

The drivers of the Chevrolet and Ford truck were taken to Methodist Hospitals Northlake Campus with complaints of pain.

Settle refused medical treatment on scene and a certified chemical test for intoxication, and she was taken to Lake County Jail, Brasseur said.

Police said Settle will face a charge of operating a vehicle while intoxicated.

Double T Towing, Gary Fire Department and Gary EMS assisted ISP.

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HAMMOND  The mother of a young man who was fatally shot in Hammond is launching an effort to support other mothers who have experienced loss at the hands of gun violence.

Last August, Vanessa Lopez was struck with the news that her 26-year-old son, Jalen Hunter, had been killed by an unknown suspect, who still remains unidentified and at large. With his death, Hunter left behind two sons ages 3 and 6 years old.

This will be the first Mother's Day Lopez has spent in the wake of her son's death.

"My birthday is also in April, and my son was big on birthdays," she said. "It's going to be different. I'm trying to stay positive and not cry. But I miss him. I know he's in heaven, and I know he is proud of me. It's a feeling I can't describe. It feels like there's a hole in my heart, but I have to keep pushing."

In an effort to support other women impacted by grief, she is hosting the pre-Mother's Day brunch called "Let's Talk" to honor mothers who have lost children to gun violence.

"'Let's Talk' focuses on the life of the mothers," Lopez said. "I think we can all hear from another. One minute I'm crying, the next I have tears of joy. The pain does not leave, you just learn to cope. And moms need one another. We all know this feeling. No one else knows this pain like we do. We also want to help not just mothers, but families. We're all trying to turn pain into purpose."

Watch Now: Undercover Video of Illegal Gun Purchases at Lake County Fairgrounds The latest Riding Shotgun episode takes a look at an undercover event at a 2022 gun show at the Lake County Fairgrounds.

The event will be from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. April 30 at the Wicker Park Clubhouse at 2215 Ridge Road in Highland. Tickets will be given free to the first 35 mothers in Northwest Indiana who have lost a child due to gun violence. Attendees must register by April 1 and can visit jalenlhunterfoundation.org to get tickets. There will be food and beverages, and baskets and gift cards will be given out.

Lopez created the Jalen L. Hunter Foundation last fall and has since hosted giveaways and charitable events.

In November 2021, the family raised thousands of dollars to offer as a reward in search of the shooter who took the life of 26-year-old Jalen Hunter in late August.

A reward of $10,000 is being offered for the the arrest and conviction of the person who killed Jalen Hunter, of Jacksonville, Florida. Hunter was fatally shot while he was staying in Northwest Indiana to attend his cousin's funeral and visit with family, Lopez said.

Hunter was found dead from gunshot wounds inside a vehicle at 5 p.m. Aug. 24 in the 500 block of Lewis Street, said Hammond Police Department Lt. Steve Kellogg.

Lopez said the loss of her son is among several others who have recently died from an increase in gun violence. She said she hopes her group and others like it can band together to put a stop to senseless deaths.

"It seems like gun violence is the new thing, the new trend," Lopez said. "We have to figure out a way to stop this. Something needs to happen. This is happening more and more each day."

The investigation is ongoing and the search for a suspect continues.

"All I can do is continue to pray," Lopez said. "It's going to happen. I still have faith that there will be some evidence or information to come. It's just a matter of time."

The Jalen L. Hunter Foundation Inc., aims to help other families who have lost loved ones to gun violence. Lopez said the organization is focused on grief support, aiding in funeral costs and also community outreach. She plans to host some public workshops later this year.

The Jalen L. Hunter Foundation can be reached at jlhfoundationinc@gmail.com and 219-629-3801.

Anyone with information about the homicide is urged to call Hammond Detective Sgt. Joe Munoz at 219-852-2995.

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A quick-acting motorist is being credited with pulling an injured semi driver out of his overturned vehicle Friday on I-65, allowing a state trooper to use a tourniquet to control the man's bleeding leg, state police said.

All southbound lanes near the crash were blocked for 12 hours until 5:15 p.m., when the area was reopened for the flow of normal traffic.

The driver, who was not identified, rear-ended a slow moving semi-truck shortly after 5:30 a.m. in the right-hand lane of southbound Interstate 65 about three miles north of the Lowell exit, said Indiana State Trooper James M. Brasseur.

The collision caused the faster-moving semi to drive off the highway and overturn, police said. The first truck, which had been driving slowly due to an unknown mechanical issue, was able to pull over on the shoulder.

The trailer being pulled by the first truck was damaged and its contents  fast-food restaurant container items  spilled across all lanes of the highway, Brasseur said.

The driver of the overturned truck was trapped in his vehicle and suffered serious injuries, Brasseur said.

After being pulled from his truck and treated at the scene, the driver was taken to Franciscan St. Anthony Health hospital in Crown Point, police said.

The driver of the first truck also was taken to the hospital with complaint of pain. The conditions of the individuals are unknown at this time.

State police were assisted by Crown Point emergency responders.

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A historic gathering of black leaders and up-and-comers held 50 years ago in Gary recently was commemorated in the Indiana House by one of the thousands of men and women whose lives were forever changed by the event.

State Rep. Vernon Smith, D-Gary, said his participation at the National Black Political Convention was one of the greatest highlights of his life.

"The energy and unity at the convention sparked a turning point that encouraged black Americans to take a seat at the table and affect change in their local communities," Smith said.

The convention ran from March 10 to March 12, 1972, and drew some 10,000 people from across to the country to the Steel City, led at the time by Mayor Richard Hatcher, one of the first big-city black mayors and the father of current state Rep. Ragen Hatcher, D-Gary.

Convention participants discussed the need for political activism, identified ways of encouraging more black Americans to run for public office, and issued a manifesto demanding fundamental changes to the nation's politics, economics and culture.

The impact of the convention was immediately felt in Indiana where a record number of black lawmakers were elected to the General Assembly in 1972, among them state Sen. Rudy Clay; and state Reps. Robert Freeland Jr. and Jewell Harris, all Democrats from Gary.

Altogether, records show 39 black legislators from nine Indiana counties have served in the Statehouse in the half-century since the convention, including the 14 current members of the Indiana Black Legislative Caucus.

In addition to Smith and Ragen Hatcher, the black caucus members hailing from Northwest Indiana are: State Sens. Eddie Melton, D-Gary; and Lonnie Randolph, D-East Chicago; and state Reps. Earl Harris Jr., D-East Chicago; and Carolyn Jackson, D-Hammond.

"There is no doubt that organizations like the Indiana Black Legislative Caucus formed as a result of our predecessors advocating for change at the National Black Political Convention," Smith said.

"I'm proud to co-author a resolution honoring an event that led to a significant shift in racial equity in the political process," Smith said.

House Resolution 31, adopted unanimously on Feb. 28, recalls the history of the National Black Political Convention and celebrates its achievements, including the more than 10,000 black Americans that today hold elected office at all levels of government.

At the same time, Smith observed the work of the National Black Political Convention to generate meaningful societal change still goes on.

"The same issues we were fighting for 50 years ago  an end to police violence, equal voting rights, access to quality education and economic opportunities, continue to show us that progress must be made," Smith said.

"It is important for the next generation to reflect on the success and obstacles of their predecessors as we continue to organize and address today's political and social challenges."

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Los Angeles County is lifting nearly all of its indoor mask and vaccine verification requirements, local officials said.

The change, in effect on Friday, drops mask requirements in public settings like grocery stores, restaurants and bars. It also removes the need to show proof of vaccination or negative test results to enter indoor bars, wineries or most other businesses.

California state rules still require proof of vaccination or negative test results to enter large indoor events, as well as masks on transit and in other high-risk settings, including hospitals.

Dr. Barbara Ferrer, the countys public health director, cited new federal guidelines for measuring risk in communities in her offices decision to remove restrictions sooner than expected. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Preventions updated measures, she said, Los Angeles County is in the low-risk category.
Image DeAnndra Domino, a phlebotomist, draws doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine at a community vaccination site in San Francisco. Credit... Mike Kai Chen for The New York Times

Top federal health officials said Thursday that they intended to begin offering low and middle-income nations access to the technology developed by government scientists that might be used to prevent or treat Covid-19. They did not specify which technologies might be included, but hinted that the policy could eventually apply to the Moderna vaccine if the Biden administration won a patent dispute with the company.

President Bidens health secretary, Xavier Becerra, and his top medical adviser for the coronavirus, Dr. Anthony S. Fauci, made the comments to reporters after a meeting with health ministers from around the world. Mr. Biden is preparing to convene his second global summit on Covid-19, expected sometime in the coming weeks.

Dr. Fauci said the National Institutes of Health had already offered to license several N.I.H.-owned technologies to the World Health Organizations Covid-19 Technology Access Pool, known as C-TAP, which the health organization describes as a global one-stop shop for drug developers to share their intellectual property. The technologies would then be made available to the Medicines Patent Pool, a United Nations-backed public health organization that works to increase access to medicines in poor and middle-income nations.

Mr. Biden has been under intense pressure from activists and W.H.O. officials to do more to press the pharmaceutical industry to share its technology with the world. The new policy, officials say, will enable poor nations to manufacture inexpensive vaccines and therapeutics that are developed in the United States.

But there is a big catch: Dr. Fauci would not be specific about which technologies would be licensed and could not say if Modernas powerful coronavirus vaccine  developed in partnership with N.I.H. scientists  would be among them, he said.

That is because the company and the government are locked in a bitter dispute over who deserves credit for inventing the central component of the vaccine, which grew out of a four-year collaboration between Moderna and the N.I.H., the governments biomedical research agency. The N.I.H. has been in talks with Moderna for more than a year to try to resolve the disagreement, which has broad implications for the vaccines long-term distribution and billions of dollars in future profits.

Dr. Fauci said the negotiations were continuing, but both he and Mr. Becerra strongly suggested that if the government won that dispute and gained ownership of the crucial patent, it would work to include the Moderna technology in its offerings.

President Biden has made it very clear that he wishes to assert all his authorities to make sure that we use everything at our disposal to make medicines available to those who need them, Mr. Becerra said, adding that it should be no surprise that were going to push the envelope where the law allows us.

Dr. Fauci said: I just would repeat, in principle  and you can take from it what you will  that in principle we have offered to license N.I.H.-owned technologies to the C-TAP for the purposes of the Medicines Patents Pool. So whatever it is that we can do, we will do.
Several Western media organizations moved on Friday to suspend their journalistic operations in Russia in the wake of a harsh new crackdown on news and free speech by President Vladimir V. Putins government.

Bloomberg News and the BBC said their correspondents in Russia could no longer freely report because of the new censorship law signed by Mr. Putin on Friday, which effectively criminalized independent journalism on the invasion of Ukraine. Under the legislation, which could take effect as early as Saturday, journalists who simply describe the war as a war could be sentenced to prison.

The change to the criminal code, which seems designed to turn any independent reporter into a criminal purely by association, makes it impossible to continue any semblance of normal journalism inside the country, Bloombergs editor in chief, John Micklethwait, wrote in a note to staff.

CNN International, the global arm of CNN, said it had stopped airing in Russia, and ABC News said that it would not broadcast from the country on Friday. We will continue to assess the situation and determine what this means for the safety of our teams on the ground, ABC News, which is based in New York, said in a statement.
It was hours and hours of stuff. One of our producers was at [Balls daughter] Lucies house, and she pointed to a box, like, Whats in that one? It was very much a genie-in-the-bottle moment, finding all these audiotapes. When youre doing a documentary, you realize that you and your editor [Robert Martinez, whose credits include The Bee Gees: How Can You Mend a Broken Heart] are like two people on a life raft. There was so much material, and that was by far the most overwhelming thing. Once we made the decision to hear Lucy and Desi tell us their story [via the recordings], everything changed, because not only did it make them feel alive and human, but we were able to age them as the film went on. Even though I strongly believe that most people are unreliable narrators, I think you learn a lot from what people dont say, and its just as important as what they do say. I was always very moved by how they spoke about each other.

The film gives you the sense that on one hand, theyre upholding this very 1950s version of happily ever after, but that off camera, at least later in the marriage, they struggled. Its sometimes hard to reconcile that with the Lucy and Ricky we see on television.

Television is an intimate medium that you often watch with your family, and they were the early inventors of the idea of rupture and repair, which is, maybe Lucy baked too much bread or Ricky forgot her birthday or whatever it is, and you think theres no way theyre going to fix it, and they fix it at the end and everythings fine. Theres a deep longing, especially in postwar America at the time, of thinking: Can things be fixed? Are we going to be OK? Is the family going to stay together? And what was really exciting to me is they were experiencing very human, complicated things that most people feel with success and marriage. You know, all the things that happen in a human life.

Did you have discussions with the producers or your editor about their marriage or about why their relationship might resonate with modern audiences?

Yeah, we really tried to deconstruct the idea of a partnership and ask questions about what makes a successful marriage. What Lucy and Desi do in their lives is they work very hard on themselves and their craft. They create this beautiful music together. And they go on to continue to create separately, respecting each other and finding ways to work together. So theres always that question of, what is a successful partnership? Their marriage ends, but they co-parent and find new love. I loved talking to Laura LaPlaca [director of the Carl Reiner Department of Archives and Preservation at the National Comedy Center] because she said that America just didnt accept their divorce. America was just like, nope. But they showed what it was like to get divorced and show respect for each other. They were blazing a trail. You know, if I had had the privilege to speak to either one of them, they probably would have just been living their human, complicated lives. They werent trying to do any of that.

Desi passed away in 1986. Their daughter Lucie tells a moving story about bringing them together to watch old episodes of I Love Lucy, which, in a way, is a little bit of a happily ever after, but very bittersweet. What did that story mean for you, and what do you think it says about their marriage and that notion of happily ever after?
Rabbi Labish Becker, the executive director of Agudath Israel of America, an umbrella organization of ultra-Orthodox Jewish groups, has raised more than $2 million for Ukraine since the Russian invasion. He said the emergence of President Volodymyr Zelensky, who is Jewish, as a Ukrainian national hero, has been a source of pride for people amid the grim news of war.

Everyone is sort of pinching themselves, he said. We just sit there and look at each other like: Wow this is amazing. It is like what J.F.K. said when he was in Berlin. We feel like, We are all Ukrainians.

New York City is home to an estimated 300,000 Jewish immigrants from the former Soviet Union, and the largest single group of them are from Ukraine, according to Jewish leaders in the area. Many more Jewish Americans have ancestral ties to Ukraine, or a spiritual connection to the country as the birthplace of Hasidic Judaism.

Those ties, and the leadership of Mr. Zelensky, have produced in some American Jews a feeling of solidarity with Ukraine, a country that many of their ancestors fled. Many have become part of a robust fund-raising effort, rapidly assembled by Jewish groups in New York, which has produced millions of dollars in humanitarian aid.
The national call to arms and the mobilization of ordinary citizens to repel the Russian invader does not have any obvious parallels in recent global conflicts, Mats Berdal, a professor of conflict and security studies at Kings College London, said.

Richard Kaplan, an international relations professor at Oxford University, pointed to the government of the former Yugoslavia producing weapons to arm the Yugoslav Peoples Army in the 1990s as one precedent.

Still, Western governments did not openly send arms en masse to Yugoslavia, as they are doing in Ukraine. At the time, the U.N. issued an arms embargo (though the U.S. looked away as arms were smuggled into the region, many channeled through Islamist groups).

What could this mean for institutions like the United Nations?

The United Nations has weathered and managed the diplomatic relations of many wars. Israel-Palestine, Vietnam, Bosnia, Iraq, Afghanistan and Syria, to name a few. There have been tense moments on the Security Council before.

What is different about this moment is how publicly brazen, and false, Russias justifications for invasion are, which has invited widespread condemnation. For example, about 100 diplomats, many from Western countries, walked out of a speech by Russias foreign minister at the United Nations in protest on Tuesday.

One of the cornerstones of our current world order, if not the cornerstone of it, is the prohibition of the use of force and the idea that you can only use force in certain limited circumstances, Dapo Akande, a law professor at Oxford University, said. Thats exactly what is being challenged at this point in time. I think its fair to say that this is a big challenge to that order.

Its too soon to say how the global balance of power could be reshaped by this moment. But Mr. Akande said this moment offered one glimmer of hope that international systems arent under threat  but instead are proving their strength in this moment.
The miracle of modern China was built on global connections, a belief that sending young people, companies and future leaders to soak up the outside world was the route from impoverishment to power. Now, emboldened by its transformation, the country is shunning the influences and ideas that nourished its rise.

The countrys most dominant leader in decades, Xi Jinping, seems intent on redefining Chinas relationship with the world, recasting the meeting of minds and cultures as a zero-sum clash.

Education officials are imposing restrictions on English education and requiring that scholars ask permission to attend even virtual international conferences. Regulators have punished Chinese companies for raising money overseas. Mr. Xi has exhorted artists to embrace cultural confidence by promoting traditional Chinese literature and art, and has warned against imitating Hollywood.
A former Amtrak engineer who was operating a speeding train that derailed in Philadelphia in 2015, killing eight people, was acquitted on Friday of involuntary manslaughter and related charges.

The jurys verdict was the culmination of a case filled with twists as the Pennsylvania attorney generals office tried to prosecute the former engineer, Brandon Bostian, on more than 200 charges, including a count of causing catastrophe.

Mr. Bostian was operating a Washington-to-New York train on May 12, 2015, when he sped the train to 106 miles per hour as it entered a curved section of track with a 50-m.p.h. speed limit.

The train careened off the track and into Philadelphias Port Richmond neighborhood. Eight people were killed, and more than 200 people were injured.
WASHINGTON  When President Biden met in the Oval Office on Friday afternoon with Sauli Niinisto, the president of the non-NATO member and increasingly nervous Finland, Mr. Biden tried to put his guest at ease with a little banter recalling something that Barack Obama once said.

President Obama used to say, Wed be all right if we left everything to the Nordic countries, Mr. Biden recalled. Everything would be fine.

Mr. Niinisto nodded, and replied, Well, we usually dont start wars.

It was an exchange that captured how diplomacy has changed in the past nine days, since the Russian invasion of Ukraine rocked the way Europeans talked about Russia. Before that, President Vladimir V. Putins Russia was an unpredictable force to be managed, especially for a nation like Finland, which was ruled by Russia for most of the 19th century, until the Russian Revolution in 1917.

Now, the country responsible for the term Finlandization, a Cold War expression that is not recalled fondly by the Finns, is rethinking its relationship with Washington, NATO and the West. Its streets are a mix of Nordic and European cultures, its politics decidedly tilted to the West. It trains its troops with NATO, it strategizes with NATO, but it is not a member of NATO, a remnant of its old status as a neutral state during the Cold War.
The Florida Senate passed a sweeping new bill overhauling the states electoral process, adding new restrictions to the state election code and establishing a law enforcement office dedicated solely to investigating election crimes.

The bill, which passed 24-14, now goes to the states House of Representatives, where it could pass as soon as next week and land on the desk of Gov. Ron DeSantis, a Republican, who is expected to sign it. One Republican, State Senator Jeff Brandes, voted against it. A Democratic senator, Loranne Ausley, initially voted yes, but immediately posted on Twitter that she pushed the wrong button and has since changed her vote.

Though Republicans in the state had passed another sweeping voting law in May of last year, Mr. DeSantis made election reform one of the top priorities for this legislative session as well. Both efforts come after the 2020 election in Florida was without any major issues, and Republicans in the state touted it as a gold standard for election administration.

The legislation is poised to become the first major election-related bill to pass this year in a critical battleground state, and it would indicate no sign of cresting for the wave of new election laws, adding more restrictions to voting, that began last year  with 34 laws passed in 19 states.
WASHINGTON  A public health rule that has kept many undocumented migrants from entering the country during the pandemic suffered a blow on Friday, when a federal appeals court said it could no longer be used to expel families to countries where they would face persecution or torture.

The ruling, issued by a panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, partially affirmed an earlier decision in an ongoing lawsuit and applies only to migrant families traveling with minor children. Although it allowed the Biden administration to keep the rule in place, the three-judge panel questioned whether it was still necessary, noting that it looks in certain respects like a relic from an era with no vaccines, scarce testing, few therapeutics and little certainty.

Later on Friday, a federal judge in the Northern District of Texas issued a rule that dealt another blow to the Biden administration  ordering the government to stop exempting migrant children who arrive at the border without a parent or guardian from the public health rule. The administration has seven days to file an appeal.

Immigration lawyers said the District of Columbia Circuit appeals court ruling meant that from now on, migrant families will need to be given the chance to express a fear of persecution or torture, which could be followed by an interview with an asylum officer or a court date with an immigration judge  steps that have been broadly denied since the public health rule was put in place in March 2020.
BEIJING  Plowing past global anxieties over the war engulfing Ukraine, China set its economy on a course of steady expansion for 2022, prioritizing growth, job creation and increased social welfare in a year when the national leader, Xi Jinping, is poised to claim a new term in power.

The annual government work report delivered to Chinas National Peoples Congress by Premier Li Keqiang on Saturday did not even mention Russias invasion of Ukraine, and it took an implacably steady-as-it-goes tone on Chinas economic outlook.

The implicit message appeared to be that China could weather the turbulence in Europe, and would focus on trying to keep the Chinese population at home contented and employed before an all-important Communist Party meeting in the fall, when Mr. Xi is increasingly certain to extend his time in power.

In our work this year, we must make economic stability our top priority and pursue progress while ensuring stability, Mr. Li said.
SEOUL  North Korea on Saturday launched a ballistic missile toward the sea off its east coast, its second missile test in a week, South Korean defense officials said.

The missile, launched at 8:48 a.m. from Sunan, near Pyongyang, the North Korean capital, flew 168 miles to the east, reaching an altitude of 348 miles, the Souths military said. No further details were immediately released, but the data was similar to the data collected when North Korea last conducted a missile test on Sunday.

In that earlier test, North Korea launched what the United States and South Korea called a ballistic missile off its east coast. But the North said the test had taken place as part of its preparations to launch a military reconnaissance satellite, and its state media released aerial photos of the Korean Peninsula that it said had been taken by a camera mounted on the rocket.

During a Workers Party congress in January last year, North Korea unveiled an unusually detailed list of weapons that it was developing, including military reconnaissance satellites. But the U.N. Security Council has banned North Korea from launching a rocket to place a satellite into orbit because the country has used such rockets to develop its long-range ballistic missiles.
President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine criticized NATO late Friday night over its rejection of a no-fly zone, hours after the alliance announced it would not intervene by air or land for fear of creating a conflict with Russia that could spill into other parts of Europe.

Leaders of the alliance met Friday in Brussels, after which NATOs secretary general, Jens Stoltenberg, said its members had rejected any possibility of intervening against Russian forces. Ukrainian officials had called for a no-fly zone, but NATO leaders have resisted, worried about a larger war. President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia, announcing the invasion last month, warned other countries against interfering.

We have a responsibility as NATO allies to prevent this war from escalating beyond Ukraine, Mr. Stoltenberg said on Friday. So we have made it clear that we are not going to move into Ukraine, neither on the ground or in Ukrainian airspace.

Creating a no-fly zone over Ukraine would require deploying NATO fighter planes and possibly shooting down Russian planes, Mr. Stoltenberg said. That, he warned, could lead to a full-fledged war in Europe, involving many more countries and causing much more human suffering.
The founder of Americas Frontline Doctors, an activist group known for spreading misinformation and conspiracy theories about the pandemic and Covid vaccines, has pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge related to the storming of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6 last year.

According to a filing from the Justice Department, the doctor, Simone Gold, stood by as a Capitol Police officer was assaulted and dragged to the ground in front of her. She then entered the Capitol and delivered a speech in the National Statuary Hall denouncing vaccine mandates and lockdowns.

On Thursday, according to the filing, Dr. Gold pleaded guilty to one count of entering a restricted building, which carries a maximum sentence of one year in prison and a fine of $100,000.

Dr. Gold and Americas Frontline Doctors did not immediately respond to emails requesting comment.

Dr. Gold built a national following through Americas Frontline Doctors, which regularly peddles bogus pandemic claims, including promoting the antimalarial drug hydroxychloroquine as a Covid treatment in defiance of medical research and federal guidance. Videos circulated by the group during the pandemic spread rapidly online, boosted by conspiracy groups, often reaching millions of views before social media companies could take them down.
In Canada, an acclaimed 20-year-old Russian pianists concert was canceled amid concerns about his silence on the invasion of Ukraine. The music director of an orchestra in Toulouse, France  who is also the chief conductor at the Bolshoi Theater in Moscow  was instructed to clarify his position on the war before his next appearance. In New York, Anna Netrebko, one of operas biggest stars, saw her reign at the Metropolitan Opera end after she declined to denounce President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia.

As global condemnation of Russias attack on Ukraine grows, cultural institutions have moved with surprising speed to put pressure on Russian artists to distance themselves from Mr. Putin, a collision of art and politics that is forcing organizations to confront questions about free speech and whether they should be policing artists views.

Institutions are demanding that artists who have supported Mr. Putin in the past issue clear condemnations of the Russian president and his invasion as a prerequisite for performing. Others are checking their rosters and poring over social media posts to ensure Russian performers have not made contentious statements about the war. The Polish National Opera has gone so far as to drop a production of Mussorgskys Boris Godunov, one of the greatest Russian operas, to express solidarity with the people of Ukraine.

The tensions pose a dilemma for cultural institutions and those who support them. Many have long tried to stay above the fray of current events, and have a deep belief in the role the arts can play in bridging divides. Now arts administrators, who have scant geopolitical expertise, find themselves in the midst of one of the most politically charged issues in recent decades, with little in the way of experience to draw on.
THE INSECT CRISIS: The Fall of the Tiny Empires That Run the World, by Oliver Milman

Anyone with a car has gathered data on insect declines. Entomologists call it the windshield effect, a relatable metric neatly summed up by a question: When was the last time you had to clean bug splatter from your windshield? This ritual was once an inevitable coda to any long drive. Now, were far more likely to watch those same landscapes pass by through unblemished glass, mile after empty mile.

The trend is more than anecdotal. When the ecologist Anders Pape Mller began systematically driving two Danish roads in 1996 and counting the windshield splats, many people dismissed his project as a lark. Twenty years later, the results showed something deadly serious: Collisions with insects had declined 80 percent along the first roadway, and a staggering 97 percent along the second. Other scientists, using more conventional methods, have reported similar collapses everywhere from Puerto Rican jungles to nature reserves in Germany. News stories have referred to the situation as an insect apocalypse, or even insectageddon. Beyond the headlines, entomologists are frantically trying to figure out what is happening, and how in the world to stop it.

Those concerns lie at the heart of the environmental journalist Oliver Milmans gripping, sobering and important new book. He, too, delves beyond the headlines, refreshingly willing to embrace the complexity of the issue. Its useful, he writes, to think about the insect crisis less like a single downward sloping line on a graph and more like a lot of different lines. While many species are indeed plummeting, some are holding steady, zigzagging or  for pests like bedbugs that thrive alongside people  going up. Even more dont appear on the graph at all because no one has ever studied them. Of the worlds estimated 5.5 million to 30 million different kinds of insects, a scant one million have been identified. Some will likely vanish before we have done so much as name them.
ONE DAMN THING AFTER ANOTHER

Memoirs of an Attorney General

By William P. Barr

Its a rare Washington memoir that makes you gasp in the very second sentence. Heres the first sentence from William P. Barrs One Damn Thing After Another, an account of his two turns as attorney general: The first day of December 2020, almost a month after the presidential election, was gray and rainy. Indeed it was. Heres the second: That afternoon, the president, struggling to come to terms with the election result, had heard I was at the White House.  Uh, struggling to come to terms with? Not exactly. How about struggling to overturn the election he just lost or struggling to subvert the will of the voters? Maybe struggling to undermine American democracy.

Such opening vignettes serve a venerable purpose in the Washington memoir genre: to show the hero speaking truth to power. Barr had just told a reporter that the Justice Department had not seen fraud on a scale that could have effected a different outcome in the election. This enraged the president. You must hate Trump, Trump told Barr. You would only do this if you hate Trump. But Barr stood his ground. He repeated that his team had found no fraud in the election results. (This is because there was none.) By the end of the book, Barr uses the election controversy as a vehicle for a novel interpretation of the Trump presidency: Everything was great until Election Day, 2020. As Barr puts it, In the final months of his administration, Trump cared only about one thing: himself. Country and principle took second place. For Barr, it was as if this great president experienced a sudden personality transplant. After the election, Barr writes, he was beyond restraint. He would only listen to a few sycophants who told him what he wanted to hear. Reasoning with him was hopeless.

The heart of One Damn Thing After Another concerns the earlier days of Trumps presidency when, apparently, country and principle took first place. In his December confrontation with Trump, Barr recalls a comment that may be more revealing than he intends: No, Mr. President, I dont hate you, I said. You know I sacrificed a lot personally to come in to help you when I thought you were being wronged.
Ads also became a front in the information war, as efforts to share verified news and solicit help clashed with Russias push to spread falsehoods and censor independent reports.

Twitter temporarily paused ads in Ukraine and Russia so that the ads did not distract from public safety information. Facebooks parent company Meta said it was blocking Russian state media from advertising or monetizing on its platform. Google suspended advertising from Russian state media on YouTube; Snap halted ad sales in Russia and its ally, Belarus.

On Friday, Russia blocked Facebook inside the country, as part of the Kremlins broadening campaign to tighten control of the internet and limit spaces for dissent about the war in Ukraine. The move could foreshadow further restrictions against other tech companies such as Google, which owns YouTube, and Twitter. Facebook said it would pause ad targeting capabilities in Russia and prevent advertisers in the country from running ads on the platform.

Before those restrictions, one digital ad agency tried to rally advertising professionals to participate in the most important brief ever, with the goal of stopping a potential world war. Through its Prevent WW3 project, ISD Group solicited marketing campaigns that would raise money for Ukrainian refugees, encourage peacekeepers to protect Ukraine, inform Russians about the war and persuade companies to leave Russia.

Examples so far have included small efforts such as posters and digital ads, but also complex initiatives such as one from a creative director in San Francisco who is trying to persuade American bars and restaurants to expand their menus with Molotov cocktails  drinks accompanied by stories about the Ukrainian bartenders who submitted recipes.

The ad agency DDB Germany was working on a broader campaign about press censorship called Truth Wins when its client, the nonprofit group Reporters Without Borders, asked it to quickly craft a response to Russian efforts to stanch information flow about Ukraine. The agency came up with a plan to collect censored articles about the war and mint them into the blockchain via Ethereum domain links, preventing them from being blocked by the Russian government.
The goal should be to start saving for retirement as quickly as possible, especially for someone new to the work force, Mrs. Meyer said. Each dollar that youre contributing at age 30 would be worth $17 by age 67, she said.

Choose the right savings option

When youre not contributing to an employer-sponsored retirement plan, there are several retirement savings options to choose from. Which type of account you should open depends on whether its more beneficial to have the tax deduction now or to get a tax-free distribution from the account at retirement, said James Lee, founder and president of Lee Investment Management in Saratoga Springs, N.Y.

A traditional I.R.A. allows you to deduct your contribution now and pay taxes on the withdrawal later. A Roth I.R.A. requires you to pay taxes on the money you contribute but allows you to withdraw money tax-free at age 59. Both I.R.A.s can grow annually through compounding even when you dont make a contribution.

For someone who doesnt have a high tax burden because theyre just starting a new business and its taking time to get it going, the tax deduction from a traditional I.R.A. isnt as valuable, said Mr. Lee, who is also the president-elect of the Financial Planning Association.

One of the most overlooked retirement savings accounts is a health savings account, Mr. Lee said. Anyone with a high-deductible health insurance plan can open an H.S.A. and in 2022, can save up to $3,650 a year, or $7,300 for family coverage, and theres a $1,000 catch-up provision for people over 55. Contributions are tax deductible, and if you take the money out for a qualified medical expense, you wont be taxed on it, Mr. Lee said. After age 65, you can take money out for any reason, but if the money isnt used for a qualified medical expense, you will have to pay income tax on its growth, he said.

However, most people over 65 do have qualified medical expenses, such as Medicare premiums, Mr. Lee said. Its a great way to be able to save for future retirement expenses, especially health-related expenses, in a tax-free way. To get the maximum benefit from the account, however, its best to save and invest the funds rather than using the money the same year the contribution was made, he said.
Mr. Cohens testimony, the prosecutors leading the investigation argued, could help to establish that Mr. Trump was intentionally misleading when he exaggerated the value of his properties. The financial statements Mr. Trump submitted to banks to secure loans  documents that say Donald J. Trump is responsible for the preparation and fair presentation of the valuations  could also support a case.

Mr. Bragg was not persuaded. Once he told Mr. Pomerantz and Mr. Dunne that he was not prepared to authorize charges, they resigned. Explaining the resignation to his team of prosecutors in a meeting a day later, Mr. Dunne said he felt he needed to disassociate myself with this decision because I think it was on the wrong side of history.

Mr. Dunne and Mr. Pomerantz also bristled at how Mr. Bragg had handled the investigation at times. Mr. Bragg left the pivotal Jan. 24 meeting before the discussion ended, though several of his top aides stayed behind. And after that day, Mr. Dunne and Mr. Pomerantz  two of New Yorks most prominent litigators, who had become accustomed to driving the case  were not included in closed-door meetings where decisions were made.

Image Mark Pomerantz, one of two lawyers who were leading a criminal inquiry into former President Donald J. Trumps business practices. The two resigned last week after the investigation came to a sudden halt. Credit... David Karp/Associated Press

Mr. Braggs choice not to pursue charges is reminiscent of the high hurdle that others have failed to clear over the years as they sought to hold Mr. Trump criminally liable for his practices as a real estate mogul. Mr. Trump famously shuns email, and he has cultivated deep loyalty among employees who might otherwise testify against him, a one-two punch that has stymied other prosecutors in search of conclusive proof of his guilt.

In the Manhattan investigation, the absence of damning emails or an insider willing to testify would make it harder to prove that any exaggerations were criminal. Mr. Trump, who has a history of making false statements, has in the past referred to boastful claims about his assets as truthful hyperbole.

The interviews with people knowledgeable about the Manhattan investigation also highlight the success of Mr. Trumps efforts to delay it.
Tony Walton, a production designer who brought a broad visual imagination to the creation of distinct onstage looks for Broadway shows over a half-century, earning him three Tony Awards, died on Wednesday at his home in Manhattan. He was 87.

His daughter, Emma Walton Hamilton, whose mother is Julie Andrews, said the cause was complications of a stroke.

In more than 50 Broadway productions, Mr. Walton collaborated on designing the sets (and sometimes, the costumes) with directors like Mike Nichols, Bob Fosse and Jerry Zaks, winning Tonys for Pippin, The House of Blue Leaves and Guys and Dolls.

He also worked in film, where he shared the Oscar for the art and set decoration of Mr. Fosses All That Jazz (1979); years earlier, Mr. Walton designed the interior sets and the costumes for Mary Poppins (1964), starring Ms. Andrews, to whom he was then married.
Jay told us that he felt like something had changed in the liberal approach to free speech since he was a kid  as if the unquestioned sanctity of it was now up for question. Liberals once defended the right of neo-Nazis to march in Skokie, Ill. Now some had reservations about defending hate speech or anti-vaxxers or white nationalist activists that wax rhapsodic about the Holocaust and seem to think another one would be a fine idea.

As we all know, it is extremely easy to defend speech we like and speakers we support and harder to stand up for the speech we despise or the speakers who would have us cast out of the public square (or far worse). It feels pretty unnerving to defend the rights of people whose ideas are so wrong and who could end up in positions of power. After all, a year after a few Klansmen raised a cross in Cincinnati, a former Klan grand wizard, David Duke, reached a runoff election for governor of Louisiana and won nearly 40 percent of the vote. And the Covid misinformation on Joe Rogans podcast came in the midst of a global pandemic that has killed nearly a million Americans.

And of course, many people seemingly intentionally misunderstand the concept of free speech, arguing that they should be permitted to say whatever they want without opprobrium but that their ideological or cultural opponents should be forbidden from doing so  speech for me, not for thee.

I tend to think that the reason that some people on the American right have previously voiced support for Vladimir Putin is because, in their view, he would act as a bulwark against some speech: he would protect their speech while restricting the words that scare them the most, speech on L.G.B.T.Q. rights or the speech of religious minorities. If no one ever heard the speech of lesbians or bisexual people or transgender people, they seem to reason, no one would be a lesbian, or bisexual or transgender.

The people whose speech I have the hardest time wanting to protect are the people who would very much like to see me in jail or dead simply for the terrifying crime of being a bisexual, biracial woman. The neo-Nazis and white nationalists I used to cover at Vox.com and the attendees at a recent white nationalist conference that attracted two sitting members of Congress are all committed to limiting the rights of the people they deem inferior. Why should I need to stand up for theirs, particularly if doing so could help them gain more power?

Well, as the rabbi who fought to put a menorah on Fountain Square told The Associated Press in response to the Klan cross, If we want to play the American game, this is the price we pay for democracy. And personally, I agree.

Permitted by a court of law to speak freely, the Klansmen did not strike fear into the hearts of Cincinnatians. They looked like idiots, their speech rendered inert and inept.
The first is simply to be reminded how fortunate the world was to escape a nuclear exchange during the Cold War, when near-misses happened not just during moments of maximal brinkmanship like the Cuban Missile Crisis but also through randomness, coincidence and error. If theres a path to nuclear war in this century, it will probably feature a similar kind of contingency and accident, the devil taking a hand in ways that cant be predicted in advance.

But its also worth considering exactly what made Petrovs position so excruciating: He had to decide whether to escalate toward Armageddon in a situation where not to escalate threatened his entire society with defeat. And then also to consider how he found a way out of his predicament: Through the fact that five missiles was not actually a defeating blow, which was both evidence that the satellites were erring and also a sign that he didnt actually hold the final fate of his country in his hands.

His specific experience vindicates a general doctrine for confrontations between nuclear-armed powers: Its often better to constrain yourself than to limit your enemys choices, pushing them toward a doom-laden decision between escalation and defeat.

Clear commitments  we will fight here, we wont fight there  are the coin of the nuclear realm, since the goal is to give the enemy the responsibility for escalation, to make it feel its apocalyptic weight, while also feeling that it can always choose another path. Whereas unpredictable escalations and maximalist objectives, often useful in conventional warfare, are the enemy of nuclear peace, insofar as they threaten the enemy with the no-win scenario that Petrov almost found himself in that day in 1983.

These insights have several implications for our strategy right now. First, they suggest that even if you believe the United States should have extended security guarantees to Ukraine before the Russian invasion, now that war is begun we must stick by the lines we drew in advance. That means yes to defending any NATO ally, yes to supporting Ukraine with sanctions and weaponry, and absolutely no to a no-fly zone or any measure that might obligate us to fire the first shot against the Russians.
Danylo, 30, plays a different role. Hes part of the I.T. Army of Ukraine, a group chat with over 285,000 participants on the messaging app Telegram. There, web developers from all over the country coordinate cyberattacks on Russian and Belarusian websites. The method is quite simple. Regular websites in Russia and Belarus arent equipped to handle large numbers of visitors, so to destabilize them, a group of people reload the web page many times. Dozens of strategically important websites have been struck down, including that of the National Bank of Belarus. It is a drop in the ocean, but you feel your small contribution to the common cause, Danylo told me.

Thats something every Ukrainian is doing, in ways big and small. Even under bombardment, people have lined up to donate blood, providing vital assistance to the countrys hospitals. Volunteers take food and supplies to underground shelters where hundreds and sometimes thousands of people are gathered. People look out for one another and acts of kindness are the norm. In Kharkiv, which has been under heavy bombardment for days, an English-speaking Ukrainian girl walked dozens of international students through Metro tunnels, helping them get on a train to evacuate.

That support extends to those who leave as well as those who stay. For the roughly two million people who have either fled the country or are traveling within it, volunteers help to arrange accommodation and, where possible, transport. Ukrainians abroad, mainly in countries along the border, have been collecting truckfuls of humanitarian aid to support arriving refugees. No matter where they are, Ukrainians have the support of their compatriots.

That doesnt lessen the tragedy of the situation. After over a week of war, the Kremlins aim appears to be to encircle and capture major cities, heedless of the death and destruction Russian forces leave in their wake. Already, the toll is heavy: In the first week of conflict, according to the United Nations, 227 civilians were killed and 525 were wounded. The Russian Army, loaded up with artillery, is going to continue its brutal bombardment of the country. For Ukrainians, in flight, fight or shelter, there will be no respite.

But we are defiant. With every act of bravery and courage, Ukrainians show that we are ready to pay the highest price for democracy  ours and the world over. In this battle, we will not surrender and we will not capitulate. Because our freedom is immutable.
In August, a mountain lion was sighted several times prowling the suburbs of New Canaan, Conn., and not for the first time. A decade ago, a young mountain lion made its way to Connecticut, prowling more than 1,500 miles from the Black Hills of South Dakota, before it was killed crossing a highway.

What stands out about these incidents to Malcolm L. Hunter, Jr., a professor emeritus of wildlife ecology at the University of Maine, is the exploratory personalities of the tawny felines.

You can be sure the individual young mountain lion that left South Dakota and ended up being run over by a car in Connecticut, was not a stay-at-home, timid fellow, he said.

Wildlife biologists have traditionally studied factors like the abundance of prey, habitat quality and behavior to assess the roles animals hold in particular ecosystems. But a growing number of scientists argue that a critical piece is missing: the range of personality traits in individual animals, whether they are grizzly bears, squirrels or earthworms. Some scientists argue that even bacteria are unique.
TikTok and other social media platforms are also under pressure from U.S. lawmakers and Ukrainian officials to curb Russian misinformation about the war, especially from state-backed media outlets such as Russia Today and Sputnik. In response, YouTube has said it would block Russia Today and Sputnik in the European Union, while Twitter and Meta, the parent of Facebook, have said they would label content from the outlets as state sponsored.

TikTok has also banned Sputnik and Russia Today in the E.U., and on Friday said it would start labeling the outlets as state-sponsored in the countries where they are still available. The app also said on Thursday that it had dedicated more resources to monitoring for misleading content about the war.

We continue to respond to the war in Ukraine with increased safety and security resources to detect emerging threats and remove harmful misinformation, said Hilary McQuaide, a TikTok spokeswoman. On Sunday, TikTok said it would suspend livestreaming and new content being uploaded from Russia.

For years, TikTok largely escaped sustained scrutiny about its content. Unlike Facebook, which has been around since 2004, and YouTube, which was founded in 2005, TikTok only became widely used in the past five years. Owned by Chinas ByteDance, the app was designed to make one- to three-minute videos easy to create and share. It developed a reputation as a destination for addictive, silly and fun videos, especially for young users.

The app has navigated some controversies in the past. It has faced questions over harmful fads that appeared to originate on its platform, as well as whether it allows underage users and adequately protects their privacy.

But the war in Ukraine has supersized the issues facing TikTok, which has over one billion users globally.

The volume of war content on the app far outweighs what is found on some other social networks, according to a review by The Times. Videos with the hashtag #Ukrainewar have amassed nearly 500 million views on TikTok, with some of the most popular videos gaining close to one million likes. In contrast, the #Ukrainewar hashtag on Instagram had 125,000 posts and the most popular videos were viewed tens of thousands of times.
Frances Meredith of Raleigh, N.C. used a branded American Airlines credit card for everything from groceries to medical expenses during the pandemic, piling up points with nowhere to spend them. That meant she had plenty to redeem when her family of four decided it was time for a winter getaway to Miami. Although the seats were pricey at 50,000 points each, Dr. Meredith, an internist, was excited to save money by using her rewards balance. It was easy. There were lots of seats, she said.

As travelers return to the skies, many, like Dr. Meredith, have amassed larger than usual totals in airline and credit card rewards programs. And they are starting to spend them. United Airlines Mileage Plus program has had multiple record-breaking days over the past few weeks as customers have flocked to redeem miles, said Michael Covey, the managing director of the United program. The demand is hitting the books in ways weve never seen before, he said.

Several factors make now the time to cash in points.

More flexibility

Flights booked with points on the major U.S. carriers are fully refundable. That means if you need to cancel the trip, all your points and any associated fees will be returned without any penalties. Tickets bought for cash, in contrast, typically offer a credit for a future flight rather than a refund and may charge fees, so your money is tied up with the airline. Refundable tickets can be purchased, but they are more expensive.

This difference, between ending up with a credit or a refund, can loom large for expensive trips like a family vacation overseas. Some travelers are still uncomfortable with international travel, while conditions remain in flux because of the pandemic, so using points to book a flight to a foreign country can offer more peace of mind, said Jamie Larounis, who writes about loyalty programs on his travel website, the Forward Cabin. He is now also seeing some worry about flights near Eastern Europe because of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Of course, war is rarely as straightforward as the deeply felt idealism that drives people to enlist. And volunteers risk not only their own lives, but also drawing the United States into a direct conflict with Russia.

War is an unpredictable animal, and once you let it out, no one  no one  knows what will happen, said Daniel Gade, who lost a leg in Iraq before going on to teach leadership for several years at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point and retiring as a lieutenant colonel. He said he understood the urge to fight but said the risk of escalation resulting in nuclear war was too great.

I just feel heartsick, he said. War is terrible and the innocent always suffer most.

The risk of unintended escalation has led the U.S. federal government to try to keep citizens from becoming freelance fighters, not just in this conflict, but for centuries. In 1793, President Washington issued a Proclamation of Neutrality warning Americans to stay out of the French Revolution. But the efforts have been uneven, and often swayed by the larger national sentiment. So over the generations a steady stream of idealists, romantics, mercenaries and filibusters have taken up arms,  riding with Pancho Villa in Mexico, ferrying arms to Cuba, battling communists in Africa and even trying to establish new slave states in Central America.

The civil war in Spain just before the start of World War II is the best-known example. More than 3,000 Americans joined what became known as the Lincoln-Washington Battalion, to fight with the elected leftist government against fascist forces.

At the time, the United States wanted to avoid war with Europe, and stayed neutral, but the Young Communist League rented billboards to recruit fighters, and members of the establishment held fund-raisers to send young men overseas.

Russia-Ukraine War: Key Developments Card 1 of 4 Fears of an expanded war rise. With the Russian military still struggling, Western officials are looking with increased alarm to Russias Victory Day holiday on May 9. Anxiety is growing that President Vladimir V. Putin will exploit the celebration of the Soviet triumph over the Nazis to intensify attacks and formally declare war. Russian oil embargo. The European Union unveiled a plan to halt imports of Russian crude oil in the next six months and refined oil products by the end of the year. If approved as expected, it would be the blocs biggest and costliest step yet toward ending its own dependence on Russian fossil fuels. Support for Moldova. The E.U. promised to provide additional military support for Moldova, the increasingly pressured neighbor of Ukraine. Security fears have grown there during the invasion, swelling after a series of explosions rocked Transnistria, the countrys own breakaway region, where Russia has maintained soldiers since 1992. On the ground. Moscow continued to demonstrate its destructive power. In the western city of Lviv, strikes on three power substations knocked out electricity in many areas. In the eastern region of Donetsk, 21 people died on May 3, the highest number of casualties in a day since last month.







That effort, now often romanticized as a valiant prelude to the fight against the Nazis, ended badly. The poorly trained and equipped brigades made a disastrous assault of a fortified ridge in 1937 and three-quarters of the men were killed or wounded. Others faced near starvation in captivity. Their leader, a former math professor who was the inspiration for the protagonist in Ernest Hemingways novel For Whom the Bell Tolls was later captured and most likely executed.
Her most public environmental fight began in 2013, when Lake Point Restoration, a company with a limestone mining operation in Martin County, sued her for contract interference. She had sent emails urging county commissioners to back out of a deal with Lake Point that she feared would destroy wetlands and cause other harm.

In court, Ms. Hurchalla argued that she had exercised her First Amendment rights. But Lake Point countered that she had improperly instructed commissioners and made false claims that cost the company money. Lake Point offered to drop the case if she publicly apologized. She refused.

In 2018, a jury ruled against Ms. Hurchalla  and decided that she should pay Lake Point $4.4 million in damages. She did not have the money. Sheriffs deputies seized two kayaks and a 2004 Toyota Camry that used to belong to her sister; Lake Point later returned them. Last year, the U.S. Supreme Court denied her request to hear her appeal.

Im not at all sorry that I have spent the last seven years fighting for the First Amendment, she said in an email to The New York Times after the high courts decision. Meanwhile, Im going kayaking and Im going to keep on saying what I think.

Margaret Sloan Reno grew up the third of four children in a rural Miami-Dade County homestead on the edge of the Everglades, with backyard peacocks, raccoons and donkeys. The Miami Herald paid to connect the property to a phone line so that her father, Henry Olaf Reno, a police reporter for the paper, could call police departments every morning, hunting for a scoop.

He was tickled when his wife, Jane Wood Reno, a features writer for the rival Miami News, beat him on a story. Ms. Wood Reno, a naturalist, built most of the homestead by hand, despite having no background in construction.
WASHINGTON  Allied governments have been discussing how to secure the line of succession in Ukraine in the event President Volodymyr Zelensky is captured or killed by Russian forces, according to officials from multiple governments.

The concerns are primarily about making sure there is still an independent Ukrainian government in some form, even if Russia finds a way to install a puppet leadership in Kyiv, the capital. Having an independent leader to recognize, Western officials said, will help prevent any Russian-backed leaders from gaining legitimacy.

Mr. Zelenskys presence and motivational speeches have been key factors in keeping up the morale of the Ukrainian military and people, and the officials said it was important that continued.

The focus on securing succession comes, in part, because Ukraines Constitution is unclear on the issue and because Mr. Zelensky has said he does not want to be evacuated. He memorably quipped I need ammunition, not a ride. Despite news reports, American officials deny they ever offered to evacuate the president or advised him to leave. And Western governments have applauded his resolve to stay and fight as Russian troops try to advance across the country.
He is standing strong, but pleaded for more help, Representative Jim Himes, Democrat of Connecticut, said of Mr. Zelensky. Planes, oil embargo, continued military aid.

Mr. Zelensky told lawmakers that a ban on Russian oil would be even more powerful than removing some Russian banks from the SWIFT financial messaging system, according to Senator Dan Sullivan, Republican of Alaska. This past week, Republicans and Democrats ratcheted up pressure on the White House to prohibit the importation of Russian energy products, even though experts have said such a move would be largely symbolic.

Lawmakers have also been urging the administration to ship more military equipment to arm the Ukrainians, even after Mr. Biden last weekend authorized the shipment of a $350 million package of weapons to the country, a package that represented the largest single authorized transfer of arms from U.S. military warehouses to another country.

On Saturday, Mr. Zelensky stressed the need for additional planes and drones in the absence of a NATO-led no-fly zone, lawmakers on the call said. His plea came after Poland, Bulgaria and Slovakia said they would not send fighter jets to Ukraine.

Zelenskys message is simple: Close the skies or give us planes, Senator Ben Sasse, Republican of Nebraska, said in a statement after the meeting. Lets be cleareyed about our options: A no-fly zone means sending American pilots into combat against Russian jets and air defenses  in a battle between nuclear powers that could spiral out of control quickly.
In a statement released on Thursday by a public relations firm, the Papini family criticized the nature of the federal investigation and the tactics investigators employed in questioning Ms. Papini and her husband, Keith. The statement did not address whether Ms. Papini had faked her abduction.

We love Sherri and are appalled by the way in which law enforcement ambushed her this afternoon in a dramatic and unnecessary manner in front of her children, the familys statement said. Sherri and Keith have cooperated with law enforcements requests despite repeated attempts to unnecessarily pit them against each other, empty threats to publicly embarrass them and other conduct that was less than professional.

The statement added that the family was confused by several aspects of the charges and was seeking clarification.

Prosecutors said that Ms. Papinis ex-boyfriend, who was not identified, had admitted to taking part in the fake kidnapping. DNA found on Ms. Papinis clothing led investigators to him, according to the criminal complaint. It matched the DNA of one of the ex-boyfriends parents, which had been collected for ancestry research.

Investigators said that the ex-boyfriend told them that Ms. Papini had instructed him to brand her with a tool for making crafts.

When a young mother went missing in broad daylight, a community was filled with fear and concern, Phillip A. Talbert, the U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of California, said in the statement announcing Ms. Papinis arrest. Countless hours were spent following leads, all in an effort to bring this woman back to her family.

Prosecutors declined to comment further on the charges against Ms. Papini, who appeared in court on Friday. She was ordered detained as a danger and flight risk and her next court appearance is Tuesday. Her lawyer, Michael Borges, was not immediately available on Friday night.
Senior U.S. officials are traveling to Venezuela on Saturday to meet with the government of President Nicolas Maduro, according to people familiar with the matter, as the Biden administration steps up efforts to separate Russia from its remaining international allies amid a widening standoff over Ukraine.

The trip is the highest-level visit by Washington officials to Caracas, Venezuelas capital, in years. The United States broke off diplomatic relations with Mr. Maduro and closed its embassy in Caracas in 2019, after accusing the authoritarian leader of electoral fraud. The Trump administration then tried to topple Mr. Maduros government by sanctioning Venezuelan oil exports and the countrys senior officials, and by recognizing the opposition leader, Juan Guaido, as Venezuelas lawful president.

Mr. Maduro responded to the sanctions by seeking economic and diplomatic help from Russia, as well as from Iran and China. Russian energy companies and banks have been instrumental in allowing Venezuela to continue exporting oil, the countrys biggest source of foreign currency, despite the sanctions, according to U.S. officials, Venezuelan officials and businessmen.

Russias invasion of Ukraine has prompted the United States to pay closer attention to President Vladimir V. Putins allies in Latin America, which Washington believes could become security threats if the standoff with Russia deepens, according to current and former U.S. officials who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive policy matters.
AUROVILLE, India  The bulldozer arrived one night in December, shaking Ganga Park awake in her tree house and sending her scurrying down the trunk.

When its operator paused the menacing machine, which was there to clear a path through the surrounding forest, Ms. Park clung to it. Their standoff continued until the driver gave up and turned back.

When the bulldozer returned a few days later, Ms. Park confronted it again, but this time she was joined by dozens of her neighbors in the south Indian arcadia of Auroville.

They linked arms around the bulldozer, chanting Om Namo Bhagavate, a popular Hindu mantra that roughly translates to Obeisance to the Almighty. They remained until they won at least a temporary victory: a stay order from an environmental tribunal, forcing the demolition work to stop.
Some refugee groups, however, had asked the government to follow the lead of many European countries in the crisis and simply open the border for Ukrainians, allowing them to come to Canada without a visa.

Randall Hansen, a political scientist at the University of Toronto who studies global migration, told me that dropping visas would have represented a dramatic shift in Canadian immigration policy. While Canada admits a large of immigrants in all categories, all immigration is checked, controlled, managed, Professor Hansen said.

The result, he said, is that Canada often gets more credit for welcoming immigrants and refugees than statistics suggest it deserves. Mr. Trudeau, he noted, received global attention for his program that, in relatively short order, admitted about 51,000 refugees from Syria. Then the door slammed immediately shut, he said.

He contrasted Canadas Syrian program with that of Germany, where about 1.2 million refugees were admitted under a system with relatively few controls.

These sort of gestures that created the impression that in the world that you could put Germany and Canada in a box and pull out either one and it wouldnt matter which you chose  they were both equally liberal, he said. Its just absurd.

Russia-Ukraine War: Key Developments Card 1 of 4 Fears of an expanded war rise. With the Russian military still struggling, Western officials are looking with increased alarm to Russias Victory Day holiday on May 9. Anxiety is growing that President Vladimir V. Putin will exploit the celebration of the Soviet triumph over the Nazis to intensify attacks and formally declare war. Russian oil embargo. The European Union unveiled a plan to halt imports of Russian crude oil in the next six months and refined oil products by the end of the year. If approved as expected, it would be the blocs biggest and costliest step yet toward ending its own dependence on Russian fossil fuels. Support for Moldova. The E.U. promised to provide additional military support for Moldova, the increasingly pressured neighbor of Ukraine. Security fears have grown there during the invasion, swelling after a series of explosions rocked Transnistria, the countrys own breakaway region, where Russia has maintained soldiers since 1992. On the ground. Moscow continued to demonstrate its destructive power. In the western city of Lviv, strikes on three power substations knocked out electricity in many areas. In the eastern region of Donetsk, 21 people died on May 3, the highest number of casualties in a day since last month.







Geography, he said, has been the key to allowing Canada to control who enters. The only place people can reach the country from by foot, the United States, is the destination of choice for most immigrants and most refugees who are ready for resettlement, Professor Hansen said. So people who reach Canada generally board an airplane with a valid visa, an impossibility for the worlds most desperate refugees, he added.

Why do they want to keep visas? Professor Hansen asked. They are fundamental to this control paradigm. It means that only the educated, the skilled, wealthy people can get on a plane for another reason and then claim asylum when they can get here.
Russias state airline, Aeroflot, said on Saturday that it would suspend all international flights from Tuesday due to additional circumstances that prevent the performance of flights.

The cancellation will also apply to its subsidiaries Aurora and Rossiya, the airline said, though Aeroflot said it would continue to fly to Minsk, the capital of Belarus.

Russia had been enjoying a rare and robust aviation recovery as the only global market where domestic air traffic last year exceeded that of 2019, according to the International Air Transport Association, a global trade group. But the airline industry there has been hit hard in the last two weeks, as countries around the world have imposed flight bans and sanctions on Russia because of President Vladimir V. Putins decision to invade Ukraine. Mr. Putin and President Aleksandr G. Lukashenko of Belarus are allies, and Russian forces have attacked Ukraine from Belarus.

Separately, Russias aviation authority, Rosaviatsiya, recommended on Saturday that Russian airlines with planes registered in foreign jurisdictions suspend all flights abroad from Sunday because of fears that they could be seized by foreign governments.
Prime Minister Naftali Bennett of Israel traveled to Moscow to meet at the Kremlin with President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia, according to Israeli and Russian officials, a rare moment of diplomacy in a war that has stretched into its second week.

The situation around Ukraine is being discussed, a Kremlin spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, told reporters, according RIA Novosti, a state-controlled news site.

The meeting comes at a critical time in the war, as Russian forces are encircling major cities and Ukraine is teetering into a humanitarian crisis. Russian and Ukrainian diplomats are continuing bilateral talks, but several overtures at diplomacy by third parties, including efforts by President Emmanuel Macron of France, have stalled.

Israel is in a unique position to potentially barter a deal, or at least pass messages between Western allies, Russia and Ukraine, given its alliance with the United States, its quiet cooperation with Russia in Syria and its shared cultural ties to Ukraine. Mr. Bennett and President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine are the worlds only two Jews at the head of national governments.
Over one million Ukrainian refugees have fled Russian rockets and tanks in recent days and many have chosen to stay in neighboring Poland, close to the homes they hope to return to one day and to the fathers and sons they had to leave behind.

But for those continuing their journey west, Germany is next. Just over a week into the war, Berlin has become a major hub for refugees from Ukraine, some traveling on, others eager to settle here. The numbers have surged in recent days. On Monday, the city administration reported finding beds for some 350 refugees. On Friday, more than 10,000 arrived in the German capital by train and bus, and city authorities are bracing for more.

Several buses carrying 120 Jewish children from Odessa, many of them orphaned, were among those arriving on Friday in Berlin, where they were welcomed by the Jewish organization Chabad Berlin and put up in a hotel. The youngest was only born in January.

We have to be prepared that this is the biggest movement of people Europe faces since the end of World War II, said Katja Kipping, minister of social affairs in Berlins regional administration. Weve only seen the tip of the iceberg.

The mobilization of volunteers and donations has been swift and remarkable. Across Germany, volunteers have set up websites and special channels on social media to streamline the help in areas from transport to translation. The number of Berliners offering to help has been so great that volunteers are being turned away.

In the earlier crisis, Germany stood apart from most of its neighbors in opening its doors to refugees, a stance that was used by the far right to create a powerful backlash and political headache for the chancellor at the time, Angela Merkel. But in welcoming the wave of Ukrainians  fellow Europeans and mostly Christian, unlike the Syrians  Germany now has plenty of company, with Poland and Hungary, usually vehemently anti-immigrant, among those taking the lead.

German support is taking many unexpected forms. Berlin, famous for its clubbing scene, is using the reopening of night clubs this weekends after weeks of Covid-related closures as a fund-raiser under the motto Club culture united  Stand up for Ukraine.
ODESSA, Ukraine  President Vladimir V. Putin warned on Saturday that crippling economic sanctions imposed by the West were akin to a declaration of war, as the Russian military pummeled civilian targets and continued shelling near the first protected routes intended to allow besieged Ukrainians to flee, apparently violating a cease-fire that had been agreed to only hours earlier.

As fighting raged across Ukraine, Israels prime minister, Naftali Bennett, on Saturday became the first international leader to meet with Mr. Putin in Moscow since the start of the fighting. No details emerged from their discussion, but a spokeswoman for Mr. Bennett said that he had also spoken with President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine after his meeting with Mr. Putin.

Mr. Putin, in his first extended remarks since the start of the war, threatened to fully absorb Ukraine, the former Soviet republic of nearly 44 million people that declared its independence 30 years ago.

The current leadership needs to understand that if they continue doing what they are doing, they risk the future of Ukrainian statehood, he said. Mr. Putin added that Moscow would view any Western attempts to impose a no-fly zone over Ukraine as participating in the armed conflict against Russia.
PESHAWAR, Pakistan  Pakistani police investigators said on Saturday that they had identified the suicide bomber and the network behind the deadly blast on Friday at a Shiite mosque in Peshawar, in northwestern Pakistan, that left at least 63 dead and nearly 200 wounded.

Thirty-seven people remained hospitalized, with five in critical condition, according to Muhammad Asim Khan, the spokesman for Peshawars largest hospital, Lady Reading.

The Islamic States regional affiliate, Islamic State Khorasan, or ISIS-K, claimed responsibility for the attack and said it was carried out by an Afghan suicide bomber, whom the militant group identified as Julaibeed al-Kabuli.

Pakistani security officials said that the name was an alias and that they had identified the attacker and his family. Muhammad Ali Saif, a special assistant to the provincial chief minister, said at a news conference on Saturday that the rest of the network will be exposed in the next 48 hours. He declined to share more details, citing operational sensitivities.
What if the lights go out? Or A.T.M. networks go down? Or digital giants like Google that I trust with vital information come under attack?

These are normal questions to have right now, as Russian tanks move through Ukraine and upend our expectations of global stability. After all, Russia and those who might act on its behalf have already shown the ability to strike our digital infrastructure, and we dont know what President Vladimir V. Putin might be willing to do if escalating sanctions make him feel cornered.

But first, lets be clear about one thing: Theres no sign of immediate danger to you. Thats not true for people who live in Ukraine or have had to flee, so consider helping them first if you can.

National security officials say there have been no specific, credible cyberthreats against the United States homeland. The United States also maintains its own extensive cybercapabilities, including forays into the Russian electrical grid, that could make Mr. Putin wary of setting off a kind of mutually assured disruption.
The New York Times News Quiz, March 4, 2022

Did you follow the news this week? Take our quiz to see how well you stack up with other Times readers.
A young woman who says that five men allegedly sexually assaulted and raped her in a car in the midlands has insisted that she did not consent to what happened between them.

Four of the five men are before the court and have pleaded not guilty to 18 counts of sexual assault, rape and false imprisonment of the woman on December 27, 2016. The fifth man is not before the court.

Both the woman and the defendants are entitled to anonymity under the 1981 Rape Act.

The woman has given evidence that after a night out in a midlands town with friends she accepted the offer of a lift in the car. The car was driven initially to a remote area via a roundabout, and then to a carpark in another town, via an estate.

She said that shortly after she got in, two men in the back of the car began sexually assaulting her.

"Nobody asked me was it ok," said the woman, adding that she pushed their hands away.

She said she then got into the front passenger seat, sitting on a man there. In her statement to gardai, the woman described that man raping her, as men in the rear of the car also put their hands back onto her.

Brendan Grehan, SC, defending the driver of the car who was aged 17 at the time, put it to the complainant that a person could indicate a willingness to go along with something without verbalising it. He suggested that she had been passive.

"There was a lot going on and I told them to stop but I think I was passive to an extent, she replied.

"But you allowed him to go on," Mr Grehan said in reference to the front seat passenger.

"I didn't allow him," the woman said with force, adding: "I'm sorry for raising my voice."

Could the man have had the impression that she was willing to go along with it, asked Mr Grehan. She replied "I don't think so.

When the car stopped at a remote location, each of the men is alleged to have sexually assaulted her. Mr Grehan said his client asserted he did not rape her; he thrust against her but did not penetrate her.

"He did," said the woman. Counsel asked had sex happened without any co-operation from her and the witness said replied yes.

Mr Grehan said his client he was kissing you and you were kissing him back. She denied this.

"He says you were French kissing, tongue to tongue," said Mr Grehan. "I don't remember his tongue in my mouth but he was kissing me," said the woman.

Mr Grehan took the woman through several Facebook messages she sent to a friend, using a phone lent to her by the driver of the car, in which she sought the address of a house to where she could go at the end of her alleged ordeal.

"You didn't try to call the gardai or anybody else," asked Mr Grehan. The woman agreed she had not.

"There isn't anything [in the texts] about you being in danger," said Mr Grehan.

"I was using the driver's phone," said the woman.

To get the phone, she had had to ask for it angrily but she had not been angry earlier, suggested Mr Grehan.

"I didn't know how they'd react," she replied.

The jury was shown excerpts from the video-taped garda interview of the woman on January 8, 2017. In the final excerpt played to the jury, gardai ask the woman what she would call what had happened to her.

"Rape. I guess I was raped in different ways. They used my body without permission, she told gardai.

The trial continues on Monday morning before Justice Tara Burns and a jury.
(The Center Square)  A group of Navy SEALs locked in a legal battle over vaccine mandates got another victory in their fight, which could go all the way to the Supreme Court.

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit this week denied a request from the Navy for an emergency stay of an injunction that prevented them from taking action against the SEALS in question. The SEALS filed for religious exemptions but were denied, and they say their requests were not given fair consideration.

The Navy has been extraordinarily successful in vaccinating service members, as at least 99.4% of whom are vaccinated, said the appellate ruling. But that general interest is nevertheless insufficient under [Religious Freedom Restoration Act]. The Navy must instead 'scrutinize  the asserted harm of granting specific exemptions to particular religious claimants.' The question, then, is not whether [the Navy has] a compelling interest in enforcing its [vaccination] policies generally, but whether it has such an interest in denying an exception to [each Plaintiff].

First Liberty Institute, the group representing the SEALS, welcomed the decision.

Events around the world remind us daily that there are those who seek to harm America. Our military should be welcoming service members, not forcing them out because of their religious beliefs, said Mike Berry, Director of Military Affairs for First Liberty Institute. The purge of religious servicemembers is not just devastating to morale, but it harms Americas national security. Its time for our military to honor its constitutional obligations and grant religious accommodations for service members with sincere religious objections to the vaccine. Were grateful the Fifth Circuit denied the Navys motion.

That ruling upheld an injunction issued by U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas Judge Reed OConnor in January.

The Navy servicemembers in this case seek to vindicate the very freedoms they have sacrificed so much to protect, OConnors ruling reads. The COVID-19 pandemic provides the government no license to abrogate those freedoms. There is no COVID-19 exception to the First Amendment. There is no military exclusion from our Constitution.

The decision comes amidst a weakening of COVID-19 mandates nationwide. Several Democrat-led states reversed their mask mandates in recent weeks. Last week, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced that the majority of Americans will no longer need to wear masks indoors.

"We want to give people a break from things like mask wearing ..." CDC Director Rochelle Walensky said in a press briefing.

At the same time, the U.S. Supreme Court in January overturned President Joe Bidens vaccine mandate on private companies but upheld the mandate for certain health-care workers.

"The question before us is not how to respond to the pandemic, but who holds the power to do so. The answer is clear: Under the law as it stands today, that power rests with the States and Congress, not OSHA," justices wrote in the majority opinion.

Now, the highest court may revisit the issue in the SEALs case. OConnors January ruling case suggests the Navy went too far.

No matter how remote the possibility, Plaintiffs could be compensated for their losses, the ruling reads. They could be reinstated with backpay, retroactively promoted, or reimbursed for lost benefits like medical insurance and the GI Bill. But because these injuries are inextricably intertwined with Plaintiffs loss of constitutional rights, this Court must conclude that Plaintiffs have suffered irreparable harm. Plaintiffs have suffered the more serious injury of infringement of their religious liberty rights under RFRA and the First Amendment . . .
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Canada is joining its circumpolar allies in pulling out of the upcoming Arctic Council meetings, which Russia is scheduled to chair, and suspending its work with the council indefinitely.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy railed against NATO's decision to reject a no-fly zone over his country. Meanwhile, the US called Russia's attack on a nuclear plant "incredibly reckless" Follow DW for the latest.
Microsoft announced it suspended new sales in Russia in order to further aid Ukraine in the war. Apple, Nike and other companies have cut ties also.


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The Gambling Industry Joins the Ukraine Relief Efforts

Published March 4, 2022 by Florin P

Online gambling operators come together to support the people of Ukraine with fundraisers aimed at helping them overcome the enormous challenges that lie ahead.

Online gambling operators have provided prospective punters with nondiscriminatory access to their games for years. They continue to welcome players from all countries where gambling is legal and strive to create a community where people can have fun and play their favorite games. Not surprisingly, the gambling industry has joined forces to provide immediate relief efforts to the people of Ukraine.

Heavily hit by the recent events, they are in dire need of assistance and anyone who can lend a helping hand can make a difference. To show the support for those in need, the Gaming Industry for Ukraine initiative was launched. Its goal was to raise 250,000 and all the proceeds from the fundraiser to help the displaced people through the Choose Loves Ukraine Crisis Fundraiser.

A Small Act of Kindness

Online casinos, bookmakers, poker rooms, and other gambling operators depend on their players to stay profitable. It is only natural for them to give something back to the communities that support them and show gratitude. The Gaming Industry for Ukraine is a shining example of how private businesses can join forces for a common goal.

LeoVegas and ATG were some of the gambling operators that chose to help by donating large amounts to the Red Cross. The latter donated 2 million Swedish kronor and are looking for a way to also get players involved. LeoVegas donated a quarter of the amount and the company encourages its employees to help with whatever they can. The decision to support the Red Cross is not a coincidence, because the respected organization is present on the ground with the only objective being to save lives.

Sanctions and Restrictions for Russia and Belarus

The international community took decisive steps to sanction Russia for invading a sovereign country and causing the biggest armed conflict in Europe since World War II. Most gambling operators have not yet passed any specific rules to limit access from this country beyond the existing Geo-restrictions. However, ICE London organizer Clarion Gaming announced that businesses from Belarus and Russia will not be welcomed to its events.

The decision to bar businesses from these two countries to attend the ICE London conference sends a strong signal of solidarity. It goes beyond restricting physical access and also applies to digital channels, which is a blow for Russian and Belarusian organizations. They will be unable to participate in the aforementioned conference, as well as the iGB Affiliate in London.
On Feb. 2, the Department of Administration, on behalf of the State of Wisconsin, announced its intent to distribute 26 grants as part of its 
Ottumwa, IA (52501)

Today

Rain early...then remaining cloudy with showers in the afternoon. High around 55F. Winds E at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 80%..

Tonight

Cloudy with occasional rain showers. Thunder possible. Low 49F. Winds NE at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 50%.
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MANISTEE COUNTY  The following includes reports made to the Manistee County Sheriffs Office from Feb. 5-10.

All calls may not be reported. This is part of a lengthy report and is compiled by assistant editor Arielle Breen.

Feb. 5

 A verbal domestic incident was reported at 8:41 p.m. in Cleon Township.

 A suspicious situation was reported at 11:08 p.m. in Norman Township.

Feb. 6

 A drug-related suspicious situation was reported at 3:38 a.m. in Maple Grove Township.

 A two-vehicle property damage crash was reported at 12:41 p.m. in Arcadia Township.

 A vehicle-deer accident was reported at 6:41 p.m. in Manistee Township.

 A child custody dispute was reported at 3:58 p.m. in Cleon Township.

 A vehicle-deer crash accident was reported at 6 p.m. in Manistee Township.

 An overdose was reported and an opiate-reversal drug was administered at 7 p.m. in Manistee Township.

Feb. 7

 A suspicious situation was reported at 4 a.m. in Brown Township.

 Fraud was reported at 9:23 a.m. in Marilla Township.

 Larceny of a trailer was reported at 1 p.m. in Stronach Township.

 A suspicious situation was reported at 1:15 p.m. in Wellston.

 A well-being check on dogs was reported at 11:14 a.m. in Copemish.

 Deputies assisted the Manistee City Police Department at 12:29 a.m. in Manistee.

 Deputies assisted a citizen in Manistee Township.

 Deputies conducted a well-being check and a report of cats being neglected at 3:01 p.m. in the city of Manistee.

 A suspicious situation was reported at 5:29 p.m. in Filer Township.

Feb. 8

 A vehicle-deer accident was reported at 6:38 a.m. in Manistee Township.

 A vehicle-deer accident was reported at 7:11 a.m. in Manistee Township.

 Deputies assisted another agency with an unlawful driving away of a vehicle situation at 8:32 a.m. in Brown Township.

 Deputies conducted a mental health transport at 6:07 p.m. in Cleon Township.

 Assault and malicious destruction of property was reported at 8:09 p.m. in Manistee Township.

 A 911 call was abandoned at 11:48 p.m. in Norman Township.

 A dog was reported to have been running at large at 2:38 p.m. in Filer Township.

Feb. 9

 A suspicious situation was reported at 8:58 a.m. in Manistee Township.

 Deputies conducted a criminal sexual conduct investigation at 2 p.m. in Norman Township.

 A vehicle-deer accident was reported at 6:22 p.m. in Brown Township.

 A property damage crash was reported at 8:07 p.m. in Brown Township.

 A personal injury crash was reported at 9:21 p.m. in Stronach Township.

Feb. 10

 A noise disturbance was reported at 2:05 a.m. in Eastlake.

 A suspicious situation and drug use was reported at 7:54 a.m. in Filer Township.

 A vehicle-deer accident was reported at 10:37 a.m. in Pleasanton Township.

 Deputies assisted a citizen at 2:27 p.m. in Arcadia Township.

 Deputies investigated a criminal sexual conduct incident at 10:19 a.m. in Onekama Township.

 A suspicious situation was reported at 12:51 p.m. in Dickson Township.

 Livestock were reported to have been running at large at 1:48 p.m. in Bear Lake Township.

 Deputies conducted a transport to Oceana County from Manistee County at 2:28 p.m.

 A suspicious situation was reported at 7:45 p.m. in Manistee Township.
The following list includes recent reports from the Midland County Sheriffs Office and the Midland Police Department. Compiled by reporter Collin Periatt.

Thursday, March 3

11:02 p.m.  Deputies were dispatched to a Homer Township location regarding a vehicle partially parked in the roadway. Deputies made contact with the owner, who advised they were stargazing. Deputies asked the driver to move the vehicle further off the roadway to avoid an accident. Deputies cleared the scene without incident.

10:14 p.m.  Officers investigated a case of retail fraud on Ashman Street.

8:47 p.m.  Officers investigated a suspicious situation on Joe Mann Boulevard.

8:12 p.m.  Deputies were dispatched to a Lee Township residence regarding a 27-year-old man having suicidal thoughts. The man was transported to MyMichigan Medical Center for a mental evaluation.

3:08 p.m.  A woman reported an unknown male contacting her bank pretending to be her. The woman is not out any money and is working with the bank to secure her accounts and information. The woman was instructed how to run a credit report, dispute any charges, and flag her personal info with credit bureaus and the Social Security Administration.

2:14 p.m.  Deputies were dispatched to a Warren Township location to check on an 88-year-old woman. The woman was contacted and was OK.

12:58 p.m.  An animal control deputy received a call regarding a dog running loose from a home in Lee Township. A verbal warning was issued for the loose dog, and the owner was instructed to obtain a valid license for the dog.

9:59 a.m.  Deputies were requested by Disability Network to check on the well-being of a 51-year-old woman. Deputies spoke to the woman, who advised she was fine. However, she was without groceries. Disability Network purchased groceries and deputies later assisted in delivering them to the woman.

9:43 a.m.  Residents reported to the Sheriff's Office that an unknown suspect attempted to enter a utility shed some time over the last week; nothing was stolen.

9:29 a.m.  Officers investigated a suspicious situation on Joe Mann Boulevard.
MSU Extension of Midland County and cooperating parent educators sponsor the Parents Corner. Send submissions to Midland County MSU Extension Educator, Lisa Treiber, 220 W. Ellsworth St., Midland, MI 48640.

An Afternoon at the Sugarhouse. Discover the magic of maple syrup season at 1-4 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays in March at Chippewa Nature Center. Experience the process of making syrup from start to finish during this drop-in program. Visitors are invited to peek in buckets on tapped trees, watch the steam rise in the sugar house and learn how to change maple sap into sweet maple syrup. This program is designed for all ages (under 18 with an adult).

Food Safety Q & A. MSU Extension offers a week 30-minute informational program about food preservation. A short presentation will be shared focusing on the featured topic, leaving plenty of time for Q & A. The next session is: Score a Basket with Food Safety. Join in on this quick free presentation at 1 p.m. March 7. To register, visit events.anr.msu.edu/FoodSafetywinter2022/

Safe Food = Healthy Kids. MSU Extension is offering a three-hour online training for childcare providers with the Safe Food = Healthy Kids (SFHK) program, 1-2:30 p.m. March 7 and 9 (both days, two-part class). Learn the best practices for food safety to keep the children in your care safe. Food safety education topics discussed in the class include proper cleaning and sanitizing, cooking, storing food, as well as personal hygiene and more. SFHK is an approved training for Great Start to Quality, so this class will count toward annual training hours. Class is facilitated by MSU Extension Food Safety Educators. To register visit events.anr.msu.edu/SFHKWinterSpring22/ This is a free program, participants must attend both sessions to receive their training hours.

Nature Play! Its time to play outdoors at Chippewa Nature Center, 10-11 a.m. March 8. Whether it's making pies in the mud kitchen, pretending to be animals, lounging in hammocks or creating nature art, this hour of play is sure to engage everyone. Caregivers must remain with children during this program and are encouraged to actively play alongside the children in their care. This program will be facilitated by a CNC staff member. Meet in The Woods Nature Play Area near Arbury Trail. This program is designed for ages 2-10 with an adult. Visit www.chippewanaturecenter.org to learn more.

Investigating Food with Science. Each week at 4 p.m., youth will explore the aspects of cooking as an experiment and baking as a science. A kid-friendly recipe or experiment demonstration will be presented for youth to try at home with an adults assistance. The following week, youth can share their experiences or pictures. All sessions will be presented via Zoom. The March 7 topic will be Tasty Science! To register visit events.anr.msu.edu/IFWSwinter2022/. Any questions should be directed to Kellie Jordan, jorda136@msu.edu.

Every Penny Counts: Savings Strategies Webinar. Saving money may seem like the impossible dream. It can be done with some planning and discipline. Join MSU Extension for this one-hour webinar, 12-1 p.m. March 10. Participants will discuss where to find money to save and 10 strategies to make savings happen. For example, save 50 cents a day for a year and you can build nearly 40% of a $500 emergency fund! There is no charge to attend. Pre-registration is required, to register visit www.canr.msu.edu/mimoneyhealth/ click on the link online classes and you will then see this course as well as other options that might be of interest. Connection for the class will be sent once registration is completed. Registration for this class closes on March 8.

Preserving MI Harvest Series. Michigan State University Extension will be offering a series of food preservation classes online. These free classes will be offered at 1 p.m. and 6 p.m. on Thursdays. The topic on March 10 will be Using Indigenous Methods of Preserved Corn. These sessions will not be recorded, they will only be offered live. Supporting materials will be emailed to all participants after each broadcast. Join in the fun, sign up for one, some or all these educational sessions. There is time at the end of each program to ask questions. To register visit events.anr.msu.edu/PreservingMIHarvestWinter2022/

Retirement Myths and Facts. MSU Extension is hosting a workshop that will clarify common retirement myths and provide resources for additional information. This online Zoom program will be held 12-1 p.m. March 14. There is no charge to attend. Pre-registration is required; to register visit www.canr.msu.edu/mimoneyhealth/ click on the link online classes and you will then see this course as well as other options that might be of interest. Connection for your class will be sent once registration is completed. Registration for this class closes on March 11.

Kids Nature Art: Maples. Join the fun at 2-3 p.m. March 13 at the end of Homestead Road, meet the Chippewa Nature staff at the Lanigan Pavilion for a blast of maple art. Stations will provide artists with the materials to create art inspired by maples and the syrup season. This program is designed for all ages (under 18 with an adult). For more information about this free program, visit www.chippewanaturecenter.org.

Cooking for Crowds. Cooking for Crowds provides food safety education to volunteers and groups who offer food fundraisers and events such as dinners and bake sales. Join MSU Extension for this online Zoom class, 5:30-8:30 p.m. March 21 to learn how to keep the community safe and prevent foodborne illness. Educational topics include defining a foodborne illness, safe purchasing, storage, preparation and safe service of food items. The class will include information based on the Michigan food code and regulations for the state of Michigan. The cost for this three-hour class is $15 with each participant receiving a food safety manual in the mail after registering for the class. www.canr.msu.edu/cooking_for_crowds/events

This program is also available as an in-person program with your organization. If interested, please email treiber@msu.edu.

Sleep Education for Everyone Program. Join MSU Extension for a six-week series to learn ways to help you improve your sleep. This free online lunch and learn will be held 11:45 a.m.-12:15 p.m. Thursdays, March 24  April 28. SLEEP is a program for everyone who is looking for more sleep or better quality of sleep. To register for this free series visit https://bit.ly/3uYa02R Registration closes March 23. For more information, contact Laura Anderson at ander359@msu.edu.
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Art and Crystal Prunier of Midland planned carefully for their retirement years.

They learned the best way to invest their savings, so now that they have retired, they can enjoy traveling and staying active.

You might think they have some closely guarded retirement secrets. But actually, the Pruniers are anxious to share their knowledge with other seniors.

The Pruniers volunteer to teach a six-session retirement class from a Christian perspective through New Life Vineyard Church in Midland. In the last couple years, the class has taken place online, where people from 14 states have participated.

They are hoping to help seniors get through their later years no matter what their income level was when they were working.

We do it as volunteers. Its a meaningful activity, Art Prunier told the Daily News in a recent interview. Its important.

Art is 68 years old and a former researcher at The Dow Chemical Co. He has a masters degree in financial education from the American College of Financial Services in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania. Crystal is 65 and a retired occupational therapist with Midland Public Schools.

No matter how much money people have saved for retirement, the Pruniers are convinced that traveling the country  and world  are great ways to stay active and fit.

If you want to go it alone, thats great. But they also recommend organized travel through a pair of nationally known services that can be found online  Road Scholar and Rick Steves.

Road Scholar is a non-profit travel service designed to help travelers age 50 and over explore the world and learn about other places and cultures  from the mountains of Nepal to ancient Mayan culture to naval voyages aboard the Queen Mary 2.

Their trips also involve exercise  like biking through Europe, hiking through the mountains of Utah, or kayaking through the Florida Everglades.

Rick Steves, who hosts a travel show on public television and radio, offers European trips that strive to take tourists to local places that are less traveled and less commercial, so Americans can experience a places true culture.

The Pruniers have traveled around both the United States and Europe and now look forward to a two- to three-week adventure every summer.

In terms of trips with Road Scholar, we started our first one in September 2016, Art said. We went biking through Germany and the Czech Republic.

We also took a biking trip through Austria and Slovenia, and in Utah we took a hiking trip.

On their active trips, you are either biking or hiking or kayaking or whatever, Crystal said. We like them because we find them affordable, and we meet interesting, active people.

Art says his favorite trip was the one through Austria and Slovenia, where they biked between 25 and 40 miles per day along the Mur River.

That was definitely my favorite. I would do it again, he said.

The bike rides arent too strenuous, but they do require a bit of training, the couple said. Its not like you can hop on a bike and ride for the first time that year. But the trips are suitable for seniors.

The first year we went, I was 60 years old and there were people with us that were in their 80s, Crystal said.

Art said the more a couple stays physically active, the more they can travel late in life, and vice versa.

It shows that you can stay active, and it extends the time you can do active things, he said.

We view it as a way to maintain physical and brain health, Crystal said.

The couple has taken two trips through Rick Steves  one to Italy and one to Greece.

Art said these tours are about history, culture, art and architecture.

Its very much an educational experience. (Steves) really wants people to understand what its like to live there and grow up there.

The big advantage is both agencies provide top-notch trips, where guides help you learn about the region you are visiting and the accommodations tend to be locally owned hotels, not luxury chains in big cities.

Its less stressful than when you do it on your own, Crystal said. Someone else has done all the arrangements.

When the Pruniers are not traveling overseas, they are going to places like Florida or Arizona where, again, they try to stay active. They usually rent vacation homes through Vrbo and seek out nearby national parks.

No matter what type of trip the Pruniers take, they said they will spend hours reading about the areas before they visit them. They said Rick Steves tour books are available at Grace A. Dow Memorial Library.

The couple plans to travel together for many more years.

We love the museums and historical places in Europe, Crystal said. I love the adventure.
Paducah, KY (42003)

Today

Thunderstorms likely. A few storms may be severe. High around 75F. Winds SE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 70%..

Tonight

Isolated thunderstorms this evening becoming more widespread overnight. Low 63F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 70%.
Palestine, TX (75801)

Today

Showers and thunderstorms likely. Thunderstorms could be strong and possibly severe during the afternoon hours. Damaging winds and large hail with some storms. High 78F. Winds SSW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 90%. Rainfall near an inch..

Tonight

Scattered thunderstorms early. Skies will become mostly clear late. A few storms may be severe. Low 57F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 50%.
Dakar, Senegal (PANA) - Senegal has recorded eight new cases of coronavirus, comprising Two monitored contact cases and six cases resulting from community transmission and confirmed by tests carried out on 1,487 samples, the Ministry of Health and Social Action announced on Saturday
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Tripoli, Libya (PANA) - The existence of two rival governments in Libya, after the adoption by Parliament of a new cabinet headed by former Interior Minister Fathi Bachagha, is returning the country to the atmosphere of tension, notes the Al-Wasat newspaper
Photo: (Photo : JEAN-PHILIPPE KSIAZEK/AFP via Getty Images)

After her battle with breast cancer, Canadian mother Reissa Spier, 67, wanted a cancer screening that would indicate if she has the BRCA gene mutation that might put her daughter's health at risk but she was denied the test because she was adopted as a baby.

Spier said that to get the cancer screening she would need to find a first-degree relative who had the disease as well. Years later, her husband gifted her with a DNA test as a first step in the hopes of finding someone who could be related to her.

The DNA test partly informed the cancer survivor that she didn't carry the BRCA gene mutation. However, to her surprise, Spier not only discovered that she has many siblings and half-siblings in the U.S. and Canada but she also learned that their parents sold them as babies.

Read Also: Reunited! California Dad Finds His Long-lost Brother While Watching Local Weather Report

Tracking Their Mysterious Past

Spier has been spending the last few years reconnecting with her first-degree relatives. Her biological oldest sister, Rene Holm, who is based in Massachusetts, has been helping piece together the mystery surrounding their adoptions. They both wondered why their parents had Holm, gave her up, continued to live together, and then do the process of adoption all over again when Spier was born.

The sisters connected with a half-brother, Bob Bryntwick, who was raised in Montreal with his siblings Ed, Michael, Barbara and Anna. Bryntwick told The Washington Post, in his younger years, he often wondered why their mother, Anne Chop Bryntwick, was always pregnant and no one explained why the newborn babies were gone after a few days. Bob also remembered Ed telling him that their father, Mike Mitchell, was paid $10,000 for every child but that didn't make sense to him at that time.

Spier has used Ancestry.com and 23andMe to trace her family tree and in the process of her exploration, she discovered they have more half-siblings on their dad's side and full siblings from both parents. Spier has met some of them in person, including Sharon Coppola, who was adopted by a Jewish family as a baby.

Coppola knew she was adopted but she didn't learn that she had siblings, including a twin, until her adoptive mother passed away. But because of their sketchy past, Coppola doesn't know if her twin is one of the siblings she has already met. Barbara thinks she is that twin.

DNA Test Vs Cancer Screening

Meanwhile, Spiers is not yet close to finding out what their parents had done but meeting her actual brothers and sisters, both full and half-siblings, has enhanced her life. It bears noting, however, that a DNA test from sites like 23andMe is not a replacement for an actual cancer screening for genetics.

A big percentage of women who carry or inherit the BRCA gene mutation is likely to develop same cancer by 17 to 44 percent. Thus, it's still important to get this cancer screening if someone in the family has had breast cancer. Dr. Rebecca Arend said that a BRCA mutation prevents cells from repairing and when cells are not repaired the right way, it raises the person's risk for developing cancer.

Related Article: Mom With Cancer Boldly Advertises 'Date My Daughter' at Times Square Billboard
Photo: (Photo : JEAN-BAPTISTE LACROIX/AFP via Getty Images)

The father of Kanye West has let his son know that he's concerned for his mental health. Now based in the Dominican Republic, Ray West has talked with Kanye and advised him to stop oversharing his personal life in public.

Ray has stayed mainly out of his son's very controversial life since he became a famous rapper, but he was seen having FaceTime conversations with Kanye in the newly released documentary, "Jeen-Yuhs: A Kanye West Trilogy" on Netflix.

According to reports, Kanye is not close to his father compared to his mother, Donda West. As a child of divorce, Kanye didn't have a solid paternal figure in his life when his father moved back to the Dominican Republic. However, Ray has reached out to his son following recent events that hinted at the rapper's personal anguish about his family life.

Read Also: Shaquille O'Neal Reveals His True Sentiments Over Kanye West and Kim Kardashian's Parenting Issues

Kanye West Suggested Dad Didn't Want Him

One scene in the documentary showed Kanye talking to a crowd in a South Carolina presidential rally, where he revealed, amid tears, that he and ex-wife Kim Kardashian thought of aborting their eldest child, North West. Then Kanye said his father also didn't want him when he found out that Donda was pregnant. His mother, however, "saved" him from abortion.

Ray was unhappy to learn of Kanye's public confession, so he called up his son through FaceTime to ask if he was doing okay. Kanye explained that the media has been mixing up his statements as a Christian who is being scrutinized. However, Ray told his son to prepare ahead of time to avoid making controversial remarks.

The father also said that Kanye dishes out stuff on his social media and in public appearances that make for interesting soundbites and "headline generator" in the two decades of his career, ABC reported. Despite his father's advice, Kanye continues to speak unfiltered in public.

Speaking with Nick Cannon on his podcast show, Kanye said that his father made him apologize for what he said in public about the abortion. It highlighted how the father and son's relationship remained tense all these years.

Kim Kardashian Declared Single

It came as a judge has ruled and declared that Kardashian is legally single in the divorce proceeding between her and Kanye. The latter previously challenged Kardashian's request three months ago, but the rapper had a change of heart and told his representatives to "expedite the dissolution" of his marriage so he could focus his attention on their four children.

Kardashian filed for divorce in 2021 following seven years of marriage. In December of the same year, she filed for a legally single status. The ex-couple are still arranging the terms of their child custody and properties.

The reality TV star also said in statements filed in court that she has asked Kanye to keep their divorce issues between them. However, Kardashian alleged that her ex-husband had been publicly sharing misinformation about their current situation because he didn't want to accept the divorce, which created further tension in their relationship.

Related Article: Kanye West Wants Family Back Together, Prays for a Reconciliation With Kim Kardashian
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On February 3, A bill aimed at reining in Apples and Googles app store market power advanced out of the Senate Judiciary Committee with support from all members of the panel except Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas).

While the amendment recognizes the security concerns posed by sideloading, the amended bill would still require phone and tablet makers to open devices up to unvetted, unsecure apps.

It's being reported this afternoon by Reuters that Apple had written to lawmakers yesterday to dispute assertions that its concerns about the dangers of sideloading apps into phones were overblown.

Sideloading, the practice of downloading apps without using an app store, is among the reforms that lawmakers hope will open up the market for apps.

Congress is currently considering a bill aimed at reining in app stores run by Apple and Alphabet's Google, which would require companies to allow sideloading. Apple has argued that such a practice would be a security risk as it keeps tight control of the apps in the store in order to keep users safe.

In a letter dated Thursday and sent to key members of the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee, Apple said it was aware that a critic, computer security expert Bruce Schneier, had called its concerns about sideloading "unfounded."

Apple went on to argue that most malware does not rely on technical tricks to gain access to devices but instead tricks the human user to download it. It argued that Apple's review of apps that are put into the App Store "creates a high barrier against the most common scams used to distribute malware."

Apple acknowledged that Schneier was correct that state-sponsored attackers could get through smartphones' security controls but argued that these sorts of attacks are a "rare threat."

"There is ample evidence showing third-party app stores are a key malware vector on platforms which support such stores," Apple said in the letter. For more on this read the full report by Reuters.

In other Apple news, Apple shareholders voted today to approve a proposal on Friday that said that the companys board will conduct a third-party audit examining company policies and provide recommendations to improve its civil rights impact. Apple opposed the proposal. For more, read the full CNBC report.
The Attorney-General (A-G) and Minister of Justice, Mr Godfred Yeboah Dame, has called on the management of the Economic and Organised Crimes Office (EOCO) to focus on investigating serious tax frauds and prosecute big tax offenders, including multinational companies.



He stated that it was unjustifiable for big companies and entities to under-state or hide their true income, just to evade their tax obligations to the state.



With the evident competition of many sectors for the nations scarce revenue, the situation where big companies and entities, including multinational firms operating in Ghana which are required to contribute significantly to the tax revenue of the state, under-state or hide their true income in a bid to evade a satisfaction of their true obligations to the state is unjustified, the A-G said.



Investigate offences



Swearing in members of the new governing board of EOCO in Accra last Wednesday, Mr Dame said: I have indicated to the management of EOCO already, that the prosecution of tax offences by big companies, including multinational firms operating in the country, will be the focus of my office this year and the years to come.



I expect EOCO to devise very efficient means of investigating such offences to ensure their able prosecution, he added.



The nine-member board is chaired by Stephen Raymond Dapaa-Addo.



Other members are the Executive Director of EOCO, Commissioner of Police (COP) Maame Yaa Tiwaa Addo-Danquah; a representative of the Narcotics Control Commission, Kenneth Adu-Amanfoh; a representative of the Office of the Attorney-General, Alfred Tuah-Yeboah, and a representative of the Ghana Police Service, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCOP) Ernest Kwabena Owusu.



The rest are a representative of the Ghana Revenue Authority, Seidu Iddrisu Iddisah; a legal practitioner, Peter Kwesi Dadzie; a chartered accountant, COP George Alex Mensah, and an intelligence officer, Lt Col Ababio Serebour (rtd).

Source: graphic.com.gh









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 Chief Executive Officer of the Mental Health Authority, Professor Akwasi Osei, has called for a portion of the excise tax on alcohol and tobacco to be channelled into the mental health fund.



He said the government could do that by either increasing the excise tax on alcohol and tobacco and channelling the difference to resource the fund or maintaining the tax and paying a portion of it into the mental health fund.



If you increase the tax on alcohol and tobacco, I dont think people will complain because, after all, people are not even supposed to consume them. So if they cannot afford the cost of alcohol due to tax, then they shouldnt drink it. We encourage the government to approach the funding of the Mental Health Fund that way, he explained.



Prof. Osei, who made the call in an interview with the Daily Graphic in Accra on March 3, 2022, explained that tobacco and alcohol consumption was a precursor for mental health problems, and, therefore, taking part of the taxes on them or increasing the tax on them to treat the consequences of such behaviour was in order.



He was speaking on 10 years of the Mental Health Act, 2012 (Act 842) and the delay in implementing the mental health levy that would provide funds for the Mental Health Fund.



Background



Last Tuesday marked a decade of the enactment of Ghanas Mental Health Act, 2012 (Act 846), and in an article published in the Daily Graphic to mark the day, Prof. Osei and Kwaku Brobbey, among others, highlighted three things that were left to be achieved after the enactment of the law  the establishment of the Mental Health Board, the passage of the legislative instrument and the establishment of the mental health levy.



He said when the levy was established, it could go a long way to support the rehabilitation of people who were dependent on alcohol and other drugs and that would enable them to come back to help with the development of the country.



On measures the authority had taken to get the levy established, he said it was expected to be established by the Ministry of Finance, and that over the years the MHA had engaged both the previous and the present governments on it.

Source: graphic.com.gh









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 Northern Regional Police Command has withdrawn all patrols and visibility snap-checks in the Tamale metropolis over safety concerns.



This follows the recent shooting incident at Lamashegu that resulted in the death of one person and injury of several others.



The police contend that the incident has heightened their fears and that they cannot risk their lives to embark on patrols in the area.



Since the incident occurred three weeks ago, the police have withdrawn both day and night patrols and snap-checks for fear of their lives as some aggrieved youth constantly threaten to attack them.



This has resulted in an increase in some pockets of crime, including car-snatching incidents in the metropolis in the past days.



The Northern Regional Police Crime Officer, Superintendent Bernard Baba Ananga, in an interview with the Daily Graphic said the command had decided to withdraw the patrols for fear of the officers lives because they always received threats.



Until such a time that the people assure us that they wont attack us, we cant risk it. Our officers receive threats every day, which is very dangerous for us to operate, he said.



Shooting incident



At least one person, a fresh Junior High School graduate, died from gunshot wounds as police officers engaged some youth in violent hostilities on Sunday, February 13, 2022.



The incident was said to have occurred when a man driving an unregistered vehicle allegedly ignored a signal by a police patrol team to stop.



The police then chased and fired at him as he drove into the palace of the Lamashegu chief for refuge.



Reacting to the incident, the youth pelted stones at the police and burnt lorry tyres on the streets.



Concerns



Meanwhile, some residents have expressed worry about the withdrawal of police patrols in the metropolis, saying the situation had heightened their fears over criminal attacks.



A resident, Adam Sule, said, These days we are afraid to move out in the night because we dont see police patrolling the streets. I have heard a number of robbery reports, which is very disturbing.



Another resident, Ayisha Razak, appealed to authorities to as a matter of urgency resolve the issue between the police and the youth of the metropolis to enable the former to discharge their duties peacefully.

Source: graphic.com.gh









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 Graphic Communications Group Limited (GCGL) went back in time to celebrate Ghanas independence from British colonial rule with a re-enactment of Ghanas Independence celebration in Accra yesterday.



Staff of the company  dressed mostly in Ghanaian traditional attire, including smocks, slits and kaba with scarves to match, native hats, and other vintage clothing  took turns to hoist the Ghana flag in the mock contest.



It featured the Human Resource and Administration Department, the News Department, led by the Editor of the Daily Graphic, Mr Kobby Asmah, the Finance and Audit Department, the Technical Department, and G-PAK  a subsidiary of the GCGL.



At the end, an all-female group featuring Kwame Nkrumah and fellow members of the famous Big Six made an appealing replay of Ghanas Independence declaration to claim the ultimate honour.



Groups



The group, representing the Finance and Audit Department of the company, received rave reviews from a panel of judges who found their performance close to the events at the iconic Polo Grounds in Accra on March 5, 1957, ahead of the next days official declaration of Independence.



There were no British at the Graphic Head Office to relinquish the reins of power to a team of determined Ghanaians, but the declaration by the team leader that: The independence of Ghana is meaningless unless it is linked to the total liberation of the African continent, resonated with the buoyant crowd of junior and senior rank staff, sending the entire space into raptures of applause.



Appearance, originality, creativity and the use of time were some of the essential criteria the judges rewarded during the mock competition.



The Finance and Audit Department won with 90 per cent, beating the Technical and Human Resource departments to second and third places with 78 and 60 per cent respectively.



Marketing, G-PAK and News followed with 56, 40 and 31 per cent respectively.



Ghanas independence was declared by Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah on the eve of the countrys political independence.



He, together with his colleagues, Kojo Botsio, Komla Agbeli Gbedemah, Archie Casely Hayford and Krobo Edusei, all clad in their northern smocks and hats, stood at the old Polo Grounds in Accra to declare Ghanas freedom from British colonial rule.



Occasion





The occasion  the first in a series of activities planned by the company across the month of March  was characterised by a display of Ghanaian culture, as staff sang and danced to colonial songs, reminiscing the eve of Independence when then Prime Minister, Dr Kwame Nkrumah, declared the countrys upcoming independence.



The mock declaration formed part of activities by the GCGL to mark the countrys 65th Independence anniversary celebration, which will be hosted in Cape Coast for the first time, and will be observed in other parts of the country tomorrow.



Freedom and Free forever were predictably some of the common vocabularies on stage during the departmental performances.



Purpose



The Director of Marketing, Mr Franklin Sowa, who spoke on behalf of the Managing Director, Mr Ato Afful, explained that the occasion was to create a family bonding among workers of the company, irrespective of their individual backgrounds.



He said the enactment of the various aspects of the independence celebration depicted the countrys rich culture and uniqueness

Source: Graphic online









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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A total of 67.4 million seedlings were procured by the Forestry Commission for planting in degraded forests in Ghana between 2017 and the third quarter of 2021.



Mr Samuel Jinapor, the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, told Parliament, in Accra, that the seedlings were planted under two major government programmes - the Modified Taugya System, and the Youth in Afforestation/Reforestation Programme.



He gave the figures in response to a question by Mr Frank Annoh-Dompreh, the Majority Chief Whip, on how many seedlings the Ministry procured and planted in the afforestation programme.



Giving the breakdown, he said 7,138,553 were planted in 2017, whereas 17,869,408 in 2018.



In 2019 the trees planted were 19,486,537, whereas 13,405,710 planted in 2020, and the third quarter of 2021 had 9,476,176.



Mr Jinapor said the Forestry Commission procured 4,897,247 seedlings out of 7,193,424 distributed for planting during the maiden edition of the Green Ghana Day, on June 11, 2021.



He noted that the Government, since 2017, had embarked on an aggressive afforestation programme to restore the lost forest cover.



As a result, between 2017 and the end of the third quarter of 2021, a total of 477,486 hectares of forest were cultivated under the Ghana Forest Plantation Strategy, through various programmes undertaken by government, the private sector, and Civil Society Organisations.



The Minister said President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, on March 1, officially launched the 2022 edition of the Green Ghana Day, slated for June 10, 2022.



The government envisaged to plant at least 20 million trees on degraded forest lands, both on and off reserves, during the 2022 Green Ghana Day.



May I, Mr Speaker, take this opportunity to respectfully call on you, and the House to support us on the Green Ghana Day, to build a Greener Future for our country, he said.

Source: GNA









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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As Ghana marks the 65th Independence Anniversary celebrations, the Nvavile family of Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah is appealing to the government to give Nkroful, the birth and original burial place of the first president, a facelift.



According to them, the family house where Dr Nkrumahs mother, Nana Nyaniba was buried, the Kwame Nkrumah Mausoleum, the road from Esiama to Nkroful and Nkroful town in particular, did not befit and glorify their illustrious son who devoted all his time and energy towards Ghanas liberation struggle.



The Head of the Nvavile family at Nkroful, Abusuakpanyinli Adwobia Kpanyinli, expressed these sentiments when the Ghana News Agency paid a visit to the family house of Dr Kwame Nkrumah at Nkroful in the Ellembelle District of the Western Region.



He paid glowing tribute to former President John Agyekum Kufuor for creating the Ellembelle District which was carved out of the Nzema-East District in 2008 but bemoaned the current state of Nkroful as the District capital of Ellembelle.



Abusuakpanyinli Adwobia Kpanyinli appealed to the government to upgrade existing infrastructure at the District Assembly and initiate more developmental projects in the district.



The Nvavile family Head said Nkroful was in dire need of a District Hospital to cater for the ever-increasing population and respond to unforeseen contingencies from mining, oil and gas explorations in the district.



He said the road linking Asasetre and Mpeasem, where the grandmother of Dr Kwame Nkrumah lived was in a deplorable state and appealed to the government to asphalt the road.



The Nvavile Abusuakpanyinli also called for a police station at Asasetre to beef up security in that part of the district.



Adwobia Kpanyinli said the Chief of Nkroful, Nana Bulumia Twum had started the construction of a community centre at Asasetre and appealed to the government for support to complete it.





Source: GNA









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The Speaker of Parliament, Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, has called for a strong partnership between the media and the legislature to strengthen the countrys democracy and help meet the aspirations of Ghanaians.



The current architecture of parliaments membership is novel, and I believe of extreme interest to you. It is such that it can elevate our democratic practices and procedures to an entirely new level, or act as a block to our forward march. It calls for new approaches, attitudes and culture, which some are failing to see, he stated.



Mr Bagbin made the call when he held a media dialogue with selected journalists in Accra last Tuesday.



In the current times that we find ourselves, I believe the media and the legislature remain sources of hope and optimism for many Ghanaians. The media have played a key role in Ghanas political and economic evolution since independence. Your contribution to Ghanas socio-economic development is immense, he stressed.



Parliaments resolve



Mr Bagbin said the eighth Parliament was determined to make the most impact yet on the lives of the citizenry, despite the daunting challenges that a hung parliament came with.



He explained that a viable democracy depended on a strong parliament, strong constitutional bodies, collaboration and consensus-building, and a deliberate effort to carry the citizens along the journey of the work of parliament.



He gave an assurance that Parliament, in the current arrangement, would not shirk its responsibility to exercise its oversight role over the executive.



We are an important cog in the wheel of checks and balances when it comes to Ghanas governance structure and we are determined not to shirk that responsibility. My focus this year is to ensure that institutions of state, including parliament and the executive, are held accountable for their acts of commission and omission, particularly those that have implications for the national purse, he stated.



Citizens perspectives



Mr Bagbin said one state institution that represented the hopes and aspirations of Ghanaians when it came to democracy was Parliament.



There is in Ghana today a general disappointment in politics and in the political elite. Despite the level of despondency when it comes to politics, it seems the citizens still retain some hope in the ability of the legislature to rescue the situation.



We have not done too well, with all the scuffles in parliament and with some of the agreements we arrive at, but still, there is some hope in us among the electorate, he said.



That, Mr Bagbin said, made it imperative for the media and the legislature to improve citizens participation in the work of the House.



It will require a strong partnership with the media and civil society groups, and also through direct engagement with the citizenry. We believe we are up to that task.





Source: graphiconline.com









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A legal Practitioner and an aide to former president John Dramani Mahama, Godwin Edudzi Tamakloe says the leadership of the Nana Addo-led government are being autocratic.



He described as unfortunate and worrying their Rambo style to avert citizens from sharing their candid opinion on their shambolic governance.



"There is a certain paranoid situation on the country now. The leadership of the country today are paranoid.



They cant even stand a quarter of the things that they inflicted on John Mahama. They are too much overexuberant," he said in an interview with NEAT FMs morning show, Ghana Montie.

Source: King Edward Ambrose Washman Addo/peacefmonline.com/ghana









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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Broadcaster Nana Kwabna Bobie Ansah has passionately appealed to his friend and 'brother', Mr. Koku Anyidoho to return to their fold as a loyal member of the National Democratic Congress (NDC).



He says his 'brother' has been led astray and needs to return to his first love.



Speaking on Okay FM's Ade Akye Abia programme, an emotional Bobie Ansah noted that his friendship with Koku Anyidoho transcends time and he knows his worth as a member of the NDC.



"Koku Anyidoho is a good politician and an intelligent man who has so much to deliver for his political party. But some elements who claim to be his friends are turning his head and making him do things that does not augur well for his personality as a loyal member of the National Democratic Congress.



"I am very sad things are going this way with my bosom friend, but we are going to pray for him to return to our fold because, Mr. Anyidoho has refused to understand that the people he has joined hands with have nothing better to offer him," he stated.



Touching on the socio-economic happenings in the country, the Accra FM Presenter held the opinion that people need to speak out about their frustration regarding the poor leadership of the NPP government.



" . . I will continue to be the voice of the voiceless and speak against the ills and bad leadership of the NPP administration even if it will cost me my friends and loved ones," he added.



Watch Video Below





Chief Executive Officer of the Atta Mills Institute and former deputy General Secretary of the National Democratic Congress(NDC), Samuel Koku Anyidoho has instituted a legal action against his 'friend' Nana Kwabena Bobie Ansah.He has also sued a serial NDC activist popularly known as 'JM Ba Kwadwo' for allegedly making certain damning allegations against him.Confirming the suit on Okay FM's 'Ade Akye Abia' programme, he explained that efforts to have his friend retract and apologize has proved futile hence the legal action against him."The said allegations were not authored by Nana Kwabena Bobie Ansah but he re-produced the allegations on a programme on a station described as "Pendream TV". A Youtube video clip was circulated in the name of a certain JM Ba Kwadwo," he revealed.

Source: Isaac Kwame Owusu/Peacefmonline/[email protected]









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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Dr. Freda Prempeh, the Member of Parliament (MP) for Tano North Constituency in the Ahafo Region has refuted media reports, alleging that she intends to manipulate the Constituency's album, ahead of the Polling Station elections.



"This is ungodly and I can't do that" the MP stated and described the said report as false, unfounded and unsubstantiated.



The "story is concocted to run me down, but there is no way my political foes within the NPP in the constituency can succeed", Dr. Prempeh added.



"What baffles me is that I have not been granted any interviews on Jewel FM as reported. This diabolism clearly indicates that my enemies are seriously at work, but God has been by my side all these years and I believe He would continue to stand by me if everybody rejects me", she said.



Dr. Prempeh, also a Minister of State in-charge of Works and Housing told Journalists at Duayaw-Nkwanta, that "internal enemies and traitors always tried to make you unpopular in the eyes of the people, if you stand for the truth. There is no way I can sacrifice the development of my people and go around sharing money, and this is what some people around don't like"



Politics, the MP explained, was purposely meant for development and to improve the socio-economic conditions of the people, saying "this is exactly what I have stood for years now and there is no way or nothing can sway my attention and focus from that".



Dr. Prempeh said the NPP remained a strong Party which prioritised and cherished internal democracy and advised some supporters of the Party to refrain from the "pull him down attitude" in the supreme interest of the Party.



"I think what we have to concentrate on doing much, is to sell the numerous achievements of President Akufo-Addo as well as the rich ideologies and philosophies of the NPP to make the Party more attractive and woo the voting masses for a landslide victory in Election 2024", she said.



Dr. Prempeh said she was not happy about the alleged irregularities that had characterised the Party's Polling Station Elections, and appealed to all disgruntled members and supporters to remain calm, and rather pass through the Partys laid down procedures to seek redress.



The MP said she was hopeful her constituents would give her another opportunity to represent them in Parliament in Election 2024.



"I have not failed my constituents. I am always in touch with them. Just make time and come around and you will see the level of development in Tano North. Every community has in one way or the other benefited from two or three development projects. In fact I have worked and I believe the people would testify to that", Dr. Prempeh stated.

Source: GNA









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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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.
Home > 2022 > An open letter to secular Muslim friends in India | Marieme Helie (...)

The defense of victims of one (majority) religious fundamentalist extreme right should not lead to supporting another (be it minority) one.

by Marieme Helie Lucas 18 Feb 2022

Dear friends,

I am following closely the events in Karnataka university/colleges and the controversy about female students wearing various head covering in class  whether hijab, burqa, etc...

Let me first tell you that I realize everyday how lucky I am to be a citizen of a virtually 100% Muslim country (Algeria): we were spared attempting to analyze the hijab/burqa conflict (and other similar conflicts) through the majority/minority lens and Hindu perpetrators/ Muslim victims dichotomy. In our case, there was no other religious majority oppressing us.

Not that I have any doubt about the ugly reality of massacres led by a rising communal Hindu extreme-right majority attacking minorities, including Muslims in India. This unfortunately has been a blatant fact for decades and recent developments under Modi government only confirm the trend.

But the problem you presently face with the hijab controversy cannot be limited to it, nor should it be blurred by it.

In countries with heavily Muslim majorities, whether in North Africa, in the Sahel, in the Middle East, in the Indian subcontinent as a whole or now even spreading at the moment to Southern Africa and other places, we can witness the very same situation of rising political Islam and the promotion of its most blatant flag: the women covering (in increasing order, from hair/head covering to face covering: scarf, hijab, burqa). In other words: the veil. (I will avoid, for the moment, the issue of our diasporas in the West, in order not to go into more political complexities). It is striking that in most places I know, there appear to be a continuum from the mildest covering towards the fuller one. In other words, the head scarf prepares the ground for the hijab, which prepares the ground for the burqa. Interestingly, in most places, none of these outfits were indigenous, rather they have been recently imported from specific places in the Middle East. For decades and sometimes centuries, on different continents, people have lived as Muslims without feeling the need to dress as if they were middle -easterners.

Let me just for one minute ponder upon the origin of the head, body and face covering and how it came to represent Muslims worldwide  I am intentionally not limiting its representativity to female Muslims but to the entire community whose identity women bear the burden of carrying; nor am I linking it to Islam itself, for this feminine outfit is highly contested by progressive Muslim scholars as being part of religious requirements.

I kept coming regularly to India for long stretches of time for the past more than 40 years. I am an eye witness to the fact that burqa is a very recent acquisition to Indian female Muslim fashion.

In your country - like in mine  women for centuries were wearing traditional outfits other than burqa which was unheard of till a few decades ago.

I remember flipping with a friend through her before Partition family photo-albums: her grand-mothers, grand-aunts, cousins were all wearing Saris despite being devout Muslims. Women my age and younger were mostly wearing alternatively Saris (for social occasions) and Shalwar-Kurta (for everyday convenience). During our conversation, it became clear that pressure has been mounting on Muslim women throughout the subcontinent  i. e. whether they belonged to the majority community (as in Pakistan and Bangladesh) or the minority one (as in India and Sri Lanka) - to abandon Saris to the benefit of Shalwar-Kurta in a first step, in order to visibly separate religious communities; and then more recently to done the totally alien Middle Eastern Burqa. This trend is equally true in India, in Pakistan and in Bangladesh.

In Algeria, peasant women were wearing colorful dresses with an equally colorful headwear which was perched high on top of their beautiful hair with no purpose of concealing it; and definitely no veil  a far cry from what is now imposed in the name of Muslim identity. Meanwhile, urban women did have different forms of veil depending on the geographical area: thin, flowery and transparent, worn openly hanging from the head in the South; black and full body-concealing in the area of Constantine/Ksentina; white, upper body covering but hardly leg covering, with a lace mouth-covering in the region of Algiers; etc

It is only in the early 70ies, i.e. nearly a decade after independence, that was first introduced in Algeria an Islamic outfit consisting at the time of a feet-long beige or grey coat worn with a matching scarf covering hair, head and shoulders, tied under the chin. This oufit was distributed for free to university students by our first openly Islamist groups; they called it at the time: the students dress.

Decades later, it is the black burqa  Iran and Saudi style  which they distribute for free in Algeria.

I remember the first time I saw a tiny little girl who could not have been older than 3 wearing an Islamist outfit in India; it was during the World Social Forum in Bombay (2004) and she was playing with other little girls whose outfits were not identity-laden, at the entrance of the building in a Muslim area where I stayed.

I remember the first time I saw a tiny even tinier little girl in a pushchair wearing a hijab; it was in New York, close to a conservative mosque; the woman who was pushing her, presumably her mother, was burqa clad. That was in year 2000.

I witnessed in the past two decades, the spreading of the black Saudi-style burqa throughout predominantly Muslim areas in Africa and South East Asia, with the progressive disappearance of what used to be womens local traditional dresses. To my utter surprise, it seems no one from our cultural rights advocates has taken the task to defend our various cultures by attempting to preserve saris, boubous, sarongs, etc as valuable elements of cultural diversity - including Muslim cultural diversity. With Islam spreading on all continents, it seems without doubt that there must be a cultural diversity to acknowledge and defend? No one seems worried about the enforced homogenization of a transcultural Islamist (not Islamic) identity which carries so much of a reactionary political program.

In India itself, it seems progressives have been stuck within the fascist Hinduist political program of eradication of minorities and the defense of these oppressed minorities to the point that even suggesting that another reactionary religious political program is also at work within the endangered minority has, so far, not been audible. I have been blasted in New Delhi intellectual progressive circles for decades for doing just that: trying to draw your attention, friends, to the trend I could see easily in your country, for having lived the same process in my virtually 100% Muslim country.

I have witnessed the first burqas appearing in the streets of my beloved Nizamuddin village in Delhi, and then their multiplication  My saying so was repeatedly branded as Islamophobic. It was just an attempt to share my Algerian experience (and beyond) and to alert you on the rise of what such experiences allowed me to see rising in your country 

Now the question remains: how to defend the endangered Muslim minority against the new Hinduist extreme right without giving-in to the Muslim extreme-right which active political presence within the Muslim community you, friends, have refused for so long to acknowledge?

I do think we have to take a long view and while, of course, protecting and defending the basic human rights and freedoms of the individuals  for instance the hijab or burqa clad women students right to education in Karnataka - , one should also firmly refuse to promote women covering either as a religious right (contested unanimously, may I remind you, by all progressive scholars of Islam on different continents, who paid with their lives their political courage and religious integrity), nor as an individual choice.

Wearing a hijab or a burqa today cannot be seen as an individual choice when we witness the world over how women are induced or coerced into wearing it, and more often than not at the cost of their lives  as was the case in Algeria in the 90ies, more recently in Mali, in Daesh-controlled areas in Syria and Iraq, in neighboring Afghanistan under the Taliban (then and now), and for past long decades in Iran, just to take a few examples. (I do not imply by saying this that burqa clad women in India are aware of the role they are made to play on the global arena. But we must be.)

In all the above-mentioned cases, it must be noted that it is men of their own Muslim community  in fact belonging to an extreme right political force which hides under a Muslim identity  who are pursuing this policy and have become the perpetrators of violations against womens human rights.

For it must be noted that women are in most cases made to wear a covering  something we Algerians have come to identify as the political flag of an Islamist far-right - in the name of the defense of an oppressed identity. But how come this Muslim identity is seen as threatened regardless of whether Muslims are in a majority or a minority or represent 100% of the population? Whether Muslims are heads of government? And even when laws are said to be derived from Islamic faith interpretations? How come Islam is seen as in danger the world over and Islamists are seen as its only legitimate representatives?

To me, this clearly points at the fact that the defense of the Muslim minority in India must be linked to the fight for secularism: secular laws i.e. common laws for all, and therefore equal rights, for all citizens of India. A landmark legal end to communalism. The replacement of a community identity by a citizens identity.

Again, your situation in India makes me realize everyday how lucky I am to be a citizen of a country which inherited from colonialism the best conceptual weapon against communalism: Algeria was colonized by France; you, friends, were colonized by the British. We inherited a different understanding of the concept of secularism.

The French revolution invented the concept of secularism in-so-far as it wanted to free the newly proclaimed Republic from the subjugation to the Vatican and its Catholic Church that had plagued the Kingdom of France. It therefore defined secularism as the total separation of the State from religions: article 1 of the 1906 law on secularism/separation states that citizens enjoy freedom of belief and of practice of their cult; article 2 declares that the State will have nothing to do with private belief systems; it will not officially recognize any religion, nor their representatives, it will not fund them, etc The State will be totally separated from religions. This legal provision allowed, for instance, to pass laws that the Church disagreed with on the ground that they did not follow (their) gods rules; this allowed laws on personal status to be voted for all citizens, benefitting all; not granting different legal rights to different unequal categories of citizens, according to ones religious presumed affiliation, it allowed for citizens not to be forced into a religious or caste identity; it granted equal rights before the law to all citizens; etc This is the original revolutionary definition of secularism.

It is a far cry from the British re-definition of secularism which ultimately aimed at legitimizing the double status of the King/Queen of England as Head of State and as Head of the Anglican Church. It therefore turned the original revolutionary definition of secularism into a situation where the State becomes a sort of arbitrator between religions, which grants equal rights to different religions and keeps the balance between their privileges; not only does it acknowledge and negotiate with self-proclaimed un-elected religious representatives, but it funds them, allows them to manufacture un-voted laws of personal status said to be in accordance with the principles of their religion  as interpreted by conservative religious clerics-, and coerces willing or unwilling citizens into a religious and community identity which is declared theirs by birth  not by choice.

This is the trap in which far too many progressive people have fallen when running to the rescue of burqa-clad students assaulted by the Hindu right, and more generally all the numerous caste and religious victims of rising extreme-right Hindu nationalism. It seems to me that progressives in India could find a way out of the trap in a French-revolution inspired redefinition of Indian - in fact British colonial- secularism.

The defense of victims of one (majority) religious fundamentalist extreme right should not lead to supporting another (be it minority) one.

The battle for secularism is raging in so many countries today, including in France itself, where successive both Left and Right governments slowly de facto abandon the basic principles of separation between religion and state; and where the British re-definition of secularism as equal tolerance by the State vis-a-vis all religions is creeping, with the active support of the European Union. However, so far, de jure, the legal provisions of separation still stand, as defined by the French revolution and formalized in the 1906 law on secularism.

The bigger threat at the moment in France is the attempted appropriation of secularism by the French extreme right for communal purposes  an appropriation which is ardently combatted by progressive secularists in France, including political and human rights exiled and migrants who fled Islamic fundamentalist governments in their own countries.

I hope and look forward for a trans-communal coming together of secularists, both within national contexts and internationally, at grass roots level, to force our unwilling governments to let us make full use of the revolutionary concept of secularism.

(Author: Marieme Helie Lucas is an Algerian sociologist as well as an activist for womens rights and secularism. She was a founder of the Women Living Under Muslim Laws an Solidarity Network in the early 1980s and later the founder of Secularism is a Womens Issue - SIAWI.org which she currently runs)

[The above article from Sabrang India is reproduced here for educational and non commercial use]
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South Carolinians who get their power from Dominion Energy could get hit with a rate hike and an additional temporary increase on upcoming bills if the S.C. Public Service Commission approves two of the utility's recent requests.

Customers could see their rates climb after a review of fuel expenses showed the utility under collected about $142 million in fuel costs.

Dominion notified customers in this month's billing that it filed for a rate increase. If approved, residential customers using 1,000 kilowatt-hours of electricity could see an increase in the monthly bill of about 51.9%, which is $6.53, beginning in May, according to reports.

"Although we have taken steps to minimize this year's fuel cost adjustment so that customers see the lowest possible impact to their bills, we must recover the costs of purchasing and transporting fuel to produce the electricity our customers rely on every day," Dominion Media Relations Manager Rhonda O'Banion told the Associated Press. "These fuel costs are a direct pass-through to customers, as Dominion Energy does not earn a profit on this portion of electric rates."

Dominion first notified customers in November of a possible rate hike for South Carolinians served by Dominion Energy or one of the two utilities Duke Energy operates in the state after regulators review their 2021 fuel expenses.

Power providers in the Palmetto State account for those purchases annually based on their best estimate for the next 12 months.

Ryan Mosier, a spokesperson for Charlotte-based Duke Energy, which operates two electric utilities in South Carolina, explained that the actual costs get tallied at the end of each year. They're adjusted up or down afterward and passed through dollar for dollar to ratepayers to reflect the difference.

One reason the utility under collected fuel costs from ratepayers last year is natural gas, which is the fuel that drives some electric power plants. The economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic drove up demand for the commodity. And prices followed, nearly doubling to about $5.50 per million British thermal units  the standard industry measurement  by the end of the year from around $2.60 mid-year. Natural gas prices remain elevated, currently holding around the $5.25 range.

This month, Dominion notified its 758,000 electric ratepayers in 24 counties that its fuel-bill review will take place virtually on April 7 before the S.C. Public Service Commission. The commission should make its decision in late April.

Customers served in the Pee Dee region by Duke Energy Progress could see the adjustments appear on their July bills, after an April meeting with regulators. The commission will review fuel costs for Duke Energy Carolinas in July.

Customers of state-owned utility Santee Cooper wont have to worry about the issue for at least the next two years.

Mollie Gore, communications director for the Moncks Corner-based utility said Santee Cooper is in a court-ordered rate lock period through 2024, so fuel increases will not be passed on to customers.

The freeze is part of a 2020 lawsuit settlement stemming from Santee Coopers role in the failed expansion of the V.C. Summer Nuclear Station.

Any rate increase would be in addition to a temporary charge Dominion Energy is asking the SCPSC to approve for repayment of about $60 million it spent to help South Carolina customers cut their electricity usage.

The utility filed a request with the SCPSC to be reimbursed for the cost of providing 10 programs that the agency requires it to offer.

If approved, residential customers would also pay an extra 87 cents a month for every 1,000 kilowatt hours of power they use starting in May. The temporary charge would expire after the April 2024 billing cycle, Dominion said.

Commercial and industrial customers that participate in the efficiency programs would see their rates rise between $5.64 and about $118 per month, depending on their size. The increases would not apply to 378 large accounts that have opted out, Dominion said.

The charges cover a portion of the cost of rolling out the programs and providing incentives designed to encourage customers to reduce their energy consumption. They're reviewed annually by regulators. A hearing on the latest request has not been scheduled.

"Even as these programs have provided long-term, sustainable benefits for our customers, the costs of administering the programs are mandated for recovery by law," Dominion said in a written statement.

The Richmond, Va.-based energy giant expanded into the state in 2019 when it acquired South Carolina Electric & Gas. It provides electricity to about 758,000 customers, mostly from the upper Midlands to the Charleston and Beaufort areas along the coast.

Dominion estimated that it has invested more than $140 million in energy reduction outreach efforts since 2011. Its demand-side offerings include seven programs for residential customers and three for other users. They focus on topics such as energy-efficient appliances and lighting.

"These programs have benefited approximately 170,000 customers and reduced energy consumption by more than 925 million (kilowatt hours), or enough electricity to power nearly 79,000 homes for one year," the company said.

Dominion said the programs also help it meet its environmental goals. To date, they've reduced carbon dioxide output by more than 655,000 metric tons, or the equivalent of taking about 142,000 vehicles off the road, it said. The utility hopes to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050.

The reimbursement charge would be on top of an overall 1.46 percent electric rate increase that took effect Sept. 1 for Dominion's South Carolina service territory. It worked out to about $1.81 a month for a typical household and is expected to generate about $35.6 million a year in additional revenue.

Dominion can't seek another hike in its base power rates in South Carolina before mid-2023 barring any "unforeseen extraordinary economic or financial" circumstances, according to an agreement.

Editor's note: This article was updated March 9 to correct the expiration date to April 2024.
A recently renovated West Ashley retail center is now under new ownership.

Ziff Real Estate Partners of Mount Pleasant paid $12.75 million on March 2 for Ashley Oaks Shopping Center on S.C. Highway 61 at Wappoo Road.

The 57,690-square-foot site is co-anchored by O2 Fitness and West Ashley True Value Hardware. The previous owner, Charlotte-based Lat Purser & Associates, bought it in 2016 for $5.5 million and proceeded to renovate the property, which includes a mix of restaurant and service tenants.

The new landlord plans minor improvements to the property, according to Ziff marketing manager Amy Jones.

New acquisition

The owner of Mount Pleasant Towne Centre now has five assets in the Charleston area after buying its second apartment development in northern Mount Pleasant in two months.

Baltimore-based Continental Realty Corp. paid $55.5 million, or $317,000 per key, on Feb. 28 for 175 units at Sweetgrass Landing Apartments at 1100 Legends Club Drive in northern Mount Pleasant.

The two-story, 14-building community was previously owned by Chaucer Creek Capital of Raleigh. Built in 2001, the complex was 96 percent leased at the time of the sale.

Sweetgrass Landing includes 25 other units that are privately owned condominiums.

The complex's one- to three-bedroom apartments range from 787 square feet to 1,596 square feet. Rents range from $1,630 to $4,812 a month.

Amenities include swimming pool, clubhouse with fireplace, fitness center, automotive care center and a pet park. Some of the apartments include attached garages.

The new owner said it plans to spend $5 million to replace and upgrade units' flooring, install granite countertops and undermount sinks in the kitchen and bathroom areas and add a modern appliance and technology package.

"Given its strategic location, proximity to retail amenities and placement within an economically thriving submarket, Sweetgrass Landing Apartments represents an excellent addition to our expanding multifamily portfolio in the greater Charleston area," said J.M. Schapiro, CEO of Continental Realty.

Continental's acquisition is the real estate investment and management firm's fifth purchase in the Lowcountry in recent years.

In January, the company paid $28.25 million for the 92-unit Six Apartments at 2170 Snyder Circle off U.S. Highway 17, about four miles south of Sweetgrass Landing.

In February 2020, the company paid $147 million for Mount Pleasant Towne Centre, one of the regions top shopping destinations. It's about a mile from The Six Apartments.

Six weeks later, the firm bought the 313-unit Central Island Square Apartments on Daniel Island for $91.75 million.

The company also owns West Ashley Shoppes on Orleans Road across from Citadel Mall in West Ashley as well as two other income-producing properties in South Carolina.

They include two apartment communities in Greenville and Bluffton.

The company plans to continue to expand its portfolio, according to Ari Abramson, vice president of acquisitions.

In all, Continental owns and manages more than 5 million square feet of commercial space as well as more than 9,000 apartment units in 10 states across the mid-Atlantic and Southeast.

Changing hands

A Charleston-area residential management company now has a new owner.

Silicon Valley-based Pure Property Management announced March 1 it acquired New Heights Property Management of Summerville, a previous affiliate of Carolina One Real Estate, the Lowcountry's largest-volume real estate firm.

Financial terms were not disclosed.

Eric Wetherington, the local firm's broker, will become vice president of strategic initiatives for Pure. He is a former president of the 6,000-plus-member National Association of Residential Property Managers.

"The property management industry is evolving with consolidation," Wetherington said. "The turbulence within the real estate market, regulatory compliance and shifting consumer demand is challenging for small, independent operators."

He also said that by "banding together and building together" with Pure, "New Heights remains dynamic and able to resolve many more of the problems that frustrate smaller regional third-party operators."

The Summerville firm manages 560 homes in the Charleston area and will continue to operate under its name brand. Shannon Daugherty, operations manager, oversees day-to-day leadership responsibilities.

New Heights continues to be the preferred provider for property management services for Carolina One agents and their clients, Wetherington said.

Pure is based in Netflix's hometown of Los Gatos, Calif. It launched in 2020 with a focus on consolidating independently owned property management companies with seasoned leaders and supporting them with technology and industry-related programs. It manages 14,000 properties.
A Charleston nonprofit is taking legal action over alleged violations of a conservation easement along a scenic and historic roadway that has been in use since before the American Revolutionary War.

In what it described as a rare move, the Lowcountry Land Trust filed a lawsuit last month against two property owners for building a home too close to Ashley River Road in Dorchester County. The project allegedly violates the terms of an easement that restricts development on the site and is overseen by the local organization.

The complaint seeks to require Donald W. Barker and Lacy Deveney to comply with the terms of the easement, which calls for a 100-foot buffer between the homesite and the road. They did not respond to requests for comment this week.

This doesnt happen very often, said Ashley Demosthenes, president and CEO of the Lowcountry Land Trust. We are doing our duty to enforce the terms of the easement. Weve tried to resolve the matter with the property owners without bringing a lawsuit, but to no avail. Litigation is always our last resort.

The Lowcountry Land Trust acquired the easement to the property from the late F. P. Barry Jr., also known as Colonel Francis Barry Jr., in December 1999. He owned roughly 70 acres in the area. The document protects 3.87 acres that border the historic highway.

Since then, the bigger tract has been subdivided into smaller parcels, including the property now owned by Barker and Deveney. Their 1.16-acre lot includes a half-acre of protected land adjacent to the public right of way of Ashley River Road, according to the lawsuit, which was filed in Dorchester County circuit court.

Barker and Deveney purchased the parcel for $63,000 in July 2020, according to real estate records. In September, they began to clear the wooded area near the road to make room for the foundation of the home.

A month later, the Lowcountry Land Trust informed them of the easement breach resulting from vegetation removal and expressed "concern that the foundation" was within the protected area, according to the complaint.

We reached out to the landowners several times and got no response, Demosthenes said this week. We try to do everything we can to prevent things from happening before they happen.

According to the lawsuit, the easement was put in place to preserve a forested buffer  in order to preserve the remaining scenic integrity and history context of Ashley River Road for present and future generations by screening future residential uses from the public roadway.

Ashley River Road has been in existence as a major transportation route since the 1690s and still follows essentially the same route as it did then. It is one of the oldest roads in the state still in use.

The road appears on the earliest maps of the Carolinas, said Eric Poplin, a senior archaeologist for Brockington & Associates, a cultural management resource firm that has done extensive artifact work in the Lowcountry. It was likely used as a trail by native Americans to travel to the coast and to the interior along the west bank of the Ashley River. The Ashley River section was one of the earliest sections that was settled out of original Charles Towne. The road connects to these early sites.

The road was the subject of one of the first tree protection ordinances in the nation, dating back to 1722. The S.C. Department of Transportation designated it as a State Scenic Road in 1998, a year before the easement took effect. It has also been recognized as a National Scenic Byway.
COLUMBIA  Kourtney OHara says she began experiencing critical race theory "tenets and misinformation in public schools when her daughter was in fifth grade.

For the past four years, the Lexington County mother has homeschooled her children, in part, she said, because her daughter was deemed insubordinate for questioning a social studies teacher's glowing characterization of Adolf Hitler.

Despite her children no longer attending public schools, OHara has chosen to remain involved in the public education discussion. Shes the chair of the Lexington County chapter of Moms for Liberty, a national organization with a growing presence in the Columbia area that champions causes from parental involvement in school policy and curriculum to opposing mask mandates and other COVID-19 restrictions.

The group's representatives in the state's various chapters have spoken at S.C. Statehouse hearings on education bills addressing critical race theory and locally have designated people in each school district to track policy discussions. Mask requirements and COVID-19 policies also are targets.

Local chapters have played host to candidates for the next state education superintendent and are throwing their weight behind local school board races.

"A lot of folks don't have the opportunity to homeschool like we do, that we've been blessed with," O'Hara said. "And so I want to make sure that they're getting the best education that they can."

The Lexington chapter now includes about 500 people who receive email blasts or take part in a local Facebook group, OHara said.

A Richland County chapter recently launched with an initial meeting planned for March 26 and a growing number of several dozen interested members, chapter chair Melissa McFadden said.

The Lexington and Richland chapters are two of the nine chapters throughout the state. Beaufort, Berkeley, Charleston, Georgetown, Lancaster, Sumter and York counties each have chapters, according to the organization. South Carolina's chapters include about 3,000 members, O'Hara said.

We want to have more people to be unified and educated and make sure that parental rights are protected and all levels of government, said McFadden, a mother of six who has children in Richland School District Two schools.

Civil discourse

Though the national organization and local chapters list nonpartisan status, Moms for Liberty and similar groups are associated with conservative causes in advocating for parental rights in government, and opposing face mask requirements and critical race theory.

Moms for Liberty was founded in 2021 by a group of Florida mothers who are current or former school board members and has grown to more than 70,000 members in more than 30 states. The nonprofit organization's website links to resources for parents that include how to file open records requests, sex education standards, and policies in each state and guides to campaigning, fundraising and grassroots organizing.

Some critics of the group say Moms for Liberty is backed by funding and other support from GOP heavy-hitters while claiming to be a grassroots movement of frustrated parents funded by small financial donations.

Media Matters, a left-leaning media watchdog group, has criticized characterizations of Moms for Liberty as fed-up parents organizing around parental rights and that the group's growth coincides with increased harassment of school board members and administrators.

Christi Dixon, chair of the Berkeley County Moms chapter, dismissed the claims of big-donor backing as "out-and-out wrong." Groups of funded by membership dues and T-Shirt sales, she said.

"It's parents getting together and working together," Dixon said. "That's the definition of grassroots."

Some school officials say people associated with such causes represent a small group of parents, or in some cases arent parents of school children at all, and mean only to disrupt teaching efforts and overturn school boards.

OHara and McFadden are adamant that Moms for Liberty is intent on supporting its issues civilly and avoiding scenes of the public screaming at school boards that have increasingly become viral videos in recent years.

We are missing so many opportunities by people screaming at each other (rather) than being able to sit down and just have a civil discourse and work out 'what is our main goal?', OHara said. I think the schools, the majority of them, they do want the best for their kids; and the parents want the best for their kids. So we should be able to sit down and work on a plan together to make sure that that goal can become a success.

In the Columbia area, the Lexington group has asked local district boards to leave the National School Boards Association after the groups leaders in a letter to President Joe Biden characterized increased threats and harassment of local school officials as domestic terrorism, O'Hara said.

But organization in South Carolina is particularly energized behind several bills in the General Assembly related to critical race theory. Moms for Liberty, particularly, is supportive of the proposed Parental Bill of Rights, that would include allowing parents the ability to object to specific curriculum and opt their children out of certain health education topics, including sex education.

The push for parental rights, followed the publication in 2019 of the The 1619 Project, an effort by journalist Nikole Hannah-Jones and other New York Times writers to examine American history from the arrival of the first enslaved people more than 150 years before the country won its independence from Britain.

Dixon told a S.C. House education committee March 1 that the publication and similar efforts around diversity and inclusion amounted to a "divisive obsession with race."

Elephant in the room

Local school board members are noticing the shift in how some parents are focusing a narrow set of issues that have become national buzzwords.

At a recent Richland School District Two board meeting, chairwoman Teresa Holmes encouraged parents to "stay woke," to be engaged and aware of what is going on in the district and in others around the country.

She didn't specifically name Moms for Liberty, but referenced some of the causes the organization supports.

Hot-button issues such as CRT and violence in drugs in schools are being used to disrupt district leadership in response to schools and communities becoming more diverse, Holmes said, an issue she called the elephant in the room.

"That's what's going around," said Holmes, who is Black, during a meeting in February. "Because if you get parents (worked) up enough, they'll say we just need to get rid of everything and everything that's working. ... Because they know it is working."

Patrick Kelly, a lobbyist for the Palmetto State Teachers Association and an AP History teacher, said educators need to listen and respond to parents, including members of Moms for Liberty.

He asked state lawmakers in the hearing March 1 to reject proposals prohibiting discomfort in the classroom or teachers and students discussing current events. He pointed to the war in Ukraine and a need to understand a complete history in order to learn from mistakes.

Among the reasons O'Hara, the Moms for Liberty Lexington County chapter head, said she decided to homeschool her children was that she said a teacher had praised Hitler's leadership and downplayed the atrocities of the Holocaust. Teachers shouldn't share opinions on partisan and controversial issues, Kelly noted in addressing and fielding questions from lawmakers, but said that doesn't mean they shouldn't teach uncomfortable topics.

Moms for Liberty and similar groups have supported bills that would require teachers to post all of their instructional material online for parents to be able to scrutinize, a move supporters say would promote transparency.

But Kelly said he opposed the idea of teachers being required to post the teaching materials and noted that while the debate is happening over classroom instruction, hundreds of teaching positions in the state are unfilled.
A sprawling new report from an international consortium of scientists says the globe is not reacting quickly enough to climate change, and adaptation must speed up to meet the challenge of higher seas, increased wildfires, droughts and floods.

All of those threats will come to South Carolina, too, in the coming decades. Some events with the fingerprints of climate change have already arrived, particularly along the coast. And this new report on adaptation shows that much like the rest of the world, the Palmetto State has work to do to be ready.

The report was authored by 270 scientists from 67 countries and published by the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change on Feb. 28.

One crucial finding is that people rely on the natural systems that are also degrading as temperatures on land and at sea continue to rise.

"Human and ecosystem vulnerability are interdependent," the report's key findings said. "Current unsustainable development patterns are increasing exposure of ecosystems and people to climate hazards."

And another takeaway that South Carolina and all other places contemplating protections should weigh is whether the protections they are considering now will be protective as time goes on and impacts get worse, or whether they will only work in the short term.

"I think this report hits the nail on the head. Weve got a lot to do, and we need to do it faster," said Kirsten Dow, a professor at the University of South Carolina and a lead investigator with the climate research group Carolinas Integrated Sciences and Assessments.

The human landscape

In all, the IPCC's report said that globally, between 3.3 billion and 3.6 billion people are vulnerable to the effects of a hotter planet.

It also underlined the limits of adaptation. If global temperatures rise beyond 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, the options to adapt are much more limited, report authors wrote. Already, the planet has warmed about 1 degree on average, and a 2018 report by the same U.N. panel urged that carbon emissions needed to be rapidly cut before 2030 to avoid crossing the 1.5 degree threshold.

The lesson from the latest study, for everyone from small communities to entire nations is that preparations need to start happening more quickly, Dow said.

Major infrastructure projects need to be assessed for risks they could face many years in the future. Investments like a new rail yard addition to the State Ports Authority's Leatherman Terminal in North Charleston, for example, have to be planned to account for decades of change in the nearby sea level, Dow said.

The ports system is an important example because it connects South Carolina's economy to the rest of the world, she added.

Asked how the agency is planning for climate change, ports spokeswoman Kelsi Brewer wrote in an email, South Carolina Ports takes an adaptive management approach to climate change in its project planning process. Port infrastructure investments are long-term projects and designed with sea level in mind."

Then there's the question of protecting individual communities. The largest and most high-profile example so far may be a proposed 8-mile-long seawall, which would encircle Charleston's historic urban core to protect it form hurricane surge and higher tides.

But Dow worries in particular about rural areas where "land values and such don't meet cost-benefit criteria (for federal projects), but people's livelihoods are still embedded in those places where they own land and own homes." While Charleston has done good work so far in creating a sea level strategy and pursuing protections, she said, other places with fewer resources will need help.

And there are other vulnerabilities in these parts of the state, which underline another point made in the U.N. report: Climate disasters on top of existing inequality will create a "cascading" effect. The health affects of extreme heat, for example, might land more severely in places where health care access is lacking, or where many residents have a hard time affording their power bills, Dow said.

Putting together a plan

This year, South Carolina may see its most detailed report yet on climate hazards in the state  a key first step to addressing them.

The state Office of Resilience, established in the wake of several severe flooding events that happened between 2015 and 2018, is putting together a hazards report that will cover the entire state, said Alex Butler, the agency's resilience planning director. The report is due to state legislators on July 1, but the deadline could be extended by a year.

The massive effort will focus largely on flooding in its first iteration, the most common catastrophe to touch the state in recent years. Officials have said before that the office's work will also include other threats, from extreme heat to ones that don't always have a direct climate connection, such as tornadoes and earthquakes.

But as planning across the state develops, another pitfall pointed out in the U.N. adaptation report awaits: maladaptation, or short-term fixes that are later ineffective, or even harmful.

Butler said the state has had experience before in dealing with this issue. He pointed to the Beachfront Management Act, which for decades has banned seawalls on South Carolina's sandy beaches, because the walls make ocean sand wash away as they block water from reaching nearby homes.

"South Carolina has, I think to its credit, been thinking about this for a long time," he said.

Ironically, a key component of that act was changed in 2018  removing the concept of beach "retreat" and replacing it with beach "preservation"  which has the potential to fundamentally change the way the state handles beach building.

A worry about long-term risks is one of many reasons that Charleston's proposed seawall has been a topic of fervent discussion in the Holy City. Many have asked for greener options to protect the city, instead of an engineered concrete-and-steel structure. The city has pledged to ask for more nature-based protection options if it moves forward on a wall design with the Army Corps of Engineers.

Butler said that for the Office of Resilience, which also hands out grants to towns for resilience planning and projects, both natural options and engineered ones will be on the table to protect the state.

A connection with nature

Beyond protecting communities, the U.N. report underlined the fact that many natural systems will require help, too.

That might mean protecting corridors for animals and plants to migrate through as their ranges shift to the north, something nonprofit The Nature Conservancy has as a goal in South Carolina.

Liz Fly, marine conservation director for the group, said that in the future, the coast faces significant changes: South Carolina's sprawling salt marshes may one day be replaced by mangroves, as the coastal trees from Florida push north. Right now, marshes serve as a nursery for many aquatic species.

"Many years down the road, we may see a completely shifting coastal habitat, in terms of that kind of keystone plant species," she said.

In the shorter term, marshes are expected to migrate onto higher ground as seas push higher  in places where buildings or roads aren't in the way.

State conservation officials said they are also focusing on the changing climate in their work.

Anna Huckabee Smith, state wildlife action plan coordinator for the S.C. Department of Natural Resources, said her agency is "acutely aware" of the changes that are already happening, like the earlier arrival of migratory birds in the spring and higher seas that have pushed salt into coastal forest and killed trees.

She also added that the agency "proactively plans for such changes as marsh migration by conserving new properties that will facilitate these eventual shifts."

DNR manages multiple preserves and recreation areas around the state. And for Fly, the U.N. report, with all its described dangers, underlines the uniqueness of the state's natural assets.

"It makes it even more important to get out there and appreciate and enjoy what we do have," she said.
The white supremacist who killed nine Black people in the historic Emanuel AME Church in 2015 had, just weeks before, become enraged when he visited McLeod Plantation, a James Island site with an expressed mission to tell the stories of the enslaved who once lived there.

In a new, locally published book, Shawn Halifax, the site historian and cultural history interpretation coordinator for Charleston County Parks and Recreation Commission, makes the connection between Dylann Roof's visit to McLeod and the site's history of enslavement by highlighting the continuance of racial violence.

"It reconnects, full circle, the terrorism embodied by William Wallace McLeod Jr. in the late 19th century to the vicious and racist violence the killer committed at Mother Emmanuel and his calls for a race war," Halifax writes in "UKWELI: Searching for Healing Truth."

The book, released last month, is a compilation of 45 essays and poems that tell stories about Charleston's racist past with an effort to foster dialogue that leads to true healing.

The name of the book includes the Swahili word for truth. The writings also shed light on the struggles faced by Black people across America while championing the efforts by African Americans to bring about their freedom.

The book, published by Evening Post Books, is co-edited by local authors and friends Horace Mungin and Herb Frazier.

The book is an offshoot of the Ukweli program Mungin organized for McLeod Plantation, which involved public readings and presentations.

Mungin and Frazier decided at the end of 2020 to include several writers and produce a book that includes contributions from persons in media, activism, religious spaces and other professions.

The book came together quickly, and Mungin was able to see the first draft of the volume before his death last fall.

The objective of the book, Frazier said, is to create conversation.

"In order for there to be healing, you have to have an honest and accurate conversation about the past that leads to the trauma," he said. "Thats the goal  foster some dialogue to bring abut healing. That was Horaces vision."

The writings coalesce around several different themes that include Africa, slavery, Gullah-Geechee culture, reconstruction and lynching, land retention and policing in America.

Frazier pens an essay explaining that African enslavement predates 1619, when the first enslaved Africans arrived in America aboard an English ship.

The year has gained wide attention in light of The New York Times project that examines racism in the United State. But Frazier writes, "Africans were perceived as ripe for the taking in the early 1400s, when Portugals King John took Ceuta, a Muslim trading post, on the northeastern tip of Morocco."

Frazier hopes the book enlightens readers with information they may have never learned.

"We wanted to do this to educate people," he said.

Though the dozens of authors were given general ideas of what to write about, contributors were not given a script, Frazier said.

"They wrote what was in their hearts," he said. "It was somewhat of a magical moment."

The book has been widely received, said Michael Nolan executive editor for Evening Post Books. One hundred copies of "UKWELI" were sold at the book's launch party last month, and sales are now approaching 1,000, Nolan said.

"It seems the more people learn about it, the more they want to buy it," he said.

Copies can be purchased at Evening Post Books, 90 Alexander St., in downtown Charleston or online at evepostbooks.com.
A pharmacy professor at the Medical University of South Carolina was charged with assault after he argued with a Lyft driver about the ride-share app's mask policy and then refused to leave the car.

Taylor Morrisette, 30, surrendered to police on March 3, several days after the Feb. 26 dispute, which was captured on the driver's dash cam.

Morrisette is a professor at the schools College of Pharmacy, where he teaches students about topics including infectious diseases. He is accused of touching the driver three times on his right shoulder in an apparent patting motion. Morrisette can also be heard cursing at the driver.

Morrisette provided The Post and Courier with a statement through his attorney in response to the allegations. "I was being responsible by not drinking and driving," he said. "I sincerely regret the incident and comments made. This is not who I am as a person, and I apologize for my actions."

A spokeswoman for MUSC declined to comment on personnel matters or law enforcement investigations.

Video recordings shared with The Post and Courier show the entire dispute.

Morrisette and a woman called a car to Ann Street in downtown Charleston around 6:30 p.m. through the ride-share app, according to a copy of the incident report. Neither was wearing a mask, which is against Lyft policy.

The driver explains they must put on their masks before entering the car. As the woman searches in her bag, Morrisette says a few inaudible words to the driver, who eventually tells the couple to just cancel their ride with him.

The woman apologizes after putting on her mask, and asks if they can please ride with the driver. (Morrisette) has a mask, too, she says. He is literally an infectious disease doctor.

The driver again requests the couple leave his vehicle and find another ride, but they still climb in.

Youre (expletive) crazy, Morrisette is heard telling the driver, who again asks him to leave his vehicle. No, Im not gonna get out. What are you gonna do?

The driver eventually calls police.

This will be a fun situation here. Im a doctor, (expletive), he tells the driver. He then reaches over the seat to touch the drivers right shoulder three times, asking whether hes done this before.

Charleston police officers arrive about a minute later and ask the couple to exit the car.

A police report states Morrisette and the woman got out of the Lyft car and Morrisette apologized multiple times and tried to tip the driver for the inconvenience.

Magistrate Judge Amanda Haselden issued a no-contact order between Morrisette and the victim and set bail at a bond hearing following his arrest.

Lyft permanently removed Morrisette from its app, a spokeswoman said, and offered our support to the driver and police.

Editor's Note: This story has been updated to clarify that Taylor Morrisette is a professor at the Medical University of South Carolinas College of Pharmacy, where he teaches students about topics including infectious diseases.
NORTH CHARLESTON  The Charleston Wine + Food Festival sure knows how to throw a party.

Cooking demonstrations, food samples, an assortment of alcoholic beverages, live music and even a silent disco were all part of the programming on the first day of the festival's culinary village March 4.

A ribbon cutting with remarks from North Charleston Mayor Keith Summey and Charleston Wine + Food Festival Director Gillian Zettler marked the start of the three-day extravaganza that brought chefs, beverage experts, musicians and artisans to Riverfront Park in North Charleston. Marion Square had previously hosted the event from 2005-2020.

At about 10:30 a.m., guests lined up near the entrance to the outdoor Cooper River-facing venue that has been split into two parts: The Lawn @ Culinary Village and The Pavilion @ Culinary Village, one of two non-ticketed events at the 2022 festival that featured local food trucks like Foxes Fried and The Immortal Lobster.

Attendees instantly dispersed throughout the park, lining up for samples from drink vendors and regional breweries before hitting the food stands, or "Snack Shacks." While the festival's opening night was a who's who of local chefs, such as James London, Kelly Chu, Jacques Larson and Michael Toscano, day one of the culinary village welcomed chefs from all over the country.

Guests lined up for pastrami pork belly topped with mustard seeds from Leonard Botello IV of Truth BBQ, and chef Jamie Davis of The Hackney in Washington, N.C., served olive-brined quail with tomato and caper tapenade, a huge hit.

"We're from a small town and we don't get a lot of publicity," Davis said when asked how he thought the experience might impact his restaurant. "I think it just gives us a better demographic."

The celebratory mood in the air extended from the chef demonstration stage, where Kevin Mitchell (Culinary Institute of Charleston), Michelle Weaver (Charleston Grill) and Food Network's Maneet Chauhan cooked in front of attendees, to the silent disco dance floor, which was filled with attendees sporting headphones and grooving to tunes from two DJs.

Many traveled from out of town for the event, while others like Magdalena Hague were finally able to bring back their annual tradition of attending the festival. During the one-year hiatus because of the pandemic, Hague hosted a group of friends at her home in Charleston, where they held wine tastings and eating events with others over Zoom.

Overall, the spacious venue seemed fit for an event of Wine + Food's scale and stature. If there was one overarching concern among guests, it was that there was not enough food. Lines built up early and stuck around all afternoon, but many moved quickly.

Some restaurant representatives ran out of food, while others, such as the chefs from Handcraft Kitchen & Cocktails in Mount Pleasant, stuck around until the end of the four-hour window, serving patrons bites of glazed cauliflower on their way out of the venue.

Elsewhere in the village, a chef and a rancher who traveled to Charleston for the event brought enough to feed the masses.

Prior to the festival, organizers said that "interactive food moments" would be part of the culinary village's programming. On Friday, that came from chef Eric Gephart of Kamado Joe, a ceramic grill company, who served bone-in beef short ribs.

"We always like places where we can go and interact with people," said Gephart, who travels around the world for events. "We partnered with all these folks that are just doing amazing things."

Joining Gephart was rancher Jake Gross, co-founder of Kansas cattle farm E3 Meat Co., who brought more than 200 pounds of beef to Charleston for the festival. To prepare for the culinary village, Gephart, Gross and their team arrived at 6 a.m. and cooked the beef for five hours.

Charleston Wine + Food participants will have two more chances to enjoy the culinary village from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. March 5-6. The festival will conclude March 6 with a finale celebration at the Cigar Factory in downtown Charleston.

Editors Note: Parker Milner will be an emcee on the Demo Stage at the Culinary Village and a judge at the Waffle House Smackdown.
Syndicated and guest columns represent the personal views of the writers, not necessarily those of the editorial staff. The editorial department operates entirely independently of the news department and is not involved in newsroom operations.
I dont want to overstate the importance of the S.C. Houses 88-27 smackdown of a plan to make us all swear an oath of allegiance to a political party.

After all, some Republicans were simply heeding Democrats' warning that they would work to kill the early voting bill in the Senate if the closed-primary provision was added. Its a lot easier for the minority to kill a bill in the Senate than in the House, where its impossible, and in addition to the in-person early voting many Republicans support, H.4919 also includes some smart security measures that will play well with their base.

Even House Republican Whip Brandon Newton, the GOPs point man on what Democrats describe as voter disenfranchisement, spoke against the addition, noting that the poorly written amendment underscored why significant changes to the law need to be vetted by a committee rather than being sprung on the House floor.

Still, this was a huge victory for the large minority of think-for-ourselves voters in South Carolina as well as partisans who live in lopsided districts controlled by the other side, who want to have some say in who represents them. Which they cant have if they aren't allowed to participate in the primaries where more and more of our elections are won and lost.

Closed-primary advocates Reps. RJ May and Rep. Adam Morgan argued that open primaries encourage partisans to vote in the other sides primary to pick the worst nominee. They overstate the problem  most voters are honest, and understand that the dumbest thing they can do is vote for the worst candidate, who might end up winning the general election  but they were right to argue that, as Rep. Morgan put it, its morally wrong to do that.

The closed-primary supporters were also right to note that there are Democrats as well as Republicans who support limiting primaries to card-carrying party members, although the Democrats tend to be in other states. Mr. Morgan was more on point than he probably realized when he said, This is not a partisan issue; this is a political party organization issue.

Indeed. As in: Many Republican and Democratic operatives oppose allowing voters maximum choice because that interferes with their quest for the ideological purity that is poisoning our elections and our electorate and making governing increasingly difficult.

The supporters were wrong to assume that their fellow House Republicans wanted to limit voters choices.

The closed-primaries amendment wasnt defeated by Democrats with the help of a handful of Republicans. It was defeated by Republicans. More Republicans voted against it than for it. More Republicans than Democrats voted against it

The amendment wasnt defeated because Democrats made such compelling arguments against it  although Rep. John King did score an easy layup when he noted that any party that was worried about sabotage had the option of holding a convention rather than a primary.

It was defeated because Republicans such as Rep. Kirkman Finlay made such compelling arguments against it, telling his colleagues that the amendment would force his Democratic mother to register as a Republican to vote for her son. Closing primaries, he said, is more about inconveniencing the people who want to vote for who they want to vote for and less about the dirty tricks of politics.

It was defeated because of Republicans such as Rep. Micah Caskey, who had a similar story about his father, as well as a little pragmatic perspective. Let me just remind you: Republicans are doing real good right now in this state; have since 1994, he said. So as a Republican, by the way, for those of you who do want to insist on thinking in partisan terms, were winning. We have a supermajority in both chambers. We hold every statewide elected office. Six out of seven of our congressmen are Republicans. What does success look like?

The then-Democratic Legislature privatized South Carolinas primaries in the 1940s, not so the Democratic Party could bar Republicans and independents from voting but so it could keep out black voters, after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that states couldnt do that. That effort at racial segregation didnt survive court challenges, and by the time the state resumed running primaries in 1991, both parties were happy to have any primary voters they could get.

Republicans were using open primaries masterfully to grow into the states dominant party. And Democratic lawmakers, who were still hanging onto control of the Legislature, feared that if they forced voters to register by party, the ones who supported them in down-ballot races but Republicans for governor and president would abandon them.

They were so worried about this that the Senate voted to create blanket primaries, where voters could vote for a Republican candidate in, say, the primary race for governor and a Democrat in their legislative district.

Unfortunately, the chairmen of the state Republican and Democratic parties joined forces to defeat that effort at considering whats best for voters rather than whats best for political parties.

Fortunately, lawmakers have been able to hold off the party apparatchiki's efforts since then to limit our ability to vote in whichever primary we want  something far too few of us take advantage of, which is why Democratic candidates keep getting so much more liberal and Republican candidates keep getting so much more reactionary.

But not making things worse isnt the same as making them better. And the accelerating race to the extremes isnt going to get better until voters reclaim the primaries. Legislators could help us by stripping political parties of their guaranteed access to the November ballot and switching to a system like we use for municipal elections, where all the candidates are listed on a single ballot, and the top vote-getters advance to a runoff  whether thats two Republicans, two Democrats, one of each or nonpartisan candidates.
Just three weeks after we first saw the agonizing video of Jamal Sutherlands death in the Charleston County jail, S.C. House budget writers produced a $3 million plan to give local jails access to medical professionals who can recognize and treat mental distress and to experiment with ways to divert people with mental illnesses away from jail.

The measure, signed into law less than a month later, was an impressively quick response. But it was an incomplete response.

As Mr. Sutherlands parents reminded us at a recent Statehouse news conference, it addressed only one of the problems highlighted by their schizophrenic sons death: how police deal with people with mental illnesses. And frankly, it didnt go as far as needed in addressing that problem  providing resources but no mandate for law enforcement to use those resources.

Left completely unaddressed was the larger problem of police who mistreat and even kill innocent people, regardless of their mental health status. Although the number of bad cops is miniscule, and only a tiny fraction of police encounters end in unjustifiable deaths, it happens enough to demand action.

Unfortunately, we get fresh reminders of the problem all the time, although fortunately most of those reminders are from other states. The day after the Sutherlands news conference, three former Minneapolis police officers were convicted on federal charges of depriving George Floyd of his right to medical care when officer Derek Chauvin murdered him; two of them were also convicted of failing to intervene to stop the murder.

Yet 10 months after the Sutherland video was released, the Legislature still hasnt done anything more to reduce the danger to mentally ill people who encounter law enforcement. Nearly two years after the Floyd murder ignited calls from coast to coast for laws aimed at preventing police abuse  and promises of action from Democratic and Republican House and Senate leaders here in South Carolina  the S.C. Senate has done nothing.

The House passed a bill two days before we saw the Sutherland video that requires the state Law Enforcement Training Council to establish minimum statewide standards on the use of force, vehicle pursuits and identifying bad cops  standards that would make it easier to end the careers of officers who violate them. H.3050 also requires police to intervene when a fellow officer is being abusive, restricts the use of chokeholds, ends the practice of letting uncertified officers act like real police and imposes significant penalties on departments that dont comply.

Its a good bill that could be improved with the addition of the measures that Mr. Sutherlands family called on legislators to pass. One would require a mental health evaluation before a bond hearing is held for someone who is arrested at a mental health facility  which begins to close the loop on the 2021 law providing funding for those evaluations.

The other would prohibit police from using greater restraint than is necessary when detaining a person or unreasonable force when making an arrest. It was the absence of such a law that Solicitor Scarlett Wilson cited in declining to bring criminal charges against the guards who repeatedly pepper-sprayed and Tased Mr. Sutherland while they tried to force him to go to a bond hearing he had no legal duty to attend.

We respect the difficult job our police officers have to do, but a minority of officers are not fit to wear a badge, and their actions endanger the public and their colleagues. Perhaps worse, a culture of tolerance for bad cops still exists in many agencies, which allows police to avoid not only criminal charges but even any discipline when they recklessly endanger human life.

This encourages those bad cops to keep victimizing innocent people, and the presence of these bullies in uniform who consider disrespect a capital offense undermines public support for all the many other dedicated officers who have never overreacted to a situation or needlessly endangered anyone.

Although the debate tends to focus on black victims, who are disproportionately subject to police abuse, the abuse occurs across all races, and police who cross the line tend to get away with it regardless of the race of the victim or perpetrator. And our Legislature needs to address it.

Specifically, lawmakers need to refocus police training to teach officers how to deescalate potentially violent encounters and to recognize mental-health crises; outlaw shooting a fleeing suspect in most cases; require officers to intervene when their colleagues act inappropriately; require outside investigations of police-involved shootings; stop letting officers get their stories straight before being questioned; fund the 2015 body camera mandate; and update the meager law concerning those cameras  for instance, imposing penalties on officers who turn them off except under limited circumstances, and requiring that the video be made public except in extraordinary cases. Lawmakers also need to abolish our constitutionally suspect civil-asset forfeiture law, or at least change it to remove the profit motive from policing.

Our society is doing a better job of holding law enforcement officers responsible when they kill people who aren't endangering anyone, as shown by the convictions in the Floyd case. But convicting killers shouldnt be our goal: Our goal should be preventing those killings. That means drawing clear lines about what is and isnt acceptable behavior and enforcing those lines with punishment severe enough to serve as a deterrent.
As a young child, I watched my grandmother prepare packages for relatives in Russian-controlled Poland. My grandmother put money in seams, concealed pockets and cuffs to hide it from the package inspectors.

Letters from relatives in Poland were rare. Unfortunately, they contained stories of farmers having the food they grew severely rationed or their farms taken over and given to those in good standing with the government.

Previous farm owners were forced into dangerous labor jobs or moved to isolated parts of the country. There were no free elections or protests.

Now the authorities in Russia are reported to be changing laws and manipulating elections to support loyalists to the ruling party. The government controls the national television networks and most of the other media. Activists and journalists who protest current affairs are attacked, arrested, threatened or killed.

Ukraine and Poland became independent from the Soviet Union in 1991. In 1996, Ukraine adopted a democratic constitution that protected human rights and liberties. We see Ukrainians fighting to maintain their independence and freedoms, resisting the Russian autocracy.

In the United States, we need to look carefully at those who suppress voters, admire autocrats and subvert laws and human rights to the point of locking up children.

We dont want to give up our rights, freedoms and liberties by voting in those who support an oppressive regime. We cannot be complacent about holding on to our democratic way of life.

MADELAINE LAWRENCE

Mount Pleasant

Trumps statement

I was surprised to read a letter to the editor Feb. 28 in which the writer incorrectly claimed that former President Donald Trump praised Russian President Vladimir Putin for invading Ukraine.

Trump never praised Putin for invading Ukraine. He did say that Putin made a genius decision when he recognized two pro-Kremlin breakaway regions in eastern Ukraine as independent states while also slamming President Joe Bidens response to the crisis.

Trumps comments were made in the context that Putin has been outsmarting U.S. leaders. I quote several news organizations such as the AP, CNN and Yahoo News, as follows: Of course hes smart, Trump said in remarks at the Conservative Political Action Conference. But the real problem is our leaders are dumb.

In the same meeting, Trump also praised Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the Ukrainian president, as a brave man for his handling of the Russian invasion.

BILL BISSETTE

Charleston

Cut SC sales tax

If the state Legislature wants to help residents, it should reduce the sales tax instead of the income tax. Income tax reductions tend to help wealthy citizens of the state while doing very little for lower-income residents.

As state leaders said when they originally wanted to increase the sales tax, Spread it out to everyone.

Lets spread the surplus out to everyone and make a difference in our daily lives.

FRANK EDWARDS

Charleston

Clean up after SEWE

One of my friends is a volunteer with the South Carolina Aquarium in Charleston.

After a recent Southeastern Wildlife Expo event at Brittlebank Park, she picked up more than 100 zip ties left behind in the areas marshes, waters and green space.

Organizers should be ashamed and take responsibility for cleaning up after these events. Remember the wildlife, not just the party.

PHILLIS MAIR

Charleston
How many industries have been damaged or destroyed by high taxes and excessive regulation? A lot. But I have mixed feelings about this one: California cannabis industry on brink as buyers return to dealers.

The cannabis industry in California is on the brink of collapse because of high taxes and onerous regulations that have burdened legal operators and allowed illegal growers to flourish, campaigners have warned.

***

About 75 per cent of cannabis consumed in the state comes from illegal sources, industry figures say. They blame taxes, too much regulation and a failure to tackle illegal competition, which is free from red tape and able to offer cannabis at much lower prices.

Marijuana is cheap and easy to grow. Legal sellers complain that police do little to enforce the laws against illegal dope, but once the government declares marijuana to be A-OK, there isnt much reason to prioritize a crackdown on those who sell a legal product but dodge taxes. The case against legalized marijuana having been abandoned, legal sellers are in somewhat the same position as the taxi companies who tried to get Uber and Lyft banned in various cities.

The industry is trying to get tax relief, which would undermine a chief rationale for legalization: the prospect of massive tax revenue.

Not everyone is in favour of cutting or removing the taxes. Much of the money raised goes to social service programmes for young people across California and campaigners have warned that any changes would harm vulnerable children.

Smoke it for the children!

It strikes me that the situation in California and other states is playing out exactly as should have been foreseen once the ill-advised decision to legalize cannabis was made.
This is a familiar story: at Marquette University, Native American students complained that the schools seal was disrespectful to indigenous people. Here is the old seal. It shows, among other things, Father Marquette, after whom the university is named, in a canoe with an Indian who is said to be his guide:

Per the College Fix, the seal was taken from this painting of Marquette with a group of Indians:

It is not obvious why the scene depicted on Marquettes seal would be offensive to Indian activists. This is the explanation:

Activist groups, however, took issue with how the painting was cropped for the seal, as it appears Marquette is telling the guide where to go.

Which doesnt really answer the question, but there you have it.

This is similar to instances like the statue of Theodore Roosevelt with a Native American and an African American man that stood at the American Museum of Natural History. It was deemed racist because Roosevelt was on horseback and the accompanying figures were on foot, thereby placing Roosevelt in a superior position. Well, of course, he was elected president, and they werent.

Another instance is the statue of Lewis, Clark and Sacajawea that was removed from Charlottesville because the figures were standing or sitting on rocks at different levels, so that Lewiss head was highest, Clarks second highest, and Sacajawea, sitting on a rock, was a little lower. So as a result there is no longer a statue of Sacajawea in Charlottesville.

Marquette has now unveiled a new seal which depicts neither Father Marquette (!) nor the Indian guide:

Instead of Marquette and the guide, the new seal depicts rivers and several stalks of wild rice:

[T]he bottom panel is an image of a river splitting into three separate rivers  the Milwaukee, the Menomonee and the Kinnickinnic. The panel features three stalks of rice, a crop popular with area Native Americans.

Wild rice may be popular with Native Americans, but it has nothing to do with Marquette University, unlike Father Marquette, after whom the school is named, and who explored what is now Wisconsin.

So Marquettes Indian guide joins the Indian maiden who formerly adorned Land OLakes butter, Uncle Ben, who was a wealthy rice grower in Texas, and Aunt Jemima in the world of non-persons of color. It wont be long before only whites will be depicted in advertising, statues, flags, seals, and so on. This will be considered progress by left-wing activists.

STEVE addsthe meme-sters beat you to it:
The Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) has attributed the poor supply of electricity to its franchise areas to low power generation from the national grid.

Donald Etim, the AEDC Chief Marketing Officer, said this in a statement issued on Friday.

The AEDC wishes to inform our customers in Kogi, Niger, Nasarawa and the FCT that the current low and unstable supply of electricity to homes and businesses is as a result of low power generated to the national grid, he said.

In recent weeks, the level of power generated and served to the national grid for onward delivery to customers has been abysmally low.

However, we will do our utmost at all times to ensure that we equitably distribute even that modest supply in such a way that a fair cross section of customers are served.

AEDC knows full well the place and role of electricity to life, economy, and security, he said.

According to Mr Etim, we are deeply committed to working collaboratively with other stakeholders within the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI) to identify and resolve the challenges within the sector.

He said the cause of the latest low generation has been identified and was being addressed.

Mr Etim recalled that the Minister of Power, Abubakar Aliyu, had raised the issue of poor power generation at the weekly State House ministerial briefing on Thursday.

He quoted the minister as saying the erratic power supply currently being experienced in Abuja and other parts of the country is caused by low water level in the hydro power stations.

With the reduction in water levels at the hydro power stations during the dry season, there is the need for additional load to be taken up by gas plants, he said.

The challenges in repairs currently being done on generators are responsible for the load shedding and power outages.

The minister said that the Federal Government was carrying out maintenance in the eastern axis around Odukpani leading to reduced power supply from the usually reliable Niger Delta Power Holdings Company of Nigeria (NDPHC) Calabar Power Plant.

We are having challenges at Okoloma Gas Station linked to Afam VI power plant.

The minister had said that the federal government was working with the NNPC and other gas suppliers also to improve the pressure on the Western Axis, adding that this precludes units from reaching optimum supply.

Mr Etim said that AEDC as a company fully committed to enriching their customers experience regrets that the challenge of low generation was beyond AEDCs direct control.

We are aware of customers plight. We understand the pains of our customers who have suffered untold hardship as a result of this situation. Indeed, we empathise with them.

We appeal to all clients to bear with us as all industry stakeholders are working tirelessly to achieve system stability and ensure availability and steady supply of electricity across AEDC franchise areas, he said. (NAN)
Oluwafunsho Asiwaju, the first wife of actress Mercy Aigbes new husband, Kazim Adeoti, has for the first time opened up on the circumstances that led to her husband taking on a second wife.

PREMIUM TIMES reported how the controversial actress confirmed her marriage to Mr Adeoti on January 23, 2022, his birthday eve.

After a series of speculations and keeping their relationships a closely guarded secret for years, the actress finally unveiled the filmmaker on January 24, 2022.

So while this is Aigbes third shot at marriage, it is Mr Adeotis second marriage.

Mr Adeoti is a father-of-four while his first wife, Oluwafunsho, who lives in Minnesota, U.S., is a notable fashion designer and owner of Asiwaju Couture.

Mrs Adeoti also alleged that the actress began sleeping with her husband when her (Mercys Aigbes) son, Juwon, was five months old.

Juwon is the product of Aigbes failed marriage to the famous hotelier and car magnate, Asiwaju Gentry.

Mrs Adeoti alleged that the actress was still married to her second husband, Mr Gentry when she began an intimate relationship with her husband (Mr Adeoti).

She disclosed this in a statement on Saturday morning, barely 24 hours after her husband and his new wife granted an infamous interview with Mediaroom Hub.

In the viral interview, Mr Adeoti, a famous Yoruba film marketer, said that he could marry another wife as a Muslim.

Also, contrary to public opinion, he added that the actress did not snatch him from his first wife and that he is married to his first wife.

Mrs Adeoti has, however, debunked his claims, saying that the new couple betrayed her trust.

Mrs Adeoti debunked claims by her husband that she had accepted the actress as a second wife, vowed that she would never accept a second wife in her marriage, and described the actress as his side chick.

The actress, despite criticism, continues to post loved-up pictures and posts of herself and her new husband.

Betrayal of trust

Mrs Adeoti said that despite being friends with the actress, she was a problem in her marriage. She also claimed that she introduced Mrs Aigbe to her husband Adekaz, and also invited her to his 40th birthday, which the actress attended with her ex-husband Mr Gentry.

I introduced you to Kazim as my friend. I called and personally invited you and your ex-husband to the 40th surprise birthday party I did for my soon-to-be ex-husband, Mrs Adeoti wrote.

You were a constant friend of mine back then. I brought you close as a friend because I liked you, but you repaid me by sleeping with my husband, Kazim.

As for you, Mercy, let us cut the crap. We were friends, but shame and your glam lifestyle will not let you admit it. You have been sleeping with Kazim since your son was only five months old.

Contrary to what Mr Adeoti said during the interview, the mother of four said that she did not and will never settle to have a second wife in my marriage. She also hinted at the possibility of divorce soon.

Im done. He is all yours. Enjoy, Mrs Adeoti said.

Mercy Aigbe reacts

Reacting to the accusations, the actress took to her Instagram story to respond to Mrs Adeotis allegation claiming she has constantly been lied against despite explaining her situation and telling her side of the story.

Her post read, Some people say grant interviews, explain your side of the story, you say your truth to correct some false narratives out there, you owe it to people who genuinely love you.

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You grant, some other people say you dont need to explain yourself. Its your life, Do you. You are constantly lied to, and some other people say let it slide, do not react, dont say a word, for peaces sake.

Infamous interview

The newly-weds, whose marital journey started from work and business partnership, have continued to speak about their controversial union.

The announcement of their marriage threw the social media space into a frenzy, and naysayers birthed several narratives. But the actress, in the interview, said she wasnt surprised and pleaded with Nigerians to respect her choice as she is happy and not the first woman to be a second wife.

During the encounter with the Mediaroom hub crew, Mr Adeoeti addressed all the social media brouhaha, and according to him, as a Muslim, he is free to marry more than one wife at a time.

Mercy said, Please, I want to beg Nigerians. Im not the first person to be a second wife. It is my choice, and Im happy with it. If you can be happy for me, be happy for me. If not, go and get busy. I am happy. Just leave me to enjoy my marriage, please.

The actress also maintained that she married her husband for love, not his money. I did not marry my husband for his money but because he is my best friend, and I love him. After my bad marriage, I decided to concentrate only on my career and children. But when he came into my life, there was so much joy and peace. He is a good man, and I tell him all the time, so when he proposed to me, I decided that I didnt want to lose that beautiful experience.

Mr Adeoti, on the other hand, also insisted that no one snatched him from his first wife.

He said, It is not true that they snatched me from my first wife. I am an adult, and I decided to marry Mercy of my own volition. Mercy and my first wife were never friends. My family is in the United States of America, and I shuttle between the U.S. and Nigeria because my business is in Nigeria.

Some people think I am separated from my (first) wife because my family is not in Nigeria, but that is not true. We are good together. Although there were issues due to what was going on, everything is under control, and we are back to normal. I am a Muslim, and my religion permits me to marry more than one wife. So now, I am married to two wives. I have two beautiful women, and Im glad. Everything is good.

Internet never forgets

Before her messy divorce in 2017, the actress once ran a Youtube channel noted for controversial relationship and marriage tips.

In one of her YouTube videos, the controversial actress once advised young ladies not to fall in love with married men.

If you are dating a married man, collect his money because that man is already married. Some stupid girls would be dating a married man, and they would be doing love. But, Sis, he is not yours. He belongs to another woman, dont go and collect chocolates and flowers as a gift from a married man. If you do, your head needs to be re-examined.
The second batch of Nigerian evacuees from Ukraine arrived, on Friday evening, at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.

They arrived on a plane owned by Air Peace, one of the airlines billed to airlift Nigerians returning from Ukraine. The plane took off from Poland, where the Nigerians had fled to following the war in Ukraine.

The journey was very stressful but we take joy because we are saving lives, rescuing our compatriots, our future because these are our children. We all did it with excitement, Akinremi Bolaji, the director of consular and legal services, ministry of foreign affairs, told journalists at the Abuja airport.

According to Mr Bolaji, there were 180 adults and three infants aboard the aircraft.

He said there are Nigerians who were left behind because they failed to show up.

They thought the flight would not come and so by the time their colleagues were telling them they were already on their way, reality dawned on them.

We also appeal through the media, parents should ask their children to show up. Poland gave them 15 days grace, they did not have a visa to Poland but they allowed them and at the same time, we must not abuse that. The 15 days will elapse soon and they will not know what the next step will be, he added.

Mr Bolaji said the plan for the Nigerians who did not show up early is to airlift them from their different locations in Poland. We will just go round, hop and pick them, he said.

We were asking after some who we know are in Ukraine and they are still insisting they are not leaving. There are a lot of Nigerians who have not decided to leave Ukraine, we also still have 350 in Sumy college which has been cut off as soon as we are through with the safe corridor, we will go for those ones.

He noted that in another one or two hours, another flight would arrive, from Hungary, making it three (from Romania, Poland and Hungary).

Some of the evacuees spoke to PREMIUM TIMES about their experience.

I have mixed feelings. I am supposed to graduate in three months and now I am still trying to figure out what to do, a sixth-year medical student who identified herself as Blessing said.
A year to the 2023 general elections, Nigerias two major political parties last Saturday restated their dominance of the polity by sharing the six vacant seats filled in bye-elections conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). The elections were held in four of Nigerias six geo-political regions.

At the end of the polls, the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) won four seats to edge the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) which picked the two other seats.

The bye-elections were conducted by INEC in four states to fill three vacant seats in the House of Representatives and three seats in state Houses of Assembly.

The vacant federal seats were Akure North/Akure South of Ondo State, Jos North/Bass of Plateau State and Ogoja/Yala Federal Constituency of Cross River State. The state assembly seats were Pankshin South of Plateau State, Akpabuyo of Cross River State and Ngor Okpala of Imo State.

Four of the seats became vacant following the death of their occupants while the member of the House of Representatives for Ogoja/Yala of Cross Rivers gave up the seat after being elected to the Senate.

The Ngor Okpala State Constituency seat in Imo became vacant following the sack of its occupant, Tochi Okere, for dereliction of duty.

The bye-elections also saw the two leading political parties exchanging seats.

No third force

There are always talks at the approach of general elections about a third force emerging to challenge the dominance of the APC and PDP, but the results of Saturdays bye-elections only indicate such political development may again be a mirage in 2023.

Although there are 18 registered political parties, only 12 fielded candidates for the bye-elections. Aside from the APC and PDP which took the seats, the also-rans are the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), National Redemption Movement (NRM), Social Democratic Party (SDP), African Democratic Party (ADP) and Labour Party (LP).

The others are the All Peoples Party (APP), Accord (A), Allied Peoples Movement (APM), Young Progressives Party (YPP) and All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA).

Ondo

In Akure South/North Federal Constituency, the APC snatched the seat from the PDP as its candidate, Alademayokun Olarewaju, polled 26,370 votes to defeat his closest rival, Olumuyiwa Adu of the PDP, who polled 24, 201 votes.

The candidates of the NRM, ADP, APP, SDP and Accord scored a combined total of less than 20 per cent of the votes garnered by the victorious APC candidate.

The seat became vacant in August 2021 after the death of Adedayo Omolafe of the PDP.

Plateau

In Plateau State, where voters turnout was relatively impressive, the APC and PDP shared the state and National Assembly seats on offer.

Musa Avia of the PDP won the Jos North/Bass Federal Constituency seat with 40,343 votes. However, his main challenger turned out to be the candidate of the PRP, Muhammad Alkali, who polled 37,757 votes to post the most impressive result by a minor party candidate on Saturday.

The APC candidate, who is the immediate past commissioner for commerce in the state, Joseph Aku, received 26,111 votes to come a distant third in the poll to the disappointment of Governor Simon Lalong.

The seat was occupied by Haruna Maitala of the APC until his death in April 2021 in a motor accident on the Abuja-Jos road.

However, the ruling APC took a slim consolation in the Pankshin South State constituency where its candidate, Ezra Dakup, received 6,641 votes to narrowly defeat the PDP candidate who polled 6,488.

The seat became vacant following the death of Henry Longs (APC) in November 2021, after a surgical operation.

Cross River

The scenario in Plateau in the North Central region was reenacted in Cross River in the South South region. Despite its history as a PDP state, the state shared the two vacant seats between the two dominant parties, underscoring changes in the politics of the state since the defection of Governor Ben Ayade last year from the PDP to the APC.

PREMIUM TIMES in June 2021 reported that two House of Representatives members from the state dumped the PDP for the APC, nearly a month after Mr Ayade took the same route.

On Saturday, APC further snatched the Ogoja/Yala Federal Constituency seat formerly held by Agom Jarigbe of the PDP who had been elected to the Senate.

In the bye-election, Jude Ngaji of the APC polled 22,778 votes to defeat Mike Usibe of the PDP, who polled 20,590 votes.

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Both parties now have four representatives each from Cross River in the lower chamber of the National Assembly.

But in another keen contest, the PDP retained the Akpabuyo State constituency seat as its candidate, Ekeng Edet, polled 5,866 votes to edge Bassey Efiom of the APC who garnered 5,363 votes.

Mr Edet beat Mr Efiom in seven out of the 10 political wards that make up the state constituency.

Imo

The bye-election in Ngor Okpala State Constituency of volatile Imo State was marred by the snatching of election materials and abduction of INEC officials.

Perhaps due to the protracted violence in the state widely linked to politics, voters turnout was poor. Out of the 94,118 registered voters in the constituency, only 18,083 were accredited for the bye-election.

Blyden Okanni of the APC polled 9,248 votes to defeat Emeka Nwachukwu of the PDP who scored 7,161 votes. The candidate of APGA, Christopher Nwaiwu, came third with 501 votes.

Imo State has been a centre of attention since the controversial 2019 governorship election in the state that was decided by the Supreme Court which declared Hope Nzodinma of the APC as the winner, overturning the return of Emeka Ihedioha of the PDP by INEC.

Two-horse race in 2023?

Saturdays bye-election results suggest that the next general elections next year would again be between the APC and PDP, the two parties that have held power at the federal level and in most of the 36 states under Nigerias Fourth Republic.

INEC has already announced the dates for the general 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.
A Catholic priest has relived the unending pains his family has been grappling with within the last 14 years over the alleged killing of his brother by the police.

Henry Sanni, a reverend father, appeared before the #EndSARS panel in Abuja on Friday in quest for justice.

Mr Sanni recounted the emotional distress family members have been struggling with over his brothers tragic death in the past 14 years.

His brother, Femi Sanni, according to the priest, died in police custody sometime in September 2007, leaving behind his wife of just about two months with a one-month pregnancy.

Some months after Femis death, his wife, Kehinde Sanni, gave birth to a boy. The priest said the boy, Remilekun, grew up believing he was his biological father.

However, the boy, whose Yoruba name, Remilekun, loosely means Stop my grief is now a JSS 3 pupil.

He has come to know that Catholic priests do not bear children and has been asking questions about his real father, Mr Sanni told the 11-member panel on Friday.

We have been lying to the 14-year-old child from the pregnancy that I am his father. But the boy has grown to know better than to believe that priests bear children, he said.

He said part of why the family came to the panel was the need to make explanations to Remilekun on the terrible things the police did to his father.

The trauma of the last 14 years, Mr Sanni said, has been too difficult for his brothers widow to handle. The woman, despite being a co-petitioner in the case, could not appear at Fridays proceedings, Mr Sanni told the panel.

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) set up 11-member Independent Investigative Panel in the aftermath of the October 2020 anti-police brutality #EndSARS protest, to probe cases of rights violations perpetrated by the defunct Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) and other police units.

How my brother was arrested, killed

Testifying before the #EndSARS panel, Mr Sanni insisted the police arrested his brother based on false allegation of armed robbery and eventually killed him.

Mr Sanni told the panel that his brother had called him on September 11, 2007 to tell him about his plan to attend a party in Abuja with his friends.

The priest said, he received a call on September 12, 2007 from Ilorin, Kwara State, that his brother had been arrested and paraded on the television.

He said the parade, he was told, was carried organised by then-Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) police command in Abuja, Uzoma Nwoha, a deputy superintendent of police, and other SARS officials.

The witness told the #EndSARS panel that he immediately travelled down to Abuja to confirm the authenticity of the information about the arrest of his brother.

I quickly came to Abuja and met with the PPRO, Mr Nwoha, who told me that my brother is in their custody and he had been arrested for armed robbery, Mr Sanni narrated.

He said he asked if he could talk to his brother but the official refused to claim that he had no right to do that.

The priest said he also approached another officer at the headquarters who recognised him as a priest and gave him a hint that his brother was, indeed, arrested, but had been taken to SARS headquarters.

He said he immediately proceeded to SARS headquarters, but was, again, not given any helpful information.

But he said, he found a Christian who recognised him as a priest and told him that his brother was brought there but had been transferred to another place he did not know.

I quickly went back to the FCT headquarters to meet with the PPRO, but he threatened to gun me down and claimed I was obstructing justice, the petitioner said.

He, however, recalled being allegedly told by Mr Nwoha that his brother was an armed robber and that he must face the wrath of the law.

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Mr Sanni said he had to return to the SARS office to meet the earlier informant, whom, he said asked him to visit mortuaries to check for his brother.

I did as he advised; and lo and behold, I found my brother mutilated. It was a gory sight and I passed out from the shock, the priest said.

In his emotive testimony, Mr Sanni recalled seeing gunshot wounds on the chest region of the corpse, which he assumed resulted from gunfire from a close range.

Police release corpse for burial

Asked after Fridays proceedings, Mr Sanni told PREMIUM TIMES that after confirming his brothers death, the family requested that his body be released.

He shared with our reporter a copy of the warrant to bury issued by the police releasing the corpse to the family.

Following the issuance of the warrant on September 27, 2007, Mr Sanni said, the corpse was buried on October 2, 2007.

My brother not an armed robbery

Before concluding his testimony before the panel, Mr Sanni, denied the allegation of armed robbery levelled against his brother.

He said, his brother, an entrepreneur with three block industries in Abuja and Kwara State, could not have been involved in such an act.

The allegation, he said, was akin to giving a dog a bad name to hang it.

My brother was not an armed robber, if you want to kill a dog, dont name it. Remove his name from the list of armed robbers in Abuja. He was an entrepreneur with three blocking industries in Abuja and Kwara State, Mr Sanni said.

In his payers, he appealed to the panel to compel the police to unconditionally remove the name of the deceased from the list of (arrested) armed robbers in Abuja.

He also urged the panel to order the that the family be paid N250 million compensation.

Police reaction to priests testimony

Meanwhile, the police legal team cross-examined Mr Sanni after he concluded his testimony during Fridays hearing.

Malik Taiwo, the lawyer from the police legal team at the proceedings, asked the witness if he ever reported the alleged extra-judicial killing to other authorities.

Responding, Mr Sanni confirmed that the Sanni family wrote the Kwara State Government and the Inspector General of Police over the matter. He referenced the two letters attached to his petition.

Mr Malik then pleaded with the panel to give him time to trace the named police officers in the case since the alleged killing happened about 14 years ago.

Panels ruling

The panel, chaired in an acting capacity by Garba Tetengi, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, adjourned the case until March 9 for the police to present their defence.

Suleiman Galadima, a retired Justice of the Supreme Court, who is the substantive chairman, was absent from Fridays sitting.

Background

SARS, accused by the priest in the killing of his brother, is a defunct police unit notorious for the inhuman activities of its men.

The unit was proscribed in the wake of the October 2020 #EndSARS anti-police brutality protest.

The #EndSARS protest also birthed the various panels of enquiry set up in Abuja and about 28 other states to probe cases of police brutality with a view to compensating victims or their families and holding erring police officers to account.
As the preparation for the 2023 general elections heightened, former Kogi West senator, Dino Melaye, has hinted that he has switched allegiance to another political interest.

Mr Melaye dropped the hint in a short video trending on the social media since Thursday.

Sitting with former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and some members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) he could be heard saying mockingly in the video that he no longer follows aspirants but now follows experienced candidates.

When I got in here, some of my colleagues asked me Dino, what is happening? I thought you are not supposed to be here, you are supposed to be somewhere else and I told him that I have stopped following aspirants, I now follow candidates.

Anybody who has no candidate experience, I dont want to expend the names, Mr Melaye said.

PREMIUM TIMES could not ascertain when and where the video was shot as at the time of filing this report.

While the ex-Kogi senator did not name the aspirants he was referring to, many social media users have suggested names of some of his allies with particular reference to former Senate President, Bukola Saraki, whom he had on different occasions described as a close ally and friend.

Mr Saraki has since in January disclosed he would run for president.

Until recently, Mr Melaye had been seen with the former Senate President, not only rooting for him as the next president of the country, but also accompanying him on visits to dignitaries and other party leaders.

While in the Senate, Mr Melaye was one of Mr Sarakis strongest supporters.

Although he has yet to formally declare his intention to run for president, there are strong indications that Mr Abubakar would join the 2023 presidential contest soon. Some of his supporters have been touring parts of the country to sell his candidacy.

He was the PDP candidate in the 2019 presidential election. In 2007, he had run for the position on the platform of the defunct Action Congress (AC) but lost to late President Umaru Yar Adua.

Mr Abubakar also contested the PDP presidential primaries against the then President Goodluck Jonathan ahead of the 2015 election, but lost.

https://twitter.com/StephenIkechuk4/status/1499275436500598787?t=qanJb8OS1o7R23NCSOnpTQ&s=03

Mr Saraki aspired to be president in 2019 but lost in the PDP primary election held in Port Harcourt, Rivers State in 2018 to Mr Abubakar.

The PDP has yet to zone the presidency.

However, apart from Mr Saraki, some members have already shown interest in picking its ticket. They are a former Senate President, Pius Anyim; a renowned pharmacist, Sam Ohuabunwa; publisher of the Ovation magazine, Dele Momodu, and Bauch governor, Bala Mohammed.

ATTACHED IS A LINK TO THE SOURCE OF THE VIDEO
Chicken Republic, a major fast food restaurant in Nigeria, has reacted to the outrage over reports that two of its security guards seen dancing in a viral video have been sacked.

The clip, which seems to have caused some excitement among Nigerians on social media, captured the two guards, with their uniform, dancing beautifully, while on duty at one of the Chicken Republic stores.

Reports, including videos on social media, suggested that the two guard have been fired, with some angry Nigerians publicly offering to provide another employment for them.

Some Nigerians said Chicken Republic could have done better by using the clip to market its brand.

But Chicken Republic on Friday denied that the two guards have been sacked.

It is disappointing that some people may have the impression that Chicken Republic fired these security guards for dancing in our stores, this is not true, and hence, we need to set the record straight, the company said in a statement on Twitter.

The guards are officials of a private security company which Chicken Republic outsourced its security services to, the company said.

When the management of the private security company saw the two security guards dancing in the video, they had concerns that the security officers, whilst dancing, were not necessarily conducting their duties responsibly and as such, were probably not fully focused on their core responsibility, which is your safety and your security.

There are always multiple sides to every story, and as a company we have taken your feedback very seriously.

We have followed up with the security company, and they have assured us that the security guards have not been fired, have been paid their dues and have been offered some retraining, Chicken Republic said, in the statement.

Chicken Republic said they are in close communication with the security company, and assured Nigerians that it would ensure that the two guards are treated fairly and with respect.

As a company, Chicken Republic encourages all staff to have fun at work, and this is evident in the multiple songs, dances and Nice, Nice! chants that you will often hear in our stores, whilst you are patronising them, the statement said.
Officials of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, and resources persons and participants at the just concluded 1 day workshop on the impact and mitigation strategies for women farmers on climate change for the north central zone in Abuja on Thursday 3rd March 2022

The federal government has trained over 6,000 rural women farmers on gender mainstreaming and strategies for mitigation and adaptation of climate change as part of ongoing diversification efforts to improve food security in Nigeria. The women also benefitted from the free gas cylinders given to each of the 6,000 trainees to support the fight against climate change.

Declaring the workshop open, the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Ernest Umanike, represented by Gertrud Orji, disclosed that the workshop is part of the implementation of the national gender policy on agriculture.

Supported by the Partnership for Advancing Women in Economic Development (PAWED), anchored by the development Research and Projects Centre, and other partners, the workshop is the last phase of zonal workshops organised at the six geopolitical zones for women farmers to train them on modalities and strategies to mitigate the impact of climate change in Nigeria.

In her opening remarks, the Assistant Director Gender of the Ministry, Ifeoma Anyanwu, disclosed that the workshop is a climax for the implementation of the National Gender Policy, which she said is an assertive document that recognizes the limitation of growth and development of the agricultural sector because of the exclusion of smallholder women farmers in strategic participation and in making of key decisions and access to agricultural assets.

She said that the document provides a clear direction for the implementation of guidelines and actions that will ensure fair and equal participation of smallholder women farmers in the entire agricultural process and food systems.

She then urged the participants to use the skills they will learn from the training to increase food production and support the economic development of their families.

Earlier in his speech, a representative of the Minister of Women Affairs, Pauline Tallen, Idris Muhammed, who is the director of economic development in the ministry, commended the federal government for the various interventions aimed at securing food production and reducing overreliance on foreign food imports.

He said the present administrations efforts at diversifying the economy is yielding the desired results as Nigeria is now self-sufficient in rice and other produce and will soon begin exportation.

He then urged the participants to use the learnings from the workshop to promote food security.

A highlight of the workshop was a panel session where experts on gender, economic development and advocacy led by Hauwa Yusuf, the director, Centre for Gender Studies, Kaduna State University and lead consultant to PAWED, discussed the significance of fulfilment of commitments to women in Nigeria.

They mentioned the recent rejection of all the bills that were introduced in the constitutional review to empower women as a setback for Nigeria
The Lagos government has said it is investigating a viral video showing kegs of fuel handed out as souvenirs at a party in the state.

Gbenga Omotoso, the state Commissioner of Information and Strategy, in a statement on Saturday said it is a blatant disregard for all safety measures.

In the viral video, the party guests were handed litres of petrol at the Erelu Okin Installation Foundation Party, according to the sticker.

It was a coronation party of one Chidinma Ogulu, a fashion stylist, as the Erelu Okin of Orile Kemta.

Mr Omotosho said that the action is dangerous and can lead to loss of lives and properties, adding that all parties to this reprehensible action are made to account for it.

The safety of lives and properties of Lagosians and visitors remains a top priority to the Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu administration, the statement reads.

We, therefore, advise that actions that can lead to loss of lives and properties be avoided.

Biting petrol scarcity

The video surfaced at a time Nigerians are grappling with long queues at petrol stations and a hike in price for many weeks. Many fuel stations have refused to sell at the approved pump price of N165 per litre.

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.

This is despite the federal government saying that it has sufficient stock of petroleum products for distribution across the country, while urging its citizens to be patient.

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.

Traffic gridlocks appeared across major parts of Abuja as many service lanes were closed to traffic due to queues from petrol stations.
The Lagos government has sealed the event centre where kegs of petrol were handed out as souvenirs, a state aide has said.

Jubril Gawat, a media aide to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, said the government sealed Havillah Event Centre, Oniru, through the Lagos Safety Commission and the Rapid Response Squad for contravening public safety rules on Saturday.

Mr Gawat in a post on his Twitter handle said that the Lagos Commissioner of Police, Abiodun Alabi, has ordered the arrest of the culprits.

On Saturday morning, a viral video where party guests were handed litres of petrol surfaced on the internet.

According to the sticker on the petrol kegs, it was the Erelu Okin Installation Foundation Party.

The party which was held on Friday was a coronation party of Chidinma Ogulu as the Erelu Okin of Orile Kemta.

In an earlier statement, Gbenga Omotosho, the state commissioner for information and strategy, had condemned the act.

He said that the action is dangerous and can lead to loss of lives and properties, adding that all parties to this reprehensible action are made to account for it.

The safety of lives and properties of Lagosians and visitors remains a top priority to the Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu administration, the statement reads.

We, therefore, advise that actions that can lead to loss of lives and properties be avoided.

Biting petrol scarcity

The video surfaced at a time Nigerians are grappling with long queues at petrol stations and a hike in price for many weeks.

Many fuel stations have refused to sell at the approved pump price of N165 per litre.

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.

This is despite the federal government saying that it has sufficient stock of petroleum products for distribution across the country while urging its citizens to be patient.

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.

Traffic gridlocks appeared across major parts of Abuja as many service lanes were closed to traffic due to queues from petrol stations.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy late Friday criticised NATOs rejection of his appeal for a no-fly zone, saying the move works in favour of Russias bombing campaign of his country, Al Jazeera reports.

Today, the leadership of the alliance gave the green light for further bombing of Ukrainian cities and villages, having refused to set up a no-fly zone, he said in a televised speech.

Further criticising NATOs decision, President Zelenskyy said, today there was a NATO summit, a weak summit, a confused summit, a summit where it was clear that not everyone considers the battle for Europes freedom to be the number one goal.

Putting the guilt of war on NATO, he added that, all the people who die from this day forward will also die because of you, because of your weakness, because of your lack of unity.

Jens Stoltenberg, the secretary-general of NATO, announced the decision following an urgent meeting of the 30-member alliance in Brussels.

He said helping Ukraine protect its skies from Russian missiles and warplanes would require NATO forces to shoot down Russian aircraft, a move that could result in a full-fledged war in Europe involving many more countries.

We are not part of this conflict, he said.

We have a responsibility as NATO allies to prevent this war from escalating beyond Ukraine because that would be even more dangerous, more devastating and would cause even more human suffering.

Russia invaded Ukraine by land, sea and air last Thursday, calling it a special military operation aimed at de-nazifying the country. The 10-day offensive has killed or wounded thousands of people and sent more than one million people seeking refuge across its borders.

US stands with NATO

Antony Blinken, the United States secretary of state, speaking to reporters after the NATO meeting, said the alliance was committed to doing everything we can to give the Ukrainian people the means to defend themselves against Russia.

But we also have a responsibility, as the secretary-general said, to ensure that the war doesnt spill over even beyond Ukraine, he said.

NATO will continue to raise the cost for Putin, he added.

Unless the Kremlin changes course, it will continue down the road of increasing isolation and economic pain.

Western nations have continued to condemn Russias invasion, sending arms supplies to Ukraine and imposing the heaviest international economic sanctions against Moscow to date, including on Russian President Vladimir Putins inner circle.

But that has failed to deter President Putin.

On Friday, the West and its allies again promised Ukraine more military support as well as more humanitarian aid and more essential supplies.

Additionally, G7 countries said they would hold accountable those responsible for war crimes and refuse to recognise any Russian territorial gains.

European Union countries said separately that more punishment was coming, after the bloc already cut several Russian lenders from the SWIFT banking system, curbed trade with Moscow and targeted some of the wealth held by Russian oligarchs in the West.

It is not clear what more sanctions the EU could agree on, given its reliance on Russian energy supplies, which think tank Eurointelligence said amounted to $700 million daily.

Its Putins war, and only Putin can end it, said the top EU diplomat, Josep Borrell.

If someone expects that sanctions can stop the war tomorrow, they dont know what theyre talking about.
President Vladimir Putin of Russia on Saturday warned that any nation contemplating imposing a no-fly zone over Ukraine would be considered by Moscow to be participating in armed conflict, Al Jazeera reports.

Any movement in this direction will be considered by us as participation in an armed conflict by that country, Mr Putin said during a meeting with Aeroflot employees.

He said a no-fly zone would have colossal and catastrophic consequences not only for Europe but also the whole world.

President Putins warning came a few hours after NATO rejected Ukraines appeal for a no-fly zone. The alliance said granting such request could drag the whole of Europe into the war.

According to Jens Stoltenberg, the secretary general of NATO, we are not part of this conflict.

A decision Ukraines president, Vlodomyr Zelenskyy, has criticised as giving green light to Russia to continue invading his country.

Today, the leadership of the alliance gave the green light for further bombing of Ukrainian cities and villages, having refused to set up a no-fly zone, he said.

Russia invaded Ukraine by land, sea and air last Thursday, calling it a special military operation aimed at de-nazifying the country. The 10-day offensive has killed or wounded thousands of people and sent more than one million people seeking refuge across Ukraines borders.

According to the United Nations, more than 1.2 million people have fled Ukraine to neighbouring countries. The numbers could increase in the coming days.
The Federal High Court in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, has convicted and sentenced Idongesit Eyibio to two years imprisonment for misleading the Economic Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

A statement by the EFCC on Friday said the commission accused the convict of concealing vital information in a petition he sent to it for investigation

The judge, Agatha Okeke, jailed Mr Eyibio two years without an option of fine for the offence, the statement by the commissions spokesperson, Wilson Uwujaren added.

EFCC had charged Mr Eyibio with misleading the commission by concealing crucial information in a petition on a case that had already been decided by a competent court on February 6, 2020.

The offence, according to EFCC contravenes the provisions of Section 39(2)(a) of the EFCC Establishment Act 2004 and punishable under Section 39(2)(b) of the same Act.

In its judgment delivered on Thursday, the court held that prosecution proven its case against the defendant beyond reasonable doubt.

The court convicted and sentenced Mr Eyibio accordingly.

Road to Eyibios conviction

Mr Eyibios journey to prison began in 2019 when he filed a petition under a false name alleging lottery fraud against Aniete Ekan of Papi Events & Promotion Limited and the Akwa Ibom State Government.

EFCC said Mr Eyibio failed to disclose in his petition that there was an existing judgment against him, over the same matter.

Although Mr Eyibio made efforts to conceal the existence of an existing ruling against him, the commission said, investigations of his claim revealed that the issue was civil in character and not deserving of criminal enquiry.

The commission said it also communicated its findings to Mr Eyibio.

But despite that, Mr Eyibio who was said to be unsatisfied with the commissions decision, went on Human Rights Radio, also called Brekete Radio, in Abuja to chastise the EFCC for what he described as the commissions failure to look into his plea.

The commission subsequently charged him.

The charge on which he was eventually convicted reads: That you Idonsgesit Samuel Eyibio on or about the 24th day of July, 2019 at Uyo within the jurisdiction of the Honourable Court, did make a statement to officers of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission via a written petition addressed to the office of the said Commission which to your knowledge was intended to mislead the officers of the Commission in investigating the petition and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 39(2)(a) of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission Establishment Act 2004 and punishable under Section 39(2)(b) of the same Act.
The Inspector General of Police, Usman Alkali, has approved a new dress code for female personnel of the Force.

Police spokesperson, Muyiwa Adejobi, made this known in a statement on Friday.

According to Mr Adejobi, female personnel are permitted to wear stud earrings, and headscarf under their berets or peak caps as the case may be while in uniform.

He said the dress code was unveiled during the IGPs meeting with strategic police managers on Thursday.

The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Usman Alkali Baba, psc (+), NPM, fdc, has approved a new and improved dress code for Women Officers which permits them to wear stud earrings, and headscarf under their berets or peak caps as the case may be while in uniform. The dress code was unveiled at the IGPs meeting with Strategic Police Managers on March 3, 2022, the statement said.

He said the new dress code is, however, optional and that senior female police officers have been tasked by the IGP to ensure compliance with the approved standard for women police officers who have opted to adopt it.

Read full statement:

PRESS RELEASE

POLICE WOMEN DRESS CODE: ADOPTED, APPROVED IN LINE WITH INTERNATIONAL BEST PRACTICES

The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Usman Alkali Baba, psc (+), NPM, fdc, has approved a new and improved dress code for Women Officers which permits them to wear stud earrings, and headscarf under their berets or peak caps as the case may be while in uniform. The dress code was unveiled at the IGPs meeting with Strategic Police Managers on March 3, 2022.

The IGP noted that the Nigeria Police workforce has officers from every local government in the country with a variety of ethnic and religious backgrounds, and an increased inclusion of female folks. This therefore brings the need to guarantee inclusion, gender mainstreaming, ethnic and religious diversity in the work place for optimum output and professionalism. This has informed the improvement for effective global workforce diversity management. Other countries that have adopted same dress code include Canada, the United States of America, Sweden, Turkey, Australia and the United Kingdom amongst others.

READ ALSO:

The dress code is optional and Senior Women Police Officers have been tasked by the IGP to ensure compliance with the approved standard for women police officers who have opted to adopt the dress code.

The Inspector-General of Police noted that this development, which is in line with international best practices addresses the growing concern for gender mainstreaming and respect for culture and diversity.

CSP OLUMUYIWA ADEJOBI, mnipr, mipra

Ag. FORCE PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICER

FORCE HEADQUARTERS

ABUJA

MARCH 4, 2022
The third batch of Nigerian evacuees from Ukraine arrived Friday night at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja,

They arrived on a plane owned by Air Peace, one of the airlines billed to airlift Nigerians returning from Ukraine. They were airlifted from Hungary where they had fled following the war in Ukraine.

A total of 174 Nigerians were evacuated on the third flight, according to the federal government.

PREMIUM TIMES reported the arrival of the first and second batch on the same day. About 415 people were evacuated on the first flight while 183 people were on the second flight.

According to a NAN report, the federal government gave 100 dollars to each of the evacuees to help them get to their relatives when they get to Nigeria.

Three of the returnees confirmed to PREMIUM TIMES that they received the money.

The federal government on Wednesday approved $8.5 million for the evacuation of 5,000 stranded Nigerians.

Over one million people have fled Ukraine since the Russian invasion began over a week ago.

Hundreds of people have also been killed or injured in the attacks that have been condemned by many countries and the United Nations.

Russia says it wants to demilitarise Ukraine and ensure it never joins the U.S.-led North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO).

Chiamaka Okafor is a reporter at Premium Times in partnership with Report for the World, which matches local newsrooms with talented emerging journalists to report on under-covered issues around the globe.
Russias defence ministry has announced a ceasefire to allow residents of two besieged cities, Mariupol and Volnovakha, to evacuate, Al Jazeera reports.

Today, March 5, from 10 am Moscow time, the Russian side declares a regime of silence and opens humanitarian corridors for the exit of civilians from Mariupol and Volnovakha, the ministry said.

There is no immediate confirmation from Ukrainian forces, and it is not immediately clear how long the evacuation routes would remain open.

However, a top official in Mariupol said the ceasefire there is to last until 4 p.m. (14:00 GMT).

Russias RIA news agency cited city authorities saying civilians will be allowed to leave Mariupol, Ukraine between 12:00-17:00 Moscow time (9:00 GMT) on Saturday.

Mariupol Mayor Vadym Boychenko was quoted as saying there is no other solution but to allow residents to leave the city safely, given that our hometown is constantly under ruthless fire from the occupiers.

This is not an easy decision, but, as I have always said, Mariupol is not its streets or houses. Mariupol is its population, it is you and me, Mr Boychenko was quoted as saying in a statement.

Both countries had earlier agreed on the need for humanitarian corridors to deliver aid and help civilians exit besieged Ukrainian cities, in the first apparent sign of progress in talks between the warring sides.

Russian negotiator Vladimir Medinsky reported substantial progress at Thursdays talks  the second round of negotiations since Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine. He said the main issue that we settled today is the salvation of people, civilians who have found themselves in a zone of military clashes.

Additionally, Mariupol city council said in a statement that civilians will be able to proceed towards the city of Zaporizhzhia and will be able to use specially arranged bus routes as well as their own cars.

A huge request to all drivers leaving the city, to contribute as much as possible to the evacuation of the civilian population  take people with you, fill vehicles as much as possible, the statement, posted on social media, noted.

The announcement said the evacuation would last over several days to allow the entirety of the civilian population to exit the city.

In the statement, city officials told residents leaving in private vehicles that it was strictly prohibited to go off course from the evacuation routes.

Russia-Ukraine War

Russia commenced attacking Ukraine about a week ago in what President Vladimir Putin said was a special military operation.

Over one million people have fled Ukraine since Russias invasion, the United Nations said, warning that at this rate the exodus could become the biggest refugee crisis this century.
Daar Communications Plc recorded a bounceback to profitability for the financial year 2021, its unaudited earnings report issued on Friday showed, having last reported a positive bottom-line in 2012.

The Abuja-based broadcast company, which had been stacking up losses on account of spiralling operational costs, said revenue for last year accelerated 35 per cent to N4.8 billion from N3.6 billion.

Television income contributed 91 per cent of turnover, while radio provided the rest. No income came from pay TV, according to the financials seen by PREMIUM TIMES.

Daar Communications share has not risen for once since it plunged into prolonged loss starting from the end of 2012, when it was priced at N0.50 per unit. It fell to, and remained at, N0.20 since April 12, 2021, the lowest level any stock is permitted to drop to by Nigerias stock market law.

Both pre-tax and post-tax profit stood at N374.4 million, a departure from a loss position of -N599.6 million reported for 2020. That marked a 162.4 per cent improvement over the previous years figure.

Earnings per share climbed to N0.05 up from N0.07.

Total assets rose marginally by 0.2 per cent from N14.9 billion to N15 billion.
It is quite disheartening for anyone to deliberately or out of ignorance spread lies, disseminate wrong information or give bad impression about any issue of public interest. The historic signing of memorandum of understanding (MoU) between Gombe State Government and Lincoln University College of Malaysia on March 2, 2022 remains an unprecedented achievement that comes at a time when we needed it the most.

Signing the MoU came after multiple voices echoed the need for Gombe State Government, under the leadership of Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya to open the erstwhile abandoned university which was handed over to the governor just a day to his taking over of mantle of leadership with huge debt and myriads of needs and problems. Ironically, some unscrupulous elements see the gesture as an opportunity to achieve their political interest at the detriment of our collective good. These elements are using both social and conventional media to spread rumors, false stories, raise unfounded alarm and cry foul where there is none.

Though I respect everybodys right of expression as enshrined in the constitution, I found it morally compelling to refute some baseless allegations raised by these unpatriotic agents who claim intellectualism but act in contrast to serve their selfish interest.

Most of these false activists claim to be the mouth piece of the people. These self-crowned peoples opinion representatives need to know that the calibre of true representatives of people that gathered to witness the historic event and thousands of people who thronged the venue was a clear manifestation of peoples solidarity with the development initiatives of the state government.

Governor Inuwa Yahaya and his representatives had been searching for partners with the requisite capacity and will to join hands with the state government to save the university from hibernation that could lead to its eventual death. The governor had not rested until he found Lincoln University College of Malaysia, a reputable tertiary institution that agreed to come to Nigeria and invest millions of US dollars as their gesture of serving humanity through investment in education.

Nothing can be farther from the truth than the wrong impression that Lincoln University College (LUC) is a low ranking university. Far from that, LUC is an internationally-recognised university based in Malaysia. The university was established in the year 2002 as Lincoln College (LC) and later upgraded to Lincoln University College in the year 2011. Lincoln University College is one of the premier private institutions of higher learning approved by the Ministry of Higher Education and Malaysian Qualifications Agency (MQA- National Accreditation Board).

The University College is also crowned with five star ranking by the Ministry of Higher Education, Malaysia in 2017. Lincoln University College is listed among the top nine Malaysian universities according to the Times Higher Education (THE) University Impact Rankings 2019. Lincoln University College is also a member of the Association of Commonwealth Universities (ACU), London and a member of International Association of Universities (IAU).

Another argument these people are putting forward is that a fully functional university was handed over to the Yahaya Inuwa administration and that his government abandoned it. While it is true that billions were sunk into building the structures, the fact remains that the school was not commissioned as a university until a day to the handing over, a decision that was clearly meant to incite people against the incoming government.

For the sake of record, no student had ever collected his admission letter, lectures had not commenced while many things were not in place. Is that then a functional university? No! Of course it is not! More so, the self-acclaimed critics will not tell you that the immediate past administration of Mr. Ibrahim Dankwambo left a debt burden of 1.9 billion naira of unsettled contracts in the University.

These people also alleged that the Inuwa-led administration has auctioned the university structures and that there is a hidden agenda to serve the interest of some people. Well, the terms and conditions of the PPP agreement were clearly stated and are there in the media for public consumption.

Let me give them a free tutorial on the clear and transparent agreement entered by Gombe State Government and Lincoln University College of Malaysia. The agreement undoubtedly has myriads of benefits to the government and good people of Gombe State.

It may interest people to know that within the 30 years period of the agreement, Lincoln University College will establish six new faculties including that of Medical Sciences. The faculties will offer 21 First Degree, 18 Masters Degree, six Ph.D and two other certificate courses totaling 47 programmes.

Furthermore, the signed MoU offered 25% academic staff positions and 70% ration of the non-academic cadre to Gombe State indigenes. The development will definitely engage both skilled and unskilled workforce of the state in direct labour thereby reducing unemployment and boosting individuals income.

On admission of students, Gombe State indigenes will be offered 20% quota for all intakes. The indigenes will also enjoy 50% cost reduction in school fees and other related expenses. More so, scholarships will be awarded to indigents who may not have financial strength to get university education. A significant number of the indigenes from poor families will be sponsored by the state government in collaboration with LUC, to study freely in the university.

Apart from the tax the university will be paying, Gombe State Government is also entitled to 10%, 20% and 30% accrued profits corresponding to the first, second and third 10 years of operation respectively. The rest will extensively be used for the earmarked developments and running of the school affairs such as continuous infrastructural maintenance, development of facilities and services within the institution.

Another notable development that will greatly benefit the state is the adoption and upgrading of the General Hospital, Kumo which is currently undergoing complete rehabilitation by the Inuwa-led administration to a teaching hospital of the Lincoln University College, Kumo. This will go a long way in boosting the capacity of healthcare personnel and improve effectiveness and efficiency in healthcare delivery in Kumo and Gombe State in general.

The claim that the University has no legal backing is an utter fabrication. Mr. Chris Maiyaki, the Deputy Executive Secretary of the NUC was present and he even delivered a speech during the signing ceremony. He gave the assurance that NUC has given its green light for the kick starting of the university. The Speaker of Gombe State House of Assembly said they are ever ready to support the University with enabling legislation that will guarantee its smooth take-off and operation in the state.

Anybody who goes through the gibberish submissions of these people will never see them citing any established law or policy which the government of Gombe State violated. They just could not withstand the pain of seeing academic activities running in the varsity under Governor Inuwa Yahaya (Dan Majen Gombe).

The previous administration tactically dodged running two state universities in addition to other numerous tertiary institutions in the state considering the obvious economic realities. But these people and their sympathisers want the present administration to do it.

If we keep politics and selfishness aside, we would all accept the reality that Gombe cannot afford two state universities and that the best option that strikes the balance between impossibility and necessity is the Public-Private-Partnership. That is the only wisdom that can save our dear Gombe State University of Science and Technology, Kumo.

The sound and qualitative leadership plus political sagacity of Governor Inuwa Yahaya is what makes this PPP agreement possible. The MoU is the treaty that brought life to the established and abandoned varsity. It is the wand that would make it a world class university that would favourably compete in the comity of international universities. This is an intergenerational legacy that will continue to benefit the people of Gombe State and beyond for many decades or even centuries to come.
Premium Times Services Ltd, Publishers of Premium Times- an online news brand of both local and international repute  is a media company with headquarters in Abuja, offices in Lagos and Washington D.C. and representatives across Nigerian states.

Premium Times was established in 2011 and is led by seasoned, highly skilled and award-winning professionals with integrity and in-depth knowledge of the journalism industry and digital media space.

With our reputation for balanced and credible reporting, our ethical journalism and ground-breaking and impactful investigative stories, we have become one of the most reliable and preferred news portals in Nigeria and on the continent of Africa. We are among the most-visited websites in Nigeria and on the countrys most-read newspapers list.

We are currently inviting candidates who consider themselves experienced, competent, energetic, and intrepid to be part of our copy-editing team.

Ideal candidates should have the high-level ability:

To spot grammatical and factual errors and clean up copies.

To identify more robust or more relevant angles buried within stories written by reporters and others.

To properly contextualise reports

To enrich reports with relevant background, analyses and context.

To accurately interpret statements/stories even when missed by reporters and other editors.

Candidates must also

Be an agent of change.

Possess strong writing skills.

Have an aversion to corruption.

Have proven experience as a standard/copy editor.

Have good interpersonal relations skills.

Possess inquiring mind and logical reasoning.

Be willing to work.

An academic background in the English Language is an added advantage

Employment Type: Full Time

How to Apply:

Interested candidates should send a detailed curriculum vitae, cover letter of interest, and writing samples in a single word document emailed to hr@premiumtimesng.com (kindly indicate Copy Editor as the subject of the mail). Only suitable and qualified candidates will be contacted.

Premium Times is an equal opportunity employer committed to diversity and inclusion in the workplace. We ensure equal opportunity for all applicants without regard to origin, religious or political affiliations, gender, or other non-merit factors
PHOTO PROVIDEDIts a family affair for (from left) Norm, Kayla, Peyton and Sonya Lague at Lakeside Coffee in Rouses Point. The North Country Chamber of Commerce honored Lakeside as the 2022 Small Business of the Year during its 110th Annual Business Awards Dinner at West Side Ballroom Friday night.
Fast Retailing, Parent Company of UNIQLO, Donates $10M and 200K Clothing Items to UNHCR for Ukraine Support Tweet this

According to UN estimates, the total number of internally displaced people in Ukraine could reach more than seven million and the number of refugees fleeing Ukraine could reach more than four million people. Ukraine and many neighboring countries experience harsh winters, often with below-freezing temperatures continuing well into March, making protection against the cold an urgent matter.

Because of this escalating situation, on March 1, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi called on the world's governments, corporations, and individuals to support the growing needs of refugees. UNHCR urgently requires US$270 million for an initial three-month period, and US$240 million for its regional refugee response for six months.

Fast Retailing started working with UNHCR in 2006, providing clothing assistance to refugees around the world. In 2011, to provide more comprehensive support to people forced to flee, Fast Retailing became the first company based in Asia to enter into a global partnership with UNHCR. Going forward, Fast Retailing will continue to work with UNHCR and stand with people forced to flee.

More information on Fast Retailing support for refugees is available at:

www.fastretailing.com/eng/sustainability/community/refugees.html

* Donations made through Japan for UNHCR, a non-profit organization certified as a National Partner of UNHCR in Japan.

About UNHCR

UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, leads international action to protect people forced to flee because of conflict and persecution. We deliver life-saving assistance like shelter, food and water; help safeguard fundamental human rights; and develop solutions that ensure people have a safe place to call home where they can build a better future.www.unhcr.org

More information about UNHCR's Ukraine Appeal is available at: https://donate.unhcr.org/int/en/ukraine-emergency-uniqlo-emg

About Japan for UNHCR

Japan for UNHCR is a certified non-profit organization established in 2000 as a National Partner of UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, in Japan. In cooperation with the UNHCR Representation in Japan, we conduct public communications and fundraising activities to support UNHCR.

About Fast Retailing

Fast Retailing Co., Ltd. is a leading Japanese retail holding company with global headquarters in Tokyo, Japan. UNIQLO is the largest of eight brands in the Fast Retailing Group, the others being GU, Theory, PLST (Plus T), Comptoir des Cotonniers, Princesse tam.tam, J Brand, and Helmut Lang. With global sales of approximately 2.13 trillion yen for the 2021 fiscal year ending August 31, 2021 (US $19.4 billion, calculated in yen using the end of August 2021 rate of $1 = 109.9 yen), Fast Retailing is one of the world's largest apparel retail companies. With a corporate statement committed to changing clothes, changing conventional wisdom and change the world, Fast Retailing is dedicated to creating great clothing with new and unique value to enrich the lives of people everywhere. For more information about Fast Retailing, please visit www.fastretailing.com.

SOURCE Fast Retailing Co., Ltd.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 17, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The Invest in Holland network, and the Netherlands Foreign Investment Agency (NFIA), which represents the national government as a partner, were involved in 423 investment projects by foreign companies in 2021. This includes both new and expansion investments into the country, and brings the number of companies opting for the Netherlands back to 2019 levels, showing a stabilization of business investment since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The 423 projects are expected to create nearly 13,400 direct jobs and an investment value of EUR 2.3 billion in the first three years. In 2020, the number was substantially lower as COVID-19 led to foreign companies postponing or changing investment decisions.

A growing number of these companies strengthen regional ecosystems and actively contribute to the Netherlands' social and economic goals, relating to innovation, digitalization and sustainability.

Micky Adriaansens, Minister of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy, and responsible for NFIA, emphasizes the importance of foreign businesses for the Netherlands:

"Businesses and entrepreneurs are indispensable to the Netherlands. Foreign companies also make an important contribution to our economy. For example, they account for 30% of the total private expenditure on research and development in the Netherlands. Commissioned by the cabinet, NFIA has since 2020 been focusing more on attracting high-quality business activities related to innovation, digitalization and sustainability. I am pleased that the annual figures are showing the first results of this focus."

Hilde van der Meer, NFIA Commissioner and Chair of the Invest in Holland network: "The Netherlands is committed to finding sustainable, innovative and digital solutions to global challenges. That is why Invest in Holland is keen to welcome and assist foreign companies that contribute to this goal and strengthen our international ecosystems. Our country offers an excellent business climate for scaling up solutions with impact for the European and global market."

Investing in the future together

Since 2020, NFIA and the Invest in Holland network have proactively focused on attracting companies that accelerate sustainability, provide new digital applications or enable future innovations. In 2021, there were already several examples of this new focus.

American company Bristol Myers Squibb (BMS) started the construction of its first European CAR T-cell therapy facility in Leiden in 2021. In this manufacturing center, BMS develops personalized therapies for patients with blood cancer, and contributes to the growth of the Netherlands' leading role in the field of CAR T-cell therapy.

The Scottish company ENOUGH started building a factory that produces alternative proteins in 2021. The factory in Sas van Gent produces circular raw materials from residual products that come from the nearby Cargill facility. ENOUGH also leads a European research consortium into alternative proteins, in which Wageningen University & Research participates as well.

U.S. and India based Quantiphi announced last year that it was opening a new service delivery center in Amsterdam. From this strategic European location, Quantiphi helps to streamline healthcare, education and public sector processes through AI, cloud and data solutions. The company aims to grow its presence in the Netherlands, including further developing their R&D together with Dutch engineers.

Increasing share of companies from Europe

Of the 423 foreign companies that chose the Netherlands in 2021, a third came from Europe (32%), a third from North and South America (30%), and a third from Asia (30%). The share of European companies was larger in 2021 than in previous years.

This growth is largely due to an increased number of companies impacted by Brexit that decided to establish presence in the Netherlands last year. Since the referendum in 2016, 316 Brexit companies (companies that have experienced disruption due to Brexit) have chosen the Netherlands. The activities of these companies in the Netherlands are expected to generate almost 8,000 jobs and EUR 782 million in investments in the first three years.

For more information about foreign direct investment in the Netherlands, visit www.investinholland.com.

SOURCE Netherlands Foreign Investment Agency
Knowing that our body carries an excess of 50% more lymph than blood, once living here in America it was unacceptable for Josie Rushing to learn that people were not talking all about Brazilian Lymphatic Massage here in the U.S. too. (Well, she certainly was.) As of now, Josie is a Celebrity Massage Therapist, Licensed Instructor and has spread her technique among 10 countries and 24 states here in America. Live and Online, the Texas CE Provider has trained hundreds of professionals all over the world.

Brazilian born and raised, Josie immigrated to the U.S. just 5 years ago. Even being discouraged by family and friends, she left her country and started her journey in America with not much. She left her job at a Fortune 500 tech company to fulfill her own American dream.

Starting out as a body contour specialist in her spare bedroom to owning 2 spas in Austin, a home care line of products and is now about to launch her proprietary, Professional Beauty line.

Immigrant, Female, Starting from ground zero, and thereby being outside the standard of an "American entrepreneur", Josie is a prime example that anyone with grit, determination, & tenacity, can make it here in America. (As her saying goes, "It's time to stop making excuses, and start building a future!"

The Brazilian Beauty Formula is expanding its strategy and soon will enter into the tech space with new technology that will lead likeminded women towards that dreamed of 8-figure income.

Contact: [email protected]

SOURCE Josie Rushing
SINGAPORE, March 5, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Biobot Surgical is excited to announce U.S. FDA 510(k) clearance of the iSR'obot Mona Lisa 2.0. The new robotic assisted transperineal needle-guidance system allows urologists to plan and position a single needle or multiple needles during image-guided diagnostic and interventional prostate procedures.

The iSR'obot Mona Lisa 2.0 is the latest addition to Biobot Surgical's iSR'obot Mona Lisa product portfolio. "The Mona Lisa system was conceptualized and engineered to position biopsy or treatment needles transperineally. The advantages of transperineal procedures are lower infection rates and better coverage of the anterior zone compared to transrectal procedures. In addition, most ablation procedures are also carried out transperineally. The Mona Lisa system simplifies needle positioning by providing robotic assisted guidance for the insertion." said Sim Kok Hwee, CEO of Biobot Surgical.

The iSR'obot Mona Lisa 2.0 automatically supports needle positioning during transperineal prostate biopsy and prostate cancer ablation based on a customized needle plan.

The new features include:

A detachable needle guide that holds a biopsy needle or multiple ablation needles

Visualization and planning of the needle locations for a prostate cancer ablation procedure

Ability to re-adjust a target location when the needle deflects

The second-generation iSR'obot Mona Lisa system retains the MR-ultrasound image-fusion prostate biopsy technology. The robotic system's proprietary dual-cone needle trajectory technology enables the extraction of multiple biopsy cores through the same needle entry points. The first-generation iSR'obot Mona Lisa is marketed in Europe, Australia, and Asia. Clinical studies have demonstrated that iSR'obot Mona Lisa has a clinically significant prostate cancer detection rate of 81 percent higher than cognitive fusion biopsy. Clinical data also shows that the transperineal, dual-cone needle trajectory technology minimizes infection complications[1-4].

Biobot Surgical Pte. Ltd is headquartered in Singapore and focuses on medical robotics solutions. The company is expanding its core technology in precision needle positioning to address comprehensive prostate cancer care to improve patient prostate cancer outcomes.

For more information: https://biobotsurgical.com/

References: 1. Mischinger, J., Kaufmann, S., Russo, G. I., Harland, N., Rausch, S., Amend, B., Scharpf, M., Loewe, L., Todenhoefer, T., Notohamiprodjo, M., Nikolaou, K., Stenzl, A., Bedke, J., & Kruck, S. (2018). Targeted vs systematic robot-assisted transperineal magnetic resonance imaging-transrectal ultrasonography fusion prostate biopsy. BJU international, 121(5), 791798. https://doi.org/10.1111/bju.14089 2. Miah, S., Servian, P., Patel, A., Lovegrove, C., Skelton, L., Shah, T. T., Eldred-Evans, D., Arya, M., Tam, H., Ahmed, H. U., & Winkler, M. (2020). A prospective analysis of robotic targeted MRI-US fusion prostate biopsy using the centroid targeting approach. Journal of robotic surgery, 14(1), 6974. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11701-019-00929-y 3. Zhang, K., Zhang, Z., Liu, M., Zhu, G., & Roobol, M. J. (2020). Comparison of clinically significant prostate cancer detection by MRI cognitive biopsy and in-bore MRI-targeted biopsy for naive biopsy patients. Translational andrology and urology, 9(2), 243249. https://doi.org/10.21037/tau.2020.02.20 4. Valerio, M., Donaldson, I., Emberton, M., Ehdaie, B., Hadaschik, B. A., Marks, L. S., Mozer, P., Rastinehad, A. R., & Ahmed, H. U. (2015). Detection of Clinically Significant Prostate Cancer Using Magnetic Resonance Imaging-Ultrasound Fusion Targeted Biopsy: A Systematic Review. European urology, 68(1), 819. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eururo.2014.10.026

SOURCE Biobot Surgical
Sands was the first Senate candidate on television, highlighting her service in the Trump Administration and her strong opposition to the policies of the Biden administration.

Her team of volunteers cultivated during her campaign is hard at work to gain access to the primary ballot.

"I'm greatly encouraged by where the race stands today. The people of Pennsylvania have responded to my America First message and are ready to send me to represent their values in the United States Senate," Ambassador Carla Sands remarked.

ABOUT CARLA SANDS:

A native of Cumberland County, Carla Sands has led a life of accomplishment serving as CEO of the Capital Group, serving on President Donald Trump's Economic Advisory Council and as the United States Ambassador to Denmark. After her service in the Trump Administration, Carla returned to her hometown and launched a campaign to bring her America First ideals to the United States.

Contact: [email protected]

SOURCE Friends of Carla Sands
CLEVELAND, March 4, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Thursday evening The Last Page restaurant held a fundraiser for The Cleveland Maidan, an association that is currently helping Ukrainian refugees fleeing the country.

The idea came from one of the business's partners, Jon Gross, who has family ties to Ukraine. "My wife grew up in Kiev and she's in contact with people trying to get out. Even though it's on the other side of the world, our house is affected by the gravity of the situation. Knowing how close knit Cleveland's Ukrainian community is, and having our own ties to the country, The Last Page and it's staff wanted to do whatever we could to help. And for us the fastest thing we could do is donate all proceeds from the evening to an organization already doing great work."

"The support last night was incredible," Gross continued. "We put the event together quickly with an email to loyal guests and by sharing on our social media. It was one of our busiest nights since we opened. I can't express how much it meant to me to see these two communities I spend so much time with, our TLP family and Ukrainian expats, coming together in a time of need."

Anyone who was unable to attend in person and would like to make a donation to Cleveland Maidan Association can do so at https://www.paypal.com/fundraiser/charity/75762

The Last Page, a Kind of One Concepts restaurant, is located in Pinecrest (100 Park Ave, Cleveland OH 44122)

CONTACT: [email protected]

SOURCE Kind of One Concepts
NEW YORK, March 4, 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:

First Horizon Corp. (FHN), relating to its proposed acquisition by by TD Bank Group. Under the terms of the agreement, FHN shareholders are expected to receive $25.00 in cash per share they own. Click here for more information: https://www.monteverdelaw.com/case/first-horizon-corp. It is free and there is no cost or obligation to you.

Cedar Realty Trust, Inc. (CDR), relating to its proposed acquisition by Wheeler Real Estate Investment Trust, Inc. Under the terms of the agreement, CDR shareholders are expected to receive $29.00 in cash per share they own. Click here for more information: https://www.monteverdelaw.com/case/cedar-realty-trust-inc. It is free and there is no cost or obligation to you.

Healthcare Realty Trust, Inc. (HR), relating to its proposed merger with Healthcare Trust of America, Inc. Under the terms of the agreement, each share of HR common stock will be exchanged for one share of HTA common stock, with HR shareholders expected to own 39% of the combined company. Click here for more information: https://www.monteverdelaw.com/case/healthcare-realty-trust-inc. It is free and there is no cost or obligation to you.

IntriCon Corp. (IIN), relating to its proposed acquisition by an affiliate of Altaris Capital Partners, LLC. Under the terms of the agreement, IIN shareholders are expected to receive $24.25 in cash per share they own. Click here for more information: https://www.monteverdelaw.com/case/intricon-corp. It is free and there is no cost or obligation to you.

Renewable Energy Group, Inc. (REGI), relating to its proposed acquisition by Chevron Corp. Under the terms of the agreement, REGI shareholders will receive $61.50 in cash per share they own. Click here for more information: https://www.monteverdelaw.com/case/renewable-energy-group-inc. It is free and there is no cost or obligation to you.

Mimecast Limited (MIME), relating to its sale to Permira. Under the terms of the agreement, MIME shareholders will receive $80.00 in cash per share they own. Click here for more information: https://www.monteverdelaw.com/case/mimecast-limited. 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
Get a detailed competitor analysis on our sample report: Download Now

Event Management Software Sourcing and Procurement Market Analysis

Analysis of the cost and volume drivers and supply market forecasts in various regions are offered in this Event Management Software Sourcing and Procurement research report. This market intelligence report also analyzes the top supply markets and the critical cost drivers that can aid buyers and suppliers devise a cost-effective category management strategy.

Get a FREE sample report to know more

Insights Delivered into the Event Management Software Sourcing and Procurement Market

This market intelligence report on Event Management Software Sourcing and Procurement answers to all the critical problems faced by investors who seek cost-saving opportunities in a competitive market. It also offers actionable anecdotes on the industry structure and supply market forecasts including highlights of the top vendors in this market. Our procurement experts have determined effective category pricing strategies that are attuned to the dynamics of this market which can be leveraged to maximize revenue generation against minimum investments on the products.

The reports help buyers understand:

Global and regional spend potential for Event Management Software Sourcing and Procurement for the period of 2022-2026

Risk management and sustainability strategies

Incumbent supplier evaluation metrics

Pricing outlook and factors influencing the procurement process

This Event Management Software Sourcing and Procurement Market procurement research report offers coverage of:

Regional spend dynamism and factors impacting costs

The total cost of ownership and cost-saving opportunities

Supply chain margins and pricing models

For more information on the exact spend growth rate and yearly category spend: www.spendedge.com/report/event-management-software-sourcing-and-procurement-intelligence-report

This market intelligence report identifies the major costs incurred by suppliers and provides additional information on:

Competitiveness index for suppliers

Market favorability index for suppliers

Supplier and buyer KPIs

Some of our best-selling reports Include:

Rapeseed Oil - Forecast and Analysis: The rapeseed oil will grow at a CAGR of 5.51% during 2021-2025. Prices will increase by 4%-8% during the forecast period and suppliers will have a moderate bargaining power in this market. High-Fructose Corn Syrup Sourcing and Procurement Report: This report offers key advisory and intelligence to help buyers identify and shortlist the most suitable suppliers for their high-fructose corn syrup requirements. Some of the leading high-fructose corn syrup suppliers profiled are extensively in this report. Cardamom Oil - Sourcing and Procurement Intelligence Report: This report evaluates suppliers based on requesting for samples of cardamom oil from suppliers to check the quality, backward integration sourcing, suppliers possessing certifications and accreditations, and methods implemented in extraction process.

Table of Content

Executive Summary

Market Insights

Category Pricing Insights

Cost-saving Opportunities

Best Practices

Category Ecosystem

Category Management Strategy

Category Management Enablers

Suppliers Selection

Suppliers under Coverage

US Market Insights

Category scope

Appendix

About SpendEdge:

SpendEdge shares your passion for driving sourcing and procurement excellence. We are the preferred procurement market intelligence partner for 120+ Fortune 500 firms and other leading companies across numerous industries. Our strength lies in delivering robust, real-time procurement market intelligence reports and solutions.

Contacts

SpendEdge

Anirban Choudhury

Marketing Manager

Ph No: +1 (872) 206-9340

https://www.spendedge.com/contact-us

SOURCE SpendEdge
NEW YORK, March 4, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The sustainable energy NGO Energy Vision released its 2021 annual assessment of the US renewable natural gas (RNG) industry, conducted for the U.S. Department of Energy's Argonne National Laboratory.

It documents rapid growth in RNG production nationwide. The number of RNG production facilities grew 33.5% (from 313 in December 2020 to 418 by the close of 2021), including 230 RNG facilities now operating (up 46% from 2020), 108 under construction (up 42%), and at least 80 new projects in planning.

This growth has increased production capacity 24% since 2020. The US can now produce enough RNG fuel to displace nearly 574 million gallons of diesel annually. That can power 63,800 refuse trucks (35% of the US total). Robust capacity growth should continue in the years ahead.

Decomposing organic wastes (landfill, wastewater, animal manure, food waste), the feedstocks for RNG, account for 30% of US methane emissions. Energy Vision estimates that capturing and processing half of these wastes into RNG would cut methane 15%, getting the US halfway to its Methane Pledge goal of cutting 30% by 2030.

Realizing full domestic RNG resource potential (up to 30 times greater than current production) would generate enough fuel to displace over 25% of current on-road diesel demand (>10 billion gallons/yr), cutting GHG emissions by an estimated 300 million metric tons annually on a lifecycle basis. Diesel-powered fleets that convert to RNG can meet and exceed the international goal of cutting lifecycle GHG emissions 80% by 2050, and they will do so not 30 years from now, but today.

Matt Tomich, president of Energy Vision, said "Expanding RNG production in the US will be critical in meeting our Methane Pledge, as it is the most effective strategy for cutting methane emissions from our vast organic waste streams and agricultural activities. The more RNG we produce, and the faster production ramps up, the greater the climate benefits will be."

"RNG can decarbonize a meaningful share of the fuel consumed by heavy-duty vehicles," said Marianne Mintz, who manages the project for Argonne National Laboratory. "This new Energy Vision assessment shows how rapidly RNG production is ramping up to meet that challenge."

"We're getting serious about stopping fugitive methane emissions from the fossil fuel industry," said Joanna Underwood, Energy Vision's founder. "That's critical, but oil, gas, and coal account for only 37% of US methane emissions, compared to 53% from organics and agriculture. There are literally millions of leaks in fossil fuel infrastructure to plug up. By comparison, there are a few thousand major sources of methane-emitting organic wastes. We know where they are and we can address them now by producing RNG. Doing so would create tens of thousands of new permanent jobs -- a win-win situation."

You can access the full release here.

Contact: Stephen Kent, [email protected], 914-589-5988

SOURCE Energy Vision
WASHINGTON, March 4, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The Population Institute (PI) released its tenth annual 50 State Report Card on Reproductive Health and Rights, which tracks multiple indicators of reproductive health and rights, including access to family planning, sex education, and abortion services.

This year's grades are the worst yet and reflect how far the gap between states prioritizing reproductive health and rights and those seeking to eliminate them has widened over the last decade.

Since the first PI Report Card was issued in 2013, the overall grade for the U.S. nationally dropped from a C- to an F, and the number of failing states grew from nine the first year to 25 this year. Six states got "A"s. Separate report cards for each state are posted here.

Last year Texas passed S.B. 8, a six-week abortion ban, in which the U.S. Supreme Court declined to intervene. It allows anyone in the U.S. to sue Texas abortion providers and anyone who assist patients in receiving an abortion.

S.B. 8 is a bellwether for national reproductive rights for two reasons: First, one in 10 women of reproductive age in the U.S. live in Texas, and today they are effectively already denied the right to abortion care guaranteed by Roe v. Wade. Second, legislatures in 11 states are working on abortion bans similar to the Texas law, and more could follow suit even extending beyond abortion into other attacks on bodily autonomy like trans rights.

This week, six months after SB8 took effect, the Senate blocked passage of the Women's Health Protection Act, a bill that would have protected the right to abortion free from medically unnecessary restrictions.

"At a stroke, SB8 stopped the people of Texas from exercising their right to basic reproductive health care, and effectively overturned Roe v. Wade for 1 in 10 women of reproductive age in the United States," wrote Population Institute public policy director Jennie Wetter in Newsweek this week. "Now, in the absence of a federal law protecting those rights, people in many other states may soon share the same predicament. This comes at a time when the U.S. is already failing in reproductive health and rights. This year's grades were the worst in the report card's 10-year history."

Contact: Stephen Kent, [email protected] 914-589-5988

SOURCE Population Institute
NEW YORK, March 4, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- WeissLaw LLP is investigating possible breaches of fiduciary duty and other violations of law by the board of directors of First Horizon Corporation ("First Horizon" or the "Company") (NYSE: FHN), in connection with the proposed acquisition of the Company by TD Bank Group (TSX andNYSE: TD). Under the terms of the merger agreement, the Company's shareholders will receive $25.00 in cash for each share of First Horizon common stock that they hold. The transaction is valued at approximately $13.4 billion.

If you own First Horizon shares and wish to discuss this investigation or have any questions concerning this notice or your rights or interests, visit our website:

https://www.weisslaw.co/news-and-cases/fhn

Or please contact:

Joshua Rubin, Esq.

WeissLaw LLP

305 Broadway, 7th Floor

New York, NY 10007

(212) 682-3025

(888) 593-4771

[email protected]

WeissLaw LLP is investigating whether (i) First Horizon's board of directors acted in the best interests of Company shareholders in agreeing to the proposed transaction, (ii) the $25.00 per-share merger consideration adequately compensates First Horizon's shareholders, and (iii) all information regarding the sales process and valuation of the transaction will be fully and fairly disclosed.

WeissLaw LLP has litigated hundreds of stockholder class and derivative actions for violations of corporate and fiduciary duties. We have recovered over a billion dollars for defrauded clients and obtained important corporate governance relief in many of these cases. If you have information or would like legal advice concerning possible corporate wrongdoing (including insider trading, waste of corporate assets, accounting fraud, or materially misleading information), consumer fraud (including false advertising, defective products, or other deceptive business practices), or anti-trust violations, please email us at [email protected]

SOURCE WeissLaw LLP
Gifts Novelty and Souvenirs Market: Technological advances leading to product innovation and premiumization to drive growth

Innovation and advances in technology have heightened the demand for innovative products. Also, consumers are exhibiting high demand for modern and advanced products that suit the interior of their houses. To meet such growing consumer demands, vendors are continuously investing in R&D to innovate and introduce new products and sustain in the market. This is resulting in the premiumization and expansion of product lines of vendors, which is expected to drive the growth of the market during the forecast period.

As per Technavio, the increased demand for personalized gift products will have a positive impact on the market and contribute to its growth significantly over the forecast period. This research report also analyzes other significant trends and market drivers that will influence market growth over 2021-2025.

Gifts Novelty And Souvenirs Market: Increased demand for personalized gift products

Personalized gifts are gaining popularity during occasions such as retirement, promotion, birthdays, New Year, and Women's Day. The growing popularity of personalized gifts is driving vendors to introduce gift personalization services and develop long-term relationships with customers and encourage them to repeatedly make purchases. This trend is expected to increase the sales of vendors, thereby driving the growth of the global gifts novelty and souvenirs market during the forecast period.

"The growing culture of gifting and increase in inbound international tourism will further accelerate the growth of the market", says an analyst at Technavio

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Gifts Novelty And Souvenirs Market: Segmentation Analysis

This market research report segments the gifts novelty and souvenirs market by product (souvenirs and novelty items, seasonal decorations, greeting cards, and other gift items), distribution channel (offline and online), and geography (Europe, North America, APAC, South America, and MEA).

The souvenirs and novelty items accounted for maximum sales in the market in 2021. The growth of the segment can be attributed to evolving consumer buying patterns, which include the purchase of occasion and theme-specific products. To capitalize on this buying behavior, vendors are focusing on introducing a wide range of occasion and theme-based products. Also, the proliferation of online shopping portals that offer a wide variety of gifting products is contributing to the growth of the segment.

Similarly, the market witnessed high sales through offline distribution channels in 2021. The introduction of new business and retail strategies such as product offerings and pricing strategies by vendors have been crucial in driving the growth of the segment. However, sales through offline distribution channels are expected to gradually decline due to the shift in consumer preference for online shopping.

The European region led the gifts novelty and souvenirs market in 2021, followed by North America, APAC, South America, and MEA respectively. During the forecast period, Europe is expected to register the highest incremental growth due to the early penetration of e-commerce in the region. Also, the surge in the number of international tourists and the rise in the number of new players will foster the growth of the regional market during the forecast period.

Know about other key revenue-generating segments in the market and make confident decisions.

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Some of the key topics covered in the report include:

Market Drivers

Market Challenges

Market Trends

Vendor Landscape

Vendors covered

Vendor classification

Market positioning of vendors

Competitive scenario

Related Reports:

Gift Card Market by Type and Geography Forecast and Analysis 2022-2026

Non-Photo Personalized Gifts Market by Product, Distribution Channel, and Geography Forecast and Analysis 2022-2026

Gifts Novelty and Souvenirs Market Scope Report Coverage Details Page number 120 Base year 2020 Forecast period 2021-2025 Growth momentum & CAGR Accelerate at a CAGR of 3% Market growth 2021-2025 USD 11.88 billion Market structure Fragmented YoY growth (%) 3.00 Regional analysis Europe, North America, APAC, South America, and MEA Performing market contribution Europe at 35% Key consumer countries US, China, France, Germany, and UK Competitive landscape Leading companies, competitive strategies, consumer engagement scope Companies profiled American Greetings Corp., Archies Ltd., Card Factory Plc, funkypigeon.com Ltd., Hallmark Licensing LLC, PersonalizationMall.com LLC, Redbubble Ltd., Scotts Highland Services Ltd., Spencer Gifts LLC, and The Walt Disney Co. Market Dynamics Parent market analysis, Market growth inducers and obstacles, Fast-growing and slow-growing segment analysis, COVID-19 impact and future consumer dynamics, market condition analysis for the forecast period. Customization purview If our report has not included the data that you are looking for, you can reach out to our analysts and get segments customized.

Table of Contents:

1. Executive Summary

2. Market Landscape

2.1 Market ecosystem

2.1.1 Parent market

Exhibit 01: Parent market

Exhibit 02: Market Characteristics

2.2 Value chain analysis

Exhibit 03: Value chain analysis: personal products

2.2.1 Inputs

2.2.2 Inbound logistics

2.2.3 Operations

2.2.4 Outbound logistics

2.2.5 Marketing and sales

2.2.6 Support activities

2.2.7 Innovation

3. Market Sizing

3.1 Market definition

Exhibit 04: Offerings of vendors included in the market definition

3.2 Market segment analysis

Exhibit 05: Market segments

3.3 Market size 2020

3.4 Market outlook: Forecast for 2020 - 2025

Exhibit 06: Global - Market size and forecast 2020 - 2025 ($ billion)

Exhibit 07: Global market: Year-over-year growth 2020 - 2025 (%)

4. Five Forces Analysis

4.1 Five Forces Summary

Exhibit 08: Five forces analysis 2020 & 2025

4.2 Bargaining power of buyers

Exhibit 09: Bargaining power of buyers

4.3 Bargaining power of suppliers

Exhibit 10: Bargaining power of suppliers

4.4 Threat of new entrants

Exhibit 11: Threat of new entrants

4.5 Threat of substitutes

Exhibit 12: Threat of substitutes

4.6 Threat of rivalry

Exhibit 13: Threat of rivalry

4.7 Market condition

Exhibit 14: Market condition - Five forces 2020

5. Market Segmentation by Product

5.1 Market segments

Exhibit 15: Product - Market share 2020-2025 (%)

5.2 Comparison by Product

Exhibit 16: Comparison by Product

5.3 Souvenirs and novelty items - Market size and forecast 2020-2025

Exhibit 17: Souvenirs and novelty items - Market size and forecast 2020-2025 ($ billion)

Exhibit 18: Souvenirs and novelty items - Year-over-year growth 2020-2025 (%)

5.4 Seasonal decorations - Market size and forecast 2020-2025

Exhibit 19: Seasonal decorations - Market size and forecast 2020-2025 ($ billion)

Exhibit 20: Seasonal decorations - Year-over-year growth 2020-2025 (%)

5.5 Greeting cards - Market size and forecast 2020-2025

Exhibit 21: Greeting cards - Market size and forecast 2020-2025 ($ billion)

Exhibit 22: Greeting cards - Year-over-year growth 2020-2025 (%)

5.6 Other gift items - Market size and forecast 2020-2025

Exhibit 23: Other gift items - Market size and forecast 2020-2025 ($ billion)

Exhibit 24: Other gift items - Year-over-year growth 2020-2025 (%)

5.7 Market opportunity by Product

Exhibit 25: Market opportunity by Product

6. Market Segmentation by Distribution channel

6.1 Market segments

Exhibit 26: Distribution channel - Market share 2020-2025 (%)

6.2 Comparison by Distribution channel

Exhibit 27: Comparison by Distribution channel

6.3 Offline - Market size and forecast 2020-2025

Exhibit 28: Offline - Market size and forecast 2020-2025 ($ billion)

Exhibit 29: Offline - Year-over-year growth 2020-2025 (%)

6.4 Online - Market size and forecast 2020-2025

Exhibit 30: Online - Market size and forecast 2020-2025 ($ billion)

Exhibit 31: Online - Year-over-year growth 2020-2025 (%)

6.5 Market opportunity by Distribution channel

Exhibit 32: Market opportunity by Distribution channel

7. Customer landscape

Exhibit 33: Customer landscape

8. Geographic Landscape

8.1 Geographic segmentation

Exhibit 34: Market share by geography 2020-2025 (%)

8.2 Geographic comparison

Exhibit 35: Geographic comparison

8.4 Europe - Market size and forecast 2020-2025

Exhibit 36: Europe - Market size and forecast 2020-2025 ($ billion)

Exhibit 37: Europe - Year-over-year growth 2020-2025 (%)

8.3 North America - Market size and forecast 2020-2025

Exhibit 38: North America - Market size and forecast 2020-2025 ($ billion)

Exhibit 39: North America - Year-over-year growth 2020-2025 (%)

8.5 APAC - Market size and forecast 2020-2025

Exhibit 40: APAC - Market size and forecast 2020-2025 ($ billion)

Exhibit 41: APAC - Year-over-year growth 2020-2025 (%)

8.6 South America - Market size and forecast 2020-2025

Exhibit 42: South America - Market size and forecast 2020-2025 ($ billion)

Exhibit 43: South America - Year-over-year growth 2020-2025 (%)

8.7 MEA - Market size and forecast 2020-2025

Exhibit 44: MEA - Market size and forecast 2020-2025 ($ billion)

Exhibit 45: MEA - Year-over-year growth 2020-2025 (%)

8.8 Key leading countries

Exhibit 46: Key leading countries

8.9 Market opportunity by geography

Exhibit 47: Market opportunity by geography ($ billion)

9. Drivers, Challenges, and Trends

9.1 Market drivers

9.1.1 Technological advances leading to product innovation and premiumization

9.1.2 Growing culture of gifting

9.1.3 Increase in inbound international tourism propelling the sales of gift items

9.2 Market challenges

9.2.1 Availability of alternate products for social expression

9.2.2 Seasonal nature of business

9.2.3 Highly complex inventory, supply chain, and merchandising management

Exhibit 48: Impact of drivers and challenges

9.3 Market trends

9.3.1 Increased demand for personalized gift products

9.3.2 Growing demand for non-seasonal gifts

9.3.3 Increased offering of specialized merchandise

10. Vendor Landscape

10.1 Overview

Exhibit 49: Vendor landscape

10.3 Landscape disruption

Exhibit 50: Landscape disruption

Exhibit 51: Industry risks

11. Vendor Analysis

11.1 Vendors covered

Exhibit 52: Vendors covered

11.2 Market positioning of vendors

Exhibit 53: Market positioning of vendors

11.3 American Greetings Corp.

Overview

Product and service

Key news

Key offerings

11.4 Archies Ltd.

Overview

Product and service

Key offerings

11.5 Card Factory Plc

Overview

Business segments

Key offerings

Segment focus

11.6 funkypigeon.com Ltd.

Overview

Product and service

Key offerings

11.7 Hallmark Licensing LLC

Overview

Product and service

Key offerings

11.8 PersonalizationMall.com LLC

Overview

Product and service

Key offerings

11.9 Redbubble Ltd.

Overview

Product and service

Key news

Key offerings

11.10 Scotts Highland Services Ltd.

Overview

Product and service

Key offerings

11.11 Spencer Gifts LLC

Overview

Product and service

Key offerings

11.12 The Walt Disney Co.

Overview

Business segments

Key News

Key offerings

Segment focus

12. Appendix

12.1 Scope of the report

12.1.1 Market Definition

12.1.2 Objectives

12.1.3 Notes and caveats

12.2 Currency conversion rates for US$

Exhibit 89: Currency conversion rates for US$

12.3 Research Methodology

Exhibit 90: Research Methodology

Exhibit 91: Validation techniques employed for market sizing

Exhibit 92: Information sources

12.4 List of abbreviations

Exhibit 93: List of abbreviations

About Technavio

Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focuses on emerging market trends and provides actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions.

With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning across 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios.

Contacts

Technavio Research

Jesse Maida

Media & Marketing Executive

US: +1 844 364 1100

UK: +44 203 893 3200

Email: [email protected]

Website: www.technavio.com/

SOURCE Technavio
LOS ANGELES, March 4, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Vermont Slauson Economic Development Corporation celebrated Black History Month by honoring three local leaders and a Black-owned business competition for startups and small businesses.

VSEDC honored Sharon Coleman, CEO of Coleman Construction and President of the Southern California Chapter of the National Association of Minority Contractors, Robert Lewis, Chair and President of BCIF  the Black Cooperative Investment Fund, and the Honorable Sydney K. Kamlager, a California State Senator representing the 30th Senate District.

Chosen from a field of 60 applicants, six finalists pitched their businesses to a panel of judges and an audience of lenders and other small businesses. Finalists were scored by traditional and non-traditional lenders which included representatives from Wells Fargo, Union Bank, Citibank, JPMorgan Chase, Comerica, LISC and the Black Cooperative Investment Fund.

First, second, and third place winners received $1,500, $1,000 and $500, respectively. The Audience Choice Award winner also walked away with an additional $500.

Among the startups, Eben Rey, representing NEIO Systems' The Array, proposed a county-wide emergency system connected to public LED screens, won first prize and the Audience Choice Award. Talia Boone of Postal Petals, a DIY flower arranging company that sources with local growers, won second prize, and Lawrencia Blount of Lawrencia Bridal Couture, a bridal fashion boutique studio, came in third.

Among the small businesses first prize went to Enjunaya Canton who pitched Zuhuri Beauty, an all-natural organic beauty products line. Second prize went to Trevor Hoover, who pitched his chicken wings restaurant with his grandma's hot sauce recipe, Wingopolis. Nickeya Hannah came in third with Hygiene First, a vending machine company stocked with hygiene products.

Vermont Slauson Economic Development Corporation (VSEDC) is a community-based nonprofit and Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) recognized for decades of technical and entrepreneurial assistance to South LA small businesses, start-ups and entrepreneurs. The service VSEDC provides serves to drive community self-sufficiency, facilitate business growth, access to affordable housing, goods and services, and job creation. VSEDC achieves this through youth education and entrepreneurial projects, CDFI programs, and fundraising efforts. Find out more about VSEDC at www.vsedc.org, Facebook and Twitter.

SOURCE Vermont Slauson Economic Development Corporation
To understand more about Market Dynamics. Download our FREE sample report

The Wire-to-Board Connector Market is expected to increase by USD 1.06 billion from 2021 to 2026, and the market's growth momentum will accelerate at a CAGR of 4.72% as per the latest market report by Technavio. The wire-to-board connector market share growth by the computer and peripherals segment will be significant for revenue generation. The advances in technologies have also increased advances in Internet technologies. This advancement has led to network upgrades, thereby leading to the up-gradation of connectors to ensure high-speed transmission. The IT sector is a major end-user of IC sockets. However, with the evolution of advanced connectors and the growth of the IT industry, the demand for wire-to-board connectors is expected to grow at a slow rate during the forecast period.

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Vendor Insights-

The Wire-to-Board Connector Market is fragmented, and the vendors are deploying growth strategies such as focusing on product delivery through multiple distribution channels to compete in the market.

3M .co - The company offers radiation therapy equipment named CyberKnife system.

The company offers radiation therapy equipment named CyberKnife system. amphenol.com -The company offers a wide range of radiation therapy equipment such as TruGuard, MoldCare Pillows, and others.

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Regional Market Outlook

The Wire-to-Board Connector Market share growth in APAC will be significant during the forecast period. 44% of the market's growth will originate from APAC during the forecast period. China, South Korea, and Japan are the key markets for the wire-to-board connector in APAC. Market growth in this region will be faster than the growth of the market in other regions. The presence of globally leading companies in the military and defense sectors and the high demand from various military establishments in the region, especially from China, will facilitate the wire-to-board connector market growth in APAC over the forecast period

Download our FREE sample report for more key highlights on the regional market share of most of the above-mentioned countries.

Latest Drivers & Trends Driving the Market-

Wire-to-Board Connector Market Driver:

Increased adoption of automotive electronics:



The key factors driving growth in the wire-to-board connector market is the increased adoption of automotive electronics. Automotive connectors form a major element in all these electronic devices used in automobiles. Automotive components contribute to a major share of the manufacturing costs of vehicles. With the increase in the adoption of highly advanced electronic systems such as driver assistance systems, audio controls, cruise control, diagnostic systems, and infotainment systems, the use of automotive connectors has also increased in vehicles. In addition, stringent government regulations on carbon emissions have promoted the use of emission sensors that aid in keeping carbon emissions in check. All these electronic systems and sensors need automotive connectors to transfer information and ensure the efficient working of these components.

Wire-to-Board Connector Market Trend:

Miniaturization of electronic devices:



The miniaturization of electronic devices is a major supporting the wire-to-board connector market share growth. Technological advances have positively influenced the growth of the electronic devices market to a large extent. The increasing demand for these electronic devices has encouraged manufacturers to invest huge amounts in R&D. With technological advances, the size of electronic devices has reduced considerably over the years. Customers are now demanding highly reliable and compact electronic devices. The miniaturization of electronic devices is mainly due to the need to reduce raw material costs and the increasing need for smaller assemblies in certain applications.

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Wire-to-Board Connector Market Scope Report Coverage Details Page number 120 Base year 2021 Forecast period 2022-2026 Growth momentum & CAGR Accelerate at a CAGR of 4.72% Market growth 2022-2026 USD 1.06 billion Market structure Fragmented YoY growth (%) 4.4 Performing market contribution APAC at 44% Competitive landscape Leading companies, competitive strategies, consumer engagement scope Companies profiled 3M Co., Amphenol Corp., ERNI Deutschland GmbH, Foxconn Technology Group, HARTING Technology Group, HIROSE ELECTRIC Co. Ltd., Japan Aviation Electronics Industry Ltd., JST Mfg. Co. Ltd., Koch Industries Inc., KYOCERA Corp., Norcomp Inc., Phoenix Contact GmbH and Co. KG, Samtec Inc., TE Connectivity Ltd., WAGO Kontakttechnik GmbH & Co. KG, Wurth Elektronik GmbH and Co. KG, and Yamaichi Electronics Co. Market Dynamics Parent market analysis, Market growth inducers and obstacles, Fast-growing and slow-growing segment analysis, COVID-19 impact and future consumer dynamics, market condition analysis for the forecast period. Customization purview If our report has not included the data that you are looking for, you can reach out to our analysts and get segments customized.

Table of Contents:

1 Executive Summary

1.1 Market overview

Exhibit 01: Executive Summary  Chart on Market Overview



Exhibit 02: Executive Summary  Data Table on Market Overview



Exhibit 03: Executive Summary  Chart on Global Market Characteristics



Exhibit 04: Executive Summary  Chart on Market by Geography



Exhibit 05: Executive Summary  Chart on Market Segmentation by Application



Exhibit 06: Executive Summary  Chart on Incremental Growth



Exhibit 07: Executive Summary  Data Table on Incremental Growth



Exhibit 08: Executive Summary  Chart on Vendor Market Positioning

2 Market Landscape

2.1 Market ecosystem

Exhibit 09: Parent market



Exhibit 10: Market Characteristics

3 Market Sizing

3.1 Market definition

Exhibit 11: Offerings of vendors included in the market definition

3.2 Market segment analysis

Exhibit 12: Market segments

3.3 Market size 2021

3.4 Market outlook: Forecast for 2021-2026

Exhibit 13: Chart on Global - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



Exhibit 14: Data Table on Global - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



Exhibit 15: Chart on Global Market: Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)



Exhibit 16: Data Table on Global Market: Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

4 Five Forces Analysis

4.1 Five forces summary

Exhibit 17: Five forces analysis - Comparison between 2021 and 2026

4.2 Bargaining power of buyers

Exhibit 18: Bargaining power of buyers  Impact of key factors in 2021 and 2026

4.3 Bargaining power of suppliers

Exhibit 19: Bargaining power of suppliers  Impact of key factors in 2021 and 2026

4.4 Threat of new entrants

Exhibit 20: Threat of new entrants  Impact of key factors in 2021 and 2026

4.5 Threat of substitutes

Exhibit 21: Threat of substitutes  Impact of key factors in 2021 and 2026

4.6 Threat of rivalry

Exhibit 22: Threat of rivalry  Impact of key factors in 2021 and 2026

4.7 Market condition

Exhibit 23: Chart on Market condition - Five forces 2021 and 2026

5 Market Segmentation by Application

5.1 Market segments

Exhibit 24: Chart on Application - Market share 2021-2026 (%)



Exhibit 25: Data Table on Application - Market share 2021-2026 (%)

5.2 Comparison by Application

Exhibit 26: Chart on Comparison by Application



Exhibit 27: Data Table on Comparison by Application

5.3 Computer and peripherals - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

Exhibit 28: Chart on Computer and peripherals - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



Exhibit 29: Data Table on Computer and peripherals - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



Exhibit 30: Chart on Computer and peripherals - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)



Exhibit 31: Data Table on Computer and peripherals - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

5.4 Automotive - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

Exhibit 32: Chart on Automotive - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



Exhibit 33: Data Table on Automotive - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



Exhibit 34: Chart on Automotive - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)



Exhibit 35: Data Table on Automotive - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

5.5 Telecommunication - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

Exhibit 36: Chart on Telecommunication - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



Exhibit 37: Data Table on Telecommunication - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



Exhibit 38: Chart on Telecommunication - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)



Exhibit 39: Data Table on Telecommunication - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

5.6 Medical - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

Exhibit 40: Chart on Medical - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



Exhibit 41: Data Table on Medical - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



Exhibit 42: Chart on Medical - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)



Exhibit 43: Data Table on Medical - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

5.7 Others - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

Exhibit 44: Chart on Others - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



Exhibit 45: Data Table on Others - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



Exhibit 46: Chart on Others - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)



Exhibit 47: Data Table on Others - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

5.8 Market opportunity by Application

Exhibit 48: Market opportunity by Application ($ million)

6 Customer Landscape

6.1 Customer landscape overview

Exhibit 49: Analysis of price sensitivity, lifecycle, customer purchase basket, adoption rates, and purchase criteria

7 Geographic Landscape

7.1 Geographic segmentation

Exhibit 50: Chart on Market share by geography 2021-2026 (%)



Exhibit 51: Data Table on Market share by geography 2021-2026 (%)

7.2 Geographic comparison

Exhibit 52: Chart on Geographic comparison



Exhibit 53: Data Table on Geographic comparison

7.3 APAC - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

Exhibit 54: Chart on APAC - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



Exhibit 55: Data Table on APAC - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



Exhibit 56: Chart on APAC - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)



Exhibit 57: Data Table on APAC - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

7.4 North America - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 58: Chart on North America - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 59: Data Table on North America - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 60: Chart on North America - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

- Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

Exhibit 61: Data Table on North America - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

7.5 Europe - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 62: Chart on Europe - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 63: Data Table on Europe - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 64: Chart on Europe - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

- Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

Exhibit 65: Data Table on Europe - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

7.6 Middle East and Africa - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

and - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 66: Chart on Middle East and Africa - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

and - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 67: Data Table on Middle East and Africa - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

and - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 68: Chart on Middle East and Africa - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

and - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

Exhibit 69: Data Table on Middle East and Africa - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

7.7 South America - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 70: Chart on South America - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 71: Data Table on South America - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 72: Chart on South America - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

- Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

Exhibit 73: Data Table on South America - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

7.8 US - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

Exhibit 74: Chart on US - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



Exhibit 75: Data Table on US - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



Exhibit 76: Chart on US - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)



Exhibit 77: Data Table on US - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

7.9 China - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 78: Chart on China - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 79: Data Table on China - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 80: Chart on China - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

- Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

Exhibit 81: Data Table on China - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

7.10 Japan - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 82: Chart on Japan - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 83: Data Table on Japan - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 84: Chart on Japan - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

- Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

Exhibit 85: Data Table on Japan - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

7.11 South Korea - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 86: Chart on South Korea - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 87: Data Table on South Korea - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 88: Chart on South Korea - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

- Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

Exhibit 89: Data Table on South Korea - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

7.12 Germany - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 90: Chart on Germany - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 91: Data Table on Germany - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 92: Chart on Germany - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

- Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

Exhibit 93: Data Table on Germany - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

7.13 Market opportunity by geography

Exhibit 94: Market opportunity by geography ($ million)

8 Drivers, Challenges, and Trends

8.1 Market drivers

8.2 Market challenges

8.3 Impact of drivers and challenges

Exhibit 95: Impact of drivers and challenges in 2021 and 2026

8.4 Market trends

9 Vendor Landscape

9.1 Overview

9.2 Vendor landscape

Exhibit 96: Overview on Criticality of inputs and Factors of differentiation

9.3 Landscape disruption

Exhibit 97: Overview on factors of disruption

9.4 Industry risks

Exhibit 98: Impact of key risks on business

10 Vendor Analysis

10.1 Vendors covered

Exhibit 99: Vendors covered

10.2 Market positioning of vendors

Exhibit 100: Matrix on vendor position and classification

10.3 3M Co.

Co. Exhibit 101: 3M Co. - Overview

Co. - Overview

Exhibit 102: 3M Co. - Business segments

Co. - Business segments

Exhibit 103: 3M Co. - Key news

Co. - Key news

Exhibit 104: 3M Co. - Key offerings

Co. - Key offerings

Exhibit 105: 3M Co. - Segment focus

10.4 Amphenol Corp.

Exhibit 106: Amphenol Corp. - Overview



Exhibit 107: Amphenol Corp. - Business segments



Exhibit 108: Amphenol Corp. - Key news



Exhibit 109: Amphenol Corp. - Key offerings



Exhibit 110: Amphenol Corp. - Segment focus

10.5 ERNI Deutschland GmbH

Exhibit 111: ERNI Deutschland GmbH - Overview



Exhibit 112: ERNI Deutschland GmbH - Product / Service



Exhibit 113: ERNI Deutschland GmbH - Key offerings

10.6 HIROSE ELECTRIC Co. Ltd.

Exhibit 114: HIROSE ELECTRIC Co. Ltd. - Overview



Exhibit 115: HIROSE ELECTRIC Co. Ltd. - Business segments



Exhibit 116: HIROSE ELECTRIC Co. Ltd. - Key offerings



Exhibit 117: HIROSE ELECTRIC Co. Ltd. - Segment focus

10.7 JST Mfg. Co. Ltd.

Exhibit 118: JST Mfg. Co. Ltd. - Overview



Exhibit 119: JST Mfg. Co. Ltd. - Product / Service



Exhibit 120: JST Mfg. Co. Ltd. - Key offerings

10.8 Koch Industries Inc.

Exhibit 121: Koch Industries Inc. - Overview



Exhibit 122: Koch Industries Inc. - Product / Service



Exhibit 123: Koch Industries Inc. - Key offerings

10.9 KYOCERA Corp.

Exhibit 124: KYOCERA Corp. - Overview



Exhibit 125: KYOCERA Corp. - Business segments



Exhibit 126: KYOCERA Corp. - Key offerings



Exhibit 127: KYOCERA Corp. - Segment focus

10.10 TE Connectivity Ltd.

Exhibit 128: TE Connectivity Ltd. - Overview



Exhibit 129: TE Connectivity Ltd. - Business segments



Exhibit 130: TE Connectivity Ltd. - Key offerings



Exhibit 131: TE Connectivity Ltd. - Segment focus

10.11 Wurth Elektronik GmbH and Co. KG

Exhibit 132: Wurth Elektronik GmbH and Co. KG - Overview



Exhibit 133: Wurth Elektronik GmbH and Co. KG - Product / Service



Exhibit 134: Wurth Elektronik GmbH and Co. KG - Key offerings

10.12 Yamaichi Electronics Co.

Exhibit 135: Yamaichi Electronics Co. - Overview



Exhibit 136: Yamaichi Electronics Co. - Product / Service



Exhibit 137: Yamaichi Electronics Co. - Key offerings

11 Appendix

11.1 Scope of the report

11.2 Inclusions and exclusions checklist

Exhibit 138: Inclusions checklist



Exhibit 139: Exclusions checklist

11.3 Currency conversion rates for US$

Exhibit 140: Currency conversion rates for US$

11.4 Research methodology

Exhibit 141: Research methodology



Exhibit 142: Validation techniques employed for market sizing



Exhibit 143: Information sources

11.5 List of abbreviations

Exhibit 144: List of abbreviations

About Us

Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focuses on emerging market trends and provides actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions. With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning across 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios.

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SOURCE Technavio
Kavango Resources PLC (LSE:KAV, OTC:KVGOF) chief executive Ben Turney joined Proactive's Stephen Gunnion with details of a preliminary independent Petrology Report for two holes drilled at the Kalahari Suture Zone (KSZ) project in Botswana.

Turney saying the report is "very positive" and follows news earlier this week that it has identified two further targets at KSZ.

Turney also touched on Kavango extending its option to acquire up to 51.15% of the Molopo Farms complex, a nickel/copper/platinum group elements exploration project in southern Botswana to March 18.
Following completion of the Sun Dog program, drills will start turning at Standard Uranium's flagship Davidson River project nearby

Standard Uranium Ltd (TSX-V:STND, OTCQB:STTDF) announced that it has kicked off its winter drill program at its Sun Dog project in Saskatchewan.

The program follows a high-resolution ground gravity survey over the Skye, Haven and Java targets which helped to refine the drill targets on the property, the company noted.

Another high-resolution UAV magnetic survey will be conducted over the next few days to help contextualize the geology at the drill targets, it added.

This will be the first time that the perched uranium mineralization at the Athabasca sandstone crop are drill-tested at depth, the company told investors. Standard Uranium is hoping to discover the high-grade origins of the mineralized system in the basement rocks underneath the sandstones.

The Sun Dog drill program is Standard Uranium's largest exploration program to date, CEO Jon Bey said.

Our projects are permitted for the 2022 season, we have agreements with First Nations in place, and we have all our vendors contracted. We are seeing a sharpening of investor sentiment and focus upon issues such as the stability of nuclear energy supply and the impact of political instability upon uranium exploration and mining operations, Bey said in a statement.

Busy exploration season

Following completion of the Sun Dog program, drills will start turning at its flagship Davidson River project nearby, the company said. Drilling is expected to begin in May 2022.

Standard Uranium is also advancing three properties known collectively as the East Side Projects, which include the Atlantic, Canary and Ascent projects. The firm is planning to do a high-resolution ground gravity survey at Atlantic, an induced polarization/resistivity program on the Canary project, and an airborne time-domain electromagnetic survey over Ascent.

We believe that Standard Uranium's excellent exploration prospects and operating environment leave us well-positioned to be able to create value for our shareholders, Bey concluded.

Vancouver-based Standard Uranium focuses on the identification and development of prospective exploration stage uranium projects in the Athabasca Basin in Saskatchewan, Canada.

Contact Angela at angela@proactiveinvestors.com

Follow her on Twitter @AHarmantas
Kiev, March 5 : In a virtual address to thousands of protesters across major European cities, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that if his country fell to Russia in the ongoing war, then the whole continent of Europe will fall.

On Friday night, protests against the ongoing Russian military assault on Ukraine took place in Vienna, Tbilisi, Prague, Frankfurt, Vilnius, Lyon and Bratislava.

In his address via video link, Zelensky said: "Don't be silent. Go out onto the streets. Support Ukraine. Support our freedom. This would be a victory not only over Russian troops, it would be a victory of light over darkness. A victory of good over evil. A victory of freedom over what is happening now, here, on Ukrainian land.

"Don't be silent, support Ukraine. Because if Ukraine falters, Europe will falter. If Ukraine falls, Europe will fall.

"And if we win - and I have faith in our people, I have faith in you - it would be a big victory for democracy, for our values, a victory for freedom." Earlier on Friday in another video message reportedly from his office in Kiev, the President condemned the NATO leaders for failing to establish a no-fly zone over Ukraine, the BBC reported.

"All the people who die, starting today, will also die because of you. Because of your weakness, because of your disconnection.

"The NATO summit took place today. A weak summit. A confused summit. A summit that shows that not everyone considers the fight for freedom for Europe the number one goal.

"All the intelligence agencies of the NATO countries are well aware of the enemy's plans. They confirmed that Russia wants to continue the offensive.

"NATO has deliberately decided not to close the skies over Ukraine. NATO countries created a narrative that closing the skies over Ukraine would provoke Russia's direct aggression against NATO.

"This is the self-hypnosis of those who are weak, insecure inside, despite the fact they possess weapons many times stronger than we have," the President added.

As the conflict in Ukraine entered the ninth day on Friday, Aleksey Arestovich, an adviser to Zelensky, said that resistance by the Ukrainian armed forces as well as by the general public would "grind down the Russian war machine".

"The Russian army is not strong. It's just big," the BBC quoted Arestovich as saying in a Facebook post.

"Our success is a pattern, with specifically built and clearly implemented cause-and-effect relationships... Eight-tenths of Putin's army is here. This is where we will bury them," he added.

Since Russia's invasion began on February 24, Ukrainian forces have continued with a stiff resistance against Moscow's advances.

However, Russian troops on Friday captured the the Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant, the largest in Europe, where a fire had erupted earlier in the day due to shelling.

The previous day, the port city of Kherson was also seized by Russian forces, becoming the first city to fall.

In the south, Russian forces captured areas along the Black Sea coast, and the port city of Mariupol remained surrounded.

In Kharkiv, the country's second largest city, has also remained under seige.

Latest updates on Russia-Ukraine War

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Bengaluru, March 5 : Karnataka police have arrested Adam Bidappa, son of celebrity fashion choreographer Prasad Biddappa, on charges of sending lewd and vulgar messages to a Kannada actress and harassing her in Bengaluru, police said on Saturday.

According to Indiranagar police, they received a complaint from Kannada actress Sanjjanaa Galrani against Adam Bidappa for sending indecent messages to her. However, police said, Adam Bidappa has denied all allegations.

The incident has shocked the people as the actress is pregnant and is seen celebrating motherhood on social media.

Police stated that the complaint says that Adam Bidappa had sent indecent messages to the actress on the night of February 25 between 10 p.m and 12 midnight. The actress has submitted a whatsApp chat proof to the police and sought legal action against the accused.

The accused, in his mid 30's, allegedly sent vulgar messages and threatened to kill her in the chat. A case has been booked under IPC Sections 354A (sexual harassment), 506 (criminal intimidation) and 509 (word, gesture or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman) besides the IT Act.

The police secured Adam Biddappa from Pollibetta in Kodagu and brought him to the city. He was sent to judicial custody on Friday evening. Indiranagar police have registered a case and are investigating the matter.
Brussels, March 5 : Without giving a specific timeline, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said that Ukraine can "absolutely" win the ongoing war against Russia and praised the "extraordinary resilience" of the Ukrainian people.

Blinken made the remarks during an interview with the BBC on Friday night following a meeting with his European Union (EU)counterparts in Brussels.

When asked if he was convinced that Ukraine would win the war, Blinken said: "Over time, absolutely. I can't tell you how long this will go on. I can't tell you how long it will take. But the idea that Russia can subjugate to its will 45 million people who are ardently fighting for their future and their freedom, that does not involve Russia having its thumb on Ukraine, that tells you a lot." Despite his optimism, the Secretary of State also expressed concerns over further escalation of the ongoing situation.

"It's something we care about and are focused on because the only thing worse than a war which is contained to Ukraine is one that escalates even further and goes beyond it," he told the BBC.

He warned that Russian forces were using "increasingly brutal" methods against civilians in Ukraine, and that there had been tremendous human suffering as a result.

"We're seeing Russia go after critical infrastructure that's denying Ukrainians water, denying them electricity, denying them heat," he said.

"Those methods are, unfortunately, tragically, part of the Russian playbook under President (Vladimir) Putin. And I think we're likely to see more of that." Asked if the US would seek a change in Moscow's leadership to bring an end to the invasion, he replied: "We don't seek that, and in any event it's not up to us. The Russian people need to decide their leadership.

"What I would say to the Russian people is: How in the world is this war of aggression... advancing your interests, your needs?" Since Russia's invasion began on February 24, Ukrainian forces have continued with a stiff resistance against Moscow's advances.

However, Russian troops on Friday captured the the Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant, the largest in Europe, where a fire had erupted earlier in the day due to shelling.

The previous day, the port city of Kherson was also seized by Russian forces, becoming the first city to fall.

In the south, Russian forces captured areas along the Black Sea coast, and the port city of Mariupol remained surrounded.

In Kharkiv, the country's second largest city, has also remained under siege.

Latest updates on Russia-Ukraine War

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Ramallah, March 5 : More than 130 Palestinian protesters were injured during clashes with Israeli soldiers in the West Bank, according to medics.

Witnesses said the fierce clashes broke out on Friday near the villages of Beita and Beit Dajan, located to the south and east of Nablus city respectively, and near the village of Kafr Qaddum, east of Qaqilya city, reports Xinhua news agency.

The Palestine Red Crescent Society said in a statement sent to Xinhua that at least 128 Palestinian demonstrators were injured, including 36 by rubber bullets fired by Israeli soldiers.

The others suffered from inhaling the teargas, the statement added.

Meanwhile, Murad Ishteiwi, the Palestinian coordinator of the popular resistance in Qalqilya, told Xinhua that two more protesters were injured by rubber bullets during clashes with the Israeli soldiers in the Kafr Qaddum village.

The witnesses said dozens of anti-settlement demonstrators threw stones at the Israeli soldiers stationed at the outskirts of the villages and burned tires.

Beita and Beit Dajan have seen weekly protests against the expansion of Israeli settlements in the two villages and clashes with the Israeli soldiers.

Earlier on Friday, four Palestinians, including three children, were injured after an Israeli settler opened fire at them near an Israeli settlement in the old city of Hebron.

The city witnesses weekly confrontations every Friday in protest of Israel's settlement policy and the closure of large parts of the city centre to the Palestinians.
New Delhi, March 5 : The Congress on Saturday slammed Prime Minister Narendra Modi for campaigning in his constituency Varanasi for the Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls at a time when thousands of Indian students are stranded in war-torn Ukraine.

Taking to Twitter, Congress leader Kapil Sibal said, "Ukraine:Our students stranded at Pisochyn, Road show at Varanasi, No show at Pisochyn, Sad but true." Meanwhile, Prime Minister Modi chaired the fifth high-level meeting on Friday to review progress of the ongoing evacuation of Indians from Ukraine under 'Operation Ganga'.

During the meeting, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla briefed Modi about the progress of the evacuation mission and informed him that over 18,000 Indians have been brought back since the initial advisories by the Indian Embassy in Kyiv were put out.

The Prime Minister was also briefed on the status of Indians, mostly stuck in Odessa and Sumi areas close to the Russian border and discussed the possible ways for their safe evacuation. Sumi is located close to the Russian border and a gunfight is going on there.

Modi has been chairing meetings almost every day since Sunday evening to discuss the evacuation progress.

The evacuation process was ramped up soon after the four Union Ministers went to the neighbouring countries of Ukraine to oversee 'Operation Ganga'.
Moscow/Kiev, March 5 : Russian President Vladimir Putin said that his country wishes to continue a dialogue with Ukraine and wants peace, provided that all of Moscow's security demands are met amid the war on Kiev.

Putin made the remarks on Friday during a phone call with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz as the Russian assault on Ukraine continued for a ninth day, reports Xinhua news agency.

The President also expressed hope that Kiev will take a "reasonable and constructive stance" during a third round of talks between Russia and Ukraine.

According to Ukrainian Presidential Adviser Mykhailo Podolyak, the third round of peace talks between the two warring sides may take place on Saturday or Sunday.

Podolyak said that the talks will take place despite Russia and Ukraine's tough position, which will likely make the negotiations difficult.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will not make any concessions that could "humiliate" Ukraine's resistance, Podolyak added.

Meanwhile, Ukrainian parliament called for the introduction of peacekeeping forces to the country, First Deputy Chairman Oleksandr Korniyenko said.

Parliament also called for the immediate introduction of "a no-fly zone" over the territory of Ukraine.

During a telephone conversation with UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Friday, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that Ankara will continue to make efforts for an immediate ceasefire in Ukraine.

Also on Friday, the Finland Chamber of Commerce published a survey saying that the sanctions imposed by some Western countries against Russia in some way will affect up to 90 per cent of Finnish export companies.

The impact of sanctions on companies' operations was generally seen as negative.

About 85 per cent of companies responded to the negative effects of sanctions, while only 3.6 per cent of companies thought the sanctions would have a positive impact on the company's business.

A quarter of the companies that responded to the survey said there could be a significant impact on their business.

Latest updates on Russia-Ukraine War

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Washington, March 5 : CBS News became the latest media outlet to pull out of Russia after President Vladimir Putin signed a new law that would impose jail terms for "spreading fake news" about the ongoing Moscow-Kiev war.

On Friday, a CBS News spokesperson said that the outlet was "not currently broadcasting from Russia as we monitor the circumstances for our team on the ground given the new media laws passed today".

Putin on Friday signed the law which would impose prison terms of up to 15 years on people charged with spreading "fake news" about the war in Ukraine, the BBC reported.

The law would, in effect, stop independent reporting in Russia, where news outlets are not allowed to refer to the conflict in Ukraine as a "war".

Earlier in the day, other major American outlets including CNN, Bloomberg, and ABC News also announced that they were suspending broadcasts from Russia as a result of the war.

A CNN spokesperson said that the network "will stop broadcasting in Russia while we continue to evaluate the situation and our next steps moving forward".

In a statement, Bloomberg Editor-in-Chief John Micklethwait said the "change to the criminal code, which seems designed to turn any independent reporter into a criminal purely by association, makes it impossible to continue any semblance of normal journalism inside the country", the Daily Mail reported.

ABC News, which has several correspondents working in Russia, said that "because of the new censorship law passed in Russia today, some Western networks including ABC News, are not broadcasting from the country tonight. We will continue to assess the situation and determine what this means for the safety of our teams on the ground." Other global news outlets, including the BBC and CBC News have also suspended operations in Russia.

While CBC News said that it was "very concerned about new legislation passed in Russia, which appears to criminalise independent reporting on the current situation in Ukraine and Russia", the BBC said it will continue its service in Russian from outside of Russia as the "safety of our staff is paramount and we are not prepared to expose them to the risk of criminal prosecution simply for doing their job".

Russia's media watchdog has also curbed access to Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, as well as independent news website Meduza, German broadcaster Deutsche Welle, and the Russian-language website of the US-funded Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Svoboda.

Latest updates on Russia-Ukraine War
New Delhi, March 5 : India on Saturday reported a further decline in fresh Covid-19 cases with 5,921 infections recorded in the past 24 hours, as per Union Health Ministry's data.

In the same period, 289 Covid-related deaths were reported pushing the toll to 5,14,878.

Meanwhile, the active Covid cases have further reduced to 63,878 which constitute 0.15 per cent of the country's total positive cases, as per the ministry report.

The recovery of 11,651 patients in the last 24 hours has increased the cumulative tally to 4,23,78,721. Consequently, India's recovery rate stands at 98.65 per cent.

Also in the same period, a total of 9,40,905 tests were conducted across the country. India has, so far, conducted over 77.19 crore cumulative tests.

Meanwhile, the weekly positivity rate has further come down to 0.84 per cent while the daily positivity rate has further fallen at 0.63 per cent.

With the administration of over 24.62 lakh Covid vaccine doses in the last 24 hours, India's Covid inoculation coverage has reached 178.55 crore as of this morning. This has been achieved through 2,06,52,074 sessions.

More than 15.62 crore balance and unutilised Covid vaccine doses are still available with the states and UTs to be administered, 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, March 5 : India's pharmaceuticals market (IPM) is expected to grow between 6 and 8 per cent on a year-on-year (YoY) basis in FY23.

Accordingly, the growth has been capped due to high base effect and inventory stocking in FY21 on account of Covid-19-led disruption in supplies of key starting materials.

Besides, API (Active Pharmaceuticals Ingredient) businesses are expected to report high single-digit growth in FY23 due to a demand uptick, the overall revenue growth is expected at 9-to-10 per cent YoY.

In a research note, India Ratings and Research (Ind-Ra) said it has maintained a neutral outlook for the Indian pharmaceutical sector for FY23.

The agency said that higher Capex in lieu of the 'Production-linked Incentives' (PLI) scheme will restrict the quantum of free cash flow generation during the year.

"Large players are adequately capitalised to make bigger investments to adjust for the ongoing fundamental shift in market opportunities," the note said.

"Cost-cutting measures remain a priority for Indian companies. However, interim disruptions such as high raw material costs and logistic expenses will put pressure on the level of free cash flow generated." Besides, the agency said that with the significant improvement in the free cash flow generated in the near term, M&A activities will continue to provide inorganic push in FY23.

"Ind-Ra does not expect the sector's liquidity to face a major risk, despite similar maturities levels in FY23 and FY24. Large pharma companies generally have large cash balances, which typically account for 14-16 per cent of their revenue." Furthermore, most companies have sufficient headroom under debt covenants and diversified funding sources.

"The interest coverage of large pharma players is likely to increase with scale and margin expansion." "Ind-Ra expects large pharma companies to continue with their healthy debt-funded capex and research and development programme, given higher visibility in terms of sales growth and profitability."
New Delhi, March 5 : Ahead of International Women's Day, Airbnb celebrated the role of women Hosts in its growing host community in India. The platform hosted a panel discussion featuring actress Sayani Gupta and Tisca Chopra, and Airbnb Host Ranjana Patil.

The panellists spoke on #BreakTheBias, highlighting how they persevered in their unique journeys despite facing unprecedented challenges. This was exemplified by the stories of women Hosts on Airbnb that had begun their entrepreneurial journey on the platform, illustrating how tourism has played a key role in their journey to success as Hosts.

"I feel so proud and inspired to see how women across the world are breaking biases and dealing with various stereotypes. I have made some strong decisions in my life due to which, several challenges came my way, both personally and professionally. However, not backing down and ensuring that I put my voice out there, helped me get through every phase. I believe women should break these glass ceilings, take up any role that they truly desire and always aim to be financially independent," says actress Sayani Gupta, who spoke to IANSlife.

Read Excerpts: To begin with why act? How did your family and friends react when you told them you wanted to start acting?

Sayani: I've always been excited about theatre and dance. I have been a performer and worked in the theatre space all my life, so to my friends it was not a shock. My best friend who knows me all my life was extremely instrumental in convincing me to do something else in my life. So when I left my corporate job to pursue acting, none of my friends were really shocked.

When it comes to my family, it was of course a great shock to my mother. She reacted with a little bit of drama just like mothers do but eventually came around, she took a few years but now she supports me unconditionally. Acting is something that I love and I'm good at. I've been acting for soo many years that it became a part of me, it's nothing that comes superficially.

Your favourite Airbnb and how your travels have aided your personal development? Sayani: The house in Veinna was also really cool; it was a really nice house. I've stayed at a number of Airbnb properties, each of which is unique and beautiful. I travel to replenish my soul, as actors, we are constantly pouring our souls and ourselves into our creative process. Only when you're travelling, can you replenish your energy through the people you meet and places you visit.

Museums and admiring art is one of my favourite things to do. Seeing architectural genius, watching orchestra all of this is basically to replenish myself and it's extremely important that I do it. Unfortunately because of COVID it wasn't always possible in the last two years, and I think I was just done with not being able to travel and this Europe trip came as a huge saviour; I can only thank Airbnb for that.

Women venturing into the entrepreneur space often raises eyebrows, what advice would you give from your experience to those striving despite all of the challenges? Sayani: There will always be people to tell you you're gonna do something. All you need is to tell yourself that you can do it. There shouldn't be any question because it's your life and you decide what you want to do or can do. I don't think if you really put your mind to something, you won't be able to do it.

We are all human beings we have a decent amount of talent and aptitude, and hopefully education. It is never up to anyone else or anyone's business, including your parents that it's okay to do something or not okay to do it. So just go for it. Especially women we are fit for any professional life. I watch a lot of Shark Tank, it's just so nice when all I see women entrepreneurs having struggled through and still able to make something incredible. It's never easy and it shouldn't easy, but to still be to do it is an incredible feeling.

(N. Lothungbeni Humtsoe can be contacted at lothungbeni.h@ians.in)

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Kabul, March 5 : The Taliban government in Afghanistan have urged civilians to handover government property, including weapons, as house-to-house searches continued in Kabul and neighbouring provinces, the media reported.

In a statement, Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid said to prevent further continuation of the ongoing searches, termed by the regime as "clean-up operations", it would be better if people voluntarily handed over all government property, reports Khaama Press.

"The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA) asks all Afghans to hand over weapons, government property, and illegal items and share information about kidnappers and thieves before the searching teams reach out to their houses. We ask people to cooperate with the IEA and voluntarily hand over weapons," he was quoted as saying.

The searches were launched by the IEA last week. Friday was the eighth day of the raids, TOLO News reported.

A spokesman for the Kabul security department, Khalid Zadran, said that the Taliban forces had seized military equipment from houses in Kabul.

"Hundreds light and heavy weapons were seized in these clearing operations. In PD2 of (Kabul city) we detected six Humvees," he said.

Earlier the IEA in a statement said that seven Humvees were seized from a residence in PD2.

According to some reports, the house-to-house raids began in the northern provinces of Balkh and Faryab.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Chennai, March 5 : Expelled interim general secretary of AIADMK, V.K.Sasikala who is on a two-day South Tamil Nadu visit, has met some senior party functionaries.

The former aide of late Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa, met functionaries in Theni, Madurai, Dindigul, Tirunelveli districts. She will be meeting many officials on Saturday also, sources close to her told IANS.

Sasikala, according to her iterinary, is on a pilgrimage to famous temples like Tiruchandur, Vijayapathi Sri Vishwamithrar and a few others at Radhapauram in South Tamil Nadu.

She was given a rousing welcome at Tuticorin airport where she arrived on Friday with supporters carrying AIADMK flags flanking both sides of the road.

Several party leaders conveyed to her that she has to come back and take the reins of the party for the AIADMK to make a comeback and that this was an opportune time.

The Theni district committee of the party had recently passed a resolution calling for reinducting Sasikala and her nephew T.T.V. Dhinakaran back to the party fold.

Interestingly, the brother of AIADMK chief coordinator and former Chief Minister O.Panneerselvam, O.Raja met Sasikala at a hotel in Tiruchandur. Raja is reportedly close to Sasikala during the early years of AIADMK politics and was a close confidant of TTV Dhinakaran also.

The powerful Thevar community which has a major presence in all constituencies of South Tamil Nadu to which both Sasikala and Panneerselvam belong, has already called for a truce between the two and demanded the induction of the former Jaya aide.

Dr R. Padmanabhan, Director, Socio-Economic Development Foundation, a think tank based out of Madurai while speaking to IANS said, "The writ of the powerful Thevar community is running large here in South Tamil Nadu and it is only a matter of time before Sasikala takes over the reins of AIADMK. It may not bring immediate political results but a Dravidian political party needs strong leaders with a strong will and Sasikala has learned the tricks of the trade from her mentor, late Chief Minister, J. Jayalalithaa."

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
New Delhi, March 5 : US and NATO officials monitoring the war in Ukraine noticed a pronounced shift earlier this week in Russias strategy, namely that Moscow now appears poised to "bombard cities into submission" which could inflict significant civilian casualties, CNN reported.

"The heavier weapons are not just heavier in their weight, they're also heavier in terms of the damage that they can inflict", one of the officials said. "And they're far less discriminant. So, more casualties." "It is a very crude approach," the official added.

US officials have warned in recent days that Russia's strategy appeared to be shifting from focusing primarily on military targets to targeting civilians, amid the realisation that an initial plan to quickly capture Kyiv and topple the government had failed, CNN reported.

"The days to come are likely to be worse, with more death, more suffering, and more destruction, as the Russian armed forces bring in heavier weaponry and continue their attacks across the country," NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said on Friday.

The Washington Post first reported that significant civilian casualties, "massive loss of human life", are likely in the days ahead, according to a senior Western intelligence official.

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky condemned NATO's decision to rule out the implementation of a no-fly zone over the country in a Facebook address late on Friday, CNN reported.

Zelensky said NATO's leadership "gave the green light for further bombing of Ukrainian towns and villages, refusing to make a no-fly zone. You could have closed the sky".

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Bengaluru, March 5 : Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Saturday said the process of tracking and tracking of students stranded in Ukraine's Kharkiv and Kiev cities is on by the Indian Embassy.

Many students have been brought back to India, but few others, who were not able to make any movement, are being tracked and traced by the Embassy, he said.

"There are few places where bombing is still going on. Evacuation is being planned immediately after bombing reduces. I am in touch with the External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, Indian Embassy in Ukraine and also with Union ministers who are there in borders," the Chief Minister said.

Bommai added that he would visit the house of Naveen Shekarappa Gyanagoudar, who died in the shelling by the Russian Army in Ukraine.

"I will speak to the father of deceased student Naveen and handover the compensation cheque to the family," he said.

As many as 282 students from Karnataka have returned from the war-torn Ukraine till Friday.

Nodal Officer Manoj Rajan stated that on Friday, 92 Kannadiga students returned to KempeGowda International Airport (KIA) in Bengaluru.

As many as 30 students had returned on February 27; seven students on February 28; 18 on Tuesday; 31 on Wednesday; and 104 on Thursday, he stated.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Seoul, March 5 : North Korea fired a ballistic missile toward the East Sea on Saturday in the latest flare-up of tensions just four days ahead of the presidential election in South Korea, the military in Seoul said.

The Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said it detected the launch from around the Sunan area in Pyongyang at 8.48 a.m. and that the missile flew around 270 km at a top altitude of 560 km, reports Yonhap News Agency.

The latest launch, the North's ninth show of force this year, came less than a week after it claimed to have conducted a "reconnaissance satellite" development test that the South called a ballistic missile launch.

"The North's recent series of ballistic missile launches are a significant threat to not only the international community but also peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula," the JCS said in a press statement.

"We strongly urge the North to immediately stop them." The North appears to have launched the missile at a steep angle from a Transporter Erector Launcher (TEL) from the Sunan airfield, a JCS official said.

Saturday's missile appears to be similar to the one fired also at a steep angle at the Sunan airfield on February 27, the official said.

If launched at a standard angle, the missile would have travelled between 1,000 km and 1,200 km -- a flight distance for a medium-range ballistic missile, according to analysts.

South Korea's presidential National Security Council condemned the North's missile launch, calling for it to halt acts that raise tensions on the Korean Peninsula.

The US Indo-Pacific Command also denounced the launch and urged the North to refrain from "further destabilizing acts".

The North's "satellite" development test on February 27 marked the resumption of its rocket launches following a hiatus that it apparently imposed during the Beijing Winter Olympics apparently in respect for China, its ally and key economic patron.

Since the start of this year, the North has launched a barrage of missiles, including an intermediate-range ballistic missile, using various platforms, such as a road-mobile launcher and a railway-borne one.
San Francisco, March 5 : Tesla CEO Elon Musk said on Saturday that Starlink, the satellite internet division of his rocket company SpaceX, will not block Russian news sources.

Musk on Twitter wrote that it will not do so unless at gunpoint.

"Starlink has been told by some governments (not Ukraine) to block Russian news sources. We will not do so unless at gunpoint," Musk wrote.

"Sorry to be a free speech absolutist," he added.

Meanwhile, tech giants including Apple, Google, Microsoft, Twitter, YouTube, Meta and several other tech platforms have already banned RT and Sputnik in the wake of Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Musk also wrote that "SpaceX reprioritised to cyber defense and overcoming signal jamming".

"Will cause slight delays in Starship and Starlink V2," he added.

Musk on Friday warned Ukrainians to use the Starlink satellite system with caution as his commercial Internet network can be targeted by Russians and hamper the entire system at work.

As a non-Russian communications system, the Starlink satellite internet service has a "high" probability of being targeted, Musk had said.
Patna, March 5 : The Bihar Police's Economic Offence Unit (EOU) has asked Google, Facebook and Twitter to provide details of cyber criminals.

ADG (EOU) Nayyer Hasnain Khan has asked the India head of Google, Facebook and Twitter to provide details of the alleged criminals involved in threatening and blackmailing the common people of Bihar.

In the last few months, cyber criminals have used women to make video calls to potential targets and in turn take screenshots of the call to blackmail the victims.

The official said that there were 40 cases of blackmailing via social media in Bihar and FIRs have been lodged in different police stations across the state.

"We have given the details of 40 FIRs and asked them to provide details of the accused. In case of inaction from the India heads of Google, Facebook and Twitter, we will serve separate notice under the CrPC 91 to them. We have already sent e-mails to the head offices of these three institutions," Khan said.

"We have directed the officials to solve the cases within two months."
New Delhi, March 5: Russia is urging its citizens to switch to domestic smartphone AYYA T1 after American multinational technology giant Apple Inc announced earlier this week its decision of pausing all product sales in the country in response to Moscow's military operation in Ukraine.

Refusing to use the iPhone, Russian State Duma deputies Maria Butina and Denis Maidanov are now urging their fellow parliamentarians to use AYYA T1 smartphones developed by local company Smartecosystem, a subsidiary of the Scale Research Institute, part of the Rostec state corporation.

In a video which has now gone viral on Russian social media, Butina who was jailed in the United States in 2018 and labelled as a foreign agent before being deported to Moscow, called on her fellow parliamentarians to abandon the iPhone and switch to AYYA T1.

"You know what, good gentlemen from Apple, but go through the woods! And you, my dears, become an eyewitness of the first contact of the deputy with the domestic smartphone AYYA T1," Butina said in an Instagram post.

The main feature of the mobile phone, reported CNews - one of the largest high-tech publication in Russia and the CIS countries - last year, is a separate hardware button to turn off the cameras and microphone to avoid surveillance.

"So, baby Aya [AYYA] is the most reliable phone from prying eyes and ears! Let's break through, comrades. Don't even worry. And it wasn't like that," Butina wrote.

Butina added that the phone, which costs between 15 to 19 thousand rubles, will soon switch to the Russian-made Aurora from the mobile Android OS.

Established in 2007 by Russian President Vladimir Putin, Rostec developed innovative products, including military technologies, to become one of Russia's most affluent brands over the course of next 10 years.

In 2019, as part of its military and technical cooperation, Rostec premiered on the world scene its state-of-the-art Tornado-S Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS), Pantsir-ME anti-aircraft missile and artillery system, and the new AK-12 assault rifle. Its aviation products include Irkut MC-21 airliner, jet fighter Sukhoi Su-57 and transport helicopter Mil Mi-38.

(The content is being carried under an arrangement with indianarrative.com) --indianarrative
Hyderabad/Amaravati, March 5 : An additional 160 Telugu students have returned home from the war-torn Ukraine, officials said.

On Friday, the seventh day of evacuation of Indian citizens, 94 students of Telangana and 66 of Andhra Pradesh landed in Delhi and Mumbai.

The officials of the respective state governments in Delhi and Mumbai helped the students in reaching their destinations.

The students hailing from Telangana arrived in the two cities on Friday by 16 flights from Ukraine's neighbouring countries. The flights had taken off from Bucharest (Romania), Budapest (Hungary), Rzeszow (Poland), Kocise (Slovakia) and Suceava (Romania).

With this, 354 citizens from Telangana have returned home since the evacuation began on February 26.

Gaurav Uppal, Resident Commissioner, Telangana Bhavan and Additional DGP, Intelligence Anil Kumar interacted with Telangana students in Telangana Bhavan.

The government of Telangana has made arrangements to receive all returnees at Delhi and Mumbai airports. The state government also booked air tickets for them from Delhi and Mumbai to Hyderabad.

Meanwhile, with the arrival of 66 students from Andhra Pradesh on Friday, the total number of evacuees belonging to the state reached 270. After their arrival in Delhi and Mumbai, the state government officials booked tickets for them by connecting flights to destinations like Vijayawada, Visakhapatnam, Tirupati, Hyderabad and Bangalore.

The state government officials also received the students in Tirupati, Vijayawada and other airports and made arrangements for their onward journey to their hometowns.

Meanwhile, Venkat Medapati, Andhra Pradesh government's advisor on NRI affairs, who is in Budapest, met few local Telugu association volunteers, embassy coordinators and few Telugu students from Ukraine.

He said things have streamlined during the last two days.

"There are only 2 flights per day from tomorrow. Hope the embassy will arrange more flights over the next few days like today based on the surge in numbers at the border," he said.

Eighty more students from Andhra Pradesh are likely to arrive on Saturday.
New Delhi, March 5 : The Russian authorities are discussing the possibility of abolishing criminal and administrative liability for the use of unlicensed software "from countries that supported the sanctions." Kommersant reported this with reference to the Russian Ministry of Digital Development.

The possibility is being considered "in case of emergency, use proprietary software without the consent of the patent owner", the RT reported citing Kommersant's report.

"In terms of exemption from liability for the use of unlicensed software, we advocate a balanced approach in order to stimulate the transition to Russian software," the Russian ministry said.

As specified, "exemption from liability is proposed to be discussed only for products where there are clearly no Russian analogues now." Earlier, Microsoft decided to suspend sales of goods and services in Russia.
New Delhi, March 5 : Technical discussion regarding ongoing hydropower projects, including Pakal Dul, Lower Kalnai and Kiru, and the free flow of Fazilka drain into Sutlej river, were among the topics discussed during the 117th meeting of the Permanent Indus Commission held from March 1-3 in Islamabad.

The meeting as per the Indus Water Treaty, 1960, is held alternately in India and Pakistan and attended by teams from both the countries led by the respective Indus Commissioners.

The Indian delegation led by the Indian Commissioner for Indus Waters, P.K. Saxena, returned late Friday evening.

Pakistan had raised certain objections and made specific suggestions on the issue of the hydropower projects -- Pakal Dul (1,000 MW), Lower Kalnai (48 MW) and Kiru (624 MW)-- in the Chenab basin of Jammu and Kashmir and had claimed insufficient information for few small hydroelectric projects in Ladakh.

On Pakal Dul, Pakistan made certain suggestions which the Indian side assured to examine and discuss in the next meeting.

On Lower Kalnai, both India and Pakistan said there is no ongoing construction after the 2014 floods. Both sides agreed that it would not be fruitful to continue the discussion at this stage and it may be taken up at an appropriate stage.

For small hydropower projects in Ladakh, the Pakistan side held that the information supplied by India on these projects is deficient. Some of these projects are under 10 MW and hundreds of kilometres inside the Indian territory.

The Indian side felt that the information supplied earlier and in the meeting was sufficient. However, India agreed to arrange the information as requested by Pakistan to the extent they are available, Saxena said.

It was agreed to continue with the discussion on the observations already raised by Pakistan in the next meeting.

On the Kiru project, both sides exchanged their positions. However, rejecting Pakistan's arguments, "India asserted that its design is fully compliant with the Indus Water Treaty", said the Indian Commissioner for Indus Waters.

The Indian side said it is open to discussions and suggestions and can consider examining any practical suggestion within the realm of the position on the ground and without compromising on India's rights as provided under the treaty.

In response to Pakistan's claims on the flood data, the Indian side conveyed that as a responsible upper riparian, India has been providing information on extraordinary discharge of water from reservoirs and flood flows every year as mandated under the treaty.

"India continues to meet all its obligations under the treaty, however, if Pakistan requests to provide information beyond the treaty's provisions, India may examine the same as a gesture of goodwill," a government official said.

A very unlikely topic of discussion this time was the need for free-flowing Fazilka drain in Punjab that flows into Sutlej in Pakistan. The drain has been maintained by Pakistan and recently there were some issues regarding the backflow.

"Pakistan side assured that the drain is being fairly maintained on its side and if India may still feel that certain measures are required to be undertaken by Pakistan in this regard, the latter would be willing to consider any such suggestion by India," said an official, adding: "Pakistan also offered a tour of the Indian side to verify the facts on ground." Under the 1960 Indus Water Treaty, India and Pakistan share water of six rivers in the Indus basin. Of these, India has complete rights over three eastern rivers -- Sutlej, Beas and Ravi, while Pakistan has rights over the western rivers -- Chenab, Jhelum and Indus.

India can, however, build only run-of-the-river projects on the western rivers. Pakistan gets nearly 80 per cent share of the Indus basin water (nearly 135 million acre-feet) against India's 33 million acre-feet.

After the meeting, an MEA statement said: "Both the Commissioners reaffirmed their commitment to interact more frequently in an attempt to resolve issues through bilateral discussions under the treaty. It was agreed to hold the next meeting of the Permanent Indus Commission in New Delhi on mutually convenient dates."
Seoul, March 5 : More than 6,000 people have been evacuated their homes as firefighters battle a massive wildfire in South Korea's eastern coastal areas on Saturday.

The fire burned an estimated 21,179 acres of woodland in Uljin, about 330 km southeast of Seoul, and its neighbouring city of Samcheok as of Saturday afternoon, according to forest and firefighting authorities.

That is more than double the size of woodland reported to have been affected the previous day, reports Yonhap News Agency.

The blaze started on Friday morning on a road near a mountain in Uljin and spread north to Samcheok in the afternoon, driven by strong winds and dry weather, according to the Korea Forest Service (KFS).

It destroyed at least 153 homes and 53 other structures, but no casualties were reported.

The fire once threatened a nuclear power plant, the nation's largest liquefied natural gas (LNG) production complex, and power transmission lines in the areas, but the firefighters brought the blaze under control before it reached the facilities, officials said.

But as the fire began to spread south again toward villages in Uljin following a switch in the wind direction, some villagers were forced to evacuate to safety.

As of Saturday afternoon, 4,296 firefighters were battling the blaze with 46 helicopters and 273 firetrucks deployed, focusing their efforts on blocking the southward spread of the fire and again on protecting the nuclear, gas and power facilities, according to the authorities.' Firefighters were experiencing difficulties in extinguishing the fire with helicopters due to strong winds of 27 mps and thick smog created by the forest fire.

"Since the area affected is so big, our goal this morning is to overpower the flames moving southward," Choi Byeong-am, chief of the KFS, told reporters. "We aim to bring all flames under control by the sunset," he added.

Wildfires also broke out in two other areas of Gangwon Province -- Gangneung and Yeongwol-- during the day, disrupting traffic on a highway and a railway along the coast.

President Moon Jae-in called for all-out efforts to prevent any casualties and protect key industrial facilities from fires.

"It's fortunate that there were no casualties overnight and core facilities such as Samcheok liquefied natural gas complex and Hanul nuclear power plant remain safe," Moon was quoted by presidential spokesperson Park Kyung-mee as saying after being briefed on the situations.

"Please make every effort to prevent casualties and protect core facilities from wildfires and make all-out efforts to extinguish them as early as possible."
Imphal, March 5 : Over 40 per cent voter turnout was recorded till 12 p.m on Saturday in the second and final leg of the Manipur Assembly polls held in 22 of the 60 constituencies amid tight security, officials said.

Election and police officials said a firing incident was reported from Senapati district and activists of political parties clashed in Mao and Moreh, halting the polling briefly. However, details of these incidents are awaited.

Political parties are accusing each other of disturbing free and fair election process in many places.

Men, women and first time voters in large numbers queued up in front of the polling stations well before the voting started at 7 a.m. in six electoral districts.

Polling will continue till 4 p.m. without any break.

According to the election officials, more than 20,000 Central paramilitary force troopers have been deployed in the second phase in Thoubal, Jiribam, Chandel, Ukhrul, Senapati and Tamenglong districts.

While the Thoubal district falls in the valley area, the other five electoral districts are in the mountainous areas bordering Assam and Nagaland, as well as Myanmar, making security forces maintain maximum vigil along both the international and the inter-state borders.

Manipur Chief Electoral Officer Rajesh Agrawal said that 4,988 personnel have been posted in 1,247 polling stations in the six electoral districts to conduct the exercise.

He said that in all, 8,38,730 voters, including 4,28,679 females and 31 transgenders, are eligible to exercise their franchise in the second phase to decide the electoral fate of 92 candidates, including two females.

Of the 92 candidates, 17 have criminal antecedents, the election official said.

The CEO said that like the first phase of elections on February 28, adequate arrangements have been made at all polling stations.

All polling stations have been sanitised, while Asha and Anganwadi workers have been engaged.

To avoid crowding, circles have been marked for the electorate. Besides, masks, gloves, face shield, thermal scanners, PPE kits have been provided to polling personnel. Voters, who are Covid positive or are under quarantine, will be allowed to vote at the last hour between 3 p.m. to 4 p.m.

To enable the fairer sex to participate in the election process vigorously, 223 of the polling stations are completely manned by women personnel, Agrawal said.

Meanwhile, re-polling is also being held on Saturday in 12 polling stations under the five Assembly constituencies in two districts -- Imphal East and Churachandpur.

The CEO said that the re-polling is being conducted as the miscreants have damaged Electronic Voting Machines during and after the first phase of polling on February 28.

Saturday's elections would decide the electoral fortunes of three-time (2002-2017) Chief Minister and 74-year-old veteran Congress leader Okram Ibobi Singh as well as several BJP ministers and sitting MLAs.

Okram Ibobi Singh is contesting from the Thoubal Assembly seat and is locked in a four-cornered contest against BJP's Leitanthem Basanta Singh, Janata Dal-United's Irom Chaoba Singh and Shiv Sena's Konsam Michael Singh.

The main opposition Congress did not field candidates in four of the 22 Assembly seats -- Chandel, Mao, Tadubi, Tamenglong -- and political pundits opined that Congress in the four seats is tacitly supporting the candidates of National People's Party (NPP), headed by Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma, which is an ally of the BJP in both Meghalaya and Manipur since 2017, but contesting separately in Manipur this time.

The BJP had bagged 21 seats in 2017 and came to power in the state for the first time, after stitching alliance with various parties including the NPP and the Naga People's Front (NPF). However, this time, all three are contesting separately and have put up candidates against each other.

The Congress, which governed the state for 15 consecutive years till 2017, had formed a Manipur Progressive Secular Alliance after forging a pre-poll alliance with four Left parties and Janata Dal-Secular.

The first phase of polling was held in 38 seats on February 28, when 88.63 per cent of 12,09,439 voters exercised their right to franchise. Counting of votes will be taken up on March 10.
Washington, March 5 : An Amtrak engineer was acquitted by a jury in the deadly 2015 train derailment in Philadelphia.

Brandon Bostian, 38, was cleared of charges including causing a catastrophe, involuntary manslaughter, and reckless endangerment, reports Xinhua news agency.

The derailment on May 12, 2015, killed eight passengers and injured more than 200 others.

Court documents showed Bostian "accelerated the train's movement to a speed of 106 miles (about 170.6 km) per hour", where the speed limit was less than half of that.

The train, according to the documents, was unable to navigate a curve, jumped the tracks, and derailed.

Investigators later determined Bostian was not impaired while he was in the driver's seat and was not distracted by his phone.

Bostian's lawyer argued the engineer was distracted by people throwing rocks in the area before the crash.

Amtrak, a federally chartered corporation, reached a settlement worth $265 million in 2016 with families of victims who were killed or injured in the catastrophe.
Chennai, March 5 : The DMK cadres and district level functionaries in some districts of Tamil Nadu have played spoilsport to the ambitions of the party's allies for the post of Chairman of municipalities and President of town panchayats.

Of the 21 corporations, DMK candidates have become Mayors in 20 while the Congress candidate won at Kumbakonam.

CPM Tirunelveli District Secretary, K.T.G Bhaskaran told IANS, "In the urban local body polls, we (CPM) contested as an ally of the DMK and in the Veeravanallur town panchayat, the President's post was to be elected from our party. However, DMK Councilor S. Chitra contested and defeated our candidate. The DMK central leadership have to give an explanation as we fought together across the state and our cadres have voted for the DMK candidates. This is backstabbing and betrayal." In Tiruvengadam, the Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK) was allocated the President's post but the DMK candidate, C. Sermathurai defeated the MDMK candidate Balamurugan, inviting angry response from the MDMK local leadership.

T.M. Rajendran, MDMK's Tenkasi District Secretary told the media, "We are saddened at the act of the DMK Councilor, C. Sermathurai who even got the support of an AIADMK Councilor to defeat our party candidate." The Communist Party of India (CPI) is also upset that in both Sivagiri town panchayat and Puliyangudi municipality, the DMK Councilors contested against the CPI candidates for the post of Vice-Chairman.

CPI Tenkasi District Secretary, T. Essakidurai told IANS, "The act of the DMK Councilors is totally unfounded and we have complained to Chief Minister M.K. Stalin, who is also the DMK President about the manner in which the DMK Tenkasi candidate has treated our party." The DMK Councilors also contested against the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) candidates and won seats in two municipalities for the post of Chairpersons.

VCK leader and MP, Thol Thirumavalavan slammed the local DMK leadership and urged the Chief Minister to make the DMK leaders pay who have violated the electoral arrangements.

Congress candidates were defeated in five places while its lone Mayor candidate at Kumbakonam won easily.

Tamil Nadu Congress Committee President, K.S. Alagiri told IANS, "The DMK local leaders after the massive victory in the polls are acting against coalition 'dharma' and are capturing posts allocated to us (Congress) aligning with the opposition in some seats. The DMK is a party with a specific agenda and direction and committing such acts will lower its image before the people." K.S. Alagiri urged M.K.Stalin to act stringently against the erring local functionaries.

Meanwhile, the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister has asked all the DMK Councilors, who have violated the coalition dharma, and seized the powerful posts from their allies to quit their posts and meet him in Chennai.
Panaji, March 5 : Two days after Goa Congress president Girish Chodankar accused the outgoing BJP-led coalition government of using a private agency to tap phones of its leaders, Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut on Saturday claimed that phones of other leading politicians in Goa, were also under the scanner.

"Maharashtra phone tapping pattern being followed in Goa. Sudin Dhavalikar, Vijay Sardesai, Digambar Kamat, Girish Chodankar's phones are being tapped. Who is the Rashmi Shukla of Goa," Raut tweeted on Saturday.

Raut is the Shiv Sena's in-charge of Goa.

Sudin Dhavalikar, a former deputy Chief Minister, is a senior leader of the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party, Vijai Sardesai, also a former deputy CM heads the Goa Forward party, both of whom have contested against the ruling BJP.

Rashmi Shukla, whom Raut refers to in his tweet, is an Indian Police Service officer in Maharashtra who was in-charge of the State Intelligence Department, who has now been accused of tapping phones of leaders of the Maha Vikas Aghadi, an anti-BJP coalition in Maharashtra.

On Thursday, Chodankar told a press conference in Panaji that the phones of top Congress leaders including Kamat and former Ports Minister Michael Lobo were being tapped ahead of March 10, when votes polled on February 14 are scheduled to be counted.
Bengaluru, March 5 : Ahead of election results in the five states, microblogging platform Koo has issued an advisory to sensitise users to use social media in a responsible manner and to curb misinformation and fake news.

As part of the advisory, Koo has also released its community guidelines in all the 10 languages that are operational on the platform.

These guidelines are aligned to the Indian context and empower creators, as well as first-time users to build more wholesome content, while detailing out what constitutes responsible online conduct. The guidelines carry specific references to fake news and misinformation, and inform users on the importance of verifying information before posting, while refraining from calling out information as 'fake' without adequate proof.

Since a spike in misinformation is usually witnessed on social media before election results, Koo has enabled users access to prominent third-party fact-checkers for the purpose of authenticating information. Being a social media intermediary, Koo itself does not assess accuracy or interfere with content, unless required by the law; and thus by enabling access to fact-checkers, reiterates its commitment to building safety and transparency online.

As fake news is often proliferated by bots or spam accounts, Koo - being a reliable platform - proactively monitors and restricts the actions of such accounts to limit misinformation. "From December 1, 2021 till February 28, 2022, we spotted more than 4,720 handles that identified themselves as news channels or journalists or being related to news in any manner, out of which 834 handles have been restricted due to spammy or unwarranted content. We continue to monitor their behaviour," Aprameya Radhakrishna, CEO and Co-founder, Koo, said.

"As a social platform for self-expression in native languages, we celebrate creators and empower users to adopt a more holistic approach online to foster creativity and innovation. Misinformation is a key concern ahead of crucial events. Through this advisory, Koo - as a responsible platform - can help restrict the proliferation of fake news and malice, and promote greater online safety and transparency," she added.

The advisory will encourage users, especially first-time users to leverage technology in a positive and respectful manner to build more meaningful conversations online. Koo endeavors to identify best practices on a continuous basis to provide users with a secure and immersive experience, the CEO said.

On March 10, counting of votes will take place in Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Uttarakhand, Goa and Manipur.
New Delhi, March 5 : The UK government has unilaterally called off the visit of Pakistan National Security Adviser (NSA) Moeed Yusuf without assigning any reason, The News reported.

According to the report, the NSA was scheduled to visit the UK next week.

Citing sources, The News said that the visit was called off owing to Pakistan's policy towards standoff between Russia and Ukraine.

The European Union (EU) ambassadors in Islamabad issued a rejoinder to the policy through a joint press statement.

Pakistan expressed its dismay over the statement terming it undiplomatic and unacceptable.

Asim Iftikhar, spokesman for the Foreign Office in his media interaction on Friday made it clear that Pakistan had taken note of joint statement issued by a group of EU envoys posted in Islamabad.

"We expressed concern over the statement because as I said that is not the way diplomacy should be practised, and I think they have realised," he said The spokesman said that since February 24 when the crisis brewed up, there had been various engagements at different levels with ambassadors at the Foreign Office at the level of the Foreign Secretary, Additional Secretaries, Director Generals and others.

He said that the Foreign Secretary was having meetings with some ambassadors as well andnd this was the normal way of diplomatic activities.

Iftikhar added that Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi was also reaching out to his counterparts.

He spoke to the Hungarian Foreign Minister and would talk to other counterparts in the coming days.
Mumbai, March 5 : Bollywood superstar Akshay Kumar will join the grand finale of the upcoming action reality show 'India's Ultimate Warrior' hosted by Vidyut Jammwal.

Talking about the show, Akshay said, "I was nine (years old) when I started practicing Martial Arts and I owe everything I am today to this art form. When the show makers reached out to me to be a part of 'India's Ultimate Warrior' revolving around combat disciplines as a guest, I was instantly intrigued by the same.

"It is a standout in the reality genre for its intent and authenticity and I am sure, the series shall open to positive audience reactions." Vidyut who is going to host the show also shared, "It was enriching for me to play the host as the Dojo master especially because I have lived this subject. To put the students through a certain set of obstacles that needed mental strength to be able to perform the physical feats was the idea behind the show when I first began training.

"With a one-of-a-kind concept, combined with well-researched, expansive challenges, ranging from Kalaripayattu to Krav Maga, the show promises a unique visual offering unseen and unheard before in the reality genre in India." In a bid to give India its next 'Mahayoddha', the series produced by Base Films will have Dojo master, Vidyut commands a 'fight camp' along with mentors namely - Shifu Kanishka, whose love for martial arts made him craft his own style Shifu Kanishka Combatives, Shaun Kober, a former Rugby player who served the Australian army, Bi Nguyen AKA Killer Bee, an expert in Muay Thai, one of the hardest martial arts in the world and Mykel Hawke, a Former U.S. Army Special Forces officer.

Talking about the launch of the show, Megha Tata, Managing Director - South Asia, Discovery Inc said, "Our primary aim with this series is to disrupt the category of reality content in India and offer an authentic show that throws light on the true virtues of a warrior, that has been ingrained in the Indian psyche for ages." 'India's Ultimate Warrior' premieres on March 4 on discovery+ and will have its TV premiere on March 14 on Discovery Channel.
Mumbai, March 5 : Another 183 Indians, mostly students, arrived from war-torn Ukraine by an Air India Express flight from Budapest via Kuwait at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA), an official said here on Saturday.

The flight IX-1603 includes a maximum of 40 persons from Kerala, besides 36 from Andhra Pradesh, 30 from Telangana, 28 from Tamil Nadu, and 11 from Maharashtra.

There are 8 persons from Bihar, 7 from Punjab, 5 each from West Bengal and Haryana, 3 each from Uttar Pradesh and Karnataka, 2 each from Rajasthan and Odisha, and one each from Uttarakhand, Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh.

The CSMIA authorities had deployed special measures for the speedy exit and luggage clearance of the Ukraine evacuees, and following the Covid-19 protocols.

Representatives of various states later took charge of their people to help them with their lodging-boarding or onward journey plans by trains or flights.
Gaza, March 5 : The Palestinian Hamas has announced its rejection to Australia's decision of listing the movement as a terrorist group.

In a press statement sent to Xinhua news agency, Hamas said that it condemns the Australian government's decision, and that all the accusations against the movement "are false, based on an inaccurate understanding of the history of the Palestinian people who live under the Israeli occupation".

On Friday, Australia officially listed Hamas as a terrorist organisation, considering the decision as "a deterrent to political and religious violence".

Australian Minister for Home Affairs Karen Andrews said in a press statement that listing Hamas as a terrorist organization "is bringing Australia in line with the US, the European Union, and Britain".

Hamas, which was founded in 1987, has governed the Gaza Strip since taking over the area in 2007.
Chennai, March 5 : Firmly believing that tiny hearts deserve the greatest care, Telugu superstar Mahesh Babu has now launched a foundation called the Pure Little Hearts Foundation (PLHF) at the Rainbow Children's Heart Institute (RCHI) which will look to provide cardiac care for children.

The actor's Mahesh Babu Foundation has joined forces with the RCHI for the noble initiative, as part of which economically-challenged children with congenital heart diseases would be treated at PLHF.

In India, congenital heart diseases account for 10 out of every 1,000 births. So, more than 200,000 children are born every year with congenital heart diseases.

Approximately one-fifth of these infants are likely to have a serious birth defect, requiring intervention during the first year.

Families of a majority of such kids are unable to afford quality children's cardiac care, leading to significant morbidity and mortality. Learning about this, Mahesh Babu, through his Foundation, has now collaborated with Rainbow Children's Heart Institute and launched the Pure Little Hearts Foundation.

Speaking at the launch of the foundation, Mahesh Babu said, "Children have always been close to my heart. I am happy to support children who need cardiac care at RCHI through the Mahesh Babu Foundation. Tiny hearts deserve the greatest care." Mahesh Babu has been a strong supporter of causes that save sick children. The actor, through his foundation, has facilitated heart operations for over 1,000 children through Andhra Hospitals.

Meanwhile, the actor is associated with the 'Heal A Child' Foundation that supports kids who have no financial support and can't afford medical expenses.

Mahesh Babu, who adopted the Burripalem and Siddapuram villages in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana respectively, has been lending a helping hand with health and hygiene programmes and has been responsible for creating social awareness in these villages through his Mahesh Babu Foundation.
Hong Kong: Helpers statutory rights protected

The Government today said it does not and will not tolerate illegal dismissal of foreign domestic helpers (FDHs) who catch COVID-19.

In a press statement, the Government reminded employers that if they treat their FDHs less favourably, such as by laying off helpers with current or previous COVID-19 infection, they might violate the Disability Discrimination Ordinance.

FDHs under employment who test positive for COVID-19 or are regarded as close contacts will receive support like any other Hong Kong citizen, the Government stressed.

Meanwhile, for helpers currently without employment in Hong Kong, the Labour Department has been assisting in their admission to suitable facilities with support from the relevant consulates general.

Under the Employment Ordinance, an employer is prohibited from terminating an employment contract with an employee on paid sickness day, except in cases of summary dismissal due to the employees serious misconduct. Upon conviction, the employer will face a maximum fine of $100,000.

In addition, any breach of the statutory obligations and requirements under the Employment Ordinance and the Standard Employment Contract will render the employer ineligible for hiring an FDH for a period of time, and their helper visa applications will be refused.

The Government will stay vigilant in taking enforcement action against any violation of law in liaison and collaboration with the relevant consulates general.

This story has been published on: 2022-03-05. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
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New Delhi, March 5 : Around 600 students who were stuck in Sumy, the north eastern state of Ukraine, have made another video saying if anything happens to them, the government will be responsible.

All the students are of Sumy Medical University, presently living amidst shelling and bombings in war zone area.

"Today is the tenth day of war. We have come to know that Russia has announced ceasefire to open corridor of border of two cities, one of them is Mariupol which is 600 km from here. Since morning we are hearing sounds of airjets, bombing and street fights. We have waited for long and can't wait any more. We are risking our lives, we are moving towards borders, if anything happens to us, the government should be held accountable," said the students in the video sent to IANS.

They said it was the last video made by them as they started walking towards borders risking their lives amid heavy shelling.

"As Russia has opened border, we are moving, just pray for us, we need our government right now," the students said and started chanting 'Bharat Mata ki jai'.

The students have no water, food and anything which they need to survive. They made several requests but no help reached them.

Even on Friday they sent a few video to IANS naratting their ordeal.

Now chanting Bharat Mata ki jai and putting their lives at risk they have moved towards border in hope of life. They have belief that they will make it to the country safe and sound.
Imphal, March 5 : At least two people were killed and few others injured in Manipur as over 68 per cent polling was recorded till 2 p.m on Saturday in the second and final round of the Assembly elections underway in 22 of the 60 constituencies amid heavy security, officials said.

The Police said that one person was killed and another injured in police firing at Karong in Senapati district while a BJP activist succumbed to his injuries in Thoubal district.

A police official said that police had to open fire at Karong when some people tried to snatch an EVM from a polling station, thrashing the polling personnel.

In another incident in Thoubal district, some BJP workers went gone to the residence of a Congress worker late on Friday night and after an altercation, the Congress worker reportedly fired at the BJP activists injuring few of them who were shifted to the hospital, where one person succumbed to his injuries on Saturday.

Election and police officials said that activists of political parties clashed in Mao, Moreh and other places, halting the polling briefly.

Political parties are accusing each other of disturbing free and fair election processes in many places. However, details of these incidents are awaited.

Men, women and first time voters in large numbers queued up in front of the polling stations well before the voting started at 7 a.m. in six electoral districts.

According to election officials, over 68 per cent voters have voted till 2 p.m. in the 22 assembly constituencies where polling will continue till 4 p.m. without any break. According to officials, more than 20,000 Central paramilitary force troopers have been deployed in the second phase in the six electoral districts -- Thoubal, Jiribam, Chandel, Ukhrul, Senapati and Tamenglong.

While the Thoubal district falls in the valley area, the other five electoral districts are in the mountainous areas bordering Assam and Nagaland, as well as Myanmar, making security forces maintain maximum vigil along both the international and the inter-state borders. Manipur Chief Electoral Officer Rajesh Agrawal said that 4,988 personnel have been posted in 1,247 polling stations in the six electoral districts to conduct the exercise.He said that in all, 8,38,730 voters, including 4,28,679 females and 31 transgenders, are eligible to exercise their franchise in the second phase to decide the electoral fate of 92 candidates, including two females.

Of the 92 candidates, 17 have criminal antecedents, the election official said.
Mumbai, March 5 : Actress Shriya Pilgaonkar, who is widely known for her portrayal of Sweety Gupta in 'Mirzapur', has returned to the theatre stage after two years of the coronavirus pandemic with her play 'Internal Affairs'.

She recently rehearsed with her theatre co-actors Shikha Talsania, Hussain Dalal, and Priyanshu Painyuli at Prithvi Theatre.

Shriya began her acting journey with stage and the actress made a revisit to the medium after wrapping up her recent series, the details of which are still under wraps.

Expressing her excitement over returning to the theatre stage after two years, Shriya Pilgaonkar says, "I was really excited to be back on stage after two years. 'Internal Affairs' was one of my first plays with Akvarious Productions from where I started my journey. It's a romantic comedy and we've performed more than 90 shows across India and worldwide. These three days of performing at Prithvi were so much fun. The shows were houseful and we got a lot of love " The actress thoroughly loved jamming with her co-actors on stage, as she states, "It has been a fun journey sharing the stage with Shikha Talsania, Hussain Dalal, and Priyanshu Painyuli, who are all not just good actors but close friends. Performing on the Prithvi stage is a special experience and we've always got a lot of love here." Pandemic has hit the artiste community badly. Two years down the line, things continue to be difficult for the community. The actress makes a thoughtful remark as she says, "After everything that's happened in the past two years , we need to support the arts in all its forms! After two years of the pandemic, it was good to see people heading back to the theatre and movies." "I don't get much time for theatre because of my shoots but I hope to be able to make time in the future because being on stage is a different thrill", she concludes

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Belagavi : , March 5 (IANS) Jayanth Mukund Tinekar, a social activist who brought a sensational fake stamp paper case to light and saved thousands of crores to the state exchequer, was attacked in Belagavi district of Karnataka on Saturday. The police are yet to ascertain the exact reason behind the attack.

The 62-year-old social activist has been attacked by a gang of eight persons with iron rods. After seriously assaulting Tinekar, the miscreants escaped from the spot. Later, the truck drivers shifted him to Belagavi Civil Hospital and his condition is said to be serious.

The gang attacked him after following him on Khanapur-Belagavi highway. Tinekar was going somewhere in his car when miscreants who came on bikes waylaid and attacked him. He was rescued by lorry drivers who rushed to his help, according to police.

The identities of the the miscreants are yet to be ascertained as they were masked. The right ankle of Tinekar is broken and right shoulder also suffered major injuries. He was first taken to Khanapur Government Hospital and from there he was shifted to Belagavi hospital.

Belagavi Rural police have lodged a case and started a probe.

Tinekar, made into national headlines after he brought out thousands of crores of fake stamp paper racket run by prime accused Kareem Lala Telgi to light. The expose prevented huge loss to the state. The sensational case had created ripples in the country.
New Delhi, March 5 : Milk brand Mother Dairy has announced to increase the milk price by Rs 2 per litre in Delhi NCR area. The price hike will come into the effect from Sunday.

The milk brand has said that the price has been increased because of rise in the procurement cost.

"In view of the rising procurement prices (amount paid to farmers), fuel costs and costs of packaging material, Mother Dairy is compelled to raise its liquid milk prices by Rs 2 a litre in Delhi NCR with effect from March 6, 2022," the company said on Saturday.

The brand has announced price hike within days after Amul and Parag Milk Foods increased prices by Rs 2 per litre each.

After the price increase, the full cream Mother Dairy milk will cost Rs 59 per litre and toned milk price will rise to Rs 49 per litre. Currently, full cream milk costs Rs 57 per litre and toned milk costs Rs 47 per litre in Delhi NCR.
March 05 : While Gangubai Kathiawadi was in production, Sanjay Leela Bhansalis next project, Heeramandi, was announced last year. The Netflix nine episode web series will mark Bhansalis debut in the digital world. The filming of Heeramandi will begin this month at Film City in Mumbai.

Heeramandi is a red light district in Lahore, Pakistan. Bhansalis web series is about the culture, glamour, and gritty reality of courtesans of Heera Mandi during the pre-independence era. The show will have all the elements of a Bhansali filmfrom grand sets to elaborate costumes, a plethora of characters, and extravagency. The web series promises to bring forth stories of love, betrayal, politics and succession.

Reportedly, a set is being built in Mumbai for Heeramandi at the cost of Rs 1.75 crore. While the set for Gangubai Kathiawadi has gone down, Heeramandi set has started coming up in its place. A TOI report stated that about 700 workers are working to build the set. The set will resemble pre-independence Lahore, and going by Sanjay Leela Bhansalis perfectionism, it will no doubt be a grand set. It is also reported that 14 years ago, Moin Baig wrote the story about Heeramandi and requested Sanjay Leela Bhansali to make into a film.

Heeramandi will have a lot of dances as it will project Lahores courtesans in pre-independence era. The area existed during Mughal rule, and was around even during the British colonial rule. Later the Pakistan government had attempted to stop the dance and music in the houses that were then running as covert brothels. The place still exists in Lahore and seen as a red light area. Bhansalis web series will focus on the lives of women in Heeramandi in the pre-independence era.

Earlier, Sanjay Leela Bhansali wanted to bring on board Pandit Birju Maharaj to choreograph the dances, but with his sudden demise, his second choice could have been Saroj Khan. Now with she too is no more, Bhansali may choreograph the dances himself. The filmmaker had earlier choreographed Aishwarya Rai Bachchans dance in Guzaarish.

While announcing his association with Netflix, Bhansali had said in a statement last year, Heeramandi is an important milestone in my journey as a filmmaker. This is an epic, first of its kind series based on the courtesans of Lahore. It is an ambitious, grand and all-encompassing series; therefore I am nervous yet excited about making it. I am looking forward to my partnership with Netflix and bringing Heeramandi to audiences all over the world.

Speaking to Variety, the filmmaker had said last year, It is a huge saga about the courtesans of Lahore, it is something I was living with for 14 years. Its very vast and ambitious.
Varanasi, March 5 : As Uttar Pradesh enters the final and the seventh phase of polling, State BJP President Swatantra Dev Singh said that after the poll results on March 10, Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav will finally leave the state and will travel to London.

The State BJP President in an exclusive interview with IANS said, till the sixth phase of polling, the BJP will win more than 300 seats. Akhilesh Yadav, who claims to win 400 seats, will leave Uttar Pradesh on March 10 for London and close down his party office.

Asked about the SP Chief's claims that the BJP will face defeat, Singh said, "Akhilesh Yadav's comments should not be taken too seriously. He made such remarks in 2014, 2017 and in 2019 as well. Leaders like him have forged various alliances in the past and will lose their relevance during the current Assembly polls." The BJP is a disciplined party, he said, adding, "I recently met an electoral officer from Bengaluru, who said elections are taking place peacefully in Uttar Pradesh. Our party workers participate in elections by following all rules and regulations. There is no indiscipline in our party. Any individual can make any kind of claims against us? Our party workers focus on their work. They do not have any time for controversies." On the question of Sanghmitra Maurya, daughter of former Cabinet Minister Swami Prasad Maurya, campaigning against the party, Singh said, "She has not campaigned against our party. If and when the issue comes to our attention, we will take a decision on it." Singh further said, "The BJP talks only about development. But if there was an exodus of a particular community during the previous government, then it is our duty to inform the people about it. Whatever wrong doings the SP government had committed, people have a right to know about it. A party like the SP openly backs terrorists." On BJP asking for votes from Muslim women, Singh said, "Muslim women have become free from regressive practices such as Triple Talaq. They have been allotted houses under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana and have full faith in the Narendra Modi government. Muslim women have benefited from various welfare schemes launched by the Centre and the state government. They will surely vote in large numbers for the BJP." On the question why BJP has not fielded a single Muslim candidate, the State BJP president said, "BJP is a worker-based party. It reviews the candidates who were allotted tickets in previous elections after which they are finally given tickets." Asked how will the BJP fight the caste-based alliances in Purvanchal, Swatantra Dev Singh said, "This time people are voting in the name of development and the rule of law." How do you see the SP, Congress and the BSP faring during this election, he added, "All three parties are fighting to remain relevant. They are no match to the BJP, which is again going to form the government in Uttar Pradesh with full majority." How will you see the BJP performing during the last six phases of elections, he said, "The BJP will win more than 300 seats of the six phases held so far. This time women are actively participating in the electoral process and are voting in favour of Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. People will vote only for development. The BJP will again form the government with an absolute majority in the state." Asked about the five poll issues on which the BJP is contest elections, he said, "Law and order, housing for the poor, toilets, free ration and transparent governance. All the opposition parties only want to exploit the poor. In a global pandemic like Covid-19, the BJP government worked to serve the poor and the marginalised sections of the society. Parties like the SP and the BSP are nowhere. The welfare schemes of the government both by the Centre and the state have successfully reached every village and people have benefited from them. Basic facilities like electricity have considerably improved in the state."
Los Angeles, March 5 : Hollywood stars Will Smith and Michael B. Jordan are set to star and produce the sequel to 'I Am Legend'. The film will be written by Akiva Goldsman for Warner Bros Studios, reports 'Variety'.

Will Smith took to his Instagram to share a teaser photo spelling out the partnership following the news, and tagged Jordan in the post. The 2007 film was adapted from Richard Matheson's 1954 novel of the same name. As per 'Variety', details about the new movie, including its plot and who will direct, are scarce as it is still in development.

'I Am Legend', which was helmed by Francis Lawrence, saw Will Smith essaying the role of virologist Robert Neville, who happens to be the sole survivor in New York City of a man-made plague that transforms humans into bloodthirsty mutants, and follows him while he fights to find a cure.

Jordan and Elizabeth Raposo will produce the follow-up feature under their Outlier Society banner; Smith and Jon Mone, Westbrook Studios' co-president and head of motion pictures and Goldsman and Greg Lessans also producing via Weed Road Pictures will see Ryan Shimazaki overseeing the production.
New Delhi, March 5 : The Russian military has claimed that it was fired upon from Mariupol and Volnovakha after the ceasefire came into force.

Artillery fire was opened on the positions of Russian armed forces from Mariupol, as well as from Volnovakha, said Russian General Colonel Mikhail Mizintsev.

"On the Volnovakha and Mariupol directions, humanitarian corridors were opened daily, but the national battalions categorically suppress attempts by civilians to leave towards the Russian Federation," he said.

From 10 pm Moscow time on March 4, the Russian side announced a silence regime so that civilians from Ukrainian Mariupol and Volnovakha could use the humanitarian corridors.

Later, the head of the DPR, Denis Pushilin, said that the Azov detachment fighters staged an explostion in Mariupol in a house on Meotida Boulevard, RT reported.

As a result of the explosion, the house collapsed, leaving up to 200 people under the rubble in the basement, most of them women and children.

The nationalist battalions do not allow the civilian population of Ukraine to go out along the humanitarian corridors towards Russia, stated Mizintsev, who's the head of the National Defense Control Centre of Russia.

Ukraine officials halted the planned evacuation of civilians from the Ukrainian-controlled Azov Sea port city Mariupol on Saturday, accusing Russia of continued shelling despite a promise to provide safe passage, RT reported.

However, the Mariupol City Council said shortly after 12:40 pm local time that the evacuation had been "postponed".

"The Russian side doesn't abide by the ceasefire and has continued to shell Mariupol and its surroundings," the Council said in a brief statement on social media.

It added that the evacuation will resume once the ceasefire is restored.

Latest updates on Russia-Ukraine War
New Delhi, March 5 : Biju Janata Dal (BJD) leader and Member of Parliament from Odisha, Prasanna Acharya on Saturday wrote to Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya urging him to make alternative arrangement for those students who have been evacuated from war torn Ukraine.

In the letter, Acharya requested him to "seriously ponder for an immediate alternative arrangement for students who were forced to abandon their studies half-way in view of the situation." He said that all arrangements should be made for their entry into various medical colleges in the country, even by relaxing the prevalent rules and guidelines, if necessary.

The BJD MP has requested the Health Minister to analyse the reasons why such a sizeable number of Indian students are tempted to go to Ukraine for Medical education.

"I would also humbly suggest you to analyse the reasons why such a sizeable number of Indian students are tempted to go to Ukraine for Medical education. Is it because the number of medical seats in India is limited, the expenses for medical education in India are so high in comparison to other countries like Ukraine which the middle class Indian parents are not able to afford or whether the standard of medical education in these countries are better than that of India!", the letter reads further.

Underlining that at present it does not seem likely that normalcy will return in the war torn country in immediate future and these Indian students would not be able to resume their education there, he said that the future of such students will be doomed unless and until the Union Government and in particular health ministry take some immediate measures.

The BJD Rajya Sabha MP has requested Mandavia to find out suitable solutions to facilitate continuance of medical education of the Indian students who have left Ukraine.
New Delhi: Students who were stranded in Poland amid the Russia and Ukraine war, arrive at IGI Airport in New Delhi on Wednesday, 2022. (Photo: Anupam Gautam/IANS) Image Source: IANS News

Gurugram: Out of 91, 76 students evacuated from Ukraine so far Image Source: IANS News

Gurugram, March 5 : Out of the 91 students who went to Ukraine to study medicine from Gurugram, 76 have returned to the country till Saturday afternoon, according to a statement issued by the district administration.

Gurugram Deputy Commissioner Nishant Kumar Yadav said the district administration is monitoring the movement of students returning to India from Ukraine.

"The district administration officials are constantly contacting the students from the district, including their parents, who are yet to return from the war-hit country so that they don't lose hope," Yadav said.

All efforts are being made to ensure the safe evacuation of Indian students, the official said, adding that 76 students from Gurugram have been evacuated from Ukraine so far.

The Haryana government has set up a help-desk at the Mumbai airport to provide necessary assistance to those returning from Ukraine.
New Delhi, March 5 : Three people including a minor were held for attempting to rob money from an Automated teller machine (ATM) in the national capital, an official said on Saturday.

The accused, identified as Kundan Kumar (22) and Papu (22), both residents of Bihar's Muzaffarpur and a minor, told police that they committed the offence after getting inspired from a video that they had seen on YouTube.

They were booked under sections 457, 380, 511 and 34 of the Indian Penal Code.

Furnishing details, DCP Sameer Sharma said an information was received on phone at Nangloi police station from Axis Bank headquarters on the intervening night of March 1-2 around 2 a.m. that some suspected persons have entered into the Axis Bank ATM booth located at Rajdhani Park, Nangloi and their activities are looking suspicious.

Acting on the information, Nangloi police station immediately informed Highway Patrolling staff about the incident after which they reached the said location within 2-3 minutes and nabbed all the three accused from the spot.

During interrogation, the trio revealed that they were roommates and residing as a tenant in the area of Prem Nagar, Delhi.

They further disclosed that they planned to rob the ATM after getting inspired by a video. "When they were cutting wires of the ATM, an alarm rang at Axis Bank headquarters on which a call was made from there to Delhi Police," the DCP said.

During their search, the police recovered one drill machine, hammer and a screw machine from their possession.
New Delhi, March 5 : A member of the Ukrainian negotiating delegation was killed on Saturday by the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), which suspects that he was a Russian spy.

This was reported by a number of media oulets and Telegram channels, though the information has not been officially confirmed yet.

According to media reports, the SBU had evidence of Denis Kireev's treason, including telephone conversations, UNIAN reported.

Allegedly, Kireev was shot dead by the SBU during his arrest. He was suspected of treason.

Kireev was considered a creature of the oligarch Andrei Klyuev, an ally of former Ukraine President Viktor Yanukovych, who fled to the Russian Federation, reports said.

"Kireev was actually killed right in the centre of Kiev. He was literally executed, shot in the head at the entrance of Pechersk Court," Mario Dubovikova, an independent political analyst, said.

From 2006 to 2008, Kireev worked at SCM Finance, where he held the position of Deputy General Director. He then worked for the Austrian company GROUP SLAV AG Klyuyev. From 2006 to 2012, he was a member of the Supervisory Board of Ukreximbank.

From 2010 to 2014, according to the Klyuyevs' quota, he held the position of First Deputy Chairman of the Board of Oschadbank. Kireev also managed the Private Equity Fund and the Fixed Income Fund.
Bengaluru, March 5 : Karnataka Chief minister Basavaraj Bommai on Saturday said that the ceasefire announcement by Russia has raised hopes to bring the mortal remains of Naveen Gyangoudar, who was killed in shelling in the city of Kharkiv.

Bommai visited the family of Naveen Gyangoudar, at his village in Haveri district. Naveen, a medical student, is the first casualty of the war between Russia and Ukraine.

The Chief Minister paid his respects to the deceased, and spent time with the family and consoled them. He also handed over a cheque of Rs 25 lakh to Naveen's father.

The Chief Minister reiterated that the state government is making all efforts to bring back Naveen's mortal remains from Ukraine.

"I have been in constant touch with the MEA and authorities in Delhi as well as the Ukrainian ambassador. I have been told that his body has been embalmed and kept in a mortuary. But taking it out of the country was difficult because of the fighting. However, with the ceasefire announcement, it may be possible to get back his body. I will follow up on the issue." Bommai said.

Naveen lost his life on March 1 and his distraught family has been beseeching the authorities to retrieve his body for conducting the last rites.
New Delhi, March 5 : Students of Aryabhatta Research Institute of Observational Sciences (ARIES) and Indian Institute of Technology, Roorkee (IITR) will soon be able to participate in a joint PhD programme even as IIT Roorkee students can do projects on the ongoing activities at ARIES utilizing the various existing and upcoming facilities there.

This will be possible through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between ARIES, an autonomous institute under the Department of Science & Technology (DST), Government of India, with Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee (IIT-R) for academic cooperation in areas of mutual interest, a release from the Ministry of Science & Technology said.

This MoU will foster collaboration, and facilitate advancement of knowledge on the basis of reciprocity, best effort, mutual benefit, and frequent interactions. Furthermore, ARIES and IIT Roorkee have agreed to jointly sponsor research, development and consultancy; exchange of faculty, scientists and students; exchange of scientific and technical matters; hold joint conferences, workshops and even short-term courses.

Director, ARIES, Professor Dipankar Banerjee asserted, "The aim of this partnership is to bring the researchers of IIT Roorkee and ARIES closer to each other so as to use their respective strengths to jointly address interesting scientific and engineering problems," said Director, IIT Roorkee, Professor Ajit K. Chaturvedi.

ARIES and IIT Roorkee are known for their strength in research and education in one or more disciplines of science, engineering, management, and social sciences, and their mutual interest in engaging themselves in academic cooperation.

ARIES is one of the leading research institutes, which specializes in observational Astronomy & Astrophysics, Solar Physics and Atmospheric Sciences. The main research interests of Astronomy & Astrophysics division are in solar, planetary, stellar, galactic and extra-galactic astronomy including stellar variabilities, X-ray binaries, star clusters, nearby galaxies, quasars, and inherently transient events like supernovae and highly energetic gamma ray bursts.

ARIES hosts three existing optical telescopes 3.6 m DOT (India's largest), 1.3 m DFOT and 1.04 m ST and the upcoming 4 m ILMT along with a 206.5 MHz ST Radar.
New Delhi, March 5 : Two people -- a mother and her son -- were arrested for being involved in an interstate racket of supply of cannabis (Ganja), an official said on Saturday.

The accused, identified as Mohd Shahid (30) and Guddi (47), residents of Narela, Delhi, were nabbed by a joint team of Narcotics and Special staff of Shahdara district.

Furnishing details, DCP R. Sathiyasundaram said, on March 4 a tip-off was received regarding transportation of Cannabis (Ganja) by one lady and her son, through Pusta Road, Gandhi Nagar.

Acting on the information, a joint team of Narcotics Cell and Special Staff was constituted which nabbed two persons (mother and son) with bags in their hands near Opposite Madina Masjid, Pusta Road, Gandhi Nagar, Delhi. After their apprehension, two bags being carried out by them were checked and the contraband was found.

During interrogation, the mother-son duo revealed that they along with one Asgar Ali, a resident of Pooja Colony, Loni, purchased the Cannabis (Ganjha) from a person known to Asgar Ali and delivered the said Ganja at Rajnandgaon Railway Station, Chhattisgarh.

Asgar Ali also accompanied them and boarded at Nizamuddin Railway Station while returning from Chhattisgarh.

The accused duo further disclosed that they used different public transports in return. It was revealed that Asgar Ali is the kingpin of this racket who gave them money for the trip.

Asgar Ali is the brother of accused Guddi. The police recovered Ganja weighing 31.2 Kg from the accused persons. Further investigation is underway, the official added.
New Delhi, March 5 : Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia on Saturday informed that a total 6,222 Indian nationals have been evacuated from Romania and Moldova in the last seven days under 'Operation Ganga'.

Sharing an update on the status of evacuation of Indian nationals from neighbouring countries of war-struck Ukraine, Scindia tweeted, "Evacuated 6,222 Indians in the last 7 days from Romania and Moldova... 1,050 students to be sent home in the next 2 days".

In the same tweet, Scindia said that India got a new airport to operate flights in Suceava, 50 km from border, instead of transporting students to Bucharest which is 500 km from border. He also added that 1,050 more students will be sent home in the next 2 days.

"In the last 7 days, a total of 29 flights from Romania alone have flown our students back to India. Jai Hind!" he added in a subsequent tweet.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Saturday advised Indian students stranded in Sumy, Ukraine to stay inside while assuring a safe corridor for students to pass is being negotiated with both the Russian and Ukrainian governments.
Palgar : A drunken, speeding trucker mowed 2 minor girls, injured a man, destroyed a shop and as he attempted to flee, his truck rammed into a tree and caught fire, in a village in Jawahar. Image Source: IANS News

Palgar : A drunken, speeding trucker mowed 2 minor girls, injured a man, destroyed a shop and as he attempted to flee, his truck rammed into a tree and caught fire, in a village in Jawahar. Image Source: IANS News

Palgar : A drunken, speeding trucker mowed 2 minor girls, injured a man, destroyed a shop and as he attempted to flee, his truck rammed into a tree and caught fire, in a village in Jawahar. Image Source: IANS News

Palgar : A drunken, speeding trucker mowed 2 minor girls, injured a man, destroyed a shop and as he attempted to flee, his truck rammed into a tree and caught fire, in a village in Jawahar. Image Source: IANS News

Palghar, March 5 : In a series of shocking developments, a drunken driver mowed two minor girls, injured one man seriously, destroyed a shop and as he attempted to escape, his truck caught fire and was gutted, officials said here on Saturday.

The mayhem occurred near Morchundi village in Jawhar, when the inebriated Sharad Nisarge was speeding his truck and ran over two minor girls playing near the road.

Panicking, he stopped and attempted to reverse his truck and banged into a shop behind and injured a man standing there.

Somehow he reversed the truck and attempted to flee the accident site when his truck suddenly caught fire, forcing him to jump out, said a police official.

The local villagers who had rushed to the scene grabbed Nisarge and thrashed him before dragging him to the local Mokhada Police Station.

The two minor girls, bleeding profusely with multiple injuries, were rushed to a nearby government hospital, but pronounced dead on admission, while the injured man is undergoing treatment.

They are identified as Archi N. Sonar, 5, and Payal B. Vargade, 9, who were returning home from school, when the tragedy struck.

Mokhada Police Station head Sanjay Brahmane said that as per preliminary investigations, the accused was attempting to flee the spot after the accident but banged into a tree.

The impact resulted in a short circuit and the truck caught fire and was gutted in minutes though Nisarge managed to jump out.

"We have arrested the accused under IPC Section 304, culpable homicide not amounting to murder, and sections of Motor Vehicles Act. He has been sent for a medical examination to ascertain the alcohol levels. We shall produce him before the Jawhar Court tomorrow," Brahmane told mediapersons.

Meanwhile angry locals including the irate relatives of the two deceased girls, staged a traffic blockade preventing vehicular movement towards Nashik-Thane in either directions, demanding stringent punishment for the truck driver Nisarge.
New Delhi, March 5 : Over 2,000 Indian nationals are expected to be evacuated under 'Operation Ganga' from the borders of war-torn Ukraine on Sunday.

The Centre has initiated an airlift operation to evacuate Indian nationals, who have found their way to the neighbouring countries of war-torn Ukraine. It has deployed a number of special charter flights as well as Indian Air Force aircraft to ferry back Indian citizens.

"Tomorrow (Sunday), 11 special flights are expected to operate from Budapest, Kosice, Rzeszow and Bucharest, bringing more than 2,200 Indians back home," a statement issued by the Ministry of Civil Aviation said.

"Under Operation Ganga, about 3,000 Indians have been airlifted on Saturday by 15 special flights from Ukraine's neighbouring countries," it added.

According to the statement, Saturday's operations were conducted via 12 special civilian and 3 IAF flights.

The civilian flights were operated from Budapest, Suceva, Kosice and Rzeszow.

"With this, more than 13,700 Indians have been brought back since the special flight operations began on February 22," the statement said.

Besides, the ministry said that 11,728 Indians have been brought back by 55 special civilian flights.

Till date, the IAF has flown 10 sorties to bring back 2,056 passengers, besides taking 26 tonnes of relief load to the Ukraine's neghbouring countries as part of Operation Ganga.

"Three IAF C-17 heavy lift transport aircraft, which had taken off from the Hindon air base on Friday, landed back on Saturday morning. These flights evacuated 629 Indian nationals from Romania, Slovakia and Poland. These flights also carried 16.5 tonnes of relief load from India to these countries," a statement said.
Patna, March 5 : In a shocking incident, a panchayat of Bihar's Saharsa district directed a rape accused to pay Rs 70,000 as compensation to the victim, an official said on Saturday.

The accused has been identified as Sarfaraz. He was arrested by local police on Saturday afternoon. The accused was involved in sexually assaulting a Dalit girl a fortnight ago in a village which comes under Basnahi police station.

According to an official of the police station, the accused applied pressure on the victim and her family members for the compromise.

"On the pressure of the accused and his family members, a Panchayat was held in the village a week ago where Sarpanch and Mukhiya (village head) imposed financial punishment on the accused. They directed the accused to pay Rs 70,000 to the victim," JP Singh, an investigating officer of the case said.

This shocker came to the knowledge of a social organization, the officials of which took the statement of the victim and gave a written complaint to Basnahi police station.

"Following the written complaint of the victim, we have arrested the accused. He has confessed the crime. He also said that he and his family members applied pressure on the victim for the compromise," he said.
London, March 5 : Both the BBC and CNN reconfirmed on Saturday that Indians in Ukraine attempting to cross over into Poland have been facing racial abuse from Ukrainian security forces. There have been persistent reports of this nature for over a week now.

Amit Lath, vice-president of the Indo-Polish Chamber of Commerce, claimed that even women have been beaten up, either held up for days or not permitted to leave Ukraine at the border posts.

While the US Secretary of State, Antony Blinkin, toured the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) countries in eastern Europe on Saturday, Russian President Vladimir Putin's spokesman disclosed that the two nations were talking through certain channels.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov revealed at a news briefing: "We are maintaining certain channels of a dialogue with the United States." He was answering a question on the current state of relations between Russia and the US following sanctions imposed by Washington and a tense relationship in general between them as a result of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. There was no ratification of this from Washington.

Claims of casualties vary widely between the two directly warring countries in the Russia-Ukraine outbreak of hostilities in what is really a battle between Russia and the West for strategic advantage on the security front.

In Moscow, Major General Oigor Konashenkov of the Russian defence ministry maintained that Russian armed forces have struck over 2,000 Ukrainian military infrastructure facilities up to Saturday morning, according to the Russian news agency, TASS.

Konashenkov is reported to have said: "Overall, some 2,037 Ukrainian military infrastructure facilities were hit during the operation. They included 71 command posts and communication centres of the Kiev forces; S-300, Buk and 9K33 Osa missile systems as well as 61 radar stations." He further stated that some 66 aircraft were hit on the ground and 16 aircraft in the air, while as many as 708 tanks and other armored combat vehicles, 74 multiple rocket launchers, 261 field artillery and mortars, 505 units of special military vehicles as well as 56 unmanned aerial vehicles were also destroyed.

The Russian Defense Ministry insisted that Russian troops were not targeting Ukrainian cities; and limiting themselves to incapacitating Ukrainian military infrastructure. Even if this is true, there has apparently been collateral civilian casualties.

Meanwhile, after Russia Today was banned in the European Union, Britain and the United States, the Kremlin has retaliated by yanking western counterparts like BBC and CNN in Russia. US social media platform Facebook is also no longer available in Russia.

Latest updates on Russia-Ukraine War
Bhubaneswar, March 5 : Unidentified miscreants have shot dead Arabinda Mishra, a retired government employee, in Odisha's Kendrapara district on Saturday, police said.

The incident occurred in Badabakpur village under Mahakalpada police station of the Kendrapara district in broad daylight.

According to the police, three armed miscreants barged into the house of Mishra on Saturday afternoon and opened fire at him. When Mishra's wife Minati tried to protect him, the criminals also fired on the lady.

While Mishra died on the spot, his wife Minati was critically injured in the gun attack. Later, she was admitted to a local hospital. Arabinda was a retired employee of the Kendrapara block office.

Being informed about the incident, locals ran after the miscreants and were able to catch two of the accused, while the third managed to escape. The accused have been handed over to the police. The irate villagers have torched the motorcycle of the miscreants.

However, the reason behind the attack is yet to be ascertained by police. Amiya Kumar Nayak, former sarpanch of the village, suspected that family dispute might be the reason behind the murder.
New Delhi, March 5 : Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday said that the successful evacuation of Indian nationals from war-torn Ukraine will have positive impact on assembly elections.

Home Minister was addressing a press briefing at the BJP headquarters here. Underlining that the government has been keeping an eye on the situation in Ukraine since January, Union Minister said the government had issued an advisory as early as February 15 for Indians in Ukraine.

"Over 13,000 citizens have reached India and more flights are coming in. This process had a positive impact on elections and on the people also," Shah said, adding that the government has launched 'Operation Ganga' for the evacuation of Indians from Ukraine.

The Union Minister said that the government sent Russian-speaking teams to four nearby countries of Ukraine and also set up a control room. "Till March 4, we were successful in bringing out 16,000 citizens from Ukraine", he said.

Meanwhile, Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia earlier in day informed that a total 6,222 Indian nationals have been evacuated from Romania and Moldova in the last seven days under the Operation Ganga. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Saturday advised Indian students stranded in Sumy, Ukraine to stay inside while assuring a safe corridor for students to pass is being negotiated with both the Russian and Ukrainian governments.

Latest updates on Russia-Ukraine War
New Delhi, March 5 : Russia will not forget Britain's desire to cooperate with ultra-nationalist forces in Ukraine and the supply of British weapons to the Kiev regime, the Russian Foreign Ministry said on Saturday.

"Let's not forget the cooperation of the British with the Kiev regime and ultra-nationalist forces in Ukraine, the continued supply of British weapons these days, which are being used against the civilian population of Donbass and the Russian military," the Russian Foreign Ministry said.

In fact, London has completely subordinated its foreign policy to the task of causing as much damage as possible to Russian national interests, Moscow noted.

"For now, British Foreign Minister Elizabeth Truss is calling on her compatriots to go fight for Ukraine, and there are calls in the House of Commons to send all Russians out of Britain," the ministry said, RT reported.

The official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry, Maria Zakharova, said that Russia would not allow the Anglo-Saxons to interfere in the affairs of the country.

"We will not tolerate the attempts of the Anglo-Saxons to interfere in the internal political processes in our country, to destabilize the situation, to instill values that are alien to us," she said.
New Delhi, March 5 : After being on the run for the past 25 years, the most wanted vehicle thief in Delhi-NCR has finally been arrested by the Delhi Police, an official said here on Saturday.

The accused, identified as Intezar (42), a resident of Meerut, was arrested along with his accomplice Aasif (37).

Furnishing details, DCP Shweta Chauhan said that Intezar was earlier caught once in 2014 after which was never arrested.

"In November 2020, Intezar deliberately hit police barricades to avoid his arrest in the New Friend's Colony area. A case was registered but he managed to get anticipatory bail from the court due to the Covid-19 pandemic," the DCP said.

Intezar used to carry illegal weapons with him to commit crime and to avoid public interference. His associate Aasif is an expert in hacking any car key programming system and can make a duplicate key of any car.

The DCP said that in view of the recent incidents of car theft in Delhi-NCR, a team was constituted which took eight months to identify their hideout and their car which was being used by them to commit theft.

On February 26, a tip-off was received about the presence of the both the accused, after which the police laid a trap and nabbed them from the specified spot.

"Two loaded country-made pistols along with four live cartridges were recovered from their possession," said the DCP.

During interrogation, Intezar confessed that he has been stealing cars for the past 25 years.

Intezar also confessed that in 2020, he hit police barricades to escape from the spot as he was riding a stolen car.

The interrogation revealed that the accused delivered many cars to Sarik who runs the Satta gang operating from Dubai.

Five stolen cars were recovered from their possession.
New Delhi, March 5 : The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Science & Technology, Environment, Forest and Climate Change shall be meeting different states on the issue of the proposed amendments to the Wildlife Protection Act, Committee chair Jairam Ramesh said on Saturday.

The report of the Committee is likely to be submitted early April, he said.

The Congress leader and former Environment Minister said, the Parliamentary Committee has already interacted with conservationists, scientists and various Institutions. After an appeal was sent out to the stakeholders for sending in their suggestions and objections to the Committee, it had received over 70 responses from experts and institutions on the proposed amendment.

Ramesh had earlier said that the Wildlife Protection (Amendment) Bill, 2021 has not been based on widespread consultation and also that it is poorly drafted and has huge shortcomings.

There has been widespread outrage against the proposed amendments and activists have been critical of the government's intention and the hurried manner in which it was set to be passed since it was introduced in the Parliament in December last year.

It was a protest letter by Jairam Ramesh to the Lok Sabha speaker that ensured that the amendment Bill was sent to the Standing Committee.

The amendment that proposes to introduce Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) Appendix species in the Bill has been welcomed by many of the stakeholders while the amendment in connection with 'vermin' has drawn lot of criticism.
New Delhi, March 5 : The Ministry of External Affairs on Saturday said that no Indian is now left in the war torn Ukraine's Kharkiv region.

"From Pisochyn & Kharkiv, we should be able to clear out everyone in the next few hours, so far I know no one is left in Kharkhiv," MEA Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said in a media briefing.

He said that now the main focus is on the Sumy region.

In nearby Pisochyn, Bagchi said, as of a few hours ago there were less than 300 students there who were to be evacuated. "We hope to complete that task by today," the spokesperson said.

He said during the past 24 hours, 15 flights have landed with around 2,900 people under Operation Ganga. Till now, approximately 13,300 people have returned to India so far by 63 flights.

"As many as 13 flights are scheduled in the next 24 hours," Bagchi said.

The conflict between Russia and Ukraine started in the early hours of February 24 after Russian forces launched a major assault on Ukraine, firing missiles on cities and military installations and posing a serious threat to the Indian citizens residing there. Since then, India is evacuating its citizens from the war-torn region.

Meanwhile. the MEA spokesperson informed that one Nepal national will also be arriving in India.
New Delhi, March 5 : Sirajuddin Haqqani, the acting minister of the Taliban-led government in Afghanistan and a longtime leader of the so-called Haqqani network with a US terrorist bounty on his head, has appeared in front of the media for the first time, RFE/RL reported.

Haqqani, nicknamed Khalifa, attended a graduation ceremony in Kabul for hundreds of newly-trained Afghan police on Saturday.

He also addressed the gathering, saying the fundamentalist militant group is committed to the Doha agreement signed with the United States in 2020 that paved the way to a pullout of US-led international troops that culminated in late August last year.

Haqqani told the graduating cadets that the world faces no threat from Afghanistan, the report said.

Haqqani has repeatedly praised suicide and some of the most notorious attacks on civilians and departed US forces since the Taliban-led administration took control of Kabul in mid-August last year.

He had never allowed himself to be filmed, and an FBI notice of $10 million bounty on his head for alleged terrorist activities featured only a blurry image of a bearded man mostly shrouded by a blanket.

Previously, he has only been photographed clearly from behind -- even since the Taliban seized power in Afghanistan last August, Dawn reported.

"For your satisfaction and for building your trust... I am appearing in the media in a public meeting with you," he said in a speech at the parade.

"I appeared in front of the media for the first time because of your credibility and to value you," he told police officials.

Pictures of Haqqani were being widely shared on social media on Saturday by Taliban officials who had previously only posted photographs that didn't show his face or those in which it had been digitally blurred.

At the police parade, Haqqani was dressed like many of the other senior Taliban officials -- very heavily bearded and wearing a black turban and white shawl, Dawn reported.

Haqqani was among the first senior leaders who had entered Kabul in August last year but kept a low profile over the past few months. He would meet foreign dignitaries and Taliban officials but photographs from such meetings would always be blurred. He once appeared on a television interview but his face was not shown.

Haqqani heads his own group called the Haqqani network, which has been designated a terror outfit by the US for carrying out several major attacks on foreign and Afghan forces during the 20-year-long war in Afghanistan. However, the Taliban insist that there is no separate faction within the group.
New Delhi, March 5 : Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said a special flight is heading to Washington from Russia to pick up diplomats.

The "unidentified board" of the Rossiya company, heading from St. Petersburg to Washington, was immediately passed off by the fighters of the information front as both "the flight of the Russians" and "Moscow's attempt to get in touch with the Americans", Zakharova wrote, RT reported.

She noted that this was not the case.

"I will disappoint. This plane will return to their homeland Russian diplomats, whom the US government has declared persona non grata," added Zakharova.

Earlier, the official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry promised to respond to the United States for the expluslion of a Russian employee of the UN Secretariat.

On February 28, Russia's Permanent Representative to the UN, Vasily Nebenzya, announced that the United States had declared 12 Russian diplomats persona non grata.
New Delhi, March 5 : The official representative of the Russian Defense Ministry, Igor Konashenkov, said that due to the unwillingness of the Ukrainian side to influence the nationalists or extend the silence period, offensive operations have been resumed.

"Due to the unwillingness of the Ukrainian side to influence the nationalists or extend the 'silence regime', offensive operations have been resumed," Konashenkov said, RT reported.

According to him, the nationalist battalions took advantage of the "silence regime" to regroup and strengthen their positions.

Russia had announced a silence regime so that civilians in Mariupol and Volnovakha could use the humanitarian corridors.

The Russian army took control of a military base near Kherson, the Ukrainian military "left their positions in a hurry", leaving their positions with equipment, weapons and ammunition, the Russian Defense Ministry said.

"Russian military personnel took control of the military base of the armed forces of Ukraine near the village of Radensk in Kherson region. The Ukrainian military left their positions in a hurry, leaving the base with equipment, weapons and ammunition," the ministry said.

Among the trophies discovered were Ukrainian T-64 and T-80 tanks, as well as armored personnel carriers and infantry fighting vehicles, and Ural vehicles.

Presumably, various units were trained at this base, including marines, sappers, signalmen, tankers and artillerymen. In total, about 4,000 people could be accommodated at the base.

Konashenkov said that the troops of the Lugansk and Donetsk People's Republics took control of eight new settlements.
New Delhi, March 5 : There are as many as 86 fluoride-affected habitations in Andhra Pradesh and 52 in Madhya Pradesh, while the eastern districts of Karnataka face water contamination due to uranium, it was mentioned during a regional review meeting of the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) and Swachch Bharat Mission-Rural (SBM) on Saturday.

The regional meeting was held in Bengaluru for stock taking of the JJM and SBM schemes for Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Telangana and the UTs of Puducherry and Lakshadweep.

Union Minister for Jal Shakti, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, addressed the meeting that was attended by ministers and top bureaucrats of these states and UTs, a release from the Jal Shakti Ministry said.

"It has come to our notice that there are 86 fluoride-affected habitations in Andhra Pradesh and 52 in Madhya Pradesh which deserve immediate remedial action. Similarly, there is information that in the eastern districts of Karnataka, water contamination is reported due to uranium.

"The Ministry is committed to provide drinking water of a prescribed quality to every rural household. It will provide all funds and technical assistance to address these problems," Shekhawat said.

A total of 19 out of 117 aspirational districts fall in the participating states. As on March 1, Telangana has provided tap water connection to all its three aspirational districts while in other states, the coverage ranges between 19 per cent and 52 per cent.

"There is a need to pick up speed so that people living in the region soon get access to clean drinking water," Shekhawat said.

So far under the programme, 92,366 village water and sanitation committees have been constituted and 82,646 village action plans have been developed in the participating states and the UT of Puducherry.

There are 588 water testing laboratories, of which 136 are NABL accredited. These laboratories are open for public where they can carry water samples and get them tested at nominal rates.

In these participating six states and two UTs, more than 2.40 lakh women have been trained on how to perform water quality test using field test kits. These women are part of the five-women surveillance committee, which is assigned the task to frequently check the sources and delivery points and report in case any contamination is found so that immediate remedial action can be initiated, the ministry release said.
New Delhi, March 5 : India's Ambassador to Ukraine Partha Satpathy on Saturday said that Indian nationals in the war torn Ukraine, especially students, have displayed "maturity" and "fortitude" amidst these turbulent times.

He said that over the one past week, the Indian Embassy has evacuated more than 10,000 Indian students from Ukraine.

"Barring Kharkiv and Sumy, almost all Indians from the remaining regions of Ukraine have been evacuated," the Ambassador said in a message posted by the embassy on Twitter.

He said in the case of Kharkiv, despite it being an active war zone with heavy shelling, the embassy has maintained "consistent and constant" efforts to evacuate every citizen.

"Towards this end, in the past two days alone, we have evacuated more than 500 Indians from Pisochyn. As on date, about 300 Indian students remain in Pisochyn and the are being evacuated today," he said.

He assured Indians in Sumy that the embassy will leave "no stone unturned" in their efforts to ensure safe evacuation of Indian students.

"For all our Indian students in transit to the western borders, I request some more hours of strength. Government of India will take you home soon," Satpathy added.
Peshawar, March 6 : The Islamic State (IS) of Khorasan has claimed the responsibility of the terror attack on a Shia mosque in Pakistan's Peshawar during the Friday's prayer, in which at least 56 people killed.

The IS of Khorasan, which is active in the region, has claimed that it was an Afghan suicide bomber who executed the terror attack. The IS has made the claim in a press note.

Apart from 56 fatalities, as many as 194 others have recieved injuries after the alleged Afghan suicide bomber exploded himself during the Friday's prayer at the mosque.

The Shia mosque, where the explotion took place, reffered as Imam Bargah is located at Qissa Khwani Bazaar in Peshawar's Kucha Risaldar area.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK) Chief Minister Mahmood Khan's Special Assistant Barrister Saif has confirmed that the explosion was a suicide attack.

"There were two offenders who entered the mosque and then engaged in an exchange of fire with the security forces, following which one attacker was killed by the police. An eyewitness identified a person dressed in black as the suicide bomber, saying he entered the mosque, shot and killed the security guard first and then fired five to six bullets at the police. Subsequently, he rushed towards the main hall and blew himself in front of the pulpit." Separately, a local person claimed that despite residents urging for tighter security due to a recent hand grenade attack in the area, this suicide bombing was "neither anticipated nor prevented".

Prime Minister Imran Khan condemned the attack and ordered to provide immediate medical aid for the wounded.

Incidentally, the suicide attack took place a day after DG ISPR Lt Gen Babar Iftikhar denied the reports about former DG ISI Lt Gen Faiz Hameed (recently posted in Peshawar as Corps Commander) networking with opposition members to foil the proposed no-trust movement against the Prime Minister.
Seoul, March 6 : North Korea said Sunday it has conducted another "important test" for developing a "reconnaissance satellite." "The DPRK National Aerospace Development Administration (NADA) and the Academy of Defence Science conducted another important test on Saturday under the plan of developing a reconnaissance satellite," the Korean Central News Agency was quoted as saying by Yonhap news agency.

The DPRK is the acronym for the North's official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.

Through the test, it added, the NADA "confirmed the reliability of data transmission and reception system of the satellite, its control command system and various ground-based control systems." It did not provide additional details in the two-paragraph report.

The previous day, the secretive North fired a ballistic missile toward the East Sea, its ninth show of force this year, according to South Korea's military.

Launched from around the Sunan area in Pyongyang, the missile flew about 270 km at a top altitude of 560 km, the Joint Chiefs of Staff said.
Moscow, March 6 : Russia has "practically" completed the "mission" of destroying Ukraine's main military infrastructure, including weapon warehouses, ammunition depots, aviation and air defense systems, President Vladimir Putin said Saturday.

"Russian forces will fulfill all their assigned tasks and the operation in Ukraine is proceeding in accordance with the plan and schedule," Putin was quoted as saying by Xinhua news agency.

Commenting on a new wave of Western sanctions, Putin, at a meeting with women flight crews of Russian airlines, said that they (Western countries) are akin to a "declaration of war." He stressed that there is no need to introduce a state of emergency in Russia.

It was "a difficult decision" to launch a special military operation in Ukraine, but there are "absolutely real threats" to Russia, the president said.

If Ukraine joins the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, the whole military bloc is obliged to support Kiev militarily and Ukraine may get into Crimea, leading to direct clashes between Russia and NATO, Putin warned.

As Russia demands demilitarization of Ukraine, Putin said there are many different options on the negotiating table with Kiev.

Latest updates on Russia-Ukraine War
The Be Kind People Project Invites Students to Tell the World How to Make a Difference

Students in grades K-8 across America are invited to enter The BE KIND Make a Difference Essay contest sponsored by The Be Kind People Project. Students are prompted to share, based on their real-life experiences, If I were in charge of making my community a kinder place, this is what I would do. Teachers may use the essays as part of their curriculum and students are welcome to submit independent of any school assignment with the approval of their parent or guardian. Submissions are due Thursday, March 31 and winners will be announced on April 14, 2022.

Entries for grades K-2 can be either a single page picture or series of the students art with one to five descriptive sentences that may be hand-written. Grades 3-8 may enter a written essay no longer than one page double spaced or neatly handwritten. Students with disabilities are encouraged to participate in either option based on their abilities and parent or teacher discretion.

Winning students will receive BE KIND Swag and a BE KIND Make a Difference Essay Contest Certificate. All teachers of winning students will receive BE KIND classroom materials and free access to The Be Kind Break Premium online classroom resources for the 2022-2023 academic school year. In addition, one grand prize winner in each category will receive an Apple HomePod Mini, Apple AirPods or Apple Watch, a live video call with THE BE KIND CREW, free admission to THE BE KIND American Adventure Field Trip, and the opportunity to be featured on a national social media broadcast.

About the Be Kind People Project

The Be Kind People Project is a public 501 (c) 3 non-profit dedicated to providing students with comprehensive youth development programming that effectively uses a positive approach to social, emotional, and academic learning. The organization reaches five million students and 250,000 teachers to influence kids for social change by teaching them life skills and values. To learn more about The Be Kind People Project, visit https://thebekindpeopleproject.org/.
The Pathfinders and Emerald Isle programs combine effective behavioral therapies and medical interventions in a state-of-the-art residential environment. This approach provides patients, and their families, a path to long-term recovery that works.

BayMark Health Services has announced the acquisition of three residential and outpatient substance use treatment programs located in the Phoenix, AZ and Denver, CO metropolitan areas. Pathfinders Recovery Center has locations in Scottsdale, AZ and Aurora, CO while Emerald Isle Health and Recovery is located in the Surprise, AZ area. The Pathfinders and Emerald Isle programs offer patient-centered services in comfortable, private facilities allowing each patient to focus on their recovery with minimal distraction. With this exciting acquisition, BayMark now operates 13 residential treatment programs within 7 states.

Pathfinders and Emerald Isle offer a broad continuum of care including residential detox, inpatient care, dual diagnosis programs, partial hospitalization programs (PHP), intensive outpatient programs (IOP) and transitional housing for both substance use and mental health disorders. The substance use programs offer individuals a pathway to recovery from alcohol and drug addictions including opioids, benzodiazepines, cocaine, methamphetamine, prescription medications, fentanyl and other illicit substances.

Each treatment center also offers mental health services including psychiatric evaluations, individual and family therapy, medication management and other complementary behavioral health services. No matter where a patient may be in their recovery process, Pathfinders and Emerald Isle serves as a source of healing, hope and education for individuals living with behavioral health disorders.

As BayMark continues to broaden and expand our continuum of care, our goal is to seek out organizations with a patient-first approach to substance use disorder treatment and co-occurring disorders, noted Mike Saul, BayMark Executive Vice-President. The Pathfinders and Emerald Isle programs combine effective behavioral therapies and medical interventions in a state-of-the-art residential environment. This approach provides patients, and their families, a path to long-term recovery that works.

BayMark operates other modalities of substance use disorder treatment in the Denver and Phoenix areas including traditional Opioid Treatment Programs (OTP) offering methadone or buprenorphine and counseling and outpatient detox programs with case management and aftercare support. The addition of IOP, PHP and residential programming, alongside transitional housing, offers patients the power of choice when determining what treatment option is right for them.

The Braff Group, a leading mergers and acquisitions firm, represented Pathfinders Recovery Center and Emerald Isle Health and Recovery in this transaction.

For more information or to make a referral, visit PathfindersAZ.com or EmeraldIsleHealthandRecovery.com.

About BayMark Health Services:

BayMark Health Services provides Substance Use Disorder and Mental Health treatment services to 73,000+ individuals actively participating in treatment each and every day across 397 recovery programs in 36 states and 3 Canadian provinces. The largest provider of Opioid Use Disorder (OUD) services in North America and the leader in comprehensive behavioral health services for SUDs and Behavioral Disorders, BayMarks continuum of care includes medication-assisted treatment (MAT), withdrawal management, PHP, IOP, counseling and other innovative and effective therapies in outpatient, inpatient and residential settings.


Farmers contribute to their communities in many ways, said Kevin Lussier, president of Florida Farm Bureaus YF&R Leadership Group.

Florida Farm Bureaus Young Farmers & Ranchers received top honors for donating 30.5 million pounds of fresh produce and other foods to assist hungry Floridians as part of American Farm Bureau Federations (AFBF) Harvest for All program in 2021.

Now in its 20th year, Harvest for All is spearheaded by members of Farm Bureaus Young Farmers & Ranchers (YF&R) program to put food on the table for those in need.

Farmers contribute to their communities in many ways, said Kevin Lussier, president of Florida Farm Bureaus YF&R Leadership Group. I am pleased that our members have won an award for their food donation and volunteerism. I am even more proud of them for their commitment to helping other Floridians facing food insecurity to put food on their tables.

In addition to donating the most pounds of food, Florida YF&R members tallied the most volunteer hours, 4,510. Service hours included members participating in food drives, meal-packing projects and donations to food banks and a Produce Box Program, which donates produce left in the fields after harvest to community members in need.

A Farming for Hope event, in partnership with Meals for Hope, also earned the Florida members a $250 grant from Nationwide for most innovative program for its collaboration with county Farm Bureaus, YF&R programs and community volunteers.

Harvest for All is one of the most important community service efforts undertaken by Farm Bureau members. Although the U.S. economy is stronger overall compared to several years ago, many Americans still need help securing adequate food for their families.

The awards were presented during AFBFs Young Farmers & Ranchers Conference in Louisville, Ky., Feb. 25-28, 2022.

Since Harvest for All was launched, Farm Bureau families have gathered more than 412 million pounds of food, logged more than 224,000 volunteer hours and raised $10 million in donations.

Florida Farm Bureau, the states largest general agricultural organization, represents more than 135,000 member-families. We serve to enhance farm enterprise and improve rural communities.
Announcement: Kepner-Tregoe wishes to convey its support for the people of Ukraine as they defend their freedom and fight to overcome an unprovoked and outrageous invasion by Russia. Bill Baldwin, CEO of KT said: We utterly deplore Russias military action. It violates the sovereignty of Ukraine and endangers not only the innocent citizens of that proud nation, but the peaceful coexistence of the world as well.

Mr. Baldwin continued: We are shocked and deeply saddened by the loss of innocent lives and strongly support the response of the international community in condemning Russias actions and we are fully complying with all sanctions. The courage and bravery of President Zelensky, Ukrainian leadership and its people to defend their country, their freedom and their families has been amazing  the pride and love they have for their country and each other to stand up for what they believe in and defend their way of life deserves our respect, admiration and support.

Effective on Monday the 28th of February KT discontinued any business operations with both Russia and Belarus. This executive order pertains to both KT consulting and capability development for all Russian or Belarusian companies or companies based in either of these two nations.

About Kepner-Tregoe

Kepner-Tregoe (KT) provides capability development and consulting solutions across the world to help organizations resolve mission critical priorities with speed and confidence. Founded in 1958 and based on ground-breaking research on how humans process information, solve problems, and make decisions, Kepner-Tregoe helps organizations achieve Service and Operational Excellence by, increasing efficiency, improving quality, and reducing costs. The KT methodology is a highly disciplined and structured suite of processes used at all levels of industry leading companies and organizations.
Stone will be the first woman to ride a motorcycle across 5 continents with a German shepherd on the back, recording her adventures through weekly video episodes featured in her GoRUFFLY Around the World Adventure travel series.

RUFFLY founder Jessica Stone, will embark on an 18-month motorcycle journey with her 75-pound German shepherd  Moxie  on the back of the bike. Jessica will ride across North America, Europe, Africa, Asia, and South America. Inspired by a partnership with Girl Up, a gender equality initiative founded by the United Nations Foundation, Jessica hopes her journey will equip young women with the skills and confidence to pursue their dreams and goals. Stone will be the first woman to ride a motorcycle across 5 continents with a German shepherd on the back, recording her adventures through weekly video episodes featured in her GoRUFFLY Around the World Adventure travel series.

The journey is not just a joyride  Jessica will raise $100k for Girl Up and donate 10% of all dog gear profits from RUFFLYs website. Not only will Jessica embark on the adventure of a lifetime, but shell be making a difference for gender equality along the way.

Jessica will also visit Girl Ups global network for girl-led Clubs, learning about how these Gen Z leaders are influencing their communities for social change. Her first Girl Up Club meet-up will take place in Mexico City, then will extend to the United States and Canada during the summertime. Jessicas first landmark destination in 2022 will be Prudhoe Bay, Alaska.

About RUFFLY

Based in Los Angeles, CA, RUFFLY builds ethical outdoor dog gear to help you live extraordinary lives together with your dog every day. The gear is made by indigenous women artisans in Guatemala, and pairs naturally dyed textiles with top-quality hardware. RUFFLY prides itself on sustainability, ethical practices, and paying living wages.

About Girl Up

Girl Up is a movement to advance girls skills, rights, and opportunities to be leaders. Founded by the United Nations Foundation in 2010, Girl Ups leadership development programs have impacted 125,000 girls through 5,600 Clubs in 130 countries and all 50 U.S. states, inspiring a generation of girls to be a force for gender equality and social change.


In November 2016, voters of Douglas County, Ore., defeated a modest $70-per-household tax increase that would have supported the countys 11 libraries. Six months later, all 11 libraries shut their doors with no plan or mechanism for reopening. Roseburg Public Library, about 180 miles due south of Portland, was the last to close, on May 31, 2017.

With 25,000 residents, Roseburg is Douglas Countys largest city. Roseburg residents had approved the tax levy and were upset by the loss of their library and the prospect of becoming part of yet another American book desert.

Book deserts are a big problem for vast stretches of Americas rural communities. Broadly speaking, book deserts emerge in areas where there are few if any libraries or bookstores. Remedies such as Dolly Partons Imagination Library help, advocates say, but such programs usually target a select audience: kids up to age five get free books mailed to their homes. And push-in solutions like this are usually meant to fortify existing libraries or public schools, not take their place.

In a nation where so many rural communities are struggling to pay the bills, the emergence of book deserts represents a major obstacle to progress, including in Oregon. While many think of Oregon as politically progressive, this is true only in the cities clustered around the Willamette Valley. In fact, much of Oregons population outside the I-5 corridor leans libertarian, and are often wary of taxes. Oregons population is also scattered across immense terrain where having a nearby library building or a bookstore is frequently out of the question.

Thats why the successful solution devised by Roseburg city manager Lance Colley, with help from the superintendent of the Douglas County Educational Services Department (ESD), Michael Lasher, is a beacon of hope to the millions of people who might suddenly find themselves living in counties without public library access. Roseburg leaders took their own voters county levy approval as a mandate to reopen their local library, and got to work on their behalf.

Our library is 30,000 square feet, says Colley. You cant rely on volunteer labor to run that. He notes that seven or eight other Douglas County libraries operate today exclusively on volunteer labor, for limited hours. At least two Douglas County libraries have been lights-out since 2017. Nearby Josephine County, directly south of Roseburg, defunded all of its libraries in 2007, and for a decade its libraries were staffed by 360 volunteers. It wasnt until 2018, with donations by 2,000 people and three efforts to provide stable funding via taxes, that the Josephine Community Library reopened. Roseburg faced a similar struggle if a solution wasnt found quickly.

 We heard second, third, and fourth graders all tell us how important it was having a public library that they could walk into and check out books from. 

So Colley turned to Lasher with an idea. ESD was in need of administrative space, and ESD and the library together could cofund a renovation that would make the library reopening a possibility, this time not as part of the county system but as a city-funded institution. But even with the ESD on board, the city still needed to fund 66% of the librarys budget. So Colley got busy reaching out to local philanthropists and won several five-figure Oregon state grants, pulling in an astonishing $750,000 in five months.

Roseburg is one of the most philanthropic communities anywhere in Oregon, Colley notes, led by the Ford Family Foundation [a private nonprofit headquartered in Roseburg], which was very supportive of the project. Kenneth Ford and FFF were instrumental in building the library 20-plus years ago. CHI Mercy Health, the Cow Creek Tribe of Umpqua Indians, the Collins Foundation, and the Bruce Family Foundation also stepped up.

To outfit the library, Colley secured another grant, and a local wholesaler supplied all the furniture. Colley credits library consultant Penny Hummel with particular expertise. And director Kris Wiley was brought in from Minnesota six months before the reopening to prepare the new library to serve its patrons.

Less than a year after raising the funds, in January 2019, the Roseburg Public Library celebrated a grand openingthis time as a city library. The entire Roseburg community and librarians from across the state whod helped Colley revive the former county library came to celebrate.

Wiley says most of the heavy lifting was done by the time she arrived, leaving her to focus on the details. Of course, tending to the details was no minor feat given that pandemic lockdowns forced residents out of their new library just 15 months after its grand reopening.

Under Wileys stewardship, the library dug into digital lending during the pandemic, creating a guide for using OverDrives Libby app which helped users tap into the Oregon Digital Library Consortiums 66,000 e-books, magazines, and audiobooks available for access.

Like many libraries, Roseburg hosted virtual events, classes, and weekly livestreamed storytimes in English and Spanish. Librarians also took to curbside service to distribute 500 grab-and-go craft bags and thousands of books, lending in all more than 48,000 items in 2020 and 2021a whopping 62% of the librarys full collection. In 2020 and 2021, when people were isolated, the Roseburg Public Library tallied almost 132,000 visits.

Douglas County residents outside of Roseburg can still use the Roseburg Public Library by paying a $60 annual fee. But the fee is waived for all young people who live or attend school in the Roseburg school district, including kids who are homeschooled or attend private schools. People enrolled in food assistance programs countywide can also freely use the library for one year, a program funded by donation.

In 2018, Colley told a local reporter hed been planning to retire after 35 years of public service. He was looking forward to spending more time with his three grandkids, and a fourth was on the way. But when the library closed, he chose to stay on. He simply couldnt leave his city without a library.

A small group from one of our elementary schools invited Michael Lasher and me to talk to their class about reopening the library, Colley recalls. The students all wrote us notes thanking us for taking this on. That was before we started fund-raising. We heard second, third, and fourth graders all tell us how important it was having a public library that they could walk into and check out books from. One little girl, almost in tears, asked, Will you have encyclopedias? We cant afford to buy encyclopedias. That made a big difference for Michael and me.

Kathi Inman Berens is associate professor, Publishing and Digital Humanities, at Portland State University in Oregon.

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In the spring of 2020, the Multnomah County Library (Oregon) faced a host of issues impacting libraries across the nation: How to serve the community during a historic pandemic that saw schools and libraries close for an extended period? And how to respond to a racial and social justice awakening that requires systemic change?

Like many libraries across the nation MCL librarians have been quick to meet their communitys needs. Following the murder of George Floyd by a white police officer in Minneapolis, for example, the library licensed more e-books and digital audiobooks about white supremacy and racial justice and undertook more sharing agreements to meet the surging demand for resources. MCL representatives say that in 2020, Layla F. Saads Me and White Supremacy and Me was the librarys most checked-out e-book, and How to Be an Antiracist by Ibram X. Kendi was the most checked-out audiobook.

But perhaps the most important strategy, librarians say, was to engage with and listen to the community.

Before we reopened our buildings, staff led a process of community engagement, says Shawn Cunningham, director of MCL communications and strategic initiatives, to reach out to our culturally and linguistically specific communities to learn what they value most. Those conversations helped MCL leadership better understand how to make their neighborhood library branches more welcoming to BIPOC and culturally marginalized people, and ultimately, to create new programs and increase resources to existing programs that serve its culturally diverse users.

Though hiring bicultural and multilingual staff has been a priority for years, MCL representatives say that in 2021 the library has enough staff who are members of culturally diverse groups to offer services and programs customized to patrons from those communities. The librarys We Speak Your Language program, for example, provides services in Chinese, Russian, Spanish, and Vietnamese. MCL also fast-tracked translation services during the pandemic, and invested more resources to make sure all patrons had quick access to information in their own languages. One branch library now has a staff member dedicated to serving patrons who speak Somali.

In addition, the Black Cultural Library Advocates program supports a team dedicated to connecting with Black patrons in library buildings. This means more patrons can walk into their local branches and see, hear, and feel they are welcome. And each branch library has the latitude to create its own themes and programs around specific community needs. I absolutely love the theme and focus on health and wellness, says Lana Sweeting, Black Cultural Library Advocate at Rockwood Library. Its a topic that often gets swept under the rug, but to take this time to bring attention to self-care, and taking a step back when we can, is perfect.

Furthermore, several building renovations in previously under-resourced east Multnomah county are kicking off with a community engagement process focused on our BIPOC youth, says MCL communications strategist Chelsea Bailey. Each library serves a distinct community and libraries are for the community, she explains, so its really important that our community feel reflected in those spaces, in the collection, and among our staff.

MCL staff also took on the challenges of providing workplace services and job training, greatly needed at a time when many people were losing their jobs, as well supporting K-12 students whose worlds abruptly moved online when the pandemic began. Among the library's actions, MCL moved its knowledge, skills and abilities appointments online. And through its pre-existing Library Connect program, MCL "fast-tracked" digital access to MCLs large repository of virtual learning materials to some 80,000 K-12 students enrolled in Portland Public Schools using just their school ID numbers.

 "Its really important that our community feel reflected in those spaces, in the collection, and among our staff. 

Meanwhile, one of the more complex pandemic challenges for MCL librarians, is serving those experiencing homelessnessor houselessness, to be more precise. You cant move the physical shelter aspect of a library online, Cunningham says. That was one of the biggest challenges for us at the height of the pandemic: how can we restore services in a way thats sensitive to [houseless] peoples needs?

The library is one of the few places where [houseless] people feel welcomea place where they are able to be treated fairly and kindly, have a place to use the restroom, drink water, read books, adds MCL communications specialist Paty Rincon. A lot of folks spend their days there, have library cards, read books and access technology. For this community, takeout services like curbside pickup werent going to help much.

MCL responded by expanding its Wi-Fi access 24/7 in the outdoor areas around its physical libraries, and by doubling down on its coordination with the Multnomah County Joint Office of Homeless Services. MCLs on-site social workers offer window service for walk-up assistance at the Central Library on SW 10th Street, an area with many encampments. There, social workers assist in finding resources, shelter, permanent housing, and more. Cunningham credits the Urban Libraries Council for being a community of library leadership support where they can brainstorm solutions.

MCL representatives say its difficult to know how many houseless people are served by the Wi-Fi and walk-up social servicesafter all, librarians dont know who is houseless and have no reason to ask, Rincon explains. There are instances, however, when social workers need to know in order to properly assist people. And in the last quarter of 2021, embedded social workers helped 160 unique patrons, 83 of whom reported they were experiencing houselessness.

MCL staff know their success is deeply connected to their commitment to serving the communitythe entire community. It's an ethos that runs deep, including in MCLs popular Everybody Reads program, a community-wide project that promotes shared reading and discussion around a single book. This years book is Good Talk: A Memoir in Conversations by Mira Jacob, which Bailey says demonstrates MCLs commitment to engagement, and to not shying away from important issues and conversations, no matter how difficult.

At PLA 2022, attendees can visit with Multnomah County Library friends to learn more about their commitment to equity, inclusion, and belonging. Enjoy a cup of tea in the librarys BIPOC affinity space, and hear about how to center equity, inclusion, and belonging in a librarys community outreach, engagement, marketing and communications, recruitment, and more. Check the PLA program online for more details and for final times and locations. MCL staff look forward to welcoming librarians to their home!

Kathi Inman Berens is associate professor, Publishing and Digital Humanities, at Portland State University in Oregon.

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First Book, the Washington, D.C.based nonprofit that provides books and other resources to classrooms and programs serving children in need, celebrates its 30th anniversary this year. To mark this milestoneand ensure future onesthe organization has launched a bold scaling plan seeking $12 million$15 million in investment funding that will enable it to quadruple in size in the next five to seven years.

Through its work, First Book has established a network of more than 525,000 educators exclusively serving kids in need, with thousands of new members signing up each month. It serves more than five million children annually and has distributed more than 200 million books and resources. With the new investment it seeks, First Book aims to amass more than two million educators in its network and reach more than 60 million children living in poverty.

Kyle Zimmer, president, CEO, and cofounder of First Book, explains the spark behind undertaking such an ambitious objective. At our 30th anniversary, were long past our awkward adolescence, she says. And what we recognize is, were a social enterprise. Thats how were designed. Thats who we are.

In that capacity, Zimmer says that she and her team have become experienced business planners. As we enter new categories of our efforts, we write business plans under each one of those, and then we watch for years, and we make sure that the pilots work out and that theyre of value to our network, she says. We really take the time to make sure that the wheels are firmly on the wagon, and then we recognize that its time to push it out onto the launch pad and move into greater scale.

Zimmer notes that this has been the approach to developing the organizations core components: the First Book Educator Network, First Book Marketplace (providing the network with access to affordable new books and resources), First Book Research and Insights (which aggregates and amplifies the voices of the educators in the network via surveys), and the First Book Accelerator (which converts research and recognized best practices into tools and up-to-date resources for educators). Now were realizing its time that, collectively, the comprehensive programs of the organization are scaled up not to just reach the 60% of Title I and Title Ieligible schools that we currently serve, but to reach 100% of those schools, Zimmer says. As proud as we are of what weve built, we are awake every night understanding that there are millions of kids waiting for us and millions of teachers waiting for us. We really want to go from our 60% to 100% of the schools that need us, and were ready for it.

Julie Fortenbery, executive v-p finance and accounting, confirms that assessment. A goal of two million educators reached is actually reasonable and required for us to fulfill our mission across all of the United States, she says. We can continue to grow at 1,000 educators per week, but really, we think its much more urgent than that. We are looking to scale the organization much more rapidly, so that we can accelerate the time frame to get to those two million educators.

First Book embarked on phase one of the new scaling plan in August 2021, in conjunction with the beginning of the school year. We secured working capital [via a line of credit with the organizations banking partner] to purchase a $1.5 million inventory of childrens books for the First Book Marketplace, Fortenbery says, pointing out that more than half of the books focus on content that reflects all of the different experiences of the children that we serve.

This major purchase of diverse childrens books also falls in line with the findings of a summer 2021 nationwide survey of First Books educator network about its members spending priorities for federal American Rescue Plan funding allocated for support during the pandemic. The top funding priority for surveyed educators, expressed by 99% of respondents, is investing in books for their students in their own classrooms or programs.

The second phase of First Books scaling plan focuses on growing the educator network. According to Fortenbery, significant funding will center on outreach to new potential members, marketing efforts, public awareness campaigns, and also really engaging the members we already have in our network to remind them that were a powerful resource for them to get content for the children that they serve. This strategy is key because we know that theres a direct correlation between the growth of the network and the access to the resources on our network, she says. They go up together.

The nuts and bolts of securing funding for First Books growth will include a range of familiar as well as more novel asks. Were going to be working with our current corporate partners to see whos able to step up and help us leverage to this next level, Zimmer says. Were also going to be, and have been, reaching out to foundations in a new way, because this is a different activity than our ongoing programmatic work. And were reaching out to high-net-worth individuals and to the public. She stresses that a full-spectrum approach is more necessary than ever. We arent going to be happy until we have 100% engagement by Title I and Title Ieligible schoolsthats the main benchmark for us for success. Weve always been a group thats happy with our progress but unsatisfied, bluntly, because were not big enough to solve the problem yet, she says. Weve been building the strategies, and testing and growing them over 30 years. And now its really time to crack the back of this issue nationwide. Were positioned to do it. We know how to sign people up and how to serve them. We know how to run the warehousing and how to price the beautiful books to get them out. We know every component part, and now its time to reach every school.

First Books historical experience was the main driver for arriving at the goals and funding needs for this project, according to Fortenbery. We feel these are very conservative, reasonable, and realistic projections based on the fact that we understand the market and weve been doing this for a number of years, she says. Were not doing anything new. Were just doing it at a larger scale, and at a faster clip. Fortenbery notes that required internal expenses from marketing to adding staff resources to upgrading our systems so that we can accommodate those things are all built into the projections. Most importantly, though, she points to the ability to generate self-sufficiency on the First Book Marketplace through these funds increases over timedefining self-sufficiency as meaning that the mission margin that we collect on our Marketplace sales can go back into fund other parts of the organization. She adds: This scaling plan, in addition to reaching the two million educators and all Title I schools, actually makes First Book 90% self-sufficient as an organization [up from 40% self-sufficient today], which extends First Books legacy into the future.

Zimmer and her First Book colleagues are enthusiastic about the first steps theyve taken on this journey to expansion and are determined to achieve their goals. What were building is the platform, so that every kid in need has access to books through their schools, through their preschools, and after-school programs serving them, Zimmer says. We need 360-degree surround sound for those kids, promoting reading and promoting literacy skills. This is us sounding the alarm and saying, We are leaving no one out. Were pulling together everybody in the lives of kids in need, with the fundamental focus on access to books, and also recognizing that we can elevate the voice of this critical community for the publishing world as well as for policymakers and others.

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In yet another school year clouded by uncertainty and disruption caused by the pandemic, and as censorship threats to curricula and library materials mount, teachers and librarians face numerous barriers to the way they do their jobs and serve their students. These same concerns affect the work of school and library marketing directors in the childrens publishing arena, who play an important role in supporting educators. We asked directors about the issues they are seeing in their day-to-day operations and how they are collaborating with educators to chart a path forward.

Most of the school and library marketing professionals we spoke with zeroed in on two issues as their most pressing problems of late: the lack of in-person interaction on all levels, and censorship. Additionally, they pointed to supply chain problems and digital fatigue as being top of mind.

The missing live-and-in-person piece has been a difficult game changer, says Deborah Sloan, whose firm handles marketing and promotion for, among other publishers, the MineditionUS and Hippo Park imprints at Astra Publishing. But as she and others in the industry pivoted to digital solutions, they also observed an upside to their new practices. Some authors and illustrators have benefited from the no-travel situation, Sloan explains. Virtual events have given opportunities to talent from around the world.

In addition, Sloan notes that collection development teams have been able to meet and exchange ideas via Zoom without expensive and time-consuming travel. Webinar attendance has also been up for her clients, and she credits the ability to share titles with hundreds and thousands of librarians so easily with title discovery.

Looking ahead, however, Sloan joins her colleagues in being eager to embrace many pre-pandemic routines. My crystal ball shows packed conferences, she says. We miss our library and school friends, we value their input, and cant wait to host preview events and more.

Mary Van Akin, Macmillan Childrens Publishing Groups director of school and library marketing, says her department is navigating how to safely return to in-person events. We are so eager to reconvene with the teachers, librarians, and educators that we have spent almost two years meeting and collaborating with remotely, she notes. But doing so will take careful planning. Weve found there is no one-size-fits-all solution and that each conference must be reviewed individually.

And, as is the case for most directors we spoke with, moving forward will not mean going back to what was formerly business as usual. I think the future holds a hybrid of in-person and virtual events and that well be able to optimize both experiences, Van Akin says. Virtual events have enabled all of us to make events accessible in a really amazing way, so we want to retain that accessibility while also pursuing opportunities to meet and talk about books in person.

Adrienne Waintraub, executive director of school and library marketing at Random House Childrens Books, offered her insights on how the absence of traditional conference attendance and IRL contact has changed her teams efforts. With the pandemic, we pivoted to hosting our previews and other RHCB programming virtually, and participated in virtual conferences like ALA Annual, TLA, NCTE, and others, she says, echoing colleagues at other houses. While I would assess these adjustments as successful in terms of giving our authors and illustrators platforms for introducing educators to their work, it is very hard to replicate the real-life connections that are made at these events. There is nothing like talking about a new book or a new author face-to-face! Its also been harder to develop new relationships with teachers and librarians during this time. Simultaneously, teachers and librarians are dealing with so much in their day-to-day work and life that it doesnt always feel right to request more of their time, particularly after standard work hours.

Keeping that in mind, Waintraub says, we have been producing more and more video content featuring our authors and illustrators that educators can access on their own schedules.

For Penguin Young Readers, shifting our focus to virtual events and digital efforts has absolutely helped us reach more people, says Carmela Iaria, v-p and executive director of school and library marketing. Virtual shows have blown the literal walls off a traditional conference, which has resulted in increased nationwide accessibility. Virtual school and library visit requests are at an all-time high, which means more kids are connecting with authors and illustrators. We have a more engaged audience on social, and our newsletter readership continues to grow. But at the core of it all is the content. We strive to create and host content that reflects and inspires the educators who work directly with children every day.

And Michelle Leo, v-p and director of education and library marketing at Simon & Schuster, sounds a positive note about the prospect of soon meeting people at the conference booth. Our education and library marketing staff are looking forward to the return of in-person conferences like ALA Annual in June, where we may once again talk books with and introduce authors to our librarian friends, she says. While we are thrilled by the prospect of in-person gatherings, we also recognize the need for continued virtual storytelling options, so we are pleased to have extended our online readaloud guidelines through June 30.

Confronting censorship

Stories about challenges to what is being taught and read in U.S. schools have become prominent in the news this school year and are reverberating throughout childrens publishing. Its been deeply troubling to witness the ongoing book challenges and introduction of exclusionary legislation in so many states and localities across the nation, Leo says. Simon & Schuster stands against censorship in all its forms and supports librarians and educators who work to defend and expand access to books for all. We also support organizations including NCAC, PEN America, and the ALA in their efforts.

Victoria Stapleton, executive director of school and library marketing at Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, says, One of the large obstacles I see right now is a rise in book challenges in schools and libraries across the country, both in the number of challenges and the emotional energy behind those protests. This state of affairs, she adds, has led some to amend their purchasing or promotion of books that young readers need to be able to read. Now more than ever we need literature that meets children where they are and encourages them to travel to new places and be courageous in how they grow up in the world.

Stapleton is inspired by the librarians, educators, authors, illustrators, and parents who just keep going through these difficulties. Every time I begin to let circumstances overtake me, she says. I am reminded of librarians who are serving their communities with everything that they have and teachers like those in Iowa, fighting in legislatures for the freedom to read and educate truthfully.

Macmillan has been proactive on the censorship front, according to Van Akin. Without a doubt, one of the biggest challenges right now is determining how to best support our authors and teacher/librarian partners who are facing censorship in school and classroom libraries, she says. Last fall, we began hearing from authors about book bannings with an alarming frequency. We were also reading the same articles the rest of the industry was reading about this ongoing issue.

These developments spurred Van Akin and her team to ponder how we can best support our authors and the larger educational community, she says. Weve received a lot of feedback indicating that, when a book is banned, the solution has to directly involve and engage the community for it to be successful, which raised the question of how we could be supportive without overreaching or further complicating a very complex issue.

One working solution the team came up with is doing everything we can to facilitate nuanced conversations on a national and local level and create an online resource center of ways to share banned books, Van Akin adds. We were impressed with the steps the Texas Library Association was taking to address censorship in Texas, so we approached them about hosting a roundtable discussion featuring voices addressing every angle of this topic.

The result, Van Akin says, was the Freedom to Read Roundtable, a virtual event held on February 24 featuring a panel of Texas voices, including a librarian, parent, legislator, and two high school students. George M. Johnson, author of All Boys Arent Blue, which has been banned in 15 states and counting, also joined the conversation to weigh in from the authors perspective. She expressed appreciation for TLAs expertise, as well as Booklists support as a platform partner, in bringing the program to life.

Van Akin says her teams goal coming out of this event is to make it as easy as possible for attendees to replicate this on a local level. She notes that Macmillan will be distributing a how to host your own Freedom to Read Roundtable guide alongside other resources from the TLA and the ALA Office of Intellectual Freedom. Down the line, we plan on featuring these resources through the year at virtual and in-person events, she adds.

At Lerner Publishing Group, school and library marketing director Lois Wallentine says, we are closely watching movements popping up across the country to challenge books and censor the topics kids are learning about in schoolsparticularly attempts to remove books about LGBTQ+ people and people of the global majority from schools and libraries. She names several action points in terms of meeting the difficulties of acts of censorship. Lerner offers support for educators and librarians facing book challenges via several blog posts containing tips and resources. Additionally, weve created a list of our books that have been challenged, along with reviews, lists of awards, and curricular alignments that the book supports, Wallentine says.

The companys other strategies for combating censorship include a partnership with Cicely Lewis, the Read Woke librarian, to develop Lerners nonfiction line of Read Woke Bookstitles that Wallentine says deliver much-needed information to students to help them understand the truth about history and what has led up to the challenging issues society is facing today. A teaching guide for the Read Woke Books program that helps educators prepare for talking about race and racism is also available, and was created by Sonja Cherry-Paul, educator and author who adapted Stamped (for Kids) from the book Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You by Jason Reynolds and Ibram X. Kendi.

While many library marketing directors see censorship and the lack of in-person interaction as the most pressing issues of the day, they are observing other complicationsand working around themas well. Due to supply chain issues and shipping delays, it has been difficult in some cases to send books to reviewers and award committees on an ideal timeline, Waintraub says. These are important groups who are working on deadlines and who are integral in helping spread the word about new books. She notes the upside of being caught in these realities, though. In the face of challenges related to physical materials, we have been using digital copies more than ever before and have observed an increased level of comfort with the format.

Though the shift to digital and virtual solutions necessitated by the pandemic has enabled marketing directors, educators, and librarians to continue their work, it has wrought issues of its own. Another challenge we all face is digital fatigue: how to keep up communication with educators and librarians who are bombarded with digital messagingan endless stream of emails, e-newsletters, website ads, webinars, and virtual shows and events, Wallentine says. Kids are tired, too; remote and hybrid learning hasnt been easy for them. Teachers and librarians are challenged with supporting their needs, and we want to do what we can to help.

Among the tactics for tackling this problem, Wallentine cites Lerner programs like Nonfiction November and Fiction February, which provided participants free access to videos of authors, librarians, or professional voice actors reading books. Makerspace May, offering free activities from the Lerner Maker Lab database, is next on the docket. Lerners Audisee eBooks with Audio and Audiobook programs have been growing rapidly, Wallentine says, noting that they have been effective for students who are just learning to read and kids who need extra support in developing their fluency.

What lies ahead?

Though the past two years have been rough for everyone, all the directors we spoke with expressed optimism and confidence about what comes next. I have complete trust that we share the same goals as our partners in education, Van Akin says. We are united in our commitment to providing a reading selection for young readers with as much diversity of experience as possible. We will continue to actively support the freedom to read by facilitating and participating in conversations on the topic, ensuring discoverability of books and supporting individual authors facing censorship.

Iaria at Penguin shares a similar take. As always, I think our challenges reflect the challenges of teachers and librarians, she says. In addition to their working through a global pandemic, their expertise continues to be questioned when it comes to book selection and they are constantly being asked to do more with less. I think the best and the most we as publishers can do right now is listen to what they need and provide solutions and support. We know that representation in literature is vital, that books that promote wellness and well-being among children are of growing importance, and that tools such as book rationales and robust discussion guides are helpful. But what else can we be doing to support the inclusion of our books in public, school, and classroom libraries?

Iaria stresses that there is always a hopeful way forward when youre working with teachers and librarians, adding, They may be tired, but they are also tirelessly committed to creating readers. Our job is to make that job a little easier.

Read more from our School and Library Spotlight:

First Book Charts New Growth

Turning 30, the nonprofit toasts its success and aims for new benchmarks.
Following the death of legendary Random House editor Jason Epstein in February, many tributes pointed to his various publishing innovations, including his final creation, On Demand Books, maker of the Espresso Book Machine. Dane Neller, who cofounded ODB with Epstein in 2003, told PW that though the use of the Espresso Book Machine has stalled, he believes there is still a place for what the company describes as an ATM for books in bookstores, coffee shops, libraries, and airports.

Many booksellers and publishers got their first look at the EBM, which was invented by Jeff Marsh and could print a 300-page black-and-white paperback with a four-color cover and bind it together in three minutes, at BookExpo America in 2007. The following January, Northshire Books in Manchester Center, Vt., became the first general bookstore to add a beta machine, nicknamed Lurch.

A number of indies added book machines, among them Bookshop Santa Cruz in Santa Cruz, Calif.; R.J. Julia Booksellers in Madison, Conn.; Politics and Prose in Washington, D.C.; and Village Books in Bellingham, Wash. All four returned their EBMs a few years later, as did Northshire. Some gave them up because of major publishers reluctance to make more titles available, while others did so because of space (the machine takes up 75 sq. ft.).

But other bookstores found EBMs worth keeping. Our printing and publishing division is an important part of our business, said Scott Beck, co-owner of Boxcar and Caboose Bookshop in Saint Johnsbury, Vt. He views the EBM that the store got in 2009 as part of the diversification it needs to stay competitive. The EBM was an important contributor to Boxcar and Cabooses sales throughout the pandemic. Even now, when traditional book sales have more than rebounded at the store, the EBM contributes 6%8% of revenue. It is used primarily to publish and print books by local authors.

Schuler Books also added an EBM to its Grand Rapids, Mich., store in 2009 and has taken advantage of ODBs partnership with Google Books to print and sell titles that are in the public domain. Typically it prints between 1,500 and 2,000 public domain titles per year, according to EBM operator Pierre Camy. The EBM has also played a key role in getting the store into offering printing and publishing services for self-publishers, and that business is growing. Schuler now prints 3,0005,000 books annually.

ODB also partners with Ingram to print books provided to Lightning Source and makes some titles from major publishers available. Still, Camy noted that it is cheaper for the store to order many titles that are in stock from Ingram than it is to print them from the EBM.

At its peak, ODB had 100 book machines in the field. However, fewer are active now, according to Neller. Neller has made the EBM the centerpiece for his 2014 venture Espresso Bookstore & Cafe Holdings, which includes ODB and does business as Shakespeare and Co. Currently there are two Shakespeare bookstores in New York City, including the flagship on Lexington Ave. next to Hunter College, and a third store in Philadelphias Rittenhouse Square.

Pre-pandemic we had ambitious growth plans, Neller said. We would focus on Shakespeare and have a small footprint and use the EBM for inventory replenishment.

For now, Neller, who had been owner and CEO of Dean & DeLuca, is focused on opening a few more stores in the New York City area and would consider a broader expansion if the opportunity arose.

As for the EBM, Neller said, I believe one day this technology will take off. There are a lot of disruptive technologies that take time. Look at the electric car. Jason had a good vision: the printed book is important, and this is an important technology for small bookstores worldwide to sell printed books in any language.

The biggest stumbling block to expanding the use of EBM, Neller said, is getting rights to print fast-moving trade titles. Some publishers have expressed a concern that every book printed on the machine is one less book sold from the shelf, he said. This is not the case, since booksellers sell books first from the shelf or from display tables. The EBM is intended to print books that are out of stock, since small booksellers do not have space to inventory every backlist or midlist title.

Neller has no intention of giving up on the EBM. We still have machines, he said. We still sell machines.
(Andrei Gorshkov, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)

(Andrei Gorshkov, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)

Imagine a trade war or foreign policy confrontation in which one European nation was to be sanctioned. That sanction would be simple to circumvent. As all EU countries are in a common customs alliance, the targeted country would simply channel imports, exports, and the flow of finance via a neighboring EU state. The impact would be a brief period of awkward and momentarily painful transition, leading to a new normal accompanied by mild logistical inconvenience.

One of the Wests fatal delusions is that Russia is isolated and has no EU-like alliances on which it can call  other than with the transparently subservient state of Belarus. Not so. The little-known EAEU (Eurasian Economic Union), whose five member states are Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Russia, represents an almost complete mirroring of the institutions and arrangements of the EU. Its Moscow-based Eurasian Commission is modelled on the European Commission; Minsk hosts the EAEUs Court; the Unions core objective is the development of a single market and the achievement of the four freedoms  goods, capital, services, people  which are the pillars on which the EU project rests; its leaders have openly advocated a currency union. There is a Eurasian Development Bank, a Eurasian Open Skies project, a common external tariff on goods entering the Union, and  above all  a Eurasian Customs Union.

In only one respect is this grouping notably different from the EU. While a common defense strategy remains a distant European dream, the EAEUs five members, together with Tajikistan, also constitute the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), a military alliance which replicates NATOs pledge that an attack on one is an attack on all. Until now, despite calls from member states for CSTO intervention to help quell episodes of purely domestic unrest (notably in Kyrgyzstan in 2010), the organization has held back. This year that changed. In January 2022, for the first time CSTO deployed peacekeeping military forces in response to civil unrest. This action in Tajikistan set a precedent for interpreting internal dissent as an external attack  and sending in the troops.

Right now, the prospects of Russia invoking the collective forces of the CSTO in support of its Ukraine operation may seem remote  although doubtless a roadmap of false flag incidents and/or the incorporation of Ukraines breakaway Eastern republics into the CSTO has been thoroughly war-gamed in the Kremlin. The prospects of the EAEU mobilizing as a sanctions-busting force to crack open Bidens wall of strength is far from remote. Its already happening.

Armenian leaders have been taking to the airwaves to boast how many Russian businesses are hopping over to Yerevan to take advantage of the EAEUs single internal market and customs union. The countrys Economy Minister has boasted that about a dozen companies have already effectively relocated, while several others are on their way, adding that the Armenian Ministry of Economy has already set up a working group tasked with facilitating the relocation of Russian entities. Its easy to see why Armenia has become Russias go-to solution for getting around the Wests economic blockade.

Of the four non-Russian members of this Union, the country boasts the deepest links with the West. As a Christian nation with a huge, wealthy and politically active diaspora in both the EU and the USA, these links exist on every level: economic, political, and cultural. And cash-strapped Armenia seems only too delighted to welcome wealthy interests from its northern ally, with little apparent thought for the potential risks to its own relations with the West.

As yet, only a few western commentators have pointed out this fatal flaw in the much-praised sanctions program. As recently as May 2021, the UKs Chatham House published an article aimed at exploding the myth that the EAEU is a meaningful economic project. Recent developments demonstrate how dangerous it is to ever underestimate this  or any other  Russian-backed project. Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Partnership (OCCRP) co-founder Drew Sullivan spelled out the problem in an unambiguous tweet : You cannot just sanction Russia  you must similarly sanction ALL members of the customs union including Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Armenia. Russians can import anything they need through those countries with no borders or barriers.

The message for the West is clear. If governments want sanctions to be effective, this loophole must be closed. We cannot force the dissolution of the EAEU. But we can, and must, extend the full weight of sanctions against all its member states, starting with Armenia. For some key Western alliance states, notably France and the US with their disproportionately influential Armenian diasporas, this will doubtless be unpalatable. The alternative is unthinkable.

Wes Martin worked directly with Soviet military while in the Berlin Brigade and decades later with Ukrainian military in Iraq. He holds a MBA in International Politics and Business.
By Elizabeth Kwiatkowski, 03/04/2022



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Elizabeth Kwiatkowski is Associate Editor of Reality TV World and has been covering the reality TV genre for more than a decade.

star Lindsey Georgoulis has slammed her new husband Mark Maher, saying he's a bit cocky and doesn't have an inaccurate view of himself.Mark, 37, and Lindsey, 34, hit it off on their wedding day, although Mark called his wife "a lot," and their romance progressed quickly during their honeymoon in Puerto Rico. Not only did they consummate their marriage, but Lindsey also said, "I love you," only a week or so into being Mark's wife.However, once the pair moved into a Boston apartment together, Lindsey accused Mark of being hot and cold as well as unaffectionate. She didn't understand why he was pumping the brakes on their relationship and seemed reluctant to share his feelings with her.After a blowout fight at a bowling alley in which Lindsey called Mark "pathetic" and Mark bashed Lindsey for her inappropriate and outlandish behavior in public settings, Lindsey acknowledged on Wednesday night's episode of : Afterparty, "Well, the honeymoon's over.""It's just a whole lot going on, you know?" Lindsey vented.On Afterparty, Lindsey watched back a Season 14 clip of the pair finally expressing their feelings to one another after the bowling disaster."I'm telling you that I'm still upset with you. I thought we had a moment last night, where we were finally having fun!" Lindsey laments in the footage."We did," Mark assures her."And then I realized, 'That's not Mark -- that's Mark on-camera.' That isn't Mark. Who is it?!" Lindsey says."Stop with the camera stuff," Mark snaps."Who are you?!" Lindsey asks."I know who I am," Mark replies."I don't," Lindsey points out.Afterparty host Keshia Knight Pulliam said, "Wow," after watching that clip, to which Lindsey responded, "I've got some feelings!""I really feel like there's two versions of Mark," Lindsey explained. "[There's] the Mark that plays it up for the cameras and the Mark at home.""He's very inflated -- his view of himself," she complained.But Lindsey said Mark's view of himself is not "accurate" and it was "very frustrating" for her.Keshia asked Lindsey if she thought Mark was sharing the highlight reel of himself, and Lindsey nodded her head and said, "Mhmm."Although Lindsey claimed Mark tended to act differently on and off-camera, Keshia asked Lindsey to take accountability and reveal what she could have done better in this tense situation."I think I probably could have spoken a little bit slower and with a better tone," Lindsey admitted."My delivery is definitely something I could work on. But I think I still feel that way, you know?"But Lindsey went on to complain of Mark, "He says he speaks Italian, and I'm like, 'Do you?' And then he's like, 'Well, I took it in high school. I don't know any of it.' And I'm like, 'Okay, well let's stop saying you speak Italian then."Lindsey said interactions like that were "constant" in her relationship. Lindsey also made fun of her husband for putting Italian in his LinkedIn profile as "a fluent language.""I swear to God!" Lindsey announced with a laugh.On the latest Season 14 episode of , Lindsey complained to Mark how she had been absorbing his "toxic sludge for weeks," but Mark responded, "Same!"Lindsey alluded to the fact Mark was selfish in their marriage and needed to make her the priority, but Mark claimed Lindsey lacked awareness about how she made him feel during group outings, when she would essential embarrass him and make him feel uncomfortable."I am so frustrated because I feel like you are literally sabotaging yourself and treating me poorly. I feel unappreciated and uncared for. Why am I here? I'm not sure," Lindsey complained."Why am I trying so hard for somebody who's not treating me great right now? Why do you like me? Because it doesn't seem like there's anything -- at all."Mark insisted they just have different personalities and he struggled to deal with her "condescending" tone and harsh exterior.Lindsey noted how she had given the marriage her all and only had one percent effort left to give Mark. She said she had essentially fallen out of love with him and Mark had to show her more respect.Mark therefore took Lindsey to a fancy sushi dinner on Day 20 of marriage and attempted to turn their dynamic around.Mark applauded Lindsey for all of the nice things she had done for him, and he apologized for hurting her and not treating her well. Mark promised to not cause her any more pain and to be more grateful for her gestures.With that being said, the pair determined his or her spouse was "worth" the work.'s fourteenth season, which currently airs on Wednesday nights at 8PM ET/PT on Lifetime, also stars Noi Phommasak and Steve Moy, Jasmina Outar and Michael Morency, Katina Goode and Olajuwon Dickerson, and Chris Collette and Alyssa Ellman.Interested in more news? Join our Married at First Sight Facebook Group or click here to view our newspage!And click here for more updates on former cast members and info on where they are now!
20th Century Studios announced it was developing a new Alien movie on Friday. Ridley Scott, director of the original, Prometheus and Alien: Covenant will produce for director Fede Alvarez.

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The Hollywood Reporter was the first to report the news. Variety confirmed as well.

FX is also developing a television series based on Alien. Noah Hawley is creating the series, which FX said would be a prequel to the original film.

20th Century Studios would not reveal the angle of the new film, but sources told THR it is not connected to the previous movies. Division president Steve Asbell told THR Alvarez's story has "a bunch of characters you haven't seen before."

Sigourney Weaver starred in four Alien films and Michael Fassbender in Prometheus and Covenant.

The film is expected to be a Hulu exclusive, as the FX series would also stream on Hulu. Disney acquired 20th Century Fox in 2019 and is premiering 20th Century Studio titles like Deep Water and the Predator sequel Prey on the streaming service.

Alvarez made his feature directing debut with the 2013 remake Evil Dead. He followed it up with Don't Breathe, for which he produced a sequel, and The Girl in the Spider's Web.
"The Real Housewives of New Jersey" star Joe Gorga is opening up about his drama with his niece Gia Giudice.

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Gorga, the husband of "The Real Housewives of New Jersey" star Melissa Gorga and the brother of "RHONJ" star Teresa Giudice , appeared on Tuesday's episode of "Watch What Happens Live," where he discussed his tension with Gia, 21, over her dad, Teresa's ex-husband, Joe Giudice.

Teresa and Joe Giudice split in 2019 after 20 years of marriage.

The pair had pleaded guilty to fraud in 2014 and both served prison sentences, which Gorga has publicly blamed Joe Giudice for.

"The Real Housewives of New Jersey" Season 12 has shown Gorga and Gia clash over Gorga's feud with Joe Giudice.

In a February episode, Gorga called Joe Giudice the "devil" during a fight with Gia, who defended her dad.

Gorga appeared on "Watch What Happens Live" with his wife, Melissa Gorga, where he defended his stance against Joe Giudice.

"Can I clarify something? I never really speak about Joe Giudice, ever," he said.

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"There's a ton of articles about me with him, about my wife, and I wonder if they ever yell at him for anything."

Gorga said his anger with Joe Giudice stems from wanting to protect Teresa.

"Before that day, my sister's telling me they're going through a divorce and she's telling me all these things that he was saying to her," Gorga said of the episode with Gia.

"So I'm sitting there and I'm thinking about all this, and then we had that episode a couple days later, so I explode."

"That's my sister," he added of Teresa. "I'm trying to protect her."

Gia previously said on WWHL that she was "a little surprised" by Gorga's reaction during their confrontation.
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 
Video information

These videos are screened by Vermont News & Media for graphic violence and other related imagery, as well as propagandist messages, implied or expressed, as well as clear copyright issues. We have a native speaker who listens to what's said or shown in the videos, checking for appropriateness. While we can't ensure that all videos are authentic, we make all efforts to only post what appears to be real footage from the frontlines in the war on Ukraine.
Andrea Paige Fry, 22, of Bluefield was brought before Circuit Court Judge William Sadler for a plea hearing. Fry was arrested and charged with first-degree murder, armed robbery and conspiracy to commit a felony in the death of Edward Earl Duck III of Ohio. The shooting occurred on Dec. 22, 2019.
Waterbury Police Department / Contributed Photo

WATERBURY  A 34-year-old Waterbury woman found with several gunshot wounds early Saturday was pronounced dead, according to the Waterbury Police Department.

Officers responded to a weapons complaint outside of a home on Hill Street around 2:15 a.m. Saturday, police said.
Lebanon, IN (46052)

Today

Periods of rain. High 59F. Winds ESE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 90%. Rainfall around a quarter of an inch..

Tonight

Rain early...then remaining cloudy with showers overnight. Low around 55F. Winds E at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 80%. Rainfall around a quarter of an inch.
The organization was too close to the Cambodia Daily newspaper, the government says.

A student reads a local language children's book in the new Room to Read library at Banlech Prasat Primary School, Prey Veng Province, Cambodia in this file photo.

UPDATED at 7:20 A.M. EST on 2022-03-07

Authorities in Cambodia ordered a non-governmental network of more than 550 rural schools to shut down, apparently because of its relationship with a newspaper that has criticized the countrys government, RFA has learned.

The independent, nonprofit schools were established by Japan Relief for Cambodia and World Assistance for Cambodia (JRfC-WAfC). They provided English classes and computer training to rural students from low-income families, the network said on its website.

Local news outlet CamboJA reported that a Feb. 2 letter from Cambodias Education Minister Hang Chuon Naron, shared by teachers this week on Facebook, ordered the organization to cease operations.

The minister told RFAs Khmer Service Thursday that the Education Ministry asked JRfC-WAfC to stop operating the schools because it is affiliated with the Cambodia Daily, an English language newspaper that often criticized the government of Hun Sen and was shuttered in Cambodia in 2017 on allegations that it hadnt paid millions of U.S. dollars in back taxes.

The Cambodia Daily is currently owned and operated by a separate entity in the U.S. and broadcasts in the Khmer language online.

Even though JRfC-WAfC may no longer operate out of Cambodia, the schools that built by the NGO are still allowed to remain open since they were donated to the government after construction, the minister said.

The programs provided by the NGO will no longer be available, however, a fact that Ouk Chhayavy, president of the Cambodian Independent Teachers Association, lamented.

We are sad about the closure because the NGO helped many poor students, she said.

CORRECTION: The original report did not make clear that the Cambodia Daily that currently broadcasts in the Khmer language online from the U.S. is owned and operated by a separate entity from the organization behind the NGOs.

Translated by Samean Yun. Written in English by Eugene Whong.
They say even if the UN approves one, sales and domestic production will continue.

A weapons embargo against Myanmars junta would likely reduce the number of civilians killed by security forces but observers and analysts disagree by how much, as many of the arms the military uses are produced inside the country.

On Feb. 22, former U.S. Rep. Tom Andrews, who serves as U.N. special rapporteur on human rights in Myanmar, said in a report to the U.N. Security Council that countries should stop selling arms to the junta, citing a brutal crackdown on civilians since the military seized power in a coup last year.

The report called out permanent Security Council members China and Russia, as well as India, Belarus, Ukraine, Israel, Serbia, Pakistan and South Korea, for selling the weapons, which Andrews said are almost certainly being used by the military to kill innocent people.

Speaking to RFAs Myanmar Service on Thursday, Aung Myo Min, human rights minister for the shadow National Unity Government (NUG), said countries that sell arms to the Myanmar military must reconsider their actions.

Its very important to understand whether these arms you sell for your commercial interests are meant to protect ordinary people or are for killing them and committing crimes, he said. Myanmars dictators are getting weapons because arms companies are focusing only on their financial gains. The people of Myanmar are being tortured or killed with these weapons. We need to be aware of this.

Aung Myo Min also called on the larger international community to help end arms sales to the Myanmars military.

In the 13 months since its Feb. 1, 2021, coup, 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 Friday, more than 1,600 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.

Andrews report states that China, Russia and Serbia have been selling arms to Myanmars military both before and after the coup, while the other nations sold arms to Myanmar for years prior to it.

The U.N. high commissioner said in his statement that China and Russia continued to provide Myanmar with fighter jets and armored vehicles and had promised to sell more despite the militarys attacks on communities since the coup. The Serbian government has decided to sell rocket launchers and artillery shells to the junta, while reports suggest that Pakistan has provided it with mortars and grenade launchers.

The U.N. in June 2021 said that member states should not sell arms to the junta, but Andrews said countries have not followed the recommendation.

Domestic production issues

A member of the anti-junta Peoples Defense Force paramilitary group in Magway regions Yesagyo township told RFA that he believes the killing of innocent civilians in Myanmar would drop dramatically if countries were to stop selling weapons to the military.

They fire at our villages from warplanes and shell our homes. They attack civilian homes and open fire on refugee camps. They use these weapons to launch military operations. Villages were set on fire using these weapons, he said. If the military didnt have these weapons, they wouldnt have the ability to commit these crimes and the harm they inflict on the people would decline.

But junta Deputy Information Minister Maj. Gen. Zaw Min Tun has denied any wrongdoing by the military and the countries who have provided it with weaponry. He called the former U.S. lawmakers words hypocritical.

The arms trade is going on everywhere in the world. The U.S. is also the worlds largest arms seller, followed by China and Russia, he said. But regardless, most of the weapons used by our security forces are Myanmar-made.

Myanmar has been working on a policy of self-reliance in the production of arms and that the juntas interactions with other countries are not solely for purchasing weapons, but to improve political, social, and international relations, Zaw Min Tun said.

Min Zaw Oo, executive director of the Myanmar Institute for Peace and Security, said that enacting and enforcing an arms embargo will be difficult for the U.N. Security Council when China and Russia hold veto powers and will not even accept formal talks on the issue.

But he acknowledged that even if the council could put an end to foreign arms sales to Myanmar, killings will continue for as long as the military produces its own weapons domestically.

If we can make the most of an arms embargo, we might be able to stop aircraft-related issues, like air strikes, he said. The deadliest weapon is the heavy artillery. Mortars and Howitzers have caused many casualties. It can be generally assumed that even if an arms embargo is implemented, it will have little effect so long as domestic production capacity doesnt drop.

Military analysts have also suggested that U.S. and EU bans on arms sales to Myanmar are likely to be ineffective, noting that North Korea has been able to continue purchasing and producing weapons, despite a U.N. Security Council resolution.

Reported by RFAs Myanmar Service. Translated by Khin Maung Nyane. Written in English by Joshua Lipes.
Embassy downplayed the chances of the attack, Vietnamese still in Ukraine say.

Refugees from Ukraine line up to get in to Poland on border crossing in Medyka, in eastern Poland on February 28, 2022.

Thousands of Vietnamese people living in Ukraine were caught off guard by the Russian militarys invasion last week after their ambassador downplayed the likelihood of conflict between the countries.

According to Vietnams Ministry of Foreign Affairs, around 7,000 Vietnamese lived in Ukraine before war broke out on Feb. 24, just one month after Hanoi and Kyiv celebrated 30 years of diplomatic relations.

Prior to the invasion, Ambassador Nguyen Hong Thach assured Vietnamese citizens that the embassy was closely monitoring the situation and that war between the two former Soviet Republics would not occur, a Vietnamese citizen living in Kharkiv, close to the Russian border, told RFAs Vietnamese Service on condition of anonymity.

As a result, most of the Vietnamese were not prepared to evacuate and remained in Ukraine when the Russian forces struck, he said.

Bombs were exploding very close to our place shaking us from head to toe, said the source, whose family has been living in Ukraine for decades. The Vietnamese governments efforts to protect its citizens here are really slow and ineffective.

The source said the community learned of Vietnams plan to use the countrys major airlines to evacuate citizens from Ukraine from state-media, not the embassy.

Its a plan we saw in newspapers only. In reality, we havent received anything from the embassy, he said. In fact, there are no commitments on providing transportation for us... The embassy hasnt made any decisions or commitments to evacuate us from Ukraine.

Even if rescue flights were to be organized, the source said he is doubtful that his family would be able to secure seats, likening the situation to Hanois attempt last year to evacuate Vietnamese during severe COVID outbreaks.

The most important thing would be whether we can win a place on a flight or not. In the recent COVID scare, most of Vietnamese in Kharkiv could not return to Vietnam without paying a fortune, the source said.

A ticket on a commercial flight often costs US $1,000, but we would have had to pay up to $6,000 for a ticket on a rescue flight. At present, we have no hope at all of being evacuated on flights, he said.

The family instead may flee west to Poland over land, a plan the source said he is also hesitant about.

I want to see first how it goes for the Vietnamese who have already left for Poland, how things are there, and whether they are becoming victims of robbing and looting along the way. I have to watch first as robberies often occur in situations like this, he said.

If it is not safe, well have no choice but to shelter here. My friends evacuated in four separate cars. We are still in contact with two of the cars but lost contact with the other two, so we are extremely worried, the Kharkiv man said.

Others who have signed up for repatriation do not know where they should go to be picked up, Nguyen Khiem, another Vietnamese in Ukraine, told RFA.

"We have signed up, but how about a pick-up point? And how dangerous is it to get there? Really, in this situation we really can't know how dangerous it will be until were there, Khiem said.

We're also thinking that if we should go to Poland, it is 1,200 km [745 miles] from us. All we can do over here is to listen to those of our brothers and sisters who have made the journey already and are familiar with what could happen," Khiem said.

"I myself never thought Russia would attack Ukraine. We were unprepared. The guidance from the Vietnamese government is just there for us to be aware, so we will actually have to fend for ourselves, Khiem said.

RFA attempted to contact the Vietnamese Embassy in Ukraine many times but was unsuccessful.

Westward escape

Since the Feb. 24 invasion, more than 1 million people have fled Ukraine for neighboring countries, and many of Ukraines Vietnamese population were among them.

Vietnamese communities in countries like Poland, Romania and the Czech Republic have offered food, financial assistance, transportation and housing to Vietnamese fleeing Ukraine.

Facebook has become a key platform for connecting the communities, sources said.

Members of the Vietnamese community here in Poland are trying to do whatever we can to help, Phan Chau Thanh, a Vietnamese businessman there, told RFA. Whoever has a house will offer accommodation. Whoever has a car and time will offer pick-ups."

In general, a lot of people in the community have chipped in. Specifically, out of around 25,000 Vietnamese people in Poland, around 7,000 to 8,000 have already participated in this campaign, he said.

Thanh himself is managing assistance activities at one of the border gates between the two countries.

In Romania, it isnt just the Vietnamese community that is helping its own, a Vietnamese Bucharest resident identified only as Hai told RFA.

All of Romania is also willing to provide assistance to Vietnamese or other people coming from Ukraine. You can contact any member of the Vietnamese community in Romania and get our maximum support, she said.

If you need to stay somewhere for a couple of days, we can help find a place or offer free accommodation if necessary. Right now, many have come, and spare accommodation is no longer available, but the community is renting budget rooms at hotels or local residences for Vietnamese people from Ukraine to take refuge, she said.

The Czech Republic does not border Ukraine, but Vietnamese there are collecting donations and relief goods and reaching out to refugees on social media to help.

Julie Phan said she has offered a place in her home to any Vietnamese who needs a place to stay.

I did not have to think about it much. I know that wars create a lot of suffering. I burst into tears when I saw the footage of kids in bomb shelters. Here I am living in peace, and these kids  many people have lost their lives and families were separated, she said. I felt so sorry for them.

We were deeply struck by the images of Ukrainians and Vietnamese standing in a 30-kilometer queue near the border with Poland and in a freezing weather to get a seal or permission to enter Poland. Therefore, we thought we must call for assistance for them, Phan said.

Vietnams Ministry of Foreign Affairs reported that as of midday Thursday, almost all the Vietnamese citizens in Kyiv and Odessa had fled and hundreds of others in Kharkiv had been evacuated from war zones.

The ministry also said that about 400 people had arrived in Moldova and were on their way to Romania. Another 140 people had arrived in Poland, 70 in Romania, 33 in Slovakia and 30 in Hungary.

On Thursday, 141 of the 193 members of the United Nations voted in favor of a motion demanding the immediate end to Russias invasion of Ukraine.

Four countries, North Korea, Belarus, Eritrea, and Syria voted against the resolution alongside Russia, while 12 others, including Vietnam and Laos, abstained from the vote.

Nataliya Zhynkina, Ukraines Charge dAffairs in Vietnam, voiced her displeasure in a Facebook post written in Vietnamese.

Among all the ASEAN countries, only Vietnam and Laos abstained. Vietnam, my second homeland, I am very disappointed.

Translated by Anna Vu. Written in English by Eugene Whong.
The European Union has unveiled a proposal to ban Russian oil imports by the end of the year, impose more banking sanctions against Moscow, and cut off some Russian broadcasters in Europe saying that the Kremlin has to pay dearly for its aggression Ukraine.

With Russia intensifying its attacks on eastern Ukraine on May 4, the EU said that its sixth round of sanctions against Moscow will comprise phasing out the importation of Russian crude and refined oil products by the end of the year despite pushback from some of the bloc's members, including Slovakia and Hungary.

"We will phase out Russian supply of crude oil within six months and refined products by the end of the year," the head of the bloc's executive European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, told the European Parliament in Strasbourg.

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.

"This will be a complete import ban on all Russian oil, seaborne and pipeline, crude and refined," she said, adding that "[Russian President Vladimir] Putin must pay a high price for his brutal aggression."

Von der Leyen, however, conceded that getting unanimity on oil sanctions will not be easy.

The commission chief, however, conceded that getting unanimity on oil sanctions will not be easy.

The measures require approval from all 27 EU countries to take effect and soon after von der Leyen's announcement, Hungary, Slovakia, and Bulgaria announced that they would seek exemptions from the embargo voicing concerns about energy security. Hungary and Slovakia are heavily dependent on Russian energy imports.

The Czech Republic, meanwhile, said it would seek a temporary exemption period of two or three years in order for pipeline capacities to be increased.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said EU countries blocking an oil embargo would be "complicit" in Russia's crimes in Ukraine.

Whatever their arguments are, if they oppose (the) oil embargo, it means one thing: they play on the Russian side. They share responsibility for everything Russia does in Ukraine, full stop, Kuleba said in a video posted on Twitter.

Von der Leyen also proposed that Sberbank, Russias largest bank, and two other major banks be disconnected from the SWIFT international banking payment system.



The EU will also ban three Russian state-owned broadcasters, she said, without naming the channels directly.



"They will not be allowed to distribute their content anymore in the European Union, in whatever shape or form, be it on cable, via satellite, on the Internet or via smartphone apps," von der Leyen told EU lawmakers.

According to a document seen by RFE/RL, the package also contains a list of 58 individuals sanctioned over Russia's military action in Ukraine that includes the Patriarch of Russia's Orthodox Church, a close ally of Putin's.



Von der Leyen also proposed launching a recovery package for Ukraine to help it rebuild after the war.



"This package should bring massive investment to meet the needs and the necessary reforms," von der Leyen said. "Eventually, it will pave the way for Ukraine's future inside the European Union."

The European Union accounts for nearly a half of Russia's crude and refined oil products. But the Kremlin, in a first reaction to Brussels' announcement, put on a brave face, warning that the embargo is a "double-edged sword" and that EU consumers will pay the price.

"The cost of these sanctions to the citizens of Europe will grow by the day," spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on May 4.

Peskov said the Kremlin was looking at "various options" for its response to the new sanctions.

In Washington, U.S. President Joe Biden said he was "open" to imposing more sanctions on Russia and would be discussing measures with allies from the Group of Seven (G7) leading industrialized nations in the coming days.

On the battlefront, Moscow deployed 22 battalions near Izyum, an eastern city, in a bid to push into the Donbas region, the British Defense Ministry said in its daily bulletin on May 4, adding that Russia's apparent goal is capturing the cities of Kramatorsk and Severodonetsk in the east, "despite struggling to break through Ukrainian defenses." A Russian battalion usually consists of 700-800 soldiers.



According to the British intelligence bulletin, capturing the two cities "would consolidate Russian military control" of northeastern Ukraine.

In neighboring Belarus, the armed forces began "surprise" large-scale drills on May 4 to test their combat readiness, the Ukrainian Defense Ministry said.

Mariupol Mayor Vadym Boychenko said there was "heavy fighting" at the Azovstal plant on May 4 and said city officials had lost contact with Ukrainian forces inside.

Boychenko told Ukrainian television that Russian forces were attacking with heavy artillery, tanks, and warplanes, and said warships off the coast were also involved.

Russian troops are on the territory of the plant, according to David Arakhamia, a member of the Ukrainian delegation that has held now-stalled peace talks with Russia.

"Attempts to storm the plant continue for the second day. Russian troops are already on the territory of Azovstal," Arakhamia said, citing the commander of the Azov Regiment, which is defending the plant with other Ukrainian troops. He contradicted Boychenko, saying Ukrainian authorities have contact with the defenders at the plant.

The commander announced the storming of the plant by Russian troops the day before and called again for the evacuation of civilians.

Boychenko said on May 3 that more than 200 civilians were still holed up with fighters in the sprawling plant.

In his video address, Kuleba denied that Azovstal was under Russian control.

On May 4, Peskov denied Ukrainian reports that Russian troops had stormed the Avozstal steel plant soon after the latest group of civilians made it out of the sprawling complex.

"There is no storming," Peskov told reporters, contradicting claims by Ukrainian soldiers inside the steelworks.

"The order was publicly given by the supreme commander-in-chief to cancel the assault," Peskov said, referring to a statement Putin made on April 21 that called off a direct assault on Azovstal because it would result in too many Russian casualties. Instead, forces should seal off Azovstal so tightly that "even a fly can't get out," Putin said.

With reporting by RFE/RL's Rikard Jozwiak, Reuters, AP, and AFP
With Russia's economy in freefall as it feels the weight of a wave of unprecedented sanctions from the West, could China provide economic support to Moscow?

So far, the answer appears to be "no."

Although Chinese President Xi Jinping and his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, have built strong ties in recent years in the face of Western pressure and Beijing has criticized the West's use of sanctions against Russia, China has not stepped in to help Moscow.

The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), a Chinese-led development bank, suspended all business with Russia and Belarus on March 3, a possible sign of the limits to Beijing and Moscow's relationship. Similarly, the Shanghai-based New Development Bank also suspended business with Russia the same day.

Economic ties between the countries, however, have strengthened in recent years, with bilateral trade soaring to turn China into Russia's largest trading partner as the countries sought to deal more in Chinese yuan, which is outside the U.S.-dollar financial system.

According to a Reuters report, Russian firms are also rushing to open Chinese bank accounts in hopes of circumventing the worst economic pain brought by sanctions, while the Financial Times reported on March 4 that investors are increasingly betting on Beijing boosting trade with Russia to soften the blow from sanctions.

But could Beijing extend a financial lifeline to Moscow -- and more crucially, would it be willing to?

To find out more, RFE/RL spoke with former U.S. Treasury official Peter Piatetsky, who is now the CEO of the consultancy Castellum.AI.

RFE/RL: What role could China play in supporting Russia's economy? We have seen some headlines about oil and wheat and there has been a push in recent years to sign deals in Chinese yuan, leaving them outside the U.S.-dollar-based international financial system. What options are on the table for Beijing?

Peter Piatetsky: Beijing has all the cards here and it's a very bad situation for Russia because Russia is a net exporter, but it doesn't have that many different exports -- minerals, diamonds, [uranium, wheat], but primarily oil -- and Europe is its main destination for oil.

China could buy up that extra oil, but it does not seem to be willing to and Russia's main external trading relationship is with China. However, China's main external trading relationship is with the United States. So what we've seen so far is that China has been very quietly enforcing U.S. sanctions.

A very good example we can look at is [sanctions] against North Korea and Iran. China essentially designated certain banks that aren't [integral] to the economy that can work with Iran and North Korea, and if they get sanctioned then that's an [acceptable] loss, but they're trying to not expose the broader [Chinese] economy.

China can essentially do one thing here, which is to buy more Russian goods, but they don't seem to be willing to do that and Russia doesn't have that many different goods that China is willing to buy.

The relationship between Russia and China is very transactional. It's not an ideology-based relationship. They both dislike the United States and dislike the U.S.-led world order, but aside from that, I don't think there's much there.

RFE/RL: Now that we've talked about the issue of what could be possible, what about the possible? Given the sanctions packages put forward against Russia, how likely is China to move forward on helping out the Russian economy as it goes into a tailspin? What scenarios seem likely in your mind?

Piatetsky: Really, with the exception [of] energy and wheat, which haven't been touched [so far] because those are Russian exports that also go to Europe, there really aren't that many options.

If we were to say specific ones, [they] would be to buy more Russian goods and extend loans to Russia. But [both] of those are essentially loss-making propositions for China and so what we're really talking about is what is the size of [an] aid package [to Russia from China] that could help.

I think if [China] were to do something it would probably be to buy more oil [and] extend various loans; but Russia, again, just does not produce that many different goods that China is going to want to buy.

RFE/RL: It sounds like you're not bullish on this idea that China is going to swing to Russia's rescue in some way and extend a financial lifeline?

Piatetsky: I think that's not going to happen [and] I would encourage people to put themselves in China's shoes here.

Why would they do that? China benefits from an economically weaker Russia. China does not have Russia's best interests in mind. They're not going to be interested in an economically stronger Russia that can throw its weight around, they don't like that.

China simply doesn't have the incentives to do it. If it did have the incentives, it wouldn't have a lot of ways short of providing massive loans, and those massive loans would essentially be aid -- and I think China doesn't want to do that. Russia [also] doesn't want to be seen as just receiving aid, they still want to be seen as strong.

RFE/RL: How do you see the economic hit from Russia affecting the wider region, especially across Central Asia and the Caucasus, which have deep ties to Russia's economy?

Piatetsky: For Central Asia, this is an absolute disaster, a lot of those economies are heavily remittance-dependent and with Russians losing money and Russians losing jobs, there are going to be less jobs all around.

There's not going to be any protection for Central Asian migrants that are losing jobs, many of [which] are unofficial. So, you're going to see Russians losing jobs [and] Central Asians will lose those jobs much quicker -- so will Georgians -- and the remittances that they were sending back to their home countries will also fall.

So, I would say Central Asia is definitely in for an extremely difficult time economically.

RFE/RL: Does that place China in a position to benefit? China has already been a growing force in this part of the world, is it well positioned to pick up the pieces, so to speak?

Piatetsky: The short answer is yes.

Like [U.S. President Joe] Biden said, Putin has badly miscalculated and I think those photos where you see him 20 feet away from his advisers, most of which are "yes men," shows the quality of the advice that he's getting.

He's had the unintended effect of rallying Europe and pushing the EU, potentially, into ditching Russian energy.

Putin has [also] tremendously strengthened [China]. China has the option now of either giving some sort of economic lifeline to Russia, which is unlikely, but if it did, it would make Russia [even more] dependent on China.

RFE/RL: Moving beyond countries like China, are there any other forms of relief or options on Moscow's table that can help lessen the hurt that has already hit and will be coming in the future?

Piatetsky: Stop the war, it's really that simple.

This is financial nuclear war and the level of sanctions that have been imposed on Russia are potentially more than what has been imposed on Iran, and this has occurred over the course of two weeks. Whereas for Iran, it occurred over the course of about 10 years.

So this is by far the largest sanctions event in history and it's being imposed by a global united front. You have not just the [United States] and the [EU], [but] you have Canada, Japan, Australia, and South Korea -- really every country with an economic hammer is using it -- and China is not coming to Russia's rescue.

[Short] of stopping the war and acceding to Europe's demands, there's not much they can do economically.

This doesn't mean Russia will have societal collapse and this doesn't mean that Russia will roll over [to Western demands]. Neither has North Korea or Iran, but what Russians are going to see is less income, less opportunities, less travel, [and] less goods.

Everything about living in Russia is about to get worse, and it's about to get worse for a long time, and it will continue to be essentially until Europe is willing to lift the sanctions.

Interview edited and condensed for clarity
Maryam Behtarpur lived a quiet life with her husband and three children in northwestern Iran, when her world was turned upside down in November 2019.



That was when her eldest son, 27-year-old Farzad Ansarifar, was killed while returning from work just as the state was cracking down on protests against the country's repressive clerical establishment.



The family spoke up about his killing, demanding justice and accountability, in a direct challenge to the regime. And like other relatives of activists slain during the 2019 crackdown, they have faced pressure from the authorities and been prevented from holding public memorials to honor those lost.



In Behtarpur's case, the authorities responded by taking away her loved ones, one by one, in an effort to silence the family.



On February 19, Farzad's father, Amin Ansarifar, a veteran of Iran's 1980-88 war with Iraq, was arrested on charges of "spreading propaganda" against the Islamic establishment. Prior to his arrest, Ansarifar testified online at a tribunal in London that heard evidence from him and other witnesses about the crackdown on anti-establishment protests two years ago.



A day after his arrest, on February 20, his youngest son, 24-year-old Arman Ansarifar, was detained too. The two remain in prison.



Just days later, Farzad's sister, Farzaneh Ansarifar, was reportedly sentenced to a lengthy prison term. Farzaneh, who had been detained several times over the past two years for speaking up about her brother's killing, got four years and six months in prison on charges that include "assembly and collusion against the state" and "spreading propaganda" against the establishment. According to Iranian laws, she has 20 days to appeal.

Behtarpur says her family's only crime was their refusal to remain silent about Farzad's death. The authorities "said that if you talk to the media, we will imprison you. Do not talk, do not raise your voice," Behtarpur told RFE/RL's Radio Farda earlier this week.

"They killed our son [for no reason]. We are grieving him. We had nothing to do with counterrevolutionaries (a term Iranian officials use to refer to critics and those opposing the clerical establishment). We had nothing to do with these issues. We were minding our own business," Behtarpur added.



She says the Iranian authorities have ruined her life and the lives of her loved ones.

"My son was returning from work, they killed my son.... Then they came and imprisoned my husband and my son. They issued a prison sentence against my daughter. They harass us enormously," Behtarpur said.



Behtarpur's son, Farzad, was one of six people who were killed in Behbahan in the southwestern province of Khuzestan on November 16, 2019. He was shot in the back of the head as people across the country were protesting against a sudden rise in the price of gasoline.



The protests, in which many participants chanted against Iranian leaders, spread to more than 100 cities and towns.



Authorities responded with lethal force, killing at least 324 people, including bystanders and children, according to figures released by Amnesty International. The London-based rights group believes the real number of those killed is higher.



Tehran also imposed a near-total Internet shutdown to stop the free flow of information amid the demonstrations.

Ansarifar, a construction worker, was shot near his home. His family has said that he had heard some noise and went to see what was happening. A few hours later, they identified his body in a morgue.



The family filed an official complaint but it was never acknowledged by the authorities.

Farzad's father, Amin Ansarifar, told the tribunal in London in November that in the past two years the family had called on Iranian officials to bring those responsible for Farzad's killing to justice. The tribunal, which was organized by rights activists, does not have any legal standing.



"We said several times: show us the person who shot our son, maybe it was the enemy, maybe it was intentionally, tell us who it was, we need to know why he was shooting, why he killed my son," Amin Ansarifar said during his online testimony in which he could be seen sitting with a picture of his slain son behind him. "We asked the Intelligence Ministry these questions but unfortunately they didn't give us an answer. They said they didn't know."

Amin Ansarifar was among a handful of witnesses from inside Iran who testified during the tribunal under their real names, and without covering their faces. "We want to know why [they] killed my son, we want to know who ordered the shooting," he said.



Amin Ansarifar added that his daughter had come under increased pressure for seeking justice for her brother's death. "[The authorities] told her: 'Why you are after [justice]? Be silent.'"



Behtarpur has called on the authorities to release her husband and youngest son, and to drop the case against her daughter.



She laments that, due to the jailing of her husband, who was the family's breadwinner, she could be soon evicted from their home because of her inability to pay the rent.



She says her husband, who has shrapnel in his body from his days fighting against Iraq, suffers greatly from his war injuries. "For years, we struggled because of his war injuries, now do something to release him and stop harassing us so much," she said, adding that she refuses to be silenced.



Human Rights Watch said on the second anniversary of the protests that the authorities had failed to provide any real measure of accountability for the violent crackdown.



In the past two years, dozens of people who were arrested during the unrest have been sentenced. Some of those who condemned the crackdown have also been pressured and sentenced to prison.
With Russian and Ukrainian forces engaged in tough fighting for control of major cities across Ukraine, Moscow has shifted its tactics to increasingly rely on rockets, artillery, and air attacks to hit civilian infrastructure.

Live Briefing: Russia Invades 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.

For Kharkiv, Ukraine's second-largest city located in the country's northeast, this has meant an increasingly indiscriminate campaign that has seen civilians caught in the shelling of their homes, as rockets and artillery have rained down on supermarkets, schools, hospitals, apartment blocks, and churches.

Despite the heavy attacks, the predominantly Russian-speaking city is still under Ukrainian control, though many of Kharkiv's 1.5 million residents have fled. Those who have stayed describe increasingly grim conditions that are difficult to escape.

"No [escape routes] have been made yet, but people are trying to leave," Irina Evsa, a well-known Ukrainian poet and Kharkiv resident, told North.Realities on March 4.

Taxi drivers in the city are unwilling to take people to the train station to leave the city out of fear of taking fire, she said, and trains out of Kharkiv are not operating on a set schedule, making it difficult to plan an escape from the besieged city.

"It's very scary to come to the station and not go anywhere because you [might] have to get back home [quickly] and there is shelling all the time," Evsa said. "What does [Russian President Vladimir] Putin want -- to kill us all? Destroy everything? I don't understand the purpose [of this war]."

WATCH: Dramatic dashcam footage captured what appeared to be a mortar attack at an intersection in the eastern Ukrainian city of Kharkiv on February 25.

Changing Tactics

More than 2,000 civilians have been killed and thousands of others have been wounded since Russia's February 24 invasion of Ukraine, the country's emergency service have said.

Ukrainian and Western forces say they believe Moscow is shifting tactics to a new strategy of pummeling civilian areas to try and demoralize Ukrainian resistance and reignite Russia's stagnant military advance. "Given the slowing down of the offensive and the resistance of the Ukrainians, Russia is changing its tactics," Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksiy Reznikov said in a March 5 statement.

Kharkiv's Freedom Square, the center of the city's public life, was hit by what Ukrainian officials say was a Russian cruise missile. Other cities in Ukraine's east are also the sites of intense fighting and are seeing their residential areas come under intense shelling as they are encircled by Russian forces.

Ivan Fedorov, the mayor of Melitopol, a city of 150,000 in southeastern Ukraine that is under Russian military control but still has fighting on its outskirts, told Current Time on March 4 the city faced food and water shortages and he was negotiating with Russian military commanders to allow civilians to be evacuated and supplies to be brought in. "The situation is on the verge of a humanitarian catastrophe if the fighting is not stopped and humanitarian corridors are not opened," he said.

For those who have managed to flee Kharkiv, many describe panic, fear, and shock.

Kharkiv, which is only about 45 kilometers from the Russian border, has strong economic, cultural, and family ties to Russia.

In launching an invasion into Ukraine, the Kremlin has said its demands for ending the war consist of Ukraine recognizing the 2014 annexation by Russia of its Crimean Peninsula, declaring neutrality, demilitarizing, and the country undergoing "de-Nazification."

Putin has accused the Ukrainian government of being beholden to far-right, neo-Nazi elements -- despite President Volodymyr Zelenskiy being Jewish -- and has also cited alleged discrimination against Ukraine's Russian-speakers as one of his reasons for the conflict.

"My father is Ukrainian, I am half-Russian, my mother is Russian. I did not expect such disgrace from my native people, from Russians. It's horrible," a Kharkiv resident told Current Time on March 5 after fleeing the city amid intense shelling.

Alleged War Crimes

As the Kharkiv offensive started ramping up, International Criminal Court (ICC) Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan announced he had launched an investigation into alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in Ukraine.

During a late-night address on February 28, Zelenskiy referred to Russia's relentless bombardment of Kharkiv, including the deliberate targeting of residential areas, as a "war crime."

Some 39 countries have so far backed the call to hold Russia to account at the ICC and Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba has also thrown his support behind a separate move for the establishment of a special international tribunal to try Russia's leaders for the crime of aggression against Ukrainians, he said on March 4 via video link to an event at London's Chatham House.

"We are fighting against an enemy that is much stronger than us," Kuleba said. "But international law is on our side and hopefully it will make its own contribution to help us prevail. The question now is how the international community will respond."

Written by Reid Standish in Prague based on reporting by RFE/RL's North.Realities and Current Time
President Vladimir Putin's decision to invade Ukraine is backfiring on Russia's energy industry -- the core of the country's economy -- as Europe doubles down on efforts to diversify away from Russian oil and natural gas and Western firms flee the country.

Over the past two weeks, Germany, Europe's largest economy, has shelved a new gas pipeline from Russia, announced plans to build ports for super-chilled gas from other countries, and raised the possibility of extending the use of nuclear and coal-fired power plants.

Meanwhile, BP, Shell, and ExxonMobil, three of the largest Western energy companies, have all announced they are pulling out of multibillion-dollar energy projects in Russia while France's TotalEnergies said it would halt new investments.

As European countries move to cut back on Russian supplies, the exodus of Western cash and know-how will inevitably lead to the delay or cancelation of energy projects in the country, impacting future output, analysts have warned.

"I think this is the beginning of the end of Russia as an energy superpower," Nikos Tsafos, an energy analyst at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, said on the Washington-based think tank's podcast published on March 1.

Russia's potential loss of gas sales into the European market will not be fully made up for by increased exports to China, he said.

Russia is the world's third-largest oil producer and second-largest natural-gas producer and has a strong position in Europe, where it accounts for 25 percent of the oil and 30 to 40 percent of the gas supply. Overall, Moscow has been a reliable energy supplier to Europe since the Soviet era, despite the period of Cold War confrontation, the collapse of communism, wars, and recessions.

Its relationship with Berlin has been particularly tight over the years. Germany has viewed Russian natural gas as a bridge in its energy transition from coal and nuclear to solar and wind power.

'Something Broke'

Despite persistent U.S. protests, Berlin stood its ground and moved ahead with Nord Stream 2, the Kremlin-backed pipeline that would double Germany's imports of Russian gas. Putin's unprovoked invasion of Ukraine has fundamentally ruptured those energy bonds with Europe and Germany, in particular.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said this week the country would "change course" to overcome Russian energy dependence and halted the $11 billion pipeline, which was expected to be launched later this year. "Rightly or wrongly, there's a view in Europe that says, if we do not consume hydrocarbons Russia's ability to do this will diminish," he said, referring to Russian aggression. "That is a widely, widely held view in Europe."

"This relationship has been through a lot and yet something broke over the last week. The tolerance that Europeans have for depending on Russia has just changed overnight," Tsafos said.

Putin has been the driving force of Russian energy policy since the turn of the century, even taking part in price negotiations with governments and helping cut deals with foreign investors.

Little-known before the late 1990s, Putin became president in 2000 and consolidated power, enjoying popularity as world oil prices rose and surging domestic production fattened budget coffers.

He soon brought much of the private domestic oil industry under state ownership -- including by bankrupting Yukos and jailing its billionaire owner, Mikhail Khodorkovsky -- and fought off oligarch efforts to dismantle the state's monopoly on pipeline exports.

Putin has used Russia's dominant position in natural gas in Europe as political leverage, including to keep former Soviet states like Ukraine and Moldova within his sphere of influence.

Putin's move to punish Ukraine in 2006 and 2009 with higher gas prices for its Westward-leaning policies led to the first export disruptions from Russia to Europe. His offer of cheap loans and gas to Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych in 2013 to prevent Kyiv from signing an economic Association Agreement with the EU sparked protests that drove Yanukovych from power.

Live Briefing: Russia Invades 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.

Putin responded by seizing the Crimean Peninsula and fomenting a separatist war in eastern Ukraine, pushing the West to slap sanctions on Russia for the first time.

The invasion of Ukraine on February 24, which started a devastating war, prompted the United States, the EU, and others to impose devastating sanctions on Russia's financial and technology sectors.

Though Western governments created exceptions for Russian energy, a host of firms -- from banks and trading houses to insurance companies and shippers -- are still turning down transactions with Russian oil and liquefied natural gas amid concerns over the risks involved, including possible reputational damage.

Surgutneftegaz, one of Russia's largest oil producers, failed three times in the past week to find buyers for 6.4 million barrels of oil despite a tight market that has pushed prices to eight-year highs. Russian oil producers are selling their output at a discount as large as $18 a barrel, according to Energy Intelligence, an industry publication.

As a result, oil exports from Russia could fall by 1 million barrels per day (bpd) through June, Rystad Energy, an Oslo-based research firm, said on March 3. That would deprive the country of about $12 billion in revenue over that period based on current oil prices of more than $100 a barrel. Russia exports about 7 million barrels of oil and oil products a day.

Russian oil companies could be forced to cut production because the country doesn't have enough storage to hold the oil it is struggling to sell, Rystad Energy analyst Louise Dickson told RFE/RL.

Arctic Dreams Dead?

The sanctions, though, will also have longer-term effects on Russian oil production and sales.

State oil giant Rosneft, headed by close Putin associate Igor Sechin, is developing the massive Vostok Oil project in the Arctic that was expected to produce and export as much as 2 million bpd by 2030.

Vostok is the biggest oil project to be undertaken in Russia since the fall of the Soviet Union. To finance its development -- which will require tens of billions of dollars -- Rosneft last year sold stakes in the project to foreign global-commodities traders. Rosneft is now likely to struggle with securing financing and technology for Vostok's development as Western firms exit.

Overall, Western oil-field-service companies have orders representing about a quarter of all oil and gas investments in Russia, according to Rystad. "Should those contractors leave the country, it will undoubtedly cause delays and disruptions to ongoing operations," the research firm said. Rystad said Vostok "will be slowed and some Russian projects might be canceled altogether."

Russia could also face problems upgrading its oil refineries due to Western technology sanctions, Dickson said. Russia exports more than 2 million bpd of oil products.

'Wake-Up Call'

Europe is moving quickly now on its energy-diversification plans amid concerns Russia could cut gas supplies as the "economic war" -- as some EU officials have called it -- deepens.

Denmark has already given approval for construction of a pipeline to bring Norwegian gas to Poland after permission was suspended last year. Poland relies on Russia's Gazprom for about half of its gas needs.

In the coming week, the EU will propose measures to expand renewable energy at a faster pace to replace Russian gas. "We need to get independent from Russian gas, oil, and coal. Our resolve to go forward in this case is stronger than ever," European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on March 3.

Richard Morningstar, a former U.S. special envoy for Eurasian energy and an analyst at the Atlantic Council, a think tank, told RFE/RL that as part of a strategy to diversify from Russia, European states should reconsider their plans to shut down nuclear power plants. Germany is scheduled to shut down its remaining nuclear power plants by the end of this year, while Belgium is targeting 2025.

Morningstar said Europe should also take steps to enhance energy efficiency in addition to sourcing gas from other suppliers. "Energy efficiency in both short and long term is going to be tremendously important. Europe understands that it has to take serious action," he said, calling Putin's war a "wake-up call" for diversification.

Political crises have motivated developed countries to change their fuel sources in the past, Tsafos said, pointing to the oil crisis of the 1970s. During the 1973 Arab-Israel War, Arab members of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) imposed an oil embargo on countries that supported Israel, causing prices to quadruple and hurting the global economy.

Tsafos said governments in developed economies began to perceive oil as a "fundamentally unsafe and unstable commodity" and cut its role in their fuel supply, turning more to coal and nuclear power.

The same could happen to Russian energy. "Whatever the energy landscape looks like in Europe over the next 30 years, the appetite to integrate Russia into that market right now is zero," he said.

Less 'Geopolitical Punch'

Rystad says Europe could replace most imported Russian gas this year with liquefied natural gas (LNG) and other energy sources including coal, nuclear, and hydropower, though it said such a switch would be expensive and ambitious.

Russia exported 155 billion cubic meters (bcm) of natural gas last year to Europe by pipeline from its fields in Western Siberia.

If Europe succeeds in significantly cutting Russian gas imports in the coming years, Moscow will be in a tough position because it has no other market for that gas, analysts say.

The West Siberian fields are not connected by pipeline to China, a fast-growing gas market. Russia is seeking to build a new pipeline that would carry 50 bcm from the West Siberian fields to China by 2030. Russia currently supplies just 10 bcm to China by pipeline from fields in Eastern Siberia, though that is expected to increase to 38 bcm by 2025.

Russia would potentially lose not just export volumes but some of its global influence amid such a reorientation of exports.

"Selling energy to Asia doesn't give the same sort of geopolitical punch that selling energy to Europe does. It is an alternative, but it's a second-best alternative for Russia," Rystad said.
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Video posted online showed a Russian jet being shot down near Chernihiv, northern Ukraine, on March 5. Later images showed the capture of the pilot, who ejected from his plane but was injured.
Richmond, KY (40475)

Today

A mix of clouds and sun during the morning will give way to cloudy skies this afternoon. High 76F. Winds light and variable..

Tonight

Rain likely. Thunder possible. Low 64F. Winds SE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 80%.
Yesterday, the Krasnoyarsk Economic Forum, which traditionally discusses the economic development prospects of Siberia, completed its work in Krasnoyarsk, Russia.

Rough&Polished's Editor in Chief of the African Bureau, Mathew Nyaungwa participated in the forum online panel session, "Global Trends in Human Capital."

This article is a result of opinions and information exchanged between experts.

Mining has been historically a domain for men as it was considered masculine, while women were relegated to domestic work or the so-called feminine jobs.

This perceived binary opposite has defined gendered roles in most mining countries and communities.

According to the World Bank, mining companies rarely employ, on average, more than 10% of women in their workforce.

A 2013 study of women on the boards of mining companies by PricewaterhouseCoopers found that women held only 5% of seats on boards at the top 500 mining companies.

The mining industry was also said at the time to have had the lowest number of women on boards of any sector in the world.

According to ILO modelled estimates, some 21.4 million workers were employed in mining and quarrying in 2019, of which an estimated 18.3 million were men and 3.1 million were women.

While employment in mining and quarrying has grown over time, the number of women has remained relatively stable and the share of women has remained low.







Women in leadership positions

While the mining sector remains male-dominated, women work in an increasingly wide range of roles, including as board members, chief executive officers (CEOs), mine managers, mine engineers, mineworkers, administrative staff, contractors and suppliers, inter-alia.

PricewaterhouseCoopers noted in another report on the top 40 mining companies that the proportion of women on boards rose marginally from 19% in 2018 to 21% in 2019.

In Africa, Lucara Diamond, which wholly-owns Karowe mine in Botswana, is leading other diamond companies in gender inclusivity and quality.

Lucara Botswanas managing director Naseem Lahri is a woman.

Lucaras CEO is also a woman.

At least 75% of the executive team at the group level are women and 67% in Botswana.

In Russia, there are efforts to promote the professional development of women in the mining industry.

The Autonomous Non-Commercial Organization (ANCO) was established in 2020 jointly by the leaders of the Russian metallurgical industry to promote women's leadership development programs, popularize engineering professions, and provide a platform for professional communications.

Nornickel is a key partner of the organisation.

In 2021, WIM Russia launched the only Russian Talented Women in Mining Industry Award.

According to the data provided by Daria Kryachkova, Vice President of Norilsk Nickel a total of 237 applications were submitted from 24 companies in the field of mining, and 63 finalists were selected, of which four employees of Nornickel became winners.

These include Olga Merezhko, Deputy Chief Mechanic for Buildings and Structures of the Komsomolsky Mine, Olga Alexandrova, Process Engineer of the Technical Department, Nadezhda Metallurgical Plant and Daria Ermakova, Chief Specialist in the management of sustainable development of the Kola MMC.

In total, 11 representatives of Norilsk Nickel made it to the final of the competition.

In a nutshell, more should be done to encourage womens participation in the mining industry.

Women should not only be engineers or mineworkers, but they should occupy top positions.

Mathew Nyaungwa, Editor in Chief of the African Bureau, Rough&Polished




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Gas prices are ridiculous. If youre like most people around the world and drive a car, this is problematic. The Ukraine Russia conflict has drastically increased oil and petroleum prices for countries that import oil. We are severely affected here. Ive seen gas prices jump as high as $.30 in one day. Pretty soon, we will be at $4 a gallon. I fill up 2-3 times per week, so I will be in tears every time I pump gas. In all seriousness, we all need to start saving at the pump. Follow along for the ways I save on gas.

GasBuddy

The most popular application to help you save on gas is GasBuddy. GasBuddy works amazingly. You just turn on your location in the app, and it shows you all the gas stations around your area and their associated prices. If youre looking to save money, youll be able to see which station has the cheapest gas price. If its not too far away from you, head there to fill up. Get their free forever gas cards as well for up to $.25 off at the pump.

BPme

Another way I like to save on gas is by using the BPme app for BP gas stations. I find it incredibly easy to use, and I dont have to pull out my credit card when Im trying to pump. One of the best ways to save using the app is to use it consistently. When you hit $100, you automatically unlock a 5 cent off reward that lasts until the end of the following month.

T-mobile Tuesday

Another way you can save is with the T-Mobile Tuesday app. On the app, the company gives away lots of good freebies like food, movie rentals, and even tickets to events. One of their permanent features is money off at Shell gas stations. Every Tuesday, T-Mobile users can get 10 cents off per gallon at Shell gas stations. Without T-mobile, Shell Fuel Rewards members save 5 cents per gallon daily.

These are just a few of my personal favorite ways to save on gas, what are yours?

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London, KY (40741)

Today

Partly cloudy this morning, then becoming cloudy during the afternoon. A stray afternoon thunderstorm is possible. High near 80F. Winds light and variable..

Tonight

Showers and thunderstorms likely. Low 63F. Winds SE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 70%.
While recent rainfall brought some hope to residents of the parched Bay Area, the fast-moving showers that swept through on Thursday and Friday brought less than a quarter of an inch of rain to most parts of the Bay.

San Francisco, Oakland and San Jose saw around around a tenth of an inch total precipitation, while higher elevations like the North and East Bay hills saw the most total rainfall at around a quarter of an inch.

Any rainfall we get, we will accept, obviously, said Roger Gass, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service. But its not going to help us in any kind of way as far as easing drought concerns.

National Weather Service data shows that many parts of California have recorded below-normal levels of rain since October. Snow levels also plummeted in February, according to the California Department of Water Resources, creating a lack of melt-off that officials say will mean another year of difficult water shortages.

Rainfall totals from the showers were right around what was forecast, Gass said, and theres no rain in the forecast for at least the next week.

Bay Area residents can also expect the next couple of mornings to be cold, Gass said, with highs and lows below normal through the weekend. Still, most areas will stay above freezing temperatures, he said.

Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Check the water shortage status of your area, plus see reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts.

Sunday will bring the start of a gradual warming trend, he said, which will last through the week, with temperatures later in the week expected to be more widespread 60s and 70s for daytime highs.

Those nights are going to stay a little chilly, but theyll begin to warm up a little bit through the week, he said.

Danielle Echeverria is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: danielle.echeverria@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @DanielleEchev
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San Francisco financier and philanthropist Richard Blum, the husband of Sen. Dianne Feinstein, was remembered at a memorial service Friday as an adventurous spirit and humanitarian who was equally at home in the financial world as he was in his beloved Himalayan mountains.

Blum, 86, who died at his home Sunday, was the chairman and president of Blum Capital Partners in San Francisco, an investment company he founded in 1975. Friends and colleagues praised him for his visionary business acumen as well as his devotion to challenging the Chinese government over human rights abuses in Tibet.

He was recalled as a fierce advocate for his alma mater, UC Berkeley, and as a member of the UC Board of Regents. Others praised his work to alleviate global poverty through the Blum Center for Developing Economies that he established across the UC system.

Dick was very unusual, said former Gov. Jerry Brown, a longtime friend who met Blum at a Buddhist monastery more than four decades ago. Brown told the audience that he has met many people during his travels around the world, but I never met someone who had the combination of the skills, the talents and the interests that Dick possessed and demonstrated.

Brown said he learned through Blums oral history that his friend said he really didnt like to be bored. And I really identified with that, because I dont like to be bored, Brown said, as the audience laughed.

Brown was among a number of political leaders who attended the memorial at Congregation Emanu-El in San Francisco. Aside from Feinstein, who sat in the front row but did not address the audience, the mourners included House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Gov. Gavin Newsom, Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis, Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf and former San Francisco mayors Willie Brown and Art Agnos. Former Secretary of Energy Steven Chu and former head chair of the White House Council of Economic Advisers, Laura D'Andrea Tyson, also attended.

The Dalai Lamai, Blums longtime friend, relayed his condolences to the audience through a note read by Norbu Tenzing, vice president of the American Himalayan Foundation, which Blum founded. He said said how much he appreciated Blums commitment to the Tibetan people and to him. Former U.S. Secretary of Commerce Mickey Kantor spoke and relayed a message from former President Bill Clinton, a friend who praised Blum for creating opportunities for the young people of California to pursue and live their own version of the American dream as he did.

Kantor told the audience that whether he was taking on poverty or engaging in civic action, addressing politics or business or human rights, his focus and goals were always clear.

What I admired most about Dick, Kantor said, was that he didn't just talk, he acted.

UC Regent Janet Reilly recalled Blums history as a doer when Blum led the search for a new UC president more than a decade ago. The search committee was eyeing Mark Yudof, who Reilly said was considered a stretch candidate on their wish list since he was then chancellor of the University of Texas.

That didnt deter Blum, Reilly said, as the lifelong entrepreneur, sometimes didnt have the patience for the deliberate nature and bureaucracy of the university system search process. Reilly recalled regent Sherry Lansing receiving an unexpected call from Blum during the early part of the search. Blum was in Texas.

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.

Dick, what are you doing in Texas? Reilly recalled Lansing asking.

I flew my plane down here, Blum responded. I just offered the job to Yudof.

And so it went, Reilly said as the audience laughed, Mark Yudof was the 19th president of the University of California. Although Blums methods were at times were unconventional, everything he did was for the good of the university he loved.

A private internment followed the memorial service.

Joe Garofoli is The San Francisco Chronicles senior political writer. Email: jgarofoli@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @joegarofoli
Four-year-old Bella used to speak every morning to her maternal Ukrainian grandparents before skipping off to preschool. Once a week, she did the same with her Russian grandparents on her fathers side, regaling them with tales about her toys and the latest mischief they were up to.

Those regular phone calls to her parents home countries have become less frequent and taken on a different complexion since Russian President Vladimir Putin invaded Ukraine on Feb. 24.

In the week since, frustrated by Ukraines stiff resistance and smothered by international sanctions, the Kremlin has intensified its aggressive bombardment, targeting apartment buildings, hospitals and city centers while evoking the grim possibility of nuclear warfare. More than 1 million Ukrainians have fled the country and hundreds have died. Russians have taken to the streets to protest the war, and thousands have been arrested.

And Bellas parents, who live in Menlo Park, are figuring out how to explain the unexplainable to their daughter while trying to stay in touch with their respective families  one stuck in a war zone, the other under a dictatorship.

My parents are doing what they feel is right, said Yuliya Behey, whose parents decided to stay in their western Ukrainian city of Rivne, where an airport runway was struck by Russian missile fire on Feb. 25. Everyones doing their part. People are united; they want to protect their land. No one wants war, but I dont think they have a choice.

Jana Asenbrennerova/Special to The Chronicle

The Chronicle is not identifying Beheys husband, a Bay Area engineer and a Russian Jew who fears persecution of his family back home in St. Petersburg.

The Bay Area is home to a sizable Russian and Ukrainian community. There are about 24,000 Bay Area residents who were born in Russia, and nearly 98,000 claim Russian ancestry. Nearly 14,000 people in the Bay Area were born in Ukraine, according to American Community Survey data.

San Francisco received its first Ukrainian immigrants in the 1910s, according to the St. Volodymyr Ukrainian Catholic Mission in Santa Clara. Large swaths of Russian immigrants came following the Bolshevik Revolution and civil war in the 1920s. A second wave of both groups immigrated after World War II.

Earlier Ukrainian and Russian immigrants integrated into American society and dont have as strong cultural, political or religious ties to their home countries as those who immigrated more recently, according to interviews with nine Bay Area residents from both countries.

With respect to political views, Russian immigrants hold a diversity of attitudes and opinions, said Leila Wilmers, a postdoctoral associate in the Sociology Department at Cornell University studying nationalism, identity and collective memory in the post-Soviet region.

Among some nostalgic about the Soviet Union, Putin is admired because he is seen to have revived Russias identity as a great power in the world, Wilmers said. At the same time, there are Russians who emigrated under Putin, disillusioned by the conservative authoritarian turn he has taken.

Anastasia Popova, 34, is a Russian in exile in the Bay Area. She isnt just disillusioned by Putin, she has actively protested against him even before he annexed Crimea and pro-Russian separatists took over parts of eastern Ukraine in 2014.

As the former chief of staff to Illya Ponomarev, the only Russian parliamentarian to vote against the annexation in 2014, Popova said she was pushed out from her native country after threats and pressure from the Russian government. She moved to the U.S. in 2014, and found her way to the Bay Area a few years ago. She organized an anti-war rally that Behey and her daughter went to last weekend and which they say was well attended by local Ukrainians and Russians.

There has been solidarity between Russian and Ukrainian communities all over the world, and I will always do my part in making sure we continue to highlight the anguish felt by so many, she said. This is more than just about us. This is about preventing yet another world war and needless suffering.

At a prayer service in Menlo Park on Tuesday, solidarity between Russians and Ukrainians from across the Bay Area was also on display. Katya Derrough, who has family in Russia, hugged her sobbing Ukrainian friend, who declined to be interviewed.

I feel extremely devastated for Ukrainians, Derrough said. They have to suffer because of my country and Im not scared of saying that.

As she wiped away her friends tears, Derrough said she felt helpless to do anything, both for her family in Moscow and for her Ukrainian relatives and friends.I feel an extreme sorrow, devastation, anger towards President Putin, she said. Im here today to pray for peace between the two countries.

On the church steps another cluster of Russians and Ukrainians comforted each other. Leo Bulannikov, 24, worried about his parents in Russia. His father had been a priest at Holy Virgin Church in Menlo Park but returned to Moscow in 2007. He spent the morning trying to send money to his family but due to the sanctions was unable. He wondered how they would survive with no cash to buy food and medicine.

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.

Jana Asenbrennerova/Special to The Chronicle

Bulannikov talked with his Ukrainian friend, Lesia Kotova, who had lived in Russia for two decades. Kotova had just heard that her Russian friend was taken to jail for putting a Ukrainian flag in his Moscow window, she said. Everyone is suffering, Kotova said.

A few miles away, Behey thinks about her parents in Rivne, where air-raid warnings and fortifying bomb shelters are the new norm. Other relatives, children included, are in underground bomb shelters, Behey said, tearing up over the phone.

I cant imagine the trauma people in Ukraine are facing, she said. Its one thing to see this from here  at least were safe. But its a whole other level of agony to actually experience a war, which has been happening for the last eight years.

Behey, a nurse at Stanford Hospital who came to the U.S. as a student in 2006, and her husband plan to continue their tradition of reading Russian and Ukrainian childrens stories to Bella at bedtime. Shell turn 5 on Monday, and loves playing with the Ukrainian dolls her mothers grandmother made, though shes taken a keen interest in making posters lately.

Bella made them with her mother, for the rally they attended last weekend in opposition to Russias unprovoked invasion. They adorn her wall and include slogans like, I am because we are and Joe, come on man, do more, referring to President Biden.

Its heartbreaking to have a 5-year-old at protests and be so aware about things like war, Behey told The Chronicle. At the same time, its important she knows whats going on in the world, and in the countries her parents are from.

Chronicle staff writer Deepa Fernandes contributed to this report.

Shwanika Narayan is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: shwanika.narayan@sfchronicle.com Twitter/Instagram: @shwanika
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UC Berkeley said Friday it will slash next falls in-person enrollment by 2,629  not the 3,050 it originally estimated  to comply with a court order as it battles neighbors over where to house its growing population of students.

The university said it came up with the number after an exhaustive effort to figure out how to legally keep as many students enrolled as possible. Because the order applies only to in-person students, the school will make online-only offers of admission to some, and defer admission to others, while accounting for the fact that many students will be studying off campus.

The announcement came a day after the California Supreme Court shocked university supporters across the country by upholding a lower court ruling in the town-gown dispute that requires UC Berkeley to cap enrollment at its 2020 level  far lower than the current 45,057 students. The enrollment freeze will remain in place while the two sides argue in court about whether building more classrooms and faculty housing on Hearst Street violates the states environmental quality laws, as a neighborhood group contends.

The two dissenting members of the court urged the sides to settle their dispute, noting that it does not serve the university's long-term interest to negatively impact the local environment, and an outcome that negatively impacts the educational future of thousands of students would not appear to serve the long-term interest of the neighbors.

As university officials reluctantly shifted enrollment numbers around like pieces on a chessboard Friday, they seemed in no mood to settle with their adversaries, a group called Save Berkeleys Neighborhoods, which is also suing the school over a proposed development at its nearby Clark Kerr campus.

Denying enrollment to thousands of new students will not only deprive qualified applicants of a once-in-a-lifetime chance to attend the prestigious public school, the university said, but it will also cost $57 million in lost tuition revenue.

The harm caused by this court decision extends beyond the students who should be offered an in-person seat in our fall 2022 class, the campus said in a statement Friday. It impacts prospective students generally, our campus operations, and the universitys ability to serve students by meeting the enrollment targets set by the state.

UC Berkeley said it will offer online-only enrollment to more than 1,000 of its roughly 6,100 incoming freshmen for next fall. Most of those students will be non-state residents, a spokesman said, and they will shift to in-person instruction in January after other students graduate mid-year. Another 650 mostly transfer students will have their enrollment deferred to January.

Under the plan, the campus is aiming to shape its freshman class with 90% California residents, or 4,370, and 10% nonresidents, or 509. This year, 70% of UC Berkeleys freshmen are state residents, or 4,875, with 30% nonresidents, or 2,056.

The focus of our new mitigation strategy is to provide as many California undergraduate students as possible with an offer of fall in-person admission, the statement said.

The university is also looking to Sacramento for a legislative fix, and said it will expand its wait list in case a new law is enacted that would let it enroll more students.

One possibility is SB886, proposed last month by Sen. Scott Wiener, D-San Francisco, that would exempt housing owned by public colleges and universities from the California Environmental Quality Act, the law at issue in the current case.

The bills proposed exemption gets at the heart of the fight between UC Berkeley and the Save Berkeleys Neighborhoods group.

The neighbors insist that they have no objection to enrollment growth  as long as the school provides a bed on campus for each new student to sleep on, and as long as it stops buying up property in the city of Berkeley and displacing people in rent-controlled buildings, as happened last summer at 1921 Walnut St.

We want a binding agreement based on an incentive (for UC Berkeley) to produce housing before raising enrollment, said Phil Bokovoy, president of Save Berkeleys Neighborhoods.

The university contends thats a nonstarter. Campus officials say the main campus has no viable place for more student housing, so its necessary to build dorms on off-campus parcels it already owns, like the Hearst Avenue property and in Peoples Park  over which other groups are suing the university.

UC Berkeley has been involved in numerous efforts to reach settlements with these litigants. But in all of those negotiations and discussions, they presented a demand that the university cap its enrollment  and thats not a demand that the campus will agree to or is able to agree to, said Dan Mogulof, a campus spokesperson.

UC Berkeleys enrollment has grown by 20% in the last decade  to 45,031 from 36,137  with nearly 9,000 more students studying there now than in 2011. The school also has the lowest student housing rate of UCs nine undergraduate campuses: roughly 23%.

Three other University of California campuses  Santa Cruz, Davis and Santa Barbara  have agreements with their communities tying enrollment growth to the availability of student housing.

We think the Santa Cruz agreement is best, but certainly any of them would be great, Bokovoy said.

Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Check the water shortage status of your area, plus see reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts.

Under that arrangement, in place since 2008, UC Santa Cruz agreed to cap undergraduate enrollment at 17,500  although its now at 17,864 undergraduates  and provide housing for 67% of new students. The agreement also has requirements for the university to pay additional fees for new water usage and transportation improvements.

Although housing remains scarce for many UC Santa Cruz students, the campus houses the highest percentage of undergraduates in the system, roughly 50%.

At UC Santa Barbara, a 2010 settlement caps total enrollment at 25,000  or 20,000 if the campus fails to provide enough beds for the students.

At UC Davis, the agreement with the city requires the campus to provide a bed for every student beyond 33,825, or pay a penalty of $500 per missing bed. With an enrollment of about 37,000, the schools next deadline is in fall 2023, when it will be obligated to house 15,000 of its students, or about 44%.

Were almost there, said Matt Dulcich, the campus local governmental relations manager and director of environmental planning.

Dulcich said the campus signed the plan because we knew it was in the best interest of students, and it was the best way to memorialize the shared vision with the city of Davis.

Bokovoy said the Save Berkeleys Neighborhoods group is open to negotiating with UC Berkeley about an enrollment growth and housing formula that would work for both sides.

It doesnt have to be 100%, he said. But whatever agreement we reach with the university would have to cover the housing deficit theyve created since 2005.

Mogulof, the UC Berkeley spokesman, said enrollment numbers at the public university are largely in the hands of the state Legislature that controls the financial subsidies that UC receives, the Board of Regents and the universitys Office of the President.

Beyond that, he said, We would love to build more housing. It would be a lot easier if these litigants would stop suing us over every housing development we try to construct.

Nanette Asimov is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: nasimov@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @NanetteAsimov
The winds of change have been sweeping over San Francisco for years, but finally things have gone too far. Theyve swept over the area around Fifth and Mission streets where I spent nearly a lifetime working in what we used to call the newspaper game.

I had spent years at Fifth and Mission, walked its streets day and night, rain or shine, even on Christmas some years. I had a place in the battered old newsroom and even  due to cunning and long seniority  was assigned a coveted desk by the window where I could look out at the Old Mint and observe the passing parade on Mission Street, mostly disheveled pedestrians and Muni buses.

It was my home base. I was dispatched from there on all assignments, big and small, from wars to stories so minor they ended up in what we called the mattress fire roundup.

So I thought I knew the territory. Until the virus. Two years ago this month the city was locked down. Everybody stayed home. Me, too. Like everyone else, we news types began working at home.

The world went on, of course. I was out exploring most days, looking around the city and the region in a limited way: I was Bay Area-centric  no farther north than Mendocino, no farther south than Ventura County.

I stayed away from the office. In the meantime, work went ahead on the 5M Project, which surrounded the old Chronicle Building at Fifth and Mission with glass towers.

One of them, a 25-story office tower at 415 Natoma St., is 450 feet tall  higher than the Russ Building on Montgomery Street, the tallest building in town when I was a kid. And Natoma Street is a little alley, where I used to park my car when I had night shifts. Another tower is an apartment building called the George on Minna Street, with 302 residential units.

But most startling was the opening of a block-square park between Minna and Natoma. They had the grand opening Tuesday. Mayor London Breed did the honors along with bigwigs from Brookfield Properties and the Hearst Corp., the developers. Hearst owns The Chronicle.

But never mind that. We news types tend to be skeptical, even about projects designed by our employers. I was impressed despite myself.

You have to visualize what that part of the city looked like only a few years ago. The Chronicle had been at Fifth and Mission for years and years, and when I first went there, in the spring of 1961, I thought Id stay just for a bit. Instead, I fell in love with the business: with the newsroom, the organized chaos, the noise, the people, the news.

It was addictive, like smoking or drinking, and I was addicted, and still am. Like all addictions, newspapering is bad for you: You develop a short attention span, you become cynical, you become sentimental about people and places.

One of the places was the old office. Another was that curious institution called the newspaper bar. Every big city with a big paper had at least one: It was a combination social club and psychologists office where newspaper people met to discuss life, to argue, to plot against their editors and to conduct discreet love affairs.

These were legendary places: Carl Bernstein talks about his time drinking martinis and talking shop at a newspaper bar during his Washington Star days in Chasing History, his new memoir. Pete Hamill hung out in several such establishments in New York and chronicled it in A Drinking Life. Chicago has the famous Billy Goat Tavern near the Tribune Tower on Michigan Avenue.

San Francisco had several newspaper bars. The Examiner staff favored Jerry and Johnny on Third Street and also Breens, a noted hofbrau. When I went to work at The Chronicle, we all went to a place called Hannos in the Alley, on the corner of Minna and Mary streets, just behind the Chronicle building.

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.

A place to laugh and talk and play liars dice by the hour. A wonderful place, Chronicle reporter Ron Fimrite described Hannos in its heyday.

It was an institution, linked to the Chronicle city desk by a special phone, favored not only by reporters and photographers but by press operators, printers and truck drivers. There was a raucous farewell party after the newspaper bought the building and tore it down, but the party went on  first at a joint called the Page One, on Natoma Street, and then at the M&M Tavern at Fifth and Howard streets, an institution for both Examiner and Chronicle types.

The M&M was run by Al McVeigh, and haute cuisine at the M&M was the McVeigh Special hamburger without the bun. A regular could run a tab at the M&M and get a cash advance if times were tough, and free advice any time.

Times changed even more: The printing press operations moved out of the city, along with the truck operations, so there were fewer customers. And the old days faded away, too. The notion of the hard-drinking newspaper reporter was over.

The M&M became an Irish pub called the Chieftain, Fifth and Mission became 5M, the site of the old Hannos in the Alley is now a brand-new park. The whole area is surrounded by tall glass towers. The George Apartments will have a concierge.

I dropped into the Tempest bar on Natoma, just across the alley from the new park. It replaced the Page One bar and is kind of a last survivor of South of Market grunge. Tony Cooney, who runs the place, said he thinks the new park is wonderful and a big change. Hes right about that.

Carl Noltes columns run on Sunday. Email: cnolte@sfchronicle.com
At a time when soaring construction costs and pandemic-charged uncertainty have frozen many of the regions planned high-rise buildings, a developer in downtown Oakland is bucking the trend.

In Oaklands Uptown neighborhood, steel is coming out of the ground on a 39-story mixed-use tower on top of the 19th Street BART station. At $229 million, it is the East Bays second-most-expensive construction project, according to the San Francisco Business Times. In addition to 452 apartments, the project will include 70,000 square feet of office space.

While the project may seem like a gamble at a time when so much is in flux  including when or if many workers will be expected back at the office  developer Colin Behring said its actually the perfect time to be taking on such an ambitious job.

Between 2017 and 2021, the greater downtown Oakland neighborhoods along Broadway, including the old auto row to the east of Uptown, saw a massive influx of new housing  roughly 2,700 units in 17 new buildings. By the time the pandemic started, that construction boom had already slowed as developers competed to attract customers in a renters market that was saturated with offerings.

There was no secret that a lot of units were delivered in Oakland before the pandemic and a lot were still under construction as we entered into the pandemic, said Behring.

While work on projects that started in 2019 or early 2020 continued after the lockdown began, financing for new multifamily housing developments dried up, particularly in the Bay Areas major downtowns. At a time when many residents were giving up dense urban living for more space in the suburbs or near Lake Tahoe, when the need to social distance usurped the desire to live at a transit stop, it was unclear how much demand there would be for downtown living.

Jessica Christian/The Chronicle

But for the owners of a site on top of BARTs 19th Street/Oakland Station, the markets reluctance to get new towers started was an advantage, according to Behring.

We will be one of the only buildings delivering in the summer of 2023  everything else will be leased up, said Behring. The timing will essentially be perfect.

Oaklands downtown plan identifies the area around the 19th Street BART station as a cluster of opportunity sites where the tallest and most dense development is appropriate.

A project like 1900 Broadway is incredibly important for the city of Oakland, said Manan Shah, a managing director of the architecture firm Gensler. Its the right kind of dense mixed-use development in the right place. 

Shah, who designed 1100 Broadway  an 18-story tower and the restored historic Beaux Arts Key System Building at 11th and Broadway  said downtown Oakland is benefiting from some aspects of the-work-from-home trend. Instead of commuting to San Francisco on weekdays, thousands of Oakland residents are staying closer to home, spending money in Uptown or Jack London Square or Temescal rather than across the Bay Bridge.

All those units have really helped keep those businesses alive, he said.

Jessica Christian/The Chronicle

As companies look to lure workers back to the office  at least part of the time  having an Oakland office helps retain employees who have become accustomed to staying close to home.

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 office building development market is incredibly active right now, said Shah. There is very strong belief that the tenant market is going to pick up right where it left off before the pandemic.

Still, the past two years have been tough on many Uptown Oakland retailers and restaurants. Two of the neighborhoods anchor spots  Tanya Hollands Brown Sugar Kitchen and the 18-year-old Lukas Taproom  were shuttered.

While there are fewer vacancies than in downtown San Francisco, tenants have plenty of options, according to Laura Sagues Barr, a retail broker with CBRE who is leasing about 50,000 square feet of retail space in Uptown Station at 1955 Broadway.

There is a considerable amount of space available in the neighborhood, she said. That will start to shift but hasnt shifted yet. Tenants know they have choices, and they dont have time pressure.

The addition of hundreds of new residents and office workers across the street at 1900 Broadway will help all Uptowns restaurants and stores.

That is upstairs activity that we all know will support retail, Barr said.

J.K. Dineen is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: jdineen@sfchronicle.com
At the start of a virtual West Oakland community meeting Thursday night, councilmember Carroll Fife asked the roughly 60 people in attendance how they felt after the sudden closure of the neighborhoods only full-scale grocery store, Community Foods Market. They dropped words into the chat box: sad, confused, gut punched.

The meeting was the first of likely many discussions organized by Fife as neighbors deal with the loss of much more than a grocery store. Community Foods Market represented hope for a long-neglected neighborhood  a business that could bring positive change alongside fresh produce. Owner Brahm Ahmadi spent nine years organizing in West Oakland before finally opening the store in the summer of 2019. Unable to get traditional funding, he raised $15 million from grants, nonprofits and a direct public offering. Ultimately, however, it was unable to survive the pandemic and shut down last month.

What emerged from the Thursday conversation were fears about gentrification as well as a lack of investment in a neighborhood thats long been considered a food desert.

More for you West Oaklands only full-scale grocery store is shutting down

Community Vision, a lender, is in the process of taking over the store at 3105 San Pablo Ave. from Ahmadi. The companys director of asset management Karnit Mouchly said it will eventually go on the market, though theres still no estimated sale price. In the meantime, Community Vision has hired a property manager and security guards to maintain the building.

At Thursdays meeting, some brought up hopes of forming a community trust to buy the property and once again operate it as a grocery store. One attendee wondered if a future store would be more successful if it was a nonprofit, making its community-centered mission more obvious to consumers. Others said spreading out the risk by having multiple businesses share the space would make more financial sense.

It seems like running a good market with good food didnt work as a business model so something needs to adjust, said West Oakland resident Paul Sanford.

The problem is that many lenders  some outside California who may not care about keeping a grocery store in West Oakland  are part of the sale, according to Mouchly. Even if community members pool money together, they might not be the highest bidder.

In addition, the story of Community Foods may not inspire others to do business in West Oakland.

It failed. The fact that it failed is a very bad message to other developers, Mouchly said. The question is, can we succeed?

Neighbor Carol Wyatt, who proposed a case study to learn more about Ahmadis experience, said the stores closure showed that unless youre a billionaire corporation that brings gentrification, youre likely to get destroyed.

Food Guide Top 25 Restaurants Where to eat in the Bay Area. Find spots near you, create a dining wishlist, and more.

While its unclear what Community Visions timeline is for selling the store, Fife said she wants to use upcoming meetings to figure out how to activate the space immediately. Shed like to see a farmers market in the parking lot or other pop-up events.

Wyatt, meanwhile, recalled conversations with Ahmadi about how the grocery store had the potential to be an anchor business on San Pablo Ave. and spark change.

It was the first to show up. Unfortunately nothing else came behind (it). Thats something we really need to take a close look at, she said. When are we going to see additional renewal and investment?

Janelle Bitker is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: janelle.bitker@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @janellebitker
Californias Supreme Court confirmed on Thursday what most of us who live here already knew: Neither a deadly pandemic that has exacerbated entrenched inequalities, nor the impending threat of a climate disaster, has been able to pry loose the vise-grip of NIMBYs with free time and disposable income from the levers of state power.

In a 4-2 ruling, Justices upheld a lower court decision that found UC Berkeley failed to account for the impacts of increased student enrollment  including late-night parties and crowded parks  in violation of the California Environmental Quality Act, known as CEQA. In short, the justices codified the notion that more students on campus are a form of environmental pollution. The university will be forced to cut enrollment by about 3,000 students as a consequence.

Save Berkeleys Neighborhoods, the conquering NIMBY group that filed the lawsuit, insists that UC Berkeley hasnt built enough housing to accommodate more students  while it simultaneously argues that new housing would irreparably harm neighborhood character.

CEQA is the primary tool that empowers this ouroboros of inaction. And if you go back to what was happening when it was signed into law by then California Gov. Ronald Reagan in 1970, its hard to imagine it wasnt at least partially designed that way.

Much like today, environmentalism in the late 60s and early 70s was defined by a doomsday ethos that posited the end of the world was nigh. Instead of concerns over climate change, however, Malthusian fears over the impacts of overpopulation dominated the day, stemming largely from the success of Stanford professor Paul R. Ehrlichs 1968 book The Population Bomb. Ehrlich posited the coming emergence of an overcrowded planet with more mouths than it was capable of feeding and cited the packed slums of New Delhi as a cautionary tale for what lay in store for most of human civilization. (Echoes of Ehrlich ring loud in Save Berkeleys Neighborhoods President Phillip Bokovoys warnings that his city will end up like Bangkok, Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur should it allow too many people to live there.)

These concerns werent just limited to a coterie of Berkeley hippies; They were entirely mainstream. Just months before CEQAs inception, the Republican Nixon administration created the U.S. Commission on Population Growth and the American Future to study, among other things, the impact of population growth on environmental pollution. The commissions ensuing 1971 Rockefeller report pushed back on the American idea that growth was inherently good  and could in fact cause severe local harm. Population stabilization was trumpeted as a priority, which manifested in some good ideas (family planning and abortion rights) and some dubious ones (a de-emphasis on growth in large cities). A survey of prevailing attitudes in the report found that over 50% of Americans felt that governments should discourage further growth of large metropolitan areas and try to encourage people and industry to move to smaller cities and towns.

In other words, for a highly desirable migration destination like Californias coastal cities, not in my backyard was viewed as an environmentally beneficial response to the global problem of overpopulation. Seen in that context, the UC Berkeley rulings people-as-pollution framework makes perfect sense.

Of course, 1970s theories of overpopulation have largely been debunked. Climate is now the existential environmental crisis at hand. And we now know that urban density built around transit  especially in temperate regions like the Bay Area  isnt just environmentally beneficial, its essential. Just because CEQA is an environmental law doesnt mean its impacts are inherently good for the environment. And some growth  like dense student housing near campus and transit  doesnt need exhaustive mitigation. Meanwhile, local environmental impacts, as they exist, need to be weighed against the broader damage of not growing at all.

Critics of CEQA are hopeful that the absurdity of the Berkeley ruling will finally push California legislators to revisit the law in a meaningful way. I would love to share their optimism. We cant afford to let the misunderstandings of another age continue to stand in the way of actual sustainability.

Matthew Fleischer is The Chronicles editorial page editor. Email: matt.fleischer@sfchronicle.com
As I write this, Russian troops reportedly are moving north through the Odessa oblast, or region, toward the river Kodyma, along which sits a town called Balta.

This is not new territory for Balta, which like much of Ukraine has been contested over centuries of wars. But in recent years, Balta has actually broken a lot of new ground, at least when it comes to the practice of citizen-centered democracy. In 2016, Balta adopted participatory budgeting, an innovative process  originated in Brazil  in which citizens rather than officials determine their local budget. Balta also gave its young people their own governing council and a decision-making process to influence local policies.

Democracy, in its essence, is everyday people governing themselves. Such self-government happens most often at the local level, which is why countries tend to get more democratic when they decentralize.

Since the 2014 Maidan revolution, Ukraine has been among the more rapidly decentralizing, and democratizing, countries on Earth.

This context is crucial to understanding what is now at stake in Eastern Europe. The war is being described as a conflict between Russia and Ukraine, between Russia and the West or between Vladimir Putin and Volodymyr Zelenskyy. But its really a clash between two of the most powerful trends in worldwide governance: increasing authoritarianism in nation-states and increasing democracy in our local communities.

In other words, Ukraine is now a battlefield where the international democratic recession meets the local democratic expansion.

Baltas advances in local democracy are representative of this shift toward greater local power and responsibility in 21st century Ukraine. A generation ago, Ukraine was a post-Soviet state, with a centralized government conducting top-down rule of 24 oblasts and nearly 500 raions (territorial units of about 50,000 people). Localities  including larger cities and nearly 12,000 hromadas, or local communities  could hold elections, but their officials had little influence over local affairs.

In this century, and especially in the last eight years, Ukraine has devolved power to those local communities, more than 90 percent of which have fewer than 3,000 people. For many smaller hromadas, Ukraine authorized amalgamation  mergers of small communities into larger municipal units, called amalgamated territorial communities, which would have enough heft to provide services and lead economic development.

To incentivize these mergers  towns made rich by gas or property taxes sometimes were resistant  amalgamated communities were given a greater share of both national and local budgets, new power to impose local taxes and greater responsibility for education, health care, transportation, social programs and agricultural land. To improve governance, these communities were authorized to experiment with democratic tools like participatory budgeting; in the past year, Ukraine has also advanced legislation permitting more popular referendums.

In a politically divided Ukraine, this devolution of local power had support across the spectrum, for a couple reasons.

The first was positive, and driven by economics. Putting more money and power in localities was seen as the best bet for addressing poverty and inequality, and developing Ukraine in a balanced way that would make it a better fit with the rest of Europe, which has strong local governments.

The second reason, however, was defensive: the threat of separatism. In a country the size of Texas, greater local control was seen as the best way to placate localities and regions that might think of leaving  especially Donetsk and Luhansk, two Russian-speaking Ukrainian oblasts where Russia would make incursions (and which Putin would declare independent as a pretext for his new invasion).

The path of decentralization was an asymmetrical response to the aggressor, said Andriy Parubiy, a former speaker of Ukraines parliament, in 2017. In fact, the process of capable hromadas was a kind of sewing of the Ukrainian space.

Many of these newly empowered Ukrainian local governments have seized the opportunity, and not just for economic development. Municipalities have embraced political reforms  adopting ethics codes, making their records and decision-making transparent, establishing citizen-directed processes like participatory budgeting, and adding new guarantees for representation and participation of women, men and underrepresented groups in local politics.

In December, two Ukrainian cities, Khmelnytskyi and Vinnytsia, finished first and third, respectively, in a global contest for innovation in government transparency. Mariupol, a city in the southeast reportedly under siege by the Russian military, has won international praise for its model of sharing governance power with local organizations.

These newly empowered cities have also been eager to collaborate with one another, especially in infrastructure, waste management and extending internet services. Planning is increasingly long-term. Kamianske, a locality of 240,800 in the oblast Dnipropetrovsk, is using a democratic, citizen-led process to compose a municipal development strategy for 2027.

The commitment to building includes infrastructure for democracy itself. In the Poltava oblast, where localities are especially collaborative, the larger city of Kremenchuk was preparing to launch a school for participatory budgeting while a smaller town, Pyriatyn, established a city council ethics code and a Dialogue Club that allows students to debate proposed decisions and participate in planning. Sievierodonetsk, in Luhansk oblast with a population of more than 100,000, has prioritized initiatives to make it easier for internally displaced persons to participate in local decision making.

Of course, not all the results of decentralization are praiseworthy. A 2018 assessment of three cities, sponsored by the intergovernmental democracy support organization International IDEA, identified problems such as greater local partisanship and political fighting under the new system, and a lack of clarity about which local officials and institutions are in control. In larger cities, notably Odessa and Kharkiv, critics see decentralization as having enabled corruption by powerful business interests and patronage-dispensing political machines.

Ukraine also faces an underappreciated but enormous global problem for democratic governance: Too few people have the skill and expertise to do the complicated work of running a local democratic government. As a result, too many local democracies struggle, or even fail, because they dont have people who can organize consultations, manage a budget and contracts, prevent corruption or lead a strategic planning process.

Putins determination to conquer Ukraine means these problems wont be solved anytime soon. Even if his invasion is repelled, the war could tear at all this newly sewn democratic fabric in Ukrainian communities. And the fighting may reinforce media and political narratives that Ukraine is a country dangerously divided between its Ukrainian-speaking, Europe-oriented west and the Russian-speaking, old-fashioned east.

But the true Ukraine picture is more complicated than that. And, despite all the human costs of this conflict, its quite possible that the recent rise of local democracy may allow community collaborations to continue, even through difficult times. Perhaps the war, for all its dangers to life and liberty, might even open up new possibilities for more democracy and development.

Thats not a blind hope. Its history. The horrors of nation-state autocracies have long inspired the desire for local self-government, just as the weakness of democratic systems offers openings for dictators. Big authoritarianism and little democracy go together, like darkness and light  a reality famously recognized by the Ukraine-born Russian writer Mikhail Bulgakov in his classic Stalin-era novel, The Master and Margarita.

The plot is driven by a visit from the devil to the Soviet Union. What would your good do if evil didnt exist, Satan asks an evangelist-writer, who is full of despair, and what would the earth look like if all the shadows disappeared?

This is the debut of Democracy Local, a new global column from Joe Mathews, an editor at Zocalo Public Square and co-president of the Global Forum on Direct Democracy.
Presidente @PedroCastilloTe: "El terminal portuario de Chancay sera un punto de desarrollo muy importante. En esta primera etapa de construccion han generado puestos de trabajo para la poblacion de esta zona". pic.twitter.com/FfA7dpqcj7
Mayor London Breed has been tight-lipped about whom she might appoint for the seats vacated by the three recalled school board members in San Francisco, but that hasnt stopped a flurry of speculation.

Will they be political appointments to appease particular voters? Or maybe newcomers without name recognition? Will they have budget experience or believe Lowell High should go back to merit-based admission?

So far, only her inner circle knows. But it appears the general consensus is that a key qualification will be the candidates willingness to be on the board for the long haul and run for election in November. Diversity will probably figure into the equation as well.

Other than that, Breed has a long list of possible picks with a range of backgrounds to replace board President Gabriela Lopez and board members Alison Collins and Faauuga Moliga. She is expected to name names by the end of this week.

Late Thursday, recall organizers sent her a list of 21 people who want to be on the board, including the top 11 vote-getters in an informal poll.

They include a nonprofit CEO with a graduate degrees in business and teaching as well as a law degree; a vice president of information technology at a state university; a former financial services expert who now owns a coding school for kids; PTA presidents serving on district or city committees and commissions; and a successful entrepreneur who left high tech to start a yogurt company.

Many are district parents.

The list is somewhat of a departure from those who typically run for school board in regular elections in that many have never considered political office.

The appointment process offers them a path to the positions without having to be a politician first, said Todd David, a veteran political consultant and campaign manager who is also the executive director of the Housing Action Coalition.

Its been such a s show that I think people were like, You know what, politics is not my thing, but given that it has been such a disaster, I would like to put myself forward, he said. I think what youre seeing is a group of people who have no political ambition.

In the past, at least some school board members have later jumped to the Board of Supervisors.

Ann Hsu, 54, is among those who never wanted to be politician, but has submitted her name for consideration.

Never had I thought about running for election. Why would I do that? said Hsu, who worked in the private sector for 25 years, including leading a high-tech business, before starting her own yogurt company.

Hsu, a district parent, has been heavily involved in the district  as a PTSA president at Galileo High and chair of the Bond Oversight Committee.

She started supporting the recall only in November, when I saw these people have got to go, she said.

Parent Lainie Motamedi, 50, also had never pictured herself in elected office.

Definitely not a politician, she said. That was never part of my focus or trajectory.

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 the past, getting elected to the school board, a citywide election with low voter interest, often meant a singular focus on getting the support of high-profile political groups rather than demonstrating a firm grasp and understanding of the job itself, she said.

She said because the recall was a landslide, people are coming forward, and for the voters of the city, theres been a bright light shined on what this job is and what the commissioners responsibilities are supposed to be.

She added that she doesnt believe there was ever an opportunity to run for the job before without political footing.

Former school board member Rachel Norton said this is a unique moment offering political outsiders a way in given the recall and attention on the board.

This may be a moment where the candidates who dont have all the institutional support from the political clubs, labor, the San Francisco Democratic County Central Committee, the political establishment and elected officials actually could get enough grassroots support to mount a serious campaign in November, she said.

Its unclear whether Breed is interviewing any of those who submitted their names for the job.

Were in awe of how many qualified, thoughtful candidates stood up to offer themselves for what will be a very hard job, said Siva Raj, one of the organizers of the recall. Most of them have never stood for election, but are deeply connected to the public school community. Were confident this will lead to a very different style of governance on the school board and a focus on education, not politics.

Jill Tucker is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: jtucker@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @jilltucker
Apple will require workers to return to the office part-time on April 11, the Verge reported, citing an internal memo.

Employees will start with one day in the office, increasing to three days in May, according to the memo. Apple didnt immediately respond to a request for comment.

The company joins Google in requiring workers to come back next month following a plunge in coronavirus cases. Two dozen San Francisco employers also committed to returning workers to offices this month, though unlike other tech giants, Apple doesnt have a major office in the city.

For many of you, I know that returning to the office represents a long-awaited milestone and a positive sign that we can engage more fully with the colleagues who play such an important role in our lives, CEO Tim Cook wrote in the memo. For others, it may also be an unsettling change. I want you to know that we are deeply committed to giving you the support and flexibility that you need in this next phase.

Workers can apply to work remotely for up to four weeks a year. Cook wrote that services like cafes were already open and encouraged workers to return early. The company is no longer requiring masks at most U.S. sites, including retail stores, over the next few weeks.

Air Quality Tracker Check levels down to the neighborhood Ratings for the Bay Area and California, updated every 10 minutes

The company has continued to expand its real estate during the pandemic, signing a 700,000-square-foot lease in Sunnyvale last year that was one of the biggest of 2021.

Roland Li is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: roland.li@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @rolandlisf
LATEST March 5, 8 a.m. The Flanagan Fire in Shasta County is holding at 40 acres and is now 50% contained, Cal Fire announced Saturday morning.

March 4, 7:15 p.m. The Flanagan Fire in Shasta County is 40 acres and 20% contained, Cal Fire said Friday night.

March 4, 4:45 p.m. High winds whipped up a wildfire in Shasta County on Thursday, triggering extreme fire behavior that experts said is unusual for March in California.

The Flanagan Fire burning south of Shasta Lake pumped out a massive cloud of smoke and triggered mandatory evacuations.

These days, nothing is very typical, Cal Fire spokesperson Jas Shaw said. We are definitely having longer fire seasons. Thats what we have seen in the last few years.

The fire ignited near Flanagan Road and Beltline Road, west of Shasta Lake, and was 30 acres as of 4 p.m., Cal Fire said.

An image on social media showed crews protecting a home, and a video showed firefighters walking through swirling smoke. The Red Cross announced that it is opening an evacuation shelter at Central Valley High School in Shasta Lake.

It is remarkable that these kind of fire conditions are being observed in early March in far Northern California (Shasta County)  typically the wettest time of year in one of the wettest parts of the state, UCLA climate scientist Daniel Swain wrote on Twitter.

Cal Fire

Winds up to 30 mph fanned flames Friday afternoon, but the gusty conditions are expected to calm overnight, and light rain is possible, the National Weather Service said.

Hopefully, those conditions will improve tonight, weather service meteorologist Craig Shoemaker said. There could be some pretty good fire activity today and into early evening. Theres a lot of dead trees and dead fuel up there.

A storm system was passing over California on Friday, and Shoemaker said some rain could fall over the fire, though it would likely be extremely light.

Shoemaker said the weather service office in Sacramento was watching the smoke and noted that it was likely being caused by the fire eating up the dead trees and dry vegetation.

As of 4 p.m. Friday, there were 15 engines, five crews and four water tenders assigned to the blaze, Cal Fire said.
Ivan Kolpakov, editor in chief of Meduza, one of Russia's most popular independent media outlets, had been expecting the government to block the public's access to his website every day since the war with Ukraine began.

On Friday morning it finally happened. But then Russia's parliament went further, passing a law banning what it considers "fake" news about the military, including any rhetoric that calls the invasion of Ukraine an "invasion" - the preferred language is "special military operation" - with a potential 15-year prison sentence. Putin signed it into law hours later.

"Our sources say they are likely to use this against journalists," said Kolpakov, speaking from a location he would not disclose. "They can use it against journalists and why wouldn't they? They decided to destroy the industry entirely."

Kolpakov, whose website is based in Latvia, began what he called "an urgent evacuation" of his Russian staff.

Similar scenarios are currently playing out at countless independent media outlets across Russia, a nation that has never had a fully welcoming attitude toward a free press.

The country was most recently ranked 150th out of 180 nations on the World Press Freedom Index compiled by the nonprofit Reporters Without Borders, and the government has often pushed restrictions on independent media during times of military conflict, according to Gulnoza Said, coordinator for Europe and Central Asia programs for the Committee to Protect Journalists. But the latest crackdown is unprecedented.

"Putin understands how high the stakes are in the invasion of Ukraine, and a big part of this war is the information war," she said. "Once Russian officials saw the information war could be lost because of the activities of Russian-based outlets, I think they were outraged and decided to close them."

The closure Thursday of Echo of Moscow, a 32-year-old radio station, was especially shocking, she said. "Echo Moscow has become a part of Russian identity just as 'Swan Lake' or 'War and Peace.' And now it's no more."

Shortly after the invasion of Ukraine last week, Russia's media regulator Roskomnadzor put Echo and nine other outlets on notice, ordering them to delete news and commentary that used terms such as "invasion" and "war" to describe the incursion. One of them was independent newspaper Novaya Gazeta, whose editor Dmitry Muratov recently won the Nobel Peace Prize.

On Monday, Muratov told the New Yorker "we continue to call 'war' war." On Friday, the paper announced it would delete its war reporting because of the new law.

Another was TV Rain, the country's last independent television station. Two hours after the government blocked their website Wednesday, chief editor Tikhon Dzyadko and his wife, the station's news director, fled the country. The station aired its last broadcast over YouTube on Thursday.

In an interview with The Washington Post from Turkey, Dzyadko mourned the end of the work his station had been doing. "In a country which is free only on paper but in reality has been becoming more repressive, in such a country, we were absolutely free and we were saying what we wanted to say and reporting about actually important things," he said.

Some colleagues also fled, while other remain in Russia. "All of us are just trying to understand where we are and what is happening."

Russia has also blocked access to Facebook and to broadcasts and websites of Western media organizations, including Voice of America, Deutsche Welle, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty and BBC, which announced it would temporarily suspend its journalists' work in Russia: "We are not prepared to expose them to the risk of criminal prosecution simply for doing their jobs." Some Russian-based American journalists left before the law was passed.

A company spokeswoman said The Washington Post is still assessing the new law's potential impact on its correspondents and local staff.

The Russian government either owns or controls most of the TV channels from which older Russians get their news. But for several years, as Russia attempted to participate in the global arena, Putin "tried to appear friendly to independent media and journalists," Said said.

It as always been an uneasy history, though. In the late 1990s and early 2000s, Russia was plagued by a spate of high-profile killings of journalists. And during Putin's two decades in power, oligarchs have bought up many independent media outlets.

Putin was focused on television news in the first years of his presidency, said Kolpakov, but left newspapers and websites intact: "They didn't see it as an important part of the market" for controlling public opinion. Dzyadko saw Russia's tolerance of independent media as mostly window dressing.

"There was an idea to make it look like Russia is democracy," he said. "But one day they decided that they don't want to do it anymore." Crackdowns came during Russian incursions in Chechnya, Georgia and Crimea.

The independent press was often able to do "thoughtful and heroic work," said Philip Seib, professor emeritus of journalism and public diplomacy at the University of Southern California and author of "Information at War: Journalism, Disinformation, and Modern Warfare." But it mostly served as a facade - "Potemkin journalism," he said, "behind which are the tightly controlled major entities" of state-owned media.

"When global political difficulties arise, the facade is torn down and truth banned," Seib added.

Since 2019, Russia has designated dozens of journalists and media organizations as "foreign agents," including Rain TV and Meduza. One of Meduza's journalists, Ivan Golunov was arrested on manufactured drug charges, prompting mass protests before he was released.

TV Rain - which grew its audience with coverage of 2010 and 2011 antigovernmental demonstrations - was kicked off major cable and satellite providers in 2014 before pivoting to YouTube, where Dzyadko said its audience averaged about 15 million viewers monthly.

"The designation of being a foreign agent, the idea was to show to the people that we were spies and enemies, but instead, our audience got bigger," he said.

Independent media has been especially under pressure over the past two years, since the Russian constitution was amended to allow Putin to remain president until 2036 and opposition leader Alexei Navalny was poisoned and arrested. In April 2021, the Kremlin declared Meduza a foreign agent. Advertisers dropped it, forcing Meduza to close office and lay off staff. Sources grew fearful of speaking to its reporters, Kolpakov said. And then U.S. sanctions made it hard for Meduza to access the donated funds it had come to rely upon.

"It's not like Latin America, where people are shot in the street, but it is still a dangerous profession and there are lots of methods that the authorities use to put pressure on people," he said. "I have huge concerns about the security of our people. I can't tell you how many people we have or where they are based because it is so dangerous."

On Thursday, Meduza published an editorial saying it would continue to report upon unfolding events in the country, while it can, noting that "within a few days, maybe even today, it is possible that there will be no independent media left in Russia."

And the final few seconds of Rain TV on Thursday featured dozens of staffers who had assembled on set walking off together.

"No to war," said the station owner and co-founder. And then the feed cut to a scene from the ballet "Swan Lake" - which state TV often broadcasts during moments of political upheaval, most notably during the 1991 failed coup attempt that preceded the fall of the Soviet Union.

"We know when and why this was played once on Russian television, and we know what happened soon after," Dzyadko said. "So since we are optimistic, we hope good times will come."
On Feb. 11, Waterbar bartender Alex Tamez was riding her bike home in San Franciscos Bayview neighborhood when she was hit by a car. She suffered life-threatening injuries, and it was a hit-and-run  the driver fled the scene, KTVU reported.

Now, Tamezs mother, Lisa Quiroz, is seeking justice for her daughter, who is still in the hospital recovering from a traumatic brain injury and a fractured jaw and ribs. No one has been arrested yet following the incident.

We need the public  if someone knows something, or if theyve seen damage to the front of someones car, Quiroz told SFGATE.

Police described the suspect vehicle as a black Nissan Altima sedan (model year between 2013 and 2016) with damage to the passenger side front bumper. It was last spotted traveling southbound on Third Street after hitting Tamez at Third Street and Fairfax Avenue.

Tamezs condition is currently stable after emerging from a coma, but she has a long road to recovery ahead of her.

Shes in it for the long haul. The doctors told me it could be years, Quiroz said. ... But she has a lot of things going for her  shes young, shes fit, she doesnt have any comorbidities. The doctor said patients like her have the best outcome. So Im cautiously optimistic.

Courtesy of Lisa Quiroz

Quiroz, who is in the process of relocating from Texas to San Francisco to care for her daughter, describes Tamez as a very unique individual.

Shes a sommelier, so she loves wine. ... She likes to travel and recently got certified in open water scuba diving, Quiroz said. Shes been teaching herself Italian and was planning a trip to Italy this summer. She has a little dog she loves. Shes very outgoing and bubbly. Shes very fun.

Tamez is beloved in the San Francisco restaurant community, and her team at Waterbar created a GoFundMe fundraiser for her medical expenses.

The outpouring of support in the restaurant industry and her Waterbar family has been so kind and loving, Quiroz said. Theyve had nothing but kind words. People are wanting to help and reaching out to me as well. Its been overwhelming, and Im very, very grateful.

Anyone with information on the incident should contact the San Francisco Police Department.




Thus, it is necessary to know what the OECD represents and what benefits it can bring to the country.





According to a document from the National Center for Strategic Planning (CEPLAN) , the OECD traces its roots back to the post-World War II, when European leaders agreed that the best way to ensure lasting peace was to encourage co-operation and reconstruction of the nations involved in the war.





Later, in 1961, the OECD was officially established as the successor to the Organisation for European Economic Co-operation (OEEC), which oversaw the implementation of the Marshall Plan a major element in the economic recovery of Europe and in the establishment of democratic regimes in Western Europe.





Since then, the OECD has focused its efforts to provide a space for its member countries (and for non-member countries) to dialogue and identify the best practices in various areas of their economies.





Currently, the OECD comprises 38 countries: Austria, Australia, Belgium, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Korea, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Mexico, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, the United Kingdom, and the United States.





According to its official website, the OECD is an international organisation that works to build better policies for better lives. Its goal is to shape policies that foster prosperity, equality, opportunity, and well-being for all.





Together with governments, policy makers and citizens, the OECD works on establishing evidence-based international standards and finding solutions to a range of social, economic, and environmental challenges.





From improving economic performance and creating jobs to fostering strong education and fighting international tax evasion, the OECD provides a unique forum and knowledge hub for data and analysis, exchange of experiences, best-practice sharing, and advice on public policies and international standard-setting.





Peru and the OECD





CEPLAN finds that being a full member of the OECD is important for the economic and social development of Peru for several reasons.





"The main one has a symbolic meaning. It would mean a significant achievement for a country that until not long ago was still one of the many countries unable to overcome the trap of average income," it explains.





The process of rapprochement with the OECD has been gradual. In 2008, Peru was admitted as an observer member in the OECD Investment Committee





Then, in 2009, Peru joined the OECD Development Centre , which is a space for analysis and the interchange of experiences on economic and social policies between developed and developing countries.





In the following years, Peru approached the OECD through the Competition and Consumer Policy Committees, as well as the OECD Working Group on Bribery.





In 2012, Peru expressed its formal interest in becoming a member of the Organisation for the first time and conveyed the same interest for a second time in 2017.





The OECD Ministerial Council agreed, in April 2014, to invite Peru to participate in the "Country Program," a mechanism that seeks to help a limited number of countries achieve OECD standards and practices a process that the country underwent between 2014 and 2019.





In 2018, Peru became a Party to the OECD Convention on Combating Bribery of Foreign Public Officials in International Business Transactions (Anti-Bribery Convention) and the multilateral Convention on Mutual Administrative Assistance in Tax Matters, with the aim of fighting corruption and fostering greater transparency and exchange of information.





On October 9, 2021, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs reported that the President of the Republic Pedro Castillo sent a letter to the Secretary-General of the OECD, Mathias Cormann , to reaffirm Peru's aspiration to become a member of said multilateral organisation.





(END) RMB/MVB

Last January, the Council of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) decided to invite Peru to start the process of accession to this institution.Published: 3/5/2022
Fly your name to the moon

As NASA prepares for its upcoming Artemis missions to the moon, the space agency has announced an effort to allow people on terra firma to take part in the mission. Leading up to the launch date, NASA has invited people to submit their names online as part of a process that will involve uploading these names to a flash drive set to fly aboard the Artemis I mission as the craft orbits the moon.

Sign-up is free and available on NASA's website. After people submit their names online, they receive a downloadable "boarding pass" for the Artemis I flight complete with their name.

In the weeks ahead, all eyes will be on the historic Launch Complex 39B when Orion and the Space Launch System lift off for the first time from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Artemis I is scheduled to launch no sooner than May 2022, as NASA's first step toward returning astronauts to the lunar surface, the agency's inspector general said during a House Space and Aeronautics Subcommittee hearing on March 1 as part of a larger update on the program.

Photo provided/NASA

Artemis missions

With the Artemis missions, NASA plans to land the first woman and first person of color on the moon "using innovative technologies to explore more of the lunar surface than ever before," according to the agency's website.

Photo provided/NASA

NASA's first crewed landing of the Artemis program will see boots on the moon no earlier than 2026, the agency's inspector general, Paul Martin said during the March 1 hearing.

"Given the time needed to develop and test the human landing system and NASA's next-generation spacesuits, we estimate the date for a crewed lunar landing likely will slip to 2026 at the earliest," Martin said during the live-streamed opening remarks.

The first four Artemis missions are expected to cost $4.1 billion each, according to a November 2021 audit by the NASA Office of Inspector General. The goal is to build a long-term human presence on the moon for decades to come, according to the official Artemis website.
HAGERSTOWN, Md. - They drove pickup trucks, RVs, 18-wheelers and minivans, some making a 2,500-mile journey from Southern California. More joined as the convoy passed through Amarillo, Texas, or rallied at a farm equipment supplier in Monrovia, Ind. And others came in Friday, as about 1,000 vehicles converged at a speedway in Hagerstown, Md., under the rallying cry of "freedom."

The truckers and their supporters are now the closest they have been to the nation's capital, where they want to hold lawmakers "accountable" for the government's pandemic responses. Their plans for coming days remained opaque on Saturday afternoon, but organizers said they intended to stay in Hagerstown - about an hour's drive from the Beltway - for the rest of the day and hold a rally in the evening.

The convoy's motives are muddy, too. People gathered in the western Maryland city described frustrations with workplace vaccine mandates and other measures meant to limit the spread of the coronavirus - even though those rules have been lifted in many places. The speedway crowds chanted anti-President Joe Biden slogans and displayed support for former president Donald Trump. Extremism analysts point to a broader set of right-wing causes that has motivated participants.

Trucks and cars filed into the speedway complex Saturday morning, passing under an American flag waving from a cable between two 30-foot booms attached to semi tow-trucks. Within, truckers and their supporters were waking up after the Friday night rally. Most in the crowd were White men, but there were also some young children and dogs.

Rows and rows of tanker trucks, flatbeds, box trailers, RVs and pickups lined the parking lot, bearing license plates from Utah, Maine, Arkansas, Texas and other states. A chorus of honking horns blared from the area where the convoy vehicles were stacked in lines, awaiting their next move.

On Friday night, Brian Brase, a convoy organizer, looked out at the crowd - some dressed in red-white-and-blue beanies and waving American flags - and told them to celebrate the distance they had traveled. But they would have to wait longer to learn their final destination and what to do when they get there.

"Well, we're going to do something," he said, laughing. "What this is is yet to be determined. Please be patient."

Organizers of the self-titled "People's Convoy" previously said they would aim for the Beltway area on Saturday and wouldn't go into D.C. itself. But Brase announced Friday morning to supporters in Lore City, Ohio, that the schedule had changed. They were staying in Hagerstown on Saturday before probably targeting another location "only two miles from the Beltway," he said, without offering specifics.

Asked about the group's plans, People's Convoy organizer Mike Landis said: "We're going to keep annoying D.C. . . . Just make them wonder a little bit." He continued: "Look, we're truck drivers; we're very spontaneous."

The possibility of caravans of truckers heading to the Beltway has prompted security concerns, drawing in police agencies from D.C., Maryland and Virginia to monitor the group. Supporters have been joining and leaving throughout the trip, making it difficult to estimate the size of the convoy.

Officials across the region advised drivers to be prepared for potentially severe traffic through the weekend. "It's a very fluid situation," Ellen Kamilakis, a spokeswoman for the Virginia Department of Transportation, said.

On Friday night, the mood of the group was celebratory and proud. Truckers blared the song "Take Me Home, Country Roads" and ate spaghetti, burgers and chicken tacos donated by supporters. Leaders stood on the makeshift stage of a flatbed truck and lambasted the federal government for imposing vaccine and mask mandates, policies they believe violated their fundamental rights as Americans.

The protesters, inspired by the self-styled "Freedom Convoy" that occupied downtown Ottawa for weeks, have complained about the perceived infringement on their freedoms. Some of the truckers displayed flags blending the United States' Stars and Stripes with the Canadian maple leaf.

Extremism researchers following this movement say the demonstrators' hostility toward the vaccines is just one of several anti-government, right-wing beliefs that they espouse. Flatbeds, semis and other trucks and cars in the speedway parking area were decorated with signs and messages referencing far-right political views and conspiracy theories, including calls to "arrest Fauci," referring to Biden's chief medical adviser Anthony Fauci, and equating the mandates to slavery. Some supporters wore "Make America Great Again" caps. Others waved flags bearing an allusion to an explicit anti-Biden slogan.

On Saturday, signs and banners ran the gamut featuring political slogans, Bible verses and expressions of patriotism. "Open Keystone pipeline," one read. Others: "Trump won" and "we will not comply."

A woman offered free copies of the Bible from a stand near another supporter selling "People's Convoy" T-shirts.

Brase has said the group wants an end to the national emergency declaration in response to the coronavirus - first issued by Trump in March 2020 and later extended by Biden - and for Congress to hold hearings investigating the government's response to the pandemic.

Craig Brown, a 53-year-old trucker, left his home in Sandpoint, Idaho, two weeks ago, taking a delivery of apples to Los Angeles to get closer to the convoy's launch point in Adelanto, Calif. He felt uncomfortable that the government could expect him to receive such a new vaccine, and he wanted to teach his teenage daughters to stand up for what they believe in. So he bought a month's worth of nonperishable food, installed an extra freezer in his vehicle, and set off to join a movement.

On his way to Los Angeles, Brown's truck broke down and he had to wait five days for repairs. And before he even found the other truckers, Brown adopted a two-year-old golden retriever named Copper.

By Feb. 23, he had joined the group on their way out of Southern California. Since then, Brown said the trip has been more exciting than he could have imagined. People across the country had made signs to support them, he said, and so many volunteers had brought food to rest stops that he had hardly tapped into his nonperishables.

"It's a high, seeing all the people on the overpasses and the sides of the roads," Brown said. "All these people treating us like we are heroes."

Brown, who had the coronavirus last month, does not want to do anything political in D.C. He said he wants to end the trip by parking alongside the truckers and their supporters, and eating a meal together.

"We are going to eat, going to celebrate and enjoy the company of people who think we are heroes," he said.

During the journey, supporters have stood on chilly highway overpasses to wave American flags. They've cheered at rallies and followed the journey on social media. And donations have poured in. By Monday, the group claimed to have collected more than $1.5 million.

One convoy participant said Friday during a livestream on YouTube that "select trucks will be going to the White House" but emphasized that the group as a whole would not be going into the city. He did not elaborate on those plans, and there were no signs they had materialized by Saturday afternoon.

Large trucks are prohibited from many roads in the District, and there are many regulations governing their operation, including how long they can idle.

In response to the convoy, about 50 people gathered Saturday at Freedom Plaza in the District for a demonstration against white nationalism. Veterans, labor organizers and civil rights advocates rallied around a shared message - that the trucker convoy doesn't speak for all veterans, truck drivers and workers.

"There's this misunderstanding that because they're so loud they speak for the majority of the population, and that's just not true," said Linsay Rousseau, 41, an Army veteran and spokeswoman for the group Continue to Serve.

At the Hagerstown speedway, Heather Kelly, 43, a former nurse, said she had always got the vaccines required for her job, but didn't want to get what she saw as a novel covid shot. Her opposition to mask rules and vaccine mandates - and the loss of faith in the government she said it triggered - upended her life. She quit her job at a long-term care facility and pulled her children out of school.

"You have free will, free choice," she said. "You let the government tell you to put something on your face. Am I going to have to have my head covered next like I am in a Muslim country?"

Kelly, who said she voted for Barack Obama for president in 2008, came to Washington for the Jan. 6, 2021, rally to show how many people had voted for Trump, but said she didn't learn about the attack on the Capitol until later. Recently, she and her 18-year-old son climbed into their minivan and joined the convoy.

"I was working hard. I was driven. I spent my children's childhood in medical school," Kelly said, facing her son under the yellow hue of truck lights, her eyes welling up. "To see it corrupted the way that it is, it's very sad for me."

Jim Hasner, 40, joined the convoy in Indiana, driving a truck. He owns his own company and attributed economic struggles to pandemic restrictions.

Like some other participants, he accused the government and mainstream media of hiding the real truth about the pandemic. He said a virus that claimed more than 1,600 lives in the United States on Friday "is gone."

"It would be really great if people could be honest about things," he said. "Honest about what the government overreach looks like, honest about what the vaccine really is. Have some transparency in the media because it's just it's not accurate."

Robert Erikson, 58, who joined the convoy west of Amarillo on Feb. 27, described his truck as a "house on wheels."

On the outside, it said "For God and Country." Inside, the sleeper was set up for long stretches on the road, with an oven, deep fryer, two burner stoves and a pair of 12-pound weights to "keep his body limber." Altoids and bottles of metabolism-support gummies sat on top of the fryer.

Erikson said he doesn't usually vote but went for Trump in 2016. To him the convoy isn't a political movement. Instead, he said he wants every person in government to resign.

"We need to start over," he said.

- - -

Duncan reported from Washington. The Washington Post's Jasmine Hilton and Peter Hermann contributed to this report.
YEREVAN, MARCH 5, ARMENPRESS. Minister of Defense Suren Papikyan, accompanied by the top officials of the ministry, visited today the Yerablur Military Pantheon to pay tribute to the memory of the National Hero of Armenia, Hero of Artsakh, Vazgen Sargsyan, the ministry said.

March 5 is the birthday of Commander Vazgen Sargsyan. He would have turned 63 today.

The Defense Minister and other officials laid flowers at the tombs of Vazgen Sargsyan and the servicemen fallen for the defense of the homeland.
San Francisco students will soon be able to remove their masks on campus as San Francisco Unified School District and teachers' union officials announced plans Friday to lift in-school mask requirements.

Mask requirements will be lifted for central district offices as well as middle and high schools in the city on March 12, when the state will also lift its indoor mask mandate for K-12 schools.

The district will then lift mask requirements at all other schools and worksites on April 2. At all district schools and worksites, the use of masks will still be recommended.

The district jointly announced the plan to lift its mask mandate with officials from labor unions representing its workers, including the United Administrators of San Francisco and the United Educators of San Francisco.

"We are committed to following public health guidance, and our health officials have stated that masks in schools are no longer required but still recommended," SFUSD Superintendent Vincent Matthews said. "We are starting with middle and high schools, where there are higher vaccination rates, in order to give more time for families of younger students to get their children vaccinated."

State officials announced Monday that mask requirements for students would be lifted March 11 at 11:59 p.m. but said individual school districts would have carte blanche to continue requiring the use of masks indoors.

SFUSD officials initially said the district would not change its masking policy on March 12, arguing that health officials still strongly recommended the use of masks and that masking is "one of the least burdensome" ways schools can reduce the virus' spread.

On Friday, union officials said they supported the swift reversal, arguing that existing safety standards like regular testing and improved classroom ventilation will also help reduce the virus' spread even if students are no longer required to wear a mask.

"With all of those multilayers of mitigation outlined in our ongoing health and safety agreement still in place, we support an ease in the mask mandate that still provides time for our youngest students to get vaccinated," UESF president Cassondra Curiel said.

The district also announced that it will change its contact tracing policy for students, beginning March 24, allowing them to remain in class if they've been exposed to the virus unless they have or develop symptoms.

Students will also be required to test regularly after being exposed to determine if they contract the virus themselves.

According to the district, the policy will allow students to avoid missed school days, as previous policies required students exposed to the virus to stay home even if they did not show symptoms or test positive.

The district plans to distribute rapid COVID tests to students and staff during spring break, scheduled for the last week of March. Students and staff will be expected to use the tests prior to returning to school on April 4, regardless of if they are symptomatic.

"We recognize changes in masking and contact tracing practices will be a transition for our community," Matthews said. "Throughout this pandemic we have had to constantly change but I trust we are moving in the right direction when we follow the science."

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Texas families with transgender children are facing new fears as state leaders continue targeting them and anti-trans policies crystalize as a top priority in the state Republicans' agenda.

The families have begun lawyering up after Gov. Greg Abbott directed the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services in February to investigate those who seek gender-affirming care for their children. The order came days after Attorney General Ken Paxton issued a nonbinding legal opinion classifying certain types of gender-affirming care as child abuse.

Civil rights groups sued to block Abbott's order as the first of these investigations came to light. A district judge granted a temporary restraining order, which was soon challenged by Paxton.

The legal fight comes months after Texas lawmakers failed to pass legislation that sought broader bans on transition-related medical care for transgender kids, including gender-affirming care that is widely accepted by leading health care groups.

Medical experts say Republican lawmakers rhetoric falsely claims that doctors and parents are allowing children to go through irreversible medical treatments.

Leading health care organizations in Texas  including the Texas Medical Association, Texas Counseling Association and Texas Pediatric Society  say gender-affirming care is the best way to provide care to transgender children. Theyre not alone: the American Psychiatric Association, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry and others agree  and have for years.

Heres what you need to know about gender-affirming care, which lies at the heart of the brewing legal and political battles in Texas.

What is gender-affirming care? Areana Quinones, executive director for the Texas nonprofit organization Doctors For Change, defined gender-affirming care as judgment-free, individualized care oriented toward understanding and appreciating a persons gender. Providers often work with counselors and family members to ensure they have everything they need to navigate the health care system. Under the gender-affirming model of care, more time is spent allowing kids to socially transition instead of focusing on medical treatment. A social transition consists of the steps a child takes to affirm their identity. An example could include allowing a child assigned male at birth to grow their hair or use a different name and wear clothing that better fits their identity. This transition is done with their family and communitys support. The most important message is that trans kids are kids, said Seth Kaplan, president of the Texas Pediatric Society. And they deserve to have the same health care that all kids have, which is evidence-based health care that serves to promote their growth and development to help them become healthy, fully functioning adults. Sometimes, more medical support is needed for the child. Puberty or hormone blockers are used to give a transgender kid time before deciding what permanent transition-related treatment they want.

What are puberty blockers? Puberty blockers are a type of medical treatment that delays puberty. They are completely reversible. It is not uncommon for puberty blockers to also be a treatment for children who arent transgender. Since early onset puberty can cause health issues into adulthood, they have been an approved medical treatment for children for decades. Hormone blockers are used for a lot of different medical purposes, not just for transgender youth, Quinones said. So I think that it's a slippery slope, when you're saying you're going to prohibit physicians from using this as a potential treatment for something.

Do transgender children have procedures more advanced than puberty blockers? Some transgender children have more advanced medical procedures, like starting testosterone therapy. Those instances are rare, especially if they are allowed to go on puberty blockers, which give them more time to decide what medical procedures they want in the future when they are an adult. Language in legislation targeting medical care for transgender children didn't reflect this reality, however. One bill filed during last years legislative sessions by state Rep. Matt Krause, R-Fort Worth, sought to ban gender transitioning and listed procedures that do not fall under gender-affirming care. The bill did not pass. The standards are to support pre-pubertal youth where they are, said Celia Neavel, director of the Center for Adolescent Health at the Peoples Community Clinic in Austin. Theres nothing going on with hormones or surgery, theres only living your life and being supportive of who you are.

Are gender-affirming surgeries used on children? Medical experts say transgender children rarely if ever have surgeries like orchiectomies, hysterectomies and mastectomies before they're adults. Still, Abbott cited such procedures in an Aug. 6, 2021, letter directing the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services top official to determine whether such gender confirmation surgeries are child abuse under existing state law. Paxton also listed those procedures in his legal opinion, which is nonbinding, issued in Febrary. Experts took issue with Abbotts language in the letter, which repeatedly referred to gender confirmation surgery as genital mutilation. It's literally the harshest language possible, because he wants a reaction from his side, said Andrea Segovia, Transgender Education Network of Texas field/policy coordinator. And they can gain supporters in that of like, Oh, that sounds awful. Yeah, we shouldn't be doing that to our minors.

How do these legislative attempts affect transgender youth? LGBTQ advocates say the political rhetoric surrounding anti-transgender legislation  and the possibility that the bills could become law  have dire consequences for trans kids mental health. The Trevor Project's 2021 National Survey on LGBTQ Youth Mental Health found 52% of transgender and nonbinary youth seriously considered attempting suicide in the previous year. It also found that over 70% of transgender kids have experienced symptoms of generalized anxiety and major depressive disorder. Over that year, the organization, which offers crisis counseling for LGBTQ youth, has received over 9,400 crisis contacts from Texas. A majority of trans individuals have struggled with depression or anxiety, at a minimum, during their life and their process, said Adrian Warren, president of the Texas Counseling Association. And any time the government, or really any entity, has an anti-trans position, that does further harm. And so when it is something like the government, theres a very large potential for harm. Medical providers are worried that any future legislation could impact their ability to provide treatment to Texas transgender kids. If you cant even talk about it, and these kids cant get the mental health services that they need and the counseling services that they need, then that has a huge detrimental impact on those kids, said Kaplan, of the Texas Pediatric Society.

What do transgender Texans think? Some families with transgender children have proactively hired lawyers as a result of Abbott's directive. Transgender Texans are paying attention to further moves officials could make to stifle gender-affirming care. During the 2021 legislative sessions, many transgender kids and their families spent hours testifying at the Capitol in support of gender-affirming care, along with doctor and counselors. At the time, some said they would consider leaving the state if any further action is taken. Landon Richie and his family have considered such a move. Now 18, Richie began socially and medically transitioning as a teenager. He also got involved in transgender activism, and is now an intern with Transgender Education Network of Texas. A third-generation Texan, he has a younger nonbinary sibling, and his family has discussed moving if they have to. Trans people absolutely do belong in the state of Texas, Richie said. We make up an integral part of the fabric of this state. But every other year thats the message that is sent, that trans people dont belong. Theyre second-class citizens. Texas doesnt want us to exist in public life. Disclosure: Equality Texas and Texas Medical Association have been financial supporters of The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that is funded in part by donations from members, foundations and corporate sponsors. Financial supporters play no role in the Tribune's journalism. Find a complete list of them here.

The Texas Tribune is a member-supported, nonpartisan newsroom informing and engaging Texans on state politics and policy. Learn more at texastribune.org.
In the latest air travel news, world airline schedules are being overhauled and international flights canceled as Russia and Western nations ban each other from their airspace; Russian carriers lose tech support, reservations access and possibly half their fleets; Hawaiis governor announces the end of all COVID-related requirements for inbound mainland visitors; more international flights return to SFO; international route news from United, ITA, Hawaiian and Spirit Airlines; more domestic routes at SFO will resume this spring and summer; United trims more secondary domestic markets from its network; Frontier and Spirit plan for U.S. growth by opening new crew bases; United rolls out fast-track bag checking at SFO and other hub airports; TSA opens its first PreCheck lane outside the U.S.; American expands free upgrades to more AAdvantage elites; and United finally reopens its Polaris Lounge at LAX.

United Airlines decision this week to temporarily suspend its San Francisco-New Delhi flights is just one example of the chaos confronting the global aviation system following Russias invasion of Ukraine. Many international flights worldwide have been suspended or rerouted as multiple countries have banned Russian airlines from their airports and airspace, and Russia reciprocated by banning overflights of its territory. It started last week when the U.K. kicked out Russian carriers, and intensified this week as the European Union, Canada and finally the U.S. followed suit. Russia retaliated by banning the airlines of 36 nations from landing in or overflying its territory, sending airline planners scrambling for alternative routings to maintain their international networks.

Except for a few long-haul services to India and East Asia, U.S. airlines shouldnt be hurt too much by the loss of Russia overflights, although their surviving routes will require longer flight times. For example, United has rerouted its Chicago-New Delhi service to go over the Mediterranean and Middle East instead of transiting Greenland and Russia, adding an hour to the eastbound segment and two hours to the return flight. European carriers will have a tougher time, with Russias overflight ban forcing some of them to suspend flights to East Asia  along with flights to Russia. For instance, Finnair this week canceled its flights from Helsinki to Japan, China and South Korea, but announced it will bring back Helsinki-Tokyo service on March 9 with a new routing that increases flight time from less than 10 hours to 13 hours. Some airlines have decided not to overfly Russia even though their countries havent been banned from doing so  e.g., Japan Airlines and ANA temporarily canceled their flights to Europe from Tokyo, citing safety concerns. But Russian airlines, barred from flying to or above Europe, the U.S. and Canada, will take the biggest hit. Not only are those areas their biggest international markets in terms of revenues, but the realities of geography make it more difficult for Russian carriers to find viable reroutings into countries that still accept them.

That loss of key international markets could be the least of the Russian carriers problems. They also face longer-term difficulties in maintaining operations and even keeping possession of their fleets. European trade sanctions placed on Russia mean that Airbus can no longer sell aircraft, spare parts or equipment to Russian airlines. And Boeing this week took similar action, declaring that it would no longer provide support or equipment for its aircraft operated by Russian companies. Boeing also shut down its research and engineering operations in Russia. Meanwhile, three leading global distribution systems  Sabre, Amadeus and Travelport, which airlines rely on for reservations and sales  have pulled Aeroflot fares from their inventories. As if that werent enough, major aircraft leasing firms based in western nations are taking steps to cancel their contracts with Russian carriers  and according to a Reuters analysis, more than half of the commercial aircraft operated by Russian airlines are leased from those companies. Trying to repossess those planes could be a problem as long as they remain in Russia, but the lessors could ask local authorities to seize them if they are flown to other countries. In response, Russian officials have reportedly been discussing the possibility of nationalizing those leased aircraft to protect their carriers. Meanwhile, the pressure was too much for Russias second-largest carrier, S7 Airlines, which this week decided to cancel all international flights.

Following Deltas decision last week to suspend code-sharing with Russias Aeroflot, American and Alaska Airlines took similar action this week. Both carriers said they have suspended interline agreements with Aeroflot and S7. Since S7 is also a member of AA/Alaskas Oneworld alliance, both airlines said their customers will no longer be able to earn or redeem miles on S7.

James R.D. Scott/Getty Images

As of March 26, mainland residents traveling to Hawaii will no longer have to worry about meeting any kind of testing or other COVID requirements as they head to the airport  because the state is dropping all of them. Currently, mainland visitors must present a vaccination card or a negative test result if they want to avoid a quarantine after arrival in the islands. But after March 25, according to an announcement from Hawaii Gov. David Ige, passengers arriving from domestic points of origin will not have to show proof of a COVID-19 vaccination or a pre-travel negative test result. Incoming passengers will also no longer be required to create a Safe Travels account or provide travelers information and trip details. Until that date, the current rules will remain in effect.

San Francisco International is continuing its gradual recovery of suspended international routes as more countries ease up on COVID-related entry restrictions. Irelands Aer Lingus revived its San Francisco-Dublin service last week, operating a schedule of four flights a week, which is slated to increase to daily frequencies March 26. Aer Lingus will continue its West Coast revival this spring, with plans to start daily Dublin-Los Angeles flights May 12 and five weekly flights from Dublin to Seattle beginning May 26. Aer Lingus also plans to resume service into Shannon Airport on March 10, with daily flights from New York and Boston.

JHVEPhoto/Getty Images

United Airlines, which flies daily from SFO and Los Angeles to Sydney, is planning to increase its Australia presence by launching San Francisco-Melbourne flights beginning May 7 after that country reopened to international visitors last month. United recently struck a new partnership with Virgin Australia for onward connections in Australia. Qantas recently delayed its plans to bring back San Francisco service in February from Sydney and Brisbane. According to Australias Executive Traveller magazine, Qantas is now targeting July 29 for a resumption of Sydney-San Francisco but has not set a date for SFO-Brisbane or SFO-Melbourne flights.

In other international news, United this week resumed service between Denver and London Heathrow after a two-year hiatus, operating four flights a week and increasing to daily service March 26 and twice daily on May 7. On April 23, United expects to launch Denver-Munich service; it already flies from DEN to Frankfurt. The Italian carrier ITA Airways  the successor to Alitalia  has added more U.S. service. It started with flights between New York JFK and Rome Fiumicino, and this week it added routes to Rome from Miami (three flights a week) and Boston (two weekly flights). Both routes will increase to five weekly flights in April and daily service in June. The airline is due to begin service to Milan Malpensa from JFK on April 2 and from Los Angeles on June 1. Across the Pacific, Hawaiian Airlines has slashed capacity to Japan  its biggest international market  by 77% during March and April, according to Simple Flying, and has pushed back the resumption of several routes from late March to late April, including Honolulu to Tokyo Haneda, Fukuoka and Sapporo; and Kona to Tokyo Haneda. South of the border, Spirit Airlines announced it will expand beyond Mexican beach destinations (it currently serves Cancun, Los Cabos and Puerto Vallarta) by adding daily flights to Monterrey from Austin and Houston Bush Intercontinental starting June 22.

On the domestic side, a deep dive into SFO schedules by Simple Flying this week uncovered several routes abandoned in the spring of 2020 that havent yet resumed  although most are scheduled to come back in the months ahead. Those SFO routes, and the dates after which they are bookable, include Delta to Cincinnati (Sept. 12); Alaska Airlines to Paine Field in Everett, Washington (May 25); and United to Columbus, Ohio (June 3), Kansas City (June 24), Madison, Wisconsin (Sept. 7), Oklahoma City (Sept. 7), Omaha (June 24) and St. Louis (Sept. 7). San Francisco domestic destinations not currently scheduled for resumption of service include Long Beach (which had been flown by JetBlue); Mammoth Lakes, California; and Northwest Arkansas Regional Airport.

Meanwhile, United is dropping 17 domestic routes from its schedule that had all been served by its regional affiliates, according to The Points Guy; most were suspended during the pandemic and hadnt yet been resumed, but now have been dropped from Uniteds network. The routes include: Denver to Dayton; Newark to Oklahoma City, Omaha and Knoxville; Washington Dulles to Allentown, Pennsylvania, Lexington, Kentucky, Madison, Wisconsin, Oklahoma City and Pensacola, Florida; Houston Bush Intercontinental to Alexandria, Louisiana, Columbia, South Carolina, and Akron-Canton, Ohio; and Chicago OHare to Bismarck, North Dakota, Charlottesville, Virginia, Jackson, Mississippi, Pasco-Tri Cities, Washington, and Redmond, Oregon.

Joe Raedle/Getty Images

Frontier Airlines and Spirit Airlines, which recently announced merger plans, are both positioning themselves for growth by adding more crew bases in the U.S. Frontier Airlines, which currently flies 14 nonstop routes out of Phoenix Sky Harbor, said this week it will open a new crew base at Phoenix in November. Up to 180 pilots and 275 flight attendants are expected to be based at PHX within the first year, with additional growth anticipated in the future, Frontier said. The airline has ordered 230 new Airbus planes for delivery over the next seven years, which would triple the size of its fleet. Meanwhile, Spirit this week said it plans to open its seventh and eighth U.S. crew bases at Miami International and Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson this summer as it focuses route expansion on those markets. Spirit expects to locate more than 100 pilots and more than 200 flight attendants at each base initially, with additional crew, supervisors and support functions to follow later in the year, the company said. Spirit expects to take delivery of 24 new aircraft this year.

United has introduced a new fast-track baggage checking procedure at San Francisco International and its other hub airports (Chicago OHare, Newark, Washington Dulles, Los Angeles, Houston Bush Intercontinental and Denver). Its called Bag Drop Shortcut, and it only takes a minute or less on average, the airline said. Passengers who want to use it should have the United app on their phones. When they check in on the app, they can designate the number of bags to be checked and find the location of the bag drop shortcut location at the airport, along with detailed instructions. At the bag drop site, they simply put their bag in the scale and scan their boarding pass at the kiosk. United personnel will then apply the bag tag and check the passengers ID. United said it plans to expand the Bag Drop Shortcut service to dozens more new airports this year.

Will Waldron/Albany Times Union

U.S. Customs and Border Protection has had preclearance facilities in select airports outside the U.S. for some time  including locations in Canada, the Caribbean, Ireland and Abu Dhabi  allowing returning U.S. travelers to take care of that chore before boarding their aircraft. And now the Transportation Security Administration is trying out the same strategy. The agency said it has opened its first TSA PreCheck station outside the U.S. at the international airport in Nassau, Bahamas, working with the Bahamian government. That means U.S. travelers who are members of TSAs PreCheck trusted traveler program, which costs $85 for a five-year membership, can go through the new fast-access lane during their airport security checks in Nassau. PreCheck is available at more than 200 domestic airports.

American Airlines this week kicked off its revamped AAdvantage loyalty program, and besides introducing a new metric called Loyalty Points for earning elite status, it also includes a new perk for the airlines frequent fliers. The airline said it is expanding complimentary upgrade access for AAdvantage Gold and Platinum members to include all AA flights within North America regardless of distance. For travel starting March 2, an upgrade will automatically be requested if everyone in the reservation is eligible for a complimentary upgrade, American said. Members will only need to use 500-mile upgrades if they want to upgrade travel companions who do not hold AAdvantage status. Later this year, AA said, it will extend the free upgrades to one companion on the same flight as the account holder and will eliminate 500-mile upgrade coupons. Previously, the unlimited free upgrades were only offered to AAdvantage Executive Platinum and Platinum Pro elites.

Americans new AAdvantage program lets members earn Loyalty Points not only by flying, but by spending on an affiliated credit card and using the programs dining and shopping partners, ending the previous complicated elite qualifications, American said. This single-point system, in which one qualifying AAdvantage mile earned equals one Loyalty Point, positions the AAdvantage program as the largest airline loyalty program that will not require members to track miles, dollars and/or flight segments to earn status. Under the new system, 30,000 Loyalty Points earn AAdvantage Gold status, while 75,000 are needed for Platinum, 125,000 for Platinum Pro and 200,000 for Executive Platinum.

In airport news, United has finally reopened its Polaris Lounge at Los Angeles International. It was the last of the airlines Polaris lounges to come back after they were all shuttered at the beginning of the COVID pandemic. In recent months, United reopened the lounges at San Francisco International, Chicago OHare, Newark and Houston Bush Intercontinental, and opened a new lounge at Washington Dulles. The Polaris lounges are for international long-haul travelers in the airlines Polaris front cabin.
YEREVAN, MARCH 5, ARMENPRESS. Russias special military operation in Ukraine is not aimed at dividing Ukraine as Russia just seeks to ensure its own security, Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov told Sky News Arabia, reports TASS.

He pointed out that after the 2014 coup, Ukraine had fallen under the influence of Nazi ideas. We want to see Ukraine demilitarized, we want to see Ukraine free of Nazi ideology, Peskov noted. Also we want to see that the neutral status of Ukraine is fixed in its Constitution and we want to have guarantees that weapons being able to change the security balance in Europe cannot be deployed to Ukraine, he added as quoted by TASS.

The Kremlin spokesman emphasized that Russia did not seek to divide Ukraine into parts but only wanted to ensure its own national security.
A local committee dedicated to remote learning. Individualized student courses and programs. Shared online classes for systems facing dire teacher shortages.

Across the state, local and regional school districts have started to explore what recent education department remote learning guidance may mean for them. The standards, specific to high schools, were presented to educators at a webinar this week, and pave the way for the pandemic-era modality to become a permanent option as soon as this summer.

While some educators told Hearst Connecticut Media they plan to wait for more guidance, others are seizing the opportunity to re-imagine education. Any remote offerings would be optional for local officials to implement, with school board authorization.

This really gives us an opportunity to explore other ways to reach kids that right now we may not be reaching 100 percent, said Superintendent Michael Testani in Bridgeport.

Weve had some discussions early on with the high school principals, he said. Now that we have a framework, were going to start convening some more formal discussions about how this could work, where we want to pilot things before we roll it out more systemically.

Testani clarified the version of remote learning the district would consider is less of a fallback response to a health crisis, and more of a way to help students be more successful. He said he could partner with other districts to offer classes, or share talent across Bridgeport as it faces severe staffing shortages. Multiple high schools, for example, could share a certified physics teacher, he theorized.

This is not remote learning as we saw during the pandemic, Testani said. Its not a way not to go into school  but really theres a rationale, an intentional goal as to why youre implementing the remote learning.

School officials in Middletown suggested they were interested in how schools can become more personalized and student-centered, using the new modality.

If we were to identify a silver lining of the COVID-19 pandemic, Middletown Public Schools believes it would be that it pushed us to imagine and implement new and innovative ways to educate our youth, said Jessica Lavorgna, the school districts director of communications.

Lavorgna said the school district is forming a committee to establish what remote courses could look like for the high school. Implementation would depend on Middletown Board of Education authorization.

In neighboring Portland, school officials are similarly studying the state guidelines and beginning initial discussions about how the standards could open the door to hybrid and fully online learning opportunities for its oldest students.

This has the potential to help enrich our programming and individualize student programming, said Superintendent Charles Britton of Portland Public Schools. We dont have any firm plans yet, but we are excited about the prospects of designing courses using the framework.

In West Haven, Superintendent Neil Cavallaro said the school district currently is not looking into a fully remote option for most students, with exceptions for students with disabilities. But he could see other situations where the modality could be beneficial.

I believe in the near future it may become necessary to set up remote classes and partner with neighboring districts, especially in areas where there are teacher shortages and under the right circumstances, Cavallaro said.

The superintendent said students could take classes remotely as part of their daily schedules while in school buildings. Teachers could be stationed anywhere and teach classes live with mandatory attendance. There should be resources within the school buildings where students can go for additional assistance or questions outside class hours.

Something like this would certainly open up opportunities for students, he said.

West Haven also offers some online courses for students, mainly for credit recovery, Cavallaro said.

Other schools have been slower to adopt the standards, opting instead to wait and see what other information may be coming from the state.

Right now, there are more questions than answers, said Greg Shugrue, head of school at The Gilbert School in Winsted, a privately endowed secondary school that serves as the public high school for Winchester and Hartland. On its surface there looks like many attractive ideas and options to explore but quite frankly we are waiting on more guidance from the CSDE (Connecticut State Department of Education).

It is possible that we would be able to provide more information later in the school year once we receive more guidance from the CSDE, said Judy Palmer, the superintendent of Regional 7 school district in Winsted, including Norfolk, Salisbury and Colebrook.

The more-than-90 proposed standards fall into several domains that cover online curriculum and instruction, student engagement and assessment. They consider digital citizenship, social-emotional learning and personal skills, and how accessible a program or class may be for all learners. The guidelines also consider the flexibility remote learning can provide, when those opportunities are high-quality.

For now, most schools districts are weighing all their options equally, including in Ansonia and Derby.

We are currently reviewing the standards locally and will be having conversations with other districts about different models that may extend learning opportunities for all high school students, said Matthew Conway, superintendent of Derby Public Schools.

Sentiments in Madison mirrored those in the Valley.

I dont believe we would offer a fully remote option in the near future, said Craig Cooke, superintendent of Madison Public Schools, But we would look into maybe specific courses or cross-district agreements that would allow us to offer students courses that we currently are unable to staff.

The guidelines mark a departure from this school year  when for most students, at-home instruction could only count toward attendance in pandemic-related emergencies.

Remote opportunities may also be extended to younger students in years to come.

Staff writers Adam Hushin, Eddy Martinez, Emily Olson and Brian Zahn contributed to this report.
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Whitehall City Manager Scott Huebler wrote a climate report for the city that was included in the meeting packet when the council met Tuesday, Feb. 22. According to Huebler, the report should not be interpreted as a climate mobilization action plan, but rather as a general report on what the City of Whitehall can do by the end of this year, 2030 and 2040 to meet the goals of Resolution 21 Climate Emergency Declaration.

Resolution 21 calls for a citywide elimination of greenhouse gas emissions by the year 2040 and initiatives to decrease carbon levels. In the resolution, it is included that a report on what action has taken place and on what can be done next must be written in the years 2022, 2030 and 2040. This responsibility was taken on by Huebler, who admits that he is not an expert on climate change.

I did a whole lot of research from the internet and other communities who have similar goals, Huebler said. Part of the challenge was finding resources that were accurate, because information ranges all over the board.

Huebler stated that his main sources, when writing the report ,were the United Nations, the State of Michigans Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) organization, and reports from the cities of Ann Arbor, Mich., Portland and South Portland, Maine and Burlington, Vt. These cities have adopted climate neutrality as their standard.

At the beginning of the report, Huebler states that Resolution 21 was preceded by the 2016 Paris Agreement, which urges countries to achieve climate neutrality by 2050.

Climate neutrality, he explains, is achieved when there are net zero greenhouse gas emissions, or when the total emissions are equal to or less than emissions removed through Earths natural absorption.

The Paris Agreements wording of neutrality is different from that of Whitehalls Resolution 21 because it calls for elimination of emissions, which according to Huebler is an unattainable goal. Huebler doesnt want to set the city up for failure by using the wrong terminology in the resolution.

In the report, Huebler states, Elimination is not feasible. As long as humans wander the planet, there will be greenhouse gas emissions. Even attempting to do so within the City would require that we ban all fossil fuel powered vehicles, appliances, and tools along with all electric vehicles, appliances, and tools that are not recharged directly from renewable energy sources.

Striving to do our part for the environment is essential. Establishing hard to measure and difficult goals only sets us up for failure and deflates enthusiasm to do what is right, If Council wishes to pursue the objectives of Resolution 21, staff recommends that this be done by hiring professionals to develop a Climate Action Plan as in-house experience and expertise is not available and to amend Resolution 21 by striking the elimination of greenhouse gas emissions.

Huebler continues to use standards adopted by the Paris Agreement in his climate report to show how the city can measure the progress of carbon emissions. It is stated in the Paris Agreement that a goal is to limit global warming by 1.5C which can be accomplished by reducing lifestyle climate footprints to 2.5 tons of greenhouse gas emissions per person each year by 2030 and further reduced to 0.7 tons by 2050. Huebler then stated that city hall staff performed a UN carbon calculator test with results ranging between 8 and 14.

Huebler then created a list of existing greenhouse gas emission reduction initiatives within the City of Whitehall. For example, lights within the city have been converted to LEDs, energy audits from two different outside sources have been performed, electric vehicle charging stations were installed at the North Mears parking lot, and the city has cooperated recently with the Muskegon Conservation District to plant 100 trees in Whitehall - and the city plans to plant 10 more trees each year.

The climate report also includes the next steps that the city should take by the end of 2022, 2030 and 2040. The first step in reduction that the city will take in 2022 is the purchase of a Ford Hybrid Police Interceptor, which has already been budgeted for the year. Huebler also lists: to seek proposals to conduct energy audits of all city facilities, continue tree planting and greenscape preservation, and to shut down the gas fireplace on the North Mears parking lot - which was constructed just last year.

Other actions taken by the city to follow the path of climate neutrality include further climate analysis, and Huebler intends to attend a webinar on how to properly develop a community climate action plan. The full climate report can be accessed at https://cityofwhitehall.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Council-Packet-2.22.22.pdf on page 27.
YEREVAN, MARCH 5, ARMENPRESS. Ambassador of Armenia to Ukraine Vladimir Karapetyan presented details about the ongoing developments in Ukraine, the actions taken and being taken by the Embassy.

In an interview to ARMENPRESS, the Ambassador said currently the military operations continue in different  northern, eastern and southern, parts of Ukraine, including in the outskirts of capital Kiev.

He added that the Embassy staff is in constant, daily touch with the Armenian citizens, provides consulting support about the departure ways and possibilities from Ukraine to Armenia, prepares and provides necessary documents for that purpose.

- How are the developments going on in Ukraine now?

- At the moment the battles continue in different  northern, eastern and southern, parts of Ukraine, including in the outskirts of the capital Kiev. The second round of the Russian-Ukrainian talks was held in Belarus on March 3, as a result of which some promising agreements were reached, particularly relating to the humanitarian corridors for the exit of the civilian population and the temporary ceasefire in that sites. Armenia has expressed its position over this matter and has great hopes that it would be possible to settle issues around a negotiation table.

- We know that before the start of the military operations some embassies in Kiev evacuated firstly the families of their diplomats, and then the diplomats. What policy has Armenia adopted in this regard?

- The diplomatic representation of Armenia in Ukraine has been one of the unique embassies (there are 100 embassies in Kiev), which has been in Kiev with its whole staff from the very start of the military operations and fulfilled its functions. The Embassy has also been in constant touch with the Armenian citizens, ethnic Armenians and local authorities.

Due to the deterioration of the situation around Kiev, according to the decision of the Foreign Minister of Armenia, the Ambassador and the Embassy staff moved to the city of Lviv on March 4 and will temporarily work there for security purposes. A consular point has already opened in Lviv for providing support to the Armenian citizens. Tomorrow another such consular point will open in Uzhhorod.

- What does the Embassy do for assisting the Armenian citizens?

- The Embassy staff is in constant, daily touch with the Armenian citizens, provides consulting support about the ways and opportunities of leaving Ukraine for Armenia, prepares and provides necessary documents for this purpose.

Within its modest opportunities, the Embassy, together with the Armenian community of Ukraine, helped those people who wanted to leave their homes, their cities. Its important to consider an essential factor: several hundreds of thousands of Armenians live in Ukraine, and most of them are citizens of Armenia. I say this so that you can imagine the overload under which the Embassy has worked in Kiev: constant calls, we answered several thousand calls, dozens of visits of citizens and applications for assistance. No embassy had the volume of workload which we had, given the big size of the community and the number of applications.

And all of these works have been done in the war situation. Two of the Embassy diplomats spent the nights in shelters from the first days of the war, sheltering from the explosions and shootings, and sometimes they communicated with our compatriots from shelter, received calls and gave consulting.

Today as well the Embassy continues its service around the clock, by providing both consulting and also in respective cases certificates of return to Armenia to those citizens who currently do not have a valid Armenian passport for crossing the border of Ukraine. Within its capacities the Embassy is also assisting the Armenian citizens who are in different difficult situations.

I would like to specifically highlight the caring attitude of the Foreign Ministry leadership towards our compatriots facing difficulties. The only direction and goal of all our orders and tasks are our citizens and relate to the measures of providing them with proper assistance.

You are aware also that with the efforts of the Armenian Foreign Ministry, Poland, Slovakia, Romania, Moldova and Hungary have allowed Armenian citizens leaving Ukraine to cross their land border checkpoints without a visa. Moreover, Armenian diplomats are working in the border sections between these countries and Ukraine, assisting our compatriots who need help.

- How many Armenian citizens are there in Ukraine? Is there any support also for Ukrainian-Armenians?

- Its impossible to mention the exact number because only a small part of the citizens goes through a consular registration which is a voluntary process.

As for Armenians who are citizens of Ukraine, we must note that we receive most of the calls also from the Ukrainian citizens. I want to remind the statement of the Armenian Foreign Ministry that Armenia is ready to host Armenians arriving from Ukraine. We are also ready to provide necessary support to the persons with Ukrainian citizenship who are crossing the Armenian border, regardless
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As the gallery prepares to launch the international exhibition, Shakespeare to Winehouse, which features iconic works and faces from Londons National Portrait Gallery, we thought it was only appropriate to display some of our own icons, and to highlight the courage and commitment that underpins the achievements of this inspirational bunch of women.

Women Make History takes 100 such stories from the NPGs collection and celebrates a centurys worth of trailblazing Australian women: suffragettes, war heroes, wordsmiths and Nobel laureates; rock stars, record-breakers, divas and fashionistas; from the first woman elected to the House of Representatives to the first female chief justice of the High Court.

Well-behaved women seldom make history, as the saying goes, and the National Portrait Gallery in Canberra is full of stories of Australian women who refused to conform to narrow ideas about their place and their worth.

1. Carol Spencer AM (b.1943), known as Carlotta, is a cabaret performer, television personality and LGBTIQ+ advocate. Known as the Queen of the Cross, Carlotta joined Les Girls in 1962 and soon became the star, performing for almost three decades. In 1973, Carlotta was the first transgender person in the world to play a transgender character on television in the Australian series Number 96, and was one of the inspirations for the 1994 film Priscilla, Queen of the Desert. She was immortalised in the 2014 film Carlotta. This glamorous image of Carlotta, taken by photographer Rennie Ellis in the dressing room of Les Girls, was part of a series capturing the surface glitter and underground guts of Kings Cross.

Marea Gazzard 1966 by Judy Cassab. Credit: Estate of Judy Cassab.

2. Marea Gazzard AM (1928-2013) was one of Australias leading ceramicists. After studying in London, she returned with her husband to Australia in 1960 and set up a studio in Paddington. She was one of the first craftspeople to exhibit at the National Gallery of Victoria. Through the 1970s and 1980s, she exhibited large abstract works in a number of important group shows and solo exhibitions. She was commissioned to create the bronze sculpture Mingarri: The Little Olgas (1988), which stands in the central Executive Courtyard of Parliament House, Canberra.

Margaret Fink 1989 by Kerrie Lester. Credit: Estate of Kerrie Lester.

3. Margaret Fink (b.1933), film producer, was a key figure in the renaissance of Australian cinema in the 1970s. She married businessman Leon Fink in 1961 and was renowned for her riotous dinner parties with friends such as Clive James, Barry Humphries and Germaine Greer. In 1975, her film adaptation of David Williamsons The Removalists established her as a hands-on producer. Her collaboration with Gillian Armstrong on My Brilliant Career (1979) launched the careers of Armstrong and its lead actors, Judy Davis and Sam Neill. Candy (2006), her last production, starred Heath Ledger in his final Australian film. Artist Kerrie Lester is known for her distinctive portraits in which the outlines of the sitters are hand-stitched. This portrait also features diamantes, a reference to Finks well-known penchant for clothes by fashion designer Sonia Rykiel.
My father gave me a toy chimpanzee I named Jubilee. Hes on show in the United States now, as part of an exhibition called Becoming Jane  safe in a bullet-proof glass case. Everyone thinks Jubilee is the reason I ended up studying chimps, but thats not correct.

My father, Mortimer , was not really present in my childhood; he was a keen motor racer and very tough. My mum, Margaret, raised me with my grandmothers. Dad joined the Royal Engineers and I didnt see him during the war. I inherited my strong constitution from him. He died aged 94, in 2001.

My maternal grandfather , William Joseph, was a congregational minister who died of cancer before I was born. He was a fantastical and wonderful man and I definitely inherited qualities from him.

Primatologist Dr Jane Goodall is best known for studying chimpanzees since the 1960s. The 87-year-old widow discusses her upbringing, career and the men who have influenced her.

I was obsessed with Dr Dolittle and in love with Tarzan as a child. Even though I knew Tarzan wasnt real, I still felt jealous because I thought he married the wrong Jane! All my dreams growing up were of men, and I was a man in my own dreams. Thats because in those days girls didnt do the things I wanted to do.

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Mum saved her money so I could see Johnny Weissmuller in a Tarzan movie. I burst into tears after five minutes. I told Mum it wasnt how I had imagined Tarzan and I never saw another Tarzan movie after that.

Paleoanthropologist Louis Leakey gave me an opportunity to study chimps in 1960 when he invited me on a trip to the Serengeti Plains to search for fossils. The British authorities didnt like the idea of sending a young girl to the forest in Africa. They told him they had never heard anything

so ridiculous. Leakey persisted and in the end the authorities said yes, but I couldnt go alone. Mum came with me for four of my six months.

At Cambridge University, my mentor, Dr Robert Hinde, supervised my PhD. He was one of the first great early ethologists. At first, he was my sternest critic. He told me I shouldnt give chimps names or talk about their personality. He came to Gombe in Tanzania and stayed for two weeks. Upon his return home, he wrote me a letter, telling me that he learnt more about animals in those two weeks than he had in his whole life. I still have it.
The United States will engage in meaningful diplomacy with Russia if Moscow shows willingness to do the same, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in an interview with the BBC.

March 5, 2022, 09:38 US ready to engage in meaningful diplomacy with Russia

STEPANAKERT, MARCH 5, ARTSAKHPRESS: "It depends entirely on President Putin and on Russia. If they show any signs of being willing to engage in meaningful diplomacy, of course, well engage," he said, when asked about the prospects for resolving the situation around Ukraine diplomatically.

"We look to our Ukrainian partners too. They are talking to the Russians, but thats not producing anything," Blinken added.

On February 24, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a special military operation based on a request from the heads of the Donbass republics. The Russian leader stressed that Moscow had no plans to occupy Ukrainian territories and the goal was to demilitarize and denazify the country. In response, the United States, the European Union, the United Kingdom and a number of other countries announced sanctions on Russian individuals and entities.
Pnaus Nick Littlemore had an inkling theyd produced a hit with Cold Heart, the Aussie trios collaboration with Elton John and Dua Lipa, when he first heard the song blasting from passing cars while strolling down New Yorks Lower East Side last year.

We knew we had something special, but that it was gonna blow? I mean, how could you even think it would go as well as its gone? Cause its been phenomenal, the Sydney musician, who lives in Los Angeles, says. Really, its not just a hit, its a force of nature.

Sam Littlemore, Nick Littlemore and Peter Mayes of Pnau.

The single, a slinky mash-up of Johns Rocket Man (1972), Sacrifice (1989), Kiss the Bride (1983) and Wheres the Shoorah? (1976), with pop star Dua Lipas vocals on the hook and Pnaus atmospheric house and signature chants on the beat, is officially Australias song of the summer.

According to ARIA, the ubiquitous song was the biggest hit from December to the end of February, outpacing The Kid Laroi and Justin Biebers Stay, Texas teenager Gayles ABCDEFU, UK band Glass Animals Heat Waves, and Adeles Easy On Me.
But given Bellas incredible performance in Pieces of Her, its highly unlikely her new haircut will stop her from landing further roles. The eight-part drama is based on the 2018 novel of the same name by Karin Slaughter. It follows 30-year-old Andy (Bella) and her mother, Laura (Toni Collette), who witness a random act of violence that sets Andy off on a journey across America trying to find the truth behind her mysterious family. I would watch this show if I wasnt in it, Bella says, laughing. I know every actor is like, It was my dream job, but it really was my dream job. I just loved going to work every day, which is saying something because its not like they were easy scenes to shoot. It wasnt like I was doing a romcom. But it was fun and I loved every aspect. Loading Its a remarkable feat that the series even managed to get made. It was originally slated to be shot in Canada in March 2020, but like so many productions that year, the COVID-19 pandemic got in the way. Production eventually relocated to Sydney at the start of 2021. A move made even more convenient as both Bella and Toni were already here in Australia. Im based in LA but my husband [architect Richard Stampton] and I have a house in Phillip Island [in Victoria], so we go between the two, Bella explains. So when I was in Vancouver ready to start shooting, he was here for work. Then the shit hit the fan, so I jumped on the plane thinking Ill be back in a few weeks. I never anticipated we would end up shooting in Australia.

Although set in the quiet seaside village of Belle Isle in Georgia, US, its the three Australian faces in the lead roles (David Wenham also stars in the series) which will strike a chord with local viewers, even if it is hard to get past 49-year-old Toni playing 34-year-old Bellas mother. Ive been cast down a few years, and shes been aged up a little, explains Bella. When it comes to working with the Golden Globe and Emmy award-winning actor, Bella cant speak highly enough of her. Shes such a powerhouse, she says. Shes so prolific in the work she does. It was like an acting masterclass. Shes so good and shes so generous with her offscreen work, which people of her calibre sometimes arent. Offscreen work isnt a familiar term for those outside of the industry, so Bella explains what she means. When the camera turns around to me and were doing my coverage and shes not on camera, shes still in the scene feeding me lines. Ive been in situations before where that actor has just pissed off and theres just a stand-in. [Toni Collette is such a powerhouse. Shes so prolific in the work she does. It was like an acting masterclass. Shes so good and shes so generous with her offscreen work, which people of her calibre sometimes arent.

Seriously? You should ask actors about that! Ive had friends who have been in a scene and the other actor is on their phone. Then there will be people who will be in the scene with you but they will hold back because they dont want to waste their energy when theyre not on camera. But Toni is not like that at all. She gives it everything even if shes not on camera. Its rare and its awesome, and it obviously really helps you in your performance. I guess it might be because of COVID or getting older, Im realising Australia is a part of me. Credit:Hannah Scott-Stevenson/Netflix Bella first moved to the US back in 2010, after appearing in a handful of episodes of Neighbours in 2009 and the Australian film Beneath Hill 60 in 2010. As a recipient of the Heath Ledger Scholarship, doors were opened in LA and she quickly landed a part in another age-defying role as Amanda Seyfrieds mother in 2011s In Time. It was based in the future when no one ages, she says, explaining how she played a mother to the now 36-year-old. Within a few months she booked roles in David Chases Not Fade Away and Tim Burtons Dark Shadows, both out in 2012. Then the work dried up. I was just a bit too picky at the time, so I picked myself out of work, she recalls. I remember somebody at the time saying you shape your career with your yeses. But I remember thinking, Maybe I just like to work. 

She soon found a more favourable formula to go by when making decisions about accepting projects. My friend talks about the top three: theres money, theres the calibre of the project and theres location. And if youve got two out of three, then go for it. The next role Bella accepted ticked two of the boxes and its easy to work out which one didnt quite hit the mark. It was Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, she laughs, recalling the 2016 comedy-horror film. I had an absolute blast! Loading So is Bella hoping her next role will meet the location criteria and be shot here in Australia? LA is definitely my main base as Ive been there since 2010, she says. But I guess it might be because of COVID or getting older, Im realising Australia is a part of me. I grew up in Melbourne and my dads here. My husband is Australian. He grew up on the coast here down in Mount Eliza. Hes very much a surfer and hed like to be near the beach. For now, what is drawing Bella back to the US is more gruelling than any role she could take on. We plan to hike the Pacific Crest Trail  basically from where Mexico and California meet, then up to Canada, she says. It takes months and months. My husband is taking a sabbatical and has been working towards this for years. I definitely want to do as much of it as I can.
Women are on the front lines of the global climate crisis, making up 80 per cent of the 21.5 million people displaced every year by climate-related events.

Thats according to the United Nations, which predicts at least 1.2 billion people could be displaced by climate events every year by 2050.

Kavita Naidu, an international human rights lawyer and activist from Fiji, specialising in climate justice. Credit:James Brickwood

Women and children are 14 times more likely to die or be injured from a natural disaster, and climate disasters have been shown to increase gender-based violence including sexual harassment and violence, domestic violence, child marriage, sexual exploitation of children and human trafficking.

Women are often also at the forefront of climate action: becoming environmental defenders, sustainability educators, and helping communities become more resilient to climate change.
A hard-earned thirst once required a cold beer, but now you also need a matching coat, jumper and shirt. Melbourne label Strateas Carlucci has collaborated with VB on a collection for beer tastes with a champagne budget, featuring graphics inspired by the alcohol brand.

With reputations for deconstructed tailoring that explores the tension between the masculine and feminine, while keeping you looking sharp, designers Peter Strateas and Mario-Luca Carlucci seem unlikely choices for cracking cold ones on the runway. For Carlucci, however, it is a timely tap into the nostalgia of childhood as the pair take a moment to look back on the labels tenth anniversary, celebrated with a show as part of the Melbourne Fashion Festival.

Strateas Carlucci designers Mario-Luca Carlucci and Peter Strateas have launched a designer collaboration with beer brand VB as part of the Melbourne Fashion Festival. Credit:Simon Schluter

Being a Victorian-based brand built on hard work we felt that we shared an ethos with VB, Carlucci said. From a personal and sentimental view, with Peter and I, coming from families with Greek and Italian heritage, we saw the value of hard work in our family homes and businesses.

While the VB brand is synonymous with beer, for Carlucci amber long neck bottles bring back the aromas of sweet tomatoes rather than malt and bitter caramels.
Many board directors would baulk at the idea that they might share accountability for a war. But as corporations become larger and more powerful than some governments they have increasingly moved into areas which can affect national security. When powerful corporations harness their market power towards a policy outcome, they must take ownership of the knock-on effects their feel-good commitments produce in a complex geopolitical environment.

In 2011 German Chancellor Angela Merkel announced that Germany would close down the countrys nuclear power plants, ultimately making Germany more reliant on Russian gas as the European superpower attempts the transition to renewable energy. The decision was not the brain bubble of one woman or even of her centrist grand coalition government. In the wake of the tsunami which hit the Japanese Fukushima power station causing ripples of unease about nuclear power around the world, Siemens, one of the Germanys most powerful companies, and the company which built all of its nuclear power plants, announced that it would phase out nuclear power by 2022. As then chief executive Peter Loscher said, it was an answer to the clear political and social position on nuclear power in Germany. In other words, the company read the room and decided that fashion no longer favoured nuclear power. With an eye to its share price, Siemens decided that investors who were increasingly directing their money into ethical investments would favour a move into renewables.

As Germany sought a way to deliver on its fashionable drive to get out of nuclear, it embraced Vladimir Putin and Russian gas. Credit:Sputnik Kremlin

Germany had already embarked upon its Energiewende, or transition from fossil to renewable power sources. But the new political and corporate resolve to be on the right side of history as well as the right side of the accounting ledger began the phase out of a key source of low-emissions power. As the proportion of nuclear-sourced power used by Germany declined, more money was invested into sources of renewable energy. But the new technology still needs to be augmented with older forms of energy generation. Like gas.

Of course, many people warned of the strategic danger of depending on Russian autocrat Vladimir Putin to keep the heat on in democratic Germany. When I lived in an unrenovated flat in what had been East Berlin, my heater bore Soviet-era branding, but I didnt need that to remind me that an unrenovated KGB agent still had ultimate control over the temperature in my apartment. Well before construction began on the Nord Stream 2 pipeline, Putin would use the winter months to rattle his political sabre and the political consequences of allowing heating prices to rise in the cold months would bring the German government to the negotiating table.
It would be difficult to imagine a government minister these days with an appetite for reform even remotely as keen as that of Moss Cass who died, aged 95, in Melbourne on February 26.

He fought to legalise abortion and homosexual acts at a time when doctors and gays could be jailed, he was an environmentalist long before it became fashionable, a pioneer of Medicare and a media minister unafraid to criticise Rupert Murdochs media empire as paranoid.

Dr Moss Cass

In 1971, a year before the Whitlam government was elected, Dr Cass became a counter-culture champion when he invited senators to join him in smoking marijuana.

A proponent of legalising cannabis, he thought senators ought to know what they were talking about if they were going to debate the matter.
Last year, almost 700 families put in out-of-area applications for their children to attend Parramatta High School. All of them were rejected.

Nearby Macarthur Girls High School, which the government has named one of the states exemplary schools, rejected almost 300 applications from families outside the schools zone, while partially selective Sefton High rejected 172, and Greystanes High knocked back almost 150.

Parramatta High School rejected hundreds of out-of-area applications last year. Credit:Rhett Wyman

The figures come after the NSW Department of Education cracked down on out-of-area enrolments in 2019, giving each school a cap based on the space available in their permanent buildings that they were not allowed to exceed.

Many families look outside their zone for high schools, with previous figures showing almost half of the students attending Sydney public secondary schools live outside their local catchment area.
In the popular holiday spot of Wye River, the community must soon decide how they will respond to the inevitable march of erosion at the beach: will it be fight or flight?

A change in the Wye Rivers course has eaten away at a dune on the Great Ocean Road beach, resulting in the collapse of a disability access ramp attached to the surf life-saving club last year.

Damage to the ramp at Wye River. Credit:Joe Armao

A separate ramp that lifesavers used to get to the beach was also damaged.

Now authorities fear the club itself and a nearby camping ground will eventually come under threat.
By accusing Ukraine of breaking the agreement, Russia is likely seeking to shift responsibility for current and future civilian casualties in the city, it said. Loading In recent days, Ukraine had urged Moscow to create humanitarian corridors to allow children, women and the older adults to flee the fighting. Later on Saturday (Ukraine time), Russian forces intensified their shelling in Mariupol, including with the use of airplanes, the mayor said. The city is in a very, very difficult state of siege, Vadym Boychenko told Ukrainian TV.

Relentless shelling of residential blocks is ongoing, airplanes have been dropping bombs on residential areas. Elsewhere in the country, Ukrainian forces were holding key cities in central and south-eastern Ukraine, while the Russians were trying to keep Kharkiv, Mykolaiv, Chernihiv and Sumy encircled. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Saturday said Russia was ready for a third round of talks, but he asserted that the Ukrainian side, the most interested side here, it would seem, is constantly making up various pretexts to delay the beginning of another meeting. The Ukrainian army on the outskirts of Sytniaky. Credit:Getty Images Diplomatic efforts continued as US Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived in Poland to meet with the Prime Minister and Foreign Minister. The meeting came a day after a NATO meeting in Brussels in which the alliance pledged to step up support for eastern flank members, but resisted calls for a no-fly zone.

In Moscow, Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett was meeting with Putin at the Kremlin. Israel maintains good relations with both Russia and Ukraine, and Bennett has offered to act as an intermediary in the conflict. In the wake of Western sanctions, Aeroflot, Russias flagship state-owned airline, announced that it planned to halt all international flights, with the exception of Belarus. US President Joe Biden called Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to discuss ongoing efforts to impose economic costs on Russia and to speed US military, humanitarian and economic assistance to Ukraine. President Biden welcomed decisions by Visa and Mastercard to suspend their operations in Russia. President Biden noted his administration is surging security, humanitarian, and economic assistance to Ukraine and is working closely with Congress to secure additional funding, a White House readout of the call stated.

Putin warned on Saturday that Ukrainian statehood is in jeopardy and likened the Wests sanctions on Russia to declaring war. If they continue to do what they are doing, they are calling into question the future of Ukrainian statehood, he said. And if this happens, it will be entirely on their conscience. He also hit out at Western sanctions that have crippled Russias economy and sent the value of its currency tumbling. These sanctions that are being imposed, they are akin to declaring war, he said during a televised meeting with flight attendants from Russian airline Aeroflot. But thank God, we havent got there yet. Death toll rises

At least 351 civilians have been confirmed killed since Russias invasion of Ukraine on February 24, but the true number is probably much higher, the UN human rights office has said. Loading Zelensky said on Saturday that 10,000 Russian troops had died in the war, a claim that could not be independently verified. The Russian military, which doesnt offer regular updates on casualties, said on Wednesday that 498 of its troops had been killed. That figure also cannot be verified. Ukraines military might is vastly outmatched by Russias, but its military and volunteer forces have fought back with fierce tenacity since the invasion. Even in cities that have fallen to the Russians, there were signs of resistance.

Onlookers in Chernihiv cheered as they watched a Russian military plane fall from the sky and crash, according to video released on Saturday by the Ukrainian government. In Kherson, hundreds of people protested against the invasion, shouting, Go home. A vast Russian armoured column threatening Ukraines capital remained stalled outside Kyiv. Ukrainian presidential adviser Oleksiy Arestovich said the military situation was quieter overall on Saturday and Russian forces have not taken active actions since the morning. While the shelling in Mariupol showed Russias determination to cut Ukraine off from access to the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov, further damaging the countrys economy, it was Putin who was most on the offensive with his comments warning that a no-fly zone would be considered a hostile act. NATO has said it had no plans to implement such a no-fly zone, which would bar all unauthorised aircraft from flying over Ukraine. Western officials have said a main reason is a desire to not widen the war beyond Ukraine. Zelensky has pleaded for a no-fly zone over his country and lashed out at NATO for refusing to impose one, warning that all the people who die from this day forward will also die because of you.

But as the United States and other NATO members send weapons for Kyiv, the conflict is already drawing in countries far beyond Ukraines borders. As Russia cracks down on independent media reporting on the war, more major international news outlets said they were pausing their work there. A humanitarian crisis And in a warning of a hunger crisis yet to come, the UN World Food Program has said millions of people inside Ukraine, a major global wheat supplier, will need food aid immediately. The UN Security Council has scheduled an open meeting for Monday on the worsening humanitarian situation. The United Nations estimates that 12 million people in Ukraine and 4 million fleeing to neighbouring countries in the coming months will need humanitarian aid.
French President Emmanuel Macron had a telephonic conversation Friday with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, news.am informs, citing TASS.

March 5, 2022, 12:27 Macron discusses Ukraine situation with Scholz, Johnson, Zelenskyy

STEPANAKERT, MARCH 5, ARTSAKHPRESS: In particular, Macron spoke about the military operations at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant in Ukraine, and briefed his interlocutors on the results of his telephonic conversation Thursday with director general Rafael Mariano Grossi of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

All the interlocutors "welcomed the [French] President's proposal to take concrete steps to implement the IAEA recommendations to ensure the security of Ukraine's major nuclear facilities."

Also, Macron discussed separately with Scholz the EU summit scheduled for March 10 and 11 in Versailles, France. During that meeting, Macron plans to discuss the adaptation of European countries to the aftermath of the recent events in Ukraine.

In addition to the security of nuclear facilities, Macron discussed humanitarian issues with Zelenskyy, and promised that Paris will increase its respective assistance to Ukraine.
Russias strategy of seizing control of Ukraines power generation by attacking its fleet of nuclear reactors has prompted global fears of a Chernobyl-style nuclear catastrophe.

On Friday, AEDT, Russian troops seized the biggest nuclear power plant in Europe after a middle-of-the-night attack that set it on fire. Firefighters extinguished the blaze, and no radiation was released, UN and Ukrainian officials said.

In the attack on the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant in the southeastern city of Enerhodar, the chief of the UNs International Atomic Energy Agency, Rafael Mariano Grossi, said a Russian projectile hit a training centre, though not any of the six reactors.

The attack triggered global alarm and fear of a catastrophe that could dwarf the worlds worst nuclear disaster, at Ukraines Chernobyl in 1986. In an emotional nighttime speech, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he feared an explosion that would be the end for everyone. The end for Europe. The evacuation of Europe.
Save Log in , register or subscribe to save articles for later. Normal text size Larger text size Very large text size Stephen Rowe is a black man who is tired of being called a white supremacist. Its a label he says hes been given by the left, not because he actually believes that white people are the superior race, but because he happens to support Donald Trump. Donald Trump acknowledges the crowd support after speaking at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in Florida. Credit:AP I look at myself in the mirror and I dont know how being called a white supremacist actually aligns, he says, with a laugh. But it really does happen. Ive also been called a race traitor, Ive been called Uncle Tom (a black man considered to be servile to white people) and a whole bunch of other things that are too rude to say. Its just something you have to get used to. Fifteen months after Trump lost the election, Rowe, 29, is emblematic of the former presidents ongoing popularity among voters from minority groups that many view as central to the Democrats broad coalition. Trump supporter and proud conservative Stephen Rowe is trying to recruit more people from diverse backgrounds to climb the ranks of the movement.

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For Rowe - who argues that being a black conservative is not a contradiction, its a compliment - this is too often taken for granted by Democrats. While Joe Biden won the 2020 US election with about 80 million votes, Trump still achieved 74 million votes, partly by making significant inroads among Hispanic voters and by courting black voters and members of the LGBTQI community. Rowe is a digital strategist for the Leadership Institute, which teaches conservatives how to run campaigns and engage in grassroots activism. Now, as Trump hints at another presidential run in 2024, Rowe is trying to recruit more people from diverse backgrounds to climb the ranks of the movement. Last week, at the annual gathering of the right-wing pageantry known as the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC), he led a panel discussion titled Are You Ready To Be Called A Racist for those who might be considering running for school boards, local councils, or state and federal office. I think we have a really exciting opportunity right now, he says. Weve seen the debates over critical race theory, the pushback over vaccines and mask mandates, and the groundswell of support for Donald Trump. I certainly look forward to seeing him run. Barometer of the base

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Its a Sunday afternoon in Orlando, Florida, and a drag queen wearing a khaki dress, mustard boots and a rose tiara is traipsing down the hallway of the Rosen Shingle Creek Resort on the fourth and final day of CPAC. Are you from Australia? Lady MAGA asks after hearing my accent. Im so sorry - it must break your heart whats happened over there with all those COVID lockdowns. Australia used to be a beacon of freedom; now its practically Russia. Billed as the biggest gathering of conservatives in the world, CPAC has traditionally been a good barometer of the Republicans base and a presidential testing ground for would-be candidates to raise their profiles. Trump fan: Lady MAGA is the Utah president of a group called the Log Cabin Republicans, which represents LGBTQI conservatives and allies. Credit:Farrah Tomazin Every year, thousands of conservatives attend the event, paying between $300 to $3000 for a ticket, which allows them to rub shoulders with the whos who of the Republican Party. But while CPAC was once a platform for conservatives to discuss serious issues such as taxes or economic policy, nowadays, it feels more like a fringe festival to air cultural grievances. This year - with the theme Awake Not Woke and panel discussions such as The Moron In Chief; Fire Fauci and Lock Her Up, For Real - it also felt like a Trumpist convention.

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Loading If the daily speeches were any guide, Republicans have clearly found their formula for Novembers midterm elections. They will focus on culture wars, denounce radical left ideology, and be vocal at local school board debates, on everything from book banning to anti-racism. We are the party of inclusion, of diversity, of ideas! Donald Trump jnr bellows from the stage. Lady MAGA - the drag queen walking the hallways also known as Ryan Woods - is the Utah president of the Log Cabin Republicans, which represents LGBTQI conservatives and allies. Once a closeted gay Mormon who voted for the Democrats, Woods turned to the Republicans because the party aligned with the two things he values most: freedom of speech and the Second Amendment right to own guns. Last year, he was stood down from his job as a Delta flight attendant, after posting photos of people holding firearms, which reportedly violated the airlines social media policies. Woods says this wasnt the first time he was cancelled.

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For several years, Woods drag persona had been Ryanna Woods, inspired by the character Elle Woods from Legally Blonde. But in 2019, when he debuted Lady MAGA - an acronym for Trumps campaign slogan Make America Great Again - his friends from Utahs gay scene vanished. Its so sad because these are the people who are supposed to be about love, tolerance and inclusion - yet at every single show, they would cuss President Trump, he says. For a while I didnt say a word because I value freedom of speech. In the end I was excommunicated. Texas small business owner Michael Manue says hes lost friends, customers and business over his support of Trump. Credit:Farrah Tomazin Texas small business owner Michael Manuel tells a similar story. A few years ago, no one from his community knew he was a Republican. He was drawn to Donald Trump because hes not a politician - hes a businessman and he speaks what were thinking. That changed after the murder of George Floyd in May 2020, whose death under the knee of white police officer Derek Chauvin sparked protests across the US. Manuel, who runs a womens clothing boutique in Beaumont, about an hour east of Houston, started reposting videos of rioting and looting by extreme left-wing groups, and began speaking out against what was happening on Facebook. I ended up losing best friends, customers, and a lot of business, he says.

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Willemstad/Philipsburg - The European Union (EU), the United States (US) and other countries have announced and imposed multiple sanctions on Russia in recent days. The sanctions were issued in response to the recent incursion of Russian forces into Ukraine. These include sanctions against the Russian central bank and the exclusion of a number of Russian banks from Swift.

What do the sanctions against Russias central bank involve?

Central banks hold accounts with other central banks as well as sometimes with private financial institutions abroad. The money and securities held on those accounts are denominated in the currency of the country where that central bank or private institution is established. It is therefore common for central banks around the world to hold accounts among themselves in each others currencies.

One important aim of holding foreign currency is to ensure smooth inter-country payments in different currencies.

The Russian central bank holds reserves in several countriesdirectly with the central banks and/or with private institutions. The sanctions against the Russian central bank are intended to cut off its access to the funds it holds elsewhere. This means, for instance, that Russia no longer has access to its dollars in the U.S., rendering it difficult for this country to make international payments. This sanction also makes it hard for the Russian central bank to maintain the stability of Russias currency, the ruble, which could lead to its rapid depreciation.

What does the exclusion of some Russian banks from SWIFT mean?

The Russian banks affected are not able to send or receive funds to and from foreign banking institutions. As a result, these Russian banks are now excluded from the international payment system.

For Curacao, this means that companies and individuals with accounts at these banks are unable to conduct international transactions. Neither is it possible to transfer any funds to these accounts holders.

The sanctions also mean that claims against foreign customers with an account at these Russian banks cannot be collected at this time.
Somerset, KY (42501)

Today

A mix of clouds and sun during the morning will give way to cloudy skies this afternoon. A stray afternoon thunderstorm is possible. High 79F. Winds light and variable..

Tonight

Showers and thunderstorms likely. Low 63F. Winds SSE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 80%.
Enterprise, AL (36331)

Today

Areas of fog early, becoming sunny this afternoon. High 88F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Partly cloudy this evening, then becoming cloudy after midnight. Low 68F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph.
Ukraines leader has delivered a scorching and emotional attack on Nato  criticising it for refusing to enforce a no-fly zone and accusing it of leaving his people to die.

Speaking shortly Nato confirmed it would not offer such aerial protection to Ukraine, out of fear of triggering further conflict with Russia, Volodymyr Zelensky said the military alliance had abandoned his nation.

All the people who die from this day forward will also die because of you, because of your weakness, because of your lack of unity, he said in an address, sometime after midnight in Ukraine.

The alliance has given the green light to the bombing of Ukrainian cities and villages by refusing to create a no-fly zone.

He added: All that the alliance was able to do today was to pass through its procurement system 50 tons of diesel fuel for Ukraine.

The comments from Ukraines leader, who has repeatedly called for Nato to do more to protect his country, came after the organisation on Friday confirmed it would not protect the countrys skies against Russian jets or bombers.

The only way to implement a no-fly zone is to send Nato planes  fighter planes  into Ukrainian airspace, and then impose that no-fly zone by shooting down Russian planes, Nato Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said in Brussels.

If we did that, well end up with something that could end in a full-fledged war in Europe involving many more countries and causing much more human suffering.

His point was echoed by Americas top diplomat, Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who was also in Brussels.

President Biden has been clear that we are not going to get into a war with Russia, Mr Blinken said.

While Western officials have been struck by the resilience of Ukraines military and its citizens in fending off Russian advances, 10 days after Vladimir Putin launched his invasion, there are concerns that in the coming days, Russia will regroup and press harder.

Story continues

The long column of armoured vehicles bearing down on Kyiv are said to have added to the sense of vulnerability.

We believe that Nato countries have created a narrative that closing the skies over Ukraine would provoke Russias direct aggression against Nato. This is the self-hypnosis of those who are weak, insecure inside, despite the fact they possess weapons many times stronger than we have, said the Ukrainian leader.

He said Natos leadership had given a green light to Russia to launch further attacks.

[It] was a weak summit, a confused summit, a summit that shows that not everyone considers the struggle for freedom to be Europes number one goal, he added.

For nine days we have been seeing a fierce war  destroying our cities, shelling our people, our children, residential neighbourhoods, churches, schools, destroying everything that provides a normal life, human life.

This infographic, created for The Independent by statistics agency Statista, shows the relative military strength of Ukraine and Russia (Statista/The Independent)

Mr Zelensky is due to speak by Zoom to every member of the US Senate on Saturday morning, presumably to make his case for extra help.

Previously, his entreaties to other leaders have had the power to move hearts, and policy.

It was widely reported that his address to European leaders from a military bunker early after Russias invasion when he told them it may be the last time they would see him, was a major reason for the strong financial sanctions imposed on Russia.

In his latest speech, he closed by saying Nato would not be able to pay us off with litres of fuel for the litres of our blood, shed for our common Europe.

He said Ukrainians will continue to resist and have already destroyed Russias plans for a lightning invasion having endured nine days of darkness and evil.

We are warriors of light, he said. The history of Europe will remember this forever.

Additional reporting by Associated Press
MIDDLETOWN  A group of Wesleyan University international students organized a rally on Friday to show solidarity with Ukraine amid the ongoing Russian invasion.

U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., joined the dozens of students, faculty, staff and community members who attended the rally.

Ive been getting a lot of attention for the past nine days, organizer Julia Kulchytska, who is from Ukraine, told the group. People have been asking me how Im doing.  For me, there are no more days of the week. There is the first day of the war. The second one. The third one. Today is day nine. Nine days in a row of Ukrainian soldiers sleeping and fighting on streets. Of Ukrainian civilians sleeping in bomb shelters. Nine days of Ukrainian people dying.

Kulchytska said her entire family is still in Ukraine, and she feels an extreme sense of guilt for not being there with them. Organizing this rally, alongside fellow international students Kiryl Beliauski (from Belarus), Lera Svirydzenka (from Belarus), and Kseniia Guliaeva (from Russia) was a tangible way she felt she could help.

Blumenthal commended students for their solidarity with Ukraine. Blumenthal emphasized the need for the U.S. government to impose further sanctions, and also condemned Russian President Vladimir Putins actions and classified his recent attack on the nuclear plant as a war crime.

We all know from history  a dictator, an aggressor, if unchecked, will keep going, Blumenthal said. Thats the lesson of history. A bully will keep victimizing people until he is stopped. And thats what Vladimir Putin is. A bully, a dictator, a butcher  he has shown no compassion for human life  and so we need to have the courage and conviction to match that of the people of Ukraine. To stand with them, to donate, to do everything we can.

Professors from Wesleyans Russian, East European and Eurasian Studies Department also spoke to the group. Professor Peter Rutland emphasized how the war started in 2014 with the Revolution of Dignity, and the recent events were an escalation of the existing conflict.

Professors Roman Utkin and Natasha Karageorgos shared poems. Director of the Albritton Center for the Study of Public Life Katja Kolcio shared her experiences and encouraged everyone to stand up to Russia in whatever way they could.

Show up, because youre free to do so without getting beaten, Kolcio said. Write to your congressional representatives because they listen and they welcome your words. Organize, because its not illegal. This is what Ukrainians are fighting for and giving their lives up for. Whether you stand for Ukraine, or you stand for the principals that are dearest to your heart, just stand because you matter.

Kolcio also noted how the fact that students from Ukraine, Belarus, and Russia have come together to organize the rally speaks historical volumes.

Organizers Beliauski and Svirydzenka and student Timosha White also spoke and shared what students can do to help. The three emphasized the propaganda that plagues their countries, and how sharing correct information is crucial in combating the situation. Student speakers also reminded attendees that many do not support Putin or autocratic rule in their countries.

I want to apologize for my government and for the government of Russia for doing this, but I also want you to know that not all Russians support Putin and not all Belorussians support (Belarus President Alexander) Lukashenko, said Svirydzenka, who is from Belarus. Im proud of our team because you see that there are amazing people from Ukraine, Russia, Belarus, and even though our government is fighting, we are together and we are fighting against our enemy.

Kolcio reiterated the importance of power in numbers, as Putin sees civic vitality as a threat to his rule.

This is a big, complicated, almost unimaginable [thing] happening now but theres one thing I know for certain: Putins not afraid of NATO. Putin is afraid of you, Kolcio said. Putin is afraid of people who stand up, and claim their freedom and their victory. Putin is afraid of you, Putin is afraid of you. Lets take a stand because we can.

The rally concluded with the group marching around North College, chanting Stop the War.

Throughout the event, speakers encouraged attendees to donate what they could to support Ukraine, passing around flyers on how people can contribute. Kulchytska had received $5,000 in donations by Friday night for military and humanitarian efforts in Ukraine.

Next week, the College of the Environment, Albritton Center for the Study of Public Life, and Russian, Eastern European & Eurasian Studies will host the last of a three-part series of international livestream conversations with students, journalists and civic leaders in Ukraine.

Right now, with the panels and with this attention that Ukraine is getting, its historically very important, Kolcio said in an interview. This is the first chance Ukrainians get to speak for themselves and what theyve been fighting for for centuries, self determination and existence. ... The recognition for being a distinct nation of people.  This is historical, and whatever happens, the attention Ukraine is getting now will make a difference forevermore.

The student organizers also hope these events will help people realize the impact the war has on their peers, as well as the rest of the world.

Sometimes its very hard for me when people speak about it in such a detached way  everything I have in my mental image is children spending nights in bomb shelters and civilians just getting bombed and attacked, Kulchytska said in an interview. People should understand its not like we are completely detached from it because we are on another continent. The whole world will suffer from this war. Damage works like a shock wave and it will reach people.

Editors note: Hannah Docter-Loeb is a student at Wesleyan University.
Federal authorities have issued a subpoena to the city of Bristol seeking all records affiliated with the Bristol Memorial Boulevard Arts Magnet School project, making it at least the second project to draw the interest of a federal grand jury investigating Konstantinos Diamantis and the states school construction grant program.

Bristol Corporation Counsel Edward Krawiecki Jr. said Friday that the city had received the subpoena electronically and was in the process of accumulating the documents and emails that the grand jury is seeking.

Krawiecki said he was awaiting guidance from the FBI before releasing the actual subpoena but acknowledged it was identical to one that Tolland officials received regarding a school building project in that town. Bristol has the same mid-March time frame to produce the evidence, he said.

Tolland officials acknowledged Thursday that they had received a subpoena from federal authorities seeking records from 2015 to the present identifying all Office of School Construction Grants & Review (OSCG&R) projects in Tolland; all communications with or related to Konstantinos Diamantis or any other employee of OSCG&R; all documents related to any OSCG&R project at Birch Grove Primary School.

The Bristol and Tolland school projects are the only two school construction projects that the Bristol-based DAmato Construction has been involved in over the past four years.

DAmato is partnering with Downes Construction as the general contractor on the $63 million Bristol school project. They were the general contractor on the $46 million Birch Grove School project.

In Bristol, city officials sparred with Diamantis over whom to hire to do hazardous waste removal from the Memorial Boulevard school site.

Dale Clift, Bristols corporation counsel before Krawiecki, wrote a letter to Diamantis in May 2020 that described the back-and-forth that took place between the city and the state. It laid out a detailed timeline of what the state had communicated to the city.

The letter shows that the city received numerous bids for the demolition and abatement work for Bristols Memorial Boulevard Arts Magnet School on April 21, 2020.

Select Demo Services, which is headquartered in New Hampshire, was the lowest bidder, offering to do the work for $4.73 million.

But before the contract could be finalized, Clift wrote, officials in the city were approached by Michael Sanders, a former employee at the state Department of Administrative Services. He advised the city to reject the other bids and hire Bestech, an Ellington-based company, instead.

According to Clifts letter, that directive was delivered by Sanders but was issued by Diamantis.

But Diamantis never responded to the letter, Clift said.

The city eventually gave the contract to Select Demo after the company hired an attorney to protest the bid.

The Tolland elementary school was built after the state Department of Administrative Services granted the project emergency status because of a report that its foundation was crumbling. The school was eventually built by DAmato Construction.

The construction manager on the project was Construction Advocacy Professionals (CAP) which had hired Anastasia Diamantis, Kostas daughter, in the midst of receiving two contracts worth $530,000 to oversee the Birch Grove project.

The grand jury issued a subpoena to the state in October seeking emails and texts by Diamantis from January 2018 until he left state service. Among the search words that they asked state officials to find were Construction Advocacy Services, DAmato Construction and Birch Grove.
China is committed to "resolving the Taiwan question in the new era," it said in its annual government report issued Saturday, using sharper wording than in previous such reports amid debate among foreign-policy experts over whether Beijing would attempt a takeover of the self-ruled island similar to Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Beijing's annual work report traditionally includes a couple of paragraphs declaring that the government will continue working toward the unification of Taiwan. This is the first year since President Xi Jinping came to power a decade ago that this section of the annual report includes a time frame - "in the new era" - although it's unclear how long a period this means.

The stronger wording is in line with Beijing's signals of impatience on Taiwan over the past few years, which have alarmed residents of the island. Xi said in 2019 that "we should not allow this problem to be passed down from one generation to the next."

Huang Kwei-bo, associate professor of diplomacy at Taiwan's National Chengchi University, said the term "in the new era" was closely associated with Xi's rule and has been showing up more often in various contexts.

Huang said Xi likely wants to send the message that he "is ready to deal with both old and new problems in the new era."

Saturday's report also repeated previous language on advancing "the peaceful growth of relations across the Taiwan Strait" and opposing "separatist activities."

After being defeated by Mao Zedong's Communist forces in 1949, Chinese Nationalist troops fled to Taiwan and set up rule over the island. Beijing has declared since that it will unify Taiwan with the mainland, by force if necessary. Taiwan has developed into one of Asia's most vibrant democracies and progressive societies: For instance, it is one of the few societies in the world that has ever elected an unmarried woman as president.

Russia's invasion of Ukraine - and the reluctance of Western countries to send troops to defend it - has raised worries in Taiwan that Beijing might be emboldened to try a similar move. The catchphrase "Today Ukraine, Tomorrow Taiwan," has circulated uneasily across the island.

Foreign-policy circles have been awash in discussions about whether Xi might follow Putin's example and invade Taiwan. Some point out similar ambitions in both leaders to build their empires, unfazed by criticism from the West. But others cite notable differences, including Taiwan's key role in global supply chains and the island's location near key U.S. allies such as South Korea and Japan.

China's annual work report is also watched by the business sector for its economic growth target. This year it was set at around 5.5%, which would be the second-lowest rate of gross domestic product growth since the 1990s. (The lowest was 2020s 2.3% GDP growth, as China went into lockdown for the coronavirus pandemic). China said its economy rebounded to 8.1% growth in 2021.

While the report, delivered by Chinese Premier Li Keqiang, does not mention the war in Ukraine, it cites economic challenges in general, and says maintaining economic stability is the "top priority" this year. Li said tax cuts to businesses and construction projects are on the way.

"In the face of new downward pressure, the task of ensuring stable growth needs to occupy an even more prominent position," Li said in the report.

Li also said one of the goals this year would be to control coronavirus infections in a "targeted" way, suggesting an approaching loosening of the draconian policies that have kept China's coronavirus infection count close to zero, but have weighed on the economy and upended daily life.

"Occurrences of local cases must be handled in a scientific and targeted manner, and the normal order of work and life must be ensured," Li said in the work report.

This year is a politically important one for Xi, who is largely expected to stay on as China's leader for a third five-year term, disregarding the established practice of stepping aside after two terms.

- - -

The Washington Post's Christian Shepherd contributed to this report.
Advocates of an open, globally connected internet long have worried that a major country or region would break away from the web amid geopolitical strife, dashing hopes of a seamless network capable of uniting a fractious world.

Little more than a week into Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the world is coming closer to that unsettling prophecy than ever before.

Moscow's censors on Friday banned Facebook and throttled other American social media services. Microsoft banned sales to Russians, following a similar move by Apple. And a leading American conduit of internet data, Cogent Communications, severed ties with its Russian clients to prevent its networks from being used for propaganda or cyberattacks aimed at beleaguered Ukrainians.

Taken together, these and other events likely will make it harder for Russians to track the horrors unfolding in Ukraine at a time when Russia's own independent media has been almost completely shut down by President Vladimir Putin. On an even larger scale, these moves bring Russia closer to the day when its online networks face largely inward, their global connections weakened, if not cut off entirely.

"I am very afraid of this," said Mikhail Klimarev, executive director of the Internet Protection Society, which advocates for digital freedoms in Russia. "I would like to convey to people all over the world that if you turn off the internet in Russia, then this means cutting off 140 million people from at least some truthful information. As long as the internet exists, people can find out the truth. There will be no internet - all people in Russia will only listen to propaganda."

Russia's internet censorship technology, meanwhile, is becoming increasingly advanced, said Andrei Soldatov, a Russian journalist who authored "The Red Web," a book on the internet there. People are increasingly relying on VPNs to access blocked websites by accessing connection points outside Russia, he said, but there's a risk that even those will be blocked by the government.

"For the Russians, it's very dramatic, and it's very fast," said Soldatov. "Which means people are not just trying to adjust but to fight back."

Autocrats in several nations have worked to gain more control over what their citizens see and do online, while also seeking to isolate them from outside ideas. Iran unplugged from the global internet for a week in 2019 while the government battled internal unrest. China for years has trapped its citizens behind a "Great Firewall" of aggressive monitoring and censorship.

But even two weeks ago, Russia's internet was comparatively free and integrated into the larger online world, allowing civil society to organize, opposition figures to deliver their messages and ordinary Russians to gain ready access to alternative sources of news in an era when Putin was strangling his nation's free newspapers and broadcast stations.

Just last year, opposition leader Alexei Navalny, now in prison, used YouTube to help deliver a devastating expose, called "Putin's Palace," about his lavish lifestyle. More recently, news from Ukraine - including disturbing images of attacks on civilians and dead Russian soldiers - flowed in on social media and online news sources, including from Ukrainian news sites.

Patrick Boehler, head of digital strategy at Radio Free Europe, said CrowdTangle data showed that independent news stories in the Russian language worldwide were getting shared many more times on social media than stories from state-run media. He said that once the Kremlin lost control of the narrative, it would have been hard to regain.

Now the last independent journalistic outposts are gone, and the internet options are increasingly constricted through a combination of forces - all spurred by war in Ukraine but coming from both within and outside Russia.

The interior forces came from Roskomnadzor, Russia's censor, which Friday announced plans to block Facebook, which already had been throttled for several days. In a post on the popular Telegram social media site, the agency accused Facebook of blocking the free flow of information to Russia after it took steps to fact-check state media and restrict it in Europe. Roskomnadzor said it sent similar letters to TikTok and Google, the owner of YouTube. Twitter has also confirmed that its service is being restricted for some people in Russia.

Government censors also blocked access to the BBC, Voice of America, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty and Deutsche Welle, as well as major Ukrainian websites. The BBC, CNN and other international news organizations said they were suspending reporting in Russia because of a new law that could result in 15 years of prison for publishing what government officials deem false news on the war.

At the same time, Western companies are increasingly reconsidering their business ties in Russia, in some cases opting to cut services there. Microsoft said Friday it was "stopping many aspects" of its business in Russia to comply with sanctions from the United States, United Kingdom and European Union. Netscout, a Connecticut-based software provider, announced it would suspend all support and services to Russian companies in accordance with sanctions.

Ukraine's minister of digital transformation, Mykhailo Fedorov, at first pressured popular consumer companies like Apple, Facebook and Google to withdraw services from Russia. Now he has turned his attention to the companies that make the internet itself function.

On Friday, Fedorov tweeted that he sent a letter to Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, calling on Amazon to stop providing cloud services in Russia. He sent a similar letter to Matthew Prince, the co-founder and CEO of Cloudflare, an internet services company that specializes in protecting sites from online attacks. (Bezos owns The Washington Post.)

"Cloudflare should not protect Russian web-resources while their tanks and missiles attack our kindergartens," he said in a tweet earlier this week.

The Cogent move by itself broke a piece of the internet's vaunted "backbone" - the most important structural element in keeping global data flowing. "A backbone carrier disconnecting its customers in a country the size of Russia is without precedent in the history of the internet," analyst Doug Madory of monitoring firm Kentik wrote in a blog.

The move by Cogent to sever ties with Russian customers began taking effect on Friday and was to roll out over several days, to allow some customers to find alternative sources, the company said.

But the company was blunt in letters to its Russian customers, writing, "In light of the unwarranted and unprovoked invasion of Ukraine, Cogent is terminating all of your services effective at 5 p.m. GMT on March 4, 2022. The economic sanctions put in place as a result of the invasion and the increasingly uncertain security situation make it impossible for Cogent to continue to provide you with service."

Cogent chief executive Dave Schaeffer said the company did not want to keep ordinary Russians off the internet but did want to prevent the Russian government from using Cogent's networks to launch cyberattacks or deliver propaganda targeting Ukraine at a time of war.

"Our goal is not to hurt anyone. It's just to not empower the Russian government to have another tool in their war chest," he said.

Russia itself appears to be attempting to strike a balance between appeasing its own people and retaliating against U.S. tech companies. The country's blocking of Facebook did not extend to WhatsApp and Instagram, two services owned by the same parent company, Meta, that are far more popular with Russians. Instagram is used by celebrities, influencers and members of the Russian elite. WhatsApp is widely used for calls and everyday communication.

Also protected so far has been Telegram, which was founded by Russian entrepreneurs who have since moved its headquarters out of the country. It may gain protection by being a leading source of information for all sides. The company has not cut off the government's RT channel or its other propaganda sources. Opposition content, as well as content from Ukrainians seeking to influence opinion in Russia, remains available on Telegram.

The Russian government has been steadily moving to exert more control over the internet for years, including enacting laws that allow Roskomnadzor to cut off the domestic internet and have more control over web architecture. The government has also compelled media organizations that get funding from outside the country to label themselves as "foreign agents," and informally, state organizations have bought up most independent media channels.

Russians say that finding factual, independent information sources still is possible within the country - mainly because of the internet and social media - but it's a challenge at a time when people are increasingly struggling to navigate a sanctions-ravaged economy and government crackdowns on free speech. Several people in the country agreed to speak only if their names and other identifying information were not published.

"You have to be a sophisticated news consumer in order to find credible information," said Alexander Gabuev, a senior fellow at the Carnegie Moscow Center, a think tank. "Accessing different from the Kremlin's point of view takes extra effort."

But the stakes go beyond news and information - even at this highly charged, sensitive moment.

Ukrainian officials have been lobbying American internet companies to cut off services from Russia and also asked ICANN, the California-based nonprofit that oversees aspects of internet functionality worldwide, to suspend the main Russian internet domain, .ru.

ICANN rejected the request on Wednesday, but other forms of possible disconnection loom as ongoing risks as the war intensifies along with global sanctions to punish Russia for its aggression.

Runa Sandvik, a security consultant and developer on the Tor Project for evading censorship, said that Tor usage was up and that many Russians were skilled at using it and VPNs and sharing news from elsewhere in small groups.

But she said the direction things were headed is alarming.

"We are moving toward the point where Russia is having the same internet environment as China," Sandvik said.

- - -

The Washington Post's Elizabeth Dwoskin contributed to this report.
Andrew McCarthy supports tariffs, wants to break up "Big Tech," build a border wall and combat election fraud.

Sound familiar? McCarthy hopes so.

He is running for the Republican nomination in the 24th Congressional District, a newly drawn 14-county district that extends from western New York to the North Country. All or parts of eight towns in northern Cayuga County are part of the district.

McCarthy, an Olean native and Air Force veteran, told The Citizen he spends a majority of his time in Niagara County, where he is a military intelligence analyst. He also works part of the time in Rome, which is in the neighboring 22nd Congressional District.

Before seeking the GOP nod in the 24th, McCarthy planned to challenge Republican U.S. Rep. John Katko in the primary election. But Katko decided to retire and the districts were redrawn. The new Syracuse-area congressional district is more Democratic, while the 24th takes from different parts of upstate to create what should be a safe Republican seat.

With Katko's announcement and redistricting, McCarthy changed his plans. He opted to take on U.S. Rep. Chris Jacobs and three other Republicans  Todd Aldinger, Mario Fratto and John Murtari  in the 24th.

"I had to get off the bench," McCarthy said in a phone interview. "Even to this day, I would gladly endorse someone that would be more qualified, whether they're more talented, harder working, better rounded or suited for the position in some way, shape or form. That person deserves the bid, they deserve the nod and they deserve your support and everyone behind you.

He continued, "With that being said, that person still hasn't emerged, so here we are."

McCarthy is, in traditional terms, a conservative Republican. He describes himself as conservative on social issues  on his website, he says he's pro-life and opposes abortion  and a fiscal conservative. But, he adds, he tends to be "a little more populist."

On the issues page of his website, he rattles of policy positions that are largely in line with former President Donald Trump. He wants to bring back jobs that were shipped overseas and supports tariffs if "countries won't play fair or threaten our national security." He supports funding the police and opposes "forever wars."

He advocates for an election reform agenda that would mandate voter identification and signature verification. He supports the construction of a border wall along the U.S.-Mexico border and a 10-year immigration moratorium to "assimilate the people already here legally." Anyone in the country illegally, he writes, "must go home."

McCarthy supports breaking up technology companies, pledges to stand up to China, and wants to create tax credits to encourage Americans to get married and have children.

Early on his campaign for Congress, McCarthy is positioning himself as an "America First" candidate  the type of candidate Trump may support. So far, Trump has not endorsed anyone in the 24th district race.

McCarthy says he recently met with four members of Congress who are endorsed by Trump  he did not disclose their names other than to say two are "extremely notable." He said he's already in the pro-Trump network, which includes donors.

"It's about relationships, a feel for the policy and authenticity," he said.

McCarthy is beginning to tackle the challenge of campaigning in such a massive district. If he is elected, he plans to have multiple offices and staff spread out so that they can regularly communicate with constituents.

But he also has a different view of the race than other candidates. He wants to build a brand  something, he argues, is needed because, in Washington, "you can't fly under the radar and expect to have results."

"You have to have a brand that represents your people with no chinks in that armor as soon as you get to D.C.," he said. "You are lobbying the swamp on behalf of your people and there needs to be a name ID that comes with that."

McCarthy is a long shot in the crowded primary field. He has one local committee endorsement from the Wayne County Conservative Party. Jacobs, the incumbent, has the inside track with the support of several Republican and Conservative committees, including the Cayuga County GOP. Fratto has picked up a handful of endorsements from GOP and Conservative committees in the district.

The primary election will be held June 28. The winner will face the Democratic nominee in the general election.

Online producer Robert Harding can be reached at (315) 282-2220 or robert.harding@lee.net. Follow him on Twitter @robertharding.

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HAZLETON  In a news release, Amazon announced partnerships with Penn State Hazleton, Penn State World Campus and Luzerne County Community College to provide fully funded college tuition to local frontline employees.

These partnerships are part of Amazons initiative to expand career advancement opportunities.

The educational and workforce development assets being advanced by Amazon, through their partnership with Penn State Hazleton and Luzerne County Community College, are absolutely fundamental to the economic success of northeastern Pennsylvania, said state Sen. John Yudichak, I-14, Swoyersville.

It is highly commendable to see Amazon embracing the philosophy that a job is not simply an end point. Rather, this career choice program will provide the means for workers to continue to develop skills, increase value, and find greater fulfillment in the workplace. Penn State Hazleton and Luzerne County Community College have long been key players in worker development access and opportunity through programs aimed at skills acquisition and personal improvement. This partnership is a promising venture for our area as we look to keep pace with changes in a competitive economy, said state Senator Lisa Baker, R-20, Lehman Twp.

Penn State Hazleton is very excited and proud to partner with Amazon on Career Choice. This program affords tremendous opportunities for Amazon employees through access to a myriad of educational programs. It is a win-win situation for everyone and improves the lives of many in northeastern Pennsylvania, said Penn State Hazleton Chancellor Gary M. Lawler.

Luzerne County Community College is pleased to partner with Amazon to provide training for Amazon team members for in-demand occupations that provide family-sustaining wages, said Luzerne County Community College President Thomas P. Leary. Luzerne offers multiple methods of instructional delivery and has centers at seven locations in northeastern and central Pennsylvania, making it an accessible option for Amazon employees.

Amazon is proud to be part of the fabric of Northeast Pennsylvania. As one of the largest employers in the region, we take our responsibility to empower our front-line employees seriously, said Mariah Grabinski, human resources manager at the Amazon Fulfillment Center in Hazle Twp. A key way to do this is to expand access to educational resources, which is what we are doing today by partnering with great institutions like Penn State Hazleton and Luzerne County Community College to cover tuition payments for our front-line employees. We look forward to partnering with even more schools in the not-too-distant future.

Front-line employees in northeast Pennsylvania may also take classes offered by new national nonprofit education providers, including Southern New Hampshire University, Colorado State University-Global, Western Governors University, and National University. Amazon is also partnering with GEDWorks and Smart Horizons to provide high school completion and GED preparation, Voxy EnGen and goFLUENT to provide English language proficiency training, and Outlier to provide college preparation courses, all for free.

To learn more about Career Choice, visit: https://www.aboutamazon.com/news/workplace/career -choice.
Branden Knight, 29, passed away May 1, 2022. Calling hours will be Friday from 6:00-8:00 with the funeral Saturday at 11:00 at Fleming-Billman Funeral Home, 49 W. Jefferson Street, Jefferson; burial will follow in Oakdale. www.fleming-billman.com
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Over 85,000 people, of which 28,235 Ukrainian citizens - down 1.1% from the previous day - entered Romania through the border points in the last 24 hours, a release by the Border Police (IGPF) informs.

On Friday, within 24 hours, at national level, on the border with Ukraine, 9,455 Ukrainian citizens entered Romania (down by 4.8 pct), and 16,922 Ukrainian citizens entered Romania (2 pct increase) on the border with the Republic of Moldova.

On the way out of Romania, 106,330 people carried out formal paperwork, of which 22,813 were Ukrainian citizens (3.6 pct increase).

Since the onset of this crisis, until March 4, at 00:00, at national level, 195,848 Ukrainian citizens entered Romania and 132,500 left it.
Port Byron High School will be the site of a COVID-19 vaccination clinic.

The Cayuga County Health Department on Friday announced two upcoming clinics.

One will be held from 4 to 5:50 p.m. Tuesday, March 8, at the Events Center at the Finger Lakes Mall. The clinic will offer Pfizer pediatric first and second doses for children 511; Pfizer first, second, and booster doses for people 12 and older; and Moderna first, second, and booster doses for those 18 and older.

The clinic will be located in the former Spirit Halloween store. There will be no access from inside the mall, so people are asked to enter through the back of the mall near the movie theaters.

A clinic at Port Byron High School will be held from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Saturday, March 12, offering Pfizer pediatric first and second doses for 5- to 11-year-olds; Pfizer first, second, and booster doses for individuals 12 years and older; and Moderna first, second, and booster doses for people 18 and older.

Both clinics will both be available for walk-ins, or people may make an appointment ahead of time by visiting cayugacounty.us/health.

These clinics are restricted to Cayuga County residents, and visitors are asked to bring their insurance card and a vaccine card if receiving a second dose or booster.

The availability of the vaccine is not limited to just the health department. Individuals are encouraged to work with local pharmacies, federally qualified health centers, and healthcare providers to get an appointment.

For anyone without access to the internet, city, town and village clerks can assist with online registration as well as the Cayuga Community Health Network by calling (315) 252-4212.

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President Klaus Iohannis said on Saturday, in the mobile camp for refugees from northeastern Siret, that, at present, there are no data to support a scenario according to which the Republic of Moldova would be threatened.

"We start from the scenario in which this conflict will not expand, NATO will not be involved in this military conflict and neither will Romania be involved in this conflict. Our role that we see (...) we help those who take refuge, we will also help those who remain in Ukraine, and with Moldova we are between a very close relationship and we are determined that if humanitarian help is needed, to intervene there as well. We do not have data now to show a scenario that Moldova would be threatened," Iohannis said.

"We are not calculating now a scenario in which Romania is involved in the conflict or threatened. I can say one simple thing: here in Romania we are home, this is our country and here we remain," Iohannis added, informs Agerpres.
The 10th day of war in Ukraine. Romania continues its actions to support Ukrainian refugees and Kyiv authorities.

Here is a selection of the main news of Saturday, March 5:

* President Klaus Iohannis said on Saturday that Romania is ready for Ukrainian refugees on medium and long terms, to take them from the border, but cannot intervene on Ukrainian territory to provide help.

"We start from the scenario in which this conflict will not expand, NATO will not be involved in this military conflict and Romania will not be involved in this conflict either. Our role that we see is the one we have described, to help those who take refuge, we will also help those who remain in Ukraine. And with Moldova, we are in a very close relationship and we are determined that, in the situation where humanitarian aid is needed, we will intervene there as well. We do not have data now to show a scenario that Moldova would be threatened. (...) You realize that, administratively, we can't intervene in Ukraine, we take over the people who come to us and take care of them. But keep in mind that there was communication and there were situations where people who needed urgent intervention were helped to get around faster. But the formalities of leaving Ukraine are formalities that the authorities in Ukraine are dealing with," Iohannis said on Saturday at the mobile camp for refugees from northeastern Siret.

* President Klaus Iohannis said on Saturday that given that Russia is an aggressor, NATO must do whatever it takes to protect its member states and provide a defence for them, noting that it is "quite likely" that NATO forces will come closer to the Eastern Flank.

"There are two things. At this point, we have no indications that a different scenario is necessary than the one we are living in, unfortunately, now. So, we don't think the conflict is going to expand. On the other hand, it is very clear that here we have an aggressor, which is Russia, and we must do whatever it takes to protect ourselves and provide a defence for our states. And in this regard, yes, it is desirable and it is quite likely that forces from NATO will come closer to the Eastern Flank," President Iohannis said.

* President Klaus Iohannis said on Saturday, after visiting the mobile camp for refugees in Siret County, in Suceava County, that no Ukrainian, man or woman, will be refused entry into Romania, stressing that the Romanian authorities will take all steps to relieve the suffering of refugees and those who remain in Ukraine in complicated situations.

"Allow me to tell you that this situation, this unprovoked, unjustified war, started by Russia against Ukraine, has generated a humanitarian catastrophe, a humanitarian catastrophe that has caused hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians to abandon their homes, to take refuge and many of them reach us in Romania where they are well received. I could say where they are very well received. Just now I greeted a group of volunteers who I believe is representative of the way Romanians have reacted to this large number of refugees. They immediately went to customs, welcomed them, waited for them with clothes, food and continued these actions," Iohannis said.

* Romania has spent 51 million RON so far since the start of the conflict in Ukraine, and next week the documents will be submitted to Brussels to start settlements, Prime Minister Nicolae Ciuca said on Saturday, after the Cabinet meeting.

( 1 EUR = 4.9491 RON)

He added that the costs that Romania insures for Ukrainian citizens have also been established, these being 50 RON per day per person, for those who will be accommodated in the spaces provided by the state institutions and 100 RON per person, for those accommodated in other spaces than those mentioned above, the total amount made available from the reserve fund being about 208 million RON.

According to the Premier, the meeting addressed the way in which the activities with the Moldovan authorities are coordinated for the creation of a green corridor, so as to facilitate the transit of Ukrainian citizens through the Republic of Moldova, making available means of transport to the Moldovan authorities and "of course by amplifying the necessary means and personnel to be able to process more easily the Ukrainian citizens at the border in Romania".

* The resource and needs platform meant to support the actions to help the Ukrainian citizens, developed by the Code for Romania, in partnership with the Romanian Government and the Department for Emergency Situations, will take over the functionality and data centralized in the current governmental initiative - the platform Ukraine - Together we help more.

The new platform will include the centralizers "Un Acoperis" / One roof for the management and validation of accommodation requests and offers and "Emergency Support" for the management and allocation of the other types of resources (food, hygiene products, clothing, etc.).

* Since the start of the conflict in Ukraine, 2,382 Ukrainian citizens have applied for asylum in Romania, benefiting from all the rights provided by the national legislation, the Interior Ministry (MAI) reported on Saturday.

During the entire period of the procedure, asylum seekers can benefit from accommodation in the centers of the General Inspectorate for Immigration (IGI), if they so wish, as well as from measures of material, financial, medical assistance, psychological and legal specialized counseling, access to the labour market and cultural adaptation activities. In addition, they can benefit from the support of international and nongovernmental organizations that carry out their activity in the field of migration," reads a release sent by the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

At the moment, the occupancy rate of the accommodation centers of IGI is 59.9 pct.
The resource and needs platform meant to support the actions to help the Ukrainian citizens, developed by the Code for Romania, in partnership with the Romanian Government and the Department for Emergency Situations, will take over the functionality and data centralized in the current governmental initiative - the platform Ukraine - Together we help more.

The new platform will include the centralizers "Un Acoperis" / One roof for the management and validation of accommodation requests and offers and "Emergency Support" for the management and allocation of the other types of resources (food, hygiene products, clothing, etc.).

"For the integrated coordination of the efforts carried out by the governmental institutions, the civil society and the private environment regarding the provision of humanitarian assistance to the refugees from Ukraine, on Friday, March 4th, a working meeting hosted by state counselor Madalina Turza took place at the Victoria Palace, with the representatives of Code for Romania. The meeting was attended by members of the working group set up, in this respect, at the level of the Prime Minister's Chancellery, representatives of the Department for Emergency Situations, of the international organizations - the High Commissariat for Refugees of the United Nations (UNHCR), the World Organization of Migration, the Red Cross, the Association 'Day of Well-being' and Dumitrita Solomon, State Secretary in the Prime Minister's Chancellery," reads a statement sent Saturday to Agerpres.

According to the source, the Government appreciates the efforts carried out and thanks the civil society for mobilization and involvement in actions to support Ukrainian citizens.

Partnership between state institutions and the non-governmental sector is essential for coordinating solidarity actions with Ukraine, the quoted source said.
FRIDAY, March 4, 2022 (HealthDay News) -- President Joe Biden has announced a new plan to expand mental health and drug abuse treatment that would devote millions to suicide prevention, mental health services for youth, and community clinics providing 24/7 crisis care.

Health insurers would also have to cover three mental health visits a year at no added cost to patients under the plan, which was introduced during Biden's State of the Union speech earlier this week.

Biden's plan includes a special focus on school-age youth. The upcoming budget will call for $1 billion to help schools hire counselors, psychologists, and other health workers. The budget will also propose $5 million for research on the effects of social media on children.

In addition to that, the federal government will launch a new suicide prevention hotline number -- 988. Biden's plan calls for nearly $700 million to bolster local crisis centers that can handle follow-up.

The plan also calls for making permanent an experimental program that has expanded access to 24/7 mental health and substance abuse services. Called Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics, they are modeled on federally funded community health centers that have become a foundation for basic medical care in low-income communities. The behavioral health centers rely on peer counselors who have survived their own trauma to pull others out of crisis. The approach has bipartisan support, the Associated Press reported.

Last but not least, the plan aims to increase the number of mental health professionals in this country by devoting $700 million to programs that provide training, scholarships, and educational loan repayment. Biden also wants to establish professional standards for peer counselors.

Originally published on consumer.healthday.com, part of the TownNews Content Exchange.
ST. LOUIS  Prosecutors on Friday dismissed a murder case against a St. Louis man in a 2020 homicide in the city's Dutchtown neighborhood because four witnesses were unavailable for trial next week.

The Circuit Attorney's Office dropped charges of first-degree murder and armed criminal action against Earnest Lee Moore Jr. in the Aug. 30, 2020, fatal shooting of Michael Chapman.

Chapman, 40, was fatally shot inside an apartment building in the 3500 block of Bingham Avenue, where Moore lived. The charges said witnesses reported Moore confronted Chapman in the doorway of a neighboring apartment and shot him once with a rifle.

Police obtained a search warrant for Moore's apartment and seized a rifle they said matched the one witnesses described Moore having, according to the charges.

Moore's case had been set for trial next week.

Authorities said two of four state's witnesses could not be found and two more refused to cooperate with the prosecution.

Moore's lawyer Jordan Cohen filed a motion Wednesday seeking to exclude witness testimony, saying of the witnesses twice failed to appear for depositions and two others could not be found.

Cohen's filing said two of them were evicted from the apartment on Bingham Avenue since the shooting.

A spokeswoman for the Circuit Attorney's Office did not immediately have a comment Friday.

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ST. CLAIR COUNTY  A 36-year-old man has been charged with multiple felonies in connection to a four-vehicle crash Sunday that killed a Belleville mother of two and injured several others.

The St. Clair County state's attorney on Friday charged Brandon L. Wilson, of Freeburg, with four counts of aggravated driving under the influence and one count each of reckless homicide and driving on a revoked license.

The crash happened about 9:45 a.m. Sunday at Illinois Route 15 and South 74th Street in Belleville. Ashley Dancy, 35, died as a result of the crash, while a passenger in her vehicle, two people in a different vehicle and Wilson were injured.

Wilson was taken into custody Wednesday at an O'Fallon, Illinois, hospital where he was treated for his injuries, Belleville police said. A judge set bail for Wilson at $500,000.

According to police, at the time of the crash, Dancy and a passenger were in a 2015 Nissan sedan and were stopped at a red light in the eastbound lane of Illinois Route 15 at the intersection with South 74th Street. Wilson, in a 2006 Honda Ridgeline pickup, also was traveling eastbound on Route 15, but neglected to stop for the red light, and struck Dancy's car, police said, sending it into the intersection.

A 2022 Buick Envision, driven by a 70-year-old woman, was traveling through the intersection, northbound on 74th Street, when her car was struck by Dancy's. The woman and her passenger, an 88-year-old man, suffered injuries that were not considered life-threatening. A fourth vehicle in the vicinity was struck by debris, but that driver was unhurt.

An online fundraiser created on Dancy's behalf indicated that the Belleville woman was the mother to a 14-year-old and an 8-year-old. As of Friday, it had raised more than $11,000 for Dancy's family. Its original goal was $5,000.
WASHINGTON  A federal judge has ordered a Missouri mine owner to allow safety inspectors to complete their review of his business  months after the mine owner forced them off of the road during an attempted inspection.

Westley Partridge, who owns the Partridge Sand & Gravel mine in southwestern Missouris Stone County, defied and harassed U.S. Department of Labor inspectors in August, the agency said in an announcement about recent legal action in the case.

The agency said that on Aug. 17, personnel from the departments Mine Safety and Health Administration tried to perform a required inspection, but were thwarted as they drove toward the mine, when Partridge used loading equipment filled with rocks and dirt to force their vehicle off the road.

Partridge then verbally harassed the inspectors and ordered them off the property, the agency added.

In a consent order signed Thursday by U.S. District Judge Brian C. Wimes, the mines owner and operator are enjoined from threatening, harassing, or intimidating any authorized Labor Department representative enforcing the Mine Safety and Health Act.

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ST. LOUIS  A St. Louis man pleaded guilty to driving a vehicle while intoxicated and causing a crash that killed a passenger in 2018.

Benjamin Slay, 39, of the 6400 block of Blow Street, entered the plea Thursday to a felony charge of DWI-death of another. The Circuit Attorney's Office dropped a charge of involuntary manslaughter in exchange for Slay's guilty plea to the other charge.

Circuit Judge Madeline O. Connolly accepted Slay's plea agreement and sentenced him to five years with credit for more than two years of time served in jail.

Charges filed in 2019 said Slay was driving a car the 4000 block of Germania Street on Nov. 8, 2018, when he failed to make a turn and crossed the opposing lanes of traffic before hitting a tree along the River Des Peres.

Police said he was driving 45 mph in a 30 mph zone.

Slay was ejected and his passenger, Pamela Wallace, 32, was trapped in the burning car and died a couple of days later. Slay was hospitalized but survived.

Court documents said police obtained medical records that showed a blood-alcohol content of .118 percent.

Slay's lawyer Neil Barron said Slay apologized to Wallace's family in court Thursday and that her mother said she forgave Slay. Slay is the nephew of former St. Louis Mayor Francis Slay.

Wallace's parents and daughter settled a a wrongful death lawsuit against Slay in January 2020. The suit alleged Slay was driving on a suspended license at the time and also had cannabinoids in his blood.

Court records say Slay had previous DWI charges including a 2013 case in Jefferson County for which he received three years in prison.

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ST. LOUIS  Fast-food outlets and other restaurants in the city could offer only water, milk or fruit juice in special childrens menu packages under a bill endorsed Friday by the Board of Aldermen.

The board voted 25-1 to give first-round approval to the measure, which is aimed at reducing the consumption of soda and other sugary drinks by kids in an attempt to cut juvenile obesity rates.

The measure was sought by the American Heart Association and has support from other health-related organizations, said the sponsor, Alderman Sarah Martin, 11th Ward.

She emphasized that the bill doesnt prevent a parent from substituting another drink for their child.

This is in no way a mandate, Martin said. This is just an opportunity for us to weigh in and improve the public health of our community.

Under the bill, water, nonfat or lowfat milk and 100% fruit juice without added sugar would be the default beverage options for any childrens meal combination offered for a single price.

The only alderman opposed to the bill, Joe Vaccaro of the 23rd Ward, said we drive businesses out of the city by imposing such restrictions.

As originally introduced, the measure didnt include the juice option. Martin added that Friday via an amendment.

Robert Bonney, CEO of the Missouri Restaurant Association, at a committee hearing Monday had called the original bill very restrictive and punitive and had urged aldermen to add fruit juice and three other menu options for drinks.

Martin said she agreed to adding just juice after the heart association said it wouldnt exceed a healthy amount of sugar. The bill limits the juice option to a 6-ounce container.

Bonney, the restaurant association official, could not be reached for comment Friday on his organizations view of the current version of the bill.

Health inspectors would issue warnings for initial violations of the new menu rule. Second violations could draw a $100 fine and further violations a $500 fine. The bill would take effect six months after the mayors signature.

Obesity rates have been on the rise for years among American children, but the pandemic hastened that increase, according to a recent study by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Maura Gray, a heart association lobbyist, said the association hopes to convince the St. Louis County Council to pass a similar measure. A statewide law in Illinois went into effect in January.

The Center for Science in the Public Interest, a national nonprofit group, said similar measures have been approved in three other states and 20 cities such as Baltimore, New York City, Cleveland, Philadelphia, Louisville and New Orleans.

Reparations, other issues

The board on Friday also gave preliminary approval to:

 Allowing residents and companies to voluntarily give to a slavery reparations fund by adding donations to their property tax and water bills.

 Requiring police to repay the city for the cost of training if they leave the department within four years.

 Putting on the Aug. 2 primary election ballot a proposed city charter amendment to increase the maximum fine for illegal dumping to $1,000 from $500.

Lobbying ban

Vaccaro introduced a resolution seeking to change board rules to bar aldermen from working as paid lobbyists before the Missouri Legislature and executive branch and any city or county government.

Vaccaro said he regards such activity as inappropriate and potentially a conflict with an aldermans city business.

The measure is aimed at Martin, who lobbies for several clients in Jefferson City. Martin in an interview said she never has lobbied the city of St. Louis and that her role as an alderman is separate from her other paid employment. She also said she believed such a rule would violate her constitutional rights.

Updated at 10:30 a.m. March 7 with more information on similar laws on restaurant menus for children

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A new hero to many Americans today is a man whose name they may have trouble pronouncing. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskys bold stand against Russias invasion has shown many of us what courage in leaders looks like.

Meanwhile, one of our own leaders, top House Republican Kevin McCarthy, recently darted from TV cameras like a startled cat rather than publicly criticize a member of his caucus for speaking at a white-nationalist gathering where a crowd of supposed Americans chanted its support for Russian autocrat Vladimir Putin.

For those keeping score at home, McCarthys refusal to call out this kind of evil for fear of offending the extremists in his party is the opposite of courage. Its called cowardice  and its a defining characteristic of elected Republicans today.

It began last weekend, when Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Lunatic, spoke at an event organized by Nicholas Fuentes. He is a well-known white nationalist organizer who the FBI has dubbed a white supremacist. Greene, the Georgia congresswoman, nonetheless claims never to have heard of him when she agreed to speak at his event.

Even if we accept the premise that Greene was utterly ignorant about the background of her controversial host (in fairness, ignorance is probably always a believable defense for Greene), she might want to claim deafness as well. Just before she spoke, Fuentes bragged to his crowd about our secret sauce here, its these young white men. He noted that people are going on about Russia and Vladimir Putin is Hitler, then mused: They say thats not a good thing. He asked for and got a round of applause for Russia. The crowd then broke into a chant of Putin! Putin! Putin!

All this as Greene waited to take the stage, ostensibly not noticing the beer hall putsch going on around her.

What strange times were in. Im old enough to remember when those on the political right prided themselves on rock-ribbed resistance against foreign adversaries, Russia chief among them. Actually, anyone older than about 8 is old enough to remember that. As with so much of the GOPs dysfunction today, this weird new Russia-coddling thing among a lot of self-proclaimed conservatives can be traced in a straight line right back to former President Donald Trump.

(And lets pause here for all the moaning and groaning from those who just cant believe were still talking about the only U.S. president who ever tried to stay in power after being voted out, and who still leads a toxic nationalist movement that could very well return him to power, and which, in turn, could very well mean the end of American democracy. But, but, but  Hunter Biden!)

Zelensky, Ukraines 44-year-old president, is the same leader who then-President Trump tried to strong-arm for campaign help in 2019, holding U.S. military aid over his head. No one who impartially watched the resulting impeachment trial could reasonably doubt that Trump deserved removal from office. Yet almost every congressional Republican stood by him  not out of loyalty, most of them, but out of cowering terror that he would tweet something nasty and sic his base on them if they tried to hold him accountable.

Now the leader of the U.S. ally they betrayed along with their oaths is standing courageously against Russias invasion, while the top House Republican doesnt have the borscht to stand up to a bunch of Putin-loving skinheads and a deranged congresswoman.

McCarthy initially told two reporters in an off-camera hallway conversation that the appearance at the white nationalist event by Greene  along with a video message to the gathering from Rep. Paul Gosar, R-Wacko  was unacceptable. Apparently not that unacceptable, though, since McCarthy later declined repeatedly to discuss the issue in front of media cameras, at one point abruptly walking away from them.

Zelensky is pinned down in Kyiv, predicting his own death but defiantly rallying his country to stand firm, while McCarthy cant make his mouth say the words Rep. Greene shouldnt have spoken to that racist, pro-Putin gathering while cameras are rolling. Among the questions McCarthy hadnt answered by mid-week was whether the party that just ex-communicated two of its House members for having the audacity to investigate the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol should take similarly strong action against two other members who played footsie with pro-Russia traitors and neo-Nazi creeps.

This is notable because, though McCarthys Lion-from-The-Wizard-of-Oz-like cowardice regarding Trump has been well-documented, this event wasnt specifically about Trump. (That is, beyond the involvement of white supremacists, who of course adore the former president.)

So Trumps cowardice-inspiring effects on elected Republicans have apparently spread, cancer-like, to topics beyond Trump himself. Its no longer enough to make sure you arent stepping directly on The Orange Ones delicate ego. Now you also have to make sure you arent offending any people, groups or events even loosely aligned with the MAGA fringe. If youre a Republican House leader hoping to become House speaker next year, that means treading lightly around a nut-case congresswoman and her white-supremacist goons.

So the next time you see footage of President Zelensky (still alive at this writing, but by the time you read this, who knows?), by all means, let his courage inspire you. But dont expect to find even a pale shadow of it in what used to be considered Americas party of patriotism.

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The evidence is mounting that Russian dictator Vladimir Putin is a war criminal. Thats an accusation never to be made lightly in reference to a major world leader because even the United States has engaged in actions abroad that could constitute war crimes. But in Putins case, a strong case can be made that the decisions, tactics and strategies are coming straight from the top, and its reasonable for the world to demand that he account for those decisions and atone for the mass death and destruction he has wrought on Ukraine.

The attack by Russian forces on Europes largest nuclear power plant, in southern Ukraine, was beyond reckless and irresponsible. The attack sparked a big fire that threatened the plants reactor. As Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky noted, there are 15 nuclear plants around his country under threat of Russian attack, dramatically escalating the chances of a Europe-wide nuclear disaster.

Back in the days when Putin was a KGB agent and Russia was the seat of a vast communist empire, a Russian-run nuclear plant in Chernobyl exploded, prompting the worst nuclear disaster in world history. Putin aims to restore the Soviet motherlands expansive majesty by re-absorbing Ukraine, and he seems intent on killing as many people and destroying as many civilian buildings as necessary to bring Ukrainians to their knees.

U.S. officials have denounced the nuclear plant attack as a war crime. Examples of other crimes are multiplying to bolster the case against Putin. He has used cluster bombs, banned under international law, including one attack on a preschool. He has targeted civilian areas on a mass scale  not just an errant bomb strike here or there but rather persistent attacks on apartment buildings, schools and hospitals. Putin might argue that since Ukrainian civilians have joined their military counterparts, using Molotov cocktails against Russian soldiers, they can legitimately be considered combatants. But Putins strikes on sleeping children in apartment complexes, or on refugee shelters, belie any such justification.

In its 2003 invasion of Iraq, the United States used cluster bombs on a civilian suburb of Baghdad. The U.S. justification for invading Iraq  that it possessed weapons of mass destruction  was just as fictitious as Putins excuses for invading Ukraine. A Spanish judge actually brought a war crimes case against then-Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld. But at least in Iraqs case, the war accomplished the capture of a far worse war criminal, Saddam Hussein, who attacked his own people with chemical weapons, tortured his opponents, and ordered mass executions of Shiites.

Putins goal appears to be wanton death and destruction for the sake of terrorizing an entire people into submission. Despite the low chances that he would ever be captured and face trial, attaching a war criminal label to his historical legacy would forever remind the world who the real Vladimir Putin is.
Regarding  Biden to ban Russian planes from US airspace  (March 1): The unprovoked invasion of Ukraine by the Russian military is horrifying. At the same time, there is some relief in knowing that President Joe Biden is handling the situation with competence and a cool head.

If Donald Trump were still president, I believe that his immediate response would have been to send American troops into Ukraine. But Trump would not be sending our troops to help the Ukrainians defend their homeland. Instead, given his record, I believe Trump would send our soldiers to fight alongside the Russians in order to help his buddy, the vicious tyrant Vladimir Putin, conquer a sovereign democratic nation.
Since 2009 an Israeli firm has developed three versions of their Black Eagle helicopter UAV for military and civilian use. The original gasoline-powered Black Eagle 50 weighed 35 kg (77 pounds) including a three kg (6.6 pound) sensor payload and had a top speed of 130 kilometers an hour. Max altitude is 2,800 meters (9,000 feet) with endurance of three hours and the ability to operate up to ten kilometers from the operator. That was later increased to 150 kilometers. Payload was also increased to five kg (11 pounds) and endurance to four hours. Max altitude increased to 3,100 meters (10,000 feet) The only drawback was the engine generated noise, which made Black Eagle 50 unsuitable for missions requiring stealth. Basic sensor was a day/night stabilized vidcam. This could be replaced or augmented by ELINT (electronic intelligence) sensors that detected a variety of electronic signals. There was also a maritime patrol version including a synthetic aperture radar that detected objects below in any weather and provided a photo-like image and this could be augmented by an AIS (automatic identification system) transponder which all ships displacing more than 300 tons must carry. AIS provides detailed information on the ship. All Black Eagle UAVs are controlled by a laptop computer that allows the operator to create and modify flight plans plus directly control the UAV with a small joystick. There is also a map calibration feature which turns aerial photos into precise maps of what was recorded.

A decade later the silent electric powered Black Eagle 25E and 50E were developed. The smaller 25E weighed 25 kg (55 pounds) with a two kg (4.4 pound) payload and max endurance of 60 minutes. The 50E weighed 35 kg (77 pounds) with a 15 kg (33 pound) payload and endurance of 110 minutes.

More recently the Black Eagle 50H (hybrid) was introduced. This model used a gasoline engine and battery power. Payload is 12 kg (26 pounds) and endurance is five hours using the engine plus less than an hour using batteries. All electric and hybrid Black Eagles use composite/aluminum bodies and are built to operate from ships.

There have been several of these helicopter UAVs developed over the last two decades, but few have found steady work with the military. For example, the U.S. Army has had a hard time finding enthusiastic users for its RQ-16A helicopter UAV. Although it successfully tested this miniature helicopter UAV, originally called the MAV (Micro Air Vehicle), in Iraq, only the U.S. Navy ordered some (372). Theis 8.4 kg (20 pound) UAVs can fly as high as 3,300 meters (10,500 feet), and carry stabilized day/night cameras. The MAV is most useful in urban environments, where it can quickly flit around buildings and other obstacles. What attracted the navy order, and some interest in Britain, was the RQ-16As ability to assist EOD (Explosive Ordnance Disposal) troops who search for, and clear, roadside bombs in Iraq and Afghanistan. The RQ-16A, equipped with one downward looking vidcam, and one looking forward, can quickly go to suspicious objects, hover nearby and allow the UAV operator to get a detailed look. This is often all it takes. If not, a ground robot, with a robotic hand, can be rolled up, to pick at the suspicious object.

The MAV has its blades contained within a cylindrical enclosure, and uses software control to keep it stable in flight. All the operator has to do is tell it where to go. Endurance, as with helicopters, depends on altitude. At sea level, the MAV will stay in the air for about 40 minutes, before it has to be refueled with the same fuel as military vehicles. The UAV can operate up to 11 kilometers from the ground station, and has a top speed of about 1.5 kilometers a minute. It cannot operate if there is a wind of more than 28 kilometers (17 MPH) an hour.

When operating at 10,000 feet (typical in Afghanistan) it can stay in the air for only about 20 minutes. The MAV and control equipment can be carried in a special container which, when loaded weighs about 18 kg (40 pounds). It can be backpacked. The MAV costs about $35,000. A complete RQ-16A system consists of two UAVs and a ground station.

The MAV was designed in a more compact package, instead of just producing a miniature helicopter (like the Black Eagle 50). But even the more compact form factor did not overcome the resistance to helicopter UAVs.

The problem with helicopter UAVs is that the ability to hover, while useful, is not as important as being able to stay over an area for hours and hours, passing on video of what is going on down there. Fixed wing UAVs can do that more cheaply and reliably than can helicopter UAVs.

Black Eagle overcame a lot of those objections, in part by developing a number of Black Eagle versions, usually in response to military and civilian user requests.
Strengthens Management Team in Anticipation of First Delivery of Carbon Credits

TORONTO--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Carbon Streaming Corporation (NEO: NETZ) (OTCQB: OFSTF) (FSE: M2Q) (Carbon Streaming or the Company) is pleased to announce the addition of Oliver Forster as Vice President of Sales as the Company anticipates its first delivery of carbon credits from previously announced streaming agreements.

Carbon Streamings CEO Justin Cochrane stated: On behalf of the entire organization I would like to extend a very warm welcome to Mr. Oliver Forster. His unique background in carbon credit sales and in designing emission reduction programs for global corporations makes him a valuable addition to the Carbon Streaming team.

Oliver Forster (VP of Sales) brings with him nearly a decade of experience devoted to climate action and strategic corporate sustainability consulting. He joins Carbon Streaming from his role as Director of Business Development at ClimateCare / Natural Capital Partners, where he managed a team of sales and sustainability consultants. Mr. Forster holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Environmental Geoscience from The University of Edinburgh (UK) and a Masters in Leadership for Sustainable Development degree from Middlesex University (UK).

About Carbon Streaming

Carbon Streaming is a unique ESG principled company offering investors exposure to carbon credits, a key instrument used by both governments and corporations to achieve their carbon neutral and net-zero climate goals. Our business model is focused on acquiring, managing and growing a high-quality and diversified portfolio of investments in projects and/or companies that generate or are actively involved, directly or indirectly, with voluntary and/or compliance carbon credits.

The Company invests capital through carbon credit streaming arrangements with project developers and owners to accelerate the creation of carbon offset projects by bringing capital to projects that might not otherwise be developed. Many of these projects will have significant social and economic co-benefits in addition to their carbon reduction or removal potential.

To receive corporate updates via e-mail as soon as they are published, please subscribe here.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information

This news release contains certain forward-looking statements and forward-looking information (collectively, forward-looking information) within the meaning of applicable securities laws. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, that address activities, events or developments that the Company believes, expects or anticipates will or may occur in the future (including, without limitation, statements with respect to the timing of future carbon credit delivery from the Companys existing investments and statements regarding the Companys financial future) are forward-looking information.

This forward-looking information is based on the current expectations or beliefs of the Company based on information currently available to the Company. Forward-looking information is subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that may cause the actual results of the Company to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking information, and even if such actual results are realized or substantially realized, there can be no assurance that they will have the expected consequences to, or effects on, the Company. Factors that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from current expectations include, among other things: general economic, market and business conditions and the other risks disclosed under the heading Risk Factors and elsewhere in the Companys Annual Information Form dated as of September 27, 2021 filed on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.

Any forward-looking information speaks only as of the date on which it is made and, except as may be required by applicable securities laws, the Company disclaims any intent or obligation to update any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise. Although the Company believes that the assumptions inherent in the forward-looking information are reasonable, forward-looking information is not a guarantee of future performance and accordingly undue reliance should not be put on such statements due to the inherent uncertainty therein.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220303005403/en/

ON BEHALF OF THE COMPANY:

Justin Cochrane, Chief Executive Officer

Tel: 647.846.7765

[email protected]

www.carbonstreaming.com

Source: Carbon Streaming Corporation
With big brown eyes, long straight hair and a petite but well-proportioned body, Gianna Dior definitely stands out, so its no surprise to hear her say she got her start when an agent found me online. Now just three months later, the Alabama-bred girl has signed with Mark Spiegler and says the best thing about porn is getting to have sex all the time (well, yeah). And her favorite scene? A shoot with Manuel Ferrara for Jules Jordan Video.

On her bucket list is a gangbangfive-plus guys, with Greg Lansky directing. In the meantime, shell keep running, traveling, reading. And this newbie also has a sense of humor. Asked for a favorite quote, she says, If you cant be the sharpest tool in the shed, you can always be the hoe. But she also adds a second one that perhaps reveals what keeps her positive and happy: Wish pure love and soft peace upon the ones who have been unkind to you and keep moving forward.

Photo by Rick Garcia/@IndustryByRick
EXTON, Pa.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Automated Financial Systems, Inc. (AFS), a leading provider of software solutions and services to financial institutions, and The Risk Management Association (RMA), which advances enterprise-wide risk management through education, products, and community announced today that KeyBank (NYSE: KEY) has become the latest institution to join the RMA Credit Risk Navigator, powered by AFS.

We are looking forward to leveraging the rich data available through the Credit Risk Navigator (CRN) database, said John Dravenstott, Portfolio Executive at KeyBank. Portfolio benchmarking and peer analytics is a core component of our risk management framework, and we found that the CRN database provides unique depth and granularity of data in the commercial space.

Leveraging nearly two decades of reporting covering all major industry and product types, the CRN database provides numerous key risk indicators and metrics and encompasses nearly 850,000 individual loans. KeyBank will now be able to draw on the robust, unique strength of the CRN database to monitor its credit risk profile and make more informed and focused portfolio strategy decisions.

We are excited to welcome KeyBank into the CRN consortium, said Doug Skinner, Director of AFS Business Intelligence Services. External benchmarking is a central tenet of a sound risk management framework. The CRN database will enhance KeyBanks ability to benchmark their commercial portfolio composition, risk, and performance against peer banks and the industry as a whole.

As an association focused on providing exceptional value for our Members, we are pleased to partner with AFS to offer Credit Risk Navigator, said Carly Edmondson, Senior Product Manager of RMA. With features including a one-of-a-kind monthly reporting cadence, extensive data granularity, customizable reporting, and intuitive dashboards, Credit Risk Navigator provides important commercial credit metrics for bank leadership.

About KeyCorp

KeyCorp's roots trace back nearly 200 years to Albany, New York. Headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio, Key is one of the nation's largest bank-based financial services companies, with assets of approximately $186.3 billion as of December 31, 2021. Key provides deposit, lending, cash management, and investment services to individuals and businesses in 15 states under the name KeyBank National Association through a network of approximately 1,000 branches and approximately 1,300 ATMs. Key also provides a broad range of sophisticated corporate and investment banking products, such as merger and acquisition advice, public and private debt and equity, syndications, and derivatives to middle market companies in selected industries throughout the United States under the KeyBanc Capital Markets trade name. For more information, visit https://www.key.com/. KeyBank is Member FDIC.

About AFS

AFS is the global leader in providing real-time, end-to-end lending solutions to the worlds top-tier institutions as well as regional and de novo institutions. Solely dedicated to the financial industry, AFS is uniquely positioned to support our clients business and technology transformation, evidenced by our solutions processing more than $3 trillion in small business, commercial, CRE, wealth management, and syndicated loans daily. AFS clients have achieved measurable results in customer expansion, revenue increases and efficiency gains that outpace their competition. AFS is headquartered in Exton, Pennsylvania, with an office in Brussels, Belgium. For more information, please visit www.afsvision.com.

About RMA

Founded in 1914, The Risk Management Association is a not-for-profit, member-driven professional association whose sole purpose is to advance the use of sound risk management principles in the financial services industry. RMA promotes an enterprise approach to risk management that focuses on credit risk, market risk, and operational risk. Headquartered in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, RMA has 1,900 institutional members that include banks of all sizes as well as nonbank financial institutions. They are represented in the Association by 18,500 individuals located throughout North America, Europe, Australia, and Asia/Pacific.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220303005210/en/

Rene Baron Coady, AFS

Director of Marketing

[email protected]

Source: Automated Financial Systems, Inc.
Japan this week announced it would accept refugees from Ukraine and send bulletproof vests to Kyiv - extraordinary measures taken by one of the countries least welcoming to refugees and also has a self-imposed arms exports ban because of its militaristic past.

They were decisions made without "gaiatsu," or foreign pressure, several Japanese officials note, underscoring Japan's determination to show it will not stand for Moscow's behavior, a stance that defies the pacifist values that undergird postwar Japanese identity.

Russia's troubling actions - most recently its attack on a Ukrainian nuclear power plant - have triggered a deep alarm that is likely to accelerate Japan's debate over defense and security policies that had been underway amid China's growing territorial threat.

The perilous international situation has raised urgent questions about Japan's readiness and crisis management capabilities under its war-renouncing constitution, and has brought Japan closer than ever to significantly raising its defense spending - a long-standing and controversial debate - as a part of its national security policy review this year.

"It's a big awakening that there are limitations to what the U.N. can do, limitations to what diplomacy can do, limitations to what economic sanctions can do," said Akihisa Shiozaki, a member of the governing Liberal Democratic Party who pushed for the change on refugees. "It's not about rewriting the boundaries of what Japan can do, but filling in the details of what we may not fully anticipate, or may have overlooked, in our preparation."

Shiozaki pointed to the shift on refugees as an example of one of those aspects of preparation. "In considering future crisis scenarios in East Asia, including the Taiwan contingency, it is necessary to build and maintain the capacity to respond to refugees in times of emergency, even in peacetime," he said.

Although the invasion has reconfigured the security landscape in Europe within a matter of days, the full impact in the Indo-Pacific region remains to be seen, and experts are debating whether the invasion of Ukraine will mark a turning point for Japan's postwar security policy in the same way that the 1991 Persian Gulf War rattled Japan's diplomacy and national security policy.

Japan is closely watching Germany, a World War II ally that also adopted pacifist policies as a legacy of its wartime aggression. Germany has made seismic moves in response to the Russian invasion, upending decades of societal consensus on defense spending, direct intervention in wars and the nature of country's ties to Moscow.

"Japan is watching now, very much attentively, how Germany is responding to the Ukraine crisis and how fundamentally Germany is transforming to adapt itself to new reality," said Yoichi Funabashi, the chairman of the Tokyo-based think tank Asia Pacific Initiative and a former editor in chief of the Asahi Shimbun newspaper.

Four days after the attack, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz announced a vast increase in defense spending, which appears to be backed by a public that had long been as indifferent as its political leaders to the country's failure to meet NATO spending commitments.

Scholz had already approved the delivery of weapons to Ukraine over the weekend - a move that also broke with long-standing tradition and could have ripple effects across the European Union.

When asked at a recent news conference whether Japan plans to ramp up its defense spending, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida answered that "Japan needs to implement a fundamental upgrade of its defense capabilities."

In just the past week, Japan has taken uncharacteristically swift steps to join Western allies in financially pressuring Russia and Belarus and aiding Ukraine. Tokyo committed more than $200 million of support for Ukraine and issued sanctions targeting Russian oligarchs and banks as well as top Belarusian officials. It also diverted at least 210,000 tons of surplus liquefied natural gas to Europe to make up for a possible disruption of energy supplies from Russia.

"Prime Minister Kishida has stepped up and stepped onto the global stage in a significant way," U.S. Ambassador to Japan Rahm Emanuel said in an interview. "Japan is responding on a global scale with the speed we have not seen, and is making a difference. It has made the opposition to Russia a global one, not just European."

Japan's assertive steps were made possible by the years of effort by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who worked to deepen Japan's ties with Europe and with countries throughout the Indo-Pacific region, experts say. Those efforts increased when the United States retreated on the global stage during the "America First" Trump era, when Japan began to more clearly articulate its values and foreign policy positions in the relative absence of its security ally.

Japan is reaping the benefits of investing in its European diplomacy in those years, particularly as it took a more assertive role in sustaining the postwar order in Washington's absence, said Sheila Smith, a Japanese foreign policy and politics expert at the Council on Foreign Relations.

Many in Japan say the country's actions underscore its resolve to remain a steadfast U.S. ally despite its shock over President Joe Biden's withdrawal of American forces from Afghanistan, and despite the United States' pulling out of a major trade agreement that it brokered in the Asia-Pacific region - only to return with a vague economic "framework" that has yet to be defined.

"Japan has gradually started to learn how to be vocal, how to really articulate its values, position our diplomacy, particularly throughout the Trump administration for four years, because Japan has had to," said Funabashi, the AP Initiative chairman. "Finally, proactive diplomacy has started to emerge."

Japan's approach has been a dramatic shift from 2014, when Russia annexed Crimea and Japan only reluctantly agreed to join the West on sanctions out of concern for its rapprochement with Russia to resolve a long-standing territorial dispute.

For now, Japan has put those efforts on hold. The Russian invasion has deepened Japan's fears that without a strong response alongside the Group of Seven major economies, it risks emboldening China's growing assertiveness and the worsening of relations between China and the island of Taiwan.

"This is the occasion to show our solidarity, and if we let these kind of things happen, our neighbor - Russia's neighbor, as well - may take such action as well, that can change the status quo, and that's not what we want to see," said Ichiro Fujisaki, a former Japanese ambassador to the United States. "I'm talking about China, of course."

The Japanese public's outpouring of support for Ukrainians also marks a shift from previous crises, including the Afghanistan withdrawal, and provides domestic support for Japan's assertive approach, said Smith, the Council on Foreign Relations expert.

"It helps the government's foreign policy efforts to have this deep sympathy for Ukraine within Japanese society," she said.

___

The Washington Post's Rick Noack in Paris contributed to this report.
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Saturday said that sanctions and pushback from leaders in Ukraine and around the world in response to the invasion are risking "the future of Ukrainian statehood."

At a meeting in Moscow, Putin claimed that the wide-ranging, extensive sanctions leveled by the United States and the international community in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine was "a means of fighting against Russia."

"These sanctions that are being imposed are like the declaration of war," he said.

He then suggested that pushback from Ukrainian and world leaders over an invasion that's gone on for more than week could result in an uncertain future for the country.

"The current leadership needs to understand that if they continue doing what they are doing, they risk the future of Ukrainian statehood," he said. "If that happens, they will have to be blamed for that."

Putin's comments, his first extended remarks since the invasion began, come after evacuation efforts in the Ukrainian city of Mariupol were stopped. Ukrainian officials accused Russia of breaching a temporary truce meant to allow people to flee the battle zone less than three hours after both sides were supposed to have laid down arms in the southern cities of Mariupol and Volnovakha.

Mariupol and at least three other Ukrainian cities - Kharkiv, Chernihiv and Sumy - are "highly likely" to have been encircled by Russian forces, according to Britain's Defense Ministry.

As the war rages on, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has urged NATO to impose a no-fly zone after Russian troops seized Europe's largest power plant in Ukraine's southeast. The International Atomic Energy Agency in Vienna said Ukrainian officials informed the U.N. nuclear watchdog that a projectile hit a training building in the vicinity of one of the plant's reactor units. That caused a localized fire that sparked alarm but triggered no release of radioactive material, the agency said.

The United States, Britain and others have so far ruled out supporting any no-fly zone, stating that it would be likely to severely escalate the conflict.

But Putin went one step further Saturday, saying that any third-party declaration of a no-fly zone over Ukraine would be considered "participants in a military conflict." The Russian president claimed that his country would see "any movement in this direction" as an intervention in its military operations in Ukraine that would "pose a threat to our service members."

"We'll instantly view them as participants in a military conflict," the Russian president said.

The worldwide enforcement of the extensive sanctions against Russia has intensified in recent days. The Russian economy in particular has taken the brunt of the international community's actions. The value of the ruble plummeted to less than 1 U.S. cent this week, and the Russian government is still unable to tap into a large portion of its $640 billion in central bank reserves, a lifeline that would skirt the impact of global sanctions.

The pressure led Putin on Friday to call for the "normalization" of relations with other states, saying Moscow has "absolutely no ill intentions with regard to our neighbors."

"I think that everyone should think about normalizing relations and cooperating normally," he said.

He said Russia saw no need to aggravate tensions with other countries, claiming that Moscow's actions in Ukraine came only "in response to unfriendly actions toward Russia." Putin added that there was "no need" to escalate the situation or impose further sanctions.

But his remarks Saturday, which were made in a meeting with Russian female pilots and flight attendants ahead of International Women's Day, featured a more defiant and threatening tone.

When he addressed the developments in Mariupol, he unsurprisingly blamed Ukraine for the actions in the city, claiming that Ukrainian officials "treat even worse the people they themselves consider their own citizens."

"They just really, directly cover themselves using the people as a human shield," Putin said. "This situation is now unfolding in Mariupol."

The Russian president also noted that while there were no preconditions or plans to introduce martial law in Russia, he reiterated that it can be introduced at any time "in case of aggression from the outside, a military threat."

"I hope this won't happen, despite irresponsible statements by some officials," he said.

___

To ensure the safety of its staff, The Washington Post is withholding the name of one of the contributors to this story.
BILA TSERKVA, Ukraine - In the secret location that has become a makeshift camp for the local administration of this city 50 miles south of Kyiv, officials and commanders met Saturday morning to discuss security and supply lines to the capital and the east.

As they debated whether they were prepared for a Russian advance, an explosion boomed in the distance, sending everyone rushing to an underground bunker.

"We have no idea what happened," Khokhol, a woodworker-turned-local militia leader whose nom de guerre is a derogatory term used by Russians for Ukrainians, said into his phone. Then he jumped into his pickup truck outside and drove toward the rising smoke.

This city of around 200,000 people would be a strategic prize in any Russian effort to choke off Kyiv, but for the moment it remains at the mouth of one of the few relatively safe passages in and out of the capital. Streams of people fleeing Kyiv clog the checkpoints here as they make their long drive toward safety.

Bila Tserkva is also a hub for humanitarian aid and military deliveries into the capital and further east. Much of the energy of the military volunteers and city officials here is focused on getting the right materials to the places they are needed. The stalling of Russia's 40-mile convoy of tanks of military vehicles in their effort to surround Kyiv has allowed this essential corridor to fortify and remain open - for the moment, at least.

"We've had some time to prepare," said Khokhol, 36, who served with the Ukrainian military in the east in 2014 and 2015 after Russia annexed Crimea. But they still expect Russian forces to attempt to close off this relatively safe passage.

"They wouldn't bomb it unless it was a strategic point," he said.

Airstrikes have struck sporadically since Russia launched its invasion, hitting mostly infrastructure and military targets. The city has long had a strong military presence. But Saturday's blast, which officials say was caused by a Russian rocket, struck a residential area.

Khokhol raced through largely deserted streets to the blast site, the eggs and pasta that he'd been planning to take to his family, who have evacuated to a nearby village, sliding around the back seat. By the time he arrived, firetrucks had arrived at the large crater in the middle of a cluster of red-brick homes built for the well-to-do around 15 years ago.

Some were scorched black; the roofs of several buildings had been ripped entirely off. The blast had hit a gas line; the vapors shimmered in the air as firefighters watched flames jump from the earth.

Karina Maniukina, 16, was making pancakes in her kitchen when the blast struck the street outside. "There was just an orange light," she said. There was dried blood on the side of her face where she'd been hit by the spray of glass. "I thought I was going to die."

She was home alone at the time. Her mother and brother were out at the market. She saw a young teenage boy being taken away with glass in his abdomen. Others said an older woman who had suffered injuries to her face was hospitalized, but no one was killed.

A neighbor helped pick glass shards out of Maniukina's neck as she stood in the blown-out kitchen. Others cleaned and swept. Outside her home, investigators pulled twisted fragments of metal out of the wreckage to send for further study. With no military infrastructure nearby, no one was sure what the target might have been.

Maniukina's family had considered fleeing the city, but Karina's mother had decided to stay to help displaced children.

The mother returned home; she sat down to play the family's white grand piano in their glass-strewn living room. Now, like so many others here, they were preparing to leave their home.

"We will go somewhere," Karina said. Perhaps that will be Poland, or the Carpathian mountains. They aren't sure where. "Bila Tserkva is very dangerous now."

Those who have stayed are turning their efforts to war. When Russia invaded, Khokhol decided to join with friends and former soldiers to make their own unit, rather than enlist the local territorial defense force.

They procure what they can from abroad, and volunteers focus on bringing it in over the border.

"That's what we do day and night," he said.

A contact with factories that made timber saws he used in his wood cutting business is now manufacturing crossed metal "hedgehogs" to block tanks.

"Getting bulletproof vests into the country is a nightmare," Khokhol said, so they've started making those themselves, too.

A local restaurant has become a sorting station for aid and medication, now stacked up on wooden shelves inside. "The places in the country give us their requests, and we send out exactly what they need," he said. The supplies go not only to the military, but also to internally displaced people, or anyone who needs it.

Truck drivers who are unwilling to go onward unload their cargo here.

"Then we find drivers with balls, and they go onward," he said.

___

The Washington Post's Anastacia Galouchka contributed to this report.
An outgunned but resilient Ukrainian military is adopting a two-prong strategy in the face of a flawed but fierce Russian assault, relying on hit-and-run tactics and the fortification of major cities as President Vladimir Putin's campaign enters a more perilous phase, military experts said.

The odds remain stacked against Ukraine, even as it exceeds Western intelligence assessments that had predicted Kyiv, the capital, would fall within days. Russian forces have begun employing siege tactics, aiming to flatten civilian infrastructure and exact maximum punishment for Ukrainian resistance. While Russia has mostly failed, so far, to seize major cities and effectively supply its soldiers with food and fuel, the Pentagon believes it is probable that Russia will regroup and press its massive advantage in firepower.

John Spencer, a retired Army officer who studies urban warfare for the Madison Policy Forum, said Ukraine's top objective is to make the war as bloody as possible for Russia, as it does not appear Putin will withdraw anytime soon. Giving up secondary cities may become necessary to allow the Ukrainian government to endure in the capital as long as possible, he said.

"Not losing is winning in this case," Spencer said. "The Ukrainian strategy is not to lose."

Russia has bombarded Kyiv mostly with artillery and other long-range weapons, as a 40-mile convoy of tanks and other combat vehicles effectively remains stalled about 15 miles north of the capital and bogged down with logistical setbacks, a senior U.S. defense official told reporters Friday on the condition of anonymity, citing ground rules established by the Pentagon.

In other parts of the country, however, Russia's advances are more significant.

In the northeastern city of Kharkiv, Ukraine's second-largest, Russian forces have reached the outskirts after pounding neighborhoods with missiles, rockets and other weapons for days, the senior U.S. defense official said.

In the south, Putin's forces also have advanced on the strategically important port city of Mariupol, occupied the smaller cities of Berdyansk, Melitopol and Kherson, and appear to have set their sights farther west on Mykolaiv, a city of about 470,000 people. Continued success there would allow the Russians to look even farther west and assault Odessa, a port city of nearly 1 million people, possibly both by land and an amphibious assault by naval forces on ships in the Black Sea.

Ukrainian officials have indicated that after surviving the initial invasion, they intend to launch a counteroffensive against Russian forces. That is likely to favor armed ambushes rather than a major, open assault on the numerically superior Russian military, said Douglas London, a retired senior CIA officer and an analyst at the Middle East Institute.

"They're not going to be able to mount a major counterattack, organize the troops and go, 'Charge!' It's going to be an asymmetrical effort to break up Russian attacks," London said. "The Russians have a lot of static targets because of their own logistical problems, and that's just gold for a harassing special-operations force operating in the rear. That's just what they do."

London predicted that, given Russia's vast military advantage, Putin will press his advantage and Ukrainian forces will eventually have to adjust again.

"I don't see him going gently into that good night," London said of Putin. "Ukraine will eventually lose the cities, or reach a point where they can't resupply them, and they'll have to transition to more of an insurgency or urban underground" operation.

Attacking Russian support lines already has proved to be a significant strategy to reduce Russia's advantages, said Andriy Zagorodnyuk, a former defense minister of Ukraine. Russian vehicles are spread across a wide area on multiple fronts, and they're constantly idling to keep soldiers warm in cold weather, Zagorodnyuk said, making diesel replenishment an enormous challenge.

The Ukrainian military has advised civilian defense volunteers to ignore armored vehicles and instead attack fuel trucks, which are unarmored and often driven by poorly trained Russian soldiers. Cutting off the fuel supply turns tanks and rocket artillery vehicles into road obstacles, said Zagorodnyuk, now chairman of the Center for Defense Strategies, a Ukrainian think tank.

With Russian vehicles holding in place, Ukrainian forces have attacked, leaving smoldering wrecks and giving Russian soldiers a grim choice: stay inside their vehicle where they're vulnerable to a possible missile strike, or try to escape on foot and face the likelihood of being shot or captured. Videos posted on social media and authenticated by The Washington Post show some Russian vehicles were probably abandoned.

Russia's advantage is fighting conventional battles with tanks and mechanized infantry, said Rob Lee, a Russia military expert and a senior fellow with the Foreign Policy Research Institute. The opportunity for Ukraine to undercut that, he said, is to focus attacks with antitank weapons and antiaircraft missiles and target forces in the dark using modern night vision goggles and thermal optics.

Rep. Jason Crow, D-Colo., an Army veteran who fought in Afghanistan and Iraq, visited Ukraine in recent weeks. That its military remains decentralized  one of the deficiencies preventing Ukraine from joining NATO  might be among its best assets in this war, he said in an interview.

"Disparate pockets of resistance, and you're seeing battalion-level units fighting independently, which . . . is maybe a blessing in disguise," Crow said. "It's actually helping them now, because . . . they're not relying on the centralized command-and-control systems.

"They have a unique opportunity now to attrit Russian forces rapidly because they're so messed up."

Spencer, the urban warfare expert, said that inside cities, Ukrainians are increasingly adopting "defense in depth," making it as difficult as possible for invading Russian forces to maneuver easily and survive. Bridges have been blown, tires and barricades have been piled in roads, and citizens have armed themselves with rifles, molotov cocktails and other weapons. He said he is unconvinced that Russia has enough forces to prevent Ukrainians in the capital from receiving additional arms.

History is filled with examples of a relatively small number of fighters digging into a city and its many alleys, rooftops and tunnels, and holding off a large assault for long periods of time, Spencer said. He cited the Battle of Mosul, in which Islamic State militants held out for nine months beginning in fall 2016 as Iraqi forces backed by U.S. air power took back a major city, block by block.
(Tribune News Service)  Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett made an unannounced trip to Moscow Saturday to meet with Putin. Israel alerted the White House in advance of the visit.

Bennett was accompanied by Housing Minister Ze'ev Elkin who speaks Russian and translated during the two-and-a-half hour meeting. The White House was informed in advance of the trip, according to a spokeswoman for Bennett.

Bennett has held phone conversations with both Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy in recent days as Israel attempts to leverage its good relations with both Kyiv and Moscow to help mediate.

Putin and Bennett discussed "various aspects of the situation in Ukraine in the context of the Russian special operation to defend Donbas," the Kremlin said in an emailed statement. Bennett was on a "brief working visit," according to the statement, which did not give further details of the talks.

___

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The Defense Department is free to move ahead with its effort to streamline the global system of shipping household goods after a federal agency on Thursday denied bid protests by a pair of firms over the $6.2 billion contract.

The U.S. Transportation Command in November awarded the hefty contract to Houston-based HomeSafe Alliance LLC for what the government describes as complete door-to-door transportation of household goods for the military, Coast Guard and federal employees.

A few weeks later, American Roll-On Roll-Off Carrier Group and Connected Global Solutions  both unsuccessful bidders in the solicitation  appealed the award to the Government Accountability Office.

The GAO announced on Thursday it had denied their appeals. It has not yet issued written decisions outlining the basis for the denials.

HomeSafe will begin a transition period lasting through December during which it will develop and test interfaces with the federal governments information technology system as well as establish customer service capabilities, the Transportation Command said in a news release Friday.

HomeSafe hailed the GAOs decision in a statement Thursday, saying the firm would dramatically improve the relocation experience for our service members, civilians and their families.

American Roll-On said it was disappointed about the decision.

We will review the GAO decision and evaluate next steps, including any further legal action, the company said in a news release Thursday.

The protest denial is just the latest twist in the awarding of a contract for moving household goods.

American Roll-On Roll-Off Carrier Group was originally awarded the contract in April 2020.

HomeSafe and Connected Global Solutions appealed the award to the GAO, which sustained their protest in October 2020.

As a result, the government once again solicited bids and late last year selected HomeSafe, prompting the latest protest by American Roll-On and Connected Global.

The selection of a single company to handle the movement of all goods is meant to streamline a system that uses more than 900 commercial entities for the roughly 325,000 annual shipments of household goods, according to U.S. Transportation Command.

The change is driven by steadfast complaints by military families about delays in pickups and deliveries of goods and damage to items during transportation.
Jane Wilde remembers feeling calm ahead of her porn debut in January of 2018.

I just felt ready, Wilde says of her first scene, which was with Seth Gamble for Reality Kings. I dont want to sound cockybecause thats not the vibe at allbut I knew that I could do it.

The former cam model performed in two more scenes for Reality Kings during the first week of her career, leaving no doubt she made the right decision to jump from MyFreeCams into professional porn.

Ten months and 80-something scenes later, the ambitious, 20-year-old Spiegler Girl from the New York City borough of Queens is on her way to bona fide stardom, as evidenced by her nomination for Best New Starlet at the 2019 AVN Awards.

Photo by Rick Garcia/@IndustryByRick
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WASHINGTON (Tribune News Service)  Lobbyists have a renewed plea to leaders in Congress: Let us roam the Capitol complex.

After two years of pandemic- and insurrection-related security restrictions, some lobbyists are putting their advocacy skills toward an effort to reopen the legislative buildings widely to tour groups and lobbying coalitions.

The National Institute for Lobbying and Ethics, which represents lobbyists, is putting together a letter to House and Senate letters to be delivered Wednesday, said the group's founder, Paul Miller. He declined to say how many lobbyists or lobbying groups had signed but said: "It's a good number."

"The country has reopened, and businesses have employees back in the office," a draft of the letter states. "Sporting and concert venues have opened for live events. And, with restaurants trying to make a comeback, we would urge Congress to do the same and reopen to the people without appointments starting July 11, 2022. What better message to send to the public that we are turning the corner on two years of very difficult and challenging times for this country than by announcing that Capitol Hill is again open to the public."

President Joe Biden called for a greater return to normalcy, including among federal workers, in his State of the Union address this week.

"It's time for Americans to get back to work and fill our great downtowns again. People working from home can feel safe to begin to return to the office," Biden said. "We're doing that here in the federal government. The vast majority of federal workers will once again work in person."

Currently, lobbyists may conduct in-person meetings on Capitol Hill, so long as a congressional aide signs them in and escorts them around the buildings. Rules are especially strict on the House side, said Miller, a partner with the firm Miller Wenhold Capitol Strategies. It's a concern he's held for more than a year.

Ryan Donovan, executive vice president and chief advocacy officer for the Credit Union National Association, said his group would sign the letter and supports efforts to reopen the Capitol more widely to visitors.

CUNA had its annual legislative conference in Washington this week with 4,000 members. He said the restrictions, especially on the House side, made it difficult to schedule in-person meetings, though some attendees did.

"Some meetings were held virtually, and a number of them were held off the Capitol complex," Donovan said, citing the Republican Capitol Hill Club and Bullfeathers pub, which are a half block from the Cannon House Office Building. "Some were in our office. There were a smaller number that were held in congressional offices, in House office buildings. We feel pretty confident that we hit just about every office, either virtually or in person."

Security passes sought

The COVID-19 pandemic isn't the only obstacle to reopening. The violent attack on the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, is also a reason for additional restrictions, Miller added.

His group has proposed a security pass for lobbyists and other frequent visitors to the Capitol.

Miller said the process for entering the Capitol complex now can be "painful."

"Some days it's not worth going down there for those meetings," he said.

Not all lobbyists, though, believe the Capitol is ready for an onslaught of visitors.

Daniel Schuman, policy director for the group Demand Progress, said both COVID-19 and security issues, as well as longstanding fire hazards, made the Capitol complex unsafe for the full return of visitors.

The Capitol Police force, he said, is "not sufficiently staffed to be able to maintain security in the Capitol complex."

In December, a Capitol Hill employee with a loaded gun in a backpack was able to put the bag through a security screener, pick it back up and enter the Longworth building before police noticed the weapon on the X-ray screen and locked the building down while they searched for him.

Zoom 'more convenient'

Schuman said lobbying remotely was working for him as an alternative.

"I'm a registered lobbyist, and I regularly have meetings with members of Congress all the time by Zoom," he said, adding that it saves time traveling between the Capitol Hill office buildings, too. "So for me, it's actually more convenient."

"I want, as much as anyone, for the Capitol complex to be open to everyone, but we are not yet at a point where the physical and health security risks have been adequately addressed," Schuman added.

Lobbyist Cesar Conda, a founding principal and policy adviser at Navigators Global, said he ventured to the Capitol this week for the first time in two years.

"I worked in and around the Capitol for 18 years as a Senate staffer. It was a great thrill to go back inside after two years," he said.

But he noted big differences. Before the pandemic, lobbyists could access the complex to take a meeting with a lawmaker or aide. "Once you had your meeting, lobbyists could roam around the Capitol all day to buttonhole members and staff," Conda said. "Yesterday, I had a meeting on the Senate side of the Capitol. Once you clear the security and appointment desk, someone from the office you are visiting escorts you to the meeting and then back to the exit. No more roaming around freely."

He said he supports a larger reopening of the complex to lobbyists and other visitors.

"I really don't think there are any health, safety or security reasons for keeping the Capitol closed to outsiders," he said. "It should be open to tourists, advocacy groups, lobbyists, the way it was pre-pandemic."

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About 14 wide-bodied transport planes flew tons of ammunition and weapons to include Javelin antitank missiles, rocket launchers, and guns to an airfield near the Ukraine border Friday as Western nations rushed to bolster the Ukrainian army as Russian troops close in on the capital of Kyiv, The New York Times reported.

The newspaper said Gen. Mark A. Milley, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, inspected the weapons transfer during an unannounced trip. The newspaper did not identify the airfield by name or location.

According to the newspaper, the supplies will be delivered by land to Ukraine for distribution to Ukrainian fighters as soon as possible. The Times said troops and personnel from 22 countries were working around the clock to unload the supplies for movement to Ukraine.

The weapons were part of a $350 million package that President Joe Biden authorized last week. The deliveries began this week but accelerated Friday as the Russians were gaining ground especially in the south and east, the newspaper said.
(Tribune News Service)  Outraged by the Russian invasion of Ukraine, governors and state lawmakers from both parties are seeking to impose economic sanctions of their own.

Governors in at least 11 states  Arkansas, California, Colorado, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Massachusetts, North Carolina, North Dakota, New York and Virginia  are pushing state entities to review or cut financial ties with Russian companies.

Lawmakers in at least seven states  California, Illinois, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, South Carolina and West Virginia  have proposed divestment bills. Some state agencies have announced plans to cut ties with Russian businesses. And the governors of at least a dozen states have issued executive orders or sent letters to liquor regulators and state-run stores to stop sales of Russian vodka and other spirits.

Illinois state Rep. Jim Durkin, a Republican and the House minority leader, said he wants his divestment bill to move through the legislature as quickly as possible. He hopes other states take similar action.

"Let's make this a national movement," he said.

The wave of state sanctions likely will be more symbolic than substantive, experts say. State pension funds and state agencies aren't deeply dependent on Russian companies. Russian goods aren't a major presence on U.S. store shelves.

Some of the sanction proposals also could raise legal questions. The federal government has authority over foreign policy, so state sanctions that conflict with federal sanctions could be unconstitutional, said Salar Ghahramani, an associate professor of business law and international law and policy at Pennsylvania State University, Abington.

State bans on Russian-made goods could violate the U.S. Constitution or international law if they run afoul of trade agreements, he said. Or state sanctions could violate pension fiduciary duty standards if they end up lowering the value of pension funds.

But even as symbolism, the state sanctions have value, said Gary Hufbauer, a nonresident senior fellow at the Peterson Institute for International Economics, a Washington, D.C.-based think tank.

Hufbauer said the surge of state-level activity demonstrates popular support for the sanctions imposed on Russia by the Biden administration. "What that symbolism does is reinforce what's happening at the national level, with all the very heavy-duty economic sanctions of various kinds."

Even though state action isn't likely to materially affect the Russian economy, he said, "It does add moral weight. And that's important."

Courts have struck down state-level sanctions in the past, arguing that such laws are preempted by federal law. The Supreme Court in 2000 overturned sanctions Massachusetts imposed on Burma, and a federal court in 2007 ruled that Illinois' sanctions on Sudan were unconstitutional.

But that hasn't stopped governors and legislatures from trying to cut ties with companies doing business with governments whose actions they oppose, from apartheid-era South Africa to Iran and Cuba.

Sanctions are a family affair for Pennsylvania state Sen. Sharif Street, a Democrat. His father, John F. Street, pushed for Philadelphia to divest from apartheid-era South Africa while serving as a city council member in the 1980s.

The younger Street is now soliciting co-sponsors for a bill that would require Pennsylvania's pension funds and state treasurer to drop investments in companies that do business with Russia. The bill has gained bipartisan and bicameral support, Street said, although the language hasn't been finalized yet.

In New York, Democratic state Sen. Elijah Reichlin-Melnick plans to file a bill that would require the state to block contracts with and eliminate investments in companies that do business in Russia. He also cited apartheid-era sanctions as an inspiration.

"To me, this is the same general idea," Reichlin-Melnick said. "We use the power that we have economically, and we make a company make a choice."

The Illinois bill and proposed New York and Pennsylvania legislation overlap with divestment steps the governors of their states  or, in Pennsylvania's case, the state treasurer  already have taken. The lawmakers are pressing ahead, however.

Although Illinois Democratic Gov. J.B. Pritzker has asked state pension systems to explore dropping investments in Russian companies and assets, Durkin said legislation on the issue would ensure divestment was codified in state law.

New York Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul has ordered state agencies and public-benefit corporations to cut ties with companies headquartered in Russia or aiding the invasion. Reichlin-Melnick's office said in a statement that his legislation would go beyond Hochul's order by targeting companies with any business ties to the Russian government.

"The goal of the Senator's bill is to treat Russia the same way Iran and North Korea are treated, as international pariahs," wrote Evan Menist, deputy chief of staff and director of communications.

In Alaska, lawmakers are urging the Alaska Permanent Fund Corp., which manages the state's oil revenues on behalf of residents, to divest from Russia. While fund officials said earlier this week that they weren't planning to divest, they said they would "mitigate any issues associated with sanctions."

The economic effect state sanctions have  and the legal issues they raise  may depend on how broadly they're written and how many companies they blacklist, experts say.

So far, the impact has been small.

In Colorado, for example, Democratic Gov. Jared Polis asked the state pension fund and treasurer's office to drop investments in Russian-owned companies and ordered state agencies to cancel contracts with Russian-owned businesses. But the treasurer's office has announced that it holds no Russian-owned assets. Colorado has no ongoing contracts with Russian state-owned businesses, Conor Cahill, press secretary for the governor, said in an email to Stateline.

The Colorado Public Employees Retirement Association has identified some $8 million invested in Russian state-owned companies, spokesperson Patrick von Keyserling said in an email to Stateline. But that's about 0.01% of the pension fund's overall holdings.

Polis' request to drop such assets is "consistent" with sanctions imposed by the U.S. Treasury, von Keyserling added. The Treasury has frozen the assets of certain Russian banks, and blocked Russian banks and companies affiliated with the Russian government from issuing debt or raising capital in the United States.

In New York, state Comptroller Tom DiNapoli said in a news release that New York's retirement fund for state employees has "minimal exposure to the Russian economy." The fund has an estimated $110.8 million invested in Russian companies, the release said. That's about 0.04% of its overall holdings.

State agencies that have been asked to drop Russian vodka have said that such liquor comprises a small share of spirit sales. The Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board told The Philadelphia Inquirer, for instance, that Russian vodka comprised about 0.06% of total spirit sales in the state over the past year.

Although many vodka brands have Russian names, only a few are genuinely Russian, said Mark Schrad, an associate political science professor at Villanova University who's written a book on vodka politics.

"Everybody kind of focuses in on the ones that sound Russian, like Smirnoff and Stolichnaya," he said of vodka brands. But Smirnoff, for instance, is run by a London-based beverage giant and made in 11 countries (not including Russia). And Stolichnaya, though marketed as Russian vodka, is made in Latvia. "[Smirnoff] has nothing to do with Russia, except for the Russian name," Schrad said.

Overall, the U.S. and Russia engaged in about $34.9 billion in trade in 2019, according to the office of the United States Trade Representative, the federal agency that conducts trade policy. The top imports from Russia that year were fossil fuels, precious metals and stones, iron and steel, fertilizers and inorganic chemicals, according to the agency.

In contrast, hundreds of billions of dollars in goods and services moved between the U.S. and each of its top trading partners  Canada, Mexico and China  that year.

Schrad said that although boycotts of Russian booze are largely symbolic, enough actions  from social media posts to planting a Ukrainian flag in the backyard  still can add up to a powerful message of opposition to the Russian invasion and support for Ukraine.

"Having enough symbolic actions really drives home the point that this is not just a small thing, this is not a small gesture," he said. "This is sort of a worldwide response."



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(Tribune News Service)  Chattanooga resident and Marine Corps Cpl. Thomas H. Coopers journey from a World War II battlefield cemetery on a tiny island in the Pacific Ocean back to his family in the U.S. will end with his burial with full honors at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia on Thursday.

His family called him by his middle name, Harley, and many of his relatives will come together at Arlington to honor him, some meeting each other for the first time.

Cooper was killed at 22 in the Central Pacific in November 1943, a member of Company A, 2nd Amphibious Tractor Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, Fleet Marine Force, which landed against stiff Japanese resistance on the small island of Betio in the Tarawa Atoll of the Gilbert Islands, according to the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency.

Over several days more than 1,000 marines and sailors were killed, including Cooper, and more than 2,000 were wounded in what was deemed a U.S. military success, according to the agency.

Coopers family now is scattered and disconnected, and those who knew the young corporal have passed away.

Daughter

To Coopers daughter  Laguna Woods, California, resident Virginia Cooper Frogel  her father is a mystery, someone she never met. The upcoming service at Arlington is a source of uncertainty for her.

Itll be very meaningful for my kids, Frogel said Tuesday telephone interview. I think that its closure and history, family history, and I think its important to them to know that a member of our family lost his life in a war that happened before I was born and way, way before they were born.

As for herself, she said, its kind of an emotional upheaval because I never knew my father. He was killed in November and I was born in March, so I really had no ties.

I didnt know him, I didnt know any stories about him, my mother knew very little about him, she said.

Its a loss that cuts deeply, even 78 years later.

I have a lot of anger about war, Frogel said.

War takes so much from everyone, it seems an unfair burden on humanity, she said.

I just feel like war shouldnt happen and here weve got another one in the Ukraine right now, she said. I feel for all the families who have lost their loved ones to war.

Granddaughter

The pandemic created a hitch in plans in 2020 and led to the cancellation of a couple of funeral dates, Rachel Frogel Lukens, 45, of San Diego, California, said Wednesday in a telephone interview. Lukens was born in Chattanooga and is Coopers granddaughter.

She said she and her brother, Jason Frogel, pressed for the service at Arlington.

When the news arrived, I was ready to get on the plane for Chattanooga to try to track down all these people I really have never known about before, then it all came to a screeching halt as everything shut down with the pandemic, Lukens said. I hadnt really revisited anything until Arlington gave us a new date, and it all came together rather quickly. And now its like, OK, here its finally happening.

As tentative plans were made since 2020, Lukens enjoyed reconnecting with family in Tennessee, she said.

Its been nice. My second cousin, Kim McCormick, and I have been communicating over the past couple of years. Thats been a treat, she said. Im really excited to meet her.

Half-brother

Like Frogel, Coopers only living sibling, a half-brother, has no memories of Harley Cooper because of the timing of his birth.

I was a baby when he was alive, so I didnt really know him, the corporals half-brother, Apison, Tennessee, resident Larry Cooper said Wednesday in a telephone interview.

Larry Cooper remembers his mother and father talking some about the brother who never came home, but its a distant, far away memory.

I dont remember a lot, the 82-year-old said.

But Larry Cooper said the family left behind by his half-brother was well-known in East Chattanooga in the middle of the last century.

My father owned a restaurant in Chattanooga for years before he sold it. It was called Mickeys Place. It was at Fourth Avenue and 23rd, he said. The place is now the Hunan Wok.

Larry Cooper said the father rarely spoke of the missing son, but the weight of not knowing what happened to him was apparent.

I know the family cared about him, and he was missed, he said.

Thursdays service at Arlington will be a fitting farewell, he said, and he wished he could attend.

Coopers death, 1943

Cooper was born Nov. 2, 1921, in Omaha, Nebraska. His remains were accounted for on Aug. 9, 2019, by the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency after being identified from among remains of 94 Tarawa unknowns disinterred from the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, known as the Punchbowl, in Honolulu, according to a statement the agency released in February 2020.

Cooper enlisted in Nashville on Sept. 18, 1940, according to the East Tennessee Veterans Memorial Association. He died in an undisclosed theater of operations, according to his death notice in the Dec. 25, 1943, edition of the Chattanooga News-Free Press.

The confirmation of his death, published on the front page on Jan. 11, 1944, listed the familys home in the 2600 block of East 46th Street in Chattanooga and noted Cooper once worked at Richmond Hosiery Mill.

He was the son of Thomas G. and Alline Patterson Cooper and the brother of Katherine Brogden, Betty Sue Huckabee, Mickey and Jerry Cooper, all of Chattanooga, and Bobby Cooper, who at the time was serving in the U.S. Navy, the notice states. He also was survived by half-brother Larry Cooper.

Harley Cooper and his wife, Rachel Campbell Cooper, who was from Wellington, New Zealand, met at a dance at the Jewish Community Center there while he was on a stopover, according to Frogel.

Sister-in-law

Ringgold, Georgia, resident Marjorie Cooper, 87, who was married to Harley Coopers younger brother, Jerry, said she remembers how the missing brother weighed on the family he left behind.

They all stressed over it, of course, and talked about it through the years, but they didnt have that much time with him either; he was so young when he went in, she said. I know it grieved his father really bad.

At one point, she remembered, there was a family story of military officials contacting the Coopers to offer some kind of remains but there was no certainty at all of who it really was, she said. The family wasnt interested, she said. It had to be certain.

It was a phone call from a cousin of the Cooper brothers that changed everything.

His cousin Larry Ward is the one that really got it going, she said. Jerry got a phone call from him and they were talking constantly and Larry was constantly getting this paperwork, forwarding on to Jerry.

The government officials wanted DNA.

Jerry was ready to do that, she said. He gave the DNA, and thats when they said it was a match.

Sadly, Jerry Cooper died in 2015 before his older brother was officially accounted for.

Cousin provides link

Ward, 79, who lives in Colorado, said by phone on Friday that a military family group called Chief Rick Stone & Family Foundation put him in touch with Marine Corps officials in Washington, D.C., several years back. The officials said they thought they had identified a family members remains in Hawaii. He knew there were family members in the Chattanooga area, so he called them.

Harley at the time had one full brother, Jerry, Ward recalled. I told Jerry, if he would, they needed his DNA, and I sent mine in.

Ward said that was the last he heard from the Marine Corps but he was glad to learn later that hed help make the link.

Its been decades since Ward and the familys  Chattanooga group, as he referred to it, had been together.

I met that group in 1957 or 58 when we took a trip down from Colorado to Florida to see Uncle Grady, my grandmothers brother, and thats when I met the group in and around Chattanooga, Ward said. Then Larry Cooper made a trip to Colorado to visit us. I want to say that was in the 1980s or early-90s.

Ward said he is happy the service at Arlington will reunite some of the family, though he wont be there.

More to the story

Cooper was Nashville resident Kim McCormicks great uncle, she said Tuesday in a telephone interview. Shes excited to meet some her family and hopes to catch up.

I knew Harley Coopers father, he was my great-grandfather, and he died when I was little. He kept looking for [Harley] for decades. I know mother said hed talk about Harley all the time, McCormick said, noting there were family ties all around Chattanooga in those days.

She said Mickey Coopers restaurant, Mickeys Place  which existed in the years after Cooper was killed  was eventually sold to become the iconic  Holders Restaurant, owned for more than 30 years by George Holder, who died in 2010.

McCormick said she wishes Jerry Cooper was alive to see his brother honored at Arlington.

Some other gaps and details in Coopers history were filled by research performed by New Yorker Geoffrey Roecker, who has an online site dedicated to U.S. Marines missing in action and their stories. The site, missingmarines.com , details some portions of Coopers life and service.

According to Roeckers research, Cooper, his older sister Katherine and his parents moved frequently early on, first living in Georgia and then in Tennessee. Roecker used military records, National Archives and talked to family members when the identification was made in 2020.

Once enlisted, Cooper was sent to Parris Island for training, then to the Naval Air Station in Jacksonville, Florida, but instead of flight school, Cooper worked as a specialist carpenter and painter, feet planted squarely on the ground, Roecker wrote.

In late 1941, around the time of the attack on Pearl Harbor, Cooper was transferred to Dunedin, Florida, for training as an amphibian tractor crewman, Roecker wrote. He first learned the craft of a gunner, but showed some mechanical aptitude and in January 1942 was promoted to corporal and, possibly, reassigned as a driver. Corporal Coopers Company A would ship overseas in July 1942 and be among the first alligator Marines to see combat during the Guadalcanal landings the following month.

Roecker also uncovered some details about Coopers romance that followed the end of that fighting.

When the campaign ended, they traveled to New Zealand for training, rest and recreation. Many Marines fell for the local Kiwi girls, and Cooper was no exception, Roecker wrote. He married his girlfriend in 1943.

Science brings Cooper home

In November 1943, Cooper was fighting on the small island of Betio in the Tarawa Atoll in an attempt to secure the island, according to the accounting agency. The Japanese were virtually annihilated in the fighting.

Despite the heavy casualties suffered, military success in the battle of Tarawa was considered a huge victory for the U.S. because the Gilbert Islands provided the Pacific Fleet a platform for launching assaults on the Marshall and Caroline islands, advancing their Central Pacific Campaign against Japan, according to agency officials.

In the immediate aftermath of the fighting on Tarawa, officials said, U.S. service members who died in the battle were buried in a number of battlefield cemeteries on the island.

The 604th Quartermaster Graves Registration Company conducted remains recovery operations on Betio between 1946 and 1947, but Coopers remains were not identified then, officials said.

In March 1980, the Central Identification Laboratory, a predecessor to the accounting agency, sent officials to Betio Island to receive skeletal remains recovered during a construction project, officials said. Of the three sets recovered, two were identified.

The third was declared unidentifiable and buried in the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific in Honolulu. Cooper lay unaccounted for again, but his brothers DNA would finally come into play.

In 2016, the accounting agency disinterred the remains of 94 Tarawa unknowns from the Honolulu cemetery for identification. The remains were sent to a laboratory for analysis, officials said. In 2019, advances in forensic techniques led to the identification of that third set of remains as Cooper.

Arlington

Lukens said she hasnt attended a military funeral but sought out some videos online after her children asked what the service would be like.

I definitely got choked up just watching any footage that we saw, even not having a connection to the person, she said. I cant even fathom what its going to feel like to know that were actually connected to this person thats being honored.

Lukens said her mom  Harley Coopers only daughter  has the courage to go to Arlington to face the past.

My mom is definitely a very stoic person and has been my whole life, she said. Shes very upbeat and positive and doesnt want to focus on emotional things. I think this is going to kind of force her to look into that hole in her life.

Coopers service at Arlington is set for 10:30 a.m. Thursday.

___

(c)2022 the Chattanooga Times/Free Press (Chattanooga, Tenn.)

Visit the Chattanooga Times/Free Press at www.timesfreepress.com

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Lavenia Hutchinson, 84, died May 1, 2022. Services will begin at 2:00 p.m. Monday, May 9, 2022 at the Calvery Assembly of God. Interment will follow at Sunset Memorial Gardens under the direction of Strode Funeral Home.
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.
There are 18,833 community cases of Covid-19 reported today by the Ministry of Health which is a decrease in daily cases from recent days where over 20,000 cases have been reported.

Sadly, five people with Covid-19 have died. There are 597 people in hospital and ten in ICU.

Of the 18,822 new community cases, 483 are in Northland, 9789 in Auckland , 1575 in Waikato, 1222 in Bay of Plenty, 459 in Lakes. 327 in Hawkes Bay, 417 in MidCentral, 95 in Whanganui, 264 in Taranaki, 153 in Tairawhiti, 94 in Wairarapa, 1308 in Capital and Coast, 576 in Hutt Valley, 258 in Nelson Marlborough, 1170 in Canterbury, 57 in South Canterbury, 558 in Southern, 17 in West Coast and 11 from unknown district health board regions.

Seven new cases have been identified at the border.

There are now 167,793 active community cases that have been identified in the past ten days and not yet classified as recovered.

Of the 597 cases in hospital, there are four in Northland, 112 in North Shore, 188 in Middlemore, 153 in Auckland, 53 in Waikato, 12 in BOP, 16 in Rotorua, two in Tairawhiti, seven in Hawkes Bay, four in Taranaki, ten in MidCentral, one in Whanganui, five in Hutt Valley, 17 in Capital and Coast, two in Nelson Marlborough, six in Canterbury, and five in Southern. The average age of current hospitalisations is 52 years.

On Friday, vaccinations continued with 255 first doses; 725 second doses; 84 third primary doses; 16,248 booster doses; 1,243 paediatric first doses and 241 paediatric second doses.

Deaths of five people with Covid-19

Sadly, we are today reporting the deaths of five people with Covid-19, says a Ministry of Health spokesperson.

Of these, two were being cared for at North Shore Hospital, two at Middlemore Hospital and one at Auckland City Hospital.

Three of the patients were in their 80s, one was in their 70s and one was in their 60s. Three were male and two were female.

Our thoughts and condolences are with these peoples whanau and friends. Out of respect for privacy, we will be making no further comment.

Decrease in number of community cases

While decreases in cases can be encouraging, the Ministry of Health urges caution.

We are expecting cases to jump around, and are continuing to see increases in Covid-19 related hospitalisations, says a Ministry of Health spokesperson.

Additionally, public health officials consider that one possible reason for the decrease in cases could be related to people not self-reporting Rapid Antigen Test results.

The Ministry of Health would like to remind everyone to self-report both positive and negative results for RATs through My Covid Record, to help health officials understand the size and trends of the outbreak, says a Ministry of Health spokesperson.

People who need help recording their result can also call 0800 222 478.

We would also like to remind parents and caregivers to report test results for their children via the 0800 number.

It is essential we have has much information as possible to inform public health decision-making, says a Ministry of Health spokesperson.

So, today, our message is simple: if you take a Rapid Antigen Test, report the result online through my Covid Record.

The Ministry would like to thank the tens of thousands of people who have reported a RAT result  you are doing your bit for the health response.

Instructions for self-reporting RAT results can be found on the Unite Against COVID website

Rapid Antigen Test Update

The Ministry has been made aware of people trying to walk through testing centre drive thrus to collect RATs.

This is dangerous, and we would like to remind people to check Healthpoint for information about drive-through and walk-in community testing centres, says a Ministry of Health spokesperson.

We are continuing to see a high demand for Rapid Antigen Tests and the Ministry continues to assure people that we have good supply of tests.

With tens of thousands of people collecting RATs from testing centres and collection sites, our request is to, please, be patient and kind to each other and staff. says a Ministry of Health spokesperson.

If you are symptomatic or a household contact, you can order RATs through the newly launched RAT requester site. You, or someone of your behalf, can collect your RAT order from a collection site listed on Healthpoint. Please only go to those sites that are listed as collection sites.

The priority for Covid-19 response for free RATs remains those who are symptomatic or a household contact.

Please do not order or request RATs from testing centre or collections sites unless you are unwell or a household contact.

International travel pre-departure testing is not covered under the public health response.

If you are well, you can still purchase RATs from one of a growing number of retailers which stock them, says a Ministry of Health spokesperson.

Covid-19 vaccine update

Vaccinations administered in New Zealand

Vaccines administered to date: 4,021,003 first doses; 3,963,390 second doses; 33,876 third primary doses; 2,440,520 booster doses: 247,053 paediatric first doses and 4,456 paediatric second doses*

Vaccines administered yesterday: 255 first doses; 725 second doses; 84 third primary doses; 16,248 booster doses; 1,243 paediatric first doses and 241 paediatric second doses

People vaccinated

All Ethnicities (percentage of eligible people aged 12+): 4,065,703 first dose (96.6%); 4,006,235 second dose (95.2%), 2,442,176 boosted (72.3% of those eligible)

Maori (percentage of eligible people aged 12+): 519,919 first dose (91%); 500,124 second dose (87.6%), 210,194 boosted (60.2% of those eligible)

Pacific Peoples (percentage of eligible people aged 12+): 281,093 first dose (98.1%); 275,195 second dose (96%), 125,679 boosted (59.1% of those eligible)

5 to 11-year-olds all ethnicities: 246,919 first dose (51.8%); 4,408 second dose (0.9%)

5 to 11-year-olds - Maori: 37,134 first dose (32.1%); 722 second dose (0.6%)

5 to 11-year-olds - Pacific Peoples: 21,825 first dose (44.2%); 531 second dose (1.1%)

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*

Northland DHB: first dose (90.4%); second dose (88%); boosted (70.2%)

Auckland Metro DHB: first dose (97.4%); second dose (96.2%); boosted (69.8%)

Waikato DHB: first dose (95.4%); second dose (93.6%); boosted (68.4%)

Bay of Plenty DHB: first dose (95.3%); second dose (93.4%); boosted (69.2%)

Lakes DHB: first dose (93.7%); second dose (91.5%); boosted (69.6%)

MidCentral DHB: first dose (96.9%); second dose (95.3%); boosted (74.7%)

Tairawhiti DHB: first dose (93.5%); second dose (90.9%); boosted (70.2%)

Whanganui DHB: first dose (92.5%); second dose (90.6%); boosted (74.5%)

Hawkes Bay DHB: first dose (97.3%); second dose (95.3%); boosted (72.2%)

Taranaki DHB: first dose (94.9%); second dose (93.2%); boosted (69.8%)

Wairarapa DHB: first dose (96.8%); second dose (95.2%); boosted (76.2%)

Capital & Coast DHB: first dose (98.8%); second dose (97.9%); boosted (80.6%)

Hutt Valley DHB: first dose (96.9%); second dose (95.7%); boosted (76.9%)

Nelson Marlborough DHB: first dose (96.9%); second dose (95.5%); boosted (76.7%)

West Coast DHB: first dose (93.1%); second dose (91.3%); boosted (75.1%)

Canterbury DHB: first dose (99.9%); second dose (98.8%); boosted (74.8%)

South Canterbury DHB: first dose (95.5%); second dose (94.2%); boosted (76.3%)

Southern DHB: first dose (98.2%); second dose (97%); boosted (75.6%)

*Partially and second doses percentages are for those 12+. Boosted percentages are for 18+ who have become eligible 3 months after having their second dose

Hospitalisations

Cases in hospital: total number 597: Northland: 4; North Shore: 112; Middlemore: 188; Auckland: 153; Waikato: 53; BOP: 12; Rotorua: 16; Tairawhiti: 2; Hawkes Bay: 7; Taranaki: 4; MidCentral: 10; Whanganui: 1; Hutt Valley: 5; Capital and Coast: 17; Nelson Marlborough: 2; Canterbury: 6; Southern: 5.

Average age of current hospitalisations: 52

Cases in ICU or HDU: 10

Vaccination status of current hospitalisations (Northern Region only, excluding Emergency Departments): Unvaccinated or not eligible (75 cases / 18.2%); partially immunised <7 days from second dose or have only received one dose (10 cases / 2.4%); double vaccinated at least 7 days before being reported as a case (162 cases / 39.1%); Received booster at least 7 days before being reported as a case (84 cases / 20.2%); unknown (83 cases / 20.1%)

Cases

Seven day rolling average of community cases: 16,687

Number of new community cases: 18,833

Number of new community cases (PCR): 1,173

Number of new community cases (RAT): 17,660

Location of new community cases (PCR & RAT): Northland (483), Auckland (9,789), Waikato (1,575), Bay of Plenty (1,222), Lakes (459), Hawkes Bay (327), MidCentral (417), Whanganui (95), Taranaki (264), Tairawhiti (153), Wairarapa (94), Capital and Coast (1,308), Hutt Valley (576), Nelson Marlborough (258), Canterbury (1,170), South Canterbury (57), Southern (558), West Coast (17); Unknown (11)

Number of new cases identified at the border: 7 (2 confirmed, 5 probable)

Number of active community cases (total): 167,793 (cases identified in the past 10 days and not yet classified as recovered)

Confirmed cases (total): 206,827

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
This weekend, for the first time in almost six months, Jonah Hill will be leaving the house.

There have been the trips to his wound care specialist and physical therapist, the excursions that take him as far as the front yard (on a good day), but an upcoming trip to Phoenix will be the farthest the silversmith and member of both Hopi and Quechan tribes has taken for a very long time.

It will be a momentous journey for reasons beyond just the life-altering injury that has kept Hill at home since September, as he will be taking part in one of the most prestigious Native American art markets in the world.

In its 64th year, The Heard Museum Guild Indian Fair & Market is one of the largest of its kind, drawing an average of 15,000 visitors each year, with more than 600 of the countrys most prominent Indigenous makers present.

Getting to participate in the market is no small feat. Artists and artisans must submit the best of their work to a jury, complete an extensive and competitive application process and, after all that, be accepted; some artists attend by invitation only. The jewelry category, which includes Hill, is saturated with talent -- the pool of applicants vast and the chances of getting in are slim.

"Its pretty emotional, Hill said of his upcoming trip. I am really excited, but I have a little bit of trepidation because I am still healing; I am not able to fully walk yet.

To understand the extent of the artists excitement and why hes still a little nervous, one must first rewind the clock to September 2021.

Hill had been on a seven-day, private Grand Canyon river trip when, unbeknownst to him, a cactus spine less than a millimeter in size embedded itself into his right pinky toe. Because he has diabetes, Hill constantly checks for cuts or abrasions, as the likelihood of infection is much higher for people who have the disease. But this one was so minuscule it wasnt even visible.

By day seven, the day he was supposed to hike out, it was clear something was very wrong. Hill had to make the trek anyway, a swollen foot, chills and fiery pain accompanying him the entirety of the Bright Angel Trail -- an almost 8-mile, entirely vertical trek that climbs nearly 5,000 feet in elevation. His wife met him halfway, but the physical and mental strain was nearly unbearable.

Less than a week later and back in Flagstaff, his right foot and leg about four times their normal size, Hill went to the emergency room and was told that amputation was necessary. First his pinky toe; two days later, the next toe. Following the removal of both, Hill came down with two staph infections and spent a total of 18 days at Flagstaff Medical Center.

The first time he stood up, it was only for a fraction of a moment. Eventually, he took his first step, but only one.

I had to use all my mental capacity to stay upright to force my body to accept that there are no toes there, Hill said.

He experienced phantom pains, a common occurrence after amputation, but used it to help facilitate stepping and standing -- albeit with a special orthopedic shoe for the time being.

'Phantom support'

About a month ago Hill was able to walk around the house, unaided, for about an hour.

After I started walking I thought to myself, If there is phantom pain, there has to be phantom support, so why not use that? I just kind of used that mental image of my toes being there and pushed myself to maintain stability that way, Hill said.

Beyond his foot, Hill had also lost significant muscle mass on the right side of his body, so that tasks like writing in a notebook left his arm sore for days to follow. Eventually, he was able to lift a hammer -- an important tool in metalwork -- but after holding it for about 10 minutes he became exhausted.

Such an injury is devastating to begin with, but even more so for work that is as physically demanding as silversmithing, which requires a great deal of dexterity and involves a lot of repetitive motion.

Your body reacts to not being able to do anything, every part of your body is connected and it all reacts accordingly, Hill said. I was really scared I was never going to be able to wield a hammer again or sit down for hours to work or the moving that I do in silver casting.

Sometime in December, Hill was able to sit and work.

Nowadays, the time it previously took him to complete five bracelets allows for only half a bracelet, but he is happy with the progress.

In some ways, his new physical realities have allowed him to put less pressure on himself to complete work in record time. Hill, who also has two children, Cutter (15) and Lottie (12), usually spent his day getting both kids ready for school, his wife would leave for work and hed start his own at 9 a.m. Working all the way through to 4 p.m., hed then take a break to hang out with his family, eat dinner, starting again at 8 p.m. and usually working until about 10. But a newfound slowness, a new way of existing has entered his life -- one he not only accepts but learned to embrace.

As an artist, as a creative, being injured or having a life change like that can be detrimental, but if you can mentally and physically adapt and push through all of that, it leads to something greater, he said. I am looking forward to this whole journey and becoming something more than what I was, rather than stepping back. Becoming disabled just pushed me to be stronger and serve as an inspiration to people who are maybe going through something like this.

This past week, Hill had his first appointment with a podiatrist.

A woodcarver turned silversmith

It was 2008, Jonah Hill was packing to leave for Santa Fe, New Mexico, where hed enrolled at the Institute of American Indian Arts to study metalwork when his mother called. She had something she needed to give him and it had to be soon.

So Hill drove out to her home in Kyotsmovi Village on the Hopi Reservation, where she opened a closet door to reveal three large toolboxes filled with metalworking and silversmithing tools.

I had never known it until that moment, but apparently my great grandfather was a silversmith. Nobody had ever mentioned it and my mom had these tools shed been hanging onto for years. It was so serendipitous.

I think I was the first silversmith on my moms side of the family that had used those tools for about 30 years, Hill said, then added: I still use them today.

Hill began his artistic career as a woodcarver, but eventually tired of it and switched to silver, which he has now been making and selling for 10 years.

He refers to his style as neotraditional, straying mostly away from classic Hopi silver overlay jewelry designs and tending instead toward his own styles and motifs. Water (Hill was a river guide for many years), plants, animals, tracks, nature, the things that you would see every day around you, are what he immortalizes in gleaming shapes and patterns.

I call my style neotraditional because I picture if native people had metalsmithing a thousand years ago, what kind of jewelry would we make then? He said. I use that concept to create jewelry that is place-based; I want people to wear my jewelry and connect to this place we are in.

Silversmithing is a newer craft to Hopi, Navajo and Zuni makers, Hill pointed out. It wasnt until the 1890s that some began to create silverwork, and it was a small number that grew steadily as time went on.

Silversmithing is new compared to the thousands of years of basketry or pottery-making, Hill said. I took to it because it was something new, but it had a big history with the people of this region. So for me being a silversmith is reconnecting to a time when a new art form was being created. Using cultural imagery, stories, the place we are in, all of those concepts to create something from a semi-new material.

Among his pieces are earrings, bracelets, belt buckles and pendants, to name a few -- each glistening, almost molten with sheens that looks like they might leap into motion at any moment. Some pieces have stone inlays, while others let silver shine as the star of the show.

Hill has been successful as a working artist, something he partly attributes to being self-employed rather than relying on galleries to sell his art. His work can be found at a handful of shops, but he is picky when it comes to which ones.

There is this whole aspect of Indian trader culture, and predatory galleries, he said. I have realized that there are galleries who actually help you sell your art and those who take a massive cut from the sale and take advantage.

A central part of the Heard art market is that profits go directly to the artists, another reason getting accepted and selling there is such a big deal for Hill.

For Hill, The Heard Museum Guild Indian Fair & Market represents many steps forward in his career, both metaphorically and physically.

To me, it is a big moment to fully become aware that I can still be able to do the things that I did before, mentally, emotionally and physically, he said. Just being able to get up and get all my jewelry together, and be able to have my wife drive me down to the show is pretty exciting. It will be good to be surrounded by creativity, to be surrounded by music. I think it will be a big part of my healing journey that I will be able to absorb all this creativity in the air, and it will help me realize this new form of work I want to do.

Hills planned inventory for the market includes but is certainly not limited to 46 pairs of earrings, 26 bracelets and nine rings; his will be booth C-31, which he is sharing with potter Fawn Navasi.

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Debate over whether Tauranga City should return to having Local Body Elections this October keeps churning as community figures fear the work of the current Commission could be undone by the return to power of elected officials.

The discussion has surfaced recently after Local Government Minister Nanaia Mahuta saying she remains committed to a return to council elections in Tauranga City. But she is yet to signal when this would happen and what that might look like after the Commissions exit strategy is finalised.

If the Minister decides to retain the Commission for the foreseeable future that election could be delayed until 2025.

One community leader who wants the Commissioners to stay in place is Te Tuinga Whanau Trust chief imagination officer Tommy Wilson.

The commissioners have done more in their tenure [since February 2021] than the previous 10 years of council, says Tommy.

The time is over that the tail wags the dog within the delegated authority of council employees and elected councillors.

Tommy says he has no confidence in the calibre of the people who have looked after the city before the Commission was appointed, based on how they have looked after the citys homeless.

The Te Tuinga Whanau Trust has been working in the area of homelessness for 37 years and Tommy has been working with and involved with the trust for 10 years.

Te Tuinga Whanau offers accommodation to people requiring a roof over their heads but also works alongside each individual to support them with wrap-around social services they need.

Weve had no interest in us apart from ex-Mayor Tenby Powell, and councillors Terry Molloy and John Robson.

There has been no Maori representative at the council either but now we have Shadrach Rolleston as an appointed Commissioner  and thats big for Tauranga Moana.

Hes well-respected, and from a cultural view that makes sense.

Te Tuinga Whanau is now opening a wellness hub in Taurangas CBD. Weve met with the Commissioners now on three separate occasions but weve never met with council or any of the mayors in the 10 years Ive been looking after Te Tuinga Whanau, says Tommy.

When people say Tauranga City should go back to voting in councillors, I say the opposite, says Tommy.

Te Tuinga Whanau withdrew from Tauranga City Councils - TCC - homelessness taskforce when in 2018 the council brought in the Peoples Project, which Tommy says is a foreign organisation born out of California and based in Hamilton.

Peoples Project received $600,000 of TCC funding with council-appointed managers who transferred from senior council roles when the new CEO took over. Why would we be involved in that structure? That is not about our people, says Tommy.

Peoples Project has nothing to do with an organisation such as Te Tuinga Whanau, which has been doing this work for 37 years in Tauranga Moana. So we left the table.

Minister Mahuta needs to understand why its [the council is] working now and why it wasnt working before, from a Maori point of view, from an organisation like Te Tuinga Whanau thats looking after 4000 Maori a year without any assistance from council, says Tommy.

Keep the commissioners in. The tail has been wagging the dog way too long.

Tommy thinks if any changes were made, it should be bringing in retiring Western Bay of Plenty Mayor Garry Webber as an additional commissioner.

If theyre looking for a fifth commissioner to lead the city who understands Tikanga Maori and understands how to run an inclusive council, you couldnt do better than engaging Garry Webber.

He has come in to see us at Te Tuinga monthly way before and during his mayoralty [at Western Bay of Plenty District Council].

He and his wife Carole have been supporters since day one when we started in Greerton. Garry understands and has a heart  something that needs pumping back into the soul of the CBD of Tauranga Moana.

Following an independent review, Minister Mahuta made the decision to appoint a Commission in place of elected TCC members in December 2020, in response to what she deemed significant governance problems from elected officials.

While the business community has also spoken with praise for the commission, local ratepayer groups have, however, been critical of the commission.

So far, SunLive understands only three of the councillors stood down from TCC one year ago have plans to run again, should elections take place in October. For more on this, see: https://www.sunlive.co.nz/news/287326-elections-will-stood-down-councillors-run-again.html
Evoking memories of New Zealands tradition of peace flotillas of the 90s, a schooner set sail from Whitianga on Saturday morning in support of Ukraine and to send a message to a powerful Russian oligarch.

On board the 62-foot Windborne, skipper Avon Hansford and partner Mihaela Vlainic are planning to meet up with other boats near Kawau Island in the Hauraki Gulf, before sailing on together to Helena Bay.

A Russian oligarch owns a multimillion dollar lodge there, says Avon. We figure that Putin is not just going to suddenly decide oh woops sorry guys I made a mistake and step aside. We think that hes going to need to be pushed out and told that hes passed his use-by date.

We may not like the oligarchs but they are our best allies to stop this madness.

Russian investment in New Zealand has come under increased scrutiny after Russias invasion of Ukraine last week.

Alexander Abramov's property in Helena Bay. Photo: Supplied.

Russian oligarch Alexander Abramov, whose main asset in New Zealand is the $50 million palatial estate at Helena Bay on Northlands east coast, has also invested in residential developments in New Zealand through a vehicle called Targa Capital. Its unclear how close Abramov is to Russian president Vladamir Putin who tends to regularly drop Russian billionaires from his favoured list. However, in 2017, Putin awarded him the Decoration For Beneficence for his public work and charity activity.

The NZ investments were approved by the Overseas Investment Office (OIO) in 2020 and 2021.

Anastasiya Gutorova, a Ukrainian lawyer in New Zealand, has launched a petition calling on the New Zealand Government to freeze all NZ assets of non-resident Russians and or non-NZ citizen Russian passport holders pending an end to hostilities in Ukraine and a withdrawal of all troops back into Russia.

Abramov is one of Putins close advisers and mates, says Avon. Its a multimillion dollar lodge. For Putin to move aside, its going to have to be done from inside the Kremlin, so our encouragement is to help those guys elbow him out of the way.

Two flags fly from Windborne's rigging, one honouring Ukraine and the other a flag that once flew from the mast of the Vega during the nuclear free Pacific protest voyages. Photo: Supplied.

Avon has a flag flying high in the Windbornes rigging that once flew from the mast of the Vega, the 38 foot veteran nuclear protest vessel that was involved with the Peace Squadron protests against nuclear vessels in New Zealand ports in the 1980s. Vega is probably best known for the nuclear free Pacific protest voyages, along with a flotilla of New Zealand boats, to Moruroa Atoll, in French Polynesia where the French Government conducted its nuclear testing programme until 1996.

Its an honour to carry that flag and keep up the peaceful resistance to that kind of behaviour, says Avon. Were sailing along nicely, doing about six or seven knots.

Avon and Mihaela left from Whitianga before midday, and plan to rendezvous with other boats from Auckland and Matarangi at Kawau Island, before sailing on together to Helena Bay as a peace flotilla protesting the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Alexander Abramov's lodge in Helena Bay. Photo: Supplied.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern told Parliament on Tuesday that New Zealand had not "yet reached the extent of the measures [it] would take to condemn this act".

"We are pursuing new measures to target Russian investment, including measures to target financial institutions in New Zealand, including separate, but Russian targeted, specific legislation."

The government would move as quickly as possible, including discussions with other political parties, she says.

Avon says the peace flotilla isnt against the property owner personally.

But if he is supportive of Putin and his ways, then we also want to make sure he doesnt feel welcome.

Thats all we are trying to do, and to let the people of Ukraine know that people everywhere else in the world are thinking about them, says Avon.

Were a bunch of alternate hippy revolutionaries whatever you like to call us.

Windborne is a 1928 Topsail Schooner built in Porthleven England by Gilbert & Pascoe Boatbuilders. She was built for Doctor W.Frothingham Roach, a keen racer who named her Magnet. She raced as a Cutter in the 1928 Fastnet race and was re-rigged as a topsail schooner by 1930. She was hidden during WW2 to escape being taken by the British Admiralty for coastal patrol work. She turned up in the 60s in Canada under the name of Huegenot and then left for New Zealand about 1975 under the name of Windborne.

The two sailors were waved off by supporters at Whitianga, veteran peace flotilla protesters Thomas Everth and Anna Horne amongst them.

Thomas says NZ has a tradition of protesting through sailing against atrocities and wrong things in the world.

Avon Hansford and Thomas Everth discussing the objectives of the peace flotilla at Whitianga before Windborne set off on Saturday. Photo: Supplied.

Thomas skippered a boat that took part in the 1995 Mururoa anti-nuclear Peace Flotilla, and Anna was the first person to smuggle out photos of the event and share them with the world.

Born and raised in Germany, Thomas says that many countries in Europe are now seizing Russian super yachts.

So life becomes harder for the central clique of Russians who are supporting Putin and were supporting this regime and keeping Putin in power by their support, says Thomas.

The west feels that putting pressure on this central 100-200 people in Russia may just sway the balance towards having change inside Russia, which is the only hope we have to stop this at the moment.

People listen to peaceful protests, they dont like protests that throw rocks. Were sailing and showing our support in a peaceful way, says Thomas. The aim of the flotilla is to demonstrate solidarity with Ukraine and to highlight the network of money connections of the Russian oligarchy.

He plans to join the flotilla in a few days once hes got the word out to other skippers.

Veteran peace flotilla protester Anna Horne waves goodbye to Windborne at Whitianga on Saturday. Photo: Supplied.

Thomas recalls growing up in Europe for the first 30 years of his life.

I lived next to the Iron Curtain, which went through Germany basically. Half of Eastern Europe was occupied by Russia after the Second World War  they never left.

When I was a teenager, Russian tanks rolled into Prague, Czechoslovakia, to quell a movement there to gain freedom from the Russia oppression in Czechoslovakia. And so Ive always lived under the pressure that I felt in myself that there is this other half of Eastern Europe occupied by Russia that could go from a cold war situation to something worse, says Thomas.

We had jets flying very low in Germany all the time training for the worst case. We had atomic weapons placed aimed at us, and of course weapons from American NATO countries in us. So we knew Germany was at the front line for this conflict between the free world and the world of oppression and military dictatorship.

We are seeing a revival of this now with Putin. There is great danger that Putin and his military establishment wants to rule all this back, suppress the freedom in this country, even at the cost of destroying Ukraine entirely. This cannot go on. We cannot descend into World War Three. It has to be stopped.

Professor of international law at Waikato University Alex Gillespie told Stuff that New Zealand has to treat every Russian person and entity fairly and with due process.

But just because you are an oligarch doesn't mean you have a relationship with Putin [or the Russian military]. We want an evidentiary process so we can say this person is linked to Putin so therefore they are subject to sanction. This is why we have the Five Eyes (intelligence sharing network with Britain, Canada, the United States and Australia).

We don't want Kiwis working out who is a good Russian or a bad Russian. You want to be working with our friends who have evidence which hopefully will be in the public domain.

Anna Horne with a flag she used in a previous sailing protest, at Whitianga on Saturday. Photo: Supplied.

Anna Horne, at 19 years, was one of the very first people in NZ that went on a sailing vessel to Muroroa Atoll to protest the French nuclear testing, and has been a part of many peaceful sailing protests.

Its nearly 50 years ago, says Anna, who assisted with the Greenpeace boat, Vega that sailed up to the atoll in 1972. I sailed on board Vega which was renamed Greenpeace III in 1973.

Theres a great power in speaking through our boats and sailing vessels. Theres a great fraternity of us who are totally committed to a peaceful future for the world, a non-nuclear future.

Safety and biodiversity are both being totally destroyed in the Ukraine and its really important that wherever we are, that we speak up.

Im absolutely thrilled that Avon is taking Windborne up to make this peaceful statement. I hope that the news gets out and that other boats will be joining him. Its a splendid boat and I wish Windborne fair winds and very good statement for the people of Ukraine that we are with them, says Anna.

Alexander Abramov's lodge in Helena Bay. Photo: Supplied.

Weve got to do this, says Avon. With the atrocities happening in the Ukraine at the moment, you cant be apathetic and do nothing. Every little bit helps.

We are trying to get a message to them that we abhor whats going on and that well do every little thing that we can to help them out.

Avon believes that peace flotilla back in the day was part of what eventually made France stop this madness because they didnt want to be seen with this bad image anymore.

If the world reacts and makes a peaceful stand all over the world - that is our hope that it will eventually turn evil around. New Zealand is a small country, we dont want to get into a fight, but we can offer our voice and thats what this is about.

Windborne. Photo: Supplied.

He doesnt know how many boats will join the fleet.

We already know some boats from Auckland are coming, says Avon.

Its a different time for a lot of people right now, with business depression and closures, and financial hard times with everything else going on in the world. If we get six boats to come with us Ill be rapt but I fully expect people have to get on with their lives.

It was Thomas who made the initial suggestion to Avon to sail to Helena Bay and protest in front of Abramovs property.

Thomas was an old campaigner during the Mururoa protest fleet, protesting nuclear subs, hes a good old activist. We want to send a message in a hope that it will be drop in the ocean in a flood of protests.

Avon Hansford and Mihaela Vlainic on board Windborne. Photo: Supplied.

Avon hopes Abramov will see images of the flotilla flying peaceful flags in front of his lodge and get the message that this kind of behaviour is not allowed.

You cant just go and kill your neighbours. Thats just wrong. Weve got global warming problems, annihilation of massive species of everything thats lived on the planet, weve got a pandemic going around the place. Weve got problems in this world. We dont need people to go and start shooting their neighbours. So nah nah nah were going to object to that as strongly as we can, says Avon.

As New Zealanders theres not that much we can do, but we can at least protest for the world to see in front of one of the oligarchs' mansions and point the finger at the people who possibly have a chance to divert further atrocities and end this, says Thomas.

Were hoping that a bit of encouragement to some of his mates up there to do exactly that can perhaps be aided by some actions to say youre not welcome here if youre supportive of this kind of behaviour to your neighbours.

He has a direct message for Abramov.

Do your very best to end this war. Do not support Putin. Do not support the military establishment. Take the message from the people of the world that its up to you. Theres about a hundred people in Russia that could end this overnight if you band together and you are one of those.

Thomas says the peace flotilla will likely aim for arrival at Helena Bay towards the end of next week.

Windborne. Photo: Supplied.
Families who entrust the care of a loved one to a Sunrise Senior Living memory care community know firsthand how committed we are to each residents success. Our Reminiscence neighborhoods utilize a person-centered approach that supports residents abilities and allows them to feel empowered and independent. Its a standard of care that allows Sunrise to exceed industry standards in memory care and programming.



It all begins with the caregivers we hire and the on-going training we provide. We set the expectations of excellence and individualized care from day one and reinforce these on a regular basis. Now, all Sunrise communities with memory care programs can officially add another credential that demonstrates the quality of our care programs. Its called the essentiALZ certification and all of our communities in the United States and Canada are all now staffed with a team member who has earned it.

What is essentiALZ?

The essentiALZ certification is a world-class dementia care certification developed by the Alzheimers Association. The program uses evidence-based best practices for providing care to adults with Alzheimers disease and other forms of dementia. Here are the best practices emphasized in the program:

Understanding and utilizing person-centered care

Needs assessment and care planning

Activities of daily living

Learning about common dementia related behaviors

Identifying techniques for communication

Each of these serve as a guideline for defining quality care in different care settings at every stage of the disease.





EssentiALZ Certification at Sunrise Senior Living

Over the course of 10 months, every Sunrise Senior Living community that offers memory care had a program leader become certified. Sunrise communities already follow the Dementia Care Practice Recommendations developed by the Alzheimers Association. These are the practices on which the EssentiALZ certification is based, and they serve to reinforce our existing philosophy and standards.

Each essentiALZ leader completes an online exam to earn their official certification. The certificate is valid for two years. Moving forward, the exam will become part of the onboarding process for all new memory care leaders.





Memory Care at Sunrise Communities

When an aging loved one is diagnosed with Alzheimers, the most common type of dementia, it can become increasingly difficult for families to manage the care of their loved one at home. Safety is often a leading concern. Families may also worry that their seniors home environment doesnt promote feelings of independence or empowerment.

This was the case for Ruth, a resident at one of our communities in Texas. Ruth did not want to make the transition to a senior living community, and she let everyone know it. From sitting alone at meals to refusing assistance with some of her tasks, Ruth dug in and let her care team know that they could not and should not help her. However, her care team was passionately invested in Ruths journey and understanding the root causes of her resistance to the transition. Through a person-centered care approach, team members across the community found ways to meet Ruth in her own reality through trust, compassion and working closely with Ruths daughter.

One night, a team member saw Ruth sitting alone at a puzzle table in a dimly lit room, long after many of her neighbors had gone off to bed. She sat, solitary and isolated fumbling around with the mess of pieces. Our team member politely joined her and began to build the puzzle with Ruth. It was quiet at first but as they built, the conversation turned from pleasantries to a meaningful discussion about bits from her life. Through a simple act of meeting Ruth where she was, the team member was able to support Ruth to let her guard down and enjoy the new home she had so actively opposed.

Over the weeks, this team members connection with Ruth grew and the whole community could see how much Ruths experience had changed. She joined the Resident Committee, signed up for all the outings, and became an unforgettable member of the community among residents and staff alike. Other care workers may have labeled her a grump or unhappy, but Sunrises team is trained in the practices of person-centered care which equips them with the tools to connect with residents on an interpersonal level and understand why they are feeling a certain way. It is through this type of training and certification like essentiALZ that Sunrise can deliver the care that allows residents like Ruth to live with the dignity and respect alongside people who love her for exactly who she was.

The challenges that Ruth faced are what quality memory care community and team are designed to support. From life skills stations and personalized lap boxes to a person-centered approach to care, Sunrise is a leading provider of memory care services in the United States and Canada. We invite you to call the community nearest you to learn more about our programs and how they can help a senior loved one enjoy their best quality of life at every stage of their disease.
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Dear EarthTalk: How will the homes of the future look and feel different as a result of global warming?

-- A.G., Silver Spring, MD

No doubt, homes are changing dramatically as the planet warms. Recent data from the United Nations Environment Programme shows that construction and use of residential buildings accounts for 17% of global greenhouse gas emissions. As architects and engineers look to reduce their environmental footprint, homes are starting to change in several key ways.

In general, new construction homes are the most likely to be the most resilient to climate change. New forms of concrete that are made from recycled or waste-based material save a large share of carbon emissions associated with the production of virgin concrete. Painting the roof white or another light color can reduce air conditioning use extensively by reflecting the suns rays and their heat back toward the sky instead of absorbing them into the building structure.

The U.S. Department of Energy reports that painting your roof white or another light color enables it to reflect solar radiation and keep up to 50 degrees colder than a typical roof on a hot day.

As for winter, making sure a houses shell is tight and free of drafts is one key to efficiency, as well as the use of eco-friendly insulation in walls and roofs. Strategically placed windows can help reduce winter heating bills through so-called passive solar heating.

The use of integrated systems and smart home technology to link up appliances and lights and run them only when needed is another hallmark of the home of the future. Likewise, design and materials considerations will play a large role in making these new homes as energy and water efficient as possible.

The geographic distribution of housing is also changing due to global warming. Cities across the U.S. are debating proposals to build high-density housing along bus and rail lines, with the hope that easier access to public transportation will reduce vehicle emissions. Inside, the homes of the future are likely to be chock full of eco-friendly innovations to reduce energy usage, from space age insulation materials to hyper-efficient electric appliances and lights that turn on and off as needed.

Finally, some places are taking an entirely new approach to housing. The Netherlands, a nation at extremely high risk of flooding, is pioneering floating homes, which are anchored tightly to the shore but can rise and fall with the tide. Unlike houseboats, the Dutch floating homes are connected to their local electricity and sewage systems and are stabilized in the water with a concrete hull, according to YaleEnvironment360. Though they function essentially the same as any other house, their ability to ride out a flood will protect them from damage long into the future.

As seas rise and coastal communities around the world lose their land to the water, the Netherlands floating houses could be harbingers of what the homes of the future will look like.

EarthTalk is produced by Roddy Scheer and Doug Moss for the 501(c)3 nonprofit EarthTalk. See more at https://emagazine.com. To donate, visit https://earthtalk.org. Send questions to: question@earthtalk.org.

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In context: Throughout this week, social media companies and the tech industry as a whole have taken various actions against Russian state media amid the country's invasion of Ukraine. Russia has reportedly started retaliating against them as well, as Western news outlets and app stores.

On Friday, Russian authorities announced they are blocking Facebook in response to the company's recent actions against Russian state media. Reports indicate Russia has already blocked multiple social media networks, app stores, and Western news networks. This comes following restrictions Russia had already begun at the end of last week.

The head of Der Spiegel tweeted that Russia blocked Facebook, Twitter, BBC, Deutsche Welle, and various app stores. According to numerous reports, Facebook and Twitter are now inaccessible in Russia even through VPNs, but Instagram and the Google Play Store still load (as of writing).

"We are moving swiftly to take new steps to reduce the exposure of Russian state propaganda..." - Brad Smith, Microsoft president and vice chair

Russian authorities are referring to actions from Facebook which started over the weekend, when the social media company blocked state media outlets RT and Sputnik in the European Union. Worldwide, Meta has also started demoting content from Facebook and Instagram accounts linked to Russian state media.

Russia blocks Twitter, Facebook, BBC, Deutsche Welle, App Stores --- Mathieu von Rohr (@mathieuvonrohr) March 3, 2022

Taking a similar stance, Twitter started attaching warnings to tweets containing links to sites associated with Russian state media. Google blocked RT's and Sputnik's YouTube channels in Europe.

TikTok also blocked RT and Sputnik in the EU. Microsoft removed RT news apps from the Windows app store, started demoting RT and Sputnik search results in Bing, and banned advertisements from those outlets on its platforms.

"We are moving swiftly to take new steps to reduce the exposure of Russian state propaganda, as well to ensure our own platforms do not inadvertently fund these operations," Microsoft president and vice chair Brad Smith said in a blog post.
What just happened? Cogent, a tier 1 ISP serving customers and businesses worldwide, informed Russian-based customers that all services would be terminated effective March 4. The company initially said the decision was made following Russia's actions in Ukraine. A later statement by a Cogent representative clarified the decision, citing the ISP's need to comply with recent EU regulations.

Originally reported by the Washington Post, the move is meant to inhibit Russia's ability to spread propaganda and conduct cyberattacks against Ukraine and its allies. Cogent claims the termination is being pursued to maintain compliance with the recently passed EU regulation 2022/350.

The regulation, originally passed on March 1, prevents operators from facilitating and broadcasting content by specific entities cited in the regulation's annex. The legal persons, entities, and bodies referred to in article 2F of the regulation include Russia Today broadcasts to several countries as well Sputnik, one of Russia's state-sponsored global news organizations.

Rather than simply flipping the switch, the company has agreed to conduct gradual terminations in order to give requesting companies time to secure new service providers. The move places Cogent on the list with several other large companies that are steadily reducing and eliminating their connections to Russian-based businesses.

Other businesses that have taken steps to reduce or eliminate their Russian ties range from financial companies such as Visa and Mastercard to social media and streaming platforms such as YouTube, Facebook, and Twitter.

Not everyone views the overall decision to sever the company's ties to Russian customers as beneficial, with many fearing the decision will leave truth-seeking Russians at the mercy of state-sponsored media and propaganda campaigns. Wikimedia's VP of Global Advocacy, Rebecca MacKinnon, explained on Twitter how the move would not stop government-backed organizations from launching cyberattacks or spreading disinformation. The Internet Frontier Foundation's Director of Cybersecurity, Eva Galperin, also voiced her opposition to Cogent's move.

WTF Cogent? Cutting Russians off from internet access cuts them from off from sources of independent news and the ability to organize anti-war protests. Don't do Putin's dirty work for him. https://t.co/uqbgOFYWX9 --- Eva (@evacide) March 4, 2022

Cogent CEO Dave Schaeffer told the Washington Post, "Our goal is not to hurt anyone. It's just to not empower the Russian government to have another tool in their war chest."

Image credit: network equipment by Lars Kienle
Russia's space agency, Roscosmos, announced that it will no longer deliver its rocket engines to the United States. The head of Roscosmos, Dmitry Rogozin, confirmed the decision on state television.

Russia will No Longer Sell Rocket Engines to the US

According to Tass, Rogozin said that they have made a decision to halt the deliveries of rocket engines produced by NPO Energomash to the US. These deliveries have been ongoing since the mid-1990s.

It was also reported that the ban will apply to RD-180 engines that power US-based United Launch Alliance's or ULA Atlas V rockets.

Tory Bruno, ULA's CEO, said through Twitter that ULA already has the RD-180s it needs in the near-term. He also said that he believes that the fallout from the country's invasion of Ukraine will not have any effect on ULA's operations.

ULA, a private space transport company, is currently in the process of abandoning its line of Atlas rockets in order to get new ones called Vulcan. The Vulcan will use engines made by Blue Origin, a US-based rocket company formed by Jeff Bezos. It is not clear when that rocket will be ready to fly.

Also Read: Russia, China Set to Collaborate and Open a Lunar Space Station to Study and Explore the Moon and Deep Space

The ban also applies to RD-181 engines that are used on Northrop Grumman's Antares rockets, according to CNN. These rockets are used to power uncrewed resupply missions to the International Space Station (ISS).

Russia's Situation May Have an Effect on ISS

According to Politico, Russia's invasion of Ukraine could affect NASA's plan to extend the operating life of the ISS. It is also believed that it could even speed up its demise.

Roscosmos said on Mar. 2, it has authority to operate for only 2 more years and the issue of extending the agreement in the current conditions causes their skepticism. Roscosmos warned that its cooperation with ISS could be affected by the sanctions of the US.

Russia backing out of the partnership could be catastrophic for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and its other international partners. This is because they are dependent on Moscow for main sections of the ISS as well as resupply, power generation and boosting of the station's altitude to prevent it from crashing to Earth.

Current and former NASA and administration officials and experts said the remaining space station partners, including the European, Canadian, and Japanese space agencies, could keep the ISS going without Russia. However, it might not be worth the cost and effort.

Brian Weeden, a space researcher at the Secure World Foundation, said a lot of money will be needed should that happen.

Publicly, NASA is sounding hopeful that the cooperation, which dates back more than 2 decades, can withstand the latest blow in the relationship with Moscow.

NASA Administrator Bill Nelson said that during a meeting with NASA's Advisory Council on Mar. 2 that the US is committed to the seven astronauts and cosmonauts on board the ISS.

The crew consists of two Russians, four Americans, and a German from the European Space Agency (ESA). Meanwhile, two NASA astronauts are wrapping up their training with Roscosmos, and three Russian cosmonauts are training with NASA.

Five NASA astronauts, on the other hand, are scheduled to begin training in Russia this month.

In 2021, Russia has already thought about cutting ties with ISS, which led Nelson to believe that a more serious space race could happen if Russia pushes through with it.

Related Article: NASA: International Space Station Still At Risk from Falling Debris From Russia-Spacewalk Under Review

This article is owned by Tech Times

Written by Sophie Webster

 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
The writing contest has been launched by the Provincial Party Committee's Propaganda Department on the afternoon of March 4.

Permanent Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee Phan Ngoc Tho attended and gave a speech at the launching ceremony

The contest aims to propagate the contents of the Resolution 54 of the Politburo, and the Resolution of the 16th Provincial Party Congress on "Building Thua Thien Hue worthy of one of the big and special hubs of the whole country and Southeast Asia in terms of culture and tourism in the period of 2021 - 2025 with a vision to 2030; as well as propagating and promoting the land and people of Thua Thien Hue.

Contestants are Vietnamese people living in the territory of Vietnam. Contest entries are written in 2022 and have not been published in any mass media or publications, including social networks. Each contestant can submit multiple entries, but only under one pseudonym.

Each entry must have 2,500 words or more. The entries that meet the requirements will be published in Song Huong Magazine (whose headquarter is at 9 Pham Hong Thai Street, Hue City, Thua Thien Hue). The Organizing Board of the contest will receive entries from March 15 to October 15 via email address at songhuongtapchi@gmail.com; and award prizes in December, including one First prize; two Second prizes; four Third prizes; and six Consolation prizes.

Permanent Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Mr. Phan Ngoc Tho, affirmed that the heritage, cultural and human values of the province should be promoted in the spirit of awakening the available potentials; and building the brand name of Hue so as to enhance Hues values.

By Anh Phong
Tesla's Gigafactory Berlin got its permit from the State Office for the Environment and its German officials that concerned the construction of the building, finally getting it after almost two years. The environmental requirements of the factory have been a long-running debate and protest in the Grunheide area, which caused the Gigafactory's construction a problem.

Elon Musk promises to dance at Tesla Gigafactory Berlin's grand opening ceremony, which he did for previous events.

Tesla Giga Berlin Get its Permit from the German Officials for the Environment

Germany's environmental officials from the MLUK Brandenburg have given Tesla and its Gigafactory Berlin the ecological permit that it requires to push further for its plant's construction. The permit is the last piece of the puzzle for Tesla and its supposed operations in Berlin, mainly to bring its development of clean energy cars over to Europe.

The announcement talked about the approval of its council when looking into the Giga Berlin's construction, as many opposed its establishment during it first presented the plant. There have been many disputes over its permits as many people reasoned out that it will only disturb the environment and its residents than bring them opportunities.

Read Also: Hidden Tesla Tricks? Elon Musk, Fans Share a Few Hacks You Should Know About

Ich mochte mich recht herzlich bedanken. Die Zukunft ist sehr spannend!    Elon Musk (@elonmusk) March 4, 2022

Elon Musk to Dance at Giga Berlin's Grand Opening Ceremony

Nevertheless, the Tesla CEO expressed his gratitude to the officials for their approval and deliberation of the Gigafactory, especially as it took them quite some time before its final decision. Musk then confirmed that he would dance at Giga Berlin's grand opening ceremonies when it finishes construction like in other Gigafactory launches, but he had an unknown time and date.

Haha sure :)  Elon Musk (@elonmusk) March 4, 2022

Tesla's Gigafactory and its Disputes

Tesla's Gigafactory Berlin ran into some complications with its early constructions as it faced a lot of protests that affected its erection in the Grunheide area. There have been many delays in the construction of the Giga Berlin. It brought a massive disappointment for the tech CEO and his patronage over the development of the overseas plant.

There have been many reports regarding the problems on Giga Berlin and its environmental effect that will cause a significant change in the ecosystem when starting its constructions there. The area's residents were complaining of the many products it will bring to their livelihood and the wildlife and environment to which it will allegedly disturb its peace.

Nevertheless, the Tesla Gigafactory Berlin is now entering its last stage, where it will finish construction to accommodate its future operations to create clean energy vehicles for the European region. Moreover, it will also bring the new Model Ys with 4680 batteries and power the car, as it will be its next-generation power cells made especially by Giga Berlin.

Related Article: Tesla Oklahoma Service Centers, Stores Might Shut Down Due To Possible Direct Sale Ban

This article is owned by Tech Times

Written by Isaiah Richard

 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
The Surgeon General of the United States, Dr. Vivek Murthy, has launched an investigation into the spreading of misinformation on COVID-19.

US Surgeon General Wants to Combat COVID Misinformation

Dr. Murthy told CNN that misinformation has had a profound impact on COVID-19 and the response of health workers.

Studies have shown that majority of the American public either believes common myths about COVID-19 or thinks the myths might be true. Many of those include myths around the COVID-19 vaccines.

Also Read: COVID-19 Misinformation Also Lurks in Doximity: Doctors Claim Even Fellow Physicians Spread Fake News

Dr. Murthy has requested input and data from several tech companies, health care providers, and community organizations to know more about the impact of misinformation on COVID-19 on their respective platforms.

CNN reported that this is the first time that the Biden administration has asked tech companies to divulge certain data, including major sources of misinformation, its extent, and who may have been more targeted. Dr. Murthy said that they will be looking forward to whatever information tech companies have to share.

Several tech giants like Facebook, YouTube, and Twitter have released features to combat misinformation on their respective platforms. However, Dr. Murthy still wants to get their data to know whether the solutions released by the companies are actually working or not.

Strain on Health Care Workers

Another important is input from health care workers, teachers, and families on coping with misinformation. Dr. Murthy said that health misinformation is making the jobs of health care workers much harder at a time where their health care work force is strained, according to a report by The New York Times.

Dr. Murthy added that he's heard health care workers say that they are battling COVID in the hospitals during the day, and they are battling health misinformation at night.

Dr. Gerald Harmon, the president of the American Medical Association or AMA, released a statement applauding the Surgeon General's effort to root out COVID-19 misinformation online.

Dr. Harmon added that AMA has called out the junk science and misinformation about COVID-19 and the vaccine that have spread on social media.

Dr. Harmon said that these have sewn distrust in medicine, cost lives, and drove families apart. This echoes the statement made by Pfizer's CEO last year, calling those who spread misinformation about COVID-19 the vaccine "criminials."

He added that collecting and understanding the data is critical to reversing its deadly impact and future spread.

Doctors Release COVID Toolkit

According to a report by ABC, the Surgeon General in the country released a step-by-step toolkit to help people combat misinformation about the COVID-19 vaccines in their close circles.

Dr. Murthy said in an interview that they need people in communities all across the United States to have these conversations. Dr. Murthy added that it is not just the government that needs to be engaged in these conversations about COVID-19.

The step-by-step guide gives a complete road map on how to talk to unvaccinated people who have bought into the conspiracy theories or lies that have constantly spread on the internet about the COVID-19 vaccines and its effects.

Last year, the US government has called out Facebook and the COVID-19 misinformation on the platform and said that it has caused lives.

Related Article: COVID Misinformation: YouTube Slaps Dan Bongino With One-Week Suspension After Calling Masks 'Useless' Against Coronavirus

This article is owned by Tech Times

Written by Sophie Webster

 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Tehachapi, CA (93561)

Today

Partly cloudy. High 77F. Winds WNW at 15 to 25 mph. Winds could occasionally gust over 40 mph..

Tonight

A few clouds from time to time. Low 51F. Winds WNW at 10 to 20 mph.
Rock Miniatures by Michelle Heinesen is on display at the Lee College Art Gallery through April 8. (Photo by Mark Fleming)
Why did 1 in 5 children and adolescents say they were not happy?
Melinda French Gates on having no regrets: "I gave every single piece of myself to this marriage."

Melinda French Gates sits down exclusively with "CBS Mornings" co-host Gayle King for her first wide-ranging interview since divorcing Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates. She addresses rumors of Bill Gates' infidelity and interactions with Jeffrey Epstein, and shares details about her ongoing commitment to philanthropy. In a statement to CBS News, Bill Gates said "meeting with Epstein was a mistake that I regret deeply. It was a substantial error in judgment."
Madisonville, KY (42431)

Today

Isolated thunderstorms this morning, then mainly cloudy during the afternoon with thunderstorms likely. A few storms may be severe. High 77F. Winds ESE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 70%..

Tonight

Scattered showers and thunderstorms. Low 63F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 60%.
UPCOMING

 Hopkins County Retired Teachers Association will meet at Brothers BBQ on Thursday, March 10, 2022. Meeting begins at 10:30 am.

 Hopkins County Women of Note will be presented by Linda Thomas on March 10th at 6:30 p.m. in the Government Building-56 N. Main St.

 The Bible Baptist Church Bible Conference will be held Friday, March 18 at 7:00 p.m., Saturday, March 19 at 6:00 p.m. and Sunday, March 20 at 10:00 a.m. Speakers will be pastors Don Bell and John Chapman. Bible Baptist Church is located in Madisonville at 2015 Beulah Road.

 The next meeting of the Pennyrile Chapter of Kentucky Public Retirees (KPR) will be the 4th Thursday in March 24th, 2022 at 11:30 am to 1 pm at Country Cupboard.

 Madisonville Community College will be hosting a Vendor Showcase at the Madisonville City Park on Sat. April 23 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. featuring retail vendors, crafts and food trucks.

ONGOING

 Hopkins County Local History Classes will be held the first Monday of each month at the Hopkins County Regional Senior Activity Center located at 200 N. Main St. Classes will last from 10:00 to 11 a.m. with Spencer and Linda Brewer.

 The Madisonville City Council meets on the first and third Monday night of each month, at 4:30 p.m. at the City Council Chambers. If the regular meeting falls on a legal holiday, the meeting will take place on the next day at the same time.

To submit items to The Messenger for publication, email us a mhughes @the-messenger.com. Town Crier notices are for non-profit and community oriented events only. Due to spacing, items submitted may be edited as needed.
Aleksander, 41, presses his palms against the window as he says goodbye to his daughter Anna, 5, on a train to Lviv at the Kyiv station, Ukraine, Friday, March 4. 2022. Aleksander has to stay behind to fight in the war while his family leaves the country to seek refuge in a neighbouring country. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti) ORG XMIT: EM113 ORG XMIT: BAT2203041001161013
Nineties supermodel Linda Evangelista famously declared I dont get out of bed for less than $10,000 a day  a rule of thumb apparently being applied by Aussie model exports such as Lara Worthington (nee Bingle) and Nicole Trunfio for whom a six-figure salary is all in a days work.

Far from her days as Australias tourism advert model, these days Lara Worthington is the face of Swisse vitamins. Credit:Instagram

Appointed as brand ambassador for Swisse vitamins last July, Worthington made time to join beauty media for an intimate luncheon at Mimis restaurant in Coogee last week to promote the wellness company. Emerald City is told the mum-of-three, who is married to actor Sam Worthington, looked every bit the picture of health and beauty at the luncheon  but was far from sociable, opting to sip a black coffee alongside her entourage. Its all a far cry for the former Shire girl and star of reality show Being Lara Bingle, who shot to fame in the 2006 Australian tourism ad with the famous catchphrase Where the bloody hell are you?

Meanwhile, fellow export Trunfio, who shot to fame aged 16 after being scouted by Tom Ford and walking in a Gucci fashion show in Milan, lives on a ranch in Texas with her rocker husband Gary Clarke Junior and the couples three children.

The leggy brunette returned to the harbour city days apart from Worthingtons exit. The Perth-born runway model loaned her face to cruelty-free and vegan beauty brand Inika Organic.
This competition closed on April 7, 2022.

In partnership with Melbourne International Comedy Festival, we are giving you, our valued subscribers, the opportunity to reconnect with everything you love about your city: food, culture and fun.

Exclusive to subscribers of The Age, one lucky winner and their companion will have the chance to enjoy a comedy-filled city-break on the last weekend of April including tickets to a hand-picked Melbourne International Comedy Festival show, accommodation at luxury hotel The Westin, dinner at Karen Martinis restaurant Hero at ACMI and a hamper of goodies from festival partners.

Win the ultimate Melbourne city-break. Credit:Melbourne International Comedy Festival

The exclusive Comedy Festival weekend worth $1,000 includes:
Viktoriia in Kyiv before the war. She is now visiting her daughter Olena in Sydney. Credit: The biggest challenge for Viktoriia was actually getting out of Ukraine. The family bought her a train ticket for Lviv in western Ukraine, leaving that afternoon. The first sirens sounded, warning civilians of a possible air bombing, while Viktoriia was in the metro on the way to the central railway station. She saw many families sheltering with children and pets in the underground stations. The train arrived in Lviv six hours late after taking a circuitous route to avoid bombing. She found the city packed with refugees from all over Ukraine, all trying to get trains or buses amid freezing temperatures. There were no train tickets to anywhere in Poland so Viktoriia bought one of the last bus tickets  only for two buses to break down, unable to leave the depot. She heard a train was going to Przemysl across the Polish border and they might let people on without a ticket.

After a long wait with bombing sirens going off, hundreds of women and children were allowed to cram aboard without tickets, bidding an emotional goodbye to the men staying behind to defend the country. The Ukrainian government has banned men aged 18 to 60 from leaving. Viktoriia found a warm reception from the Polish people, with lots of volunteers helping them with accommodation, food and water, lollies and toys for the children, and transport to any city needed. A Polish volunteer drove Viktoriia and four other women to Warsaw and the next day she boarded a flight to Sydney, via Istanbul and Singapore. Olena and her husband picked her up from Sydney Airport, greeting her with balloons in Ukrainian national colours.

Olena says she didnt sleep for the five days while her mother was trying to escape, and she has been emotional and exhausted in the aftermath, though she is grateful her mother is safe. The family remains desperately worried about friends and family in Ukraine, including Olenas father (and Viktoriias husband) who lives in another city. He cannot fight because of medical conditions, nor flee because he is only 55. Gillian Triggs, UNHCRs Assistant High Commissioner for Protection, said about a million Ukrainians had crossed the border since the invasion, mostly to Poland but also to Moldova, Romania, Hungary and Slovakia, and neighbouring countries had responded generously. But, Dr Triggs warned, people with fewer resources would find it exceptionally difficult to leave. Olenas father, Viktoriias husband, remains in Ukraine as men aged 60 and under are not allowed to leave the country. Credit:Janie Barrett Its terrifying of course for people to stay but its equally terrifying for many to move across borders where they dont have friends and relations and where they dont know whats going to happen to them, Dr Triggs said.

The future is uncertain but Viktoriia hopes she can remain in Sydney with her family and obtain one of the promised humanitarian visas flagged by Prime Minister Scott Morrison. Her tourist visa is valid for five months rather than the standard three but she is not permitted to work. She would like to contribute by teaching Ukrainian or Russian to local children. Loading Tetiana George, who also has her mother and father visiting from Ukraine  with the whole family staying in a small flat in North Sydney  also wants the government to allow Ukrainians to work and to be able to access language programs at TAFE for migrants to learn English. With Ms George having left her job to have her second child, her husband is suddenly responsible for four adults and soon-to-be-two children. Her mother is a senior doctor specialising in lungs and allergies who has worked on Ukraines COVID response, but her qualifications may not be recognised here. They cant do anything  its like a limbo, Ms George said. They came here with nothing and they want to contribute and do something. Its very frustrating sitting at home all day long and dwelling in your own pain and anger.

Ms George said her father came in January and her mother in February and they had originally intended to fly back the day after the war started. They had not believed the invasion would happen and were still in shock. Ms George said an immigration lawyer advised the tourist visas would probably be extended, but said were no other visas open to them except the potential humanitarian visa. Loading Viktoriia said it was a cruel and serious war but she believes Ukraine will prevail. We are protecting our homeland, our native and loved ones, she said. The entire world is helping us, and it means we are doing the right thing.
The fetishisation of motherhood in the Instagram age is partly to blame for peak levels of mother guilt and the nagging reminders youre not quite doing it right, say feminist commentators including full-time worker and mother of three, Georgie Dent. Executive director of the parenting network and childcare advocacy group, The Parenthood, Ms Dent describes impossible standards for contemporary mothering. Georgie Dent believes Australias enduring male breadwinner model is one reason full-time working mothers still experience stigma. Credit:Steven Siewert Back in the 80s there was less expectation on mothers to have stuff like amazing lunchboxes, and all the costumes for halloween dress ups being home-made, that has increased pressure specifically on women: I think it presents itself in different ways, says Ms Dent. We are dealing with a whole lot of messages about what makes good parents  a good mother  constantly.

Policy settings that still favour one parent working full-time (and the higher earner is still likely to be the father) dont help. I am absolutely aware there is still bias ... because Australia is still very wedded to gender stereotypes and has a very dominant male-breadwinner model. The workforce has changed and women are educated and graduating from uni in greater numbers than men; what hasnt changed are the underlying policies, and they perpetuate men as breadwinners and women as carers, says Dent, who has three daughters. Deep down there is still a belief women staying home with children is the best-case scenario. Georgie Dent, childcare advocate When you strip it all back, we still have quite a conservative culture in Australia and lingering sentiment that while we accept women might have to work, deep down there is still a belief women staying home with children is the best-case scenario.

She has seen that while mothers will torture themselves trying to do the necessary mental gymnastics to balance clashing school and work commitments, her husband and other dads are not as prone to tie themselves in knots about not being able to get to it all (and kids often dont mind if some things are missed). Research suggests what works best is families being able to share the care and the earning, she says. School communications to parents primarily directed towards mothers dont help diffuse the idea women are still considered available. Teacher and parenting author, Daisy Turnbull, says working fathers are not scrutinised in the same way as working mothers. Credit:Janie Barrett Educator, parenting author and mother of two, Daisy Turnbull, describes the subtle and not-so-subtle attitudes to full-time working mothers as unconscious slights.

Its like you walk into an event for work and the first question you get is, where are your kids?. It transplants you back to a mothering role when you arrived in a professional capacity then makes you question that capacity. The assumption is you should be with your kids [not working], maybe its not even a conscious bias; its almost a question, Oh, you have to organise the kids stuff [and work] that must be a lot?  but no man gets asked, where are your kids?. Loading Policing of working mothers presence may be subtle, but it is evident. The nature of teaching means you can not usually drop off or pick up your own kids ... sometimes during lockdown I would pick the kids up at 3 oclock and some parents would be like, Oh, we never see you at 3 oclock!. Attitudes that working motherhood is somehow less than ideal need to be outed and discussed with young people, so theyre not perpetuated.

Theres an underlying judgment built into our culture and you often feel it from the previous generation, weve got to deal with that because we need more women working, and staying in the workforce, and making being a working mother [accepted as] a good choice rather than difficult and a struggle. she says. Leading workplace observers agree working-mother prejudice may lie under the surface, but is active and destructive. Deputy director of the Women and Work Research Group at the University of Sydney Dr Meraiah Foley, says the mother/carer, father/worker trope is alive and well: Youd think wed be beyond the mummy wars but its still real. Women face a much stronger expectation that they will still be nurturers and caregivers at home, and stereotypes and gender patterns of disrespect that exist in the real world are magnified online. Not doing the thing women are supposed to be doing is seen as fair game for penalising professional women. The fact it is rife online, as the eSafety research found, is partly down to the veil of anonymity and partly because on a lot of platforms, the algorithms are designed to amplify discord and disagreement.

These types of mummy wars issues we could have hoped we had put to bed in the 90s are areas where, if you can attract a lot of outrage, it equals eyeballs. Some of the platforms are encouraging this behaviour, which is problematic. Director of the Workplace Gender Equality Agency, Mary Wooldridge, and chief executive of the Diversity Council of Australia, Lisa Annese, both say continuing to tackle gender stereotypes is the primary way to dismantle double standards applied to parents. Ms Annese points out that while researchers have described a fatherhood bonus for men, who are seen to be more reliable once they have kids, and a motherhood penalty for women, who are assumed to be less so. Mary Wooldridge of the Workplace Gender Equality Agency says stereotypes of roles men and women are presumed to do need to be actively dismantled. Credit:Eddie Jim Ms Wooldridge, a former Victorian Liberal MP and minister for mental health, community services and womens affairs, was once asked by a prospective employer why they should recruit her, given I was a young woman who would probably go off and get pregnant soon after I was employed.

She agrees an end to gender stereotyping is the only way to stamp out the working-mother prejudice before it trickles down to future generations. Gender stereotypes are so fundamental in terms of how women and men are treated, she says, this is manifested in data about women in leadership roles and the gender pay gap also. As the annual festival of corporate breakfasts and feel-good working girl power approaches, Ms Annese warns that what progress has been made towards equality may prove fragile unless biases continue to be actively fought. Loading I have mixed feelings about International Womens Day: yes, things have moved but there are dark forces trying to dismantle progress all the time.
What changed? Two years after the Battle of Tizak, in September 2012, Person 4 was serving as second in command to Roberts-Smith, who was by then an SAS patrol commander. They were on a fateful mission to a village named Darwan, to hunt down a rogue Afghan soldier who had slaughtered three Australian soldiers on a coalition base the previous month. At Darwan, Person 4 claimed, he saw Roberts-Smith kick an unarmed and handcuffed prisoner down a cliff, the man falling so forcefully that his teeth were knocked out of his mouth on the way down. After hed followed Roberts-Smith and another soldier, Person 11, down a path to the river bed below, Roberts-Smith allegedly ordered him to help drag the stunned villager to a nearby tree. When he heard shots ring out from an M4 rifle (the type carried by the SAS), he says he turned to see the prisoner lying dead, and Roberts-Smith and Person 11 nearby, with Person 11 still holding his rifle in the firing position.

Person 4 added that he believed that the ICOM radio subsequently photographed next to the dead villager had been taken by Roberts-Smith from a different individual killed earlier in the day (though later he conceded he did not know this for a fact). Person 4s evidence has been a watershed moment in this most extraordinary of defamation suits. His description of the events at Darwan tallies, in a number of key respects, with evidence given by three Afghan villagers last year, whose accounts were beamed into the courtroom by audio-visual link. Person 4s Darwan evidence also tallies with original reports written by investigative reporters, Nick McKenzie and Chris Masters, in June 2018, concerning the death of a villager named Ali Jan, whod allegedly been kicked down a cliff then shot by the SAS. Roberts-Smith, suing the Sydney Morning Herald and The Age over these and other reports, has strenuously denied all wrong-doing. His version of events at Darwan is that the dead villager was a Taliban spotter - equipped with a radio - whom he and Person 11 surprised in a cornfield as the troop was evacuating.

But Person 4 told the court that Roberts-Smith instructed other members of the patrol that the spotter version was the story that they all had to stick to. A few years later Person 4 shared the Darwan story with another soldier, Person 7. This led to the following exchange with Roberts-Smiths barrister, Arthur Moses, SC: That story about Darwan you told him [Person 7] was basically saying that Mr Roberts-Smith is a war criminal, correct? Thats correct, Person 4 agreed. The former soldier however denied that he considered Roberts-Smith was undeserving of the VC for the earlier action at Tizak and that this had prompted him to tell others about the Darwan incident. Yet he felt his own actions at Tizak had been comparatively undervalued. I was upset that something as outstanding as what both Ben and myself did was politicised and they [the military authorities] could have accepted the fact that both of us did as much as the other that day, he said.

He added that he believed the government wanted a good news story out of Afghanistan, and that the Roberts-Smith VC was it. Yet he was also adamant that he was not now trying to bring his former comrade down. Under intense questioning from Moses, he described two camps among the elite SAS troop, one in support of Roberts-Smith, and another highly critical of the subsequently lionised VC war hero. Person 4 said he was in neither camp but that within the unit, sharks were circling. This part of Person 4s evidence will almost certainly be seized on by Roberts-Smiths lawyers who have contended that the war crimes allegations against their client have been fuelled by professional jealousy. Person 4, medically discharged from the SAS last year, never wanted to be part of this case. He was summoned under subpoena by Nines lawyers. His recent mental health struggles have been raked over in the courtroom by Roberts-Smiths lawyers all week. Compounding the stress he says hes been under is that another soldier, Person 41, testified several weeks ago that Person 4 himself had been ordered by Roberts-Smith to shoot an unarmed prisoner on another occasion in 2009, at a compound dubbed Whiskey 108 (again strongly denied by Roberts-Smith).

Person 4 has sought and been granted a degree of protection in the courtroom from answering questions about Whiskey 108, for complex legal reasons. SAS soldiers on duty in Afghanistan move towards a waiting UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter. By Friday lunchtime, hed been released from the court, but only after giving evidence for four-and-a-half gruelling days. Moses repeatedly put to Person 4 that his memory had failed, that his medications were interfering with his recall, that he was hallucinating, or that he was making things up. Person 4 remained adamant throughout: I know it [Darwan] happened. By Friday afternoon, the media outlets had called another critical SAS witness into the box, codenamed Person 18 (none of the SAS personnel can be identified by name).

Person 18 said Person 4 had told him during a drinking session in late 2012 about seeing Roberts-Smith kick a detainee off a cliff. Hed asked Person 4 not to tell him any more because he was sick of watching friends break down over things that had happened in Afghanistan. In two later meetings with senior officers, attended by Person 18, Person 4 had repeated the story about the detainee being kicked over the precipice, Person 18 told the court. Person 18 also gave evidence about receiving anonymous threatening letters in mid-2018, shortly after he had given evidence to a secret government inquiry into war crimes allegations. The court has previously heard that Roberts-Smith asked his then friend, John McLeod, to track down addresses and post envelopes for him at around this time. Roberts-Smith has denied sending the letters. Person 18 described his alarm at receiving the letters, which in at least one case have been handed to the Australian Federal Police after he reported them to superiors. On Monday, he will continue giving evidence on events at Whiskey 108, where it has been alleged that Roberts-Smith ordered Person 4 to blood the rookie by shooting a detainee who had allegedly been pulled from a tunnel. Roberts-Smith has denied giving any such order and has consistently maintained there were no Afghans in the tunnel. At least two SAS witnesses have now said there were.
One person remained missing on Saturday afternoon following Queensland floods, with the discovery of a 42-year-old womans body confirming the worst fears of a Gold Coast family and bringing the south-east Queensland flood death toll to 11.

Police found her body at Mudgeeraba, almost a week after she was seen driving along Gunsynd Road, near Bonogin Creek, last Sunday.

After a false start earlier in the week, Brisbanes mud army finally hit the streets on Saturday morning to help clean up after the citys second devastating flood this century.

However, on Saturday night the council advised that the mud army would be stood down on Sunday due to forecast storms. It was unclear when or whether volunteers would return, only that council and Australian Defence Force personnel would continue the work.
Australian of the Year Dylan Alcott wants rapid antigen tests and N95 masks to be free for all Australians living with a disability  and to address national cabinet next Friday.

In his first direct intervention into politics since winning the award, the Paralympic champion and tennis golden grand slam winner wrote to the Prime Minister and all state and territory leaders on Friday to place the two requests on the national agenda.

Australian of the Year Dylan Alcott has made it clear he wont shy away from political debate. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen

The call comes as Australias internal and external borders come down and as the country learns to live with the Omicron strain of the virus  another 28,032 cases and 37 deaths were reported on Friday. Mr Alcott said in his letter that he supported and embraced the opening up of the country.

However, Mr Alcott said that one in five Australians lived with some form of disability and some faced greater risk of serious illness, hospitalisation and death from COVID-19 too.
Three challengers for County Board seats came forward in the last five days to file for the coming election.

All four incumbents on the Gage County Board of Supervisors whose terms were up this year, Eddie Dorn of district 1, Erich Tiemann of district 2, Gary Lytle of district 5 and Terry Jurgens of district 7, previously filed to seek reelection.

Three of those races will be contested this year, with only Lytle running unopposed.

Seeking the district 1 seat is Mark Burrows of rural Adams. Burrows is a Democrat and Dorn is a Republican, so since there is one candidate from each party they will both automatically advance to the fall general election.

While filed as a Democrat, Burrows said hes a moderate candidate willing to listen to all sides.

Ive always thought that its good to get involved at the local level where things start and I felt that the Board of Supervisors could use more balance when it comes to ultra conservatives on there, he said. I consider myself moderate and will listen to anybody, as far as that goes.

Burrows, 61, is a retired postal worker who recently retired after 26 years. As a rural carrier, Burrows said he got familiar with the roads in his district and would like to see them continue to be maintained.

Pretty much everything was in my district and I was out driving around, he said. The roads are always an issue and I think were making progress on that, but it looks like theres always room for improvement.

Burrows said doesnt have a firm agenda if elected, and is seeking election to become more involved in the community.

As far as personal things I want to see done, I just want to see our district represented as best as possible and be more active in things that are going on, he said. Ive never run for office before, but Ive been involved with the Post Office union and rural carriers union. The timing was really good for me right now since I just retired from my job and I would like to get more involved in whats going on locally.

In the district 3 race, George Pinkerton of Beatrice filed to run against Tiemann. Pinkerton is a Democrat while Tiemann is a Republican, so the two candidates will be featured on the fall general election.

Pinkerton, a native of Gage County who grew up working on a family farm, retired last year after 15 years working for the Downtown Lincoln Association.

Its a group the city of Lincoln hires to maintain the downtown landscape and horticulture stuff, Pinkerton said. I managed that with a crew of about 30 people. I got through that, retired and am now working part time for the USDA as a crop enumerator. I talk to farmers about their plans and production to get a feel for whats happening out here in the agriculture area.

Pinkerton, who is married, has three kids and four grandchildren, said hes lived in Gage County his entire life, except when he attended college at the University of Nebraska, where he obtained an agronomy degree.

He said theres not one reason hes running for County Board or anything particular he hopes to change.

Im not criticizing how it has been run, I just want to see if I can add to it and serve in the public arena, Pinkerton said. "Ive never run for any office. I just thought this would be interesting. Id like to see how things are run. I think the people at the courthouse do a good job and think the county government is in good shape, I would just like to put my two cents in there.

In the district 7 race, Randy Frerking, of Odell, filed for election against Jurgens. Both candidates are Republicans, so the race will be decided in the spring primary election.

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Surging rents and flat wages are forcing critical childcare, aged care and supermarket workers deeper into rental stress in four marginal seats that will be integral to the outcome of the next election.

New research from the Everybodys Home campaign group has found that workers in the seats of Flinders (Victoria), Gilmore (NSW), Bass (Tasmania) and Longman (Queensland) have seen the share of their income spent on rent rise by between five and 13 per cent between February 2021 and February 2022.

Tania Maguire, 46, a single mother of two and aged care worker on the Mornington Peninsula. Credit:Chris Hopkins

In practice, that means that these critical workers on the Mornington Peninsula, in Launceston, Wollongong and the NSW south coast in North Brisbane and on the Sunshine Coast are now scraping by on between $189 and $375 per week, depending on the sector, after paying rent.

At the same time, polling of 3273 residents in the seats conducted by the Redbridge Group for Everybodys Home found that 61 to 72 per cent of residents believed the federal government had not done enough to address housing affordability.
In his controversial Q&A question on Thursday defending the Russian viewpoint on Vladimir Putins invasion of Ukraine , Gillies-Lekakis described himself as a member of the the Russian community here in Australia.

In a subsequent piece for socialist magazine the Monthly Review, Gillies-Lekakis showered praise on Cuba, Venezuela and Nicaraguas left-wing governments for their responses to the COVID-19 pandemic. His conclusion: socialism is far more effective than capitalism in reducing both the human and economic costs of the COVID-19 crisis.

Gillies-Lekakis has written glowingly about his experience on the Caribbean island, saying the one-party state had long been misrepresented and misunderstood around the world.

Before he was booted off the ABCs Q+A by host Stan Grant in a dramatic television moment, Sasha Gillies-Lekakis made history as the first student from the University of Melbourne to undertake an exchange program in communist Cuba.

But Gillies-Lekakiss question - which included misleading statistics about the number of people killed by Russian troops in the contested Donbas region of Ukraine - reflected something more than a pro-Russia perspective. It revealed a tendency evident on both extremes of the political spectrum - the far-left and far-right - to side with the Russian President as an expression of their discontent with the state of the modern Western world.

This trend, which is evident around the world, exemplifies the so-called horseshoe theory of politics attributed to French writer Jean-Pierre Faye. The theory holds that the far-left and far-right can end up closer to each other than they do to the political centre, with both tending to gravitate towards authoritarianism.

At times, especially on the right, you see this tendency manifest itself as outright admiration for Putin. It can also be more subtle, appearing in the guise of moral relativism, false equivalence and whataboutism. This strategy seeks to downplay Putins aggression by shifting the discussion towards the flaws and past mistakes of western nations.

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On the progressive side of the ledger, some older leftists retain a lingering soft spot for Russia as a legacy of their past support of the Soviet Union - despite Putins economic and social policies being, in the main, conservative. The crucial factor that draws many on the far left towards Putin is a meeting of minds on foreign policy. They see the United States as a destructive imperial superpower, leading to a reflexively anti-American and anti-NATO worldview they share with the Russian leader. This is essentially the enemy of my enemy is my friend school of international relations.
Tesla Deep Dive - Learning the Secrets of the Country's most Innovative Upstart Auto

By Martha Hindes

Senior Editor

Michigan Bureau

The Auto Channel

Ask some unenthusiastic observers and they might tell you a common joke about all those bundles of double A batteries tied together to provide electricity to propel the electric super car down the road. Ask enthusiasts and it might be the innovative technology that makes it essentially a supercomputer with four wheels attached.

Ask Sandy Munro and he might tell you the only way to find out is to pretend you are a five-year-old with a new toy and immediately take it apart to see what's inside.

Munro has a long history of automotive engineering wearing the title CEO and Design Prophet. He knows that feeling exactly. That's what Munro and his team are doing with an early edition of the Tesla Model 3  the lower cost, so-called populist Tesla meant to draw in buyers who can't afford the upscale models but want to share in the futuristic vehiclular dreams of super visionary Elon Musk who is dedicated to putting transportation on a 22nd Century path.

Munro is the somewhat reticent founder and head of Munro & Associates, Inc., of Auburn Hills, Michigan. That is one of the Automation Alley communities home to many of the state's automotive support industries, and an expanding home of the industry's need for advanced technologies as it morphs beyond the internal combustion engine.

In an uncharacteristic gesture of visibility, Monro opened the doors of his benchmarking facility to members of Detroit's Automotive Press Association (APA) this week to show us the Teslas innards.

It wasn't easy getting a new Tesla Model 3 to pick apart. You don't just drive up to a Tesla dealer and put your cash on the line. There simply aren't any to be had. And, telling the company you want one of their vehicles to take apart like opening a can of tuna isn't likely to extricate one from inventory.

Instead, Munro was able to find one an early adopter who had put some $78,000 in cash up front to be first to own one. When Munro made the offer to buy it from him, the guy said yes. He needed the money, said Munro.







Walking through Munro's facility you might not realize you are looking at parts of a disembodied future car meant to change the driving and vehicle ownership habits of the more average American.

Tables were laden with pieces of the entire drawn-and-quartered Model 3. They included drivetrain components, interior appointments such as vegan (non-animal) luxury seat covers, electronic brains, automatic braking elements and mismatched front and rear brake calipers. They showed every aspect of the vehicle that Tesla predicts will sell in volume. (Apparently Michigan-based Meijer superstores feel the same way, as they are installing banks of Tesla-only electric vehicle charging stations outside some of their mega stores.)

Going beyond perceived packs of AA batteries might seem like a stretch. But Mark Ellis, one of the technical wizards who is part of the team, showed how the little battery rolls  each about the size of a prescription bottle  are welded together with an advanced super glue into bricks of 46. Those bricks then are aligned into four panels that lay flat on an undercarriage base, then completely covered. No matter where one is seated in the Model 3, he or she is sitting over a section of battery pack. It's eerily reminiscent of GM's experimental Skateboard architecture of the early 2000s that never made it to production.

Everything in the Tesla is glued together, said Ellis. And he can attest to its toughness compared with welding or bolting parts together. He had to use chisels and a lot of muscle to break components apart. That also means that the battery packs in the platform are there for good. There's no swapping out an individual dead battery within the array for a new one. But he said that each battery cell is so small that if one did fail it would have virtually no impact on the total electrical charge propelling it.

Munro's reverse engineering technique is meant to learn how the Tesla, and other subjects of their interest, are made. Each of the findings is assigned a specific number from 1 to 5 to indicate how poorly or well it is designed or made. The numbers are as objective as they can them, indicating quality of design, materials, assembly and, most important, their cost. One is low man on the totem pole, indicating that component has been poorly envisioned or executed. Five, however, shows leading-edge design, effective applications and, on some occasions, a good sense of humor. One set of circuitry boards had Batman and Robin designed into them with those names etched into the board in case it wasn't obvious.

Munro said the Tesla has both 1s and 5s with advanced technology rating a 6, for its off-the-scale future thinking.

Body in White scored way low having unnecessarily excessive amounts of steel in odd places that added to weight, sharp edges from welding leakage and unnecessary complexity in assembly, including oddly mismatched attachment applications. Musk was recently quoted admitting they use too much robotics in the Model 3 assembly. Those factors seem to have added to Tesla's ongoing problems with fit and finish, about which many Tesla owners have complained. But, the electronic systems scored very high. Other numbers were all over the place.

The benchmarking of the Model 3 was not commissioned nor authorized by Tesla, so Munro has no need to provide a report of its ultimate findings to the company. But, Munro is free to sell the study in total or in parts to any OEM or other buyer interested in a copy. That includes Tesla. He calls it a payment of $78,000 for a million dollars-worth of research.

That brings up a couple of questions for the future. Since the Model 3 won't have a model year assigned to it, that could complicate things for the collector who might want to get a permanent historic license plate some years down the road. Those are based on the model year. (That's a 25-year-old model in Michigan.) And what happens if the battery packs finally do the dreaded deep six and the Tesla Model 3 becomes an expensive garage filler?

The general consensus: You buy a new Tesla.

 Martha Hindes, The Automotive Bureau
Rep. Jake Hoffman, R-Queen Creek, is sworn in during the opening of the Arizona Legislature at the state Capitol on Monday, Jan. 11, 2021, in Phoenix.
The CMA CGM BIANCA container ship goes up Government Cut in Miami Beach, Fla., to PortMiami on Friday, May 15, 2020.
People say good things come to those who wait.

NASA thinks 50 years is the right amount of time as it begins tapping into one of the last unopened, Apollo-era lunar samples to learn more about the Moon and prepare for a return to its surface.

The sample is being opened at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston by the Astromaterials Research and Exploration Science Division (ARES), which safeguards, studies, and shares NASA's collection of extraterrestrial samples. This work is being led by the Apollo Next Generation Sample Analysis Program (ANGSA), a science team who aim to learn more about the sample and the lunar surface in advance of the upcoming Artemis missions to the Moon's South Pole.

"Understanding the geologic history and evolution of the Moon samples at the Apollo landing sites will help us prepare for the types of samples that may be encountered during Artemis," said Thomas Zurbuchen, associate administrator of NASA's Science Mission Directorate in Washington. "Artemis aims to bring back cold and sealed samples from near the lunar South Pole. This is an exciting learning opportunity to understand the tools needed for collecting and transporting these samples, for analyzing them, and for storing them on Earth for future generations of scientists."

Saving some for later

When Apollo astronauts returned these samples around 50 years ago, NASA had the foresight to keep some of them unopened and pristine.

"The agency knew science and technology would evolve and allow scientists to study the material in new ways to address new questions in the future," said Lori Glaze, director of the Planetary Science Division at NASA Headquarters. "The ANGSA initiative was designed to examine these specially stored and sealed samples."

The ANGSA 73001 sample is part of an Apollo 17 drive tube sample collected by astronauts Eugene Cernan and Harrison "Jack" Schmitt in December of 1972. The astronauts hammered a pair of connected 1.5-by-14-inch tubes into the lunar surface to collect segments of rocks and soil from a landslide deposit in the Moon's Taurus-Littrow Valley. The astronauts then individually sealed one drive tube under vacuum on the Moon before bringing them back to Earth; only two drive tubes were vacuum sealed on the Moon in this way, and this is the first to be opened. The other half of this drive tube, 73002, was returned in a normal (unsealed) container. The sealed tube has been carefully stored in a protective outer vacuum tube and in an atmosphere-controlled environment at Johnson ever since. The unsealed segment was opened in 2019 and revealed an interesting array of grains and smaller objects, known as rocklets, that lunar geologists were eager to study.

Now, scientists are focusing attention on the sealed, lower segment of the core. The temperature at the bottom of the core was incredibly cold when it was collected, which means that volatiles (substances that evaporate at normal temperatures, like water ice and carbon dioxide) might have been present. They are particularly interested in the volatiles in these samples from the equatorial regions of the Moon, because they will allow future scientists studying the Artemis samples to better understand where and what volatiles might be present in those samples.

The amount of gas expected to be present in this sealed Apollo sample is likely very low. If scientists can carefully extract these gases, they can be analyzed and identified using modern mass spectrometry technology. This technology, which has evolved to levels of extreme sensitivity in recent years, can precisely determine the mass of unknown molecules and use that data to precisely identify them. This not only makes for improved measurements, but also means the collected gas can be divided into smaller portions and shared with more researchers conducting different kinds of lunar science.

NASA's Ryan Zeigler, the Apollo sample curator, is overseeing the process of extracting the gas and rock. It's also Zeigler's job to properly prepare, catalog, and share the sample with others for research.

"A lot of people are getting excited," said Zeigler. "University of New Mexico's Chip Shearer proposed the project over a decade ago, and for the past three years, we've had two great teams developing the unique equipment to make it possible."

The device being used to extract and collect the gas, called a manifold, was developed by Drs. Alex Meshik, Olga Pravdivtseva, and Rita Parai from Washington University in St. Louis. Dr. Francesca McDonald from the European Space Agency led a group in building the special tool to carefully pierce the container holding the lunar sample without letting any gas escape. Together, they've created and rigorously tested a one-of-a-kind system to collect the extremely precious material - gas and solid - that is sealed inside the containers.

On, Feb. 11, the team began the careful, months-long process to remove the sample by first opening the outer protective tube and capturing any gas inside. Zeigler and his team knew what gases should be present inside the outer container and found everything was as expected. The tube seemed to contain no lunar gas, indicating the seal on the inner sample tube was still likely intact. On Feb. 23, the team began the next step: a multi-week process of piercing the inner container and slowly gathering any lunar gases thatre hopefully still inside.

After the gas extraction process is finished, the ARES team will prepare to carefully remove the soil and rocks from their container, likely later this spring.



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Arts Without Boundaries is committed to supporting, enhancing and encouraging student participation in the arts in Montana communities. We are a non-profit organization based in Billings. One of our programs is the Standout Student Award. Senior students are nominated by their teacher(s), in recognition of those students that excel in the visual and performing arts, through individual achievement, community involvement, leadership and participation in the arts community of Billings and the surrounding area. Recipients of the award receive a $100 award from AWB, and are featured on the AWB website.
Associate Editor

Brent Addleman is an Associate Editor and a veteran journalist with more than 25 years of experience. He has served as editor of newspapers in Pennsylvania and Texas, and has also worked at newspapers in Delaware, Maryland, New York, and Kentucky.
How Much New Hampshire Homeowners Pay in Property Taxes Each Year
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When Billings voters go to the polls in May, they will be asked whether or not to support a high school operational levy for $1.5 million.

That money would largely fund expansion and modernization of the career technical education space at Senior High School, among other career pathway costs.

For the taxpayer, the levy would equate to $1.16 per month for a house with a $200,000 taxable value, said Craig Van Nice, chief financial officer for the district.

Montana requires schools to hit a minimum budget using state, local and federal money. But local voters can choose to increase their property taxes to supplement that budget by up to 20%.

The money would be earmarked for pathway work but placed in a general fund, Billings School District 2 Superintendent Greg Upham said.

With as high of a need as our businesses have for employees its a golden opportunity for public schools and school districts to retool, and Im really pleased to say that SD2 had the foresight in this even before I got here Upham said during a public video stream.

Billings most recently passed such a levy in 2019, for the first time in 12 years. It opened positions for four career counselors, allowed for new textbooks, and a career outreach director position that is partially paid by the levy and partially by businesses in the community, said Bo Bruinsma, career outreach director for the district.

Upham mentioned a former public school student who is now in college. She had interned with a marketing company and participated in meetings where people pitched million dollar ideas. Thats the kind of experience that you just dont get, he said.

I keep saying this, but I know those of us that have enough gray hair [know] that when you start out in life, its not what you know but who you know, and what I found in my 35 years of education is theres a lot of families and students that have interest in specific areas but they just dont have the connections, Upham said.

Career counselors work with students to explore their interests early in high school, and Bruinsma communicates with local businesses to find school-to-work opportunities for students.

Facilitating those opportunities allows for the use of a wide range of machinery and knowledge that would be too specific and expensive for schools to maintain in-house, Upham said during a recent board meeting.

Whats very important for parents to understand is in the springtime of that eighth grade year when the students are signing up for their first set of high school courses; we have a lot of our courses mapped now to career pathways, Upham added in the video stream.

Plus, career counselors help to take a load off the schools counselors, who are increasingly focused on students' mental health issues.

Accreditation standards require only one counselor for every 400 students in middle and high schools, Upham said, meaning that is what the state budgets.

The counselor is trained in guidance, but especially because theres so much more needespecially with mental health and those types of situationsits very difficult for them to expand themselves past that, Bruinsma said.

The levy amount was approved at the latest school board meeting.

New math curriculum

Administrators there also proposed new curriculum material for elementary school math.

The current material in use is no longer available to purchase, and the district saw lower math scores during the pandemic, said Kim Anthony, executive director of curriculum and instruction.

The current curriculum was adopted in 2014.

At least one teacher from every school reviewed curriculum options in a committee, and all teachers were given the opportunity to pilot the final two choices for consideration, Anthony said.

Though we only had 36 teachers on the committee, we had approximately 64 teachers that actually tried one or two of the series within their classrooms, she said.

The district is opting for the Eureka Squared Curriculum, which the public can view at the Lincoln Center before the decision is final. Materials for different grade levels are presented outside of room 222 but cannot be taken from the site.

We brought the committee back, looked at what the top vote was, and Eureka Squared is definitely the resource our teachers want, Anthony said.

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A three-judge panel is expected to rule soon on whether to redraw the political districts for Montanas Public Service Commission following a Friday trial in U.S. District Court in Missoula.

Justices noted the tension caused by the possibility of a federal court intervening to bring state political maps into constitutional compliance. Redrawing the five districts of the Montana Public Service Commission is clearly the work of the state, but its also work thats been done by the Montana Legislature just once in 50 years.

There had been an attempt by lawmakers to meet in special session this spring to redraw the maps in order to avoid handing the job to the court. That effort failed after lawmakers tried to expand the session beyond the map issue, something Gov. Greg Gianforte said was a deal breaker.

The justices hearing the case Friday were U.S. District Judge Don Molloy of Missoula, District Judge Brian Morris of Great Falls, and Ninth Circuit Judge Paul Watford of Pasadena, California.

The PSC 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 commission also regulates monopoly garbage and water services, pipelines and taxi services.

Rapid growth in the Western part of the state and population declines in Eastern Montana have resulted in districts that vary by as much as 53,000 people. The imbalance prompted a lawsuit by voters Bob Brown, a former Republican Secretary of State; Donald Seifert, a former Republican Gallatin County commissioner; and Hailey Sinoff, a Gallatin County resident. The gist of the lawsuit is that voters in the sparsely populated districts get just as much representation as voters in the most populated ones, a violation of the one-person, one-vote provision of the 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.

The voters sued Secretary of State Christi Jacobsen, Montanas top election official, to stop PSC elections from occurring until the districts are brought into balance. PSC seats  one representing north-central Montana and the Hi-Line, the other anchored by Flathead and Lewis and Clark counties  are up for election this year.

Both the voters and Jacobsen produced potential replacement maps for the court to consider. Defending Jacobsen, Department of Justice attorney Brent Mead argued that if the justices intent was to recognize Montanas right to draw political districts without federal interference, then the court had to accept Jacobsens map, provided the map met the criteria previously used by the Montana Legislature.

So long as her map complies with all local, state and federal laws, then the court must accept her map, Mead told the court.

But there are issues with the map submitted by the secretary of state, said Constance Van Kley, attorney for the voters. Namely, the Jacobsen map split the Blackfeet Reservation between two districts, raising a concern about negatively affecting the political clout of the Blackfeet community.

Couldnt the Jacobsen map have kept the Blackfeet Reservation in one district, asked Judge Molloy?

Mead agreed the reservation could have been in a single district had Glacier and Pondera counties both been drawn into the district representing north-central Montana and the Hi-Line. The objective of the secretary of state was to bring the districts into compliance, while keeping the changes to the current districts to a minimum.

The map added Glacier County to the north-central region, as well as Musselshell County. It then relocated Deer Lodge County to a district anchored by Missoula. The Deer Lodge move reduced the population of the states most populated PSC district, which is anchored by Bozeman and the fastest-growing region in Montana.

A primary goal of the Legislature when it last redrew PSC districts was to keep counties whole, Mead said.

But none of the three maps submitted by the plaintiffs met the Legislatures objective to keep counties whole, Judge Watford pointed out. The plaintiffs maps had sought to keep reservations whole, specifically Flathead Reservation, which included portions of three counties, Lake, Missoula and Sanders.

Van Kley asserted that the 2003 Legislature, the last group to draw PSC districts, also wanted the districts to balance in population. All three of the maps submitted by plaintiffs kept district populations within less than 1.5% of each other

The justices promised a ruling ahead of the March 14 deadline for Montana candidate filings. Both the issue of whether to redraw the districts, and whether to prevent Jacobsen from carrying out PSC elections in 2022 will be decided.

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2 Marines Eject and Survive South Carolina Fighter Jet Crash

BEAUFORT, S.C.Two Marines were able to eject and walk away alive when their fighter jet crashed on the family plantation of South Carolinas former governor.

The F/A-18D Hornet was on a routine flight over the Beaufort, South Carolina area, on Thursday afternoon, Marine Corp Air Station Beaufort said in a statement. At the crash site, there was smoke coming from the aircraft and a brushfire, military officials said.

Former South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford said the jet crashed near where his late father is buried on Coosaw Plantation, which is the familys property. Sanford and his siblings grew up there, he told The Charlotte Observer.

Sanfords sister, Sarah Sanford Rauch, saw the jets engine catch fire and turn nose-down toward the ground, she said.

I said to my brother, No, no, no, this is bad,  Rauch told The Post and Courier. And then about a second later there was a colossal explosion.

Rauch and her brother John went searching for the plane and found the two Marines who had ejected, she said. Both were able to walk on their own, she said.

According to militarymachine.com, each F/A-18 Hornet costs more than $34 million, and they cost $6.5 million a year to operate, statista.com has reported, citing General Accounting Office data.
A health worker conducts a Rapid Antigen Test (RAT) of a person for the Covid-19 coronavirus at a testing center in Srinagar on January 17, 2022. (Tauseef Mastafa/AFP via Getty Images)

Australians Warned About Unapproved Rapid Tests

Australians are being warned about a potential rapid antigen test (RAT) trap with some outlets selling unapproved kits.

The Therapeutic Goods Administration has approved more than 30 different tests for use in Australia that meet the countrys safety and effectiveness requirements.

RATs that fail to pick up at least 80 per cent of positive cases are not approved.

Unapproved versions may not work as expected, or work at all, the medical regulator warned on Friday.

(Unapproved RATs) have not been assessed by the TGA, meaning they do not come with the same assurances of safety, effectiveness and quality as those that have met Australian regulatory requirements.

In this photo illustration a man uses a COVID-19 rapid antigen test kit at home on September 29, 2021 in Sydney, Australia. (Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)

Concerns are also being raised about the repackaging or relabelling of tests that didnt have all the components inside.

The warning comes as tens of thousands of COVID-19 cases are still being recorded across the country.

Western Australias active cases have risen above 10,000 for the first time after the state recorded another day of more than 2000 infections.

WA Premier Mark McGowan prepares to speak to media at Dumas House in Perth, Australia on Apr. 23, 2021. WA Premier Mark McGowan has announced a snap three-day lockdown for the Perth and Peel regions of Western Australia. (Photo by Matt Jelonek/Getty Images)

Premier Mark McGowan reported 2289 new COVID-19 infections on Saturday, bringing total active cases to 10,866, while virus hospitalisations rose by seven to 28.

New South Wales registered another 10,017 infections, while there were 5721 in Victoria, 4152 in Queensland, 941 in Tasmania and 696 in the ACT.

There were a further 10 virus-related deaths in NSW in the latest reporting period, 24 in Victoria and 12 in Queensland.

Meanwhile, anyone who tests positive for the virus and is isolating during the New South Wales floods emergency is being urged to comply with evacuation orders.

COVID-positive people arriving at relief centres must notify staff, wear a mask and physical distance.
Logo of Bayer AG is pictured at the annual results news conference of the German drugmaker in Leverkusen, Germany on Feb. 27, 2019. (Wolfgang Rattay/Reuters)

Bayer Executive Says mRNA Vaccines are Gene Therapy

The video of the October 2021 speech is making rounds on social media again

A speech made last year by a Bayer executive mentioning that messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccines are gene therapy is gaining traction on social media for the second time since it was initially posted online in October 2021.

Stefan Oelrich, a member of the Board of Management of Bayer and head of the Pharmaceuticals Division, gave a speech at the World Health Summit focused on biotechnological innovation. He said his company is really taking that leap  in cell and gene therapy.

Ultimately, the mRNA vaccines are an example for that cell and gene therapy, Oelrich said at the events opening in Berlin.

I always like to say, if we had surveyed two years ago in the publicwould you be willing to take gene or cell therapy and inject it into your body?we probably would have had a 95 percent refusal rate, he added.

The pandemic has given the pharmaceutical industry innovation opportunities that may have not been possible before, Oelrich said.

I think this pandemic has also opened many peoples eyes to innovation in the way that was maybe not possible before, the Bayer executive said. But its not just the industry that has to innovate, its across all the value chains starting with the academia and university, and again, the World Health Summit.

Bayer did not reply to The Epoch Times request for comment by publishing time.

Fact-checkers argue that Oelrichs speech was taken out of context and distorted, claiming Oelrich was pointing out that mRNA-based vaccines are an example of technological innovation, just as the gene and cell therapy proposed by Bayer is an example of technological innovation.

A Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine is transferred into a syringe at a mobile vaccination clinic in Worcester, Mass., on Dec. 2, 2021. (Steven Senne/AP Photo)

Skeptics of the mRNA COVID-19 vaccines contend that they are gene therapy and not what true vaccines are since they do not protect against infection, viral replication, or transmission. Rather they work more like a medication that prevents severe disease and death.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has revised the definition of a vaccine as a preparation that is used to stimulate the bodys immune response against disease in September 2021. The federal agency told The Epoch Times that the new definition was more transparent and would not be misinterpreted to mean vaccines are 100% effective.

Anyone calling the novel COVID-19 vaccines gene therapy or questioning their safety and effectiveness continues to get censored on social media.

A pioneer of the mRNA vaccine technology, Dr. Robert Malone, who calls the COVID-19 vaccine a genetic vaccine was de-platformed from all major social media sites, for raising concerns over the safety of the vaccines and the mandates.

The government and vaccine makers deny the claim that the mRNA vaccine is a gene or cell therapy and say there is no risk of the vaccines integrating with our DNA or entering the cells nucleus that houses our DNA.

Yet a Swedish studyconducted outside a living organism, or in vitrohas shown that the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine can enter human liver cells and convert the mRNA to spike DNA within six hours. In addition, these spike DNA were found in the nucleus. More studies are needed to examine whether the spike DNA integrates into our genome.

Pfizer says its mRNA COVID-19 does not alter the DNA.

Our COVID-19 vaccine does not alter the DNA sequence of a human cell, a Pfizer spokesperson told The Epoch Times via email. It only presents the body with the instructions to build immunity.
Grand Teton National Park has acquired a 35-acre parcel of private land inside the southwest boundary, the National Park Service recently announced.

The newly protected parcel continues a nearly century-long vision and conservation effort to make Grand Teton whole.

The National Park Service and nonprofit group The Conservation Fund have worked in partnership over the last two decades to protect 140 acres to date in the southwestern corner of Grand Teton National Park. The latest acquisition marks the fourth such parcel purchased by the Park Service in cooperation with nonprofit and the Hauge, Laughlin and Resor families, utilizing funding from the Land and Water Conservation Fund.

The newly acquired land permanently protects unmarred scenic viewsheds in the foreground of the Teton Range, serves as an important corridor for wildlife including deer, elk, moose and bears, prevents development within park boundaries, and supports recreation opportunities for park visitors and the local community.

Conservation like this doesnt just happen, said Dan Schlager, The Conservation Funds Wyoming state director. The adage that it takes a village is apt, for protection would not have been possible without the alignment and dedicated efforts from the National Park Service, funding from LWCF, and most importantly the families multi-generational commitment and united vision to keep beloved Grand Teton National Park intact. Im grateful for their devotion to this outcome.

The families said: It continues to be our goal to see these inholdings become part of Grand Teton National Park. Originally there were six parcels, now there are only two remaining. This momentum makes us feel the end is within sight, and what once felt unachievable is coming to fruition.

The Great American Outdoors Act guarantees the permanent full funding of the LWCF of up to $900 million a year provided by offshore energy royalties. LWCF funding enhances conservation and recreation opportunities in local communities and on public lands by acquiring lands and waters for the National Park System and providing matching grants to states and local governments for the acquisition and development of community-based public outdoor recreation areas and facilities.

On the 93rd anniversary of the establishment of Grand Teton National Park, this purchase carries on a tradition of conservation and stewardship which helped to establish the park.

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In traditional Chinese culture, the following idioms are often used to describe a perfect marriage: lute and zither playing in harmony, flowers blooming under the full moon, dragons soaring and phoenixes prancing, mandarin ducks playing in water, and swallows and nightingales flying in pairs.

These metaphors are inspired by objects in nature, among which bird-related analogies are the most common.

Such admiration of the creatures dates back millennia, as birds were believed to herald good luck. Bird-and-flower paintings (hua niao hua) are one of the three major genres of Chinese painting, and chirping birds are typically used to convey the painters earnest wishes.

Noble Blessings From a Sacred Bird

The phoenix (fenghuang), a sacred bird from the ancient days regarded as the king of birds, is considered the noblest emblem for grand weddings. Married couples sharing in the ebb and flow of each others lives are compared to male and female phoenixes flying in blessed harmony.

The fenghuang, or phoenix, is a sacred bird and considered the noblest emblem for grand weddings. (Courtesy of the National Palace Museum)

In Shuowen Jiezi, an ancient Chinese dictionary from the Han dynasty, the phoenix is said to appear only in places blessed with utmost peace, auspiciousness, and fortune. According to the dictionary, the phoenix also has the breast of a goose, the back of a tiger, the neck of a snake, the tail of a fish, the grain of a dragon, the face of a swallow, and the beak of a rooster. Its body contains the five fundamental colors: white, black, red, green, and yellow.

According to the Writings of Huainan, Yu Jia is the name of the ancestor of all birds. Dragons were said to have given birth to phoenixes, and the phoenix (fenghuang) was used to symbolize both husband and wife, as male phoenixes were originally called feng and the females huang.

The luan is another mythological bird similar to the phoenixred, flamboyant, and rooster-shaped. Both the phoenix and luan are totems of auspiciousness and are often seen in royal rituals, paintings, and accessories. No ordinary bird could compare with the appearances of phoenix and luantheir superiority is everlasting. Many believe that the image of the luan is derived from golden pheasants. Therefore, paintings with a pair of pheasants can also convey wedding wishes.

Till Death Do Us Part

Mandarin ducks (yuanyang) represent the unwavering faithfulness and commitment of married couples. Male ducks are called yuan, and the females yangso together, theyre often used as a metaphor for wedded bliss. Mandarin ducks often swim and inhabit in pairs. Luo Yuan, a literati from the Song Dynasty, famously depicted that yuanyang would never leave one another, and upon being torn apart, they would die of grief.

Yuanyang Under the Blooming Peonies, painting by Anonymous, Ming Dynasty. (Courtesy of the National Palace Museum)

The yuanyang was used by the literati as a symbol of inseparable couples, and it was widely used in many contextssadness, happiness, separations, and reunions. For instance, Lu Zhaolin, a poet in the Tang Dynasty, wrote in Changan: Poem Written in an Antiquated Form, that: I would die without regret if we were flatfish swimming together, I wish to be mandarin ducks with you more so than immortals. The poem expresses a mans earnest wish to be with his love.

The Book of Odes and Hymns (Shi Jing) shows the auspiciousness of yuanyang in this way: They flit in pairs and the net captures them. May men be blessed with luck and fortune! They swam in pairs gathered aside by stakes, and folded their left wings. May men be blessed with auspiciousness!

In the past, people would also catch and gift Mandarin ducks. Poems demonstrate that though the birds were met with danger in these instances, they would suffer together rather than abandon one another. As such, the birds are widely acknowledged as conveying blessings for the newly weddedno matter what hardships the couple faces, they will get through them together. The unwavering character of yuanyang is frequently interpreted by poets, and its symbolic meanings have become irreplaceable.

Harbingers of Joy and Love

There are birds more commonly seen in our everyday lives, such as the swallows who often build nests under traditional roofs.

Swallows are small and often have a black back and a white throat, giving them the nickname black cape in Chinese. In traditional Chinese culture, swallows symbolize a home of joy and comfort. They can also be used to describe a loving and inseparable couple. In Swallows Leaving in Pairs, the poet Li Bai wrote about how people admired swallows for always flying in pairs, forever by their lovers side. However, after their nest was burnt down, one female swallow was left alone without her partner. It was a heartbreaking sight, seeing the swallow now flying alone. This tragedy shows the swallows fidelity and commitment.

Magpies are another significant cultural symbol in China. In ancient times, grumpy magpies were actually considered auspicioustheir chirping can bring good luck and fortune. This is why magpies are called happy magpies in China. Magpies are also seen as fairies. In the Song Dynasty, a man named Yuan Bowen dreamed about a fairy and asked her to stay during the night. The fairy replied to him: I shall make a bridge for Zhinu during the day, staying would bring disgrace to my duty. When Yuan woke up, the sun had risen and he saw a flock of magpies flying eastward, among which one flew away from his window.

Chirping magpies bring good luck, and these birds are sometimes seen as fairies. (Courtesy of the National Palace Museum)

Zhinu is the youngest daughter of the Jade Emperor, and magpies are also associated with the folktale of the weaver girl Zhinu and cowherd Niulang. When Zhinu came down to Earth, she fell in love with Niulang, a mortal cowherd, and the two got married. However, their love wasnt allowed, and the Queen Mother of the West banished them to opposite sides of the Heavenly River (Milky Way). On the seventh day of the seventh lunar month, a flock of magpies would form a bridge, connecting the two lovers and allowing them to briefly reunite. Thus, magpies are seen as a type of Cupid that brings lovers together and are often used to signify marital bliss.

The symbols embodied by birds have been imagined and reimagined by literatus, inviting us to explore the previous cultural heritage hidden behind the chirping birds.
A police officer patrols outside the British embassy building in Moscow on March 14, 2018. (Alexander Nemenov /AFP via Getty Images)

British Nationals Told to Leave Russia Unless It Is Essential to Stay

British nationals who are still in Russia have been told they should leave if it is not essential they stay in the country.

The Foreign Office updated its advice on Saturday to say Britons should use the remaining commercial routes to flee the nation.

A post on the Foreign Office website said: If your presence in Russia is not essential, we strongly advise that you consider leaving by remaining commercial routes.

#Russia Advise British nationals whose presence in Russia is not essential to consider leaving by remaining commercial routes, info on travel from Russia, social media restrictions (Summary, Returning to the UK and Safety and security pages). https://t.co/mh7Zj0Xymn pic.twitter.com/VqF6GxBmGA  FCDO Travel Advice (@FCDOtravelGovUK) March 5, 2022

The department said it may not be possible to fly directly to the UK, or via EU countries, but that travelling via the Middle East or Turkey may be possible.

Previously, the advice had been that those outside Russia should not travel to the country.

The move points towards a deepening of the crisis engulfing Ukraine, with impacts of sanctions felt in Russia.

The Foreign Office pointed towards the increased volatility in the Russian economy as one of the reasons Britons should not go to the country.

By Geraldine Scott
The Viscount Bridgeman with his wife Harriet, at the Shen Yun Performing Arts performance at the Eventim Apollo, in London, on March 3, 2022. (Mary Mann/The Epoch Times)

LONDON, U.K.Shen Yun Performing Arts portrayal of Chinas 5,000-year civilization has won praise from some members of Britains House of Lords. Robin Bridgeman, the 3rd Viscount Bridgeman, and his wife Harriet were at the March 3 performance.

Marvelous dancing, but a mixture with all the sadness of present-day communist China. But unbelievably good, Viscount Bridgeman said.

Shen Yun is a New York-based classical Chinese dance company that has the mission to revive traditional Chinese culture and share it with the world through the universal languages of music and dance.

Viscount Bridgeman, currently a Conservative member of the House of Lords, also said he could see so many shared beliefs between the spiritual traditions of East and West.

His wife Harriet, an author and editor, and founder of the Bridgeman Art Library described Shen Yuns digital backdrops as very sophisticated and very clever.

Viscountess Bridgeman shared that Shen Yun opened her eyes to Chinas traditions.

I think its wonderful, opening my eyes to the wonderful, wonderful traditions, she said.

The Storytelling is Lovely

The Baroness Altmann CBE, at the Shen Yun Performing Arts performance at the Eventim Apollo, in London, on March 3, 2022. (NTD)

Rosalind Miriam Altmann, also a current member of the House of Lords, praised Shen Yun performers.

I think their kindness and their enthusiasm and the meditation and the spirit seems to shine through, she said.

Baroness Altmann, a leading pensions expert and political campaigner, said: I think its fantastic. I love the dancing, I love the colorsthe colors are absolutely beautiful. The storytelling is lovely.

Chinas rich history has been under attack by the communist regime, which has systematically destroyed, distorted, and supplanted the traditional culture with its own.

Shen Yun artists are reviving Chinas traditional culture but are not able to perform in China.

Its really sad that China is not taking advantage of its fantastic historical culture and the beauty of the art and the dance and the music that is part of its history, she said.

Baroness Altmann appreciated Shen Yuns efforts. And I congratulate all the cast on all the work theyre doing, she said.

Reporting by NTD and Mary Mann.

The Epoch Times is a proud sponsor of Shen Yun Performing Arts. We have covered audience reactions since Shen Yuns inception in 2006.
Capitol Report (March 4): Invasion May Be Tied to Bigger Plan With China

Europes largest nuclear power plant is in Russian hands now, while the U.N. atomic agency says the reactors are not hit.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is in Brussels Friday, meeting with NATO and EU leaders. What did they commit to, and how long do they think the war in Ukraine will last?

Former Defense Department director of cyber security and retired Colonel John Mills joins us to assess the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. And we speak to U.S. Congressman Pete Stauber (R-Minn.) to find out how the war in Ukraine is directly impacting the American people.

Senate Republicans pass a resolution to end the COVID-19 emergency that was supposed to end on March 1. But the question remains: are there enough votes to get it passed in the House?

Former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is calling for the United States to recognize Taiwan diplomatically as an independent nation, adding that there is bipartisan support.

The United States added 678,000 jobs in February. President Joe Biden is hailing the latest jobs report, and he said America is on a comeback.

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Rochelle Walensky, now the CDC director, speaks during an event in Wilmington, Del., in a December 2020 file photograph. (Jim Watson/AFP via Getty Images)

CDC Director: Nobody Said COVID-19 Vaccine Effectiveness Might Wane

When COVID-19 vaccines were first authorized in late 2020, the public wasnt informed that the touted effectiveness might decline, a top U.S. health official said on March 3.

Dr. Rochelle Walensky, the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, recalled watching coverage of clinical trial results that indicated the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine was 95 percent effective.

So many of us wanted to be helpful. So many of us wanted to say, Okay, this is our ticket out, right, now were done. So I think we have perhaps too little caution and too much optimism for some good things that came our way. I really do. I think all of us wanted this to be done, Walensky said.

Nobody said waning; Oh this vaccine is going to work, oh well, maybe itll wear off. Nobody said, Well, what if the next variant, its not as [effective] against the next variant, she added.

Walensky, who was speaking at the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, was tapped to head the CDC on Dec. 8, 2020, by then-president-elect Joe Biden. Three days later, U.S. regulators authorized the Pfizer jab. That same month, they cleared Modernas shot.

Both those vaccines and the only other COVID-19 vaccine available in the United States, made by Johnson & Johnson, were initially promoted as highly effective in preventing infection from the virus that causes COVID-19. Pfizers was said to be 95 percent effective in preventing infection.

Vaccination is a critical tool in bringing this unprecedented pandemic to an end, Dr. Robert Redfield, Walenskys predeceessor, said in a statement before leaving office.

We know for sure that the vaccine is highly efficacious in preventing the clinical disease, Dr. Anthony Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said on CNBC around the same time.

While authorizing the shots, the Food and Drug Administration acknowledged it could not determine how long the vaccines would provide protection.

The vaccine effectiveness has dropped over time, and provides little protection against infection, according to data released after the Omicron virus variant became dominant in the country in late 2021.

Just about everybody will get COVID-19 because of Omicron, according to Fauci.

Still, Fauci, Walensky, and other U.S. officials continue to recommend virtually all Americans aged 5 years or older get a vaccine and get a booster, asserting the protection against severe disease, which is also waning, is reason enough.

On Thursday, Walensky also said that she was not sure if a second booster of the vaccines will be required while alleging some people have drawn the wrong conclusions about public health guidance during the pandemic.

I have frequently said, Were going to lead with the science, the science is going to be the foundation of everything we do. That is entirely true, she said. I think the public heard that science is foolproof, science is black and white, science is immediate, and we get the answer and then we make the decision based on the answer. And the truth is science is gray, and science is not always immediate, and sometimes it takes months and years to actually find out the answer. But you have to make decisions in a pandemic before you have that answer.
The demonstrable result of children wearing masks at school, fear mongering and experimental shots is nothing short of public health child abuse.

As Stephen Petty, certified professional engineer, industrial hygienist and safety professional, points out in this short 11-minute podcast, the truth about masks and the Plandemic is slowly leaking out. However, since mainstream media are not universally covering these stories, it is incumbent on us to ensure that our friends and family are informed.

January 2, 2022, Dr. Scott Gottlieb, who had served as the commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration until 2019 and is now a special partner at Pfizer, was interviewed on Face the Nation. When asked about cloth masks, Gottlieb said they arent going to provide a lot of protection, thats the bottom line. This is an airborne illness. It could protect better through droplet transmission  but not something like this coronavirus.

Despite documentation from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as of January 26, 2022 that just 770 children aged 17 and under had died in two years, between 2020 and 2022, from COVID-19  0.00023369% of the U.S. population  Gottlieb continues to promote the idea that COVID-19 may be a serious threat to young children.

Yet, the atrocities being perpetrated on children in the name of public health is not warranted based on the number of children affected. Collette Martin, a practicing nurse, testified before a Louisiana Health and Welfare Committee hearing December 6, 2021.

She claimed she and her colleagues have witnessed terrifying reactions to the COVID shots among children  including blood clots, heart attacks, encephalopathy and arrhythmias  yet their concerns are simply dismissed.

Each of these issues present short-term and long-term challenges for childrens physical, mental and emotional health. Essentially, how society has treated the children during the last two years amounts to child abuse.

Children Demonstrating Harm From Mandatory Mask Policies

National data from 2016 to 2019 revealed children who experienced relational and social risks had a four times higher likelihood of having mental, emotional or behavioral problems. The researchers also found that children who experienced only relational risks were more likely to have mental, emotional and behavioral health concerns than children who experienced social risks.

Relational risks are concerned with opportunistic behavior that occur within a cooperative effort, such as a family, for example, substance abuse within the family. Social risk factors are a significant influence over morbidity and mortality through behavioral pathways. These can include socioeconomic status, social network and social support.

Children have experienced a rise in both these risk factors throughout 2020 and 2021 and the evidence of damage can be found all around you. For example, ZeroHedge reported that one speech therapist said the number of children being treated in their clinic has soared by 364% during the pandemic as compared to before the pandemic.

ZeroHedge reports, Parents are describing their childrens speech problems as COVID delayed, with face coverings the primary cause of their speaking skills being seriously impaired. In an article published in The Washington Post, three experienced infectious disease physicians and parents of school-age children, noted a pattern of behavior from children in what they call a punitive mask culture.

A journalist at the San Francisco Chronicle recalls that a self-portrait her 8-year-old son drew at school had no nose or mouth. According to data that viral immunologist Dr. Scott Balsitis pulled from the CDC, children have died from flu each winter, ranging in number from 200 to over 1,000.

So, the 770 deaths in children from birth to 17 years since the start of the pandemic have not been greater than what has been experienced in the past from flu.

While any death is tragic, masking until all children are safe means ineffective and damaging masks will become a permanent part of society and will continue to drive up the number of children and students who suffer from depression, anxiety, speech problems and who get behind in their schoolwork.

School Teacher Identifies More Issues

Stacey Lance is a Canadian public school teacher. She has 15 years of experience at the high school level and writes about what she has seen in the last two years during lockdowns, mandatory masking and fearmongering. In an essay called, The Kids Arent Alright, she writes:

It also became increasingly clear that the response to the pandemic would have immense consequences for students who were already on the path to long-term disengagement, potentially altering their lives permanently.

She believes research data has overlooked the shame that she has watched her students suffer. Throughout the pandemic, children have been made to think their schools are hubs for infection and themselves as vectors of disease. This has fundamentally altered their understanding of themselves.

She describes the times when students were physically in school during the pandemic as feeling cold and soulless. The learning loss was noticeable, and the students had trouble concentrating. The older students werent allowed a lunch break and the freshmen and sophomores had to eat while facing the front of the classroom.

Lance compares that to the kids outside of school who are going to restaurants with their families and to each others houses, making the rules at school feel punitive and nonsensical. Lance shared the experience of one student that appeared to echo the experience of the rest of the class, writing:

I try to take time at the beginning of class to ask my kids how theyre doing. Recently, one of my 11th grade students raised his hand and said that he wasnt doing well, that he doesnt want to keep living like this, but that he knows that no one is coming to save them. The other kids all nodded in agreement. They feel lied to  and I cant blame them.

Lance writes that she is more worried about the shame and worry students are feeling over breaking the rules, and how that may impact their community and families. She cites information as of the time of her writing:

What am I supposed to say? That 23 children have died from Covid in Canada during the whole of the pandemic and she is much more likely to kill someone driving a car? That kids in Scandinavia, Sweden, and the Netherlands largely havent had to wear masks at school and havent seen outbreaks because of it? That masks are not a magic shield against the virus, and that even if she were to pass it along to a classmate, the risk of them getting seriously sick is minuscule? I want to tell her that she can remove her mask and socialize with her friends without being worried. But I am expected to enforce the rules  Its true that humans, by nature, are very resilient. But they also break. And my students are breaking. Some have already broken. When we look at the COVID-19 pandemic through the lens of history, I believe it will be clear that we betrayed our children. The risks of this pandemic were never to them, but they were forced to carry the burden of it.

Experts Use Fear to Drive Vaccine Programs

But not all educators feel the same way about protecting your children. In fact, some are at the forefront of nagging and shaming parents and students into taking a shot that has not demonstrated any effectiveness and, as youll read below, it has caused more injury and death than the illness.

Brigham Kiplinger, the principal at Garrison Elementary School in Washington D.C., is one such educator who spends his day combing through a call list of parents who have not vaccinated their children. He is described by The New York Times as a vaccine advocate, a job that the reporter admits is usually handled by public health officials or medical professionals.

However, he is being applauded for taking this as his central role. The reporter writes, Largely through Mr. Kiplingers skill as a parent-vax whisperer, Garrison Elementary has turned into a public health anomaly: 80% of the 250 Garrison Wildcats in grades kindergarten through fifth grade now have at least one shot 

Kiplinger uses common shaming techniques. For example, at lunch he gets the children who have been vaccinated to raise their hand and then applauds them for their actions and urges them to keep prodding others to do the same.

The reporter believes the genetic therapy experiment is crucial not only to sustaining in-person education but also to containing the pandemic overall. Interestingly, the reporter mentions the only reason many working parents have not vaccinated their children is logistical rather than philosophical, without mentioning parents may also be fearful of the medical challenges and risks to their child.

Organizations that have been relied on for medical education and information in the past are now putting out talking points for pediatricians and parents to encourage them to vaccinate their children. Johns Hopkins School of Public Health has gone as far as to post a free online training course to give parents the language needed to approach friends who are resistant to injecting their children with an experiment.

The Times reports that tips offered in the Johns Hopkins training course include sharing personal stories and to normalize Covid vaccination by proudly telling friends and family when children get COVID shots. Yet, sharing personal stories is exactly what social media platforms is censoring when it comes to COVID shot injuries.

More Children Are Dying From the Shot Than the Illness

Judging from the COVID numbers in children I discussed earlier, it is apparent that school educators and many public health and medical experts have completely ignored the data from the Vaccine Adverse Events Reporting System (VAERS) demonstrating children are being harmed by the shot in large numbers.

In fact, if you give any credence at all to VAERS, they are being injured by the vaccine in larger numbers than by the disease itself. Its important to note the CDC makes the distinction that these deaths involved COVID-19 and were not necessarily the direct result of COVID-19.

In the U.K., a Freedom of Information Act request asked for deaths caused solely by COVID-19, where COVID is the only cause of death listed on the death certificate, broken down by age group and gender between February 2020 up to and including December 2021. The data show that in children from birth to age 19, there were three deaths in the U.K. from February 2020 to December 31, 2021.

Based on the U.K. and CDC data, it makes no sense that policymakers want to mandate a vaccine for children. According to Steve Kirsch, founder of the COVID-19 Early Treatment Fund, the FDA justified the vaccine based on assumptions made for a statistical model. Kirsch also points out the U.K. has now stopped any mask mandates, social distancing and lockdowns.

However, in Santa Clara County, California, where Kirsch lives, the mask mandate, vaccines and distancing rules remain. As he writes, Same virus, different policymakers. Kirsch was part of a team that used an engineering estimate to find the underreporting factor in VAERS was likely near 41. This means the number of reports in VAERS can be multiplied by 41 to reach the number likely injured by the vaccine.

When VAERS is filtered to find children from birth to 17 years, it reveals 38,966 reports and 79 deaths. If you extrapolate those numbers using the underreporting factor, you discover there could be roughly 1.6 million injuries and 3,239 deaths.

Underreporting to the system can happen for several reasons. Martin and others have explained that most doctors are not familiar with the system and filling out the VAERS report is time-consuming. As Debra Conrad found out, many hospitals do not want to report all the injuries to the system, and as Brittney Galvin revealed in a recorded conversation with a VAERS investigator, they are as much as one year behind in publishing reports.

A search on OpenVAERS for records of vaccine adverse events from 1990 to 2020 reveals 821,470 total reports of injuries to children in 30 years. However, since the rollout of the emergency use vaccine, the system has received a total of 1,071,854 reports in adults and children in 13 months.

The Shot Increases Risk of Lifelong Damage

British data also show deaths among teenagers have spiked since that age group became eligible for the COVID shots, by an increase of 47%. Children are also at risk for potentially lifelong health problems from the experimental shot, as there are absolutely no long-term safety data on this. One of the most common problems that has emerged so far in children is myocarditis.

This is an inflammation of the heart muscle that can cause ongoing heart problems and may even require a heart transplant. In October 2021, cardiologist Dr. Peter McCullough and Jessica Rose, Ph.D., research fellow at the Institute for Pure and Applied Knowledge in Israel, submitted a paper on myocarditis cases to the journal Current Problems in Cardiology.

The paper was ready to be published when the journal suddenly took it down. You can find the preprint on Roses website, which clearly shows that myocarditis is inversely correlated to age. This means that the risk is higher in younger individuals. The risk is also dose-dependent. The data showed boys had a six times greater risk of myocarditis after the second dose of the vaccine.

Damage to the heart muscle is often permanent and, historically, the three- to five-year survival rate has ranged from 56% to 83%. The data do not support the push to vaccinate children who are not experiencing severity of disease and death.

Additionally, research does not support the use of masks to filter viruses and even the boxes are labeled: will not provide any protection against COVID  or any viruses or contaminants. Fact checkers get around this statement by acknowledging that the box is labeled as such, but that does not mean masks should not be worn.

Politifact goes one step further to extrapolate a whole new meaning, writing, Such disclaimers dont mean that the masks are ineffective at slowing the spread of the disease, but that they dont protect the wearer as well as medical respirators such as the N95 recommended for use by health care professionals. When:

Masks dont work

The shot increases the risk of death and long-term health damage in children

Educators take on the role of parent-vaccine whisperer

There is a rising number of children and teens suffering from depression and anxiety

Children have fallen behind in their studies

You must ask yourself, ultimately, what is the goal here? Why are agencies pushing for behavior and choices that have demonstrably damaged children and may result in life-long physical and emotional disability?

References

CBS News, January 2, 2022

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, January 26, 2022
A police officer stands guard outside of Huanan Seafood Wholesale market, where vendors were infected with SARS-CoV-2, was detected in Wuhan, China on Jan. 24, 2020. (Hector Retamal/AFP via Getty Images)

China CDC Conducts COVID-19 Testing at Huanan Seafood Market

Despite comprehensive testing at the Wuhan Huanan Seafood Market (HSM), the origin of the SARS-COV-2 virus remains indeterminate.

Chinese researchers tested 1,380 samples collected in early 2020 from the HSM environment and some of the animals within the market and concluded that SARS-COV-2, the causative agent of COVID-19, was prevalent.

Seventy-three environmental samples tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 and three live viruses were successfully isolated which shared nucleotide identity of 99.980 percent to 99.993 percent with the human isolate HCoV/Wuhan/IVDC-HB-01, and no virus was detected in the animal swabs, the researchers reported in a non-peer-reviewed paper that was published on Research Square on Feb. 25. In summary, this study provided convincing evidence of the prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 in the Huanan Seafood Market during the early stage of COVID-19 outbreak.

From this result, the researchers believe that the viruses in the market could have been brought there by human beings who were infected with the SARS-COV-2 somewhere else.

One day later, a group of 18 researchers from the United States, UK, Netherlands, Australia, and Belgium published a paper on Zenodo on Feb. 26, in which they analyzed the COVID-19 patients locations in December 2019, and found by combining spatial and genomic data, we show that both the two early lineages of SARS-CoV-2 have a clear association with the Huanan market.

The Western researchers believed that the sellers of the live animals, such as raccoon dogs, rhizomys (a genus of rodents), badgers, and masked palm civets, were infected with the virus from the mammals, and then spread it to others in Wuhan city.

A raccoon dog destined for the dinner table looks out of its cage in Xin Yuan wild animal market in the southern Chinese city of Guangzhou on Jan. 6, 2004. (Peter Parks/AFP via Getty Images)

The Huanan Seafood Market (HSM) used to be the largest seafood wholesale market in Central China, with about 678 stalls selling meat, seafood, other foods, as well as wild animals. In late 2019, several sellers and their relatives were sick with pneumonia symptoms. The Chinese regime confirmed in late January 2020 that they were infected with SARS-COV-2, or CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus.

China CDCs Report

A group of 38 Chinese researchers, led by virologist and immunologist George Gao, director of China CDC and dean of the Savaid Medical School of the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, with members from China, Shanghai, and Public Health Agency of Canada wrote a paper titled Surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 in the Environment and Animal Samples of the Huanan Seafood Market, the researchers first explained that scientists have proposed that bats might be the original source of the virus, and pangolins might be the intermediate hosts.

However, HSM didnt trade in bats or pangolins between May 2017 and November 2019, the paper quoted a Chinese study.

From Jan. 1, 2020, to Mar. 30, 2020, researchers from China CDC, Hubei Provincial CDC, and Wuhan Municipal CDC, went to HSM and collected 923 environmental samples inside and around the market, and 457 animal samples that included animal bodies, stray animals, and animal feces.

The results show that all animal samples were SARS-COV-2 virus free.

Workers are seen next to a cage with mice (R) inside the P4 laboratory in Wuhan, capital of Chinas Hubei Province, on Feb. 23, 2017. (Johannes Eisele/AFP via Getty Images)

Among the environmental samples, 64 from inside the market tested positive, five samples from warehouses related to HSM tested positive, three sewer samples from the market tested positive, and one sample from another similar market tested positive.

For the 64 positive samples from inside HSM, 56 or 87.5 percent of them were from the west zone, and all types of vendor stalls, including cold-chain products, aquatic products, seafood products, poultry, livestock, wildlife products, and vegetables.

The researchers then successfully obtained seven complete genome sequences of viruses from three environmental samples and four cell supernatants that were inoculated with the virus from the environmental samples. These genome sequences are 99.993 percent and 99.987 percent the same as the clinical strains obtained from Wuhan COVID-19 patients in early 2020.

Because the researchers didnt find any animal sample that tested positive to SARS-COV-2, they couldnt do more research in this direction.

Questions

China CDC researchers said that the Chinese regime disinfected HSM several times in January and February 2020, and cleaned all stalls in early March 2020. The samples were taken both before and after the disinfection.

Furthermore, the first COVID-19 patient related to the HSM that the Chinese regime announced started to show symptoms in early December 2019. The incubation period of COVID-19 is estimated to be 2 to 14 days with a median of five days, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

According to the U.S. CDC, a 99 percent reduction in infectious SARS-CoV-2 and other coronaviruses can be expected under typical indoor environmental conditions within 3 days (72 hours) on common non-porous surfaces like stainless steel, plastic, and glass.

The samples were picked up in 2020, weeks after the first patient was infected with the virus and the market stopped selling any live animals, therefore, the markets status in late 2019 when the first patients were infected is undetermined.

Workers conduct searches on the closed Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market in the city of Wuhan, in the Hubei Province, on Jan. 11, 2020. (Noel Celis/AFP via Getty Images)

Scientists from around the world still dont agree on where and when SARS-CoV-2 was first transmitted to a human being, and whether patient zero was infected with the virus from an animal or even the type of animal implicated in such a transmission.

According to Johns Hopkins Universitys statistics, over 444 million people have been infected with SARS-CoV-2 by March 5, and 5.99 million died.
A man and a boy enter a nucleic acid sample collection center for COVID-19 test in Shenzhen, southeastern China on September 26, 2021. (NOEL CELIS/AFP via Getty Images)

China Mandates COVID-Zero Policy in Shenzhen; Locals Struggle to Source Food

The Chinese regime continues to mandate its COVID-zero policy that quarantines all potential infections and locks down cities.

Residents in Shenzhen, a city with multiple districts reporting outbreaks of COVID-19, complained that they were surrounded by trash mountains and in desperate need of food due to the lockdown.

On the evening of Feb. 28, a neighbor tried to jump off the building from his apartment. Other neighbors told me that he has depression and hadnt eaten for two days. He lost all hope and tried to commit suicide, Lin Dai (pseudonym), a resident of Shangshadong village in the city of Shenzhen, told the Chinese-language Epoch Times on March 2.

After we were locked down at home, we couldnt go out to buy food. I tried to order online, but it was very difficult to find food that can be delivered to us, Lin said.

I know a young woman who lives in my building. She only has rice and pickles at home. She tries to eat as little as possible, and has eaten only one or two bowls of congee with pickles every day in the past days.

We continually called the authorities for help and were told they dont have enough manpower to take care of the residents who are under lockdown, Lin said. Finally, the regime sent us milk and apples this morning and some fast food and vegetables at noon.

Chen Dong (pseudonym) is a new Shenzhen resident who drives a taxi in the city. On Feb. 22, Chen was locked down at his apartment in Shangshadong village. Since then, he hasnt been able to work and cant earn any money.

The regime said that their staff members would send food to our doors, but the majority of the volunteers who bring the food dont dare to come here. They are afraid of being infected, Chen said. In the first days, we could go downstairs to pick up the food from the buildings front door.

The lives of Chen and his neighbors became worse on Feb 26, when the regime suddenly wouldnt allow them to leave their apartments.

They locked our building, didnt send us anything, and didnt remove the trash. Now, the trash is everywhere and piled like mountains, Chen said. Nobody takes care of us, and many people shouted from their windows that they were hungry and needed food.

On March 1, Chen and his neighbors received the first batch of food, which Chen didnt think was sufficient for a family.

We have no other solution. If a family hasnt stocked up food, and there are children, they will die of hunger. We went upstairs and downstairs to check on our neighbors. We are helping each other, Chen said.

Li Fei (pseudonym), a regime clerk at Shatou community in Shenzhen, told the Chinese-language Epoch Times on March 2 that the regime sealed the residential buildings and compounds where new infections were reported using barbed wire. We dont allow any resident to escape from the sealed area.

Li said that about 60,000 to 70,000 people live at Shangsha village in the community and all are locked in their homes.

Mass Testing

Like other Chinese cities, the Shenzhen authorities mandated that all residents in the city must have a COVID-19 test every three days. On March 2, the regime announced that people arent allowed to take the metro if they dont have a negative COVID-19 test result within 48 hours.

Inside residential compounds, speakers continually broadcast: Your health code will turn to yellow if you havent been tested in the past 72 hours and You cant go to work tomorrow if you dont take a test today.

A resident surnamed Chen who lives at Shekou community in Nanshan district in Shenzhen said in a phone interview that she and the majority of Shenzhen residents work to earn money. The rule that people cant work without a test, strangles our throats. Itll be horrible if a Shenzhen resident cant go to work, Ms. Chen said.

The Chinese regime doesnt allow people to move without a cell phone app-generated health code. A green code means the owner can pass the checkpoints for public transportation, enter a building, or even go back home. A yellow code means the owner has to stay at home. A red code means the owner must be quarantined at a quarantine center.

The nucleic acid tests in China are linked to each residents health code app. If the app hasnt received a required test result, the code will show yellow. The system forces Chinese people to take the test.

However, the mass testing was believed to be a breeding ground for COVID-19.

On Feb. 22, the community clerks ordered us to take the nucleic acid test for COVID-19. We were crowded together and had to wait for over four hours, Chen Dong said. We are required to be tested even now.

On March 3, the Shenzhen city regime announced at the daily press conference that new infections were reported in Futian, Luohu, Nanshan, Baoan, and Yantian districts.

On Thursday, Chinas national health commission announced new domestic infections were reported in Guangdong, Inner Mongolia, Hubei, Jilin, Shanghai, Guangxi, Tianjin, Hebei, Shanxi, Heilongjiang, Jiangsu, Sichuan, and Yunnan provinces.
The CNN center is seen in downtown Atlanta, Ga., on Oct. 16, 2021. (Daniel Slim/AFP via Getty Images)

CNN to Stop Broadcasting in Russia After Putin Signs Military Misinformation Law

Other news outlets have announced they will suspend reporting from Russia

CNN announced on Friday it will stop broadcasting in Russia after Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a law that will criminalize anyone sharing deliberately false information about the actions of Russian military personnel in Ukraine.

Putin on Friday signed into law the measure that will penalize those who spread such information with fines or prison sentences. The law would impose up to three years or fines, but the maximum punishment rises to 15 years for cases considered to have led to severe consequences.

Russian lawmakers also passed amendments to the criminal code that would impose fines for people calling for sanctions against Russia.

CNN will stop broadcasting in Russia while we continue to evaluate the situation and our next steps moving forward, a spokesperson for the media said on Friday.

Other news outlets have announced they will suspend reporting from Russia. Bloomberg, the BBC, and the CBC were among the outlets that will temporarily suspend the work of their journalists there.

Bloombergs editor-in-chief, John Micklethwait, said that the change to the criminal code makes it impossible to continue any semblance of normal journalism inside the country.

BBC Director-General Tim Davie said the new law appears to criminalize the process of independent journalism, adding, the safety of our staff is paramount and we are not prepared to expose them to the risk of criminal prosecution simply for doing their jobs. BBC News in the Russian language will still be produced from outside the country.

The CBC said in a statement posted online that it is very concerned about the new law, which it says appears to criminalize independent reporting on the current situation in Ukraine and Russia.

Vyacheslav Volodin, the speaker of Russias lower house of parliament, said the new law will force those who lied and made statements discrediting our armed forces to bear very grave punishment.

I want everyone to understand, and for society to understand, that we are doing this to protect our soldiers and officers, and to protect the truth, he added.

Earlier on Friday, Russias communications watchdog Roskomnadzor said it blocked access to Facebook and Twitter in line with a decision by the prosecutor generals office.

Read More Russia Bans Access to Facebook and Twitter: Government

A statement from Roskomnadzor said Facebook has engaged in 26 cases of discrimination against Russian media and information resources since October 2020. It added that Facebooks ban is against Russian federal law on measures to influence persons involved in violations of fundamental human rights and freedoms, the rights and freedoms of citizens of the Russian Federation.

Twitter said in a statement Friday afternoon that while the company is aware of reports that its platform is now blocked in Russia, it has not been able to confirm the situation so far. Roskomnadzor has previously accused Twitter of failing to delete the content banned by Russian authorities and slowed down access to it.

The Russian government has banned or limited foreign media outlets inside the country, including Radio Free Europe, the BBC, Deutsche Welle, Meduza, Radio Liberty, and more.

On Thursday, Russia also shut down several Russian TV and radio stations, including TV Rain and Echo of Moscow, over what officials reportedly said was a violation of a law that bans describing the Ukraine crisis as a war or an invasion.

Also, app stores belonging to Apple and Google were blocked overnight in Russia March 34, according to monitoring group GlobalCheck.

Before the new laws passing, Volodin in a statement on Thursday accused American social networks, controlled by Washington of having launched an information war against Russia.

They violate their own rules, norms of international law, restrict freedom of speech, [and] spread false information, he said. We cannot help but react to what is happening.

Earlier in the week, Google blocked content from Russian state-funded media outlets RT and Sputnik across Europe, due to the ongoing situation in Ukraine. Google later suspended the selling of all online advertising in Russia.

RT confirmed on Friday it has shut down its operations in the United States due to challenging external circumstances. RT America had offices in Washington, Los Angeles, New York, and Miami. In a separate blog post on Thursday, an RT show host said, Weve been canceled, by cable/satellite/online distribution platforms, referring to the cancellation by DIRECTV and Roku in the wake of Russias incursion into Ukraine.

The conflict between Ukraine and Russia has escalated after Putin declared a special military operation against Ukraine on Feb. 24. Putin said at the time Russia has no plan to occupy Ukraine and does not intend to target civilians, and that the operation is aimed at demilitarizing the country. He didnt specify how long the operation would be expected to take.

Jack Phillips, Zachary Stieber, and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
DeSantis Vows to Veto New Congressional Maps Approved by Florida Legislature

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has said that he wont approve a new set of congressional districting maps approved by the Florida Legislature. The announcement comes just days before the current session of the legislature is scheduled to end.

I will veto the congressional reapportionment plan currently being debated by the House. DOA, DeSantis wrote on Twitter. The states House and Senate each voted in favor of the new congressional maps on March 4, by 6747 in the House and 2415 in the Senate, with some Republican support.

At present, Republicans have 16 congressional seats and Democrats have 11. Florida has picked up an additional congressional seat because of population growth, bringing the total number of seats to 28.

DeSantis had earlier proposed a map that would create 20 Republican districts and eight Democratic districts. In comparison, the latest map approved by the House and Senate will create 18 red (GOP) districts and 10 blue ones.

The Senate had approved a map in January that would retain the GOPs 16 congressional seats. However, DeSantis asked the state Supreme Court to determine whether black Rep. Al Lawsons (D-Fla.) district, which combines the two black neighborhoods of Jacksonville and Tallahassee, was constitutional. After the court declined DeSantiss request, the governor made it clear that he would veto any map that retained Lawsons seat.

The newly approved map released by the House removed Lawsons seat and replaced it with a seat in Jacksonville that Republicans say will guarantee that a black candidate is elected. The legislation also includes a second map that retains Lawsons seat in case a court strikes down the first proposed map.

Although some Republican members have called the legislature-approved map constitutional, DeSantis said hell continue to be against it because of legal concerns.

I dont bluff. What makes you think when I say Im going to do something that Im not going to follow through? he said at a press conference. I dont make declarations lightly.

The Florida governor said he wont be signing any congressional map that has an unconstitutional gerrymander in it. Gerrymandering involves manipulating the boundaries of an electoral constituency to favor a specific class or party. Ryan Newman, DeSantis attorney, has called Lawsons congressional district an illegal gerrymander.

Lawson slammed the new map, calling it unconstitutional and saying that it violated the Fair Districts provision of the Florida Constitution and the Voting Rights Act of 1965. The maps dilute the voting power of minority communities, diminishing the ability of African Americans to choose a representative they want, he said.

The primary map adopted today by the Florida Legislature was drawn with the clear intent to create additional seats for one political party at the expense of Black voters, Lawson said in a statement.

Carey Baker, a former Republican state Senator, called DeSantiss congressional map, both fair and constitutional. Speaking to Breitbart, Baker pointed out that the current state map was drawn by Democrats and adopted by a liberal court.

There are easily 100 different ways to draw a constitutional redistricting map. I hope the legislature takes into count the Governors concern, Baker said.
Wolf hunting season is over in areas of Montana that border Yellowstone National Park. But the recent closure was too little, too late to save the Phantom Lake wolf pack.

In the span of just two months last fall, this young wolf pack was functionally eradicated by hunters, according to park officials. The pack  thought to contain one male, two females and several pups  was destroyed just for crossing invisible boundaries that separate the safety of the park from the cruelty of state politics.

Thats outrageous. Whats even worse is that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is turning a blind eye to the senseless slaughter of wolves just outside Yellowstones borders. Twenty-five of the parks beloved wolves were killed in recent months, including the adults of the Phantom Lake pack  19 in Montana, the rest in Idaho and Wyoming.

Allowing the undoing of Yellowstone wolf restoration efforts is a baffling abdication of the Services duties. Only 89 wolves are estimated to remain in Yellowstone.

The restoration of gray wolves to Yellowstone was a triumph of conservation that took decades, and $30 million of taxpayer money, to achieve. The work brought environmental groups and federal agencies together to accomplish a remarkable restoration of Yellowstones ecosystem, which was thrown out of balance after the parks wolves were wiped out nearly 100 years ago.

This hunting seasons death toll marks the highest number of park wolves killed since the species was reintroduced to the region 25 years ago. These trusting Yellowstone wolves are accustomed to people. Unfortunately, a tourist holding a camera looks much the same to a wolf as a hunter with a rifle.

In Idaho and Montana, wolves lost federal protections via a 2011 legislative rider tucked into a must-pass omnibus bill that avoided another federal shutdown. The rest of the countrys gray wolves lost their federal protections in November 2020 when the Trump administration turned wolf management over to the states.

Last winter, Wisconsin held a wolf hunt that killed at least 20% of its wolf population in less than three days. Emboldened, the Republican-controlled legislatures of Montana and Idaho passed their own extreme wolf hunting laws.

Idahos new laws allow up to 90% of its wolf population to be killed, while Montana eliminated quotas that previously limited hunters to killing just a few wolves outside Yellowstone each year.

Wiping out wolves would be an ecological disaster  and it could deal a serious economic blow to the region.

Tourism is the lifeblood of the Northern Rockies economy. Roughly 3.8 million people spent more than $444 million in Yellowstones gateway communities in 2020. That supported 6,110 jobs in areas adjacent to the park, according to the National Park Service. Many people come to Yellowstone to see wolves, grizzly bears and other wildlife.

The Center for Biological Diversity, where I work  along with a coalition of partners  successfully sued the federal government to reinstate protections for gray wolves in states outside the northern Rocky Mountains. While this is a huge win, it doesnt protect wolves in Idaho and Montana.

In May, we teamed up with other environmental groups to file an emergency petition with the Service to relist gray wolves in the Northern Rocky Mountains under the Endangered Species Act. The agency announced in September that these wolves may indeed warrant such protection  largely because of the horrendous new anti-wolves laws in Idaho and Montana.

To date, no firm action has been taken. Every month the Service allows these hunts to continue sets wolf recovery back years. Worse, I fear that federal inaction and apparent indifference will embolden states in the Northern Rockies to toss out what few constraints remain on wolf killing.

The time to step in is now, not in six months or a year. A future without Yellowstones wolves is too heartbreaking to imagine and too senseless to allow.

Collette Adkins is director of the Center for Biological Diversitys Carnivore Conservation Program.

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Driver Gets Shot From Moving Car on SR-94 in Spring Valley

SPRING VALLEY, Calif.A 27-year-old National City woman is in a hospital after she was shot on March 5 while driving on state Route 94, the California Highway Patrol (CHP) said.

The shooting happened at 5:40 a.m. on Saturday when a vehicle pulled up behind a white Ford Edge that was traveling westbound on SR-94 east of Kenwood Drive, according to CHP Officer Travis Garrow.

An occupant of the vehicle fired several shots at the Ford, the officer said. Several of the rounds penetrated the Ford, and the woman was struck, causing her to veer to the left and crash into the center median.

The other vehicle fled on westbound SR-94. No description of that vehicle was immediately available.

CHP units, medics, and deputies from the San Diego County Sheriffs Department responded to the scene. The victim was rushed to Scripps Mercy Hospital in San Diego and was being treated for her injuries, Garrow said.

The car she was driving also had two passengers, but officials did not report any additional injuries.

Westbound SR-94 was shut down for about two hours for an investigation.

Anyone who may have witnessed the shooting was asked to call the CHP El Cajon area office at 7619-401-2000.
John Durham speaks to reporters on the steps of U.S. District Court in New Haven, Conn., on April 25, 2006. (Bob Child/AP Photo)

Durham Urges Court Not to Dismiss Charge Against Lawyer Who Hid Ties to Clinton Campaign

Special counsel John Durham on March 4 urged a federal judge not to dismiss a charge against a lawyer who lied to the FBI about representing Hillary Clintons 2016 presidential campaign.

Michael Sussmann was representing the Clinton campaign when in 2016 he passed along information to then-FBI General Counsel James Baker. His lawyers say the documents raised national security concerns while prosecutors describe them as purportedly detailing a covert channel between a Russian bank and the business of Donald Trump, Clintons rival at the time.

Sussmann was charged with lying to the FBI because he falsely told Baker he was not providing the allegations to the FBI on behalf of any client, despite presenting the information on behalf of the Clinton campaign, prosecutors say. Sussmann has pleaded not guilty to making a false statement to a federal agent.

In a filing in February, Sussmanns lawyers moved to dismiss the charge, claiming their client did not make any false statement to the FBI, but even if he had, the false statement alleged in the indictment is immaterial as a matter of law.

Allowing this case to go forward would risk criminalizing ordinary conduct, raise First Amendment concerns, dissuade honest citizens from coming forward with tips, and chill the advocacy of lawyers who interact with the government, the filing stated. The Special Counsels unprecedented and unlawful overreach should not be countenanced, and the single count against Mr. Sussmann should be dismissed.

In its reply on March 4, Durhams team asked the court not to follow the demand.

The defendants false statement to the FBI General Counsel was plainly material because it misled the General Counsel about, among other things, the critical fact that the defendant was disseminating highly explosive allegations about a then-Presidential candidate on behalf of two specific clients, one of which was the opposing Presidential campaign, their filing said.

The defendants efforts to mislead the FBI in this manner during the height of a Presidential election season plainly could have influenced the FBIs decision-making in any number of ways.

If the case proceeds to trial, the government expects the evidence to prove that the FBI could have taken steps prior to initiating a full investigation into the matter, including an assessment, and may have delayed a decision until after the 2016 election or ultimately declined to investigate the matter altogether.

Had Sussmann revealed he was working on behalf of clients, the FBI counsel and other FBI workers might have asked other questions, including whether those clients harbored biases or motives that might cast doubt on the reliability of the information, and the FBI would have likely conducted additional, behind-the-scenes steps (database checks, case file searches, etc.) to assess the defendants potential motivations and those of his client, the special counsels office said.

U.S. District Judge Beryl Howell, an Obama nominee overseeing the case, will now decide whether to dismiss the charge against Sussmann.
Elon Musk speaks to reporters during a visit to Germany on Sept. 3, 2020. (Maja Hitij/Getty Images)

Elon Musk: Starlink Wont Block Russian News Sources

SpaceX wont take action against Russian media outlets, CEO Elon Musk said March 5.

SpaceXs Starlink, a satellite broadband service, started providing internet to Ukrainians in late February in the wake of the Russian invasion.

Since the war started, a number of entities have stopped carrying or banned Russian outlets, including U.S. platform DIRECTV and the European Union.

Musk, though, said his company wouldnt do the samewith one caveat.

Starlink has been told by some governments (not Ukraine) to block Russian news sources. We will not do so unless at gunpoint, Musk wrote on Twitter.

Sorry to be a free speech absolutist, he added.

Many Russian outlets are state-funded or -backed.

When a user said that Russian outlets are propaganda resources, Musk responded that all news sources are partially propaganda, some more than others.

This long-exposure image shows a trail of a group of SpaceXs Starlink satellites passing over Uruguay on Feb. 6, 2021. (Mariana Suarez/AFP via Getty Images)

Musk has previously expressed support for Ukraine in its fight against Russia and Starlink was activated over the country at the request of a Ukrainian government official.

Ukrainian Vice Prime Minister Mykhailo Fedorov thanked Musk on Feb. 28, sharing a picture of terminals that had arrived in Ukraine.

Monitoring companies said the war was disrupting internet service, sometimes within hours, in major cities.

Starlink is described as providing internet service by using advanced satellites in a low orbit. The satellites that power it orbit the planet much closer to Earth than satellites that have traditionally linked people with internet.

Some 47 satellites were deployed to Ukraine as of March 3, according to SpaceX.

Musk warned users recently that Starlink was the only non-Russian communications system still working in some parts of Ukraine so they should use with caution because the probability of being targeted is high.

SpaceX later bolstered cyber defense and worked to overcome signal jamming, but users may see slight delays, he added later.
President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen speaking on the second day of the summit. Photo: Yves Herman/ pool / AFP

EU Loan Package Seeks to Counter Chinas Reach in Africa

While the scramble for colonies in Africa is over, the competition among the great powers to own Africas debt is rising to a new level.

At stake is whether China or the European Union (EU) will dominate the continent thats home to seven of the worlds 20 fastest growing economies and rapidly urbanizing regions.

The European Union and the African Union signed a $170 billion development package on Feb. 25a move seen as a major effort to counter growing Chinese influence in Africa.

Never before has Europe had a global investment strategy, and never before have we put on the table such a sizeable and ambitious package with Africa, said Ursula von der Leyen, European Commission president, who promised transformative results.

President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen (L), Senegals President and African Union Chair Macky Sall (2nd L), president of the European Council Charles Michel (2nd R), and French President Emmanuel Macron (R) at the opening session of the summit. (Yves Herman/Pool/AFP)

The multibillion-dollar package is the first regional plan of the European Unions Global Gatewayan investment blueprint that seeks to mobilize up to 300 billion euros ($328 billion) for public and private infrastructure around the world by 2027. The investment plan, covering transport networks, energy, digital, education, and health projects, is the EUs counter to Chinas Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), which also seeks to develop infrastructure globally.

There is no doubt that the Global Gateway is an attempt to counter Chinas influence in the region, but the challenge lies in whether this is actually real investment from the EU, or simply the hope that existing aid money can be leveraged to spur private investment. Early indications suggest the latter, David McNair, executive director at ONE.org and a founding executive board member of the Africa Europe Foundation, told The Epoch Times in an email.

China has invested heavily in Africa and has acted fast in building infrastructure for a continent that cant afford to wait, he said.

Proponents suggest that China is responsive to requests from African countries. Critics say the contracts are designed to build Chinas influence and dont create enough jobs for Africans.

But the demand and the opportunities are significantthe biggest risk is that the United States and Europe fail to realize its opportunities.

Africa this year is facing economic competition from Europe, China, and the United States.

Chinas $1 trillion BRI has made Africa the largest regional component of its effort to reset global commerce.

Moussa Faki Mahamat, chairman of the African Union Commission, in his address at the Sixth AfricaEuropean Union Summit. (Courtesy of AU web page)

At the G-7 summit in June 2021, President Joe Biden announced the Build Back Better World initiative, which is intended to coax African countries to build more inclusive, equitable, and sustainable economies after COVID-19.

Its not a colonial-era scramble for Africa, as, fortunately, African countries have far more power to determine their own fates than they did during the true scramble for Africa, Joshua Meservey, senior policy analyst for Africa and the Middle East at the Heritage Foundation, told The Epoch Times in an email.

The average African should hope for more Western involvement in their countries, since the foreign policy goals of democratic countries are more likely, if realized, to result in better outcomes for them.

If youre a corrupt African elite, then you want more Chinese involvement since you have a much better chance of personally benefiting from their engagement.

If African leaders can navigate the competition of outside powers wisely, with the determination to maximize the benefit for their own countries, the continent could make significant gains.

African leaders realize that they have options, that every partner brings their own agenda, and that there are risks and benefits of partnering with each, ONE.orgs McNair said.

Ensuring that investment in infrastructure happens fast enough to keep up with Africas demographic boom, avoiding the risks of debt distress is critical. But perhaps the greatest risk is becoming too dependent on one partner.

Europe is focused on the fight against climate change, which is a major threat for the African continent, but also an opportunity to spur investment and job creation in green technology.

African leaders will increase their bargaining power if they act together rather than bilaterally.

But none are in for the long-term benefit of Africa, since they all have the basic same mentality, according to Kevin Jessip, founder of Global Strategic Alliance.

I simply do not trust the leader globalists in the EU, as they are no better than China in that their interest is in a one-world government and not in meeting the real felt needs of the African people.

African leaders wish to overturn the China Belt & Road initiative, which is creating an unsustainable debt issue while enslaving the people of Africa.

China will then rape the nation for its mineral rights and other natural resources, Jessip told The Epoch Times.

Africa is developing a diversity of partnerships that do not have the same history, nor the same scope as that of our partnership with Europe, Moussa Faki Mahamat, chairman of the African Union Commission, said at the summit.

These new partnerships are no less relevant and beneficial for Africa and, from this point of view, are worthy of respect and consideration, he said, without giving further details.

Meservey said: What Africa actually needs is economically productive infrastructure honestly procured. Because Chinese companies and African governments frequently hide the details of their dealings together, its impossible to know whether the projects meet that standard.

There is good reason to fear that at least some do not. There are frequent reports of overpriced Chinese projects and tenders awarded to Chinese companies in violation of procurement laws. African taxpayers are then left on the hook.

Earlier this month, the federal government of Nigeria said it was stuck with lots of projects  because the Chinese are no longer funding.

We are now pursuing money in Europe, transport minister Rotimi Amaechi told local media.

China is very serious about Africa, and therefore this is a huge problem for both the U.S. and Europe, Jessip said.

China, in its long view, has been very patient and methodical in its approach through its various unrestricted warfare strategies, and so both the U.S. and the EU are coming from a bad position.
Former Louisville Police Officer Brett Hankison, center, awaits the jury's verdict in his wanton endangerment trial in Louisville, Ky., on March 3, 2022. (Timothy D. Easley/Pool/AP Photo)

Ex-Officer Charged in Breonna Taylor Raid Acquitted by Jury

A jury in Kentucky has acquitted the only former or current police officer charged in the raid that left Breonna Taylor dead.

Brett Hankison, a former detective for the Louisville Metro Police, was found not guilty on three counts of wanton endangerment.

Hankison, 45, participated in the March 13, 2020 raid of Taylors apartment. The officers were serving a search warrant on Taylors boyfriend Kenneth Walker, who was believed to be involved in a drug trafficking scheme.

After knocks werent answered, officers burst in and spotted Taylor and Walker.

Walker opened fire, prompting the officers to fire back. Hankison fired 10 rounds, investigators found.

Walker saw an attempted murder of a police officer charge dropped in 2020.

Hankison, who was fired by the police department for violating its rules, faced up to 15 years in jail if convicted.

During the trial, lawyers for the defendant argued that he acted lawfully when he opened fire because the officers were fired upon first. Prosecutors said the gunfire endangered neighbors of Taylor, with some of the bullets traveling through their apartment.

Stew Mathews, one of Hankisons attorneys, told reporters after the verdict was handed down that the jury believed his client was doing his job as a police officer.

The jury felt like, you go out and perform your duty and your brother officer gets shot and youve got a right to defend yourself. Simple as that, Mathews said.

Family members of Taylor decried the verdict, including her sister Juniyah Palmer.

How do ANYBODY find this man not guilty on EVERYTHING? she wrote on Facebook, describing herself as so tired of this injustice [sic] [expletive] system.

The Louisville Metro Police Department (LMPD) said that the events of March 13, 2020 are still painful for many, and since then LMPD has prioritized rebuilding trust with the communities that we serve, adding that the department respects the judicial process and also recognizes that there are still potentially more proceedings that may be held on this case and will not provide further comment at this time.

A union representing LMPD officers said the jury rendered the correct and just verdict.

Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer, a Democrat, said Taylor should not have died and that for many, justice still has not been achieved.

Louisville officials remain focused on ensuring this never happens again, with a singular determination to build greater trust between LMPD and the larger community they are sworn to protect and serve, added Fischer, including working with the Department of Justice as it probes LMPD.

The FBI, which is probing the Taylor raid, said it is committed to bringing this investigation to its proper conclusion.
Families Forced to Split as Hong Kong COVID-19 Cases Spiral and Rules Tighten

SYDNEY/HONG KONGWhile Hong Kong clings to its zero-COVID policy, frustrations in the city are boiling over, workplace morale is being hit hard and families are splitting as a growing number of people, especially expatriates, abandon the global financial hub.

Hong Kong saw a net outflow of more than 71,000 people in February, the most since the beginning of the pandemic, according to government data, compared with 16,879 in December.

Senior Western diplomats told Reuters they are inundated with visa requests for the Hong Kong spouses of foreign nationals, while some travel agents say they are overwhelmed with flight bookings.

For many like Ileanna Cortes Martinez, who has lived in Hong Kong for more than a decade, the stringent rules that include restrictions on global travel and bans on gatherings of more than two people, have made life in the city unbearable.

Theyre making it impossible to live here, said Cortes Martinez from California, adding that she and her husband, a pilot in the private jet sector, bought a flat in the city last year as they considered it home, but are now leaving.

Its ridiculous whats going on. Its like the blind leading the blind  The rules change every day.

Mixed messages from the government and almost daily tweaks to policy have triggered a backlash from many residents.

Children being hospitalized alone with no family members and summer holidays brought forward for some schools have also prompted many families to book their departures sooner.

Most major employers have reverted to work-from-home requirements, in line with government recommendations, as Hong Kong reports record daily cases of close to 60,000, after a three-month streak of no infections at the end of 2021.

Hong Kong is like a prison right now, one investment banker at a Western firm who is working from home told Reuters. He declined to be identified as he is not permitted to speak to media.

Streets in the heart of the financial centre are eerily quiet, restaurants are shuttered or empty, and supermarket shelves bare as people snap up groceries amid fears of a city-wide lockdown. Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam has said there are no plans for a complete lockdown.

Expat Firesales

Divided expat families are becoming increasingly common as one parent stays to work, while the other takes the children home, many fearful of being separated from children or forced into government quarantine centers if they stay.

Its untenable to be in Hong Kong when every time you have to leave to come back you have to sit in a hotel room for two weeks if not longer, said one lawyer, who declined to be identified due to the sensitivity of the issue.

My wife and kids are in Australia, they want to come up but they cant. You just cant have a family life here.

Some people are offloading furniture and cars in fire sales as they rush to leave.

A lot of people are just grabbing clothes and leaving. And personally, thats what Im going to do, said Cortes Martinez, who is leaving Hong Kong at the end of the month with her 12-year-old daughter. Her husband left in November.

You see the footage of children being separated, the lockdowns coming, school is online for the foreseeable future, its no place to have kids right now, one banker at a foreign bank told Reuters, also declining to be identified.

Bans on flights from nine countries including the United States, Britain, and Australia are in place until April 20, leaving some Hong Kong residents who had left temporarily stranded, unable to get back in.

Hong Kong remains one of only a few places in the world to make hotel quarantine for two weeks for returning travelers mandatory.

A mother of two who left for Australia with the children while her husband stayed to work said she got out because of fear of being hospitalized or put in a quarantine centre.

Weve been more afraid of the treatment than getting COVID. The community centers, they look like something out of a horror movie, she said, referring to quarantine facilities.
A poll worker speaks with a voter at the entrance to a polling station on Election Day in Miami Beach, Fla., on Nov. 2, 2021. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

Florida Senate Passes Bill to Create Office of Election Crimes and Security

The Florida Senate late Friday passed a voting law package that would create an office to pursue election-related crimesthe first of its kind in the country.

The states Republican-controlled upper chamber voted 2315 for the measure, Senate Bill 524, on party lines, sending the bill to the states Republican-controlled House, which is set to vote on the measure and send it to Gov. Ron DeSantiss desk next week.

The legislation, if passed, would create a 15-person Office of Election Crimes and Security under the Department of State to investigate fraud allegations.

Under the measure, the governor would also be required to appoint 10 special officers from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement to augment the office. They would be dedicated to investigating violations of election law. Current state law allows the governor to appoint such officers but does not require him to do so.

DeSantis, a Republican, first proposed the need for an election police unit in 2021. In January this year, Desantis said in his State of the State address the unit would serve to ensure that elections are conducted in accordance with the rule of law and would solely focus on enforcing Floridas election laws.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis at a flag-raising ceremony in Juno Beach, Fla., on May 7, 2021. (Cliff Hawkins/Getty Images)

This will facilitate the faithful enforcement of election laws and will provide Floridians with the confidence that their vote will count, he said.

Another measure in the law package includes increasing the penalty from a misdemeanor to a felony for ballot harvestingdescribed in the bill as [u]nlawfully distributing, ordering, requesting, collecting, delivering, or possessing vote-by-mail ballots. The legislation also increases fines for certain election law violations, and requires election supervisors to maintain their voter lists annually rather than every two years.

The new bill comes after the Republican-controlled legislature and DeSantis passed an election integrity law that restricts mail-in ballots and ballot drop boxes. The law requires voters to provide their drivers license number, state ID number, or last four digits of a Social Security number in order to request a mail-in ballot. The law, Senate Bill 90, is currently on trial in federal court after being challenged by voting rights groups.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
The logo of Facebook parent Meta is beneath a 3D-printed logo of Facebook on a laptop keyboard in this illustration taken on Nov. 2, 2021. (Dado Ruvic/Illustration/Reuters)

Has Big Tech Been Censoring China Sensitive Topics?

The story of a jewellery designer in Australia

Alleged big tech censorship of faith-based groups and critics of the Chinese Communist Party could be hindering the ability of e-commerce enterprises to function after two Australian women found their Facebook and Instagram business pages temporarily blocked.

Ariel Tian, a young jewellery designer with a growing celebrity clientele, who is also a religious refugee from China, has been left pondering whether her Instagram account was temporarily blocked because she revealed the source of her inspiration for her designs came from her faith in a practice targeted for eradication by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).

Tian is the founder and designer of Yun Boutique, whose jewellery has been worn by celebrities at New York Fashion Week (two years in a row), celebrated at events for the Golden Globes, and seen in television shows like WBs Charmed reboot, to name a few.

Ariel Tian, founder of Yun Boutique, at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. (Benny Zhang/yunboutique.com)

Celebrities have also been photographed wearing Tians jewellery, such as Emmy award-winning actor Keith David (Armageddon and Platoon), Miss World Canadas Anastasia Lin, Toni Trucks (SEAL Team), Lela Loren (Power), and Camren Bicondova (Gotham).

But amid her growing success, Tian believes she may have accidentally found herself at odds with Meta, Facebook and Instagrams parent company.

The trouble started after she published a post to her Story highlight on Jan. 4, ascribing her design inspiration to Falun Dafa, a spiritual practice from the Buddhist tradition whose adherents follow moral teachings to live by the core tenets of truthfulness, compassion, and forbearance, along with practising meditative exercises.

Falun Dafa, also known as Falun Gong, was introduced to the public in China in 1992, where it quickly gained widespread popularity due to its reported benefits to mental and physical wellbeing. According to official estimates from the CCP, the practice had attracted 70 to 100 million adherents in China by 1999.

Falun Dafa practitioners in a group practice session in Shenyang City, China, in 1998. (Minghui)

But its immense popularity prompted the CCP to launch a brutal persecution against Falun Dafa in 1999, with the stated goal to eradicate the practiceand since then, the regime has subjected adherents to the full force of Beijings propaganda influence inside China and throughout the world.

Several million Falun Gong adherents have been detained in the 20 plus years since, with an estimated 1.5 to 2.5 million held in labour camps in 2010 alone, according to the Falun Dafa Information Center.

Tian, who currently lives in Australia with her husband, said her business account started to behave oddly around Jan. 7. However, according to the records of a company she used to promote her Instagram business, the company lost connection to the account on Jan. 6.

Thinking the problem was a simple login error, Tian said she contacted her account manager on Jan. 8 to ask if their service could have caused the suspension but was assured this was not possible. Tian could also see that nothing in the Instagram backend showed anything was affecting her account status.

(Screenshot supplied by Ariel Tian)

But this soon changed with her account status altering just hours later, saying that the account has been disabled for violating our terms.

Image of Ariel Tians Instagram page on Jan. 8, 2022. (Screenshot supplied by Ariel Tian)

Your account has been disabled for not following our terms  Some of the things we dont allow include artificially collecting likes, followers or shares, posting repetitive content, or repeatedly contacting people for commercial purposes without their consent. If you think this was a mistake, please let us know.

Tian clicked let us know and submitted the information according to the instructions. She was asked to provide a business receipt and proof of domain ownership, which she did.

Instagram then sent an email asking for her to take a photo of her face and arm holding related information handwritten on a piece of paper. She did and then waited.

She never heard back from Instagram again, but after reporting the issue to Facebook, parent company Meta sent her an email stating that they had completed a review of her shop and that it complied with their commerce policies.

After our review, we determined that your shop complies with our Commerce Policies. This shop is now live, Meta said.

However, despite this, Tian found it to be still restricted after checking her business page.

Tian then wrote another report to Facebook Support using the #problemreport hashtag, but she said Facebook later disabled the hashtag on her post. After that, the shop became live, and her personal account could be connected with the shop and tag products in posts.

(Screenshot supplied by Ariel Tian)

The incident has left the entrepreneur concerned about damage to her brand, given that Instagram ranks first in the social media platforms for advertising and sale for the boutique jewellery business.

Reflecting on what might have prompted both Meta to temporarily block her business account, Tian said she has considered various possibilities, including brand exposure posts from the 2019 Golden Globes, but ultimately discounted them for a more sinister reason.

Tian now suspects her Facebook and Instagram accounts, which had grown in popularity amongst a celebrity clientele, drew the attention of the CCPs army of online agents, who she believes maliciously reported her business page after she publicly shared that she drew inspiration for her jewellery designs from the practice of Falun Dafa.

Some Chinese people could be hostile to this practice because of massive media propaganda launched by [the] Chinese Communist Party, Tian said.

But she noted that she understood their behaviour as she has first-hand experience of the brainwashing the CCP uses on the Chinese people.

I understand if they reported my account. I used to be one of the blind Chinese people that believe whatever information the Chinese Communist Party fed us.

Not The Only One Struggling With Big Tech

But Tian is not the only Falun Dafa adherent whose business account has experienced problems.

Fellow Chinese-Australian Jennifer Zeng, an independent China watcher, human rights activist, and author, has had a similar experience on Facebook.

Zeng, who is known for her autobiographical book titled Witnessing History: One Womans Fight for Freedom and Falun Gong, has been outspoken in discussing the difficulties she faced as a Falun Dafa practitioner in Mainland China, including her time in a detention centre where she was tortured for her beliefs.

The book was described by author of more than 20 books June Sawyers as an often harrowing, powerful reminder of what can happen when government power runs unchecked.

Jennifer Zeng is an Australian human rights activist and author. (jenniferzengblog.com)

Zengs Facebook page, with nearly 280,000 followers, where she regularly comments on China and the CCP, was hijacked by an account called FB portal in August 2020. She has appealed to Facebook numerous times over the past two years to return the account to her to no avail.

Since then, the page has been filled with vulgar videos posted by the mysterious hijacker, which Zeng, who no longer has administrative control, has no way to delete.

[The videos] seriously damaged my reputation, Zeng told The Epoch Times. Some people accused me under the posts for posting these bad things. The words are very unpleasant to the ear. I cant explain one by one, and I have issued statements many times.

Zeng is baffled at why Facebook has been silent in response to her requests for help, given it would be very easy to verify her original ownership.

This is something they can easily solve. Just by one glance, you can know that this page is mine, [since] Ive been managing it all along  Even if it was someone else who stole the account, they could easily verify the matter and solve it for me, Zeng said.

The author later met another Facebook staff member through LinkedIn, and when Zeng asked him whether he could help her get her page back, the individual told her it would be difficult as Facebook allegedly has an internal instruction to suppress Falun Dafa.

When Zeng asked why Facebook was censoring Falun Dafa, the man replied: Because its the Internet age now. Many people report Falun Gong, and we can only follow the measures.

A screenshot of the conversation between a Facebook staff member and Jennifer Zeng in Mandarin discussing Facebooks policy around the China sensitive topics like Falun Gong (Screenshot supplied by Jennifer Zeng)

The comments by the individual in contact with Zeng come after the New York Times alleged in a report in 2016 that Facebook was working on a confidential in-house tool that would allow the platform to suppress posts from appearing in peoples news feeds in specific geographic areas.

The New York Times alleged that the tool was designed as an option for governments who sought control over the platform and that it was part of a suite of mechanisms Facebook was going to offer as part of a push to access the Chinese market.

While Facebook has never confirmed the New York Timess allegations, the CEO of a New York-based political risk consultancy, Don Tse, believes there may be some credence to the report.

Tse, the CEO and lead researcher of SinoInsider, told The Epoch Times that the company has not been able to advertise on Facebook since 2020, even through third-party agencies.

SinoInsider focuses on the analysis of China-related political trends, with strength in predicting CCP elite politics and Sino-U.S. relations, according to the companys website.

Further, he has also found that he cannot advertise on Twitter and while advertisements on YouTube are still working, the channel has faced abnormalities since mid-2020, including a drop in the number of subscribers and a stop of notifications for subscribers.

Tse gave two possibilities: first, that there is Chinese staff in YouTube who are responsible for censoring Chinese content; second, that YouTubes censoring work was outsourced to China.

Big Tech Responds

A representative of Meta/Facebook told The Epoch Times that the company had no policy to prohibit people from sharing content related to the persecution of Falun Gong/Falun Dafa, Tibetans, Uyghurs, or Christians in China and that any allegations to the contrary were resoundingly untrue.

We believe freedom of expression is a fundamental human right, and we support the right of people to express peaceful political speech on our platforms. We do not arbitrarily remove political speech unless it violates one of our other Community Standards such as those related to hate speech, bullying and harassment, or violent and graphic content, the Meta spokesperson said.

Further, the spokesperson explained that they deem their platform to be a critically important space for people to exercise their fundamental human rights and that any allegations that they prevent people from posting on Facebook about these issues are untrue.

Undoubtedly, Facebook has made some initial inroads into addressing human rights on its platform after appointing Miranda Sissons as Metas Director of Human Rights in 2019.

Sissons, in a joint statement with Nicole Isaac, Metas Strategic Response Director, in April 2021, said that Facebook supports peoples right to express themselves freely.

Freedom of expression is a foundational human right and enables many other rights. But we know that technologies for free expression, information and opinion can also be abused to spread hate and misinformation, the statement said.

Since 2018, weve had dedicated teams spanning product, engineering, policy, research, and operations to better understand and address the way social media is used in countries experiencing conflict. Many of these individuals have experience working on conflict, human rights and humanitarian issues, as well as addressing areas like misinformation, hate speech, and polarisation.

Meanwhile, after two years of failed attempts to get her page back on her own, following enquiries by The Epoch Times, Meta helped Zeng regain control of her Facebook page.

Meta was also able to resolve Tians on March 3, after The Epoch Times reached out to check on the issue.

Tian was informed by Instagram, in a communication seen by The Epoch Times, that her accounts deactivation was a mistake.

The resolution seems to have been erratic though, as the account was temporarily blocked again on March 5 before being restored again by Meta after several hours.

Tian said she hopes that her online business pages were not targeted or censored because her right to freedom of speech and freedom of belief is why she and many of her friends fled Chinas communist regime.

Numerous people died in China because of their beliefs and did not even have a voice for their experiences, and countless survivors live with mental and physical scars that may never be healed, she said.

[The loss] of some social media accounts seems to be a much less cost for a voice for those innocent lives that have been and will be persecuted.

Tian said she also wont change her sources for her designs inspiration.

In a sense, human art and civilization are a gift from the divine. If the search for divinity in artistic creation becomes shameful, this is a disgrace to humanity. If spirituality in a group becomes a community taboo, it is a communitys sorrow.

I feel that if I compromise, what I will lose is the source and foundation of my creative inspiration, which is much greater than losing a brand account or even losing a brand, she said.
With an overload of ambition, a woman from Washington state scrabbled together tons of different kinds of beads, three dresses, and three different fabrics; dedicating a total of 379 hours to sew her own wedding dress.

(Courtesy of Chelsea Komm)

Chelsea Komm, 33, from East Wenatchee, was going to marry her fiance, Chase Hodge, 35, in August 2020. However, due to the pandemic, the wedding was canceled and their life was put on pause.

During that time, Komm had to quit her permanent cosmetics and waitressing jobs to care for the five children that she and Hodge share between them as her fiancean engineer who works on crab boats and hovercrafts and travels 6 to 10 months out of the yearwas out for work.

Due to the pandemic, the homeschooling mom found herself buried under a mountain of responsibilities that she was trying to juggle, and was lost to depression for a time.

I had zero motivation, no energy, I was staying in bed every chance I got, Komm told The Epoch Times. I even did the kids classes in bed.

Like many others during that time, Komms engines seemed to have come to a halt. However, what helped her come out of it was her working on her wedding dress.

It was as if it brought me back to life, she said. It flipped my switch back on. I honestly believe that dress saved me.

(Courtesy of Chelsea Komm)

Komm had always wanted to make her own wedding dress, as shed grown up hearing stories about how the women in her family before her made their own wedding dresses. Additionally, her mother always sewed everything for her. Komm felt that a project like this was in her very DNA.

It was only a few months after dating Hodge that Komm mentioned her plan to sew her own wedding dress someday. Hodge, who thought it was the coolest idea, was immediately supportive and asked her what materials she needed for her special project. He even purchased a dress for her from Amazon and a gift card to help her begin her journey. It turns out that Hodges gifts were among a scant, albeit powerful, collection of materials that Komm had to start with.

After receiving the bridesmaid dress from Amazon, Komm went out shopping with the gift card. She bought a mannequin from her local Goodwill, gorgeous scalloped lace and ombred gold to silver fabrics at Joanns, and two Goodwill dresses that she chopped and used as the train of her dress.

(Courtesy of Chelsea Komm)

I didnt have a sewing machine, working table, nothing. I didnt even have a ring on my finger yet, she said. All I had was the floor, scissors, a needle and thread, leftover beads from other projects, and an overload of ambition.

Komms dream dress was from Anna Campbells 2018 collection, but the bride-to-be knew that the price was far too high for her pocket. Instead, she took inspiration from Campbells style: creams and beiges instead of bright whites, and elegant vintage glitz. With the image of her ideal dress in mind, she began her special project.

Id do a couple of cuts and pins, then step back, go back in to adjust, and step back again; go back in, make a couple of stitches, then step back again. It was a very repetitive learning process, she said. But well worth it.

Komm spent a total of $1,199.43 and 379 hours, with 190 hours dedicated to the delicate hand-beading on the bodice and straps alone.

(Courtesy of Chelsea Komm)

The mother, who hand-sewed her entire dress, said she did encounter some challenges as she had never learned how to operate a sewing machine, although her mother tried to teach her when she was young. She thus suffered sore fingers and the occasional frustration that came with doing everything manually. However, after being patient, Komm acquiesced to the fact that a sewing machine would not have served for her intricate sewing challenges anyway.

Komm also credited her kidswho enjoyed watching her make the dressfor helping her. They helped her by holding up the fabric while she sewed underneath in certain areas, helped get her the beads that she needed to string, and even assisted in cutting out the 79 sequin petals that are on her train.

They were absolutely great, Komm said. And it makes the dress that much more special.

(Courtesy of Chelsea Komm)

After three years of working on the dress, the moment Komm finally put on the completed gown, it brought her to tears.

I felt ever so proud. I actually cried when I put it on and saw myself in the mirror, she said. I was hesitant on whether Id have that moment, but I did! I didnt just find the one. I made the one, and it was 110% worth it.

Meanwhile, anyone whos already seen the dress, she says, is instantly intrigued by the amount of detail on it along with the story that follows.

The main comment I get is how on earth did you do all of this? I love that question because it simply makes me smile, she said. I honestly dont know how I did it; I find myself just staring at it in complete awe just like everyone else.

(Courtesy of Chelsea Komm)

Komm says she is often questioned as to whether her fiance has seen the dress, to which she replied that he hadnt for almost two years, as she would work on it while he was at work; however, after they joined houses, it became hard for her to hide the dress. The couple then decided that he could glance at it but not see it physically until their most awaited wedding daywhich, after many delays owing to the pandemic and venues being booked out for 2021, is slated to happen on their anniversary this year, April 9, 2022.

(Courtesy of Chelsea Komm)

Until then, the exquisite gown sits stunningly on the dress form, a shining token of Komms hard work, the loving contributions of her family, and the glimmering future before them.

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
Many millennia from now, when humans are long vanished from the Earth, intergalactic travelers visiting our planet may wonder about this worlds ancient inhabitants and their civilizations. One clue these visitors will be able to use in their investigations will be the presence of a class of manmade chemicals called per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs). Dubbed forever chemicals, PFASs will likely outlast humanity.

PFASs have a wide range of uses thanks to their unique physio-chemical properties. They can be found in stain resistant textiles, greaseproof food packaging, nonstick cookware, firefighting foam, personal care products, pharmaceuticals, pesticides, and in over 200 other applications. Because of their widespread use, coupled with their persistence and mobility, PFASs can now be found everywhere researchers look for themin our food, in our drinking water, and in our bodies.

Contamination of drinking water with one PFAS, called PFOA or C8 (because it contains eight carbon atoms), was first revealed two decades ago in Parkersburg, West Virginia, during a lawsuit filed by a cattle farmer against the chemical manufacturer DuPont. As part of the settlement for this case, DuPont agreed to fund an independent group of epidemiologists, known as the C8 Science Panel, to study the impacts on the local population of drinking PFOA-contaminated water. Based on data from over 69,000 participants from the nearby communities, they found probable links between exposure to PFOA in drinking water and testicular cancer, kidney cancer, thyroid disease, high cholesterol, ulcerative colitis, and pregnancy-induced hypertension. The story of how attorney Rob Bilott discovered the PFOA contamination and negotiated the settlement has been dramatized in the movie Dark Waters.

Current Contamination

So what has happened since the early 2000s? Has the problem been solved? Its a mixed picture at best. PFOA and other so-called long-chain PFASs were phased out in the U.S. and Europe by the end of 2015, but production continues in other parts of the world, such as in China. The replacement chemicals developed by industry are also PFASsincluding shorter-chain PFASs, fluorinated ethers, and other fluorinated alternatives. These alternative chemicals are also extremely persistent and mobile and are increasingly found in the environment. Compared with PFOA, these newer PFASs are potentially just as, or even more, toxic. In other words, the contamination of our drinking water continues.

As of July 2020, several PFASs, including PFOA and its cousin, PFOS, had been found in drinking water samples collected at 2,230 sites in 49 U.S. states. A recent study estimated that more than 200 million Americans, or over 60 percent of the population, could be exposed to PFOA and PFOS in their drinking water at levels exceeding 1 part per trillion (ppt), which has been recommended by some experts as a maximum safe level for exposure.

Another newly published study compared available data for 526 samples from drinking water systems across 66 cities in China, which serve over 450 million inhabitants, against international drinking water standards. The study found that nearly 100 million people in 16 of the studied cities are likely using drinking water that exceeds the new maximum contaminant level (MCL) of 20 ppt for the sum of five PFASs (PFOA, PFOS, PFHxS, PFHpA, and PFNA) set by the U.S. state of Vermont. The PFAS levels in the drinking water of nearly all the Chinese cities included in this study exceeded 1 ppt.

Similar drinking water monitoring studies are lacking for other Asian countries, for most countries in Europe, and for all countries in Africa and South America. In Europe, for instance, most studies available to date have largely focused on hot spots near industrial and waste disposal sites that have led to high externalized socioeconomic costs. The general population exposures remain largely unknown.

To understand possible exposures and protect public health, we urgently need more targeted testing for PFASs in drinking water across the globe, as well as better analytical methods. We currently can measure only a small percentage of the PFASs found in environmental matrices. For example, the only accredited testing method for drinking water in the U.S. can quantitatively measure 18 of the over 6,000 PFASs described to date.

The burden of ensuring safe drinking water cannot fall on consumers. According to a recent study, the efficacy of home filters, such as under-sink, pitcher, and refrigerator filters, varies widely and tends to be worse for the shorter-chain PFASs, which have become generally more abundant in drinking water sources as the longer-chain compounds have been phased out. Switching to bottled water is not a good solution either, as it can also contain PFASs, sometimes at very high levels.

To ensure drinking water is properly monitored and treated to remove potentially harmful levels of PFASs, we need enforceable standards. On October 23, the Council of the European Union formally adopted a drinking water directive that includes a limit of either 500 ppt for the sum of all PFASs, or 100 ppt for the sum of 20 PFASs considered a concern for water intended for human consumption. If approved by the European Parliament, this will become the first drinking water limit for the sum of all PFASs in the world.

In contrast, China has only suggested health advisory levels for PFASs: 85 ppt for PFOA and 47 ppt for PFOS, as proposed in a recent scientific paper. Similarly, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has set only a non-enforceable drinking water health advisory: 70 ppt for PFOA and PFOS combined. Some U.S. states have set lower limits than EPAs, though most are also non-enforceable. California has recently set response levels of 10 ppt for PFOA and 40 ppt for PFOS. Drinking water systems whose water source exceeds those limits are now required to take that source out of service, treat or dilute the water to reduce the PFAS levels, or notify their customers. Additionally, six U.S. states have set enforceable MCLs for two or more PFASs, though the levels vary. Activists from communities impacted by firefighting foam or PFAS manufacturing discharges are pushing for an MCL of 1 ppt for the sum of all PFASs. However, there is currently no method that can measure all PFASs. An alternative could be setting a limit for the total amount of organic fluorine that would roughly correspond to a given limit for the sum of all PFASs.

Even if enforceable standards limiting the levels of PFASs in drinking water are established worldwide, one major issue remains: who pays for this expensive monitoring and treatment? Extended producer responsibility is largely missing in most countries, including in the EU and China. In the U.S., PFAS manufacturer 3M settled a lawsuit for drinking water contamination in Minnesota for $850 million, whereas DuPont and its spinoff Chemours settled 3,550 lawsuits in Ohio and West Virginia for $650 million. Nevertheless, large gaps in funding remain for most affected communities, placing still the burden for monitoring and treating the drinking water on taxpayers, local and state governments, and water utilities.

Ultimately, monitoring and treatment are not the solution to the problem of PFAS-contaminated drinking water. Because these forever chemicals tend to lastwellforever, if we dont act now to reduce their emissions into the environment the drinking water contamination will continue to increase, making treatment ever more complicated and expensive. That is why concerned scientists are arguing that we need to identify and phase out all non-essential uses of PFASs and strictly control other uses. But even if we do, Earths future visitors from faraway galaxies will still find plenty of PFASs lingering around to clue them in on our civilization!
North Dakota Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring has told federal regulators that the state doesn't have the capacity to accept chlorpyrifos, a widely used pesticide that the Biden administration has banned on food crops and which became illegal this month.

Goehring has asked the Environmental Protection Agency -- and also North Dakota State University Extension -- to stop guiding farmers and distributors to a state pesticide disposal program.

North Dakota's Department of Environmental Quality also does not have funding for a disposal effort, according to Director Dave Glatt.

That leaves few options for people in the state who still have the chemical on hand, though how much of it actually remains in the state is unclear.

The matter is EPA's to clear up, according to Goehring.

"They did this not just with our state, but all over the nation," he said, adding that "our hands are tied."

EPA officials did not directly comment to the Tribune on whether the agency would stop referring farmers and distributors to the state's Project Safe Send pesticide disposal program. The agency in a statement said it is willing to work with states, however.

"EPA understands the challenges that state agencies may encounter and acknowledges each have unique laws and operate their own pesticide disposal programs specifically for these groups of pesticide users," the statement said. "EPA is committed to continued dialogue on any ways the agency can support state agencies and better coordinate on providing guidance to users."

Ban background

Studies have linked the pesticide to potential brain damage in children and fetuses, and the chemical has long been targeted by environmentalists, according to The Associated Press. The European Union and Canada have restricted its use.

The EPA had initiated a ban during the Obama administration, but the agency reversed that decision shortly after Donald Trump became president in 2017. President Joe Biden after taking office last year pledged a review of more than 100 of his predecessors environmental regulatory actions.

The EPA acted again after a federal appeals court ordered the government in April 2021 to determine quickly whether the pesticide is safe or should be prohibited. Federal regulators announced last August that its use in food production would be banned starting this Feb. 28.

"The agencys evaluation indicated that currently registered uses of chlorpyrifos result in exposures exceeding the safe levels of exposure, and thus have the potential to result in adverse effects," the agency says on its website. "The final rule revokes tolerances and will reduce risks to our most vulnerable populations, including children, by reducing chlorpyrifos exposure via food and drinking water."

Goehring sees the move as "advocacy from the bench" and an attack on domestic agriculture production that could send commodities buyers to other nations such as China.

"None of this has been well-thought-out; it undermines food security in our nation," the commissioner told the Tribune.

From a regulatory standpoint, allowing only six months for farmers and distributors to get rid of their product -- after the growing season was done -- was "unreasonable and irresponsible," Goehring said. Officials from states and U.S. territories on a recent conference call with EPA officials told the agency as much, he said.

Project Safe Send

EPA issued guidance on its website directing people who have stocks of the pesticide to state chemical disposal programs.

Goehring in a letter late last month to EPA Office of Pesticide Programs Director Ed Messina said North Dakota's Project Safe Send doesn't have the resources or the funding to take on chlorpyrifos. He asked that EPA "immediately cease" its guidance.

NDSU Extension has issued similar guidance. University pesticide expert Andrew Thostenson said that recommendation will be changed now that it's clear Project Safe Send will not be accepting chlorpyrifos.

Project Safe Send gives farmers, ranchers, pesticide handlers, government agencies and homeowners a way to dispose of unusable herbicides, insecticides, rodenticides and fungicides free of charge. Collections are held annually in the summer, with pesticides shipped out of state for incineration. The program has collected about 5.8 million pounds of chemicals over the past three decades.

It's funded by fees that pesticide manufacturers pay to register their products in North Dakota. The Legislature typically approves about $1.8 million for the program every two-year budget cycle, according to Goehring.

That's enough to handle current collections, but not an influx of chlorpyrifos, he said.

Even if the federal government were to provide grant funding, out-of-state incinerators are at capacity, according to Goehring.

"What are we going to do if a bunch of people bring us a bunch of product we can't dispose of?" he said.

EPA in its statement said it "is suggesting to farmers and commercial pesticide users to consider different options which includes storing chlorpyrifos products until there is an opportunity for appropriate disposal of these products or as directed by their state."

"If other options become available (e.g. disposal or product returns), the agency will provide updates on the chlorpyrifos website and to state agencies," EPA said. "The agency welcomes state agencies to reach out with questions and feedback, and will also contact state agencies should feasible alternative options for coordination of disposal of chlorpyrifos be identified."

The website is at https://bit.ly/3Khsyjd.

Uncertain amounts

How much chlorpyrifos remains in North Dakota is unknown.

The pesticide has been registered for use on a wide variety of crops grown in the state, including wheat. In recent years it has been used mainly to control pests in sugar beet, soybean and sunflower fields, according to Thostenson.

"I'm trying to figure out the magnitude of the materials we have out there," he said.

Corteva, the primary supplier of the product, got out of the market more than a year ago, citing declining sales, and given the uncertainty of the pesticide's future "I can't imagine that farmers and even distributors would try to hold on to large quantities," Thostenson said.

He also said he has talked to several applicators in recent weeks, and "I wasn't getting any indication that there were vast quantities out there either in distributors' hands or farmers' sheds."

But last year's drought could be a wild card. Pest problems in sunflower and soybean crops weren't bad, so "there may well be a little carryover" of chlorpyrifos, Thostenson said.

He doesn't believe farmers will be tempted to use their stocks on crops this growing season. They could be subject to federal fines and even jail time if caught, but the bigger deterrent is that commodities buyers won't accept tainted crops because food made from them would be illegal to sell.

"I think the marketplace is going to be the enforcer here," Thostenson said.

Farmers and distributors have been allowed to use existing stocks in past instances in which pesticides have been banned, according to Goehring. He criticized EPA for not allowing that with chlorpyrifos, and said storing the pesticide for now is about the only option for those who have it.

"There are no options for me" as head of the state Agriculture Department, Goehring said. "It's a huge challenge, as much as we like to help and be a resource, because that's what we do. I don't know what to say. We have to wait and see what EPA is going to do."

Glatt, the head of Environmental Quality, said his agency will be conferring with Goehring's to see if there is a cooperative effort that could be devised. Another option might be trying to get the manufacturer to take back the product, he said.

"Obviously if there is not an option for people to dispose of it, there's that concern that it could be dumped illegally," Glatt said, adding that agency is encouraging people who have chlorpyrifos to "hold onto it."

"Safe disposal is always the right way to go," he said. "We're looking at exploring options moving forward."

Reach Blake Nicholson at 701-250-8266 or blake.nicholson@bismarcktribune.com.

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Radon is present at high levels in a surprisingly large number of American homes, schools and other buildings. While this naturally occurring gas is odorless, tasteless, and colorless, its far from harmless. Experts are raising awareness about the serious health risks associated with radon exposure and what you can do about it.

Elevated radon in homes is more common than you may think. In fact, at least one in 15 American homes have elevated levels of radon, and this is something that shouldnt be taken lightly. Exposure to radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States, says Albert Rizzo, M.D., chief medical officer for the American Lung Association. The good news is that it is easy to test for radon. Do-it-yourself test kits are simple to use and inexpensive.

In an effort to eliminate this preventable lung cancer risk factor, protect all communities and buildings, and save lives, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), along with strategic partners like the American Lung Association, have launched a new five-year National Radon Action Plan. The campaign is sharing five important things to know about radon: Radon exposure is life-threatening. Radon-related lung cancers are responsible for an estimated 21,000 deaths annually in the United States. Smoking and radon exposure can separately increase the risk of lung cancer. If you smoke, exposure to both tobacco and radon enhances the risk of lung cancer even further. The only way to detect radon in your home is to test the air. The EPA urges anyone with radon levels above 4 picoCuries per liter (pCi/L) to take action to fix their homes. Both the EPA and the American Lung Association recommend that mitigation be considered if levels are greater than 2 pCi/L. After high levels are detected and confirmed, a radon mitigation system should be installed by a radon professional. Radon testing should always be done when you buy a home and after building a new home. Many states now require radon results (if known) to be disclosed during a real estate transaction. Some states require testing in priority buildings like schools and daycares. When high levels of radon are detected, professional radon mitigation should be a priority. Doityourself radon mitigation is typically not an effective long-term solution. Some state health departments offer financial assistance or low-interest loans for radon mitigation.

Learn more about radon testing and mitigation at Lung.org/Radon.

While elevated radon is common, it is a problem that is easy to address. By finding, fixing and preventing high indoor radon levels, its health impacts are preventable.
Invoking Emergencies Act Had More to Do With Partisan Politics Than Canadas Interests

Commentary

It would be an understatement to say that the last two years have been uniquely challenging for Canadians. That said, they were mostly characterized by a united show of solidarity in the face of an unprecedented pandemic; one glaring exception being the last few weeks, which put on full display the growing divisions and frustrations in our country.

While there is much blame to go around for much of what makes up our current public discourse, the blame for the events we saw unfold in our countrys capital last month fall at the feet of one person and one person only, and that is Justin Trudeau.

From the very beginning, the prime minister has used the pandemic to prey on the fears of Canadians and to wedge and divide for political benefit.

Starting with the weaponization and politicization of vaccines during the last federal election, he effectively categorized the vaccine-hesitant and opponents of vaccine mandates as the Other. Mr. Trudeau then interpreted his re-election as an admission to continue with his divide-and-conquer approach and to push through with punitive measures on the unvaccinated.

Faced with growing opposition from his vindictive mandate on truckers, he resorted to shaming and name-calling, accusing those who disagreed with him of being racists, misogynists, and white supremacists.

When thousands of frustrated Canadians showed up at his doorstep, he dismissed them as a fringe minority with unacceptable views. His blatant refusal to simply engage with the truckers was marked by a need to not provide them with any sort of legitimacy.

In the face of growing international attention and pressure from the protest, he brought down the sledgehammer by invoking the unprecedented powers of the Emergencies Act, citing a severe threat posed to our security and democracy, and a lack of other available options. And then, almost as quickly and mysteriously as he adopted it in the first place, he revoked it, and the alarmist rhetoric along with it.

The immediate removal of the Emergencies Act was the right thing to do, second to never invoking it in the first place. However, the damage done by Prime Minister Trudeaus unfounded overreach on our democracy and public discourse cannot be understated.

The right to protest is a fundamental element of our democracy, and must be championed and defended at all costs. Equally as important is the rule of law, which must always be upheld. The blockading of critical infrastructure is not acceptable. That being said, protests are not emergencies, and any disruptions that inevitably come from them must be handled by law enforcement using the laws already at their disposal, and by politicians pushing for resolution and dialogue.

It falls on all parliamentarians, but especially on the prime minister, to call for unity in times of crisis and to dialogue with those who express frustration. The vocalizing of grievances by citizens is not (and should never be regarded as) an inconvenienceit is active participation in our democratic process. Justin Trudeaus blatant refusal to meet with the Canadians that he is tasked with representing is a huge admission of failure in his obligation as prime minister to uphold our principles and to be a leader for all Canadians.

It was only two years ago that anti-pipeline protestors blockaded and effectively shut down Canadas rail system for two weeks. In that instance, the prime minister called for dialogue and mutual respect. In 2020, when Black Lives Matter took to the streets by the thousands in violation of COVID restrictions, the prime minister joined in.

Unlike now, Trudeau never threatened the use of the Emergencies Act, nor did he disparage and dismiss the protesters, despite the fact that the protests of 2020 were arguably more threatening to the countrys interests and welfare.

The blatant display of double-standard, along with the immediate reversal of the Emergencies Act just two days after its approval in the House of Commons, confirms what many of us knew to be true from the start, which is that its invocation had less to do with the danger posed by the trucker convoy and more to do with Mr. Trudeaus political agenda and his relentless inclination to put partisan politics ahead of the countrys interests.

Canadians would do well to not forget.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
The building of the Swiss National Bank (SNB. BNS), the central bank of Switzerland, in Bern, on Sept. 25, 2019. (Fabrice Coffrini/AFP via Getty Images)

Is Beijing Nervous as Switzerland Adopts EU Sanctions Against Russia?

Commentary

If the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) is still contemplating on how the world will react if it launches an attack on Taiwan, perhaps the current Swiss sanction on Russia could serve as a warning.

So far, the European Union, the United States, and Japan have announced to ban Russian banks from the SWIFT financial network, and have frozen an estimated $640 billion of Russias foreign exchange reserves. At the same time, the United States has vowed to track down the assets of Russias oligarchs globally.

Even Switzerland abandoned its traditional neutrality and adopted all financial sanctions imposed by the EU, including freezing the assets of key players in the Russian government and oligarchs in Switzerland. This move may not have much impact on the situation of the Russian-Ukraine war, but it scares the CCP.

Swiss National Bank data show that Russians held nearly 10.4 billion Swiss francs ($11.24 billion) in Switzerland in 2020. In contrast, the assets of senior CCP officials in Switzerland far exceed this amount. The difference is not several times, but hundreds of times!

The 2018 UBS/PwC Billionaires report indicated that Chinese billionaires increased in number to 373 in 2017 from 318 in 2016 and their wealth rose by 39 percent to USD 1.12 trillion. This means that the combined assets of just four Chinese billionaires will greatly exceed Russians total assets in Switzerland in 2020.

A report by UBS and PwC in 2020 recorded a combined wealth of $1.7 trillion owned by 415 Chinese billionaires.

In fact, the data are just part of the overseas assets of the CCP dignitaries.

As exposed by WikiLeaks, Chinese corrupt officials have more than 5,000 personal accounts in Swiss banks, two-thirds of whom are central-level officials from the level of vice premier, bank governors and ministers to central committee members.

Chinese Communist Partys head Xi Jinping (center) and lawmakers stand for the anthem during the closing session of the rubber-stamp legislatures conference at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China, on March 11, 2021. (Kevin Frayer/Getty Images)

Many Chinese reports have also revealed the huge sum of money kept by the CCP overseas.

For example, Jiang Jiemin, former chairman of PetroChina, provided former security czar Zhou Yongkang and his family access to vast embezzled sums of around $10 billion, funneled through Swiss banks, the Hong Kong media Apple Daily reported in 2013.

Miles Guo Wengui, a wealthy Chinese businessman in exile, revealed in April 2019 that former CCP leader Jiang Zemins family may possess as much as $1 trillion in shadow assets and laundered at least $500 billion overseas. Guo, who also goes by the name Miles Kwok, fled China in 2015 and now lives in the United States. He is known for his connections to retired CCP officials, particularly those associated with Jiang.

Hong Kong media Open Magazine reported that Liu Jinbao, the former vice chairman of Bank of China, confessed in prison that Jiang transferred more than $3 billion to Bank of China Grand Cayman Branch between May and September 2002, ahead of the national meeting of the CCPs rubber-stamp legislature on Nov. 8, 2002.

Swiss banks have been the first choice for corrupt CCP officials, as well as terrorists and criminal groups, to hide their dirty money. Switzerland manages as much as one-third of the worlds wealth.

Although Swiss banks abide by a code of silence and have gained the reputation of discretion, they gradually adopted common reporting standards as part of efforts to crack down on tax evasion and fraud.

With the Swiss government joining the EU in imposing sanctions on Russia, the move sends a message to corrupt CCP officials: your money is no longer safe in Switzerland. It would also make the CCP think twice about invading Taiwan, as China would suffer devastating consequences from international sanctions. Just that thought would bring nightmares to corrupt Party officials.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
Travelers walking past check-in counters at an international flight departure floor at Tokyo's Haneda airport, on Dec. 1, 2021. (Kazuhiro Nogi/AFP via Getty Images)

Japan Raises Daily Entry Cap to 7,000 With Foreign Students Given Priority

Japan will raise the daily limit of arrivals from overseas from the current 5,000 to 7,000 from March 14 onwards, further relaxing the COVID-19 border measures with foreign students given priority, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said Thursday.

Kishida said that the government will launch a new scheme that will allow 1,000 foreign students to enter Japan on weekdays, as he acknowledged that many overseas students are concerned about the entry restrictions ahead of the start of school in April.

We will help students come to Japan by giving them [use of] vacant seats, especially on weekdays when there are not many business travelers, he was quoted saying by local media Kyodo News.

The Japanese government has been suspending new arrivals of foreign visitors since Nov. 30, 2021, to contain the spread of the Omicron variant, adopting the strictest border control measures among the Group of Seven developed economies nations.

The Immigration Services Agency of Japan claimed that more than 400,000 people eligible for visas had been denied entry into the country as of Jan. 4. Of those, about 152,900 are students pursuing study in Japan.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno said on Monday that the government will gradually increase international traffic by reviewing infection situations in Japan and abroad, as well as the demand of Japanese nationals returning.

Japan has previously lifted its entry ban on foreign nationals and raised the maximum daily number of entrants to 5,000, which took effect on Tuesday, but foreign tourists remain barred from entering the country.

The Foreign Ministry stated that all entrants will be subject to a seven-day home quarantine, but the quarantine requirement may be lifted if the third-day test result comes out negative.

Travelers who have completed their third vaccination shots, and are arriving from countries where the outbreak is under control, may be exempted from quarantine, it added.

Meanwhile, the government has placed 31 of Japans 47 total prefectures under a quasi-state of emergency to curb the spread of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) virus, also known as the novel coronavirus.

Kishida announced Thursday that the government will extend the quasi-emergency measures in Tokyo and 17 additional prefectures until March 21, citing the high rate of hospital bed occupancy in the areas.

The occupancy rate of hospital beds remains high and we decided to make a judgment with caution after listening to the voices of the local governments, the prime minister said.

Under a quasi-state of emergency, governors are allowed to shorten business hours and limit the serving of alcohol in the prefectures.
Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida speaks before the media at his official residence as an extraordinary Diet session was closed, in Tokyo, Japan, on Dec. 21, 2021. (Yoshikazu Tsuno/Pool via Reuters)

Japan to Supply Bulletproof Vests and Other Defense Equipment to Ukraine

Japans Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said Friday that his government will supply Ukraine with defense equipment, such as bulletproof vests and helmets, in what was seen as a rare move by Japan amid Russias invasion of Ukraine.

Kishida said that defense equipment, including bulletproof vests, helmets, tents, winter clothing, food items, hygiene products, cameras, and power generators, will be sent to Ukraine by Japans Self Defense Forces.

We hope to deliver the goods to support the people of Ukraine who are facing difficulties as soon as possible, Kishida was quoted saying by local media Kyodo News.

The announcement was made after the National Security Councils meeting on Friday.

This is an uncommon move for Japan, as the country had long banned the export of defense equipment. The ban was overturned by former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in 2014, who allowed exports in cases that contribute to global peace and serve Japans security interests.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno said that the decision was made at the request of Ukraine and is in accordance with Japans war-renouncing Constitution, adding that Japan will not provide weapons to Ukraine.

As a nation that experienced the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear accident [in 2011], Japan condemns [Russias invasion of Ukraine] in the strongest possible terms, Kishida said.

Japan is following the lead of numerous Western countries in providing military assistance to Ukraine, including the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Sweden.

U.S. President Joe Biden ordered the State Department on Feb. 26 to deploy $350 million worth of weapons to Ukraine, including Javelin anti-tank weapons, anti-aircraft systems, ammunition, and body armor.

The Canadian government is sending an additional $25 million in military aid to Ukraine on Feb. 27, while the United Kingdom pledged to provide both lethal and non-lethal aid to Ukraine.

The Swedish government approved the shipment of 5,000 anti-tank weapons, 135,000 field rations, 5,000 helmets, and 5,000 pieces of body armor.

Japans government has also pledged to extend $100 million in emergency humanitarian assistance to Ukraine and to accept Ukrainians who are seeking refuge in a third country.

The United Nations has estimated that close to 700,000 people have fled Ukraine to neighboring countries since the invasion began nearly a week ago, in what the U.N. Refugee Agency says looks set to become Europes largest refugee crisis this century. Around half of the refugees are currently in Poland.

Japan has also banned Russian banks from the SWIFT global interbank network and froze the assets of seven Russian banks. It also blocked the assets of several Russian leaders, including President Vladimir Putin, and prohibited exports to 49 Russian entities.

Autumn Spredemann and Reuters contributed to this report.
Lets End Magical Thinking on Energy

Fossil fuels matter to our national security interests and those of our allies.

Commentary

Six years ago, I asked energy companies and others to fund research on why, in addition to being valuable economic commodities, oil and natural gas might be integral to Canadas and our allies security interests. The theory was that Canadians who normally think only superficially about fossil fuels might be more sympathetic to their development if they grasped how dangerous it was for our allies to rely as heavily as they do on imports of natural gas and oil from autocracies and tyrannies.

There was little interest. Energy CEOs seemed convinced that opposition to Canadian oil and gas could be overcome with numbers arguments alone, i.e., by emphasizing how profitable the sector is for Canada in terms of jobs, incomes and tax revenues.

That was a mistake. Too many Canadians then as now believed in either-or choices on oil and gas: Either keep pumping dirty energy or give that up and move forward into a bright green future. That was always simplistic, but it made consideration of the economic benefits of fossil fuels seem crude in comparison to the romantic visions of a pure, pre-industrial world offered up by deep greens.

Now, tragically, energy security is a 100-point headline, given Russias invasion of Ukraine and the folly of Europes dependence on Russia for too much of its energy usedependence that increased steadily over the past two decades as Europeans shut down nuclear and coal electrical generation plants and discouraged new oil and gas exploration on their continent.

The result of such policy follies is that Russian presidentpresident for lifeVladimir Putin has dangerously increased his leverage over Europe, which is highly dependent on foreign natural gas and oil, much of it coming from tyrannies and autocracies.

For example, between 2005 and 2019, the EU imported over 838 billion in natural gas from foreign sources, or an average of nearly 56 billion per year. About one-third of that came from tyrannies and autocracies (mainly Russia, Algeria and Libya)not-free countries in the terminology of Washington-based think tank, Freedom Housewith the rest from free countries (liberal democracies) and partly free countries. By 2019, however, the proportion of Europes imported natural gas from not-free countries had risen to 41 per centalthough that is likely an underestimate, as Germany does not release all its data on fossil fuel imports from Russia.

As for oil, the EU is even more dependent on autocracies and tyrannies for imports. Between 2005 and 2019, it imported 4.6 trillion in foreign oil, with 68 per cent or 3.1 trillion worth coming from countries not considered democratic or free. In 2019, the share was down only slightly, to 67 per cent. (These data are from the Canadian Energy Centre, where I co-authored several reports on the oil and natural gas exports of regressive regimes worldwide.) Russia accounts for 58 per cent of the natural gas and 42 per cent of the oil that the EU bought from tyrannies and autocracies between 2005 and 2019.

It is time for Canadians to end their magical thinking about energy. That includes dropping the fantasy that we can realistically reduce carbon emissions to net-zero by 2050. As University of Manitoba professor emeritus Vaclav Smil has long argued (he being the leading world expert in energy transitions) the physical capacities of oil, natural gas and coal cannot be replaced by the low-punch energy density of renewables. Responsible analysts, politicians, insurers and investors need to recognize that fossil fuels will continue to be crucial to our energy needs and now also to our national security interests and those of our allies, be they in Europe, the United States or Asia.

There is little reason why Germany or Japan, for example, should continue to rely so heavily on natural gas from not-free countries when liquified natural gas could be extracted from Alberta and Northern British Columbia but also from Atlantic Canada and Quebec, as all have the potential for significant extraction and exports.

Yes, this would require a sea change in attitude among Canadian politicians, but it would be a mature recognition of the actual world we live in, strategic interests included.

In the last century, Canadian families sent their sons to fight and to die in multiple wars to defend Europe and Asia from tyrannies. The least that responsible modern-day Canadians can do is tighten our links with allies. That includes looking at energy as part of a worldwide security pact with other democracies and making it as easy as possible for Canadian energy to get to them.

This article was originally published in Financial Post.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
RussiaUkraine (March 5): State Department Urges Americans to Leave Russia Immediately

The latest on the RussiaUkraine crisis, March 5. Click here for updates from March 4.

State Department Urges Americans to Leave Russia Immediately

The U.S. State Department has updated an earlier travel advisory and is now recommending that U.S. citizens leave Russia immediately.

The notice offers this guidance: If you wish to depart Russia, you should make arrangements on your own as soon as possible. If you plan to stay in Russia, understand the U.S. Embassy has severe limitations on its ability to assist U.S. citizens, and conditions, including transportation options, may change suddenly.

The department already has advised Americans not to travel to Russia. That warning cites the unprovoked and unjustified attack by Russian military forces in Ukraine and the potential for harassment against U.S. citizens by Russian government security officials, among other things.

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Zelensky Urges US Lawmakers to Ban Russian Oil, Provide Fighter Jets

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on March 5 urged U.S. lawmakers to step up support for his country by banning oil from Russia, helping secure fighter jets for the Ukrainian military, and imposing additional sanctions on Russian officials.

Zelensky held a virtual meeting with a bipartisan, bicameral group that was said to have numbered over 280 members of Congress.

Banning Russian oil and gas imports would be even more powerful than SWIFT, Zelensky told members, Sen. Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), a colonel in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve, said on social media.

SWIFT is a banking system from which European Union countries have agreed to exclude Russian banks.

Zelensky also asked for anti-tank weapons and other military aid and assistance getting fighter jets from nearby countries transferred to Ukraine so Ukrainian pilots can use them to battle Russian fighters in the sky, according to members on the call.

Read the full article here

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Visa, Mastercard Suspend All Operations in Russia

Two of the biggest payment processing firms in the world on March 5 announced they were suspending operations in Russia.

Mastercard and Visa said Russian banks would be cut off from their networks and their cards would not work at Russian merchants or ATMs.

We dont take this decision lightly. Mastercard has operated in Russia for more than 25 years. We have nearly 200 colleagues there who make this company so critical to many stakeholders. As we take these steps, we will continue to focus on their safety and well-being, including continuing to provide pay and benefits, Mastercard said in an unsigned statement. When it is appropriate, and if it is permissible under the law, we will use their passion and creativity to work to restore operations.

Mastercard said it heard from employees, consumers, and shareholders before deciding on the course of action.

Al Kelly, chairman and chief executive officer of Visa, said in a statement that company executives were compelled to act following Russias unprovoked invasion of Ukraine, and the unacceptable events that we have witnessed.

We regret the impact this will have on our valued colleagues, and on the clients, partners, merchants and cardholders we serve in Russia. This war and the ongoing threat to peace and stability demand we respond in line with our values, he added.

Read the full article here

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Russia-Ukraine Negotiations to Resume Monday

The third round of RussiaUkraine negotiations will be held on Monday, one of the negotiators said.

Ukrainian negotiator David Arakhamia, who is also the parliamentary faction leader of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskys party, announced the development in a Facebook post.

The two sides have already finished two rounds of negotiations.

The first round ended up without any progress.

Russia and Ukraine agreed on Thursday in the second round of negotiations to set up humanitarian corridors for civilians to evacuate in Mariupol and Volnovakha.

However, the evacuation in Mariupol was halted because Russian forces allegedly breached the ceasefire.

Read the full story here

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Putin Says Ukraine No-fly Zone Would Mean Participation in Conflict

Any country or entity that imposes a no-fly zone over Ukraine would immediately be viewed by Russia as entering the Russia-Ukraine conflict, Russias president said March 5.

Now we are hearing that a no-fly zone must be established over the territory of Ukraine, Russian President Vladimir Putin said, adding that any move in this direction will be viewed by us as a participation in the armed conflict of whichever side whose territory will pose a threat to our service members.

That very second, we will view them as participants of the military conflict and it would not matter what members they are, Putin said, speaking to Aeroflot pilot trainees in the Moscow region.

After Russia invaded Ukraine on Feb. 24, Ukrainian officials urged outside parties to impose a no-fly zone over Ukraine.

Doing so would protect the civilian population, Petro Poroshenko, Ukraines former president, told reporters on Saturday. We need it urgently, we need it now, just not allow Putin to destroy the whole world.

Read the full article here

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Ukraine Says Southeast Evacuations Halted

The Ukrainian presidents office says civilian evacuations have halted in an area of the country where Russian defense officials had announced a cease-fire.

Kyrylo Tymoshenko, the deputy head of President Volodymyr Zelenskys office, said the evacuation effort was stopped because the city of Mariupol remained under fire on Saturday.

The Russian side is not holding to the ceasefire and has continued firing on Mariupol itself and on its surrounding area, he said. Talks with the Russian Federation are ongoing regarding setting up a ceasefire and ensuring a safe humanitarian corridor.

The Russian Defense Ministry said earlier in a statement it had agreed on evacuation routes with Ukrainian forces for Mariupol, a strategic port in the southeast, and for the eastern city of Volnovakha.

But a city official reported that shelling continued in his area Saturday despite the deal, a sign of the fragility of efforts to stop fighting across the country.

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Russia Announces Ceasefire in 2 Ukraine Areas for Evacuations

The Russian military is observing a ceasefire in two areas of Ukraine to allow civilians to evacuate, Russian state media reported Saturday, but there was no immediate confirmation from Ukraine. It would be the first breakthrough in allowing civilians to escape the war.

The Russian Defense Ministry said in a statement that it had agreed on evacuation routes with Ukrainian forces to allow civilians to leave the strategic port of Mariupol in the southeast and the eastern town of Volnovakha from 10 a.m. Moscow time. The vaguely worded statement did not make clear how long the routes would remain open.

The head of Ukraines security council, Oleksiy Danilov, had called on Russia to create humanitarian corridors to allow children, women, and the older adults to get away from the fighting, calling such corridors question No. 1.

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US B-52 Bombers Fly in Country Bordering Ukraine

U.S. B-52 bombers flew over a country that borders Ukraine, the U.S. military announced March 4.

The B-52 Stratofortress aircraft conducted a long-range integration flight, according to U.S. Air Forces in Europe and Africa.

The bombers took off from a base in England and headed to Germany to conduct an exercise alongside U.S. and German troops known as joint terminal attack controllers, who call strikes down from forward positions in the field.

The training mission included training in conjunction with Romania, a NATO ally that shares a border with Ukraine.

A critical opportunity to integrate and train with our allies and partners, especially during this difficult time, Gen. Jeff Harrigian, commander of U.S. Air Forces in Europe and Africa and NATOs Allied Air Command, said in a statement.

Read the full article here

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Blinken Arrives in Poland for Talks on Ukraine War

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is visiting southeastern Poland near the border with Ukraine as the war enters its 10th day. Blinken arrived in Rzeszow on Saturday for talks with top Polish officials and was to visit a frontier post to meet Ukrainian refugees later in the day.

Blinken was meeting Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki and Foreign Minister Zbigniew Rau a day after attending a NATO foreign ministers meeting in Brussels at which the alliance pledged to step up support for eastern flank members like Poland to counter Russias invasion of Ukraine.

Although NATO has ruled out establishing a no-fly zone over non-member Ukraine, it has significantly boosted both military and humanitarian assistance. Rzeszow is about 80 km (50 miles) from the Ukrainian border and its airport has become a hub for flights carrying such aid.

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Aeroflot Will Halt All International Flights Except to Belarus

Aeroflot, Russias flagship carrier, has announced that it will halt all international flights except to Belarus starting March 8.

The move by Russias biggest state-owned airline comes after the countrys aviation agency, Rosaviatsiya, recommended that all Russian airlines with foreign-leased planes halt both passenger and cargo flights abroad.

It cited a high risk of foreign-leased planes being impounded as part of Western sanctions that ban leasing of planes to Russia.

Rosaviatsiyas recommendation doesnt apply to Russian airlines that use Russian planes or foreign planes that arent at risk of being impounded.

It also doesnt apply to foreign airlines from countries that have not imposed sanctions on Russia and have not shut down their airspace for Russian planes. Aeroflots statement Saturday cited circumstances that hinder operating flights as a reason for its move.

Aeroflot said it would cancel return tickets for passengers who are scheduled to depart Russia after March 6 and travel back after March 8. Those with one-way tickets will be allowed to fly up until March 8. Earlier this week, S7, Russias biggest private airline, announced that it was halting all international flights starting Saturday.

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Musk Says Starlink Told to Block Russian News

SpaceX founder Elon Musk says the companys Starlink satellite internet service was told by some governments (not Ukraine) to block Russian news sources.

We will not do so unless at gunpoint. Sorry to be a free speech absolutist, Musk said in a post on Twitter.

Earlier this week, Ukraines minister of digital transformation thanked Musk for providing equipment to access Starlink.

Mykhailo Fedorov thanked SpaceX founder Elon Musk for the equipment in a Twitter post accompanied by a photo of boxes on the back of a truck. Federov had publicly requested the service.

Musk replied with his own tweet saying: You are most welcome.

The tech billionaire has said Starlink was active in Ukraine and more equipment to use it was on the way.

Starlink is a satellite-based internet system that SpaceX has been building for years to bring internet access to underserved areas of the world. It markets itself as ideally suited for areas where internet service is unreliable or unavailable.

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White House: Not Advocating for Russian Regime Change

The White House says it is not advocating to displace Vladimir Putin, in response to comments from Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) suggesting the Russian president should be taken out.

Graham posted on Twitter Thursday that the only way the Russian conflict with Ukraine will end is for somebody in Russia to take [Putin] out.

White House press secretary Jen Psaki went against Grahams comments during a press briefing Friday afternoon.

That is not the position of the United States government and certainly not a statement youd hear come from the mouth of anybody working in this administration, Psaki said. We are not advocating for killing the leader of a foreign country or regime change. That is not the policy of the United States.

Psaki has said throughout the Russian invasion into Ukraine that a door to diplomacy remains open with respect to Putin.

Read the full article here.

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Countries Flood Ukraine With Military Support

After Russia fired shots on Ukraine on Feb. 24, President Volodymyr Zelensky shared a video two days later saying he needs ammunition, not a ride, referring to the United States offer of asylum to the besieged head of state.

Since then, 15 countries have sent military hardware to Ukraine amid Russias further invasion.

The majority of arms and supplies from ally nations are being sent via Ukraines 310-mile border with Poland, which has become an important lifeline both for supplies and equipment, and refugees looking to flee the conflict.

Some border nations have chosen not to allow military equipment bound for Ukraine to pass through their territory out of fear of Russian retaliation.

Read the full article here.

Allen Zhong, Nick Ciolino, Autumn Spredemann, Zachary Stieber, and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
The London Stock Exchange Group offices are seen in the City of London, on Dec. 29, 2017. (Toby Melville/Reuters)

London Stock Exchange Suspends More Trade In Russia Stocks, As Insurers Pull Coverage Over Ukraine

The London Stock Exchange (LSE) on Mar. 4, suspended trading on a second round of Russian stocks, because of continuing market deterioration and as some insurers withdrew coverage from exporters due to increasing sanctions over the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

The LSE had earlier suspended trading on Mar. 3 for 27 Russian companies, to prevent investors both buying and selling Russian securities in and out of the country.

Western banks, investors, and insurers have in recent days have been pulling their investments from Russia and halting the provision of services, as more sanctions were placed on Moscow.

The governments of the UK, the European Union, and the United States are continuing to roll out more financial sanctions on Russia to prevent its companies from accessing Western markets.

Global depositary receipts (GDRs) which represent shares in a foreign company, were no longer accepted for eight Russian stocks including Sistema, Etalon Group, and Magnit, preventing them from trading on the LSE.

The trading authorities said that it was acting to maintain orderly markets, amid mass selling of Russian stocks and ongoing deterioration of market conditions, as foreign investors cut ties with the country.

High-profile Russian banks, such as Sberbank, and major companies like Evraz, Gazprom, En+, and Rosneft were also penalized by the trading suspensions in London.

There are currently no Russian securities trading on the LSE following the move.

This captures all Russian GDRs on our markets, said a London Exchange spokesperson.

The LSE followed the lead of the Deutsche Boerse AG in Germany, which shut its doors earlier in the week to Russian securities listed on its market due to the sanctions.

The ability of investors to trade Russian stocks is further limited by a decision from the Russian Central Bank to keep the countrys stock market largely closed for the fifth day in a row.

Trade credit insurers, who provide a financial safety net for exports and imports, are pulling back from covering businesses that export to Ukraine and Russia given the risks of sanctions, high claims, or missed payments.

The move in the nearly $3 trillion global market is expected to add pressure on Russias weakened economy.

The UK-based Institute of Directors and the European Confederation of Directors Associations urged their nationals to quit Russian boards, saying it was no longer tenable for them to remain and adding that any directors of Belarusian firms should also quit.

European Union officials are also examining whether to curb Russian influence and access to finance at the International Monetary Fund following the Ukraine invasion.

The United States is expected to continue with similar multilateral sanctions to target the wealth of Russian oligarchs as part of its campaign to pressure the Kremlin.

Some investors are buying into devalued funds linked to Russia, seeing current distressed levels as a potentially cheap way to acquire Russian assets if the crisis subsides.

However, the majority of big investors are rushing to divest themselves of their now worthless Russian assets as fast as possible, as future business with Moscow appears dormant for now.

Reuters contributed to this report.
In the many years since tea leaves fell into Chinese Emperor Shennongs cup of hot water in 2727 BC, this beverage has become second only to water in worldwide consumption. Though tea was once used as currency, we prefer to drink it.

Thank You, Cicadas

Tea Source Oriental Beauty Oolong Tea, Taiwan

$12.99 for 4 ounces at TeaSource.com

Deep in the Pinglin district of Taiwan, every summer, tiny green leafhoppersa cousin to cicadasarrive to munch on these Tea Source tea leaves. Their bites initiate a unique chemical reaction, which, combined with the regions soil and ideal growing conditions, results in a tea with a light body, a dark plum sweetness, and an aroma similar to spiced honey.

Taste the Himalayas

Nepal Tea Club

$25 for 2 samples per month at NepalTeaLLC.com

Formed to increase awareness of and access to teas produced by family farms in eastern Nepal, this club sends members a featured tea every month, plus an exclusive, first-taste micro-lot tea, with enough to brew a total of 40 to 50 cups. A tea bush is also named after each member.

The Champagne of Tea

Makaibari Silver Tips Imperial Tea, Darjeeling

$30 for 50 grams at Makaibari.com

Produced for Queen Elizabeth II by the worlds first tea factory, the patented production method takes place at the foot of the Himalayan mountains under a full moon to ensure maximum moisture and flavor. Two leaves and one bud are selected from each bush to create the worlds most awarded organic Darjeeling tea.

Healthy Goodness

Art of Tea Talis Masala Chai

$20 for 4 ounces at ArtofTea.com

The intoxicating aroma is second only to the pleasure experienced by a sip of this blend of organic Assam tea, cinnamon, ginger, cardamom, and other spices. Beyond the sensory delights, masala chai is said to be a source of antioxidants and can aid digestion.

A Family Legacy

Nio Teas Gyokuro Sasa Hime, Japan

$41 for 100 grams at NioTeas.com

When Mr. Sakamoto took over his familys tea farm in Kagoshima Prefecture, he went 100 percent organic. He specializes in gyokuro, grown using a proprietary fertilizer of composted soybeans and sedimentary rock and shaded for three weeks before harvest, for a savory, umami flavor and a natural sweetness that delivers a smooth finish.

Kyotos Finest

Ippodo Tea Co. Hosen, Japan

$26 for 80 grams at IppodoTea.com

Ippodo, a family-run Kyoto tea company since 1717, suggests this sencha for those who are new to their teas. Made from leaves grown in Kyoto that are steamed rather than roasted, to preserve their color and flavor, the blend delivers a delightful aroma; the perfect balance of natural sweetness, umami, and astringency; and a mellow aftertaste.
During the 2022 Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC), I got the chance to speak with former acting Attorney General Matt Whitaker. Now the co-chairman for America First Policy Institutes Center for Law & Justice, Whitaker speaks on the intellectual property theft by communist China and how it costs America millions if not billions of dollars. During his time as acting attorney general, Whitaker oversaw the criminal prosecution of Huawei in the United States over theft of technology and fraud.

I also spoke to Ian Prior, who worked in the DOJ as principal deputy director of Public Affairs. He explains how China stole rice and grain technology. He also talks about the need to take the issue seriously, regardless of which side of the aisle you are on.

Together with Whitaker and Prior, we discussed the recent decision by the Justice Department to end the China Initiative.

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A Bismarck man died in a two-vehicle crash on Highway 10 east of Bismarck, and three people were injured in a collision on Interstate 94 west of Mandan Friday.

Both of the crashes occurred on icy roads, according the North Dakota Highway Patrol. The names of those involved were not immediately released.

A 31-year-old man was pronounced dead at the scene of the Highway 10 crash, which occurred about 6 p.m., the Patrol said. He was eastbound about 6 miles east of Bismarck when he lost control and entered the westbound lane. The Toyota Camry he was driving collided nearly head-on with a 1990 Freightliner driven by a 68-year-old Bismarck man, who was not injured.

The driver of an eastbound 2020 Freightliner pulling double box trailers 15 miles west of Mandan lost control about 4:15 p.m., the Patrol said. The rig crossed the median and collided with a 2009 GMC Sierra pulling a trailer loaded with a pickup. The vehicles came to rest in the north ditch of the interstate.

The 46-year-old man driving the GMC and the 49-year-old woman who was a passenger -- both from Missoula, Montana -- were taken to a Bismarck hospital for treatment of serious injuries, according to the Patrol. The driver of the Freightliner, a 37-year-old Richfield, Minnesota, man suffered injuries that were not life-threatening. A passenger, a 27-year-old woman from Minnetonka, Minnesota, was not injured.

Two commercial vehicles not directly involved in the crash were slightly damaged when left the roadway. Westbound I-94 traffic was reduced to one lane for several hours.

Both crashes are under investigation by the Patrol.

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Montreal Public Health Opposed December COVID-19 Curfew, Documents Show

Montreal public health officials were against the COVID-19 curfew that the province imposed last December, because little data existed on its effectiveness and out of concern for the most vulnerable, government documents reveal.

Internal documents released by the Health Department indicate Montreal officials expressed concern over limited scientific data to support a curfew as an effective means of reducing COVID-19 transmission. City officials also cited pandemic fatigue, impact on vulnerable groups such as domestic violence victims, and the worry that a curfew would encourage people to adopt riskier behaviours.

With the information at its disposal concerning the lack of robust data on efficacy and the demonstration of collateral impact, the (Montreal public health director) recommends the implementation of alternative measures to imposing a curfew, the document said.

The ethics review was prepared by the citys health officials during the hard-hitting wave of the Omicron variant of the novel coronavirus, when the Health Department was considering what restrictions to impose to reduce transmission.

Radio-Canada initially received the ethics review by Montreal officials through an access to information request  but the entirety of its contents was redacted. Following outcry from the opposition and journalists, the Health Department released the full review late Thursday.

Quebec Liberal party Leader Dominique Anglade tweeted Friday that the documents show Premier Francois Legault is not reliable. Even worse, he does not tell the truth to Quebecers. The latest curfew was not a public health recommendation and in his usual lack of transparency, refused to answer our questions.

Health Minister Christian Dube shot back shortly after, tweeting that Anglades comments were wrong, wrong and more wrong. The recommendation to have a curfew came from Public Health, as Omicron was hitting everywhere in December.

Legault imposed the curfew on Dec. 31, 2021, forbidding Quebecers from leaving their homes between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m. He lifted the order two weeks later on Jan. 17. He had imposed a curfew earlier in 2021 for almost five months, between January and May. Quebec was the only province to prohibit its citizens from leaving their homes at night as a way to control COVID-19 transmission.

The documents also show that the provinces former public health director, Dr. Horacio Arruda, was looking for evidence to justify the December curfew only hours before it was announced.

Horacio would like you and your teams  to provide him with an argument related to the curfew in anticipation of questions from journalists at a 5 p.m. press conference, read a Dec. 30, 2021, email from Arrudas office to the provinces public health institute.

The email asked for studies and examples of what was being done elsewhere, all presented in a tight argument.

Eric Litvak, the vice-president for scientific affairs, responded to the email, saying the institute did not have an existing analysis that deals specifically with the curfew and would not be able to produce one on short notice.

Meanwhile, Quebec reported 16 more deaths due to COVID-19 on Friday and a 51-patient drop in the number of people hospitalized with the disease. There were 1,313 people in hospital with COVID-19, after 88 people were admitted in the past 24 hours and 139 people were discharged. The number of people in intensive care rose by four, to 80.

Quebec announced earlier this week that it would lift most public health orders  including indoor capacity limits and the vaccine passport requirement  on March 12, which is two days earlier than previously announced.

Mask mandates in all public places except public transportation will be lifted by mid-April at the latest, the government said.

By Morgan Lowrie
California Gov. Gavin Newsom speaks during a news conference after meeting with students at James Denman Middle School on Oct. 1, 2021 in San Francisco, Calif. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

Newsom Enforces Sanctions Against Russia, Halting State Investments

SACRAMENTO, Calif.As the war between Russia and Ukraine proceeds, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed an executive order on March 4 requiring state agencies and departments to halt investments and financial transactions with Russia while urging businesses in California to follow as well.

The Russian Federation has mounted aggressive, unlawful, and violent actions against Ukraine and its people, flouting these fundamental rights and freedoms, the order states.

State agencies and departments within the Governors Administration are required to terminate contracts for commodities, services, and technology that are tied to Russia, according to the executive order.

The order also requires state agencies to avoid transferring technology to Russia.

The state agencies must also have all contractors and grantees with agreements at $5 million or more to report compliance with the order by providing proof of stopping transactions with Russian entities, according to the order.

In addition, Newsom is extending the order to businesses, non-government organizations, and public entities urging them to also review their contracts and halt investments to Russia, but it will not be enforced.

California stands with Ukraine and the Ukrainian community in California  one of the largest in the country, Newsom said in a statement. Our state shares many close ties with Ukraine and will continue our efforts to support the nations brave fight for the fundamental rights and freedom of its people.

Prior to the order, companies in the state have taken steps to limit transactions to Russia, according to the governors office.

On March 1, Newsom already asked the states top pension funds to stop money flowing into Russia, including the states Public Employees Retirement System (CalPERS), the State Teachers Retirement System, and the University of Californias retirement system.

The new order also comes after President Joe Biden announced economic sanctions on Russian banks and institutions last week.
People watch a TV showing a file image of North Korea's missile launch shown during a news program at the Seoul Railway Station in Seoul, South Korea, on Jan. 20, 2022. (Ahn Young-joon/AP Photo)

North Korea Fires Another Ballistic Missile Into Sea, Says South Korea

North Korea fired an alleged ballistic missile into the sea on Saturday, South Korean and Japanese military officials said, marking Pyongyangs ninth missile launch this year.

South Koreas Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) confirmed to Yonhap News Agency that a suspected ballistic missile was fired from North Koreas east coast near Sunan and traveled about 270 kilometers (168 miles) at a maximum altitude of 560 kilometers (348 miles).

JCS stated that the intelligence authorities of South Korea and the United States are conducting a detailed analysis of the incident.

Japans Defense Ministry also claimed to have detected at least one ballistic missile launch eastward from North Korea at around 8:47 a.m. on Saturday and estimated that it fell outside of Japans Exclusive Economic Zone.

No damage has been reported as a result of the missile firing, the ministry stated.

This marks Pyongyangs ninth reported missile launch of the year, which came less than a week after the nuclear-armed nation launched a suspected ballistic missile into the sea on Feb. 27.

North Koreas state-run media reported Monday that Sundays test aimed to develop a reconnaissance satellite capable of capturing a specific area on Earth from space, but did not confirm whether a missile was used in the test.

The move was strongly condemned by the South Korean and Japanese governments.

The Norths recent series of ballistic missile launches are a significant threat to not only the international community but also peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula, South Koreas military said. We strongly urge the North to immediately stop them.

U.S. deputy ambassador Jeffrey DeLaurentis issued a joint statement on Monday on behalf of 11 countriesthe United States, Albania, Brazil, France, Ireland, Norway, the United Kingdom, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, and South Koreaurging the U.N. Security Council to be unified in condemning North Koreas unlawful acts.

The 11 nations urged all U.N. members to implement all Security Council resolutions that obligate North Korea to abandon its weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missile programs in a complete, verifiable, and irreversible manner.

They also urged North Korea to engage in diplomacy talks and reaffirmed their readiness for dialogue.

North Korea also launched a Hwasong-12 intermediate-range ballistic missile on Jan. 30, which was seen as being a step closer to Pyongyang lifting its self-imposed moratorium on testing long-range intercontinental ballistic missiles.

The nuclear-armed country previously said that it would consider restarting all temporarily suspended actions due to the United States not showing any signs of dropping its hostile policies.
Roman, 35, a Ukrainian living in Poland, displays his knife as he waits to cross into Ukraine to join the armed resistance against the Russian invasion at the Medyka border crossing in Medyka, Poland, on March 4, 2022. (Sean Gallup/Getty Images)

Over 66,000 Ukrainian Men Have Returned From Abroad to Fight, Says Defense Minister

Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov said on Saturday that 66,224 Ukrainian men returned from abroad to join the fight against what Russia calls a special military operation in the country.

Thats how many men returned from abroad at this moment to defend their country from the horde, Reznikov said in a statement on social media. These are 12 more combat and motivated brigades! Ukrainians, we are invincible.

Last week, Ukrainian males aged 1860 were barred from leaving the country as officials had also called on foreign volunteers to join the defense forces.

In a March 3 address posted on social media, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that at least 16,000 foreign volunteers have arrived in the country to assist with the fight against Russia.

Volodomyr (R), 46, and Vitaly, 44, both Ukrainians who live abroad, arrive to cross into Ukraine to join the armed forces fighting against the invading Russian army at the Medyka border crossing in Medyka, Poland, on March 4, 2022. (Sean Gallup/Getty Images)

Ukraine has started welcoming foreign volunteers who are coming to our country. The first of 16,000 are coming to defend the liberty and life of us and of everyone. Im sure it will be successful, Zelensky said.

The RussiaUkraine conflict has now entered its tenth day and around 1.2 million people have fled the war, U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi confirmed on Friday.

According to a statement by the U.N. published via Telegram, more than half of all Ukrainians who have fled the war moved to Poland650,000 people in total. The other half has fled to either Hungary, Moldova, Slovakia, or Romania.

On Wednesday, where the roads that lead to Ukraines Shehyni border crossing with Poland have seen miles-long lines of people trying to flee the country for the past week, groups of young men entered Ukraine from Poland as they answered Zelenskys call to fight.

This is our motherland, New York resident Vasyk Didyk, a 26-year-old carpenter who is originally from Ukraine, told CNN. We couldnt stay in our comfortable lives in America and watch what is happening here.

Vasyk Didyk (left) and Igor Shehyni (right) arrive in Ukraine on Wednesday after more than 24 hours of travel from New York. (Courtesy of AnneClaire Stapleton/CNN)

British citizen Jake Dale (left) is pictured with his family. Peter Hurst (right) is pictured with his wife on their wedding day. Both men plan to be in Ukraine by Saturday. (Courtesy of Jack Dale/Peter Hurst)

British builder Jake Dale also said he was inspired by Zelenskys call for aid and booked a flight to Poland on Friday together with Peter Hurst, a 36-year-old former infantry soldier with the British Army.

As soon as I heard his [Zelenskys] callit made me think he needs help, Dale said. I think it is a worthy cause to risk my life, and my girlfriend feels the same. Obviously, she gets upset, as anyone would, but she supports it as she can see I want to help.

The U.N. said that, as of March 3, they had recorded 1,006 civilian casualties in context of Russias military action against Ukraine, mostly caused by shelling and airstrikes.

The agency said that 331 civilians have been killed, including 19 children, while 675 have been injured, including 31 children. The U.N. says, however, that the real toll is much higher.

While Moscow claims its forces are not targeting civilians, videos posted on social media show shattered residential buildings and rocket attacks on civilian infrastructure.

From NTD News
A homeless encampment sits in front of the Abbot Kinney Memorial Branch Library in Venice, Calif., on Feb. 18, 2022. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times)

Petition to Ban Encampments in Los Angeles Approved for Circulation

LOS ANGELESA ban on homeless encampments is a step closer to reality, after the Los Angeles City Clerk on March 3 approved a petition on the matter led by City Councilmember Joe Buscaino.

The Safer Streets LA measurewhich also aims to increase temporary housing in the citycan now be circulated for signatures until July.

Buscaino and Safer Streets LA organizers need about 65,000 signatures to request the city council pass the measure in an ordinance. If the council does not adopt the measure, it will appear on the ballot in the upcoming November 2022 city elections.

Buscainos effort would kick in only after people have been offered shelter and refused it.

If ultimately approved, the measure would give the mayor the power to declare a local homelessness emergency that would also allow the city to cut-through red tape to build more shelters.

Creating enough transitional housing will be the fastest way toward helping those who need it most and returning order to our neighborhoods across Los Angeles, Buscaino said in a statement.

Buscainos measure also aims at withholding the salaries of public officialsspecifically the mayor, city attorney and councilmembersif they show no progress on the issue after 18 months.

The petition comes after the LA City Council rejected Buscainos motion to vote to place the issue directly on the June 2022 ballot.

A spokesperson for the Safer Streets LA campaign did not respond to a request for comment by press deadline.
Photo Report: Hundreds Demonstrate by Parliament in Ottawa to Uphold Freedoms

Hundreds of people gathered by Parliament Hill and around downtown Ottawa on March 5 to urge for the upholding of freedoms in Canada.

Demonstrators held flags and signs reading, Make Canada Free Again, hugs over masks, and facts over fears, among many others.

Many other demonstrations were scheduled across Canada on March 5, including a human Freedom Chain events to ask for upholding of charter rights.

The event in Ottawa comes as the federal government recently invoked the Emergencies Act to clear Freedom Convoy protesters who had set up camp and parked trucks and other vehicles in downtown Ottawa. The movement began as a protest against COVID-19 mandates and restrictions. To clear the protesters, authorities used riot police wielding batons and pepper spray, with some officers carrying heavy weapons. Police made close to 200 arrests.

Demonstrators gather by Parliament in Ottawa on March 5, 2022. (Jonathan Ren/The Epoch Times)

Demonstrators gather by Parliament in Ottawa on March 5, 2022. (Jonathan Ren/The Epoch Times)

Demonstrators hold a sign in Ottawa by Parliament Hill on March 5, 2022. (Jonathan Ren/The Epoch Times)

Demonstrators gather by Parliament in Ottawa on March 5, 2022. (Jonathan Ren/The Epoch Times)

Demonstrators gather by Parliament in Ottawa on March 5, 2022. (Jonathan Ren/The Epoch Times)

Demonstrators gather by Parliament in Ottawa on March 5, 2022. (Jonathan Ren/The Epoch Times)

Jonathan Ren contributed to this report.
Doctor-assisted suicide just got easier in California. Doctors are compelled to participate, even those who fundamentally object. So theyre suing the state, as we learn from plaintiff Dr. Leslee Cochrane, executive medical director at Hospice of the Valleys, and attorney Christy Hirsch with Alliance Defending Freedom.

The disabled community is especially concerned about assisted suicide. Lawrence Carter-Long with the Disability Rights Education & Defense Fund explains what the fears are.

Then, in America Q&A we ask: Should America reassert itself as a global leader or manage decline and let other nations take over?

And in our second America Q&A we ask: What political or social issue have you changed your mind about and what changed your mind?

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Students from Olathe East High school are led off busses to reunite with their parents, at Pioneer Trail Middle School in Olathe, Kan., on March 4, 2022. (Reed Hoffmann/The Kansas City Star via AP)

Police: Student Shoots, Wounds 2 at Kansas High School

OLATHE, Kan.A student shot and wounded an administrator and a school resource officer Friday at a suburban Kansas City high school, and the student also was wounded when the officer returned fire, authorities said.

The male student at Olathe East High School was taken into custody, Olathe police Sgt. Joel Yeldell said, and all three are expected to survive. No other students were injured, he said. Police have not identified the suspect.

Yeldell said the school resource officer notified dispatch over the radio just after 10:30 a.m. that he and an administrator had been shot and wounded by a student in the office. The resource officer said he returned fire, according to Yeldell, shooting and wounding the student.

Ive been shot, the resource officer told dispatchers on radio traffic captured by Broadcastify.com. The officer then said he had applied a tourniquet to himself and that the suspects firearm had been secured, The Kansas City Star reported.

The dispatcher responded: We got a lot of help headed that way.

Parents wait at a nearby staging area for their students to be released from Olathe East High School after a shooting at the school, in Olathe, Kan., on March 4, 2022. (Charlie Riedel/AP Photo)

The Johnson County Sheriffs Office identified the resource officer on Twitter as Erik Clark, who has 15 years of service and seven years as a school resource officer.

Yeldell did not provide additional information on what prompted the shooting.

The good news is that no students were injured, Yeldell said at a news conference. We have an SRO it sounds like that did his job so thats great news and the injuries are expected to be survivable.

Yeldell said the student is an adult. The county prosecutors office declined to comment Friday on potential charges.

Overland Park Regional Medical Center said in a statement that one of the three people wounded is in critical condition. The other two have been discharged. The statement said the families are requesting privacy.

Holly and Eric Thompson wait as students from Olathe East High School are evacuated from the school, in Olathe, Kan., on March 4, 2022. (Reed Hoffmann/The Kansas City Star via AP)

Susan Burgett told The Associated Press she was panicked when she heard about a shooting at the school of her 16-year-old daughter, Emerson Burgett. Her daughter texted immediately to tell her she was safe.

The first thought was to panic and imagine that there is a shooter in the hallway and kids screaming but that wasnt what happened thank God, she said while waiting to be reunited with her at the staging site. That is just what we are used to seeing. There are so many shootings all the time that it is such a sad reality that this is what we have to live with.

She said her husband was concerned their daughter would have a panic attack but she didnt think that would happen because the kids just expect this. They hear about it all the time.

Its terrifying but at the same time I want to see my child. That is the main thing.

Agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives were on the scene to help with the investigation. No information was immediately available on the type of firearm used, said John Ham, a spokesman for the ATF in Kansas City. He added that police would release those details when they are available.

Olathe Public Schools said in a tweet that Olathe East High School, which has an enrollment of 1,900, was put on lockdown after the shooting.

Please know that law enforcement is on site and the building is secured, the district said.

Police asked parents and the public to stay away from the school and had them pick up their children elsewhere. The district also said it was making counselors available.

By Heather Hollingsworth
In this image from video, Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks to Aeroflot employees in the Moscow region in Russia on March 5, 2022. (Russian Pool via AP)

Putin Warns Countries Against Imposing No-Fly Zone Over Ukraine

Any country or entity that imposes a no-fly zone over Ukraine would immediately be viewed by Russia as entering the Russia-Ukraine conflict, Russias president said March 5.

Now we are hearing that a no-fly zone must be established over the territory of Ukraine, Russian President Vladimir Putin said, adding that any move in this direction will be viewed by us as a participation in the armed conflict of whichever side whose territory will pose a threat to our service members.

That very second, we will view them as participants of the military conflict and it would not matter what members they are, Putin said, speaking to Aeroflot pilot trainees in the Moscow region.

After Russia invaded Ukraine on Feb. 24, Ukrainian officials urged outside parties to impose a no-fly zone over Ukraine.

Doing so would protect the civilian population, Petro Poroshenko, Ukraines former president, told reporters on Saturday. We need it urgently, we need it now, just not allow Putin to destroy the whole world.

But the United States and other North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) officials have refused, asserting they are not part of the war.

We are not part of this conflict, and we have a responsibility to ensure it does not escalate and spread beyond Ukraine, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg told a news conference in Brussels on Friday.

We understand the desperation but we also believe that if we did that, we would end up with something that could lead to a full-fledged war in Europe involving much more countries and much more suffering, he added.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, in a separate briefing, said NATO members have a responsibility to ensure that the war doesnt spill over even beyond Ukraine.

The only way to actually implement something like a no fly zone is to send airplanes into Ukrainian airspace and to shoot down Russian planes, and that could lead to a full fledged war in, in Europe, Blinken said.

U.S. President Joe Biden has said he does not want the United States to engage directly with Russia, provided Russian forces dont attack any NATO members.

Putin also told the pilot trainees that Russias invasion was justified because some Russian-speaking persons were killed in Donbass, a portion of eastern Ukraine that has seen fighting in recent years, and because Ukraine wanted to build nuclear weapons. Ukrainian officials have said the invasion was unjustified and have accused Russian troops of committing war crimes.

Our boys who are fighting there right now, putting their lives on the line; they put their lives on the line for our future, for our childrens future, Putin said. This is completely obvious.

Putin also said that Western sanctions against Russia appear similar to a declaration of war, state media reported.

Jack Phillips contributed to this report.
Rep. Virginia Foxx on Americas Education Crisis

The United States is facing an education crisis as a result of the Biden administration pleasing teachers unions by keeping schools closed, said Rep. Virginia Foxx (R-N.C.), the top Republican on the House Education Committee.

We got an education crisis, its gonna take us a long time to catch up with whats happened, said Foxx in an interview on NTDs Capital Report ahead of President Joe Bidens State of Union address on March 1.

During COVID, schools were shut down for a long period of time, she told host Steve Lance. This administration cares more about making the unions happy than it does about the education of our children. So the unions were in control of what was going on with education.

It was revealed last year that under the influence of the American Federation of Teachers, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) had set unreasonably strict standards on when and how schools should reopen. AFT is the nations second-largest teachers union and one of the top donors to the Democratic Party.

According to emails obtained and publicized by the New York Post, at least two of the teachers unions suggestions were adopted almost word-for-word into the final draft of the CDCs school reopening guidelines, including one allowing teachers to continue working remotely from home if they live with someone deemed to be in high-risk for COVID-19.

Foxx added that American children also lost tremendous opportunities for development when they had to wear a mask as a condition of attending school in person. In a Brown University-led study published last November, researchers concluded that masks worn in public settings and in school or daycare settings may impact a range of early developing skills among young children, including attachment, facial processing, and socio-emotional processing.

Fortunately, parents saw what was going on with the virtual classes that were happening and they began to take more control over what was happening. Yet, then the Biden administration turned on the parents and called them domestic terrorists, Foxx continued, referring to a now-notorious letter to Biden from the National School Boards Association. But the parents are the ones who should be in control of the education of their children, not the federal government.

When asked about a proposal touted by some Democrats to make college education free, Foxx said that would not only encourage colleges to raise the cost of education, but would also unfairly increase the burden on taxpayers.

That just is a bigger burden on average taxpayers, she said. Seventy percent of the population of this country hasnt had the opportunity to pursue education beyond secondary education, so why should those 70 percent pay for the other 30 percent?

The Republican Party, with a hope to regain the majority in the House, are aiming to become the party of education, said Foxx.

We are going to show the American people were going to pass the Parents Bill of Rights as soon as we get in the majority, she said. Were going to show the American people were turning the control of this country back to them, and away from the bureaucrats in Washington, and away from the union bosses.

Proposed by Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) in November 2021, the Parents Bill of Rights Act would, among other things, prohibit nondisclosure agreements for parental review of curricula; allow parents to make copies of curriculum documents; require schools to have parents opt their children into field trips, assemblies, and other extracurricular activities; and in general require more transparency from school boards when it comes to things like classroom materials, school records, and student safety.

I cant imagine why anyone would oppose the Parents Bill of Rights Act, Foxx said last year in support of Hawleys proposal. Making school spending and curriculum transparent should already be the norm. After all, what do schools have to hide?
State health officials are cautioning against complacency as the omicron variant wave of the coronavirus pandemic fades around the country and in North Dakota.

Active cases of COVID-19 ticked up slightly on Friday, to 835, but they've plummeted in recent weeks. This week the state's 14-day rolling test positivity rate fell back below the state target of less than 5% for the first time in more than half a year.

COVID-19 hospitalizations also have nose-dived, falling by two-thirds since the start of February, to 59 on Friday.

"COVID cases, hospitalization and other indicators are heading in the right direction. The omicron wave continues to decrease," said Michelle Dethloff, who manages the state Health Department's Infectious Diseases and Epidemiology Program.

North Dakota experienced a pandemic lull much of last summer, with relatively low case and hospitalization numbers for months between the widespread availability of vaccines in the spring and the onset last fall of the highly contagious delta variant, which ultimately was supplanted by omicron.

A similar pattern isn't a certainty this year.

"There remains uncertainty regarding emerging variants, so continuing to follow CDCs guidelines is warranted," Dethloff said. "Individuals should get tested if they have symptoms of COVID-19, isolate if positive, notify close contacts, and choose to be vaccinated including being up to date for COVID-19 vaccine."

The Health Department's coronavirus dashboard on Friday showed 125 new cases, a relatively low daily positivity rate of 2.91%, and no new virus-related deaths.

There have been 238,625 confirmed COVID-19 cases in North Dakota during the pandemic that began two years ago, with 235,585 recoveries, 2,205 deaths and 7,821 hospitalizations.

The most recent state data showed about 11% of staffed inpatient hospital beds available statewide and about 12% of intensive care unit beds open. In Bismarck, CHI St. Alexius Health had 15 open general care beds and three available ICU beds; Sanford Health had one available bed in each category.

The state case data includes only clinically verified tests. Results of in-home tests that recently became widely available are not required to be reported to the state and are thus not included in the totals.

Omicron hangs around

Even though the omicron wave has subsided, the variant is still present in the state. Confirmed omicron cases increased by more than 32% over the past week, according to data provided by Dethloff.

About 5-10% of total positive COVID-19 tests weekly typically undergo a more complex process at the state lab through which variants are determined -- enough to give state health officials a sufficient sample size.

"This past week, we had 720 sequenced samples reported and 651 (90.4%) were omicron," Dethloff said.

Confirmed delta cases in the state increased this week by 69, a rise of 1.4%. There have been no new cases of the alpha, beta, gamma, epsilon or mu variants since late September.

There have been 561 hospitalizations and 103 deaths tied to variants in North Dakota, with the bulk of them linked to delta, which causes more severe symptoms than omicron. There have been 76 documented omicron hospitalizations and eight deaths. That compares with delta's 373 hospitalizations and 82 deaths.

More information

North Dakota continues to have one of the worst COVID-19 vaccination rates in the country, according to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Agency data shows 65.2% of adults in the state being fully vaccinated. The rate for all vaccine-eligible people in the state -- age 5 and older -- is 58.6%. The national averages are 75.1% and 69.2%, respectively.

The CDC also recommends COVID-19 booster shots for people ages 12 and older. In North Dakota, 41.6% of people in that age group have received a booster. The national rate is 45.5%.

People can go to https://www.ndvax.org or call 866-207-2880 to see where COVID-19 vaccine is available near them. A list of free COVID-19 testing offered by local public health units is at health.nd.gov/covidtesting. That site also lists where free at-home test kits are being offered. For more detailed information on coronavirus in North Dakota, go to www.health.nd.gov/coronavirus. For more information on coronavirus variants, go to https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/transmission/variant.html.

Reach Blake Nicholson at 701-250-8266 or blake.nicholson@bismarcktribune.com.

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G | 1h 28min | Action, Adventure, Family | 1958

The 7th Voyage of Sinbad (1958) is a great addition to the 50s adventure filmsfilms often rife with creativity and fun (and often goofiness)that Ive been reviewing lately. The film is actually part of a trilogy that also includes The Golden Voyage of Sinbad (1973) and Sinbad and the Eye of the Tiger (1977).

Kerwin Mathews as Sinbad the Sailor in The 7th Voyage of Sinbad. (Columbia Pictures)

Sinbad (also known as Sinbad the Sailor) is a fictional Middle-Eastern character who has been popular throughout the world for many years. He is a distillation or expression of the expansion of the Abbasid Caliphate in ancient times, most notably the many Arab sailors who explored the world and established trade routes. Therefore, its not a coincidence that Sinbads birthplace is Baghdad (once a capital of the Abbasid Caliphate) and that he is often featured as a sailor.

Our grand tale begins with Sinbad (Kerwin Mathews) captaining a ship through foggy seas on his way to Baghdad, where hes about to marry his sweetheart, Princess Parisa (Kathryn Grant). He and his crew are searching for any sign of land because their food stores are running low.

Sinbad and his sailors come across the mysterious island of Colossa, which they initially believe to be uninhabited. It looks like the perfect place to land, grab some grub, and continue on to Baghdad.

Sinbad (Kerwin Mathews) and his crew look for supplies on the island of Colossa. (Columbia Pictures)

The only problem is that the island is not deserted. Instead, its populated with many bad-tempered beasties that arent exactly hospitable to pesky, soft, and fleshy little humans.

The starving men make landfall on the island just in time to see a man carrying a golden lamp being chased by a gigantic cyclops. As the sailors engage the monster in combat, the man on the run, a sketchy magician known as Sokurah (Torin Thatcher), unleashes a genie that looks like a young boy. The genie proceeds to restrain the cyclops so that the sailors, now with Sokurah in tow, can take their dinghy back to the ship.

However, in all of the splashy chaos, Sokurah loses the lamp, and it falls into the oversized paws of the cyclops. As they cast off for Baghdad, power-hungry Sokurah offers a kings ransom in jewels to Sinbad if he will return to the island. But Sinbad refuses the offer. His upcoming wedding is a symbolic gesture that can broker peace between the caliph of Baghdad and the father of Princess Parisas realm, Chandra.

When the ship returns to Baghdad, Sokurah doesnt waste any time hatching his nefarious plans. The dastardly magicians machinations include manipulating Baghdad and Chandra into war and secretly shrinking the princess down to miniature size while shes asleep.

The shady magician Sokurah (Torin Thatcher) hatching dastardly plans. (Columbia Pictures)

Thus, when Sinbad seeks out Sokurah, the magician hoodwinks the sea captain by proclaiming that the only way she can be restored to her normal size is by obtaining a piece of eggshell belonging to an enormous, two-headed monster called a Roc. Of course, such eggs only exist back on the island of Colossa.

Amazing Visual Effects

When I began watching this film, Id forgotten that Id already seen it as a kid. Although I was born too late to have watched it for the first time on the silver screen, I can see how it influenced many filmmakersburgeoning and veteran alike.

This movies special effects were amazing for its day. Handcrafted effects known as dynamation, a form of stop-motion model animation, were utilized for this film and for select other films such as It Came From Beneath the Sea (1955) and Jason and the Argonauts (1963).

One of the films many monstrosities made possible through dynamation. (Columbia Pictures)

Legendary special effects maestro Ray Harryhausen used this new technology to breathe life into the many monstrosities that Sinbad encounters, such as the Roc, a skeleton warrior, and so on. Although these effects may look dated to folks who grew up with CGI effects, they were revolutionary for the time and used for several decades. They allowed filmmakers to give literal form to their cinematic fantasies.

Besides the effects, The 7th Voyage of Sinbad is a gripping adventure romp that is just plain fun to watch, even by todays standards. Its relatively fast-paced, packed with action, and has lots of beautifully crafted sets.

The acting is pretty decent, tooif a little stilted in places. One could only imagine how much fun the cast and crew must have had while making this rip-roaring adventure.

I know I enjoyed it, and I hope you do too.

The 7th Voyage of Sinbad

Director: Nathan Juran

Starring: Kerwin Mathews, Kathryn Grant, Torin Thatcher

Not Rated

Running Time: 1 hour, 28 minutes

Release Date: Dec. 23, 1958

Rated: 4 stars out of 5



Ian Kane is a filmmaker and author based out of Los Angeles. To learn more, visit DreamFlightEnt.com or contact him at Twitter.com/ImIanKane
Russian and Ukrainian officials take part in the talks in the Brest region, Belarus, on March 3, 2022. (Maxim Guchek/BelTA/Handout via Reuters)

Russia-Ukraine Negotiations to Resume Monday After Partial Humanitarian Ceasefire Breached

The third round of RussiaUkraine negotiations will be held on Monday, one of the negotiators said.

Ukrainian negotiator David Arakhamia, who is also the parliamentary faction leader of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskys party, announced the development in a Facebook post.

The two sides have already finished two rounds of negotiations.

The first round ended up without any progress.

Russia and Ukraine agreed on Thursday in the second round of negotiations to set up humanitarian corridors for civilians to evacuate in Mariupol and Volnovakha.

However, the evacuation in Mariupol was halted because Russian forces allegedly breached the ceasefire.

The Mariupol City Council said Saturday in a statement on Telegram that the evacuation has been postponed and asked residents to seek refuge in bomb shelters.

Due to the fact that the Russian side has not adhered to the ceasefire agreement and continues shelling Mariupol and its surroundings, for security reasons the evacuation of the population is postponed, the council said.

Ukrainian citizens in front of a bus linking the Polish city of Swinoujscie with the Ukrainian city of Mariupol as they cross the border from Ukraine to Poland at the Korczowa-Krakovets border crossing on Feb. 26, 2022, following the Russian invasion of Ukraine. (Janek Skarzynski/AFP via Getty Images)

Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered a full-scale invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 24 after the efforts to deter war failed.

The United Nations said that, as of March 3, they had recorded 1,006 civilian casualties in the context of Russias military action against Ukraine, mostly caused by shelling and airstrikes.

The agency said that 331 civilian deaths have been recorded, including 19 children, while 675 have been injured, including 31 children.

However, the U.N. believes that the real toll is much higher.

Around 1.2 million people have fled Ukraine as the war entered its tenth day.

Putin Warns Ukraine May Lose Statehood

In an address broadcast on the Russia 24 Tv channel, Putin warned Ukraine may lose statehood.

The current government in Kyiv has to realize that if they continue to behave like this, they will endanger the future of Ukraines statehood. And if this happens it will be entirely their responsibility, he reportedly said.

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)

Putin was apparently mentioning the resistance the Russian forces are facing in Ukraine.

Russian armed forces made rapid progress at the beginning of the invasion and had encircled several Ukrainian cities or facilities in the first week.

They also gained control of Kherson, a port city in Ukraines south.

However, the Russian forces were met with strong resistance from the Ukrainian military, especially on the outskirts of the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv.

The resistance from Ukrainian forces and Russias own logistical difficulties have slowed down the Russian militarys speed of the advance, the UKs Ministry of Defense said.

The Kremlin also likened Western sanctions against Russia to a declaration of war and warned imposing a no-fly zone is the same as participating in the RussiaUkraine conflicts.

Tom Ozimek contributed to the report.
Smoke rises from a Russian tank destroyed by the Ukrainian forces on the side of a road in Lugansk region, Ukraine on Feb. 26, 2022. (Anatolii Stepanov/AFP via Getty Images)

Russian Troop Losses In Ukraine Climb Above 10,000: Ukrainian Defense Council

Ukraines National Defense Council has released an update to its tally of Russias combat losses in its war against Ukraine, claiming that the number of Russian troops killed in the fighting has risen above 10,000.

Besides the number of troop deaths climbing above 10,000 for the first time since Russia launched a multi-pronged invasion against its neighbor ten days ago, Ukraines defense council said Russian forces have lost 945 armored patrol vehicles, 269 tanks, 105 artillery systems, 40 helicopters, and 39 airplanes.

Russias own official combat loss tally is far lower, with its Defense Ministry saying on Wednesday that 498 service members had been killed and around 1,500 wounded, figures met with skepticism by Western analysts.

Information on Russian invasion Losses of the Russian occupying forces in Ukraine, March 5 pic.twitter.com/3Ugc26YYJh  UKR Mission to UN (@UKRinUN) March 5, 2022

Russian President Vladimir Putin, in his first personal acknowledgment of military losses, said in a televised address to the nation on Thursday that families of the deceased would be entitled to a payment of around $50,000.

Putin also said that the invasion, which hes described as a special military operation to demilitarize and denazify Ukraine, was proceeding strictly according to schedule.

But censorship in Russian media, which has been ramped up during the war, casts doubt on the veracity of official tallies and statements. On Friday, Russia clamped down hard on news and free speech, blocking access to Facebook and foreign news outlets, and passing a law criminalizing the spread of false information about the war, with a punishment of up to 15 years behind bars.

Western officials and analysts, meanwhile, have suggested that the Russian invasion is behind schedule or appears to have stalled in parts of Ukraine while alluding to bad planning and low Russian troop morale.

Ukrainian servicemen are seen next to a destroyed armored vehicle, which they said belongs to the Russian army, outside Kharkiv, Ukraine, on Feb. 24, 2022. (Maksim Levin/Reuters)

Retired Gen. Jack Keane told Fox News on Friday that he sees what he described as almost two wars taking place in Ukraine, one in the north and one in the south.

Russias southern assault has made headway and been largely successful, in terms of Russias military objectives, Keane said. Russian forces have captured the southern city of Kherson, a key Black Sea port, the first major Ukrainian city to fall since the invasion began. They have also surrounded Mariupol, a city in the southeast of Ukraine, and Russian forces are approaching the southern port city of Odessa, he said.

The purpose and the strategy that the Russians are using here is to cut the Ukrainians off from the sea, which is where all their imports and exports transit, he explained. Keane said that another Russian objective was close to being met, namely the establishment of a land bridge from Russia to Crimea, which Moscow annexed in 2014.

The Russian units fighting in the south are from the same military district and have long trained together, he noted, saying this likely is a factor behind their performance.

Service members of pro-Russian troops in uniforms without insignia are seen atop of a tank with the letter Z painted on its sides in the separatist-controlled settlement of Buhas (Bugas), in the Donetsk region, Ukraine, on March 1, 2022. (Alexander Ermochenko/Reuters)

In the north of Ukraine, however, operations are largely stalled, Keane said. Russian forces mounting an assault on Kyiv tried to establish a third axis of attack in the face of their failures to make progress thus far, he said, but all those efforts have largely been unsuccessful.

A lot of them are logistical challenges, Keane said, adding that another aspect driving the Russians failure in the north are deficiencies in the fighting force itself. He explained that many of the Russian forces in the north are a hodgepodge of units that have never before exercised together on large-scale operations like the current one.

Staunch Ukrainian resistance is also a factor wrong-footing the Russian advance in the north, Keane added.

But while Russias military failures raise hopes that their offensive might be repelled, some fear the risk of an escalation and a shift to a strategy of reducing resisting cities to rubble via shelling. That was Putins playbook in Syria, where Russian planes bombed the countrys second-largest city Aleppo, with heavy civilian casualties.

We watched in real time how Russias war machine destroyed our homes, schools, and hospitals, said Motaz, a 37-year-old native of Aleppo, who now lives in a tent in a displaced-persons camp in northwest Syria. Thats why Im afraid they would repeat the same thing against civilians in Ukraine.

Already there have been reports of Russian forces using cluster munitions and other non-precision weapons in Ukraine.

We have seen the use of cluster bombs and we have seen reports of use of other types of weapons which would be in violation of international law, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg told reporters in Brussels on Friday.

Drone footage shows destroyed infrastructure in Bordyanka, Ukraine on March 3, 2022. (Reuters/Screenshot via The Epoch Times)

Ukraines Foreign Minister, Dmytro Kuleba, echoed that view on Twitter.

Russia shifts to ugly tactics aimed at maximum civilian damage: bombs residential areas and critical infrastructure, threatens nuclear facilities, he said, calling for more sanctions against Russia, including an oil embargo and closing ports to Russian ships.

Russias invasion of Ukraine has led to a massive humanitarian crisis, with 1.3 million people having fled the hostilities as of March 5, according to the U.N.

Unless there is an immediate end to the conflict, millions more are likely to be forced to flee, the U.N. Refugee Agency said in a statement.
A wildfire burns on a mountain in Uljin, South Korea, on March 5, 2022. (Kim Huyn-tae/Yonhap via AP)

S. Korean Wildfire Destroys 159 Homes, Forces 6,200 to Flee

SEOUL, South KoreaThousands of South Korean firefighters and troops were battling a large wildfire on Saturday that tore through an eastern coastal area and temporarily threatened a nuclear power station and a liquified natural gas plant.

The fire, which began Friday morning on a mountain in the seaside town of Uljin and has spread across more than 6,000 hectares (14,800 acres) to the nearby city of Samcheok, destroyed at least 159 homes and 46 other buildings and prompted the evacuation of more than 6,200 people.

Images from Uljin and Samcheok showed large swaths of white and gray smoke emerging from the slopes of mountains that cover the countrys eastern coast and firefighters operating water hoses amid thick, smoky air.

A wildfire burns on a mountain in Samcheok, South Korea, on March 4, 2022. (Kim Huyn-tae/Yonhap via AP)

Houses damaged by a wildfire are seen in Uljin, South Korea, on March 5, 2022. (Kim Huyn-tae/Yonhap via AP)

There were no immediate reports of injuries or deaths. Officials were investigating the cause of the blaze, which grew rapidly amid strong winds and dry conditions, South Koreas Ministry of the Interior and Safety said.

As of Saturday afternoon, around 7,000 firefighters, troops, and public workers as well as 65 helicopters and 513 vehicles, were being deployed to contain the fire, which after reaching Samcheok was moving southward back toward Uljin, driven by wind.

Officials hoped to contain the fire by sundown, Korea Forest Service Minister Choi Byeong-am told reporters in a briefing in Uljin.

Hundreds of firefighters worked overnight to successfully prevent the blaze from spreading to an LNG production facility in Samcheok, which is just north of Uljin.

President Moon Jae-in issued an alarm Friday afternoon as the fire reached the perimeter of a seaside nuclear power plant in Uljin, forcing the operator to reduce operations to 50 percent and cut off some electricity lines as preventive measures.

Hundreds of firefighters were deployed to the plant and kept the blaze under control before winds drove it northward toward Samcheok.
Deepak Chauhan at the Shen Yun Performing Arts performance at the Eventim Apollo, in London, on March 2, 2022. (NTD)

LONDON, U.K.At a time when major religions are in decline across the world, audience members in London said that Shen Yun had helped them connect to a supernatural power.

New York-based Shen Yun is a classical Chinese dance and music company that aims to revive the beauty and spirituality of Chinas traditional culture that has been all but destroyed after decades of communist rule in China.

Deepak Chauhan, an associate vice-president at a large-scale multinational IT firm, said Shen Yun is magnificent, calling it an eye-opener that takes you back to a civilization that we dont know about.

Though the general message is regarding compassion and traditional values, he said, obviously theres a larger purpose.

I think theres a larger being therea supernatural power which I think was kind of central to this, he said. Chauhan said the spiritual values of Shen Yuns performers, who adhere to the principles of truthfulness, compassion, and forbearance in their lives, definitely shine through on stage.

I think perfection within any art cannot be achieved without having that central self-belief, the meditative quality about it, Chauhan said.

He said he wants to tell the performers they should continue to do more of what they are doing.

Its just such an important message. You dont know how much youre contributing to the world. This is very impactful, he said.

Shen Yun Displays Kindness and Elegance

Jonathan Rooks and Anastasia Marinopoulou at Shen Yun Performing Arts at the Eventim Apollo, in London, on March 2, 2022. (Mary Mann/The Epoch Times)

Anastasia Marinopoulou, who leads an international management consultancy based in London, said she believes that the Chinese have one of the most impressive ancient civilizations.

She said Shen Yun performers are really into it and they try to project kindness and delicateness, eleganceand elegance not only for moving the body but transmitting words, through the dance.

Jonathan Rooks, a senior lecturer at London South Bank University, said he was hugely impressed and could feel the energy from the stage.

He said he had been slightly concerned about the fact that he is not used to Chinese music forms, but it turned out the way Shen Yuns music is presented is very accessible and he enjoyed the music very much.

Reporting by Alexander Zhang, Mary Mann, and NTD.

The Epoch Times is a proud sponsor of Shen Yun Performing Arts. We have covered audience reactions since Shen Yuns inception in 2006.
Journalists are seen working on the doorstep of an hotel on Maidan Square in Kyiv, Ukraine, on March 1, 2022. (Pierre Crom/Getty Images)

Sky News Team Ambushed by Russian Forces While Covering Ukraine War

A Sky News journalist was wounded in a Russian ambush while reporting in Ukraine, with his camera operator taking two rounds to the body armor.

Sky News chief correspondent Stuart Ramsay and his team were near the capital city of Kyiv in a car on Monday when they came under sudden attack. Though they were not initially aware of who attacked them, Ramsay later came to discover, from the Ukrainians, that they were ambushed by a saboteur Russian reconnaissance squad.

The first round cracked the windscreen. Camera operator Richie Mockler huddled into the front passenger footwell. Then we were under full attack. Bullets cascaded through the whole of the car, tracers, bullet flashes, windscreen glass, plastic seats, the steering wheel, and dashboard had disintegrated, Ramsay wrote about the incident on Sky News.

Producer Martin Vowles and local producer Andrii Lytvynenko quickly got out of the car, while the rest of them remained inside, including Richie, Ramsay, and his producer Dominique Van Heerden.

Assuming they were being attacked by mistake, the team started screaming that they were journalists. However, the rounds kept coming and the incoming fire was intense. Out of the three remaining inside the car, Dominique got out first, reaching the bottom of an embankment.

Meanwhile, Ramsay got hit in the lower back. It was strange, but I felt very calm. I managed to put my helmet on, and was about to attempt my escape, when I stopped and reached back into a shelf in the door and retrieved my phones and my press card, unbelievably.

Ramsay then ran towards the embankment, getting his face cut while falling to the bottom. Richie soon followed. The team regrouped at the bottom and sprinted towards a factory where they were beckoned inside by three caretakers.

Ukrainian police eventually came to their rescue, with a police vehicle taking them away from the danger zone. A day later, the team got to the center of Kyiv.

Other journalists have also come under fire while reporting from areas of conflict. Earlier, two Danish reporters came under attack near the eastern Ukrainian town of Okhtyrka. Both suffered gunshot injuries despite bulletproof vests. They were taken to a hospital and were eventually evacuated from the country.

As the scale and brutality of the Russian war in Ukraine grows, it is becoming increasingly dangerous for journalists to cover the conflict safely, Anthony Bellanger, the General Secretary of International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), said in a press release.

We call on the international community and Unesco to do everything possible to secure the safety of journalists working on the ground.
Police in Cape Town, South Africa, arrest a suspect on Nov. 21, 2021. Citizens' trust in the police, though, has plummeted after decades of high crime. (Courtesy of the South African Police Service.)

South Africa Crime: A Rainbow Soaked in Blood

7,000 murders in 90 days invites war zone comparison

JOHANNESBURGIn South Africa, almost 7,000 people were murdered during the final 90 days of 2021.

During the same time period, 11,300 women and girls were raped, according to police.

The latest crime statistics for South Africaa nation populated by 60 million peopleshow dramatic increases in all violent crimes, including homicide, carjacking, and armed robbery.

Opposition parties say the horrific statistics show that South Africa is effectively a war zone no longer controlled by the ruling African National Congress, but by criminals.

With 75 murders a day now, I think its time to accept that our rainbow is now soaked in blood, Bantu Holomisa, leader of the United Democratic Movement Party, told The Epoch Times, referring to what was once the symbol of hope in post-apartheid South Africa.

South Africas latest crime statistics show dramatic spikes in all violent crimes, courtesy of the South African Police Service. (Courtesy of the South African Police Service)

Professor Guy Lamb, a criminologist at the University of Stellenbosch, said murder is always the best indicator of a countrys crime problem, not only because its such a serious offense, but because its a crime thats almost always reported, unlike rape or robbery.

Whats really worrying is that theres been a 21 percent increase in murder from 2017/18. Thats massive. Weve seen a similar trend of attempted murder of a 17 percent rise over that 5-year period, Lamb said. Car hijacking is up more than 30 percent; cash-in-transit heists up by a jaw-dropping 40 percent.

A survey by Statistics South Africa shows that nearly 80 percent of South Africans dont feel safe in their own homes. Many feel besieged by criminals.

Emigration agencies report that theres currently unprecedented interest from South Africans wanting to leave the country. At the same time, property consultants say theres been a 40 percent jump in the past year of citizens wanting to buy property in other countries.

This flight syndrome, as the consultants put it, is driven by fear of crime, as well as an official unemployment rate of 35 percent, the highest in the world.

Economists say that if people who have given up looking for jobs are considered, the rate jumps to 46 percent.

Sixty-five percent of young people who should be working dont have jobs, Holomisa said. Its a time bomb. Its not old people who are hijacking cars and blowing up money trucks: Its young, angry, frustrated, strong men. This governments economic policies have failed; any fool can see that.

A South African Police Service officer tries to disperse rioters looting a liquor shop at the Jabulani Mall in the Soweto district of Johannesburg on July 12, 2021. (Luca Sola/AFP via Getty Images)

International crime monitoring groups classify South Africa as one of the most dangerous places in the world.

The security group Armormax, for example, rates it as the third most dangerous place in the world, behind only Venezuela and Papua New Guinea. Five South African cities are among the groups 20 deadliest and most violent urban areas.

The World Population Review ranks South Africa as having the fourth-highest rate of rape in the world at 72.10 incidents per 100,000 people, with its neighbor Botswana having the highest, at 92.93. The third is the tiny kingdom of Lesotho, which is surrounded by South Africa.

Lamb said citizens dont trust the police to protect them. In fact, people now take the law into their own hands.

Violence is breeding violence. The traumatized are themselves inflicting trauma on others, he said. Theyre becoming criminals themselves. This is the vicious circle that were now trapped in.

In many townships, inhabitants no longer bother calling the police when theyve fallen victim to a crime. Instead, they call neighborhood watch groups or taxi associations, whose drivers sometimes moonlight as vigilantes.

Residents will pay these non-state actors to recover stolen goods or to mete out street justice to suspected killers and rapists, Lamb said. The suspects are stoned to death and burned, often in sight of children, who begin to accept brutal violence as normal and the way to solve problems.

Not to mention that some of the suspects are innocent of the crimes theyre accused of.

A member of the South African Police Services searches for looters inside the Gold Spot Shopping Centre in Vosloorus, southeast of Johannesburg on July 12, 2021. (Guillem Sartorio/AFP via Getty Images)

In South Africas wealthier suburbs, citizens pay an estimated $6 billion per year to private security firms to protect them. Security officers now outnumber police members by more than two to one, according to government statistics. The state has responded by introducing tougher regulation of the private security industry while simultaneously cutting policing budgets by billions of rands.

Mental health professionals say South Africans are increasingly numbed to the violence around them, no longer wondering if, but when, theyll be the next statistic.

Criminal gangs are now so brazen that theyre attacking heavily fortified security complexes and gated communities. These posh fortresses once were considered to be the safest places in the country, with their high, electrified walls and armed guards. Thats no longer the case.

The gangs carjack trucks and use them to smash their way into gated communities to steal, relying on the polices usual slow response time to make their getaway.

Sometimes the criminals use fake IDs and QR codes to gain access to complexes, often in cooperation with security guards.

Veteran security consultant Rory Steyn, who ran security for President Nelson Mandela in the 1990s, said that incredible levels of desperation are one of the key drivers of crime.

I was talking to a colleague in the private security industry recently, somebody whos been around as long as I have, and he was saying that hes never seen it as bad as this, he said.

Steyn also said it makes sense for criminals to attack gated communities where the wealthy live because theyre high-risk, high-reward targets.

If people have got guards and gates and electric fences and alarms, normally its because theres something worth protecting, and criminals will now go to extremes in order to get a big payday, he said.

Police tape cordons off a mosque after a knife attack in Malmesbury near Cape Town, South Africa, on June 14, 2018. (REUTERS/Mike Hutchings)

Chris de Kock, a former police intelligence officer, said serious crime in South Africa has increased every year since 2011. He said the country is headed backward, toward the mid-1990s, when the country was regularly in the top three nations with the highest rates of crime.

The nations murder rate halved between 1994 and 2009, from 67 to 34 murders per 100,000 people, according to the World Bank.

Violent crime dropped in South Africa in those years because there was visible policing, and there was intelligence-led policing, de Kock said. And then suddenly, these good strategies were cast aside.

The man responsible for this casting aside was former South African President Jacob Zuma. Shortly after he became president in 2009, Zuma fired experienced intelligence operatives and disbanded key law enforcement units.

He replaced them with political allies who had little to no policing experience. This gave him license to allegedly plunder state-owned enterprises, knowing that law enforcement wouldnt investigate him.

Zuma eroded the police to such a degree that the service lost the ability to combat criminals effectively, according to de Kock.

The police no longer have the skills necessary in order to do a proper analysis of crime trends, he said. With no proper analysis, they cant send resources to where they are most needed.

The police dont have the skills to do the basics; they dont keep good records; they often dont take victim statements; they often dont even have patrol vehicles, all of which creates an environment allowing criminals to thrive.
A wildfire burns on a mountain in Samcheok, South Korea, on March 4, 2022. (Kim Huyn-tae/Yonhap via AP)

South Korean Nuclear Power Plant Protected From Wildfire as Thousands Flee Their Homes

A South Koreas nuclear power plant and a LNG production complex were successfully protected from a wildfire, the head of Korea Forest Service (KFS) said on Saturday.

The government issued a natural disaster alert after a wildfire broke out near the Hanul Nuclear Power Plant in the eastern coastal county of Uljin on Friday.

We successfully protected the Hanul Nuclear Power Plant, the LNG gas storage as well as the transmission lines, Minister of Korea Forest Service (KFS), Choi Byeong-am told reporters.

Choi added that authorities are aiming to extinguish the fire before sunset, mobilizing more than 3,000 firefighters, 236 fire trucks, and 57 helicopters.

More than 6,000 people evacuated yesterday, however, most of them returned home and 673 people remain in temporary shelters as of 8:30a.m., KFS said. At least 116 residential properties have been destroyed.
South Korea's presidential candidate Lee Jae-myung of the ruling Democratic Party poses for a photo before a televised debate for the upcoming March 9 presidential election at KBS studio in Seoul on March 2, 2022. (JUNG YEON-JE/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

South Koreas March 9 Election Will Determine Whether Nation Pivots to China or the West, Says North Korean Defector

The presidential election set to take place in South Korea on March 9 is of critical importance to the future of the nation as the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) seeks to extend its influence further over both North and South Korea.

Thats according to Arthur Lee, who defected from North Korea when he was 29, and who spoke to EpochTVs China Insider program at the Conservative Political Action Conference in Orlando, Florida, on Feb. 27.

I think this upcoming election is very important, because were kind of at a crossroads, where we are either going to be a free nation or become a one-party dictatorship, Lee said.

In South Koreas widely anticipated election, the eighth since the country officially adopted democracy, the leading candidates are Lee Jae-myung of the ruling Democratic Party, Yoon Suk-yeol of the People Power Party, and Sim Sang-jung of the Justice Party. The current president, Moon-Jae in, is ineligible under South Koreas constitution to seek another term.

Yoon Suk-yeol and Lee Jae-myung are widely seen as the front-runners in an extremely tight and closely watched race, and they bring markedly different foreign policy and diplomatic agendas to the table. Yoon, the People Power Party candidate, is seen as hawkish on China and North Korea, while Democratic Party candidate Lee is viewed as favoring cooperation.

In Arthur Lees view, the Democratic Party candidates stance goes much further and emphasizes assisting and appeasing Beijing as the regime of Xi Jinping seeks to insinuate its power and influence ever further throughout both Koreas.

The connections between Beijing and Pyongyang are already so strong that the wave of executions undertaken by North Korean leader Kim-Jong Un beginning in 2013 had repercussions for people in China, where Lees father worked as an economic official and his sister attended a university.

My sister was studying in China. Her roommate was arrested right in front of her, and she was sent to a prison camp right away, Lee said.

Lee views the two communist nations as having a mutually supportive relationship, though China is by far the more powerful partner.

When we look at whats happening now, China is supporting what North Korea is doing, whether thats launching missiles into the nearby ocean or threatening nuclear aggression, Lee said.

What do you think is the real threat for South Korea? This China-North Korea alliance is military and economic. Its the real big issue were looking at, he added.

South Korea Already Infected by CCP

Lee said that Chinese communist ideology has already spread far throughout South Korea, as evidenced by the fact that the country is home to 22 Confucius Institutes, more than any other nation. These Beijing-funded institutes, while ostensibly a Chinese language and culture center, have provoked growing alarm internationally over their role in transmitting CCP propaganda and suppressing academic freedom.

These issues should be of grave concern for South Koreans who head to the polls next week, according to Lee.

Culturally, they are already infected by the CCP regime, and there are also officials in South Korea with [ties] to Chinese money. So I think that many in South Korea, especially politicians, are reluctant to criticize China. Economically, militarily, and culturally, China is attacking South Korea, he said.

In Lees view, CCP officials also want to drive a wedge between South Korea and Japan, because they fear that if people in China continue to see two prosperous, democratic, capitalist nations so close to their own borders, it could set an example for them.

South Korean and Japan are free countries, and their freedom can impact Chinese people. So [CCP officials] dont want freedom near the border. Thats why China helps North Korea to provoke South Korea and the United States.

North Koreas missile development depends heavily on Chinese assistance. In its missile launches, North Korea, which is unable to produce adequate supplies of solid fuel on its own, makes use of imports from China, according to Lee.

We know that, but nobody wants to talk about it, he said. North Korean companies are using Chinese banks, and there are no restrictions.

Lee warned voters and young people in particular not to entertain any belief in socialism or communism as a system.

The end goal is to have total control of the people. You have to fight for your freedom, or your freedom will be eliminated by these totalitarian regimes, he said.

Michael Washburn China Reporter Follow Michael Washburn is a New York-based reporter who covers China-related topics. He has a background in legal and financial journalism, and also writes about arts and culture. Additionally, he is the host of the weekly podcast Reading the Globe. His books include The Uprooted and Other Stories, When We're Grownups, and Stranger, Stranger.
States Want a Huge Federal Top-Off to Zuck Bucks for Future Elections, but Theyre Already Sitting on a Pile

Drawing on research from a multimillion-dollar Mark Zuckerberg-linked initiative viewed as pivotal in the 2020 presidential election, 14 states carried by Joe Biden have appealed to him for billions of dollars more to secure elections for the next decade. But most of them have spent less than half their shares of previous federal funding to counter alleged Russian election meddling and other threats to election security.

The states letter to the president cites a report by the Election Infrastructure Initiative, a progressive nonprofit that estimates $53 billion in taxpayer money will be needed to ensure election security over the next decade.

The Election Infrastructure Initiative is an arm of the Center for Tech and Civic Life, which in 2020 distributed nearly $400 million in private grants$350 million from Zuckerberg and his wife, Priscilla Chanto local election offices in 48 states and the District of Columbia for the pandemic-challenged presidential election.

Priscilla Chan and Mark Zuckerberg attend the 2020 Breakthrough Prize Red Carpet at NASA Ames Research Center in Mountain View, Calif., on Nov. 3, 2019. (Ian Tuttle/Getty Images for Breakthrough Prize)

Some conservative analysts contend the money, dubbed Zuck Bucks, was strategic in its placement, beefing up vote totals for Biden in swing states and allowing him to win the electiona view that found support in a Time magazine cover story on the effort. Tiana Epps-Johnson, executive director of the Center for Tech and Civic Life, did not respond to an interview request.

The 14 states seek $20 billion in federal money over the next 10 years. (Theirs is not a national estimate, unlike the Zuckerberg-linked groups). It would pay for election administration, including security, personnel, and other essential needs.

While no money has yet been allocated, federal funding remains a key part of Democrat-backed voting rights measures that would set new voting standards for federal elections. But sitting in state coffers are hundreds of millions of dollars still left from two funding rounds of $380 million (2018) and $425 million (2020) under the Help America Vote Act of 2002 (HAVA).

Colorado, for example, has spent 15 percent of its security grant money, according to the most recent report from the Elections Assistance Commission, the federal agency that oversees HAVA grant spending. Vermont has spent 27 percent of its funding, and Minnesota 13 percent. All three states are among those appealing to Biden for more moneyas are swing states Arizona, Pennsylvania, and Michigan along with deep-blue states such as California, and New York.

Collectively, states still have 48 percent of the $805 million in HAVA security funding doled out over the past four years, or $383 million.

Democrats are not alone. While the Biden administrations plan to federalize national elections has so far been thwarted in Congress, a growing number of Republicans are joining Democrats in calling for more federal money for electionsalbeit insisting on retaining state autonomy.

Last month, a group of think tanks including the conservative American Enterprise Institute issued a proposal that would allow states to voluntarily accept federal money for election needs. Republicans oppose as a federal takeover of elections Democratic measures like the recently defeated Freedom to Vote Act, which sought to impose uniform rules on states for federal elections while providing federal funding. Democrats contend the measure would make ballot access easier and voting more secure.

A vehicle displays a sign reading Protect Our Freedom To Vote in front of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, on Jan. 19, 2022. (Stefani Reynolds/AFP via Getty Images)

Its not exactly clear why the 14 states and the Zuckerberg group believe an exponential increase in federal funding is required for elections in coming years when the money previously allocated proved more than sufficient in the pastand with the pandemic receding.

RealClearInvestigations emailed interview requests to the 14 secretaries of state and election chiefs who signed the letter to the administration seeking the $20 billion. Thirteen did not respond. Michigan, the lone respondent, declined to make Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson available. It asked for emailed questions, then declined to answer them.

The Brennan Center, which advocates on behalf of progressives in election issues including increased election funding, did not respond to an interview query. Elections are traditionally funded with a combination of local and state money, and budgets fluctuate, depending on factors such as the number of elections each year, recount costs, and equipment needs.

Several states and counties have boosted their election funding by double-digit percentages over the past five years.

We dont know how much elections cost in this country because of how decentralized it is, said Matthew Weil, director of the Elections Project at the Bipartisan Policy Center, one of the groups that developed the report.

He acknowledged that bureaucratic inefficiency hinders the ability of funding to reach the municipalities that run elections. Just because a state has money doesnt mean its getting to the locals, he said.

In 2018, EAC Commissioner Christy McCormick projected in congressional testimonyincorrectly, as it turns outthat states would spend $324 million of the $380 million of 2018 HAVA grant money alone in advance of the 2020 presidential election.

States in 2020 were allowed to use HAVA security grants on pandemic-related election expenses, although states are now returning unused personal protection equipment to the federal government. States were also given $400 million to help run elections in 2020 under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, also known as the CARES Act, a $2.2 trillion economic stimulus bill.

A spokeswoman at the National Association of State Election Directors declined a request for an interview on the unspent money, but in an email said it could have been allocated to contracts that pay out over a period of years. In other cases, states keep funds in reserve, accruing interest, to make sure they can afford expenses that come up in the future. 

The HAVA grants have no expiration, said Election Assistance Commission chairman Don Palmer, a Trump appointee. He echoed the supposition that some states hold on to the money for future expenses. In the past, Congress has put deadlines on the spending of HAVA grants, he said. But in the case of the most recent security grants, it has not, which is something unique.

Commissioner of Election Assistance Commission Don Palmer testifies during a hearing before the House Administration Committee on Capitol Hill in Washington, on Jan. 9, 2020. (Alex Wong/Getty Images)

I dont believe these states are hoarding that money, Palmer said. State legislatures were required to approve some matching funding for the grants5 percent for the 2018 money and 20 percent for the 2020which could be holding up the spending in some cases.

In other cases, he said, states may have plans for system upgrades or equipment purchases that are still being worked out. Some states outline the use of their funding in biannual reports. The spending includes voter roll upgrades, security, new hires, polling place accessibility, and messaging.

Among the places with large increases in election funding in recent years are New Mexico, where the budget jumped 73 percent between 2013 and last year. In Harris County, Texas, which includes Houston, commissioners increased the election budget by $17.1 million to $27 million in 2020 after spending $4 million in 2016.

Elections have evolved in the past 20 years, said Julie Leathers Stahl, who is director of the board of elections in Wayne County, Ohio. Stahl, a Republican, signed a letter to Congress in June along with 250 other elections administrators and local and state elected officials from around the United States asking for federal elections money.

Stahl said that she doesnt need any funding at this point, nor has her office encountered any threats to its elections. She still sounds as though she wouldnt turn it down. Weve got to have the funding to keep up with technology and bad actors, she said. Cant everybody use more money?

Since 2002, the Election Assistance Commission has made periodic grants for system upgrades and other necessities under HAVA, the law Congress passed in the wake of the 2000 presidential election, when ballot-counting snafus in Florida led to an outcome that had to be decided by the U.S. Supreme Court.

As the move toward regular federal election grants gains momentumincluding the conservative proposal backed by the American Enterprise Institutethe EAC is increasing its own ranks as bureaucrats ask for more federal involvement in elections. In 2021, the agency added 11 full-time staffers, a personnel increase of 26 percent. Its budget was hiked to $17 million, up 84 percent from 2019s $9.2 million, and the highest since 2010s $17.9 million budget.

Between 2010 and 2018, there were no HAVA grants issued, and election disputes were typically limited to local problems, mostly related to mail-in balloting, and ineligible voting.

With the debate over election security, though, there was a renewed sense that we needed to help the states, Palmer, the EAC chairman, said.

Greater adoption of federal funding for elections poses the same mixed blessing of cash with conditions that has long applied to road allocations, education, law enforcement, and other federal largesse.

If you continue to pump federal money into elections, the feds will eventually start trying to tell you how to run things, said Doug Lewis, former executive director of the Elections Center, also known as the National Association of Election Officials. That means whatever party is in control gets to control the process. 

This article was written by Steve Miller for RealClearInvestigations.
The Pieta is a common theme throughout the history of Western art, and pertains to works of art that depict the Virgin Mary with Jesus after his crucifixion. The word pieta roughly translates to pity or compassion, and illustrates Marys love for her son.

The most famous Pieta is a sculpture by Renaissance artist Michelangelo. At the age of 24, Michelangelo finished The Pieta for a chapel at Old St. Peters Basilica, in Rome. Mary is depicted holding Jesuss body in her lap. She has compassion for her sons suffering, but accepts his fate. Marys slightly raised brow reveals a very subtle hint of sadness upon her youthful face.

Michelangelo was criticized for depicting Mary as looking as young as her son, Jesus; Michelangelos response was that women who remain chaste retain their youth and beauty. Mary is depicted somewhat larger than Jesus; Michelangelo most likely did this to provide a surface for the body of Christ, as Marys body needed to appear larger to be able to hold and support Jesus. The two seated figures are composed according to a trianglea common geometric shape by which Renaissance art was composed.

The Pieta was the only work of art to which Michelangelo signed his name. As the story goes, Michelangelo overheard viewers attributing his work to another artist, so he spent one night signing his name on the sash that drapes across Marys chest. At first glance, the words on the sash read, Michelangelo Buonarroti, Florentine, made this. According to Carl Smith, in his book Whats in a Name? Michelangelo and the Art of Signature, the signature is combined with strange dots and symbols that altogether may mean, The Florentine Michelangelo Buonarroti, a messenger from God, made this.

Pieta by Michelangelo, 1497. Marble. Saint Peters Basilica, Rome. (public domain)

Anthony van Dyck, a 17th-century Flemish Baroque artist, composed his own version of the Pieta. Mary Magdalene and Saint John are both included in his painting. Jesuss body is shown draped in white, and lifelessly reclines against a rock, with Mary seated behind him. Although Jesus has perished, his halo still shines, indicating that the divinity of his soul is still alive. The Virgin looks sullenly to heaven; the pain on her face expresses the compassion she has for her sons suffering. The palm of her left hand is open, and she gestures as if presenting Jesus to heaven.

The Pieta by Anthony van Dyck, 1629. Oil on canvas. Museo de Prado, Spain (public domain)

Mary Magdalene, kneeling to the right of both Mary and Jesus, kisses Jesuss hand. At the bottom left are the crown of thorns, the paper that was nailed to the cross reading Jesus of Nazareth, King of Jews, and a basin with a sponge. Van Dyck increased the drama of the composition using Baroque stylization, foregoing the triangular composition of the Renaissance in favor of more curves, movement, and emotion.

Almost 250 years later, William Bouguereau, foremost representative of the French Academic style of art, composed his version of the Pieta, inspired by the death of his eldest son. Mary, dressed in black in the center of the composition, mourns the death of her son. Firmly holding the lifeless body of Jesus, she stares out toward the viewer with a pained expression. The two figures possess gilded halos that represent their divinity.

At the bottom right of this composition, we again see the crown of thorns and the basin of water with which Jesuss body was purified. Framing the two central figures are nine angels wearing the colors of the rainbow. According to Judaic traditions, this is an illustration of Gods promise to renew the world after Noahs flood; in Christian traditions, it represents the renewal of the human soul.

Bouguereau inserted the personal pain of losing his own son into Marys expression. Depressed for six months after his loss, this painting became a way for him to renew his own spirit. The colors of the angels robes combined with the black and white worn by Mary and Jesus may also represent the full palette used in this composition. In other words, all the painted figures are possible representations that the divine is responsible for both the renewal of ones spirit and artistic creation.

These three representations of the Pieta illustrate the compassion and pity a mother has for the suffering of her child. Michelangelo idealized the Virgin Mary and Jesus into a calm and accepting scene of suffering, Van Dyck dramatized the scene in order to emotionally move his viewers, and Bouguereau created a powerful image using the pain of his own loss as emotive inspiration. The one thing consistent across all these approaches is the depiction of compassion itself. We may not all have children, but we all have someone we care deeply aboutor maybe we care deeply about humanity as a whole. Everyone experiences suffering irrespective of socioeconomic class, race, gender, etc. These images serve as encouragement to be compassionate toward our neighbors and ourselves.
Nikki Pennington of PATH said homes built with HUD grants include a fenced-in back yard. None of the transitional homes are for sale, she said. She is pictured here with maintenance manager Todd Straley on March 3, 2022, in Tyler, Texas. (Patrick Butler/The Epoch Times)

The PATH from Homelessness to Home Ownership

One of many programs at the non-profit People Attempting to Help, or PATH, in Tyler, Texas, is one to help the homeless have a home.

How does renting a six-year-old, 1,800-square-foot, three-bedroom, two-bath home, for $650 a month sound?

The homes come with laminated floors, a dishwasher, refrigerator, stove, fenced-in yard, air conditioning, heat, and are freshly painted.

Throw in a free two-year home maintenance plan for repairs or replacement of plumbing, electrical and major appliances. The dwellings are in a renewed neighborhood that has 11 new homes being built 300 feet away.

Still not convinced?

Volunteers do the preparation and paintwork at PATH homes for low-income families, said Todd Straley (L). Without them, we could do nothing, said Nikki Pennington (R) on March 3, 2022. (Patrick Butler/The Epoch Times)

Included is free financial tutoring, help with credit ratings, budgeting, and qualifying for a home loan.

If employment becomes a problem, there is help in locating a new joball free to those who qualify for the Transitional Housing Program available at PATH.

It is absolutely fair to say our program assists low-income families falling through the cracks, said Community Homes Coordinator Nikki Pennington, 44.

We actually advertise to help the helpless, because we dont believe in giving up on them. This is their chance to get out of a helpless, homeless mentality and into a better life.

Its an ambitious long-term plan said PATHs executive director, Andrea Wilsonbut thats what its going to take to mitigate homelessness.

Helping the homeless is not a short-term program, she said to The Epoch Times, Feb. 24. At PATH, we are in it for the long haul.

Helping greatly with PATHs plans for the dream of homeownership for low-income families, was a generous donation of 52 homes in the city along with the land they sat on, during the early years of the non-profit that started in 1985.

These homes are renovated, if possible, and offered to those qualifying for the two-year housing assistance program, Pennington said.

We have 42 of the 52 homes with occupants. A 25-year grant from the Housing and Urban Development agency enabled us to build new homes on 14 of the donated properties.

None of those 14 newly built homesor any of the homes PATH managesare for sale.

Our Transitional Housing Program is to get people confident with being successful at homeownership, she said.

PATHs Nikki Pennington and Todd Straley stand in front of two homes renting for $650 a month to low-income families in the two-year Transitional Housing Program in Tyler, Texas, on March 3, 2022. (Patrick Butler/The Epoch Times)

Getting into their own homes is the end-goal. We tell them, We dont want you to be a renter the rest of your life. We want you to have decent credit; we want you to be able to budget so youre not homeless again.

Maintenance manager Todd Straley said, Every six months, Nikki and I do home assessments to see what needs to be fixed or replaced, from leaky faucets to air conditioning or heating units.

All of that is free, paid for by the rents from our 42 homes. All our homes are energy efficient and built with safety in mind.

Volunteers make it possible for him to look after the 42 occupied properties, and work on the remaining 10, he said.

Church groups, or students from the University of Texas at Tyler, or volunteers from Youth With A Mission, come and paint the homes, or do preparation work that saves us weeks of labor. Without them, we couldnt do much of anything.

If you do not desire to own a home, dont apply for a PATH house, said Pennington.

This is not a program for those who just want cheap rents. Thats why we have a two-tier interview process to assess the drive, commitment, and desire to own a home.

Those who do [want to own a home] are selected, housed, and helped for two years, in order for them to secure a home loan. Then they move into their own dwellings.

This is the way at PATH for people who want help, she said.

The whole direction we are pushing toward is for low-income families, on the verge of being homelessness can, with our help, get on the path from homelessness to homeownership. Thats what we are all about.
Thousands of Vehicles in Truck-Led Convoy Gather in Maryland, Last Stop Before DC Region

HAGERSTOWN, MarylandThousands of vehicles in a truck-led convoy gathered in western Maryland on March 4, marking their last stop before heading to the Washington, D.C., region.

The Peoples Convoy is calling for an end to the federal governments COVID-19 emergency powers, which have enabled various COVID-19 restrictions and mandates to be imposed over the past two years.

Organizers of the convoy told The Epoch Times that the group has adjusted its plans and are no longer aiming to arrive in Washington on Saturday as previously reported. Rather, they will be staying in Hagerstown, Marylandabout 70 miles northwest of Washingtonfor Saturday, and will be headed to an unspecified location two miles from the D.C. Beltway area either on Sunday or Monday.

Numbers in the convoy have fluctuated as vehicles and trucks join and drop off along the way. Its unclear how many vehicles will be headed to the nations capital.

Trucks of The Peoples Convoy traveling from Indiana to Lore City, Ohio, on March 3, 2022. (Enrico Trigoso/The Epoch Times)

Supporters wave U.S. flags from an overpass in support of The Peoples Convoy traveling from Indiana to Lore City, Ohio, on March 3, 2022. (Enrico Trigoso/The Epoch Times)

Supporters wave U.S. flags from an overpass in support of The Peoples Convoy traveling from Indiana to Lore City, Ohio, on March 3, 2022. (Enrico Trigoso/The Epoch Times)

The cross-country journey began on Feb. 23 when the group set off from California. Theyve since traversed Arizona, Texas, Oklahoma, Missouri, Indiana, and Ohio, and arrived in Maryland on Friday.

The convoy numbered around 110 trucks and hundreds more vehicles upon arriving in Lore City, Ohio, on March 3:

By the time the group reached Hagerstown Speedway the next day, Friday, vehicles numbered in the thousands.

Vehicles of The Peoples Convoy in traffic in Hagerstown, Md. on March 4, 2022. (Enrico Trigoso/The Epoch Times)

One of the organizers, Mike Landis, said he will be driving to Washington. He pointed to a symbolic U.S. flag that had been gifted to him by the grandson of a fallen soldier killed during WWII.

In Oklahoma, his grandson drove from Texas to give it to me because his mother said that this is the first thing that reminds her of freedom since WWII and they wanted it to fly behind the lead truck, he told a rally in Hagerstown on Friday.

I can tell you one thing right now. The government can claim that they have all this opposition for us waiting in D.C. but that flag on the back of my truck will go down Constitution Avenue between the White House and the Washington Monument before this is over.

Fences and barriers have been reinstalled around the U.S. Capitol in Washington, on Feb. 27, 2022. (Pete Marovich/Getty Images)

Authorities recently reinstalled fencing around the U.S. Capitol and have called for extra security among law enforcement agencies in Washington, ahead of the presidents State of the Union address and in anticipation of potential vehicle convoys arriving in the area. The barriers, which had been in place since shortly after the Jan. 6, 2021, breach of the U.S. Capitol, were removed in July 2021.

Another separate, major convoy, called the American Truckers Freedom Convoy, supported by The Great American Patriot Project, is seeking to gather in at Dominion Raceway in Thornburg, Virginia, on March 67 for a rally against COVID-19 mandates. Leaders of this convoy will meet a Congressional Welcoming Committee in Washington D.C. on March 7 to peacefully discuss policy change and American freedoms, according to a release.

The Virginia State Police and Maryland State Police issued traffic notices saying they will be increasing patrol in the region to mitigate potential traffic disruptions.

COVID-19 Emergency Powers

Participants in The Peoples Convoy seek to end the federal governments COVID-19 emergency powers, first enabled when the Trump administration declared the COVID-19 national emergency in March 2020.

Crowds gather at a rally held by The Peoples Convoy in Hagerstown, Md., on March 4, 2022. (Enrico Trigoso/The Epoch Times)

President Joe Biden on Feb. 18 announced the extension of the emergency declaration beyond March 1, when it was set to expire.

We want the emergency act removed so that our Constitution can be put back in place, said Joyce Rice, a retired army and national guard soldier who joined the convoy from Indiana. I did not serve to have my rights taken away, she told The Epoch Times.

The U.S. Senate on March 3 approved a measure to end the national emergency over the pandemic, but the White House earlier that day indicated that if Congress approves the measure, Biden would veto it.

Apparently Mr. Brandonhe doesnt understand who he works for. Because he works for us, Brian Brase, a co-organizer of the convoy, told a rally on Friday in Hagerstown while commenting on news of the White Houses intention to veto, using a nickname Americans coined to refer to Biden.

Dr. Paul Alexander, an expert in evidence-based medicine and clinical epidemiology who is affiliated with The Unity Project, which seeks to eliminate mandates for healthy school students K12, told the rally that the COVID-19 pandemic is over.

Omicron tells us that [the pandemic] is done, and now I saw President Biden say that afterif the House passes the bill, hes going to veto it. We need to send a messagenever! he said, to cheers and applause.

We want the emergency declaration lifted, there is no science anywhere in the world to support any vaccine mandate, any mandate, and any emergency declaration. It must be lifted now, he said, adding, We cannot stop until the government understands that theres no science for these mandates. The trucker, the American citizen, everyone must be allowed to earn a living. This is about freedom!

Dr. Pierre Kory, president of the Front Line COVID-19 Critical Care Alliance, a group of physicians who advocate for prevention and early treatment protocols for COVID-19 that include the use of ivermectin and hydroxychloroquine, told the crowd that COVID-19 is a treatable disease.

Pierre Kory, president of the Front Line COVID-19 Critical Care Alliance, speak at a rally in Hagerstown, Md., on March 4, 2022. (Enrico Trigoso/The Epoch Times)

Let us be clear, they have not only violated and taken our freedoms, theyve done so based on sciencebut that science has also been violated and corrupted, he said. These are illegitimate policies, the mandates are not based on science and this emergency order that they have, have essentially given a free pass to the pharmaceutical and vaccination industry.

Solidarity With Canada

The Peoples Convoy was inspired by trucker convoys in Canada that protested against COVID-19 restrictions and vaccine mandates since late January for about three weeks. News of the Canadian truckers protest rippled across the world.

Its amazing that Canada did this first, Brase said. I struggled with that a little bit, like it should have been the United States, right? Were the freest country in the world, but we didnt stand up until after Canada did. God bless Canada.

Brian Brase, co-organizer of The Peoples Convoy, holds a flag gifted to him by a WWII veteran, while speaking to a rally in Hagerstown, Md., on March 4, 2022. (Enrico Trigoso/The Epoch Times)

Joshua Yoder, co-founder of the U.S. Freedom Flyers, speaks to a rally in Hagerstown, Md., on March 4, 2022. (Enrico Trigoso/The Epoch Times)

Joshua Yoder, co-founder of the U.S. Freedom Flyers, a grassroots organization comprised of airline workers opposed to vaccine mandates, called on Americans to support Pastor Artur Pawlowski, a prisoner of conscience in Canada whose message and actions went against the governments narrative and mandates amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Yoder said protests are being held at multiple Canadian consulates across the United States on March 9 and urged people to get involved.

[Pastor Artur] is a street preacher, hes been down here in the United States on tour, hes spoken all over this country, hes inspired people all over the world, Yoder said. We need the American public to get engaged. This is a guy who fought for us, and its time we fight for him.

Freedom and Patriotism

Maureen Steele, a co-organizer of the convoy who has been with the group since it departed from California, said on Friday, Patriotism is alive and well in the United States of America.

More inspiring still is the generosity of the American heartthe generosity that we have all enjoyed has just been overwhelming, she told the rally, noting the tremendous amounts of food rolled out for free at the various stops along the way.

Dave Wakefield was providing free hotdogs, as well as free bibles, in Ohio.

Dave Wakefield was handing out free hotdogs and free bibles in Lore City, Ohio, on March 3, 2022. (Enrico Trigoso/The Epoch Times)

I cant go to Washington but we can do some things to help out along the way. Its what we do as patriots  We love everybody thats here and were here just for the freedoms of our rights, he told The Epoch Times on March 3. If you want to take a vaccine and wear a mask, I have no problem with that. But I dont want someone to tell me I have to. And thats exactly why Im here today.

Kristina Lear, who attended the rally in Hagerstown on Friday, told The Epoch Times she is thankful to be an American. Her great-great-grandfather was a civil war soldier.

Im born in the 70s. My grandfather took me to the Gettysburg battlefield every year. He was a historian there because of his history there, she said. When I was a young girl, he said to me, freedoms never free and they will come back to take it.'

She hopes the convoy will draw a peaceful line that will bring some sovereignty back to this nation and awaken people of whats truly happening and how important it is to stand.

Joshua Yoder told rallygoers Friday night, What theyre doing to us is unconscionable, and if we dont all stand together right now and stand up were going to lose this country.

This is our 1776, and this time there will be no bloodshed, we are peaceful, we are law-abiding, but we are strong. We are going to stand up, were going to stand together, and were going to put this government in their place, and were going to remind them that its the people of this country that are the government.

Zachary Stieber contributed to this report.

Enrico Trigoso Reporter Follow Enrico Trigoso is an Epoch Times reporter focusing on the NYC area.
Trio of New Studies Revives Question: Should Children Get a COVID-19 Vaccine?

Three newly published studies have revived concerns about COVID-19 vaccines for young children, many of whom are at little risk of contracting serious cases of the illness.

Youth under 18 are the least likely age group to need hospital care after getting COVID-19 but Pfizers COVID-19 vaccine was authorized in 2020 for those 16 and older and the authorization was expanded in 2021 to children as young as 5. At the time of the regulatory actions, officials said children should get vaccinated because the jab was highly effective at preventing COVID-19 infection and would likely help curb severe cases among those who still got the disease.

That may no longer be the case, according to the new studies.

Researchers with the New York State Department of Health found that effectiveness against infection declined rapidly for children, hitting approximately 50 percent in January. Research published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) showed a similar drop. And researchers in the United Kingdom pegged the effectiveness among all age groups for the Pfizer jab declining to just 8.8 percent after 25 or more weeks.

The protection against severe disease also diminished, going below 50 percent in New York and 51 percent in the CDC study for those under 12.

The diminished protection means the benefits of the shot are getting closer to the risks, which include an elevated chance of experiencing heart inflammation, Dr. Cody Meissner, a member of the advisory panel that recommended authorization of the vaccine for kids, told The Epoch Times.

Taken together, the studies suggest the benefit roughly equals the risk of harm for many children, Meissner said.

The risk of heart inflammation after the second dose of the Pfizer shot is about four per million doses among males 5 to 11, 46 per million after the second dose among males 12 to 15, and 70 per million after the second dose among males aged 16 or 17, according to the CDC. Several studies have pegged the risk as higher from vaccination than from COVID-19.

Some other experts disagree, including Dr. Chandy John, an immunologist at Indiana University School of Medicine.

As parents are considering vaccination, the results that show some evidence of protection against hospitalization are enough to convince me that vaccination in this age group is still appropriate with the current vaccine, John told The Epoch Times via email.

Omicron Evades Protection Better

Health authorities thus advised virtually all Americans 12 or older to get a booster shot after the vaccines began performing worse against the Delta variant of the virus that causes COVID-19known as SARS-CoV-2 or the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virusthan earlier variants.

Omicron displaced Delta in the United States and many other countries in late 2021, and has proven better able to evade the shielding from the vaccines, especially the protection against infection.

Youre looking at the diminution of efficacy or effectiveness, Dr. Anthony Fauci, the chief medical adviser to President Joe Biden, told reporters in a recent briefing as he highlighted data showing the decline.

The data analyzed for authorization of the shot for children 5 to 11, from Pfizers ongoing clinical trial, came before Omicron appeared.

At the time, in November 2021, Pfizer and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said the vaccine was nearly 91 percent effective against infection among the young children.

The FDA cleared the jab for the age group based on the premise that the known and potential benefits outweighed the known and potential risks.

Both the FDA and the World Health Organization say vaccines are only cleared if they have an effectiveness of 50 percent or higher.

The FDA recently altered the authorization for several monoclonal antibodies that studies suggested didnt perform well against Omicron, and postponed a decision on Pfizers vaccine for some of the youngest U.S. children, but are so far refusing to change the clearance for Pfizers shot.

FDA has full confidence in the data that were used to support emergency use authorization of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine in children 5 through 11 years of age and in the safety and effectiveness of the vaccine in preventing severe consequences from COVID-19, including hospitalization and death, an FDA spokeswoman told The Epoch Times in an email. The agency continues to work closely with the company as they accumulate additional data from their ongoing clinical trial, including on the potential need for an additional dose in children.

Concerns About Small Dataset

The FDA authorized the jab for those 5 to 11 after its FDAs vaccine advisory panel voted 140 to recommend the authorization, but the vote came after an hourslong meeting during which multiple members, including Meissner, voiced concerns, including about the small dataset.

The efficacy data was for a pool of 2,250 children, about two-thirds of whom received the jab. The efficacy was inferred based on a technique called immunobridging, or comparing the immune responses among the children to those seen in a portion of older recipients. Efficacy of the vaccine against severe disease couldnt be determined because none of the participants, including the unvaccinated, contracted severe cases of COVID-19.

The idea of doing it under an emergency use authorization, two-dose for everybody, without any flexibility around this, I think is going to just not go over very well, Dr. Michael Kurilla with the National Institutes of Health, who ended up abstaining from the vote, said during the meeting.

There are high risk individuals and I think they do need to be attended to, that we do need to provide a vaccine for them, but for many others, one dose or no dose even if theyve had prior COVID infection, I think they may not need anything more, Kurilla said.

Its not even clear that this vaccine will reduce rates of transmission, Meissner added at the time. This vaccine is probably not going to prevent infection, he added.

After FDA officials refused to allow the panel to recommend authorization for certain groups only, such as kids with weak immune systems, advisers approved the recommendation, telling the FDA to authorize the jab for every 5- to 11-year-old who doesnt have an allergy to a component of the vaccine.

It is pretty clear to me that the benefits do outweigh the risk, said Dr. Amanda Cohn, a CDC official who sits on the panel. To me the question is pretty clear: We dont want children to be dying from COVID, even if it is far fewer children than adults, and we dont want them in the ICU.

Undated colorized scanning electron micrograph of a cell (blue) heavily infected with CCP virusalso known as SARS-CoV-2particles (red), isolated from a patient sample at the NIAID Integrated Research Facility in Fort Detrick, Md., on Oct. 31, 2020. (NIAID)

Children at Little Risk From COVID-19

Children are far less likely than other age groups to need hospital care for or die from COVID-19.

Out of 1.9 million COVID-19 cases among children 5 to 11 as of October 2021, just about 8,300 resulted in hospitalization, and approximately 20 percent of those were for non-COVID reasons, according to the CDC.

In the age group, just 94 children had died from COVID-19, according to data reported to the CDC. Over 98 percent of the overall deaths in that group were from other causes.

Updated statistics show kids under 18 have accounted for 1 percent of hospitalizations with COVID-19 and made up 1.1 percent of the COVID-19 deaths in the United States.

Fortunately, these most severe outcomes are generally rare. The chance that a child will have severe COVID, require hospitalization, or develop a long-term complication  remain low, but still the risk is too high and too devastating for our children, and far higher for many other diseases for which we vaccinate children, CDC Director Rochelle Walensky said in November 2021.

Walensky said parents should still get their children vaccinated with Pfizers vaccine because it can help protect them against COVID-19, as well as reduce disruptions to in-person learning and activities by helping curb community transmission.

The CDC didnt respond to a request for comment on the new studies.

Parents have been reluctant to vaccine their children, with just 22 percent of kids 5 to 11 having been fully vaccinated as of Feb. 2, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation. About a third of parents surveyed by the group said they would not get their child vaccinated, or would only do so if it were required, while another fifth said they were going to wait for now.

Division Over Path Forward

Children 5 to 11 receive a smaller dosage level thats one-third the amount given to Americans 12 and older. Theyre also not yet able to get a booster.

The New York study found 12-year-olds were much better protected versus 11-year-olds, and some experts said the new data underlines a need to boost younger children and increase the dosage of the primary series, which consists of two shots spaced several weeks apart.

I think it is likely that children with this vaccination will need a third dose, but this is not different from adults, in whom a third dose was required to provide strong protection against Omicron infection and severe disease, John, the immunologist, said.

Dr. Jeffrey Klausner, a professor at the University of Southern California, said getting the vaccines out quickly was important and saved millions of lives but that the studies reinforce that the full effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccination is seen with a 3-dose series.

We still need to do a better job of making sure every person age 65 years and older is completely vaccinated and up-to-date with a booster. The greatest number of preventable deaths have been in the elderly. Focusing our efforts on children is misplaced, Klausner, a former CDC employee, told The Epoch Times in an email.

Some said the lack of long-term safety data, coupled with the low risk among children and the declining vaccine efficacy, should give parents pause when considering whether to vaccinate their child.

We dont know potential long term harms or even some of the short term that were seeing reported in VAERS, Kim Witczak, co-founder and executive director of the drug safety group Woodymatters, told The Epoch Times, referring to the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System.

It only protects you for a certain amount of time, added Witzcak, who sits on another FDA advisory panel. I think thats something that the public needs before they make that decision, instead of being told its completely safe and effective, which is what weve heard for now over a year.

It really should be up to the parents decide whether they want to immunize their child, and I think they need to be informed, they need to educate themselves that yes, there may be some benefit, it may reduce the risk of death, but the risk of death is so small, its almost negligible, said Meissner, who heads Tufts University School of Medicines Division of Pediatric Infectious Disease. But if a parent feels better if their child is vaccinated, I think they certainly should have access to the vaccine, and thats why I voted for the age group, and also for children that have risk factors.

The authors of the New York study and the CDC study declined requests for comment. The corresponding author for the third study didnt return an inquiry, nor did Pfizer.

Correction: Dr. Meissner is still on the FDAs vaccine advisory panel. The Epoch Times regrets the error.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau rises during question period in the House of Commons in Ottawa on Feb. 15, 2022. (Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press)

Trudeau to Travel to Europe to Talk Ukraine, Climate Change, Inclusive Growth

News Analysis

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced on Friday he will be travelling to Europe next week to discuss Russias attack on Ukraine, as well as other topics such as climate change and inclusive growth.

Of course well be discussing how to continue to support Ukraine, how to strengthen democratic values around the world, and how to stand up even more for democracy, to stand against Russian aggression, and to work very hard on combating the kind of disinformation and misinformation that we know is a facet of day to day life these days, but a particularly strong facet of this conflict, this war in Ukraine, Trudeau said during a public transit announcement in Mississauga.

Were also going to be obviously talking with our allies in Europe about economic recovery, about fighting climate change, about being there to create inclusive growth for people.

Trudeau said he will visit the United Kingdom, Latvia, Germany, and Poland.

Energy

Climate change policies and reducing reliance on hydrocarbon energy sources have been key focus areas of the Liberal government. However, in light of Russias invasion of Ukraine, there have been more calls for Canada to ramp up its hydrocarbon production to reduce world reliance on Russian energy.

Conservative MP and leadership contender Pierre Poilievre says Canadas anti-energy policies have resulted in Canada importing oil from dirty dictatorships around the world, adding the worlds reliance on energy import from countries with dictatorships is an international security threat.

Russian dissident and former chess champion Gary Kasparov wrote in the Chicago Tribune that the West needs to replace Russian hydrocarbons by increasing energy production and finding new sources.

Theres no point in saving the planet if you dont save the people on it, he said.

Trudeau seemed to let on earlier this week that Canadian hydrocarbons could help Europe with its supply issues, since it relies on Russia for around 40 percent of its natural gas supply.

We know that the global economy has to decarbonize, but we havent quite got there yet. But we will provide the resources necessary to help our European friends, Trudeau said on March 1.

Disinformation

In his press conference on March 4, Trudeau talked about the idea of defending democracies against misinformation and disinformation.

He announced earlier this week his government would ask the regulatory body Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) to review the presence of Russian state media Russia Today on Canadian airwaves, citing concerns about disinformation.

The Liberal government recently brought forward Bill C-11, the Copyright Modernization Act, which would grant the CRTC broad powers to regulate content online. The Conservatives have criticized the bill as an attempt to control the internet and free speech.
Journalists are seen working on the doorstep of an hotel on Maidan Square in Kyiv, Ukraine, on March 1, 2022. (Pierre Crom/Getty Images)

UK Journalist Shot and Wounded in Ambush Near Ukrainian Capital

A British journalist was shot and wounded in a violent ambush near the Ukrainian capital.

Stuart Ramsay, chief correspondent at Sky News, was hit by a bullet in the lower back as shooting rained down on a car carrying his crew towards Kyiv on Monday.

Camera operator Richie Mockler was also hit with two rounds to his body armour before the team managed to escape and take cover. They were later rescued by Ukrainian police.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson has praised the courage of the journalists.

He said on Twitter on Saturday: The courage of these journalists, putting themselves in terrifying and dangerous situations, is astonishing to watch. Theyre risking their lives to ensure that the truth is told. Free press will not be intimidated or cowed by barbaric and indiscriminate acts of violence.

It is understood that the whole crew, including Sky News Dominque van Heerden and Martin Vowles and local producer Andrii Lytvynenko, are now safe.

Shocking footage of the incident was played out on Sky News on Friday evening.

It showed the team under heavy fire, with glass smashing around them.

In a written account of the ambush, Ramsay said his team had been heading for the town of Bucha, where they were intending to learn more about the destruction of a Russian convoy by the Ukrainian army the previous day.

Despite their destination only being around 30 kilometres from the centre of Kyiv, Ramsay said the trip took hours, with the crew held up by road closures and redirections.

It was suggested at the last Ukrainian checkpoint that they should not proceed any further, and the team decided to head back to the city centre, re-entering from a different direction to avoid what they now knew to be dangerous routes.

After getting the go-ahead from a police officer to take a road to Kyiv, Ramsay said they proceeded cautiously towards an intersection.

It was then that, out of nowhere, there was a small explosion. Ramsay said a tyre burst, the car stopped, and our world turned upside down.

The first round cracked the windscreen. Camera operator Richie Mockler huddled into the front passenger footwell. Then we were under full attack, he said.

Bullets cascaded through the whole of the car, tracers, bullet flashes, windscreen glass, plastic seats, the steering wheel, and dashboard had disintegrated.

We didnt know it at the time, but we were later told by the Ukrainians that we were being ambushed by a saboteur Russian reconnaissance squad. It was professional, the rounds kept smashing into the carthey didnt miss.

Ramsay said the team thought a Ukrainian army checkpoint might be behind the shooting, but their panicked attempts to explain they were journalists did nothing to deter the attackers.

I do recall wondering if my death was going to be painful, he said.

Some of the crew had managed to escape, but Ramsay was hit by a bullet in the lower back.

Richie says I then got out of the car and stood up, before jogging to the edge of the embankment and then started running. I lost my balance and fell to the bottom, landing like a sack of potatoes, cutting my face. My armour and helmet almost certainly saved me, he said.

The team eventually made it to a factory unit, where they took cover. They were later rescued by Ukrainian police.

The Sky News crew has now arrived back in the UK, while Lytvynenko is with his family in Ukraine.

The point is we were very lucky, Ramsay said.

But thousands of Ukrainians are dying, and families are being targeted by Russian hit squads just as we were, driving along in a family saloon and attacked.

This war gets worse by the day.

By Amy Gibbons
A woman holds her daughter as they try to get on a train at the Kyiv station, Ukraine, on March 4. 2022. (Emilio Morenatti/AP Photo)

Ukraines Mariupol Evacuation on Hold Amid Claims Russia Has Violated Ceasefire

Officials in the besieged Ukrainian port city of Mariupol have paused an evacuation of their residents, accusing Russian forces of violating a ceasefire deal and resuming shelling, while Russias defense ministry claimed its troops had come under fire after setting up humanitarian corridors.

The Mariupol City Council said in a March 5 statement on Telegram that the evacuation has been postponed and asked residents to seek refuge in bomb shelters.

Due to the fact that the Russian side has not adhered to the ceasefire agreement and continues shelling Mariupol and its surroundings, for security reasons the evacuation of the population is postponed, the council said, adding that negotiations with Russian officials continue to establish a ceasefire and a humanitarian corridor.

Earlier, Russia and Ukraine agreed to a temporary ceasefire in the southeastern port of Mariupol and the eastern town of Volnovakha, according to official statements from both sides.

Ukrainians crowd under a destroyed bridge as they try to flee crossing the Irpin river in the outskirts of Kyiv, Ukraine, on March 5, 2022. (Emilio Morenatti/AP Photo)

Formally, the temporary ceasefire started at 10:00 a.m. Moscow time and humanitarian corridors were opened for the exit of civilians from Mariupol and Volnovakha, according to Russias Defense Ministry, as cited by Russian state media Tass.

Ukrainian presidential advisor Mykhailo Podoliak, who took part in negotiations with Russian officials this week, said on Twitter that, in the two cities in question, evacuation humanitarian corridors are being prepared for opening, and columns of those to be evacuated are being formed.

The parties temporarily ceased fire in the area of corridors, he added.

But the evacuations along the two corridors are now in limbo. Ukraines Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk said that Russian forces violated the ceasefire deal, accusing them of shelling Volnovakha with heavy weaponry and engaging in combat operations near Mariupol that make it impossible for the column of evacuees to proceed.

We appeal to the Russian side to stop the shelling, restore the ceasefire and give an opportunity to form humanitarian corridor columns so that the womens children and the elderly can leave the settlements, Vereschuk said, according to Ukrainian news agency Interfax.

Refugees, mostly women with children, arrive at the border crossing in Medyka, Poland, on March 5, 2022. (Visar Kryeziu/AP Photo)

Ukrainian authorities earlier said they planned to evacuate around 15,000 women, children, and the elderly from Volnovakha and some 200,000 from Mariupol.

Russian authorities, meanwhile, have accused the Ukrainian side of preventing civilians from leaving Mariupol and Volnovakha, while claiming Russian forces had come under fire, according to the RIA news agency.

The Epoch Times has been unable to independently verify either sides accounts.

Ukraines President Volodymyr Zelensky has said the Ukrainian side is doing everything necessary to make sure the humanitarian corridors work as intended.

Humanitarian corridors must work today. Mariupol and Volnovakha. To save people, women and children, especially older people, to give food and medicine to those who remain. Our help is on the way, Zelensky said in a video message posted on Telegram.

At the same time, Zelensky urged everyone able to remain and defend their cities to stay and fight.

Because if everyone leaves, then whose city will this city be? We are doing everything on our part to make the agreement work, this is one of the main tasks for today, lets see if it is possible to go further in the negotiation process, he said.

A man rides his bike past destroyed buildings in Irpin, Ukraine, on March 3, 2022. (Chris McGrath/Getty Images)

Former NATO General Egon Ramms told German media outlet ARD that, while he hopes the ceasefire will hold, a prerequisite is for both sides to cease hostilities.

Ramms said that experience with ceasefires shows that often both sides are not equally informed and so one side unwittingly continues to fight.

Then the other side fires back. And then such a humanitarian corridor has failed accordingly, both for aid and for people who want to flee, he told the outlet.

Russias full-scale invasion of Ukraine has led to a massive humanitarian crisis, with 1.3 million people having fled the hostilities as of March 5, according to the U.N.

Unless there is an immediate end to the conflict, millions more are likely to be forced to flee, the U.N. Refugee Agency said in a statement.
Fuel prices are displayed on a sign at a gas station in Roscoe, Ill., on March 3, 2022. (Scott Olson/Getty Images)

US Gas Prices Surge, Nearing Record Highs

U.S. gas prices have surged in recent days, with the national average striking $4 a gallon on March 5.

GasBuddy, which tracks prices, recorded the average hitting $4 a gallon for the first time since 2008. The American Automobile Association (AAA) said the average was $3.92, though some motorists were paying as much as $5.18 a gallon.

The price rise has been dramatic, increasing about 41 cents per gallon in the past week alone.

We are looking at pretty significant spikes, Patrick De Haan, an analyst for GasBuddy, said in a Facebook broadcast.

Experts say the RussiaUkraine war, which started on Feb. 24, is the primary factor behind the leap in prices. Russia is the worlds third-largest oil producer and the largest exporter; its exports of around 5 million barrels a day of crude oil, accounting for about 12 percent of global trade, according to the International Energy Agency.

Like the U.S. stock market, the oil market responds poorly to volatility. Its an explosive situation, and a grim reminder that events on the far side of the globe can have a ripple effect for American consumers, Andrew Gross with the AAA said in a recent statement.

The price of oil will likely continue to rise as additional sanctions are imposed on Russia, predicted AAA. As the price of oil rises, people pay higher prices at the pump. The restriction in supply is coming as demand increases.

Based on recent developments, De Haan is projecting the national average hits $4 a gallon in under three weeks. The all-time record of $4.10 a gallon, set in 2008, could fall by April 1.

We are likely to set all-time new records in the U.S., he said.

Tom Kloza, founder of the Oil Price Information Service, said on Twitter he thinks prices will hit the $4.25 to $4.50 a gallon range soon.

President Joe Bidens administration has so far resisted calls for banning Russian oil, warning it would cause prices to spike even higher.

Anyone who is calling for an end to the carve-out should be clear that that would raise prices, White House press secretary Jen Psaki told reporters in a recent briefing.

The United States and the International Energy Agency released 60 million barrels of oil from reserves to try to stabilize markets but that amount represents just 14 hours of global consumption, De Haan said.

At least 100 million barrels would have to be released to impact the markets, according to the analyst, who recommended the administration waive seasonal fuel requirements over waiving the federal gas tax.
A man uses his mobile phone in front of a screen showing China's 5G industry outside a telecom office in Beijing on Sept. 25, 2019. (WANG ZHAO/AFP via Getty Images)

We Cannot Afford to Lose This Race: Former National Security Adviser Warns US Losing Its Advantage to China in 5G

The United States must lead the global development of 5G infrastructure in order to establish norms of use consistent with democratic values, according to a former White House official. To do so, it will need to compete vigorously with the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).

Beijing has proven time and again their willingness to leverage tech production capabilities for economic and strategic advantage, said Robert OBrien, former national security adviser.

Weve seen enough from [Chinese leader] Xi Jinping and the CCP in recent years to understand that Beijing cannot be trusted to lead this critical industry.

OBrien, who served as the fourth and final national security adviser of the Trump administration, delivered the remarks on March 4 as part of a virtual talk on the challenges of 5G development put on by the Hudson Institute, a Washington-based think tank.

5G is the newest technical standard for cellular networks. Its associated technologies will form the basis of telecommunications infrastructure for the near future and widely affect internet-oriented products and services.

OBrien said 5G stood to contribute more than $500 billion to the U.S. economy in the coming years, noting that its potential use in powering smart cities, enabling new AI technologies, and modernizing the power grid has made it a centerpiece in the ongoing great power competition between the United States and China.

As we acknowledge great power competition between the United States and China, we must renew our focus on maintaining U.S. technological and global leadership, and support continued innovation in this country, he said.

5G does not come without its own security issues. Global networks and technology [are] a key area of competition among nations.

As such, OBrien considered it vital that the United States lead 5G development globallyahead of Chinato ensure that its used according to the principles of democratic societies and to prevent its cooption by authoritarian regimes.

As is the case with the adoption of any new technology, early adoption of 5G will allow the U.S. to establish the normative behavior, the rules of the road so to speak, across the spectrum [from] repurposing, regulation, supply chains, and broader cyber strategies, he said.

How the U.S. approaches access to the spectrum required to operate successful 5G networks will do much to determine the outcome of the technological competition with China, and this is a competition we cannot afford to lose.

Losing the Advantage

While it may not be losing the 5G race, the United States is certainly losing its advantage. OBrien highlighted that less than 10 years ago, China housed only two of the worlds top 10 tech firms by market value. By 2018, it controlled nine of them.

Moreover, the rise of 5G offerings by companies such as Chinese telecom giant Huawei, which shares close ties to the CCP, raises serious security concerns for nations throughout the world, OBrien said, noting that all of the infrastructure created by Chinese-owned companies could be coopted by the CCP.

Theres ample evidence to suggest that no Chinese company is independent from the Chinese government and the communist party of China, he said.

The comment appeared to allude to the CCPs national security and cybersecurity laws, which give it the authority to demand any companys data for national security purposes.

He pointed to the actions of other nations to curb the authoritarian impulse coming out of Beijing. India has banned 239 separate Chinese apps over fears of data harvesting following violent border clashes with Chinese forces in 2020. The total number of Chinese apps banned in India is now 321.

Its imperative that the United States work to prevent the CCP from achieving global domination of such technologies as quantum computing, artificial intelligence, and autonomous systems, according to OBrien.

What we cant do is allow the Chinese Communist Party to assume a role of leadership over the global tech industry, he said. Its not only dangerous for the United States, but its dangerous for the world and especially dangerous for our allies.

China is not communist in name only. Its a Marxist-Leninist communist ideology that Xi Jinping and the Chinese leadership practice. Its truly everything for Beijing.

Unlike the economic challenge posed to the United States by Japan in the 1980s, OBrien said the threat of the CCP went far beyond economics and into issues concerning the very nature of the American way of life and the continuation of individual liberty.

As such, he called for the creation of a national 5G policy to create new infrastructure using diverse spectrums of 5G broadband to ensure usability and resiliency.

In all, he underscored that 5G was just one key battle in a much larger struggle between the United States and the CCP. Its a struggle to gain dominance of the technological industrial base and to govern the future use of information, he said.

We must thwart the CCP from taking up the torch of innovation and leaving our nation, our national security, weakened, OBrien said. Our economic security will be entirely disrupted if Chinas desire to displace the United States [led] order is realized.

We cannot afford to lose this race.
White House press secretary Jen Psaki holds a press briefing in the Brady Press Briefing Room of the White House in Washington, on Feb. 25, 2022. (Paul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images)

White House: Not Advocating for Russian Regime Change

The White House says it is not advocating to displace Vladimir Putin, in response to comments from Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) suggesting the Russian president should be taken out.

Graham posted on Twitter Thursday that the only way the Russian conflict with Ukraine will end is for somebody in Russia to take [Putin] out.

You would be doing your countryand the worlda great service, Graham wrote.

Graham also compared Putins would-be assassin to Brutus, a Roman senator among those who killed Roman Emperor Julius Caesar on the Ides of March, and German Lt. Col. Claus von Stauffenberg, who tried unsuccessfully to kill Adolf Hitler in the summer of 1944.

Is there a Brutus in Russia? Is there a more successful Colonel Stauffenberg in the Russian military? Graham asked in the tweet.

He also made similar comments on Fox News Thursday night.

But White House press secretary Jen Psaki went against Grahams comments during a press briefing Friday afternoon.

That is not the position of the United States government and certainly not a statement youd hear come from the mouth of anybody working in this administration, Psaki said. We are not advocating for killing the leader of a foreign country or regime change. That is not the policy of the United States.

Psaki has said throughout the Russian invasion into Ukraine that a door to diplomacy remains open with respect to Putin.

She noted Friday that an internal review by the United States into whether Putin has committed war crimes as part of the invasion is ongoing. She says any evidence found will be submitted to the International Criminal Court and the U.N. as part of an international process.

Grahams comments have also been condemned by some of his fellow members of Congress on both sides of the aisle.

This is an exceptionally bad idea, Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) posted on Twitter. Use massive economic sanctions; BOYCOTT Russian oil & gas; and provide military aid so the Ukrainians can defend themselves. But we should not be calling for the assassination of heads of state.

I really wish our members of Congress would cool it and regulate their remarks as the administration works to avoid WWlll, Congresswoman Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) wrote in a tweet. As the world pays attention to how the US and its leaders are responding, Lindseys remarks and remarks made by some House members arent helpful.

Grahams communication director, Kevin Bishop, offered some clarity to the South Carolina Republicans comments.

Basic point, Putin has to go, Bishop said in a Twitter post. He also noted it will behas to bethe Russian people who do it. They control the off ramp to this ordeal.
North Dakotans have a lot to say about the Biden administrations plans to curb methane emissions, weighing in on how often oil field inspections should occur and how much the federal government can legally regulate.

Comments submitted earlier this year by state officials, the oil industry, the Three Affiliated Tribes and environmentalists are among those the Environmental Protection Agency will consider as it develops regulations surrounding the potent greenhouse gas that can leak from oil field infrastructure.

North Dakota officials say the EPA proposal has significant technical and legal flaws and that the agency must drastically rework its plans. The North Dakota Petroleum Council argues for more flexibility in leak inspections, while an environmental advocate says inspections should occur more frequently than what the EPA is considering. The tribe, meanwhile, says any new national standards should not burden or prevent production of tribal trust minerals.

Methane is the main component of natural gas produced in the Bakken oil fields. It has been the subject of a legal and political tug-of-war, particularly after the Obama administration proposed more stringent regulations in 2015. North Dakota is among a number of oil- and gas-producing states that sued the federal government over the Obama-era regulations. The Trump administration rolled back those rules, but Congress last year eliminated the Trump-era rule.

The Biden administration in late 2021 proposed regulations that include what it calls a comprehensive monitoring program for new and existing well sites and compressor stations. It suggests a number of steps that it says would reduce 41 million tons of methane emissions by 2035. That amount is equal to 920 million metric tons of carbon dioxide, another greenhouse gas. The EPA says that is more than the amount of carbon dioxide emitted by all passenger cars and commercial aircraft in the United States in 2019.

Comments submitted by two North Dakota regulators said the EPAs proposal is unlawful in part because it relies upon presidential executive orders, whereas regulations must be based on authority granted by the Clean Air Act. State Mineral Resources Director Lynn Helms and state Air Quality Director Jim Semerad added that the federal government lacks authority to impose requirements for limiting emissions from existing infrastructure and can do so only for new facilities. The EPA can set guidelines for existing sites, but its states that have authority over the matter, they said.

The state also takes issue with the EPAs idea to establish a community monitoring program that would allow members of the public to detect and report emissions in addition to the industry's own inspections and those performed by government officials.

Such a program has serious pitfalls, including safety concerns, access rights (North Dakotas regulators have proper legal access to safely inspect production operations), and the technical validity of any data collected by citizens using sophisticated monitoring equipment that is designed for use by trained professionals, the state officials wrote.

The Petroleum Council, which represents numerous oil-related companies that operate in North Dakota, urged the EPA to allow for flexibility in its regulations, including with site visits during which inspectors point infrared cameras at oil and gas facilities to detect methane leaks, which are invisible to the naked eye.

North Dakotas climate poses many safety and logistical challenges that can limit inspector access to oil and gas locations for days or weeks, President Ron Ness wrote.

He referenced the states brutal winters and unsafe site conditions during construction or maintenance work, asking that the EPA allow for inspection delays during those situations.

He added that EPAs proposal to increase inspections from twice a year at well sites to four times a year in some cases could result in more emissions from the vehicles inspectors drive.

Inspections are done several ways in North Dakota under federal and state policies. Oil and gas companies must perform the inspections using either their own staff or a contractor, and they report those results to authorities, Semerad said. The state Department of Environmental Quality has its own inspectors as well, and they visit about 1,000 sites each year with cameras in search of leaks.

The department recently began an audit program in which state officials take a closer look at what leaks companies discover and whether they promptly fix them. The program so far is voluntary, with companies participating to check whether their processes are working, according to Semerad.

Any one tool may not cover everything, he told the Tribune, adding that the various parts of the inspection process in North Dakota complement one another.

An environmental activist on the Fort Berthold Indian Reservation suggested to the EPA that inspections occur monthly at all oil wells. The EPA should also increase the number of air quality monitors in North Dakota, said Lisa DeVille, vice president of Fort Berthold Protectors of Water & Earth Rights.

"My community is directly impacted by the toxic pollutants that are emitted alongside methane and we are also facing the terrible consequences of these greenhouse gases being emitted," she wrote in her comments.

Chairman Mark Fox of the Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara Nation wrote that the tribe acknowledges people living and working closest to oil and gas resources on tribal lands are exposed to human health risks, as well as the climate benefits of reducing methane emissions.

But, he said, requiring quarterly inspections could create significant challenges on the reservation as inspectors drive long distances, especially in winter.

EPA regulations should be flexible enough to reduce inspection requirements for those demonstrating adequate emissions reductions through use of alternative technologies, he said.

MHA Nation seeks to attain a special designation that will allow the tribe greater oversight of methane within the reservation to balance adequate environmental protections with continued oil and gas development, Fox said. Tribes face barriers in seeking such a status, and EPA needs to do more to remove those obstacles, he said.

The EPA under President Joe Biden has not yet issued any final methane rules.

Reach Amy R. Sisk at 701-250-8252 or amy.sisk@bismarcktribune.com.

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The square outside the damaged local city hall of Kharkiv on March 1, 2022. (Sergey Bobok/AFP via Getty Images)

Why Did Putin Invade Ukraine Now?

Commentary

Its all over the airwaves. Something happened to the normally predictable President Vladimir Putin.

For once, the talking heads are all talking in unison: Hes gone crazy.

How else to explain the Ukrainian invasion?

It must have been COVID. Hes isolated himself. Look how absurdly far he sits from other people. (The same could be said of guests on the Gutfeld Show, but never mind.)

Even our former secretary of state and current director of the Hoover Institution Condoleezza Rice is chiming in. Its not the Putin she knew. Something has gone wrong with the man.

Sorry, Condoleezza.

Despite your estimable Russian language skills, despite your even more impressive ability to play duets with Yo-Yo Ma, and perhaps from the best of intentionswe would all wish it were otherwiseyou forgot, or possibly chose to ignore, exactly with whom you were negotiating on multiple occasions over many years.

Putin was an officer of the ruthless Russian intelligence agency, the KGB, for 18 years. Ergo he was trained to lie efficiently.

Five of those years he spent in Dresden, East Germany, home of the even more ruthless Stasi intelligence agency, famed for creating a situation where roughly half the population of the country was spying on the other half.

Much of Putins KGB life isnot surprisinglymurky, but it ended in 1991 just as the Soviet Union was breaking up and he moved into politics.

Since then, Putin has told us many times that he regards that break-up as historys greatest tragedy. Why should we disbelieve him, even though, on occasion, he has disabused communism?

Putin has become in essence a czaristor, more exactly, a czar himselfvia a brutal Russian spying tradition that began with the czars Okhrana, ironically formed to combat left-wing revolutionaries, that morphed under the Soviets into the Cheka, then the NKVD, then the KGB and now, under oligarchic capitalism, the FSB.

Although ideologies differed, techniques were much the same. The joke used to go: Lubyanka [KGB headquarters] is the tallest building in Moscow. You can see Siberia from the basement.

Thats the world from which Putin emerged.

From the beginning, he has never wavered in his views. But why now has he suddenly acted on them?

Thats not difficult to answer. Putin is a crafty man who was biding his time until the propitious moment to begin his reconstitution of the Soviet Union, meaning really, to him, the Russian empire.

As former President Donald Trump mentioned with his customary frankness during his CPAC speech: The problem is not that Putin is smart. Of course, hes smart. The real problem is that our leaders are dumb.

So what was the propitious moment?

It came on both sides of the Atlantic. Theodore Dalrymple explains the European side well on these digital pages when he cites the moment the mega-environmental gestalt of teenager Greta Thunberg and her clones took over that continents worldview.

That meant a wishful belief in the efficacy of alternative energy with the real-life result being an over-reliance on Russian oil to save themselves from freezing to death in winter.

Something similar was helped along on this side of the Atlantic by President Joe Bidens almost instant rollback of Trumps energy independence, cheered on by his partys left-wing, and the jejune woke claque.

The two sides reinforced each other in their unspeakable irresponsibility, weakness, and apparent self-sabotage.

Putin, and, of course, Xi Jinping, could not have asked for more.

For Putin, that meant his time had come to move on Ukrainea prize he had wanted for years and that many regarded as part of Russia anyway.

He probably didnt expect as much resistance as he is getting from the Ukrainian people, but, brave as they are, that is not likely to matter in the end. At least that is the view so far.

Calling Putin crazy is the kind of self-serving cop-out that led to the mess, or should I say cataclysm, in the first place.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
Wisconsin Special Counsel Alleges Massive Misconduct in 2020 Election

A 136-page interim report released by special counsel Michael Gableman states that he has uncovered numerous instances of lawbreaking in Wisconsin during the 2020 election.

The former justice of the Wisconsin Supreme Court was hired last summer by the speaker of the Wisconsin State Assembly Robin Vos, a Republican, to investigate suspected election fraud during the 2020 presidential election.

In the March 1 report, Gableman wrote that his investigation had uncovered instances of numerous votes cast by mentally incompetent nursing home residents, noncitizens, and ineligible felons.

He cited the use of unstaffed absentee ballot drop boxes by municipal and county clerks, in violation of state law.

Laws were also allegedly violated when the Wisconsin Elections Commission (WEC) exceeded its authority by ordering local election officials to disregard state statutes that regulate absentee voting, according to the report.

Gableman also raised concerns that private money influenced municipal officials in the states five largest cities to disfavor many of their own citizensas well as the vast majority of state residentsby spending millions of dollars of grant money on voter registration drives, absentee voter efforts, and Get Out the Vote campaigns designed to serve certain favored and specifically targeted racial groups in violation of the equal protection clauses of the state and federal constitution.

Claire Woodall-Vogg, executive director of the Milwaukee Election Commission, collects the count from absentee ballots in Milwaukee on Nov. 4, 2020. (Scott Olson/Getty Images)

Gableman offered a list of suggested reforms designed to restore public confidence in Wisconsin elections.

Among Gablemans recommendations was a call to abolish the WEC, prohibit outside money and personnel from participating in election administration, and improve training to better acquaint local election officials with their powers, duties, and rights.

He also laid out the legal rationale for decertifying the states 10 electors who voted for President Joe Biden.

Biden, a Democrat, was declared the winner of Wisconsins popular vote by 0.6 percent, or 20,000 votes.

Relying on the common law principle that fraud or illegality invalidates results under an illegal or fraudulent process, Gableman asserted that the state legislature had the constitutional plenary power to decertify the results of the 2020 presidential election in Wisconsin because state laws were broken.

Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers, a Democrat, released a statement on the day the Special Counsels Report came out.

This circus has long surpassed being a mere embarrassment to our state.  Every day this effort continues, it is an increasingly dangerous and ongoing threat to our democracy, Evers said.

Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul, who has sued to block or curtail subpoenas issued by the Office of the Special Counsel (OSC), said in a March 1 statement that Gablemans report was a full-throated attack on democracy and an attempt to overturn the will of the voters.

Kaul said Republican state legislators have an obligation to our democracy to condemn, and end, this preposterous fake investigation.

The OSC report detailed instances of what it called obstruction on the part of some state officials and private interest groups, which have filed nine lawsuits against the OSC and snowed it under with what it calls dilatory, frivolous, and voluminous public information requests.

Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers speaks in Madison, Wis., on Feb. 6, 2020. (Steve Apps/Wisconsin State Journal via AP)

Gableman alleged in the report that Democrat political operatives, paid for by grants from the Zuckerberg-funded nonprofit Center for Tech and Civic Life (CTCL), all but took over administration of the 2020 election in five of Wisconsins largest cities.

According to the report, as the COVID-19 pandemic raged in the spring and summer of 2020, CTCL donated nearly $8.8 million to county clerks and municipal election administrators throughout Wisconsin. The stated purpose of the grant funding was to help ensure that communities had enough money to be able to conduct elections in accordance with public health safety guidelines.

Five of Wisconsins largest citiesMilwaukee, Madison, Green Bay, Racine, and Kenoshareceived a total of $6.3 million in grant funding, ostensibly to purchase PPE and other health-related equipment, such as plexiglass barriers and hand-sanitizer. The grants were conditioned on the five cities agreeing to the guidelines of the Wisconsin Safe Voting Plan (WSVP).

Gableman alleged that WSVP was little more than a partisan campaign program designed to maximize voter registration and turnout in heavily minority-populated precincts. The report states that the WEC supported the WSVP Get Out the Vote program, an action Gableman said isnt part of the agencys mission.

How Did the 5 Cities Spend the Grant Money?

The cities used grant funds to pay for curbside voting tents, which are mobile polling places operated out of trucks, as well as for a drive-thru voting window at one city hall.

The cities spent grant money on voter education, a multimedia advertising and phone blitz, and geo-fencing (a computer technique used to pinpoint particular areas of geographic and demographic interest). They also paid for personnel known as voter navigators (also known as ballot harvesters), whose job was to shepherd a prospective voter through the process of voting.

The municipalities purchased and installed unstaffed absentee ballot drop boxes in strategic locations, in violation of Wisconsin law.

The OSC report presented data showing that Green Bay spent 0.8 percent of its $1 million in grant funding on PPE and health equipment. The city spent $50,000 for ballot drop boxes and purchased a couple of new Ford trucks. It paid a public relations firm $150,000 for a voter outreach campaign.

The public relations campaigns in each city zeroed in on preferred racial groups, which coincidentally matched the demographic profile of Biden voters, according to the OSC report.

The report states that the cities actions were discriminatory and that they disfavored city and state residents who didnt fit the targeted profile, raising issues of unequal treatment under the law.

CTCL and other private workers, known as grant mentors, along with many volunteers, worked for weeks assisting city election officials and county clerks in conducting the 2020 presidential election.

What kind of assistance did the CTCL-supplied workers provide?

According to the OSC report, representatives of private organizations participated in much of the planning and administration of the election.

The tasks that they performed included curing defective mail-in ballots, challenging voter ballots, verifying photo ID, setting up voting equipment and vote counting centers, training volunteers, and writing instructions controlling the activities of count observers.

Workers provided by private organizations assigned inspectors for polling places and vote counting centers, transported ballots to city hall and counting centers, issued a purchase order, made decisions about whether to accept ballots after 8 p.m. on Election Day, participated in the counting of ballots, and set up wireless digital networks in polling places, clerks offices, and other buildings, according to the report.

The OSC report stated that local election officials, made beholden to private organizations by grant funding, could be susceptible to leverage pressuring them to do things in violation of their oath of office.

Other Alleged Offenses and Abuses by State and Local Election Officials

The special counsel alleged that rampant fraud and abuse occurred statewide in many Wisconsin nursing homes, housing 92,000 residents, during the 2020 election.

When visited by OSC investigators, many nursing home residents who are on record as having voted absentee in the election, were unaware of their surroundings, what year it was, or to whom they were speaking.

Some nursing home residents who purportedly voted had been adjudicated by a court to be mentally incompetent and their voting rights had been taken away.

Wisconsin election laws require that a nursing home resident desiring to vote absentee must be visited by a Special Voting Deputy (SVD) designated by the local clerks or election boards to assist the resident and supervise the application and voting process.

Under the statute, only the residents immediate family or an SVD can have any contact with the ballots. Theyre never to be mailed.

Meagan Wolfe, head of the Wisconsin Elections Commission, speaks during a virtual press conference on Nov. 4, 2020. (Wisconsin Elections Commission via Reuters)

In June 2020, for reasons of public health, the WEC directed all clerks to handle nursing home voting according to the rules governing ordinary mail-in voting, thereby disrupting the strictly limited chain of custody of residents ballotsa direct violation of Wisconsin law. The result was thousands of application forms, ballot envelopes, and ballots that were illegally handled by nursing home employees, according to the report.

The report alleges that nursing home administrators and staff members illegally assisted residents in marking their ballots. Some family members have reported suspected cases of staff members forging the voters signature. According to the OSC, the result was an improbably high voting rate, with many nursing homes reporting that 100 percent of their residents had voted in the 2020 election.

WEC Administrator Meagan Wolfe said in a statement: The integrity of the November 2020 election, and of the WEC, has been shown time, and time again, through court cases and previous investigations.

Correction: A previous version of this article incorrectly stated the number of nursing homes in Wisconsin. The Epoch Times regrets the error.
Zelensky Urges US Lawmakers to Ban Russian Oil, Provide Fighter Jets

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on March 5 urged U.S. lawmakers to step up support for his country by banning oil from Russia, helping secure fighter jets for the Ukrainian military, and imposing additional sanctions on Russian officials.

Zelensky held a virtual meeting with a bipartisan, bicameral group that was said to have numbered over 280 members of Congress.

Banning Russian oil and gas imports would be even more powerful than SWIFT, Zelensky told members, Sen. Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), a colonel in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve, said on social media.

SWIFT is a banking system from which European Union countries have agreed to exclude Russian banks.

Zelensky also asked for anti-tank weapons and other military aid, as well as assistance in getting fighter jets from nearby countries transferred to Ukraine, so Ukrainian pilots can use them to battle Russian fighters in the sky, according to members on the call.

His main ask was for the U.S. to allow Poland and Romania to transfer Soviet-era jets to Ukraine, and for the U.S. to compensate by giving more advanced planes to those two NATO allies, Rep. Brad Sherman (D-Calif.) wrote on social media.

The plan, an adjustment from repeated calls for the United States or other NATO members to impose a no-fly zone over Ukraine, drew support as it was seen as a less confrontational move. Officials have warned that a no-fly zone would mean U.S. planes engaging directly with Russian ones, and Russian President Vladimir Putin said earlier on March 5 that any outside countries that impose such a zone would be considered by Russia as a participant in the conflict.

There is widespread agreement that providing direct air support puts us at war with Russia, but we can provide aircraft as Zelensky has asked, Rep. Chrissy Houlahan (D-Pa.), a former U.S. Air Force officer, wrote on Twitter.

Zelensky was said to have outlined how many of Ukraines aircraft had been destroyed before requesting aircraft.

We need planes,' Rep. Brian Mast (R-Fla.), a military veteran, recounted Zelensky saying. The Ukrainian president was also reported to have said that we are all one big army now that the Ukrainian people are the embodiment of unity for democracy for the whole world now, and Please help us and please dont allow our brave and strong people, many times smaller than Russia, to be exterminated.

NATO should immediately facilitate the transfer of fighter aircraft from Poland, Romania, and Slovakia to Ukraine, Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) said after the meeting.

The meeting may spur action from Congress. Some members said they support quickly approving $10 billion in additional aid for Ukraine, and passing a bill to cut off Russian oil purchases.
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NORWALK  Kendall College and Career Academy closed out Black History Month celebrating one of its own young Black leaders  the recently published author, Cybil JeanFils.

JeanFils, 10, a fifth-grader at Kendall, addressed the school on the last day in February to introduce her book, Labor Day Adventure. She wrote the book at home in September for fun and to share with her teacher, Caitlin Elby.

I wrote this book because I love adventure and mystery books. So, one day I combined mystery, family, and hope into a single book, JeanFils told students and staff over the loudspeaker.

A family friend gave JeanFils the opportunity to formally publish the book through his online publishing company, Billion Publish, according to her mother, Magalie JeanFils. The book is available on Amazon in paperback.

She wrote the book all by herself, Magalie JeanFils said. Cybil has a wonderful mind and imagination. Were always looking for ways to encourage and support her creativity. I just knew I couldnt let it go to waste. I had to find a way to publish it.

The book follows the story of the Namera sisters, Sara, Rose and Anna. During a visit to their grandparents house, the girls each receive a necklace that gives them magical powers. The girls must use their newfound powers to escape evil elves and save their grandmother.

Following the story, illustrations from the book are available as a coloring section on the last few pages.

I was really excited, Cybil JeanFils said about hearing her book would be published.

Labor Day Adventure borrowed characters from a story the author wrote in third grade about a trip to the Grand Canyon. For her next book, she wants to write about holidays celebrated around the world like Diwali, the festival of lights, and one of the biggest holidays in India.

The young author said she is inspired by things from the past. She also recently enjoyed reading the story of Malala, the Pakistani activist, because she wasnt ordinary, and she had to break the rules to do something right and inspire people around the world. She even risked her own life.

Kendall Principal Zakiyyah Baker compared JeanFils to another female pioneer, Mae Jemison, the first Black woman to travel into space.

She did a lot of things, and I can see you doing that, too, Baker told JeanFils.

Another book is coming from JeanFils soon, according to her mother. Magalie JeanFils said they are working with her daughter to improve the structure of her storylines, but she doesnt want to limit her daughters wonderful imagination.

We simply let her express herself through her writing, Magalie JeanFils said. Cybil is only 10 years old and at that age, its hard to keep them off the phone and the internet. I am glad she picked up writing as a hobby. I hope she can inspire other kids her age to do the same.

Cybil JeanFils advice to other young aspiring writers in Norwalk is to be brave and get ready for anything.

emily.morgan@hearstmediact.com
By Azernews





By Ayya Lmahamad

The Azerbaijani State Oil Fund (SOFAZ) revenues from the countrys major oil and gas fields amounted to $1.5 billion in January-February 2022, SOFAZ has reported.

The Azeri-Chirag-Guneshli block of fields, which are the largest oil field in the Azerbaijani sector of the Caspian Sea, accounted for $1.3 billion of this revenue.

The funds revenues from the Shah Deniz field, which is among the worlds largest gas-condensate fields, amounted to $227.5 million, including $22.1 million from condensate.

Moreover, revenues from the ACG block of fields amounted to $156.6 billion since 2001, while the revenues from the Shah Deniz field amounted to $4.7 billion since 2007.

The fund's revenues from the countrys major oil and gas fields amounted to $6.8 billion in 2021, with Azeri-Chirag-Guneshli (ACG) accounting for $5.9 billion of this revenue and Shah Deniz for $884.7 million.

Established in 1999, SOFAZ is a sovereign wealth fund, which accumulates and preserves Azerbaijans oil and gas revenues for future generations.

The fund accumulates income from the sale of oil contracts, and in 2003 it started to make transfers to the state budget of Azerbaijan. As for now, SOFAZ's contribution to the countrys GDP is over 80 percent.

The contract for the development of the ACG oil fields was signed on September 20, 1994, and entered force in December. The contract for the development of the ACG block was extended to 2050 in September 2017.

The shareholders in the ACG project are BP (operator, 30.37 percent), SOCAR (25 percent), MOL (9.57 percent), INPEX (9.31 percent), Equinor (7.27 percent), ExxonMobil (6.79 percent), TPAO (5.73 percent), ITOCHU (3.65 percent), ONGC Videsh Limited (OVL) (2.31 percent).

The contract on the development of the Shah Deniz gas field was signed in 1996. Shareholders of the Shah Deniz project are BP (operator, 28.8 percent), TPAO (19 percent), AzSD (10 percent), SGC Upstream (6.7 percent), PETRONAS (15.5 percent), LUKOIL (10 percent), and NICO (10 percent).
Estimates in 2019 found that about 13% of vehicles in the state were being driven by uninsured motorists, according to the state Insurance Department. Thats way too many, and theres no reason to believe the number has changed much in three years.

Now the Insurance Department hopes to find out whether blockchain technology can help identify uninsured drivers. The department has published a request for proposal asking vendors to show whether blockchain technology would be an effective solution.

Insurance Commissioner Jon Godfread said if the technology proves feasible it would be two to five years before it could be implemented. Then it would be up to the state Department of Transportation and law enforcement on how to use the data.

The Tribune editorial board agrees there are too many uninsured drivers on our streets and roads. Anyone involved in a crash with an uninsured driver knows the increased hassles it creates. Still, privacy concerns over the possible use of blockchain technology that have been raised by attorneys and others are valid.

The state will want to put the data to use once it's collected. DOT spokesman David Finley told Tribune reporter Jack Dura that the agency hasnt considered any enforcement steps, since the blockchain effort is in the early stages.

If the technology proves feasible, one of the questions becomes how accurate will be the data thats collected. Will all insurance providers in the state be contacted? What about motorists who move from another state and retain the provider from their previous state?

Whats to stop law enforcement from using the data as an excuse to stop and search vehicles? Godfread said once a decision is made on going forward with the technology, then decisions will be made on how to use the data and safeguard it.

There are many people who are skeptical about government collecting personal information, especially without their knowledge. Like it or not, many people are suspicious of government.

The Insurance Department and other agencies need to be transparent about the collection of data and how it will be used. The Tribune would prefer that once officials have the data, they dont use it to stop motorists.

The state should instead mail notices to motorists who have been flagged as not having insurance, asking them to provide proof of insurance. If motorists dont reply within a certain amount of time, law enforcement could be instructed to make stops.

Or the state could ask for proof of insurance when motorists renew their license plate tags each year.

Uninsured motorists certainly pose a problem that needs to be tackled. North Dakota court filings from 2019-21 show more than 11,500 moving violations for driving without liability insurance. Innocent parties too often have to bear some of the costs.

Just as motorists are responsible for driving safely, they're responsible for having insurance. Its unfortunate the steps the state might take to enforce the law.

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Nickel Plate Station in Edwardsville will soon be home to a unique model train layout.

Tom Stephenson, who is an engineer for Boeing in Seattle, will arrive in Edwardsville on March 23 to set up a new modular railway table that he made specifically for the Edwardsville Childrens Museum to be on display at Nickel Plate Station.

The layout will be the centerpiece of the ECMs new All Aboard! exhibit at Nickel Plate Station that will feature other events the weekend of March 25-27.

The wooden railway table will also be a hands-on exhibit at the 2022 National Train Show, which is slated for Aug. 12-14 at Gateway Convention Center in Collinsville. Nickel Plate Station will be the permanent home for the layout both before and after that event.

The display that will be set up at Nickel Plate Station is the fourth modular wooden railway table that Stephenson has made and donated to 501c3 organizations supporting families in the past few years.

Stephenson discovered Nickel Plate Station and the Edwardsville Childrens Museum while doing research for the 2022 National Train Show in Collinsville.

I visited my brother in Wilmington, North Carolina, last September, but a few months earlier I found a train museum in Wilmington, Stephenson said. I reached out and made a layout for them and shipped it there to meet up with my brother and my dad to get it set up.

I thought that I should make something for the National Train Show and find a worthy organization to leave it with when its done. I went to a childrens museum website looking for emerging museum candidates and almost immediately, I ran across a webpage that talked about Nickel Plate Station being refurbished.

Stephenson then contacted Edwardsville Alderman SJ Morrison, who had created the webpage, and Morrison told Stephenson that work on the station was complete, but it hadnt opened due to the pandemic.

Based on that conversation, Stephenson reached out to Kristen Fries, director of Edwardsville Childrens Museum.

I shared with her what I have done previously and why I would invest a couple of hundred hours into something to donate, and Edwardsville Childrens Museum turned out to be a great fit for both of us, Stephenson said. There are a couple of big childrens museums in St. Louis, but thats not where my passion lies.

By partnering with ECM at the National Train Show  a local organization  people who come to the show know they can come to Edwardsville and visit the display there. Hopefully, it will become a draw for ECM and support what they are trying to do for the community.

As part of the opening weekend for the All Aboard! exhibit, children will have the opportunity to play with the train table, engage in a sensory bin, create train crafts, read train stories, and make a train necklace (necklaces are $3). Children can build a box car or tank car to take home (limited to the first 15 registrants).

The grand opening event will be from 5:30-7:30 p.m. on Friday, March 25 and is for ages 2  and up. There is no cost for the members-only event, but registration is required at https://edwardsvillechildrensmuseum.org/.

The next event, from 1-3 p.m. on Saturday, March 26 at Nickel Plate Station, will be a Build a Box Car Workshop.

Children will have the opportunity to play with the new train table and create their very own box car or tank car. This workshop will include a train craft, sensory bin and story time.

The event is open to kids ages 2  and older with a caregiver. The cost is $12 per child for non-ECM members and includes the childs morning at the museum, which is open from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. The cost is $5 for members. Registration is required.

The third event of the weekend at Nickel Plate Station, All Aboard! Sensory Time, is slated for 1-3 p.m. on Sunday, March 27.

Children will have the opportunity to play with the new train table, play in a train sensory bin and create their very own box car or tank car. This workshop will include a train craft and story time and is limited to eight children.

The event is for kids ages 3 and older with a caregiver. The cost is $10 per child and registration is required.

Stephensons layout for Nickel Plate Station represents more than 170 hours of woodworking and detailing from start to finish.

The one I did for Wilmington took about 130 hours total. The 170 hours for this layout was current as of the beginning of January and its now up to about 220 hours, Stephenson said.

Boeing has a community gift-matching program and for the hours that I put toward this and donate, they will match that at $10 per hour. Not only does ECM get the layout free and clear, the company will contribute about $2,000 to ECM, which will help to fund additional exhibit components and educational programming in All Aboard! 

Stephenson became fascinated with trains and railroads at an early age, growing up in Texas, where his father worked for the NASA program with General Electric.

He built me a really cool HO gauge layout in my bedroom, and we continued to have HO layouts wherever we lived, Stephenson said. In junior high, my brother and I actually built one in our garage.

When our two boys came along, they grew up with wooden track while I did work on a HO model at my dads house in his basement. For a couple of years, we had an elaborate HO gauge layout that was about eight feet by 20 feet.

In 2008, Stephenson was snowed in for a week at his house in Seattle. Trying to find ways to fill the time, his attention turned to wooden railways.

Our family had organized a couple of community activities where we set up a bunch of wooden tracks on the floor and families would come down and play with them, Stephenson said. It was a lot of fun, but things on the floor get stepped on and knocked around. I leveraged that week of being snowed in to think out of the box.

I thought, what if you did with wooden track the same thing that HO scale modelers do with modular railways? I sketched out a few ideas. My kids had outgrown their wooden track and I repossessed it. I made a couple of modules, and when my kids were babysitting some of the neighbor kids, they were getting paid to play with trains and they thought that was pretty cool.

Stephenson then reached out to a train show in Monroe, Washington, which is near Seattle, and he brought his new wooden modular railway table to the show.

Over the next few years, Stephenson continued to refine and improve the layout, adding trees and landscaping. He eventually created a layout that he could take to regional train events.

Stephenson is a proponent of wooden model railroading for a variety of reasons.

He notes that mostly due to tradition, most types of model railroading are heavily geared toward a male audience.

He adds that model railroading typically deals with using airplane glue, soldering irons, sharp tools and paint with toxic chemicals, plus the necessary motor control skills, which is why most children dont get into model railroading until they are 10 or 12 or older.

With wooden trains, its gender-neutral, and both boys and girls have them, Stephenson said. You make buildings for your layout by taking pictures, getting them printed out at Walgreens and gluing them to a block of wood and now youve got a building.

You can make trees from an old belt, or a six-inch-wide strip of upholstery fabric ripped from an old couch folded and sewn into a belt and threaded onto a carriage bolt. These are very accessible craft kinds of things, and you can start model railroading (with wood) at age 5.

Stephenson hopes to start setting up the modular railway table at Nickel Plate Station around 10 a.m. on March 23. Anyone interested in the assembly is welcome to come by and watch.

For more information about the wooden modular railway table and the All Aboard! exhibit, go to Seasonal Programs - Edwardsville Children's Museum (edwardsvillechildrensmuseum.org).
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Mainly sunny. High near 70F. Winds WNW at 10 to 20 mph..

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Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) has described the new dress code approved for policewomen by the Inspector-General of Police, Usman Baba Alkali as illegal.

According to the Senior Advocate, the IGP seemed to have used the new dress code to enforce religion, of which contravened the constitution.

Earlier, Acting Force Public Relations Officer, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, on Friday, announced that the new and improved dress code would now permit female police officers to wear stud earrings, adding that the female police officers would also be allowed to wear headscarves under their berets or peak caps while in uniform.

He further revealed that the dress code was unveiled during the IGPs meeting with strategic police managers on Thursday.

The Police statement disclosed that: The police have a workforce from every local government in the country with different ethnic and religious backgrounds.

This, therefore, brings the need to guarantee inclusion, gender mainstreaming, ethnic and religious diversity in the workplace for optimum output and professionalism.

This has informed the improvement for effective global workforce diversity management.

Other countries that have adopted the same dress code include Canada, the United States of America, Sweden, Turkey, Australia and the United Kingdom.

However, in a statement released on Saturday, Adegboruwa (SAN) said the change is unconstitutional and must be reversed immediately.

According to the activist-lawyer: On March 4, 2022, the Inspector-General of Police purported to unveil a new dress code for the Nigeria Police Force, especially female officers, who are to be allowed to wear coverings or hijab, etc.

The religion of public officers, including members of the security agencies, should be a private matter to them. The Inspector-General of Police is not competent to use the platform of his office to enforce religion.

Section 10 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria stipulates that the government and all its agencies should be neutral in religious matters.

Section 42 of the same Constitution prohibits discrimination in all its ramifications. In this regard, there will be no end to confusion attending to the new dress code prescribed by the IGP.

What will be the official uniform for policewomen who are in the Catholic Church?

How should policemen and women who are in the Celestial Church dress up when the practice of their church is against wearing shoes at all?

And how should traditionalists who are in the police force dress up, with charms and amulets round their uniforms?

The Nigeria Police has existed as an institution since 1945 and it is strange that of all the issues confronting that agency, such as low morale, poor welfare, poor infrastructure, poor training, poor welfare, etc, religious adornment should be the priority of the Inspector-General of Police.

The police should focus on combating crime, improve citizens engagement and help guarantee the safety of lives and property. The religious preferences of policemen and women should be their private matters.
Men of Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps have unveiled attempts by suspected vandals to smuggle over N2 million worth of petroleum from Badagry to the Benin Republic.

NSCDC's Public Relations Officer, in a statement released on Saturday, disclosed that 117 kegs containing 25 litre of petroleum each were recovered, while the suspected vandals took to their heels when they sighted NSCDC operatives.

The statement reads: In lieu of the renewed and reinvigorated efforts of the Commandant, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Lagos State Command, Eweka Douglas Okoro, towards ensuring a zero-tolerance against oil pipeline vandalism and other forms of criminalities in Lagos State, the marine and anti-vandal team of the Badagry division, of the Command, who were on routine surveillance and patrol, as a result of a well-received credible intelligence about the activities of some suspected vandals, yesterday, Friday, 4th March, 2022, midnight at about 02:15hrs, uncovered the planned criminal activities, of some suspected vandals who had attempted to syphon 117 25 litres kegs (yellow), loaded with Premium Motor Spirit, from the Badagry area to the Republic of Benin (neighbouring country).

The gallant marine and anti-vandal team, of the Badagry division, who intercepted the suspected vandals said they uncovered the well-orchestrated attempt of the men of the night, to syphon petroleum via a boat, from the Alakoto-Meji area of Badagry to the Republic of Benin (neighbouring country).

The suspected vandals at the scene took to their heels on sighting the gallant men of the division when they were about perfecting their evil act of economic sabotage".
I never thought I'd encounter history in this way: I'm standing in a pivotal moment in the history of Canada - Its in the darkest hour: we're on our way to '1984' The era of totalitarianism depicted in the fiction by George Orwell. the elected government forces the people to inject vaccines that are in the experimental stage, with very potential high risk, and if people are not obedient they will be fired, or they cannot take the plane and train, and the prime minister even appeal children to be jabbed. People who die or become ill for the vaccine get no lawful protection and compensation. Without sufficient reasons and scientific basis, the government arbitrarily demanded the closure of business, the imposition of curfew, and the closure of restaurants from time to time.

These absurd policies assume that when I open my mouth to eat in a restaurant, the gentlemanly virus has a temporary truce, stops its attack on the human body, and when I am full, I must wear a mask to protect myself from the reassualting of the crazy and evil virus .

Those who succumbed to these stupid anti-epidemic measures for fear, you emphasized science, but you are constructing blindly Canada government to be a dictator one, and you are losing freedom given by God unconsciously.

When people all over the world, almost all people in the free democratic developed countries, suffer the same fooled prisoner's dilemma, Canadian truckers wake up!

It was these truckers heroes who stand up and launched an amazing Freedom Convoy. They came from all over Canada to demonstrate peacefully in the capital, Ottawa, to oppose the government's dictatorship and mandatory vaccination.

In the weather of minus 20 to 30 degrees, they live in the trucks outdoors.The Prime Minister Trudeau ignored them, although he once represented Canadians to compensate the terrorists for more than 10 million Canadian dollars, and also led other MPs to kneel in the demonstration of Black Lives Matter and he repents of his sins to be a born white man. He is also very concerned about environmental protection issues. He cordially met with a fourteen-year-old girl from a foreign country and cooperated with her on how to protect the green earth.

No, I can't say he doesn't value these working class taxpayers in Canada! Surely he does! So he invoked and quickly revoked Emergency Act which could only be executed in the two world wars or when the national security is seriously threatened- it looks like Trudeau is intimidating these peaceful demonstrators by unlimited power- I can do whatever I want to knock down all of you who oppose me.

This is how the Canadian government has become an evil government blatantly and it has frozen the bank accounts of protesters including those who just donated a few bucks online!

Where is the separation of powers in a juridical country now? Where are the judges when the law is so trampled on? When the Liberal Party is bullying the people, why is the Conservative Party's voice so weak?

As the the Fourth Power of the mainstream media, what are they doing? Are you busy counting money? The government gave them billions of dollars a year, gagged their mouths, and now they continue to slander the Freedom Convoy, demonized these people Nazis, first white racists and Ottawa-occupation! Are they singing the anthem and violating the elected government with honking horns and bouncing castles?

In the third week, there finally came some violence in the Freedom Convoy but it was originated from the police! Not from these peaceful protesters!

The police rode horses inexorably to show off among the peaceful demonstrators, stomping on an old woman calling for peace and love. Many people were beaten, arrested, and trucks were towed and disappeared. The police also knew that these arrests were illegal, so some innocent people were released quickly, with conditions! They were asked not to contact any other trucker. What the heck is the law? Is a peaceful protest

already a crime in Canada today?

However, to this day, Tamra Lich and Pat King are still detained in jail, they are Canadian political prisoners! Chinese call such people criminals of conscience, who have been imprisoned because they oppose the dictatorship. In the spring of 2022, for the first time in Canadian history, there were already criminals of conscience. Isn't this the darkest hour?

So, my dear friends, which side of history do you stand on? Stand with us! Stand with Freedom Convoy , stand with Christians, stand with Canadian Patriots, and defend freedom!

Now, the vaccine mandate is not fully lifted, what awaits us is digital ID, Bill C-11, which restricts freedom of speech online, is the government and mainstream media making good use of the Russian-Ukrainian war to divert the world's attention from prosperous of Freedom Convoy in the globe?

Now, after peaceful truckers

were violently suppressed, demonstrations near the parliament hill are suddenly legal again! The finance minister led a march on Wellington Street in solidarity with peaceful protesters in Ukraine, as if the brutal beatings to the truckers and supporters had never happened! Are there no peaceful protesters in Canada? Are they invisible to these Canadian politicians? Why are they ignored and forgotten? Caring those Ukrainian patriots rather than these Canadian patriots will win more votes in the next election? ! If its true, then is Canadian public opinion morbid?Who is abetting our people?

Recently, a lot of people have applauded for my courage and they concerned for my safety, because I have written many articles, poems in support of the Freedom Convoy, whats more, I have given several speeches.

I'm not brave and my kids mocked at me as a scare cat because I dare not to play a roller coaster.

But why do I stand up? I am also afraid of having bank accounts frozen, deprived of economic and political rights, arrested, beaten, and stained with criminal records. However, I'm still here to show my support for Truckers heroes!

Compared these horrors, the greatest horror is that I will lose my freedom, my children will lose their freedom, and we will live in a totalitarian country, whatever the name is communism or Nazism, a dictatorship is the greatest terror to all normal human beings. Its a Nightmare!

I'm from China, born and raised there, and I didn't immigrate to Canada until I was in my thirties. Frankly speaking, personally, I have not experienced any direct persecution by the Chinese government physically although My articles have often been deleted by strict internet censorship because of my enthusiasm for truth and freedom in my writing.

However, as an intellectual, a writer, a poet, a lot of reading and life experience have made me understand China's past, present and future, I don't want Canada to become China, never, never, never.

The Prime Minister Trudeau has publicly stated that he likes China, and I, a writer who loves Chinese and has been nurtured by Chinese cultural classics, tells you that I declare to all Canadians that Canada should never become China, a country ruled mentally by Marxist materialism and atheism. If it had happened, it would be a disaster for Christian civilization, the advanced splendid civilization would be conquered by dark barbarism, freedom and the glory of God completely would be imprisoned and lost forever!

Pay attention please, all Canadian patriots, this is a war, a war without a gun not just in Canada, but in free countries around the world. The country of Christian civilization has suffered a huge attack and cannibalization in these decades in the area of ideology. We have been crushed, and our enemies are ostensibly left-wing elite politicians. However, it is only superficial.

In this crucial moment of survival, many Canadians are still asleep, and in the class discussion on Socrates' death, I agree with his criticism to democracy , using the persecution of the Freedom Convoy in Canada as an example, Since then, I've been dead socially and my classmates will pretend they don't recognize me when they see me, no matter how friendly I am. Their sources of information are the government and mainstream media, and they completely trust these channels without any doubts, and cover their ears tightly in front of the different voices,revealing disdain.

All Canadians, wake up! Don't live in a cocoon of misinformation by the mainstream media! Go to church! Go and pray! Back to God! Protect our physical health, the normal society system,the freedom of speech, the freedom to raise objections! Defend freedom for our kids!

Remember please! it's the truckers who are saving us and guarding free Canada! They are still being dispersed and persecuted by the government! A Farmer who provides the camp for truckers will be fined $10,000 a day by the government, and even if the First Nation people transferred the property to truckers through the contact the police still declined it and force them to go home. Those truckers heroes are living in exile in their motherland of Canada, just the same as myself, as a Chinese writer, I am in exile in my native language, which is tightly controlled by censorship!

This is todays Canada!

All of Canadians,Wake up! Don't fall asleep again! At this crucial point in history, its darkest hour in Canada! Choose the right side! Join us, join the Freedom Convoy!and defend freedom for all of us!
Big push for Heroines Festival

PHUKET: Phuket officials held an official press conference for the Heroes Festival yesterday (Mar 3), which marked that the festival this year will be on Mar 5-20.

culturetourism

By The Phuket News

Saturday 5 March 2022, 09:00AM

The press conference was held at Public House (Lanlom), Central Festival Phuket, with Phuket Vice Governor Pichet Panapong, Rawat Areerob, President of the Phuket Provincial Administrative Organisation (PPAO, or OrBorJor), Chantana Sitthiphan Chief of Phuket Cultural Office, and other relevant officials in presence.

Mr Pichet reminded that the festival aims to honor two Heroines and to increase the potential of cultural tourism in Phuket.

"This festival is the integration of our cultural diversity," he said.

The annual festival will start with a mass ordination of monks to honour the two Heroines at Wat Thepwanaram (Wat Manik), in Baan Manik, Thalang, on Mar 5.

On Saturday Mar 12, there will be a merit-making ceremony at Wat Muang Komanraphat.

From Mar 13 to 15, as is tradition, a light and sound show and historical play will be performed at Phuket Historical Park, for many years called Thalang Victory Field, in Baan Riang, Thalang.

Mr Rewat added that the festival also aims to promote tourism in Phuket by bringing history, way of life, local arts and culture to show to tourists.

Historical drama named 237 years  praise to the two Heroines Sri Thalang on Mar 13-15 will be free for all the three days in three rounds/performances, he said.

A report by the locla office of the Public Relations Department (PR Phuket) noted that the actress Jariya Nok Anfone and more than 300 honorary actors of Phuket will be jointly performing at the festival.

Moreover, in addition to the historical dramas that are the highlight of the event, there will also be various folklore and Thai cultural performances, Rong-Ngang as well Manora performances from the Phuket Provincial Cultural Office.

More than 200 stores of local food, OTOP goods will be working at the festival, while COVID-19 health and safety measures will be enforced throughout.

Tourist are welcome to join the event.
PayPal use extended until end of year

PHUKET: PayPal account holders in Thailand have been given an extension to continue using their accounts to make money transfers until the end of the year, Bank of Thailand Assistant Governor Sirithida Phanomwan Na Ayudhya has announced.

economics

By The Phuket News

Saturday 5 March 2022, 12:51PM

The notice issued on the Bank of Thailand official Facebook page last night (Mar 4). Image: BoT

The extension was announced through a statement issued on the Bank of Thailand website yesterday (Mar 4) and announced through the Bank of Thailand office Facebook page last night.

Previously, individual PayPal account holders in Thailand had only until Monday (Mar 7) before their accounts would have been rendered unusable for making financial transactions. The accounts of freelancers, small-scale entrepreneurs and casual online sellers were to have limited functionality only.

The move to freeze local individual accounts was expected to greatly affect a huge number of people in the country who had turned to the online service for receiving payments for home-based work commenced as a way of stabilising household incomes due to the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Ministry of Finance and Bank of Thailand have extended the time required for the company to transfer services to Thai customers abroad under PayPal Thailand to the end of 2022, allowing Thai customers who already have a PayPal account to be able to continue using it, Ms Sirithida said in the statement issued yesterday.

The move to provide the extension followed joint discussions this week between the Bank of Thailand, the Anti-Money Laundering Office (AMLO) and PayPal Thailand, Ms Sirithida explained.

The extension is to help small entrepreneurs who would have been affected by the fact that PayPal would temporarily suspend its services from March 7, 2022 until the service system can be improved to comply with the Thai legal framework, she said.

All parties agreed to help alleviate the impact on the aforementioned small entrepreneurs and therefore consider extending the period temporarily, she added.

PayPal has been attempting for months to roll out a phased relaunch in Thailand but last year explained that it had encountered delays in complying with local laws and regulations, namely having individual account holders confirm and verify their identities in order to comply with AMLO requirements.

Following the meeting this week, Ms Sirithida noted, At present, the service can still be used continuously. The company has been ordered to expedite the development of the system to have a process of identifying and verifying the identity of the customer (Know Your Customer: KYC) to comply with the law to be completed within the said time frame.

This includes setting up a guideline to help and take care of customers who have been affected by the companys policy change in the past as well as providing convenient and sufficient channels for customers to inquire about problems or doubts relating to the provision of services, of which the BoT will closely monitor the companys operations in such matters, she said.

It is important to ensure that payment business operators comply with relevant laws and regulations. This is to ensure the efficiency and security of payment services and user protection as an alternative to service users and to promote competition and increase service efficiency for customers. This will result in the payment service being able to support doing business for Thai entrepreneurs to their full potential, Ms Sirithida added.
Phuket readies for another Roi Rim Lay Seafood Festival, this time at Kata Beach

PHUKET: Karon officials have announced a new Roi Rim Lay Seafood Festival which will take place at Kata Beach on March 19-20. The event will be the second iteration of Rom Rim Ray in Karon sub-district.

culturetourismCOVID-19

By The Phuket News

Saturday 5 March 2022, 11:00AM

On Thursday, Mar 3, Karon Mayor Jadet Wicharasorn presided over a meeting to discuss preparation for Roi Rim Lay at Kata Beach. The meeting was held at Karon Municipality with representatives of relevant government agencies and local businesses present to hear the guidelines and get ready for the event.

Mayor Jadet said that the festival is aimed at promoting tourism and strengthening the fundamental economy affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The chosen location for the festival is right on the beach, close to Karon Municipality building. As is tradition of Roi Rim Lay festivals, various food establishments will offer seafood dishes and Thai dishes to locals and foreign tourists alike.

There has been nothing said about any cultural performances and shows, though they are usually included in the program of Roi Rim Lay.

Roy Rim Lay festivals are being organised in Phuket since early 2021 to cheer up local people, entertain tourists and  last but even more important  to help food business operators, farmers and vendors to make some income in the days of challenge.

The most recent festival  Roi Rim Lay @ Valentines Day  was held in Soi Palai on Feb 12-15. The fair did well as an event for local residents, but did not succeed in attracting foreign tourists because of the location being off the beaten track. Kata Beach in this regard looks more promising.

According to the official Phuket reopening daily report (posted by PR Phuket), from Jan 1 to March 3, 2022, the province registered 175,712 foreign arrivals including 44,356 arrivals via Test & Go scheme, 129,340 arrivals via Sandbox program, 394 via Alternative Quarantine. Overall arrivals from July 1, 2021, totaled 357,971.
Two million elderly not vaxxed as Songkran looms

BANGKOK: The Department of Disease Control has urged more than two million elderly people to get COVID-19 shots before the Songkran festival as infections may soar during the festive period when families reunite across the nation.

CoronavirusCOVID-19culturedeathhealthVaccineSafety

By Bangkok Post

Saturday 5 March 2022, 07:50AM

Nurses vaccinate elderly people against COVID-19 on their row bus in Bang Phli district, Samut Prakan last year. Photo: Somchai Poomlard

Dr Sophon Iamsirithavorn, the departments deputy chief, said the department has voiced strong concern that 2.17mn senior citizens still have not received any COVID-19 vaccines, meaning their health could be jeopardised if they get infected.

Getting vaccinated can save their lives and certainly minimise any severe symptoms if they catch COVID, he said, citing statistics that show that two doses plus a booster means they are 41 times less likely to die if they contract the disease.

He said 928 elderly people have died from COVID in Thailand over the past two months, most of whom were not vaccinated, reports the Bangkok Post.

A large percentage of the elderly demographic in Thailand is now vaccinated with at least one shot, with coverage now extending to 83% of the elderly population, or 10.54mn people, he said.

But more than 2mn people in that age bracket still havent had any shots at all. They need to get vaccinated as quickly as possible, Dr Sophon added.

We dont want to see a tragic loss of life among older generations of families due to this disease during the Songkran festival.

Statistics provided by the department show that out of every 100,000 senior citizens in Thailand aged 60-69, 521 contract COVID. The number is slightly lower for those above 70 at 444.

That being said, these two groups see the highest rate of death, with 0.62% and 2.86% respectively. This compares to a mortality rate of just 0.01% for a child aged 0-9 years or 0.03% for working people aged 30-39.

Family members are urged to take their elderly relations to get jabbed, Dr Sophon said.

Previously the department said that in a worst-case scenario, the Omicron-led pandemic could see over 100,000 cases a day unless people rigorously adhere to all preventive measures, with deaths capped at 50 a day.

And yet the situation has already exceeded that fatality forecast, with Thailand reporting 23,834 new cases yesterday (Mar 4) and 54 deaths.
State

Pennsylvania universities ask for more funds, talk up keeping tuition low

HARRISBURG  College costs and student debt remain high, and the Senate Appropriations Committees hearing with the leaders of Pennsylvanias state-related universities was about how the General Assembly can help schools, rather than why its leaders arent doing more.

While leaders of Penn State, Temple, Pitt and Lincoln universities noted more funding from the Legislature would cover more costs, they noted an emphasis on graduating students faster to lower student debt.

The biggest increment in student debt is a student that goes five years, or then six years, Penn State President Eric Barron said. Penn States working really hard on the time to degree as an issue.

We primarily try to help by offering the opportunity for our students tuition to be held steady for four years, so its an incentive to finish in four years. Any increases that happen only go to the new class coming in, Lincoln University President Brenda Allen said. One of the best things we can do for our students is to help them finish efficiently in four years.

By matching Pell grants and limiting or capping unmet financial need, University of Pittsburgh Chancellor Patrick Gallagher noted that student debt has fallen by 24 percent.

Like the costs of college, student mental health issues were mentioned repeatedly. Leaders noted that COVID-19 made problems worse, and they dont expect them to go away quickly.

This year we are fully back on campus and really adjusting to some of the isolation  what we do see on the ground is that not being on campus for a year has had some negative impact on students social and emotional abilities, Allen said. Weve been having to supply a lot more mental health support for students.

At Penn State, Barron noted they are spending $4 million every year on mental health services.

We need more training in that regard and we need a lot more resources for mental health, Temple University President Jason Winguard said.

By 2019, higher education experts were already warning about the impossibility of identifying and treating students with depression and anxiety. Spending increased 72 percent more on mental health concerns than 2016 to 2018. That spending is likely to keep rising.

Sen. Vincent Hughes, D-Philadelphia, raised the perceived lack of progress in student and faculty diversity.

What do we have to do to get more Pennsylvania African Americans into your schools? Hughes asked.

It starts with financial resources, Winguard said.

Barron noted that its harder to increase faculty diversity than student diversity. They are quickly snatched up by other schools, Barron said.
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Clearfield, PA (16830)

Today

Sun and clouds mixed. Areas of patchy fog. High 71F. Winds light and variable..

Tonight

Cloudy skies with periods of rain late. Low 52F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 90%.
COVID stayed relatively level Friday, according to data released by the state.

Hospitalizations from the virus decreased by four to 167, and though there were fewer new cases identified Friday than the previous day  432 compared to 589  the percent positive remained relatively flat.

Of 19,425 COVID tests reported to the state, 2.22 percent were found to be positive, an increase of one-tenth of 1 percent from Thursday.

Ulysses Wu, chief epidemiologist at Hartford HealthCare, said this week that he expects a sawtooth pattern, in which case rates decrease but not in a straight line.

Rates will continue to decline, but at a slower pace than once would expect, he said.
According to the Tate Britain, the term "Outsider Art" describes art "that has a naive quality, often produced by people who have not trained as artists or worked within the conventional structures of art production." The long-running Outsider Art Fair in New York City, taking place now through Sunday, is the hub of this genre where work by emerging artists and the masters is exhibited and changes hands. REM's Michael Stipe has been deep into Outsider Art since the 1980s, featuring artwork from the likes of Howard Finster and Juanita Rogers on album covers and in music videos. Stipe is showing (and selling) pieces from his incredible collection at this year's fair. From an interview in ARTNews:

ARTnews: Who were some of your early teachers in this context?

Stipe: The interest really came from Andy Nasisse, who taught sculpture at the University of Georgia. He had a huge collection of outsider artists' work here in Athens. I would go to his house and ask him questions about the stuff he had. He and I traveled to Mexico in 1987, all around the Yucatan Peninsula with Jeremy Ayers. The three of us traveled around for three weeks and visited artists and Toltec and Aztec ruins. I found artifacts on the groundit was insane.

Through Andy Nasisse, I met Jim Herberthe was not as interested in outsider artists, but when we became acquainted with R.A. Miller, he followed the band up to Gainesville [Georgia] to R.A.'s house, which was on this hill with all these whirligigs on it, like hundreds of whirligigs. At that point R.A. was just selling them locally. Jim followed the band up there to shoot footage for a video for us to turn into MTV. At the time, we were not creating video content that they were asking for. We just said, 'Fuck you, we're going to do our own thing.' Jim was so inspired by the footage that he got that he did an entire album-side-long film called Left of Reckoning, which you can find on YouTube. It's very beautiful. We decided to include it as a part of the [Outsider Art Fair exhibition] because it shows this environment at its absolute peak, with four handsome guys in our mid-20s wandering around. It's a beautiful Jim Herbert film. I'm so thrilled to have been able to collaborate with Jim as a filmmaker on many R.E.M. videos, but that one in particular is stunning.

ARTnews: Did you send it to MTV?

Stipe: Oh, yeah. And they showed it on the show on Sunday night that that was for indie music

ARTnews: 120 Minutes?

Stipe: Yeah, I think it was. They wouldn't show it with their regular programingit was too weird for them.
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STAMFORD  Connecticut advocates for victims of domestic and sexual violence on Friday decried cuts to federal funding they said would prevent them from operating hotlines, or providing other essential services to survivors.

Gov. Ned Lamont has proposed $18 million in state funding to fill the gap in victim services and to fund housing assistance programs for those experiencing domestic violence.

The governors proposal followed a recent Hearst Connecticut Media Group investigative series that uncovered numerous ways key public systems in the state had failed to adequately address intimate partner violence, including stagnant funding to curb the problem.

Other advocates have also called for life sentences for those convicted of murder related to intimate partner violence.

The proposed influx of state money also comes as advocates said the pandemic, now in its third year, has seen a historic rise in calls from victims in need of help.

It was a couple years ago that we first got the call  first infection, Danbury Hospital, a nurse, Lamont recalled Friday afternoon during a press conference at the Domestic Violence Crisis Center in Stamford to highlight the proposed funding.

In the early days of the pandemic, the governor said the states 211 hotline soon began fielding hundreds of calls from people scared if they were going to live. Then the messages turned to people wondering when their unemployment checks would arrive, the governor said.

Living had a different meaning at that time, too, Lamont recalled. People didnt know how they were going to survive, physically, from one month to the next.

Along with an increase in sexual and domestic violence, the governor pointed to other societal ills that increased in the last two years, from an increase in shootings and crime to unruly behavior in schools.

These are symptoms of something a lot more serious. You see it in domestic abuse and sexual violence, you see it opioid abuse, you see it in just rank bad behavior in some of our high schools, Lamont said. And its going to be with us for a while.

Suzanne Adam, executive director of the Domestic Violence Crisis Center in Stamford, said bridging the gap left by cuts in federal funding will simply save lives.

Domestic violence thrives in isolation, the pandemic provided that evidence without a doubt, said Adam, whose organization serves Stamford, Norwalk, Darian, New Canaan, Westport, Wilton and Weston.

The organization saw a 25 percent increase in counseling services per client in fiscal year 2021, Adam said. Advocacy services increased 147 percent, while safe house stays nearly tripled from 19 days to 52.

The affordable housing shortage in Fairfield County has made it extremely challenging for domestic violence victims, most of whom have experienced some level of financial abuse, and are at a disadvantage in this highly competitive rental and housing market, she added.

For some who spoke on Friday, the question of providing services and funding for victims fell close to home. State Rep. Corey Paris, D-Stamford, recalled his youth growing up as a child of abuse.

I hid a lot of things, I hid bruises that I had, I hid feelings that I had, he said, describing how difficult it was to see families living normal lives, while he kept his experiences hidden.

So governor thank you for your lifeline to me as well, he told Lamont.

Meghan Scanlon, president and CEO of the Connecticut Coalition Against Domestic Violence, an organization that represents more than a dozen domestic violence service agencies, said the money would help organizations maintain the services theyve provided for more than 30 years.

You can get a sense of how devastating it would have been to lose this funding, she said. It would have meant we would lose our crisis response, we would lose our ability to advocate for basic needs, we would lose our court-based advocates, we would lose our law enforcement advocacy. So all of these essentials that survivors deserve when theyre seeking to get out of a violent situation would have all been eliminated.

She said if the funding does not go through, more than 100 jobs could be eliminated from the statewide domestic violence network. The money is also needed to run a statewide domestic violence hotline.

Just in 2021, we had over 28,000 contacts to that hotline via phone, text, email and chat, and we have seen that increase even throughout the couple months of 2022, she said.

Lamont has also unveiled a proposal that would prevent someone convicted of a crime involving family violence from being granted a gun permit in the state.

That proposal, and others the governor has unveiled that would tighten access to guns in the state, comes as the U.S. Supreme Court is expected to rule on a challenge to New Yorks law governing the carrying of guns outside of a persons home.

People who have been found guilty of domestic violence carrying pistols just seems nuts to me, Lamont said Friday, when asked about the possible implications of the pending Supreme Court case on his legislative gun proposals.

Yeah, Im worried theyre gonna take away states like ours ability to keep people safe  were gonna watch that carefully, he added.
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From an office in the Press Corps of the Indiana Statehouse, the journalism majors of Franklin College's Pulliam School of Journalism work alongside the best reporters in the state, digging into the behind-the-scenes stories of Indiana politics. We're a student newsroom, but our work doesn't sit on a professor's desk. We create daily content for this website and 35 professional media partners around the state.
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ELSAH  Principia College students last month participated in a celebration of journalism.

Monitor Night Live 2022, held Thursday, Feb. 24, included a nearly full Wanamaker Hall on campus and a YouTube audience of more than a thousand. The event featured a panel of four Christian Science Monitor staffers who tackled the topics of objectivity, fairness and responsibility in news reporting.

Last year, Monitor staff visited the campus remotely via Zoom, a drastic departure from the typical nature of the event that has been a fixture of Principia College for decades. College president John Williams, who moderated the panel, said he was thrilled that the 22nd annual Monitor Night Live could be held in person this year. He emphasized the connection that formed between the panelists on stage and the participants in the audience.

I think it was a great insight into the mind of reporters today, Williams said.

One of the four distinguished guests was Mark Sappenfield, the Monitors editor-in-chief. Drawing on his lengthy experience as a reporter and foreign correspondent for the Monitor as well as his time as editor, Sappenfield spoke on why bias is not inherently bad.

We see a lot of people in the media embracing [their biases] and that makes a lot of sense in some ways, he said. If a newspaper organization moves more to the left or more to the right, thats good, because you know where theyre coming from.

The problem that arises from that, said Sappenfield, is the intense polarization that we see today. The Monitor, therefore, strives to mitigate this atmosphere through balanced and fair reporting.

Noah Robertson, a reporter in the Monitors Washington bureau, expressed his view on the importance of building trust with not only the newspapers readership, but with each of his sources, as well.

There is a great deal of responsibility on the part of the journalist, Robertson said. If youre willing and happy to send [your stories] back to your sources afterward, its probably a good sign about what youve done as a reporter.

Stephanie Hanes, an environment and climate writer for the Monitor, talked about her own struggle with deciding whether to quote climate change deniers.

There are lots ofvalid, conflicting views about the same science, Hanes said. Its about making sure that we understand the science, and from there we can go and look underneath to see howpeople are grappling with it.

The panelists were careful to point out that while the intentions behind most news stories are good, the product itself can often come across as biased or inflammatory. There are a variety of reasons for this, including algorithms that work to promote certain narratives and headlines that lead readers to pre-established conclusions.

I have the conviction that you can make nuance interesting, but its hard, Sappenfield said. We need to do nuance, but we need to do it in a compelling way.

Monitor political correspondent Story Hinckley shared her solution for how to make nuance interesting: tell human stories.

So much of my job is a lesson in empathy, she said.

A question-and-answer session followed the panel discussion, and several Principia students and faculty asked how to be informed consumers of news. Elvis Ajuoga, an international student from Kenya who posed a question about political polarization, said that he learned what it takes to produce objective news.

Now, whenever I read an article, there will be certain questions that I ask myself, said Ajuoga. Like, how is this article impacting me? Does it make me reactive or proactive?

Several members of the audience also participated in the Monitor Bootcamp, which was held the following Friday. A couple of these students were Christian Scientists from other colleges who were accepted to the bootcamp based on their interest in Monitor journalism, like Sara Lang, a senior at the University of Alabama.

Working for a college [newspaper] is a lot different than working in the real world, said Lang. Being surrounded by campus life all the time, were kind of in a bubble, so I got a more real-world perspective tonight.
Kriner Cash can claim some successes as Buffalo's schools superintendent over the past seven years but the time is right for him to make way for fresh leadership.

Optimism surrounds Cash's interim replacement, Buffalo native and district veteran Tonja M. Williams, but Cash leaves behind substantial challenges to address.

School security, the lingering Covid-19 pandemic and student attendance all are pressing issues in the district. But Buffalo has an unprecedented opportunity to leverage nearly $300 million in federal funding to address those and other priorities.

These are some of the observations from a group of community stakeholders asked to comment Friday on Cash's abrupt departure from his job and where the district goes from here.

"The new superintendent, unfortunately, is going to have a lot to clean up," State Sen. Sean Ryan, D-Buffalo, said.

They agreed Cash's successor, whoever it is, faces a considerable challenge in running a large, urban school district that is fundamental to Buffalo's future growth.

"It can be done, but it's multifaceted," said Thomas Beauford Jr., the Buffalo Urban League's president and CEO. "And it requires leadership  great leadership  and collective leadership as well."

'Dire straits' in 2015

Cash came into a challenging situation in the Buffalo schools in 2015. He was the seventh superintendent or interim superintendent in the district within a four-year stretch, following a lengthy, disjointed search overseen by a fractured Board of Education.

Teachers were working under the terms of a contract that had expired a decade earlier. Several schools were among the lowest performing in the state, with English and math proficiency below 10%. And students were graduating from district high schools at a rate hovering around 50%.

"The district was in dire straits when he got here," said Assembly Majority Leader Crystal Peoples-Stokes, D-Buffalo, a graduate of Bennett High School.

The district reached agreement on a new teachers' contract in 2016, breaking a 12-year standoff. About one-quarter of district students are proficient in English and math now.

And Buffalo's graduation rate improved to 79% last year, part of an upward trend amplified by eliminating the Regents exam requirement in 2020 and 2021.

Another positive change during Cash's tenure was a community schools initiative that featured opening the doors of school buildings on Saturdays; offering music and other enrichment programs; and serving hot meals for students, said David Rust, executive director of the Say Yes to Education Buffalo non-profit.

Spectrum, Bills team up to provide internet to Buffalo students at home At least 3,100 homes lacked internet access when the school year began in September with remote instruction.

"There was a lot of good work done over the last seven years," he said.

Buffalo Mayor Byron W. Brown pointed to "progress" made under Cash and said the district and city had a fruitful partnership, including coordinating to use American Rescue Plan funds to help students make up class credits they missed because of Covid-related learning challenges and working with the Buffalo Bills to improve internet access for students.

Buffalo wasn't alone in confronting the effects of the pandemic over the past two years, but many of the district's decisions on remote learning, mask wearing and other issues proved unpopular.

Absences were felt

Kriner Cash is out as Buffalo school superintendent The School Board approved a termination agreement with Cash on Wednesday night after days of speculation about the future of the superintendent.

Cash had more than a year left on his contract when he abruptly resigned as superintendent, a move announced Wednesday evening and described as a mutual decision by School Board members.

"There's a time for everything, and his time was the seven years that he did," Peoples-Stokes said.

His departure followed a burst of violence last month outside McKinley High School and a vote of no confidence by Buffalo's teachers spurred by the McKinley assault and longstanding security concerns. Stakeholders also complained that Cash often was out of town and disconnected from the district.

McKinley plan to resume in-person classes stresses security to 'create safe environment' Security guards and administrators will be strategically placed, and Peacemakers will be stationed at the front corners of the building, helping students with safe passage, said McKinley Principal Moustafa Khalil.

Ryan said Cash initially brought stability to the district when it was badly needed but over the past two years seemed to be "largely absent."

"He always seemed like he had one foot out the door," Ryan said.

Williams, previously the associate superintendent of student support services, will serve while a search is conducted for Cash's successor in the coming months. A graduate of Riverside High School and lifelong Buffalonian, she earned praise as someone who knows the district and the city well.

Buffalo school superintendent absent in the midst of controversy Superintendent Kriner Cash was front and center at news conferences on Feb. 9 after a student was stabbed and a security guard was shot outside McKinley High School. But on Saturday, when the district announced its plans for bringing students back into the school, Cash was nowhere to be seen.

"I believe that the city has to be excited about the potential and the opportunity that Dr. Williams brings to the Buffalo public school system," said the Buffalo Urban League's Beauford, adding, "We're invested in her success, because we know that her success can also translate to success for the future of our children as well as this community at large."

Several civic and elected leaders expressed hope that Williams would receive serious consideration as Cash's replacement. But, if she isn't chosen, they said they want to see someone else with deep Buffalo ties fill the role.

"We have national-caliber people right here in the City of Buffalo," Brown said.

District at pivotal point

Observers see Buffalo schools at a critical juncture marked by challenges and opportunities alike.

McKinley plan to resume in-person classes stresses security to 'create safe environment' Security guards and administrators will be strategically placed, and Peacemakers will be stationed at the front corners of the building, helping students with safe passage, said McKinley Principal Moustafa Khalil.

School security is a major priority for the district, with Cash and the School Board announcing a number of steps in recent weeks intended to reassure teachers, students and parents that it's safe to go to class.

Keeping students in school and on track to graduate also is important, Ryan said.

And the district needs to do even more to prepare students for college and the workforce, Rust said, even as it serves a population stressed by pandemic-related isolation and economic uncertainty.

Parents like parts of $289M Buffalo school spending plan but worry about missing details Although the district spending plan is 169 pages, much of the document was devoted to background, academic concepts and guiding principles, not price tags, cost analyses or payroll needs for specific new academic and enrichment programs or construction-related expenses.

But, he noted, Buffalo will receive an unprecedented infusion in federal stimulus aid that will allow it to invest in a number of priority areas. Cash and his administration began deciding how to allocate that funding and reached out to the community to help guide this process.

"It feels like a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity," Rust said.

Whoever takes control of the district, the fates of Buffalo and its schools are bound together, community leaders said. The city's population grew for the first time in decades during the most recent U.S. Census and a strong school system will convince even more families to move into Buffalo.

"Having a strong school district is essential to having a strong city," Brown said.

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IVY GOODMAN, Stonington, Girls, Lacrosse, Senior; Goodman scored 12 goals and had 13 assists in three games. Her seven assists in the Bears win over Waterford established a school record. She surpassed the 50-goal mark for the season in Stoningtons victory over Ledyard.

DEAN PONS JR., Westerly, Baseball, Senior; Pons, a senior, struck out 14 batters in the Bulldogs five-inning win against Wheeler School/Rocky Hill. Pons had an assist on the remaining out, throwing out a runner on a groundout. Pons allowed just one hit and walked only two.

KATIE PIERCE, Wheeler, Girls, Lacrosse, Sophomore; Pierce scored five goals and the Lions beat Griswold to earn their first victory of the season. Wheeler avenged an earlier loss to the Wolverines this season with the 15-4 victory.

WEEKO THOMPSON, Chariho, Girls, Track Sophomore; Thompson, a sophomore, bettered her school record in the discus at the Classical Classic meet. She finished first in the event and also won the shot put.

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The indiscriminate Russian shelling of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant in Ukraine is the single biggest act of lunacy in an unnecessary and extraordinarily bloody war.

At a moment when the Western democracies are struggling to come to terms with energy self-sufficiency without Russian oil and gas, meet net zero targets and overcome the phobia that surrounds atomic power, it is a monumental disservice.

Germany had been planning to turn off all its nuclear power generation by the end of this year and terminated future projects after the Fukushima disaster in 2011.

The future?: Whitehall funding has been secured for the Rolls-Royce project to produce small modular reactors

The withdrawal could be reversed as Europe's powerhouse economy remakes its plans after the Ukraine war amid new determination never again to be as dependent on the Kremlin for energy.

By his attacks on nuclear plants, Russian president Vladimir Putin may have rekindled old fears in Germany about safety, decommissioning and radioactive waste disposal.

It is to be hoped that it doesn't do the same in Britain where informed opinion, including parts of the green lobby, has moved decisively in favour of a fleet of new nuclear plants to provide a base-load of electricity production when the wind, which can provide up to 50 per cent of UK electricity requirements, fails to blow.

Nuclear cannot be a short-term answer to anything, as the gestation time is so long.

Electricite de France (EDF), which runs most of Britain's historical nuclear fleet, recognises that the policy of extending its life is no longer possible. That is why the vast Hinkley project in Somerset is so critical. It also explains why the Government, together with EDF, wants to start building a new plant at Sizewell.

Chinese involvement is no longer seen as strategically sensible. It now looks as if the Government will displace China by taking a 20 per cent stake, matching the EDF equity. Another obstacle is the Regulated Asset Base proposed financing. This requires critics to bite their tongues and accept that dividend payouts will take place while the project is being delivered.

The UK is fortunate in having an alternative, more flexible source of nuclear power. Whitehall funding has been secured for the Rolls-Royce project to produce small modular reactors (SMRs), based on the nuclear turbines used to power submarines, which can be put to land use. Each will produce less than 10 per cent of the output of Hinkley.

The proposed 16 SMRs would be assembled more quickly and deployed more flexibly  if traditional negativity around nimbyism and waste disposal can be overcome.

Successive governments have struggled with the financing of new nuclear projects seen as too politically toxic, too risky and too longterm. Yet after the financial crisis and in the era of Covid, the Bank of England found resources to engage in a vast 895billion exercise in buying Government bonds through quantitative easing (QE).

At times of acute financial and banking stress after the collapse of Lehman in 2008 and the start of the pandemic in March 2020 central bank actions were key to normalising markets.

But there are real questions to be asked as to whether this was well targeted. Among the poor outcomes of QE has been the rise in speculative activity a tech bubble, the boom in crypto currencies, special purpose acquisition companies, surging property prices and irresponsible private sector lending to emerging market entities.

What if the authorities had chosen a different course? What if, instead of a black box policy of pumping money into the banking system, lessons from Franklin D Roosevelt in the 1930s or the Marshall Plan for European reconstruction after the Second World War were learnt?

The Tennessee Valley Authority, which brought hydro-electricity and other power projects to America's South was a direct result. Imagine if some of the QE had been used to finance the creation of half a dozen large modern nuclear power plants. It would have been a big boost for Britain's productivity and energy security.

It is remarkable how accepting politicians have been of QE, perhaps because nobody understands it, and how difficult it is to win acceptance for visionary infrastructure projects such as Hinkley, Sizewell C and rail link HS2.
Royal London claimed that it is 'ready to move on' following its failed bid for LV, as it outlined plans to expand into new products to help Britain's ageing population.

The savings giant, which tried to rescue life insurer LV from the hands of private equity predator Bain Capital last year, said it would launch an improved pensions service and more equity release mortgages to help its members shore up their retirement.

It came as Royal London revealed that profits had climbed 47 per cent to 192million in 2021, and handed 169million to 1.8million eligible members.

'Ready to move on': Royal London said it would launch an improved pensions service and more equity release mortgages to help its members shore up their retirement

Unveiling the results, chief executive Barry O'Dwyer said the handout was only possible due to Royal London's structure, as he launched a staunch defence of the mutual business model. Mutuals are owned by their members and run for their benefit, rather than for profit-hungry shareholders.

But their number has been dwindling as they have been snapped up by predators  a fate which LV narrowly avoided when its members voted down the Bain takeover last year.

O'Dwyer said: 'We are proudly mutual and one of the most tangible ways we demonstrate this is through profit share.'

Royal London was founded in 1861 to help families protect themselves from the shame of a pauper's funeral, and O'Dwyer added that although the business had developed, its 'purpose as a mutual has never been more relevant'. This was one of the arguments which persuaded LV members to shun Bain, leading to Royal London swooping in with its own offer.

Royal London had previously been turned down by LV's board in favour of Bain in 2020, despite having been in talks with the rival firm for several years. But LV eventually walked away yet again last month, saying that, despite its earlier claims to the contrary, it was better off as an independent business.

O'Dwyer said: 'We offered to give them a mutual future but they've said they can do that themselves now. In a sense it's good to see them move on and I wish them well. I want to see mutuals succeed.'

Even though his bid for LV flopped, O'Dwyer said he had plenty of ideas to boost growth at Royal London.

'We know we are underprovided for as a nation in terms of pensions. People just aren't saving enough,' he said.

'That's a structurally growing market because there's that deficit we have to fill.'

O'Dwyer said it would also be looking to broaden its array of equity release mortgages, which allow homeowners to free up cash locked in the value of their property, to help pay for social care in later life.

He said: 'We have an ageing population, and we have a lot of housing wealth in the UK.

'We need a means to tap into that.'
The FTSE 100 suffered its worst week since the pandemic crash as the war in Ukraine sparked a sell-off across global markets.

The blue-chip index ended the week down 6.7 per cent, or 502 points, at 6987  below 7000 for the first time in six months and leaving it 6.9 per cent lower than it was at the start of 2022. It means around 133billion has been wiped off the value of the 100 biggest firms on the London Stock Exchange (LSE).

And it is the biggest weekly slump since 2020, when coronavirus and lockdown measures caused it to lose 17 per cent of its value between March 9 and March 13.

The sell-off came as the LSE suspended another eight Russian businesses from trading in the UK. The stocks, which include supermarket chain Magnit and investment firm Sistema, add to the 28 suspended earlier this week. There are no Russian businesses now trading on the LSE.

Traders and analysts fear the fallout from the conflict and sanctions on Russia will ripple across the world, exacerbating issues that have arisen since it emerged from the pandemic.

A key concern is prices of raw materials, which saw their biggest weekly increase in over 50 years, according to the S&P GSCI Index, which tracks commodity prices.

Oil prices spiked to their highest levels in around a decade. And natural gas costs ballooned, briefly hitting a record of around 450p a therm in the UK yesterday following a Government decision to ban Russian ships from British ports.

Some politicians and activists want Russian oil and gas exports to be cut off from international markets, to deprive Vladimir Putin's regime of income.

However, that would probably inflict even more pain on household energy bills, which could rise to over 3,000 per year. Meanwhile, drivers are being affected after the average price of unleaded petrol hit a record 151.67p per litre on Tuesday and diesel reached an all-time high of 155.23p.

The efforts to isolate Russia also risk a global shortage of metals, of which it is a key exporter, and as a result prices have rocketed.

Nickel, used to make stainless steel and electric car batteries, is at its highest level in around 15 years while copper and aluminium prices have also spiked. Food has been hit as the price of wheat hit a 14-year high amid fears of shortages. Ukraine and Russia account for about 30 per cent of global exports  the war could significantly shrink supplies.
Former London Stock Exchange boss Xavier Rolet has refused to quit a Russian fertiliser company in the wake of the Ukraine war.

The French businessman has sat on the board of Moscow-based PhosAgro since 2018 and has been chairman since 2019.

He earned more than 325,000 for the role in 2020.

Staying put: Xavier Rolet has sat on the board of Moscow-based PhosAgro since 2018 and has been chairman since 2019

The firm has a listing in London, though trading in its shares was suspended by the LSE this week. Rolet was LSE boss for eight years between 2009 and 2017, and is one of a string of Western businessmen under pressure to sever ties with Russian firms, particularly those connected to President Putin.

Oligarch Andrey Guryev is the biggest shareholder, with a stake of over 23 per cent. The second-largest investor is Vladimir Litvinenko, who oversaw Putin's doctoral thesis.

Rolet's refusal to step down came a day after influential business body the Institute of Directors said it was 'untenable' for British directors to stay on Russian boards.

When asked about the statement he said he had 'commented publicly on the tragedy unfolding in the Ukraine'.

He added that he was not British and asked: 'Perhaps British chairs of Russian companies can give you a British perspective on the logic of punishing LSE-listed companies for the failure of diplomacy?'

The 62-year-old was awarded the Order of Friendship of the Russian Federation in 2017 and is the chairman of Shore Capital Markets.

Others under pressure to quit Russian boards include Prince Charles' former aide Sir Michael Peat, who is on the board of Roman Abramovich-backed steelmaker Evraz.

The ex-courtier is due to leave at the end of March but has so far declined to step down early.

Yesterday, a fellow British director at Evraz, City veteran James Rutherford, quit suddenly.
The average rent in Britain has edged closer to 1,000 a month, the highest level in 13 years.

They now stand at 969 a month, rising 8.3 per cent in a year to December 2021 amid a shortage of supply, according to Zoopla.

But there are huge regional differences in rental prices and what type of property that amount of monthly rent will secure for a tenant.

As part of our Property Battle series, we take a look at two rental properties in different parts of the country that share the same rental price of 1,000 a month and ask which one would you choose?

Which of these two rental properties - each costing 1,000 a month - would you choose to live in?

The first is a studio to rent in South East London's Crystal Palace with a large balcony, providing some sought-after private outdoor space in the capital.

The second is a six-bedroom end of terrace house in Tuebrook, a north-east area of Liverpool.

London estate agent Jeremy Leaf said: 'How far you are prepared to go from the capital affects how much bang you get for your buck.

'There is a trade-off between size and location  it could be that if you need to get to work in London you would be prepared to move as far as say Northampton but you wouldn't be able to make Liverpool work.

'That would be a shame in this case as the appealing six-bed rental in Liverpool has a lot going for it when compared with the London studio.'

Much also depends on the market. At the moment it is very much a landlord's market, with very little rental property available for tenants. Jeremy Leaf - estate agent

He added: 'If you picked up the Liverpool house and put it anywhere in and around London it would cost you millions of pounds, even in the suburbs.

'What we are finding is that people are shying away from houses that need work because of the cost of labour and materials.

'You can't with any certainty price things or know when you can get the work done.

'This is is even more the case if you are renting  you ideally want the property done to a high standard. Renting is about convenience; tenants don't want to be doing properties up unless it is a long-term let.

'Much also depends on the market. At the moment it is very much a landlord's market, with very little rental property available for tenants.

'Sometimes landlords can get away with showing something that is not in great condition because there is so little available.'

This studio flat is in South East London's Crystal Palace, less than half a mile from both Crystal Palace and Gipsy Hill train stations

1. Studio, London, 1k a month rent

This studio flat is in South East London's Crystal Palace and boasts its own private outdoor space.

The large balcony is brightly coloured with decking stretching along the length of the floor, with sufficient space for an outdoor dining area.

It also has a separate triangle-shaped bathroom and has good access to local transport. It is less than half a mile from both Crystal Palace and Gipsy Hill train stations.

The spacious studio has room for a double bed, as well as a separate sofa and a dining area

The London studio boasts its own private outdoor area that has some brightly coloured walls and sufficient space for an outdoor dining area

There is a separate shower room with white and grey tiles and sloping roofline

It is available to rent unfurnished or furnished for 1,000 via letting agents Martin & Co

It is available to rent unfurnished or furnished for 1,000 via letting agents Martin & Co.

Daniel Copley, of Zoopla, said: ''This studio - complete with a small balcony in the heart of the bustling Crystal Palace triangle - may be compact, but it is perfectly placed for everything South East London has to offer.

'Opposite a cinema and a few minute's stroll from the huge Crystal Palace Park, this rented studio is ideal for someone looking to make the most of the prime location.'

This end of terrace property to rent is in Tuebrook, a north-east area of Liverpool

2. Six-bed house, Liverpool, 1k a month

By looking at areas outside of the capital, it is possible to make your rental cash stretch further.

This end of terrace property to rent in Tuebrook, a north-east area of Liverpool, has six double bedrooms and two bathrooms.

There is also a kitchen with space for an eating area and a living room with a corner sofa.

There is also a good-sized kitchen with enough space for a dining table and chairs

The living room currently has a large corner sofa lining two walls and facing the window

The property helps make your 1,000 a month rent stretch further as it has six double bedrooms

There are two bathrooms, including this well-presented one with a modern white bathroom suite

The Liverpool property is available to rent furnished for 1,000 a month via Northwood lettings agents

It is available to rent furnished for 1,000 a month via Northwood lettings agents

Local transport links include Wavertree Technology Park and Edge Hill train stations that are both around 1.5 miles from the property.

Mr Copley added: 'If it's space you're after, this six-bedroom end of terrace house in Liverpool could provide ample space for a family thanks to the large bedrooms and plenty of natural light.

'Available furnished, close to local schools and with outdoor space, there's simply everything a large family might need already under one roof'.
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Kingsport, TN (37660)

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A mix of clouds and sun. High 82F. Winds light and variable..

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Cloudy skies early with scattered thunderstorms developing late. Low around 65F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 40%.
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ALBANY  The campaign for Gov. Kathy Hochul labeled U.S. Rep. Lee Zeldin a "far-right extremist" in an email solicitation Friday that was sent with the subject line, "Republicans are gaining momentum."

"This is a critical moment for our campaign," read the email that asked for a "rush donation to our Rapid Response Fund so we can fight back against these attacks and keep growing our movement of supporters."

The campaign said that the Republican Party "threw their support behind a far-right extremist."

The state Republican Party made Zeldin, a Long Island conservative, its nominee for governor at its convention this past week.

In his nomination speech, he referred to masks in school as "child abuse." He detailed his support for parents to make their own decisions for children, his staunch backing of law enforcement and a need to remove district attorneys who do not follow the law.

"New Yorkers are at a breaking point and Kathy Hochul only has herself to blame that her weak leadership and political miscalculating has her so threatened by congressman and Army veteran Lee Zeldin who is running for governor to reverse Hochul's attacks on New Yorkers' wallets, safety, freedoms, and kids' education," Zeldin's campaign said in a statement.

Zeldin has been perhaps most heavily critiqued by Democrats for his decision in Congress to not certify the results of the 2020 presidential election.

Zeldin has pitched himself as a Republican for "common sense" measures. He has often deflected questions about the certification of the election, instead noting he focuses on issues that he finds that everyday voters care about, like safe schools and streets.

"There is so much work to be done and Lee Zeldin is ready to hit the ground running on day one to reverse all of the damage Hochul and one-party rule is causing to New Yorkers' livelihoods every day," the Zeldin campaign said.

In the Friday email blast, the Hochul campaign makes passing reference to one other Republican vying to win the primary, Harry Wilson. The businessman and former state comptroller candidate is "even putting $12 million of his own wealth toward his campaign to defeat us," the email from Hochul's campaign reads.

Wilson has been seen by political insiders as a dark horse, a relative moderate who is positioning himself as an outsider. The insiders also have noted he entered the race last month, after Republican officials already endorsed Zeldin, who has traversed every county in New York while asking for support over the better part of one year.

Wilson will have to collect enough signatures to get onto the ballot for the June primary.

"We need to respond," the campaign email reads. "The longer we let these attacks go unaddressed, the more well miss out on reaching undecided voters and amplifying Gov. Hochuls vision for New Yorks comeback."

Hochul has run a prolific fundraising campaign while collecting $22 million in a single filing period and also picking up criticism along the way for the access granted to lobbyists while pledging the most transparent government to date.

Hochul recently polled favorably with nearly half of registered voters in a mid-February Siena College poll; just over one-fifth of registered voters remain undecided. Republicans overwhelming are unhappy with her, according to the poll.

Meanwhile, Zeldin remains mostly unknown to voters, according to the poll, with 62 percent saying they have no opinion or don't know him; just over a quarter of Republicans said they find him favorable.
A curious new church was dedicated on the outskirts of Moscow in June 2020: The Main Church of the Russian Armed Forces. The massive, khaki-colored cathedral in a military theme park celebrates Russian might. It was originally planned to open on the 75th anniversary of the Soviet Unions victory over Nazi Germany, in May 2020, but was delayed due to the pandemic.

Conceived by the Russian defense minister after Russias illegal annexation of Crimea, the cathedral embodies the ideology espoused by President Vladimir Putin, with strong support from the Russian Orthodox Church.

The Kremlins vision of Russia connects the state, military and the Russian Orthodox Church. I see this militant religious nationalism as one of the key elements in Putins motivation for invading Ukraine, my native country. It also goes a long way in explaining Moscows behavior toward the West and post-Cold War world.

The Church of the Armed Forces bell tower is 75 meters tall symbolizing the 75th anniversary of the end of World War II. It has a big dome and a smaller one. Nazi trophy weapons are melted into the floor so that each step is an insult to the defeated Nazis.

Frescoes depict Russian military might through history, from medieval battles to modern wars in Georgia and Syria. Archangels lead heavenly and earthly armies. Christ wields a sword and the Holy Mother, depicted as the Motherland, lends support.



The original plans for the frescoes included a celebration of the Crimean occupation, with jubilant people holding a banner that read Crimea is Ours and Forever with Russia. In the final version, the controversial Crimea is Ours was replaced by the more benign We are together.

When Russia annexed Crimea from Ukraine in 2014, the Russian Orthodox Church celebrated, calling Crimea the cradle of Russian Christianity. This mythology draws on the medieval story of Prince Vladimir, who converted to Christianity in the 10th century and was baptized in Crimea. The prince then imposed the faith on his subjects in Kyiv, and it spread from there.

The Russian Orthodox Church, also called the Moscow Patriarchate, has long claimed this event as its foundational story. The Russian empire, which linked itself to the church, adopted this foundational story as well.

Putin and the head of the Russian church, Patriarch Kirill, have resurrected these ideas about empire for the 21st century.

In 2007, Putin created a Russian World Foundation, which was charged with promotion of Russian language and promoting interpretations of history approved by the Kremlin.

Russian World reflects Putins mission of making Russia a spiritual, cultural and political center of civilization to counter the liberal, secular ideology of the West. This vision has been used to justify policies at home and abroad.

The military cathedral planned mosaic depicted the celebrations of Soviet forces defeat of Nazi Germany  the Great Patriotic War, as World War II is called in Russia. The image included soldiers holding a portrait of Josef Stalin, the dictator of the USSR during the war, among a crowd of decorated veterans. This mosaic was reportedly removed before the churchs opening.

The results are in See the winners of each category of the 2022 Best of the Capital Region contest, as determined by popular vote.

The Great Patriotic War has a special, even sacred, place in Russians views of history. It cost the Soviet Union an estimated 26 million lives. Russians see the war as a holy one, in which Soviets defended their motherland and the whole world from the evil of Nazism.

Under Putin, glorification of the war and Stalins role in the victory have reached epic proportions. Nazism, for very good reasons, is seen as a manifestation of the ultimate evil.

During a speech on Feb. 24, Putin bizarrely called for the de-nazification of Ukraine. He also spoke of a fraternal relationship between Russian and Ukrainian people and denied the existence of the Ukrainian state. In his view, Ukraines sovereignty is an example of chauvinistic nationalism.

Putins claim that Ukraines government is run by Nazis is absurd. However, the manipulation of this image makes sense in the framework of this ideology. Painting the government in Kyiv as evil helps to paint the war in Ukraine in black and white.

Tangible geopolitical issues may be driving Putins war in Ukraine, but his actions also seem motivated by a desire to secure his own legacy. In Putins vision he is the hero who restores Great Russia, to its former size and influence.

The Russian president himself appeared in earlier versions of the cathedrals frescoes, along with Minister of Defense Sergei Shoigu and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. However, the mosaic was removed after controversy.

Patriarch Kirill, who has called Putins rule a miracle of God, said the new cathedral holds the hope that future generations will pick up the spiritual baton from past generations and save the Fatherland from internal and external enemies.

This volatile religious nationalism manifests itself in the militarism unfolding in Ukraine.

On Feb. 24, 2022, the day the invasion began, Patriarch Kirill called for a swift resolution and protection of civilians in Ukraine, while reminding Orthodox Christians of the fraternal connection between the two nations. But he has not condemned the war itself. And he still refers to evil forces trying to destroy the unity of Russia and the Russian Orthodox Church.

Lena Surzhko Harned is an Assistant Teaching Professor of Political Science at Penn State. She co-authored the 2017 book, "Post-Soviet Legacies and Conflicting Values in Europe: Generation Why?"
Reading the writings of Simone Weil (1909-1943) takes my breath away. Her thoughts are always fresh and have the dew upon them. An intellectual is a person for whom the life of the mind is extremely important. Hands down, no thinker I ever read possesses a creative mind as Simone does. In this connection, I understand creativity as the ability to transcend or go beyond the confines of convention.

Simone may arguably be the most baffling intellectual in the 20th century. Born in 1909, she grew up in an agnostic Jewish family that lived in Paris. Her father, Bernard Weil, a physician, and her mom, Selma Reinherz, gave their children, Andre and Simone, an exceptional education providing them tutors to teach them various languages.

As teenagers, Andre (1906-98) and Simone learned French, Latin, German, and ancient Greek. They mastered languages so well that they often spoke to each other in ancient Greek. Later in life, they both learned Sanskrit, so that they could read the Hindu scriptures in their original language.

When 12 years old, Andre solved math problems beyond the doctoral level. He became a distinguished professor of mathematics at the Institute for Advanced Study at Princeton. He did foundational work in number theory and algebraic geometry. Simone was one of the first women to graduate with the doctoral degree in philosophy summa cum laude in 1931 from the Ecole Normale Superieure (now part of the Universities of Paris).

At different times and places, Simone was a philosopher, mathematician, mystic, workers advocate, political theorist, writer, and pacifist. Andre Gide (1869-1951), called her the patron saint of all outsiders. Leon Trotsky (1879-1940) branded her a melancholy revolutionary.

As an activist involved in leftist causes, she was nicknamed The Red Virgin. Charles de Gaulle (1890-1970) thought she was mentally ill. Remarks like his bothered her as she got older. She feared the world would primarily see her as different and overlook her writings by not taking them seriously.

Since Simone was very involved in the workers movements, the authorities in power placed her in lycees (or high schools) in small towns like Le Puy, away from larger towns where the workers movements were centered. Apparently, nothing could hold Simone back: for example, at Le Puy she led a strike of the unemployed. Between 1934-35, she worked at three factories in Paris and did piecemeal work for which she was totally unsuited.

In many factories in France, labor conditions were horrible, particularly during the 1930s global depression. The factory system eliminated all sense of human dignity, which took a heavy toll on her health, plus she suffered most of her life with severe migraine headaches.

Simone coined the term malheur, French for affliction," "misfortune or woe." Simone felt that factory work killed the soul of the worker and eradicated everything in a person that was human. For Simone, affliction has many meanings: it includes social humiliation, physical suffering, and not counting for anything in ones own estimation nor in the eyes of others.

Throughout her life, Simone possessed a very strong sense of justice, an extraordinary love for the truth and a compassionate heart.

Simone served as a volunteer in the Spanish Civil War but left after accidentally stepping into boiling oil. She then lived with her

parents in the southern part of France until Simone left with her family in 1942 for New York. Simone then went to London to work with the French Resistance but became ill and died in a sanatorium in 1943.



In her short life, Simone kept meticulous notebooks that were published posthumously, all 20 of them. Simones writings are difficult to decipher and remain controversial today. She espoused a mystical Christianity and her criticism of Judaism's influence on Western culture offended many. Yet she risked her life to fight fascism in Spain and joined the French Resistance to fight the Nazis.

The results are in See the winners of each category of the 2022 Best of the Capital Region contest, as determined by popular vote.

Regardless of controversies, contemporary scholars think so highly of Simone that theres an American Weil Society that has an annual conference. The 41st annual meeting of this society will be held at the University of Notre Dame from March 17-19. The topic will have as its theme Translations of Beauty: Simone Weil and Literature.

What can we learn from her today? Plenty.

First, in these pandemic times we need to focus on helping others in a way that makes our own ego disappear as we come to the aid of neighbors less fortunate than we are. Second, Simone suggests that we are to do Gods will and can be a unique presence of God on planet Earth. Third, Simone can be relatable to women today who are experiencing physical, mental, and emotional pain, since she suffered so much pain her entire life yet continued her important work of championing the marginalized.

Finally, Simone notes that we cannot move to God on our own. Rather, by coming to us through grace, God crosses the universe and

comes to us.

Former Albany resident Richard Penaskovic went on to become a professor of religious studies at Alabama's Auburn University. He earned his doctorate in theology at the University of Munich in Germany.
The Number Four sandwich went viral on TikTok. Now the Italian deli thats been feeding Poughkeepsie for almost half a century is eyeing number two: its second location.

Poughkeepsie locals and others have lined up at Rosticceria Rossi & Sons, a mostly takeout spot on South Clover Street in Little Italy, for decades for their larger-than-life sandwiches.

The Rossi family opened the deli in 1979 after immigrating from Calabria and Parma, Italy, setting out to make good food using authentic Italian ingredients, a mission that the next generation is replicating, with some fresh twists.

We all went off to school and had different career paths, said Fabio Rossi of his three brothers. But our hearts were here. It came to the point where our parents didnt want to run it anymore and us four children had the conversation. We couldnt see the place go.

In 2003, the four brothers ditched their plans  teaching jobs, Italian travel, medicine to take over the family business.

Since then, the Poughkeepsie sandwich joint has continued to see success and has even blown up on social media. Foodie TikTok account @devourpower, which has over 1.5 million followers, featured the delis Number Four sandwich  stuffed with a crispy chicken cutlet, prosciutto, herbed pesto, mozzarella, and roasted peppers on house-made focaccia  a video thats been viewed almost half a million times. Another account @openingsandwiches, featured the menu favorite too, gaining nearly half a million likes and inspiring visits.

New and old customers say the food keeps them coming back. Rossis is my go to place when I need an Italian specialty item for a recipe, or to serve my guests, Dianna Johnson, who has frequented the deli for almost 40 years, wrote in a Google review.

Introducing Alimentari Rossi & Sons

Fabio led the kitchen once the four brothers took over the deli almost two decades ago and looked to diversify the product. The first step? Find better bread.

I had this crazy idea to make focaccia and the rest of my family said, You cant make bread here, its too much work, said Fabio. I said we have to. A sandwich is a sum of its parts, and we need to have all of those parts right.

Fabio spent the next year teaching himself how to make the airy bread. Once it was ready for customers, it took some convincing for them to switch from the classic sliced Italian. Within a year, Rossi & Sons was ordering 20 to 30 bags of flour a week, up from just one 50-pound bag a week, to keep up with the now-preferred house-made loaves, which are used to turn out 100 sandwiches a day.

The brothers werent actively looking to expand to another location  aside from the pop-up at nearby Marist College  but when they were approached, they were ready.

Local developer Joseph Kirchoff and his business partner approached the brothers at the deli one day. We were busy as usual, said Fabio. They got an idea of who we were, yelling and screaming orders across the deli.

Kirchoff said they were building a new live-work-play village filled with locally owned businesses and wanted to include the deli in the mix. Eastdale Village is a 35-acre community featuring 120,000-square-feet of commercial real estate including restaurant, medical, retail, office space and 250 leased apartments, with another 150 planned over the next two years.

We knew we wanted to do this, but we couldnt do it alone, said Fabio.

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A second, larger space meant a bigger menu, bigger staff, and bigger sandwiches. Enter Rei Peraza, local Hudson Valley chef who opened Panzur Restaurant and Wine Bar in Tivoli.

Located at 25 Eastdale Avenue, the larger second location will accommodate more customers and will continue offering takeout. But it will more closely will align with an Italian alimentari, a hybrid gourmet emporium, than a rosticceria like the first location.

The modern space is separated into different sections: a bakery, a deli, pasta station, and sandwich counter. At the alimentari, the famously large sandwiches can even be scaled back in size if a customer wishes. The expanded menu will also offer salads and additional artisanal sandwiches, but loyalists shouldnt fret  they can still get the iconic, TikTok-famous Number Four.

It looks like a fast casual dining spot that youd never imagine is sitting on top of a 3,000-square foot bakery, said Peraza, the Director of Operations and Culinary Development for Rossis.

Its been really cool to help define the two personalities of the two establishments, said Peraza. Its like two children in the same family  its combining the past and future and having them coexist.

The four Rossi brothers will be spread between the two locations, with the new Eastdale Village spot set to open by the end of March. The Rossi parents, who opened the South Clover Street location 43 years ago, will be there for the opening of the second location.

Shes Mama Rossi and hes Papa Giovanni, said Fabio. They always said ,Why do you guys want to do this? Its so much. And, honestly, its not something you can quantify on paper. Its a drive you have inside. I would so much rather stay and make something until its right. Im not looking at the clock, I never have.
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PETERSBURGH  As an outpouring of grief and remembrances took place to remember the life of a 20-year-old woman whose body was discovered a week ago in a state park in this town, police announced the arrest of a Petersburgh man in connection with her death.

Ian J. Hasselwander, 22, was arrested Friday night by Rensselaer County sheriff's investigators looking into the death of Morgan Bates, 20, of Washington County. Her body was found in the 175-acre Cherry Plain State Park last Sunday near Black River Road.

Hasselwander is charged with second-degree murder, first-degree assault, first-degree strangulation and concealment of a human corpse, all felonies, according to the sheriff's department. He was arraigned and sent to the county jail without bail pending his next court date.

Authorities did not say how Bates and Hasselwander may have known each other and family members declined to comment. The Washington County sheriff's office had previously put out a missing person's report for Bates, of Eagle Bridge, after she was possibly last sighted last in Petersburgh, Rensselaer County, at 2 a.m. Feb. 22. Officials said soon after she was found that the death was suspicious in nature.

Other agencies working on the case included the District Attorney's office, the State Police, the Washington County Sheriff's Department, state forest rangers, the state Intelligence Center and the Capital Region Crime Analysis Center.

The arrest came the night before calling hours were to take place for Bates at the Mahar and Son Funeral Home in Bennington, Vermont. A celebration of her life was scheduled as well, according to the funeral home.

For the Bates family, the tragedy is compounded: Morgan's mother died in January. Through the funeral home, family members declined to speak to the press, but Morgan's father William Bates posted a series of public Facebook messages about the situation, in one saying, "Morgan you are my world, my life and my rock. You will always be my angel."

Bates also posted, "Now my main thing is now to get justice for my daughter. I will not give up on that." He said the suspect is his daughter's former boyfriend.

Morgan Bates' obituary on the funeral home website says she was born in Bennington, and graduated from Cambridge Central High School in 2019. She worked at the Stewart's Shop in Pownal, Vermont. It says she loved horses and also worked at stables in the area.

She is also being remembered by the Cambridge school district.

Morgan always had a twinkle in her eye and was known for being spunky and having a big heart, said Secondary Principal Caroline Goss in a post on the district web site. As an educator, every student that we work with forever leaves an impression on our hearts. I had the privilege of having Morgan as a student and being her principal. I was proud to see her walk across the stage at graduation and looked forward to seeing her pursue her dreams working with horses. Morgan left a big impact with every educator in the district and she will be greatly missed.

The results are in See the winners of each category of the 2022 Best of the Capital Region contest, as determined by popular vote.

The school is offering support and counseling services for students and employees to deal with the loss.

On Facebook, friends posted messages remembering how special she was, as a friend and a beautiful soul.

In a statement, Rensselaer County Sheriff Patrick Russo said the agencies worked around the clock "which led to a timely arrest."

"Law enforcement has worked around the clock on this case since Morgan Bates disappeared," District Attorney Mary Pat Donnelly said in the statement. "This is certainly not the outcome we had hoped for. This arrest is the first step towards justice for Morgan and her family."
ALBANY - A 23-year-old Georgia man faces charges after a domestic-related incident Friday morning at an apartment on the 400 block of Livingston Avenue between Quail Street and North Lake Avenue, city police said.

Officers arrived at the apartment around 7:05 a.m. after receiving a call about a man armed with a handgun threatening a woman during an argument. Near the apartment, officers interacted with the man, who began to run away from the officers on foot.
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MALTA  A proposal to build 96 condominiums on Saratoga Lake still doesnt have an acceptable public benefit, which is required for the project, the Town Board said.

For more than a year, the proposal - which would replace South Shore Marina with condos - has included a public launch for kayaks and canoes, but not motorized boats. The plan calls for about 10 parking spaces, which residents said wildly underestimates what the demand would be for that launch.

But even with more parking spaces, a public boat launch is not enough, said town Supervisor Mark Hammond at a public meeting on the project this week.

This project, to me, hinges on a restaurant. To me that is more a public benefit than a kayak launch, he said. People want to be on the water and have dinner. And those people are already living here.

He criticized the project for setting aside one ground floor space for commercial uses, rather than specifically a restaurant, and for not placing it next to the lake. The decision seemed designed to minimize traffic disruption to the condo residents, he said.

While I understand it, it seems to be catering to your residents of the condominiums, not the residents who live in Malta, he said. To be blunt, I care about the residents who are here now, not the ones who arent here yet.

But several of those residents said theyd asked the developer to keep the restaurant away from their homes.

They said the location was an improvement over a previous plan, in which it would be in their viewscape of the lake. But, they added, they dont want condos in that viewscape either. Currently 10 condominium units are proposed on a narrow stretch of land between the existing homes and the lake.

The condos are ruining it for everybody, said neighbor Matt Murray.

While he said a restaurant would be nice, he challenged the board to think big and seek federal funding to buy the land.

Turn this area into a park, he said. You could really provide a public benefit for the rest of our lives and our childrens lives ... Preserve that view. Make it a park. Something we can be proud of.

The board did not seem to consider that idea seriously, though board members said they would like it if the plan dropped the 10 units closest to the existing residents, because it would damage their view of the lake.

But the whole project was unlikely to be stopped, they said.

You know what, you gotta swallow it, somethings going to be going in there, Hammond said. The bottom line is, when people own property they have to right to do what they want with it, within reason, within zoning laws.

The results are in See the winners of each category of the 2022 Best of the Capital Region contest, as determined by popular vote.

He urged the developer and the residents to keep talking.

You have to find that common ground, that compromise, he said. Youve gotta be respectful of those folks who have lived there for a number of years. I understand its about getting the most bang for your buck. But you have to find that common ground where you can both walk away a little bit happy, so you dont both walk away unhappy and hate each other.

Board member Craig Warner noted that one good thing will come of the development: it will no longer be a public marina, which means no more boat storage in the off season.

I would like to see the shrink-wrapped blue boats taken care of, he said. I cant say to him, You cant sell your property. Everybodys got that right. So I look forward to it being cleaned up.

But thats a loss as well, board members acknowledged. While launching from the marina was not free, it was a location at which residents could get on the lake, and that will no longer be available after the redevelopment.

Space on the waterfront is going away, I get it, Warner said.

The plan could also lead to a cleaner lake, because it will involve modern stormwater management.

Having a larger project come in where we can do some stormwater management is going to be so important, said board member Tim Dunn, who added that he was pleasantly surprised by the latest iteration of the project.

The board may vote on Monday to refer the proposal to the Planning Board for a recommendation. The Town Board has the final say on the project.
Oleksandra Kozyriatska said Friday was a nightmare.

The Kyiv resident who is staying with her parents in Zaporizhzhia, site of Ukraines largest nuclear power plant, woke up to explosions and then the news that the Russians seized the power plant.

I am very stressed, the 25-year-old Ukrainian said on Friday. It was horrible  its no longer ours. I dont think they are going to do anything catastrophic with the plant. I really hope for that. I dont know ... we cannot understand what is going on there.

But thats just the half of it. Kozyriatska, who has ties to the U.S. after spending the summer of 2016 in Lake George as an employee with the Lake George Steamboat Company and the Fort William Henry Hotel, said her stress is heightened by Russian misinformation being doled out to people like her cousin. Hes a Russian who says he plans to join President Vladimir Putins forces to, as Putin claims, "free" Ukraine from its "repressive" government. He also told her Russia has not waged war and that the damage to the cities is being done by Ukrainians.

He was talking to me like I dont know whats going on in the country, she said. Im like, You are invading us.

But her cousin is convinced, by watching only Russian media, that the Russians are there to make your Nazi government leave your country.

Its their word against our word, she said. I understand him, but he doesnt understand me. Even though we have different political views, they are the ones who come to us, and say to us, how to do and how to run our country and that we are doing everything wrong. But we chose our president, we chose our government and now we are very united to stop this war.

Serhii Bolilyi, a Ukrainian who also spent a summer working in Lake George, said Russian propaganda is pitting families members against one another.

Russian people dont believe we have war, said Bolilyi, a Kyiv resident who fled the city at the start of the war. A lot of people have parents, sisters and brothers in Russia. There are a lot of cases, that even a father doesnt believe a son. Its the most painful thing to us. Our families on the Russian side dont believe we are dying here.

He said hes fortunate to have no Russian relatives. But he said he has enough to worry about because no one feels safe anywhere in Ukraine since the Russians invaded on Feb. 24.

Bolilyi recalled the morning of the invasion just last week. He said he was picked up by friends who had a car and the city was in pandemonium.

There was a lot of traffic jams, a lot of panic, he said. Everyone escaped from Kyiv because everyone understands its not safe to be in a big city, in a high building, when an enemy will destroy electricity and water. A lot of people moved out.

Though in a relatively quiet location now, at the country home of a friends parents, the 27-year-old IT project manager said he cant help but worry about his parents, who live an hour outside of Kyiv, and his friends who stayed there in Ukraine's capital city.

The shooting and explosions a couple times a day, attacks from the sky a couple times a day, he said. Its so difficult to hear.  You hope everything's fine, but from the news, you understand, its not.

Both Bolilyi and Kozyriatska say they are living day-to-day because, as Bolilyi said, everything is changing so quickly.

The results are in See the winners of each category of the 2022 Best of the Capital Region contest, as determined by popular vote.

And considering the Russians are in Zaporizhzhia, Kozyriatska is now considering leaving for Lviv, in western Ukraine. She has to convince her parents, who don't want to leave because they have enough food to last six months and fear losing their home. And they don't know where they would live or how they will get food in Lviv.

If they will invade our city, I will be very strict with them to leave, she said.

Right now, however, she hopes the international community will close the Ukrainian airspace.

I know its a hard decision because probably Putin will think its a declaration of war to the whole world, she said. Closing the sky, that is the main point of what we want from all over the world. We can fight here on the ground, but when they are bombing from above, its really hard.

The chaos is also revealing, Bolilyi said.

With war, you know, you start to realize all the problems you had previously were not problems at all, he said. Problems like what food would you like, what to choose for next weekend, what to do, now I realize I cant have any plans even for one day.  You dont understand if you have a future or if our country has a future.  You dont know the future for your family.

He hopes by speaking to the press that somehow his words will find their way to Russia.

(The) situation, its obviously a really scary thing and shouldnt happen in any country nowadays, he said. What I would like to say is we would like to have any help, support, sharing information.  I dont know how you can share with Russian people. If people really understand, it would help us a lot.
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ALBANY  Three weeks before the completion of a major refurbishment of the state Capitols famous Eastern Approach, top officials decided to celebrate the repairs by bringing a Memorial Day parade onto the broad staircase.

If you have stood at the top of the Approach, you can understand the appeal of the idea: The staircase is at once a grand entrance to the seat of state government and a sort of presentation stage that through the decades has hosted everything from political rallies to a World War II-era demonstration of the climbing power of Army jeeps. From the promenade at the top, the view across East Capitol Park and down State Street is one of the most sweeping cityscapes in upstate.

So New Yorks superintendent of public works sent a letter to the state architect, asking if the parade concept was feasible  the long-awaited repairs were, after all, all but done.

The architect applied the brakes: It is of the opinion of this office that these steps should not be used for public demonstrations until the above repairs have been made.

This exchange is from May 1953. Almost seven decades later, the repairs to the Capitol's most recognizable exterior feature remain incomplete.

The architect's list of unaddressed problems included the need to repair the balustrades, the ornamental railings on the steps ("nothing has been done in the present contract"). This last major work on the staircase had been underfunded by the state Legislature. The 1953 repairs came in around $1.9 million in todays dollars, or $700,000 short of the proposed cost.

The century-long story of the deterioration of the Eastern Approach offers a reminder that procrastination and cost-cutting are not political tendencies exclusive to the current day. The issues that the Eisenhower-era engineers were trying to fix had become evident in the 1920s, about three decades after the stairs were built as an add-on to the Capitol in 1897.

And according to the findings of a 2014 state-commissioned investigation obtained by the Times Union through a Freedom of Information Law request, the same deficiencies have plagued the steps in recent decades  primarily the lack of a proper waterproofing system to deal with the pitiless upstate climate.

As the years have passed, the cost of repairs has increased: The current proposed bill to fix the Eastern Approach stands around $41 million, doubling the construction cost from when the report was completed eight years ago.

Continued unmanaged water entry will cause further damage and may result in future structural instability, the 2014 report by engineering firm Simpson Gumpertz & Heger reads.

The report was kept out of the public eye during the administration of former Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo, who trumpeted the extensive repairs to the Capitol that were completed after he took office in 2011.

Its authors said that time was of the essence. The brick masonry bearing walls are so heavily deteriorated and displaced that they are no longer stable and need to be addressed immediately, the report reads.

The problem was so acute that engineers were able to pull bricks out by hand from a section of wall under the steps that was in danger of collapse. Certain balustrades needed to be replaced  possibly the same ones the state architect was concerned about in 1953.

Immediate repairs mentioned in the 2014 report were completed under an emergency contract, but not until two to three years later.

Since at least 2016, the stairs have been closed to the public, the state Office of General Services previously told the Times Union, although access to all 77 steps was limited at least as early as 2015.

The most recent investigation started in 2012, one year into Cuomo's time as governor, and was intended to "provide a structural survey and investigation for comprehensive repairs and rehabilitation of the Eastern Approach staircase and Eastern Promenade deck," which had shown signs of settlement and leaking.

A $350,000 contract was awarded in 2013 and amended to a $1.3 million project in 2016, according to records from the Office of the State Comptroller. Less than $800,000 ultimately was spent on the investigation and design plans for the steps.

Under the $41 million proposal that's part of Gov. Kathy Hochuls first budget proposal, the steps may finally be fully repaired. It would be three years until they could be opened to the public.

Visitors would once again be able to climb the stairs as the original architects envisioned and see the phenomenal display of ornate stone carvings, view the city of Albany and experience the tremendous scale and importance of the Capitol, OGS spokesman Joseph A. Brill said in a statement.

Saturated history

The problems with the Eastern Approach  and the structures underneath and alongside the stairs  are relatively straightforward and boil down to a central tenet of engineering: Water always wins.

It pools onto the staircase's granite landings, seeps through cracks and can flood the basement with up to a foot of runoff. Left unchecked, the resulting corrosion may destabilize portions of the stair structure, according to the report.

Albany's harsh winter climate with its freeze-thaw cycles adds to the damage every year. Even so, the foundation itself is not substantially settling, the engineers wrote.

The early-1950s repairs included the installation of a partial waterproofing system, but only on the fourth and final landing of the steps. That system, installed when a granite landing was replaced by concrete, is no longer functional.

It is unclear from the records whether a more comprehensive waterproofing system would have been put in if the project had been fully funded.

Issues with waterproofing have a longer history, based on the findings of the 2014 investigation, which dug up old correspondences between high-ranking state officials, books, newspaper clippings and photographs from the State Archives as well as aged architectural drawings.

Times Union Historic Images

State Capitol approach held dangerous now: Climatic conditions cause its disintegration and governor is warned, read a headline in the 1924 New York Sun.

The front approach of the state Capitol is slowly crumbling away," the story began. It comprises one of the most massive piles of solid granite and masonry in the country, and its gradual disintegration has been causing considerable alarm to state officials for some time.

Various plans for reconstruction  or outright removal of the staircase  were brought forward in the quarter century that followed. The Legislature, wary of approving costly repairs to the Capitol after decades of work to build it in the first place, failed to agree on a plan until 1951.

Capitol steps falling down; public barred, read a December 1951 Knickerbocker News front-page headline.

It stated that Gov. Thomas E. Dewey (in office from 1943 to '54) had proposed a complete redesign that would have cost $250,000. Like governors before and after him, Dewey would enter the Capitol under the arcade arch known as the executive ramp. The governor was concerned that the steps might fall on his head some day.

Nothing came of the proposal, reads the Knickerbocker News article, which ran alongside a story on the latest death total from the Korean War.

By 1952, a new $250,000 proposal was put forward. A letter to the state architect noted that this scheme will provide the necessary structural stability to prevent any possible collapse of the granite steps due to the excessive corrosion.

But almost a quarter of the proposed cost was lopped off for a final budget of $183,432. The waterproofing was incomplete, and the balustrades remained in precarious positions because of the water damage.

Legacy

The 2014 report barely made its way to a blue-ribbon Capitol improvement commission, which included longtime state Assemblyman and local historian Jack McEneny. The retired lawmaker remembers the fact that report existed, but does not recall ever receiving the final report or a comprehensive briefing on its findings.

The assumption was OGS was working on it (and) the problem would be solved, McEneny said. And what youre finding is nothing has been done or very little has been done.

The commission has not met since the coronavirus pandemic, according to its members. Its chair resigned.

The panel had previously pushed forward on other major improvements to the Capitol. Gov. George Pataki initiated repairs to the roof that were completed early in Cuomo's tenure. Cuomo was in office for the completion of work on the building's two eastern skylights and the space between them  a former pigeon roost that was turned into modern office space.

Lori Van Buren

A spokesman for Cuomo, who resigned amid scandal last year, defended his legacy of repairs to the Capitol: This seems like yet another attempt to rewrite history, but it doesnt change the fact that no other administration did more to rebuild and revamp the Capitol and tell the story of the buildings rich legacy, Rich Azzopardi said in an email.

Azzopardi argued the post-pandemic federal aid influx makes it more possible to fix the steps today than during the decade Cuomo was in office.

State officials expected work on problems deemed in 2014 as in need of "immediate" repair to be folded into a larger project to repair the Eastern Approach. An "absence of funding" for the full project, during the Cuomo administration, delayed the repair, according to the state agency.

Instead, the urgent work was addressed roughly two years later under an emergency contract, according to OGS.

Despite that slate of patchwork fixes, an April 2021 report to OGS said the continued deterioration came with a new price tag of $24 million, up from the initial $17 million. The cost rose again over the ensuing months as monitoring reports found further damage. Construction costs are now up to $33 million, according to the state, boosting the total proposed expenditure to $41 million.

According to the 2021 report, the pressure on the retaining walls of the executive ramp now exceeds capacity, leading to structural instability.

In recent years, the Eastern Approach has been hemmed in with tall fencing bearing DANGER signs. Staircase closed due to structural instability," they read. "Entry is strictly prohibited."
Hey Toffees!

I am from Australia but am traveling to the UK early April in hopes of attending the Everton v Manchester United game. I am an International Member (as of yesterday) and was just wondering if that would be enough to assure me a ticket to the match?

It has always been a dream of mine to attend Goodison Park ever since Timmy Cahill made me fall in love with this beautiful club. But also I am a little worried that I won't be able to purchase a ticket knowing that it's such a huge game!

I guess what I'm looking for is some reassurance or even for someone just to tell me that it will be near impossible to get a ticket. Any help will be greatly apricated and I'm so excited to meet some of you lovely supporters.

COYB!!!

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The disgraced former Governor is clearly causing the Missouri GOP more than a bit of concern as election season moves closer.



Here's a peek at their problems growing even worse and more insight into why MAGA loves a Missouri political outsider . . .



Those close to Trump say his attraction to Greitens largely centers on the former governors scorched-earth attacks on McConnell. While Greitens has made his opposition to McConnell a centerpiece of his campaign, other Missouri candidates havent taken that step. Trump aides point out that while at CPAC, state Attorney General Eric Schmitt declined to say whether hed vote against McConnell. Another contender, Rep. Billy Long , recently met with McConnell to talk about the race.



Trump advisers say there is also a more personal dimension to his interest. Some in Trumps orbit have made the case to the former president that there are parallels between the New York attorney generals investigation into his companys finances and the St. Louis prosecutors inquiry into allegations that Greitens took a nude picture of his hairdresser without her consent and threatened to release it if she divulged their affair. Greitens, who left office after top Missouri Republicans called on him to step down, has attempted to portray himself as the victim of a liberal prosecutor bent on destroying him.

Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com links . . .

Trump's McConnell obsession leads him toward Eric Greitens The moment illustrates how Greitens - who resigned as governor in 2018 after his hairdresser accused him of sexually assaulting her - has gained favor with Trump and some in his inner circle. Greitens has staunchly aligned himself with the former president, become a favorite of the pro-Trump media universe, and distinguished himself as one of the few Republican Senate candidates willing to speak out against McConnell.

Missouri Senate candidate Eric Greitens is working to win over Trump by attacking Mitch McConnell, report says Missouri Senate candidate Eric Greitens is trying to win Trump's support by attacking McConnell. Greitens is mounting a political comeback four years after a scandal led to him resigning as governor. Politico reports that Trump is intrigued by Greitens' anti-McConnell stance and his strong poll numbers.

Developing . . .
A controversial manslaughter conviction came with a fairly light sentence today.



But here's the important part . . . Experts believe the decision will be overturned because it runs counter to every search law in Missouri.



Meanwhile . . .

The death of Cameron Lamb remains a touchstone for activists and, overall, the verdict - The first conviction against KCPD for killing an African-American male - is, unfortunately, seen as civic progress by many.

Here are the basics of the story right now . . .



Jackson County Circuit Court Presiding Judge J. Dale Youngs, who presided over (Former KCPD Detective Eric) DeValkenaeres bench trial in November and found him guilty, handed down the sentence Friday afternoon.

DeValkenaere was sentenced to three years for the the second-degree involuntary manslaughter and six years for the armed criminal action conviction. The sentence will run concurrently, meaning he will serve six years.

Defense attorneys for DeValkenaere will appeal his conviction, but the brief couldnt be filed until after the sentencing, according to lead attorney Molly Hastings.Youngs previously ruled that DeValkenaere will remain free on bond, as he has throughout the legal process so far, during the forthcoming appeal.

Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com news link . . .

Former KCPD Det. Eric DeValkenaere sentenced to 6 years in prison for shooting, killing Cameron Lamb KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Eric DeValkenaere, the former Kansas City, Missouri, police detective who was convicted of two felonies in the December 2019 shooting death of Cameron Lamb, was sentenced to six years in prison on Friday. DeValkenaere was convicted on one count of second-degree manslaughter and one count of armed criminal action.

Former Kansas City police detective sentenced to 6 years in Cameron Lamb's fatal shooting A former Kansas City police detective who was convicted of fatally shooting Cameron Lamb was sentenced Friday to six years in prison.The judge sentenced Eric J. DeValkenaere to three years for involuntary manslaughter and six years for armed criminal action with the sentences to run concurrently.DeValkenaere will remain free on bond during the appeal process.

Former Kansas City detective sentenced to 6 years in prison for killing Black man Eric DeValkenaere, the former Kansas City police detective convicted in the 2019 killing of Cameron Lamb, a 26-year-old Black man, has been sentenced to six years in prison. Jackson County Circuit Judge J. Dale Youngs handed down the sentence Friday after hearing emotional testimony from members of Lamb's and DeValkenaere's families.

Developing . . .


This image comes from our reader community.

Here's why we like it . . .

We can always count on denizens of TKC to devise inconvenient viewpoints.

This homespun sign signals support for the brave fighters of Ukraine and just a bit of skepticism leveled against the White House.

For some strange reason, the extreme right-wing has been sympathetic to Vlad & the Russkies. And, of course, so many of our progressive friends hate anything that's really funny.



Like it or not, this is pretty close to a bipartisan viewpoint. Or at least as close as we'll get amid culture war politics leading up to the Midterms.

A simple note from a KICK-ASS TKC READER who sent this photo: "From the Heartland of USA."

You decide . . .


Credit where it's due for a dubious achievement . . .

A former Pulitzer Prize nominee penned one of the most scathing anti-cop screeds we've read from a major metropolitan newspaper.

Even better (or worse), the Jackson County prosecutor helped her out with timely quotes.

The point of contention . . .

Nobody seems to care that seemingly sainted & martyred Cameron Lamb brutally abused his former girlfriend before he was killed by police.

This isn't uncommon, domestic abuse and violence suffered by African-American women has been habitually ignored by mainstream media.

Yes, we know there are a great many conservative readers of TKC but here's a chance to do something nice and right . . . STANDING UP FOR BLACK WOMEN SUFFERING DOMESTIC ABUSE makes a convenient talking point in this case BUT it's also the right thing to do in EVERY circumstance.

During the pandemic the number of African-American women who suffered abuse and homicide has skyrocketed in KCMO and that inconvenient problem as been politely ignored by our progressive media and leaders.



Meanwhile . . .

The newspaper focuses their ire against a convicted former police officer and works to imagine a crime scene that neither the columnist nor the prosecutor visited.

Here's the premise of a recent screed . . .



"The vilification of Lamb to excuse DeValkenaere, who had no right to even be in Lambs yard, infuriates Baker. Rank and file officers, she said, were given misinformation about Cameron Lamb that then led the public to wonder was he good enough for the rule of law to apply to him? I dont give a goddamn if the police department thinks hes not entitled to the rule of law. Hes a human being, and I think he is.



Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . .
By Azernews





By Ayya Lmahamad

Russias agriculture watchdog Rosselkhoznadzor has fully lifted the ban on tomato imports from Azerbaijan, the country's Food Safety Agency has reported.

The decision was made based on the results of the quarantine phytosanitary examination of samples of products selected during the joint video inspections.

The Azerbaijani Food Safety Agency and relevant agencies were taking joint measures to lift restrictions on the tomatoes and apple export from Azerbaijan to Russia.

To recall, on December 10, 2020, Rosselkhoznadzor prohibited the export of Azerbaijani tomatoes and apples, citing the need to "prevent the import and spread" of pesticides into Russia.

Azerbaijan is a major fruit and vegetable supplier to Russia. The country ranked first in supplies of fresh and chilled tomatoes. In the list of Azerbaijans non-oil exports, last year tomatoes ranked third, accounting for $160.2 million.

Azerbaijan and Russia have mutual cooperation in different fields, such as economy, agriculture, customs, communications, high technology, and others. More than 230 intergovernmental and intercompany documents have been signed between the two countries and six "road maps" are being implemented.
With all school shootings, the most important thing for a low-rent blogger is not to add to the confusion or interfere with the po-po in any way.

Accordingly, it's better to roundup newsworthy deets than to get anything wrong.



And so we waited until the dust settled on this story and now share some of the reporting.



Here are the basics . . .



Police said a student suspect shot a school resource officer and an administrator before the officer shot the student. All three were injured but are expected to be OK. The student was taken into custody.



Amid the chaos, approximately 2,000 Olathe East students went on lockdown in the building.

Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com news links . . .

'I've been shot:' Olathe East school resource officer radios for help KANSAS CITY, Mo. - A recording of police scanner traffic captured the moment the school resource officer at Olathe East High School radioed for help from fellow officers following a shooting Friday morning. The officer, a school administrator and the student suspect were all shot and injured.

Olathe East High School officer and administrator injured in shooting, student arrested A school administrator and resource officer were injured in a shooting Friday morning at Olathe East High School. The suspect, an 18-year-old male student at Olathe East, is in custody. At a news conference Friday afternoon, Olathe Police Department reported that the suspect was shot by the school resource officer.

'It was insane' Olathe East student says after shooting "Um, it was insane. We didn't know what was going on," junior Paige Schmideskamp said."There were a bunch of rumors, but we never truly knew what was, like, correct, and we were just in lockdown for two hours and didn't know what was right or what was wrong," said junior Allison Schmideskamp.

LIVE: Faculty member, school resource officer shot at Olathe East KANSAS CITY, Mo. - A faculty member and a school resource officer were shot Friday at Olathe East High School, a spokesperson from the Olathe Police Department told KSHB 41. The circumstances around the shooting are unknown, along with the condition of those shot.

'I've been shot': Olathe East school resource officer radios for help after shooting inside school office "I've been shot."Chilling audio from Olathe, Kansas, police dispatch includes a school resource officer at Olathe East High School calling for help after a shooting inside the school's office.During that dispatch call, the officer requests help."I've been shot, inside the principal's office."Dispatchers can be heard saying an officer needs assistance as a number of crews scrambled to get to Olathe East.At one point, the officer said he has applied a tourniquet to his own injuries and updated that two others are wounded."Suspect, I believe, has been shot," the officer can be heard saying.

Olathe East HS shooting: Videos, audio inside the school OLATHE, Kan. - A student resource officer, school administrator, and an 18-year-old student are all expected to recover following a shooting at Olathe East High School Friday morning. The Olathe Police Department credited the injured SRO for making sure the situation didn't get any worse. Emergency audio from Broadcastify show the actions of the SRO.

Administrator, resource officer released from hospital after shooting at Olathe East High School Olathe police, parents and the community were trying to make sense of a violent morning at Olathe East High School that ended with three people being shot.A police spokesman said officers received a report just after 10:30 a.m. of a shooting in a principal's office.

Olathe East parents, students express relief following school shooting KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Olathe East High School parents and students are expressing relief after being reunited following a shooting at the school that left three injured. The shooting happened Friday morning and injured a student, administrator and school student resource officer. The student is the suspect in the initial incident.

Police: Student brandished handgun in Olathe East High School shooting KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Olathe police released additional details in a Friday morning shooting at Olathe East High School that left three people injured. According to the department, a school resource officer later identified as Erik Clark , responded to the school's main office for an administrative matter.

'I started crying': Olathe East families relieved to reunite after shooting OLATHE, Kan. - Hundreds of Olathe families are happy to be reunited Friday after a frantic day. Three people, including the suspect, were shot at Olathe East High School. The Olathe Police Department said an 18-year-old student shot a school resource officer and a school administrator in the office area.

Community reacts after shooting at Olathe East High School injures 3 KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Another school community is now forced to reflect on violence after three people were shot during an altercation Friday at Olathe East High School. Around 10:30 a.m. on Friday, the school resource officer working at the high school radioed to dispatch asking for help after he'd been shot.

Community gathers for prayer vigil after shooting at Olathe East High School KANSAS CITY, Mo. - The Olathe community came together Friday evening to take a moment to pause and reflect on a shooting that happened at Olathe East High School . Students, staff and others gathered at the Overland Park Church of Christ. KSHB 41 News reporter Dan Cohen reported about three dozen students and parents at the vigil.

School resource officer injured in Olathe East school shooting identified OLATHE, Kan. - Officials have identified the school resource officer injured Friday in a shooting at Olathe East High School. An 18-year-old student shot SRO Erik Clark and an unidentified school administrator after sources tell FOX4 the student was called to the office area over suspicions he had a gun.

U.S. senator, state political leaders torn by school shooting at Olathe high school - Kansas Reflector TOPEKA - State and federal officials and the Olathe schools superintendent responded to shootings Friday at Olathe East High School with a mixture of shock at reality of the armed incursion and a sense of relief a school resource officer was present to intervene.

Community members share sentiments of support in wake of Olathe East High School shooting KANSAS CITY, Mo. - In the hours following a shooting at Olathe East High School , the community is reacting and offering support . For students feeling distressed or just looking for someone to talk to, the Johnson County Mental Health Center posted its crisis line - 913-268-0156.

Leawood church offering place for prayer, support after Olathe East shooting LEAWOOD, Kan. - Many of those impacted by Friday's shooting at Olathe East High School are leaning on prayer for support and comfort. Church of the Resurrection, which is church home to around 20,000 parishioners in the Kansas City metro, has often extended a hand to the community during challenging times.

Developing . . .


Johnstown, PA (15901)

Today

Considerable clouds this morning. Some decrease in clouds later in the day. Areas of patchy fog. High 69F. Winds light and variable..

Tonight

Cloudy skies with periods of rain late. Low 57F. Winds SE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 70%.
Terre Haute, IN (47803)

Today

Cloudy with periods of rain. High 61F. Winds E at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 90%. Rainfall near a half an inch..

Tonight

Rain showers early will evolve into a more steady rain overnight. Thunder possible. Low 57F. Winds ESE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 70%.
(Repeats to additional subscribers)

* Putin says he wants Ukraine 'demilitarised'

* Russia, Ukraine trade blame over stalled evacuation

* Up to 1.5 million refugees expected by Sunday night

* Zelenskiy in call to US Senate requests more help

By Pavel Polityuk and Aleksandar Vasovic

LVIV/KYIV, Ukraine, March 5 (Reuters) - Russian President Vladimir Putin said Western sanctions were akin to war as his forces pressed their assault on Ukraine on Saturday for a 10th day and the IMF warned that the conflict would have a "severe impact" on the global economy.

Moscow and Kyiv traded blame over the failure of plans to impose a brief ceasefire and enable civilians to evacuate two cities besieged by Russian forces. Russia's invasion has already driven nearly 1.5 million refugees westwards into the European Union.

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy made a "desperate plea" for eastern Europe to provide Russian-made aircraft to his country during a call with U.S. senators on Saturday, said the chamber's majority leader, Chuck Schumer.

NATO, which Ukraine wants to join, has resisted Zelenskiy's appeals to impose a no-fly zone over his country, saying this would escalate the conflict outside Ukraine. But there is strong bipartisan support in the U.S. Congress for providing $10 billion in emergency military and humanitarian aid to Ukraine.

Putin said he wanted a neutral Ukraine that had been "demilitarised" and "denazified", adding: "These sanctions that are being imposed are akin to a declaration of war but thank God it has not come to that."

Ukraine and Western countries have rejected Putin's arguments as a baseless pretext for invading and have sought to squeeze Russia hard with sanctions.

Putin later met Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett in the Kremlin to discuss the crisis, Bennett's spokesperson said. Israel has offered to mediate in the conflict, though officials have played down expectations for a breakthrough.

Story continues

Ukrainian negotiators said a third round of talks with Russia on a ceasefire would go ahead on Monday. Two previous rounds have been unsuccessful and Zelenskiy has said Russia must first stop bombing.

NO EVACUATIONS

The International Committee of the Red Cross said planned civilian evacuations from Mariupol and Volnovakha were now unlikely to start on Saturday. The city council in Mariupol had accused Russia of not observing a ceasefire, while Moscow said Ukrainian "nationalists" were preventing civilians from leaving.

Britain said the proposed ceasefire in Mariupol - which has been without power, water and heating for days - was likely an attempt by Russia to deflect international condemnation while it resets its forces.

The port of Mariupol has endured heavy bombardment, a sign of its strategic value to Moscow due to its position between Russian-backed separatist-held eastern Ukraine and the Black Sea Crimean peninsula, which Moscow seized from Kyiv in 2014.

Russia's Defence Ministry said its forces were carrying out a wide-ranging offensive in Ukraine and had taken several towns and villages, Interfax news agency reported.

In an aerial combat near Zhytomyr, about 100 km (62 miles) west of Kyiv, it said, four Ukrainian Su-27 fighter jets had been shot down. Reuters could not independently confirm the report.

A United Nations monitoring mission said at least 351 civilians had been confirmed killed and 707 injured in Ukraine so far since the start of the invasion on Feb. 24, adding that the real figures were likely to be "considerably higher".

The number of refugees could rise to 1.5 million by Sunday night from 1.3 million now, the U.N. refugee agency chief said.

Women and children, often numb with exhaustion, continued to pour into Poland and other neighbouring countries as well as into western Ukrainian cities such as Lviv.

"I've barely slept for 10 days," said Anna Filatova, arriving in Lviv with her two daughters from heavily bombed Kharkiv, Ukraine's second city near its eastern border with Russia.

"The Russians want to flatten Kharkiv... We hate Putin."

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, on a visit to Poland, met refugees staying in a disused shopping mall near the border. Poland has taken in the vast majority of the Ukrainian refugees.

'MY HEART IS BREAKING'

Russians, reeling from a 30% fall in the rouble's value in the past 10 days, money transfer curbs and the exit of Western companies from IKEA to Microsoft, expressed fear for their economic future.

"My heart is breaking," said shopper Viktoriya Voloshina, out shopping in the town of Rostov on Saturday.

Another woman, Lidia, said: "Today my family and I are leaving Russia."

The International Monetary Fund said in a statement the war was driving world energy and grain prices higher.

"The ongoing war and associated sanctions will also have a severe impact on the global economy," it said, adding that it would bring Kyiv's request for $1.4 billion in emergency financing to its board for approval as early as next week.

Russia's Foreign Ministry accused Britain of "sanctions hysteria" and vowed tough but proportionate measures against British interests in Russia. Britain plans to tighten its laws to facilitate a crackdown on Russian oligarchs in London.

Italian police have seized villas and yachts worth at least $153 million from four high-profile Russians put on an EU sanctions list, sources said on Saturday.

The conflict has shaken international diplomacy over Iran's nuclear programme, one of the few areas where Russia and the United States had been working together to curb what the West suspects is an Iranian plan to develop nuclear arms.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Saturday the new Western sanctions imposed on his country had become a stumbling block for clinching a nuclear deal with Iran.

'FIGHTING FIERCELY'

Ukraine's Defence Minister Oleksii Reznikov said 66,224 Ukrainian men had returned from abroad to join the fight against Russia's invasion.

Ukraine's military said armed forces "are fighting fiercely to liberate Ukrainian cities from Russian occupiers", counter-attacking in some areas and disrupting communications.

In Kherson, southwest Ukraine, the only regional capital to have changed hands during the invasion so far, several thousand people demonstrated on its main square on Saturday.

"Kherson is Ukraine," they chanted, demanding that Russian forces withdraw.

Eyewitnesses cited by Interfax said Russian troops fired automatic rifles into the air in an unsuccessful attempt to disperse the crowd. The soldiers later left the city centre, the eyewitnesses said.

(Reporting by Pavel Polityuk, Natalia Zinets, Aleksandar Vasovic in Ukraine, Olzhas Auyezov in Almaty, Matthias Williams in Medyka, Guy Faulconbridge and William Schomberg in London, John Irish in Paris, Francois Murphy in Vienna, David Ljunggren in Ottawa and other Reuters bureaus Writing by Kim Coghill, Philippa Fletcher and Gareth Jones Editing by William Mallard, William Maclean and Frances Kerry)
ReportLinker

Major companies in the aerospace support and auxiliary equipment market include Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, Raytheon, Reutech Radar Systems and Rockwell Collins. The global aerospace support and auxiliary equipment market is expected to grow from $28.

New York, Feb. 28, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Reportlinker.com announces the release of the report "Aerospace Support and Auxiliary Equipment Global Market Report 2022" - https://www.reportlinker.com/p06240592/?utm_source=GNW

33 billion in 2021 to $30.29 billion in 2022 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.9%. The growth is mainly due to the companies rearranging their operations and recovering from the COVID-19 impact, which had earlier led to restrictive containment measures involving social distancing, remote working, and the closure of commercial activities that resulted in operational challenges. The market is expected to reach $38.16 billion in 2026 at a CAGR of 5.9%.



The aerospace support and auxiliary equipment market consist of sales of support and auxiliary equipment by entities (organizations, sole traders, or partnerships) that produce support and auxiliary equipment including commercial radars, air traffic control towers, satellites, and other auxiliary equipment. The market includes maintenance services provided by aerospace support and auxiliary equipment manufacturers during the equipments warranty period.



The main types of aerospace support and auxiliary equipment are commercial radars and satellites.A commercial radar is a detection system used to detect the presence, direction, distance, and speed of the aircraft.



The various forms of ownership include private, public and involve several platforms such as airborne, land, naval, space.



Asia Pacific was the largest region in the aerospace support and auxiliary equipment market in 2021.Asia Pacific is expected to be the fastest growing region in the forecast period.



The regions covered in this report are Asia-Pacific, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East and Africa.



Rapid advances in wireless technology and miniaturization (which refers to designing smaller components for equipment) are expected to drive innovation in the defense market, thus driving the market during the forecast period.Furthermore, technologies such as 3D printing, artificial intelligence, and big data analytics are being used during the manufacturing process, resulting in higher productivity, lower operating costs, and higher margins.



Lower operating costs lead to higher margins, this allows companies to expand production and increase product portfolio, thus driving the growth of the aerospace support and auxiliary equipment market.



Multi-Function Radio Frequency System (MFRFS) is increasingly being used for operational radar frequency ranges towards applications for broadband.The MFRFS is an electronically scanned radar system that can detect and track threats at a wider range.



The wider frequency range enhances the survivability for combat missions in case of no visibility in both horizontal and vertical directions (zero-zero visibility condition).It also provides additional electronic warfare functionalities and gives the pilots the ability to land safely in adverse conditions.



Raytheon and NCS are manufacturing radars with MFRFS technology.



The countries covered in aerospace support and auxiliary equipment market report are Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Egypt, Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Norway, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Turkey, UAE, UK, USA, Venezuela and Vietnam.





Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p06240592/?utm_source=GNW



About Reportlinker

ReportLinker is an award-winning market research solution. Reportlinker finds and organizes the latest industry data so you get all the market research you need - instantly, in one place.



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President Volodymyr Zelensky stays at his office in Kyiv.

"Every two days, a report appears claiming I fled Ukraine, Kyiv, the Office. You see, I'm here, on the spot. Andriy Borysovych [Yermak, Head of the Presidents Office] is here. Nobody has fled. We work. We love running, but now there is no time for various cardio workouts, so we work! Glory to Ukraine!" The Head of State said in a video posted on his Instagram account, Ukrinform reports.

As reported, on February 24, Russian president Vladimir Putin declared war on Ukraine and launched a large-scale invasion.

Russian troops are killing civilians, shelling and destroying key infrastructure facilities, and missiles hit Ukrainians' homes.

Martial law was imposed in Ukraine and general mobilization was announced. The Armed Forces of Ukraine, with the support of the entire nation, courageously resist Russian aggression.

Ukraine filed a lawsuit against the Russian Federation at the UN International Court of Justice in The Hague. International Criminal Court Prosecutor Karim Khan commenced an investigation into the situation in Ukraine.

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Russian troops intend to create a land corridor with the occupied Crimea.

The ninth day of the Ukrainian people heroic confrontation with the Russian military invasion is coming to an end. The enemy continues the offensive operation against Ukraine with the support of aircraft and uses high-precision weapons, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine posted on Facebook.

As noted, the main efforts of the occupiers were to surround the cities of Kyiv and Kharkiv. In addition, the enemy intends to reach the administrative borders in Luhansk and Donetsk regions and further create a land corridor with the occupied Crimea.

In Polissya, the enemy began engineering work to block roads in the Borodyanka area, probably with the aim of further moving in the direction of Kyiv. Occupation units were stopped in the Shybene and Katiuzhanka districts. In the area of Dymer, the occupier continues to create a defense area.

In Donetsk direction, the enemy is actively using the mobilization resource from the temporarily occupied territories of Donetsk and Luhansk regions as part of the advanced units of the Russian Armed Forces, which operate in the directions of Kharkiv and Mariupol. The occupiers do not stop trying to identify weaknesses in the defense of Mariupol.

In the Tavriya direction, the enemy units of the 58th Army of the Southern Military District of the Russian Armed Forces are trying to continue the offensive in the direction of Zaporizhzhia, and units of the 20th Army of the Western Military District are trying to bypass Kharkiv and move southwest.

In the Black Sea, after the demonstration of readiness to land paratroopers in the Odesa-Zatoka area, the invader withdrew a group of ships and landing ships west of the Crimean peninsula due to worsening weather conditions.

The Kyiv Defense Group continues to repel the enemy's offensive, defeat its offensive group, and maintain certain boundaries.

BTGs from 38 separate airborne brigade of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Belarus continue to be located on the Belarusian border with Ukraine.

According to the information of Ukraines General Staff, work is underway to persuade personnel to carry out tasks on the territory of Ukraine as a significant number of servicemen refuses to carry out criminal orders.

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President of France Emmanuel Macron discussed the security of Ukrainian nuclear facilities with the leadership of the IAEA, Ukraine, Germany, and the United Kingdom.

The Elysee Palace reports about these telephone conversations.

Regarding the conversation with the IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi, it is stated that France will offer concrete measures to ensure the reliability and safety of Ukraine's five main nuclear facilities together with its main partners based on IAEA technical criteria in the coming hours.

Macron also discussed the fighting at the Zaporizhzhia NPP with German Chancellor Scholz. Scholz welcomed Macron's proposal for concrete measures to implement the IAEA recommendations.

The interlocutors also agreed to maintain close coordination in view of the Versailles Summit on March 10 and 11 in the context of France's presidency of the Council of the European Union, which will address adaptation to the consequences of war in Ukraine and conclusions to be drawn in defense and energy sectors.

Scholz also said he had a difficult conversation with Russian president Putin.

The latest events in Ukraine were discussed with Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Boris Johnson. Johnson also expressed support for Macron's proposal to take steps to implement IAEA recommendations on the safety of Ukraine's nuclear facilities.

They agreed to continue the conversation in Quint format (Germany, USA, France, Italy, Great Britain).

Talks with President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky focused on recent developments and progress in the negotiations. The interlocutors also discussed the humanitarian needs of the population. Macron noted that France would continue to strengthen its support for Ukraine in this regard.

Macron also informed Zelensky about his proposal to develop concrete measures that will ensure the safety of Ukraine's five main nuclear facilities based on IAEA recommendations. It is noted that President Zelensky welcomed this approach. They agreed to stay in touch for hours and days.

On the night of March 4, a fire broke out at the Zaporizhzhia NPP as a result of heavy Russian shelling. The Power Unit No.1 was hit.

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The humanitarian situation in Ukraine is deteriorating due to continuous barbaric shelling by the Russian army of residential areas in Ukrainian cities and towns, which needs assistance from the EU and the international community.

High Representative of the European Union, Josep Borrell, said this at a press conference following an extraordinary meeting of the Foreign Affairs Council with the participation of the US Secretary of State and the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of Canada, the United Kingdom and NATO Secretary General, with the online participation of Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Dmytro Kuleba, according to Ukrinform.

The humanitarian situation on the ground is becoming more and more difficult due to this continuous bombing of the Russian army. They are shelling residential housing, schools, hospitals, and other civilian infrastructure. It looks like they want to destroy Ukraine. The UN Human Rights Council, as you are aware, has voted today on the urgent establishment of a commission of inquiry to address these violations of human rights and international humanitarian law, he said.

Borrell noted that the number of people who are escaping Ukraine and crossing the borders of the European Union and also other countries like Moldova, is today more than one million people and it is increasing very quickly.

People  children, mothers, fathers - need food, need basic items. I saw it yesterday myself in my visit to Moldova, where I visited a refugee reception centre. I have seen many of them around the world, but it is heart-breaking. You never get used to these kind of things. Putin must allow humanitarian aid to go into Ukraine, he said.

Borrell said that the International Red Cross is not able to enter the country and we need green corridors for the Red Cross to be able to help the Ukrainian people.

The European Union is committed to providing access to everyone fleeing the war in Ukraine and hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians have already arrived in the European Union and are going to several Member States, from the borders into the European Union. Member States highlighted the need to further support front-line Member States and asked the Commission to look into this and to mobilise resources from the budget of the European Union and the Commission services, he said.

The high representative stressed that the most important and pressing request is that Russia ceases its military operations and withdraw from the territory of Ukraine. The same goes for Belarus, who is a full accomplice to Moscow.

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As of March 4, the special account to support the Armed Forces of Ukraine received over UAH 7.8 billion in equivalent, according to the press service of the National Bank of Ukraine (NBU).

According to the NBU, part of these funds totaling UAH 5.4 billion has been already transferred for the needs of the military, in particular: UAH 3.702 billion was allocated to the Ministry of Defense; UAH 450 million to the National Guard; UAH 850 million to the National Police; UAH 420 million to the State Border Guard Service. The balance on the special account is UAH 2.4 billion.

As reported, the NBU governor on February 24 announced the opening of a special multi-currency account to raise funds for the Ukrainian military. The information about the account is available on the central banks website.

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Ukrainian troops are fighting fiercely for the liberation of territories seized by Russian aggressors.

This was reported by the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on Facebook, Ukrinform reports.

"With active combat operations, its not only the Ukrainian Army units that are inflicting losses on the enemy, but also ordinary, unarmed civilians, who show the occupiers their civic stance, inflicting psychological defeat," the General Staff said.

The invading units are demoralized as soldiers and officers of the occupying army continue to surrender or flee, leaving behind their weapons and hardware.

Faced with constant resistance and awareness of the unlawfulness of their actions, the invaders keep firing on civilians, launching missile and bomb strikes on critical infrastructure and households, hospitals, and kindergartens, as well as using women, children, and the elderly as a human shield.

At the same time, the Russian side never stops trying to create for domestic audiences a false picture of their liberation blitzkrieg, spreading lies across the media platforms they control, taking measures to conceal human and material losses, and blocking access to truthful and objective information.

The Armed Forces continue to hold certain defense lines in all directions, while in some areas, they go for a counteroffensive, forcing the enemy to suffer losses and retreat, disrupting rear communications and inflicting devastating blows.

"Unfortunately, we can't tell about all our successes yet, so as not to disrupt the plan. But believe me, all will be clear in due time. Together, we will win! Our fight continues!" stated the General Staff.

As reported, on February 24, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced the beginning of the invasion of Ukraine. Russian troops are shelling and destroying key infrastructure, conducting massive shelling of Ukrainian towns and villages using artillery, multiple rocket launchers and ballistic missiles.

Martial law was imposed in Ukraine and general mobilization was announced.

Ukraine has officially filed a lawsuit against the Russian Federation in the UN International Criminal Court in The Hague. ICC Prosecutor Karim Khan has already launched an investigation into the situation in Ukraine, calling on all witnesses to send him evidence of war crimes.

A joint appeal to the ICC to investigate Russia's war crimes in Ukraine was signed by 38 countries.
Since the beginning of Russia's large-scale armed aggression, more than 1.2 million people have been forced to leave Ukraine, according to the United Nations.

The Center for Strategic Communications and Information Security delivered the update via Telegram, Ukrinform reports.

According to the UN, 650,000 Ukrainians fled to Poland, 145,000  to Romania, 103,000  to Moldova, and 90,000  to Slovakia.

In addition, many families have left their homes and moved to other Ukrainian cities, the UN said.

As reported, on February 24, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced the beginning of the invasion of Ukraine. Russian troops are shelling and destroying key infrastructure, conducting massive shelling of Ukrainian towns and villages using artillery, multiple rocket launchers and ballistic missiles.

Martial law was imposed in Ukraine and general mobilization was announced.

Ukraine has officially filed a lawsuit against the Russian Federation in the UN International Criminal Court in The Hague. ICC Prosecutor Karim Khan has already launched an investigation into the situation in Ukraine, calling on all witnesses to send him evidence of war crimes.
'Keira's Law' is a private members bill tabled in the House of Commons named after four-year-old Keira Kagan, pictured here. (Jennifer Kagan-Viater - image credit)

A mother who is pushing for the passage of a bill to address intimate partner violence says Keira's Law could have prevented the alleged abduction of a Saskatchewan girl back in November.

Jennifer Kagan is the mother and Philip Viater is the stepfather of four-year-old Keira Kagan.

On Feb. 9, 2020, Keira was found dead with her father at the base of a cliff at Rattlesnake Point Conservation area in Milton, Ontario. Kagan and Viater believe it was a murder-suicide.

"She was a bright, lively, engaged child who would have had a very bright future had she not been failed by the family court system," said Kagan.

The bill they are advocating for, Bill C-233, would offer more education and training about domestic violence for judges.

"If a judge on her file had education and training in domestic violence, it would have made a considerable difference for Keira," said Kagan.

"We're hoping that it will make a considerable difference for others."

Kagan and Viater say Kiera's father's abusive behaviour was minimized by family courts.

"He kidnapped her on at least three occasions. He ran off with her in the face of court orders or parenting schedules in place," said Viater.

Evan Mitsui/CBC

Viater said that even in the face of strong warnings that Keira's father's access would be curtailed, his behaviour continued until her death.

Kagan said Keira's Law would give judges in family courts the tools to recognize patterns of domestic violence and its impact on children.

"Right now, there is this bias [in family courts] toward pro-contact at all costs," says Viater.

"It takes one bad parent to destroy a child and a family, and courts don't seem to understand that."

LISTEN | Jennifer Kagan and Philip Viater spoke with host Stefani Langenegger on the Morning Edition:

Allegations of abuse in Jackson custody hearing

Kagan and her husband, who is a lawyer specializing in family law, have pored over family court documents regarding a recent highly publicized abduction case in Saskatchewan, and they believe warning signs were missed in that case as well.

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Michael Gordon Jackson is facing a charge of abduction after taking his seven-year-old daughter to an undisclosed location back in November. He didn't return the girl and cut off all contact with her mother, later telling an online talk show he took her to prevent her from getting vaccinated for COVID-19.

Sarah was reunited with her mother Mariecar Jackson last week, after RCMP found Sarah and her father in a parking lot in Vernon, B.C., and arrested Michael.

"I was terrified for Sarah, for her safety," said Kagan, recalling her reaction to news of Sarah being taken by her father back in November. "[There were] so many concerning factors."

Submitted by RCMP

A court decision in 2019 from the custody battle between Mariecar and Michael Jackson details allegations of abuse.

In those documents, Mariecar alleges Michael was emotionally and psychologically abusive. There were also multiple past occurrences referred to in the court documents where Michael had not returned Sarah to Mariecar when he was supposed to after their separation.

Mariecar described her life with Michael when they were together as "difficult."

Mariecar was born in the Philippines and came to Canada in April 2013 on a work visa. Michael and Mariecar met in the restaurant where Mariecar worked. She moved in with Michael in July 2013 and found out that month she was pregnant. They married in September 2013 and Sarah was born April 2014.

Mariecar described Michael as a misogynist and said he would threaten her with deportation when they argued. She said Michael put up security cameras that made her feel watched, and would criticize the way she talked and dressed, and her choice in friends.

She said when she was working, her money was given to Michael and she was given $20 per week. She says he eventually demanded she quit her job.

The published court decision says Michael spanked their dog, and he testified it would not have happened "if she had just listened to him."

Mariecar also described an incident where Michael beat the dog when it ate his chip dip, and another incident where Michael grabbed Mariecar's iPad and smashed it.

Mariecar left Michael in December 2016 and stayed in a Regina women's shelter for three and a half months.

The documents also indicate Michael has an adult son from a previous relationship. He last saw his son when he was seven years old. He pleaded guilty to harassing his son and his son's mother and received a discharge.

The judge identified abusive and controlling behaviour, but ultimately weighed in favour of joint legal custody, said Viater.

"I think if the judge had better training and understanding of how these perpetrators of abuse behave and how they're going to behave in the future, the judge could have crafted a much better decision that would have protected this child, a lot better than she was," he said.

Training for judges essential, say advocates

Bill C-233, or "Keira's Law," comes after the federal government amended the Divorce Act last year to broaden the definition of family violence. Under the Divorce Act changes, family law judges need to take into account any history of domestic violence when making determinations about parenting and access to children.

"In order for that change in legislation to truly be effective, there needs to be training for these judges," said Jo-Anne Dusel, executive director of the Provincial Association of Transition Houses and Services, or PATHS.

Dusel said there is more risk for domestic violence victims after separating from their abusers.

"What happens is an abusive partner no longer has access to the primary victim who was their spouse, and they use the child as a pawn in order to inflict harm on the other person, the other parent," said Dusel.

"It's a faulty assumption that someone who is violent and abusive toward an intimate partner can be a good parent."

Sask.'s high rates of intimate partner violence

Dusel, Kagan and Viater all said Keira's Law is especially important for Saskatchewan because the province has some of the highest rates of intimate partner violence and domestic homicide.

"We need to do better. We're the only province in Canada that does not have a dedicated plan, a specific plan to address intimate partner violence," said Dusel.

Dusel said children don't have to be directly abused to be harmed in these situations.

"These children are often being court-ordered to spend time with somebody who has a history of violence," said Dusel.

Submitted by Jennifer Kagan

"Children aren't just exposed to domestic violence, they experience it," said Kagan.

"There is preventable trauma that children in the family court system are experiencing at the hands of abusers, and it's completely unnecessary and preventable."

Bill C-233 will be before the House of Commons for a second-reading in April.

Support is available for anyone affected by intimate partner violence. In Saskatchewan,www.pathssk.org has listings of available services across the province. You can access support services and local resources in Canada by visiting this website. If your situation is urgent, please contact emergency services in your area.

GETTING HELP:

1-800-799-SAFE (7233)

OR TEXT "START" TO 88788
The enemy's resources in Ukraine are depleting, a logistical collapse is looming, so invaders surrender increasingly.

"Tenth day of resistance to Russian terrorists. Tenth day of courage of the Armed Forces, National Guard members, border guards, rescuers, fighters of other security agencies, all Ukrainians who heroically hold the fort. Thanks to all our people, the Kremlins plans to conquer Ukrainians in two days, capture big cities, change the state leadership, and annex Ukraine to Russia have failed," Minister of Defense of Ukraine Oleksii Reznikov posted on Facebook.

According to him, the enemy has advanced in some directions but controls only a small territory, while Ukrainian defenders give a strong rebuff and oust the aggressor.

Russia is changing tactics given its slow pace of the offensive and the resistance of the Ukrainians. To date, the Ukrainian sky is the most vulnerable. The aggressor comprehensively and actively uses its air and missile potential. Aviation of all kinds bombards cities, towns and civilian infrastructure, including critical and dangerous facilities like nuclear and hydropower

plants.

The "great" army has shown its true insides  a coward terrorist who is able to attack only the civilian population: children, women, unarmed civilians. Targeted shelling, bombardment and missile attacks on residential neighborhoods, schools, kindergartens, and hospitals. The enemy is destroying temples and churches, shelling railway stations with thousands of women and children evacuating. Its tactics of frightened jackals. But I say with confidence: the enemy will be held liable for every life, for every teardrop," the minister emphasized.

According to Reznikov, he admires the strength of Ukrainians in Mariupol, Volnovakha, Kharkiv, Chernihiv, Mykolayiv, Kherson and all other cities where the situation is especially tense.

"We work towards establishing ceasefire regime and opening humanitarian corridors. The enemy does not know the value of human life, but we will do everything possible to help our citizens. We hope that humanitarian corridor will work and we will be able to evacuate civilians," Reznikov said.

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The Ukrainian military shot down another helicopter of the Russian Armed Forces.

"An hour ago, another helicopter of the aggressor country's Armed Forces was shot down," the Strategic Communications Department of the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine posted on Facebook.

An operational video shot by aerial reconnaissance has also been released.

According to the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, as of the morning of March 5, the invaders lost more than 10,000 personnel, 39 planes, and 40 helicopters.

On February 24, Russian president Vladimir Putin declared war on Ukraine and launched a large-scale invasion.

Russian troops are killing civilians, shelling and destroying key infrastructure facilities, and missiles hit Ukrainians' homes.

Martial law was imposed in Ukraine and general mobilization was announced. The Armed Forces of Ukraine, with the support of the entire nation, courageously resist Russian aggression.

Illustrative photo

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I am sure that soon we will be able to tell our people: come back!

Free people of a free country!

It is already the tenth day of our national struggle. Sincere faith. And round-the-clock work.

The tenth day is like one infinitely long day. One infinitely long night that does not allow us to have a rest.

Today is Saturday.

Saturday.

This word means nothing during the war.

Like Monday or Thursday or any other day. They all became the same.

We still protect the state. We still save people.

The country does not know weekends anymore.

It doesn't matter what time it is. It doesn't matter what date it is.

And it will be so until victory.

Late at night I spoke with French President Emmanuel Macron. And with President of Poland Andrzej Duda. Our interaction is constant. Our conversations are daily.

I am immensely grateful to each of them. I am immensely grateful to Andrzej for his determination and devotion to our common cause.

Protection of people.

I am grateful to Andrzej's wife - Agata.

They are friends whom I sincerely consider friends and sincerely wish to everyone.

We managed to prevent a humanitarian crisis at the border. We managed to organize the situation so that thousands and thousands of Ukrainian women and children were treated decently.

Nobody asks about their nationality, faith or how much money they have.

In fact, we no longer have a border with Poland.

Because we are together on the side of good.

We do not have time for borders.

Come back from Poland, Romania, Slovakia and all other countries.

Come back, because there is no more threat.

We are already thinking about the future. For all Ukrainians. After the war.

About how to revive our cities. How to revive the economy.

I spoke with World Bank President David Malpass, IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva.

We have an agreement among the largest financial institutions to support Ukraine.

There is already a decision on emergency aid and tens of billions of dollars for the reconstruction of Ukraine after the war.

And these are only the first decisions.

I emphasize these are only the first.

I spoke with Turkish President Erdogan.

I spoke with the leaders of Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

I spoke with President of the European Council Charles Michel and President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen. The main topic is EU membership for Ukraine.

I am grateful to Europeans - hundreds of thousands of people in different cities of our continent. Bratislava, Vilnius, Frankfurt, Lyon, Paris, Tbilisi, Prague.

They came out yesterday in support of Ukraine. In support of Europe.

They came out for peace to be reached as soon as possible.

I am grateful to Americans for the unwavering bipartisan majority of ordinary people.

We saw the poll. We saw the opinion of ordinary people in America who support ordinary people in Ukraine. Who demand tougher sanctions against Russia for aggression already now. Who support closing the sky now to save the lives of our people.

74 percent of Americans stand for the no-fly zone. 74! The vast majority.

What else is needed to make a decision?

We are sure that the result is similar in other democratic countries.

The Armed Forces of Ukraine bravely hold all key areas of our defense.

They are counterattacking the invaders near Kharkiv - defending the city.

They are holding the line in Mykolaiv.

Kyiv, Chernihiv region, Sumy region, Donbas. We inflict losses on the invaders they have not seen in their worst dreams.

The Russian army has not reached the planned frontiers. Yet it has reached almost 10 thousand Russian soldiers killed. 10 thousand. This is dreadful!

18-year-old, 20-year-old boys. Very young, almost children. Soldiers who were not even explained why they were going to fight. For what and why they are in a foreign land.

10 thousand.

Russia could definitely give these people something else.

Instead of death.

The Ukrainian people are resisting even where the invaders managed to pass. Unfortunately. But not for long.

I admire every Ukrainian who is not silent.

Who protests.

Who takes the national flag and shows the Russian military that they will lose.

They will definitely lose.

Because it is impossible to win against people who stop military equipment without weapons in their hands.

Who refuse to take anything from the hands of the invaders.

Whose situation is tough and dangerous.

But they do not lose their dignity.

And will never lose it.

At the talks in Belarus, the groups agreed on the first step.

To bring back at least one percent of humanity from the normal level.

Surrounded cities that are being destroyed and experiencing the worst days.

Humanitarian corridors must work today.

Mariupol and Volnovakha.

To save people. Women, children, the elderly. To give food and medicine to those who remain.

Our help is already on the way.

Everyone who needs help should be able to leave. Those who are willing.

Everyone who can defend their city must continue to fight. Must. Because if everyone leaves, then whose city will it be?

We are doing everything - on our part - to make the agreement work.

This is one of the main tasks for today.

Let's see if we can go further. In the negotiation process.

Lets pray for our military. Lets help our civilians.

Lets work for peace.

Glory to Ukraine!
In Enerhodar, three National Guard servicemen were killed and two others are in critical condition following an attack by Russian troops on the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant.

Enerhodar Mayor Dmytro Orlov reported this on Telegram, Ukrinform reports.

"Servicemen of the National Guard of Ukraine Yevhen Ukolov, Mykhailo Frolikov, and Yuriy Kvach were killed in the shelling. May the memory of our fallen compatriots live forever," Orlov wrote.

According to him, the condition of the two guardsmen remains serious, they are in the intensive care unit. Doctors are fighting for their lives.

Orlov also said that two people injured during the shelling of the checkpoint are undergoing outpatient treatment.

As Ukrinform reported, in the early hours of March 4, Russian troops opened fire on the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant. One shell hit the plant's first power unit, a fire broke out in an administrative building.

After heavy fighting and shelling of an industrial site with artillery weapons, the Zaporizhzhia NPP was captured by the Russian military.

The staff of the Zaporizhzhia NPP monitors the condition of power units and ensures their operation.
Russian occupying forces have resorted to open tactics of terror, firing at civilians and critical infrastructure.

Secretary of the Ukrainian National Security and Defense Council Oleksiy Danilov said this on Facebook, Ukrinform reports.

"The entire security and defense sector of Ukraine is giving a decent rebuff to the Moscow invaders in all directions. Russia's occupying forces have resorted to open tactics of terror, with attacks on civilians and critical infrastructure. The goal is to intimidate, create panic, break our will to resist," Danilov said.

According to him, the enemy violates the agreements reached by blocking the opening of evacuation corridors, not allowing the arrival of humanitarian aid, but at the same time trying to create a false picture of a "joyful meeting" of the occupiers by locals. "But cheap tricks of Russian propagandists failed. The heroic Kherson refused to take part in a show called 'liberation' staged by Moscow scum," he said.

He stressed that Kharkiv and Mariupol, key cities of deterrence for the aggressor in southern and eastern Ukraine, are defending themselves. Mykolaiv and Odesa are preparing for defense.

At the same time, Danilov did not rule out that Russia will begin additional mobilization of its population.

"We can expect additional mobilization in Russia, which will significantly complicate the domestic political situation. Zombie Russian society is ready to shout, 'We can do it again,' but it is not ready to die for Putin's fantasies, unlike Ukrainians who are ready to kill for their freedom and their land," he said.

As reported, on February 24, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced the beginning of the invasion of Ukraine. Russian troops are shelling and destroying key infrastructure, conducting massive shelling of residential areas of Ukrainian cities and villages using artillery, multiple launch rocket systems and ballistic missiles.

Martial law was imposed in Ukraine and general mobilization was announced.

Ukraine officially filed a lawsuit against the Russian Federation to the International Court of Justice in The Hague.

International Criminal Court Prosecutor Karim Khan launched an investigation into the situation in Ukraine.

Thirty-eight countries sent a joint appeal to the ICC with the request to investigate Russia's war crimes in Ukraine.
Poland intends to open a center for documenting Russia's war crimes, counting on U.S. support in this regard.

This was stated by Polish Foreign Minister Zbigniew Rau, who spoke at a joint press conference with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Rzeszow (southeast of Poland), an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

According to Rau, Warsaw is setting up a center for documenting Russia's war crimes in Ukraine and is counting on cooperation with the United States.

"Based on its painful experience of the past, Poland will consistently demand prosecution for war criminals. It is a matter of shared memory, our shared responsibility," Rau said.

He called for an end to Russia's hostilities in Ukraine during talks between the Ukrainian and Russian delegations.

Rau stressed that, as chairman in office of the OSCE, he called for the creation of humanitarian corridors for the evacuation of civilians from besieged cities.

"Russia's aggression in Ukraine has led to a huge humanitarian crisis. It is our responsibility to help hundreds of thousands and, possibly, soon millions of refugees, Rau said.

He stressed that the actions of Russia, which has been attacking civilian infrastructure, terrorizing the population, and shooting at nuclear power plants and civilian cars, is a pervasive violation of multiple international norms. The top diplomat called on Russia to abide by humanitarian law and to ban further attacks on civilians.

"All actions of the Russian side should be taken into account during future talks," he said.

The Polish minister stressed that Warsaw never recognizes any altering of borders, caused by Russia's aggression in Ukraine.

The war with Russian invaders has been going on in Ukraine since February 24.
A Russian plane dropped heavy aerial bombs on a military community in Kharkiv, killing four servicemen and injuring more.

"A Russian enemy plane dropped heavy aerial bombs on a military community of the 5th Slobozhansk Brigade on the night of March 5, 2022. Four servicemen were killed. There are wounded," the Eastern Operational-Territorial Unit of the National Guard of Ukraine posted on Facebook.

It is noted that the brigade's fighters are clearing the debris. Despite the losses and serious damage to infrastructure, the National Guard members are steadfastly defending Kharkiv together with the Armed Forces, the Territorial Defense, the National Police, and the Security Service of Ukraine.

On February 24, Russian president Vladimir Putin declared war on Ukraine and launched a large-scale invasion. Russian troops are shelling and destroying infrastructure, conducting massive shelling of residential areas of Ukrainian cities and towns using artillery, multiple launch rocket systems, and ballistic missiles. Martial law was imposed in the country and general mobilization was announced. Ukraine filed a lawsuit against the Russian Federation at the UN International Court of Justice in The Hague.

Phot credit: facebook.com/ngu.east

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Anonymous international hacker group has taken down the website of the Federal Security Service of Russia.

"Goodbye, fsb.ru," Anonymous posted on Twitter.

Currently, the website of the FSB of the Russian Federation is not working.

On February 25, Anonymous international hacker group announced that it was launching attacks against the government of the Russian Federation, while the Russian private sector could also be affected. Following this announcement, the group has already hacked 2,500 websites in Russia and Belarus in support of Ukraine.

On February 24, Russian president Vladimir Putin declared war on Ukraine and launched a large-scale invasion. Russian troops are shelling and destroying infrastructure, conducting massive shelling of residential areas of Ukrainian cities and towns using artillery, multiple launch rocket systems, and ballistic missiles. Martial law was imposed in the country and general mobilization was announced. Ukraine filed a lawsuit against the Russian Federation at the UN International Court of Justice in The Hague.

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Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Dmytro Kuleba held talks with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken on UkrainePoland border.

As the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine posted on Facebook, Kuleba arrived at the negotiating site from the Ukrainian side, and his American counterpart  from Poland.

The U.S. Secretary of State expressed admiration for the actions of the Ukrainian people, including President Zelensky, the Armed Forces of Ukraine and all Ukrainian defense forces, who effectively repel Russian aggression.

The key talking points were further painful sanctions against Russia, supply of additional weapons to defend Ukraine, isolation of Russia from the world for its aggression against Ukraine.

"Ukraine will win this war because the Ukrainians rose to the People's War for their land, and the truth is on our side. The point is the price of victory. If the partners continue to act decisively, increase economic and political pressure on Russia, provide us with the weapons we need, the price will be lower for Ukraine. It will save many lives," Kuleba said.

The minister expressed gratitude for the unprecedented and prompt steps taken by the United States and its partners to defend Ukraine over the ten days of Russia's invasion, including the provision of weapons: "We are working to ensure that these steps are taken further and that the pressure on Russia continues to grow. To ensure that Ukraine receives all the necessary weapons for protection."

The parties discussed the urgent strengthening of Ukraine's defense capabilities, in particular in protecting the skies from Russian aircraft and missiles that bomb residential areas of cities and civilians. Kuleba and Blinken agreed on further steps to strengthen Ukraine's defense against Russia's barbaric actions in the air.

The Secretary of State reaffirmed that the United States was ready to continue its defense support to Ukraine and was considering further strengthening its defense capabilities. He drew attention to the unprecedented global wave of support for Ukraine in the world.

"Putin has made a terrible mistake in many ways. He believed that Ukraine did not exist as an independent state. Today, the Ukrainian people are proving the exact opposite every day. The strength, determination, and resolve of Ukrainians with the support of the United States and the world will eventually win. I say this directly. I agree with Minister Kuleba that the point is the price of victory. The United States is determined to make every effort to keep it as small as possible," Blinken stressed.

On February 24, Russian president Vladimir Putin declared war on Ukraine and launched a large-scale invasion. Russian troops are shelling and destroying infrastructure, conducting massive shelling of residential areas of Ukrainian cities and towns using artillery, multiple launch rocket systems, and ballistic missiles. Martial law was imposed in the country and general mobilization was announced. Ukraine filed a lawsuit against the Russian Federation at the UN International Court of Justice in The Hague.

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The Russian military continue to fire on Ukrainian hospitals and ambulances.

"There are terrible things that violate all possible and impossible conventions when the occupiers do not allow us to get to hospitals. The occupiers do not give the opportunity to enter a hospital, change the staff, bring food, bring the necessary medicines. We record all these crimes and the data will be submitted to the relevant international courts. I think that all those, who scorn at our patients in hospitals, will be punished," Minister of Health of Ukraine Viktor Liashko said on TV air, Ukrinform reports.

According to him, the enemy troops continue to fire on ambulances.

"We need a humanitarian corridor to deliver insulin and other medicines," he added.

Liashko stressed that Ukraine had appealed to Russia on this issue.

"We appealed to the Russian Federation saying that they must not prevent Ukraine from opening humanitarian corridors and delivering vital medicines to people with oncology, diabetes, patients in need of dialysis," Liashko said.

In general, according to the minister, the authorities in these difficult conditions throughout Ukraine have ensured the operation of pharmacies, control that prices do not rise. Meetings with manufacturers, distributors and pharmacy chains are held daily. The state also provides hospitals with medicines that are accessible.

Liashko noted that Ukraine had sufficient amount of medicines, the more so the humanitarian aid was being delivered. At the same time, hostilities have a negative impact on logistics. There are problems with both the delivery of medicines and raw materials to manufacturers.

On February 24, Russian president Vladimir Putin declared war on Ukraine and launched a large-scale invasion. Russian troops are shelling and destroying infrastructure, conducting massive shelling of residential areas of Ukrainian cities and towns using artillery, multiple launch rocket systems, and ballistic missiles. Martial law was imposed in the country and general mobilization was announced. Ukraine filed a lawsuit against the Russian Federation at the UN International Court of Justice in The Hague.

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Song Kang during his Netflix live virtual fan meet. (Screenshot: YouTube)

Korean actor Song Kang held a live virtual fan meet through The Swoon, Netflix's Korean content YouTube channel, on Friday night (4 March), which attracted as many as 12,000 viewers from all over the world.

With Korean entertainer Park Kyung-lim as the host, the almost two-hours long event saw Song sharing his thoughts and personal photos, doing quizzes based on his dramas and fans preferences, answering fans questions and providing a plethora of fan service.

Fans dubbed Song Kang the son of Netflix after he starred in multiple Netflix K-dramas, including Love Alarm, Sweet Home, Navillera, Nevertheless, and the currently airing Forecasting Love and Weather.

You can view the fan meet video here:

Here are some of the photos he shared, which include photos of his hobbies, his clothes and of course, himself.

Song Kang during his Netflix live virtual fan meet. (Screenshot: YouTube)

Song Kang during his Netflix live virtual fan meet. (Screenshot: YouTube)

Song Kang during his Netflix live virtual fan meet. (Screenshot: YouTube)

Before the fan meet, Netflix had received over 3,000 video questions from fans around the world. But only a lucky few from Australia, Mexico, Jamaica, Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam, and Singapore were selected.

When asked whether he has a pre-shoot ritual, Song revealed that he listens to mellow music like ballads. He would also gargle and try to cleanse [his] mouth and apply lip balm as his lips tend to become dry.

As for what helps him get into the character, he said that he applies perfume, choosing a cologne that suits the character. For instance, he wore a sweet scent for his character Park Jae-eon in Nevertheless.

If he were to choose one of his characters to live with for the rest of his life, he would choose Lee Chae-rok from Navillera as hes very focused on his goal and he strives to achieve it. He added, While acting that role, I realised how amazing it is to be a person with such tenacity.

Park also pointed out that Chae-rok resembles Song, which he agreed, When it comes to goals, I do try to achieve my goals. And Im almost always sleepless until I make it.

On the other hand, he found Lee Shi-woo from the currently airing Forecasting Love And Weather to be the most difficult to hang out with. Hes very bright and innocent. But I dont think hes good at reading social cues. So if I was his boss, I dont think I wouldve liked him, he explained.

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Song was also asked how different he is from the characters he plays, to which he replied that there are more similarities than differences as each of them has a bit of [him] and a mix of [his] habits.

He found that he is most different from Nevertheless' Jae-eon though, since the character is a very aggressive kid. He disclosed, Its hard for me to be amiable and gregarious, and Im not so good with words. As Song said that he cant get close with those who dont go to him first, Park joked and urged everyone to go up to him.

After answering fans questions, Song shared a vlog of him practising on the piano  its been two years since he last played the piano  and going to a cafe, followed by a charming piano performance of Blooming Story from Love Alarms OST.

The fan service continued towards the end of the fan meet, with Song doing aegyo (cute expressions) and even wearing an adorable angel prop.

Song Kang during his Netflix live virtual fan meet. (Screenshot: YouTube)

Song Kang during his Netflix live virtual fan meet. (Screenshot: YouTube)

Get more TV and movie news from Yahoo Life on our Entertainment page.
As an Ukrinform correspondent reports from The Hague, the Russians were among those shouting "Glory to heroes!" and singing the anthem of Ukraine near the Russian embassy.

"We are ashamed. We want Ukraine to hold on and, of course, to win, Russian Anastasia told Ukrinform.

During their speeches, the protesters, in particular, stressed that they have relatives in Ukraine, for whom they are very worried, and called on Russians to ignore intimidation and to protest demanding to stop the war in Ukraine.

"I am angry that one decision made by one person ruined life in many countries. He deprived [people] of the future, threatens the whole world. I do not understand why this is necessary. I look at the photos, read the news and I can't imagine that anyone in their right mind could assume that this will happen someday, said Svetlana from Russia.

She also said that, fortunately, her friends and relatives in Russia are adequate, but most people who realize that Russia has attacked Ukraine are afraid to go to the streets and tell the truth. Especially after the events in Belarus, where the Lukashenko regime failed to win.

"Unfortunately, it is believed that people will come out and everything will change, but I've been protesting since 2011, I've been living in the Netherlands for three years, and nothing has changed. Reprisals only escalate. My friends are in prison. And now almost everyone I know is going to rallies. Most of them end up in prison. Some are released, some are not, some are forced to flee to other countries, Svetlana added.

Several hundred protesters gathered in the center of The Hague to protest against the Putin regime and the war in Ukraine. Among them are Ukrainians, Dutch and citizens of other countries.

Many protesters were dressed in blue and yellow. They called on the Netherlands to terminate all business with Russia and to act decisively to stop the war.

Protests against the war in Ukraine are held daily in the center of Amsterdam as well.

On February 24, Russian president Vladimir Putin declared war on Ukraine and launched a large-scale invasion. Russian troops are shelling and destroying infrastructure, conducting massive shelling of residential areas of Ukrainian cities and towns using artillery, multiple launch rocket systems, and ballistic missiles. Martial law was imposed in the country and general mobilization was announced. Ukraine filed a lawsuit against the Russian Federation at the UN International Court of Justice in The Hague.

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The international isolation of the aggressor power continues as more and more international companies are pulling out of Russia.

This was announced by the Center for Strategic Communication and Information Security on Telegram, Ukrinform reports.

It is noted that Singapore has imposed sanctions against Russian banks and banned supplies of dual-use products to Russia.

At the same time, Fitch downgraded dozens of Russian companies, including Avtodor, Russian Post, Rusnano, Russian Railways, FPK, Inter RAO, RusHydro, and Rosset.

Read also: Russian economy going south

Technology giants are also withdrawing from Russia. In particular, Japans Komatsu, one of the world's largest manufacturers of construction equipment, has stopped supplying products to Russia.

Hitachi Corporation has stopped production in and exports of equipment to the country.

South Koreas Samsung has stopped supplying Russia with phones, appliances, and microchips.

In addition, the jewelry brand Cartier closed its stores in the country.

The boutiques run by fashion brands Gucci, Balenciaga, and Yves Saint Laurent, all owned by the Kering group, are also closing.

The Marks&Spencer brand ceases supplies of its products to Russia, also announcing the transfer of funds to help Ukrainian refugees.

Electronic Arts stops selling games and content to Russia and Belarus. The company owns the rights to such hits as FIFA22, Battlefield, Need for Speed, and more.

As Ukrinform reported earlier, Swedens furniture giant IKEA has decided to suspend its operation in Russia and Belarus due to the ongoing war in Ukraine.
Italian police have seized villas and yachts worth at least EUR 140 million ($153 million) from high-profile Russians who were placed on an EU sanctions list following Moscow's attack on Ukraine, sources said on Saturday.

A police source said a villa owned by billionaire businessman Alisher Usmanov on the Mediterranean island of Sardinia, and a villa on Lake Como owned by state TV host Vladimir Soloviov, had both been seized, Ukrinform reports citing Reuters.

In addition, sources confirmed that yachts belonging to Russia's richest man, Alexey Mordashov, and Gennady Timchenko, who has close tied with Russian President Vladimir Putin, were impounded overnight in the northern Italian port of Imperia.

Russian oligarchs are believed to have bought numerous villas in choice Italian locations over the past 20 years and sources said more assets were expected to be seized in coming days as Western states implement massive sanctions to try to force Russia to withdraw from Ukraine.

Italian banks were instructed by the Bank of Italy's financial intelligence division on Friday to urgently let it know of all measures taken to freeze the assets of people and entities placed on the EU list.

Uzbekistan-born metals and telecoms tycoon Usmanov is well known in Italy for owning multiple properties on Sardinia, while Italian media say Mordashov owned a villa worth some EUR 66 million ($72 million) on the same island.

Taking into account the assets of his whole family, Forbes magazine estimates that Mordashov had an estimated net worth of $29.1 billion before sanctions hit.

His 65 meter (215 ft) yacht the "Lady M" had a price tag of EUR 65 million, while Timchenko's boat Lena was worth some EUR 50 million, a police source said.

Timchenko made a fortune in oil trading and has been described by Putin as one of his closest associates.

Soloviov reportedly complained on Russian television when he found out last month that he risked losing his Italian villa.

"Suddenly someone makes a decision that this journalist is now on the list of sanctions. And right away it affects your real estate. Wait a minute. But you told us that Europe has sacred property rights," he was quoted saying by The Daily Beast.

As reported, on February 24, Russia declared war on Ukraine. Russian troops invaded Ukraine from the north, east, and south  from the occupied Crimea. They have been destroying cities, killing civilians, shelling critical infrastructure and households.

Martial law was imposed in Ukraine and general mobilization was announced.
Facebook's president of global affairs, Nick Clegg, said that "soon millions of ordinary Russians will find themselves cut off from reliable information."

Facebook had previously been limited in the country, along with platforms including Twitter, Ukrinform reports citing the BBC.

Soon millions of ordinary Russians will find themselves cut off from reliable information, deprived of their everyday ways of connecting with family and friends and silenced from speaking out. We will continue to do everything to restore our services so they remain available to people to safely and securely express themselves and organize for action, Nick Clegg tweeted.

Although its use was restricted, Facebook had not been blocked entirely in the country.

On Friday Russian media quoted the regulator as saying that Twitter had been restricted following a request by the prosecutor general from February 24, the day of the invasion of Ukraine.

Russia said the move was a response to the blocking of Russian media in the west.
The pandemic proved shock therapy is an essential treatment. Will Washington improve its availability?
The Wisconsin Elections Commission  targeted for elimination by a Republican review of the 2020 election  struck back Friday against chief investigator Michael Gablemans recent report, saying it contains erroneous claims and lacks context.

The commission pushed back on several claims in the former Supreme Court justices sprawling 136-page report, including that the millions of dollars of private grants allocated to cities to help administer the election amid the pandemic constituted bribery.

The commission noted that courts have repeatedly rejected that claim, adding that a federal judge concluded theres no state prohibition on local governments accepting private money to run elections.

A ban on private grants would require a new law to be passed, the Elections Commission said.

In a sweeping critique of current election rules, Gableman on Tuesday called for the elimination and dismantling of the bipartisan Wisconsin Elections Commission after it instructed clerks in 2020 that they did not need to send election workers into nursing homes to assist with absentee voting after many were turned away due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The bipartisan group noted Gablemans report omitted evidence to support some of his conclusions, including his claim that some Wisconsin nursing homes had 100% voter participation.

The report does not provide a list of specific nursing homes, nor supporting evidence, nor a methodology, for how he calculated the turnout rates for particular nursing homes, the Elections Commission said.

The commission provided contrary Milwaukee data showing a smaller percentage of voters in nursing homes returned absentee ballots in November 2020 than in November 2016.

The Elections Commission also disputed Gablemans description of how the commission makes available for purchase voter registration data, sells that information for $12,500, but doesnt make the information available in real time and doesnt charge special interest groups.

Every claim above is false, the commission stated, adding that the median transaction cost for customers purchasing voting data sets was $55 and that no fees are waived for anyone.

The Elections Commission also rejected Gablemans claim that it issued guidance enabling clerks to open envelopes before the statutorily mandated deadline, stating it had actually never issued guidance, rules or other directives to that effect.

Also, the Elections Commission corrected Gablemans claim that the commission unlawfully encouraged voters to register as indefinitely confined, thus allowing them to avoid the photo ID requirement to vote. In fact, the commission advised the opposite, and noted the Wisconsin Supreme Court agreed with its guidance.

Gableman said Tuesday that his review was not complete and that his contract, which expired months ago, remains valid, though he has not provided more updated terms.

All reasonable people can now see this is a thinly veiled effort to undercut the publics confidence in our state electoral system, said Madison Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway, whom Gableman had threatened to jail if she didnt comply with a list of demands.

For all of their bluster and allegations of wrongdoing by Wisconsins public servants and voters, Gableman and (Assembly Speaker Robin Vos) are the only actors in this saga who have been found in violation of Wisconsin law and fined by a court, Rhodes-Conway continued. On Wednesday, a Dane County judge ruled that Vos, R-Rochester, and Gableman arbitrarily and capriciously denied or delayed access to public records related to the GOP-ordered review of the states 2020 election.

Artifice fades

Gableman reviews partial focus on decertifying the 2020 election has been previously shot down by the Republican Partys leadership, and embraced especially by one fringe Republican lawmaker and recently announced gubernatorial candidate, Rep. Timothy Ramthun, R-Campbellsport.

The Marquette Law School Poll found Republicans are growing more confident in the accuracy of the election, with 38% saying they are confident compared with 29% who said the same in August 2021.

A recount and court decisions have affirmed that President Joe Biden defeated former President Donald Trump in Wisconsin by almost 21,000 votes. Reviews by the nonpartisan Legislative Audit Bureau and the conservative Wisconsin Institute for Law and Liberty found no evidence of widespread fraud. Multiple court rulings have also found no evidence of irregularities.

Gablemans office administrator, Zakory Niemierowicz, declined to comment on Gablemans behalf. Vos spokesperson Angela Joyce didnt respond to a message seeking comment.

Ad campaign

In another sign of pushback against Republican attempts to undermine the states election system, a coalition of groups representing local government officials is set to launch an ad campaign to reassure Wisconsin voters that they can trust election workers.

The League of Wisconsin Municipalities, the Wisconsin Counties Association and the Wisconsin Towns Association said the ads will appear on television and radio stations statewide as well as on multiple digital platforms beginning Monday and run through the April 5 election.

The spots feature town of Neenah Clerk Ellen Skerke, village of Kohler Deputy Clerk Cindi Gamb and village of Cobb Clerk Lisa Riley. The clerks tell viewers that election workers are Wisconsin residents neighbors and family members and can be trusted to run fair contests.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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I recently watched a movie in which a character, who wanted to remember certain moments in his life, would blink at them, as if his eyes were a camera and he could freeze-frame the images in his mind. While a bit silly, we all have done this in one way or another.

Some might remember the moment they heard John F. Kennedy was shot or when astronaut Neil Armstrong radioed to NASA, The Eagle has landed. Others know the exact place they were standing when the Space Shuttle Challenger exploded 73 seconds into its flight. (I was in my college apartment ironing while watching it on TV.) Most of us can recall where we were when the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center collapsed, and it seems the worlds eyes are currently blinking into memory images of Ukraine and its people under violent attack from Russia.

In between these historic experiences - which should never be forgotten - there are hundreds, if not thousands of intimate moments which create a composite of who we are as individuals. Perhaps our consciousness collects them, so that when bigger, incomprehensible events take place and we feel disconnected or helpless, we retrieve these personal visions to regain a sense of peace or stability.

To give you an example, I remember one morning at Sunday school when I was seven. We were told to write our worst sin on a small piece of paper. I sat at a short, round table in a narrow room with toast-colored carpeting and colorful posters of Jesus and people of the Bible hanging on the painted concrete walls. I can still see my fingers wrapped around the number 2 pencil as I formed grey letters on the ivory square.

Afterwards, we were instructed to fold and place them in a green, glass ashtray our teacher held as she sat on a tiny chair in the middle of us. Once our recorded wrongdoings were collected, she balanced the ashtray on her knees, opened a book of matches, and burned the secret confessions into a half a cup of ashes.

Our eyes were eggshells as we watched the flames and smoke devour our innocent transgressions, yet I also recall a real and physical sense of relief and liberation. Our teacher told us that was forgiveness.

Another reflection imprinting my life is of Mrs. Mary Jewell Ledbetter, my high school creative writing teacher, slaloming between our desks as she played a bamboo flute. Her blah-colored, buttoned shirt beneath a tan utility jacket were as mundane as her curly, mouse-brown hair and practical leather loafers. Some of my classmates callously called her Mrs. Bedwetter behind her back, but I found her fascinating.

Every summer, she would do something adventurous like go white water rafting, polar bear watching, or take a backpack trip on a llama. She traveled to countries like Australia, Nepal, Lichtenstein, and the Soviet Union, and brought back artifacts and entertaining stories to share with her students.

Each time she opened her classroom closet and searched its shelves for a unique prop or foreign relic to show and tell, I would get those same Sunday school feelings of liberation. Her haunting flute melody and pint-sized frame twist-turning its way through our desks was blinked into memory. That image, coupled with her instruction to record whatever came to mind, kindled my desire to become a writer.

In 1992, ten years after I graduated from high school and was a creative writing teacher myself, I sent a letter to Mrs. Ledbetter to thank her for inspiring me. I still have her reply, now a coveted treasure of my own kept in a closet with other valuable musings. I bring it out from time to time as a show and tell of my own history. Perhaps you, too, hold a mental snapshot of someone who encouraged your career or helped you find absolution amid the wrongs of life.

As both emotional events and atrocities continue, whether in our own personal hemispheres or on the other side of the globe, may we blink the positive moments into permanent record, find hope in mans ability to overcome incredible odds, replace darkness with light, and find reconciliation when sins are too great to comprehend or forgive.

Jeanne Schieffer is a published writer, poet, and professional communicator with undergraduate and graduate degrees from the University of South Dakota and the University of Nebraska-Kearney, respectively. She can be reached at threesidescolumn@gmail.com. Schieffers column will publish the first Saturday of every month.

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Minister for Economic Affairs Omer Ayub Khan on Saturday reiterated the government's firm commitment to provide all possible resources for the promotion of education sector in the country as it was instrumental to achieve sustainable economic growth and social prosperity

ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 5th Mar, 2022 ) :Minister for Economic Affairs Omer Ayub Khan on Saturday reiterated the government's firm commitment to provide all possible resources for the promotion of education sector in the country as it was instrumental to achieve sustainable economic growth and social prosperity.

Addressing the first convocation of the University of Haripur, Omer said that government was taking revolutionary measures for the development of education sector and promote information technology to bring local education sector at par with international standards.

While, congratulated the graduating students, their teachers and parents, the minister also assured that Federal government would provide all possible supports to university administration for strengthen its initiatives to uplift of local education sector and ensure provision of quality education facilities to local communities.

He further informed that keeping in view of Silicone City trend, first time in the history of country, special technology zone authority has been established and licenses also issued in collaboration with provincial government to special information technology zone and Pak-Australia Institute for the establishment of their facilities.

Addressing the ceremony, Provincial Minister for Higher Education Kamran Khan Bangish also congratulated the graduating students and university administration and said that it was a unique day for students and university as well as was a beginning of new era.

He appreciated the university administration for meeting the issues and maintaining the quality of education, achieving growth that were the main challenges of modern time. All academic, economic and administrative indicators were showing remarkable performance,which was possible due to hard work and efforts of Vice Chancellor of the university, he added.

The Provincial Minister also congratulate the Vice Chancellor and assured him full support of provincial government to fulfill all the needs of university including land and others.

Addressing the convocation, Vice Chancellor Professor Anwar Gilani thanked the federal minister for providing Rs1.5 billion development grant for the university during 2019, which help to initiate developmental work and to meet other expenditures of the university .

He informed that about 15,000 students had been graduated so far, where as 6,500 students were studding in university campus, adding that over 6,500 students were also enrolled in 06 different colleges affiliated with the university.
Tehran, March 5 (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 5th Mar, 2022 ) :The UN nuclear watchdog's chief held high-level talks in Tehran on Saturday that are seen as crucial in efforts to revive the 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and world powers.

The visit by International Atomic Energy Agency head Rafael Grossi comes after Britain, one of the parties to parallel talks on the deal in Vienna, indicated that an agreement was close.

The accord has been hanging by a thread since the United States' unilateral withdrawal in 2018 under then president Donald Trump.

"This is a critical time but a positive outcome for everyone is possible," the director general of the Vienna-based IAEA tweeted on Friday before flying to Iran.

Grossi held talks on Saturday with Mohammed Eslami, president of the Atomic Engergy Organization of Iran, ahead of a meeting with Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, states news agency IRNA said.

The 2015 nuclear deal was aimed at guaranteeing that Tehran could not develop a nuclear weapon -- something it has always denied wanting to do.

The next few days are widely seen as a crunch point for negotiations on reviving the accord formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, or JCPOA.

"We are close. E3 negotiators leaving Vienna briefly to update ministers on state of play" and were "ready to return soon", said British delegation head Stephanie Al-Qaq, referring to negotiators from Britain, France and Germany.

Ongoing talks in the Austrian capital to restore the agreement involve Iran as well as Britain, China, France, Germany and Russia directly, and the United States indirectly.
(@ChaudhryMAli88)

GENEVA, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 5th Mar, 2022 ) :The U.N. Human Rights Council on Friday condemned alleged rights violations by Russia during its "special military operation" against of Ukraine and agreed to set up a commission to investigate them, including possible war crimes.

Thirty two members voted in favour of the resolution seeking an International Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine, while 13 abstained, including Pakistan. Russia and Eritrea voted no on the 47-member Council.

The resolution calls for the "swift and verifiable" withdrawal of Russian troops and Russian-backed armed groups from Ukraine and urges safe and unhindered humanitarian access to people in need.

The independent international Commission of Inquiry will have a mandate that includes investigating all alleged rights violations and abuses, and related crimes, and making recommendations on accountability measures.

The vote capped two days of discussions on Ukraine in the Council, which is holding its annual month-long session.

Ukraine's Ambassador Yevheniia Filipenko explained the serious motive behind the urgent debate her country had called on the "Situation of human rights in Ukraine stemming from the Russian aggression".

"Most importantly, the initiative envisages the establishment of a Commission of Inquiry which will investigate all alleged violations and abuses of human rights and violations of international humanitarian law and related crimes in the context of the Russian Federation's aggression against Ukraine, including their root causes," she said.

"It is our common duty to ensure accountability by mandating the documentation and verification of Russia's crimes and identification of those responsible," Ms. Filipenko continued, in reference to the Commission of Inquiry.

"This is the only way to ensure that such blatant dereliction of human rights values, which we deeply share cherish, will never repeat itself in any place of the world." Speaking ahead of the vote, she called on those present to observe a moment of silence for all victims in Ukraine "stemming from the Russian aggression," at which point the work of the Council paused, as Members stood to show their respect.

Ukraine's supporters also stressed the importance of Friday's rights council decision.

"The vote was a powerful condemnation of Russia's actions, supported from council members from every geographic region of the world," US ambassador Sheba Crocker said.

"Members of the international community stand with Ukraine, and it is clear that Russia stands alone." Before the vote, Russia's representative Evgeny Ustinov had flatly rejected the resolution, insisting its "purpose is to deflect attention" from Kyiv's alleged crimes.

He said the co-sponsors of the resolution "will use any means to blame Russia." Ustinov insisted that it was "a mere waste of resources, which could better be used to help civilians in Ukraine. However, this will unlikely be a concern of the co-sponsors of the resolution, which will use any means in order to blame Russia for the event." On Thursday, Pakistan's Ambassador to the UN offices in Geneva, Khalil Hashmi, expressed "deep concern" overt the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict.

"Pakistan is committed to the fundamental principles of the UN Charter: self-determination of peoples, non-use or threat of use of force, sovereignty and territorial integrity of States and pacific settlement of disputes," Ambassador Hashmi stated, adding that human rights and adherence to obligations under international humanitarian law remains imperative.
(@FahadShabbir)

ISLAMABAD, Mar 5 (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 5th Mar, 2022 ) :The joint exercise by the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) and US Air Force (USAF), Falcon Talon was culminated at an operational air base on Thursday which was witnessed by Deputy Chief of the Air Staff (Personnel), Pakistan Air Force Air Marshal Zahid Mahmood along with the United States Charg d'affaires in Pakistan, Angela Aggeler.

The exercise started on Feb 26, 2022 with the deployment of USAF fighter jets at an operational base, said a PAF media release on Saturday.

The exercise was aimed at Interoperability in complex Air Operations in realistic contemporary scenarios.

Interacting with the combat crew of both the air forces, Air Marshal Zahid congratulated the participants on successful completion of the exercise.

He also appreciated the air and ground crew for smooth and professional conduct of this significant exercise.

He added that both the air forces have a long history of enviable cordial relations and hoped that this exercise would certainly enable both the air forces to learn from mutual experiences in addition to promoting inter-operational capability.
A Columbus native, Renee Mueller had aspirations to leave her hometown forever and make a life in the big city. But ironically, she found out later, Columbus was where she was meant to be, and is where she encourages others to be as well.

(We) need to show other alumni that Columbus has grown by leaps and bounds, especially over the last two years, and its a great place to come back to, Mueller said. We need more like-minded individuals bringing back their ideas and talents.

Born-and-raised in Columbus, Mueller, the broker/owner at kwElite Real Estate here in Columbus, went through the school system and graduated from Columbus High School in the late 1990s. She said it was a good place to grow up, but like what many teens still say today, she said she felt it was missing something.

It was a lot different than it is now. There wasnt much to do other than play outside with the group of neighbors you had, Mueller said. Like everyone else my age, all we talked about was getting out of Columbus. So when I left for college, I swore I was never coming back. I wanted the big city atmosphere, I wanted more opportunity. I just didnt see myself coming back to Columbus once I graduated and left.

Mueller went to the University of Nebraska Omaha for hotel management and marketing, but also worked for a hotel chain in the area. While a sophomore, she had one big goal in mind  buying property.

I remember telling roommates I was going to purchase a property and they could pay me rent. They all thought it was pretty funny I wanted to buy a property and rent it out, They said, we swear youre crazy. How and why are you going to buy this? she said.

Mueller, who had grown up with a father who had investment properties and rentals all across the state, had an idea that most young people dont and was determined to make it work. She wasnt even 20 years old at the time. In fact, her father had to co-sign on her purchase, but the 19-year-old (the minimum to purchase property legally in Nebraska) bought the Omaha site she coveted for $97,000 and rented it out.

I made enough money. I doubled what the house payment was coming in in rent, recalled Mueller, who had gone to all sorts of investment and property seminars with her dad growing up. I knew I was hooked then.

Then as a junior, Mueller decided to take what she felt was a promotion in Illinois to run three hotel chains across multiple states. It ended up not being what she wanted, but it helped her in at least one way.

It was triple the hours and barely enough money, so I realized that was not what I wanted to do. The week after I quit, I was back in Nebraska, she said. I knew what I wanted. I wanted to be in real estate.

Mueller wasted no time when she got back to town. She returned to working full-time at the same hotel she had been employed at during her high school years, while also taking online courses through UNO and started to build her reputation.

A licensed realtor since 2000, Mueller has had plenty of success in different areas of real estate having earned distinctions as a Graduate of Realtor Institute (G.R.I.) and Certified Residential Specialist (C.R.S.), among other things. She was also named Best Realtor by readers of The Columbus Telegram multiple years in a row. Her highest achievement locally is being a part of Columbus growth and encouraging others to do the same.

Seeing others succeed and living their dreams, thats what drives me, she said.

Mueller has stayed plenty busy the last few years. She transitioned to running her own real estate operation in 2018 and it is now under the kwELITE Real Estate umbrella, a company that prides itself on being the perfect mix of cutting-edge technology and hands-on personal service.

She decided to construct the 13,000-square-foot Parkway Plaza building, 4471 41st Ave., right off of Lost Creek Parkway. It features her kwELITE office, as well as Aksarben Mortgage, Charter Title and Escrow, All Makes, Applied Connective Technologies and Big Apple Bagels, among others. The building itself and Big Apple Bagels are partnerships between Mueller, her husband, Tyler, as well as businessman Jeff Thiele and his wife, Shirin.

Big Apple offers a variety of bagels, muffins and other pastries, as well as specialty drinks, including coffee and smoothies. The Midwest-based company has franchises all over the region and bills itself as offering always made-from-scratch, premium baked goods ... Bagels, Muffins and More, on its website. Bringing it to town played perfectly into what Mueller calls her mission to help grow Columbus.

My personality is such that if I see something I dont like, Im going to try to make a change rather than just complain about it , Mueller said. I wasnt thrilled to come back to Columbus at first, but when I made that decision, I knew I just had to make a difference  my goal is to keep growing Columbus and make it the best possible place for the next generation.

Business is only a part of that effort. Mueller has been and continues to be highly involved with numerous local nonprofits and initiatives, including the Columbus Area Future Fund and the Columbus Area Chamber of Commerce, as well as Habitat for Humanity, the Columbus Board of Realtors, Sammys Superheroes and her childrens school.

Erin Nahorny met Mueller back in the early 2000s when the latter got involved with Sammys Superheroes Foundation, which aims to raise awareness and fund life-saving research for all types of childhood cancer. Nahorny and her husband helped launch the nonprofit after their son was diagnosed with cancer.

She was always a person we could call on. She was always involved in everything, recalled Nahorny, who is also a realtor at Muellers kw office. I just dont know how she does all the things she does, but she is just one of those people you know you can always rely on with any need. Renee has just been a constant support  From a business standpoint, Im excited where were going. I just think Renee is being an innovator right now in our field

In some ways, Mueller still cant believe Columbus is home. But, she stressed, she cant imagine being anyplace else.

Some of my friends who even knew me back then laugh about it because not only did I come back, but I married a farmer  We have chickens and goats. Im completely farm, and that was not in the plans, so its pretty comical, she said, with a laugh. But I feel like I am exactly where I am supposed to be. I couldnt rave more about Columbus.

She enjoys spending time with her family, which includes her husband, Tyler, who is part of his familys farm operation that includes Mueller Sod Farm. She also enjoys hanging out with her two children, Cora and Maverick.

I am most proud of my children and family, Mueller said. Cora is signed up for Leadership Columbus and I want them to understand that vision today means a successful tomorrow.

Sleep is about the only thing she finds challenging to make time for, but Mueller said pushing herself in hopes to make Columbus better is all worth it. Her commitment to moving Columbus forward that truly drives her day in, day out.

Theres no hoping Columbus will be much different five years from now, Mueller said, with the initiatives that are out there and the action steps already being taken, it will be a place that harbors much more opportunity and my only hope is that the traction is maintained.

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TOKYO (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 05th March, 2022) The Japanese government voiced on Saturday a protest over the missile test conducted by North Korea, Japan's Defense Minister Nobuo Kishi said.

In the early hours of Saturday, North Korea fired a projectile toward the Sea of Japan, which fell outside the Japanese exclusive economic zone.

According to the Japanese Defense Ministry, Pyongyang fired at least one ballistic missile which flew some 300 kilometers (over 186 miles), reaching the height of 550 kilometers.

This is the ninth missile test conducted by North Korea in 2022.
Hundreds of people protested in London on Saturday demanding an end to Russia's devastating invasion of Ukraine, praying for peace amid a host of blue and yellow national flags

London, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 5th Mar, 2022 ) :Hundreds of people protested in London on Saturday demanding an end to Russia's devastating invasion of Ukraine, praying for peace amid a host of blue and yellow national flags.

The large crowd gathered on the central Trafalgar Square, singing the national anthem while draped in Ukrainian flags and calling Russian President Vladimir Putin a "terrorist".

"When the last Ukrainian soldier falls, Putin will come for you ladies and gents," read a giant banner.

"I'm Ukrainian and I still have some family and friends in Ukraine," said Olena Marcyniuk, 36, at the protest with her children aged 14 months and nine years.

"We need to keep on reminding everyone, we need to stay united to support our country," she told AFP, with a Ukrainian flag around her waist and on her pram.

"Maybe somehow (we can) get through to Russia as well that the world is for Ukraine and that it needs to start acting to stop the war." She said much of her family had fled but that her uncle stayed in Kyiv to "fight for the city".

Papal nuncio to Great Britain Archbishop Claudio Gugerotti led a prayer, saying "Today we are all Ukrainians.

" "Stop Putin, stop the war," read a placard.

"My mother and my step-dad and all my friends are in (eastern Ukrainian city) Sumy where they've been bombed, shelled for the last two days," said Natalya Courtney, 41.

"At this moment I'm actually waiting for my mother to reply to me to find out if she's okay," said the school finance manager.

"It's just important for me that we win this war and get our freedom back... it's just horrific," she said as rain began to fall.

"We're doing all we can to help with sending money, collecting parcels, collecting medical aid for soldiers, so whatever we can, but it's just really, really stressful, very upsetting." She called for NATO to establish a no-fly zone over Ukraine, something the West has refused to do for fear of escalating the conflict.

"Just help us help us to win the war on the ground because it's the shelling of innocent civilians, children, women, elderly people... It's just a massacre."mpa-cjo/bp
(@FahadShabbir)

ANKARA (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 05th March, 2022) Turkey continues negotiations with Russia and Ukraine on the evacuation of its citizens and has two planes waiting at the Boryspil airport in Kiev, Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar said on Saturday.

"On the evening of February 24, we sent two A400M aircraft for humanitarian aid. At the same time, we were planning the evacuation of our citizens. Two of our planes are currently waiting at the Boryspil airport due to the closure of the airspace. We continue our contacts with both Russia and Ukraine on this issue," Akar told reporters.
Two Missionaries of Charity, who hail from north-east Indias Mizoram state, say they have decided to continue serving the suffering people of Ukraine despite the danger.

By Vatican News staff writer

Two Indian Missionaries of Charity (MC), nuns of Mother Teresa of Calcutta, have decided to stay in Ukraine to serve the people amidst the full-scale military invasion by Russia that began on 24 February.

Natives of Northeast Indias Mizoram state, Sisters Rosela Nuthangi and Ann Frida have expressed their decision to stay on in Ukraine, risking their lives to serve the injured and those fleeing the war.

The Superior General of the MC in Kolkata (formerly Calcutta), Sister Prema, contacted the two nuns on March 2, asking them to move to a safer place by road. But the two preferred to remain where they are to help the people in whichever way possible. The sisters have informed their relatives of their safety in spite of the great danger.

Mizo Missionaries Charity

Mizoram derives its name from the Mizo native inhabitants of the region who speak the Mizo language as their main dialect. Mizorams estimated population of a little over a million is some 87 per cent Christian, comprising mainly of Protestants and several other Christian groups.

Sister Rosela Nuthangi is the second MC sister from among the Mizo people. She made her first religious profession in 1984 and was sent to the former Soviet Union (USSR) as a missionary. She worked in Moscow for 10 years.

Having mastered the Russian language, she also worked in Latvia and Estonia. She moved to Ukraine in 2017 where she is serving as a missionary.

Sister Ann Frida is from Aizawl, Mizorams capital. She made her first religious profession in 1998. After working in India for a few years, she was sent to Kyiv, the capital of Ukraine and is serving there for the last 10 years.

Models of missionary spirit

I am proud of them, said Archbishop John Moolachira, the President of the North East Regional Bishops Council (NERBC) expressing admiration for the two missionaries. I am not surprised that two religious women Sisters of the missionaries of Charity who are working in war-ravaged Ukraine are not leaving the country in spite of the great danger to their lives and the interest of the Govt of India to evacuate all its citizens.

Noting that the two nuns are but a small example of what the Church really stands for, he said, Every consecrated person cares more for the lives and comfort of their fellow men and women than that of their own. They would consider it cowardice and unbecoming of their noble call to flee when the people under their care need their help, prayers and support the most.

Father Robert Faustin, a Salesian priest from Mizoram, said that the anxious relatives of these two Mizo nuns are in constant touch with them for the past few days. We hope for the safety of these two heroic nuns and let us also pray that peace and normalcy return in Ukraine, Russia and rest of the world, Father Faustin said.

Discrimination against third-country nationals

According to BBC, some 76,000 foreign students studying in Ukraine, Indians alone number over 20,000. Others are from Africa, with the largest numbers coming from Nigeria, Morocco and Egypt. They are among thousands of Ukrainians and third-country nationals scrambling to flee the besieged country by crossing over to mainly Poland in the west from where to fly back home.

The United Nations has strongly denounced reported cases of discrimination and racism mostly faced by non-Europeans, as they try to flee and cross borders.

United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi reacted to the reports, saying, At this critical juncture, there can be no discrimination against any person or any group, Ukrainians and non-Ukrainians, Europeans and non-Europeans, all of whom are now forced to escape the violence.

The head of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) was also alarmed by verified credible reports of discrimination, violence and xenophobia against third-country nationals.

Let me be clear, discrimination on the basis of race, ethnicity, nationality or migration status is unacceptable, said IOM Director General, Antonio Vitorino. He stressed that neighbouring countries must allow all people fleeing Ukraine to access their territory, while assistance and protection must be provided in a manner that is non-discriminatory and culturally appropriate.

Mizorams openness to Myanmar refugees

Meanwhile, Mizoram state, which is wedged between Myanmar on the east and south, and Bangladesh on the west, has been offering shelter to Myanmar refugees fleeing the military junta following its February 2, 2021 coup.

Mizoram's chief minister said on Tuesday that over 24,200 refugees from across the Myanmar border were being sheltered in the state. They are being provided with food, shelter and other assistance on humanitarian grounds by the state government, NGOs, churches, student bodies and village authorities. He said the state government is making efforts to ensure that the displaced dont face problems. (Source: inputs from Miao Diocese)
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.
HARRISBURG  Student scores on Pennsylvania standardized tests fell sharply last year in most categories, although state education officials cautioned the numbers were so distorted by pandemic conditions that they are of limited use for comparison to previous years  particularly regarding statewide trends.

The Education Department on Friday released results of the Pennsylvania System of School Assessment exams for grades three to eight that showed broad declines in both math and English language arts. The Keystone Exams that assess algebra, literature and biology for high school students had more mixed results.

The Keystone exam participation at the high school level was so low, said Brian Campbell, director of the Bureau of Curriculum, Assessment and Instruction, that some smaller schools did not obtain sufficient data to calculate results and publish them without violating confidentiality of individual students results.

The Keystone literature exam, typically administered to 10th graders, was taken by just 9% of students, which was partly the result of the decision made early in the pandemic to not administer Keystones at all in 2019-20.

For the Pennsylvania System of School Assessment exams in grades three to eight, where participation was down about one-fourth to one-third, English scores were down 3.5% to 7%, depending on the grade; and math fell 7% to 11%. In science, scores for fourth graders were down about 2%, for eighth graders about 7%.

Scores were higher where participation was higher, Campbell said.

Sherri Smith, the deputy secretary for elementary and secondary education, said that parents and individual schools will likely find the test results useful, but that the drop in the number of test takers across the state makes aggregate numbers unreliable for comparative purposes.

I think at a state level, on a broad level, its hard for us to draw any kind of conclusions, based on all the metrics that changed, Smith said.

Keystone results for literature were down about 21%, while biology went up slightly and algebra results were level  which Smith said is another indication that 2021 was an anomaly.

Standardized test scores across the country have had substantial declines during the pandemic, said Scott Marion, executive director of the Center for Assessment in Dover, New Hampshire.

Marion compares the drop-off to missing a half-year of instruction. Results were particularly alarming for students who spent a year learning remotely, according to an analysis of 2021 test scores by his organization.

The kinds of losses, if you will, that were talking about, are not made up in a year, Marion said. We hope they can be made up in two years  but two years of intensive effort.

In a normal year, the tests are taken in April and May and released in September and October. But in 2021 the test-taking period was extended through September, under a waiver from the U.S. Department of Education. That in turn delayed the results that were released Friday.

Republican state lawmakers had pressured the Education Department to produce the results, with House Speaker Bryan Cutler, of Lancaster, and Education Committee Chairman Curt Sonney, of Erie, telling Education Secretary Noe Ortega in a Feb. 18 letter that the information was needed to help determine education spending and policy.

Cutler issued a statement after the scores were released that described Pennsylvania students learning loss as immense and very real.

The pressure is now on teachers, administrators, parents and other school leaders to work together with policymakers to solve this crisis and to close the gaps, Cutler said.

Participation in statewide testing, which in a normal year is about 99%, fell to about 71%, a drop-off the department attributed to several factors, including pandemic-driven school staffing shortages, transportation problems and building closures.

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Some Australian finance firms have started to divest Russian assets in the wake of Russias invasion of Ukraine. The Australian government Thursday urged the countrys $2.5 trillion pension industry to reassess its Russian holdings after the invasion.

In addition, Russias Ukraine invasion has prompted several Australian companies to cut ties with Russia by selling assets or stopping operations.

Australia said Thursday it strongly expected the nations pension funds, known as superannuation, or retirement funds, to review their investment portfolios and to divest any holdings in Russian assets.

Australia's $150 billion sovereign wealth fund, set up in 2006 to benefit future generations, said it planned to reduce its exposure to Russian-listed companies.

Russian assets are a very small proportion of Australia's retirement funds. Nevertheless, Jane Hume, the Treasurys superannuation minister, told the Australian Broadcasting Corp. that cutting those financial ties to Russia would still be significant.

Maybe it is small as a percentage but it is a 3.5 trillion [Australian] dollar industry. Even if you only held half of 1%, of your assets in Russia, that could equate to billions of dollars -- over 17 billion [Australian] dollars. That is a significant amount of capital that is invested in Russia, Hume said.

Australia has also imposed sanctions on Russian oligarchs and politicians, including more than 300 members of the Russian parliament.

Australia has also imposed technology penalties on Russia, including export bans on goods used in weapons production and oil and gas exploration.

On Tuesday, Australia said it would spend $50 million to buy missiles and ammunition to support Ukraine.
U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet is urging the Sri Lankan government to reform its judicial system and put an end to impunity, which encourages human rights violations to proliferate throughout the country. A report is under examination at the U.N. Human Rights Council.

Bachelet says she is pleased to see that Sri Lanka has taken certain steps to amend some provisions of the Prevention of Terrorism Act. She says that has resulted in the release of some people who have been detained under the act but says proposed reforms do not go far enough.

She says much more is needed to reform the countrys legal and security systems to put an end to impunity and prevent any recurrence of past violations.

The high commissioner was referring to the period after Sri Lankas civil war ended in the 1980s. Some 60,000 to 100,000 people from all ethnic and religious communities disappeared. The fate of thousands of those who have gone missing remains unknown to this day.

Regrettably, she says, few have been held accountable for the crimes. She says victims and their families continue to be denied truth and justice.

I remain concerned by the continued suffering and anguish of victims and families of the disappeared, who call for truth and justice, and seek to commemorate their loved ones. I urge the government to acknowledge their rights, urgently determine the fate or whereabouts of victims, bring perpetrators to justice, and provide reparations, she said.

Bachelet says she is deeply concerned by continued reports of surveillance, harassment and intimidation of civil society organizations, human rights defenders and journalists by police and intelligence services.

Repeated incidents of deaths in custody and in alleged armed encounters with police are alarming. We also continue to receive allegations of ill-treatment and torture by police and military. This highlights the importance of fundamental security-sector reforms, she said.

Bachelet warns Sri Lanka will not achieve genuine reconciliation and sustainable peace as long as impunity prevails.

Sri Lankas foreign minister, Lakshman Peiris, says there are serious anomalies and weaknesses in the report presented to the council by the high commissioner.

The fundamental deficiency is its intolerably intrusive character, impinging as it does on core functions and responsibilities of organs of the Sri Lankan state overwhelmingly mandated by the people of our country at three successive elections, Peiris said.

He says he deeply regrets the numerous unsubstantiated allegations that have found their way into the report.
When Matthew Parker, an American veteran with 22 years of service in the U.S. Army, heard that Russian forces had invaded Ukraine, he thought about a Ukrainian American soldier who had served alongside him with U.S. forces in Iraq and decided he wanted to help the Ukrainians defend their homeland.

I had a soldier in Iraq with me who was from Ukraine, he told VOA of his decision to join what he sees as a fight about justice and friendship. He became an American citizen, joined the Army, and he told me about his home. He told me about his family and how proud they were. I remember him telling me about his little sister.

Now  I'd like to think that by going to Ukraine, maybe I protect his mother, or his little sister or his home. Maybe in some small way, I say thank you to him for serving by doing something like this.

Parker, who fought battles in Bosnia and Iraq, is not alone.

A representative of the Ukrainian Embassy in Washington told VOA that 3,000 U.S. volunteers have responded to the nations appeal for people to serve in an international battalion that will help resist Russias invading forces. Many more have stepped forward from other countries, most from other post-Soviet states such as Georgia and Belarus.

In an emotional video posted to his Telegram channel on Thursday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy referred to an international legion of 16,000 foreign volunteers, who he said are being asked to join the defense of Ukraine, Europe and the world.

We have nothing to lose but our own freedom, the president said.

Zelenskyys appeal was echoed in a Facebook posting by Ukraines armed forces, which emphasized they are looking for people with combat experience who are standing with Ukraine against [the] Russian invasion. The government has already temporarily lifted visa requirements for the volunteers.

For Parker, a gray-haired father with four adult children, the decision to go and fight in Ukraine came even before Zelenskyys appeal.

Initially, he and 12 veterans, men he served with over the years, planned to board a plane to Poland, get to the Ukrainian border and register for territorial defense units along with other Ukrainian volunteers.

The path forward became much clearer, however, after Zelenskyy called for the formation of the international legion and the Ukrainian government laid out a procedure for people who want to help.

When we did not have the procedure, it would have been a process of showing up at the border. Maybe not knowing how to speak the language and trying to convince somebody. This way, they know our experience. They know our training. They can send us to places where they need us, he said.

Parker, a native of the U.S. state of South Carolina, said in his years with the U.S. Army, he had been an instructor as well as a combat leader who led soldiers in combat situations.

They can place me where they need me, he said. Or they can only leave me as an instructor with the legion to teach Ukrainians how to use different weapons systems. So now they have a choice, they can put me in combat or use me as an instructor, but we're happy to help in whatever.

For Parker, the fight in Ukraine is about more than the defense of one central European country that has been subjected to an unprovoked attack by a larger neighbor. Like many of the volunteers, he feels that Americans own democratic rights will be threatened if Russia is able to prevail.

What Ukrainians are fighting is a bully, they are facing someone who does not honor international law, who does not care about women and children, and we fought this type of people before, Parker said.

We're stopping a bully from hurting women and children.

Another of Parkers former combat friends was from Georgia, where Russia staged a similar war in 2008.

They served next to me, soldiers from Georgia in Iraq. And I know how it felt being around them while their country was being attacked. Now we have another free country similar to Georgia that's being attacked, he said.

Parker said he is leaving his security training business in South Carolina, his family, and three dogs and heading to Ukraine as soon as next week.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has already taken the Crimea, he said. Which should have never been allowed. That was a weakness by the international body. He can't be allowed to take the rest of Ukraine.
An Argentine court on Friday sentenced a Roman Catholic bishop to 4 1/2 years in prison for sexual abuse of two former seminarians in a major blow to Pope Francis, who had defended Gustavo Zanchetta following initial allegations.

The prosecutors' office in the northern province of Salta reported the conviction and sentence on its Twitter account and said he had been ordered arrested.

The conviction in the pope's homeland hits at Francis' personal credibility since he had initially rejected accusations against Zanchetta, the former bishop of Oran, and created a job for him at the Vatican that got him out of Argentina.

Francis has defended his handling of the case, insisting that Zanchetta "defended himself well" when confronted with the first allegations that he had pornographic images of the victims on his cellphone.

Francis also defended the decision to give him a job in one of the most sensitive Vatican offices, the treasury that manages the Holy See's investments and assets, saying Zanchetta had been prescribed psychological retreats each month in Spain and it didn't make sense for him to return to Argentina between each session.

Following the verdict, the bishop, wearing a pandemic facemask, was removed from the court in a car, though it was not clear where he was taken.

Local authorities began to investigate after the allegations emerged publicly in early 2019, when the newspaper El Tribuno de Salta reported complaints about Zanchetta's conduct as bishop in Oran, about 1,600 kilometers northwest of Buenos Aires.

Five priests made a formal accusation before church authorities against the bishop in 2016, accusing him of authoritarianism, financial mismanagement and sexual abuse at the Saint John XXIII Seminary.

Prosecutor Maria Soledad Filtrin Cuezzo told the court on Thursday that investigators had established the truthfulness of witnesses against the bishop, citing their internal logic, context and precise details.

Zanchetta had flown back to his home country from Rome to face the charges. He has denied the charges and said he is victim of revenge by priests in Oran with whom he had differences.

The pope had ordered a church trial into the case, though the results of that are not known.

Anne Barrett Doyle, co-director of BishopAccounability.org, which tracks clerical abuse cases, issued a statement saying the ruling is "a sign that even where the Catholic Church wields power, civil societies increasingly will not tolerate sexual abuse of young adults by powerful figures  even if the accused is a Catholic bishop, and even if that bishop is supported by Pope Francis himself."

While allegations against Zanchetta emerged "in or around 2015, Pope Francis has signaled continued support for the bishop and an unwillingness to believe the victims," she said. "Most troubling, the pope refused to cooperate with prosecutors' request for information. This is old-school clericalism, not the accountability we were promised."

She noted that the pope reappointed Zanchetta to his Vatican post in June 2020 despite the criminal investigation in Argentina, "a public action that seemed almost defiant on Francis' part, signaling his disregard for the allegations and the young men who made them."

Carlos Lombardi of the Network of Survivors of Ecclesiastical Abuse in Argentina  and a representative of victims in the case  said the sentence was "a strong blow" to the pope "because of the public defense he has made in this case."
A militant attack on an army base in central Mali on Friday killed at least 27 soldiers and wounded 33 more, the government said.

Seven soldiers are still missing following the attack in the rural commune of Mondoro, which involved car bombs, according to a government statement.

Seventy militants were killed in the military's response, the statement said, without specifying which militant group was responsible. Affiliates of both al-Qaida and Islamic State are active in central Mali.

Mali has been facing an Islamist insurgency since al-Qaida-linked militants seized its desert north in 2012, forcing former colonial power France to intervene to drive them back the following year.

The militants have since regrouped and seized vast swaths of the Malian countryside, while also expanding into Niger, Burkina Faso and other neighboring countries.

France has maintained thousands of troops across the region since 2013 but announced last month that it would withdraw its forces from Mali as relations with the ruling military junta soured.
China has decided to raise its defense spending by 7.1%, which is the largest increase since 2019. The rise is significant because the countrys economy is expected to grow this year at the lowest level in decades at 5.5%.

Chinas defense spending is being carefully watched around the world in view of the atmosphere of political uncertainties caused by the Ukraine war. China has refused to pick sides or condemn the Russian attack. Some experts believe China will look for opportunities to invade Taiwan. Beijing regards Taiwan as a rogue province and has often indicated plans to take it over by force.

While the worlds attention is diverted to Ukraine, an escalation across the Taiwan Straits, in the South China Sea and along the disputed Himalayan borders with India cannot be ruled out, Mohan Malik, visiting fellow at the Washington-based Near East South Asia Center for Strategic Studies (NESA) told VOA.

For the Indo-Pacific, this is indeed the decade of living dangerously, he said.

China will spend $229.47 billion on defense this year, according to estimates presented to the National Peoples Congress, the Chinese parliament, by the countrys premier, Li Keqiang. Its defense budget rose 6.8% in 2021 and 6.6% in 2020.

Analysts said that the actual expenditure will be in the region of $270 billion, and a lot more would be spent on military-related infrastructure, like border roads that are shown under non-defense headings in the budget.

We will enhance military training and combat readiness, stay firm and flexible in carrying out our military struggle, and safeguard Chinas sovereignty, security and development interests, Li said.

Making a strong case for the higher defense expenditure, Li said, "Government at all levels must give strong support to the development of national defense and the armed forces, so unity between the military and government and between the military and the people will remain rock solid." He emphasizes the need to modernize the militarys logistics and build a modern weaponry and equipment management system.

China, which has two aircraft carriers, plans to invest in two more. It has engaged in a sea rivalry with the U.S. Navy, which has 11 of them. The U.S.-China rivalry is evident because the U.S. sent aircraft carrier strike groups and amphibious groups into the South China Sea 13 times last year, according to Beijing-based research group the South China Sea Strategic Situation Probing Initiative.

The Reuters news agency quoted Fu Qianshao, a retired Chinese air force equipment specialist, as saying, Equipment is needed to fill performance gaps, and aircraft carriers, large warships, stealth fighters, third and fourth generations of tanks are expensive.

Analysts said China is now forced to spend more on defense-related research and development because the U.S. is cutting off the flow of technology and there are similar actions in some European countries.

China may also reconsider planned arms purchases from Russia, including the proposed acquisition of Ka-52 attack helicopters, because the performance of Russian weapons in Ukraine has reportedly disappointed many arms experts.

A major area of focus is Chinas military behavior in its neighborhood. Most of the countrys neighbors, including countries around the South China Sea, feel threatened by the rise in the strength of the Peoples Liberation Army, which represents the land army, the navy and the air force.

Malik said China now spends more on its military than the combined military expenditures of Russia, South Korea, Japan, Taiwan, India and Australia. That is significant because China is engaged in military disputes with Japan and India and wants to take over Taiwan.

The growing power gap and military buildup in Asia doesnt bode well for regional peace and stability at a time of heightened tensions over unresolved territorial and maritime disputes, he said.
Two men originally from China are among the 1 million refugees fleeing Ukraine into neighboring countries this week after Russias invasion on Feb. 24.

VOA chronicled the journeys of Ibrahim Abliz, a Uyghur, and Ersin Erkinuly, a Kazakh.

Abliz and Erkinuly were among thousands of Uyghurs and Kazakhs who fled China because of its anti-terrorism policy in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, where rights groups and some Western countries accuse China of crimes against humanity and arbitrarily detaining more than 1 million people in internment camps in recent years.

Beijing denies the mistreatment as lies and fabrication and says Chinas policy in Xinjiang is about fighting extremism and that the facilities are vocational training centers.

Abliz and Erkinuly each found his way to Ukraine and had lived there for several years until everything changed on the day Russian troops entered Ukraine.

Ibrahim Ablizs story

Abliz, a 31-year-old father, has lived with his toddler son in Ukraine since 2018, with the hope of reuniting with his wife, who has been living in Germany.

Abliz is no stranger to a nomadic life. He said he left China in 2013 and ever since had been looking for a safe place to live, away from Chinas reach.

I first spent almost one and half years in Pakistan and later safely arrived in Turkey where I studied and worked, Abliz told VOA.

In 2016, he met and married a Uyghur woman living in Turkey who was also originally from China.

Two years later, Abliz lost hope of getting Turkish citizenship. He decided to leave Turkey for Europe in pursuit of a safer country where he could raise his family.

Many Uyghurs in Turkey live in constant fear of being sent back to China. In recent months, Turkey has rejected some Uyghur applications for citizenship citing national security and public order. Uyghurs see this as an attempt by China to persecute them outside its borders.

In November 2018, my pregnant wife was able to fly to Germany from Ukraine and seek asylum, Abliz said.

His 11-month-old son was not allowed to leave Ukraine because the boy had a Turkish ID. Abliz had no choice but to stay behind with his child.

I had to be with my son in Ukraine and find a way to reunite with my wife, Abliz said.

After Ukraine denied applications for refugee status for Abliz and his son, he tried to cross the border three times before the war broke out.

I had to run away from Ukraine after my application was denied, Abliz said. But each time we were handed over to Ukraine from neighboring countries like Poland and Slovakia."

Abliz said over the past three years he and his son have spent four months in detention in a Ukraine facility and two months in a refugee camp because of crossing borders to other countries without permits.

In November 2021, my application for refugee status was approved thanks to Ukrainian authorities, Abliz said.

On March 1, Abliz and his son were able to cross the border to Poland. They were reunited with his wife and other son, now 3 years old, who came from Germany to meet them.

I am so happy that my son and I have met my wife and my second son I had never seen in person, Abliz said.

Abliz said he is applying for entry into Germany because he is eligible to get a family reunification visa.

Ersin Erkinulys story

Erkinuly, a 25-year-old Kazakh refugee from China, arrived in Ukraine from Turkey in 2020. He too applied for refugee status but did not get it.

I fled China to Kazakhstan in late 2019 after I had witnessed some people around me disappeared into internment camps, Erkinuly told VOA.

But in Kazakhstan, according to Erkinuly, he didnt feel safe and worried about possible deportation to China.

Kazakhstan has very close relation with China, and I felt insecure and decided to leave for Turkey, Erkinuly said.

Erkinuly was still not able to secure refugee status in Turkey, so he decided to go to Europe.

I came to Ukraine and lost my passport and faced deportation to China, Erkinuly told VOA. I pleaded on the social media, and after Ukraine got pressured by democratic countries like the U.S. government, the authorities didnt (deport) me.

When the fighting started, Erkinuly left Kyiv and traveled for days. He reached the Polish border and was able to cross on March 3.

I now feel that I am free, Erkinuly told VOA from Poland. They gave me a document which states I am allowed to remain in Poland until May.

However, on Saturday morning when he was traveling to Finland in a car from Poland. Estonian border police arrested him and told him that they cannot let him go but only arrest.

Im in so much pain now. This world is so big, but theres no place we can stay in peace, he told VOA from a cell in Estonia. I just want to live a normal life. I implore you to help me.
Among African students evacuated from Ukraine when Russia attacked were hundreds of Ghanaians, some of them arriving back home this week. But just an hour from the border with Russia, a number of Ghanaian and other African students are sheltering underground while waiting for a safe escape. Senanu Tord reports from Accra, Ghana. Camera: Senanu Tord
Thousands of weary residents are leaving Hong Kong every day as the city continues to battle its worst wave of the COVID-19 pandemic.

But an exodus of Hong Kong residents has been taking place for a couple of years, data suggests.

Experts say residents are leaving because of the citys recent political unrest and ongoing restrictions due to the pandemic.

Recent data

According to immigration data, over 94,000 Hong Kong residents have departed the city via Hong Kong International Airport in 2022 alone, with 26,000 residents arriving. It is not clear whether the departures are permanent or temporary.

Hong Kong has required lengthy quarantines for residents and professionals entering the city making it an unattractive prospect for residents to travel overseas.

Vera Yuen, a business lecturer at the Hong Kong University (HKU), said the length of the departures would depend on two factors.

Regarding this wave of exodus, there are two main reasons, the first related to the political developments in Hong Kong, and the second related to the tightening of travel restrictions and social distancing measures in response to COVID-19. The first is likely to be a permanent change, and the second is likely to be temporary.

If the current travel restrictions and quarantine measures remain for a sustained period, these temporary exoduses may become permanent, she said.

COVID-19

Hong Kong is facing its worst coronavirus infection rate to date. With the rapid spread of the highly transmissible omicron variant, the city has recorded more cases in 2022 than in the previous two years combined.

Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam has ordered compulsory testing for all 7.4 million residents in March, while rumors of lockdowns have unsettled the population with residents scrambling for food and resources, leaving some supermarket shelves empty.

Julius, a former landscape project manager from Hong Kong, told VOA he is considering leaving the city.

We used to have a large amount of civil societies, NGOs, or even elected legislative and district councillors to provide neighborhood aid. But after the introduction of [the] national security law, disqualification of councillors and dissolution [of] the civil society, this is one of the reasons that Hong Kong people are now hoarding food and daily supplies.

It's hard for us to look for jobs. There's no similar positions available and due to the epidemic, other industries are streamlining their manpower as well, he added.

Following the anti-government protests in 2019, Beijing enacted a national security law in Hong Kong. It strictly prohibits acts deemed as secession, subversion, foreign collusion and terrorism, carrying a maximum of life in prison. Street protests have stopped, while civil societies and independent media outlets have closed. At least 150 dissidents have been arrested, including dozens of democratic lawmakers.

Discontent with living in Hong Kong under the new conditions was shown in Hong Kongs legislative council elections in December, with only 30.2% of the population casting votes.

Population decline 2020

According to data released by the Census and Statistics Department, Hong Kong recorded a population decline of 1.2% in 2020, approximately 89,200 people, the same year the security law took effect.

A Hong Kong government representative denied the population decline was due to the law.

But Yuen said the recent population decline is no surprise to the pro-democracy opposition, many of whom are in jail and are facing charges under the security law, following their roles in the protests two-and-half years ago.

[It is] not surprising to the opposition. The surprise is that the change came so quickly.

Yuen said the trend of people leaving Hong Kong would continue amid recent political trauma in the city. She referred to the Tiananmen Square crackdown in Beijing in 1989, when Chinas armed forces killed an unknown number of pro-democracy demonstrators following large-scale demonstrations.

Estimates suggested that after Tiananmen, around half-a-million Hong Kongers emigrated in the ensuing years.

It will [continue]. There is a lot to prepare for migration. Early adopters prompt late adopters to think of leaving. What Hong Kong society will become and how the government will govern will further affect the intention to leave or to stay.

BNO, Cheng

Hong Kong was a British colony until 1997 when the city was returned to China.

Following the implementation of the security law in 2020, Britain offered a lifeboat plan to millions of Hong Kong residents.

British National Overseas (BNO) passport holders from Hong Kong now can work and study in Britain for five years and can apply for citizenship afterward. A recent amendment by British lawmakers has extended the plan to Hong Kong residents 18 to 25 years old.

According to data from the British government as of December, 103,900 BNO applications had been received.

The U.K. has been the most favored destination for Hong Kong people who plan to leave, Joseph Cheng, a political analyst formerly of Hong Kong, told VOA.

The deteriorating pandemic situation in Hong Kong has become a further push factor as small businesses fail and job losses increase.

Given the expectation that Beijings Hong Kong policy will be maintained, the momentum of the exodus will not decline for at least one or two years, Cheng added.

Economy

But Yuen believes Hong Kong is still an attractive option for professional talent. In 2019, Hong Kongs economy dropped into a two-year recession before rebounding last year with 6.4% growth.

If the pandemic measure will be eased and business is still thriving in Hong Kong, top talents will come back.

For homegrown top talents, still the low tax and competitive wage in Hong Kong is quite attractive. If they choose to leave, they will likely make a big monetary sacrifice on top of separating from their families and friends. Its never easy.
U.N. aid agencies are calling for unimpeded access to all areas of Ukraine in need of humanitarian assistance and protection. The call comes amid reported efforts to establish humanitarian corridors in Ukraine.

The U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, or OCHA, welcomes a reported agreement between Ukraine and Russia to facilitate safe passage for civilians out of conflict areas. Delegates from the opposing sides proposed the agreement Monday in Belarus.

However, OCHA spokesman Jens Laerke says U.N. officials have not yet received anything in writing from the two sides on the establishment of humanitarian corridors. He says people are terrified by the violence unfolding around them across Ukraine, and millions urgently need safe passage and life-saving aid.

We look to both sides to ensure the passage is organized in a manner that allows for safety, dignity, and protection of those civilians. Humanitarian organizations stand ready to work with the parties to protect and care for the civilians, whether they choose to stay or to leave the concerned areas, Laerke said.

The U.N. childrens fund says escalating violence over the past week has forced half-a-million children to flee their homes. UNICEF spokesman James Elder, who is in the western Ukrainian city of Lviv, some 60 kilometers from the Polish border, says the scale and speed of the forced displacement is unprecedented.

And if the violence, the explosive munitions do not stop, many, many more children will be forced to flee their country in a very short space of time. And we fear many more will be killed. We must also remember those who cannot escape the bombardment currently rocking Ukraine. Tens of thousands of children are in child-care institutions; many of these are disabled, Elder said.

U.N. refugee agency media chief Joung-ah Ghedini-Williams, who is in the Moldovan city of Palanca, describes the rate of the ongoing refugee exodus from Ukraine as without comparison.

We have seen the numbers increase not only day on day, but hourly, and I think that what we are seeing is the devastating toll that over a week of just unabated tragedy is having on people, Ghedini-Williams said.

The latest UNHCR figures show more than 1.3 million Ukrainians have fled to Poland, Hungary, Moldova, Romania, and other European countries. The agency is preparing to assist up to 4 million Ukrainian refugees, making this the biggest refugee crisis this century.
Depending on the perspective, the Russian militarys 40-mile convoy could be evidence of a folly or a symbol of frustration.

For days, a massive Russian military convoy has sat, largely stalled about 15 miles outside Kyiv, the Ukrainian capital, which is believed to be the central target of Moscows war.

Eight days into the war, the expanse of Russian supply trucks, troops and weapons has been plagued with fuel and food shortages and logistical challenges, including weather and mud.

Looking on from Carlisle, Jeff McCausland sees proof of what he calls an administrative move. A retired Army colonel, McCausland is a professor of international security at Dickinson College.

Anybody who has done anything in the military knows you dont conduct a convoy like that, McCausland said. Running vehicles bumper-to-bumper on windy roads through hostile territory just invites an attack.

Soldiers are taught to advance at intervals, he said. They are taught, if the convoy stops for any reason, to provide flank security. You would have helicopters overhead, mobile air defense along the line of march. You would do all of those things and we see none of those things happening. It would suggest to me poor leadership on their part.

For McCausland, the behavior of this convoy is confirmation the reports are true. The Russian military counted on speed, surprise and precision for a quick and decisive win. Instead, the invaders were met with such stiff resistance that the plan has shifted to mass and indiscriminate force to crush the spirit of the Ukrainian people.

The Russians have conducted this war in a surprisingly bad fashion, McCausland said. They have seriously miscalculated. We have seen units coming to a full stop because they are out of fuel. There are widespread reports of units without food. Incidents, anecdotally, demonstrate what appears to be poor training and poor discipline.

A frustrating balance

For Karl Qualls, the convoy represents a different kind of futility. A professor of history at Dickinson College, he has lived in both Russia and Ukraine and has friends in both countries.

The vehicles could easily be destroyed within minutes by cruise missiles or a NATO airstrike, but that attack could cascade into a global war with a nuclear-armed Russian Federation, Qualls said. I understand why NATO is not doing it, but its very frustrating. This war could be ended in a matter of days on the Ukraine side if the western powers actually do something.

While it is promising that Germany and other countries are shipping weapons to the Ukrainians, those supplies are moving too slowly and could be cut off should Russia decide to destroy bridges and railroads leading into the warzone.

The amount of weaponry the Ukrainians are using now they are going to be expending in a matter of days, Qualls said. The rearmament has to continue or the country is not going to be able to protect itself.

The Russian advance was supposed to be like a blitzkrieg, really rapid, he said. Take down the capital and the government and then we win. But when that slowed down, Putin gets more desperate and we see much more lethal attacks on civilian populations. Thats what NATO is thinking. If we get involved in some way and slow down Putin even further, does he get even more desperate? The only thing he can do to ratchet things up is to use nuclear weapons.

Qualls compared the current level of tension with the Cuban missile crisis. He said his greatest fear would be an accidental exchange triggered by nerves or a mistake in interpretation.

History and overtures

Putin is imagining enemies, said Andy Wolff, an associate professor of political science and international studies at Dickinson College. He knows that Ukraine is not going to get into NATO despite a Ukrainian desire to enter the alliance. Theres very little appetite from western member states to reach a consensus to allow it. It just wasnt in the cards, yet he is dreaming up a nightmare scenario where the U.S. would place missiles in Ukrainian territory.

But the U.S. already has weapons deployed within NATO that can reach Russian soil without deploying systems in Ukraine.

Russia is security paranoid, Wolff said. It always fears invasion. There is an historical pattern for them.

For much of its history, Russia has been a major influence in Europe with its resources and population, Wolff said. In particular, Russia has been a driver of policy and politics in its neighborhood from Scandinavia and the Baltic states in the north to the Balkans and former Yugoslavia in the south, he said.

Since 1990, there have been five waves of NATO expansion eastward toward Russia into countries that used to fall within its sphere of influence, Wolff said. To think that somehow they could be excluded from that region just goes against historical trends, but that doesnt mean they [the Russians] had to view NATO as a threat.

Instead, NATO and the West have reached out to Russia in ways to reassure its leaders that there are no plans to overtake it. There were all kinds of overtures to cooperate, to continue a conversation about security issues in Europe, Wolff said. Until two to three years ago, Russia had one of the largest delegations at NATO headquarters in Brussels, he said.

Part of what the world is seeing is a push-back from a Russia that wants more respect and influence on the international stage, Wolff said. There is worry and concern by Putin that a successful democracy and market economy in Ukraine could show the Russian people that there is an alternative to a system run by oligarchs, he said.

Cold War part two

This all occurred because of two enormous miscalculations by Putin, McCausland said. One was that he would waltz into Ukraine and the Ukrainians would not resist and this war would be over by now. The other is that the international community would react with typical short-term fury and then everything would subside.

Neither scenario has occurred. Instead, the Ukrainians are defiant, the cohesion of NATO has been remarkable and countries worldwide are in support of the sanctions including Switzerland, a historically neutral country, McCausland said. Back here, in the U.S., I worry a bit frankly. This cant be looked upon as just a war far, far away in a place very few of us have been to between people we know little about.

While concerns about the economy and rising gas prices are justified, the new reality that Americans need to cope with is a different form of Cold War to counter Putin who has already been waging a conflict against democracy, McCausland said. This is about the values of freedom, democracy, liberty and human rights which we have argued for since our inception. Its essentially what we are all about.

Email Joseph Cress at jcress@cumberlink.com.

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Three days of mourning have been declared in Mali after the deadliest attack on Malian soldiers in months.

Malis transitional president, Assimi Goita, has declared the national mourning period, starting Saturday, after 27 Malian soldiers were killed and 33 wounded during an attack on a central Mali military camp in the town of Mondoro Friday, in Malis Mopti region.

Seven soldiers are still missing, according to a press release published by Malis military government Friday.

The release also says that 47 terrorists were neutralized the morning of the attack, and 23 later in the afternoon.

The attack comes after the military government, which seized power in a 2020 coup, asked the French military in February to leave Malian territory immediately, following an announcement from French President Emmanuel Macron that French troops would withdraw from Mali over a period of four to six months.

The announcement of the withdrawal came after months of increasing tensions between the French and Malian governments.

The French military has been present in Mali since it intervened in 2013, in an operation to take back control of northern Mali from Islamists. But since then, both Malian and French forces have struggled to contain an insurgency that has moved from northern Mali into the center of the country.
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U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken met with NATO foreign ministers in Brussels just hours after Russia's shelling of Europe's largest nuclear power plant in Ukraine. VOA's Senior Diplomatic Correspondent Cindy Saine reports from Washington.
Nigeria has agreed to supply natural gas to Equatorial Guinea at Nigeria's International Energy Summit in Abuja. African energy experts are urging quick implementation of the gas deal amid high demand and supply disruptions caused by Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

This week's signing of a gas deal by Nigeria's minister of state for petroleum, Timipre Sylva, and his Guinean counterpart, Gabriel Lima, is a testament to Africa's untapped gas market.



The deal seeks to supply Nigerian gas to Guinea's processing site in Punta Europa.



Sylva said the deal would allow much of Nigeria's unused gas to access the global market within two years  a timely development, experts said.

Gbenga Komolafe, head of Nigeria's Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, said, "The supply disruptions caused by Russia's invasion of Ukraine resulted in an upward surge of crude oil prices, surpassing $100 per barrel for the first time since 2014. This development offers market potential for Nigeria to key into maximizing its oil and gas assets."

African energy experts at the signing urged officials of both countries to expedite the implementation of the deal.

Komolafe said African countries need to carry out increased exploration and adopt advanced technology to maximize production yields to increase oil and gas reserves.

Gas supply

Nigeria ranks among nine countries with the highest gas reserves in the world. In January, Nigeria's gas reserves rose by 1.4% from the previous year. But the market remains largely untapped and previous attempts by authorities to initiate gas deals fell apart.

Nigerian authorities last week said they were willing to invest more and focus on natural gas exploration.

Simbi Wabote, executive secretary at the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board, said, "It is time for us to synergize as Africa in order to expand that opportunity beyond the shores of Nigeria."

But officials said a lack of prior investments in the energy sector could limit this opportunity for African countries.

"There's a clear demand and supply gap that we're seeing today, and that's why we're seeing the $104 oil prices in the market today," said Mele Kyari, managing director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Commission. "No one has invested significantly in the last 10 years, more so in the last five years, to an extent that we're seeing the effect of what that truly means."

For now, officials and experts will be eager to see how this gas deal changes the status quo.
North Korea has launched what appears to be a ballistic missile into the sea off its east coast, South Korea's military reported Saturday, just four days ahead of South Korea's presidential election.

South Korea's military said the North launched the presumed ballistic missile from the Sunan area of Pyongyang. That is the same location from which North Korea conducted a test Saturday that it said was in preparation for an upcoming satellite launch.

Japans Ministry of Defense said the missile flew for about 300 kilometers, reaching a maximum altitude of 550 kilometers. The Japanese coast guard said the missile landed in the sea outside Japans exclusive economic zone.

So far this year, North Korea has conducted nine rounds of launches, shooting off at least 13 separate missiles.

Most of the launches have involved short-range missiles. However, in recent months, North Korea repeatedly indicated it would soon conduct a satellite launch, a move that would significantly raise tensions on the Korean Peninsula.

North Korea claims launches peaceful

North Korea insists satellite launches are peaceful, but the United States, Japan and South Korea see them as disguised long-range missile tests.

North Korea is banned from any ballistic missile activity, including tests of any range, by a series of United Nations Security Council resolutions.

The North's latest test comes just four days before South Korea's presidential election. Although North Korea has not been a focus of the campaign, candidates have warned it against launching missiles or conducting other provocations meant to sway the outcome of the vote.

Candidate comments

In a Facebook post, South Korean presidential candidate Lee Jae-myung condemned North Koreas launch, saying his administration would never tolerate acts of creating tensions.

Lee, a former provincial governor, is locked in a tight race with the main conservative candidate, Yoon Seok-youl, a former prosecutor.

North Korea has several other possible motivations for testing missiles, including shoring up domestic political support for leader Kim Jong Un, ensuring the performance of new weapons and demonstrating deterrence.




Tens of thousands of people demonstrated on Saturday across European cities in support of Ukraine and demanding an end to Russia's invasion.

Citizens worldwide have been horrified by Russian President Vladimir Putin's attack, which began on February 24 and appeared to be entering a new phase with escalating bombardment.

Several thousand people gathered in Paris on Saturday afternoon to say, "no to war in Europe," an AFP correspondent said.

"We will be here every weekend, in Paris or elsewhere, until Putin leaves, withdraws his tanks," said Aline Le Bail-Kremer, a member of Stand With Ukraine, one of the groups that organized the protest.

"Despite the suffering, we will win," said Nataliya, a French-Ukrainian woman who did not wish to give her surname to protect her son who is in Ukraine.

About 25,000 demonstrators were expected in rallies in more than 100 cities in France, a French police source said.

Large crowd in Zurich

One of the largest rallies to demand the withdrawal of Russia's troops from Ukraine on the invasion's 10th day was in Zurich where organizers believed 40,000 people took part, Switzerland's ATS news agency reported.

Demonstrators in the largest Swiss city called for "peace now," while others carried signs saying: "Stop War" and "Peace."

Hundreds also turned out in London, including Ukrainians whose families fled Russian bombs.

"We need to keep on reminding everyone, we need to stay united to support our country," said Olena Marcyniuk, 36, at a protest in central London's Trafalgar Square with her children.

"Maybe somehow (we can) get through to Russia as well that the world is for Ukraine and that it needs to start acting to stop the war."

She said much of her family had fled but that her uncle stayed in Kyiv to "fight for the city."

'No to Putin, no to NATO'

In the center of Rome, unions and organizations rallied in a large "procession of peace," demonstrating against Putin but also NATO.

"No base, no soldier, Italy out of NATO," chanted pacifists preceded by a large flag in the colors of the rainbow.

"This is perhaps one of the first real demonstrations for peace," Italian cartoonist, actor and writer Vauro Senesi told AFP.

"Here no one believes we make peace with arms, that we make it by sending arms to one of the parties (Ukraine)."

More than 1,000 people also demonstrated in the Croatian capital Zagreb with banners saying: "Stop the War, Save Europe" and "Glory to Ukraine."

In the Balkans, the invasion has revived dark memories of the bloody breakup of Yugoslavia in the 1990s, which killed more than 100,000 people during a series of conflicts.

Last weekend, hundreds of thousands also turned out in yellow and blue across Europe including in Russia, Germany, Spain and the Czech Republic.


Ukraine says Russian forces are shelling agreed-upon evacuation routes from Mariupol, as well as the city itself, breaking a cease-fire that was to have gone into effect Saturday at 7 a.m. UTC, as the southern coastal city continued to endure days of relentless aerial attacks.

We are simply being destroyed, Mayor Vadym Boichenko said of his city of nearly 450,000 people on his Telegram channel.

Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov said in a broadcast video that, "Today, March the fifth, from 10:00 a.m. Moscow time (0700 GMT), the Russian side declares a cease-fire and the opening of humanitarian corridors to allow civilians to leave Mariupol and Volnovakha. Humanitarian corridors and exit routes have been agreed upon with the Ukrainian side."

Mariupol officials said they are delaying the evacuation plans that called for routes to be open to vehicular traffic for five hours, and they urged residents to take shelter.

Volnovakha, a southern city of about 21,000, also was targeted with Russian heavy artillery attacks during the temporary cease-fire, Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk said Saturday in a broadcast video.

Russias defense ministry, however, accused Ukrainian nationalists of preventing civilians from fleeing Mariupol, according to RIA, Russias state-owned news agency. They cited no evidence to substantiate these claims.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken met Saturday with Polish Foreign Minister Zbigniew Rau in Rzeszow, one day after declaring Russian forces "are increasingly using brutal methods in Ukraine, including going at civilian populations."

His comments followed a Russian attack on a Ukrainian nuclear plant  the largest facility of its kind in Europe  that had sparked a fire in a building at the plant compound, which was said Friday to be extinguished.

After the meeting with his Polish counterpart, Blinken reiterated at a news conference that the U.S. will defend every inch of NATO territory" and announced the Biden administration is preparing to allocate an additional $2.75 billion in humanitarian aid for Ukrainian refugees.

Blinken also praised Poland for assisting hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians who have fled their home country, saying The people of Poland know how important it is to defend freedom. He added, Poland is doing vital work in response to this crisis.

Polish Foreign Minister Rau said he and Blinken discussed Polish-American bilateral relations, allied cooperation with NATO and the coordination of political activities in the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe. Poland will never recognize territorial changes brought about by unprovoked, unlawful aggression," he declared.

Speaking to reporters Friday before a meeting with his European Union counterparts in Brussels, Blinken said, "We are faced together with what is [Russian] President [Vladimir] Putin's war of choice: unprovoked, unjustified, and a war that is having horrific, horrific consequences."

"We're committed to doing everything we can to make it stop," he added, but he ruled out imposing a no-fly zone over Ukraine, saying such an action could lead to a broader conflict.

"We have a responsibility to ensure the war does not spill over beyond Ukraine.  A no-fly zone could lead to a full-fledged war in Europe," he said.

The meeting in Brussels came after Ukraine accused Russia of "nuclear terror" for shelling and starting a fire at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant before taking control of it. The plant is in the city of Enerhodar in the country's southeast.

Ukraine's nuclear inspectorate said that no radiation had leaked at the plant and that personnel were continuing to operate the facility safely. Firefighters were able to get the blaze under control, Ukrainian officials said.

The United Nations Security Council held an emergency meeting Friday to discuss the attack at the request of Britain, France, Ireland, Norway and Albania.

"The world narrowly averted a nuclear catastrophe last night," U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Linda Thomas-Greenfield said during the meeting. "We've just witnessed a dangerous new escalation that represents a dire threat to all of Europe and the world."

Konashenkov blamed the attack on a Ukrainian "sabotage group" that he said had occupied the plant's training building, attacked a Russian patrol and set the building on fire as it left. He offered no evidence, and no other country appeared to take the claim seriously.

On the ground

Despite its heavy shelling of Mariupol and Volnovakha, there were fewer Russian aerial and artillery attacks in Ukraine over the past 24 hours compared to previous days, the British defense ministry tweeted Saturday on the 10th day of Russias attack on its western neighbor.

The ministry said Ukraine continued to control the northern cities of Kharkiv and Chernihiv, as well as Mariupol in the southeast. The ministry cited reports of street fighting in the northeastern city of Sumy and said It is highly likely that all four cities are encircled by Russian forces as they advance toward the southwestern city of Odessa.

On Friday, Pentagon press secretary John Kirby said that Russian ground forces are attacking a Ukrainian town near Odesa and the U.S. is watching to see what it means for the city.

A Russia convoy outside the capital, Kyiv, was still trying to reach the city, he said, but the "actions by the Ukrainians have in fact stalled that convoy  stopped it in some places."

Ukraine's use of its air and missile defenses has been "quite extraordinary," Kirby said.

A Russian diplomat said Friday that Russia has no intention of occupying Ukraine should its invasion be successful, and that its troops will withdraw once it has fulfilled its objective.

Speaking to reporters at U.N. headquarters in Geneva, Russian Ambassador Gennady Gatilov called the invasion a "military operation with limited objectives," which he said were to "denazify the regime and demilitarize Ukraine."

Ukraine is a country with a democratically elected Jewish president who lost relatives in the Holocaust. Many historians and political observers view Russia's invocation of World War II as disinformation.

Possibility of more sanctions

Blinken said Friday the United States was considering additional sanctions against Russia and had not ruled out anything.

"Nothing is off the table. We are evaluating the sanctions every day," he said.

The number of Ukrainians seeking refuge in other countries could reach 1.5 million by the end of the weekend, the head of the United Nations refugee agency said Saturday, an increase from the 1.3 million who already have fled.

U.N. Crisis Coordinator for Ukraine, Amin Awad, who is meeting in Ukraine with local and international officials, said in a statement Saturday that efforts are underway to urgently find operational modalities to scrape up operations across lines and from outside into areas impacted by the conflict.

VOA State Department Bureau chief Nike Ching, national security correspondent Jeff Seldin, Pentagon correspondent Carla Babb, Istanbul foreign correspondent Heather Murdock, White House correspondent Anita Powell, and senior diplomatic correspondent Cindy Saine contributed to this report. Some information came from the Associate Press, Agence France-Presse and Reuters.
Armed groups in Myanmars far east, aligned both with and against the countrys military are ramping up drug production to cash in amid the turmoil that has gripped the nation since its February 2021 coup, a United Nations official told VOA this week.

Tighter security along Myanmars border with Thailand also seems to be funneling more of those drugs to the rest of Asia through Laos, the official added.

The U.N. Office on Drugs and Crime says record seizures of methamphetamine yaba tablets and falling street prices in neighboring countries over the past year make a strong case for a $60 billion drug trade rooted in Myanmars restive Shan state  bordering China, Laos and Thailand -- kicking into overdrive.

It is impossible to say precisely how much production has spiked the past year given it is done in large clandestine labs and it was already being overproduced, but there is no doubt yaba  production is way up on 2020, Jeremy Douglas, UNODC representative for Southeast Asia and the Pacific, told VOA on March 2.

Seizures in Laos and Thailand are off the charts and it is not because of suddenly improved law enforcement  some other countries seizures are up too, but in Thailand and Laos the connection to trafficking patterns and locations in Shan is very clear, he said.

According to government figures compiled by the UNODC, seizures of methamphetamine from January through October of last year were up 20% in Thailand compared to 2020, which was a record year itself, and up 40% in Malaysia. While Thailand still netted the most drugs pouring out of Myanmar, seizures in Laos over the same stretch shot up 620%.

The seizures in Laos included the largest single recorded drug bust in Asias history  55 million yaba tablets and 1.5 tons of methamphetamine crystals, or ice, packed into a truckload of beer crates passing through Bokeo province, which borders Shan state, in October.

Complicity 'on both sides'

Shans east has long been a patchwork of semi-autonomous armed groups, from profiteering militias allied with the military to ethnic minority-led rebel armies aligned against it.

Douglas said the states drug trade cuts across that divide, and that boosting production was an obvious move in the wake of a coup that has set off a deadly armed resistance to the junta and sent the economy into freefall.

To suggest drug production and trafficking is confined to nonstate armed groups that only are pro-military or only anti-military is not credible. There is plenty of evidence to show complicity of groups on both sides, he said.

The incentives are simple, he added. Some groups have a significant need for cash to finance themselves now and few income sources or options, and other groups that have or had options find drugs are simply more viable and important given the economic climate.

Among Myanmars rebel ethnic armies, accusations of drug trafficking fall heaviest on the largest of them all  the United Wa State Army. With a standing force of some 30,000 troops, it holds an area roughly the size of Belgium on Shans border with China.

In 2008 the U.S. Treasury Department called the UWSA the largest and most powerful drug trafficking organization in Southeast Asia and sanctioned over two dozen leaders and alleged associates. The UWSA has rejected the claims. But in a January 2021 report on the USWA, Janes, a U.K.-based publication covering the defense industry, said the group was still a major drug producer and had even started branching out into trafficking and making precursors for itself and others, citing intelligence sources.

Just as much blame, if not more, falls on the many militias across eastern Shan operating under the militarys protection and occasional orders. A report from August by the U.S. Institute for Peace think tank singled out the Kokang Border Guard Force. It said courts in China have since 2010 opened some 800 drug-related cases tied to a special administrative zone the group runs on Myanmars border with China.

A Myanmar-based expert on the regions drug trade said military-linked militias operating in Shan around the towns of Kutkai, Lashio and Namhkam, and among the ethnic Lahu farther east, were also believed to be heavily involved.

Follow the money

Speaking to VOA on condition of anonymity for his safety, the Myanmar-based expert said stiff armed resistance to the junta that seized power last year also seems to have distracted authorities from their usual anti-narcotics work.

What we do hear of course from some people is that the security force, the police and also the army of course, have focused mostly on dealing with the fallout of the coup, so dealing with the opposition, rather than dealing with other issues, and I think thats probably true. That can then lead of course to less seizures in Myanmar, he said.

Without direct evidence of what the drug-dealing groups were doing, though, he cautioned against assuming that more drug seizures in Laos and Thailand had to mean more production.

The UNODC says falling drug prices suggest the seizures have done nothing to dent the amount of product still hitting the streets, a good sign that production was either keeping pace with interdictions or even overtaking them.

Verapun Ngamee, who runs a network of harm reduction centers for drug users across Thailand, said he has never seen methamphetamine prices drop so far so fast.

He told VOA that since the middle of last year the average street price for a gram of ice had fallen by nearly half, to $25 and that yaba prices had crashed from roughly $4.60 a tablet to $1.50.

I never saw the price reduce [as] much like this before, he said.

The UNODC says Shan drug lords are especially anxious to push their product out of Myanmar and through Thailand to more lucrative markets farther away, and that Laos has been an emerging gateway along the route for some years. It says drug traffic through Laos swelled especially over the past year, though, thanks both to surging production and stepped-up enforcement by Thai authorities along the countrys border with Myanmar.

The source in Myanmar said tighter border controls imposed by China along its own frontier with the country was putting pressure on the groups to reroute as well.

Douglas said it all pointed to an evolving drug trade.

The market is no longer what it was, he said. Not only has crystal become almost as widely available as yaba in the Mekong, but the approach of traffickers to maintain prices is gone  the business is now about moving mass volumes with the Shan supply feeding streets across the Mekong and Southeast Asia, as well as Australia, Japan, New Zealand, Korea.
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 Security Council Meets After Russia Attacks Nuclear Plant

The U.N. Security Council was briefed in an emergency session Friday by the director-general of the International Atomic Energy Agency after Russian troops shelled Ukraine's largest nuclear power plant and took it over. Rafael Grossi said the projectile that hit the Zaporizhzhia facility and sparked a fire did not damage any of the reactors and they are functioning normally.

IAEA Chief: Ukraines Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Plant Safe After Russian Strike

Russia Isolated in Historic UN General Assembly Vote

Russia found it had just four friends in the international community Wednesday, when Belarus, Eritrea, North Korea and Syria were the only states willing to vote against a resolution condemning Moscow's invasion of Ukraine. China, Iran, Cuba and other Moscow stalwarts chose to abstain in the vote that called for the complete withdrawal of Russian troops from Ukraine.

UN General Assembly Overwhelmingly Condemns Russia's Invasion of Ukraine

Human Rights Council to Open Investigation Into War Crimes

Russia was further isolated at the U.N. Human Rights Council on Friday, when the 47-member body voted to set up an international independent commission of inquiry to investigate possible war crimes and human rights violations in Ukraine. Thirty-two members voted for establishing the commission, 13 abstained, and only Eritrea and Russia voted against it.

UN Council Establishes Commission of Inquiry on Russian Invasion of Ukraine

In brief

 Ukrainians and third-country nationals have been pouring out of Ukraine this week as Russia steps up its air and land war. As of Friday evening, the total stood at more than 1.2 million mostly women, children and elderly people who have sought safety in Poland, Hungary, Moldova, Slovakia, Romania and other European countries. A small number have also gone to Russia and its ally Belarus. The number of displaced could rise to 10 million, the U.N. warned Thursday, nearly half of them refugees.

 The United States notified a dozen diplomats from Russia's U.N. mission and one Russian U.N. staffer Monday that they are being expelled for espionage. They have until March 7 to leave the country. Russia's U.N. ambassador said it was a "hostile action" by the U.S. government and violates Washington's obligations as the host country of the United Nations.

Quote of note

"Indeed, every day provides us with newer and newer evidence that it is not only Ukraine under Russian attack. It is Europe. It is the entire world. It is humanity. And finally, it is the future of the next generations."

 Ukrainian U.N. envoy Sergiy Kyslytsya, during an emergency Security Council meeting Friday following an attack on Ukraine's largest nuclear power plant.

What we are watching next week

France and Mexico are negotiating the text of a draft U.N. Security Council resolution calling for safe and unhindered aid access for humanitarians in Ukraine. A vote is likely early next week. But, like a previous draft resolution condemning Russia's invasion, Moscow could deploy its veto to block the measure when it comes for a vote.
A federal court ruled Friday that the U.S. can continue to expel certain migrants who cross the U.S.-Mexico border unless they would be returned to a country where they might face persecution or torture.

The ruling by a three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit allows a rule, known as Title 42, implemented during the Trump administration at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, to largely stay in effect.

The case was brought by a group of migrants who were represented by the American Civil Liberties Union.

The court ruled the migrants, who entered the United States without authorization, have no right to be in the United States" and that the government "can immediately expel them.



However, they cannot be expelled to a country where their life or freedom would be threatened  or because of race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group or political opinion"  or to a country where they will likely be tortured.

Kept as health measure



Amid continuing chaos along the U.S.-Mexico border, the Biden administration has opted to retain the policy, which was originally put forth as a public health measure.



Migrants are fast-tracked for removal if U.S. immigration officers conclude they do not have a valid asylum claim, a determination made without migrants appearing before an immigration judge. Unaccompanied children who cross the border into the United States are exempted from the policy.



The U.S Department of Justice has not commented on the ruling.



Enforcement of Title 42 appears to be uneven in some cases.



According to Reuters, many crossing the border on foot are expelled or quickly turned back, but those in vehicles are more often able to make their claim of asylum.



A U.S. Border Patrol officer told Reuters that some migrants buy cheap cars in Mexico to boost their odds of making it across.



"It's a way to jump the line, said U.S. Border Patrol Chief Rodney Scott.



U.S. Customs and Border Protection reported 153,941 migrant encounters on the U.S. southern border in January, which was almost double the number reported in January 2021 and four times the total in January of 2020.

Some information in this report came from Reuters.
By Trend

The repair of the 'Azerbaijan' crane ship owned by the Azerbaijan Caspian Shipping Company (ASCO) CJSC has been completed at the Bibiheybat Baku ship repair and construction plant, ASCO told Trend.

"During the work, main engines, pumps, pipelines were repaired, auxiliary engines were adjusted. Crane devices with a lifting capacity of 30 and 400 tons were tested, hydraulic steering systems were also repaired," ASCO said.

In addition, the damaged underwater and above-water parts of the crane ship were replaced, painting work was done.

After the completion of the repair work, 'Azerbaijan' crane vessel passed successfully sea trials and was put into operation.
While U.S. President Joe Biden has played a key role in galvanizing Western nations' condemnation of Moscow's aggression against Ukraine, his administration is finding it harder to build a global coalition in the Indo-Pacific to isolate Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Key regional partners such as Australia, Japan, South Korea, Singapore and Taiwan have announced significant financial sanctions and export controls against Moscow, but others have resisted Western pressure to even condemn the invasion.

Most notable among these is India. While it is a strong U.S. partner in containing China in the Indo-Pacific, New Delhi relies heavily on Russian defense purchases and abstained from the United Nations General Assembly resolution demanding that Russia "immediately, completely and unconditionally withdraw all of its military forces from the territory of Ukraine within its internationally recognized borders."

India also abstained on a U.N. Security Council vote that Russia vetoed.

India's reluctance

Biden convened an emergency virtual Quad meeting on Thursday, a day after India's abstention from General Assembly vote. The Quad, an informal grouping of the U.S., India, Australia and Japan, was established mainly to address regional concerns about China's rise.

India  which relies on Russia militarily in its border disputes with Pakistan and China  is in a predicament, analysts say. While India's Western allies expect it to uphold the liberal international order and condemn Russian aggression, its regional geopolitical requirements and dependence on Moscow limit its options.

"India cannot overnight stop all purchases  especially of military spare parts  from Russia, but it can show that going forward, it is going to speed up its military modernization and look to other defense partners  U.S., France, Israel, South Korea  instead," said Aparna Pande, director of Hudson Institute's Initiative on the Future of India and South Asia.

"This will be especially helpful as the CAATSA sanctions are still on the table when it comes to India's purchase of [the] S-400 missile system from Russia," Pande told VOA. He was referring to the 2017 Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act  a law allowing sanctions on any country that has "significant transactions with Iran, North Korea or Russia."

The administration is looking "very closely" at whether those sanctions should be applied to India, Donald Lu, U.S. assistant secretary of state for South Asia, told a Senate subcommittee hearing on Wednesday.

In a signal to Beijing, Quad leaders agreed that what was happening in Ukraine should not be allowed to happen in the Indo-Pacific, according to statements made by the prime ministers of Japan and Australia. The statements are in line with a joint statement issued after the summit that said the leaders had "discussed the ongoing conflict and humanitarian crisis in Ukraine and assessed its broader implications."

Perhaps evident of New Delhi's resistance, however, the Quad statement did not mention Russia or use the word "invasion." The White House has not responded to VOA's request for more details about the meeting.

Emerging coalition in Indo-Pacific

Australia has targeted sanctions on key Russian banks, institutions and hundreds of individuals, including Russian President Vladimir Putin and his top officials. While Australia is not a NATO member, Canberra said it is providing medical supplies, financial assistance and lethal as well as nonlethal military equipment to Ukraine.

Japan, the world's third-largest economy, has joined Western allies in blocking major Russian banks from a key international payment network known as SWIFT (Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication); freezing the assets of Putin, his top officials and oligarchs; and tightening export controls, including on semiconductors. It is also imposing sanctions on Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko and his top officials, condemning the country for allowing Russian troops to enter Ukraine through its territory.

South Korea has announced tighter export controls and joined the SWIFT cutoff of Russian banks. Among the controlled items are electronics, semiconductors and computers; information and communications supplies; sensors and lasers; navigation and avionics technology; and marine and aerospace equipment.

Taiwan, a democratically governed island that Beijing claims as its breakaway province, said it will align with the West on blocking Moscow from SWIFT. Home to the world's largest semiconductor manufacturer, TSMC, Taipei also announced export control rules on chips.

A fractured ASEAN approach

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations, or ASEAN, has called for an immediate cease-fire and dialogue. While the statement was cautious, some observers say it's notable that ASEAN, known for its principle of noninterference and neutrality toward major powers, even put out a statement at all. Still, it did not name Russia.

"The invasion should have alerted Southeast Asian policymakers because it tells us that international law, economic interdependence and confidence-building norms exercise  all key features of ASEAN's regional order  are not sufficient to prevent an outright aggression," Evan Laksmana, an Indo-Pacific security expert at the National University of Singapore, told VOA Khmer.

"More than the violation of principles Southeast Asian states claim to be sacrosanct, the invasion also tells us that gray zone tactics that major powers use  whether in Ukraine or South China Sea  may be a prelude to an outright war rather than an alternative to it."

Some ASEAN members, however, have broken with the group and found their own voice in condemning Moscow. Most notably Singapore, which has announced financial sanctions and export controls on items that can be used as weapons against Ukrainians.

Others have released statements condemning the invasion but have not applied punitive measures. Indonesia, the largest Southeast Asian country, has condemned it as "unacceptable" but also did not mention Russia in its official statement. Nor did the Philippines and Brunei.

Other ASEAN members did not release individual statements but have joined the March 2 U.N. General Assembly resolution overwhelmingly supported by 141 countries.

"Mainly (its) the democratic states and those that are most closely aligned with the West, who are explicitly on their own condemning the invasion," said Gregory Poling, director of the Southeast Asia Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. "Then you've got Malaysia and Thailand and Cambodia, who are only doing it under cover of the U.N.," he told VOA.

In addition to Russia, four countries  Belarus, North Korea, Eritrea and Syria  voted against the U.N. resolution, and 35 countries abstained, including the ASEAN countries of Vietnam and Laos.

"Vietnam is stuck in a tough position here where its entire military is running on Russian hardware," Poling said. "Laos was much more in the Soviet camp than other parties and still does have a very close strategic relationship with Russia."

Myanmar's representative at the U.N., acting on behalf of the government in exile, voted yes on the resolution against Russia.

However, the junta in Naypyidaw has thrown its support behind Moscow. "Russia has worked to consolidate its sovereignty," General Zaw Min Tun, a spokesperson for Myanmar's military council, said in an interview with VOA Burmese. He said the support is "the right thing to do" to show that "Russia is a world power."

"The Myanmar junta has become close to Moscow, so it isn't surprising that it is praising the Russian war effort," Joshua Kurlantzick, senior fellow for Southeast Asia at the Council on Foreign Relations, told VOA.

One reason for ASEAN's fracture is the effort of individual countries to maintain a balance of power in the region.

"Most ASEAN member states use their relationships with Russia partly to offset the strength of China in the region," said Aaron Connelly, senior fellow at the International Institute for Strategic Studies. "Many of them are loath to break relations with Russia because it's part of the way that they diversify their relationships in the world."

While ASEAN is limited in its geopolitical clout, Connelly pointed out that later this year ASEAN chair Cambodia will host the East Asia Summit, Thailand will host the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation, and Indonesia will host the G-20. All those forums include Russia, and if conflict persists, host countries will come under enormous pressure from Western countries to ban Moscow from the meetings.

Meanwhile, China has been careful to neither explicitly endorse nor condemn the Russian invasion. Analysts say Beijing is eyeing the Ukraine crisis with concern, however, and would prefer to see it peacefully resolved.

"The Chinese are risk averse, and if this crisis has taught them anything, it is that there are dire consequences to pay for doing stupid things," said Sergey Radchenko, Wilson E. Schmidt Distinguished Professor at the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies.

"Putin has staked Russia's future on this conflict, and he seems to be losing at the moment," he told VOA. "Beijing is therefore looking for ways to bring Russia to its senses, perhaps through mediation."

VOA's Burmese and Khmer Services contributed to this report. Some information came from Reuters.
A senior leader of Afghanistans Taliban, listed by the United States as a global terrorist, made a maiden public appearance Saturday, his first since the Islamist group seized power in August, days before U.S.-led international forces withdrew from the country.

Acting Interior Minister Sirajuddin Haqqani, the Talibans second-in-command, addressed a police graduation ceremony in the Afghan capital, Kabul, openly in front of cameras.

I am appearing before you in public by the grace of Allah to boost your confidence and to your satisfaction to acknowledge how much the leadership values you, Haqqani told the police force.

Haqqani is wanted by the U.S. for questioning in connection with a 2008 attack on a hotel in the Afghan capital that killed six people, including American citizens. Washington is offering a reward of up to $10 million for information leading directly to his arrest.

Diplomatic sources and Taliban officials said ambassadors from China, Russia, Pakistan, Turkey, United Arab Emirate, Qatar, Kazakhstan and Iran, along with the United Nations, attended the ceremony televised by Afghan state-run RTA  even though no country has officially recognized the Taliban government.

Haqqani reassured the gathering that Afghanistan would not pose a threat to any country and criticized the global community for suspending foreign assistance and declining to accept the Taliban as legitimate rulers.

We urge all those who funded war and instability in the country to now also contribute to this change [in power] and help in the reconstruction efforts, argued Haqqani, who is believed to be in his 40s.

He insisted the Taliban had not violated any international laws, saying Afghan women were being given access to work and education in line with the Afghan culture and Islamic Sharia law.

They [the international community] complain that we are denying women rights to work and education. Today, our sisters are present with us, and they are receiving [police] graduation diplomas and are going to be assigned tasks accordingly, insisted Haqqani.

He was dressed like many of the Taliban leaders, heavily bearded, wearing a white shawl and a black turban.

Taliban officials circulated Haqqanis pictures and videos from Saturdays ceremony. Until now they would share his digitally blurred photographs from meetings with foreign diplomats since assuming the charge of acting interior minister.

U.S. international forces chaotically withdrew from the country in late August two weeks after the now-defunct Western-backed government and its forces collapsed in the face of a lightning Taliban offensive, enabling the hardline group to regain power.

U.S. officials say Haqqani heads a powerful subset of the Taliban, known as the Haqqani Network, although Taliban officials deny the existence of any such entity.

The network is allegedly tied to al-Qaida and blamed for planning some of the deadliest attacks on American and coalition forces in Afghanistan over the past 20 years.

Haqqanis father, deceased Jalaluddin Haqqani, founded the network in the 1980s, and it worked closely with the American CIA while waging the Western-backed armed resistance against the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan.

The Taliban interior minister reportedly survived several U.S. drone strikes over the years in border areas between Afghanistan and neighboring Pakistan, which U.S. officials say served as his main base until he returned to his homeland after the fall of Kabul last August.

The U.S. and other Western nations have halted foreign aid to Kabul and put in place financial restrictions, including seizing billions of dollars in Afghan foreign cash reserves, mostly held in the U.S. The restrictions stem from worries the money could end up in the hands of the Taliban.

The international community is refusing to recognize the Taliban out of fears they would not sever ties with terrorist groups, and they would ban women from education, as well as work like they did during their past regime in Kabul from 1996 to 2001. Thats when women were banned from work and education, and al-Qaida leaders were sheltered in the country.

U.N. and foreign aid groups working in Afghanistan say the restrictions on the de facto Afghan authorities have worsened an already bad humanitarian crisis in the country, resulting from years of war and persistent drought.
The Biden administration is not advocating for regime change in Russia, the White House said Friday, after a U.S. senator called for Russians to assassinate President Vladimir Putin.

"That is not the position of the U.S. government and certainly not a statement you'll hear from  coming from the mouth of  anybody working for the administration," White House press secretary Jen Psaki told reporters in response to a question from Voice of America.

U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham, a Republican from South Carolina, suggested in a televised interview Thursday evening that "somebody in Russia" should assassinate Putin. He repeated his statement Friday in another televised appearance on Fox News Channel.

"How does this end? Somebody in Russia has to step up to the plate  and take this guy out," Graham told Fox News host Sean Hannity.

Following the interview, Graham posted on Twitter, "The only people who can fix this are the Russian people."

"Is there a Brutus in Russia? Is there a more successful Colonel Stauffenberg in the Russian military?" the senator wrote. Marcus Junius Brutus assassinated Roman ruler Julius Caesar, while German army officer Claus von Stauffenberg tried but failed to assassinate German leader Adolf Hitler in July 1944.

Russia's ambassador to the United States, Anatoly Antonov, called Graham's comments "unacceptable and outrageous" and said they expressed "off the scale" hatred in the United States toward Russia.

He demanded "official explanations and a strong condemnation of the criminal statements."

U.S. lawmakers, both Democrats and Republicans, also criticized Graham's comments.

Texas Republican Senator Ted Cruz called Graham's proposal "an exceptionally bad idea," while Democratic Reprepresentative Ilhan Omar of Minnesota tweeted: "I really wish our members of Congress would cool it and regulate their remarks as the administration works to avoid WWIII."

Graham introduced a resolution in Congress condemning Putin and his military commanders for committing "war crimes" and "crimes against humanity" in Ukraine.

Some information for this report came from The Associated Press and Agence France-Presse.
A new variant of the coronavirus found in white-tailed deer in Canada was later discovered in a person who lived nearby and had contact with the deer population, according to a recent study. The researchers say its possible the deer transmitted the virus to the human.



Emerging evidence that COVID-19 is gaining a foothold in wildlife could have negative long-term consequences for humans, according to Nukhet Varlik, associate professor of history at Rutgers University-Newark.



Even if we managed to vaccinate the entire human population, the disease can still come back  from the animals back to us  which is, in fact, what happened with some of the other historical pandemics, Varlik says. So, in the long term, I don't think COVID can be eradicated, to be honest.

Six out of every 10 infectious diseases in people are zoonotic, meaning they pass between species, from animals to humans.

Examples of zoonotic viruses include the flu, West Nile virus, the plague, rabies and Lyme disease.



The coronavirus outbreak has been linked to a market in Wuhan, China, where live animals were slaughtered on site. And although the virus is classified as zoonotic, no animal reservoir of the disease has been found.



Any new COVID-19 variant that animals might pass back to humans has the potential to mutate into something totally new.



It's definitely going to evolve differently in an animal than it will in a human, says Cody Warren, a virologist and immunologist who is a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Colorado Boulder. Now we have what we're considering a human virus trying to evolve to grow in an animal, and so, it's going to undergo its own unique evolutionary trajectory in that animal.



Multiple COVID-19 variants such as delta and omicron have been found in humans, and scientists cannot rule out the possibility that some variants came from animals.



Most of the attention and resources are focusing on, How do we test humans? and How do we coordinate hospital beds? says Suresh Kuchipudi, a professor and chair of emerging infectious diseases at Pennsylvania State University. But, in this process, we haven't really been looking at animals. That's why we have a lot of missing links to trace back the origins of these viruses. So, it may be that we haven't been looking into some animal species in some part of the world where this evolution largely may have happened. We have lots of gaps in connecting the dots.

Kuchipudi, a veterinary virologist, co-authored a separate study that found evidence of COVID-19 in white-tailed deer in Staten Island, New York. Researchers tested the animals between December 12, 2021, and January 31, 2022, and found COVID-19 antibodies in 19 of the 131 animals sampled.



When a virus goes from humans back into animals, the process is referred to as spillback.



And what I think is most concerning about that is that it gives new opportunities for the virus to evolve in new, unique and innovative ways, says Warren. And that virus could potentially evolve in a way and then jump back into humans and spread again throughout the human population as a new disease.



Kuchipudi emphasizes the need to begin monitoring high-risk animals where the force of infection is high and based on their frequent exposure to humans in order to stop, or at least minimize, transmissions from animals to humans.



Then we can track down what is happening in terms of the virus evolution. But will we also be able to determine what are the routes through which this exposure has happened? Is it through wastewater or leftover food? says Kuchipudi. Although we found deer have the virus, it is not entirely clear how the free-living deer, that don't really come close to humans typically, are picking up the infection.



Right now, there is no coordinated, concerted effort nationally or internationally to address the problem of COVID-19 in animals, according to Kuchipudi. But he is hopeful that is changing. The American Rescue Plan provides $300 million for the monitoring and surveillance of animals believed susceptible to COVID-19.



I see a lot of momentum happening, Kuchipudi says. A lot of relevant people recognize this is a problem. And I think most federal and state agencies are very seriously discussing looking into this.
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The Voltaire Network website, Voltairenet.org, has been seriously damaged.

 On Friday evening, 24 February, the host company based in Ukraine disowned. All the people working there decamped. Our team managed to recover the server located 70km from the front line and transfer the data to Finland (Member State of the European Union, but not part of NATO).

 Thursday, March 3, a team of professionals began to attack our new website deploying impressive means. It managed to access the private area of the site and disrupt it. The content of the website as at 26 February has been re-uploaded, but all subsequent data has been lost.

 We have just restored our secure communication system, enabling us to exchange again with our correspondents all over the world.

Despite computer attacks and assassination attempts against our journalists, we have provided our readers with an unparalleled information service for 28 years. We do not draw on the work of other authors; we research and elaborate the information ourselves. In that, we constitute a primary source of reference.

We will do everything in our power to continue our work; this is our fight.

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HARRISBURG  The board of another big public pension system in Pennsylvania voted Friday to sell off its Russia-related investments, amid bipartisan calls from lawmakers and top state officials to respond to Russias attack on Ukraine.

The vote by the board of the State Employees Retirement System affects roughly $7 million of the $40 billion in assets the system reported having at the start of 2022, it said. That exposure amounts to 0.02%.

In a statement, the boards chair, David Fillman, cited heightened volatility, risk and potential for losses resulting from exposure to Russia-related investments and expressed sympathy for Ukrainians.

The boards resolution also bars new investments in assets related to Russia or Belarus, a key ally of Russia in its attack on Ukraine.

On Thursday, the board of the $72.5 billion Public School Employees Retirement System took a similar vote to divest of nearly $300 million directly invested in Russia and Belarus.

Governors and lawmakers in numerous U.S. states have been taking actions to pull state investments from Russian companies, while encouraging private entities to do the same.

In Pennsylvania, Gov. Tom Wolf and state Treasurer Stacy Garrity called for the pension systems to divest, while lawmakers have begun drafting legislation to require it.

The Treasury Department said it sold off as much of its $2.9 million it had invested in Russian companies as it could.

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What better time to make a movie about a virus sweeping across the planet? Per Deadline and a joint Instagram post, Will Smith is returning to the I Am Legend franchise for a follow-up film that will also star Black Panthers Michael B. Jordan. Now, this news does raise some questions for anyone who saw the 2007 original directed by Francis Lawrence. That movie, based on the 1954 Richard Matheson novel of the same name, was set in a postapocalyptic New York City where infected humans became bloodthirsty mutants. It ended with Smiths virologist character pulling the pin on a grenade and sacrificing his life to save humanity. Which, you know, makes one wonder how exactly Smith will manage to come back. Perhaps the sequel will follow the original movies alternate ending? We can only guess  with the film still in development at Warner Bros., we dont know anything about the plot. (But hey, if bringing characters back to life is on the table, wed like to suggest Sam the dog.) What we do know is that Akiva Goldsman is returning to write the script and joining Smith and Jordan as a producer on the project. A title still hasnt been confirmed, but we have a Killmonger-inspired suggestion. I Am Legend, Too: Is This Your Legend? has a nice ring to it.
PHILADELPHIAThe Philadelphia 76ers have themselves a pretty good star tandem in the form of James Harden and Joel Embiid as the two of them can make anybody on the floor a better player.

Harden was able to do so with Georges Niang in Fridays 125-119 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers. Harden finished with 25 points and 11 assists and Niang hopped off the bench and had 17 points while knocking down five triples.

Harden and Niang have battled with each other for quite some time. When Harden was with the Houston Rockets and Niang with the Utah Jazz, the two of them matched up multiple times in the playoffs so the two of them know and understand each others games pretty well.

He was a shooter in Utah and then coming here, I pretty much knew the roster up and down, said Harden. Just finding ways to impact game. They (the Cavs) do a really good job of packing the paint so we found something with Georges tonight and hes a shooter, thats what he does, thats what he gets paid to do, and he hit some big 3s for us tonight.

Niang has been complimentary of Harden in the past, but Friday was his first really big game playing next to The Beard. The future Hall of Famer just has a knack for getting everybody involved and getting them into the right spaces out on the floor.

He does a great job of making everybody look at him and then they forget about me and its been working. We should do that a lot, Niang joked. Nah, I mean, hes a great player. He does what he does and like I said before, hes a basketball savant. He just finds crafty ways to get other guys involved and to score and Ive been lucky enough to be on the receiving end of that.

Niang is a perfect fit next to Harden due to the fact that he is not afraid to take any shots. Once he catches the ball, he is immediately going to put the shot up. That catch-and-shoot skill is so important for a guy like Harden out on the floor.

Its a good pairing, said coach Doc Rivers. Georges, he separates, and thats what were trying to get our other guys to do. A lot of our guys set picks and just turn. Georges sets picks and runs away. Georges is no dummy. He knows If I set a pick on Tobias (Harris), theres a good chance Im getting a shot. Georges wasnt born yesterday. He knows exactly what hes doing and James is getting it to him.

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The Sixers now must continue to grow this pairing as it is one that might see some time in a big playoff moment.

This post originally appeared on Sixers Wire! Follow us on Facebook!

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Danny Hong shows where the water reached up to him during flooding in his basement apartment in the Queens borough of New York last September. (AP)

Researchers say individuals should respond to the hazard most pressing at the time and be prepared to move locations if necessary.
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Vladimir Putins war on Ukraine will have momentous consequences for many  above all for Ukrainians, those who are fleeing the country and those who have stayed to fight off the invading army or to helplessly endure the devastation. But the effect on Russians, too, will be enormous, whether or not we realize it now. Its time for we citizens of the aggressor state to try on the shoes of post-World War II Germans.The comparison will seem hyperbolic to many. The Nazis, after all, committed genocide on a grand scale, leveled cities in many countries, set up death camps. It is difficult for Putin to measure up to Hitlers homicidal madness, hard as he might try. Yet it is 2022, not the 1940s. Putins war crimes are instantly documented on social media, and the global audiences sensibilities have also changed: No matter how limited your bombing of civilians might be, its unforgivable from the moment the first missile targets a residential area. Because of the abundance of evidence, Russia doesnt even have to lose the war for its people  and not just Putin personally  to be held responsible even in lands far removed from Russia and Ukraine.

Many Russians, especially those leaving to escape the official war hysteria and the economic and lifestyle consequences of unprecedented Western sanctions (no more IKEA! No H&M!), dont blame themselves for the war. Like the many Russian celebrities who have posted No to war or Im for peace on social networks without taking the next step  calling for an end to Putins mad aggression  they feel no personal responsibility for the leveled neighborhoods of Kharkiv or Mariupol. Ive never voted for Putin, I hear from them. What do I have to do with this? Im against war!

Everybodys for peace, of course  even Putin says he is. Hitler spoke of his love of peace and his intention to establish peace on the eastern border in his speech to the Reichstag on Sept. 1, 1939. Individual responsibility, however, hinges on what one has done to make war impossible  and collective responsibility stems, no matter how we might hate this, from a politys inability to avert the dictatorship that, as we see now, cannot but lead to war.

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Thats the logic behind the tendency of many Ukrainians to blame the Russian people, not just Putin. A fresh poll by Ukraines Rating Group shows 38% of respondents say Russians as a nation share responsibility for the war; that goes up to 42% in central Ukraine and 46% in the countrys west.

In 2014, after Id just emigrated from Russia because of my opposition to the Crimea annexation, I bristled when Ukrainians told me the move didnt erase my responsibility. I was sure I couldnt have done anything to change the nature of the Russian regime. You go fight Putin, I snarled back at my Ukrainian accusers. See where you get with that. It fills me with shame to remember that now, because of course they are fighting him as I write this  and we didnt really do so even when it wasnt as dangerous as in the current climate of cruel suppression.

When Hitler took power in 1933, he did it on the strength of a 44% national vote, meaning that a majority of Germans didnt back him. Just one year before, he didnt even have a third of the vote. It was not too late to stop him, and too few Germans cared enough to do it.

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This is true of us, too. We swallowed blatantly stolen elections (and our protests in 2011 were, though impressively large, too vegetarian, too cute to matter). We swallowed the gradual stifling of independent media. We shrugged off massive corruption and the increasingly hysterical patriotic education of our kids. We adapted as the government became the only meaningful economic player and as the police state swelled, feeding on our helplessness and its own impunity. We acquiesced, by and large, to the Crimea invasion; Russian celebrities became adept at creative answers when Ukrainians asked them on camera to whom Crimea really belonged. Meanwhile, too many of us enjoyed the semblance of normality  the brands, the clubs, the skyscrapers, the tech, the money. Now, it has all collapsed like the cardboard scenery it always was.

We turned into Putins passive serfs  or equally passive, powerless observers outside the Russian borders, for those of us who left often rationalized and normalized what was happening at home. I know I did. We made Putin culturally possible, made him our own even as we distanced ourselves from him. We allowed him to set the rules even as we clung to the illusion that we werent playing.

In other words, it doesnt matter that I was against it all. Im guilty of not having done enough to assert my protest. I ran instead of fighting. That makes me responsible. Those who run in panic from Russia now  and a lot of people I know are catching planes to wherever they still fly or abandoning everything to drive all night to the border  cant outrun the shared responsibility either.

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Once Hitler lost the war and the victorious allies began making it clear to Germans, including civilians, that they shared responsibility for his atrocities, many resisted, saying theyd never backed the Nazis, blessed their atrocities or even knew about them. They suffered from what psychologists Alexander and Margarete Mitscherlich termed an inability to grieve for the victims of the Nazi crimes; that kind of grief was displaced by regret about their own losses.

Germans show no trace of a sense of responsibility, let alone guilt, the writer Klaus Mann wrote upon his postwar return to Germany from the U.S. They fail to grasp that their current misery is the unavoidable result of what the German people have done to the world in recent years.

His bitter prediction in a letter to his father, Thomas Mann, was that this sorry, horrible nation will be physically and morally maimed and crippled for generations. He was right in a way  the symptoms of the disfigurement arent all gone even now. We should take heed  I see the same symptoms in many Russians I read or talk to.

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The payback doesnt come, for those who stayed, in the form of an imported alcohol shortage, an ATM empty of euros or a credit card that no longer works because the issuing bank has been taken off the SWIFT transaction messaging system. Many Russians still remember what near-autarky feels like. Soviet habits will come back quickly to those who decided to stick around in Putinland. And perhaps some signs of normalcy will return after the war, as many of those who stayed, or intend to return, hope.

Nor does the payback come, for those who left, in the shape of the inevitable microaggressions, the graffiti on the windows of a bilingual school in Berlin, the new forms of bullying Russian kids have to endure from classmates whose parents discuss the news with them. There likely wont be any serious 20th century-style blowback  no mass expulsions, no internment camps. Even as the West confronts Russia, its leaders make sure not to blame Russians as a people  its especially important for the Germans, who have been on the receiving end of similar attitudes themselves for decades.I know how hard this situation is on the citizens of our country who were born in Ukraine or in Russia, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said last week. So we wont let this conflict between Putin and the free world open old wounds or lead to new deformations.

Besides, for most people not directly affected by war crimes, the negative image of the nation that has committed them fades relatively quickly. A study of attitudes toward Germans in New Zealand found that negative sentiment toward them peaked in the first post-war years as the horrors of the concentration camps were widely reported  but sank to indifference levels by 1953. In this era of short attention spans, Russians will likely no longer be pariahs on an everyday level a year or two after the war ends, no matter who wins it in the military sense. Only in Ukraine will the attitude persist: The ripped-up cities and dead soldiers will not be forgotten for generations.

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The true payback comes in the form of having to start over  and not from scratch, but from a mountain of debris left over from our efforts to build a new country after the fall of communism. Everything weve done since the heady days of 1991, when walls were falling and the world seemed ready to embrace us, has led us to this  the missiles embedded in Kharkiv pavements, the explosions booming through the empty Kyiv streets, the refugee trains carrying misery westward.

Where does one go from the top of that mountain of rubble? I dont have a good answer. All I can do is hum to myself Bertolt Brecht and Hans Eislers Kinderhymne, the song many Germans once wanted as the reunited countrys hymn. Notwithstanding Brechts unrepentant communism, its a very post-Putin song for us Russians to sing, hopeful

...that the people give up flinchingAt the crimes which we evokeAnd hold out their hand in friendshipAs they do to other folk.And because well make it betterLet us guard and love our homeLove it as our dearest countryAs the others love their own.(1)

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More From Other Writers at Bloomberg Opinion:



Hacktivists Are Piercing Russias Propaganda Bubble: Parmy Olson



Russias Putin Isnt Alone in Imperial Fantasies: Pankaj Mishra



Vladimir Putin Has No Time for Your Reality: Andreas Kluth

(1) Translated by Michael E. Geisler

This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board or Bloomberg LP and its owners.

Leonid Bershidsky is a member of the Bloomberg News Automation team based in Berlin. He was previously Bloomberg Opinions Europe columnist. He recently authored a Russian translation of George Orwells 1984.

More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com/opinion

2022 Bloomberg L.P.

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Read this statement from the Burlington Global Institute: You cannot simultaneously prevent and prepare for war. We call on President Biden to de-escalate tensions and work for peace rather than prepare for war. Sending thousands more US troops to Europe in response to Russias threats against Ukraine only fans the flame of war.

Do you agree or disagree?

If you disagree, do you at least consider it a valid contribution?

And would your opinion change if you knew that it came not from a think tank Ive conjured up but from the ice cream company Ben & Jerrys (founded in Burlington, Vermont, in 1978), and was a corporate Tweet from 5 February?

Notwithstanding the companys history of commenting on geopolitics from NATO expansion to the Israel-Palestine conflict, for some the concept of an ice cream brand commenting on troop movements was definitionally absurd. Even the chief executive of Ben & Jerrys parent company, Unilever Plc  no slouch when it comes to embracing causes  suggested that the founders stay in their lane:

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It is a great brand, most of the time they get it right  They have a great track record campaigning on important issues. But [on] subjects where Unilever brands dont have expertise or credibility it is best to stay out of the debate.

The topics over which brands get to claim expertise or credibility  from tax codes and labor law to social justice and civil rights  are hotly contested. But despite many companies operating way beyond the scale of small nation-states, commenting on foreign affairs is, for many, a bridge too far for any brand not embedded in the military-industrial complex. (Those that are so embedded are usually too cynical to comment.)

Of course, no such limitations apply to think tanks, charities, pressure groups, artists, novelists, columnists or anonymous Twitter trolls  no matter how sketchy their qualifications or partisan the mindset  whose contributions are considered part of the free market of ideas.

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But when the actual free market gets involved, things get odd.

Witness the outrage of Republican politicians when Sesame Streets Big Bird had the temerity to follow the medical advice of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and promote the vaccine against Covid-19.

Or the drumbeat of discontent from right-leaning pundits when brands stray from discussing their balance sheets. As Dave Seminara wrote last April in the Wall Street Journal under the headline, What I wouldnt give for a shave that isnt woke:

Its increasingly clear that the sharp increase in corporate virtue signaling after George Floyds death wasnt a passing trend but a sea change. Perhaps its time for conservatives to boycott companies that hate us.

One death is a tragedy 

George Floyds sadistic murder in May 2020 inspired  and compelled  many global brands to respond. An analysis of the Instagram accounts of the worlds Top 100 brands (as ranked by Interbrand) found that 76 posted at least one corporate statement on racial justice in the wake of Floyds death, and 11 posted a plain black square in support of #BlackoutTuesday  a day (June 2) on which the world was encouraged to show racial justice solidarity.

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For some brands, taking a stand was seamlessly consistent with their established values; for many it was a moment to be marked and moved on from; and for a few it was something to be ducked until the clamor died down. Once in a while, a C-suites discomfort was almost palpable: Tiffany & Co. thought it could get away with posting a Tiffany Blue square and the anodyne statement, We are one community and we #BelieveInLove before being forced to backtrack (We havent said enough and well raise our voice).

Revisiting this list of 100 top-brands in the wake of Russias attack on Ukraine is illuminating.

As of 9:45 a.m. E.T. on March 3  a week after the invasion  only three of these companies had posted any comment about Ukraine: Allianz, which had not commented on BLM in 2020, posted a picture of the Allianz Arena in Munich illuminated in the Ukrainian colors, and a pledge to give 10 million euros to humanitarian aid; Sony posted a black square promising $2 million in aid; and Prada posted a promise to join forces with the National Chamber for Italian Fashion to donate to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.

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There are many reasons why brands that Instagrammed in support of Black Lives Matter might, to date, have remained silent on Ukraine: from the complexity of global value chains and the confusion of a rapidly evolving situation to the need to protect employees at risk in the region and the risk of alienating a trigger-happy superpower armed with nuclear weapons and, more immediately, cyberwarfare capabilities.

Moreover, given that the invasion is a moving target, some brands may be biding their time to see how events unfold; others may be waiting for a hashtag like #BlackoutTuesday to rally a global response.

There is also the tripwire of whataboutism. Brands that Instagram against Russias invasion of Ukraine risk being asked why they remained silent when Putin annexed Crimea in 2014, or why they havent commented on the worlds 53 other active state-based conflicts from Syria to Myanmar.

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Whats more puzzling is why brands that have taken practical action in the region still remain silent on social media. For example, on March 1, Apple halted all product sales in Russia and unveiled a range of other restrictions, including limiting Apple Pay, removing RT News and Sputnik News from its App Stores and disabling traffic and live-incident features in Ukraine. Yet three days later, Apples Instagram page was as upbeat and apolitical as before  in stark contrast to the black square and personal video statement Tim Cook posted in June 2020.

Absent the scalding pressure brands faced (from consumers and employees) during the BLM protests in the lockdown summer of 2020, some CEOs may be testing how long they can hold the line of Neville Chamberlain, who infamously described Germanys annexation of the Sudetenland in 1938 as: A quarrel in a far away country, between people of whom we know nothing.

Indeed, the impossibility of pleasing all parties in an increasingly divided world may explain why so many brands seem eager to enter the metaverse  a supposedly neutral commercial Eden far from the arc of injustice and its murderous crowds.

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What did you do in the war, daddy?

None of this is easy. Many executives will be doing what they think is best (and safest) for their shareholders and staff  and its hard to dismiss the caution of commercial entities when nation-states and global organizations are gingerly navigating economic sanctions, military support and refugee policies, to say nothing of sporting and cultural boycotts.

But to take a step back, if global brands feel unable (or unwilling) to decry televised war crimes, even from the relative safety of their Instagram accounts, then perhaps they should rein in the we are the world whitewash that flows so easily across their mission statements and brand positions.

If Corporate Social Responsibility doesnt include denouncing the thermobaric bombing of blameless civilians then, really, whats its point?

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More From Other Writers at Bloomberg Opinion:



For Apple, Pausing Business in Russia Is More Practical Than Principled: Tim Culpan

 Putin Wont Sportswash His Way Out of Ukraine: Bobby Ghosh



Luxury Ditches the Slash-and-Burn for Share-and-Care: Andrea Felsted and Alexis Leondis

This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board or Bloomberg LP and its owners.

Ben Schott is Bloomberg Opinions advertising and brands columnist. He created the Schotts Original Miscellany and Schotts Almanac series, and writes for newspapers and magazines around the world.

More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com/opinion

2022 Bloomberg L.P.

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The Leadwood Board of Aldermans monthly meeting often includes discussion of the citys ongoing water and sewer woes, but Monday nights discussion also delved into beefs from the audience concerning the condition of the towns streets and angry exchanges about social media fights.

The disagreement began after the aldermen agreed to raise the citys monthly water bills to residents by $3.03.

One audience member, who didnt identify herself, asked, So where exactly is all that money going? If we're not getting the (water and sewer) piping and  we've not done this and we've not done that?

Alderman Charlie Lewis replied its all part of the Missouri Department of Natural Resources (DNR) loan and USDA grant requirements in order to pay back the $10 million bond loan needed to overhaul the citys water and sewer system, a system that has some components almost a century old. Leadwood has been struggling for the better part of a decade to address the town's crumbling infrastructure.

Lewis reminded the audience a $10 million bond issue that was approved years ago likely would have made residents water bills even higher, because the bonds have to be paid off, but instead, the DNR loan was pursued along with a USDA grant to pay for roughly half the cost.

The thing is, we still have to pay for all of it, he said. And we havent raised bills to go along with the cost of living, we probably should have raised it by $5 or $6 a month, but we didnt want to do that. We think this is enough, we settled on $3.03.

The audience member said even before the $3 increase, the price of Leadwood water and sewer services is higher than towns like Desloge and Park Hills, and shes tired of having to pay for water to drink, as well as special shampoos for her family to accommodate the Leadwood water, which passed a DNR inspection in January.

Lewis said he drinks the water and bathes in it every day.

Another audience member, Robbie Maguire, pointed out that although theres talk of bidding out the overhaul in the spring of 2023, its later than what was promised a couple years back. Lewis countered since he had been elected to the board a few years ago, the plan was always to bid it out in Spring 2023.

Maguire said not only have residents been waiting for the water and sewer system to get overhauled, residents have been waiting for major road repairs. Lewis and other aldermen agreed, it didnt seem worthwhile to completely pave streets when they would have to be destroyed in the effort to lay new piping for water and sewer services, but there have been efforts made to patch accordingly, and the city is still negotiating with Doe Run Companys Soil and Land Services company regarding putting money toward fixing West Street, since the lead remediation companys heavy trucks and equipment have taken a toll.

Things became heated at one point when a couple of audience members began bringing up allegations made in a privately-run Facebook page about Leadwood, as well as disagreements that continued in a private messaging app. Maguire, who at one point was shouting loudly at the city clerk during a two-minute exchange, was asked to leave if he couldnt control himself. Maguire began mocking the city clerk and interrupting other speakers, eventually getting up to leave the meeting midway.

During the rest of the meeting, the board of aldermen also:

Formally accepted the resignations of Ward 2 Alderman Randy Howard and Police Chief Jason Jarvis.

Approved the audit proposal covering three years.

Approved a business license for Torrez Sanitation, and agreed other trash companies operating around town should be checked for their business licenses. The companies Four Aces Trash Service and Woody and Sons Disposal LLC were mentioned.

Agreed to pay $738.90 to Pettus Automotive to fix the police departments vehicle.

Approved giving Ameren an easement near the walking path along Birch Street near the City Park, in exchange for $5,600 which the aldermen agreed should be spent on the park.

Agreed to try and find someone to patch a ruptured filter, and if theyre unable, Water and Sewer Supervisor Kevin Brooks may try welding a patch. Someone asked if it was a job for stick or tig welding. Brooks answered, stick.

Heard from a citizen in the audience they were pleased with the work the Street Department and other city employees did to keep the streets as clear as they could during the late February round of ice and snow.

Sarah Haas is the assistant editor for the Daily Journal. She can be reached at 573-518-3617 or at shaas@dailyjournalonline.com.

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Engineer acquitted Wp Get the full experience. Choose your plan ArrowRight in fatal derailment A jury cleared an Amtrak engineer Friday of all charges stemming from a derailment that left eight people dead and hundreds injured in Philadelphia in 2015, concluding that his operation of the train at more than twice the speed limit on a curve didnt constitute criminal negligence. The jury took just over an hour to acquit Brandon Bostian, 38, of causing a catastrophe, involuntary manslaughter and reckless endangerment  one count for each injury and death. Amtrak had earlier settled civil litigation over the crash for $265 million.

The train rounded a curve at about 106 mph, more than twice the 50 mph speed limit, before it derailed in north Philadelphia.

Bostians lawyer described him as a lifelong train buff who had a perfect work record until he was distracted by reports of people throwing rocks in the area just before the crash. He could have been sent to prison for years, or even for life, if convicted, given the high number of counts against him.

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In closing arguments, defense lawyer Brian McMonagle said the criminal actors in the case were those who threw the rocks at the train ahead. No one was ever apprehended.

Federal safety investigators found no evidence Bostian, who no longer works for Amtrak, was impaired, fatigued or using his cellphone at the time.

 Associated Press

Ex-detective sentenced in Black man's death

A former Kansas City police detective was sentenced Friday to six years in prison for fatally shooting a Black man who was backing a pickup truck into a garage, but he will remain free on bond while his conviction is appealed.

Eric DeValkenaere, 43, was convicted in November of second-degree involuntary manslaughter and armed criminal action in the death of 26-year-old Cameron Lamb on Dec. 3, 2019.

Jackson County Circuit Court Presiding Judge J. Dale Youngs sentenced DeValkenaere, who is White, to three years for involuntary manslaughter and six years for armed criminal action, with the sentences to run at the same time. Prosecutors had recommended that he serve nine years.

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Youngs, who convicted DeValkenaere after a bench trial, ruled in February that he could remain free while his conviction is appealed.

DeValkenaere testified during his trial that he shot Lamb as he was backing his pickup truck into a garage where he lived because Lamb pointed a gun at another detective, Troy Schwalm.

The plainclothes detectives had followed Lamb to the property to investigate an earlier report that he had chased his girlfriend in a stolen pickup truck.

Prosecutors alleged a gun found near Lambs truck after the shooting was planted and the crime scene was staged. They also said the detectives had no reason to be on Lambs property.

When he convicted DeValkenaere, Youngs said the detectives violated Lambs constitutional rights because they had no probable cause to believe he had committed a crime, had no warrant for Lambs arrest and had no search warrant or consent to be on the property. He did not address the allegations that evidence had been planted.

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DeValkenaere was suspended from the police force after his conviction and left the force in January. Police have not said whether he was fired, resigned or retired.

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Student shot, wounded 2 at Kansas high school, police say: A student shot and wounded an administrator and a school resource officer Friday at a suburban Kansas City high school, and the student also was wounded when the officer returned fire, authorities said. The male student at Olathe East High School was taken into custody, Olathe police Sgt. Joel Yeldell said, and all three are expected to survive. No other students were injured, he said. Police have not identified the suspect.

 Associated Press

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56 killed at mosque; ISIS claims attack Wp Get the full experience. Choose your plan ArrowRight The Islamic State in a statement posted to the groups media outlet claimed an attack on a Shiite Muslim mosque in central Peshawar that killed at least 56 people Friday in the deadliest assault in the northwestern Pakistani city in more than seven years. A blast struck the mosque during Friday prayers and gunmen stormed inside, opening fire on worshipers packed into the main hall, officials said. In addition to the 56 dead, more than 194 people were wounded, according to Muhammad Asim, a spokesman for a city hospital.

Within hours of the assault, Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan tweeted, We now have all info regarding origins of where the terrorists came from & are going after them with full force, but he did not specify which group was behind the attack.

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Pakistani security forces have been put on high alert, Pakistani Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed told The Washington Post. We will thwart the designs of those who want to create unrest and instability in Pakistan, he said.

Ahmed also told a local news outlet that the blast was carried out by a suicide bomber.

Pakistani police tweeted that at least two assailants first fired on police officers guarding the mosque, killing one and critically wounding a second.

 Haq Nawaz Khan and Shaiq Hussain

Bishop defended by pope guilty of abuse

An Argentine court on Friday sentenced a Roman Catholic bishop to 4  years in prison for the sexual abuse of two seminarians, in a major setback for Pope Francis, who had defended Gustavo Zanchetta after the initial allegations.

The prosecutors office in the northern province of Salta reported the conviction and sentence on its Twitter account and said Zanchetta had been ordered arrested.

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The conviction in the popes homeland hits at Franciss personal credibility since he had initially rejected accusations against Zanchetta, the former bishop of Oran, and created a job for him at the Vatican.

Francis has defended his handling of the case, insisting that Zanchetta defended himself well when confronted with the first allegations that he had pornographic images of the victims on his cellphone.

Local authorities began to investigate after the allegations emerged publicly in early 2019, when the newspaper El Tribuno de Salta reported complaints about Zanchettas conduct as bishop in Oran. Zanchetta has denied the accusations and said he is a victim of revenge by priests in Oran with whom he had differences.

The pope had ordered a church trial in the case, though the results of that are not known.

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 Associated Press

Colombia's ELN rebels declare cease-fire: Colombia's National Liberation Army (ELN), the leftist guerrilla group founded by radical Catholic priests, declared a six-day cease-fire for upcoming legislative elections and presidential primaries. Colombians go to the polls March 13 to elect members of Congress and choose presidential candidates for three political coalitions. The ELN, which consists of about 2,400 fighters, is considered a terrorist organization by the United States and European Union. Defense Minister Diego Molano dismissed the cease-fire as a political stunt.

Greece reports stopping 5 migrant boats: Greece's coast guard said it had prevented five boats carrying more than 120 people in total from illegally entering Greek waters in the eastern Aegean Sea from Turkey. A coast guard statement said that patrol boats from the European Union's Frontex border agency helped in the operation and that Turkish coast guard boats eventually arrived off the island of Kos to pick up the migrants. Greece's eastern Aegean islands are a major destination for people fleeing conflict or poverty in the Middle East, Africa or Asia who are seeking a better life in the European Union.

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Thousands flee South Korean wildfire: Nearly 4,000 South Koreans fled their homes as a large wildfire ripped through an eastern coastal area and threatened a nuclear power station before being driven away by winds. As of Friday evening, about 1,000 firefighters were battling the blaze amid strong winds and focusing their efforts on preventing it from reaching a liquefied natural gas facility near the city of Samcheok. The fire began early Friday on a mountain in the nearby county of Uljin and destroyed at least 22 homes, according to the National Fire Agency and the Korea Forest Service. There were no immediate reports of injuries.

 From news services

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Legal aid aside, legal advice can be expensive. And as those going through a divorce well know, finding a low-cost family law firm is a bit like searching for a needle in a haystack.

Wallumatta Legal, created by Macquarie University and international law firm DLA Piper, may not see itself as a needle. But the academics and legal professionals behind this low fee, not-for-profit family law firm agree its creation heralds a new day for legal services in Australia.

Wallumatta Legals Daniel Ghezelbash with law student and intern Perri Hutchings. Credit:Rhett Wyman

Located within Macquarie Universitys new arts precinct, the firm will provide family law services to the missing middle  parents who arent eligible for legal aid or other free services but cannot readily afford the fees charged by most commercial lawyers.

The missing middle covers most essential workers in aged care, as well as nurses, teachers, cleaners and delivery drivers. They are very capable and are the people we relied on to get us through the COVID-19 pandemic, says Daniel Ghezelbash, an associate professor at Macquarie Law School and board member of Wallumatta Legal.
Life is a journey. For some, it appears to come easy and for others, every moment is a fight.

For 5-year-old Charlie, you would never be able to tell he had a single struggle from the smile on his face.

Charlie was born in kidney failure with his kidneys functioning at less than 5%. After his birth, he spent 99 days at the hospital and came home on 18 hours of dialysis every day.

Luckily for Charlie, his mother Rachel Erbland is a nurse. With her background, he was able to go home early, despite doctors predicting he would spend his first six months of life in the hospital.

Erbland, of Arcadia Valley, describes her son as a really neat kid with a great personality.

"He is a very funny, funny kid, and he is very in tune to people," Erbland said. "He can always read the room pretty good."

Erbland said Charlie was really content with his life. She said he knew when it was time to be on the machine, and he knew he could not get up until it was time to come off.

"The kid never complained," Erbland said. "We have a pool, and he knows he couldn't swim because he had the tube. He never complained but we were very fortunate. There are a lot of kids that spend a lot of time in the hospital."

Erbland said Charlie was able to do his dialysis at home, and in the end, it eventually was down to only 12 hours each day with one trip to the hospital a month for blood work.

"It is really hard because you have to get to the point where you just have to live day by day and enjoy the day because none of us know what is going to happen tomorrow," Erbland said. "Charlie does live his best life. He doesn't live complaining or anything like that. He complains less than anybody I know."

Erbland said Charlie understood his limitations, but his biggest wish was to have a sleepover with his siblings. She said this was not possible because his tube kept him in his own bed. Charlie was not able to have any sleepovers, go camping, or be away from his own bed for even one night.

"They told us Charlie wouldn't walk or talk before transplant, and a lot of them don't," Erbland said. "I just said I wanted him to have very big on quality of life and not quantity of life. I wanted him to enjoy his life."

Erbland said all of Charlie's siblings have been very involved and loving from the very beginning, and she thinks having them made a big difference in his life.

Finding a kidney donor

The first place the family looked when it came to finding a donor was Charlie's direct family. His mother was not the right blood type. His father did not meet the age requirement, and all of his uncles were too tall.

According to the National Kidney Foundation, 100,000 people are waiting for a kidney.

Charlie's search for a kidney was as unique as his own personality. He went on the deceased donor list in 2019, but had to be removed when he contracted mono, Epstein-Barr virus, and fought it for roughly nine months. Then, once he was finally healthy enough to go back on the list, COVID-19 hit and every changed.

"A lot of people didn't get transplanted during COVID, and when you have a deceased donor, it is a little harder," Erbland said. "We got an offer in September of 2020 and I just didn't feel comfortable. There were questions they couldn't answer about the deceased donor, and you kind of know that going in but it is hard when you are asking questions and they say we can't tell you. So we went back off the list and were fine with that."

Then something happened which neither Erbland, her husband, Charlie, nor his five siblings could have seen coming. A family friend stepped forward wanting to help.

Gaby steps up

Gaby McCutcheon, 20, of Madison County, decided she only needed one kidney, and Charlie could really use the other one.

This is when their journey to become "kidney buddies for life" began.

"Oh my gosh, Gaby is a saint," Erbland said. "She drove to St. Louis 100 times, I feel like, and answered every horrible question that has been asked of somebody. She was working two jobs when she started, and she would take her day off and drive to St. Louis. Gaby is like a saint and deserves a medal."

McCutcheon said she decided to get evaluated after spending more than a year thinking about it and researching kidney donation.

"I knew that Charlie and I have the same blood type which is the first step of many for being a match," McCutcheon said. "There were several things that helped me make the decision.

"Since knowing Charlie, I started working in the medical field where I get to see how living with renal failure and living on dialysis impacts your life and quality of life. Seeing this helped me see the long-term effects that this can have on someone's life if they don't get a transplant."

McCutcheon said she was not nervous at all and was confident in her decision. She said she felt like she was well informed on everything that would happen, but she was nervous for Charlie because he has a much longer road to recovery.

"The thing I love most about Charlie is that he can talk to anyone anywhere and put a smile on their face," McCutcheon said. "Charlie and I had a really awesome bond before this process. I think after we both recover and in the coming years, we will definitely develop an even closer bond."

Erbland said she tried to talk McCutcheon out of the donation 100 times.

"I was like 'you are 20 and have your whole life ahead of you,'" Erbland said. "But once Gaby has something in her head, you can't talk her out of it. It made me worry for her, too. I love Gaby."

Erbland said up until the moment Gaby's kidney was removed, she still was not sure if the transplant would actually happen.

"You just never know," Erbland said. "They have to have blood work done all the time, and at any point in time, the antibodies could have not reacted well together and that is up to a week before. It is weird how the body works and it could have all just been called off."

According to Erbland, when she would question McCutcheon about why she wanted to go through with the donation she said, "I only need one kidney. I can do this. I'm going to do it."

Now that Charlie has Gaby's kidney, the family starts a new journey. One without dialysis.

There are no more tubes, and finally they are saying good-bye to his port.

Erbland said this next chapter is scary because the body could reject the kidney at any point.

Now that Charlie has a new kidney, he is still living life with a smile and a positive attitude.

He will visit the hospital twice a week for the next year, but it is the little things he is most looking forward to, sleepovers with his brother and sister, swimming in the pool and most importantly, saying good-bye to his port.

As for McCutcheon, she said if she had another extra kidney, she would do it all over again.

March is National Kidney Month. For more information about becoming a donor visit kidney.org

Victoria Kemper is a reporter for the Democrat News. She can be reached at 573-783-3366 or at vkemper@democratnewsonline.com

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Thought it was difficult to get your child into daycare?

Then try landing a spot in Australias most popular doggy daycare centres, where some pooches are reluctantly being turned away due to surging demand.

South Yarra-based Zac Gross and wife Monique spend one or two days at home with their staffy terrier cross Poppy. Credit:Darrian Traynor

With workers heading back to the office more frequently, owners are trying everything to keep their furry offsiders happy  and mitigate any potential separation anxiety. That includes paying up to about $80 for daycare, installing video cameras at home, and stocking up on calming treats and toys.

At Sydneys Dogs in Town, business has gone barking mad, with the onslaught of rain adding to the mix. Co-owner Jakub Illes says theyre busier than ever. Some days when we are full capacity, unfortunately we have to say no for comfort of other pups.
Volodymyr Zelensky, the Ukrainian President, is surely the most popular elected leader in the world right now. Hes less drab than Joe Biden, and less likely to party mid-crisis than Boris Johnson. His 90 per cent personal approval rating is more than double Anthony Albaneses, and unlike Scott Morrison, he doesnt head overseas when things get hot. Unlike the rumour denied by another leader this week, Zelensky would not want to buy Hitlers car.

Zelenskys bravery and resolve, communicated in plucky tweets and inspiring video clips, has inspired his citizens to take up semi-automatic weapons and Molotov cocktails with courage I doubt many could muster in the face of an invading superpower  personally, Id have crumbled like the Enmore Theatre floor.

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukraines Volodymyr Zelensky. Credit:AP, Bloomberg

His rise to power as a rank outsider on the back of a comedy series where Zelensky portrayed a rank outsider who rises to power has been discussed extensively, as has his phlegmatic portrayal of Paddington Bear in the Ukrainian adaptation of the recent cartoon. Putin may be an ex-KGB agent, but hes currently struggling against a teddy.
Sixty-four-year-old Jin Feng is a cleaner at the Wuhan Central Hospital. She had heard of the virus early on, in the hospital lifts and the doctors changing room  an infectious disease in Wuhan that is much more severe than SARS.

It is late on the evening of January 29, 2020, the seventh day of Wuhans lockdown. Jin Feng does not get a moments sleep, and neither does Xia Bangxi, who paces back and forth at the doorway, keeping his eyes on his wife. Just before first light, he says to Jin Feng, Dont worry, Ill take care of everything.

In that moment, Xia Bangxi reads her mind. Well, in that case, he says, Im not going to work.

Xia Bangxi opens the door. The TV says this disease can be treated. Why not get it treated?

After persistent questioning, Jin Feng finally reveals the truth: she is infected with the novel coronavirus. Jin Feng shoves her husband and their son Xia Lei out of the room, closes the door and silently sobs. She is still weighing up the best way to kill herself.

Jin Feng trudges home, brooding on how to die. Xia Bangxi is preparing to head off to his night shift, but as he is about to leave, his wife arrives. He senses something is wrong.

Suicide is not an easy choice, but on that evening of January 29, Jin Feng is unable to come up with a better way out. This disease is so infectious, Jin Feng says to herself. Im over 60. Many people have not been cured, so why would I want treatment? She cannot afford the cost of treatment anyway, and she cant possibly isolate in her own home. I didnt want to hurt my family, she says. I did not want to infect them.

By this time, it is after 10pm and the lobby of the hospital is overflowing with fever patients. Jin Feng slowly walks outside into empty streets. The whole city is deserted, like a village submerged by a flood. Forget it, she thinks. I wont go for treatment.

On January 29, Jin Feng had worked from early in the morning until the evening, cleaning many rooms on many floors, sprinkling disinfectant in every corner. Close to the end of her shift she began to feel uncomfortable: feverish and weak all over. She went downstairs to register at the outpatient department, had blood drawn for a test, and was given a CT scan, which she handed over to a nurse. The nurse examined the scan and confidently told her: Its very likely youre infected. You should see a doctor straight away. Jin Feng works at the Nanjing Road unit of the Wuhan Central Hospital. During the pandemic, its responsible for diagnosis only, so for treatment she would have to go almost seven kilometres to the Houhu branch.

Although she has worked at the hospital for more than two years, she is not officially a member of staff. She is employed by a property management company called Pearl River Management. She mops floors, disposes of rubbish, and even cleans the doctors surgical clothes and shoes, which are often blood-stained and soiled. In two years, she has encountered many doctors and nurses, though few of them know her name.

At the time, the Chinese government wasnt worried about the disease  it was more concerned about preventing panic  so doctors were forbidden to wear protective equipment. A cleaner like Jin Feng is even less eligible for protective equipment.

The two people who arrive with Jin Feng have good connections at the hospital, so they are promptly allocated beds. But Jin Feng is just a lowly cleaner, unworthy of such privileged treatment. No doctor called us, says a person in charge, so how can you prove you work at the hospital? When Xia Bangxi begs for his wife, the response is cold: You say youre with the hospital, he [another queue member] also says hes with the hospital. How do I know if you really are with the hospital?

The lobby is cacophonous with people running around, shouting. A constant stream of vehicles for transporting corpses is coming and going, and family members are wailing piteously. Not far from Jin Feng, a tall, strong young man is on his knees begging a doctor to treat a relative. So many people were dying, says Jin Feng. Even the doctors were helpless.

At 10am, the neighbourhood committee dispatches a vehicle to take Jin Feng, Xia Bangxi and two other infected people to the branch hospital in the Houhu district. They are greeted by the huge infected persons marketplace  a long line of infectious people queuing up for treatment, some seated, more just lying on the ground.

Xia Lei remembers none of this and has no ability to help his parents. A 2007 car accident left him with a severe head injury. Now 40, his intellect is more or less that of a primary-school student. His memory is worse, and he has great difficulty clearly uttering a complete sentence. When Jin Feng is interviewed, Xia Lei quietly sits to one side, listening to his mother recount past miseries, occasionally contributing by muttering, This fing disease, so ferocious.

When dawn breaks on January 30, Jin Feng telephones her superior  a woman surnamed Yuan  to ask for help. I work in the hospital too, says Jin Feng. I just hope the hospital could help me. Ms Yuan tells her, Just go. When you get there, someone will treat you.

This is where Jin Feng and her family live. They share the apartment with another family  a shared kitchen, a shared toilet, and jet-black concrete floor. How could I possibly isolate in a place like this? she says. Thats why I thought it would be better to die. If I were dead, they would be safe. Only when Xia Bangxi deploys all his persuasive powers does his wife relinquish thoughts of suicide.

No. 22 Poyang Street is in the centre of Wuhan, just metres from the banks of the Yangtze River. It is the dormitory compound of the Wuhan Central Hospital, with scores of old, dilapidated, dusty apartments. The peeling walls are mottled with small advertisements for fake IDs and toilet-unblocking services. The air reeks of sewage, stews and rotting food. Piles of hexagonal briquettes sit like clusters of poisonous mushrooms.

Dont worry, he says to Jin Feng. Even if I get infected, I will use my life to save yours.

It is less than seven kilometres, but it often takes them more than three hours to get there. After arriving at the hospital, they join the queue, shuffling forward for five or six hours just for the chance of an IV infusion. For Xia Bangxi this is a perilous routine, but he doesnt mind because he has vowed to get his wife cured.

That is the first day. Then follows the second day and the third day  Each morning, to arrive at the hospital as early as possible, Xia Bangxi rises at 4am, cooks rice porridge for Jin Feng and attends to her until she finishes it. They pack a simple lunch for two, a bottle of milk and a piece of fruit. Then they ride the bike, stopping and starting, gasping for breath all the way to the hospital.

Its a freezing winters night. There are no taxis, and neither the police nor the hospital can possibly arrange for a car to shuttle them home. Jin Feng and Xia Bangxi instead have to share a rented bicycle. Every 10 minutes or so, a frail Jin Feng has to stop and rest for a while. Then Xia Bangxi lifts her back onto the bike and the two of them, clinging together and faint from lack of food, pedal through the bitter wind, slowly making their way home.

Notification never comes. Jin Feng has no alternative other than to huddle into her husband and follow the flow of people inching forward. They eventually register, have all sorts of check-ups, then sit in the corridor and wait for an IV infusion. They are famished but cannot leave the hospital until 2am.

Jin Feng has a high fever and can barely sit upright. Xia Bangxi holds her in an embrace, while Jin Feng telephones Ms Yuan again. She responds, Ive already called the leadership of the hospital. If they dont make arrangements, what else can I do? Jin Feng asks, What should I do now? Ms Yuan replies, Nothing, just wait for notification.

After the epidemic explodes, the Chinese government seizes the opportunity to strengthen its rule. No sick person is permitted to obtain treatment on their own; treatment decisions are to be made by a grassroots level of the government, that is, the neighbourhood committee. The committees are now responsible for collating infection statistics, distributing food, arranging transportation  everything. On the evening of February 9, when Jin Feng carries Xia Bangxi, vomiting blood, into the neighbourhood committee office, no one takes any interest. A leader tells them: Its too late to do anything today. Come back tomorrow.

No. 22 Poyang Street is an area particularly hard-hit by the epidemic. Red stickers declaring fever household are everywhere; every building has at least one infected person inside. Jin Feng hears there are 226 doctors and nurses infected at the Nanjing Road unit of her workplace. The number of deaths is unknown, but at least five people of professorial rank are among them.

Xia Bangxis sickness comes on fast and feverishly. By February 9 he is vomiting blood, yet he still forces himself to rise at 4am and cook rice porridge for Jin Feng, before together, they head off to the hospital. They are given nucleic acid tests. Jin Feng is negative. Xia Bangxi tests positive, but there are still no beds available at the hospital. After IV infusions, they struggle to get back home. At that time, I really couldnt walk, and neither could he, says Jin Feng. I had no other options, I had to go to the neighbourhood committee.

On that evening of February 7, many people die silently. Nameless and only numbered, they are covered in white cloth and reduced to piles of grey powder. As Jin Feng waits for treatment again in the sprawling infected- persons marketplace, Xia Bangxi is by her side, ready to lend an arm to support her. With bloodshot eyes, he occasionally coughs behind his face masks. I dont know how he became infected with this disease, says Jin Feng. He had been very careful. He wore a plastic raincoat and three masks. How could he get infected?

While they edge forward in the treatment queue, Dr Li Wenliang dies in the very same hospital. Jin Feng and Xia Bangxi see the flood of journalists arriving and the floral wreaths piling up at the main entrance, but they dont pay much attention and have no idea about the repercussions of Wuhan whistleblower Li Wenliangs death for China and the world. They are preoccupied with their own survival.

The next day is cold, overcast and raining. Xia Lei lugs his father down the staircase, then Jin Feng supports him back to the neighbourhood committee. What she sees pushes her into despair. As soon as they saw us, they ran away, says Jin Feng. They all went into hiding  Only one person remained.

There is a yellow demarcation line outside the neighbourhood committee office, which Jin Feng and Xia Bangxi have no right to cross. As they stand shivering in the rain, Xia Bangxi coughs violently, occasionally spraying blood. Jin Feng moves a chair and helps him sit under the eaves, but he doesnt have the strength to sit. I set him down, but he just slid off the chair.

Jin Feng begs the remaining neighbourhood committee member: Just look at my old man, she says. Hes vomiting blood. I beg you. Please save him.

Like other Communist Party organisations, the neighbourhood committee excels at avoiding responsibility during the pandemic. Doesnt matter what you say, says Jin Feng, they have all sorts of excuses. They just didnt want to take us to hospital. The neighbourhood committee will not report Xia Bangxis name to the higher authority as he cannot produce a nucleic acid test report. He cannot produce the report because the hospital had notified him by telephone. There is no report.

The back-and-forth of begging and refusing continues unabated for hours. At noon, the committee finally agrees to arrange a car to take Jin Feng to a hotel and Xia Bangxi to an isolation station.

That was not a place for treating the disease, says Jin Feng. They sent us into isolation. He was so sick, but they didnt arrange for treatment. They just sent him into isolation.

Xia Bangxis condition worsens at the isolation station. Jin Feng telephones many times from the hotel. She hears his weak voice say there is no one looking after people, let alone treating them. There is no water and no food. They keep us here, he gasps, just to let us die.

That was not a place for treating the disease. They sent us into isolation. He was so sick, but they didnt arrange for treatment. They just sent him into isolation.

Jin Feng is frantic. She calls the neighbourhood committee again. They tell her: Its none of our business. Your husband is at the isolation station, so talk to the doctor there. It takes several hours to get through to the doctor. He responds: We dont have any medicine here and were forbidden to treat patients, so youd best speak to the neighbourhood committee.

The desperate and the helpless are trapped in a system from which there is no escape. Jin Feng begins to contact every relative, every friend, begging them to phone the mayor, the neighbourhood committee, the media, every organisation with any power. She feels the weight of these calls like a mountain, yet they are not enough to have her husband admitted to hospital.

At the time, the government had vowed to treat every single novel coronavirus patient, but due to inadequate medical resources, many people like Xia Bangxi are abandoned to await death. They die at home or in the corridors of hospitals or simply on the streets of the city of despair. Jin Feng thinks of her husbands vow to care for her and the unforgettable words he uttered: I will use my life to save yours. She cant hold her tears back. Throughout that wintry night, with the desolate sound of rain falling, Jin Feng weeps as she desperately makes telephone calls. In the isolation station on the other side of the city, her husband is dying.

At noon the next day, Jin Feng leaves her isolation hotel, gasping for breath as she rushes to the neighbourhood committee office. She sinks to her knees and howls at the officers: Why didnt you report our names to the higher authority? It wouldnt have cost you a penny. You just had to say the word. Why couldnt you do that? She then asks, Do you have parents? Do you have children? Did you not report our names because we are peasants?

Someone responds: Didnt you say you want to sue? Well, go ahead.

Scenes like this never appear on Chinese TV. In that bitter spring, apart from Jin Feng and Xia Lei, no one remembers a 64-year-old woman kneeling on the muddy ground, crying and begging for this world to save her husband. She really did think about dying. If you dont send my husband to hospital, she wails, I will die here, Ill die here in front of your eyes.

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At 4pm on February 11, the neighbourhood committee finally reports their names to the higher authority and dispatches a van to take Jin Feng to the isolation station so she can take her husband to hospital.

By then, Xia Bangxis strength is almost completely depleted. He strains to get to the vans door; he flops over the seat but doesnt have the energy to pull himself into it. Jin Feng crouches behind him, holds his legs in her arms and uses her shoulder to push from behind. Slowly, she heaves him into his seat, then goes to the other side of the van to get in herself. Hugging her husband tightly, she uses all her strength to hold him upright.

You want me to live, she speaks close to her husbands ear. I want you to live, too.

Medical staff members take a break. Jin Feng was so grateful for the doctors who eventually operated on her husband: I wholeheartedly hope they can live to 100. Credit:Getty Images

Xia Bangxi was born in 1953; he is the same age as President Xi Jinping. When Xia Bangxi was 26, a matchmaker introduced him to Jin Feng. Soon the couple married. Like many marriages of the time, love blossomed little by little under the arduous circumstances of life. Together they planted rice, cotton and sweet potatoes, and raised chickens, ducks and pigs. Jin Feng still remembers them transplanting seedlings and threshing grain. Our crops were pretty good, she recalls. Sometimes wed work through the night to be sure the daytime work was not delayed.

It was an era of extreme poverty. They rented a leaky hovel, where the landlords coffin was stored in the doorway to be sure of a dignified burial. After Xia Lei was born, they built their own home, brick by brick.

While poor, the family was warm and harmonious. Xia Lei never saw his parents fight or get angry. The old man and the old lady were pretty good-tempered, he says. Jin Feng never mentions the word love as she explains, slightly embarrassed, We were husband and wife for 41 years and he always looked after me well.

Their hometown was about 60 kilometres from Wuhan in a small village called Dragon Kings Watchtower. The village consists of a few dozen old houses, some unoccupied, battered by the elements and slowly falling apart. Xia Bangxi spent most of his life in this village. For more than 20 years, he was its Party branch secretary. He always smiled warmly, doing his best to help everyone.

Jin Feng is a high-school graduate, which in the era of Mao Zedong was an extraordinary achievement. Naturally, she became a schoolteacher, in a shabby village school where she taught for more than 20 years. Some of her students made it to university and one even went to America, something that makes her very proud. She breaks into a radiant smile. Those kids were really smart.

In official documents, Jin Feng is merely a locally funded non-government school teacher. The term non-government-employed teacher is one of those abstruse terms that means Jin Feng is not a teacher or is a temporary teacher, so she has no possibility of promotion and cannot enjoy the benefits a teacher in the city enjoys, like a retirement pension and medical insurance. Around 2002, this temporary teacher of 22 years was dismissed. The compensation was paltry but Jin Feng doesnt complain; she even feels its what she deserved: The new teachers are young and educated, so Im not really qualified. After she was fired, Jin Feng worked in the fields for about a year. The exhaustion was unbearable.

Im short. The rice stalks I carried were as tall as me. That was when Xia Lei was in the serious car crash. The medical fees left this already humble family completely broke.

Jin Feng had to give up farming and head to the city to get menial work  dish-washing, cleaning  because the pay was slightly better than farm work. As she aged, her income declined. In 2014, her monthly salary was

RMB 3100 (about $670); in 2017, RMB 2600; and in 2018 when, at the age of 62, she was hired as a sanitation worker responsible for cleaning the contaminated operating theatre, her salary was RMB 2250.

When he reached 50, Xia Bangxi had been dismissed from his position as Party secretary. He received an allowance but it was small, almost nothing, so to make ends meet he had to follow his wife to the city. His diabetes meant he could not do any heavy work, so right up until Jin Feng was infected he worked as a night guard, making RMB 2600 a month.

Like most Chinese people, Jin Feng and her family bear the injustice of their lives with equanimity. They dont complain and are rarely angry. They simply work diligently and draw strength from every small kindness that comes their way.

In 2016, Jin Feng was a dish-washer at a restaurant. When her mother died, she asked the boss for two weeks off. He didnt dock her pay when she returned. She was deeply moved. That boss was such a good person, she says. Im truly grateful to him.

While the family resides in Wuhan, their household registry records them as peasants. They are in the city as migrant workers, which in the language of communist China means they are second-class citizens. Yet they accept the situation. They still worship the Party and believe in the Chinese government, using the honorifics Chairman Mao and Chairman Xi when referring to Mao Zedong and Xi Jinping. They are full of praise for the governments handling of the pandemic.

The governments policy to my mother is all right, says Xia Lei. But for my father  The dissatisfaction is directed at the neighbourhood committee because they did not properly implement the Partys policies.

Xia Lei doesnt get to see his father as death closes in. At dusk on February 11, the van takes Xia Bangxi to the Hankou Hospital. Several doctors and nurses push him in a wheelchair into an operating theatre. Jin Feng watches, brimming with hope and with thanks. I was so grateful to those doctors. In such a dangerous situation, they worked at saving my old man, she says softly. I wholeheartedly hope they can live to 100.

The next morning, Jin Feng sneaks into the operating theatre. She sees her husband, eyes shut, lying motionless on a hospital bed. She walks over to the bed and touches his forehead, then gently grasps his hand. He can barely open his eyes. Jin Feng tells him, Dont lose heart, in the hospital theres a chance to be saved. Xia Bangxis lips tremble as he speaks, almost inaudibly.

You must take care of yourself. You are sick, too. You have to eat properly.

Her tears stream but Jin Feng dares not cry out loud. Choking with emotion, she tries to encourage her husband, just like she had encouraged her students in the classroom years ago. Have confidence, the doctors will surely cure you.

I was so grateful to those doctors. In such a dangerous situation, they worked at saving my old man. I wholeheartedly hope they can live to 100.

Xia Bangxi takes her hand, speaking a last sentence with difficulty. Go and get a nutritional injection 

Jin Feng barely sleeps the following night. In another part of the hospital, she ruminates on the 41 years of joy and hardship that she and Xia Bangxi have been through together. Soon after 5am on February 13, before it is light, a doctor hands her a critically ill notification. Her spirits sink. After two more hours, several doctors and nurses come out of the operating theatre. One doctor tells her: Xia Bangxi couldnt be saved. He has died.

Jin Feng does not know how to describe her feelings at that time. It was like the city walls collapsed, she sobs, anguish in her eyes.

In China, after each disaster the state media asserts in a nonchalant tone, The family members of the deceased are emotionally stable, as if death is a trifle and the family members are without feelings. In truth, a tumult of blood and tears bubbles like molten rock beneath a mountain. In the aftermath of the Wuhan disaster, the government uses bribery, threats, surveillance and arrests to ensure the grieving and angry do not protest.

The neighbourhood committee delivers food and gently beseeches Jin Feng to collect her husbands ashes and bury them. The government provides RMB 3000 ($630) consolation money for every coronavirus victim, but when Jin Feng demands the money, every day for a week the committee responds: You have to bury the ashes first, then you can get the money. By taking the consolation money she would be acknowledging Xia Bangxis death, indemnifying the government and relinquishing her right to seek redress. The family members of the deceased are emotionally stable.

By April 3, she can no longer resist the entreaties and threats of the neighbourhood committee and goes to collect Xia Bangxis ashes. I didnt want to wrangle with them, I just didnt have the energy, says Jin Feng. Besides, being lenient to others is actually being lenient to yourself, so I let it go.

The Hankou funeral parlour has many different kinds of cremation boxes. Jin Feng chooses a white one because she thinks white is pretty. There is no photo on the box, just Xia Bangxis date of birth and date of death. Red fabric is wrapped around the box and yellow tassels are sewn onto four sides. Jin Feng likes the red fabric. She embraces the box as she slowly walks out of the funeral parlour. In all those years together, that was the first time I could hold him up, she later says.

Jin Feng cant afford a grave plot in the city. She instead takes her husband back to their home village to bury him in the fields they had tilled together. In any case, she knows the city is not their real home and she will eventually

return to the village so that Xia Bangxi can see her at any time. Xia Bangxis mother still lives in the village. Shes over 90 and Jin Feng is afraid to tell her of her sons death, out of concern her aged body would not withstand the sorrow.

The fields they tilled have been left fallow for years and are covered with waist-high weeds. Jin Feng selects a hillock for the burial. During the pandemic, funerals are simple affairs  no burning of ghost money and no religious ceremonies. The villagers are fearful that Jin Feng could be carrying the virus and deny her entry to the village itself, and will not even allow her to participate in the funeral. So while Jin Feng sits in a car nearby, Xia Lei places the cremation box in the grave and the villagers help him fill the grave with dirt.

Village leaders speak a few words to memorialise Xia Bangxis impoverished but hard-working life as their Party secretary. Xia Lei mutely observes, not really understanding the proceedings. Xia Bangxis grave does not have a tombstone. In accordance with local custom, tombstones for people who die an inauspicious death are erected only after three years. Jin Feng wonders whether shell still be alive then.

This is an edited extract from Murong Xuecuns Deadly Quiet City: Stories from Wuhan, COVID Ground Zero (Hardie Grant, $30), out March 11. Murong visited Wuhan at the urging of his friend, Australian author Clive Hamilton, with whom he will appear today at Adelaide Writers Week. Murong left China ahead of this books publication.

Beyond Blue 1300 224 636; Lifeline 13 11 14

To read more from Good Weekend magazine, visit our page at The Sydney Morning Herald, The Age and Brisbane Times.

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(Of course Massaros question was bonkers. There are plenty of other examples, including the fight of Indigenous people across the globe, those in Hong Kong and the many others pointed out by the good people of Twitter.) Illustration: Simon Letch Credit:SMH Its true the spirit of the Ukrainian people, their resolve in the face of Russian invasion, has been stunning. The President, Zelensky, has become a viral stoic hero, with images of him in camouflage gear swarming social media (including taken two years ago but touted as current). He quickly became an icon of the kind of leadership many yearn for: bold, fearless, strong. A leader who would not leave his country when it was on fire as our Prime Minister did when he went to Hawaii, or Ted Cruz when he flew to Mexico as a severe cold front froze his state of Texas. When the Americans offered Zelensky safe passage out of the country and he responded: I need ammunition, not a ride, his standing soared, and it was again clear that the former comedian had been underestimated by allies and enemies alike. He has displayed the kind of machismo presence that throws a shirtless, horse-riding Putin into the shade. His grit has bolstered morale and fostered community in a country where octogenarian grandmothers have taken up arms, grandfather volunteered to fight and schoolkids learned how to make Molotov cocktails. Civilians have swarmed and stared down invading tanks, pushing them out of towns. One video seemed to show an older man asking soldiers who had invaded Melitopol: What the f--k are you doing here?  Dont you have problems in your own country to solve?

Which is a very good question. I mean, frankly, in an era where public figures so rarely air their true thoughts all the plain talk has been refreshing  the politician who, when asked how he responded to the Russian Foreign Minister saying peace negotiations could begin once Russia had restored democratic order, said: F--k you Lavrov. The Snake Island troops who told Russians on a warship to go f--k themselves  and survived despite reports they had been killed. Loading The Ukrainian national emblem, the sunflower, has become a symbol of hope and resistance, with a woman  who after asking Russian soldiers  what the f--k are you doing here?, offered them seeds to put in their pockets, so at least sunflower seeds will grow when you all lie down here. But in admiring Ukrainian courage, we run a significant risk of lionising the besieged, glorifying those subjected to a campaign of terror and absolving ourselves from responsibility of giving more support. Do we want to believe they can and will survive by sheer guts? Because the Ukrainians are fighting bravely, but they fight alone. We cannot draw comfort from the fact that people in serious danger are heroically fighting for their lives while dallying about sanctions or which Russian banks to shut out of SWIFT, or deify Zelensky without listening to his claims that our support came too late.

No one wants escalation, no one wants a world war, especially with the threat of nukes. But we should be almost as wary of the feel-good narrative of the first weeks of the war as of the persistent Russian propaganda (its claim NATO is aggressive and responsible, that Russia is only defending itself, that the Ukrainian government is riddled with Nazi ideology and is committing genocide against Russians within their borders, that Ukraine has been part of Russia since time immemorial.) Loading Photos have been posted without context, video games woven into footage, and old videos used. Like the Ghost of Kyiv, a fighter pilot who the Ukrainian government claimed had shot down 10 Russian fighter jets. He may exist, but many of the videos claiming to show him are fake. Or the shared images claiming to depict Ukraine which have included a photo taken at an English air show three decades ago, one from Iraq in 2003 and a 2010 video from Afghanistan. Snaps of Ukrainians praying in snow were several years old, and a photo of an injured girl who was assumed to be Ukrainian is from last year in Gaza. American estimates of deaths of Russian soldiers are significantly lower than the figures cited by the Ukrainians. The onus is on all of us to verify facts before we share  and if you are uncertain, and there has been no word from fact checking groups like First Draft, Snopes, Reuters, Bellingcat, ukrainefacts.org, dont share it. There are other sites run by Ukrainian International Fact Checking Network signatories which are helpful, too, called Stop Fake and VoxUkraine.
A Gordonsville man will spend 30 years in prison for a string of armed robberies in Central Virginia during the summer of 2020.

Dominique Dejone Thurston, 23, pleaded guilty last year in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Virginia to seven counts of Hobbs Act robbery and two counts of brandishing a firearm.

The charges stem from a robbery spree Thurston committed beginning in June 2020 and ending in September of that same year. Eight times Thurston targeted convenience stores across the Central Virginia region, threatening to kill cashiers at each location.

This speaks to just how one person can undermine the safety that a community feels, the sense of security that we all can  and should  have, U.S. Attorney Chris Kavanaugh said after the hearing Friday. [It speaks to] how sometimes, when something might feel like a larger trend, just a few people may be behind it and just how important it is that we target and focus our attention, our efforts and our resources on those individuals.

Though both the defense and prosecution characterized Thurstons actions as violent and angry, he sat meekly beside his defense attorney Friday as the government outlined its case against him.

Various videos were shown, depicting Thurston entering convenience stores and pretending to want to buy a small, incidental item, usually a pack of gum or other product found near the register. After the clerks would open the registers to make change, Thurston would pull out a firearm, threaten the clerks and demand all the money in the register before fleeing.

According to Ron Huber, an assistant U.S. Attorney, the video evidence presented a strong case for while Thurston should be sentenced on the high end of the guidelines, 33 years.

The crime spree took place over three months, meaning the defendant had time to consider his actions and stop, Huber said. Unfortunately, the defendants response was not to reflect on his actions but to keep becoming brazen and violent.

Andrea Harris, an assistant federal public defender representing Thurston, argued that by accepting a plea agreement her client had taken responsibility for his actions. Additionally, she argued that by ultimately deciding to forego a trial Thurston had avoided potentially re-traumatizing his victims.

We believe the low-end of the guidelines  [27 years]  is an appropriate and significant sentence, she said. Additionally, the minimum sentence of 27 years is four years longer than Mr. Thurston has been alive.

U.S. District Judge Norman K. Moon took other factors into account when considering the sentence, including Thurstons young age and the fact that at the time of the robberies he was on probation for prior state convictions for rape, forcible sodomy and intent to defile.

Moon imposed a sentence of 360 months, totaling 30 years, and restitution to the victims totaling $2,630.54.

Following the sentencing, various representatives from local and federal law enforcement agencies spoke about the importance of the conviction, which they viewed as sending a strong message against violent crime in Central Virginia.

Kavanaugh, who assumed his position in October, said that much of the nation has seen a rise in violent crime in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. It is important to use federal resources to combat this increase, he said, pledging his support to local efforts.

Kavanaugh said that the lengthy sentence was sought to protect the community and send a message.

When I talk about building community and earning legitimacy and trust, I mean by focusing our federal resources on cases where the safety of the community has been undermined, even in some small measure, he said. We can help look to restore that trust and that feeling of safety, understanding just how fragile it can be.

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A male was found shot and killed Saturday afternoon in the 4900 block of Saddlebrook Lane.
Sean Reeves is setting himself some tough goals to reach in the next 100 days.

The newly sworn in chief of police for Albemarle County this week discussed his goals for his first 100 days in office, including the need for better officer training and the importance of mental health initiatives.

Reeves formally began his new role Tuesday. He is the sixth Albemarle County police chief and the first to begin his law enforcement career with the department. Hes also the first chief in department history to be both a military veteran and a member of the Latin American community.

Among Reeves priorities for his three months are launching the countys long-requested body-worn camera program; modernizing the police department; and reframing the way the county police offer mental health services.

Based on my conversation with officers from a year and a half ago, they quickly identified [mental health response]. [Its] an issue decades in the making but the pandemic really made things hit a tipping point with the amount of time law enforcement was spending on mental health calls for service, he said.

With that in mind, I felt compelled to leverage my position as then-Deputy Chief of Police to organize community partners to come up with alternatives than just sending men and women with badges and guns to mental health calls for service, he said in a community conversation held Thursday night.

Due to an increase in the demand for mental health services, Reeves said people sometimes spend days in custody while waiting for a spot in a treatment facility or hospital. After meeting with a variety of county officials, local law enforcement officials and mental health treatment partners, Reeves said there is an effort to change how police respond to calls for mental health service.

Over the past year, the police department has been able to take a backseat to the Department of Social Services and been able to partner with [the Department of Social Services] with the goal of [social services] taking the lead on mental health officer service this summer, Reeves said.

As part of the partnership, Reeves said the county police department plans to use funding formerly used for school resource officers to support a crisis response team or send officers with crisis intervention training.

The Charlottesville and Albemarle school divisions overhauled their approaches to school security in 2020 after the boards dropped the school resource officer program following nationwide protests about police brutality.

Reeves said the department is partnering with Region Ten to find an alternative to a hospital emergency room for people who are in a crisis but not in need of immediate medical attention.

We have a very diverse group of leaders who can identify a problem, collaborate, come together and not worry about ego or whos taking the credit and instead recognize a problem and say work together to fix it, he said.

Among the things that Reeves said keeps him up at night are traffic crashes and injuries, which he said are among the highest in the state. Reeves said the department has determined that speeding, distracted driving and not wearing a seatbelt are part of the problem.

The department, he said, is considering placing speed cameras in school zones, which they are allowed to do by county ordinance. Two specific areas of concern are stretches of Rockfish Gap Turnpike, also known as U.S. 250, and areas of Hydraulic Road, which he said have high volumes of crashes and speed-related offenses.

Its a balancing act too, because we want to look at technologies that dont overreach and that dont abuse peoples privacy, he said. Finding out where that balance is between changing behaviors and keeping our roads safe while respecting privacy in a transparent way will involve engaging the citizens in these conversations before we make these decisions.

Answering a question about the most prevalent forms of gun violence in the community, Reeves said that robberies are driving violent crimes and shots fired incidents are on the rise in the northern part of the county.

We have one detective thats assigned to the FBI Safe Street Task Force who is working very closely with our officers and investigators to consolidate those cases and looking for patterns, he said. Were also working with our neighboring jurisdictions as well to see if its the same offender and to try to get the guns off the streets, as well as arrest and prosecute anybody that is committing violent crimes.

Responding to a question about police substations in areas of the county, Reeves said thats part of a long term plan involving the departments geographic policing model, but isnt in the immediate future because of staffing.

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A battle over a Congolese statue owned by the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts has thrust the local museum into the international spotlight.

The item in question is a wooden statue of Maximilien Balot that is currently on display in the African art galleries at the VMFA.

Balot was an abusive Belgian colonizer who was murdered in an uprising in the Congo in 1931. Later, a sculpture of the European oppressor was carved in wood by a native artist, to contain and control the Belgians spirit, in accordance with the beliefs of the Pende people. The VMFA purchased the Balot sculpture from collector Herbert F. Weiss in March 2015 for $25,000.

An art museum in the Congo called the White Cube has accused the VMFA of stonewalling requests for a loan of the Balot sculpture, an object it says belongs to the Congolese people.

After 18 months of trying to obtain the Balot statue on loan with no success, the White Cube decided to go a different route.

Last month, the White Cube decided to mint digital images of the Balot statue  known as non-fungible tokens, or NFTs  and sell them to raise funds and buy back land in Congo. A group associated with the museum, the Congolese Plantation Workers Art League  also known as CATPC  describes this as digital restitution.

We received a letter from the director of the VMFA stating that the requested loan was regrettably not possible, without any opening as to when it would be possible, said Cedart Tamasala, part of the group. This is when CATPC decided to investigate alternative opportunities to get back the power of the sculpture.

To create the NFT, the White Cube took an image of Balot from the VMFAs website without the VMFAs permission.

The Virginia Museum of Arts open-access policy specifically applies only to non-commercial use. The image used to create the NFT was lifted directly from VMFAs website without the museums permission and is being used for commercial purposes, Jan Hatchette, a spokesperson for the VMFA, said via email. Its use for financial gain as an NFT violates our open access policy. It is both unacceptable and unprofessional.

The controversy between the VMFA and the White Cube has already been written about in The Guardian, a daily British newspaper, and Artnet.com, an art market website.

This has become a big issue in the art world over the past several years, said Amy L. Rector, an associate professor of anthropology at VCU. Were seeing this at Western art museums that own art as a result of colonization. Its leading to bigger conversations such as, whose art is it? Who should own it? Who should benefit from it? And who should get to make those decisions?

***

The White Cube is a small 1,290-square foot museum built in the town of Lusanga in Congo. Its construction was finished in 2019, with final stages of climate control and security completed in April 2021.

It looks exactly like its name: a white, angular cube located in the middle of an abandoned plantation.

The White Cube was established by CATPC, a cooperative of plantation workers, along with the help of the Dutch artist Renzo Martens, who helped secure funding for the White Cube building, which was designed by Dutch architect Rem Koolhaas firm OMA.

The idea behind the White Cube is part of a masterplan conceived to support a new art economic model that includes local Congolese labourers in arts creation and profit sharing, according to the museums website.

Martens most recent collaboration with the White Cube is a series of six short documentaries that tell the story of the White Cube, the artists in CATPC and their connection to the Balot sculpture. The documentaries can be viewed on Martens website for the Institute for Human Activities.

We built our own museum. Inside, its still empty, Tamasala, one of the artists of CATPC, says in the documentary. Right now, theres one specific sculpture we need. It has to come back. Its the sculpture our ancestors made of Balot.

Tamasala said that the White Cube wanted to bring the Balot statue back to the Congo to rekindle our relation with our heritage, and retrieve the powers that are contained in the sculpture.

In February 2020, Tamasala and fellow artist Matthieu Kasiama traveled to the VMFA, where they met with Richard Woodward, the founding curator of VMFAs African art collection. In the documentary, Tamasala and Kasiama asked if the statue could be loaned to the White Cube.

That would be a very interesting possibility to explore to be able to share the work back, said Woodward. As a museum that cares for the preservation of these objects we go through certain formalities about an agreement and shipping and display. You know, conditions of security and things like that.

The VMFA said Woodward was retired at the time of the interview.

According to the VMFA, a formal loan request for the statue from the Institute for Human Activities , where Martens is artistic director, was received on March 19, 2021.

At that time, the White Cube building was not yet complete and the VMFA could not commit to lend the sculpture, Hatchette said.

CATPC said it requested the sculpture from the VMFA for 18 months, to no avail.

The group said thats when it decided to create an NFT of the Balot sculpture.

CATPC describes minting the Balot sculpture as an NFT as one of the first global instances of digital restitution. The Balot NFT will put digital ownership of culture back into the hands of the many and helps buy back land once stolen and exhausted In a radical new model of restitution, blockchain-based NFT technology becomes a tool for decolonization.

The group plans to put 300 Balot NFTs on the market later this year. The goal is to use the funds to buy back land on the former Unilever plantation where they live and where the White Cube is located.

They have already bought back around 100 hectares of land once controlled by Unilever, according to Artnet.

Buyers [of the NFT] get a digital rendering of the sculpture, based on photographic reproduction from the VMFAs website, it says on the Institute for Human Activities website. Every purchase helps to ultimately unleash the powers of the sculpture and make it work for the community: sales directly buy back land  and [provide] autonomy and food security for plantation workers in one of the most impoverished areas of the world.

This gesture is a bit of a renegade, do-it-yourself attitude. If the VMFA wasnt going to loan the statue, CATPC decided to create its own version of the statue via a series of NFTs.

Indeed, a handful of museums are entering the blockchain space and minting NFTs as a mode of fundraising and monetizing digital collections, such as The British Museum and the Uffizi Gallery in Italy.

According to the IHA website, CATPC intends to use the window of opportunity that is offered by NFT digital ownership to claim lost art and restitute its functions: by using NFTs the powers of these objects can be reclaimed, even if the physical art is held by unwilling museums.

Impoverishment on the plantations is rampant: it is now essential that local communities make use of this technology and control the powers of their lost art, rather than the institutions that were built on the exploitation of their labour and culture.

We believe it is fair use for us to download the image from the VMFA website, Tamasala said via email. This image is the only way to get access to a sculpture that intellectually and artistically belongs to our community.

***

The controversy puts the VMFA in an uncomfortable position in the media spotlight, particularly for a museum that has publicly said that it intends to be one of the top three museums in the world for African American art.

The Guardian noted that the controversy highlights tensions between Western art museums displaying artifacts from the colonial era and the countries from where the works were taken.

In my opinion, the answer from the VMFA should have been, Of course we will get this statue back to you. Lets work on the best way to do that, VCUs Rector said. But hidden in those discussions is the way that Western art museums maintain this colonial perspective of, Were not going to give it to you until your facility is as secure as we want it to be, or, You havent given us enough information for a loan. To me, thats the responsibility of an art museum. To make sure that those who are tied to this piece of artwork and who find meaning in it can get access to it.

The VMFA said that they never received actual loan dates from White Cube, which was still under construction when the museum first contacted the VMFA and could not provide a facilities report that met museum standards.

The VMFA added that the NFT had to have been planned for some time, at least as early as November 2021. This shows bad faith on their part since we were in regular email contact for almost two years.

The VMFA said it no longer intends to loan the Balot sculpture for exhibition at the White Cube gallery because unfortunately, the minting of the NFT has broken all trust between VMFA and the exhibition organizers, Hatchette said.

We are sad ... that the museum qualifies us as unprofessional and that the VMFA director no longer intends to loan the work to CATPC for an exhibition at White Cube, Tamasala said via email.

We could turn this around. Is it professional for the director of the VMFA to not even be interested in having a professional conversation about cultural heritage with the source community? Is it professional to not seriously answer a loan request? Tamasala asked.

While the Balot sculpture is currently on view at the VMFA in the African art galleries, it will be on loan to the North Carolina Museum of Art, Raleigh, N.C., from Aug. 1 of this year until Aug. 1, 2023.

The VMFA has been in the middle of similar conflicts before.

In 2018, the VMFA returned a painting  Madonna and Child Enthroned with Saints Nicholas of Tolentino and Sebastian,  that had been stolen by the Nazis, to its original Jewish owners.

Since The Guardian and Artnet articles were published, the VMFA has said that it is conducting more research into the Balot sculpture. We are currently in the process of working with various partners to ensure that this matter is handled appropriately, a spokesperson said.

VMFA takes seriously, and responds to, all restitution claims for works in our collection. We have not received a claim from the Democratic Republic of the Congo for the Balot sculpture, a spokesperson for the VMFA said.

Tamasala said his groups stance is unchanging.

The sculpture was made to resist forced labor. We still need the sculpture, he said. If the VMFA says it no longer intends a loan request, one may question whether the VMFA has the skills and knowledge to conserve this sculpture at all.
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Supply & Shipping Associate, Islamabad, Pakistan

Organization: UNICEF - United Nations Childrens Fund

Country: Pakistan

City: Islamabad

Office: UNICEF Islamabad

Closing date: Sunday, 13 March 2022

Fixed Term: Supply & Shipping Associate, GS-6, Islamabad, Pakistan # 20912

Job no: 548624

Position type: Fixed Term Appointment

Location: Pakistan Division/Equivalent: Kathmandu(ROSA)

School/Unit: Pakistan

Department/Office: Islamabad, Pakistan

Categories: Supply/Logistics

UNICEF works in some of the worlds toughest places, to reach the worlds most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential.

Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone.

And we never give up.

For every child, an advocate!

Pakistan was the sixth country in the world to sign and ratify the Convention on the Rights of the Child, less than one year after it was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 1989. However, children and adolescents living in Pakistan still face acute challenges.

UNICEF supports the Government of Pakistan to accelerate progress for children, work to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and help children realize their rights under the Convention on the Rights of Children. This will be made through, among others things, strong partnerships with provincial authorities, teachers and health professionals, frontline workers and social mobilisers, communities and families, and of course the children and adolescents themselves.

In particular, UNICEF will work so that:

Every child survives and thrives -- being in good health, immunized, protected from polio and accessing nutritious food.

Every child learns.

Every child is protected from violence and exploitation and registered at birth.

Every child lives in a safe and clean environment, with access to safe drinking water and adequate sanitation.

To learn more about UNICEF work in Pakistan, please visit the country website www.unicef.org/pakistan and videos on YouTube and Vimeo

For every child, commitment

How can you make a difference?

Under the supervision of the Supply & Logistics Officer, the Logistics & Shipping Assistant, provides a broad range of transactional, procedural and administrative tasks in ensuring the smooth process of offshore Programme supplies from receipt of the request till the final delivery. He / She is to ensure the efficient supply and procurement of the country office, ensuring timely and efficient output that is in compliance with UNICEF rules and regulations, whilst demonstrating the capacity to research, adapt and evaluate irregular cases, and also to recommend improvements to process delivery and design. Provide general warehouse management in Islamabad, Peshawar and Quetta for Country Programme supplies.

At the G-6 level, the below tasks are expected to be carried out with a high level of independence.

To make a difference you will be accountable for the following key duties & tasks:

Logistics for offshore procurement

Follow up and coordination with UNICEF Supply Division (SD) abroad for purchase orders, associated shipments and shipping documents for timely receipt of program supplies

Review documents for accuracy and forward all relevant shipping documents and exemptions to the Clearing & Forwarding agents and liaise with them on a day-to-day basis to ensure timely clearance of supplies at the ports of entry.

Respond to queries and liaise with counterparts and end user to arrange in country dispatch and receipts of supplies. Keep all concerned sections and offices updated.

Prepare and submit request for Exemption Certificates and closely follow up with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Islamabad for timely action. Keep track and respond timely on queries that may arise from time to time from MOFA.

Closely coordinate and hold meetings with customs authorities in case of any issues for clearance of shipments and to ensure smooth collaboration with UNICEF Pakistan.

Preparing all necessary documentation for clearance of offshore for Pakistan Country Office shipments. Negotiating with Airport/Port/Shipping Line for waiver of demurrage/detention charges whenever required.

Coordinating with clearing agent, transporter, shipping line and Warehouse for smooth functioning of the operation.

Advise / Assist concerned staff responsible for Afghan Country Office shipments on clearance related matters whenever required

Warehousing

Managing requests of country-wide program sections for the dispatch of supplies

Coordination with Program sections, Implementing Partners, Warehouses and transporters

Visiting the relevant Warehouses to check the receipt of local/offshore supplies

Physically checking of supplies in Warehouses for near-expiry stock + stock condition and provide advice to the S & L Chief for appropriate action

Checking of system inventory records on need basis

Compiling list of supplies to be submitted to the Property Survey Board for review

Prepare inventory reports on a monthly basis analyzing the high-risk commodities in terms of stocks value, ages and shelf life for review by the Supply & Logistics Officer. Follow up with Programs section to ensure a FIFO approach.

Conducting Quarterly/Annual Physical inventory exercise in consultation with Supply & Logistics Officer

Managing the relocation of supplies between Islamabad warehouse and other warehouses

Management of In Country Transportation

c865jDE Dh7qKS

Follow-up with Program Section for distribution plans of offshore supplies

Based on distribution plan, arrange direct delivery to consignee as required

Follow up with local transporters and consignee to organize dispatch and receipts of supplies as per Release orders or distribution plans.

Managing country-wide Inland transportation from Agility Islamabad and other warehouses

Respond to queries and liaise with counterparts and end user to arrange in country dispatch and receipts of supplies

Information Management

Follow up and timely acknowledge receipt in VISION (SAP) for record of assets transfer ensuring that the Goods In Transit status for offshore supplies does not cross 120 days as per Country office policy

2.Regular extraction and sharing of Stock Reports for review by the Supply & Logistics Officer prior to submission to the Senior Supply & Logistics Manager

3.Supporting program with details of required information on need basis as requested by the Supply & Logistics Officer

4.Regularly generating reports for program section on the near expiry stock and follow-up for its dispatch in coordination with the Supply & Logistics Officer.

Providing regular information on pallet position occupancy in the relevant warehouses program-wise to enable proper planning

Other Duties

Regularly (at least one a month) visit the UNICEF controlled warehouses for spot checks and reconciliation in consultation with the Supervisor. Act as focal point for logistics related tasks in support to the UNICEF country programs. Provide assistance to the Karachi Hub and its staff to undertake timely action on shipping and logistics matters whenever requested.

Manage the Long-Term Arrangements for the Customs &Freight agents, local transporters and WFP Local Service Agreement. Timely follow up with Programs to ensure that there is sufficient budget and valid contracts for logistics tasks being executed. Initiate insurance claims action where necessary on receipt of supporting documents from the clearing agents.

Scrutinize clearing agents and transporters and casual labor contractors invoices for accuracy and conformity with the contract and prepare payment requests for settlement.

Checking country-wide customs clearance and Karachi Warehouses invoices prior to submission for processing of payment

Any other duties assigned by your supervisor.

To qualify as a champion for every child you will have...

Completion of secondary school education is required, with courses/certifications in business administration, supply chain management, procurement or logistics considered as an advantage.

Six years relevant progressive experience in related field, with specialized experience in Customer Services and Supply Chain Management - hands on experience with logistics and data management/analysis or procurement.

Experience with government engagement and computer databases for the maintenance of data records is an advantage.

Familiarity with UNICEF, UN supply procedures and systems is an asset.

Computer skills: Knowledge of computer systems and applications. Proficiency in MS office (mainly Excel, Microsoft Word, PowerPoint).

Fluency in English and local language of the duty station is required.

For every Child, you demonstrate...

UNICEFs values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, and Accountability (CRITA). The core competencies required for this post are Demonstrates Self Awareness and Ethical Awareness (1), Works Collaboratively with others (1), Builds and Maintains Partnerships (1), Innovates and Embraces Change (1), Thinks and Acts Strategically (1), Drive to achieve impactful results (1), Manages ambiguity and complexity (1)

View our core competency framework at: Competency Framework Brochure.pdf

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization.

UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. UNICEF also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check.

Remarks:

Verified educational certificates/ HEC Attested Degrees are a pre-requisite for employment at UNICEF. During the recruitment process candidates will be required to present HEC attested degrees/certificates.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.

UNICEFs active commitment towards diversity and inclusion is critical to deliver the best results for children. For this position, eligible and suitable female candidates will be prioritized.

Advertised: Feb 02 2022 Pakistan Standard Time Application close: Mar 13 2022 Pakistan Standard Time

Link to the organizations job posting: https://unjobs.org/vacancies/1646245313186
Finance Manager, New York

Organization: UNICEF - United Nations Childrens Fund

Country: USA

City: New York

Office: UNICEF New York

Closing date: Thursday, 17 March 2022

Finance Manager, P-4, Division of Finance and Administrative Management (DFAM) New York HQ, #71726

Job no: 548609

Position type: Fixed Term Appointment

Location: United States Division/Equivalent: Operations

School/Unit: Div of Financial and Adm Mgmt

Department/Office: Financial Reporting and Grant Management

Categories: Finance and Administration, Operations and Business Management

UNICEF works in some of the worlds toughest places, to reach the worlds most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential.

Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone.

And we never give up.

For every child, hope...

UNICEFs financial and administrative management operating environment is becoming increasingly dynamic and complex as the organization moves towards a governance, risk and compliance framework. Additionally, UNICEFs funding sources are becoming more complex to record, manage, monitor and report on. With this comes more scrutiny from our donors and oversight bodies on how resources are managed.

Furthermore, UNICEF has and continues to invest in technology platforms to improve our internal controls and their monitoring. These

developments impact the financial and operating risks faced by UNICEF. Enhanced information integrity is intended to be achieved through revamped automated processes that contribute towards agile, robust and quality reporting.

How can you make a difference?

Summary of key functions/accountabilities: 1. Establish and maintain procedures, systems and controls to ensure complex revenue transactions, new and emerging innovative financing instruments; procurement activities; inventory; trust funds are accurate and complete and recorded in the UNICEF general ledger on a timely basis liaising with key stakeholders and partners in DFAM Grants Management Unit, Treasury and structured finance section, Supply Division procurement services team as well as with in Financial Reporting, Analysis and Monitoring unit

2. Prepare IPSAS accounting position papers for review for new accounting standards and complex new agreements including:

Research of applicable accounting standards.

Research of applicable UNICEF circumstances; and

Co-ordination with other divisions and focal points for inputs.

3. Prepare accounting adjustment journals for complex areas of accounting including and not limited to, complex revenue arrangements,

innovative financing initiatives, procurement services arrangements, trust fund mechanisms and ensuring correct impact on financial statements and donor reporting.

4. Coordinate with HQ divisions including GSSC, PPD and other DFAM sections; to ensure corporate reports correctly reflect the revenue, financing mechanisms and procurement transactions consistent with UNICEF financial statements and in line with IPSAS. Perform initial reviews for compliance with IPSAS and DFAM financial policies.

5. Work with ICTD to address system deficiencies and to develop, test and support the introduction of new system requirement in modules such as those for revenue grants management, procurement services, inventory, trust funds, and innovative financing mechanism. For these, establish and maintain procedures, systems and controls to ensure reserve activities are accurate and complete and recorded in the UNICEF general ledger on a timely basis.

6. Provide support to periodic financial closure activities, as appropriate for the collection of information from field offices; coordination of activities related to revenue, trust funds, procurement services, innovative financing; reconciliation to records and valuation, where these are performed in conjunction with external parties;

7. Ensure support is provided to Financial Reporting team in preparation of year-end financial statements, quarterly financial reports, CEB reports and in review of other corporate reports such as:

EDAR reporting,

Global Humanitarian Action reports,

PFP annual report etc.

8. Support development and implementation of strong management reporting, financial analysis tools, key performance indicators and control activities.

9. Review complex analytical assignments and provide subject matter expertise on International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS) to support the proper treatment for complex business transactions and oversight over the documentation of the Accounting Manual in the areas the role is responsible for.

10. Lead special projects as determined by the supervisor. Examples include but are not limited to the following: identify and implement best practices in relevant areas accounting and financial control, identify training needs and develop training activities in all matters of accounting and financial reporting related to revenue and financial statements; .

11. Perform other accounting tasks as assigned by Chief, Financial Reporting, including but not limited to supporting the work of financial reporting and analysis teams that are not directly related to revenue and financial instruments when needed.

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have...

Education: Advanced university degree in Finance or Accounting, professional certification as chartered accountant (CA) or certified public accountant (CPA), Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA), or any other internationally recognized accounting designation.

Experience: A minimum of eight (8) years of relevant experience, at the national and international levels, in Financial Reporting - Accounting, or a directly related field(s) is required.

Knowledge of SAP is required. c865WhE Dh7qKS

Knowledge of IPSAS or IFRS accounting standards is required.

Previous work experience within an international organization is highly desirable.

Language Requirements: Fluency in English is required, proficiency in French is highly desirable, knowledge of another UN language is an asset.

For every Child, you demonstrate...

UNICEFs values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, and Accountability (CRITA).

The UNICEF competencies required for this post are...

Nurtures, Leads and Manages People (2)

Demonstrates Self Awareness (2)

Works Collaboratively with Others (2)

Builds and Maintains Partnerships (2)

Innovates and Embraces Change (2)

Think and Acts Strategically (2)

Drive to achieve impactful results (2)

Manages ambiguity and complexity (2)

To view our competency framework, please visit here.

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization.

UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. UNICEF also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check.

Remarks:

Mobility is a condition of international professional employment with UNICEF and an underlying premise of the international civil service.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.

Advertised: Mar 02 2022 Eastern Standard Time Application close: Mar 16 2022 Eastern Daylight Time

Link to the organizations job posting: https://unjobs.org/vacancies/1646245265074
Kerrville, TX (78028)

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I was scanning the obituaries recently and ran across a familiar name. His picture, taken in his later years, did not ring a bell with me, mainly because Id not seen him in more than 60 years. But there he was, dead at 87 after a long and distinguished career in civil engineering. However, 
By Azernews





By Laman Ismayilova

The National Carpet Museum has enriched its collection with cold weapons.

Around 11 unique art works, including two shields (18th century) and daggers (19th century) were donated to the museum by renowned gunsmith from Canada Emin Mammadov.

Speaking about new exhibits, the Carpet Museum director Shirin Malikova said that Emin Mammadov successfully revives and promotes the ancient traditions of weapons art in Azerbaijan.

He won first place in the Culture for Peace competition organized by UNESCO in Paris in 2021.

The artist also donated the swords and daggers he made to the museum.

The shields of the Qajar period, made of steel and bronze with great taste and craftsmanship, are of great value. These authentic works of art associated with Azerbaijani culture are now kept in world famous museums.

The Culture Anar Karimov highly appreciated the preservation and development of the national heritage by Emin Mammadov living abroad.

The minister stressed that one of the main directions of the country's cultural is the return of Azerbaijani national wealth from abroad.

He pointed out that President Ilham Aliyev and First Vice-President Mehriban Aliyeva have always paid attention to this issue.

Speaking about the work done in this direction, Anar Karimov said that last year three national carpets purchased at auctions were delivered to Azerbaijan, Two of them were donated to the National Carpet Museum.

General Director of the Institute of History Karim Shukurov touched upon Azerbaijan's weapon art of Azerbaijan and stressed its importance.

Then the participants viewed the exposition which aroused a great interest.

Founded in 1967, the National Carpet Museum never ceases to amaze everyone with its beautiful architecture.

Initiated by eminent carpet artist Latif Karimov, it is beautiful inside and out. The museum's new building is designed in the form of a rolled carpet.

The Carpet Museum stores over 14,000 exhibits of the finest Azerbaijani carpets.

The museum hosts multiple events, including international symposiums, conferences and various exhibitions.

In 2019, the museum received national status for its significant contribution to the popularization and promotion of the Azerbaijani Carpet Weaving Art.

In 2020, the Carpet Museum enriched its collection with beautiful pile carpets purchased by the Culture Ministry at the Sartirana Textile Show in Italy.

The 19th century Guba carpet Ugakh was donated to the Carpet Museum, while Karabakh carpet Chelebi enriched the collection of the museum's Shusha branch.

The Carpet Museum also focuses on cooperation with world-leading museum organizations.

Moreover, the Carpet Museum won Travelers' Choice Awards for the fourth time in a row last year.
Mike Marburg and his wife Jennifer, owners of Wellmore Partners, lead a group of artists on a tour of the future home of the Simply Shenandoah resort in Star Tannery on Tuesday.
Tania Cameron was watching the fallout from Russia's invasion of Ukraine from her home in Kenora, Ont., when she felt the need to express her solidarity with Ukrainians on both sides of the world.

Tania Cameron was watching the fallout from Russia's invasion of Ukraine from her home in Kenora, Ont., when she felt the need to express her solidarity with Ukrainians on both sides of the world.

"There are Ukrainian people in our towns and cities that are having a very hard time. They aren't my people, but we are connected, so I'll stand with you," Cameron said in a phone interview.

"If it's something as simple as wearing a kokum scarf in solidarity, then that's what I'll do. If there's any way I can support funds to help the humanitarian aid, then that's what I'll do."

Indigenous people across Canada have been showing their support of Ukraine by posting photos and videos of themselves on social media wearing what is known in many communities as "kokum scarves."

Cameron, who is Anishinaabe, saw the social media campaign and decided to join. She sourced the scarves from Indigenous and Ukrainian shops and distributed them Canada-wide at cost. She also held a raffle with proceeds going to the Red Cross.

One Ukrainian senior in Kenora found out what Cameron was doing and asked if it was possible forCameron to hand deliver some scarves.

The two spent some time sharing their histories over coffee.

"It was an emotional moment when I was welcomed into her home," said Cameron.

"She gifted me her grandmother's scarf and gave me sunflower seeds as a way to thank me for my efforts."

The sunflower is the national flower of Ukraine and has become a symbol of peace and solidarity.

The square scarves are often embroidered with bright, floral patterns and have been used historically by kokums, the Cree term for grandmother.

Oral history has suggested the scarves were originally brought over to Canada by women from Ukraine and other Slavic countries in the early 1890s when the first Ukrainian settlers came to the country. The scarves are known by various names including khustkas, hustkas or babushkas.

Stories of trading between First Nations, Metis and Ukrainian women were passed down through families on all three sides.

Cameron recalls wearing a kokum as a child.

"We would wear them when we went blueberry picking to try and keep the bugs out of our head and our ears ... in the bush in the summertime."

Cameron was surprised to learn of the headwear's origins. She said it makes sense Anishinaabe and Cree women would enjoy them as floral patterns are often present in their artwork.

Today, the scarves are often used as a fashion accessory by Indigenous women and men. Powwow dancers incorporate them into their regalia.

Traditionally, Slavic women would wear them when they were married and afterwards, said Ukrainian author Marion Mutala. Women would also wear them for protection while they worked outdoors and for different celebrations.

Mutala is the author of a children's series called "Baba's Babushka," which is based on her relationship with her own grandmother who died when she was four.

About seven years after writing her first book, Mutala met an Indigenous man at a book fair who told her about the significance of the scarf in Indigenous communities.

She decided to research the relationship. Her book "Kohkum's Babushka" was released in 2017.

"I looked at the commonality of the relationship between Indigenous people and Ukrainians. The Metis people have the fiddle and so do Ukrainians. We have a lot of beadwork the same and spiritual life. There's a lot of similarities," she said by phone from her home in Saskatoon.

Tamara Malcolm remembers using the scarves as a teen when she danced at powwows. The Anishinaabe woman recalls her great-grandmother wearing one but, like Cameron, Malcolm didn't become aware of the history until recently.

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Malcolm owns a bead shop on the Serpent River First Nation in northern Ontario.

"I have a kokum scarf hanging outside my store to symbolize that I'm in solidarity with Ukraine," she said.

Malcolm started selling the scarves a year ago, but the COVID-19 pandemic stopped large gatherings like powwows, so the items sat on her shelves. Now she's decided to donate half the proceeds from each scarf to humanitarian efforts for Ukraine and said she has sold nearly 120 of them in the past week. Only a handful are left.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 5, 2022.

___

This story was produced with the financial assistance of the Facebook and Canadian Press News Fellowship.
Basement floods, international moves and at least one husband who tidied up too much  recipes go missing for all kinds of reasons. For nearly 25 years, Free Press readers turned to the papers Recipe Swap column to track down long-lost and elusive dishes.

Basement floods, international moves and at least one husband who "tidied up too much"  recipes go missing for all kinds of reasons. For nearly 25 years, Free Press readers turned to the papers Recipe Swap column to track down long-lost and elusive dishes.

Share your recipes with the Free Press In celebration of the papers 150th anniversary, the Winnipeg Free Press is collecting recipes to be published in a community cookbook, entitled Homemade, later this year. Visit Homemade to learn more about the project and submit your own recipe. Each submission will be entered into a draw to win copies of the cookbook, Free Press swag and other prizes. click to read more In celebration of the papers 150th anniversary, the Winnipeg Free Press is collecting recipes to be published in a community cookbook, entitled Homemade, later this year. Visit Homemade to learn more about the project and submit your own recipe. Each submission will be entered into a draw to win copies of the cookbook, Free Press swag and other prizes. Dishes can be cherished family favourites or everyday staples  just make sure to tell us the story behind the recipe. Join our Facebook group for discussions, recipe swapping and event updates. Close

The crowd-sourced articles ran every Wednesday from 1992 to 2016 as a kind of classified section for local food lovers. It was a place to glean information and build community around the hunt for a memorable morsel.

"Alf Brooks can get on with making his steak and kidney pie, now that readers have found a recipe for him," reads an early edition of the column. "Thanks to Shirley Hall of Dunrobin Avenue for sending it along."

Though it spanned the whole province, the section read like a small-town newspaper, where names and co-ordinates are published with abandon.

"Swappers," as they were called, wrote in from every corner of Manitoba looking to satisfy nostalgic cravings and recreate dishes from their favourite restaurants. Dupes for menu items from the Eatons Grill Room were a popular topic.

Recipe Swaps longevity can be chalked up to its loyal following. It was about the food, yes, but it was also about the people. It was about the names that appeared week after week.

MIKAELA MACKENZIE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Enid Barnes, longtime contributor and avid reader of the papers Recipe Swap column, still has her huge collection of recipe clippings.

"Even though we never met each other personally, we felt like we knew each other," says Enid Barnes, who was an avid contributor during the columns heyday. "There would be names that I would see all the time  one of them was Mroz."

That would be Edna Mroz of Beausejour. According to those interviewed for this story, Mroz was among a group of rural women who sent in neat, handwritten letters almost weekly. Her name and recipes were published nearly 150 times over an 18-year period. While her dedication to the column was in a league of its own, many people got hooked on the call-and-response format.

Glorias Skillet Cornbread MIKAELA MACKENZIE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Freshly baked skillet cornbread Supplied by Alison Gillmor, originally submitted by Darlene Smith Vegetable oil spray or soft butter for greasing

1 cup (250 ml) yellow cornmeal

1 cup (250 ml) all-purpose flour

1/4 cup (60 ml) granulated sugar

1 tbsp (15 ml) baking powder

1/2 tsp (2 ml) salt

1 cup (250 ml) grated old Cheddar cheese

3 green onions, thinly sliced (optional)

1 large egg

1 1/4 cup (310 ml) buttermilk

1/4 cup (60 ml) melted butter click to read more Supplied by Alison Gillmor, originally submitted by Darlene Smith Vegetable oil spray or soft butter for greasing

1 cup (250 ml) yellow cornmeal

1 cup (250 ml) all-purpose flour

1/4 cup (60 ml) granulated sugar

1 tbsp (15 ml) baking powder

1/2 tsp (2 ml) salt

1 cup (250 ml) grated old Cheddar cheese

3 green onions, thinly sliced (optional)

1 large egg

1 1/4 cup (310 ml) buttermilk

1/4 cup (60 ml) melted butter Preheat oven to 350 F (175 C). Thoroughly grease a 25-cm (10 inch) cast-iron or oven-proof non-stick skillet with spray or butter. In a medium bowl, place the cornmeal, flour, sugar, baking powder and salt and whisk until combined. Stir in the cheese and green onion. In a separate bowl, beat the egg until the yolk and white are well blended. Mix in the buttermilk and melted butter. Mix the wet ingredients into the dry until just combined. Spoon the batter into the prepared skillet. Bake for 30 minutes or until the cornbread springs back when touched gently in the centre. Cool the cornbread on baking rack for 20 minutes. Run a knife around the pan, invert and cut into wedges. So good! Testers notes: Another great cornbread recipe, this one from Darlene Smith. I liked the green onions so much Id probably double or even triple the quantity next time.

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For Barnes, it was a chance to share knowledge. Food has been a lifelong fascination for the Winnipegger, who started cooking as a child and collecting recipes as a teenager. Barnes is now in her 60s and has an impressive archive of yellowed newspaper clippings stored in bulging manila folders.

As a Swapper, she enjoyed finding just the right recipe for someones query. It was also fun to see her name in print.

"My friends loved it," Barnes says. "They would get a chuckle out of it."

Recipe Swap worked until it didnt. Waning readership and the rise of the internet  where forgotten dishes could be unearthed in seconds  had a lot to do with its demise. Why wait a week or more to find a recipe when millions of cooking websites are a few keystrokes away?

Still, for some, theres a Recipe Swap-shaped hole in the Free Press.

"I still actually get a hard copy that I read in the morning, starting with the obits and then the food and the arts before I get depressed with the politics," Barnes says with a laugh. "I really miss the recipe column."

Before Recipe Swap there was Kitchen Hotline, a regular column launched by the papers then-food editor and home economist, Evelyn Larson, in 1977. The purpose was similar: "to provide readers an opportunity to exchange interesting or little-known recipes."

Kitchen Hotline folded in 1980 when Larson left the Free Press to pursue a career as a food researcher. Her post was quickly filled by political columnist Alice Mullin (nee Krueger), who was looking for a change of pace.

"Food was kind of a hobby for me," Mullin says over the phone from her home in Morden. "And I decided, Gee, Im getting a little cynical about writing about politics. Im gonna see how this works."

Winnipeg Free Press Alice Krueger launched the Recipe Swap column in 1992; it ran every Wednesday.

While she took a hard-news approach to food writing  focusing on things like food prices, the restaurant industry, grocery-store marketing tactics and nutrition  recipes often worked their way into her articles. In 1992, she relaunched the home-cooking exchange as Recipe Swap.

These kinds of columns were gaining traction at newspapers across North America, and the Association of Food Journalists  a professional organization dedicated to responsible food reporting and reviewing  started promoting the format as an effective way to engage with readers.

The latter certainly rang true for Mullin. "I got stacks of mail," she says.

Im back at the (Legislature) and youd go to interview a cabinet minister and hed say, Yeah, but after were finished, I want to talk to you about that rib recipe. I couldnt believe the kind of following it had.  Alice Mullin

Interest continued long after she returned to politics several years later.

"Im back at the (Legislature) and youd go to interview a cabinet minister and hed say, Yeah, but after were finished, I want to talk to you about that rib recipe. I couldnt believe the kind of following it had."

Home cooking, it turned out, was a great equalizer. Mullin got messages from homemakers, doctors with a passion for food, local chefs and even then-premier Ed Shreyers wife, Lily, who once sent in a lasagna recipe.

At no other time during her 28-year career with the Free Press did Mullin have such a close connection with the public as when she was writing about food.

"It was a really wonderful way to find out who my readers were," she says.

Mrs. Linderholms Hamburger Soup Supplied by Alice Mullin, originally submitted by Anna Linderholm 1 1/2 lbs (675 g) lean ground beef

1 large onion, finely chopped

4 cups (1 litre) beef stock

3 medium carrots, peeled and chopped

3 stalks of celery (with leaves) chopped

1 can (796 ml) of chopped tomatoes, and juice

1/3 to 1/2 cup (80 to 125 ml) of pot barley

Salt and pepper to taste click to read more Supplied by Alice Mullin, originally submitted by Anna Linderholm 1 1/2 lbs (675 g) lean ground beef

1 large onion, finely chopped

4 cups (1 litre) beef stock

3 medium carrots, peeled and chopped

3 stalks of celery (with leaves) chopped

1 can (796 ml) of chopped tomatoes, and juice

1/3 to 1/2 cup (80 to 125 ml) of pot barley

Salt and pepper to taste In a large soup kettle brown the ground beef along with the chopped onion. Add the stock, carrots, celery and tomatoes, partially cover and simmer for 1 1/2 to 2 hours. Add pot barley, salt and pepper; reduce heat and simmer for an additional 30 minutes or until barley is tender. Suggested seasonings (if desired) include savory, marjoram or thyme. You can also add a handful of fresh or frozen peas and some corn if more vegetables are desired. This freezes well and makes about eight servings. Close

One reader in particular stands out. While working on a story about easy recipes for seniors ("tea-and-toast syndrome," a malnutrition issue experienced by elderly folks unable to cook like they used to, was a trending topic at the time), she received a hamburger soup recipe from a Winnipeg woman named Mrs. Anna Linderholm. The pair started chatting over the phone and eventually met in real life to share a bowl of soup.

"What a lovely, lovely person she was," Mullin says. "When she died, I got notified by her family from Minneapolis, inviting me to her funeral  you really did engage with people."

As a food writer, Mullin joined a long line of women to hold the position. Food and cooking have historically been the domain of women and, in some ways, the idea persists today  the vast majority of Free Press food writers, critics and columnists, for example, have been women.

At the Winnipeg Tribune, where Mullin worked as a news reporter for four years in the 1960s, food content was relegated to the "Womens Section" of the paper. The topic got the same treatment over at the Free Press.

"(It was) as if the rest of the paper was not of interest to (women)," University of Winnipeg history professor Janis Thiessen says. "It tended to focus on fashion and domestic health, household hints and recipes."

While womens sections were largely designed to sell products to homemakers, they offer historians a valuable glimpse into domestic life. Food and recipes are intrinsically linked to the history of people and places.

(It was) as if the rest of the paper was not of interest to (women). It tended to focus on fashion and domestic health, household hints and recipes.  U of W history professor Janis Thiessen

"One of the most important sites of food production is the home, but there isnt often a paper trail of what goes on in the home," Thiessen says, adding that newspaper cooking columns, such as Recipe Swap, fill an important gap in the historical record. "That, to me, is a wonderful way of knowing how people are actually cooking."

For Mullin, writing about food and recipes was an important pursuit because it was important to others. Everyone eats, after all.

"People tend to think of food writing as kind of fluffy and that political writing or the hard news end of it is the tough stuff," she says. "It is different, but in seeing the kind of response there was from the food page, it was very gratifying."

RUTH BONNEVILLE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Ilana Simon, longtime editor of the Recipe Swap column, puts the finishing touches on one of her favourite recipes, pumpkin cheese cake.

Taking over Recipe Swap was a career-defining moment for Ilana Simon, who ran the column from 1994 to 2006.

"When the opportunity came up, I jumped at it," she says.

It was a natural fit for the local freelance writer and foodie that would later open doors to the national cookbook market. Simon penned two Recipe Swap cookbooks during her tenure with the Free Press and later published four more about everything from fondue to indoor grilling.

The column honed her skills as a recipe tester and developer. Simons goal was to share recipes that had been vetted in her own kitchen in order to build trust and reliability. Over the years, she tried out more than 1,000 submitted recipes. It was a lot of taste-testing  not that her family minded.

"Both of my boys had very sophisticated palates from a young age," Simon says with a laugh.

Pumpkin Cheesecake RUTH BONNEVILLE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS A pumpkin cheese cake recipe submitted by reader Brenda Marantz is among Ilana Simons family favourites. Supplied by Ilana Simon, originally submitted by Brenda Marantz Crust:

1 1/2 cups (375 ml) gingersnap crumbs, fine

1/2 cup (125 ml) ground almonds

1/3 cup (80 ml) sugar

1/3 cup plus 2 tbsp butter (100 ml) click to read more Supplied by Ilana Simon, originally submitted by Brenda Marantz Crust:

1 1/2 cups (375 ml) gingersnap crumbs, fine

1/2 cup (125 ml) ground almonds

1/3 cup (80 ml) sugar

1/3 cup plus 2 tbsp butter (100 ml) Batter:

3 packages Dairyland cream cheese (8 oz/250 g each)

4 eggs

1 cup (250 ml) sugar

1 tsp (5 ml) almond extract or vanilla extract

1/4 tsp (1 ml) salt

16-oz (450-ml) can of pure pumpkin (not pumpkin pie filling)

2 tsp (10 ml) cinnamon

1/2 tsp (2 ml) ginger

1/2 tsp (2 ml) nutmeg

1/4 tsp (1 ml) cloves Topping:

1 pint (500 ml) whipping cream, whipped

1/4 cup (60 ml) toasted, sliced almonds For crust: Combine crumbs, almonds and sugar. Melt butter. Add melted butter to crumb mixture and mix. Pat in bottom of 10-inch (25-cm) springform pan. For batter: In large bowl, combine cream cheese, eggs and 3/4 cup (175 ml) sugar. Mix well. Add almond or vanilla extract and salt. Pour three cups (750 ml) of batter into springform pan. To remaining cheese, add pumpkin and spices and 1/4 cup (50 ml) sugar. Mix well. Pour over batter and swirl the pumpkin into batter (or leave as is to make two distinct layers). Shake springform pan gently to smooth batter. Bake in 350 F (180 C) oven for 40 minutes. Chill for eight hours. For topping: Beat whipping cream, adding icing sugar until thick. Sprak whipped cream on top (and sides if desired). Sprinkle toasted sliced almonds on top of cheesecake. Taste-tester notes: I have used 9-inch (22 cm) springform pan with success. You can also omit additional sugar and almonds in crust if desired.

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Recipes ran the gamut from old-school fare that had been passed down for generations to Manitoba staples  such as borscht, pickerel and butter tarts  to imitation Jeannes cake and other dishes from iconic Winnipeg restaurants.

Naturally, the work expanded Simons own recipe repertoire. Its hard to pick a favourite, but the pumpkin cheesecake sent in by Brenda Marantz during her first year as a columnist has become a family Thanksgiving tradition.

A lot can change in 12 years. Simon watched culinary trends evolve (appetizers, for example, had a major moment in the early 2000s) and communication methods shift in real time. The internet was still in its infancy and social media hadnt yet become a gathering place for those with niche interests, like recipe sharing. It was a sweet spot in time for a column that relied on a captive audience.

Still, even as email gained popularity, Simon had a dedicated contingent of letter writers. Pen pals, as she called them.

"I can still see those handwritten recipes on yellow lined paper; I would recognize their handwriting on the envelopes," she says. "It was touching that they spent so many hours writing out their recipes and posting them."

For the columns 10th anniversary, she recognized 10 loyal Swappers who contributed regularly. Edna Mroz was, unsurprisingly, at the top of the list.

Simon got to know people through regular exchanges and started connecting with readers in-person during cooking demonstrations at The Forks and elsewhere. Those who followed along felt a sense of ownership over Recipe Swap. Community was the goal and the best part of the job.

ilana recipe swap

"The tone that I wanted to set was a kind of coffee klatsch vibe," she says. "We were just a bunch of Manitobans sitting around the kitchen table sharing family recipes with each other. And I think that resonated with people."

When she resigned from the column in 2006 it was because life was getting busy. She had moved into a communications job and there was little time left over for freelancing.

The news was met with a letter to the editor imploring the paper to reinstate Recipe Swap. There mustve been more than one letter because the feature returned several months later with Darlene Henderson, an avid home cook who worked in the Free Presss advertising department, at the helm. She carried the torch for three years until Alison Gillmor took over in 2010.

Up to then, Gillmor had been working as the papers freelance movie reviewer and pop culture columnist. Food was, at that point, an interest, not an area of expertise.

"I had some spectacular failures," she says, laughing while reminiscing about her recipe-testing days.

MIKAELA MACKENZIE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Alison Gillmor with freshly baked skillet cornbread, the recipe for which was submitted by a reader when she edited the Recipe Swap column.

It was daunting to take on such a popular, long-running series, but the fact that all of the Recipe Swap columnists were home cooks without any formal culinary training quelled her anxiety.

"In one way I sort of felt underqualified, but then the core of it is the idea that youre (also) a home cook doing the best you can," she says. "You were in there trying to figure things out, too, and trying to become a better cook and learn alongside the readers."

And Gillmor learned a lot from readers. Her baking skills  especially when it came to pie crusts, pastry and bread  got stronger thanks to hours spent in the kitchen trying out submissions. A skillet cornbread made with cheddar cheese and green onions that was published in 2013 remains a personal favourite.

Like Simon, Gillmors family were happily enlisted as taste-testers. The Free Press photo crew, tasked with getting food pictures for the column, also became a regular part of the dinner routine.

"They would be setting up their lights and stuff and sometimes we would be waiting around for them to finish so we could eat," she says.

In one way I sort of felt underqualified, but then the core of it is the idea that youre (also) a home cook doing the best you can.  Alison Gillmor

Gillmor ran Recipe Swap until 2016, when it was decided the feature had run its course. The torrent of letters had slowed to a trickle and there was no longer enough reader engagement to keep up a weekly publication. Online cooking forums and food blogs had exploded, making a newspaper recipe section somewhat obsolete. It was also around this time that she started writing restaurant reviews.

Recipe Swap was Gillmors first foray into food writing, and reviewing was an entirely different world.

"I think home cooking, at its heart, is about expressing your love and care for people around you," she says. "And restaurant cooking is often a little bit more about showing off your expertise."

Simon agrees, adding that the column often created a reciprocal relationship between relative strangers.

"Youre helping someone else and youre also pleased that someone will be trying your recipe," she says. "I think interacting with other people over recipes sort of speaks to that labour of love when someone goes to the trouble of preparing something for (you), thats the joy of cooking."

The act of recipe sharing is something Prof. Janis Thiessen thinks about often. She is the lead investigator with the Manitoba Food History Project and has spent the last several years travelling around the province in a retrofitted food truck collecting recipes and personal stories.

Like the dishes featured in Recipe Swap, much of whats shared on the truck has deep connections to personal and regional history. The simple act of sharing a recipe can add new layers and meaning to that history.

"Theres tremendous amounts of (information) transferred from individual to individual. Its an important part of understanding food."  Prof Janis Thiessen

"Theres tremendous amounts of (information) transferred from individual to individual," Thiessen says. "Its an important part of understanding food."

As recipes get inherited and passed along they inevitably get tweaked to suit the tastes, ingredients and methods of the day, with each maker adding a dash of their own story to the meal.

Its one of the reasons food is a universal language and a "way to have conversations with folks with whom you might not have anything else in common," Thiessen says.

Its why breaking bread, even over newsprint, is an effective way to build community.

-

This is the latest story in our Homemade series, which looks at the Free Press history through its food content while also sharing modern recipes and food stories from Winnipeg.

These features will be compiled into a community cookbook, alongside recipes submitted by local residents. Visit winnipegfreepress.com/homemade to learn more and share a recipe.

eva.wasney@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @evawasney

Try our Dish The latest on food and drink in Winnipeg and beyond from arts writers Ben Sigurdson and Eva Wasney. Dish arrives in your inbox every other Friday. See sample. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement.
ST. JOHN'S, N.L. - Newfoundland and Labrador will have to wait another 40 days for a federal decision on the fate of a proposed offshore oil project led by Norwegian oil giant Equinor.

ST. JOHN'S, N.L. - Newfoundland and Labrador will have to wait another 40 days for a federal decision on the fate of a proposed offshore oil project led by Norwegian oil giant Equinor.

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Ottawa said Friday in a news release that federal Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault has been granted another 40 days to review the "extensive information" about whether the proposed Bay du Nord project will have significant environmental impacts.

The project would open a fifth oilfield off the coast of St. John's in an area where some experts say there is an estimated 800 million recoverable barrels of oil.

Earlier this week, 118 environmental groups and academics across Canada signed a letter calling for Ottawa to reject the project, saying it's incompatible with Canadas domestic and global climate commitments.

The letter also notes the International Energy Agency's declaration in May that there can be no investment in new fossil fuel supply projects if the world is going to hit net-zero targets by 2050.

Premier Andrew Furey and provincial Energy Minister Andrew Parsons issued a release Friday saying they remain optimistic the project will be approved, as it will be the country's "most carbon-efficient development of its scale."

This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 5, 2022.
Manitobas archaic quota system for table potatoes and other root vegetables could finally be buried by the time this years crop is in the ground.

Manitobas archaic quota system for table potatoes and other root vegetables could finally be buried by the time this years crop is in the ground.

Provincial legislation was introduced this week that will end the quota system and allow Peak of the Market to transition from a regulated marketing agency to an independent corporation.

As has been the case for several decades, producers who grow more than five acres of table potatoes, carrots, onions or parsnips can only produce as much as their quota allows.

Whereas in the 1960s and 70s there were more than 50 farmers growing fresh root vegetables  as opposed to potatoes grown for the processing industry  consolidation has whittled that number down to eight, with another three producers growing carrots, onions and parsnips..

All of their production must be marketed by Peak of the Market.

Pamela Kolochuk, the CEO of Peak of the Market, said the organization and its growers  who are unanimously in support of the change  have been working on fine tuning the proposed changes for two years.

This is a very important piece of legislation for our industry, Kolochuk said

As well as freeing up farmers to be able to decide what to grow and how much, it will also allow Peak of the Market to expand into new markets, acquire distribution facilities and be better able to compete with other national produce companies.

Peter Loewen, chairman of Peak of the Market who grows about 500 acres of potato on a farm in between Morden and Winkler  he is the smallest of the tiny cohort of eight Manitoba table potato producers  said he thinks this is the right step for the industry to be going.

We are trying to make it easier than the current system allows, he said. We are trying to keep up with the times and the needs of the consumer.

As it stands now, Peak of the Markets annual gross revenue is around $120 million.

Kolochuk said the hope is that the total will increase substantially over the course of the next few years.

Among other things Peak is constrained in markets outside Manitoba by its inability to actually own any assets outside the province. For competitive reasons Kolochuk would not disclose any of its new marketing plans but with the new legislation it will be able to properly compete with a broader compliment of offerings and be able to partner with retailers and distributors elsewhere in Canada and the U.S.

Loewen said that internally there is no opposition to the changes.

Dan Sawatzky, the general manager of Keystone Potato Producers Association, the group that manages contract production for the potato processing industry, was not available for comment on Friday.

But Loewen said Sawatzky is fully briefed on the proposed changes and is supportive.

While there are only about 10,000 acres of table potatoes grown in Manitoba, process potatoes grown under contract to French fry and potato chip manufacturers, are in excess of 60,000 acres.

Manitobas Agriculture Minister Derek Johnson, said, For years Manitoba potato farmers have not had the freedom to grow and sell their table potatoes and root crops in the province and at the same time, regulations have prevented Peak of the Market from modernizing its business model to promote, sell and distribute Manitobas table potatoes and root crops to the world.

The proposed legislation would allow those producers to sell to any buyer. Currently their entire crop has to be marketed by Peak of the Market.

But Kolochuk is not concerned that Peak will lose volume.

Were hoping the change will entice more growers into the market and hopefully they will want Peak to sell on their behalf, she said. And we are putting things in place such that growers who we partner with now will continue to want to work with us.

The thinking is that production acreage will not change overnight. For one thing, Kolochuk said, seed is hard to come by in the springtime.

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It will take a few years for the industry to grow, she said. It will also take time for growers to wrap their heads around the possibilities that will come out of this.

The future structure of Peak of the Market will likely undergo some sort of transition, but Kolochuk is either not sure or not prepared to say what it will look like just yet.

She said there are on-going discussions with banks about altering the capital structure of the organization.

In the short term, she said it will continue to operate as a not-for-profit corporation.

The organization owns its 65,000 square foot warehouse and distribution centre on King Edward St. It also leases a 10,000 square foot warehouse in Calgary.

martin.cash@freepress.mb.ca
WASHINGTON (AP)  The U.S. will soon begin to run out of money to bolster COVID-19 testing supplies and to guarantee that uninsured Americans keep getting free treatment for the virus unless Congress swiftly approves more funding, the White House warned Friday.

White House press secretary Jen Psaki speaks during a press briefing at the White House, Friday, March 4, 2022. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

WASHINGTON (AP)  The U.S. will soon begin to run out of money to bolster COVID-19 testing supplies and to guarantee that uninsured Americans keep getting free treatment for the virus unless Congress swiftly approves more funding, the White House warned Friday.

Nearly a year after passage of the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan, the administration says the federal government has nearly used up the money dedicated directly to COVID-19 response. More money from Congress is urgently needed to buy antibody treatments, preventative injections for the immunocompromised and to fund community testing sites, officials say.

From the COVID side, the bank account is empty, said COVID-19 deputy coordinator Natalie Quillian. Were in conversations with lawmakers about how to secure the funding, but its urgently needed. Some of the consequences could be felt later this month.

The White House last month told Congress it was preparing to seek $30 billion for the virus response, but cut that to $22.5 billion in a formal request earlier this week that officials said includes only the most critical needs. It's being coupled with a $10 billion request to provide support to Ukraine and its people after Russias invasion.

This is an urgent request and this is what is at stake in our fight against COVID, press secretary Jen Psaki said on Friday.

This month, the White House warns, COVID-19 testing manufacturers will begin to slow production of at-home rapid tests unless the federal government signs contracts to buy more. Officials say that could result in a supply crunch should there be another surge in cases.

They also said the Health Resources and Services Administration will be forced to begin winding down claims for COVID-19 treatment for uninsured people this month if Congress doesnt provide more money. Moreover, the U.S. government supply of monoclonal antibodies would run out in May. And in July, supplies of the AstraZeneca prophylactic injection that can prevent serious illness in immunocompromised individuals would go dry. By September, the U.S. would run out of supplies of an oral anti-viral pill.

Given how costly COVID has been with so many of our fellow Americans hospitalized or dying, and our daily lives disrupted, we simply cannot afford to wait on investing now and keeping people protected, said Psaki.

The request also includes funding to support U.S. vaccine purchases and global vaccine distribution.

The U.S. has enough shots of the Pfizer vaccine for children under age 5, should it be approved in the coming weeks. But if regulators make it a three-dose vaccine regimen, the administration would need more money to buy additional doses. The same would also be true if regulators determine that kids aged 5-11 should receive booster shots.

The White House emphasized that the federal government must sign contracts for drugs and vaccines months before theyre needed, so Congress must act now to prevent any gaps.

Some Republicans have expressed sticker shock at Bidens request, pressing the administration to repurpose other relief funding that hasnt been spent.

Oh no, thats too much, Alabama Sen. Richard Shelby, top Republican on the Senate Appropriations Committee, said Thursday when asked about the administrations $22.5 billion request. And secondly, we want to see how much money is out there" that hasnt been spent yet from previously approved COVID-19 relief measures.

Sen. Mitt Romney, R-Utah, and 35 other GOP senators wrote Biden on Tuesday that before supporting new money, they want a full accounting of how the government has spent funds already provided.

The White House says its open to exploring reallocating already-approved, unspent money, but emphasized that the priority must be to continue meeting needs.

And the administration will ask Congress for additional funding in coming weeks.

We are being reasonable in our urgent request now, but we know more will be needed, said Quillian.

Since the onset of the pandemic, the federal government has worked to make COVID-19 treatments and vaccines free. Earlier this year, Biden began shipping up to eight free virus tests to U.S. households.

Quillian said the administration is open to eventually shifting the cost of the drugs to insurers, like treatments for other illnesses, particularly as the virus becomes subsides. But she said that the White House believes COVID-19 recovery is still too fragile to make the change yet, and that Washington needed to foot the bill.

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We cant squander our position, Quillian said.

The COVID-19 relief bills enacted since the pandemic began have contained $370 billion for public health programs including vaccines and other medical supplies, testing, research, and reimbursing providers, according to a Department of Health and Human Services table obtained by The Associated Press.

Of that amount, $355 billion is currently being spent, has been spent or has been committed to contracts, according to HHS.

___

AP writer Alan Fram contributed to this report.

This story was first published on March 4, 2022. It was updated on March 7, 2022 to correct that AstraZenecas COVID-19 prophylactic for immunocompromised individuals is not a pill, but delivered by injection.
The first year was hard, but after that Subir Barmans life began to fit together, like pieces to a puzzle that had been strewn all over the world.

The first year was hard, but after that Subir Barmans life began to fit together, like pieces to a puzzle that had been strewn all over the world. He stayed in Winnipeg for a while. His refugee claim crawled through the system. He found a job at a St. Boniface factory; it had nothing to do with his expertise as an aircraft technician, but at least it was something. One of the first people Subir Barman met in Canada was Free Press reporter Randy Turner (right). (Phil Hossack / Winnipeg Free Press files) Then he moved to Toronto, where he rented a house with other newcomers from Bangladesh, who were also trying to get a foothold in Canada. Soon he found work in his field, working on planes for a charter airline. His nephew came to Canada to study electromechanical engineering and lived with him. When Barman was working, the hours passed quickly. When he was at home, he ached for his family. It was worse after he broke his back in a car crash last September; he was off work after that, so all he could do was rest and heal and look forward to the day when his wife, Sreeti Rani Barman, and two children would finally join him. By then, it had been more than five years since Barman had last seen them. When he fled Bangladesh, under threat of sectarian violence against Hindu people like him, his children were just eight and five years old. Now his daughter Saptorshi was in her teens, and his son Sattik was 11. Hed watched them grow over video calls and Facebook posts. Barmann fled Bangladesh without his wife Sreeti Rani Barman and two children. (Supplied) This separation, he believed, was what he had to do to keep his family safe for the long run. Hed started in New York City on a working visa, where he met a fellow refugee-hopeful from Bangladesh, a Muslim man named Hossain who had faced death threats after writing against extremist terrorism. The two became friends, and planned to stay in the U.S. But in early 2017, those plans suddenly changed. Donald Trump was about to take office as the 45th president of the United States, and had made clear his intentions to introduce harsher immigration restrictions. Like many others seeking safety in the U.S., Barman and Hossain worried the country would soon slam shut its doors. In February 2017, they made their move. They bought the best winter jackets and boots they could afford, and took a long bus journey to Grand Forks. They hired a cab to drive them within a few kilometres of the border, where they put on layers of sweaters. Then they began to walk, trudging four hours towards Emerson in the vicious -23 C cold. That night, the first two Canadians Barman and Hossain met were local volunteers who tried to help people coming over the border. The third was the late Free Press journalist Randy Turner, who found the pair walking towards a motel. For the next week, a Free Press team followed them as they took their first hopeful steps in their new country. Soon, the two men were living on cots at the Salvation Army, surrounded by others who had made the same desperate trek. That winter, an unprecedented number of asylum claimants found a way to get across Canadas southern border. They came from all over the world, many at the end of a journey that wound from Africa to somewhere in South America, and then to the U.S. Between January 2017 and March 2018, at least 25,645 people who crossed the border irregularly came to the attention of RCMP, and the number of asylum applications Canada received more than doubled from the previous year. The surge dominated Canadian headlines. At home, it sparked a political tug-of-war over the Liberal governments perceived control of the border; abroad, it tied into the Trump-era news flood that was gripping the world. Television crews from as far afield as the United Kingdom and Japan came to Winnipeg to report on what was happening. In the city, social-service agencies scrambled to make sure the new arrivals were fed and housed. They made urgent pleas for donations. When beds at newcomer service agency Welcome Place filled up, that organization turned to the Salvation Army, which set aside rooms at its downtown shelter; those beds were claimed, and still people kept coming. The journeys they made to reach Canada were dangerous and daunting. Two men lost part of their limbs to frostbite, and advocates raised the alarm that the U.S.-Canada Safe Third Country Agreement, which stops most asylum-seekers coming over the land border from making their claim at a regular port of entry, was putting lives into danger. In May 2017, those advocates worst fears were realized when Mavis Otuteye, a 57-year-old grandmother from Ghana, died of hypothermia as she tried to reach Canada. It is believed she was coming to make a claim, but also in hopes of meeting her first granddaughter, who had been born just days earlier in Toronto. FACEBOOK Mavis Otuteye She was a warm and loving woman, her friends and family remembered, with a bright sense of humour and a special knack for making homemade sauces, which she sold at markets in Delaware while she lived in the United States. She died alone in a drainage ditch in Minnesota, less than a kilometre from the border. But most who set out for Canada made it through to relative safety, and from there, their stories were just beginning. In the years since, few of the folks who came over the border stayed in Winnipeg. Most dispersed across Canada, settling in Toronto or Calgary or Vancouver. If their asylum application was approved, they began, like Barman, to try to rebuild their lives and pull their families back together; if it was rejected, they began the long road of an appeal. Subir Bamman (left) and Shahadat Hossain head for processing after crossing into Canada at Emerson in 2017. (Phil Hossack / Winnipeg Free Press files) Some were eventually deported; others found themselves caught in limbo, their applications fallen through the cracks due to delays by overwhelmed lawyers or the finer points of immigration law. A freeze on deportations to Somalia meant that some from there are now stuck in a legal purgatory, eking by on work permits but unable to plan for an uncertain future. Most Canadians didnt see all that, though. Soon, the stories slipped from the headlines, and the crisis was forgotten almost as quickly as it began. For all the headlines the surge seized in 2017, it made relatively few long-term ripples in the public mind. The treaty that pushed people to risk their lives to cross the border stayed in place; it was actually strengthened. But people continued to make those desperate journeys. Between April 2020 and September 2021, despite a pandemic rule stopping people who enter Canada outside a regular port of entry from making a claim, 1,429 did just that. Most were sent back to the U.S., where some found themselves facing deportation to the countries from which they had fled. And in January, when a family from India perished in snow-blown fields near Emerson as they tried to reach the U.S., there was a moment when the perilous journey was back in the news; but just 10 days later, a convoy of protesters reached Ottawa, and after that there wasnt enough oxygen in Canada to talk about much of anything else. It has been five years now since those first headline-making events. So maybe there ought to be time to reflect.

Donald Trump made clear his intentions to introduce harsher immigration restrictions, causing many people to seek safety in Canada. (Phil Hossack / Winnipeg Free Press files)

When Abdikheir Ahmed thinks back to those frantic months in 2017, the first thing he remembers is the fear. It hasnt left him. As people kept trickling over the border that winter, Ahmed was terrified for them. Many were alone, he knew. Their families often didnt know exactly where they were, or what they were trying to do. "The amount of fear that I had of folks freezing to death in farmlands, and nobody knowing they actually even died in there," he says. "You can have a smuggler drop you there, and if you die in the farmland, nobody knows that you actually died there. That was my biggest fear. Thats the main thing I still remember about it." Abdikheir Ahmed feared for people freezing to death trying to cross the border. (Phil Hossack / Winnipeg Free Press files) But the second thing he remembers is how the community responded. He remembers churches in Gretna and Altona that prepared places for newcomers to stay. He remembers donations of food, and clothing, and shelter. He remembers nearly two dozen non-profits that collaborated to make sure everyone who came got what they needed. "It was quite incredible how people came together so quickly," he says. Ahmed himself had a key role in building those connections. Partly, it was his job; at the time, he served as co-ordinator with Immigration Partnership Winnipeg, and was also a board member for the Immigrant and Refugee Community Organization of Manitoba  better known as IRCOM  which was also on the front lines of supporting asylum-seekers. But it was also a deeply personal mission. Born in Somalia, he had come to Canada as a refugee in 2003, and had devoted much of his life to helping newcomers find their place in the broader Manitoban community. In 2016 those efforts were honoured when the province bestowed him with the esteemed Order of the Buffalo Hunt. So as the number of people seeking asylum surged that winter, Ahmed raced to do everything he could to help. "Folks are running away from persecution," says Ahmed, who is today the executive director of the Aurora Family Therapy Centre. "If youre a refugee claimant you get one chance. I really want to make sure that when people have one chance, that they make use of that opportunity to get what the legislation accords them." "If youre a refugee claimant you get one chance. I really want to make sure that when people have one chance, that they make use of that opportunity to get what the legislation accords them." Abdikheir Ahmed While the community banded together on the ground, the fault lines in the public debate cracked wider. Ahmed recalls the comments on news websites calling asylum claimants "vermin." He recalls the politicians who cast doubt on the claimants motivations. He attended a media debate that, he recalls, pondered whether Canada should close its border. Overall, the public discourse was tense, and thick with falsehoods and misconceptions. He was dismayed. "Even in the media itself, there were a few folks who were interested in driving a wedge between the people who were seeking protection and the local community," he says. "People see the headlines, and they get swayed by a quote that someone puts out there." To bridge those divides, Ahmed and others decided they needed to speak with border communities directly. They formed a working group, called the Refugee Public Awareness Coalition (Manitoba), which created a workshop kit called Bread and Borders, designed to facilitate constructive conversations focusing on the fears people had about refugees. Abdikheir Ahmed had a key role in building connection as a co-ordinator with Immigration Partnership Winnipeg and a board member for the Immigrant and Refugee Community Organization of Manitoba. (Mikaela MacKenzie / Winnipeg Free Press files) Thats how, in early 2017, Ahmed and several colleagues found themselves in an empty hall in Altona, about 12 kilometres from the American border, wondering if anyone would show up. Theyd heard of some hostile reactions in the community, and while they set up for their presentation, they thought about the kind of reception they would receive. "Me and my friends are saying, Are we going to be chased out of here?" he recalls. Minutes before the event was to start, a few people trickled in. Then a few more followed, and more again, and by the time Ahmed and his friends started their presentation, every seat was taken. Many folks went to presentations like these because they wanted to help the newcomers, but some were apprehensive and had questions about what was happening at the border. What seemed to work, Ahmed says, was gently correcting their misconceptions. There were many. Some believed claimants were trying to sneak into Canada, for instance, which to them carried a whiff of the nefarious. In fact, the opposite was true: asylum-seekers wanted to present themselves to Canadian authorities in order to begin their claims. A rusting warning sits in an overgrown ditch near Emerson warning of penalties for crossing the international boundary near Emerson. (Phil Hossack / Winnipeg Free Press files) Other people, including some politicians, accused the claimants who came over the border of "jumping the queue." But there is no queue; their claims are processed through a different stream than other forms of immigration, and refugees outside the country are selected for resettlement by something closer to a lottery system, which political critics surely knew. As conversations like these spread across Manitoba, Ahmed saw the divisions in the community soften. Five years later, he remembers far more help offered than resistance given. "Certainly there is space for people to learn, and there are quite a few people who learned a lot from that influx," he says. But that opens a question: if the same thing were to happen again, would the lessons of 2017 remain? Or, if there should be another surge of people seeking safety by making irregular crossings over the border, one that made international news and required a co-ordinated effort to meet the needs of all the newcomers, would the same tensions spring up again? "Things dissipate from peoples minds when theyre not in the news," he says. "But at the time, a lot of people understood. While we had a few people who were quite negative in terms of welcoming folks who were fleeing the policies of the Trump regime at the time, a lot of folks were opening their doors, were supporting, were welcoming." Sometimes, he still thinks about those fields divided by the invisible line of the border, frozen and full of unvisited corners, and he wonders what could be out there that we dont know. He wonders whether someday, some farmer will discover the bones of a person who died there alone, years ago. Someone who perished in the hope for a country that spoke of protection, but pushed those who sought it into the cold.

Iyal lost his fingers, but was able to keep his thumbs. (Jessica Lee / Winnipeg Free Press)
A decision by the Progressive Conservative government to award a $500,000 pandemic grant to a fledgling business co-owned by Tory candidate Obby Khan has stoked questions of favouritism ahead of the Fort Whyte byelection.

A decision by the Progressive Conservative government to award a $500,000 pandemic grant to a fledgling business co-owned by Tory candidate Obby Khan has stoked questions of favouritism ahead of the Fort Whyte byelection.

Documents obtained by the Manitoba Liberal party show Khans online marketplace  GoodLocal.ca  received $500,000 from the province in December 2020 to expand its warehouse, delivery services and website and hire a full-time marketing consultant to promote the platform, which had launched a month prior.

You cannot be playing favourites in a pandemic, Liberal Leader Dougald Lamont said Friday. It doesnt pass the smell test.

Lamont demanded an explanation for why a half-million provincial dollars flowed to Khans e-commerce venture  which helped small, local retailers who did not have an online presence sell their wares and connect with customers while they were shuttered due to the pandemic  and whether any other businesses were considered for the funding at the time.

Lamont questioned whether the grant was part of a strategy to recruit Khan to the party.

Last October, the former Winnipeg Blue Bomber endorsed Premier Heather Stefanson in her bid to become leader of the Progressive Conservative party, roughly 10 months after receiving the government funding. In January, he announced his candidacy for the Tory nomination in Fort Whyte and was selected to carry the party banner in early February.

If its a great business, why cant it stand on its own two feet? Lamont said. Why does it have to have $500,000 in public money thats in a non-repayable grant. Its a gift of money.

According to the province, the cash was distributed as part of the provinces Shop Local campaign, which saw a total of $1.5 million doled out through the Manitoba Chambers of Commerce between November 2020 and September 2021.

Local chambers of commerce received just over $409,000 in funding for various programs through the initiative, according to documents released by the Liberals. Another $536,000 was unspent as of August 2021.

MCC president and chief executive officer Chuck Davidson said GoodLocal.ca generated a two-to-one return on the $500,000 grant over the initiatives reporting period and supported hundreds of retailers who were unable to sell their products in person and in need of an online presence.

Davidson said the chamber recommended GoodLocal.ca as the e-commerce platform of choice and dismissed suggestions political partisanship influenced the awarding of the grant.

At launch GoodLocal had 38 vendors and $40,000 in sales. This increased to 388 vendors and almost $850,000 in sales for those vendors and a further $147,000 in gift card sales, as well, Davidson said. In addition, as a result of the funding, GoodLocal created 27 jobs, nine of which were full time.

Last November, GoodLocal opened a 700-square-foot storefront in the Exchange District.

On Friday, a spokesperson for the province said assertions government dollars were used to encourage business owners to become candidates for a political party were absurd.

This is a good-news story about a local business person who utilized a Manitoba Chambers of Commerce program to support and promote local businesses when public health orders required them to close during the busy holiday season, the spokesperson said in a statement to the Free Press.

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In a release issued by the PC party, Khan said he was not considering politics when GoodLocal launched and was focused on helping small businesses survive the pandemic.

Im proud of the work we did; we worked collaboratively with the Manitoba government through the Manitoba Chambers of Commerce, which provided grants that were essential to keep small businesses alive through these very tough times, Khan said. My sole focus during this time was keeping my staff employed and helping local businesses do the same.

The Tories called on the Liberals to apologize.

In the last several weeks, the Manitoba Liberals have falsely accused a civil servant of wrongdoing, tried to sell a dress that said overthrow the government and now have attacked a hard-working business leader who was helping others just to try and score cheap points, caucus chair Greg Nesbitt said. Its incredibly disappointing.

 With files from Carol Sanders

danielle.dasilva@freepress.mb.ca
More than 182,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccines earmarked for Manitoba have been donated for international aid in the past seven months.

More than 182,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccines earmarked for Manitoba have been donated for international aid in the past seven months.

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The province started sending excess vaccine supply back for federal redistribution at the end of July. The surplus doses go back to the federal government and become part of the supply thats donated to other countries.

Canada has donated 13.8 million doses to the COVID-19 Vaccine Global Access facility (COVAX) and an additional 762,080 AstraZeneca doses to Latin American and Caribbean countries via direct agreements with those countries, as of Feb. 25.

Its unclear how much excess vaccine supply is contributed per province and territory. A provincial breakdown of redistributed doses was not available Friday.

In a statement, a provincial government spokesperson said Manitoba is one of the few provinces that can donate excess vaccines.

Though international vaccination programs for COVID-19 are within the purview of the federal government, Manitoba is supportive of international efforts to promote and provide vaccines.

Manitoba has contributed vaccines that had been previously allocated for our province to the federal supply, which becomes part of the supply used to support other countries. Manitoba is one of the few provinces that can send excess vaccine stock back for donation due to the provincial warehouse having a drug establishment licence.
The Winnipeg Police Service has shared more detail of its hotly debated response to the weeks-long downtown protest against COVID-19 restrictions.

The Winnipeg Police Service has shared more detail of its hotly debated response to the weeks-long downtown protest against COVID-19 restrictions.

Following complaints delayed law enforcement left area residents and workers to suffer for too long, police stressed Friday the response was focused on keeping the peace.

"Im happy with the outcome of the event. Its pretty rare to have a gathering that went that long, with no violence, no mass arrest, no use of force, so that part of it was good. It doesnt take away from what the community experienced down there. People that live and work in the immediate area, they took the brunt of it, no question about it," police Chief Danny Smyth told reporters.

Smyths comments followed an extensive discussion on the incident at a meeting of the Winnipeg Police Board.

The February anti-mandate protest delayed traffic and created excessive noise around the Manitoba legislature, leading many to question why traffic and bylaw offences werent resulting in tickets.

Police focused primarily on public safety, said police Supt. Dave Dalal, who led part of the response.

"We aim to minimize disruptions to the community, without escalation, whenever possible Sometimes arrests are necessary, sometimes ticketing is necessary, sometimes discretion is the correct decision," Dalal said Friday.

The protest attracted about 150 full-time participants each day, with peak weekend attendance sometimes exceeding 1,000, he said.

Police received about 168 noise complaints.

Winnipeg police Chief Danny Smyth says he was happy with the outcome of the event since there was no violence. (Ruth Bonneville / Winnipeg Free Press)

In addition to a previously reported arrest linked to a vehicle-pedestrian collision, one other person was arrested for causing a disturbance; no tickets were issued, Dalal said.

A total of 239 different Winnipeg police officers were assigned at various times to cover the protest, which cost the department about $100,000 worth of overtime.

Police learned on Feb. 1 the protest would begin Feb. 4, Dalal said. Police immediately contacted organizers to begin negotiations, he said.

He credited those talks over the following weeks for helping ensure emergency vehicles could access the area, generated noise gradually lessened, and the space occupied by the protest shrunk over time.

"I am confident that the tactics we took were appropriate at the time to keep on a path of peaceful resolution," said Dalal.

Issuing tickets could have had unintended consequences, he said.

"Going down to ticket one person, (you can be) surrounded by those who are supportive of that person and it can cause a larger police response Ticketing is an escalation, and we are constantly in de-escalation mode."

Police plan to share further details of their post-mortem assessment of the response with the police board; Smyth told media hes not sure if that will take place publicly.

During Fridays meeting, some Winnipeggers who live near the protest site said it caused a major disruption in their lives and accused police of failing to address it.

"After about day two of the occupation, people gave up on police and reporting the incidents because it was clear nothing was going to be done," said Omar Kinnarath, an organizer with Defend Winnipeg, which carried out a counter protest.

Coun. Sherri Rollins accused the police of failing to provide enough detail about the protest response. (Ruth Bonneville / Winnipeg Free Press)

In addition to excessive vehicle honking, some protesters drank alcohol and urinated in public, Kinnarath said, adding some residents moved in with friends or stayed in hotels to escape the disruption.

Abdikheir Ahmed, co-chairman of the Police Accountability Coalition, questioned the "hands-off approach," as residents complained of sleepless nights.

"The Winnipeg Police Service failed to protect their rights. We feel that this is not the way to respond (after) peoples lives were disrupted for weeks on end," said Ahmed.

Prior to Dalals presentation, Coun. Sherri Rollins accused the police of failing to provide enough detail about the protest response, urging board members to either ask additional questions or resign from the oversight body.

"If they cannot muster a question then, for sure, they should resign," Rollins told reporters.

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The board engaged in a lengthy question period on the topic later in the meeting.

Coun. Markus Chambers, who leads the police board, said he appreciated the departments efforts to avoid using force.

"I know for a lot of Winnipeggers, it seemed like there was inaction but there was action being done by the police, and the fact that it came to a peaceful resolution, I was happy with that," he said.

However, Chambers said he would have preferred to see police share more details of their response with the public sooner.

joyanne.pursaga@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @joyanne_pursaga
A rally on Sunday will call on Manitobans to do more to help Ukraine and ask NATO members to enforce a no-fly zone over the country being attacked by Russia.

A rally on Sunday will call on Manitobans to do more to help Ukraine and ask NATO members to enforce a no-fly zone over the country being attacked by Russia.

Its a desperate plea for help, said Ukrainian Canadian Congress spokesperson Alexandra Shkandrij, who expects elected officials from all three levels of government to attend the rally and show their support.

What were seeing is unprecedented. Youre seeing the levelling of cities, youre seeing the use of cluster bombs, youre seeing the use of thermobaric weaponry, and youre seeing the bombing of a nuclear power station, she said Friday after shelling by Russian forces damaged a plant in eastern Ukraine on Thursday.

None of these things have been seen in war and these are war crimes. These are civilian targets, said Shkandrij, whose relatives in Ukraine are potential targets.

They send us updates letting us know which subway station theyre sheltering in so we know, just in case the worst happens, where to look for them, said Shkandrij, the exhibits curator at Oseredok who volunteers with the congress.

She was getting the word out about Sundays 2 p.m. rally on the grounds of the Manitoba legislature.

The congress has set up a portal for Manitobans to register if theyre willing to provide shelter to Ukrainians displaced by the war. The federal government is expediting temporary visas for Ukrainians who seek safe haven in Canada.

The congress is asking Ottawa to remove the visa requirements for Ukrainians, impose tougher sanctions against Russian oligarchs, increase both lethal and humanitarian aid to Ukraine and support a NATO-enforced no-fly zone.

The organizers of Sundays rally want NATO member states to enforce a no-fly zone in support of non-NATO member Ukraine.

NATO already is involved in this, said Shkandrij. Theyre funding a war with Ukrainian soldiers rather than with citizens of NATO and western states, she said.

If a NATO member state shoots down a Russian aircraft over Ukraine, Russia isnt likely to back off and it wont end well, said Andrea Charron, director of the Centre for Defence and Security Studies at the University of Manitoba.

The wider concern is that if we draw in the United States, the United Kingdom, France, against Russia, this is going to escalate quickly into a world war scenario, Charron said Friday, noting that Canadas air force doesnt have the capability to enforce a no-fly zone.

The history of no-fly zones has been rather disastrous in many cases. It doesnt achieve the desired goal of protecting civilians, the academic said. In fact, then you have more assets raining down ammunition that can still hit civilians. And Russia will take this as a declaration of war.

The fact that Russian President Vladimir Putin has threatened to use nuclear weapons if other countries use force to intervene in Ukraine is a wicked problem, said Charron. Were damned if we do and were damned if we dont. Certainly, the Ukrainian people are going to feel this most acutely.

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She has concerns about a no-fly zone but sees Sundays rally as an effective way to help Ukraine.

These peaceful protests are a way to show community support, Charron said. Videos are getting to people in Ukraine and thats heartening for them to see that the world isnt forgetting about them.

The rally is an opportunity to encourage donations to humanitarian aid groups, she said.

Shkandrij said the existential threat posed by Putin to Ukraine, to democracy and to the rules-based international order demands a tougher response.

If you allow for this to happen, then every state who has territorial ambitions and has nuclear weapons will pursue a similar path  and everyone who wants to go down that path will pursue nuclear weapons. So were in a position where we have to make choices that no one wants to make.

carol.sanders@freepress.mb.ca
Its contents are as dire as dire can be, and yet the new scientific report released last Monday by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change was largely eclipsed by other events in a particularly fraught news cycle.

Its contents are as dire as dire can be, and yet the new scientific report released last Monday by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change was largely eclipsed by other events in a particularly fraught news cycle.

A rapidly escalating Russian invasion of Ukraine, the recent occupation of the trucker convoy, loosening pandemic restrictions, brutal winter weather  all important issues worthy of attention, to be sure. But surely the looming end of life as we know it should be able to garner a bit of attention.

The report is grim. Time is running out, scientists (again) warn; we are, to borrow a phrase from United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres, "getting clobbered by climate change." He also called the report "an atlas of human suffering and a damning indictment of failed climate leadership."

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres (Michael Probst / The Associated Press)

Indeed, scientists have been sounding the alarm on climate change for years, calling for the worlds nations to get their emissions under control. Most people should be familiar, by now, with the "1.5 Celsius threshold" as outlined by the 2015 Paris Agreement, that asks nations to commit to limiting global warming to no more that 1.5 Celsius. Its a limit that was stressed again repeatedly at COP26 in Glasgow last fall. That limit, the thinking goes, will help stave off the worst.

Warming beyond 1.5 Celsius will lead to catastrophic storms, floods, droughts. Quoting the final line of the report, climate activist Greta Thunberg tweeted, "If we delay emission cuts we will miss a brief and rapidly closing window of opportunity to secure a liveable and sustainable future for all. Every sentence describing the new #IPCC report is completely life changing. Literally everything is at stake."

Some responses dismissed her as hysterical; others pointed out, rather patronizingly, that there are more immediate concerns to deal with.

But that kind of response hits on a perennial problem: the tendency to look at these concerns as individual when, in fact, war, climate change, pandemics  the kind of crises that dominate headlines and demand our attention  are all interconnected.

CP Warming beyond 1.5 C will lead to catastrophic storms, floods, droughts. (David Goldman / The Canadian Press files)

Mass climate migration as the result of fire, flood and famine, coupled with resource scarcity and hoarding, will, without a doubt, lead to large-scale conflict.

A warming climate allows disease to flourish; according to a ProPublica article, climate change is "driving a catastrophic loss in biodiversity that, when coupled with reckless deforestation and aggressive conversion of wildland for economic development, pushes farms and people closer to the wild and opens the gates for the spread of disease."

Diseases that jump from animals to humans are of particular concern. A warmer climate would also mean that mosquito-borne diseases such as malaria dengue fever would be more widespread.

None of us is exempt from this. This is the only home we have, and it is simultaneously flooding and burning down. This is not some distant, hazy, far-off future were talking about. Its here.

The thing is, most of us know all this. Worse, weve known about it for quite some time. Which raises the question: what will it take for the worlds nations to take swift, decisive action on climate change? What will it take to make people care about this existential threat?

Unfortunately, doomsday declarations and dire warnings from the worlds scientists dont seem to be doing the job. Our future depends on our actions in the present. "Delay means death," as Mr. Guterres intoned this week. And when the brief and rapidly closing window that remains finally slams shut on us, none of us can say we werent warned.
Joan Hodgson has been in a hospital bed 350 kilometres from home for nearly three months because of a broken leg.

Joan Hodgson has been in a hospital bed 350 kilometres from home for nearly three months because of a broken leg.

The 80-year-old hasnt been able to see family or friends and has no idea when shell be able to return to her Winnipeg home.

"I had no choice. I had nothing with me, no clothes, no shoes, no money, no nothing," Joan said of the transfer. She spoke to the Free Press via a direct phone line from her hospital bed on Friday.

She said she's struggling in an unfamiliar place, but has been receiving good care from the nurses at the Russell Health Centre.

"I'm still up in Russell because there's nowhere for me to go," she said. "I'm at a bit of a loss to know what to do to get anything done. Oh dear, it's so difficult for me, and it's difficult for me to explain."

SUPPLIED Eighty-year-old Joan Hodgson with her son, Chris, who died in a Winnipeg hospital in February. Joan had not seen him since she was admitted to hospital with a broken leg in December.

Her 46-year-old son Chris, who was her primary caregiver, died last month. Hodgson hadnt seen him since she was admitted to hospital in late December.

Then she was airlifted from Concordia Hospital to the Russell Health Centre on Jan. 12  one of 305 Manitobans transferred to facilities outside their home communities in order to free up beds for COVID-19 patients during the pandemics fourth wave that was fuelled by the fast-spreading Omicron-variant.

Her daughter, Kate Hodgson, lives in Vancouver. Shes raising concerns about a lack of oversight and communication for transferred patients who still dont know when theyre going home despite declining virus hospitalization numbers. Shes worried her mother is "getting lost in the system."

"To not be able to see her, but worse yet to feel like there is no one overseeing her case or these other cases, and to know theres an indifference in the system as to what happens, its heartbreaking. My nightmare scenario is are we going to lose her before we can get back there?" Kate told the Free Press Friday.

"The leg is one thing, but the isolation for these months, I think, has had a massive negative impact on her emotional health and mental health, and thats not fair. That is not OK. It would be different for her if people were communicating a plan to her and to me, but it seems like a lot of overworked and very-stressed workers trying to navigate a system that nobody seems in charge of."

The leg is one thing, but the isolation for these months, I think, has had a massive negative impact on her emotional health and mental health, and thats not fair. That is not OK."  Kate Hodgson

In a statement, a Shared Health spokesperson said hospital-bed availability is closely monitored so transferred patients can return to their home communities "as soon as needs subside elsewhere in the system and an appropriate bed is available."

The statement didnt address specifics about what process is in place to return transferred patients, or to ensure they get appropriate treatment away from home.

Shared Health could not say how many of the transferred patients have returned to their home regions.

"Patients leaving or returning to Winnipeg who require low-acuity transport are being moved by local EMS, contracted stretcher services or a dedicated basic air ambulance. We note that poor road conditions due to unfavourable weather this winter has, at times, resulted in the postponement of some transports," the provincial health authority said.

SUPPLIED Eighty-year-old Joan Hodgson, left, broke her leg in Winnipeg in December and has been in a hospital bed in Russell for nearly three months, away from her family and friends, with no return in sight.

After Hodgson was admitted to Concordia, a followup appointment to assess her legs healing and determine future care requirements was booked for her on Feb. 1 at a Winnipeg clinic.

The appointment was cancelled, rebooked and cancelled again because she had no transportation. Kate said health officials plan was to have her mother driven to Winnipeg and back to Russell the same day, but the service wasnt available.

"To move an 80-year-old woman four-and-a-half hours from Russell to Winnipeg, and then drive her four-and-a-half hours back was their plan? Who would do that?" Kate said.

After a month-long delay, Hodgson received her assessment remotely Friday via MBTelehealth, but was told only that shell need to wait a few more weeks for another X-ray, her daughter said, adding Hodgson is immobile, unable to bear any weight on her leg.

"Theres still no plan for her to return," Kate said.

To move an 80-year-old woman four-and-a-half hours from Russell to Winnipeg, and then drive her four-and-a-half hours back was their plan? Who would do that?  Kate Hodgson

Kate and her family plan to travel to Winnipeg later this month. They havent been able to visit sooner because of COVID-19 outbreaks at the Russell Health Centre. She said her brother Chris, who worked as a health-care aide in a seniors home and twice contracted the virus on the job, had a difficult time physically and mentally after their mother was transferred to Russell. He died Feb. 5.

Taking people away from their support systems, even in a pandemic, has a "massive toll," she said.

"Both my mom and my brother were critical supports to each other, and he definitely was doing worse when she was in hospital, and it was breaking his heart not being able to see her.

"I think there would be very different outcomes for both of them right now if it wasnt for COVID and if we had systems that worked in a better way, and were funded in a much more robust way."

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In the past week, nine Manitoba patients have been transferred to other health regions and there are currently no plans to end Manitobas inter-regional patient transfer protocol. David Matear, co-commander of the provinces COVID-19 incident command team, has said the policy was in place before the pandemic, to a lesser extent, and will continue.

"Obviously its not desirable for patients to be moved far away from home, and that is an issue that we recognize," Matear said last month.

"We appreciate the understanding of families and patients and residents as we go through this and being able to maintain patient flow in our system."

katie.may@winnipegfreepress.com
LVIV, Ukraine (AP)  Russian President Vladimir Putin warned Saturday that Ukrainian statehood is in jeopardy and likened the West's sanctions on Russia to declaring war, while a promised cease-fire in the besieged port city of Mariupol collapsed amid scenes of terror.

Ukrainian soldiers help a fleeing family crossing the Irpin river in the outskirts of Kyiv, Ukraine, Saturday, March 5, 2022. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)

LVIV, Ukraine (AP)  Russian President Vladimir Putin warned Saturday that Ukrainian statehood is in jeopardy and likened the West's sanctions on Russia to "declaring war," while a promised cease-fire in the besieged port city of Mariupol collapsed amid scenes of terror.

With the Kremlins rhetoric growing fiercer and a reprieve from fighting dissolving, Russian troops continued to shell encircled cities and the number of Ukrainians forced from their country grew to 1.4 million. By nighttime Russian forces had intensified their shelling of Mariupol, while dropping powerful bombs on residential areas of Chernihiv, a city north of Kyiv, Ukrainian officials said.

Bereft mothers mourned slain children, wounded soldiers were fitted with tourniquets and doctors worked by the light of their cellphones as bleakness and desperation pervaded. Crowds of men lined up in the capital to join the Ukrainian military.

The government has ordered men between the ages of 18 and 60 to stay and be available to fight. Some, like Volodymyr Onysko, have volunteered.

People lie on the floor of a hospital during shelling by Russian forces in Mariupol, Ukraine, Friday, March 4, 2022. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka)

"We know why we are here. We know why we defend our country," Onysko told Britains Sky News. "We know what we are doing, and thats why we will win."

Putin continued to pin the blame for the war squarely on the Ukrainian leadership and slammed their resistance to the invasion.

"If they continue to do what they are doing, they are calling into question the future of Ukrainian statehood," he said. "And if this happens, it will be entirely on their conscience."

He also hit out at Western sanctions that have crippled Russia's economy and sent the value of its currency tumbling.

"These sanctions that are being imposed, they are akin to declaring war," he said during a televised meeting with flight attendants from Russian airline Aeroflot. "But thank God, we havent got there yet."

Medical workers try to save the life of Marina Yatsko's 18 month-old son Kirill, who was fatally wounded by shelling, at a hospital in Mariupol, Ukraine, Friday, March 4, 2022. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka)

Russia's financial system suffered yet another blow as Mastercard and Visa announced they were suspending operations in the country.

Ten days after Russian forces invaded, the struggle to enforce the temporary cease-fires in Mariupol and the eastern city of Volnovakha showed the fragility of efforts to stop the fighting across Ukraine.

Ukrainian officials said Russian artillery fire and airstrikes had prevented residents from leaving before the agreed-to evacuations got underway. Putin accused Ukraine of sabotaging the effort.

A third round of talks between Russia and Ukraine will take place Monday, according to Davyd Arakhamia, a member of the Ukrainian delegation. He gave no additional details, including where they would take place.

Previous meetings were held in Belarus and led to the failed cease-fire agreement to create humanitarian corridors for the evacuation of children, women and older people from besieged cities, where pharmacies have run bare, hundreds of thousands face food and water shortages, and the injured have been succumbing to their wounds.

Marina Yatsko and her boyfriend Fedor comfort each other after her 18-month-old son Kirill was killed by shelling in a hospital in Mariupol, Ukraine, Friday, March 4, 2022. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka)

Mariupol Mayor Vadym Boychenko said thousands of residents had gathered for safe passage out of the city of 430,000 when shelling began and the evacuation was stopped. Later in the day, he said the attack had escalated further.

"The city is in a very, very difficult state of siege," Boychenko told Ukrainian TV. "Relentless shelling of residential blocks is ongoing, airplanes have been dropping bombs on residential areas. The Russian occupants are using heavy artillery, including Grad multiple rocket launchers."

Russia has made significant advances in the south, seeking to cut off Ukraines access to the sea. Capturing Mariupol could allow Russia to establish a land corridor to Crimea, which it annexed in 2014.

Meanwhile the head of the Chernihiv region said Russia has dropped powerful bombs on residential areas of the city of the same name, which has a population of 290,000. Vyacheslav Chaus posted a photo online of what he said was an undetonated FAB-500, a 1,100-pound (500-kilogram) bomb.

"Usually this weapon is used against military-industrial facilities and fortified structures," Chaus said.

Ukrainians crowd under a destroyed bridge as they try to flee crossing the Irpin river in the outskirts of Kyiv, Ukraine, Saturday, March 5, 2022. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)

In a speech to Ukrainians, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy pointed to "the 500-kilogram bombs that were dropped on the houses of Ukrainians. Look at Borodyanka, at the destroyed schools, at the blown-up kindergartens. At the damaged Kharkiv Assumption Cathedral. Look what Russia has done."

The West has broadly backed Ukraine, offering aid and weapons and slapping Russia with vast sanctions. But the fight itself has been left to Ukrainians, who have expressed a mixture of courageous resolve and despondency.

"Ukraine is bleeding," Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said in a video released Saturday, "but Ukraine has not fallen."

Russian troops advanced on a third nuclear power plant, having already taken control of one of the four operating in the country and the closed plant in Chernobyl, Zelenskyy told U.S. lawmakers.

Zelenskyy pleaded with the lawmakers for additional help, specifically fighter planes to help secure the skies over Ukraine, even as he insisted Russia was being defeated.

People cross on an improvised path under a bridge that was destroyed by a Russian airstrike, while fleeing the town of Irpin, Ukraine, Saturday, March 5, 2022. What looked like a breakthrough cease-fire to evacuate residents from two cities in Ukraine quickly fell apart Saturday as Ukrainian officials said shelling had halted the work to remove civilians hours after Russia announced the deal. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)

"Were inflicting losses on the occupants they could not see in their worst nightmare," Zelenskyy said.

Russian troops took control of the southern port city of Kherson this week. Although they have encircled Kharkiv, Mykolaiv, Chernihiv and Sumy, Ukrainian forces have managed to keep control of key cities in central and southeastern Ukraine, Zelenskyy said.

U.S. President Joe Biden called Zelenskyy early Sunday, Kyiv time, to discuss Russia sanctions and speeding U.S. assistance to Ukraine. The White House said the conversation also covered talks between Russia and Ukraine but did not give details.

Meanwhile, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken was in Poland to meet with the prime minister and foreign minister, a day after attending a NATO meeting in Brussels in which the alliance pledged to step up support for eastern flank members.

Blinken also spoke by phone with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, who said Beijing opposes any moves that "add fuel to the flames" in Ukraine, according to the Chinese Foreign Ministry. Blinken said the world is watching to see which nations stand up for freedom and sovereignty, the State Department said.

Ukrainian paramedics cover with the National flag the grave of their colleague Valentyna Pushych killed by Russian troops in a cemetery in Kyiv, Ukraine, Saturday, March 5, 2022. (AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky)

In Moscow, Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett met with Putin at the Kremlin. Israel maintains good relations with both Russia and Ukraine, and Bennett has offered to act as an intermediary in the conflict, but no details of the meeting emerged immediately. Bennett's office said he spoke twice with Zelenskyy afterward.

In the wake of Western sanctions, Aeroflot, Russias flagship state-owned airline, announced plans to halt all international flights except to Belarus starting Tuesday.

The death toll of the conflict was difficult to measure. The U.N. human rights office said at least 351 civilians have been confirmed killed since the Feb. 24 invasion, but the true number is probably much higher.

Ukraine's military is vastly outmatched by Russia's, but its professional and volunteer forces have fought back with fierce tenacity. Even in cities that have fallen, there were signs of resistance.

Onlookers in Chernihiv cheered as they watched a Russian military plane fall from the sky and crash, according to video released by the Ukrainian government. In Kherson, hundreds of protesters waved blue and yellow Ukrainian flag sand shouted, "Go home."

A vast Russian armored column threatening Ukraines capital remained stalled outside Kyiv. Ukrainian presidential adviser Oleksiy Arestovich said in the afternoon that the military situation was quieter overall and Russian forces hadn't "taken active actions since the morning."

The U.S. Congress is considering a request for $10 billion in emergency funding for humanitarian aid and security needs. The U.N. said it would increase its humanitarian operations both inside and outside Ukraine, and the Security Council scheduled a meeting for Monday on the worsening situation.

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The U.N. World Food Program has warned of an impending hunger crisis in Ukraine, a major global wheat supplier, saying millions will need food aid "immediately."

Kyivs central train station remained crowded with people desperate to flee. "People just want to live," one woman, Ksenia, said.

___

Associated Press reporters from around the world contributed to this report.

___

Follow the APs coverage of the Ukraine crisis at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine
Willa Krase wanted to see if iron could possibly solve the global warming crisis. Ben Brand wanted to see if brewers could use their excess yeast in a more sustainable way.

They are both heading to the Minnesota state science fair because of it.

Krase and Brand, both students at Winona Senior High School, won the regional science fair competition at Winona State University to qualify for the state fair, which will be held virtually on March 27.

Krases project was called The effect of iron on carbon dioxide consumption in algae: Could iron be the solution to global warming? She looked as iron as it acts as a catalyst in the electron transport chain in photosynthesis. In theory, the more iron that is present in a plant, the better it would do regarding photosynthesis. This could be used to help combat global warming.

Brands project was called Impact of yeast on the biomass of Wisconsin fast plants. Brand looked at Bakers yeast as a biofertilizer to boost growth of plants. This project could help brewers recycle their waste in the future.

Each student won additional awards, including some that came with cash prizes.

Krase received the Efficiency Detectives Energy and the Environment Award, the Association of Women Scientists Award, NOAA Taking the Pulse of the Planet Award, American Meteorological Society Award, Bart Foster Award for Environment and the NASA Earth System Science Award.

Brand won the Excellence in Biology & Innovation Award.

Paul Schollmeier, director of the regional science fair, presented Krase and Brand with their awards at a ceremony at the high school. Advising the students in the science fair process was WSHS science teacher Ken Mann.

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SACRAMENTO, Calif.

Thirty-two years ago, I saw something in Odessa, Ukraine, that still fascinates me.

We were at a popular park on the Black Sea. A long line of Ukrainians  maybe 50  were at a booth where T-shirts, snacks and newspapers were being sold. People were there for the newspapers.

Even back then, this was a remarkable sight. Americans werent lining up for newspapers three decades ago and certainly arent these days.

Ukrainians were grabbing up newspapers because their parliament had just  on July 16, 1990  declared the nations independence from the Soviet Union.

They couldnt read enough about it. This was their July 4, 1776.

But there were no fireworks. No high-fives. Not even much talk. It was eerily quiet. People sat at picnic tables, on benches or on the grass immersed in a paper. Their faces showed confusion and concern.

You could see them thinking: Now what? How does this affect me? What will the Russians do?

It took a while, but they began to get an answer 24 years later when Russia annexed  seized  Ukraines Crimean Peninsula.

The full answer came last Thursday when Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered a brutish attack on Ukraine by land, sea and air.

In Odessa, people awoke to exploding missiles. Russian troops and tanks moved north from the Crimea. In the Black Sea, where our cruise ship had sailed placidly in 1990, foreign commercial vessels reported being hit by bombs and missiles.

It reminds us of the difference a national leader can make. In 1990, Russia was led by a friendly reformer, Mikhail Gorbachev. Now, its being dangerously steered off course by a Soviet throwback bully.

The collapse of the Soviet Union and emergence of democracies in Eastern Europe was an exciting time in the 1990s and early 2000s  especially for American political consultants and activists who were drawn to the struggle for democratization.

One such political junkie was Sean Garrett, a 24-year-old press aide for Gov. Pete Wilson.

Garretts birth mother was a Lithuanian immigrant and hed always been curious about his roots. So in 1992 he wrangled a job helping the pro-democracy side in Lithuanias second free election.

Everyone in the governors office thought I was insane, Garrett, now 54, recalled last week.

Garrett became an instant celebrity in Lithuania.

Garrett constantly urged democracy advocates to keep their message simple. One day he provided an example. At a rock concert, he suddenly was asked to address the 5,000 young people there.

I walked out, he recalled, and said, Ive got one question for the future of Lithuania: Do you want Lenin, or do you want Levis?

They went nuts. Levis. Levis.

Four years later, Garrett worked in Ukraine helping people adjust to a free market economy.

But for most of his career, he has been a public relations consultant for Bay Area tech firms.

A lot of people who have only been to Western Europe still think of Eastern Europe as a Soviet bloc, Garrett says. If youve been to Paris or Munich, youve been to Ukraine. Its very European.

In 1996, three top Wilson strategists were hired covertly to help Russian President Boris N. Yeltsin win reelection. His image was in the dumpster. But being Americans, they couldnt be seen working with the Kremlin leader. So, they secretly dealt with his influential 36-year-old daughter.

Yeltsin beat a hard-core communist.

Youre dealing with the oligarchs in Russia, lead strategist George Gorton later recalled. It can be frightening.  I was very happy to get out in one piece.

Before he ran Arnold Schwarzeneggers successful 2003 recall campaign that toppled Gov. Gray Davis, consultant Mike Murphy worked for capitalist causes in Romania and Georgia.

In Romania, he scrounged up money for a newspaper backing the opposition so it could bribe a nightwatchman to obtain a railroad car full of newsprint. The government was blocking the papers access to it.

In Georgia, he advised pro-democracy candidates running against a Russian-backed party.

Western consultants rely on mass communication, persuasion and organizing, he says. Russians just tell the head of the railroad to call in everyone for emergency work on election day so they cant vote. We put up a negative TV ad in Georgia, and they just turned off the power. Pretty slick.

As for Putin, at the end of this hell be a pariah, Murphy says. Putin may win a few military battles, but hes going into a quagmire. Hes delusional.

For one, Russias economy is only half the size of Californias.

State budget nerds in Sacramento are trying to assess what financial effect the war and sanctions will have on California.

It wont amount to a hill of beans for the fifth-largest economy in the world, says finance department spokesman H.D. Palmer.

Its a given gas prices will rise.

Murphys right: Putin will score short-term military wins, but in the long run hell be branded a loser  a power-mad thug who brutalized a neighbor and threw his own country under the avtobus.

Odessans will love reading about it in their newspaper.

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Keith Stein seems to be pretty popular among the Linn County community. To wit: Courtroom 1 was packed on Friday, March 4 for his investiture ceremony where he was officially acknowledged as Linn County Circuit Courts newest judge.

Oregon Gov. Kate Brown appointed Stein, 45, to the bench in late January, and in February he was sworn in. The investiture marked his welcome to the bench from the community.

Stein fills the vacancy left by former Linn County Circuit Court Judge David Delsman, whose retirement was effective Nov. 1.

Family and friends of Stein, prosecutors and defense attorneys were all in attendance.

Its pretty cool, Steins 16-year-old son Benjamin said. I know he worked hard for this, and hes not taking it lightly.

County representatives, such as District Attorney Doug Marteeny, Sheriff Michelle Duncan and Commissioner Roger Nyquist were also in attendance. Current and past judges sat in the jury box.

Linn County Circuit Court Presiding Judge Thomas McHill oversaw the ceremony.

In my relationship with Keith that goes back several years, hes an honest person, hes a smart guy, hes compassionate, McHill said. He is truly interested in justice and justice for everybody. Were happy to have him on the bench and were proud that he has agreed to join us.

Stein took his oath of office, promising to take on the duties and responsibilities that come with his new job. His wife helped with his official robing. Stein struggled to zip up the robe, which led to some light-hearted laughter.

Although he didnt always envision himself becoming a judge, Steins more than 15 years working in the district attorneys office has prepared him for the new gig, he said.

Having worked under Marteeny for many years, Stein asked his former boss to say a few words during the ceremony.

I did ask Doug Marteeny to give a good speech, so I wouldnt have to, Stein joked.

Marteeny took the opportunity to share a few personal stories about Stein that exemplify why he believes the former prosecutor is ready for new responsibilities.

Keith is compassionate, Marteeny said. Its an attribute that you want in someone when youre about to hand them some power. Ive seen Keith interacting with many, many victims. He spent hours listening to them, speaking with them, advocating on their behalf.

Marteeny touched on Steins humility, saying this attribute will serve him well in his new role. He emphasized the skills he has seen Stein utilize in court during his time as a prosecutor that will make him a good judge.

He and I have called each other many things: Keith, friend,  but it is my honor to call you judge, Marteeny said.

Stein closed out the ceremony with a speech of his own. He acknowledged how much he has learned from current and past judges, many of whom were in the room.

He even got in a few friendly jabs, emphasizing his colleagues quirks and working styles. Many anecdotes were followed by a teasing, You know who you are.

The courtroom erupted with laughter more times than one. It was as jovial as a courtroom can get.

But toward the end of his remarks, Stein got a little more serious, acknowledging the responsibility hes about to take on.

I have learned that it isnt the black and white of the law that matters, he said. It is the culture, its the integrity of the people who enforce the law and who interpret the law. Theyre the ones who form the pillars that instill faith in the community.

Maddie Pfeifer covers public safety for Mid-Valley Media. She can be contacted at 541-812-6091 or Madison.Pfeifer@lee.net. Follow her on Twitter via @maddiepfeifer_

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After more than a decade, Baraboo Police Chief Mark Schauf has announced he will have his last day in charge of the department May 6.

I very much appreciate all of the people Ive worked with all over the years, Schauf said. I think relationships have been the most important part of this job and I appreciate the people who have been there for me and for the department and the community.

Schauf began as a sergeant with the Baraboo Police Department in 1999, when he transferred from the Eau Claire Police Department, and then became a lieutenant and supervisor of patrol operations in 2002.

Im not done, Ill say that, Schauf said. I dont know what that means, but Im not done.

Under Wisconsin Statute 62.13, the city Police and Fire Commission will be the body that chooses the next police chief.

City Administrator Casey Bradley said the aim now is to ensure the description of the position is updated to reflect the wishes of council members through the city strategic plan.

It doesnt make sense to have them do a strategic plan that says, Hey, wed like to see the police department do X, Y, and Z and then not incorporate that into a brand new hire, Bradley said.

The first conversations around the strategic plan were more general, larger ideas, not detailed changes, but once the description is updated with current priorities the commission will begin its work, Bradley said. It is more important to find the right person rather than worrying over having an interim chief for a short time, he said.

Hes led the department for a long time, Bradley said. I think everyones sad to see him go, but its part of the process. Hes done a lot for the department.

Police and Fire Commission President Paul Kujak said the hiring process has not yet begun as they await direction from the council. He credited Schauf for the work the chief has done both publicly and without a spotlight, which is something Schauf himself has said he hopes to avoid as he leaves.

Chief Schauf has touched many lives in a positive way in his tenure here in Baraboo, Kujak said. Hes been an exemplary police officer as well as chief. Hes done so many incredible things people will never know about, behind the scenes, and this community could not have been more fortunate than to have Chief Schauf as our chief for his time here.

Follow Bridget on Twitter @cookebridget or contact her at 608-745-3513.

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JUNEAU  A 57-year-old Watertown man faces felony charges for injuries his wife received after she alleged he physically abused her.

Dennis Saxby made his initial appearance in court on Friday charged with felony counts of physical abuse of an elder person-intentionally causing bodily harm and substantial battery. In addition, he face misdemeanor counts of battery and disorderly conduct. All the counts have domestic abuse enhancers. He could face up to 10 years in prison if convicted of all charges.

Saxby appeared before Dodge County Circuit Court Commissioner Steven Seim. Saxby was placed on a $500 cash with conditions that he shall not have any direct or indirect contact or communication with the victim or victims residence, but he may go one time with a uniformed officer to retrieve his personal belongings. He must maintain absolutely sobriety and may not go upon the premises of any establishment whose primary business activity involves the sale or distribution of alcoholic beverages.

According to the criminal complaint, the 65-year-old wife of Saxby arrived at Watertown Memorial Hospital on Thursday at 2:45 a.m. with multiple bruises on her body and skin missing from her head. She reported her husband had assaulted her at their town of Lebanon home. The woman told a deputy that her husband was intoxicated when he came home and was upset at her for calling him when he came home. He began calling her names and telling her that he no longer loved her. The woman said Saxby kept hitting her in the face. She said she waited for Saxby to fall asleep before going for help. The couple got married in 2005.

The woman ended up having a broken nose and bruised hand.

Saxby allegedly originally denied anything happening but later admitted there was a small altercation. According to the criminal complaint, Saxby said he had snapped because she had pushed him emotionally.

A preliminary hearing in the case is scheduled on March 17.

Follow Terri Pederson on Twitter @tlp53916 or contact her at 920-356-6760.

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Russia seizes Europe's biggest nuclear plant, W&M physicist explains the science and risk

On March 4, Russia attacked and eventually took control of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in southeast Ukraine. It is the largest nuclear power plant in Europe. The United Nations' nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency, stated that none of the safety systems at the plant were affected and there was no release of radioactive material in the attack, but the event underscores the possible dangers of warfare around nuclear sites. To understand more about the science and the risk, W&M News spoke with Saskia Mordijck, assistant professor of physics at William & Mary and an internationally recognized fusion energy scientist.  Ed.

You are currently at the headquarters for the International Atomic Energy Agency in Vienna. What is the feeling there about what is happening in Ukraine?

They are watchful and concerned. There are regular press conferences and all the representatives are here. From my IAEA colleague, I know that since the conflict started in Ukraine all his colleagues involved with safety and security have had to drop other things they were working on. Those working on nuclear power have also been busy. So the IAEA started monitoring the situation from the moment Russia invaded Ukraine.

Can you explain the science behind how these reactors work and what the major safety concerns are?

In a fission reactor, neutrons interact with uranium and produce more fast neutrons, a chain reaction. The water in these reactors slows the neutrons down and thus heats up. This water exchanges heat with a second water cycle, which is used to power a turbine, to generate electricity. This is very different from the Chernobyl reactor. This first water cycle and the nuclear reactor itself are housed in a strong concrete structure, which for example are predicted to withstand aircraft impacts, but bombing is another matter. There are six reactors at the facility and at the time of the attack only two were operating. The fire was not at any of the reactors where the nuclear materials are located. At this point, once all the reactors are shut down, the biggest risk is cooling. The nuclear material continues to split and generate heat. Even the spent fuel, from the other reactors, must be in a pool constantly submerged in enough water.

You work in fusion energy  and this is a fission facility, what is the difference between the two?

The main difference is in the safety. Fusion does not create a chain reaction, which means that if we lose control, the reaction shuts itself down. Fusion requires a lot of heat, which it can generate, but if there is a loss of confinement, then everything cools down. We also don't require to store spend fuel and the radioactive waste isn't long-lived, so we don't need a storage solution.

What do you think are possible repercussions for nuclear energy science should there be a nuclear disaster in Ukraine? I'm thinking of Chernobyl and the unintended consequences of relying on fossil fuels instead of nuclear energy.

The type of accident at Chernobyl is not possible at this type of power plant. If in the worst case they lose all potential to cool the fuel, this will be more like Fukushima. However, as we have seen, the personnel of the plant were able to safely shut down the operation during a very stressful time. Since the annexation of Crimea by Russia, Ukraine decided to invest in nuclear power to depend less on fossil fuels. Europe, after a winter of suffering under high prices for gas set by Russia and now in the Ukraine crisis, is also looking into nuclear energy.

What should people in Ukraine, and maybe more specifically those near the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power complex, be doing to keep themselves safe from potential nuclear fallout right now?

At this point, as the Russians have the powerplant, there will be no more shelling. The last reactor is being shut down, from what Ive seen on the news. For there to be a fallout, it would require the active cooling systems to fail. There is no reason to believe this will happen and if it does, there will be time to leave. This is very similar to what we would have to do living in Williamsburg if we are required to evacuate because of a problem with the Surry nuclear power plant.
A jury on Thursday found former Louisville police officer Brett Hankison not guilty of endangering Breonna Taylor's neighbors when he fired multiple gunshots in the raid that resulted in Taylor's death.
The Corvallis police have arrested a man they say attempted to steal a marked police vehicle.

According to a news release from Corvallis PD, officers arrested Cody Boudreaux, 30, on suspicion of unauthorized use of a vehicle, second-degree escape, unlawful entry into a motor vehicle, second-degree criminal trespass and resisting arrest. Boudreaux has no fixed address, according to police.

At around 3:23 a.m. Friday, March 4, according to the release, officers responded to the area next to the Law Enforcement Center following a report of a man screaming in the bushes.

Upon arrival, an officer noticed a man, later identified as Boudreaux, standing in the area where police and sheriffs vehicles are parked. The area contains signs reading, No Trespassing and Authorized Personnel Only.

When an officer asked Boudreaux what he was doing, he allegedly responded getting high. His reportedly erratic behavior was consistent with someone under the influence of a stimulant like methamphetamine, according to the news release.

Boudreaux then allegedly ran into an alley, scaled the side of a building and got onto the roof. After running across the roof, police say he jumped off of it and ran at a Corvallis police vehicle that had just arrived at the scene.

The officer driving the vehicle told Boudreaux to stop, according to the news release, but instead, Boudreaux allegedly jumped into the running vehicle through the open passenger window.

The officer pulled Boudreaux out of the vehicle and tried to take him into custody. Boudreaux allegedly resisted, causing the officer to fall to the pavement. Boudreaux then reportedly re-entered the police car, grabbed the steering wheel and tried to put the car into gear.

The officer used his Taser on Boudreaux before he could leave the scene. Officers gained control of Boudreaux and took him into custody. Two officers sustained injuries during the incident, according to CPD.

Boudreaux was booked into Benton County Jail. According to Oregons online court database, Boudreaux was arraigned in Benton County Circuit Court on the charges he was arrested on.

Judge Matthew Donohue appointed Daniel Armstrong as Boudreauxs defense attorney and set his security at $25,000. His next court appearance is scheduled for March 10.

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Russia poised to deploy up to 1,000 more mercenaries to Ukraine as official warns Moscow could 'bombard cities into submission'
Russia says it will block access to Facebook for restricting Russian media
The White House is discussing sending Vice President Kamala Harris to Poland and Romania. Harris here speaks at the 2022 Munich Security Conference in Germany on February 19.
KYIV,UKRAINE - MARCH 3: [FRANCE OUT] IMAGES EMBARGOED FROM USAGE IN FRANCE FOR 30 DAYS FROM CAPTURE DATE) Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky looks on at a press conference for selected media at his official residence the Maryinsky Palace on March 3,2022 in Kyiv, Ukraine. (Photo by Laurent Van der Stockt for Le Monde/Getty Images)
Online Safety Bill needs significant strengthening to make it fit for purpose, says NSPCC

This article is old - Published: Saturday, Mar 5th, 2022

The NSPCC has warned that an Online Safety Bill needs significant strengthening to make it fit for purpose, just weeks before proposed new laws are due to be published.

Four years after the charity secured a commitment from Government to legislate, Ministers have been told to bolster the Bill or risk missing its fundamental goal of keeping children safe.

The charitys analysis shows current plans fail to address the complex nature and dynamics of online abuse and will not prevent children from coming to avoidable harm.

The NSPCC is now warning that current proposals to hold tech bosses to account risk being all bark and no bite  with senior managers escaping liability for exposing children to harm from negligent product decisions.

It comes as new polling shows overwhelming public support for the robust regulations the NSPCC say are crucial to combat child sexual abuse  but are missing from the current plans.

YouGov asked two and a half thousand UK adults for their views, including 109 adults from Wales, and the results show broad support across region, political party and age for the stronger measures needed to systematically disrupt online grooming.

The polling found that in Wales:

Four in five (83%) of Welsh adults think social media companies should have a legal duty to work with each other to prevent online grooming happening across multiple platforms

91% want companies to have to understand how groomers and child abusers use their sites to abuse children or share child abuse material and take action to prevent it by law

84% would support the appointment of a senior manager, or safety controller, to be held liable for childrens safety on social media sites

Two thirds (64%) of those with an opinion would support the named manager being prosecuted if they failed to protect children from serious harm

Meanwhile, more than 40,000 people have signed an open letter to Culture Secretary Nadine Dorries demanding she toughen up the legislation to protect children from groomers.

To focus minds at the very top of tech firms, the NSPCC want a senior manager to be held liable for childrens safety on every platform, with fines, censure, and criminal sanctions the back stop for negligence.

They are also calling for the Bill to place duties on platforms to tackle grooming pathways which see offenders exploit social media sites to commit abuse across multiple platforms.

Experts say Ministers must close a gap in the legislation that will enable child abusers to continue legally using social media as a shop window to advertise their sexual interest in children.

This allows them to form networks with other offenders and post so-called digital breadcrumbs linking to child abuse content on third party sites.

Sir Peter Wanless, Chief Executive of the NSPCC, said: Ministers must not forget the Online Safety Bill began as a child protection measure. But unless it is significantly strengthened this landmark legislation will fail to protect children from grooming taking place on an industrial scale.

A succession of Parliamentary committees have drawn attention to child protection weaknesses within the draft Bill and public opinion is clear. There is now overwhelming support for Government to take steps to toughen up the legislation and focus on comprehensively preventing abuse.

Public opinion is clear. There is overwhelming support for Government to take steps to toughen up the legislation and focus on comprehensively preventing abuse.

We want the Culture Secretary to act on this consensus and do everything possible to ensure social media can no longer be exploited by groomers to target our children for abuse with devastating ease.

The Welsh Government recognises how important it is to keep children safe online and provides a range of information, guidance and resources for learners, families, teachers and governors on Hwb. It also produces, and update annually, an action plan to protect children and young people online.

Cecile Gwilym, Policy and Public Affairs Manager for NSPCC Cymru/Wales, said: Ensuring protection for children online requires UK-wide regulation and national prevention efforts to work in tandem.

Devolved Governments play a crucial role in providing all children, their families and key professionals with education and training about risks and potential harms online, how to be safe online as well as providing information about where and how to access help and support.

In the last few months three Parliamentary Committees have also recommended the Online Safety Bill is strengthened to disrupt abuse and the NSPCC say the poll shows there is now overwhelming consensus from the public, civil society and MPs for much bolder action.

In December a joint committee of Lords and MPs called for a number of changes to the draft Online Safety Bill to better prevent child abuse.

They recommended introducing a safety controller liable for failure repeated and systemic failings that result in significant risk of serious harm and for a clear legal responsibility on firms to work together to stop harm and abuse that spreads quickly across their platforms.

And in January, the DCMS Committee backed the NSPCCs calls for companies to have to disrupt how offenders game social media design features to organise around material that facilitates abuse but doesnt meet a criminal threshold, by law.

The process sees tribute pages to known victims created by offenders, while algorithms and hashtags spread harmful content and accounts like wildfire to users seeking to abuse children.

The Petitions Committee also called for the Bill to be strengthened last month.

The NSPCCs detailed analysis of the draft Online Safety Bill and their assessment of whether legislation meets its tests to deliver for children is set out in the Duty to Protect report.
This article was initially posted as a thread on Twitter.

The war is having a devastating impact on historians. There are entirely principled and leftwing grounds upon which the Russian invasion of Ukraine should be opposed, and which do not require adapting to the US-NATO coverup of fascism in Ukraines past and present.

But, unfortunately, even historians who have written major works on the fascist Stepan Bandera, the Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists (OUN-B) and the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA) are renouncing their own scholarship to suit the needs of the US-NATO propaganda campaign.

The Statement on Ukraine by scholars of genocide, Nazism and WWII is a disgraceful example of the intellectual and moral capitulation of significant segments of the academic community to the demands for historical falsification.

The statement begins with a reference to World War II, bizarrely attacking Putin for being obsessed with the history of that war, as if it is abnormal for a Russian president to be obsessed with a catastrophe that cost the lives of approximately 30 million Soviet citizens.

One must assume that the statements signatories, who have devoted their professional lives to the study of genocide, are also obsessed with the history of that war, whose central event was the Holocaust in which Bandera and OUN-B played a critical role.

The statements signatories declare: We do not idealize the Ukrainian state and society. Like any other country, it has right-wing extremists and violent xenophobic groups. Ukraine also ought to better confront the darker chapters of its painful and complicated history.

In the context of its history, this statement is indeed an idealization of the Ukrainian state and society. Ukraine is not like any other country which has right-wing extremists and violent xenophobic groups.

Supporters of far-right parties carry torches and a banner with a portrait of Stepan Bandera during a rally in Kiev, Ukraine, January 1, 2019. The banner reads, 'Nothing can stop an idea whose time has come'. (AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky)

As the historians know, despite the horrific genocidal crimes committed by the OUN, under the leadership of their Providnyk (fuehrer) Stepan Bandera, the legacy of the fascist nationalists continues to exert an immense political and cultural influence in Ukraine.

Among the statements signatories is the historian Grzegorz Rossolinski-Liebe, who is the author of an important 652 page scholarly work, titled Stepan Bandera: The Life and Afterlife of a Ukrainian NationalistFascism, Genocide, and Cult.

Rossolinski-Liebe's book, Stepan Bandera: The Life and Afterlife of a Ukrainian Nationalist - Fascism, Genocide, and Cult

This book not only documents the crimes committed by Banderas movement. Rossolinski-Liebe also examined his cult-like status among broad segments of contemporary Ukrainian society.

In the aftermath of the dissolution of the USSR, he writes: Many monuments devoted to the victims of the Ukrainian nationalists or to heroes of the Soviet Union were replaced with monuments devoted to Bandera and the OUN and UPA heroes.

Bandera and Ukrainian revolutionary nationalists again became important elements of western Ukrainian identity.

Not only far-right activists but also the mainstream of western Ukrainian society, including high-school teachers and university professors, considered Bandera to be a national hero... whose memory should be honored for his struggle against the Soviet Union.

Rossolinski-Liebe made the following significant and troubling observation: The post-Soviet memory politics in Ukraine completely ignored democratic values and did not develop any kind of non-apologetic approach to history.

How is this damning commentary on the post-Soviet intellectual life of Ukraine reconciled with the statements cynical and historically apologetic reference to independent and democratic Ukraine?

Rossolinski-Liebe also called attention to the significant international connections forged by Banderas followers with the United States and other imperialist powers during the Cold War.

Iaroslav Stetsko, who had written letters to the Fuhrer, the Duce, the Poglavnik [the top Croatian Nazi], and the Caudillo [Franco], asking them to accept the newly proclaimed Ukrainian state, was in 1966 designated an honorary citizen of the Canadian city of Winnipeg.

The historian continues: In 1983 he was invited to the Capitol and the White House, where George Bush and Ronald Reagan received the last premier of a free Ukrainian state, i.e., which had existed under the control of the Third Reich.

On 11 July 1982, recalls Rossolinski-Liebe, during Captive Nations Week, the red-and-black flag of the OUN-B, introduced at the Second Great Congress of the Ukrainian Nationalists in 1941, flew over the United States Capitol.

It symbolized freedom and democracy, and not ethnic purity and genocidal fascism. Nobody understood that it was the same flag that had flown from the Lviv city hall and other buildings, under which Jewish civilians were mistreated and killed in July 1941...

Given the history of Ukrainian fascism and its truly sordid contemporary significance, the apologetics in which the historians are engaged is as contemptible as it is cowardly.

The Russian government is engaged in its own propaganda-style falsification of history, which must be exposed. Putina bitter opponent of the internationalism of the October Revolutioncounterpoises Russian nationalism to Ukrainian nationalism.

The competing nationalist narratives must be exposedin the interests of uniting Russian and Ukrainian workers in a common struggle against the US-NATO imperialists, their fascist allies within Ukraine, and corrupt regime of capitalist restoration in Russia.
On February 17, Origin Energy announced that the closure of the largest single power station in Australia would be brought forward from 2032 to August 2025.

The coal-fired Eraring plant in the Lake Macquarie, New South Wales (NSW) region, north of Sydney, has produced electricity for four decades and has a workforce of around 500, including permanent employees and contractors. The early closure further threatens the livelihoods of many more workers in the region, including those in nearby mines that supply the plant.

Eraring Power Station [Source: Wikimedia]

Origin chief executive Frank Calabria said the closure was being brought forward due to increased market pressure from lower cost generation, including solar, wind and batteries.

As the market increasingly shifts away from fossil fuels, energy companies are compelled to adjust, not out of concern for the environment, but in defence of profits.

Origin reported a net loss of $2.29 million in 2021, following a net profit of $83 million in 2020. The company attributes this decline to lower demand due to COVID-19, greater rooftop solar uptake and increased output from large-scale renewable energy plants. These factors have pushed down the wholesale price of electricity, even as energy bills for individuals have soared.

NSW Energy Minister Matt Kean has been in discussions with Origin management about the early closure for several months, but the plans were hidden from workers and the Lake Macquarie community. Workers at the Eraring plant were given no advance notice of the companys plan and only found out through the media or in meetings called by management on the day of the announcement.

Unusually, Origin has encouraged workers to speak to the media about the shutdown, likely in an attempt to lobby for government subsidies to prolong the profitable operating life of the plant.

The Australian Energy Market Operator has indicated it will approve the closure and claims there will be enough electricity generation to meet its targets at the time of the closure. Origins proposal relies on new capacity being built by 2025, including a 700-megawatt battery facility, far less than the 2,880-megawatt capacity of Eraring.

Origin claimed it would provide reskilling, career support and redeployment into new roles, where possible. In other words, any redeployment opportunities, should they arise at all, would be offered to a small number of workers, hand-picked by management.

The companys retraining plan will not be shown to workers until the end of July, further shortening the time they would have to search for other work before the plant closes.

The Construction Forestry Maritime Mining Energy Union (CFMEU) and the Australian Manufacturing Workers Union (AMWU), which cover workers at the Eraring plant, claim they were shocked and surprised, and Origin had blindsided workers.

AMWU NSW secretary Cory Wright told the Australian Financial Review: What this announcement shows us is the importance of workers and unions having a seat at the table in discussions around the closure of power stations. The CFMEU issued a statement calling on Origin to engage in genuine two-way consultation.

The demand for a seat at the table, is not aimed at giving workers a voice, but at placing the union bureaucracy in the ideal position to prevent workers from organising a genuine, independent opposition to Origins dictates.

Wright claimed: The AMWU will hold Origin to its stated aim of providing reskilling, career support and redeployment to impacted workers. We will not let any worker be left behind.

The reality is, Origins statement commits it to nothing. The company has treated its workforce with utter contempt, yet both unions claim they will hold the company to its worthless promise.

The promise of alternative arrangements by companies seeking to eliminate production is a fraud promoted by the trade unions and governments to facilitate closures and shut down opposition.

Closures of major industrial sites have been carried out for decades, forming a distinct blueprint of union-management-government collusion. These previous experiences stand as a warning for workers at Eraring and throughout the energy industry.

During the 2017 shutdown of Victorias Hazelwood power station in the Latrobe Valley, the CFMEU collaborated with France-based multinational ENGIE, fully accepting the plant closure on the basis of the companys bogus promise that alternative arrangements would be made for workers.

The Victorian state Labor government used a $22 million transfer scheme partnership to generate acceptance for the closure. The CFMEU and the Australian Council of Trade Unions hailed this as a model to be emulated elsewhere. In fact, by 2019, two years after the closure, fewer than half of the 850 participants in the Victorian governments worker transition scheme had found full-time employment.

Those living in the Latrobe Valley were impacted severely by the loss of more than 1,000 direct and indirect jobs. Many workers were forced to retire early or leave the area. Coal-fired plant closures have transformed the region into a poverty basket, with high unemployment rates and disastrous socio-economic outcomes, such as increased substance abuse and violence.

The unions and consecutive Labor and Liberal governments since the 1990s have presided over a wave of privatisation. Previously state-owned electricity production and distribution networks in NSW, Victoria, South Australia and Queensland were sold off cheaply to private companies, destroying thousands of jobs in the process.

Origin purchased Eraring Energy from the NSW state government in 2013 for $950 million as part of a $3.25 billion sale of state-run electricity retailers Integral Energy and Country Energy. With the Eraring plant providing as much as a 20 percent of NSWs electricity, the sale gave Origin a 33 percent stake in the National Electricity Market (NEM).

In 2019, Hunter, the federal electorate containing the Lake Macquarie and Hunter coal mining areas, saw a 14 percent swing against Labor in a seat held by the party for more than 100 years. A primary concern for working-class voters was Labors record on industrial closures and privatisation. The NSW Labor government of Kristina Keneally sold off the first tranche of the states electricity assets in 2010.

The impending closure of fossil fuel industries has huge implications for the working class. If the transition to renewable technology is left in the hands of corporations and capitalist governments, energy industry workers and their communities face severe losses to their livelihoods.

Climate change is an existential threat to society and carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions must be drastically reduced, including through the closure of coal-fired power stations and other fossil fuel industries. But workers in these industries, who have created massive amounts of wealth for many of the richest people in Australia and the world, often at great risk to their health and lives, must not be forced to pay for the necessary transition to clean energy through the slashing of jobs.

The NEM is currently supplied by 16 coal-fired power stations. Seven are slated to close by 2035, and the rest by 2051. Earlier this month, energy giant AGL announced that Loy Yang A, in the Latrobe Valley, and Bayswater, in the Hunter, would close at least three years ahead of schedule, by 2045 and 2033 respectively.

Under the revised plan, Eraring would shut before the Snowy Hydro 2.0 pumped hydro storage scheme comes fully online in 2026. Industry experts expect a loss of capacity will put upward pressure on prices.

With every development in technology the working class confronts the obstacle of the capitalist mode of production. In the hands of the financial elite, new technologies mean new ways to exploit workers and extract ever-increasing profits. In the hands of the working class however, these developments can be harnessed to reduce working hours and eliminate arduous tasks, with no reduction in pay.

Under the democratic control of workers, the vital transition to clean energy production would provide secure, safe and well-paid jobs for energy workers and an increased standard of living for the entire working class.

This perspective requires a conscious political fight against the entire capitalist system, including big business, Labor and the unions. As a first step, energy workers should form rank-and-file committees in their workplaces and link up with workers throughout the industry and the broader working class. Through these new organisations of struggle, workers can fight against the growing assault on their jobs, pay and conditions, and for socialism, under which vital utilities can be operated to serve the needs of all of society, rather than the profit interests of the wealthy elite.
Members of the Florida House of Representatives convene during a legislative session April 30, 2021, at the Capitol in Tallahassee, Fla. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee, File)

The Florida Senate voted 23-15 Thursday, mostly along party lines, to ban most abortions after 15 weeks of pregnancy. Governor Ron DeSantis is expected to sign the legislation into law. The bill is modeled after an abortion ban in Mississippi that the US Supreme Court, with its 6-3 conservative majority, appears ready to uphold.

The Florida bill bans abortions after 15 weeks pregnancy, allowing only for exceptions involving serious risk to the pregnant woman and for fatal fetal abnormalities. It provides no exceptions for rape or incest, even for young girls.

At an event Friday, DeSantis said These are protections for babies that have heartbeats, that can feel pain, and this is very, very late. There is no scientific evidence to back up the governors claim that fetuses feel pain, and 15 weeks is not very, very late in the average 40-week pregnancy.

Florida is the latest Republican-led state, along with West Virginia and Arizona, to advance a 15-week abortion ban this legislative session. The law is poised to go into effect July 1. Current Florida law bans abortion in the third trimester, or after about 24 weeks, which has for decades made it a refuge for women seeking abortions from across the South. If the bill becomes law, North Carolina will become the nearest state allowing abortion beyond 15 weeks.

DeSantis is fresh off his appearance at the Conservative Political Action Conference in Orlando last week, where in his speech opening the event he told the assembled crowd of reactionaries, Weve accomplished more in this state than anyone thought possible.

Other legislation on the verge of passage in Florida includes banning instruction about sexual orientation or gender identity in some elementary school grades and allowing parents to sue school districts if they believe that teachers made students feel uncomfortable or guilty about a historical event because of their race, gender or national origin.

DeSantis, who is positioning himself for a run for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, has been one of the most outspoken anti-science governors during the COVID-19 pandemic. DeSantis homicidal policies have been in large part responsible for the suffering inflicted on the population in the state, which has seen nearly 6 million cases and over 70,200 deaths from COVID-19, the third highest figures of any US state.

In a video that has gone viral, the governor was seen Wednesday berating high school students for wearing masks during a press conference held at the University of South Florida. With particular venom, the governor shouted at the students lined up behind him, You do not have to wear those masks, adding, I mean, please take them off. Honestly, its not doing anything and weve gotta stop with this COVID theater. So, if you want to wear it, fine, but this is ridiculous. A number of the students were intimidated by DeSantis into removing their masks.

With the new legislation, anti-abortion proponents in Florida hope to piggyback onto the case concerning the Mississippi legislation that the Supreme Court is set to rule upon in late June or early July. If the high court rules in Mississippis favor it would be sharply at odds with what the court has said is the central holding of the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision, which established a constitutional right to abortion and prohibited states from banning the procedure before fetal viability, or at around 23 weeks.

In a brief filed with the Supreme Court in July 2021, Mississippi Attorney General Lynn Fitch argued that the high courts Roe v. Wade ruling was egregiously wrong and should be overturned. She wrote, Under the Constitution, may a State prohibit elective abortions before viability? Yes. Why? Because nothing in constitutional text, structure, history, or tradition supports a right to abortion.

The Florida and Mississippi assault on abortion rights follows the draconian abortion law in Texas that went into effect September 1, 2021. That law prohibits abortions after fetal cardiac activityreferred to incorrectly as a fetal heartbeatis detected, usually around the sixth week of pregnancy when many women are not even aware they are pregnant.

The law allows private citizens to sue anyone who aids and abets a prohibited abortion, possibly awarding those who sue with at least $10,000 if they win their suit. The law has stood up for more than six months, despite similar legislation being struck down by the courts. The law is not enforced by state officials, making it difficult to challenge on constitutional grounds.

Texas abortion clinics are struggling to stay afloat, while clinics in surrounding states have been inundated with women seeking abortions. At a press briefing February 24, founder and CEO of Whole Womans Health, Amy Hagstrom Miller, said, Our Texas clinic staff have transformed clinic counseling sessions into grief support layered with travel logistics. She added, In many cases, theres nothing we can do for them but listen, hold their hands and dry their tears.

The US Supreme Court declined to stop the law from going into effect before September 1. The US Department of Justice also tried to challenge the law and won a temporary injunction from a federal district judge, which was overturned by a higher court. The Supreme Court eventually threw out the DOJs challenge and has also thrown out the vast majority of Texas abortion providers legal challenges.

Planned Parenthood centers in other states saw a nearly 800 percent increase over the same period year before in Texas patients seeking abortions. States seeing large numbers of Texas patients include Louisiana, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Kansas and Colorado.

The burden of carrying an unwanted pregnancy to term impacts mainly poor women, many of whom do not have the resources to travel and receive abortion services in other states. The threat to the constitutional right to abortion will mean deepening poverty along with psychological, financial and medical scars that can last a lifetime, along with the possibility of premature death for the mother.
Chancellor Olaf Scholz announced a gigantic increase in the German military budget in parliament on Sunday. The German Army Special Fund of 100 billion, which he promised, together with the 50 billion that was already budgeted for 2022, means a tripling of the military budget this year.

Military spending is set to continue to rise thereafter. From now on, we will invest more than two percent of our gross domestic product in our defense year after year, said Scholz. Based on the GDP of 2021, this means an increase of 24 billion to over 71 billion, or almost $80 billion, every year.

Overall, this is Germanys largest rearmament program since the end of the Second World War, and it makes Germany Europes strongest military power overnight. By way of comparison, according to the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS), Britains military spending amounted to $61.5 billion last year, Russias to $60.6 billion and Frances to $55 billion.

In parliamentary debate, Scholz and other spokesmen for the government and opposition justified this new foreign policy epoch by referring to Putins aggression against Ukraine. This is nothing more than propaganda.

Significantly, according to a report in Der Spiegel titled The 100-billion bazooka, the rearmament programme was already agreed and finalised during the talks on forming a coalition government last October. The idea has been discussed in the Ministry of Defence for some time now, writes the news magazine. Months ago, the military planners and the departments budgetary officials had already drawn up a series of confidential templates, which were forwarded to the negotiators in the coalition talks.

The Russian invasion of Ukraine, which was provoked by the NATO war offensive, now made the unthinkable possible, reports Der Spiegel. In order to send a strong signal in terms of security policy,the Chancellery brought out the old documents again, in particular a confidential, six-page argument paper dated 26 October. This paper specifically laid out a German Army Special Fund amounting to 102 billion. The military planners also specifically listed where the money should be invested.

The article in Der Spiegel provides an overview of the planned purchases.

Around 34 billion will be invested in multinational armaments projects. These include the Twister system for defence against hypersonic weapons, a Combat Cloud and strategic air transport. In addition, there are mega-projects such as the new European Future Combat Air System (FCAS), the German-French Main Ground Combat System (MGCS) and the Eurodrone.

In addition, new artillery systems and ammunition will be developed together with Britain, a new frigate and airborne platforms with the Netherlands and new submarine technology with Norway.

The majority of the Special Fund (about 68 billion) is earmarked for national large-scale projects. At the top of the list of priorities, the article says, is the successor to the ancient Tornado fighter jet. The cost of purchasing modernized Eurofighter jets and US F-35 jets is estimated at around 15 billion.

Approximately 5 billion was earmarked for a new heavy transport helicopter and 20 billion for new ammunition to replenish the depots. At the moment, there is a lack of rockets and grenades everywhere for tanks, ships or helicopters. Another major assignment is the digitisation of land-based operations, i.e., modernising the armys communication systems.

More billions are to flow into new warships and the modernization of the Patriot air defense systems. These are by no means all the projects listed by the military planners in their templates, emphasizes Der Spiegel.

The massive rearmament program is a warning to the German and international working class. Seventy-seven years after the downfall of the Third Reich, the ruling class, which committed the greatest crimes in human history with the Holocaust and the war of annihilation against the Soviet Union, is abandoning all restraints and returning as a military superpower.

The new foreign policy epoch announced by Scholz has been meticulously prepared in recent years. The World Socialist Web Site and the Socialist Equality Party have consistently documented and strongly condemned this conspiracy of the ruling class to resurrect German militarism. Here are only the most important stages of this dangerous development.

Already in 2013, more than 50 leading politicians, journalists, academics, and military and business representatives worked out a new foreign policy strategy under the auspices of the government-funded German Council on Foreign Relations (SWP) think tank, titled New PowerNew Responsibility. It demanded that Germany again play a global leadership role politically and militarily. As a trading and export nation, it asserted, Germany is more dependent on demand from other markets as well as access to international trade routes and raw materials than almost any other country.

Based on this strategy paper, Federal President Joachim Gauck and leading representatives of the Grand Coalition officially announced the end of military restraint at the 2014 Munich Security Conference. Germany is too big to only comment on world politics from the sidelines and has to be prepared to make an earlier, more decisive and more substantial contribution to foreign and security policy, said Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier (SPD), who has since become President of the Federal Republic of Germany.

The strategy was implemented in practice for the first time in Ukraine. Together with the United States, Germany supported the right-wing coup in Kiev in February 2014 and entered into a pact with fascist parties such as Svoboda to bring an anti-Russian regime to power.

Even at that stage, the SGP warned against an escalation of the conflict with Russia. In September 2014, a special conference of the party adopted a resolution against war and the return of German militarism, stating:

A clique of political operatives, military figures, journalists with close ties to the intelligence agencies and other opinion makers has manipulated events and taken decisions that threaten to plunge all of humanity into a bloodbathA nuclear war with Russia is now no longer a hypothetical possibility, but a real danger.

The resolution also pointed out that the return of militarism and nationalism faced overwhelming popular opposition in Germany in the light of history. This is why the ruling class is working to rewrite history to draw a veil of silence over the crimes of German imperialism. The propagandists at the universities are not content to rehabilitate the war policies of the German empire. They are also attempting to rehabilitate Hitlers reputation, it declared.

Since then, the campaign for the return of German militarism has been systematically promoted. The military budget has risen from around 32 billion to almost 50 billion over the last eight years. The German Armys international military operations were massively expanded with missions in Mali and the Middle East, and Germany also played a leading role in NATOs rearmament against Russiaprincipally with the dispatch of a battlegroup to Lithuania.

At the same time, papers were drawn up in the Ministry of Defence, openly stating that Germany must be prepared and able to wage major wars for its economic and geostrategic interests. The goal is to prepare the army for known and new challenges, risks, and threats across the full spectrum of tasks and levels of intensity, says the German Army Doctrine adopted in 2018.

It [the German army] must have the forces and means at its disposal to deploy after a brief mobilisation to the borders or beyond alliance territory. This must include strategic deployment capabilities Collective defence within alliance territory can range from small-scale operations to an extremely demanding deployment within the framework of a very large operation both within and on the outskirts of alliance territory.

At the moment, the German war offensive is directed against Russia. After an initial hesitation, Germany is at the forefront of military support for Ukraine. Earlier this week, Berlin announced the delivery of 2,700 ground-to-air Strela missiles to Kiev. Last Saturday, the government approved the delivery of 1,000 anti-tank weapons and 500 Stinger surface-to-air missiles.

Germany has taken a big step forward with arms deliveries to Ukraine and has broken with some old certainties, Steinmeier rejoiced yesterday during a visit to German troops in Lithuania. The president praised the significant increase in the defence budget and explicitly threatened Russia with a long military confrontation. Nothing, he said, points to an imminent end of the war. We will need a deep breath, and we will have it.

Significantly, the German offensive against Russia, which increasingly runs along lines similar to those of 1914 and 1941, is being pushed forward by the nominally left parliamentary parties. The SPD heads the government and the Ministry of Defence, and the Greens the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Economy. The Left Party is also fully on board. Leading party representatives support the sanctions against Russia and arms supplies to Ukraine, and even demand the reintroduction of conscription.

There is no doubt that the return of Germany as a heavily-armed, aggressive military power will also exacerbate tensions between the European powers and between Germany and the United States. World Socialist Web Site editorial board chairman David North wrote on March 1 on Twittter:

Germany, which is already the dominant economic power in the EU, will now be on course to becoming the dominant military power in Western and Central Europe. This is not great news for France, and that is probably why Macron is trying to keep his lines of communication with Putin open. It should be recalled that Britain and France were bitterly opposed to the reunification of Germany in 1989. Though they did not dare say so in public, Prime Minister Thatcher and President Mitterrand were frightened that a reunified Germany would be uncontrollable.

He continued:

While its forces are currently directed against Russia, the NATO coalition contains within itself explosive contradictions. The war in Ukraine marks the final and decisive breakdown of the entire post-World War II order. The world is confronted with a volcanic eruption of imperialist violence. The catastrophe can be avoided only through the growth of the international class struggle, directed towards the conquest of power by the working class and the establishment of world socialism.
A Ukrainian serviceman runs to deliver ammunition to an armored fighting vehicle during a live fire exercise in a Joint Forces Operation controlled area in the Donetsk region, eastern Ukraine, Thursday, Feb. 10, 2022. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)

As the imperialist war drive against Russia intensifies, Eastern European regimes that have been turned into NATO strongholds in recent years are playing a leading role in the NATO proxy war in Ukraine.

Romania and Polish bourgeois classes, ruling over the largest countries on NATOs eastern flank, are recklessly seeking to fan the flames of the conflict and advance their own predatory local interests.

On February 25, the leaders of the two countries organized a meeting of the so-called B9 format to denounce Russia. The B9 format is a military bloc that includes the Baltic countries, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary and Bulgaria. It was formed on the initiative of Poland and Romania in 2015 under US auspices and on an explicitly anti-Russian basis. One of the main objectives since its formation has been further expansion of direct imperialist control eastwards, especially into Moldova, Ukraine and Georgia, either through the B9, the EU or NATO in order to weaken and destabilize Russia.

The B9 bloc and its economic and logistical arm, the Three Seas Initiative (3SI or TSI), is a continuation of the Polish Intermarium, a predatory interwar project of the Polish bourgeoisie against Soviet Russia.

The two countries held a joint Government Meeting in Warsaw on Thursday to reinforce their direct collaboration. A Polish military contingent, it was announced, will be participating in the newly formed Romanian NATO Battle Group.

Romania President Klaus Iohannis maneuvered feverishly in the past week to be recognized by the imperialist powers as an important player in the Ukrainian conflict. On Thursday European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen confirmed that Romania will open a so-called humanitarian hub in Romania that will be used to funnel weapons into Ukraine, similar to an existing structure in Poland.

The two countries are also hosting the components of the US anti-missile shield. The launch pad in Deveselu, Romania, which became operational in 2016, has since been repeatedly denounced by Russia as a threat to its security.

Iohannis is working closely with Maia Sandu, the president of neighboring Moldova. Moldova is a former Soviet republic, landlocked between Romania and Ukraine, and sharing linguistic and cultural ties to Romania. The territory has in the past been the scene of violent conflicts, including a brief war in the 1990s in which Romanian-backed Moldova fought Russian forces over what would become the breakaway territory of Transnistria.

Since independence from the USSR, the countrys internal life has been dominated by the attempt of US and EU imperialism to enlist it against Russia. This has included a color revolution in 2009, as well as internal turmoil in recent years. The regime now headed by Maia Sandu is a staunchly anti-Russian one. The country has in recent years moved to closer integration of its army with NATO forces stationed in the region, as well as to deepen its energy and logistic connections to Romania.

Iohannis has repeatedly suggested in recent months that Romania will stand by Moldova and offer its full support. Sandu has declared a state of alert in Moldova at the beginning of the war and has, together with Ukraine, cut off its energy links to Russia on the eve of the military conflict. Moldova continues to assert that the small Russian garrison in Transnistria constitutes an occupation force on its territory.

Moldova and Georgia officially announced their bid for EU membership on March 3.

In February Iohannis announced the formation of a Romanian NATO battle group, after talks with French President Emmanuel Macron, who insisted on France being a framework nation in it. In a statement that is revealing of the way in which the population is kept in the dark of what are essentially military conspiracies, Iohannis stated, after explaining that all the details are in place and that we know where it will be positioned and that in the end, when all is clarified and resolved, we will be able to make public statements about who is participating, where they will be positioned and other interesting details for the Romanian audience, but for the time being, no.

French troops, part of NATOs Response Force, have already made their way to Constanta Countys Mihail Kogalniceanu airbase, part of an initial contingent of 500 troops.

The SPD German Defence Minister Christine Lambrecht met on March 3 with her Romanian counterpart Social Democrat Vasile Dincu on the Kogalniceanu airbase to inspect the German deployment there. According to the Romanian governments sources, the German contingent comprises 75 servicemen and 6 Eurofighter Typhoon fighters.

At the end of February, Italy sent for more planes and now has 8 fighters based on the airfield. Spain has sent 4 fighters and 130 servicemen to Bulgaria.

Romania essentially serves as a launching pad for the U.S. Air Force at the Black Sea, with important US bases and installations dotted around the country.

Romania itself has acquired, since the 2016 intensification of anti-Russian actions, 17 F16 fighter jets to complement its fleet of older MiG-21 Lancers.

The Enhanced air police operations that these forces are engaged in, even before the outbreak of hostilities in Ukraine, consist of constant shadowing and harassing Russian planes and vessels in the Black Sea.

The Bulgaria government is also signaling its full support for the imperialist push against Russia. The country is now ruled by a staunchly anti-Russian Prime Minister Kiril Petkov. His pro-EU party is heading a shaky coalition which includes the BSP for Bulgaria. BSP for Bulgaria is an alliance of Stalinist, Green and pseudo-left organizations, dominated by the Bulgarian Socialist Party, successor of the ruling Bulgarian Communist Party.

Petkov sacked his Defense Minister Stefan Yanev over his insufficient condemnation of Russia. Yanev had suggested that Bulgaria abstain from adopting a pro-Russian, pro-American or pro-European position. A retired general and former prime minister of the country, Yanev was no doubt giving voice to sections of the Bulgarian oligarchy who believe Bulgaria would benefit more from taking on the role of a mediator between the NATO powers and the Russian regime.

Socialist Party MPs have sparred with the government in recent weeks over the exact nature and wording of Bulgarias direct aid to Ukraine, but nevertheless the party maintains full support for the government.

Workers in Eastern Europe must reject the imperialist drive to war, which threatens humanity with a nuclear catastrophe and join their class brothers and sisters in Ukraine, Russia and around the world to fight for the building an international anti-war movement.
As the war between Russia and Ukraine entered its 10th day, the conflict is rapidly escalating. As the Russian military continues its advance toward the Ukrainian capital, Kiev, there are growing demands for direct US military intervention to target Russian forces in Ukraine.

This image shows a Russian SU-27 long-range fighter, as shown from the cockpit of UK Royal Air Force Typhoon fighter intercepting it over Estonia in 2019. The imposition of a no-fly zone over Ukraine would likely mean air-to-air combat between NATO and Russian aircraft. (Royal Air Force via AP)

On Thursday, US Senator Lindsey Graham, an influential Republican Senator, called for the assassination of Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Is there a Brutus in Russia?, Graham asked, referring to the assassination of Roman emperor Julius Caesar by Marcus Brutus and thus advocating what is, under international law, a war crime. The only way this ends is for somebody in Russia to take this guy out. You would be doing your countryand the worlda great service.

Grahams comments were only the most extreme example of a growing chorus within the American political establishment for greater military escalation. Many of these involved calls for destroying all Russian aircraft operating over Ukraine, an action termed imposing a no-fly zone.

Debate over Ukraine no-fly zone heats up, wrote the Hill.

This is a good moment to renew my call for a no-fly zone, at the invitation of the Ukraine government. I fear if this continues, we will have to intervene in a bigger way, Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-Ill.), a pilot in the Air National Guard, tweeted within hours of Grahams call.

Sen. Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), who serves on the Senate Armed Services Committee, told the Huffington Post that a no-fly zone should be seriously considered.

In a pre-recorded message, Ukrainan President Zelensky called NATO weak for not imposing the no-fly zone, asserting: NATO knowingly approved the decision not to close the skies over Ukraine. We believe that the NATO countries themselves have created a narrative that the alleged closing of the sky over Ukraine will provoke direct Russian aggression against NATO.

All the people who die from this day forward will also die because of you, because of your weakness, because of your lack of unity, Zelensky said.

For now, the White House and NATO have said they do not plan to impose a no-fly zone and thus enter a direct military conflict with Russia, a major nuclear-armed power.

It would essentially mean the U.S. military would be shooting down planesRussian planes. That is definitely escalatory. That would potentially put us into a place where were in a military conflict with Russia. That is not something the president wants to do, White House press secretary Jen Psaki told MSNBC on Monday. We are not going to have a military war with Russia with U.S. troops.

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg echoed these statements, saying: NATO is a defense alliance NATO is not seeking a war with Russia.

While the initial calls for a direct clash came from Republicans, they have now been taken up by members of the Democratic Party.

Lieutenant Colonel Alexander Vindman, a Democrat and a key figure in the first impeachment of US President Donald Trump, approved Kinzingers statements, despite coming next to a CNN caption warning that the setting up of a no-fly zone could lead to a full-fledged war.

He is definitely on to something, Vindman said of Kinzinger. There is no such thing as a risk-free option, at this point. There are only calibrated- and risk-informed options.

Former Defense Secretary Leon Panetta, also a Democrat, told the Hill that the option for a no-fly zone shouldnt be taken off the table.

I just think its important to, to kind of protect all your options, he said. And even though theyve gone on the record, I suspect that there have to be some people that are still giving some thought to a more limited approach if it is required.

Retired Brig. Gen. Kevin Ryan told the Hill he suggested that the U.S. and NATO could establish a no-fly zone over the western part of the country where Russian troops havent arrived.

Over the weekend, four-star U.S. Air Force Gen. Philip Breedlove, who led U.S. forces in Europe and served as NATOs supreme allied commander from 2013 to 2016, demanded that the United States and NATO set up a no-fly zone over Ukraine. He admitted that this would be an act of war against Russia.

Foreign Policy asked Breedlove, Yet, in spite of all of that, you said you would actually support the idea of a no-fly zone?

To this, Breedlove replied, Are we going to sit and watch while a world power invades and destroys and subjugates a sovereign nation? Are we just going to watch?

Breedlove went on to explain exactly what this would mean:

if you put a no-fly zone in the eastern part of Ukraine, for instance, and were going to fly coalition or NATO aircraft into that no-fly zone, then we have to take out all the weapons that can fire into our no-fly zone and cause harm to our aircraft. So that means bombing enemy radars and missile systems on the other side of the border. And you know what that means, right? That is tantamount to war. So, if were going to declare a no-fly zone, we have to take down the enemys capability to fire into and affect our no-fly zone.

Further calls for military escalation came from the Washington Post in the form of an editorial. Alas, the Russians are making gains in the southern part of the country, along the Black Sea coast, threatening to cut off Ukrainian forces. All the more reason for the United States and European allies, the Post writes, to speed weapons to its military, lest Mr. Putin actually win.

These extremely belligerent statements come amid renewed warnings of just how dangerous the situation is. Russias nuclear alert means NATO must tread carefully, noted a column in the Financial Times. It added that in the current scenario, Russian leaders are most likely to use a tactical nuclear weapon to prevent or put an end to NATO intervention.

It continued, Russian leaders, for example, might see volunteers from NATO countries filtering into Ukraine as covert advance guards for a full-scale intervention. They might regard arms convoys coming to Ukraine from NATO states as the functional equivalent of intervention.

The article concluded: If it is truly not the intention of western leaders to intervene, they should make sure that their forces act in ways that will convince Russian leaders of that. The world may depend on it.

In reality, Washington is taking extraordinarily provocative steps, seeking not a negotiated settlement to end the conflict, but to escalate and inflame it.

On Friday, Voice of America, the state-owned broadcaster of the United States, published an article entitled American Veterans Volunteer to Fight in Ukraine, which reported:

A representative of the Ukrainian Embassy in Washington told VOA that 3,000 U.S. volunteers have responded to the nations appeal for people to serve in an international battalion that will help resist Russias invading forces.

The article was subsequently deleted without explanation.

Meanwhile, US and NATO weaponry continues to pour into Ukraines borders, while Russias financial system is being largely excised from the global economy and is being subjected to a de facto economic blockade.

According to the United Nations, 331 Ukrainian civilians have been killed in the fighting so far, and 1.2 million people have fled.
As the war in Ukraine continues, NATO has been pouring weapons into the country under the banner of a campaign supposedly aimed at protecting free and democratic Ukraine from Russia. One of the many questions that is never raised in the media is: Who is getting these weapons?

A Ukrainian National guard soldier guards a mobile checkpoint together with the Ukrainian Security Service agents and police officers during a joint operation, in Kharkiv, Ukraine, Thursday, Feb. 17, 2022.

Workers must oppose Russias invasion of Ukraine from the standpoint of revolutionary socialism. However, the claims of the imperialist powers that they and the Zelensky government are defending freedom and democracy against Putins Russia are cynical and dangerous lies.

Since the US-backed far-right coup in Kiev in 2014, which overthrew a pro-Russian government, Ukraine has been systematically transformed into a launchpad for war against Russia. The build-up of its military and the far right has been a central component of this process and shaped the way that this war has evolved.

The large-scale weapons deliveries now underway are not only a direct provocation against Russia. Their primary beneficiaries, both politically and militarily, are far-right forces in both Ukraine and internationally, who are being strengthened and emboldened.

The Ukrainian armed forces and the Geneva Conventions

Officially, the weapons will primarily go to the Ukrainian Armed Forces. What is not stated, however, is that for the past week, Ukraines Armed Forces have been making statements that they intend to undertake actions that likely violate the Geneva Conventionsthey constitute war crimes.

On Twitter, Telegram, Facebook and elsewhere, the countrys military has been conducting a depraved social media campaign, posting photos and videos of dead Russian soldiers. The gruesome imagesand the glee with which they are postedtestify to the reactionary and right-wing nature of the forces fighting on behalf of imperialism in Ukraine.

The official Twitter account of the Armed Forces of Ukraine is airing particularly violent content, including a number of videos of the burned and dismembered bodies of Russian soldiers who had been traveling in tanks and armored vehicles. They may have been killed by the much-publicized US-made Javelin anti-tank missiles.

On Tuesday, the Facebook account of the Commander of Ukraines special forces announced it would no longer take Russian artillerymen prisoner, but kill them on the spot. The post also threatened that surrendering to Ukraines special forces would be worse than death and that captured Russian artillerymen would be cut up like pigs.

The Facebook post by the Commander of Ukraines Special Forces, announcing that captured Russian artillerymen would be cut up like pigs

These posts are the announcement of the intent to commit war crimes. Such policies are in direct violation of the Geneva Conventions regarding the treatment of prisoners of war (POW), which call for the humane treatment of POWs in all circumstances.

The social media accounts of Ukraines far-right forces, many of which are fully integrated into the army, are likewise rife with violent content and exhortations to commit atrocities against Russian soldiers.

Serhiy Sternenko, a well-known far-right activist who is currently serving in Ukraines military, has been busy since the start of the war popularizing anti-Russian slogans such as Russophobia is not enough! and posting content of dead Russian soldiers.

A tweet by the far-right Serhyi Sternenko, with a picture of a dead Russian soldier

Among the posts shared by Sternenko was a photo of a dead Russian paratrooper whose parachute failed to open, a dead and frozen Russian soldier, as well as videos of burned Russian tanks and bodies. The celebration of death is accompanied by mocking jokes.

One particularly gruesome TikTok video circulating on right-wing Ukrainian social media shows a young Russian soldier singing behind the wheel of a Russian vehicle. The video later cuts to a video of the same soldier dead in a field from a direct shot to the head.

Significant effort has gone into such propaganda, and it is clearly backed by the Ukrainian government, which is attempting to demonstrate that killing people is cool and fun, as the leader of the Neo-Nazi group C14 Yevhen Karas told his audience at a political seminar named after the Ukrainian Nazi-collaborator Stepan Bandera in early February. Karas has also bluntly stated that it is precisely because neo-Nazis like him love killing Russians that the West supplies them with weapons.

The Ukrainian armed forces may also be violating the Geneva Conventions by regularly recording and posting videos of captured or surrendered Russian soldiers on social media. Many of the soldiers appear extremely young and are clearly of a poor or rural background, and made to serve in a deadly campaign by the Russian oligarchy. Several seem to be answering under duress and in one video a Russian soldier refuses to shout the right-wing Ukrainian slogan Slava Ukraini!(Glory to Ukraine!) while being humiliated by Ukrainian interrogators.

The Geneva Conventions prohibit POWs from insults and intimidation being displayed for public curiosity, all of which the Ukrainian military is violating with such social media postings.

This reactionary online campaign has reached such a level that even the war-mongering Washington Post noticed and published an article titled, The gory online campaign Ukraine hopes will sow anti-Putin dissent probably violates the Geneva Conventions, on Thursday.

The Azov Battalion and the far right

The Azov Battalion, which openly glorifies Nazism and Ukrainian Nazi collaborators and played a principal role in the 2014 coup, has been accused of many war crimes, as well as rape and assassination. Since 2014, it has fully been integrated into the National Guard, thus receiving arms and training from the government. The Ukrainian government allows the Azov Battalion and other far-right formations to run youth camps, where children as young as 9 years old are indoctrinated with fascist ideology and taught how to use weapons.

It is these forces that are now receiving a significant portion of the massive weapons deliveries by NATO. The Azov Battalion is reportedly heavily involved in the battle over Mariupol, a city in southern Ukraine. According to a reportby Newsweek, it has also formed its own Azov territorial defense detachment in Kiev.

Even as he has been threatened and attacked by far-right tendencies like the Azov Battalion, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has made every effort to further integrate neo-fascist and paramilitary forces into the war effort. At the very beginning of the war, he announced that convicted criminals, including those serving sentences for war crimes, would be amnestied if they were ready to take up arms against Russia. He has called on foreign fighters to join the war in Ukraine.

Jonathan Brunson, a former political analyst for the US embassy in Ukraine, bluntly told Newsweek that before Russias invasion, aid to the far-right was plausibly accidental. But that may no longer be the case, because all hands on deck means just thatand enables Ukraines far right to play a heroic role they otherwise wouldnt.

Not just the Ukrainian far right, but neo-fascist forces from all over the world, including the US and Europe, will now receive combat experience with the most advanced weapons in the world. They will also be able to continue developing their international networks, to which the Ukrainian far right, and especially the Azov Battalion, have long been central.

Speaking to Newsweek, Hans-Jakob Schindler, senior director of the Counter Extremist Project, said: Immediately after the invasion, some groups within Ukraine affiliated with right-wing extremism, in particular the Azov Regiment, which is now part of the Ukrainian Interior Ministry, have put out public calls on social media for volunteers to come and join them. The Azov Regiment issued fairly detailed travel instructions via its social media channels but made clear that a) travel will not be facilitated until the individual is in Ukraine and b) no payment will be given for the volunteers and c) several months of service should be expected.

US preparations for an insurgency in Ukraine

The arming of Ukraines far right and its integration into the military effort is neither an accident nor a mistake.

The imperialist intervention in Ukraine has historically relied on the mobilization of fascistic forces. The CIA and other Western intelligence services established close ties with Ukrainian Nazi collaborators after the war, integrating them into their structures and deploying them in the Cold War against the Soviet Union.

The build-up of the far right in the lead-up to the 2014 coup and ever since stands in these traditions.

Moreover, since 2015, the CIA has engaged in systematic preparations for an insurgency in Ukraine. In January, a reportby Yahoo News revealed that for the past eight years the CIA has been overseeing a secret intensive training program in the U.S. for elite Ukrainian special operations forces and other intelligence personnel. The program, according to Yahoo, involved training in firearms, camouflage techniques, land navigation, tactics like cover and move, intelligence and other areas, according to former officials. A former CIA official told the news site that The United States is training an insurgency, teaching Ukrainians how to kill Russians.

A former senior intelligence official said, If the Russians invade, those [graduates of the CIA programs] are going to be your militia, your insurgent leaders. Weve been training these guys now for eight years. Theyre really good fighters. Thats where the agencys program could have a serious impact.

Over the past year, US officials have repeatedly threatened that they intend to turn Ukraine, which used to be the worlds third-largest nuclear power, into another Afghanistan for Russia. This is what is now underway. Unless the working class intervenes in this conflict on an independent, socialist program, the far right, in Ukraine and internationally, can only emerge strengthened and emboldened from this reactionary campaign.
Weather Alert

...The Flood Warning continues for the following rivers in Indiana... Wabash River from Lafayette to Montezuma. White River at Elliston and Edwardsport. .Multiple rounds of rain over the last few days is bringing minor flooding along lower portions of the White River and upper portions of the Wabash River. Additional rainfall Thursday evening through Friday evening should keep portions of the White and Wabash above flood stage through the weekend. 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 NOW IN EFFECT UNTIL TUESDAY AFTERNOON... * WHAT...Minor flooding is forecast. * WHERE...Wabash River at Montezuma. * WHEN...Until Tuesday afternoon. * IMPACTS...At 18.0 feet, Montezuma agricultural levee is overtopped. Fourteen hundred acres of low bottomlands flood. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS... - At 9:45 PM EDT Wednesday the stage was 13.1 feet. - Forecast...The river is expected to rise above flood stage late tomorrow evening to a crest of 18.0 feet Saturday evening. It will then fall below flood stage early Tuesday morning. - Flood stage is 14.0 feet. - http://www.weather.gov/safety/flood &&
At a Tribeca loft in New York City on Sunday evening, many of the cast members and producers of the new film With/In met each other for the first time. Thats because With/In, produced by Maven Productions Trudie Styler and Celine Rattray, is an anthology of short films created during the early months of the pandemic.

In 2020, as the world shut down, Styler and Rattray had an idea: Theyd flip through their extensive rolodex of Hollywood names  like Julianne Moore, Elizabeth Marvel, Rosie Perez, Gina Gershon, Chris Cooper and Talia Balsam  and ship professional camera, sound and production equipment to their homes. In possession of the equipment for two days, participants could write, direct and shoot a 10-minute short film on any topic of their choosing.

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I dont think anyone quite expected how difficult the challenge would be, Rattray told Variety at the screening. With/In, which features eight of the 13 films, will be released by Amazon on March 13. One thing we heard from everybody was how badly they missed and appreciated their crews. For many of them, I expect the experience was like going back to film school.

Imagine, therefore, being in a college classroom with the likes of Edie Falco, Debbie Harry, and Donna Karan, all in attendance at the screening on Sunday. As the shorts played  crude, bizarre, overly serious and touching  watching With/In felt like a showcase for a film class of Hollywood A-listers, eagerly debuting their amateur creations.

Trudie Styler and Celine Rattray - Credit: Madison Voelkel/BFA.com

Madison Voelkel/BFA.com

In one short, shot by Griffin Dunne and girlfriend Zonia Pelensky, Dunne returns to the apartment of a one-night-stand after a travel ban has grounded his international flight. Noticing his runny nose, Dunnes tryst, a young woman who admits hes probably too old for her  yikes  locks Dunne in her bathroom for a month. In a case of COVID Stockholm syndrome, the pair dont quite reconcile, but they do masturbate together on either side of the glass bathroom door.

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These were time capsules, Dunne told Variety at the screening. Not really time capsules for what we were doing, but how we were feeling, what was going through our minds.

Two years removed from the pandemics start and sipping wine at the Tribeca Screening Room loft, it was hard Sunday evening to see With/In as much more than a time capsule for the rich and famous  trapped in their lavish country homes and Montauk estates.

In Neighborhood Watch, Sam and May Nivola, son and daughter to actors Emily Mortimer and Alessandro Nivola, stage a coup to tie up their parents and escape their rustic country home for the familiar comforts of New York City. Cold and alone at a train stop  and out of cookies from their mother  the pair learn their lesson and return home.

Our film was made by our 17-year-old son, whos now 18, but hes in Rome on his gap year, Mortimer said at the screening. I asked him if he wanted to write something, and he said, Thank you so much for watching. I hope hearing a teenager complain about his life isnt too overdone.

Caleb Freundlich and Bart Freundlich - Credit: Madison Voelkel/BFA.com

Madison Voelkel/BFA.com

Of the eight shorts in With/In, only one touches on issues of race which rocked the country during the pandemic. By the time the film equipment made it to Moore and husband Bart Freundlichs home, George Floyd had been murdered.

It was wonderful to be able to have a purpose during this time, Freundlich said at the screening on Sunday. We were last to get the equipment, and we filmed toward the end of the first part of COVID, where the Black Lives Matter movement was really coming to the forefront, and that changed a lot of what we did.

In their film, Moores character is isolated at her Montauk home, separated by her son and her husband, played by a FaceTime-bound Don Cheadle. When her racist sister, played by Balsam, arrives from New York City, Moores character must decide whether to silently absorb her sisters bigotry or take a stand. Moores character resolves to kick her sister out, but nonetheless avoids the few Black townspeople she encounters in Montauk.

Creativity can overcome hurdles, and you can power through them in the creative arts, Rattray reminded Variety at the screening Sunday. With/In isnt about COVID, she said, its about the human experience and how it changed peoples minds, lives and families.

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The plight of the world's refugees has come into special focus following Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The U.N. refugee agency says more than 1 million people have fled to Poland, Hungary, and other nations, and millions more could follow.

In the United States, the most recent influx of refugees came last summer, following the fall of Afghanistan. One place where they have been welcomed is the city of Clarkston, Georgia.

Over four decades, the city has hosted so many refugees from so many places that it has become known as "the most diverse square mile in America."

A journalist who fled Afghanistan and has been asked to be identified simply as Ahmad has been named on more than one Taliban hit list. He and his family fled to the United States.

"We spent our whole life in Afghanistan, you know. We had friends there, our whole family were there," Ahmad's son, 20-year-old Aziz, told "CBS Saturday Morning" co-host Dana Jacobson.

After several months living at different U.S. military bases, the family of six now has a home in Clarkston. Their neighbors include people from all parts of the world including Nepal, India, Pakistan and the Philippines.

Clarkston is known as "Ellis Island of the South." More than half of the population was born outside of the United States and 60 languages are spoken in the city's one square mile.

The Atlanta-based nonprofit, Inspiritus, resettled Ahmad's family and thousands of others since 1981. ESL classes, ethnic grocery stores and easily available public transportation help refugees settle into Clarkston.

"It's a welcoming city, and it's been that way for a very, very long time," Director of Refugee and Immigrant Services at Inspiritus, Aimee Zangandou, said.

Inspiritus has resettled more than 600 Afghan refugees alone in the last three months. The nonprofit had settled just 74 total refugees in 2020. It was forced to downsize during the Trump administration, which capped refugee admissions in fiscal year 2020 at 18,000  the lowest number since Congress passed the 1980 Refugee Act.

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"We're still hiring, we're still looking for resources, we're still gathering communities, and partners that have partnered with us before that we want to try to bring back," Zangandou said.

It's not just the refugees who benefit from Clarkston's open arms. Georgia native Kitti Murray launched Refuge Coffee in 2017. The nonprofit has hired and trained 50 people from over 17 countries, including her first hire, Leon Shombana, who fled the Congo 10 years ago.

"We are like people from the big family, you know. I can probably say, like you're from a big family, different mother but one father. That is Refuge Coffee," Shombana said.

While Clarkston prides itself in being about the "long welcome" for residents like Shombana who came and never left, it all starts with a place that is home in more than just the name.

"The people are very loving. They brought all these things, the furniture, the beds, the mattress, the kitchen, appliances all. They're helping us a lot and we are very thankful to them," Ahmad said.

New Russia law threatens prison time for anyone speaking out against the Kremlin

Saturday Sessions: David Byrnes America Utopia perform "Marching Through The Wilderness

Saturday Sessions: David Byrnes America Utopia perform "Everybody's Coming To My House"
ABCs Station 19 was primetimes highest-rated show Thursday night. But NBCs Law & Order trilogy held strong, prompting both networks to tie for first place in ratings among the 18-49 demographic.

Neither was most-watched. That title went to CBS Young Sheldon, which brought in 6.5 million total viewers. CBS Ghosts drew the second-largest audience of the night with 5.5 million viewers tuning in. Those numbers helped the network secure the top spot for viewership overall, averaging 4.8 million.

NBC and ABC tied for first in ratings with a 0.5 rating in the advertiser-coveted 18-49 demographic.

NBC was second in viewers with 4 million, while ABC was third with 3.6 million. On NBC, The O.C. Law & Order earned a 0.5 rating and 4.5 million total viewers at 8 p.m. At 9, Law & Order: SVU scored a 0.6 rating and 4.5 million total viewers. At 10 p.m., Law & Order: Organized Crime had a 0.5 rating and 3.2 million total viewers.

For ABC, Station 19 drew a 0.7 rating and 4.5 million total viewers at 8 p.m. At 9, Greys Anatomy got a 0.6 rating and 3.9 million viewers. At 10, Big Sky had a 0.3 rating and 2.3 million total viewers.

CBS came in third in ratings with a 0.4. Young Sheldon collected a 0.6 rating and 6.5 million total viewers at 8 p.m. At 8:30, B Positive earned a 0.4 rating and 4.7 million viewers. Ghosts brought in a 0.5 rating and 5.5 million viewers at 9, and United States of Al had a 0.4 and 4 million total viewers at 9:30. At 10, Bull had a 0.3 rating and 4.1 million viewers.

Fox was fourth in ratings with a 0.2 and in total viewers with 1.2 million. Joe Millionaire received a 0.3 rating and 1.4 million viewers at 8 p.m. At 9, Call Me Kat got a 0.2 rating and 1.3 million total viewers. At 9:30, Pivoting had a 0.1 rating and 743,000 viewers.

The CW was fifth in ratings with a 0.1 and in total viewers with 626,000. At 8 p.m., Walker had a 0.1 rating and 897,000 total viewers. Legacies had a 0.1 rating and 356,000 total viewers at 9.

We do not have early Nielsen numbers for Spanish-language broadcast networks Univision and Telemundo.
Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavushoglu has arrived in Azerbaijan on a visit, he stated this on his official Twitter account.

"After an emergency meeting in Brussels of NATO foreign ministers on Ukraine, I arrived in Azerbaijan to discuss our relations and regional events", he tweeted

Cavusoglu is expected to meet his Azerbaijani counterpart Jeyhun Bayramov in Baku, local media reported earlier.
James Musgraves

James Musgraves on Friday announced he is running as a Republican for District 50 in the Missouri House of Representatives.

A retired U.S. Navy commander, Musgraves said his military service instilled in him a desire to serve, but he's not a politician.

I originally joined the Navy because I felt called to serve," Musgraves wrote in a news release. "I do not consider myself a politician, but I feel that during these times, active engagement in our political process is not just necessary but required. I feel like the best way I can continue to serve our community and our state is to head to Jefferson City to fight for accountable, responsible government.

"That is why I am running for State Representative.

More: Changes to Missouri House districts help some Boone County candidates, but not all

Musgraves earned a bachelor's degree in political science from the University of Missouri, which he attended on a Navy ROTC scholarship. He has master's degrees in educational leadership and human performance technology from the University of West Florida.

He was a Naval aviator, serving two combat tours in Iraq and Afghanistan before retiring from the military in 2019.

Sara Walsh is the current state representative for the 50th District, but the redrawn district no longer includes Ashland, and Walsh is running for U.S. Congress.

The new district is located in southern Columbia with a population that is 54% Democrat and 43% Republican.

On the Democratic side, civil rights attorney Doug Mann has filed for the position.

Party primaries are Aug. 2 and the general election is Nov. 8.

This article originally appeared on Columbia Daily Tribune: James Musgraves announces candidacy for Missouri House District 50
Amore Vero, a yacht owned by a company linked to Igor Sechin, the chief executive of Russian energy giant Rosneft. NICOLAS TUCAT/AFP via Getty Images

The US is considering stepping up its campaign against Russian oligarchs.

There's bipartisan interest in Congress to seize assets from individuals with close ties to Putin.

Yacht seizures aren't new, but they could raise questions of legality.

Amid Russia's invasion of Ukraine, powerful members of the Russian elite face escalating Western campaigns aimed at confiscating prominent symbols of their wealth.

France seized its first superyacht from a Russian oligarch on Thursday as part of a widening financial effort targeting Russian President Vladimir Putin's closest allies. French customs officials seized the $120 million yacht from Igor Sechin, CEO of Russian state-controlled oil giant Rosneft and an executive with close ties to Putin.

Now there is a growing appetite in Congress for the US to follow suit. Democratic Rep. Tom Malinowski of New Jersey and Republican Rep. Joe Wilson of South Carolina unveiled the "Yachts for Ukraine Act" on Thursday. The legislation would authorize the federal government to take hold of assets valued above $5 million and repurpose the wealth toward weapons for the Ukrainian military and humanitarian aid among other purposes.

President Joe Biden is on board. He said at his recent State of the Union address that the US would soon step up its campaign against Russian oligarchs. "We are joining with our European allies to find and seize your yachts, your luxury apartments, your private jets," he said on Tuesday evening. "We are coming for your ill-begotten gains."

But actually going out and seizing oligarchs' yachts poses several logistical and legal difficulties, from figuring out how to pay impounded crews to determining who actually owns the yachts amid a tangle of shell corporations.

There are a lot of legal and practical questions around seizing oligarchs' yachts

Yacht seizures are nothing new, and they are regularly made to recover debts. As Benjamin Maltby  a partner at the UK-based Keystone Law who specializes in superyacht and luxury-asset law  told Insider, a country typically detains or arrests a yacht by ordering the captain not to leave the port. In rare instances, the yacht is chained to the docks.

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In those cases, owners continue to pay the crew and suppliers as usual. But Maltby said the nature of current sanctions could make that difficult, if not impossible, if a Russian oligarch's yacht gets impounded. As he explained, the freezing of assets and Russian banks' suspension from the SWIFT payment system means that suppliers might not be allowed to deal with the yacht's owner and that it might not be possible to pay the yacht's crew.

It could also be tricky for the government to actually get its hands on the yachts. If the US passes its sanctions, he said, Russian-owned yachts must be in the country's territorial waters in order for the US to take possession of them.

But he added that it can be hard, even for governments, to determine the true owner of a yacht, as they're usually owned by offshore companies. Public speculation, however, could give enough reasonable belief that a Russian oligarch is the true owner, which he said could be sufficient for a seizure.

US efforts to confiscate these assets could raise questions of legality. "The threshold for seizing assets under sanctions is that the US has to be in armed conflict with the owner of the assets," Brian O'Toole, an economic sanctions expert at the Atlantic Council, wrote on Twitter. "The idea of turning Russian corruption into Ukrainian assistance is lovely but this idea is illegal, period."

Many Russian yacht-owning oligarchs have already set sail around the world in an attempt to outrun the many countries imposing sanctions. Consider the $100 million Titan, belonging to the industrial magnate Alexander Abramov (who has so far avoided the US sanctions list), which arrived in the Maldives on Monday. It's not the only Russian-owned yacht that found refuge in the small island nation, which doesn't have an extradition treaty with the US.

But Maltby thinks small island nations might not want to be seen colluding with Russian oligarchs to defeat sanctions and could choose to take action after the US's moves.

As he put it, "Safe spaces are going to be few and far between."

Read the original article on Business Insider
PIERRE  South Dakota's Legislature still isn't ready to end the state's marijuana prohibition, but cannabis reform advocates are heading home from the Capitol with a few wins.

House Republicans Thursday stood in the way of giving Senate Bill 3, which would have legalized commercial sales and private possession of marijuana for adults 21 and over, a second chance at passage. And that had cannabis industry lobbyists raising the white flag on getting pot legalized through the legislative process this year.

However, the House also rejected a separate proposal that would have walked back portions of South Dakota's new medical marijuana law, while also OK'ing a measure that allows low level marijuana convictions to be removed from some people's background check.

More: Sioux Falls could change liquor license distribution process to lottery, like medical marijuana

"It's disappointing that the House of Representatives clearly didn't represent the people on SB3 but it was a good result on a few of the cannabis bills," said Ned Horsted, the executive director of the Cannabis Industry Association of South Dakota. "On Senate Bill 150, patients will remain protected and expungement for small marijuana crimes I think is a win."

Senate Bill 151, which now heads to the governor's desk, states that misdemeanor marijuana convictions automatically come off someone's criminal background check after five years if they've satisfied their sentencing.

SB150, rejected by the House, sought to repeal a provision in the medical marijuana law that allows someone arrested for marijuana possession to contend they have qualifying conditions, even if not previously certified by the Department of Health.

Horsted and others content the "affirmative defense" provision is necessary to ensure people who have a legitimate need for medical marijuana but are unable to get a medical marijuana card are protected from prosecution.

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But proponents of SB150 say that protection de-legitimizes the entire medical marijuana program.

"We need to respect the people that need medical marijuana, but also they need to respect the process," said Rep. Fred Deutsch, R-Florence. "They should go to their doctor ... and get the certification and then get their marijuana. We don't need another loophole in the program."

More: South Dakota lawmakers say no to cannabis legalization, yes to some repeals of medical marijuana law

Not all the cannabis policy debates are settled in this year's Legislative session, though. And the topic of in-home cultivation will command lawmakers' attention for at least a few more days.

Right now, the medical marijuana law does not place a cap on the number of plants a medical card holder can grow in their private residence. Both chambers aren't satisfied with that, but have different ideas about how many plants should be acceptable.

The Senate's version of Senate Bill 24 seeks to cap the number of plants at 6, with a stipulation that only three can be in the harvesting stage at one time. The House, though, amended that bill to allow for no in-home cultivation at all.

A conference committee will meet next week in hopes of finding compromise.

"We're going to take a good hard look at everything again and we'll see what the will of the caucus is as far as which direction to go," said Senate Majority Leader Gary Cammack, R-Union Center.

This article originally appeared on Sioux Falls Argus Leader: South Dakota marijuana legalization results in the SD legislature
Image via Getty

A growing number of refugees are fleeing Ukraine following Russias invasion of the embattled country.

CNN reports the United Nations has confirmed that more than one million people have fled across the borders of Ukraine since Russian forces invaded seven days ago. UNICEF notes that half a million of the refugees are children.

Filippo Grandi, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, took to Twitter this week to announce the grim news.

In just seven days we have witnessed the exodus of one million refugees from Ukraine to neighbouring countries, Grandi wrote. For many millions more, inside Ukraine, its time for guns to fall silent, so that life-saving humanitarian assistance can be provided.

In just seven days we have witnessed the exodus of one million refugees from Ukraine to neighbouring countries.



For many millions more, inside Ukraine, its time for guns to fall silent, so that life-saving humanitarian assistance can be provided.  Filippo Grandi (@FilippoGrandi) March 2, 2022

On Friday, Grandi revealed that the number of refugees has now reached 1.2 million. As the number of refugees from Ukraine in neighboring countries reaches 1.2 million, I am in Moldova, where the government, local authorities and overall population are making huge efforts to welcome and organize those arriving across the border, he wrote on Twitter.

As the number of refugees from Ukraine in neighbouring countries reaches 1.2 million I am in Moldova, where the government, local authorities and overall population are making huge efforts to welcome and organize those arriving across the border.



Moldova needs more support! pic.twitter.com/9fzj6wRxXF  Filippo Grandi (@FilippoGrandi) March 4, 2022

For comparison, the UN Refugee Agency says it took three months for one million refugees to leave Syria in 2013.

Additionally, Michelle Bachelet, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, said on Thursday that around one million people in Ukraine have been displaced within the country due to the conflict.

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Thousands of people, including older people, pregnant women, as well as children and people with disabilities, are being forced to gather in underground shelters and subway stations to escape explosions, Bachelet said, per CNN. Many people in situations of vulnerability are separated from families and effectively trapped.

As previously reported, among the refugees fleeing the country are thousands of African students spread across Ukraine, some of whom are trapped and fearing for their safety amid Russias assault on the country.

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Knives from Williams Sonoma

Williams Sonoma

If you want high-quality knives with luxe details like stunning Damascus steel blades, balanced hardwood handles, or hand-sharpened edges, you have to pay equally high prices. Well, unless you know where to look. Those in the know are heading to Williams Sonoma's site, where you can add several top-notch knives to your cart at a steal.

Right now, the kitchenware company is offering impressive deals on chef-loved brands like Wusthof, Shun, Zwilling, and Global for a limited-time. Everything from nimble paring knives to space-saving block sets are up to 50% off. And Williams Sonoma is throwing in free shipping on all cutery to boot.

Related: These Are the Best Paring Knives for Every Home Cook, According to Our Tests

You can find more than 50 discounts in Williams Sonoma's knife sale, and several deals caught our eye. Scroll down to learn more about our top picks, or check out the entire selection here before the special offer ends.

Shun Premier 8-Inch Western Chef's Knife

Handcrafted in Japan, this 8-inch chef's knife has a distinctive hammered blade that is both beautiful and practical. Its texture helps release food while chopping, and its 34 layers of ultra-thin stainless steel are strong enough for heavy-duty tasks like slicing chicken bone and chopping squash. Normally $230, you can get it for $60 less right now.

knife

Zwilling Gourmet 8-Inch Chef's Knife

Prefer a German-designed blade? Zwilling's 8-inch chef's knife is a bargain at $60 and has numerous five-star reviews on Williams Sonoma's site. Users praise how lightweight it feels, which means they don't get tired when prepping ingredients, and say it is "balanced and has a nice sharp edge."

knife

Global Classic 5-Piece Teikoku Knife Acrylic Block Set

Global's knives are constructed from a single piece of stainless steel and have hollow handles filled with sand to keep them balanced yet lightweight. This four-blade set includes a bread knife, vegetable knife, utility knife, and an editor-approved chef's knife. You can save $300 on the sleek collection that comes in a bamboo block designed to show off.

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knife

Global Classic 7-Inch Hollow-Ground Santoku Knife

Santoku knives are designed with small dimples, or cullens, on the blade to prevent food from sticking. That's one of the reasons they're so handy for speedy chopping, dicing, and mincing. Executive Chef Kyle St. John of Harvest at The Ranch at Laguna Beach called this "a great knife for the price," and now it's just $100.

knife

Wusthof Classic Ikon 8-Inch Bread Knife

Effortlessly slice through crusty breads, juicy fruit, and soft cakes with this knife's serrated edge. It is forged from a single piece of strong high-carbon steel and features Wusthof's unique Precision Edge Technology that promises a 20% sharper blade than similar knives.

knife

Shun Hikari 6-Inch Serrated Utility Knife

For a more nimble blade with the same ability to slice without squishing, Shun's Hikari utility knife is a great option. The 6-inch knife has an edge that is hand-sharpened to a 16-degree angle, which one user said was able to achieve "paper thin tomato slices." It also has a lovely "hornet's nest" blade pattern from 71 micro layers of high-carbon, high-chromium stainless steel.

knife

Zwilling J.A Henckels Pro 7-Piece In-Drawer Knife Set

There are quite a few reasons you might want Zwilling J.A. Henckels in-drawer knife set: it's space-saving, it's easier to grab the right blade, and it protects your cabinets and blades. And we saved the best one for lastit's 20% off.
Attorney General Derek Schmidt, shown with Secretary of State Scott Schwab, lost his bid to have the Kansas Supreme Court dismiss a trio of lawsuits against the state's congressional redistricting map.

The Kansas Supreme Court on Friday rejected Attorney General Derek Schmidt's request for justices to dismiss a trio of lawsuits against the state's congressional redistricting map.

Justices denied the petition on legal grounds without ruling on whether the map is unconstitutional.

"We do not reach, consider or take any position on the merits of the underlying claims," the court wrote.

Challenges to the maps were filed in Wyandotte County  where Kansas City, Kan., was split between two districts  and Douglas County  where Lawrence was separated from the rest of the county and moved to the historically western Kansas Big First.

The maps narrowly passed after the GOP supermajorities narrowly overrode a veto from Gov. Laura Kelly, a Democrat.

More: Did Kansas Sen. Mark Steffen trade redistricting vote for bill blocking his COVID investigation?

The Supreme Court case, Schwab v. Klapper, was named for Secretary of State Scott Schwab, who is the lead defendant in the district court cases.

Voting rights advocates have challenged the constitutionality of the maps. Republicans have argued that state courts have no authority over the Legislature's map for federal elections.

These lawsuits are the first time a congressional map has been challenged in state courts instead of federal.

"We had hoped to resolve the unsettled constitutional questions in these unprecedented cases more quickly and efficiently by presenting them directly to the Kansas Supreme Court," Schmidt said in a statement. "But todays decision requires we resolve them the slower and potentially far more expensive way by starting in the trial courts, so that is what we will do."

More: Kansas will have to pay $1.9M in voting rights cases. Politicians point fingers after losses in court.

Schmidt, who is the Republican frontrunner in the governor's race, had also asked the high court to rule that political gerrymandering is permitted under the Kansas Constitution.

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Part of the reason Schmidt asked the high court to take up the case is because of the condensed time frame before the June 1 candidate filing deadline and the Aug. 2 primary election.

"There is a compelling need for an expeditious and authoritative ruling on the important legal issues presented," Schmidt wrote.

The justices encouraged the parties to the litigation to work with the district courts to expedite proceedings. Appeals could ultimately send the cases to the Supreme Court.

"This court does not have discretion to reach the merits of such a claim simply because the question presented is one of statewide importance, significant public concern, or there is a compelling need for an expeditious and authoritative ruling on an important legal question," the ruling states.

Wyandotte County has a hearing scheduled for March 25.

"We are eager to get the case moving in Wyandotte County District Court so that we can show just how blatant of a partisan and racial gerrymander this map is, and how it tramples on the state constitutional rights of our clients," said Sharon Brett, ACLU of Kansas legal director, in a statement. We look forward to putting on our evidence and demonstrating our case."

More: Attorney general asks Kansas Supreme Court to take up redistricting case, dismiss map challenges

Jason Tidd is a statehouse reporter for the Topeka Capital-Journal. He can be reached by email at jtidd@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter @Jason_Tidd.

This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: Kansas Supreme Court won't dismiss redistricting map lawsuits
On a party-line vote, members of the House Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee recommended the bill be passed.

House Republicans are pressing for a bill that would bar school districts from denying elected school officials access to facilities or documents, and make it a misdemeanor offense for school officials who violate the law.

House Bill 1072 would prohibit elected members of school boards, budget committees, or any other elected school district position from being denied access to any school facilities, documents, or school events by any superintendent of school, school principal, or faculty member while that person holds office.

Voting 10-9 along party lines, members of the House Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee recommended the bill be passed, arguing it was necessary to prevent public officials from being punished by school administrators for their politics.

But Democrats and public school representatives say the bill is unnecessary and argue it could lead to elected leaders forcing access to confidential information on students.

The bill includes an exception for an official that has been convicted of or is currently charged with any offense that currently prevents a person from teaching at or working in a New Hampshire school.

School officials who violate the bill by barring an official would face a Class B misdemeanor, which carries a fine of up to $1,200.

For Rep. Ken Weyler, a Kingston Republican and one of the co-sponsors of the bill, the legislation would allow local officials a better glimpse at finances, including details around special education funding.

Weve spent $100,000 for this student to be counseled by such and such a person  what are the results? Weyler said. Is there a behavioral change? Have they learned to read? Have they learned to write? Show me the progress on this very expensive student that weve had for a number of years. I think thats a legitimate question.

But opponents have argued that the bill is vaguely worded and could allow public officials to come onto school grounds during the school day without getting prior approval from school officials. And they say it could create legal headaches for schools trying to comply with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, which protects student records and health information.

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Could a school board or a budget committee, in the aggregate, get how much money are we spending on special education? Yes, said Barrett Christina, executive director of the New Hampshire School Boards Association. Could they get numbers, in the aggregate, of how many paraprofessionals do we have on staff that are providing special education services? Yes. But asking how much this placement costs for this particular kid and how many paraprofessionals and aides for this particular kid, in our opinion, would be touching on the confidentiality aspect that youre not allowed to breach.

The bill will come before the full House later this month.

This story was originally published by New Hampshire Bulletin.

This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Bill would penalize school officials who deny local officials access
Mar. 4Arcadian Bank this week announced it is working to design a new building to take the place of its original 1912 structure in Hartland that was badly damaged by a tornado last December.

Mark Heinemann, president and chief financial officer, said after recovering from the shock of the Dec. 15 tornado and the initial cleanup of the site, the company has been trying to put together ideas and plans for rebuilding.

He said the insurance company declared that everything above the basement must come down, and leadership with the bank are exploring whether it makes sense to tear out everything including the foundation and take it down to a bare lot and start over, or to use a portion of the foundation for the new structure. The footprint of the new building has not yet been decided.

Heinemann did not have a timeline on when plans would be ready or when the new building would be constructed.

"The hardest part has been waiting on the insurance company and developmental plans ... " he said.

In the meantime, customers who had banked in Hartland are encouraged to continue banking in Albert Lea or Freeborn.

He said he appreciated people's flexibility in doing so, and recognized that though it is a change in people's normal routines, the bank is making an extra effort to take care of the Hartland people who were displaced. The bank has one employee from the Hartland site working at each location in Albert Lea and Freeborn, so these customers have familiar faces when they go into the sites.

Heinemann thanked the community for its support the last few months and said that after the initial sorrow, support and offers of assistance, the next biggest question for people has been whether the bank will rebuild.

He said they breathe a sigh of relief when they hear the bank, does indeed, plan to do so.

"We look forward to following through in our commitment to rebuild," Heinemann said.

The building's most extensive damage was to the exterior, mostly on the southwest side, with windows blown out and debris scattered inside. Some of the brickwork on the east side was also torn off.

The National Weather Service classified the Hartland tornado as an EF2. The fast-moving Hartland tornado reached wind speeds as high as 115 mph and was 55 yards wide. It damaged numerous buildings, trees and utility poles, with significant damage coming in the center of town to both residential and business structures.

It was one of 60 tornadoes reported across multiple states. Before that day, Minnesota had never before had a tornado on the ground in December.
NATO has nearly doubled the number of military jets on alert across Europe amid concerns that Russias reckless flying in international airspace could escalate alongside its war in Ukraine.

The alliances move to constantly guard its eastern edge highlights how rapidly the security situation has evolved in and out of Ukraine over the past 10 days, as well as the stakes of NATOs biggest test since its founding in 1949.

More than 60 NATO planes are on high alert at all times to await possible airspace violations, the alliance said in December. Thats grown to more than 100 combat aircraft now rotating through the sky in shifts.

Read all Military Times coverage of the war in Ukraine

A force of myriad fighter aircraft  like American F-15s, F-16s and F-35s, plus NATO Eurofighters  has shifted in the past week from dispatching jets as needed to escort uncooperative Russian pilots, to actively defending allied airspace, NATOs Allied Air Command spokesperson Jonathan Bailey said Friday.

There have been scrambles in response to Russian air activity in international airspace where they are not complying with air safety regulations, Bailey told Air Force Times. We are maintaining 24/7 patrols in the skies along our eastern borders.

Two Russian Sukhoi Su-27s and two Su-24s violated Sweden's airspace on March 2, 2022, the Swedish Air Force said. The Swedes sent Gripen jets to escort them away in a brief interaction. (Swedish Air Force)

Air policing planes identify and address renegade aircraft, such as when allied pilots intercept Russian military jets that veer near their airspace or if a civilian plane is unresponsive or hijacked. Theyre not allowed to fire unless fired upon when flying over a foreign country; most interdictions take place without incident and do not enter allied airspace.

Russian military aircraft often do not transmit a transponder code indicating their position and altitude, do not file a flight plan or do not communicate with air traffic controllers, posing a potential risk to civilian airliners, NATO noted in 2020.

As of Feb. 26, the third day of Russias invasion of Ukraine, NATO air policing assets had not interacted with Russian aircraft since the war began, Allied Air Command told Air Force Times. That changed as the following seven days unfolded.

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Ukraine invasion live updates: March 4

Still, Bailey noted the transatlantic alliance has not intercepted more Russians than usual in recent months. He did not say how many, how often or where those incidents are happening.

Russian pilots arent limiting their bad behavior to NATO nations. Four Russian fighters entered Swedish airspace on Wednesday, prompting the Nordic country to send up its own Gripen jets to see them out.

Two Su-27 and two Su-24 fighters violated Swedish airspace over the sea east of Gotland, an island off Swedens East Coast, the countrys Air Force said the same day. The event was brief and under control, the service said.

With the current situation as backdrop, we take this incident very seriously. Russias conduct is unprofessional and irresponsible, Swedish Air Force boss Maj. Gen. Carl-Johan Edstrom said in a release.

Like Ukraine, Sweden likely would not benefit from direct military assistance from the U.S. and much of Europe if Russia escalates matters. It has not formally joined NATO, preferring instead to maintain official neutrality.

NATO brings Finland, Sweden on board for all Ukraine conflict discussions

Fending off Russian aggression in the air has taken on a darker tone than usual for NATO and its neighbors as Ukraine burns next door.

NATO fighter jets scrambled around 370 times across Europe in 2021, mostly to check aircraft flying unannounced near allied air pace, the alliance said in a Dec. 28 press release. Around 80 percent of the missions, 290 in total, were in response to flights by Russian military aircraft.

Most of those instances occurred in the Baltics, over Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, where the alliance has flown air policing missions since 2004, NATO said. One intercept can involve any number of aircraft.

That level of air policing operations was lower than in 2020 but generally on par with recent years. NATO forces scrambled more than 400 times in 2020, including about 350 in response to Russian flights  a moderate increase from 2019, the alliance said.

NATO is vigilant, and we will always do what it takes to protect and defend all allies, spokesperson Oana Lungescu said in December.




A powerful bishop in Argentina was convicted on Friday of sexually abusing two young men who were studying to become priests, Reuters reported.

Gustavo Zanchetta, the former bishop of Oran in Argentina's northern province of Salta, was convicted of sexually abusing two former seminarians and was sentenced to 4.5 years in prison, according to the wire service.

The verdict was reached after more than a week of graphic testimony from witnesses who described unwanted touching and sexual advances by the former bishop, according to summaries released by the judiciary, Reuters reported.

Those who testified also claimed that the clergyman had asked for massages, given gifts to those seminarians that he favored and had a history of keeping pornography on his phone.

In addition, he allegedly looked at pornography on the church's computer.

Zanchette, for his part, has denied the accusations, and his lawyer said they will appeal the case, according to Reuters.

Zanchetta was a priest for more than 30 years and a bishop for more than eight, according to a website tracking catholic clergy.

The conviction marks the latest sex abuse case among many that have plagued the Catholic Church as an institution for years.

Last week, a German Catholic priest was sentenced to 12 years in prison for sexually abusing children.

But Zanchetta was bishop in the home country of Pope Francis, the former archbishop of Buenos Aires, who assumed the papacy in 2013 and has pledged justice for victims of sexual abuse.
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Matthew Mau

A Chatham village trustee was killed when his car collided with a semi-trailer in Shelby County Wednesday afternoon.

Matthew W. Mau, 38, died in the wreck near Findlay, 70 miles southeast of Springfield.

Also killed was Morgan Wickham, 26, of Springfield, who was a passenger in a company car driven by Mau.

Mau worked for Prairie State Gaming.

Mau was westbound on 2100 North Road near the intersection of Illinois 128 when he failed to stop, colliding with the southbound semi, according to an Illinois State Police report.

Mau was elected as a village trustee in 2015. He served a prior term from 2009 to 2013, then ran for village president, losing to incumbent Tom Gray.

Mike Madigan: Will charges against former Illinois Speaker Michael Madigan resonate with voters?

Village of Chatham President Dave Kimsey, reached Thursday, said Mau had "a gregarious personality."

"Those who are sharing their thoughts about Matt go back to how genuinely kind a person he was," Kimsey said. "I came to appreciate his deep knowledge of Chatham's history and counted on him as a sounding board for community decisions.

"He had a knack for knowing when his friends needed a pick-me-up or encouragement and would be there to deliver it."

Village Trustee Kristen Chiaro posted on Facebook at Mau's "heart belonged to Chatham and public service, and that will sincerely be missed."

The village board is expected to hold a moment of silence for Mau at its Tuesday meeting.

Sangamon County Clerk Don Gray said he last saw Mau at a meet-and-greet in Chatham Monday.

"I'm absolutely heartbroken," Gray said. "Matt was an incredibly hard-working, loyal and dedicated young man not only to the Chatham community and Sangamon County but to the Republican party. It's devastating to think that at such a young age he is gone."

Allan Metcalf: World-class linguist, journalist was a 'popularizer of language to the general public'

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Mau formerly worked in the Sangamon County clerk's office and for Illinois Treasurer Dan Rutherford.

Mau was the Illinois field director for President Donald Trump's 2016 presidential campaign and a Trump delegate to the Republican National Convention.

Mau attended Lincoln Land Community College and Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. He is a 2001 graduate of Glenwood High School.

ISP is continuing to investigate the incident.

Contact Steven Spearie: 217-622-1788, sspearie@sj-r.com, twitter.com/@StevenSpearie.

This article originally appeared on State Journal-Register: Matthew Mau, Chatham, IL village trustee, killed Wednesday in accident
El Paso Independent School District student Marium Zahra won the El Paso Regional Spelling Bee for the second year in a row on Friday after spelling the word "topgallant."

The noun refers to the section of a square-rigged sailing ship's mast, above the topmast and below the royal mast.

In an interview after the competition Friday, the eighth grader said it sometimes feels like she has spent more time in spelling competitions than in school the past year. She breezed through this year's bee.

"I studied very hard, so all the words that came to me, I knew that I had studied them; I knew all the words pretty well," Zahra said after the competition.

Twenty students competed in the El Paso Regional Spelling Bee finals Friday morning in person for the first time since last year.

More than 80 students competed in the 2022 regional spelling bee. There were 25 spellers overall that competed in 2021 and 130 participants in 2020.

There was a sharp decline in participation last year because of an "interruption of on-campus learning in most of the country" because of the pandemic, EPISD spokesperson Gustavo Reveles Acosta said at the time.

Participants competed in online semifinals in mid-February. The 20 finalists were announced last month.

There were 25 vocabulary and 25 spelling words on the semifinals test. Zahra did the best in the semifinals and correctly answered 49 out of 50 questions.

This year's event took place at Andress High School's new Performing Arts Center. EPISD unveiled the new building to the public in December.

The facility has a 500-seat theater and was a $33.4 million modernization of the 60-year-old Northeast El Paso campus and part of the EPISD's $668.8 million school bond, which passed in 2016.

Marium Zahra, eighth grader who won the National Spanish Spelling Bee, sits with some of her family members Tuesday, July 13, 2021, at Young Women's STEAM Research & Preparatory Academy in El Paso. Marium's dad, Munazzam Ali, and his wife, Ghazala Nisa, (not pictured) have four daughters: Marium, center; Ayleen Ali, far right; Lajward Zahra, far left; and Aina Marzia (not pictured).

Marium Zahra continues to dominate in spelling bee competitions

Zahra won the El Paso Regional Spelling Bee last March with the word "realgar."

After winning the regional spelling competition last year, Zahra competed in the Scripps National Spelling Bee in the summer, making it to round two and finishing in 111th place.

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"The Scripps experience was amazing, obviously, but I was a little disappointed about my place, but it's just more motivation to try to do better this year," Zahra said.

Zahra also won the National Spanish Spelling Bee in July.

She will represent the region at the Scripps National Bee in Washington, D.C. on June 2. She said she also plans to participate in the National Spanish Spelling Bee again this year.

When she is not studying for spelling competitions, Zahra said she enjoys creating realistic color pencil portraits, playing chess to decompress and laughing and joking around with her family.

Though she won't be able to compete in spelling bees after she moves on to high school next year, Zahra said she will continue to participate in art contests, science fairs and the events after this year.

"I'm just obsessed with competition," Zahra said.

Despite the upcoming spring break, Zahra said she plans to use her free time wisely and study for up to eight hours per day for the Scripps competition in the summer.

"Ever since I didn't make it that far in last year's spelling bee, I've been very motivated to go way further and even try to win it," she said of the Scripps competition she last year. "I'm studying even harder since October to try to go all the way through this year."

Zahra attends the Young Womens STEAM Research & Preparatory Academy in El Paso.

Public and private elementary and middle school students from El Paso County and Southeast New Mexico were brought together for the competition.

EPISD's new superintendent Diana Sayavedra posted to Twitter Friday afternoon expressing pride in Zahra:

Congratulations to Marium Zahara from @YWSteamPrepNT on winning the El Paso Regional Spelling Bee. Thanks for representing EPISD so well!



I was so happy to be there to witness her second championship in a row! What an inspiration! G-I-R-L P-O-W-E-R! #IamEPISD pic.twitter.com/Evj54aoRlB  Diana Sayavedra (@DsayavedraEPISD) March 4, 2022

The EPISD Education Foundation presented this year's spelling competition.

In El Paso County, six EPISD contestants, three Socorro ISD, one Ysleta ISD, and one Canutillo ISD student participated in the finals.

New Mexico students from Gadsden ISD, Las Cruces Public Schools, Carlsbad Municipal Schools, and private and homeschool students competed in the finals.

More: El Paso Regional Spelling Bee will be held virtually for first time ever Friday

More: Mesita Elementary School student spells 'montage' to win 2020 El Paso Regional Spelling Bee

Cristina Carreon may be reached at ccarreon@elpasotimes.com and @Cris_carreon90 on Twitter.

This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: Marium Zahra wins El Paso Regional Spelling Bee second year in a row
Reuters

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - "Aquaman" actor Amber Heard is expected to testify for a second day on Thursday in the defamation case brought by her ex-husband Johnny Depp, the Hollywood star she said assaulted her multiple times before and during their brief marriage. Depp's first physical outburst, Heard said, came after she asked what was written on one of his faded tattoos. "He slapped me across the face," Heard said.
Johnson County Public Health is delivering information about COVID-19 vaccinations with the help of five Iowa City area artists.

The result is a song about vaccinations, 200 candles, paintings, a COVID-19 art show and a textile art piece. They were selected from proposals after the call for artists went out in November, with the winners eligible for up to $1,900 for their work.

The projects purpose is to engage local artists to build confidence in COVID-19 vaccines, said Hannah Tice, a JCPH official who coordinated the project.

The idea comes from the COVID-19 Georgia Arts Pilot, a collaboration between the CDC and other organizations to increase vaccinations through a series of public art installations and events in neighborhoods in Georgia in 2021.

While Tice is newer to the area, she said she recognized that Iowa City has a strong arts culture and suggested Johnson County Public Health tap into the arts scene to get vaccine messaging out in a different way.

How does this information resonate with you and how would you communicate it? Tice asked the artists. Because the way we're communicating, it is obviously working in some respects, but it's not working in all respects. We'll provide all the science and the data, but we want to tap into the artists mindset for this communication.

The only requirement for the art was that it had to promote COVID-19 vaccines in some way, Tice said.

Here's a look at the five chosen art projects.

Candles by Erika Christiansen

Homemade candles by Erika Christiansen at the Solon Public Library.

The connection between candles and vaccination education lies in one COVID-19 symptom: loss of smell.

Erika Christiansen drew from her experiences in coming up with the idea.

She missed walking around Iowa City, stepping into shops and being able to smell things. During the pandemic, Christiansen learned how to make cleaner burning candles.

It's not a pressure. It's not a commitment. But it's, here's just the information and every person's choice is different. But being able just to get the education to people's hands, that was just what sparked my idea, she said.

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Erika Christiansen created 200 candles that will be free for the public to take. The candles are commissioned by Johnson County Public Health to promote COVID-19 vaccination awareness.

Christiansen made 200 candles using wax from soybeans grown in Iowa, rotating eight fragrances, including black currant and jasmine, brown sugar and fig, and citrus agave.

Candles will be available to take at the Solon Public Library, the gift shops in the University of Iowa Old Capitol Building and Museum of Natural History, the North Liberty Community Pantry and Coralville Community Food Pantry. Candles will be displayed with information related to COVID-19 vaccines.

Christiansen has two children under age 5. She's experienced the challenges of day-care closures and omicron variant scares.

I think being part of something that offers the education and still allowing people to have their choice and gather information, that's been something almost healing for me, she said.

Christensen has an Instagram account for candle care tips and information about candle-making.

The COVID-19 Diaries by Dani Sigler

"Why Won't You Die?" by Dani Sigler, as part of her series of paintings in "The COVID-19 Diaries."

Dani Sigler started an ongoing painting series called The COVID-19 Diaries in March 2020.

Sigler works in administration in the Department of Ophthalmology at UI Healthcare. The paintings helped her deal with the pandemic.

Some of the paintings are directly about the vaccine, while others are generally related to Siglers experiences and feelings regarding COVID-19.

I feel (the vaccine is) one of the best ways to protect ourselves against dying from COVID-19. I'm fully vaccinated myself. I'm boosted and I'm going to continue to get more boosters if needed, and I strongly encourage others to do the same, she said. So I make art about it.

The paintings also delve into societal events during the past two years from the Black Lives Matter movement to the 2020 presidential election.

While Sigler had intended to stop the series in December, the pandemic has continued, therefore so must the paintings, she decided. Her hope is that shell be able to stop soon.

When Sigler spoke to the Press-Citizen in February, she had 140 paintings completed. She is compiling images of the paintings into books separated by year. She is also making prints of the paintings so that they can be sold and exhibited.

Sigler will hold onto the original paintings as she continues with the series.

As Sigler works on potentially exhibiting her work this year, she will be selling one piece as part of Public Space Ones art auction that ends March 12. Her work can also be viewed online on her website.

People that aren't getting vaccinated or are confused about something or have questions about something, it's really important for them to find the answers they're looking for and to see positive imagery about all this, she said. So I wanted to participate in that and educate a little.

Some of her work injects humor, like the painting Why Wont You Die, which incorporates bright, more positive colors. That sense of humor, Sigler said, may help erase fear some people have.

The paintings I make, they're small. I think they're pretty approachable. I have engaging colors. Because I want people to discuss these things, Sigler said. I am fully aware that some people might not agree with some of the topics or my viewpoints on things, but at least they're discussing it.

Vaccine Art Show by Julia Wolfe

Artist Julia Wolfe is doing a juried group exhibition that travels monthly around Johnson County, according to Tice. She made an Instagram account called vaccine art show to recruit artists.

The project will culminate with an exhibition, but the location and time have yet to be determined, according to Wolfe, who was unable to share more about the project at this time.

Demand/Prayer by India Johnson

An art piece titled "Demand/Prayer" by India Johnson is seen Tuesday at the First Presbyterian Church in Iowa City. It will be on display through mid-April.

India Johnson began writing down daily COVID-19 case counts in Johnson County at the start of the pandemic.

The journal was a way to process and acknowledge what was happening, and then let it go so she could go on with her day.

Johnson has a background in bookbinding. Before COVID-19, shed make pieces that visualized the entire text of a book, including taking cloth and writing all the laments in the biblical book of Psalms using a typewriter. Shed layer all the words on the piece of cloth.

In a similar fashion, Demand/Prayer is an estimated 50-square-foot textile piece with the words from the Book of Common Prayer, with from plague, deliver us stamped on it repeatedly.

A detail view of an art piece titled "Demand/Prayer" by India Johnson is seen, Tuesday, March 1, 2022, at the First Presbyterian Church in Iowa City, Iowa.

Each from plague, deliver us phrase on the textile represents one confirmed COVID-19 case in Johnson County from March 2020 to March 2021.

It's surprising how timely that feels, but then I did this research and learned that the Book of Common Prayer is a product of a time when people were really worried about plague, Johnson said.

Johnson said the danger of this artwork is that it aestheticizes this massively traumatic event.

Though Demand/Prayer hangs at First Presbyterian Church and is available for the public to view, she doesnt know that the piece feels resolved. She questioned if it should be displayed elsewhere, or if she should have continued working on it.

Johnson said art is suggestive rather than argumentative. Its "evocative."

I actually think that's part of what Johnson County is hoping to harness here is ways of communicating messages about public health that are nuanced  and maybe actually less direct, she said.

Demand/Prayer will be on display through mid-April at First Presbyterian Church. Johnson spoke about the art piece at the church in February. A recording of it is available on the church's website.

A COVID-19 vaccination song by Rachel Kellogg

Rachel Kellogg, who uses they/them pronouns, is making a song about COVID-19 vaccinations. The goal is to make the idea of vaccines welcoming. Some people may also be more receptive to receiving their information through music, Kellogg said.

Music is very good at taking things that maybe you might be afraid of or need to know, and it's great with helping people remember and calming people down, they said.

When Kellogg learned about this project, they felt it would be a way to use their art for a civic duty.

Kellogg said their music is typically dance floor oriented but for this song, they wanted to make something that was softer and upbeat and not threatening for listeners. They also were mindful about their lyrics to avoid language that might make someone feel defensive about their choices, or feel that Kellogg is being condescending.

Kelloggs song will be available on SoundCloud in March.

Paris Barraza covers entertainment, lifestyle and arts at the Iowa City Press-Citizen. Reach her at PBarraza@press-citizen.com or (319) 519-9731. Follow her on Twitter @ParisBarraza.

This article originally appeared on Iowa City Press-Citizen: Johnson County commissions five artworks about COVID-19 vaccines
Olympic heavyweight silver medalist Richard Torrez won his pro debut but it wasnt pretty.

Torrez put Allen Melson down three times and stopped him at 1:23 of Round 2 of a scheduled six-round bout Friday night in Fresno, California, not far from Torrezs hometown of Tulare.

Torrez put the wild, awkward Melson (6-4, 3 KOs) down with a left hand about two minutes into the fight. Then things got weird.

The Olympian appeared to end the fight with a second knockdown when referee Marcos Rosales waved his arms above the fallen Melson. However, Rosales was indicating that it was a slip, not the end of the fight.

Then, in the final seconds of the opening round, a collision of heads resulted in a deep cut above Torrezs right eye that bled profusely.

In the end, the cut didnt matter. Torrez scored two more knockdowns with left hands during moments of wrestling. The last one put Melson on his back, prompting Rosales to end the fight.

The official time was 1:23 of Round 2.

Torrez, who is 6-foot-2, weighed 228.25. The 5-foot-10 Melson came in at only 201.75.

Torrez lost to Bakhodir Jalolov of Uzbekistan 5-0 in the gold-medal match this past August in Tokyo.

In other featured preliminary bouts, two-time former world title challenger Joet Gonzalez (25-2, 14 KOs) stopped Jeo Santisima (21-4, 18 KOs) at 2:05 of Round 9 in a scheduled 10-round bout.

Gabriel Flores Jr. (21-1, 7 KOs) defeated Abraham Montoya (20-3-1, 14 KOs) by a majority decision in a 10-round junior lightweight bout.

And Hector Tanajara (19-1-1, 5 KOs) and Miguel Contreras (11-1-1, 6 KOs) fought to a draw in an eight-round lightweight bout.
James Dean Cloud  accused in a 2019 mass murder on the Yakama Reservation  has filed a motion to dismiss charges against him.
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Community support keeps the Civil Air Patrol soaring

To the editor  The Yakima Squadron Civil Air Patrol (CAP) would like to thank Mr. Gene Odell  ALS Ambulance Service  for the recent donation we received and is greatly appreciated.

Each squadron in Washington state is self-supporting and relies on private and business donations and fundraisers to support cadet programs, emergency services and aerospace education.

CAP is an auxiliary of the United States Air Force, which supports us only in training materials, our 11-passenger van, communications equipment and the Cessna 206 that is parked in the hangar at the McAllister Museum of Aviation in which CAP is a partner.

CAP is like Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts and Junior ROTC all rolled together. Instruction in common courtesies, drill, survival, compass orienteering, astronomical and map navigation, aerodynamics (how planes fly), model rocketry, color guard and much more is offered. CAP takes cadets and officers on trips to Hanford B reactor, LIGO facility, Alaska Airlines Day at SeaTac, among others.

CAP is open to all young girls and boys from 12 to 21 years of age. CAP is also open to adults to act as mentors in many fields. Yakima Squadron meets at the National Guard Armory (east end) fromt 5:30-8 p.m. Mondays, 2501 Airport Lane, south side of the airport. Call 509-469-4620 to leave a message.

CAP is an aviation-oriented organization that allows cadets to fly in the Cessna 206 and even to use the controls to fly it.

Yakima CAP is also partnered with the McAllister Museum of Aviation and works closely in various ways. Both organizations rely on volunteers to further educate and interest everyone to the importance of aviation in the Yakima Valley.

MAJ. JACK L. PARKER

Yakima Composite Sq. CAP
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A pro-government columnist lambasts the opposition for demanding more independence from Russian energy imports. A liberal pundit accuses the government of compromising moral values by doing business with authoritarian regimes.

In a video message on Wednesday, PM Viktor Orban told Hungarians that Hungary stands together with her allies over the Ukraine war, and in preventing that war from spreading further. Meanwhile, he said, Hungarians must not be compelled to bear the financial consequences.



Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto used that expression when he rounded on unnamed opposition politicians who would like Hungary to stop importing natural gas from Russia and scrap the agreement to fund and build a major expansion of the nuclear power station at Paks.



Magyar Nemzets Gergely Kiss accuses opposition politicians of jeopardizing the national interest by suggesting that Hungary should send weapons to Ukraine (referring to an earlier statement by opposition frontrunner Peter Marki-Zay) and extend sanctions on Russian gas imports.



He quotes Olivio Kocsis-Cake, a left-wing MP as telling ATV that if necessary, sanctions should include a ban on importing Russian gas. The pro-government columnist argues that without Russian gas, energy prices would soar, families would find it difficult to heat their homes, and the economy would decline.



In an aside, he remarks that the opposition wants to stop the construction of the Paks nuclear plant, which would lead to even higher energy prices. Kiss believes that the opposition wants to weaken the government by undermining its cautious balancing policies. Kiss concludes by claiming that voters will have to pay a high price if the opposition parties win the parliamentary election in a months time.



On 444, Marton Veg accuses the government of following an unprincipled foreign policy. The left-liberal commentator finds it sad that the government puts economic interests before moral values.



In exchange for cheap gas and Russian investment, the government abstains from criticizing Russias undemocratic government, Veg notes, adding that the government maintains similarly good relations with other Eastern dictatorships.



All this, however, does not yield much for the country, as partnerships with Eastern undemocratic regimes are economically and commercially insignificant  the left-libera commentator warns.



This opinion does not necessarily represent the views of XpatLoop.com or the publisher.

Your opinions are welcome too - for editorial review before possible publication online.

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MTI Photo of the Russian gas pipes in Hungary




Hungary is suspending the broadcast of television channels Russia Today (RT) and Sputnik, in line with the European Union decision on ceasing the reception of Russian outlets, the National Media and Communications Authority (NMHH) said on Friday.

The European Council on Tuesday approved regulation suspending the broadcast of those channels uniformly in all EU member states, citing Russias disinformation campaign in connection with the war in Ukraine, NMHH said in a statement.



RT and Sputnik will be disabled on all platforms, including online content, NMHH said.



The two channels were on offer with one television provider only in Hungary, which has been warned of the measure, NMHH said. Online outlets are monitored for compliance constantly, it said.
Business Wire India Setting a new milestone in its India presence, BMW Group Plant Chennai has rolled out the 1,00,000th car locally produced in the country. A BMW Individual 740Li M Sport Edition has received this special badge.

Thomas Dose, Managing Director, BMW Group Plant Chennai, said, "It is a day of great joy and pride for us as the 1,00,000th, Made-in-India car drives out of our assembly lines. This accomplishment is a result of the team's hard work, efficiency and consistency, which ensures that every BMW or MINI car locally produced here in Chennai is of the same international quality standards as any other BMW plant across the world."

Adding to it he said, "Highly skilled employees, advanced manufacturing processes with state-of-the-art technology and a strong focus on sustainability provided the necessary ingredients for this success."

Also read: Mahindra partners with IIT Madras-incubated entity to launch Bolero-based campers in India

He also said, "At the same time, increased localisation of up to 50 per cent and robust collaboration with local supplier partners has created more value for everyone in the ecosystem. BMW Group Plant Chennai looks forward to raising the bar in sustainable manufacturing excellence further as the India story grows."

BMW Group Plant Chennai started operations on 29 March 2007 and is celebrating its 15th anniversary this year. The BMW Group has continuously increased the number of its locally produced car models.

Currently, 13 models are locally produced - BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe, BMW 3 Series, BMW 3 Series Gran Limousine, BMW M340i, BMW 5 Series, BMW 6 Series Gran Turismo, BMW 7 Series, BMW X1, BMW X3, BMW X4, BMW X5, BMW X7 and MINI Countryman.

Making sustainability a top priority, the plant runs on 100% green electricity. The total number of employees at BMW Group India is over 650.

With inputs from PTI

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Domestic flights will begin shortly from the Uttarlai Air Force Station in Barmer, close to the Pakistan border, according to a senior official.

Ministry of Defence has granted sanction to the Airport Authority of India (AAI) to operate air services from the runway of the Uttarlai Air Force Station, Defence Estate Officer Abhinav Singh said.

After Jodhpur Air Force Station, this will be the second airbase in Western Sector to allow the operation of civil domestic flights from its runway.

Read also: Heartbreaking images of damaged Antonov an225, world's biggest plane, emerge from Ukraine

The airbase played an important role in the Indo-Pakistan war. The squadron of upgraded MiG-21 Bison is deployed here.

Defence Estate Officer Singh said that land measuring 4,568 sqm would be given to the AAI on the annual lease of Rs 10,670 in the air force station as per the Memorandum of Understanding to be signed between the IAF and AAI.

"Besides this land, a parcel of 7.1 bighas between the adjacent railway line and air force station has already been allotted to the AAI for construction of a terminal for the airport," said Singh.

The permission is in pursuance of the regional connectivity scheme 'UDAN' introduced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in April 2017 with the objective of expanding air services in the country and making them economic.

The AAI had expressed its intention to operate civil flights from Uttarlai Air Force Station in 2018 keeping in view the growing importance of Barmer as a centre for crude production and its refining and generation of non-conventional energy.

While construction of the refinery and crude exploration by the oil exploration giant Cairn Energy is already in full swing in Barmer, many other companies are engaged in minerals, oil and gas exploration and solar and wind energy generation.

The Estate officer said that the sanction has been granted to the AAI for construction of temporary/minimum infrastructure on and near the defence land at/inside perimeter wall and between the railway line and air force station boundary wall without alienation/transfer of ownership of land.

With inputs from PTI

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Travelling with four-legged family members can be quite a challenge. The challenge is not just for the owners of the pet but for the airlines as well. When it comes to travelling with animals, airlines have many rules and restrictions, considering different situations. In the wake of Ukraine crisis, focus on pet on airlines has further intensified. Heres an understanding on how travelling with pets works-

The conditions

There are many conditions that the airlines take into consideration when it comes to travelling with pets. For instance, the animal's size, age and type, aircraft type, and destination requirements. All of these policies vary between different airlines. After analysing, conditions like these airlines permit whether the animal can be onboard or not.

If your pet is coming on board, there are still things that airlines take into consideration, like if the pet will be travelling as a carry-on or in separate climate-controlled pressurised compartments. Next, some airlines even consider the type of the animal, meaning the animal will be allowed if it's an emotional support animal or a service animal, depending on their policy.

Read also: AAI to start domestic flights from Uttarlai airbase, Barmer near Pak border

Carry-on pets

If the airlines allow the pet as a carry-on, there are many conditions differing from airline to airline like the pet's fee and how it is to be carried.

Checked pets

The pets being checked in the airlines are to be transported in climate-controlled compartments to ensure that they get the ideal temperature during the journey and are not exposed to extreme heat or cold. In addition, there are several conditions differing between airlines like the size, weight, type of the pet and how it is to be carried.

Because of the broad diversity of restrictions, rules, and allowances for animal travel, it's vital to check an airline's website to review their individual pet travel policy. Travellers may be required to register their animals as checked luggage ahead of time.

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NEW DELHI: Bollywood 'King' Shah Rukh Khan is all set to make his comeback to Bollywood with Yash Raj Films' spy-thriller 'Pathan'. The first teaser of the film was unveiled by the makers recently. As per latest reports, Shah Rukh is all set to leave for Spain for a long schedule of his film. Actress Deepika Padukone and John Abraham, who are also part of the film cast, will be flying to Spain for the shoot.

It is to be noted that shooting of the 'Pathan' was delayed last year owing to the arrest of Shah Rukh's son Aryan Khan in a drug case. Later, the shoot got delayed again due to the COVID pandemic.

On Saturday (March 5), Shah Rukh Khan was papped at the Mumbai airport, as he was all set to fly to Spain. The actor was seen hugging his driver as he arrived at the venue. He then greeted the security guard with folded hands and entered the airport. SRK didnt stop to pose for the cameras on his way to the entrance of the airport.

Celeb photographer Viral Bhayani shared a video of Shah Rukh from the airport. Take a look:

The famous bull fight stadium in Madrid is one of the main locations for this schedule in Spain. It will also be utilised to shoot the action scenes of the film.

Speaking of 'Pathaan', the film stars Shah Rukh Khan, Deepika Padukone and John Abraham in lead roles. Salman Khan will also be seen in a cameo appearance in the film. 'Pathaan' is written and directed by Siddharth Anand and produced by Aditya Chopra under the banner of Yash Raj Films.

The first teaser of 'Pathan' was recently unveiled by the makers.

Veteran actress Dimple Kapadia will be seen as the head of the RAW department and Ashutosh Rana will play the role of an Army official. The much-awaited action-spy thriller 'Pathaan' is scheduled to release on Republic Day 2023 weekend.

Apart from 'Pathaan', Shah Rukh will also be seen in untitled films by directors Atlee and Rajkummar Hirani.

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New Delhi: Petrol and diesel prices in India that have remained stagnant since November 4, 2021, could start increasing from next week. According to repots, oil marketing companies will need to increase the price by more than Rs 12 by March 16, 2022, to break even.

"Auto fuel net marketing margin is minus Rs 4.92 per litre on March 3, 2022, and Rs 1.61 in Q4 FY22-to-dateHowever, net margin is likely to plummet to minus Rs 10.1 per litre on March 16 and minus Rs 12.6 on April 1 at latest international auto fuel prices," ICICI Securities said.

According to a Reuters report, the Indian government will start increasing petrol and diesel prices next week for the first time in more than four months. Sources quoted n the report noted that the oil companies will be free to increase petrol prices in a phased manner.

India currently imports 80% of its oil needs. Oil marketing companies havent increased the prices of petrol and diesel in the country since November 4. However, once the state assembly elections are done and dusted, the firms are likely to hike prices starting next week. The companies are facing huge losses, the report pointed out.

The Centre and several state governments had cut the taxes on petrol and diesel in November 2021. The government could further decrease the taxes on the fuel in April to make it affordable.

In the recent past few days, crude oil has touched record highs. On Thursday, the price of Brent increased to more than $116 a barrel. The global prices of other products such as wheat, soybean, fertiliser and metals, including copper, steel and aluminium, have also surged amid the crisis in Ukraine.

Rising retail fuel prices would have a direct impact on prices of household goods and services depending on energy intensity, Saugata Bhattacharya, chief economist at Axis Bank, told Reuters. Also Read: Russia-Ukraine War: Samsung suspends shipments to Russia, announces $6 million in aid

"However, the RBIs Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) is unlikely to immediately start tightening monetary policy, given widespread multi-dimensional uncertainties on growth momentum," he was quoted as saying. Also Read: Garena Free Fire Max Redeem Codes for today, March 5: Check how to get free rewards

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New Delhi: Food prices are increasing globally amid the Russia-Ukraine war. According to the U.N. food agency  Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), world food prices hit a record high in February to post a 24.1% hike year on year.

For instance, wheat prices have increased more than 55% since the week before the invasion, as Russia and Ukraine are two of the major exporters of the food grain. The wars impact on global trade has been most severe in the Black Sea, where Russian and Ukrainian ports are major hubs for wheat and corn, according to a report by Reuters.

Prior to the war, Ukraine accounted for 16% of global corn exports. Along with Russia, Ukraine accounted for 30% of wheat exports. Not to forget, Russia is the largest exporter of wheat in the world. A war between the countries means poorer countries depend on imports to face major supply shocks.

Moreover, the traffic from the Black Sea region has come to a halt, effectively shutting down the second-largest grain exporting region in the world. The rising prices of food grains and supply chain issues are likely to impact several world economies.

Countries like Turkey, which import about 78% of wheat from Russia and another 9% from Ukraine, are likely to be hit hard from the rising food prices and a crunch in the supply chain.

Rising wheat prices impact India?

The rising global prices of wheat are unlikely to hit India, as in the past few years, India has turned into a net exporter of the food grain. In 2020, India exported wheat worth $243,067,000, according to a report by World Top Exports. Also Read: JioPhone Next now available at an offline store near you, check price, features, how to buy the affordable smartphone

In 2021, India was expected to increase its wheat exports. According to the US Department of Agriculture (USDA), Indian wheat exports for 2020-21 (July-June) were likely to touch 1.8 million tonnes (mt), as against an earlier estimate of 1 mt. Also Read: Apple Maps now displays Crimea as part of Ukraine outside Russia
New Delhi: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday has once again praised the Yogi government for the law and order situation in Uttar Pradesh by taking a swift dig at Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav saying that he can`t see the positive changes as he wears dark glasses.

"Akhilesh Yadav has been raising questions over the issue of law and order in the state. He won`t be able to see the improvements as he wears dark glasses, which prevent him from seeing anything," said Shah while addressing a public rally in Uttar Pradesh`s Jaunpur.

"Jiske ainak ke glaas kaale hote hain usako sab kaala hee kala dikhaye deta hai," said Shah taking a swipe at Akhilesh Yadav.

Lauding BJPs government in Uttar Pradesh, the Home Minister said, "In the last five years BJP has worked on ending the criminalization of politics."

"There has been a significant reduction in crime in UP as compared to earlier. We have started the journey towards a crime-free state," said Shah on the last day of campaigning for the ongoing UP Polls.

Earlier, Amit Shah, while praising Yogi Adityanaths administration said that women in UP now feel safe enough to roam freely after midnight.

Notably, the seventh phase of polling will be held on March 7.

Polling for six phases of the seven-phased Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections has already concluded.

The counting of votes will take place on March 10.

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Foreign Ministry today said that it is deeply concerned about its citizen who are stuck in Ukraine's Sumy district, that is currently under attack.

"Have strongly pressed Russian and Ukrainian governments through multiple channels for an immediate ceasefire to create a safe corridor for our students," MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said today in a Tweet.

Bagchi further said that India has advised its students "to take safety precautions, stay inside shelters and avoid unnecessary risks."

"Ministry and our Embassies are in regular touch with the students," Bagchi added.

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Srinagar: A massive fire broke out at a hospital in Jammu and Kashmir on Friday (March 5). Huge flames were seen around 9.30 pm in one of the main hospitals in Kashmir Bone and Joint Hospital located in the upper town of Srinagar in Barzulla.

In just 30 minutes, the upper two floors of the four-story building were engulfed in fire. At that time around 110 patients were admitted to hospital wards, among which were patients who were operated hours before. Besides, around 22 patients were admitted to the emergency ward, said an eye witness.

He added that it took no time that the whole building was in flames. As the fire engulfed the building, soon the locals residing around the hospital, mainly youths rushed to hospital premises and started evacuating the patients and the attendants with the help of hospital staff till the fire brigade, NGOs and SDRF teams reached the spot. Their combined efforts saved hundreds of patients and medical staff of the hospital, the eyewitness said.

An official said, "Preliminary reports suggest that fire started from Operation Theatre and spread due to explosion of Oxygen cylinders. However, details awaited.

Around 20 fire brigade teams and half a dozen SDRF teams with police and locals carried out rescue operations for around 3 hours and major tragedy was averted by timely action.

Divisional Commissioner Kashmir PK Pole and Director Health Services Kashmir (DHSK), Dr Mushtaq Ahmad Rather who visited the hospital praised the immediate action taken by locals in helping the administration in the evacuation of patients from the Hospital in Barzulla.

Director Health Kashmir said, "All patients have been evacuated and shifted to various hospitals including SMHS and SKIMS Bemina. He added The cooperation by locals was tremendous and with their timely help all patients were safely evacuated, all doctors and paramedics are also safe.

An inquiry has been ordered to ascertain if there were any lapses that caused the massive fire in the hospital. PK Pole Divisional Commissioner Kashmir who along with various officers visited hospital premises said, "We will inquire where the lapse is, why the incident happened despite regular fire safety audits and adequate measures. Principal Government Medical College will inquire into the reason for the fire, Pole said.

The Health & Medical Education Deptt is deeply concerned and monitoring the aftermath of the devastating fire incident at B&J Hospital Srinagar, the department said in a tweet as per GNS.

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Varanasi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday came down heavily on the Opposition for politicising the Ukraine crisis, saying that "dynasts always look for opportunities to serve their self-interests".

"Blind opposition, continuous opposition, acute frustration, and negativity have become their political ideology," PM Modi said in his sharp attack on the Opposition. PM Modi, while campaigning for the last phase of the Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections, said that the Opposition parties look for political interests even when the nation faces challenges, making the situation even more critical.

His statement came amidst India stepping up the evacuation of the stranded Indian nationals under Operation Ganga. Addressing an election rally in his Parliamentary constituency Varanasi, the Prime Minister said, "Whenever some challenges crop up before the nation, these dynasts look for their political interests. If Indias security forces and people deal with a crisis, the Opposition parties do everything to make the situation more critical. We saw this during the pandemic and today during the Ukraine crisis."

The Opposition, mainly Congress, has been slamming the Centre over `Operation Ganga`, alleging late reaction in the evacuation of Indians. Earlier in the day, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi slammed the Centre, citing a media report claiming that students were asked to clean toilets to return to India. "It is an insult of the entire country," remarked Gandhi on the media report. He had earlier said that "evacuation is a duty and not a favour".

For the past two years, the Prime Minister said free ration is being made available to over 80 crore poor, Dalits, backward, and tribals. "The entire world is amazed at the rollout of the foodgrains scheme. But I am happy that the poor are happy," he added.

"Those who live in palaces don`t know the troubles that a poor mother goes through in absence of a toilet at home. They have to either think of answering nature's call before sunrise or bear the pain throughout the day and do so only after sunset," the Prime Minister said.

PM Modi has been camping in Varanasi for the last two days. His Parliamentary constituency will go to the polls in the last phase of the state Assembly elections. Campaigning for the seventh phase of the polls will end on Friday evening. A total of 54 Assembly seats across nine districts including Azamgarh, Mau, Jaunpur, Ghazipur, Chandauli, Varanasi, Mirzapur, Bhadohi and Sonbhadra, will go to polls on March 7.

PM Modi has been camping in Varanasi for the last two days. His Parliamentary constituency will go to the polls in the last phase of the state Assembly elections.

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New Delhi: The President's Secretariat on Friday (March 4, 2022) informed that the tour of Rashtrapati Bhavan, Rashtrapati Bhavan Museum Complex and Change of Guard Ceremony will resume from next week for public viewing.

The entry of the general public was restricted since January 1, 2022, due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Rashtrapati Bhavan Museum Complex will open for public viewing from March 8 and will remain open from Tuesday to Sunday except on Gazetted Holidays. Visitors will be allowed in the Museum in four pre-booked time slots with a maximum limit of 50 visitors per slot, the President's Secretariat said in a statement.

Timings of the slots will be 0930 - 1100 hrs, 1130 - 1300 hrs, 1330  1500 hrs and 1530  1700 hrs.

Tour of Rashtrapati Bhavan will be available from March 12. It will be open every Saturday and Sunday (except on Gazetted Holidays) in three pre-booked time slots - 1030-1130 hrs, 1230-1330 hrs and 1430-1530 hrs with a maximum limit of 25 visitors per slot.

The newly developed Arogya Vanam will also be part of the Rashtrapati Bhavan tour.

The Change of Guard Ceremony will take place every Saturday, except on Gazetted Holidays, from 0800 hrs to 0900 hrs from March 12.

Online booking for the tour of Rashtrapati Bhavan, Rashtrapati Bhavan Museum and Change of Guard Ceremony can be made at http://rashtrapatisachivalaya.gov.in/rbtour.

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New Delhi: For 31-year-old Harjot Singh, an attempt to seek safety away from the war-hit Kyiv in Ukraine brought him under heavy fire and he thanks his lucky stars that he survived despite receiving four bullets, including one in the chest.

Recounting the horrid moments of February 27, Singh, a Delhi resident who is currently undergoing treatment at a hospital in Kyiv, said, "We were in a cab to Lviv. We were stopped at a barricade and suddenly it was raining bullets. I thought this is the end. I am alive by God's grace."

His anxious family members here heaved a sigh of relief after he regained consciousness a few days later and informed them that he miraculously escaped the firings.

The incident took place on February 27 when Singh, along with his two friends, boarded a cab for the western Ukrainian city of Lviv in a bid to escape Kyiv.

"I don't know what happened to the people I was with. If they made it or not, I have no clue. I thought I will not make it," Singh told PTI over phone.

Singh is enrolled in a language course at International European University in Kyiv.

For his family in Delhi's Chattarpur area, it was an equally horrid time as they did not have any idea what had happened to him.

"When he regained consciousness three days later, he was in a hospital with bullet injuries and a fractured leg. All his documents, including passport, are missing. He has no idea what happened to his friends," his brother Prabhjot Singh told PTI.

"Last time we talked on February 26, he said he is fine and will be back, and thereafter there was no communication. We were so worried. These past few days have been tough. We contacted every official but there was no help," he added.

Harjot Singh's father Keshar Singh, who followed the situation in Ukraine, said every time he saw bodies on TV, his heart sank thinking that of his son could be among them.

"There was no contact with him. I used to see dead bodies on TV and used to think my son is among them. My heart sank. We were so horrified and scared. But miraculously when he called on the fourth day, it was the same happiness I felt at the time of his birth. I request the Indian government to evacuate my son and thousands of students stuck in Ukraine," 67-year-old Singh said.

Russia launched its attack on Ukraine last Thursday.

To evacuate citizens from war-hit Ukraine, the Indian government have initiated Operation Ganga. However, the evacuation from the eastern part of the country has been a cause of concern as heavy violence in underway.

India has been evacuating its citizens through special flights from Ukraine's western neighbours such as Romania, Hungary and Poland as the Ukrainian airspace has been shut since February 24 due to the Russian military offensive.

According to the Ministry of External Affairs, nearly 17,000 Indian nationals have left Ukraine's borders since advisories were issued over a fortnight back.

Russia on Wednesday said it is working "intensely" to create a "humanitarian corridor" for safe passage to Russian territory of Indian nationals stuck in Kharkiv, Sumy and other conflict zones in Ukraine following a request from New Delhi.

An estimated 20,000 Indian nationals, mainly medical students, reside in Ukraine.

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Chennai: VK Sasikala, confidante of late AIADMK supremo J Jayalalithaa on Friday embarked on a two-day tour of southern Tamil Nadu to meet her supporters.

Amid demands from AIADMK workers in Theni to consider taking Sasikala and her nephew TTV Dhinakaran into the party, she told reporters here that the entire party is a family and that she is going to meet children of the outfit.

The demand of a section of workers to take the duo back into the party has been opposed by others.

On her arrival at Tuticorin from here, she was accorded a rousing welcome at the airport by her supporters and AIADMK coordinator O Panneerselvam's brother O Raja called on her at the temple town of Tiruchendur. However, what was discussed during the meeting is not clear.

On multiple occasions Sasikala had claimed that she is the general secretary of the AIADMK, which was staunchly opposed by the main opposition party. The AIADMK flag is a permanent fixture on the bonnet of the car she uses to travel. The AIADMK has also opposed it.

Sasikala, who had tremendous clout in the AIADMK when former Chief Minister Jayalalithaa was alive, is set to tour Tirunelveli, Tuticorin and Tenkasi regions and she is also likely to offer worship in temples.

In January 2021, she was released from prison after serving a 4-year term following conviction in the disproportionate assets case.

Later, she spoke to her supporters and several AIADMK workers over the phone. This is the first time she has embarked on a trip to meet supporters and discuss with them following the fading of the coronavirus pandemic.

Sasikala and her relatives were eased out of the party years ago. Dhinakaran is heading the Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam.

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OZARK  After strapping themselves into harnesses attached to bungee cords, a group of women got ready to sweat.

And sweat they did. For 45 minutes, the class at So Fly Bungee Fitness in Ozark worked their way through a routine that involved everything from toe taps to jumping jacks to burpees. Harnessing the benefits of plyometric exercise  jumping or explosive movements  with a bungee cord not only provided a good cardio workout for the class, but the participants didnt pound their joints with every move. Plus, they seemed to have fun.

I have some knee problems, Shalene Schmidt of Ariton said after the class ended. Its lower impact than doing regular jumping jacks or lunges. The bungee takes some of the pressure off where I can do these activities without hurting later on.

Schmidt has been coming to So Fly since it opened last year and said she feels stronger now than she did before.

I definitely have a lot more energy than I used to, Schmidt said.

Paula Teeter opened So Fly Bungee Fitness in May 2021. She stumbled across bungee fitness on TikTok and read the story of Candace Williams, the creator of Sling Fitness in Edmond, Oklahoma. An athlete plagued by an autoimmune disorder, Williams turned to bungee fitness when other types of workouts became impossible for her due to pain.

Teeter could relate.

A Pilates and aerobics instructor when she was younger, Teeters lifestyle changed as she aged. Then, when she was 43, she was diagnosed with breast cancer and underwent a double mastectomy. The medication she took for 10 years after that caused Teeter terrible joint pain.

So, at 54, Teeter made the trip to Oklahoma to become certified by Sling Fitness. On her second day there, she called her husband, Terry, and told him to start looking for studio space.

I could actually exercise without my hips and knees hurting, Teeter said.

Teeter got the OK from her doctor before she went all in on the bungee fitness studio. Not even a year in business, So Fly received the launch award for a new business from the Ozark Area Chamber of Commerce, and Teeter has lost 50 pounds since she opened her studio.

I am in the best health of my life and its because of plyometrics, Teeter said. Thats what bungee fitness is; its plyometrics.

She has seen clients who have had knee and hip replacements return to exercise.

In a class she instructed earlier this week, Teeter had participants that ranged from 16 years old to 80 years old. The studio even has a kids bungee class on Saturdays. Each bungee class can hold 11 people plus the instructor. Fans located around the studio help keep things cool during classes.

There are a lot of women who take So Fly classes, but there are a few men who regularly attend, Teeter said. There are also a lot of different body shapes  short, tall, round, thin.

The majority of the people we see here are over 150 pounds because we do have an obese nation, Teeter said. I also weigh over 150, but when I started this I weighed 230 and now I weigh 180.

The bungee cords are made to hold certain weight ranges and can support someone well over 200 pounds. Prior to each class, participants step on a scale and are assigned a bungee cord based on that number. At So Fly, the bungee cords are hooked to cables that are attached to ceiling beams. The cables swivel to allow for full movement. Users wear a harness that fits snug around the body but loose around the legs. The harnesses are attached to the bungee by a hook on the back, although there is the option to be hooked on the sides.

Getting the right cord and harness fit is important so that users can suspend above the floor without actually touching it. Also, a harness that is too tight across the legs will pinch and not allow for full movement.

Teeter starts everyone on a beginner level class, but there are advanced classes with more aerial movements and jumps.

While one class may do Peter Pan leaps, another may go full Superman.

Aerial fitness isnt new  Pilates and yoga studios introduced silks and yoga hammocks years ago.

But the bungee fitness concept, according to previous media reports, got its start in Thailand in 2016 and arrived in the U.S. about a year later. Today, there are companies that provide training certification, bungee equipment, and franchise opportunities.

A few months after Teeter opened So Fly in Ozark, a second bungee fitness studio  Fly By Bungee  opened in downtown Dothan but closed after the building was sold (the owner hopes to open in a new space soon).

So Fly has more than just bungee fitness with a Bounce and Barre trampoline class, another class that focuses on abs and arms, and a boot camp class. Then, theres the Kangoo boot jump class where participants exercise in spring bounce boots (although you have to buy your own boots). Teeter even has plans to bring in a Pound class that uses drumsticks to liven up a total body workout.

You can find So Flys schedule of classes on the MindBody app or by visiting the studios website, soflybungeefitness.com.

Teeter said shes glad she brought bungee fitness to Ozark. Shes even helping train future studio owners out of North Alabama and Louisiana.

You got to have the drive to just believe in it, Teeter said. And I do, and I love it. Does it make you hot and sweaty? Yeah. Is it hard? Yeah. But I have women that are close to 80 that come here three days a week. I have them as young as 4 We offer something for everybody, and that was really what I wanted to do.

Peggy Ussery is a Dothan Eagle staff writer and can be reached at aussery@dothaneagle.com or 334-712-7963. Support her work and that of other Eagle journalists by purchasing a digital subscription today at dothaneagle.com.

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New Delhi: As the evacuation of stranded nationals in Ukraine continue, a special Indigo flight carrying 229 Indian nationals arrived in Delhi on Saturday (March 5) from Suceava in Romania.

India has been evacuating its citizens from the countries bordering Ukraine including Romania, Poland, Slovakia and Hungary. Union Ministers Hardeep Singh Puri, Kiren Rijiju, Jyotiraditya Scindia and Gen V.K. Singh (retd) are currently in the countries adjoining Ukraine to supervise the ongoing evacuation under 'Operation Ganga'.

#OperationGanga | A special Indigo flight, carrying 229 Indian nationals from #Ukraine, arrives in Delhi from Suceava in Romania pic.twitter.com/mucdrnJk1R  ANI (@ANI) March 5, 2022

On Friday, the Indian Embassy in Romania notified a hotline number for students, who left Ukraine and are still in Bucharest, waiting to be evacuated to India. Taking to Twitter, the embassy wrote, Indian students who are still in Bucharest may please get in touch with the Embassy on hotline number +40 725964976 for evacuation by flights leaving in the next two days.

Meanwhile, over 2,000 Indian nationals are expected to be evacuated under 'Operation Ganga' on Saturday, the Ministry of Civil Aviation said in a statement.

"Tomorrow, 11 special civilian flights are expected to bring back more than 2,200 Indians, with 10 landing in New Delhi and one in Mumbai," the statement read as per IANS.

"Five flights will originate from Budapest, 2 from Rzeszow and 4 from Suceava. Four C-17 aircraft are airborne for Romania, Poland and Slovakia, which are expected to reach late at night and early morning tomorrow," the ministry added.

On Friday, 17 special flights landed in India from Ukraine`s neighbouring countries, including 14 civilian flights and three C-17 IAF flights.

MoS MEA V. Muraleedharan said in a tweet that around 11,000 Indians have been evacuated from Ukraine so far.

(With agency inputs)

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New Delhi: As the evacuation of Indian medical students from war-torn Ukraine continues, the National Medical Commission (NMC) on Friday (March 4, 2022) allowed Foreign Medical Graduates with incomplete internships, to apply here in India to complete their internships.

"There are some Foreign Medical Graduates with incomplete internship due to compelling situations which is beyond their control such as COVID-19 and war etc," the circular read.

The relaxation comes with a caveat that the medical student will have to clear the Foreign Medical Graduates Examination (FMGE) here in India to avail of this benefit.

"Considering the agony and stress faced by these foreign medical graduates, their application to complete the remaining part of the internship in India is considered eligible. Accordingly, the same may be processed by State Medical Councils provided that the candidates must have cleared FMGE before applying for completion of internship in India," the circular added.





Earlier on Friday, the Indian Medical Association (IMA) had written a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya regarding the fate and future of all MBBS students admitted to Medical schools or colleges in Ukraine and now returning to India due to the situation there.

The IMA recommended that "all the evacuated medical education learners who are Indian Citizens and have procured admissions there upon seeking eligibility certificate from the statutory authorities in India and at various stages of progression there be adjusted as a onetime measure in existing medical schools in the country through an appropriate disbursed distribution...".

"Resultantly, on passing out they will be as good as Indian Medical Graduates and not Foreign Medical Graduates. This will not only be a great sucker to saving all of them from their uncertain fate and future but would also go a long way in catering to a larger human cause in a most befitting manner," the IMA said in the letter.

Meanwhile, Minister of State for External Affairs V Muraleedharan has informed that over 11,000 Indians have been evacuated from Ukraine so far. This comes after Russian forces launched military operations in Ukraine on February 24, days after President Vladimir Putin recognized Ukraine`s breakaway regions - Donetsk and Luhansk - as independent entities.

(With agency inputs)

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It's not only in Ukraine and Russia where people are praying for the safety of their families. In a small village in the Traal area of Pulwama, a Ukraine-born girl, Oliesa Mazur, is doing special prayers day and night for her family stuck in Ukraine.

Oliesa Mazur, who is married to a Kashmiri businessman in a small village named Mandur, was living a happy life with her husband and two kids for the last eight years. But for the last two weeks, she has been spending sleepless nights worrying for her family which lives in Ukraine.

Olesia has been having horrifying days for the last two weeks since the war broke between Russia and Ukraine. She is worried about her parents and 90 years old grandmother who are in Ukraine. She calls her parents every hour to know about their wellbeing.

Every news that breaks about the war makes her more frightened and since Russian troops advance to capture Kiev, Ukraine's capital city. She got more worried as her parents live 300 km away from the capital. She is very angry and upset about what Russia has done and is doing.

"I have anger and worry which has made my life miserable nowadays, anger about what

Russia did and worried about my parents. My parents are older than 60 and my grandmother is around 90. They are stuck. They can't move out because of their health and age. What will they do if war became more horrifying? I feel so helpless I can't do anything for them, Olesia said.

Mother of two kids, Oliesa is appealing Russian people to feel the pain of Ukraine mothers who are loosing there young ones. War is no solution, it's peace that is the need of the hour. She also appeals to the Russian President to stop the war as it's he who attacked Ukraine.

"I ask everybody who is listing me please help to stop the war between Ukraine and Russia. I ask everybody to please help us to save our democracy and help us to bring peace back to our country." She added, I wish to tell simple Russian people, please don't remain quiet, go to the streets and tell your government to stop this war to kill your sons our sons your kids our kids, war is no solution it should be peace everywhere in world."

Olesia hopes super powers and India will put enough pressure on Russia to stop the war. She appeals that PM Modi should not support Russia, but should help Ukraine.

"I appeal to PM Modi and the Indian government that please don't support the killings of Ukraine people and kids if you can please help the Ukrainian to finish this fight as soon as possible. Sometimes human life is much more important than money," she said.

The 35-year-old Ukrainian lady praises Ukrainian people for their love towards their motherland. Oleisa is feeling proud of her country men the way they are fighting back Russia.

She said, "Ukrainian people, they are ready for fighting, they are fighting so bravely, I feel proud that I am Ukrainian."

She got married to Bilal Ahmad Bhat whom she met in Goa eight years ago when she and her mother had come for a tour. Bilal was doing Kashmiri craft business there and both met and fell in love and decided to live life together and finally with consent of her mother got married in Goa. It was Oleisas decision to live in Kashmir. She prefers Kashmir more than Ukraine or Goa," Bilal said.

Oleisa hopes that all the superpowers of the world including India will put enough pressure on Russia to stop the war and she will visit her parents and a happy reunion will happen.

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New Delhi: Bank of Baroda Recruitment 2022 notification was released on Friday (March 4) for filling 105 posts of Specialist Officer. Interested candidates can apply online by visiting its official website - bankofbaroda.in.

Registration for the Bank of Baroda Recruitment 2022 for the aforementioned vacancies will end on March 24.

Only registration will not amount to acceptance of candidature, the application process will be considered complete only after they pay the fees

Here is all you need to know about Bank of Baroda Recruitment 2022.

Bank of Baroda vacancies

Manager  Digital Fraud: 15

Credit Officer (MSME Department): 15+25

Credit - Export / Import Business (MSME Department): 8+12

Forex - Acquisition & Relationship Manager: 15

Corporate Credit Department: 15

The detailed notification is attached here

Step by step guide to apply for the Bank of Baroda recruitment 2022

Visit the official website of Bank of Baroda - bankofbaroda.in.

On the Homepage, go to the Careers section and click on the notification for Specialist Officer.

Then click on the direct link given - https://ibpsonline.ibps.in/bobsojan22/

Now either click on new registration or login using your credentials if you have previously registered.

Now fill the application with your information and necessary documents like scanned signature and photo etc.

Pay the application fee and click on submit.

Candidates must also download the Specialist Officer recruitment form for future references.

Selection process

Once the application is submitted, candidates will have to appear for a special test. The date for this exam will be announced later. Applicants are advised to keep a check on the official website for more updates.

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New Delhi: India Post is looking for professionals to hire for Staff Car Driver (Ordinary Grade) posts under the Mail Motor Service Department on deputation/ absorption basis. Candidates can apply on the official website at indiapost.gov.in.

Candidates should hurry as the last date to apply is March 10, 2022. The recruitment drive will fill a total of 17 Staff Car Driver vacancies.

India Post Recruitment 2022: Vacancy details

Mail Motor Service Coimbatore 11 posts

Erode Division 2 posts

Nilgiris Division 1 post

Salem West Division 2 post

Tirupur Division 1 post

India Post Recruitment 2022: Eligibility criteria

Candidates must have Matriculation from a recognised Board. Moreover, applicants should also possess Knowledge of Motor Mechanism, a valid driving license for light and heavy motor vehicle, and at least three years of driving experience.

India Post Recruitment 2022: Age limit

The upper age limit for the candidates is 56 years.

India Post Recruitment 2022: How to apply

Applicants can apply in prescribed Application format along with self-attested photocopies of certificates in proof of age, caste, qualification, experience, valid driving licence etc. send to the Manager, Mail Motor Service, Goods Shed Roads, Coimbatore, 641001.

ALSO READ: TNUSRB SI Recruitment 2022: Notification on March 8, check eligibility, other details here

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Noida: A major job and apprenticeship fair would be organised for youths in Gautam Buddh Nagar on March 8, 24 and 31, officials said on Friday.

The fair would be held at the government Industrial Training Institute (ITI) premises in Sector 31 of Noida from 10 am to 5 pm on the three days, District Information Officer Rakesh Singh Chauhan said.

"Candidates who have completed ITI course, or passed Class 10, Class 12, hold a diploma or graduate degree can participate in the fair. Interested candidates are expected to bring their original documents and certificates along with their photocopies," Chauhan said.

He said major companies located in Gautam Buddh Nagar like Dixon, Samsung, Yamaha, among others are expected to participate in the fair to provide jobs as well as apprenticeship roles.

The district administration has called on candidates to participate in the fair in large numbers and utilise the opportunity, he added.

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New Delhi: The country of Ukraine is currently under day 10 of the Russian attack as Russian forces swarmed into the country on February 24 on orders by Vladimir Putin. The West has extended its support for Ukraine at UNSC meetings by collectively condemning the invasion.

In addition, there have been international economic sanctions against Russia as well such as cutting Russian lenders from the SWIFT banking system.

Many people have come out in support of Ukraine all around the world and urged to end the war.

Showing solidarity in woman power, female celebrities have come out in the open and raised their voice against the war and its effect on civilians. They have also used their reach to spread the message of peace for the citizens of Ukraine.

Several actresses globally such as Mila Kunis, Priyanka Chopra, Former Miss Ukraine Anastasiia Lenna and many others have spoken about the ongoing war.

Take a look at their statements:

1. Mila Kunis: 'That 70s Show' actress Mila Kunis recently shared a video on Instagram in which she's seen condemning the attacks on her country Ukraine. She told fans that she was born in Chernivtsi, Ukraine, and her family immigrated to the United States in 1991. She and her husband Ashton Kutcher have launched a $30-million GoFundMe fundraiser for Ukrainian citizens.

2. Ivanna Sakhno: The 'Pacific Rim: Uprising' actress who is from Ukraine expressed that 'her world fell silent' after she got the news of the attacks. In an interview with Variety, she spoke about her family helping Ukrainian citizens during this tough time.

She said," My father has been relocating children and their mothers from Kyiv to safer parts of Ukraine where they have created a base for orphans and families of soldiers. His mother is in Crimea, a part of Ukraine that has been occupied since March 2014 - I have not been able to see her ever since. My other grandmother is hiding in a bunker that was used in World War II and up until now functioned as a city gym. The rest of my extended family is in Kyiv."

3. Priyanka Chopra: Global star Priyanka, a week ago, had taken to Instagram to talk about the grim situation in Ukraine and urged her fans to help the children in the war-torn nation. She wrote, "The situation unfolding in Ukraine is terrifying. Innocent people living in fear for their lives and the lives of their loved ones, while trying to navigate the uncertainty of the immediate future."

4. Anastasiia Lenna: Former Miss Ukraine Anastasiia Lenna had joined the country's army to fight against Russia in the ongoing conflict. The top Ukraine model had also shared pictures holding a gun in combat dress in an Instagram post. Anastassia had also written a special message for the people. "Due current situation I want to talk! I am not a military, just a woman, just normal human," she wrote.

5. Natalya Ilina: Model and Rahul Mahajan's wife Natalya is half Russian and half Ukraine. She had penned a note on the current crisis on her Instagram and called for peace and 'no war'. She wrote, "I have overwhelming feelings about the situation and I keep checking the news and checking on my friends like family who are currently in Ukraine. I cannot take sides. Im on the side of humanity. Im Russian and Im Ukrainian as much as I am German. My heart is with both. And all I wish and pray for is #peace and #nowar."
New Delhi: Life Insurance Corporation (LIC) of India offers various safe schemes providing impressive returns to investors. Many in India put their investments in LIC policies to secure their future and retirement.

In one such scheme called LIC Saral Pension Yojana, the insurer provides investors with a guaranteed monthly pension. Investors just need to pay a single premium or lump sum amount to receive the lifetime pension benefits.

You can opt for a minimum of Rs 1000 per month or 12,000 a year in LIC Saral Pension Yojana. Theres no upper limit on the amount you want to invest in the scheme. The more you invest, the more pension you will receive.

The investor can select any one of the four options for receiving payments against their investments. The four options are monthly, quarterly, half-yearly or yearly. Investors can select any one option depending on the need.

LIC has also created 5 price bands in which you can invest. The minimum amount that one can invest in the scheme is below Rs 2 lakh. The second price band ranges from Rs 2 lakh to Rs 5 lakh.

The third and fourth price bands in LIC Saral Pension Yojana range from Rs 5 lakh to 10 lakh and Rs 10 lakh to 25 lakh, respectively. Finally, in the last and fifth price bands, investors are required to invest a minimum of Rs 25 lakhs.

Moreover, investors can also take a loan against their investments in LIC Saral Pension Yojana. LIC allows investors to take a loan against their investments after 6 months of investing in the scheme. Also Read: NSE Fraud: Anticipatory bail plea of Chitra Ramakrishna dismissed

In case, you decide to surrender your policy for an emergency as specified in the policy rules, you can get 95 per cent of the total fund value. However, in case you have taken a loan against your policy, you will get the remaining amount minus the interest on your borrowing. Also Read: Wheat price surges 55% amid Russia-Ukraine war, heres how it will affect the world

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#mute
Chittoor: Even as Telugu film star Pawan Kalyan's latest cinematic outing 'Bheemla Nayak' is setting the box-office on fire, some of his diehard fans are facing the heat from animal rights group People for Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) India.

After learning that a group of young men allegedly sacrificed a goat to celebrate the release of 'Bheemla Nayak', PETA India worked with senior police officials in Chittoor district to register a first information report (FIR).

The goat was sacrificed at CSN movie theatre, Pileru, Bodumalluvaripalle in Chittoor. The cruel incident caught on video, shows people posing for photos and videos while standing in front of the frightened goat. The video then shows the goat, fully conscious, being beheaded with a sword and the slaughter taking place in full public view. The video also shows a man collecting the blood of the sacrificed goat with his bare hands and smearing it on the movie poster.

The FIR has been registered under Section 6 of the Andhra Pradesh Animals and Birds Sacrifice Prohibition Act, 1950, Sections 34 and 429 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860, Section 25(1)(A) of the Arms Act, 1959, and Section 11(1)(a) of The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (PCA) Act, 1960.

"PETA India commends the Chittoor police for taking steps to send the message that cruelty to animals will not be tolerated," said PETA India emergency response team associate manager, Meet Ashar. "Just as human sacrifice is now treated as murder, at a time when India is embarking on space missions, the archaic practice of animal sacrifice must end. PETA India also recommends that these men undergo psychiatric evaluation and receive counselling, as abusing animals indicates deep mental disturbance."

In its complaint, PETA India pointed out that Section 5(b) of the Andhra Pradesh Animals and Birds Sacrifices Prohibition Act, 1950, clearly states that no person shall knowingly allow any sacrifice to be performed at any place that is in their possession or under their control. Section 4 prohibits anyone from officiating, performing, serving, assisting, or participating in sacrificing an animal in any congregation. Section 6 prescribes the penalties, and Section 8 makes all offences under the Act cognisable.

The Supreme Court has ruled that animals can be slaughtered only in officially licensed slaughterhouses and that municipal authorities must ensure compliance with this ruling. The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Slaughter House) Rules, 2001, and the Food Safety and Standards (Licensing and Registration of Food Businesses) Regulations, 2011, permit the slaughter of animals for food only in licensed slaughterhouses equipped with species-specific stunning equipment.

Gujarat, Kerala, Puducherry and Rajasthan already have laws in place prohibiting the religious sacrifice of any animal in any temple or its precinct. Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Telangana prohibit it in any place of public religious worship or adoration or its precinct or in any congregation or procession connected with religious worship on a public street.
New Delhi: Any Google service, whether it's Google Play, Gmail, Google Drive, or Google Photos, has become more of a requirement than an option. We frequently use and rely on these Google applications and services in our daily lives. Google allows us to combine various services with a single account to make our experience more convenient and personalised. With this account, you can access a variety of applications such as YouTube, Play Store, and others.

While the Google account simplifies our work by connecting all services, it also holds the key to our financial and personal information on these apps. This implies that once the security of your Google account has been breached, the hacker or fraudster can obtain any information they choose.

As a result, it is critical that you exercise caution when utilising Google services to avoid having them hacked. Most of the time, consumers are unaware that their Google account has been compromised and that an intruder is remotely accessing all of their sensitive data. It is advisable in this scenario to seek for certain symptoms that signal a possible data breach.

After compromising your account, the first thing a scammer would do is change the password. So, if you notice any strange activity on your account, simply go to account settings and reset the passwords for the numerous programmes linked to your Google account. Here are some additional methods for determining whether your Google account has been hijacked. Security incidents and device activity This Google function informs you of the activity associated with your Google account.

To review the activities, follow the steps below.

Step  1 Create a Google account.

Step  2 Now, from the left navigation panel, select security.

Step  3 Then, on the "Recent security occurrences" tab, click "Review security events."

Step  4 Examine the activity and look for anything odd. If you notice a behaviour that you were not aware of, click "No, it wasn't me," else select "Yes." Unusual device If someone obtains access to your account credentials, the user may attempt to log in from a new device. This could be a significant red signal that your account has been compromised.

For this follow the steps below.

Step  1 Navigate to your Google account.

Step  2 From the left menu panel, select security.

Step  3 Now, on the "Your devices panel," select "Manage devices."

Step  3 Google will then display a list of all devices from which you have logged in to your Google account.

Step  4 If you come across a device that you don't recognise, simply click "More details" below the device name.

Step  5 Now, select "Don't recognise this device?" "and then follow the on-screen instructions to log out of your account and secure it. Notably, there are other ways in which Google might alert you to any unusual activities on your phone. These alerts appear in notifications such as "About odd sign-in or a new device on your account." Change your account's security settings, as well as its username and password. A red bar appears at the top of the screen, stating, "We've discovered suspicious activity in your account."

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New Delhi: If youre planning to buy Apple iPhone 12, then this could be the opportunity you were waiting for, as the smartphone is selling with a massive discount on offline and online retailer Croma.

Currently, the smartphone sells at about Rs 65,900 on all major online and offline sellers. However, on the occasion of International Womens Day 2022, Croma is offering a flat 14 per cent discount on the Apple iPhone 12.

With the discount, the Apple iPhone 12 smartphone is available at Rs 56,990 in Cromas stores. But thats not all, as the retailer is also offering additional cashback on the purchase of the smartphone via select debit and credit cards.

Croma is offering an additional Rs 5000 cashback on the purchase of the Apple iPhone 12 via ICICI Bank, SBI, and Kotak Bank credit cards. Customers can also avail themselves of the no-cost EMI option on the above-mentioned credit cards.

With the additional cashback, customers can buy Apple iPhone 12 at just Rs 51,990. According to Cromas website, the cashback will be credited to the customers card within 120 days from the date of the transaction.

Separately, customers can get an additional discount of 5% up to Rs. 2000 on HSBC credit card for cart value above Rs 15,000. Also, you will get a 5% cashback of up to Rs 2000 on HSBC credit card EMI. Also Read: Petrol, diesel prices to witness a steep hike after polls? Check by how much rates could increase

Croma is also offering 7.5% cashback up to Rs. 7500 on HSBC credit card EMI for cart value above Rs.40,000. Moreover, there is also a 5% cashback offer of up to Rs 2,000 on Yes Bank Credit card EMI. Customers can also get up to a Rs 2,000 discount on AU Small Finance Bank credit and debit cards. Also Read: WFH ends at Apple! Workers set to return to office starting April 11

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New Delhi: With Apple's Spring event approaching, all eyes will be on the iPhone SE 3, which is expected to be unveiled at the event. On March 8, Apple will hold its spring event, with the motto "Peak performance." The Cupertino-based company is likely to release the fifth generation iPad Air, as well as the much-anticipated iPhone SE 3. Apple is likely to release an updated MacBook with an M1 chip with the iPad and iPhone.

Credible tipsters have leaked high-resolution renders of the iPhone SE 3 as well as the smartphone's features ahead of Apple's planned release. According to the images, the iPhone SE 3 would have the same look as the iPhone SE 2020, which was released two years ago. The iPhone SE 3 has a single back camera and a power button. The phone is likely to be available in four colours: black, white, red, and green. While Apple has previously released all of the other hues, it has never released a green iPhone. However, the iPhone SE 3 is expected to change a number of things.

In terms of specifications, prominent leaker Ming-Chi Kuo has indicated that the iPhone SE 3 will have a 4.7-inch display. The A15 Bionic processor, which powers the iPhone 13 series, is projected to power it. The iPhone SE 3 will have a 12-megapixel camera on the back as well as a 12-megapixel camera on the front. The phone is likely to have three storage options: 64GB, 128GB, and 256GB. Although Apple seldom specifies battery capacity, a 2821mAh battery is predicted. Previous rumours suggest that the smartphone will be released in India at a low cost. In India, it might be priced under Rs 30,000.

Ming-Chi Kuo also predicted that mass production of the new iPhone SE will begin this month. The phone is anticipated to ship between 25 and 30 million units this year, according to the company.

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New Delhi: Horrified, angered and saddened by the images and news coming from the war in Ukraine, Microsoft has announced to suspend all new sales of its products and services in Russia.

Brad Smith, President and Vice Chair of Microsoft, said that the company condemns the unjustified, unprovoked and unlawful invasion by Russia.

"We are coordinating closely and working in lockstep with the governments of the US, the European Union and the UK, and we are stopping many aspects of our business in Russia in compliance with governmental sanctions decisions," Smith said in a statement late on Friday.

"We believe we are most effective in aiding Ukraine when we take concrete steps in coordination with the decisions being made by these governments and we will take additional steps as this situation continues to evolve," he added.

Microsoft joins the growing list of Big Tech companies like Google, Meta, Twitter, Snapchat, Reddit, YouTube and others in pausing or curtailing their business/presence in Russia.

Apple shut down sales of its products in Russia and Google and Meta have put a pause on selling ads in the country.

Smith said that they continue to work proactively to help cybersecurity officials in Ukraine defend against Russian attacks, including most recently a cyberattack against a major Ukrainian broadcaster.

"Since the war began, we have acted against Russian positioning, destructive or disruptive measures against more than 20 Ukrainian government, IT and financial sector organisations," Smith informed.

Microsoft has also acted against cyberattacks targeting several additional civilian sites. Also Read: Mother Dairy milk prices to be hiked by Rs 2 per litre in Delhi-NCR: Check details here

"We are also continuing to mobilise our resources to help the people in Ukraine," Smith added. Also Read: Google account hacked? Here's how to find out

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New Delhi: As Twitter's live audio product Spaces grows in popularity, it appears that the digital behemoth is already planning to add a podcasts category to its mobile apps. Jane Manchun Wong, a reverse engineer, uploaded a screenshot of a microphone icon in the app's bottom navigation bar, which redirects to a website labeled "Podcasts."

The screenshot gives no indication of how the podcasts feature will work on Twitter, or whether it's the next step for Spaces  a sort of integration for the audio-only chatrooms. Because Spaces is now jammed at the top of feeds, it would make sense to reorganise it into a separate tab. Spaces debuted in 2020, and Twitter delved even deeper into the audio genre after acquiring Breaker, a social podcast platform.

Spaces recently received a significant update, allowing anyone to create a chatroom and allowing all mobile users to record discussions. The tool provides Spaces features similar to podcasts, except the recordings are transitory and only endure 30 days. Adding a dedicated podcast function will pit Twitter against other industry behemoths such as Spotify and Apple Podcasts. Listeners would no longer be required to join Spaces broadcast live or listen to them within the 30-day limit if the upgrade is implemented; instead, they would be able to choose and listen at their leisure.

Twitter is just one of many social media platforms that are attempting to increase money by promoting podcasts. Last year, Facebook introduced a podcast tool for select creators. Reddit recently allows audio-only Talks recording. It remains to be seen how far the Twitter podcast will progress, but if it does, it will be a significant addition to an already popular Spaces.

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New Delhi: Tech giant Apple`s employees will start to return to offices on April 11, media reports say. According to CNBC, the news comes more than two years after the majority of Apple`s corporate workforce started working from home because of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The move signals that big employers in California are comfortable enough with risks regarding Covid-19 infection to reopen offices as cases drop in the state and across the country.

The global return-to-office plan for Apple comes after Google said this week that its employees would return on April 4.

Apple was one of the first companies to tell its employees to work from home in March 2020, even though the company`s culture emphasises in-person collaboration and that the development of new hardware products is best performed by on-site employees.

Apple's stores are open around the world, and on Thursday, it announced that it`s resuming in-person classes and workshops in stores, the report said. Also Read: Garena Free Fire Max Redeem Codes for today, March 5: Check how to get free rewards

The Big Tech company has delayed its return to the office several times over the past two years as Covid cases have risen and fallen during that time. Late last year, Apple pushed back a February 1 return-to-office date. Also Read: Petrol, diesel prices to witness a steep hike after polls? Check by how much rates could increase

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Mumbai: Well-known television actress Sara Khan says that she did not take a minute to decide on joining the reality show, 'Lock Upp', when it was offered to her.

She says: "When this show was offered to me, I didn't think about anything but just took it up."

The actress has been in the limelight post her stint in 'Bigg Boss 4' in 2010 as during the show she got married to Ali Merchant. The couple, however, separated after the show ended. She asserts that her main motive is to bring the truth to the show and wants people to know her for her work.

"I have been defined by some controversies that happened a long time ago. It's said that I create my own controversies to get famous. I just wanted to let them know that's not true, My work in the last 16 years defines me, and that is what I am," she added.

Talking about how she prepared herself for joining the show and staying without the basic amenities.

She replies: "It's a different experience and I am very sure that I will learn something that will last with me forever, so I am very excited. There is no such strategy because we have never seen this kind of a show. We should know what basic amenities are. There is nothing we can do. We can do anything if we want to."

Talking about how the media is keen on making her life controversial, she said: "Even if I am not comfortable discussing my personal life, the media gets into it and makes it worse, so it's best that I only talk about it."

The actress hopes to learn many things on the show.

"Usually, in daily soaps and web series, you don't get to have such experiences which I am sure this show will have. But of course, I will miss my parents and my dog Chikoo," she concluded.
Russia has declared a partial ceasefire in Ukraine on Saturday (March 5) to allow humanitarian corridors out of the Ukrainian cities of Mariupol and Volnovakha, Russia's defence ministry said.

Ceasefire will allow residents to evacuate from the war-torn nation, says Russian defence ministry. "Today, March 5, from 10 am Moscow time, the Russian side declares a regime of silence and opens humanitarian corridors for the exit of civilians from Mariupol and Volnovakha," the Russian defence ministry was quoted as saying by Russian news agencies.

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Russia said that its forces had stopped firing near two besieged Ukrainian cities on Saturday to allow safe passage to civilians fleeing Ukraine. The Russian defence ministry said that its units had opened humanitarian corridors near the cities of Mariupol and Volnovakha, which were encircled by its troops. However, officials in Mariupol alleged that Moscow was not fully following the limited ceasefire. The Mariupol City Council said that Russia was not observing the ceasefire and asked residents to return to shelters and wait for further information on evacuation. As the war between Russia and Ukraine entered its 10th day, the exodus of people from Ukraine to the neighbouring country of Poland is continuing unabated.

Zee News Editor-In-Chief Sudhir Chaudhary, in his show DNA on Saturday (March 5), analysed the exodus of people from Ukraine to Poland through the Medyka Crossing.

So far, about 10 lakh Ukrainians have taken shelter in the neighbouring country Poland. Most Ukrainians are coming to Poland because this country is close to their hearts. Both the countries culture and language are similar. Many people of Ukraine work in Poland. Polish people are also worried about the invasion of Ukraine by Russia because they fear that Russia might attack Poland too in the future.

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New Delhi: Constant Russian shelling on Ukraine amid an invasion attempt on Friday led to a fire in Europes largest Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant and undoubtedly the world, narrowly averted a catastrophe, an irreversible atomic crisis.

Soon after the news of the attack on the nuclear plant broke out, the global forces condemned the attack reminding the world of consequences in case of discrepancies.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has expressed alarm over reports of heavy fighting around the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant in Ukraine.

Taking to Twitter, the UN chief said nuclear facilities should never ever be targeted in military operations.

I have been following with great alarm reports of heavy fighting around the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant, and I want to make it very clear that nuclear facilities should never ever be targeted in military operations, he tweeted.

While the United States, which has imposed stringent sanctions on Russia in response to military aggression, called the Zaporizhzhia attack a blatant war crime.

The U.S. Embassy in Ukraine said that attacking a nuclear power plant is a war crime.

"It is a war crime to attack a nuclear power plant. Putin`s shelling of Europe`s largest nuclear plant takes his reign of terror one step further," US Embassy in Kyiv said in its Twitter post.

Meanwhile, France has said that it will propose to its partner-specific steps to safeguard five main Ukrainian nuclear facilities based on the criteria by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the Elysee Palace said on Friday.

Ukraine has four active nuclear power plants -- Zaporizhzhia, Khmelnytskyi, Rivne and Sout.

Though Ukraines energy inspectors said there was no harm to the functioning of the plant and no change in the radiation levels, the attack will pose an impact on the world.

What attack on Zaporizhzhia nuclear station means for the world

Research by specialists for Greenpeace International concludes that the safety of Zaporizhzhia is severely compromised by the war.

n a worst-case scenario, where explosions destroy the reactor containment and cooling systems, the potential release of radioactivity from both the reactor core and the spent fuel pool into the atmosphere could create a disaster far worse even than the Fukushima Daiichi catastrophe of 2011.

After the 2011 incident, the areas of land within hundreds of kilometres from the reactor site potentially became inhospitable for decades.

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New Delhi: Amid reports of Volodymyr Zelenskyy fleeing to Poland, the Ukrainian President on Saturday (March 5, 2022) said that he has not left the country.

Taking to his official Instagram account, Zelenskyy posted a video showing his Kyiv (Ukraine capital) office and wrote, "I am in Kyiv. I am working here. Nobody has escaped."

Reports of Zelenskyy leaving the war-torn country had also surfaced last week, with Zelenskyy refuting them and posting a selfie video standing 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.

Earlier on Friday, Russian State Duma Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin had said that the Ukrainian President has left Kyiv and is in Poland.

"Zelenskyy left Ukraine. The deputies of the Verkhovna Rada (parliament of Ukraine) said that they could not get to him in Lviv. Now he is in Poland," he said.

"For the safety of the President, we will not distribute information about where he is now. I will also neither refute nor confirm information about his whereabouts," Mikhail Podolyak, adviser to the head of the office of the President of Ukraine, said.

Meanwhile, Russia has declared a ceasefire in Ukraine for opening up humanitarian corridors for civilians to be evacuated. According to the Russian defence ministry, the opening up of the corridors would enable residents of the cities of Mariupol and Volnovakha, including the strategic port town of Mariupol, to evacuate.

It is noteworthy that the Russian forces had launched military operations in Ukraine on February 24, days after President Vladimir Putin recognized Ukraine's breakaway regions - Donetsk and Luhansk - as independent entities.

(With agency inputs)

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Kyiv: The war between Ukraine and Russia has entered its tenth day and as tensions seem no sign of abating, questions have been raised about Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's safety and his whereabouts. There has been intense speculation about Zelenskyy having left the war-torn country, a fact Ukraine has rejected.

On Friday (March 4), Russian State Duma Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin had claimed that Zelenskyy has left Ukraine and is currently in Poland, reported Sputnik. Zelensky left Ukraine. Deputies of the Verkhovna Rada said that they could not get to him in Lvov, he wrote on his Telegram channel. He is now in Poland.

Several Western countries have expressed concern in regard to Zelenskys safety. Particularly, French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said Paris was ready to help him if necessary, reported Sputnik. It was also reported that the United States offered him evacuation, but he refused.

Reports of Zelenskyy leaving the Ukrainian capital surfaced last week as well, with the president refuting them and posting several video messages in which he said he remained in Kyiv. Amidst questions about his whereabouts, the Ukrainian President continued to tweet, urging the world to take action.

Nuclear terrorism requires decisive action in response. At the #UN Security Council meeting, we called for closing the sky over UA and launching an operation to maintain peace and security. The goal is to save hazardous facilities. The world must not watch, but help!  (@ZelenskyyUa) March 4, 2022

Earlier Ukraine President Zelenskyy had said that he is enemy Russias No. 1 target and the Russian forces are seeking to eliminate his family too. "The enemy marked me as target number one, and my family as target number two," Zelenskyy said during a televised address. Zelenskyy's statement came a day after the US told the United Nations' human rights chief, Michelle Bachelet, that Russia has created a hit list of "identified Ukrainians to be killed or sent to camps."

Meanwhile, Russia has now blocked Facebook and some other websites and passed a law that gave Moscow much stronger powers to crack down on independent journalism, prompting the BBC, Bloomberg and other foreign media to suspend reporting in the country.

Bans and restrictions continue to be levied on Russia. Now, South Korean tech company Samsung has suspended product shipments to Russia "due to current geopolitical developments," joining other global giants like Apple and Microsoft who have stopped sales and services in the country after it attacked Ukraine."

(With Agency inputs)

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A member of the Ukrainian negotiating delegation was killed on Saturday by the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), which suspects that he was a Russian spy. This was reported by a number of media outlets and Telegram channels, though the information has not been officially confirmed yet.

According to media reports, the SBU had evidence of Denis Kireev`s treason, including telephone conversations, UNIAN reported. Allegedly, Kireev was shot dead by the SBU during his arrest. He was suspected of treason.

Kireev was considered a creature of the oligarch Andrei Klyuev, an ally of former Ukraine President Viktor Yanukovych, who fled to the Russian Federation, reports said.

"Kireev was actually killed right in the centre of Kiev. He was literally executed, shot in the head at the entrance of Pechersk Court," Mario Dubovikova, an independent political analyst, said.

From 2006 to 2008, Kireev worked at SCM Finance, where he held the position of Deputy General Director. He then worked for the Austrian company GROUP SLAV AG Klyuyev. From 2006 to 2012, he was a member of the Supervisory Board of Ukreximbank.

From 2010 to 2014, according to the Klyuyevs quota, he held the position of First Deputy Chairman of the Board of Oschadbank. Kireev also managed the Private Equity Fund and the Fixed Income Fund.

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New Delhi: NATO on Friday rejected Ukrainian calls to help it protect its skies from Russian missiles and warplanes, wary of being dragged into Moscow`s war on its neighbour, but Europe promised more sanctions to punish Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy strongly criticised the decision, saying the alliance had given Russia the green light to continue its bombing campaign.

He had earlier appealed to NATO to set up a no-fly zone over Ukraine, which Russia invaded by land, sea and air on February 24.

"We are not part of this conflict," NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said in denying Ukraine`s request.

"We have a responsibility as NATO allies to prevent this war from escalating beyond Ukraine because that would be even more dangerous, more devastating and would cause even more human suffering," he said following a NATO meeting in Brussels.

Ukraine, a former Soviet republic, wants to join the European Union and NATO, moves which Moscow says threaten its security and influence.

Russia has shelled residential areas and civilian infrastructure, as well as capturing two nuclear sites.

"Today there was a NATO summit, a weak summit, a confused summit, a summit where it was clear that not everyone considers the battle for Europe`s freedom to be the number one goal," Zelenskiy said a televised address late on Friday.

"Today, the leadership of the alliance gave the green light for the further bombing of Ukrainian cities and villages, having refused to set up a no-fly zone."

While the West condemned Putin, members of the 30-strong NATO are bound to defend each other in case of attack and wary of sinking into a war with nuclear-armed Russia. The EU threatened more sanctions but it was not clear what it could do.

But the alliance - in which the United States, Britain and France are also nuclear powers - dashed Ukraine`s hopes of immediate help Kyiv says could turn the tables in the war.

"We should not have NATO planes operating over Ukrainian airspace or NATO troops operating in Ukrainian territory," Stoltenberg said.

Support for Ukraine so far has come in the form of the heaviest international economic sanctions against Russia to date, as well as arms supplies from NATO states.

On Friday, the West promised Ukraine more humanitarian aid, essential supplies and military support short of going to war.

In a day of intense diplomacy - if no obvious immediate results - the G7 countries said they would hold accountable those responsible for war crimes and refuse to recognise any Russian territorial gains.

EU countries said more punishment was coming, after the bloc already cut several Russian lenders from the SWIFT banking system, curbed trade with Moscow and targeted some of the wealth held by Russian oligarchs in the West.

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SEOUL: North Korea fired at least one suspected ballistic missile toward the sea to the east of the Korean peninsula on Saturday, militaries in the region said, an apparent test just days before the South`s presidential election.

South Korea`s Joint Chiefs of Staff said it detected the launch of one suspected ballisic missile on Saturday, while the office of Japan`s Prime Minister also said it was a suspected ballistic missile.

The launch would be the ninth this year. The last was on February 27 when North Korea said it tested systems for a reconnaissance satellite.

The South Korean military said Saturday`s launch came from a location near Sunan, where Pyongyang`s international airport is located. The airport has been the site of previous tests, including the Feb. 27 launch.

South Korea`s National Security Council will convene an emergency meeting, the presidential Blue House said.

The launch underscores the challenges facing whoever wins Wednesday`s presidential election in South Korea.

With denuclearisation talks stalled, North Korea conducted a record number of missile launches in January. It appears to be preparing to launch a spy satellite in the near future, and has suggested it could resume testing of nuclear weapons or its longest range intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) for the first time since 2017.

Analysts say North Korea could use the upcoming presidential transition in South Korea or a big national holiday on April 15 to test fire a major new missile or other weapon.

"The timing of North Korea`s missile testing may seem odd to us, given the global focus on Ukraine," Jean Lee, a fellow at the Washington-based Wilson Center, said on Twitter. "But it makes perfect sense in North Korea, where scientists are focused on perfect new weapons for Kim Jong-un to show off at a big military parade in mid-April."

North Korea`s ballistic missile launches are banned by United Nations Security Council resolutions, which have imposed sanctions on the country over its weapons programmes.

The United States has said it is open to talks without preconditions, but Pyongyang says talks are only possible after the United States and allies drop hostile policies.

On Friday, the U.S.-based 38 North project, which monitors North Korea, said the country`s main nuclear facility is in full swing, producing fuel for potential nuclear weapons and an expansion of its nuclear production facilities.

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New Delhi: US Senator Lindsey Graham has stirred a controversy after he called for Russian President Vladimir Putin's assassination to end the Ukraine war.

Graham, a former Air Force lawyer and longtime defence hawk, said that the only way this ends is for somebody in Russia to "take this guy out".

He asked whether there is a Brutus or a "more successful" Colonel Stauffenberg in the Russian military. Julius Caesar, a Roman general, was assassinated by Brutus while Colonel Stauffenberg, a German army officer, had attempted to assassinate Adolf Hitler on July 20, 1944.

"Is there a Brutus in Russia? Is there a more successful Colonel Stauffenberg in the Russian military? The only way this ends is for somebody in Russia to take this guy out. You would be doing your country - and the world - a great service," the South Carolina Senator wrote in a series of tweets on Friday (March 4, 2022).

He added, "The only people who can fix this are the Russian people. Easy to say, hard to do. Unless you want to live in darkness for the rest of your life, be isolated from the rest of the world in abject poverty, and live in darkness you need to step up to the plate."

The only people who can fix this are the Russian people. Easy to say, hard to do. Unless you want to live in darkness for the rest of your life, be isolated from the rest of the world in abject poverty, and live in darkness you need to step up to the plate.  Lindsey Graham (@LindseyGrahamSC) March 4, 2022

Meanwhile, White House press secretary Jen Psaki has said that it is "not the position of the United States government."

On Friday, Psaki dismissed Graham's idea out of hand.

"That is not the position of the United States government and certainly not a statement you'd hear come from the mouth of anybody working in this administration," she said.

Russia's ambassador to the United States, Anatoly Antonov, called Graham's comments "unacceptable and outrageous".

The Russian president's raising of the alert level on his country's nuclear weapons stirred fears that he may be willing to consider the unthinkable step of using them.

The US has ruled out sending troops to Ukraine and hasn't agreed to a no-fly zone over Ukraine that could lead to clashes with Russian warplanes.

(With agency inputs)

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Russia said its forces had stopped firing near two besieged Ukrainian cities on Saturday to allow safe passage to civilians fleeing fighting, but officials in one of the cities said Moscow was not fully observing the limited ceasefire. The Russian defence ministry said its units had opened humanitarian corridors near the cities of Mariupol and Volnovakha which were encircled by its troops, as Russia`s invasion of Ukraine entered into its 10th day.

But in Mariupol, the city council said Russia was not observing the ceasefire and asked residents to return to shelters and wait for further information on evacuation. Russia`s defence ministry accused Ukrainian "nationalists" of preventing civilians from leaving, RIA news agency reported.

The southeastern port has endured heavy bombardment, a sign of its strategic value to Moscow due to its position between Russian-backed separatist-held eastern Ukraine and the Black Sea Crimean peninsula, which Moscow seized from Ukraine in 2014.

"This night the shelling was harder and closer," a staff member from Doctors without Borders/Medecins sans Frontieres (MSF) said, according to the aid agency, adding there was still no power, water, heating or mobile phone links and food was scarce.

The Ukrainian government said the plan was to evacuate around 200,000 people from Mariupol and 15,000 from Volnovakha, and the Red Cross is the ceasefire`s guarantor.

Despite the limited ceasefire plans, the Russian defence ministry said a broad offensive would continue in Ukraine, where it denies targeting civilians or invading, calling its actions a "special military operation".

Russian forces were carrying out strikes on military infrastructure and forces from separatist-held Donetsk were tightening the encirclement of Mariupol, Defence Ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov said.

"We are simply being destroyed," Mariupol Mayor Vadym Boychenko said.

Aid agencies have warned of a humanitarian disaster across the country as food, water and medical supplies run short. The number of refugees could rise to 1.5 million by the end of the weekend from a current 1.3 million, the head of the United Nations refugee agency said on Saturday.

Women and small children crossed at the Medyka checkpoint in southeastern Poland in freezing conditions. A man crossing the other way yelled at the crowd that men should return to Ukraine and fight.

One woman, struggling to carry half a dozen bags, wept when the snacks she had packed for her and her young son, who was clutching a green dinosaur toy, fell to the ground. She gave the boy a bag to carry as they trudged slowly on.

President Vladimir Putin launched the invasion on Feb. 24 after weeks of massing troops near Ukraine and his actions have drawn almost universal condemnation around the world. Officials in Ukraine have reported thousands of dead and wounded civilians and many countries have imposed heavy sanctions on Russia.

Moscow says its aim is to disarm its neighbour, counter what it views as NATO aggression and capture leaders it calls neo-Nazis. On Saturday it accused the West of acting like a bandit and threatened to retaliate without giving details.

"As you understand, there must be a corresponding response to economic banditry," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.

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New Delhi: All the major global bodies of influence like the United Nations, NATO and European Union silently witnessed when ten days ago, Russia, after months of threats and build-up, launched a military attack on Ukraine in a bid to invade its territory.

Ever since then, every day, we wake up to the news of novel destruction and human rights violations that we never imagined could take place in the 21st century. The frightful Russian attack on Ukraines Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, Europes largest, is the case in point.

Though the attack did not unfold an irreversible nuclear crisis, it left the world powers baffled and us all with one question-- Why is the world scared of Russia?

The answer is simple-- Vladimir Putins nuclear threats

Threats of nuke attacks are one of the old weapons in Vladimir Putins arsenal be it Ukraine, Georgia or Cremia, but it is also the most threatening of all.

On February 27, Russia sent shock waves across the world as he ordered his defence minister and the chief of the militarys general staff to put the nuclear deterrent forces in a special regime of combat duty.

How the world responded to Russias nuke threat on Ukraine

This age-old threat by Russia compelled these big shot forces to lower their tone and respond cautiously

United Nations General Secretary Antonio Guterres called it a threatening development and urged Russia for an immediate ceasefire.

Later, the US military said on Wednesday that it will postpone a scheduled test launch of a Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile, in a bid to lower soaring tensions after Russia announced it was putting its nuclear forces on high alert.

Similarly, NATO on Friday rejected Ukrainian calls to help it protect its skies from Russian missiles and warplanes.

Putin and Nukes-- an age-old threat

However these nuclear threats by Russia are no news, Putin had adopted a similar tactic in the case of Cremia too.

Russian officials issued nuclear threats at the time of Crimea annexation, which largely impacted the nature of retaliation by the Barack Obama administration in the US.

Russias dependency on nuke weapons is nothing new and is clearly reflected in its post-Cold War military doctrines, particularly the ones since 2000.

These military doctrines have greatly reduced the threshold that would be needed to be crossed before Russia would resort to the use of nuclear weapons.

Meanwhile, Russia on Friday captured Ukraines Zaporizhzhia nuclear power station.

The two rounds of peace talks have not been successful so far, though both the parties agreed to erect an evacuation corridor for civilians.

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New Delhi: The European Union on Saturday said it had joined members of the Council of the Baltic Sea States (CBSS) in suspending Russia and Belarus from the Council`s activities.

"This decision is a part of the European Unions and like-minded partners' response to Russias invasion of Ukraine and the involvement of Belarus in this unprovoked and unjustified aggression," it said on Saturday.

"The EU agrees with the other members of the CBSS (Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Poland and Sweden) that the suspension of Russia and Belarus will remain in force until it is possible to resume cooperation based on respect for fundamental principles of international law," it added.

The announcement comes a day after Russian troops attacked and seized Europes largest Nuclear Power Plant, Zaporizhzhia station, triggering alarm across the globe.

Both the United Nations and the US condemned the attack and urged Russia not to create dependencies around the nuclear forces.

US embassy in Kyiv called the attack a war crime.

Meanwhile, in a major development, Russia agreed to observe a temporary ceasefire to facilitate the evacuation of civilians from Ukraine.

The seven-hour long ceasefire has begun in Mariupol and Volnovakha cities of Ukraine to set up humanitarian corridors for the evacuation of civilians and delivery of food and medicines.

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New Delhi: Russian President Vladimir Putin on Saturday (March 5) said that any country that sought to impose a no-fly zone over Ukraine would be considered by Moscow to have entered the armed conflict, reported the AFP news agency.

Earlier Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy appealed to NATO to set up a no-fly zone over Ukraine, which Russia invaded by land, sea and air on February 24. However, NATO on Friday rejected Ukrainian calls to help it protect its skies from Russian missiles and warplanes, wary of being dragged into Moscow`s war on its neighbour, but Europe promised more sanctions to punish Russian President Vladimir Putin.



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By Azernews





By Vafa Ismayilova

The Azerbaijani army positions in Goranboy region have come under Armenian fire from the territories under the temporary control of the Russian peacekeepers, the Defence Ministry has reported.

From 0040 to 0050 on March 5, members of the illegal Armenian armed detachment on Azerbaijani territory, where Russian peacekeepers are temporarily stationed, fired on Azerbaijani army positions in Goranboy region's Gulustan settlement.

The Azerbaijani army units retaliated appropriately. There are no casualties among Azerbaijan's military personnel or equipment.

The situation in these directions is currently stable, with the Azerbaijan army units in command of the operational situation.

About 2,000 Russian peacekeepers have been deployed for five years in Karabakh under the trilateral cease-fire deal signed by Baku, Moscow and Yerevan on November 10, 2020. The signed agreement obliged Armenia to withdraw all its troops from the Azerbaijani lands that it had occupied since the early 1990s.

The trilateral ceasefire deal signed by the Azerbaijani, Russian and Armenian leaders on November 10, 2020, ended the three-decade conflict over Azerbaijans Karabakh region which along with the seven adjacent regions came under the occupation of Armenian armed forces in the war in the early 1990s.

The deal also stipulated the return of Azerbaijan's Kalbajar, Aghdam and Lachin regions. Before the signing of the peace deal, Azerbaijan liberated 300 villages, settlements, city centers, and historic Shusha city that had been under Armenian occupation for about 30 years.

On January 11, 2021, the Azerbaijani, Russian and Armenian leaders signed the second statement since the end of the 44-day war. The newly-signed statement was set to implement clause 9 of the November 2020 statement related to the unblocking of all economic and transport communications in the region.

On November 26, 2021, the Azerbaijani, Russian and Armenian leaders signed a statement and agreed on a number of issues, including the demarcation and delimitation of the Azerbaijani-Armenian border by late 2021, some points related to humanitarian issues and the issue of unblocking of transport corridors which applies to the railway and to automobile communications.

On December 14, 2021, during the Brussels meeting, organized between Azerbaijani and Armenian leaders at the initiative of European Council President Charles Michel, the sides reaffirmed their commitment to the conditions agreed in the Sochi meeting.

Both sides agreed to establish a temporary working group on the delimitation of the Armenian-Azerbaijani border.

The issue of demining the liberated territories of Azerbaijan was also brought up on the agenda, and the European Union's readiness to provide technical assistance to Azerbaijan in this regard was underlined at the meeting.
Roughly a hundred years ago, another Russian tyrantVladimir Leninsent overwhelming forces streaming across the border of Poland.

The formerly subjugated Polish nation was attempting to resurrect itself as a sovereign state following the collapse of the Austro-Hungarian, German, and Russian empires as a result of the First World War. Lenin anticipated the collapse of the fledgling republic and expected his troops to drive straight through Warsaw and export the Russian Revolution to Berlin and points west. Observers didnt give the Polish David a chance against the Russian Goliath.

In Poland then, as in Ukraine now, an inspirational leader, Marshal Josef Pilsudski, stood his ground. Then as now, the Western democracies were exhausted. The Great War had the same effect as todays pandemic and contentious social stresses. In both eras, a demoralized public clamored for a return to normalcy. No friendly foreign power rushed to intervene on Polands behalf, but then as now some degree of assistance was forthcoming from abroad.

The French provided the Poles with materiel and military advisers, including a tall young captain named Charles de Gaulle. Some 20,000-plus Polish-Americans and Polish-Canadians paid their own way overseas to enlist in the Polish Army as volunteers.

Ten magnificent aviators from across the US formed the Kosciuszko Squadron, a unit named in honor of the gallant Pole, Tadeusz Kosciuszko, who fought for our freedom and independence in the Revolutionary War. All were veterans of World War I; none had any Polish blood. Assembled by the future creator of King Kong, Captain Merian C. Cooper of Jacksonville, Florida, they resisted the westward thrust of the Red Army in open-cockpit biplanes procured from Austria and Italy.

The Polish-Soviet War heated up in the spring of 1920 and by the second week of August, Poland was down on one knee. Lenin had deployed two armies under his best generals to prosecute a coordinated attack. A conventional force commanded by the youthful, smooth-shaven paragon, Mikhail Tukhachevsky, struck across the north of Poland on a direct line to Warsaw. Meanwhile, the earthy, piratical and heavily mustachioed Semyon Budenny led 16,000 Cossack horsemen out of the Caucasus and up through the southern front. The plan was for Budenny to rendezvous with Tukhachevsky at Warsaw and close the pincers.

As city after city fell to the invaders, the Soviets invited a Polish delegation to talk peace. They offered to negotiate a surrender. But Marshal Pilsudski detected a sizable gap between Tukhachevsky and Budennys armies. He saw an opening for a counterattack on Tukhachevskys unprotected flank

and staked his country on the maneuver.

It worked. Leaving a thin force to hold the capital, he surprised and encircled Tukhachevsky, forcing him into a headlong retreat. Simultaneously, a depleted line of Polish regulars, augmented by determined civilian militias, disrupted Budennys advance. The Kosciuszko Squadron was instrumental in putting the Red Cavalry to flight as well.

The ensuing Battle of Warsawcelebrated as the Miracle on the Vistulawas one of the greatest upsets in military history and a seminal victory in European history. Lenin, precursor of Stalin and Putin, was compelled to abandon dreams of world revolution and instead concentrate on building socialism in one country.

At the unveiling of a monument to three members of the Kosciuszko Squadron who died in the Polish-Soviet War, a Polish statesman, Count Leon Pininski, emphasized what he called the great moral value the volunteers brought to Poland, in addition to their military skills. Fighting for Poland, he explained, was at the same time defending the peoples of western civilization against barbarism and crime.

Ironically, the monument was erected in Lviv, now part of Ukraine.

Let us hope, let us pray for a Miracle on the Dnieper.

Sheldon Bart is a trustee of the Foundation to Illuminate Americas Heroes and a production partner of a theatrical film about Merian Coopers exploits with the Kosciuszko Squadron. For further information, please see www.illuminateamericasheroes.com .
Vietnam to cap coal exports at two mln tons in 2022

Workers pick out gravel from coal at a coal port in Hanoi. Photo by Reuters/Kham

Vietnam will cap its coal exports at 2.03 million tons this year, according to the Ministry of Industry and Trade.

That represents a 22.5 percent increase from last year's 1.55 million tons. But Vietnam also imported a lot of coal and its net exports were 50,000 tons.

The ministry said coal exporters must first ensure there is adequate supply for domestic use.

There are two coal exporters, Vietnam National Coal and Mineral Industries Group and Dong Bac Corporation, both state-owned.

On the global market, coal prices reached a 14-year high of US$401 per ton Wednesday, driven by the effect of the Russia-Ukraine conflict on supply.
Nguyen Vu Trung, Director of the HCMC Pasteur Institute (R), speaks with U.S. Ambassdor to Vietnam Marc Knapper in front of a ultra-cool freezer gifted by the U.S. to the institute, March 4, 2022. Photo by VnExpress/Nguyen Phuong

The Ho Chi Minh City Pasteur Institute received 34 ultra-low temperature freezers from the U.S. Friday to store mRNA Covid-19 vaccines.

The machines are part of a U.S. Department of Defense pledge to give Vietnam 111 ultra-low temperature, medical-grade storage units worth approximately $1 million. Seventy-seven have already been delivered.

Of the newly-arrived freezers, the Pasteur Institute will keep six and the rest will go to Military Hospital 175, Cho Ray Hospital and the Centers for Diseases Control (CDC) in 20 southern Vietnam localities.

Each freezer can store up to 175,500 vaccine doses at minus 20-80 degrees Celsius.

U.S. Ambassador to Vietnam Marc Knapper said at the handover ceremony that Vietnam and the U.S. have supported each other throughout the pandemic.

He said Vietnam had handed over millions of personal protective equipment when the Covid-19 was at its worst in the U.S. In return, the U.S. has supported Vietnam with ventilators and medical equipment worth more than $31 million in total.

Nguyen Vu Trung, Director of the Pasteur Institute, said that the institute and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) were cooperating on global health security issues. In responding to the Covid-19 epidemic, the institute has received technical support from the U.S. CDC to deploy a key Covid-19 surveillance system and support pandemic investigation, he said.

The Southern Regional Emergency Response Center, established with funding from the U.S. CDC and the Department of Defense, has also played an active role in responding to the pandemic in the southern region, he added.

Since last July, the U.S. has given Vietnam over 26 million Covid-19 vaccine doses through the Covax facility.
Doctors treat a severe Covid patient at the Covid-19 Resuscitation Center in Ho Chi Minh City Oncology Hospital, September 2021. Photo by VnExpress/ Quynh Tran

The Ministry of Health is taking gradual steps toward treating those infected with Covid like common patients as most of Vietnam's population have been fully vaccinated.

Heath Minister Nguyen Thanh Long told a meeting with the National Steering Committee for Covid-19 Prevention and Control on Saturday that although the number of daily cases has been rising fast, the rate of hospitalization, severe cases and deaths have significantly dropped.

The health system remains in stable condition and has increased its capacity to resuscitate and treat severe cases.

Current vaccines are still effective in reducing severity, mortality and hospitalization even with the Omicron strain, Long said.

He stressed vaccination must be considered a top priority. However, the possibility of re-infection with the Omicron mutant is possible, so it is still necessary to comply with pandemic prevention measures.

Faced with the increasing number of infections, the ministry is working with relevant units to offer price stabilization of medical equipment.

The ministry will continue monitoring the pandemic situation and the evolution of virus strains toward considering Covid-19 a "common disease" at an appropriate time.

On Thursday, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh said Vietnam will move towards "normalizing" the Covid-19 pandemic and considering it an endemic disease.

Many countries around the world are taking steps toward living with Covid-19 and treating it as endemic.

Vietnam has given a total of 196 million Covid-19 vaccine shots to its population. Virtually all adults, people from 18, have received their first Covid-19 vaccine shots, while 98 percent have received their second. A total 99 percent of children aged 12-17 have received their first vaccine shots, and 94 percent their second.
Deputy Prime Minister Pham Binh Minh (second from left) conducts a field survey at the border area of An Giang Province in July 2015. Photo provided by the conference organizers

Senior officials have lauded the 84 percent completion of Vietnam-Cambodia border demarcation as a historic achievement, ensuring better management and enhancing security.

Nguyen Minh Vu, Standing Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister and Chairman of the National Border Committee, said at a conference Friday to review 20 years (1999-2019) of the border demarcation that the results achieved were very important and historic.

It highlighted the mission to form a clear border between the two countries, creating favorable conditions for border management, ensuring security and order in the border areas.

Standing Deputy Prime Minister Pham Binh Minh said territorial borders and national sovereignty were sacred things.

The completion of 84 percent of border demarcation and marker erections between Vietnam and Cambodia is an important milestone and a great achievement, he said.

"We have an agreement with Cambodia that the two sides will continue to negotiate and soon complete the demarcation and marking the remaining 16 percent of the border."

Speaking at the conference, Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son said that on the basis of the 1985 treaty on national border planning, from 1986-1988, Vietnam and Cambodia completed the demarcation of about 200 km on the border and erected 72 markers.

However, in early 1989, for some technical reasons as well as the political situation of Cambodia, the process was paused. In 1999, when the situation in Cambodia has stabilized, border negotiations resumed.

On October 10, 2005, the two countries signed an additional treaty, following which the Vietnamese prime minister approval of a master plan for border demarcation between the two countries.

By September 2019, the two countries had set up 315 main landmarks, 1,511 sub-landmarks and 221 markers, demarcating more than 1,044 km, about 84 percent of the border, which is shown on the topographic maps of Vietnam and Cambodia.

Later, the prime ministers of both countries signed two documents recognizing the achievements of the demarcation and marking work.

The border between the two countries starts at the Vietnam - Laos - Cambodia border junction and ends at marker 314 on the border of Kien Giang Province in Vietnam with Kampot Province in Cambodia.
Vietnamese people get ready to move out of Ukraine on March 2, 2022. Photo by Vietnam's Ministry of Foreign Affairs

The government has approved the repatriation of Vietnamese nationals from Ukraine as the conflict rages on in that country.

Special flights will be organized to bring them to Vietnam.

It is expected that 900 people who have fled to Poland, Romania and Moldova will return home first.

All returnees will be tested and isolated based on Covid-19 safety protocols.

On Friday Vietnam Airlines was granted permission to operate the first repatriation flight.

It is scheduled to leave Hanoi for Romania on Sunday and return on Monday.

Some 590 Vietnamese in Ukraine had either left for Romania or had made plans to leave, but only 430 of them wish to return to Vietnam from Romania, according to the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam.

Another 750 have left Ukraine for Poland, but only 100 want to be repatriated with the rest preferring to go to a third country or return to Ukraine when the situation improves.

According to official statistics, there are around 7,000 Vietnamese in Ukraine, mainly in Kharkiv, Odessa and Kiev.

Russian forces have pounded Ukrainian cities including the capital Kyiv with artillery and cruise missiles for over a week now, and many parts of Ukraine are now in danger.
ELKO  Last year was the deadliest on Nevada roads in 14 years, with more than one traffic fatality per day across the state and more than one per month in Elko County.

There were 382 Nevada traffic fatalities in 2021, an 18% increase from 2020.

Impaired driving and speed were the top two contributing factors, according to state agencies.

Elko County had 14 fatalities last year, one less than the 15 reported in 2020. However, the number of fatalities in the past two years is up 16% from the prior two years, according to data posted by Zero Fatalities Nevada.

U.S. Highway 93 continued to be the most deadly in the region. Three California residents were killed on Feb. 11, 2021, in a four-vehicle crash between Wells and Jackpot. An Arizona driver was killed May 22 when his pickup crossed the center line and struck a Freightliner semi north of Lages Junction. An Illinois man died Sept. 27 in a pileup at a construction zone between Wells and Jackpot.

Fatal crashes also occurred on Interstate 80 in the northeastern corner of the state. A Utah man died in July when his semi rolled after a tire blew out about 26 miles east of Wells. An Elko driver died in late October when his SUV rolled off the freeway between Elko and Wells. Another Elko man died in December when his SUV crashed for unknown reasons 20 miles east of Elko.

Other fatalities last year included a Reno woman who died when her SUV drove off Mountain City Highway about 31 miles north of Elko in June. A Henderson driver towing a boat crashed on the same highway about 4 miles north of Elko in July.

An Elko woman died in August when her vehicle rolled off West Bullion Road. Also in August, a 6-year-old girl was killed when the vehicle she was in was struck from behind on Chestnut Street in Carlin.

A Winnemucca man died in October after his pickup slammed into a parked travel trailer on a residential street in Elko.

A Las Vegas man died in November when his van rolled off U.S. Highway 93A south of Wendover.

The Nevada Department of Transportation has been working to add passing lanes on U.S. 93.

Nevada awarded an $8.8 million contract for roughly five miles of passing lanes north of Wells last year, and Elko County Commissioners have requested the highway remain a priority for future projects.

Were well aware of the demand and the need for it to be improved with the increased truck traffic, NDOT Deputy Director Cole Mortensen told commissioners at the time. The Chobani yogurt plant in Twin Falls is one reason for the heavier truck traffic, he said.

U.S. 93 also is heavily traveled by people traveling south for the winter in campers and motorhomes. Still, traffic volume is lower than on many other highways that are funded by the state.

Drivers passing in no-passing zones have been blamed for crashes on U.S. 93, such as one in February 2020 that killed four people 25 miles south of Wells.

Meanwhile, Zero Fatalities Nevada continues efforts to raise awareness of highway safety measures. Data on its website from 2015-2019 lists impaired driving as the number one cause of fatal crashes, followed by lane departure, collisions at intersections, and speeding.

Whether its due to alcohol, speeding, or just bad decision-making, it has resulted in a dangerous environment on Nevada streets, Zero Fatalities Nevada stated this week. We can do better  join us in pledging to slow down, stay alert, and share the road so we can make 2022 a better year for all of Nevadas roadway users.

Three people have already died in Elko County crashes during the first two months of 2022.

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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?

Related news articles:
Earlier this week the United Nations overwhelmingly voted to pass a resolution decrying the invasion of Ukraine and calling for an immediate end to Russias military activities in the country.

The vote on Wednesday saw 141 of the UNs 193 member states vote in favour of the resolution, while 35 countries opted to abstain from the vote. The only nations to vote against the resolution were Belarus, North Korea, Eritrea and Syria, along with Russia.

The resolutio passed is not legally binding but it does present a formal confirmation of the worldwide outrage and opposition to the Russian invasion. It also highlighted the increasing isolation of Russia on the global stage. Those who voted in favour will hope that the resolution piles more pressure on Moscow to withdraw troops.

See also:

In response to the resolution the Russian representative to the UN, Vasily Nebenzya, reiterated claims from the Kremlin that its military action was not targeting civilian areas. He forwarded baseless accusations that Ukrainian allies had coerced members into voting in favour of the resolution.

The Russian attitude in the face of mounting pressure from the global community appears stoic but there is hope that the resolution will act as a rallying cry. Reports suggest that President Putin was not anticipating such a unified and cohesive response from other nations and the passage of the resolution may precede further economic sanctions against Russia.

Massive protests in Ukrainian cities occupied by Russia, making short work of Putins outlandish claims that the @UN-condemned invasion is liberation. This is Kherson after the Russian conquest pic.twitter.com/jv5pXrLGAc  Bojan Pancevski (@bopanc) March 5, 2022

What was in the UNs resolution against Russia?

In a statement release on the UN website the resolution is said to reaffirm Ukrainian sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity. The language employed criticises Russia in harsh terms and makes clear that the vast majority of UN members wants the invasion to stop.

The resolution calls on Moscow to immediately, completely and unconditionally withdraw all of its military forces from the territory of Ukraine within its internationally recognized borders.

Of particular importance to member states was then impact that the conflict is having on Ukrainian civilians, something that has increased in recent days. Having initially been frustrated by the stout defence of Ukraine, Russia has become less discriminate it its attacks and is clearly targeting non-military target.

The United Nations Security Council held an emergency session after Russian forces attacked Europe's largest nuclear power plant. https://t.co/9UOA21rW4Z pic.twitter.com/XCvj06tMEg  ABC News (@ABC) March 5, 2022

The resolution cites reports of attacks on civilian facilities such as residences, schools and hospitals, and of civilian casualties, including women, older persons, persons with disabilities, and children.

Shortly after the resolution was passed UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres spoke to reporters and reiterated its content, emphasising that he would stand by the resolution.

He said: The message of the General Assembly is loud and clear: End hostilities in Ukraine now. Silence the guns now. Open the door to dialogue and diplomacy now.
According to the latest figures released by the United Nations this weekend, more than 1.37 Ukrainians, mostly women and children, have fled their country to seek safety in other European countries during the past week with more expected to join them. The number of refugees fleeing Ukraine is expected to rise to 1.5 million by the end of this weekend.

Related news

Demilitarized Humanitarian corridor

Russia agreed to a ceasefire on Saturday morning to allow Ukrainian authorities to set up a humanitarian corridor with the idea of evacuating around 200,000 people from Mariupol and 15,000 from Volnovakha. Some sources however, claim that Russian forces did not cooperate. The situation in Ukraine is getting worse by the day and so far a number of European countries are taking Ukrainian refugees in - principally, most of the countries which share borders with Ukraine - Poland were one of the first nations to offer refuge to Ukrainians fleeing the conflict. At the Polish border, refugees have been greeted by the neighbours offering hot food and drinks, blankets, shelter or even free lifts to other parts of the country. So far, Poland has taken in around 505,582 Ukrainians, according to the UN Refugee Agency - more than any other country.

After Poland, Hungary have granted asylum to 139,686 Ukrainian refugees, Moldova have welcomed 97,827, Slovakia 72,200 and Romania 51,261. Even Russia, the perpetrators of the attack and Belarus, who are complicit, have taken in a share of those seeking safety.

All 27 members of the European Union will take in a quota of Ukrainian nationals under the Temporary Protection Directive which has been triggered for the first time since it was set up in 2001. Temporary protection provides immediate and temporary protection to displaced persons from non-EU countries and those unable to return to their country of origin.

The directive offers:

a residence permit for the entire duration of the protection (which can last from one year to three years),

appropriate information on temporary protection,

access to employment,

access to accommodation or housing,

access to social welfare or means of subsistence,

access to medical treatment,

access to education for minors,

opportunities for families to reunite in certain circumstances, and

guarantees for access to the normal asylum procedure.

Further afield, the United Kingdom has relaxed visa rules for Ukrainian nationals who have family members already living in the country and lifted language requirements and salary conditions for those wishing to enter. The UK government have not set any limits on the number of refugees who will be granted permission to enter the UK and those arriving will not be expected to fill in a passenger locator form, which at the moment is compulsory for everyone else.

"When everything calms down we are going back home." - Sara Burka fled Ukraine with her family. She is one of more than 1.3 million refugees urgently in need of support. pic.twitter.com/QVRBCgZiq3  UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency (@Refugees) March 5, 2022

Canada and the United States offer help to Ukrainian refugees

So what help have Canada and the United States offered? The Canadian government has set up the Canada-Ukraine Authorization for Emergency Travel program which is open to Ukrainians who want to come to Canada temporarily. There are no limits on the number who can apply. Work permits will be issued to those whose applications are accepted. Canada hopes to have the program up and running by mid-March. Ukrainians who are currently living and working in Canada will be able to extend their stay.

The US has also pledged help, as president Joe Biden confirmed last week. All Ukrainians who arrived in the US on or before 1 March 2022, will be eligible to apply for Temporary Protected Status (TPS), which will allow them to legally live and work in the US for the next 18 months. However, this only applies to Ukrainian immigrants who are already in the country.

The US Department of Homeland Security estimates that around 30,000 Ukrainians will apply for TPS - however, the maximum number of European refugees the US can accept in one financial year is capped at 10,000. There have been calls for the US to facilitate the immigration process for Ukrainian refugees, authorize flights to bring displaced Ukrainian nationals in Europe to the States and give them the opportunity to work in the country.

Under the current scheme, refugees are referred to the US Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP). All refugees can work immediately upon arrival to the United States once they are granted entry and complete Form I-94.

Useful contact details:

At the Poland border, Chris Melzer, melzer@unhcr.org; +49 (30) 202 202 10

In Hungary, Zoran Stevanovic stevanoz@unhcr.org; +36 (30) 530 9633

In Geneva, Shabia Mantoo, mantoo@unhcr.org; +41 (79) 337 76 50

In Geneva, Matthew Saltmarsh, saltmars@unhcr.org; +41 (79) 967 99 36

In New York, Kathryn Mahoney, mahoney@unhcr.org, +1 347 443 7646
By Azernews





By Vugar Khalilov

Azerbaijans War College Chief Lt-Gen Heydar Piriyev and Pakistans Naval Academy Chief Rear Admiral Shifaat Ali Khan met in Baku on March 4 to discuss military cooperation, the Defence Ministry reported on March 4.

The Pakistani delegation was informed about Azerbaijan's military education system during the meeting, the report added.

The parties were also pleased with the progress of Azerbaijani-Pakistani relations.

Following the meeting, the sides took a photograph and a trip to the Carpet Museum and the Museum of Art was organized.

During the 44-day war with Armenia in 2020, Pakistan was among the first countries voicing political support for Azerbaijan. Pakistan also supports Azerbaijan in the restoration of the country's liberated territories.

In September 2021, the Azerbaijani, Turkish and Pakistani special forces conducted Three Brothers - 2021 joint international drills in Baku.

Under the drills plan, the special forces units carried out practical shootings using small arms and grenade launchers, the report added.

The drills aim to improve the coordination among the special forces units of friendly and partner countries during combat operations, prepare for operations in peacetime and wartime, exchange knowledge and experience.

In the winter of 2014, during the fifth meeting of the working group on military cooperation between Azerbaijan and Pakistan in the city of Islamabad, the countries signed an agreement on mutual military cooperation.

Over the past decade, Pakistani military experts trained about a hundred Azerbaijani military units.

Azerbaijan is holding talks with Pakistan to purchase JF-17 Thunder multirole fighter aircraft. In October 2016 President Aliyev and PM Sharif confirmed plans to carry out joint military exercises.

Furthermore, the parliaments of Azerbaijan, Turkey and Pakistan have signed the Baku Declaration on cooperation. The document was signed following the trilateral meeting held by speakers of the three countries parliaments on July 27, 2021.
NATO's chief made it clear. The European Union allies made it clear. And United States President Joe Biden made it clear. Their troops would not be on the ground or in the air fighting on behalf of Ukraine's efforts to hold onto their sovereignty and force back the Russian invaders. But stories are emerging of support being provided through other means.

How US veterans are aiding Ukraine

A former US military linguist is arming volunteers with Russian phrases like "put your weapon down" before they head to Ukraine to fight. Another US veteran said he was in Ukraine linking volunteers to groups on the ground.

They are among organizers from three US online networks Reuters spoke to this week that are creating underground pipelines of military, medical and other volunteers for Ukraine. The networks are part of organized efforts to mobilize hundreds of North Americans prepared to fight for Ukraine, as well as thousands of other people across the globe.

Related stories:

You can learn a few words and phrases that may potentially save your life, said the former Army linguist, who identified himself as Tex and was compiling terms in Ukrainian and Russian for combat or in the event of capture. The linguist's training group is helping military veterans brush up on skills like first aid or marksmanship. Most instruction is online. Some units do physical training together, he said.

The three groups operate behind layers of security, performing background checks and video interviews over concerns Russian elements are trying to infiltrate and sabotage operations. Members stress they are private individuals who have no links to the US government or US armed services.

"There's been a lot of Russians trying to get in," said an individual representing one of the groups who identified himself as Checker 1 in a Zoom call. "If something like this were to be exposed, it would be rather harmful."

He said his network had partnered with a Kyiv non-governmental organization to get international volunteers into the country.

"We work all over Ukraine," said the US veteran who claimed to be in Ukraine, communicating via the Signal messaging app. An organizer for another group said it was interviewing candidates, forming units and matching them with groups in Ukraine.

Messages from potential volunteers in Liberia, South Africa and the Netherlands came into the network's online group as the organizer chatted.

"There is a trickle of volunteers arriving daily and reaching their desired volunteer locations," said the organizer, who asked not to be named.

Sanctions can help, but sanctions cant help right now, and people need help right now, said the former Marine, who lives in Tampa and like other veterans interviewed for this article asked that only his first name be used... I can help right now"https://t.co/H4FTrLYSsn  Jonathan Martin (@jmartNYT) March 5, 2022

Canada and US volunteers en route to Ukraine

Speaking on his Telegram page, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Thursday said 16,000 foreigners have volunteered to fight for Ukraine against Russia's invasion. Ukraine has formed an "international legion" for the foreign force.

Several organizers estimated the number of Canadian and US volunteers heading to Ukraine was still in the dozens rather than hundreds.

Ukrainian forces are seeking international reinforcement after Russian forces on Friday surrounded and bombarded several cities in the second week of an invasion launched by President Vladimir Putin.

Of the more than one dozen potential volunteers Reuters spoke to in the United States and Canada, only a third said they had military, law enforcement, medical or conflict-zone experience. With limited resources, volunteer networks are focused on training and placement of military veterans in combat roles.

As well as the networks, there are a host of individuals paying for air travel or offering advice.

Canadian tech entrepreneur Vish Vadlamani considered fighting then decided he could be more useful sponsoring volunteers and using his software programming skills to help refugees. He said he and associates have raised about $20,000 in unused airline credit to cover airfares for volunteers.

An American has created a 32-page Google document with information ranging from how to enlist in the Ukrainian army to an alphabetical packing list that starts with baby wipes and body armor.

"I do not recommend that anyone who does not speak Ukrainian or Russian and does not have military experience join the Ukrainian military," said the man in a video call, who asked that his name not be used, and identified himself as Kiwi.

The US military reaches far

The US, as the world's most foremost military hegemon, maintains hundreds of military installations worldwide. Many are inside the US, while plenty remain outside its borders in some of the world's most remote places. The formation of the US Space Force during the Trump presidency opens the door for future space military expansion, but for now the nation is happy to be deployed in over 70 countries worldwide.

How many bases does the US have?

According to the US Department of Defence 2015 Base Structure Report, there are nearly 562,000 facilities, which includes single buildings and structures, on over 4,800 sites worldwide. This covers over 24.9 million acres. In terms of actual sites, this meant 513 active installations worldwide. To put this in some sort of context, Britain, France and Russia maintain around 30 bases on foreign soil, combined.

This report was created in the context of needing to cut federal spending, and shutting down a number of these sites to reduce government spending was the hope.

This US military base right by the North Korean border pic.twitter.com/RdFuPO6vht  Business Insider (@BusinessInsider) January 16, 2022

But David Vine, a professor of political anthropology at the American University in Washington, DC, claimed in a 2015 book that this number was much higher, 750. His book, Base Nation: How US military bases abroad harm America and the World, says there are 120 bases in Japan, 119 Germany and 73 in South Korea.

In terms of troop deployments, 173,000 troops were deployed in 159 countries according to US military data from 2020.

What role does NATO play?

The US has been a part of NATO since its creation in 1949. According to Al Jazeera, Europe was home to 60,000 US troops in 2021, though this number has swelled in the first two months of 2022 due to war in Ukraine. Since the beginning of the Ukraine crisis, the US has added an extra 14,000 troops to Europe.

Defending the borders of NATO are a key priority with the fighting so close to the alliance. The US maintains bases in many European countries, including as far east as Poland, Estonia and Turkey, the latter of which was a contributing factor to the development of the aforementioned Cuba missile crisis.
Accordingly, with spirit of humanity and placing the highest priority to the protection of Vietnamese citizens, the Government allows the organisation of flights repatriating Vietnamese people and their familites, with the initial number of 900 Vietnamese people, who will depart from Polland, Romania or Moldova.



The Government has approved the policy to arrange flights to bring Vietnamese people from Ukraine home (Photo: VNA)



They will receive COVID-19 tests upon their arrival in Vietnam and take necessary medical measures in line with the Ministry of Healths instruction.



The Government assigned the Ministry of Transport to take the major charge of arranging the flights, while the Ministry of Finance was asked to finance the flights.



As part of efforts to implement the Prime Ministers direction, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has worked with the Ministry of Transport to conduct two repatriation flights, one departing from Romania on March 7 and the other from Polland on March 8.



The Ministry of Foreign Affairs plans to coordinate with relevant agencies to continue to arrange flights to evacuate Vietnamese people and their family members from dangerous areas in Ukraine to neighbouring countries, and bring those who wish to return to Vietnam depending on the real situation and capacity of Vietnam.



In recent days, Vietnamese representative offices in Ukraine and neighbouring countries have coordinated closely with local authorities and Vietnamese associations in host countries to support the Vietnamese community to evacuate from war areas and provide them with temporary accommodations and essential necessities.



According to the offices, as of March 4, almost of Vietnamese people in Kiev and Odessa and hundreds of people in Kharkov had been evacuated to neighbouring countries. Of them, 370 had come to Romania, 200 had been on the way from Moldova to Romania, 600 from Ukraine had arrived in Polland, about 125 had reached to Hungary and about 40 had come to Slovakia.



The Ministry of Foreign Affairs group for citizen protection and representative offices are keepinng a close watch on the situation and recieving requests from Vietnamese people through citizen protection hotlines.



Vietnamese in Ukraine and neighbouring who need support or wish to flee from war areas can contact the ministry and representative offices in countries through following phone numbers:



Ministry of Foreign Affairs: 84-965411118, 84-981848484; Email: baohocongdan@gmail.com

Vietnamese Embassy in Ukraine: 380 (63) 8638999

Vietnamese Embassy in Russia: 79916821617

Vietnamese Embassy in Polland: 0048782257359

Vietnamese Embassy in Romania: 0040744645037

Vietnamese Embassy in Slovakia: 421 2 5245 1263, 421 915 419 568./.
This is among the outcomes of President Nguyen Xuan Phucs State visit to Singapore from February 24 to 26, expected to help further boost post-pandemic recovery of the two countries.



Passengers at Changi International Airport of Singapore (Photo: VNA)



In an announcement on March 4, the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) said Vaccinated Travel Pass (VTP) applications for travellers from Vietnam will open at 10am (Singapore time) on March 13.



Short-term visitors and work permit holders eligible to travel on the VTL must apply for a VTP to enter Singapore under the VTL. Fully vaccinated Singapore citizens, permanent residents, all other long-term pass holders and In-Principle Approval (IPA) holders, and children aged 12 years and below in the calendar year do not need to apply for a VTP to enter Singapore under the VTL.



According to VTL requirements, short-term visitors must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 with any vaccine in the World Health Organisation (WHO) Emergency Use List, at least 14 days prior to arrival in Singapore; provide a digitally verifiable vaccination certificate in English issued by Singapore or the VTL country; provide a negative result from a professionally administered COVID-19 PCR or ART test taken within two days prior to departure to Singapore; and purchase COVID-19 medical insurance with a minimum coverage of 30,000 SGD (22,000 USD).



Meanwhile, recovered travellers do not need to show a test result within 90 days since their recovery certified by recognised medical facilities.



Aside from Vietnam, Singapore will also launch the VTL with Greece this time.



Also from March 16, the VTL for Malaysia will extend beyond Kuala Lumpur to include Penang. That for Indonesia will extend beyond Jakarta to include Bali-Denpasar. The VTL for India will extend beyond Chennai, Delhi, and Mumbai to include all Indian cities.



The VTL has enabled Singapore to reopen borders safely while managing public health risks. Since September 8, 2021, Singapore has established VTLs with 30 countries/regions./.
A Vietnam Airlines plane (Photo courtesy of the carrier)



The flight will arrive in Romania and return to Vietnam at March 7 noon.



Trinh Hong Quang, Deputy General Director of Vietnam Airlines, said that all necessary preparations and procedures have been completed for the plane to take off.



Earlier, Vietnam Airlines chose six localities around Ukraine with one-way trip from 9-14 hours, including Warsaw, Budapest, Bratislava, Moscow, Minsk, and Bucharest.



As the national flag carrier, Vietnam Airlines has pioneered and participated in many major government campaigns such as carrying home hundreds of thousands of Vietnamese citizens from more than 30 countries and territories amidst the COVID-19 outbreak, evacuating workers in Libya in 2011 and 2014, supporting Vietnamese people to return home during the 2011 earthquake and tsunami in Japan, and taking passengers out of Europe due to a volcanic eruption in 2010./.
Ukraine's SBU State Security Service has said it continues to expose enemy agents and saboteurs nationwide, noting that its agents continue to neutralize Russian agents and Russian.

A message on the SBU's Telegram channel says that in Luhansk region a Russian-occupation fighter from the so-called "Luhansk People's Republic" ("LPR") was exposed. The individual, accompanied by Russian military personnel, arrived in the city of Belovodsk and declared himself the head of the military-civilian administration. He then put himself in charge of all local authorities.

"The individual declared that Belovodsk is now the territory of the 'LPR' and called on local residents and law enforcement officers to provide support to him and the Russian troops," the message says. A case has been opened against him under Part 1 of Article 109 of Ukraine's Criminal Code.

In Vinnytsia region, a cache of weapons and explosives was discovered in a local wooded area.

"An agent of the special services of the Russian Federation was detained in Dnipro. The individual distributed materials where he approved of the aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine and invited civilians to unite around the ideas of the 'Russian world,'" the SBU said.

The SBU also said a pro-Russia agitator was exposed in Cherkasy region. According to the SBU, the woman was spreading propaganda of the aggressor country and sowing panic on social networks.

"She also spread fakes about the activities of state authorities and submitted distorted data on the military state," the message says.

The SBU message says the three suspects were all detained on March 3, noting that its agents are actively involved in the evacuation of civilians. The SBU said it had evacuated more than 1,000 women and children from Kyiv region during the course of one day.

Source: https://t.me/SBUkr/3811
The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) is temporarily suspending the work of its employees in Russia due to a new law on prison sentence of up to 15 years for fake news about the Russian Armed Forces, BBC Director-General Tim Davie said.

"This legislation appears to criminalize the process of independent journalism. It leaves us no other option than to temporarily suspend the work of all BBC News journalists and their support staff within the Russian Federation while we assess the full implications of this unwelcome development," Davie said in a statement released by the BBC on Friday.

The BBC News Service in Russia will continue operating from outside the country, the statement said.

"The safety of our staff is paramount and we are not prepared to expose them to the risk of criminal prosecution simply for doing their jobs. I'd like to pay tribute to all of them, for their bravery, determination and professionalism," Davie said.
The NATO Cooperative Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence (CCDCOE) agreed to Ukraine's membership in the NATO CCDCOE as a Contributing Participant, the General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces has reported.

"This week, the NATO Cooperative Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence (CCDCOE) held its 30th Steering Committee. With a unanimous vote, the 27 Sponsoring Nations in the Steering Committee of the CCDCOE agreed to Ukraines membership in the NATO CCDCOE as a Contributing Participant," the General Staff said.

Ukraine's presence in the Centre will enhance the exchange of cyber expertise, between Ukraine and CCDCOE member nations, Col Jaak Tarien, Director of the NATO Cooperative Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence, said.

"Ukraine could bring valuable first-hand knowledge of several adversaries within the cyber domain to be used for research, exercises and training," he said.

Minister of Defence of Estonia Kalle Laanet said that Ukraine definitely has valuable experience from previous cyber-attacks to provide significant value to the NATO CCDCOE. Estonia as a Host Nation of the CCDCOE has been a long-term partner for Ukraine in enhancing its cybersecurity capacity and cyber resilience and we welcome the decision of the members of CCDCOE agreeing to Ukraines membership, he said.

The Centre has already expanded its memberships outside the NATO-nations.

The CCDCOE is a NATO-accredited cyber knowledge hub, research institution, and training and exercise facility. The Tallinn-based international military organization focuses on interdisciplinary applied research, as well as consultations, training and exercises in the field of cybersecurity.
World Nuclear Association due to Russian aggression, seizure of Zaporizhia NPP calls for creating security zones around all NPPs in Ukraine

The World Nuclear Association (WNA) has strongly condemned the direct attack by the Russian armed forces on Zaporizhia nuclear power plant and called for the creation of safe zones for Ukraine's nuclear power plants.

"We strongly urge the creation of safe zones around all nuclear power plants in Ukraine to ensure the safety of all nuclear facilities and their personnel," the association said in a statement on its website on Friday.

In addition, the WNA called for an end to all violence at all nuclear facilities, as well as allowing plant workers and emergency response teams to carry out their duties.

"We continue to monitor the situation and are working very closely with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and other national and international interested parties," the association said.

As reported, Ukraine asked the IAEA to apply to NATO with a demand to close access to the airspace over its nuclear facilities, that is, to introduce an A2/AD zone (Anti Access/Area Denial, prohibition of access/closure of the territory) and to intensify actions to prevent acts of terrorism immediately after the capture by the Russian troops of the Chornobyl zone.
Main efforts of Russian invaders focused on encirclement of Kyiv, missile attacks on settlements continue  General Staff of Armed Forces of Ukraine

As of 18:00 on March 4, the main efforts of the Russian troops are focused on encircling Kyiv and weakening resistance in the blocked settlements, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine has reported.

"Also, the occupiers continued to carry out missile and bomb attacks on populated areas. They used artillery and multiple launch rocket systems to destroy critical infrastructure and residential buildings," the Facebook post says.

In the Volyn direction, the position of Ukrainian troops without significant changes.

In the northern direction, Chernihiv continues the defense. Subdivisions of the operational grouping of troops hold positions on occupied lines.

In the area of the settlement of Mikhailo-Kotsiubynske, Chernihiv region, a column of up to 200 pieces of equipment and manpower stands in front of a water obstacle. The bridge across the river has been destroyed.

In the Slobozhanske direction, units from the grouping continue to conduct defensive battles, successfully carry out fire damage to the enemy.

The combined forces are conducting a defensive operation, as before, with the forces of two operational-tactical groupings.

In the Prymorske direction, the operational group of troops provides cover for the sea coast and prevents the encirclement of the city of Mykolaiv.

The air forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine respond to enemy air strikes. Systematic hostilities continue. So far, the Russian invaders have already lost 37 planes and 37 helicopters.

The defenders of Kyiv continue to repulse the enemy's offensive, defeat its offensive groupings and hold certain lines.

"The enemy is demoralized. The local population shows in every way that Russia is not welcome here. The struggle is going on throughout the country. In total, we will win! We urge you to use only trusted sources of information and not to panic. The enemy is waiting for this," the General Staff said.
The Armed Forces of Ukraine and units of the Security and Defense Forces continue to wage fierce battles to liberate cities from the Russian aggressor, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine has reported.

"The Armed Forces of Ukraine and units of the Security and Defense Forces of Ukraine are fighting fiercely to liberate Ukrainian cities from the Russian occupiers. Units of the invaders are demoralized, soldiers and officers of the occupying army continue to surrender, flee, leaving weapons and equipment on Ukrainian land. Not only armed units of Ukrainian defenders but also ordinary unarmed people inflict losses on the enemy through active hostilities, demonstrating their civic position to the occupier and inflicting psychological damage on the Russians.

The occupiers continue shelling the civilian population, inflict rocket and bomb attacks on critical infrastructure and residential buildings, hospitals, kindergartens, use women, children and the elderly as a "human shield," due to the collision with constant resistance and realizing the wrongfulness of their actions.

In the information space, the enemy continues to spread lies through subservient media, takes measures to conceal losses in personnel and equipment by blocking the population's access to truthful and objective information.

"The Armed Forces of Ukraine continue to hold certain lines in all directions, and in some directions they counterattack and force the enemy to retreat with losses, disrupt rear communications and deliver crushing blows," the General Staff said.
By Azernews





By Sabina Mammadli

One of the Azerbaijani drivers injured during the military action in Ukraine's Kharkiv, Samir Tahirov, passed away on March 4, the Azerbaijan International Road Carriers Association (ABADA) has said.

"The relevant organizations are taking measures to transport the body to the homeland. The condition of another victim, Yusif Bayramov, is stable," said ABADA.

As reported earlier, three Azerbaijani drivers were injured as a result of a shooting in Kharkiv on February 27. One of them has been discharged after outpatient treatment.

Meanwhile, another AZAL evacuation flight delivered 191 Azerbaijani citizens, including 13 children, who left Ukraine, from Romania's Iasi International Airport to Baku.

Earlier, hundreds of compatriots who wished to return to the country due to the events in Ukraine were delivered to Azerbaijan by AZAL evacuation flights.

AZAL daily carries out evacuation flights for compatriots on President Ilham Aliyev's order. The flights for Azerbaijani citizens are free.

Additionally, Azerbaijani ambassador to Poland Nargiz Gurbanova addressed the citizens who entered this country from Ukraine.

She stated that Azerbaijani citizens who moved to Poland receive all possible support. According to preliminary information, about 1,000 Azerbaijani citizens arrived from Ukraine to Poland.

"The embassy accommodated 300 citizens of Azerbaijan in hotels. It should be noted that many of our citizens have problems with documents. They were provided with consular services to obtain an appropriate certificate for return, added the ambassador.

Gurbanov noted that for objective reasons, there are currently serious shortages of places in hotels and due to this citizens placed in temporary shelters organized by the Polish executive authorities are asked to stay there until the evacuation.

Citizens should send address, passport photo and contact information through the Whatsapp application to the embassy phone 0048576900183," the appeal said.

According to the appeal, work is currently underway to organize a flight for citizens to be evacuated to Azerbaijan.

The evacuation, according to the ambassador, will be carried out in accordance with the list compiled by the embassy. These activities will be carried out in a sequential manner, with women, parents with children, the elderly, and students being evacuated first.

Information about the evacuation will be sent to the phones of our citizens. Upon receipt of relevant information, our citizens are asked to act in accordance with the instructions of the embassy. We ask our citizens who have the opportunity to use flights from Poland to Azerbaijan via Turkey and Georgia. Turkish Airlines and LOT operate daily flights from Warsaw to Istanbul, LOT also flies to Tbilisi, and Wizzair flies to Kutaisi three times a week", the appeal added.

Citizens of Azerbaijan who have left Ukraine can contact Azerbaijan's diplomatic missions abroad to return home.

It was noted that in connection with special cases, Azerbaijani citizens can contact the Azerbaijani Embassy in Kyiv by phone: (+380 73) 5050000 and by e-mail: kie[email protected], the Honorary Consulate in Kharkiv by phone: (+38057) 7000531 and by email: [email protected]

The Foreign Ministry reported earlier that 7,696 Azerbaijani citizens have left Ukraine since the outbreak of hostilities in Ukraine.

It noted that 6,500 Azerbaijanis had crossed into Moldova, 770 into Poland, 318 into Romania, 60 into Slovakia, and 48 into Hungary.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has said that NATO member countries themselves have created a narrative that allegedly closing the sky over Ukraine will provoke direct Russian aggression against the Alliance.

"A NATO summit was hold today, a weak summit, a disconcerted summit. The summit that shows that not everybody views the fight for freedom for Europe as the goal number one. All the intelligence agencies of NATO countries are well aware of the plans of the enemy, they also confirmed that the Russian Federation wants to continue the offensive... For nine days we see a brutal war: they destroy our cities, shell our people, our children... Knowing that new strikes and casualties are inevitable, NATO deliberately took decision not to close the sky over Ukraine," Zelensky said in a video address on Friday night.

"We believe that NATO countries themselves created the narrative that closing the sky over Ukraine would allegedly provoke a direct aggression" against the North Atlantic Alliance, he said.

According to Zelensky, this is self-hypnosis of those who are "weak and insecure internally, although they can wield weapons many times stronger than we have."

He also said that NATO had to think about the people, and stated that "all the people who die from this day will also die because of you, because of your weakness, your disunity."

"All the alliance has bothered to do at this point is insert 50 tonnes of diesel fuel for Ukraine into the system of its own procurement. Probably it is so that we can burn the Budapest Memorandum, so that it burns better. But it burned down for us already in the fire of the Russian troops. Is this NATO we wanted, is this the Alliance you built?" he said.

In addition, he said that by refusing to make the no-fly zone, today the NATO leadership gave the green light for further bombardment of Ukrainian cities and villages.

"I don't know whom you can defend and whether you can defend your own countries, member countries: you can't buy us off with liters of fuel for liters of our blood shed for our common Europe, for our common freedom, for our common future," he said.

At the same time, Zelensky expressed gratitude to Ukraine's friends in NATO, to the partners who he said constitute a majority in the bloc, "and that's why we feel we are not alone. We keep on fighting, we will protect our country. We will free our land thanks to our heroes."
Zelensky: at UN Security Council meeting we called for closing sky over Ukraine, launching operation to maintain peace and security

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky has called on the world to help Ukraine protect dangerous facilities from nuclear terrorism by the Russian aggressor.

"Nuclear terrorism requires a strong response. At a meeting of the UN Security Council, we called for closing the sky over Ukraine and launching an operation to maintain peace and security. The goal is to protect dangerous objects. The world should not watch, but help!" the President said in Twitter on Friday.
Ukrainians refuse to play by the rules of the Russian occupiers and go out against armed enemies, President Volodymyr Zelensky has said.

"I understand how difficult a decision is when during the occupation to go against armed enemies. I feel how risky it is, but I see how our people refuse to play by the rules of the occupiers, how our people remain Ukrainians, how our people remain with our state, even temporarily in the dark. If Russian politicians still have eyes, they will be able to see what Ukraine is, what our freedom is," the head of state said in his video message.

He drew attention to the fact that Russian propagandists thought of Ukrainians as of themselves, but they saw that, for example, Kherson residents are "proud, respect themselves and respect Ukraine."

"Ukrainians are united from Uzhgorod to Kharkiv, from Kyiv to Kherson. Ukrainians are chasing the enemy near Kyiv, they are beating to return back Okhtyrka, they are punishing for Hostomel, they will avenge for Kherson: our Kherson, Ukrainian Kherson, which they tried to humiliate today, but did not work out, they were not allowed. Ukrainians showed themselves. They did not allow to be played in a cheap, cynical performance with a handout instead of help, with propaganda instead of sincerity," Zelensky said.

According to him, the occupiers thought that they would force the Ukrainians to submit if they turned off television, communications, electricity, or took away food.

''But even if you deprive us of oxygen, we will take a deep breath to say: away from our land! Even in complete darkness, we see the truth. And we will fight until it gets dark in our eyes, as we are warriors of light. And today no one on Earth will be able to say that this remark is pathos," the President said.
Reznikov: military resources of enemy in Ukraine running out, there will be logistical collapse further

Defense Minister Oleksiy Reznikov has said that the enemy's military resources in Ukraine are running out and predicts that there will be a logistical collapse in the future.

"9 days 4 hours 2 minutes. Ukraine defends the world. The tenth day of resistance to Russian terrorists. The tenth day of courage of the Armed Forces, guards, border guards, rescuers, fighters of other power structures of all Ukrainians who heroically hold the defense. Thanks to all our people, the Kremlin's plans for two days to conquer the Ukrainians, capture large cities, remove the leadership of the state and annex Ukraine to Russia failed," Reznikov wrote on Facebook.

The minister agreed that the enemy had advanced in certain areas, but said that the occupier controlled only a small area.

Reznikov added that given the slowdown in the offensive and the resistance of the Ukrainians, Russia is changing tactics.

"Today, the Ukrainian sky is the most vulnerable. The aggressor is comprehensively and actively using its air and missile potential. All types of aircraft are bombing cities, towns and civilian infrastructure, including critically important and dangerous such as nuclear and hydroelectric power stations. The "Great" army has shown a genuine inside  a cowardly terrorist who is only capable of attacking the civilian population  children, women, unarmed civilians," the minister said.

Reznikov said that he admires the strength of the Ukrainians in Mariupol, Volnovakha, Kharkiv, Chernihiv, Mykolaiv, Kherson and all other cities where it is most difficult now.

"The courage of our people is amazing! Even those who are unarmed, grandmothers, come out to defend their homes. Curses fall on the heads of the occupiers both in Ukrainian and in Russian. We did not have and do not have linguistic disagreements. In all languages the occupier is shown the direction of the Russian warship. People of all 100 nationalities for whom Ukraine is their home," he wrote.

The minister said that the authorities are working on the introduction of the ceasefire and the opening of humanitarian corridors.

"The enemy does not know what the value of human life is, but we will do everything to help our citizens. We hope that the humanitarian corridor will work and we will be able to take out civilians," he wrote.

Commenting on the current situation in the directions, the minister said that the Armed Forces control the situation, hold lines and go on the counteroffensive, pushing the enemy back.

"The main efforts of the occupier were focused on encircling Kyiv and weakening resistance in the settlements blockaded by him. The defenders of Kyiv continue to repel the enemy's offensive, defeat his offensive groups," the minister said.

In the Volyn direction, the position of our troops has not changed significantly.

"Chernihiv is carrying out a heroic defense in the Siversky direction. Ukrainian troops are holding positions on the occupied lines," he added.

Also, in the area of the settlement of Mikhailo-Kotsiubynske, Chernihiv region, a column of up to 200 pieces of equipment and manpower stands in front of a water obstacle, and the bridge across the river has been destroyed.

In the Slobozhanske direction, the Ukrainian military continues to conduct defensive battles, successfully defeating the enemy by fire. The combined forces are conducting a defensive operation, as before, with the forces of two operational-tactical groupings.

In the Prymorsky direction, our defenders cover the sea coast and perform tasks to prevent the cordon of the city of Mykolaiv.

"The air forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine are repelling enemy air strikes. They continue to conduct systematic military operations, thanks to which the Russian invaders have already lost 39 aircraft and 40 helicopters. Losses of the enemy's axial composition are increasing. It is unnecessary to talk about motivation. It was not and is not. Moral and the combat state of the occupying troops is below zero. The enemy's military resources in Ukraine are running out, there will be a logistical collapse further," the minister said.

Reznikov said that the struggle continues, but Ukrainians in all cities make it clear that Russia has never been expected here!
Prime Minister of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal has called on the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the European Union (EU) to ensure the arrival of peacekeeping teams from the EU, the IAEA, and the State Nuclear Regulatory Inspectorate of Ukraine (SNRIU) to all five nuclear plants in Ukraine.

"Radiation has no boundaries. Possible affected area  the whole world. Once again, I call on the international community, represented by the IAEA and the EU, to ensure the arrival of peacekeeping teams consisting of representatives of the EU, IAEA and SNRIU to all five nuclear power plants in Ukraine. This is a security issue for the whole world!" the Prime Minister urged in his video message.

As reported, Ukraine asked the IAEA to apply to NATO with a demand to close access to the airspace over its nuclear facilities, that is, to introduce an A2 / AD zone (Anti Access / Area Denial) and to intensify actions to prevent acts of terrorism immediately after the capture by the Russian troops of the Chornobyl zone.

On March 4, the Russian occupiers seized Zaporizhia NPP, having previously shelled it, as a result of which a fire broke out in the administrative building. The IAEA, despite the warning of Ukraine about the threat of nuclear terrorism from the aggressor country of the Russian Federation, has so far limited itself to conclusions that the security system at Zaporizhia NPP has not been affected, and calls to stop hostilities near nuclear facilities.
Kuleba urges to disconnect Sberbank from SWIFT, impose oil embargo, close ports for Russian ships, close crypto loopholes, cut all ties with Russia

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba has called for strengthening sanctions against the Russian Federation, in particular, disconnecting Sberbank from SWIFT, imposing an oil embargo, closing ports for Russian ships, closing crypto loopholes and cuting all ties with the Russian Federation.

"Russia shifts to ugly tactics aimed at maximum civilian damage: bombs residential areas and critical infrastructure, threatens nuclear facilities. Sanctions must increase. Ban Sberbank from SWIFT. Oil embargo. Close ports for Russian ships. Close crypto loopholes. Cut all ties," Kuleba wrote in Twitter on Saturday.
A website for foreigners who want to help Ukraine defend freedom and territorial integrity by repelling the invasion of the Russian army will start working in the near future, the press service of the President of Ukraine reported on Saturday.

"The website fightforua.org will soon be launched, which will contain all the necessary information for citizens of foreign countries who want to join the International Defense Legion of Ukraine," the press service said.

After Russia launched a large-scale military invasion of Ukraine on February 24 and from the first days began to strike at civilians and infrastructure, the Ukrainian state called on foreigners to join our fight for peace and democracy in Europe and around the world.

In particular, by decree of President Volodymyr Zelensky, from March 1, 2022, a visa-free regime for entry into Ukraine was introduced for citizens of foreign states wishing to join the International Defense Legion of Ukraine, except for citizens of the aggressor state.

"Foreigners who want to help Ukraine can find detailed step-by-step instructions on the website https://fightforua.org/ on how to join the just fight against the aggressor. In particular, to join the International Defense Legion of Ukraine, you need to contact the Ukrainian Embassy in your state with the appropriate intention and clarify what documents and clothing (equipment) are needed or recommended," the Office of the President said.

After that it will be necessary to pass an interview at the embassy with a defense attache and apply for a visa with the consul. Next, an application is submitted for conscription to the Armed Forces of Ukraine for voluntary military service under a contract.

"After that, the legionnaire will receive instructions on traveling around Ukraine, the necessary documents and equipment. It is recommended, if any, to take a military kit with you, such as clothing or its elements, equipment, a helmet, bulletproof vests, etc.," the Office of the President said.

The Office of the Head of State said that, if necessary, representatives of the embassies and consulates of Ukraine will provide assistance on the way.

"Arriving at the assembly point in Ukraine, the legionnaire signs a contract and joins the International Defense Legion of Ukraine. After that, he is ready to join the battle with the invaders along with fighters from all over the world and Ukrainian soldiers," the Office of the President said.
On Saturday morning, Russian troops launched a missile attack on a residential area of the city of Bila Tserkva, searches for the victims are underway, Mayor of the city Hennadiy Dyky has said.

"There was just a missile attack. They hit private houses. Now we are looking for people. Be careful, listen to the alarm," the mayor said in a video posted on his Facebook page on Saturday.
In Severodonetsk, Luhansk region, as a result of the shelling of residential buildings by Russian troops, 2 people were killed, 8 more were injured.

"03/05/2022, 21A, Vilesova Street, Severodonetsk, eight injured, two dead. After the Armed Forces of Ukraine repelled another attack on the regional center in the morning, the enemy decided to take revenge by shelling residential areas," Head of Luhansk Regional Military Administration Serhiy Haidai wrote on his Facebook page.
Zelensky: we are doing everything on our part to make agreement on humanitarian corridors work, let's see if we can go further in negotiations

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky has said that the Ukrainian side is doing everything necessary to ensure humanitarian corridors, which is a top priority, it depends on how the negotiations with the Russian Federation will proceed.

"At the talks in Belarus, the groups agreed on the first step to return at least 1% of humanity from the normal level to the cities that are surrounded, that are being destroyed, that are going through the worst days. Humanitarian corridors must work today. Mariupol and Volnovakha. To save people, women and children, especially older people, to give food and medicine to those who remain. Our help is on the way," Zelensky said in a video message posted on the Telegram channel on Saturday.

At the same time, the president said that everyone who can defend their city must continue the fight.

"Because if everyone leaves, then whose city will this city be? We are doing everything on our part to make the agreement work, this is one of the main tasks for today, let's see if it is possible to go further in the negotiation process," the head of state said.
By Azernews





By Vugar Khalilov

Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov and United Nations Development Fund (UNCDF) Executive Secretary Preeti Sinha have discussed further mutual cooperation, the ministry reported on March 4.

Bayramov, while welcoming the guests, stated that Azerbaijan places a high value on the development of cooperation with various UN organizations and it is ready to explore the potential for collaboration with UNCDF as well.

Bayramov stated that Azerbaijan faced occupation during its early years of independence, as a result of which it became the country with the biggest number of internally displaced persons (IDPs) in the world.

He stressed that Azerbaijan has transformed from a former recipient of aid into a donor country today as a responsible member of the international community.

The minister underlined that Azerbaijan helped 80 nations to tackle the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as within the Non-Aligned Movement sent humanitarian aid to Ukraine last week.

Furthermore, Bayramov briefed the guest on the present regional situation, as well as Azerbaijans large-scale reconstruction efforts in the liberated lands, and expressed interest in working with the UN Capital Development Fund.

Sinha thanked for the warm welcome and congratulated Azerbaijan on the 30th anniversary of independence, as well as the 30th anniversary of relations with the UN.

She spoke about the UNCDF mission, as well as its international projects, prospects for cooperation with Azerbaijan, noting that the organization cooperates with 46 countries around the world.

Sinha underlined that the organization provides assistance to these countries in various areas, including the development of local infrastructure, small and medium enterprises, digital development, etc.

The sides expressed interest in establishing mutually beneficial cooperation between Azerbaijan and the foundation, as well as exchanged views on issues of mutual interest.
The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) has reiterated its ruling on the Ukraine v. Russia lawsuit, in which it forbade the Russian Federation to continue shelling civilian infrastructure, which also concerns future complaints against the Russian Federation, Hanna Yudkivska, Judge of the European Court of Human Rights, has said.

"The court today extended the application of interim measure under Rule 39, adopted on Tuesday, to the relevant requests filed by individuals suffering from the Russian invasion: "those who hide in shelters, houses and other structures, fearing for their lives because of the ongoing bombing and shelling, without or with limited access to food, health care, water, sewerage, electricity and other interconnected services necessary for survival, who need humanitarian assistance and safe evacuation, "and the Russian Federation should also ensure unimpeded access of the civilian population to safe evacuation routes and humanitarian assistance," Yudkovskaya wrote on Facebook on Saturday.

The judgment published therein states that the ECHR decides that this interim measure, under Rule 39 of the Rules of Court, shall be considered to cover any request brought by persons falling into the above category of civilians who provide sufficient evidence showing that they face a serious and imminent risk of irreparable harm to their physical integrity and/or right to life.

"With regard to such requests, the Court moreover decides to indicate to the Government of the Russian Federation, under Rule 39, that, in accordance with their engagements under the Convention, notably in respect of Articles 2, 3 and 8, they should ensure unimpeded access of the civilian population to safe evacuation routes, healthcare, food and other essential supplies, rapid and unconstrained passage of humanitarian aid and movement of humanitarian workers," the decision reads.
Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada Ruslan Stefanchuk has appealed to the members of the European Parliament to help introduce a no-fly zone over Ukraine.

"I've sent an appeal to the members of the European Parliament. Once again I ask you to make every effort to introduce a no-fly zone over Ukraine and provide other military and sanctions support," Stefanchuk wrote on Facebook on Saturday.

Stefanchuk said that the MEPs have a mandate to act.

"Of course, you can talk for hours about regulations, procedures, political processes... Or you can just muster up the courage and make a life-changing decision for the world. Parliament can do anything!... As world history shows, the most important decisions have always been made in parliaments. Therefore, do not be afraid. Take action!" Stefanchuk said.
Defense Minister Oleksiy Reznikov has said that closing access to the airspace over Ukraine's nuclear facilities (zone A2/AD) is the only way to prevent a new tragedy.

"Today, I am addressing the international community. First, I want to thank our partners for their support. All of Europe understands that they are sending aid to Ukraine because hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians today, at the cost of their lives, the lives of their relatives and even children, are holding back the aggressor from invading the territories of other countries. At the same time, NATO refuses to close the sky over Ukraine. There are few arguments about murders, targeted bombing and rocket attacks on residential buildings, hospitals, maternity hospitals and kindergartens, about the destruction of one of the European nations in the 21st century," Reznikov said in his address.

The minister said that in this case, everyone who blocks the closure of the sky over Ukraine should remember April 1986, when the tragedy occurred at the Chornobyl nuclear power plant.

"Today, we are talking about Zaporizhia NPP, about the largest in Europe. The consequences of the accident at the Chornobyl nuclear power plant with only one power unit were catastrophic for the world. Now imagine what will happen if another Russian missile hits Zaporizhia nuclear power plant, which has six power units," Reznikov added.

He recalled that at the moment the site of Zaporizhia nuclear power plant, as well as the Chornobyl nuclear power plant, are under the control of the Russian armed forces.

"Targeting Enerhodar with its Zaporizhia NPP was no accident. These are targeted actions. Russia committed an act of nuclear terrorism. We were miraculously lucky, the fire was eliminated. But tomorrow you may not be so lucky," Reznikov said.

The minister said that if an explosion occurs at Zaporizhia NPP, the consequences will be devastating not only for Ukraine, but for the whole world, since a nuclear disaster of this magnitude will exceed all previous accidents at nuclear power plants, including Chornobyl and the disaster at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant.

"Therefore, the question is: is the world ready for a catastrophe six times more powerful than the Chornobyl nuclear power plant? Are all those who are now hesitating whether it is necessary to close the sky over Ukraine, to sacrifice the life and health of not only Ukrainians, but also their children? This is not about the war, which is somewhere far away in Ukraine. This is about your safety. And about nuclear danger for the whole world. So, assess the situation. Ask yourself the question: are you ready to just hope that the rocket does not fly to the nuclear power plant, as they "accidentally do not fly" hitting houses and kindergartens," Reznikov said.

He said that precautionary sanctions were not applied.

"Everyone is watching from afar on television, what these fluctuations have led to. It is impossible to observe a nuclear catastrophe from afar. Your arguments that the current refusal to implement A2 / AD is due to the fact that NATO is trying to avoid a nuclear war is not convincing, since Russia has already started it. Historical lessons are difficult and should be taken into account," the minister said.

Reznikov urged world leaders to listen to their people.

"Yesterday's Reuters/Ipsos poll showed that outrage over Russia's invasion of Ukraine is growing. About 74% of Americans, including most Republicans and Democrats, said the United States and its allies in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization must introduce the no-fly zone in Ukraine," he said.

Reznikov said that, without any exaggeration, the only way for everyone to survive is the A2 / AD zone.
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky and Prime Minister of Albania Edi Rama have discussed Russian aggression against Ukraine and joint work within the UN in a telephone conversation.

"I had a telephone conversation with the Prime Minister of Albania. We spoke about the fight against Russian attackers. We discussed joint work within the UN. We appreciate the practical assistance and support of Albania at this difficult time. We are doing everything to end the war," Zelensky wrote on his Twitter on Saturday.
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky has said that 74% of Americans support the introduction of a no-fly zone over Ukraine and asked what else is needed to make this decision.

In a video message posted on his Telegram channel on Saturday, he expressed his gratitude to "Americans - a staunch bipartisan majority of ordinary people." "We saw the poll. We saw the opinion of ordinary people of America supporting ordinary people of Ukraine, demanding tougher sanctions against Russia for aggression now, supporting the closing of the sky now to save the lives of our people. 74 percent of Americans are in favor of the no-fly zone. 74! It is absolute majority. What else is needed to make the decision?" he said.

Zelensky expressed confidence in the similar result in other democratic countries.

According to him, the Armed Forces of Ukraine bravely hold all the key areas of our defense. "They are holding the fort of Mykolaiv, Kyiv, Chernihiv, Sumy, Donbas. We are inflicting such losses on the occupiers that they have never seen in their worst dreams. The Russian army did not reach the planned lines. But it turned out almost 10,000 = dead Russian soldiers. 10,000! It's horrible! Guys aged 18, 20. Completely young, almost children. Soldiers who were not even able to explain what they are going to fight for? For what and why are they in a foreign land. 10,000. Russia could definitely give these people something other than death," the president said.

A total of 74% of Americans believe the United States and its NATO allies should implement the no-fly zone in Ukraine, according to a Reuters/Ipsos poll.
The pilot of the downed Russian aircraft was detained in Chernihiv, Head of Chernihiv Regional Military Administration Viacheslav Chaus has said.

"The pilot of the downed Russian SU-25 fighter has just been detained in Chernihiv An enemy drone was also shot down today," Chaus wrote on Telegram on Saturday.
The Constitutional Court of Ukraine has initiated the termination of the membership of the Constitutional Courts of the Russian Federation and Belarus in the World Conference on Constitutional Justice (WCCJ).

"The Constitutional Court of Ukraine appealed to the Bureau of the World Conference on Constitutional Justice and the Secretariat of the World Conference on Constitutional Justice to terminate the membership of the Constitutional Court of the Russian Federation and the Constitutional Court of the Republic of Belarus in the World Conference of Constitutional Justice," the court of Ukraine told Interfax-Ukraine.

The Constitutional Court of Ukraine said that the Russian Federation is not the only state that is waging war in Ukraine. "The Republic of Belarus, as a political and military satellite of the Russian Federation, assists in deploying troops and arming the Russian armed forces on its territory, thereby contributing to the achievement of Russia's goals in enslaving Ukraine," the court said.

"Based on the fact that the goal of creating bodies of constitutional control on the territory of any continent of our world is to ensure not only the supremacy of the Constitution and its direct effect on the territory of the corresponding state, but also to ensure that state activities comply with the prescriptions of the fundamental law, the approval of the ideals of rule of law and human rights, the further membership of these courts in the World Conference of Constitutional Justice is not permissible in the light of the goals of the Conference, defined by Article 1 of its Charter," the Constitutional Court of Ukraine said.

At the same time, the court added that acts of aggression and massacres cannot go unpunished.
The condition of two servicemen of the National Guard, who defended Zaporizhia NPP from the Russian military, is grave, two more Enerhodar residents wounded during the shelling of the checkpoint are being treated as outpatients, Enerhodar Mayor Dmytro Orlov has said.

"Now about what hurts especially. What can no longer be fixed. About those whose lives are being fought for. The condition of two National Guardsmen who heroically defended Zaporizhia NPP remains grave. They are in the intensive care unit. Doctors are fighting for their lives," Orlov wrote on his Facebook page.

According to him, two more Enerhodar residents wounded during the shelling of the checkpoint are being treated at home as outpatients.

"Unfortunately, Ukrainian National Guard servicemen Yevhen Ukolov, Mykhailo Frolikov, and Yuriy Kvach were killed in the shelling. Eternal memory to our fallen countrymen," the mayor said.
The pilot of the downed Russian aircraft was detained in Chernihiv, Head of Chernihiv Regional Military Administration Viacheslav Chaus has said.

"The pilot of the downed Russian SU-25 fighter has just been detained in Chernihiv An enemy drone was also shot down today," Chaus wrote on Telegram on Saturday.

At the same time, the Pivnich operational command posted photographs in the Telegram showing that the second Russian pilot was killed.

"These two will no longer drop a single bomb from an attack aircraft on civilians... One of the pilots was taken prisoner for a tribunal in The Hague. He has all the evidence of crimes against the Ukrainian people!" the Pivnich operational command said.
Kuleba: If I see that negotiations with Lavrov can be meaningful and that this will fit into overall framework of negotiation process, I will not refuse

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said on Saturday that if he sees that negotiations with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in Turkey can be meaningful and that this will fit into the overall framework of the negotiation process, he will not refuse them.

At the same time, the minister added that he was not aware of Sergei Lavrov confirming his consent to this meeting. According to Kuleba, he will discuss this issue with Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu on Saturday.
By Azernews





By Vugar Khalilov

The Azerbaijani army's Nakhchivan garrison troops have held command drills with command staff, the Defence Ministry on March 4.

The exercises were held at the Nakhchivan Emergencies Ministry's Civil Defence Regiment and the Special Risk Rescue Service.

The main attention at the command training classes held in accordance with the Combat Coordination Plan of the Nakhchivan garrison troops for 2022 was paid to improving the officers skills in unit management and instilling a sense of self-confidence in a creative approach to organizing events, the ministry said.

The exercises covered the tactical and technical features, rules of operation, maintenance and repair of fire trucks and fire-technical equipment, rescue boats and other methods, as well as the regulations for using the rescue diver team's diving equipment.

During the classes, which were held on the prevention of accidents, detection and extinguishing of fires, protection and safe evacuation of military personnel, weapons, equipment, and property, the sequence, rules, and methods of search-and-rescue operations, emergency-rescue operations, and other urgent activities were practically demonstrated using the experience gained in international exercises, the ministry highlighted.

Furthermore, during the exercises with the battalion, division commanders, and their deputies, the methodology for organizing tactical exercises was demonstrated, referring to the experience gained during the 44-day war with Armenia in 2020, and the importance of operational-tactical calculations in planning troop actions and making decisions was emphasized.

The participants were trained to defend themselves against fictitious enemy attacks and to carry out firing tasks while passing through minefields using modern tank equipment.

Moreover, during the training, issues such as military unit material-technical supply, evacuation of damaged equipment from the battlefield, and repair of damaged equipment were addressed. Officers were told to improve the combat readiness of their units.

It was highlighted that positive outcomes had been obtained and the established targets had been met during the training.




On Saturday morning, the Armed Forces of Ukraine shot down two enemy aircraft, Oleksiy Arestovych, adviser to the head of the President's Office, said in an interview with Ukrainian television on Saturday.

"SU-34 fighter was shot down above Chernihiv, one pilot was destroyed, the second was taken prisoner. A plane was also shot down in the Zatoka area, the pilot was taken prisoner," he said.

Also, according to him, a powerful blow was made near Kherson. In general, according to him, the situation is stable, our troops are holding positions.

Asked about the losses of the enemy, Arestovych expressed the opinion that "10,000 declared losses are skeptical data." According to him, the military is usually cautious in their assessments.
Because of the protests of the residents of Kherson, surrounded by Russian troops, the invaders left the city center, eyewitnesses have told Interfax-Ukraine.

According to them, several thousand people took part in the protest action against the invaders, who took to the streets of the city with posters and Ukrainian flags.

For several hours, Kherson residents chanted patriotic slogans and urged Russians to return home to Russia. In response to this, the invaders opened fire in the air. However, as of 13:00, the invaders left the city center.

Social networks have also published a video of how protesters walk along the central streets of Kherson after the withdrawal of the Russian army, as well as the actions of one of the local law enforcement officers, who jumped onto an armored personnel carrier of Russians with a Ukrainian flag moving through the streets of the city.
Verkhovna Rada Commissioner for Human Rights Liudmyla Denisova has said that 32 children have died and 70 have been injured in Ukraine since the start of the Russian Federation's invasion.

"As of 11 a.m. on March 5, 2022, since the beginning of the invasion of the Russian Federation in Ukraine, 32 children were killed, 70 were injured," she wrote on the social network Facebook.

According to her, as a result of 47 shellings of civilian objects in Kyiv region, two children were killed, about a hundred people, including children, may be under the rubble of houses in the village of Borodianka in Kyiv region, and their fate is unknown.

In the settlement of Markhalivka, Fastiv district, Kyiv region, enemy shells claimed the lives of 3 children, and 5 children were killed due to rocket and artillery shelling in Kharkiv.

Also in Kyiv region, on March 4, 2022, a car with 6 civilians was shot from tank machine guns of a column of military equipment of the invaders, a 17-year-old girl and a woman were killed, four more received shrapnel wounds, among them girls 17 and 7 years old.

"Russian troops continue to cynically violate the right of children to life, enshrined in Article 6 of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. I call on international human rights organizations to take all possible measures to increase pressure on the Russian Federation to stop military aggression against Ukraine. I ask NATO member countries to close the sky over Ukraine," Denisova said.
Deputy Prime Minister. Minister for the Reintegration of the Temporary Occupied Territories of Ukraine Iryna Vereschuk has said that Russia has violated the agreements and urges the Russians to return the ceasefire and allow the formation of humanitarian corridor columns.

"At 11:45 a.m., the Russian Federation began shelling the city of Volnovakha with heavy weapons. As you know, from 9:00 am on March 5, we had a preliminary agreement that we would create two humanitarian corridors: Volnovakha and Mariupol. I state the fact that Russia violated the agreements. Even with the mediation of the Red Cross, it does not adhere to its obligations and shells the city of Volnovakha," she said at a briefing on Saturday.

According to Vereschuk, also in the direction of Mariupol-Zaporizhia, battles are being fought near the settlements of Polohy and Orikhiv, which makes it impossible for the column to move.

"We appeal to the Russian side to stop the shelling, restore the ceasefire and give an opportunity to form humanitarian corridor columns so that the womens children and the elderly can leave the settlements," Vereschuk said.

In addition, Ukraine calls on Russia to give an opportunity to send humanitarian aid from the city of Dnipro and Zaporizhia.
Ukrainians must clearly and honestly see that NATO is not really what Ukrainians imagined it to be, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba has said, commenting on NATO's refusal to introduce a no-fly zone over Ukraine.

"When NATO behaves the way it does now, it only encourages the Russians and shows them that in fact NATO is strong in words, not in actions. There is a political agreement in NATO that allies at the bilateral level help Ukraine in any way they can. But the Alliance itself, as an organization, has, in fact, withdrawn. We must speak honestly about this. The Ukrainians must clearly and honestly see that NATO is not really what the Ukrainians imagined it to be, at least for now. If tomorrow they change their position, well done. But so far their position does not command respect," Kuleba said during the national telethon on Saturday.
The Republic of Cyprus has withdrawn its permission for the planned entry of Russian Navy ships to the port of Limassol, the Cypriot newspaper Fileleftheros reported on Saturday, citing diplomatic sources.

According to the newspaper, five Russian ships were to make a visit to the port of Limassol for refueling as part of an agreement between Cyprus and Russia. Among them are frigates and support boats.

"Diplomatic sources have confirmed to Fileleftheros that the Republic of Cyprus has not allowed five ships of the Russian Navy to anchor," the newspaper reported.
The Russian army is not conducting active offensive operations on March 5, and is only making separate tactical movements to ensure supplies, Oleksiy Arestovych, adviser to the head of the President's Office, has said.

"The enemy doesn't take any active actions against him in the morning. It makes separate tactical movements to improve his positions and provide supplies. The Armed Forces of Ukraine control this situation, improve their own positions, launch separate counterattacks," Arestovych said during a briefing on Saturday.

He said that in the morning in Kherson region, the Armed Forces of Ukraine made a "very powerful blow" on the enemy, and now the losses of the Russian army are being specified.
Three Russian helicopters were shot down near Mykolaiv, Head of Mykolaiv Regional Military Administration Vitaliy Kim has said.

"There are three enemy helicopters (that is they have already been shot down on the ground)," Kim wrote on Telegram on Saturday.
Marines of the Armed Forces of Ukraine shot down four Russian helicopters in Mykolaiv region, the Naval Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine has reported.

"Just now in Mykolaiv region, our marines, together with brothers from the Operational Command Pivden, shot down four enemy helicopters, while one of the marines shot down three of them at once," the Navy of the Armed Forces of Ukraine said, citing its commander Rear Admiral Oleksiy Neizhpapa on Facebook on Saturday.
Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal is grateful to Prime Minister of Poland Mateusz Morawiecki for the proposal to toughen crushing sanctions against Russia.

"I support and am grateful for the proposal of Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki to tighten crushing sanctions against Russia. The help of the Polish government and the entire Polish people will always be in the memory of every Ukrainian. The powerful support of true friends brings our victory closer," Shmyhal said on Twitter on Saturday.
By Azernews





By Sabina Mammadli

Human Rights Commissioner Sabina Aliyeva carried out a fact-finding mission in Azerbaijan's liberated lands to investigate Armenia-committed destructions of cemeteries during the 30-year occupation, the ombudsman's office has reported.

Sabina Aliyeva's report is based on the relevant evidence and materials obtained during the mission, and it covers the desecration of graves and the dead, as well as tombstone looting, landmines, and other visual incidents among people visiting graves.

The commissioner urges international organizations to take decisive action to bring Armenia to justice for grave violations of international law, including international humanitarian law and war crimes.

The report was distributed to international organizations, foreign ombudsmen, and other international organizations involved in human rights protection and promotion.

The human rights commissioner continues to inform the international community about Armenia's war crimes committed during the first and second Karabakh wars, as well as violations of international law and international humanitarian law.

During Armenia's three-decade occupation, some 900 cemeteries with over a million graves were decimated. Azerbaijani gravestones were even used to build stairs to Armenian homes. Car plates of killed and displaced Azerbaijanis were used to decorate public restrooms. Overall, during 30 years of occupation 927 libraries with 4.6 million books, 700 historical monuments and 22 museums with 100,000 exhibits were looted and destroyed by Armenia. Armenia looted and erased more heritage than ISIS terrorists did in Iraq and Syria. It is the worst cultural genocide of the 21st century.

To erase all traces of Azerbaijani culture and history Armenia systematically destroyed cultural and historical monuments. Out of 67 mosques, 65 were desecrated and destroyed. Many mosques were turned into pigsties and cowsheds like the Juma Mosque of Agdam (1870), Zangilan Mosque (17th century) or Marmar Mosque (18th century) in Gubadli.

Azerbaijan and Armenia resumed the second war after that latter started firing at Azerbaijani civilians and military positions starting September 27, 2020. The war ended on November 10 with the signing of a trilateral ceasefire deal by the Azerbaijani, Russian and Armenian leaders.

The Azerbaijani army declared a victory against the Armenian troops. The signed agreement obliged Armenia to withdraw its troops from the Azerbaijani lands that it has occupied since the early 1990s.

In the war unleashed by Armenia, Azerbaijan's Ganja, Barda, Yevlakh, Beylagan, Tartar, Gabala, Goranboy, Aghjabadi, Khizi and other cities and regions, fairly far from the war zone, came under Armenia's missile and artillery fire.

International human rights watchdogs Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch verified the use of banned cluster bombs and missiles by Armenia in its attacks against Azerbaijani cities.

As a result, 100 Azerbaijani civilians were killed, including 12 children and 27 women. As many as 454 people were injured, including 35 children. Some 181 children lost one parent, five children lost both parents, one family died. In total, 12,292 residential and non-residential buildings and 288 vehicles were damaged.
Chairman of the National Union of Journalists of Ukraine Serhiy Tomilenko said that the Ukrainian police have evacuated reporters of Sky News, a British television channel, to the UK after they had been attacked by Russian saboteurs near Kyiv.

"The Ukrainian police have evacuated journalists of British Sky News after they had underwent a shooting attack by Russian saboteurs," Tomilenko said on his Facebook page.

He said that five reporters were in the car after a failure to visit the town of Bucha near Kyiv when they were attacked.

"Sky News chief correspondent Stuart Ramsay and camera operator Richie Mockler underwent a shooting attack  Ramsay was hit in the lower back and Mockler took two bullets to his body armor. On the shots broadcast by Sky News we can see them approaching the crossroad when a shooting attack on their car begins. As Ramsay said, at first they thought those were Ukrainian army's block post guards shooting on them  we can hear in the video them shouting that they are reporters and asking to stop," he said.

The journalists found shelter in a nearby garage and the Ukrainian police rescued them in several hours, Tomilenko said.

"Later the journalists were told that the attackers were saboteurs from Russian intelligence," he said.

Tomilenko also noted that the TV channel crew was evacuated to the UK.

"The National Union of Journalists of Ukraine expresses solidarity with brave international journalists, who, despite the risks, were performing and are performing their professional duty in Ukraine. The National Police and Ukrainian servicemen are doing the utmost to ensure safety of the media employees," he said.
The first humanitarian cargoes have arrived in Luhansk region from western Ukraine, Head of Luhansk regional military administration Serhiy Haidai has said.

"Help to the residents of Severodonetsk and Kreminna, who have been under enemy shelling for ten days, was handed over by Chernivtsi and Volyn regions. In particular, a 20-tonne truck came from Lutsk, three cargo minibuses from Chernivtsi with food, baby food, diapers and medicines," he said on Facebook on Saturday.

From the city of Dnipro to Severodonetsk, the charitable cargo had to be delivered to the fighters of the Main Directorate of the State Emergency Service in Luhansk region.
Kuleba turns to Shell: Does Russian oil smell like Ukrainian blood to you?

Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Dmytro Kuleba turned to Shell, which secretly bought Russian oil.

"I am told that Shell discretely bought some Russian oil yesterday. One question to Shell: does not Russian oil smell Ukrainian blood for you? I call on all conscious people around the globe to demand multinational companies to cut all business ties with Russia," Kuleba said on Twitter on Saturday.
The State Nuclear Regulatory Inspectorate of Ukraine (SNRIU) calls on the Western European Nuclear Regulators Association (WENRA) to completely break off cooperation with the Russian Federation and stop the implementation of projects based on Russian technologies.

"Regarding possible measures and actions in relation to the Russian Federation by the WENRA member countries, the SNRIU proposes, in particular, the complete termination of interaction with the Russian Federation, which uses the resources of international organizations for purposes that have nothing to do with nuclear and radiation safety, as well as stopping the implementation of projects on Russian technologies," the inspectorate said in a Facebook post on Saturday.

According to it, Oleh Korikov, head of SNRIU, expressed this position during an on-line meeting with Oliver Gupta, Director General of the French Nuclear Safety Authority (ASN), and his deputy at WENRA, Mark Foy.

At the same time, SNRIU called on the leadership of WENRA to firmly raise the issue before the top leadership of the countries and those who have influence on decision-making about the need to take effective measures that could lead to a protected sky over Ukrainian nuclear facilities and to a ceasefire.

As noted in the message, Korikov informed his interlocutors in detail about the situation with the seizure of the Chornobyl site by Russian invaders, as a result of which an increase in radiation was recorded, and its workers have been held for nine days without rotation and deprived of normal working conditions. In addition, Korikov stressed that, contrary to all international agreements and principles of nuclear safety, Russian military forces in the amount of almost 100 tanks and a large number of infantry broke into the satellite city of Zaporizhia NPP Energodar, fired at the plant, causing unprecedented risks of a global catastrophe. At the same time, Korikov stressed that, according to available information, a similar situation could occur with respect to the Yuzhnoukrainsk nuclear power plant (NPP) located in Mykolaiv region.

Focusing on the importance of observing nuclear safety and the consequences that its violation could lead to, the SNRIU calculated a project for the possible spread of radioactive contamination of the environment within 72 hours in the event of the destruction of one of the Zaporizhia NPP units on March 5, 2022.

"In the event of an emergency at the Zaporizhia NPP, radioactively contaminated air masses will most likely move in a southeasterly direction and, crossing the territory of Ukraine, will reach the coast of the Sea of Azov, with subsequent exit in 6-7 hours to the territory of the Russian Federation and gradual dissipation as a result of a change in movement to south-south-west direction and the movement of radioactive contamination for 15 hours over the territories of the Stavropol Territory and the North Caucasus," the SNRIU described a possible situation.

According to its calculations, the next day, a change in the movement of atmospheric air to the west is expected, as a result of which the remnants of radioactive emissions from March 7 may be over the Black Sea coast, including in the territories of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, Turkey, and Bulgaria.

According to SNRIU, power units No. 2 and No. 4 of Zaporizhia NPP are in operation on Saturday morning. Power unit No. 1 is undergoing scheduled preventive maintenance; work is underway at power units No. 3, No. 5 and No. 6 to cool nuclear installations.
The realtors of the offices of the Association of Real Estate Specialists (Realtors) of Ukraine in the western regions of the country provided free assistance in the resettlement of more than 100,000 refugees from other regions during the 10 days of the war, the Association President Yuriy Pita said.

"Western Ukrainian cities are overflowing with applications for resettlement, although there have been no vacant places for five days. Realtors coordinate the resettlement in schools, social infrastructure facilities, dormitories, but even there are not enough places," he told the Interfax-Ukraine agency.

According to him, realtors, together with local authorities, prevent unjustified price increases for rental housing. At the same time, more than a third of apartment owners in regional centers have rented housing for free.

In addition, realtors of cities in the epicenter of hostilities and bombing are actively volunteering, joining the territorial defense units. Volunteers-realtors have already collected material and monetary assistance in the amount of more than UAH 1 million, according to preliminary data of the Association.

Also, the Association, together with the State Property Fund, is working to identify suspicious tenants, possible saboteurs, the president of the association added.

"Ukraine has united in trouble, everyone is working and helping those who need help for the sake of victory," Pita said.

The Association of Real Estate Specialists (Realtors) of Ukraine is the leading profile public organization of the country, uniting representatives from 25 regions of the country in 32 cities. It was created in 1995. More than 2,000 professional realtors are its members. Branches are open in almost all regions of the country.
NJSC Naftogaz Ukrainy calls on the "big four" oilfield services companies Schlumberger, Weatherford, Halliburton, Baker Hughes, as well as technology and equipment suppliers to follow the world's largest oil and gas companies out of Russian energy projects.

"We are grateful to the international community, which has finally put an end to Nord Stream 2. We also support the quick and only correct reaction of BP, Shell, Equinor, Exxon, and TotalEnergies, which expressed their support for Ukraine and curtail their energy projects in Russia in response to its unjustified aggression. We are confident that all other international companies involved in Russian oil and gas projects that share civilized European values should follow the same path. Today natural gas is a weapon against Ukraine, tomorrow it can become a weapon against the whole world," according to Board Chairman of Naftogaz Yuriy Vitrenko, whose words are quoted in the company's message on Saturday.

The report emphasizes that the withdrawal of international companies from Russian projects will significantly weaken the technological potential of the Russian oil and gas industry.

"Together with financial, trading and other sanctions that are already being applied by governments and separate companies of different countries, this will weaken the dominant position of the aggressor country in the European gas market. And this is critically important not only for protecting Ukraine, against which Russia has decided an unprecedented open war, but also for the security of entire Europe," Naftogaz stressed.

At the same time, the company drew attention to the fact that it continues the legal struggle against the Russian gas monopoly, in particular, actively interacts with the antimonopoly body of the European Commission on Gazprom's abuses in the European gas market, and an arbitration tribunal initiated by the company in The Hague began hearings on Russia's compensation for the losses caused to Naftogaz as a result of the annexation of its assets in Crimea.
An additional territorial defense brigade will be created in Odesa region to help the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU), head of Odesa Regional Military Administration Maksym Marchenko has said.

"Today, at a meeting with representatives of law enforcement agencies and law enforcement agencies, he announced his decision to create an additional territorial defense brigade in Odesa region. As a combat officer, I understand the need for such steps so that our Armed Forces can always rely on someone in such a difficult hour," Marchenko wrote on his Telegram channel on Saturday.

In addition, he stressed that all the news that they are going to give Odesa away is fake.

"Those Russian troops who were supposed to land on Odesa coast refuse to do this, so the landing is already being formed from among the so-called 'army corps of the DPR', which the Russian Federation uses as cannon fodder, but this flock of militants has no chance against us. All the news that we are going to capitulate here in Odesa is FAKE! We beat them in Donbas, we will win in Odesa! To the last drop of blood! Glory to Ukraine!" said Marchenko.
The European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) once again banned Russia from continuing shelling of civilian infrastructure in Ukraine, Verkhovna Rada Commissioner for Human Rights Liudmyla Denisova said.

"The Court has indicated to the Government of Russia that, in accordance with its obligations under Articles 2, three and eight of the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, it must ensure that the civilian population has unhindered access to safe escape routes, medical care, food and other essentials, the rapid and unhindered passage of humanitarian aid and the movement of humanitarian workers," Denisova said on Facebook on Saturday.

According to her, the decision of the ECHR was made at the request of citizens affected by the Russian invasion.

Denisova called on the international community to take decisive sanctions measures to stop Russia's military aggression in Ukraine and to fully implement the decision of the ECtHR.

"I ask NATO member countries to close the sky over Ukraine!" Denisova said.
U.S. Google, part of Alphabet Inc., detects multiple DDoS attacks against Ukrainian sites and expands financial support for Ukraine and refugees.

"Our security teams are working 24/7 to protect Ukrainian users and important local services. We continue to see DDoS attempts against numerous Ukraine sites, including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Internal Affairs, as well as services like Liveuamap designed to help people find information," Google said.

The company also said they have expanded eligibility for Project Shield, their free protection against DDoS attacks, so that Ukrainian government websites, embassies worldwide and other governments in close proximity to the conflict can stay online, protect themselves and continue to offer their crucial services.

"Project Shield allows Google to absorb the bad traffic in a DDos attack and act as a 'shield' for smaller websites, allowing them to continue operating and defend against these attacks. As of today, over 150 websites in Ukraine, including many news organizations, are using the service and we have communicated its availability to Ukraine government representatives. We encourage all eligible organizations to register for Project Shield so our systems can help block these attacks and keep websites online," Google said.

The company also noted that Russia's invasion of Ukraine is rapidly generating a devastating humanitarian crisis.

"Today we are increasing our support to $25 million total, committing an additional $10 million to help organizations delivering both immediate humanitarian aid and longer-term assistance for refugees in Poland," the company said.

Also, Google reported that they added the Air Raid application to Google Play in Ukraine. This app was created by Ukrainian developers in collaboration with the Ukrainian government to better warn people about air raids.

"We're continuing to monitor the situation and evolving government regulations  including sanctions  in the region. We are in constant communication with governments in Europe and globally so that we can work to implement their decisions promptly, including limiting the presence of Russian state-funded media across our platforms," the company said.
The Naval forces of Ukraine shot down a Russian Federation Su-25 aircraft over Ochakov, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine has reported.

"The Navy of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reports the destruction of another aircraft of the Russian Federation, namely the Su-25 in Ochakov ... The pilots were captured," the General Staff wrote on Facebook on Saturday.

The General Staff notes that the downed plane took off on its "last" flight from the airfield in Saki (Novofedorovka, Crimea), captured by the army of the Russian Federation in 2014.

The General Staff notes that the Russian Federation has been trying to destroy Ochakov for several days, making constant air raids, intimidating the civilian population.
By Trend

Azerbaijan stands for peace and stability in the region, Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov said at a joint press conference with his Turkish counterpart Mevlut Cavusoglu in Baku, Trend reports.

According to Bayramov, the end of Karabakh conflict is a chance for Armenia.

The military-political leadership of Armenia must decide how to use this opportunity, the minister noted.

He stressed that the position of Azerbaijan and Turkey is based on the principles of international law.

Besides, according to him, coordination has been established between the two countries on the issue of normalizing relations with Armenia.

Bayramov also noted that the Shusha Declaration is not directed against third countries, but contributes to the development of Turkey and Azerbaijan.
In Mykolaiv region, Ukrainian border guards together with servicemen of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and the National Guard of Ukraine detained two enemy pilots, the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine reports.

"Ukrainian soldiers detained the commander of the aircraft - the pilot of an enemy fighter and the navigator of this board. The crew ejected after our guys shot down the enemy plane," it said on Facebook.

Border guards together with the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the National Guard and other armed formations and Ukrainian citizens continue to repel Russian aggression.
Farmers participating in the Ukrainian Agri Council (UAC) since the beginning of the Russian invasion of Ukraine on February 24 delivered at least 3,750 tonnes of food cargo to key cities on the defense line, of which 1,130 tonnes were food products, and 2,620 tonnes  wheat for subsequent processing into flour.

The UAC wrote about this on its Facebook page on Saturday.

"More than 3,750 tonnes of food have already arrived in Kyiv, Kharkiv, Mykolaiv, Kherson, and Poltava. Some 1,130 tonnes of food and 2,620 tonnes of food wheat have already been delivered to key cities that are now holding the defense. Jointly with the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, the products were delivered in a safe way to their destination," the organization said in a statement.

According to her, food delivery to Sumy and Konotop was organized by local farmers on their own initiative. All assistance was documented by waybills.

"The UAC also collects food and delivers it to certain collection points. We call on [other farmers] to join the initiative!" the agrarian association summed up in the message.

As reported, on February 28, the Ministry of Social Policy announced the preparation by Ukrainian food industry enterprises of 1 million food packages for people with disabilities, elderly people living alone, families with many children, persons with limited mobility and social institutions.

Regional social services will ensure the collection of needs and the delivery of products to recipients.
Techiia International Technology Holding allocated UAH 100 million for the needs of Ukraine's defense and continues to increase the fund; e-Sports media holding WePlay Holding, which is part of Techiia, also joined the fund.

As reported on the website of WePlay Holding, the full cycle of assistance to the company is implemented through the public organization Techiia Foundation. The allocated funds are already directed to the purchase of ammunition, protective equipment, clothing and footwear, tactical first aid kits for the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Troops and logistics abroad and in Ukraine.

"Most of the WePlay Holding team is Ukrainian. We created e-sports projects that impressed the whole world. And today Ukrainian cities are hit by missiles of the Russian Federation. We have united the resources and capabilities of all TECHIIA companies to help Ukraine fight the enemy. We want to live in peace in our homeland - and we will do everything for that. Glory to Ukraine, comments Oleh Humeniuk, CEO of WePlay Holding," CEO of WePlay Holding Oleh Humeniuk said.

The company said that at present the fund continues to grow, and those who wish to financially help Ukraine can transfer funds to the Techiia Fund. The limit of one transfer is UAH 149,999 (EUR 4,500), there are no restrictions on the number of payments. Reports on the use of funds and assistance provided will be regularly published on the Foundation's website.

The Techiia Foundation has been implementing charitable projects in the healthcare sector since 2019. The focus is the purchase of equipment and medicines for hospitals working with pediatric oncology, as well as the rehabilitation of children after severe treatment.
Ukrainian servicemen are putting up great resistance, fighting like beasts, captive Russian officer, lieutenant of Russian tank troops Maxim Grishenkov said at a press conference at Interfax-Ukraine on Saturday.

"We were heading towards Sumy. The next task was to reach Kyiv as quickly as possible. The task was to smash everything that we see from military equipment or military people who are not related to our troops. But our column was ambushed and was completely defeated by the locals, who they fight like beasts with all weapons. They do not give up a single centimeter of their land. The command just threw us. There was no support," Grishenkov said.

Another captured officer of the tank forces of Russia, Dmitry Koloyartsev, said that Ukraine has modern weapons.

"After we passed Sumy and Pryluky, my convoy came under fire from Ukrainian forces. The entire convoy burned down. You have modern weapons. We were bombed from everywhere  from the air and from the ground. Bayraktars, RPGs, machine guns. It was scary. I volunteered with my crew surrendered," he said.

According to Andrei Chuvatarevsky, a captured soldier who served on a contract basis in the Moscow region, the Russians faced great resistance in Ukraine.

"We faced quite a lot of resistance. I have never seen anything like this. I want to ask that no one be sent here and that the troops simply withdraw from here," he said.

As the captured soldier Dmitry Gagarin said, Putin sent the Russian military to their deaths.

"Russian conscripts, your children, are dying here. My comrades are dying. They are simply dying because they are being deceived. Putin is deceiving them, sending them to their deaths. a missing person's notice, but that is a lie," he said.

"Our young boys stay here because our president does not want us to tell our country what is happening here. Russia does not take the bodies of our dead," Gagarin said.
Kyiv City Council has adopted an appeal to foreign states, international organizations and the world community on the need to close the sky over Ukraine, Mayor of the Ukrainian capital Vitali Klitschko has said.

"For nine days, Ukraine has heroically resisted Russia's aggression. They have been trying to destroy the largest European country in the center of Europe for nine days. Contrary to the rules of war, Russia is barbarously attacking civilian objects from the air: residential buildings, kindergartens and schools, hospitals and maternity hospitals. Commissioner for Human Rights, as of 00:00 March 3, 2022, counted 1,006 civilian deaths or injuries, some 331 dead, of which 19 were children, some 675 wounded, of which 31 were children, and this information is far from complete due to the significant intensity of hostilities Kharkiv, Chernihiv, Zhytomyr, Mariupol, Chuhuyiv, Izium, Bucha, Irpin, Bila Tserkva, this is an incomplete list of Ukrainian cities that the enemy is trying to raze to the ground in the literal sense," according to the text of the open appeal of Kyiv City Council.

In the address, Kyiv deputies note that the fire on residential areas is seen as aimed, to kill.

In addition, the Kyiv City Council said Russia today not only controls Chornobyl nuclear power plant, where the occupiers are holding hostage and preventing the replacement of 95 employees, but also attacked Zaporizhia nuclear power plant, the largest nuclear power plant in Europe with six power units.

"If the explosion of Zaporizhia nuclear power plant occurs, the consequences will be devastating not only for Ukraine, but for the whole world, since a nuclear disaster of this magnitude will exceed all previous accidents at nuclear power plants, including Chornobyl nuclear power plant and the disaster at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant," Kyiv City Council said.

"Your arguments that the current refusal to implement A2/AD is due to the fact that NATO is trying to avoid a nuclear war are not convincing, since Russia has already started one. The historical lessons are difficult and should be taken into account. Without any exaggeration, the only way to survive for all of us, and I mean the whole world  this is the A2/AD zone over Ukraine. Close the sky over Ukraine! Save not Ukraine  save the world!" the deputies said.
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky held a zoom conference with representatives of both chambers and both parties of the U.S. Congress. In total, over 200 politicians joined the conversation, the presidential press service said.

"The president spoke about the state of affairs in the country, about the course of hostilities. In particular, he focused on war crimes committed by the Russian army: shelling of schools, residential buildings, kindergartens, churches. The head of state said the memorial was damaged by rocket attacks 'Babyn Yar,' as a result of which civilians were killed," the office said.

Separately, Zelensky raised the issue of a threat to the environment of Ukraine and Europe. According to him, the occupiers pose a threat to chemical and nuclear facilities. They have already captured two nuclear power plants and are moving in the direction of the third  South Ukrainian.

"The cynicism is such that they did not let firefighters into Zaporizhia nuclear power plant. We could not negotiate with people who have no education, who are in the Middle Ages," the president said.

He said there are 15 nuclear units on the territory of Ukraine, each of which can become a new Chornobyl.

Zelensky also told congressmen that Ukraine needs air security to protect civilians and critical infrastructure. This can be achieved by closing the airspace over Ukraine or supplying Ukraine with Soviet-made aircraft from countries that still operate them.

The president also called for further strengthening of sanctions pressure on Russia. According to Zelensky, additional effective sanctions would be an embargo on the import of all Russian products and deprivation of the most assisted status (MFN status).
On the night of March 5, a Russian aircraft dropped heavy aerial bombs on a military camp of the fifth Slobozhanska brigade (Kharkiv), the Eastern Operational-Territorial Unit of the National Guard of Ukraine reports.

"Four servicemen were killed. There are wounded. The brigade's soldiers are clearing the rubble," the Facebook post says.

It is noted that despite the losses and serious damage to the infrastructure, the guardsmen continue to defend Kharkiv together with the Armed Forces, the Territorial Defense, the National Police and the Security Service of Ukraine.
The American electronic corporation IBM stops working in Russia, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Digital Transformation of Ukraine Mykhailo Fedorov has said.

"IBM is completely leaving the Russian market. Thank you for supporting the world! And how does Russia imagine itself without software and hardware from IBM?!" he wrote on his Telegram channel.

IBM is one of the world's largest manufacturers of all types of computers and software, one of the largest providers of global information networks. The corporation ranks sixth in the list of the largest companies in the world.
EU allocates EUR 500 mln to help refugees from Ukraine, gives them right to reside for at least year  European Commission president

President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen announced the allocation of the first tranche in the amount of EUR 500 million to help refugees from Ukraine, and announced the decision to grant them the right to reside in the EU for at least a year.

"The EU is providing a first tranche of EUR 500 million to help refugees, and we made sure this week that they get residency rights in the EU for at least a year. Refugees from Ukraine deserve our solidarity and support, and so do the countries that welcome them," von der Leyen said on Twitter on Saturday.
KYIV. March 5 (Interfax-Ukraine)  Ukrainian servicemen are putting up great resistance, fighting like beasts, captive Russian officer, lieutenant of Russian tank troops Maxim Grishenkov said at a press conference at Interfax-Ukraine on Saturday.

"We were heading towards Sumy. The next task was to reach Kyiv as quickly as possible. The task was to smash everything that we see from military equipment or military people who are not related to our troops. But our column was ambushed and was completely defeated by the locals, who they fight like beasts with all weapons. They do not give up a single centimeter of their land. The command just threw us. There was no support," Grishenkov said.

Another captured officer of the tank forces of Russia, Dmitry Koloyartsev, said that Ukraine has modern weapons.

"After we passed Sumy and Pryluky, my convoy came under fire from Ukrainian forces. The entire convoy burned down. You have modern weapons. We were bombed from everywhere  from the air and from the ground. Bayraktars, RPGs, machine guns. It was scary. I volunteered with my crew surrendered," he said.

According to Andrei Chuvatarevsky, a captured soldier who served on a contract basis in the Moscow region, the Russians faced great resistance in Ukraine.

"We faced quite a lot of resistance. I have never seen anything like this. I want to ask that no one be sent here and that the troops simply withdraw from here," he said.

As the captured soldier Dmitry Gagarin said, Putin sent the Russian military to their deaths.

"Russian conscripts, your children, are dying here. My comrades are dying. They are simply dying because they are being deceived. Putin is deceiving them, sending them to their deaths. a missing person's notice, but that is a lie," he said.

"Our young boys stay here because our president does not want us to tell our country what is happening here. Russia does not take the bodies of our dead," Gagarin said.
By Trend

Estonian President Alar Karis said on Thursday that he tested positive for the COVID-19 virus, Trend reports citing Xinhua.

"I took a PCR COVID test yesterday that turned out to be positive," Karis wrote on his social media account.

"I will self-isolate until recovery, and will continue work virtually using e-Estonia solutions. I have mild cold-like symptoms, but I feel fine overall. I have been vaccinated three times. Stay healthy!" said Karis.

Karis said people he had been in contact with during the past few days had been informed of his positive PCR test result.

He called on people to "take care of yourselves, and follow all precautions to avoid being infected."

Karis took the oath of office as president of Estonia in October 2021.
KYIV. March 5 (Interfax-Ukraine)  Captured Russian servicemen appealed to their fellow citizens to do everything possible to end the war in Ukraine.

"Russians, do everything possible to stop this war. Neither Ukraine nor Russia needs this war. Only Putin needs this war," Andrey Chuvatarevsky, a captive soldier who served on a contract basis in Moscow region, said at a press conference at Interfax-Ukraine on Saturday.

He also called on fellow citizens to go to rallies and block federal roads to prevent the passage of Russian equipment. "Try to inform the president, drive the military away from the equipment so that they dont drive and bomb the civilian population. If you take to the streets, the president will decide to withdraw the troops. Then there will be no war," he said.

When asked by the agency whether he understands the motives of the Russian leadership to invade Ukraine, Chuvatarevsky answered in the negative.

"I do not know for what purposes. Most likely, he just needs territories and lands. We do not need this," he said, stressing that no one wants to fight in the Russian army.

"No one wants to fight in the army. There was no desire to go even to exercises far from civilization... We feel hatred for the leadership that sent us here. We understand that we were thrown here, like kittens, for the benefit of the government," the detainee said.

He also appealed to the foreign journalists present in the hall to disseminate this information so that the presidents of their countries would influence Putin to end the war. "We hope so very much," Chuvatarevsky said.

According to another captive soldier, Mikhail Kulikov, Russian citizens need to make every effort to ensure that Russian and Ukrainian children are handed over to suffer in Ukraine.

"People of Russia, stand up. Your children are here. Children of the Ukrainian people are also suffering here. There is no need to be afraid of anyone. The Ukrainian people are not afraid of anyone. They will stand up for their land to the last. I also have two small children at home, to whom I do not know if I will get. Parents, block the roads, do not let your children go, do everything to make the Russian troops turn back," Kulikov said.

In turn, the captured Dmitry Gagarin told his relatives and friends in Russia not to listen to Russian propaganda.

"I would like all the people of Russia to hear that here in Ukraine everything is not like they say on Russian television. There are no Bandera, there are no Nazis. Here are ordinary peaceful people who have now rallied against one person  Putin. who wanted to be a conqueror. I would like it all to end as soon as possible. Everything here is not the way our media shows and people are zombified," he said.

"People, turn off the TVs, do not listen to Putin, dissuade relatives and friends from coming here. The only criminals here are those who came from Russia and, as Putin says, 'protect' Ukrainians. I want our relatives to rise up and explain the situation to other people in Russia. The civilian population, children and veterans, who, together with Russia, conquered all these lands from fascist Germany, are dying here," Gagarin said.

The press conference was attended by ten servicemen who voluntarily surrendered. Each of them noted the good treatment and the opportunity to contact their relatives.

Some of the speakers said that they categorically did not want to return to Russia and now they fear for their families.

According to them, military personnel up to the sergeant level were only notified about being sent to military exercises.
Even in these difficult times for us, ADONIS is trying to stay in touch and provide European-level medical services.

Together with doctors from all over the country, ADONIS doctors have joined the Doctor Online platform - a platform for connecting a doctor with a patient!

During martial law, the Doctor Online platform switches to an enhanced mode of operation.

In the Doctor Online platform, you can get advice from doctors of the following specializations:

family doctors

Pediatricians

Cardiologists

Gynecologists

Psychologists

Nutritionists.

Doctors are ready to provide advisory assistance absolutely FREE

Dear Ukrainians!

If you need medical advice, please download the Doctor Online app from Play Market and App Store.

Doctors in chat mode will provide advice as soon as possible.

Doctor Online is a service with round-the-clock online consultation of clients by highly qualified doctors. The patient can visit the doctor in the application of his mobile phone, being anywhere in the world. It is enough to download the Doctor Online application, indicate the symptoms and choose a specialist who will conduct an online consultation.

The application has ALREADY been downloaded by more than 1 million Ukrainians worldwide.
By Trend

President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev held a meeting in the city of Islamabad with the heads of leading companies in Pakistan, Trend reports citing Kun.uz.

It was attended by the heads of Nishat Group, Getz Pharma, Pyramid Logistics, Ejaz Group, AKD Group, Wach Nobel Group, Najib Fiber, Sapphire Group and many other companies, whose total assets are over $40 billion.

During the meeting, it was noted that market mechanisms are being introduced into all sectors of the economy, barriers that hinder business development have been removed. On the basis of the new Development Strategy, work continues to expand the presence of foreign business.

In recent years, relations between Uzbekistan and Pakistan have reached the level of strategic partnership. In particular, regular contacts have been established in the trade-economic and investment spheres. In recent years, the volume of mutual trade has increased fivefold. Despite the pandemic, trade turnover has grown by another 70% since the beginning of this year.

At the beginning of his speech, the President noted the fruitful results of negotiations with the Prime Minister of Pakistan.

During this historic visit, we signed a preferential trade agreement. We agreed to take special control over cooperation in the field of transport and transit. Our main goal is to create a system of unhindered and speedy deliveries of products between our countries, Shavkat Mirziyoyev said.

Confidence was expressed that these efforts will significantly intensify trade-economic ties and create a solid basis for bringing trade to $500 million in the coming years, and in the future to $1 billion.

As a result of the business forum held on the eve of the visit of the President of Uzbekistan in Islamabad, agreements were reached on the implementation of trade and investment projects worth $800 million in the textile, pharmaceutical, construction, chemical industries, banking and finance and other areas. It was emphasized that all these projects will be included in the program of industrial cooperation, their implementation will be under strict control.

The head of state called on Pakistani companies to build up a portfolio of joint projects.

Today I would like to hear your specific proposals. Members of the government, responsible persons of industries have gathered here. We are ready to consider creating all the conditions and guarantees necessary for your business in Uzbekistan, he said.

At the meeting, the participants exchanged views on new areas of cooperation and opportunities in various fields. Promising projects were discussed.

Having approved the plans of Pakistani business people, the President instructed the responsible persons to develop a roadmap, which will include all the initiatives and agreements that have been voiced.




Al-Azhar condemned Friday terrorist attack on a mosque in Afghanistans capital Kabul that left dozens of worshippers dead and injured.
Complaining that the West is ``stuffing Ukraine with weapons,'' Russia bombarded railroad stations and other supply-line targets across the country, as the European Union moved to further punish Moscow for the war Wednesday by proposing a ban on oil imports.
The UN Security Council will hold an emergency meeting requested by Britain Friday at 11:30 am (1630 GMT) after Russian forces attacked Europe's largest nuclear plant in Ukraine, diplomatic sources said.

The session was requested by British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, diplomats told AFP, with the United States, France, Norway, Ireland and Albania joining the call for an urgent meeting.

Western leaders had expressed horror Friday after the Zaporizhzhia plant in southern Ukraine was attacked with shell fire and taken over by invading Russian forces.

The six reactors at Zaporizhzhia, which can power enough energy for four million homes, were apparently undamaged and international monitors reported no spike in radiation.

British Foreign Secretary Liz Truss called for the Security Council session while in Brussels for a NATO foreign ministers' meeting.

The attack was "a threat to European security and stability and we need those responsible to be held to account," she told British television on the sidelines of the meeting.

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The UN refugee agency reported Friday that more than 1.2 million people have left Ukraine since the fighting began.

More than 165,000 people left the country on Thursday _ down slightly from Wednesday's count and well under the nearly 200,000 on Tuesday, which amounted to the peak one-day outflow of people from Ukraine since the conflict began, according to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.

Its data portal on Ukraine showed that the majority _ about 650,000 _ had gone to neighboring Poland, and roughly 145,000 had fled to Hungary. Another 103,000 were in Moldova and more than 90,000 in Slovakia.

UNHCR spokesperson Shabia Mantoo said ``we know that the majority are women, children and the elderly,'' but she was unable to provide a more specific breakdown by age or gender.

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By Trend

NATO needs to increase cooperation with Georgia, as well as with Bosnia and Herzegovina, and with other partners, due to the escalation of the situation between Russia and Ukraine, Trend reports via the press conference of the NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg.

"Today at the ministerial meeting we discussed the need to support partners who may be at risk, including Georgia and Bosnia and Herzegovina," Stoltenberg said.

NATO has been supporting Georgia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and other partners for many years, and helping them strengthen their defense capabilities, as well as defense and security institutions, he said.

"NATO also has a training center in Georgia. We have joint training and different activities with different partner countries. This is part of expanding what we are already doing by strengthening the defense and security institutions, through reforms and training," Stoltenberg concluded.
Russian forces are continuing to press an invasion that has brought global condemnation. People across Ukraine have taken up arms and sought shelter. More than 1.2 million people have fled to neighboring countries, the UN refugee agency said Friday.

NATO is refusing to police a no-fly zone over Ukraine. The 30-nation military organization believes such a move could provoke widespread war in Europe with Russia.

Here's a look at key things to know about the conflict:

NUCLEAR SAFETY CONCERNS

Russian troops seized the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant in the southeastern city of Enerhodar in an attack that evoked memories of the world's worst nuclear disaster, at Ukraine's Chernobyl.

The International Atomic Energy Agency said no radiation spikes were detected. The chief of the U.N. agency, Rafael Mariano Grossi, said a Russian ``projectile'' hit a training center, not any of the six reactors.

Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal appealed to the IAEA and the EU to send representatives to all five Ukrainian nuclear power plants. ``This is a question of the security of the whole world,'' he said in a nighttime video address.

The U.S. Embassy in Ukraine issued an unexpectedly harsh statement calling Russia's attack on the nuclear plant a war crime.

DIRECTLY WITNESSED OR CONFIRMED BY THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Frequent shelling could be heard Friday from the center of the capital, Kyiv.

Heavy fighting continued on the outskirts of Mariupol, a strategic port, knocking out the city's electricity, heat and water systems, and most phone service. Food deliveries were also cut.

In stories and videos posted online, Russian state outlets are falsely claiming that Zelenskyy fled Kyiv. Photos and videos show the Ukrainian president leading his country's defense.

Russian forces have captured the southern city of Kherson, a vital Black Sea port of 280,000 _ the first major city to fall. Russian armored vehicles were seen in the otherwise empty streets of Kherson, in videos shared with the AP by a resident.

IS A CYBERWAR BEING WAGED TOO?

Yes. Ukraine has a hundreds-strong volunteer ``hacker'' corps.

The volunteer hackers use software tools that let smartphone and computer owners anywhere participate in distributed denial-of-service attacks on official Russian websites, block disinformation, let people report Russian troop locations and offer instructions on assembling Molotov cocktails and first aid.

``We are really a swarm. A self-organizing swarm,'' said Roman Zakharov, a 37-year-old IT executive at the center of Ukraine's digital army.

The movement also draws on IT professionals in the Ukrainian diaspora whose handiwork includes web defacements with antiwar messaging and graphic images of death and destruction in the hopes of mobilizing Russians against the invasion.

A top Ukrainian cybersecurity official, Victor Zhora, said presumed Russian hackers are trying to spread malware in targeted email attacks on Ukrainian officials and to infect the devices of individual citizens.

WHAT ELSE IS HAPPENING ON THE GROUND?

Battles involving airstrikes and artillery continued Friday northwest of Kyiv, and in the northeast, with the cities of Kharkiv and Okhtyrka coming under heavy strikes, Ukrainian presidential adviser Oleksiy Arestovich said.

Ukrainian defense forces were holding on to the northern city of Chernihiv, and have prevented Russian efforts to take the important southern city of Mykolaiv, he said.

Ukrainian artillery have been defending Odesa from repeated attempts by Russian ships to fire on the Black Sea port city, he said, insisting there's no immediate threat to the city.

Some Ukrainian drone enthusiasts are risking their lives by forming a volunteer drone force to help their country repel the Russian invasion. Civilians are using the aerial cameras to track Russian convoys and relay the images and GPS coordinates to Ukrainian troops.

WHERE ARE REFUGEES GOING?

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees' data portal showed that the vast majority of those who have left Ukraine since the invasion began _ about 650,000 _ went to neighboring Poland. Roughly 145,000 fled to Hungary. An additional 103,000 were in Moldova and more than 90,000 in Slovakia.

More than 100 Jewish refugee children who were evacuated from a foster care home in Ukraine and made their way across Europe by bus arrived in Berlin on Friday. The 105 children _ the youngest only 5 weeks old _ had left Odesa 52 hours earlier. The children received financial assistance from Jewish aid groups, and diplomatic support from Israel, Germany and other European states.

Brazil _ which has Latin America's biggest population of Ukrainians and their descendants _ said it will issue temporary humanitarian visas and residency permits for Ukrainian nationals and others affected by the war.

In Hungary, a pastor in a village on the border with Ukraine offered up the only room in his church to a family of 27 women and children who were fleeing the invasion.

HOW MANY CASUALTIES?

Russia has acknowledged that nearly 500 Russian troops have been killed and around 1,600 wounded.

Ukraine has not released casualty figures for its armed forces.

The U.N. human rights office says at least 331 civilians have been killed and 675 wounded in Ukraine since the start of the invasion. Ukraine's State Emergency Service has said more than 2,000 civilians have died, though it's impossible to verify the claim.

BIDEN MEETS WITH FINNISH PRESIDENT NIINISTO

U.S. President Joe Biden said Russian President Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine is ``an attack on the security of Europe.''

Biden made the comment while meeting on Friday with Finnish President Sauli Niinisto in the White House. Biden said in a tweet that the two leaders called Sweden's Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson during their meeting.

Biden and Niinisto committed to start a process that would strengthen U.S.-Finnish security cooperation, the White House said.

Finland, as well as neighbor Sweden, for years has resisted joining NATO, with Nordic European Union members seeking to remain neutral between Russia and the West. But the Russian invasion of Ukraine is changing the dynamic.

SANCTIONS ON RUSSIA

The wave of global sanctions on Russia could have devastating consequences for energy and grain importers. Russia is a leading exporter of grains and a major supplier of crude oil, metals, wood and plastics.

More companies are suspending operations in Russia, including Apple, Mercedes-Benz, BP, Volkswagen, clothing retailer H&M and furnishings store IKEA.

Spain's Teatro Real, one of Europe's major opera houses, said it is canceling a set of upcoming performances by Russia's Bolshoi Ballet.

RUSSIA'S MEDIA CRACKDOWN

Putin on Friday signed a bill into law that threatens up to 15 years in prison for what Russia deems to be ``fake'' reports about the war.

Russia blocked Facebook, Twitter and five foreign media organizations based abroad that publish news in Russian. The organizations are the BBC, the U.S. government-funded Voice of America and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, German broadcaster Deutsche Welle and Latvia-based website Meduza.

Several outlets said they would pause their work inside Russia to evaluate the situation. Among them, CNN said it would stop broadcasting in Russia while Bloomberg and the BBC said they would temporarily suspend the work of their journalists there. CBS News said it also is not broadcasting from Russia as the U.S. network monitors the circumstances for its team on the ground.

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Cairo International Airport received on Saturday morning two Air Cairo flights repatriating 177 Ukraine-based Egyptians, as the Russian invasion of the country entered its 10th day.

The repatriated citizens had escaped from Ukraine to neighbouring European countries before they gathered in Poland.

This comes shortly after the Egyptian Cabinet announced that it was sending two Air Cairo planes to repatriate Egyptian students fleeing the conflict.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs published on Saturday a photo of Egypts Ambassador to Warsaw Hatem Tag El-Dine as he bade farewell to the repatriated citizens at Katowice Airport.

Egypt has been pushing forward with efforts to bring home nationals from Ukraine. Prior to the Russian invasion, around 6,000 Egyptians lived in Ukraine, 3,000 of which are students studying in the countrys universities.

Egyptian authorities will send two daily flights to Hungary starting Saturday through Friday to repatriate citizens who crossed the border from Ukraine, Egypts Embassy in Budapest said.

Citizens escaping from Ukraine and willing to return to Egypt should contact the embassy on +36 30 708 3220 or +36 30 340 4811 and send a soft copy of their passports via WhatsApp on the same numbers, the embassy said.

Expats will also have to submit proof of coronavirus vaccination with a QR code or negative PCR or antigen test results before travelling.

Furthermore, Egyptian citizens married to non-Egyptian women will be allowed to bring their spouses to Egypt with them after submitting marriage certificates and relevant travel document to the embassy and the airport, the embassy said.

On Friday, Egypt announced plans to repatriate 30 Egyptian expats  most of which are students  who were evacuated from Ukraine to Hungary.

Since the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine 10 days ago, the Ministry of Emigration and Expatriate Affairs has been working around the clock to coordinate with Ukrainian authorities to facilitate the exit of Egyptian nationals from the country.

The ministry has also been coordinating with several of Ukraines neighbours  Poland, Romania, Slovakia, and Hungary  to facilitate the entry of Egyptian nationals exiting Ukraine into these countries and offer them safe passage home.

On Thursday, Egypt announced the launching of an air bridge to repatriate expats who crossed the borders from Ukraine to neighbouring countries.

On Tuesday evening, Air Cairo flew back from Bucharest with 175 Egyptian students who had fled from Ukraine into Romania.

The Russian invasion, which has drawn international condemnation and western sanctions on Russia since its start on Thursday 24 February has caused hundreds of thousands to flee Ukraine.

As of Saturday, Russia declared a ceasefire to allow the opening of humanitarian corridors for civilians to leave the Ukrainian cities of Mariupol and Volnovakha, Russian state-owned RIA Novosti reported, citing the Russian defence ministry.

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The United Nations appealed Friday for $205 million to deliver life-saving assistance to more than 1.6 million people who have fled the fighting in northern Ethiopia.

UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, said $117 million was needed to support Ethiopian and Eritrean refugees in the Afar, Amhara, and Tigray regions.

A further $72 million is required to help Ethiopian refugees in Sudan, while $16 million would be earmarked for contingency measures in other neighbouring countries.

Ethiopia's war broke out in November 2020 when Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed sent troops into Tigray to topple the Tigray People's Liberation Front, a move he said came in response to the rebel group's attacks on army camps.

The war has spread to neighbouring regions, killed thousands and, according to the UN and the United States, driven hundreds of thousands to the brink of starvation.

"Sixteen months of conflict in northern Ethiopia has created a humanitarian crisis," UNHCR spokeswoman Shabia Mantoo told reporters in Geneva.

"Civilians, including refugees and internally displaced people have been displaced, amid widespread reports of gender-based violence, human rights abuses, loss of shelter and access to basic services, and critical levels of food insecurity.

"More than two million Ethiopians have fled in search of safety within the country, and almost 60,000 across the border into Sudan.

"Several camps and settlements hosting Eritrean refugees have been attacked or destroyed, further displacing tens of thousands within Ethiopia."

UNHCR welcomed the Ethiopian government's speed in identifying new sites to settle displaced refugees, and said it was aiming to get 20,000 refugee children back into school.

In eastern Sudan, the agency aims to build more durable shelters and improve the provision of health care and education.

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Following a two-week holiday, Egypt's House of Representatives  the lower house of parliament  will reconvene this week, holding plenary sessions on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday.

The House's legislative agenda this week will include discussing amendments to three laws on ship safety, illegal migration and commercial brokerage businesses.

On Sunday, the House will open a debate on the amendments to a law regulating the safety of sea ships and vessels (Law 232/1989).

A report prepared by the House's Transport Committee said the amendments aim to make it obligatory for owners of Egyptian ships, vessels and maritime transport units to report commercial handling of their assets (selling or renting) to concerned agencies.

"In other words, it will be mandatory for owners to tell concerned authorities whether they sold or rented their ships, vessels or any maritime transport units and that violators of this new legislative amendment will face tough penalties," said the report, indicating that "the objective of this amendment is helping concerned authorities closely follow the commercial handling of ships, vessels and maritime transport units, build a good database on these operations, and closely supervise the performance of owners to prevent the use of vessels, ships or any maritime transport units in any illegal operations."

Also on the House's schedule of debate on Sunday are amendments to the law regulating the business of commercial agencies and brokerage (Law 120/1982).

A report by the House's Economic Affairs Committee said the amendments aim to cope with the ongoing expansion in the field of commercial agencies and commercial and real estate brokerage works.

"The amendments seek to introduce new rules and objective procedures necessary to regulate the new developments in this sector in detail and in a way that will impose stricter control, particularly on the business of real estate brokerage works, and also stand up to money laundering operations in this respect," said the report, also explaining that "right now there is a lot of chaos and indiscipline on the Egyptian real estate market, and that the new legislative amendments come to tackle this."

To meet the above objectives, the report indicated that the amendments would set up a registry for licensed brokers and regulate their fees, require brokerages to register their businesses electronically, and set rules for the activities they carry out and for the fees they charge, and how these fees are collected to prevent any money laundering operations in line with the law in this respect.

On Tuesday, the House is scheduled to discuss new amendments to the law on illegal migration and the smuggling of migrants (Law 82/2016).

A report prepared by the House's Legislative and Constitutional Affairs Committee said the amendments will impose tougher penalties on illegal migration crimes.

"Egypt is committed to fighting the phenomenon of illegal migration in terms of toughening penalties and raising public awareness of the dangers of this crime," said the report, adding that "in this respect, a national coordination committee was set up to draft an integrated strategy reflecting the state's vision and future measures against illegal migration to go in line with the state's plan for sustainable development (2020-2030)."

The House's schedule this week also includes a discussion of three foreign agreements, the first of which is between Egypt and Burundi on exemption of holders of diplomatic passports in the two countries from entry visas.

The second is an agreement between the Ministry of International Cooperation and the Swedish International Fund, by which Sweden will grant five million krone to Egypt to spend on modernizing the country's urban transport and highway buses.

The third agreement is on Egypt's EGP three million contributions to the International Fund on Agricultural Development (IFAD).

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Germany said on Saturday it would build a liquefied natural gas terminal on its North Sea coast, as it seeks to reduce its reliance on Russian gas imports after the invasion of Ukraine.

"It is necessary to reduce our dependence on Russian gas as quickly as possible" in light of Moscow's aggression, Economy and Climate Minister Robert Habeck said in a statement.

Germany was financing the project in Brunsbuettel, northern Germany, via the public lender KfW, together with the state-owned Dutch gas company Gasunie and German energy group RWE.

The process of liquefaction makes LNG easier to transport, allowing it to be imported by sea from producer countries that cannot be connected by pipelines, such as the United States or Qatar.

Before the outbreak of war, Germany imported 55 percent of its gas from Russia, via pipelines running through Ukraine, Poland and under the Baltic Sea.

The Russian invasion of Ukraine forced a strategic reassessment in Berlin, with Germany hoping to substitute Russian gas supplies with LNG.

Currently, Europe's largest economy does not have any LNG terminals, having planned on expanded pipeline supply from Russia over the past two decades.

But in the immediate run-up to the invasion, the government said it would halt the approval process for the completed Nord Stream 2 pipeline under the Baltic, which would have increased direct supplies from Russia.

Gas plays an important bridging role in Germany's planned transition to renewable energy, providing a flexible source of energy when the wind is still or the Sun does not shine.

The new terminal, at the mouth of the Elbe River on the North Sea coast, will have a regasification capacity of eight billion cubic metres per year, according to the statement, before later being "repurposed for the import of green hydrogen".

The German government will take a 50-percent participation in the terminal, which will be operated by Gasunie.

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Iran's foreign minister on Saturday appeared to welcome recent comments by Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman about relations between the two regional rivals as a sign of Riyadh's "desire" to restore severed ties.

"The recent remarks of a high-ranking Saudi official show their desire to establish bilateral relations with Iran, and we welcome that," Hossein Amir-Abdollahian told state news agency IRNA.

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman told The Atlantic in an interview published on Thursday that his country and Iran were "neighbours forever".

"We cannot get rid of them, and they can't get rid of us," he said, according to a transcript issued by the official Saudi Press Agency.

"So it's better for both of us to work it out and to look for ways in which we can coexist," he added, expressing hope that "we can reach a position that's good for both countries".

In 2016, protesters attacked Saudi diplomatic missions in Iran after the kingdom executed revered Shia cleric Nimr al-Nimr. Riyadh responded at the time by cutting ties with Tehran.

The two rivals have held four rounds of talks in Iraq since April aimed at improving relations.

"These talks created a good atmosphere and brought results, albeit small ones, and we are pleased that Saudi Arabia has taken the path of dialogue," Iran's top diplomat said.

"We have different views and approaches on some issues in the region, but the management of differences by the sides can serve the interests of the two nations," he added.

Shia-majority Iran and the Sunni kingdom of Saudi Arabia support rival sides in several conflict zones across the region, including in Syria and Yemen.

Amir-Abdollahian said a solution to the seven-year-old Yemen war was "political and based on Yemeni-Yemeni dialogue, away from foreign interference".

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At least 12 Egyptian sailors are currently stuck in a Ukrainian port as the Russian invasion enters its tenth day, according to the Head of Egypts Fishermen Syndicate Ahmed Nassar.

Nassar spoke to Ahram Portal on Saturday, saying there are eight Egyptian sailors on the board the New Challenge bulk carrier, which is currently moored in Mykolaiv on the Black Sea, according to the latest information by Vessel Finder.

According to Nassar, the Egyptian sailors are mostly from Kafr El-Sheikh.

He also added there are other four sailors onboard another vessel moored in the same port. The four sailors are from Rashid in Beheira governorate.

The head of the syndicate added that all the Egyptian sailors expressed hope they would return home like the Egyptian students that had been studying in Ukrainian universities who began to return safely last week.

Egypt has been pushing forward with efforts to bring home nationals from Ukraine. Prior to the Russian invasion, around 6,000 Egyptians lived in Ukraine, including 3,000 students studying at the country's universities, especially in medicine.

Egypt has urged expats in the western cities of Ukraine to move to neighbouring Poland, Slovakia, Hungary and Romania.

Over the past several days, scores of Egyptian expats have already entered the four European neighbouring nations and the Egyptian authorities are now coordinating their return.

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The head of the United Nations' nuclear watchdog met Saturday with Iranian officials as talks in Vienna over Tehran's tattered atomic deal with world powers appear to be reaching their end.

Rafael Mariano Grossi of the International Atomic Energy Agency described his weekend visit to Tehran as a means "to address outstanding questions" as negotiators back in Europe appear to be reaching a deadline to see if the 2015 accord can be revived.

"This is a critical time but a positive outcome for everyone is possible,'' Grossi wrote on Twitter ahead of his flight Friday.

Grossi arrived Saturday to a meeting with Mohammad Eslami, the head of the civilian Atomic Energy Organization of Iran. He was expected to later see Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian.

"It is expected that the issues between us and the agency in general will be reviewed and about how we will pursue different issues in the future," Behrouz Kamalvandi, an AEOI spokesman, told Iranian state television earlier Saturday. "God willing, there will be an understanding.''

The nuclear deal saw Iran agree to drastically limit its enrichment of uranium in exchange for the lifting of crushing economic sanctions. But a 2018 decision by then-President Donald Trump to unilaterally withdraw America from the agreement sparked years of tensions and attacks across the wider Mideast.

Today, Tehran enriches uranium up to 60% purity _ its highest level ever and a short technical step from weapons-grade levels of 90% and far greater than the nuclear deal's 3.67% cap. Its stockpile of enriched uranium also continues to grow, worrying nuclear nonproliferation experts that Iran could be closer to the threshold of having enough material for an atomic weapon if it chose to pursue one.

Iran long has denied seeking nuclear weapons. However, U.S. intelligence agencies, Western nations and the IAEA have said Iran ran an organized nuclear weapons program until 2003. Grossi didn't elaborate what outstanding issues remained, but some of them may deal with ongoing investigations into that program.

The 2015 deal saw the IAEA's then-director-general also come to Tehran and visit one suspected weapons-program site at Parchin and take samples for analysis.

Grossi's inspectors also face challenges in monitoring Iran's current advances in its civilian program. Iran has held IAEA surveillance camera recordings since February 2021, not letting inspectors view them amid the nuclear negotiations.

In Vienna, negotiators appear to be signaling a deal is near _ even as Russia's war on Ukraine rages on. Russia's ambassador there, Mikhail Ulyanov, has been a key mediator in the talks and tweeted Thursday that negotiations were "almost over.'' That was something also acknowledged by French negotiator Philippe Errera.

"We hope to come back quickly to conclude because we are very, very close to an agreement,'' Errera wrote Friday on Twitter. "But nothing is agreed until EVERYTHING is agreed!''

British negotiator Stephanie Al-Qaq simply wrote: "We are close.''

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Iran has agreed to supply answers long sought by the United Nations' nuclear watchdog, Tehran and the U.N. agency said Saturday, as talks in Vienna over its tattered atomic deal with world powers appear to be coming to an end.

A joint statement by Mohammad Eslami, the head of the civilian Atomic Energy Organization of Iran, and Rafael Mariano Grossi of the International Atomic Energy, came hours after the two met in Tehran.

It envisions the issue of the discovery of uranium particles at former undeclared sites in the country being wrapped up by June, a move that is separate from the talks over the nuclear deal but could help push them to a conclusion.

But meanwhile, Russia's foreign minister for the first time linked American sanctions on Moscow over its war on Ukraine to the ongoing Iran nuclear deal talks, adding a new wrinkle to the delicate diplomacy.

Grossi said in Tehran that "it would be difficult to believe or to imagine that such an important return to such a comprehensive agreement like the (nuclear deal) would be possible if the agency and Iran would not be seeing eye to eye on how to resolve these important safeguards issues.'' Safeguards in the IAEA's parlance refer to the agency's inspections and monitoring of a country's nuclear program.

Grossi for years has sought for Iran to answer questions about man-made uranium particles found at former undeclared nuclear sites in the country. U.S. intelligence agencies, Western nations and the IAEA have said Iran ran an organized nuclear weapons program until 2003. Iran long has denied ever seeking nuclear weapons.

Eslami said the men had reached an "agreement'' that would see Iran "presenting documents that would remove the ambiguities about our country.'' He did not elaborate on what the documents would discuss.

The later joint statement said that Eslami's agency will by March 20 give the U.N. nuclear watchdog "written explanations including related supporting documents to the questions raised by the IAEA which have not been addressed by Iran on the issues related to three locations.''

Within two weeks, it said, the IAEA will review that information and submit any questions, and within a week of that the two agencies will meet in Tehran to address the questions.

Grossi will then aim to report his conclusions by the time the IAEA board of governors meets in June.

The nuclear deal saw Iran agree to drastically limit its enrichment of uranium in exchange for the lifting of crushing economic sanctions. But a 2018 decision by then-President Donald Trump to unilaterally withdraw America from the agreement sparked years of tensions and attacks across the wider Mideast.

Today, Tehran enriches uranium up to 60% purity, its highest level ever and a short technical step from weapons-grade levels of 90% and far greater than the nuclear deal's 3.67% cap. Its stockpile of enriched uranium also continues to grow, worrying nuclear nonproliferation experts that Iran could be closer to the threshold of having enough material for an atomic weapon if it chose to pursue one.

Undeclared sites played into the initial 2015 deal as well. That year the IAEA's then-director-general also come to Tehran and visit one suspected weapons-program site at Parchin. Inspectors also took samples there for analysis.

Grossi's inspectors also face challenges in monitoring Iran's current advances in its civilian program. Iran has held IAEA surveillance camera recordings since February 2021, not letting inspectors view them amid the nuclear negotiations.

In Vienna, negotiators appear to be signaling a deal is near, even as Russia's war on Ukraine rages on. Russia's ambassador there, Mikhail Ulyanov, has been a key mediator in the talks and tweeted Thursday that negotiations were "almost over.'' That was something also acknowledged by French negotiator Philippe Errera.

"We hope to come back quickly to conclude because we are very, very close to an agreement,'' Errera wrote Friday on Twitter. ``But nothing is agreed until EVERYTHING is agreed!''

British negotiator Stephanie Al-Qaq simply wrote: "We are close.''

But comments Saturday by Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov for the first time offered the suggestion that the Ukraine war _ and the stinging sanctions that Americans and others have put on Moscow, could interfere.

"We need guarantees these sanctions will in no way affect the trading, economic and investment relations contained in the (deal) for the Iranian nuclear program," Lavrov said, according to the Tass news agency.

Lavrov said he wanted "guarantees at least at the level of the secretary of state'' that the U.S. sanctions would not affect Moscow's relationship with Tehran. There was no immediate American response to Lavrov's comments.

Meanwhile on Saturday, Iran's paramilitary Revolutionary Guard unveiled what it described as two new underground missile and drone bases in the country. State TV said the bases contained surface-to-surface missiles and armed drones capable of "hiding themselves from enemy radar.''

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North Korea on Saturday fired a ballistic missile into the sea, according to its neighbors' militaries, extending Pyongyang's streak of weapons tests this year amid a prolonged freeze in nuclear negotiations with the United States.

South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff said the missile fired from an area near the North Korean capital flew about 270 kilometers (168 miles) eastward at a maximum altitude of 560 kilometers (348 miles) before landing in waters between the Korean Peninsula and Japan. It said U.S. and South Korean intelligence officials were closely analyzing the launch.

The launch was North Korea's ninth round of weapons tests in 2022 as it continues to use a pause in diplomacy to expand its military capabilities while attempting to pressure the Biden administration for concessions.

The flight details roughly matched an earlier assessment by the Japanese military and were similar to North Korea's previous launch last Sunday that was also conducted from the Sunan area near Pyongyang.

North Korean state media said last week's launch was designed to test a camera system it plans to install on a spy satellite that is under development.

``The missile was fired just as the international community is responding to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, while also in the middle of the Beijing Paralympics,'' said Japanese Defense Minister Nobuo Kishi. He canceled an appearance at a military academy graduation to respond to the launch, calling it ``absolutely unacceptable.''

The U.S. Indo Pacific Command said the launch did not pose an immediate threat to U.S. personnel or territory, or that of its allies. It called on North Korea to refrain from further destabilizing acts and said it was closely consulting with South Korea and Japan as well as other regional allies and partners over the launch.

Officials in Seoul convened an emergency National Security Council meeting and called on the North to refrain from actions that further raise tensions in the face of an international crisis created by Russia's invasion of Ukraine, and at a time when South Korea is holding a presidential election.

They also vowed stronger cooperation with the United States to deal with the North Korean threat and more closely monitor its nuclear and missile facilities as well as a nuclear testing ground that had been active until 2017, Seoul's presidential office said.

The launch came as South Koreans waited in long lines Saturday morning for early voting ahead of a presidential election on Wednesday. Two major candidates have clashed over whether South Korea should continue to pursue engagement with the belligerent North or take a harder line to check its nuclear threat.

Lee Jae-myung, the candidate for the ruling center-left party who has called for a conciliatory approach toward Pyongyang, criticized the launch but reiterated his commitment to dialogue. In a statement on Facebook, he promised he wouldn't ``tolerate actions that raise tensions,'' without specifying how he would respond.

The North's other tests this year included a purported hypersonic missile and its first launch since 2017 of an intermediate range missile with a potential of reaching Guam, a major U.S. military hub in the Pacific.

Analysts say North Korea could up the ante in coming months and possibly resume its testing of major weapons like intercontinental ballistic missiles as it tries to move the needle with Washington, which is now preoccupied with Russia's invasion of Ukraine and regional competition with China.

``The (Kim Jong Un) regime may be unhappy with Washington coordinating global efforts against Russian aggression in Ukraine and disappointed with Seoul's inward focus ahead of the South Korean presidential election,'' said Leif-Eric Easley, a professor of international studies at Ewha University in Seoul.

``But North Korea does not simply test missiles for international attention. Pyongyang's current priorities are military modernization and domestic politics,'' Easley added.

During a ruling Workers Party conference called by North Korean leader Kim Jong Un last month, Politburo members issued a veiled threat to resume the tests of nuclear devices and ICBMs, which Kim had unilaterally suspended in 2018 to make room for diplomacy with then-President Donald Trump.

But negotiations have stalled since 2019, when the Americans rejected North Korea's demands for major sanctions relief in exchange for dismantling an aging nuclear facility, which would have amounted to a partial surrender of its nuclear capabilities.

The Biden administration has offered open-ended talks with Pyongyang but shown no willingness to offer badly needed economic benefits unless the North takes real steps to cut down its nuclear weapons and missile program.

The North's claim that it is testing camera systems for spy satellites suggests it could possibly conduct a banned long-range rocket test disguised as a space launch to advance its weaponry and apply more pressure on Washington.

Some analysts predict that North Korea will launch a rocket carrying a satellite ahead of a major political anniversary in April, the birthday of state founder Kim Il Sung, the late grandfather of Kim Jong Un.

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By Trend

Samsung Electronics Co. said product shipments to Russia have been suspended due to current geopolitical developments, joining a growing list of companies from Apple Inc. to Microsoft Corp. that are halting sales and services in the country, Trend reports citing Bloomberg.

The South Korean tech giant is actively monitoring the complex situation, the company said in an emailed statement to Bloomberg. Exports of all Samsung products ranging from chips to smartphones and consumer electronics have been suspended, according to a person familiar with the matter.

Our thoughts are with everyone who has been impacted and our priority is to ensure the safety of all our employees and their families, Samsung said in the statement. The company is donating $6 million, including $1 million in consumer electronics products, to humanitarian efforts in the region.
Officials vowed Saturday to hunt down and arrest the masterminds behind a deadly mosque attack in Pakistan a day earlier claimed by an Islamic State affiliate. The assault killed 63 people and wounded nearly 200.

IS said in a statement the lone suicide bomber was from neighboring Afghanistan. He shot two police guarding the Shia Muslim mosque in northwest Peshawar before entering inside and exploding his device, it said. The attack took place as worshipers knelt in Friday prayer. The IS affiliate, known as IS in Khorasan Province, is headquartered in eastern Afghanistan.

The Taliban rulers in Afghanistan, who have been fighting IS, condemned the attack. IS has proven to be the Taliban's greatest security threat since sweeping into power last August.

``We condemn the bombing of a mosque in Peshawar, Pakistan. There is no justification for attacking civilians and worshipers,`` Taliban Deputy Minister for Culture and Information Zabihullah Mujahid tweeted. He refused to comment on the IS claim that the suicide bomber was Afghan.

The death toll was likely to continue to rise, said Asim Khan, spokesman for Peshawar's Lady Reading Hospital. At least four of 38 patients still hospitalized are in critical condition, he said.

Late into Friday night and early Saturday, Pakistanis buried their dead amid heavy security, with sniffer dogs deployed. Police carried out body searches of mourners who were then searched a second time by security provided by Pakistan's Shia community.

Hundreds of mourners crying and beating their chests attended funeral prayers for 13 victims late Friday and for another 11 on Saturday at Peshawar's Kohati Gate. The coffins were covered with shrouds, some with Quranic sayings. They were lined up on open ground, made visible by bare light bulbs.

``These were human beings and worshipers inside the mosque, and they were brutally killed at a time when they were busy praying to God,`` Hayat Khan told The Associated Press late Friday night as he buried a relative.

One of the police officers who was shot outside Kucha Risaldar mosque died immediately and the second died later from his wounds, police officials said.

Pakistan Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry said in a statement that three investigation teams were established to study forensic evidence and closed-circuit TV footage to track down the attack's organizers.

In CCTV footage seen by The Associated Press, the lone attacker concealed his bomb beneath a large black shawl. The footage showed the bomber moving quickly up a narrow street toward the mosque entrance. He fired at the police protecting the mosque before entering inside.

Within seconds, there is a powerful explosion and the camera lens is obscured with dust and debris. The crudely made device was packed with ball bearings, a deadly method of constructing a bomb to inflict maximum carnage because it sprays deadly projectiles over a large area. The ball bearings caused the high death toll, said Moazzam Jah Ansari, the top police official for Khyber Pukhtunkhwa province, where Peshawar is the capital.

Immediately after the bombing, Pakistan's minority Shia s slammed the government for lax security arrangements demanding greater attention to their safety.

Friday's attack in Peshawar's congested old city was the worst in years in Pakistan. The country has seen renewed militant attacks after several years of relative quiet that followed military operations against militant hideouts in the border regions with Afghanistan.

The attacks have mostly been carried out by the Pakistani Taliban since last August when the Afghan Taliban swept into power and America ended its 20-year involvement in Afghanistan. The Pakistan Taliban are not connected to the new Afghan rulers. However, they are hiding out in Afghanistan and despite Pakistan's repeated request to hand them over, none have yet been found and expelled.

The Islamic State affiliate, often referred to as IS-K, is an enemy of the Afghan Taliban and has carried out successive operations against them since coming into power last year. Pakistani security officials have insisted IS has little presence in Pakistan, yet in their statement claiming responsibility for the mosque attack, IS vowed to carry out more attacks in both Pakistan and Afghanistan.

``Islamic State fighters are constantly targeting Shia s living in Pakistan and Afghanistan despite the intense security measures adopted by the Taliban militia and the Pakistani police to secure Shi'a temples and centers,`` said the IS statement carried on its Amaq News Agency site.

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The Ukrainian president's office says civilian evacuations have halted in an area of the country where Russian defense officials had announced a cease-fire, as Russian President Vladimir Putin warned that any country that sought to impose a no-fly zone over Ukraine would be considered by Moscow to have entered the conflict.

Kyrylo Tymoshenko, the deputy head of President Volodymyr Zelensky's office, said the evacuation effort was stopped because the city of Mariupol remained under fire on Saturday.

The Russian side is not holding to the ceasefire and has continued firing on Mariupol itself and on its surrounding area," he said. "Talks with the Russian Federation are ongoing regarding setting up a ceasefire and ensuring a safe humanitarian corridor.''

The Russian Defense Ministry said earlier in a statement it had agreed on evacuation routes with Ukrainian forces for Mariupol, a strategic port in the southeast, and for the eastern city of Volnovakha.

But a city official reported that shelling continued in his area Saturday despite the deal, a sign of the fragility of efforts to stop fighting across the country.

Putin warns against no-fly zone

Meanwhile in Russia, President Vladimir Putin said Saturday he had no intention of declaring martial law, as his country's military incursion in Ukraine enters its second week.

"Martial law should only be introduced in cases where there is external aggression ... we are not experiencing that at the moment and I hope we won't," Putin said during a televised meeting with employees of Russia's flagship carrier Aeroflot. Ther Russian President warned that any country that sought to impose a no-fly zone over Ukraine would be considered by Moscow to have entered the conflict. "Any movement in this direction will be considered by us as participation in an armed conflict by that country," the Russian leader said during a meeting with Aeroflot employees Temporary Ceasefire Russian defense officials announced a a temporary cease-fire in two Ukrainian cities to allow civilians to evacuate, but a local official reported that shelling continued in his area Saturday despite the deal, a sign of the fragility of efforts to stop fighting across the country. The Russian Defense Ministry said in a statement it had agreed on evacuation routes with Ukrainian forces for the strategic port of Mariupol in the southeast and the eastern city of Volnovakha, which would be the first breakthrough in allowing people to escape the war . The vaguely worded statement did not make clear how long the routes would remain open. Growing Misery

Mariupol had become the scene of growing misery amid days of shelling that knocked out power and most phone service and raised the prospect of food and water shortages for hundreds of thousands of people in freezing weather. Pharmacies are out of medicine, Doctors Without Borders said.

A top official there said the cease-fire there was to last until 4 p.m. (2 p.m. GMT) and an evacuation was beginning at 11 a.m. (9 a.m. GMT.) Pavlo Kirilenko, head of the Donetsk military-civil administration that includes Mariupol, said the humanitarian corridor would extend from the city to Zaporizhzhia, about 226 kilometers (140 miles) away.

But Mariupol deputy mayor Serhiy Orlov later told the BBC that the Russians "continue to use hard artillery and rockets to bomb Mariupol. That's why people are very scared, but anyway they go to three specific points from which we will go to evacuate them by municipal buses.''

The head of Ukraine's security council, Oleksiy Danilov, had urged Russia to create humanitarian corridors to allow children, women and the older adults to flee the fighting, calling them "question No. 1.''

Diplomatic efforts continued as U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived in Poland to meet with the prime minister and foreign minister, a day after attending a NATO meeting in Brussels in which the alliance pledged to step up support for eastern flank members. Blinken would visit a border post to meet refugees later in the day.

As Russian forces batter strategic locations elsewhere, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has lashed out at NATO for refusing to impose a no-fly zone over his country, warning that "all the people who die from this day forward will also die because of you.''

No "no-fly zone"

NATO said a no-fly zone could provoke widespread war in Europe with nuclear-armed Russia. But as the United States and other NATO members send weapons for Kyiv and more than 1 million refugees spill through the continent, the conflict is already drawing in countries far beyond Ukraine's borders.

Russia continues to crack down on independent media reporting on the war, also blocking Facebook and Twitter, and more outlets say they are pausing their work inside the country.

And in a warning of a hunger crisis yet to come, the U.N. World Food Program says millions of people inside Ukraine, a major global wheat supplier, will need food aid "immediately.''

Ukraine's president was set to brief U.S. senators Saturday by video conference as Congress considers a request for $10 billion in emergency funding for humanitarian aid and security needs.

In a bitter and emotional speech late Friday, Zelensky criticized NATO over the lack of a no-fly zone, warning that "the history of Europe will remember this forever.''

A no-fly zone would bar all unauthorized aircraft from flying over Ukraine.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg had ruled out that possibility. "The only way to implement a no-fly zone is to send NATO fighter planes into Ukrainian airspace, and then impose that no-fly zone by shooting down Russian planes,'' he said.

In a separate video message to antiwar protesters in several European cities, Zelensky appealed for help. "If we fall, you will fall,'' he said.

The U.N. Security Council scheduled an open meeting for Monday on the worsening humanitarian situation. The United Nations estimates that 12 million people in Ukraine and 4 million fleeing to neighboring countries in the coming months will need humanitarian aid.

Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Plant Attack

ussia's attack on Friday on Ukraine's largest nuclear power plant, in Zaporizhzhia, caused global alarm, but Russian forces did not make significant progress in their offensive to sever Ukraine's access to the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov, which would deal a severe blow to the country's economy.

A vast Russian armored column threatening Ukraine's capital remained stalled outside Kyiv, but Russia's military has launched hundreds of missiles and artillery attacks on cities and other sites across the country.

As homes in the northern city of Chernihiv burned from what locals described as Russian shelling, one resident accused Europe of merely looking on. "We wanted to join NATO and the EU and this is the price we are paying, and NATO cannot protect us," she said.

At least 331 civilians have been confirmed killed since the fighting began but the true number is probably much higher, the U.N. human rights office said.

Kyiv's central train station remained crowded with people desperate to join the more than 1.4 million who have fled Ukraine. "People just want to live,'' one woman, Ksenia, said.

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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Ukrainian forces were holding key cities in the central and southeastern part of the country Saturday, while the Russians were trying to block and keep encircled Kharkiv, Mykolaiv, Chernihiv and Sumy.

"We're inflicting losses on the occupants they could not see in their worst nightmare,'' Zelenskyy said. He alleged that 10,000 Russian troops were killed in the 10 days of the war, a claim that could not be independently verified. The Russian military doesn't offer regular updates on their casualties. Only once, on Wednesday, they revealed a death toll of nearly 500.

"This is horrible,'' Zelenskyy said. "Guys 18, 20 years old ... soldiers who weren't even explained what they were going to fight for.''

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US Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived in Poland on Saturday for talks with officials as hundreds of thousands of Ukrainian refugees pour into the country to escape the conflict.

The most senior US official to visit Poland since the war began, Blinken will hold talks with Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki and Foreign Minister Zbigniew Rau in Rzeszow, near the border with Ukraine.

More than 780,000 people have fled Ukraine into Poland since the invasion began on February 24.

Including other neighbouring countries, more than a million have left Ukraine.

Blinken is visiting key allies in Europe that are feeling the pressure from the war, to demonstrate Washington's support for their security and shore up Western unity against Moscow.

Following his stop in Poland he will travel to Moldova, which has also experienced an inflow of Ukrainians, and the three Baltic states which are particularly concerned by Russian actions.

Blinken spent Friday in Brussels in meetings with counterparts at NATO and the European Union to discuss putting more pressure on Russia and add support for refugees.

"The Kremlin's attacks are inflicting an ever increasing toll on civilians there. Hundreds if not thousands of Ukrainians have been killed, many more wounded," he said in Brussels Thursday.

"More than a million refugees have fled Ukraine to neighboring countries," he said, pledging more support from Washington.

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Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett's office confirmed the meeting at the Kremlin, which came just days after Bennett spoke over the phone with both Russia and Ukrainian leaders.

Bennett's office said he departed early Saturday morning for Moscow, accompanied by Russian-speaking Cabinet minister Zeev Elkin. Both men are observant Jews and wouldn't normally travel on the Sabbath.

"Prime Minister Naftali Bennett has just concluded a meeting in the Kremlin with Russian President Vladimir Putin. The meeting lasted for about two and a half hours," said a statement from the Israeli premier's office.

Israel is one of the few countries that has good working relations with both sides. The country has delivered humanitarian aid to Ukraine, but also maintains ties with Moscow to make sure that Israeli and Russian warplanes do not come into conflict in neighboring Syria.

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The government hopes to fight a dire housing shortage in the Seoul metropolitan area by pushing forward urban reconstruction and redevelopment projects.

To attract private builders to the massive projects, the government will ease some regulations considered sacrosanct until now, including confiscation of excess profits from apartment renovations.

The decision comes after 24 different sets of real-estate regulations, including massive property tax hikes, have failed to tame housing prices in the capital.

The government on Thursday announced plans to build 830,000 homes across the country by 2025. That includes 323,000 in Seoul and 293,000 in the western port city of Incheon and Gyeonggi Province.

The government aims to shorten the overall construction period of housing complexes by up to five years. They often take more than 10 years.


Meanwhile, NATO countries on Friday rejected Ukraine's request that it impose a no-fly zone over Ukraine, warning that to do so could spark a wider war with nuclear-armed Russia. "The only way to implement a no-fly zone is to send NATO fighter planes into Ukrainian airspace and then impose that no-fly zone by shooting down Russian planes," Stoltenberg said. "If we did that, we would end up with something that could end in a full-fledged war in Europe."

U.S. President Joe Biden spoke with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and received an update on the nuclear power plant fire, according to a White House statement released late Thursday. U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm said in a tweet late Thursday that the Energy Department has activated its Nuclear Incident Response Team and was monitoring events.

Enerhodar is a crucial power-generating city on the Dnieper River, nearly 700 km southeast of Kyiv. The Zaporizhzhia facility produces about 25 percent of Ukraine's power. Nuclear safety experts have expressed concern that fighting so close to the power station could cut off the plant's power supply, which would adversely affect its ability to keep nuclear fuel cool and would increase the possibility of a nuclear meltdown.

British Deputy Foreign Minister Dominic Raab described it as a "reckless bombardment," while Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stre denounced it as being "in line with madness." Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov blamed the attack on a Ukranian "sabotage group" that he said had occupied the plant's training building, attacked a Russian patrol and set the building on fire as it left. He offered no evidence, and no other country appeared to take the claim seriously.

The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency said a Russian "projectile" hit a training center at the plant. "This just demonstrates the recklessness of this war," NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said of the power plant attack before Friday's meeting in Brussels with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and other Western foreign ministers.

The United Nations Security Council held an emergency meeting Friday to discuss the attack at the request of the United Kingdom, France, Ireland, Norway and Albania. "The world narrowly averted a nuclear catastrophe last night," U.S. Ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield said during the meeting. "We've just witnessed a dangerous new escalation that represents a dire threat to all of Europe and the world," she added.

Ukraine's nuclear inspectorate said that no radiation had leaked at the plant and that personnel were continuing to operate the facility safely. Firefighters were able to get the blaze under control, Ukrainian officials said.

Ukrainian officials say Russian forces have taken control of Europe's largest nuclear plant, Zaporizhzhia, near the Ukrainian city of Enerhodar, after shelling it and sparking a fire in a building at the plant compound.

 More Sanctions on Oligarchs

Also Thursday, Washington heaped another round of sanctions on Russian President Vladimir Putin's inner circle. "Today I'm announcing that we're adding dozens of names to the list, including one of Russia's wealthiest billionaires, and I'm banning travel to America by more than 50 Russian oligarchs, their families and their close associates," Biden said Thursday before a Cabinet meeting. "And we're going to continue to support the Ukrainian people with direct assistance."

Among the newly sanctioned Putin allies is billionaire Alisher Usmanov, one of Russia's wealthiest individuals. German authorities have seized his 512-foot yacht, estimated to be worth nearly $600 million. Under the directive, his private jet is also open to seizure. The sanctions list also includes some of Putin's oldest friends, and his press secretary, Dmitry Peskov.

"One of the big factors is, of course, the proximity to President Putin," said White House press secretary Jen Psaki. "We want him to feel the squeeze. We want the people around him to feel the squeeze. I don't believe this is going to be the last set of oligarchs."

She also again ruled out Zelenskyy's request for a no-fly zone over Ukraine. "A no-fly zone requires implementation," she said. "It would require, essentially, the U.S. military shooting down Russian planes and causing -- prompting -- a potential direct war with Russia: the exact step that we want to avoid."

 On the Ground

Moscow's attempt to quickly take over the Ukrainian capital has apparently stalled, but the military has made significant gains in the south in an effort to sever the country's connection to the Black Sea and Sea of Azov.

On Thursday, local government officials and the Russian military confirmed the seizure of the strategic port of Kherson, the first city to fall in the invasion, following days of disputed claims over who was in control. A U.S. defense official said Washington was unable to confirm the development.

Despite Russian assaults on Kharkiv, Chernihiv and Mariupol, they all remained in Ukrainian hands, Britain's Defense Ministry said Thursday. "We are a people who in a week have destroyed the plans of the enemy," Zelenskyy said in a video address early Thursday. "They will have no peace here. They will have no food. They will have here not one quiet moment."

Russian troops were besieging the port city of Mariupol, east of Kherson, an attempt Mayor Vadym Boichenko said was aimed at isolating Ukraine. "They are trying to create a blockade here," Boichenko said Thursday in a broadcast video. He said that the Russians were attacking rail stations to prevent civilian evacuations and that the attacks have cut off water and power.

 Giving Peace a (Second) Chance

Also Thursday, the two sides held a second round of peace talks in Belarus and agreed to set up humanitarian corridors with cease-fire zones so that civilians could safely flee. Ukraine had pushed for a general cease-fire. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov -- who is also under direct U.S. sanctions -- told reporters Thursday that Russian forces would continue their effort to destroy Ukraine's military infrastructure and would not allow its neighbor to represent a military threat to Russia.

In a 90-minute telephone conversation Thursday with French President Emmanuel Macron, Putin told Macron that Russia would achieve its goals, including the demilitarization and neutrality of Ukraine, by any means necessary, the Kremlin said in a statement. Macron told his Russian counterpart that the war he started against Ukraine was a "major mistake," according to a French official. "You are lying to yourself," Macron told Putin regarding the feasibility of his goals, the official said.

Poland has taken in half of the more than 1 million refugees who have fled Ukraine in the past week, according to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. The UN body says it expects 4 million people could leave Ukraine because of the conflict. Ukraine's emergency agency said Wednesday that Russia's attacks have killed more than 2,000 people across the country. Russia's Defense Ministry put out its first casualty report earlier this week, saying 498 of its troops were killed in Ukraine, with more than 1,500 wounded.

 Russians 'Stalled' Outside Kyiv

A senior U.S. defense official said Thursday the Russian forces in northern Ukraine and outside Kyiv remained "largely stalled," despite U.S. assessments that 90 percent of the combat power that Russia prepared for the invasion had entered Ukraine.

The official said that the cities in northern and eastern Ukraine, including Kyiv, Chernihiv and Kharkiv, were subjected Thursday to "heavy bombardment," but that Russian forces in the north were still facing stiff resistance. "We continue to see them resist and fight and defend their territory and their resources quite effectively," said the official, who added that Russia has launched more than 480 missiles since the invasion began.

Putin offered a more optimistic assessment Thursday, telling members of his security council on a video call that Moscow's invasion of Ukraine is progressing "according to plan." "All tasks are being successfully carried out," he said.

The Biden administration has requested $10 billion in supplemental funding from Congress "to deliver additional humanitarian, security, and economic assistance in Ukraine and the neighboring region in the coming days and weeks," said a statement from Shalanda Young, acting director of the Office of Management and Budget. That money, she said, will cover defense equipment, emergency food aid, U.S. troop deployments to neighboring countries and stronger sanctions enforcement.
China does not want to be seen as a country condoning any military act that would endanger safety at a nuclear power plant, said a Chinese scholar who did not wish to be identified. "We have our own technology for nuclear plants, the Hualong One technology, which we have begun to export," he said.

The foreign ministry spokesman, Wang Wenbin, refused to condemn the Russian attack or call it an invasion. That is consistent with the neutral stance that China has adopted on the issue at the recent meetings at the United Nations.

"We will monitor the situation and call on all sides to exercise restraint, avoid escalation and ensure the safety of relevant nuclear facilities," the Chinese Foreign Ministry said following the overnight attack, which sparked a fire at the Ukrainian compound.

China has issued a call urging "all sides" to ensure the safety of nuclear facilities in Ukraine, reflecting the nation's unease over Russia's shelling of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant, Europe's largest.

China signed an agreement with Argentina in January to build the Atucha III nuclear power plant at a cost of US$8 billion. It will be the second major export of Hualong One technology, a rival to the U.S. Westinghouse technology, after Beijing built a nuclear power plant in Pakistan under the Belt and Road Initiative.

China was among the first to ask the International Atomic Energy Agency to take immediate steps to ensure the safety of nuclear facilities in Ukraine amid the Russian invasion. Ukraine has 15 nuclear reactors at four sites.

"China is concerned about the safety, security and safeguards of nuclear facilities in Ukraine," China's envoy at the IAEA, Wang Qun Wang, was quoted as saying by the Chinese mission in Vienna. Speaking at the IAEA meeting on Wednesday, the envoy said, "The responsibility for nuclear safety and security rests with sovereign states, and related issues should be handled through established procedures. "We hope the relevant parties will act cautiously to avoid causing man-made nuclear safety and security incidents," he said. "The IAEA should also take full consideration of the security situation in Ukraine in accordance with its mandate and properly address the issue of security protection in Ukraine."

Russian soldiers earlier took over Ukraine's decommissioned Chernobyl power plant, site of a nuclear accident in 1986, raising fears about the safety of other nuclear facilities in Ukraine.

In another significant move, the China-led Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank has put a hold on its financial plans in Russia and Belarus, a close ally of Moscow. Those plans are now under review.

In a statement, the Beijing-headquartered AIIB said bank management was taking steps to safeguard its financial position in light of the evolving economic and financial situation. "Under these circumstances, and in the best interests of the bank, management has decided that all activities relating to Russia and Belarus are on hold and under review."
KYODO NEWS - Mar 5, 2022 - 16:57 | World, All, Japan

North Korea launched a ballistic missile Saturday, the Japanese government said, marking the ninth in a series of missile tests by Pyongyang this year and coming only days before South Korea's presidential election.

The missile is believed to have fallen outside Japan's exclusive economic zone after flying about 300 kilometers apparently on a lofted trajectory and reaching an altitude of about 550 km, the Defense Ministry said, adding no damage has been reported.

South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff said that what it described as a suspected ballistic missile was launched from an area near Sunan in Pyongyang toward the Sea of Japan at around 8:48 a.m.

The projectile is believed to have been launched from a high angle on a lofted trajectory to limit its flight distance, similar to North Korea's missile firing in late February.

South Korea's military was aware of signs that a launch would take place, according to Yonhap News Agency.

The Japanese government lodged a protest with North Korea via the Japanese Embassy in Beijing, Defense Minister Nobuo Kishi told reporters in Tokyo. Tokyo and Pyongyang do not have diplomatic relations.

Takehiro Funakoshi, director general of the Japanese Foreign Ministry's Asian and Oceanian Affairs Bureau, and Sung Kim, U.S. special representative for North Korea, confirmed during telephone talks that the two countries and South Korea will coordinate to resolve the North Korean nuclear and missile issues, the Japanese ministry said.

The U.S. military's Indo-Pacific Command condemned the missile launch and called on North Korea to "refrain from further destabilizing acts."

The command said in a statement it will continue to monitor the situation and that the U.S. commitment to the defense of allies Japan and South Korea "remains ironclad."

North Korea is banned from firing ballistic missiles under U.N. Security Council resolutions that have imposed sanctions on the nation. It last fired a ballistic missile on Feb. 27, which Pyongyang said was to test development of a reconnaissance satellite system.

Kishi said Pyongyang has conducted missile launches this year "at an extremely high frequency."

"This series of actions by North Korea is absolutely unacceptable, as it threatens the peace and security of our country and the international community," he said.

The latest launch came a day after the Beijing Paralympics opened Friday in the Chinese capital and ahead of South Korea's presidential election on Wednesday.

It also came as North Korea marks the 110th birthday of Kim Il Sung, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un's grandfather, on April 15.

Pyongyang's latest launch also occurred at a time when global attention is on security tensions in Europe following Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

In January, North Korea hinted at resuming nuclear and intercontinental ballistic missile tests, saying it may restart all "activities" that it had temporarily suspended.

He added the ministry will cooperate with the United States and other related countries to respond to the issue.

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida instructed his government to provide accurate information to the public, confirm the safety of ships and aircraft, and respond to unforeseen situations.

Related coverage:

North Korea says it conducted test for reconnaissance satellite on Feb. 27

North Korea fires ballistic missile toward Sea of Japan

North Korea marks birthday of late leader without military provocation
KYODO NEWS - Mar 4, 2022 - 23:26 | All, World

Russian military forces on Friday attacked and seized control of Europe's largest nuclear power plant in southern Ukraine, even after the two countries agreed on a halt in fighting to create corridors to allow civilians to evacuate and prepare for the next round of cease-fire talks.

A huge blaze in a training building of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant has been extinguished and Ukrainian nuclear authorities said there are no safety concerns.

Noting that the Russian army was "firing from all sides" on the nuclear plant, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba tweeted, "If it blows up, it will be 10 times larger than Chornobyl!" referring to one of the world's worst nuclear disasters that occurred in 1986 at the Chernobyl plant in Ukraine, then part of the Soviet Union.

The situation in Ukraine remains volatile as Russia's invasion enters its second week, with the leaders of the two countries apparently unwilling to compromise.

Ukrainian presidential adviser Mykhailo Podolyak tweeted after their second round of talks that the "results Ukraine needs are not yet achieved."

The next round of cease-fire negotiations is expected to be held in Belarus early next week.

Following the latest alarming development in Russia's weeklong invasion of its neighbor, Kuleba urged Moscow to agree to an immediate cease-fire so firefighters can deal with the situation at the nuclear plant.

Related coverage:

Fire breaks out at Ukraine nuclear plant amid Russia attack: minister

Japan PM raps Russian nuclear plant attack in Ukraine in "strongest terms"

Following the attack on the Ukrainian nuclear plant, the International Atomic Energy Agency said in a tweet that the fire "has not affected 'essential' equipment" and that plant personnel were taking actions to mitigate the situation.

The IAEA also said the Ukrainian regulator had told it "there has been no change reported in radiation levels" at the plant. It quoted IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi as warning of "severe danger" if reactors are hit.

With the United States now monitoring the situation, U.S. Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm tweeted that the "plant's reactors are protected by robust containment structures" and are "being safely shut down."

The plant has six reactors and is located in the southeastern part of Ukraine. It generates about 20 percent of Ukraine's total energy.

The attack came after the second round of negotiations between Russia and Ukraine in a border area between Belarus and Poland. The first round of talks Monday in a Ukraine-Belarus border area failed to achieve any breakthrough.

After the latest negotiations, Russian President Vladimir Putin appeared confident about his country's military operation, which he described, according to CNN, as "going according to plan."

While Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reportedly expressed readiness to hold direct talks with Putin, he added that "there are things in which there are no compromises."

The second round of talks also came a day after Russian troops took control of Kherson in the south, the first major Ukrainian city to be taken by Russia since it launched the invasion on Feb. 24.

Russian forces have been continuing bombardments of the Ukrainian capital Kyiv as well as Kharkiv, the second-largest city that is located in the east of the country.

According to local media reports and other sources, Kyiv demanded the withdrawal of Russian troops from all Ukrainian territory during Monday's talks.

Russia called for its sovereignty over Crimea, which it annexed from Ukraine in 2014, to be recognized, as well as the "demilitarization" and "neutralization" of Ukraine.

On Wednesday, Russia's Defense Ministry said 498 Russian soldiers had been killed and 1,597 injured in its first official announcement of casualties.

The numbers, however, were far smaller than the around 9,000 fatalities announced by Zelenskyy. Meanwhile, Ukraine's government said more than 2,000 of its citizens are estimated to have been killed in Russian attacks.

The outflow of refugees from the East European country has shown no signs of stopping, with more than 1 million people having left as of Thursday, according to the Office of the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees.
By Trend

At the invitation of Minister of Foreign Affairs of Russia Sergey Lavrov, the official visit of Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kyrgyzstan Ruslan Kazakbaev to Moscow, timed to coincide with the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the countries, will take place on March 5, Trend reports with reference to Kabar.

According to the press service of the Kyrgyz Foreign Ministry, during the visit the sides will discuss topical issues of bilateral cooperation, multilateral cooperation within the framework of international organizations and integration associations.

As a result of the visit, it is planned to sign a Joint Statement of the ministers of foreign affairs of the two countries and a Cooperation Program between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kyrgyz Republic and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation for 2022-2024.
By Tomoyuki Tachikawa, KYODO NEWS - Mar 5, 2022 - 16:30 | World, All

China cut a gross domestic product growth target for 2022 to around 5.5 percent at the opening of an annual session of parliament on Saturday, amid mounting concern that Russia's aggression against Ukraine will put serious downward pressure on the global economy.

The economic growth goal was lower than the target of over 6.0 percent for last year, as the world's second-biggest economy has also shown signs of slowdown due largely to the prolonged COVID-19 outbreak and sluggishness with the real estate sector.

At the National People's Congress, China's top leadership is expected to hammer out measures to stabilize economic and social development in the run-up to the ruling Communist Party's twice-a-decade congress in fall, foreign affairs experts say.

President Xi Jinping, who took power in 2012, has been keen to bolster his clout in the country to secure a controversial third term at the key party meeting. In 2018, China removed the two-term limit for the presidency from its Constitution, effectively enabling him to hold on to power for life.

"There is no doubt but that China's economy will withstand any downward pressure and continue growing steadily long into the future," Premier Li Keqiang said as he delivered the government report mapping out policy directions for 2022.

"We must act on the people-centered development philosophy and rely on the efforts of everyone to promote prosperity for all, so as to keep realizing the people's aspirations for a better life," Li said.

The focus is also on whether Beijing will show a stronger determination to reunify self-ruled Taiwan with the mainland during the parliament session, with fears growing that Russia's invasion of Ukraine could prod Xi to use military might to achieve his ambition.

The mainland remains committed to "resolving the Taiwan question in the new era," but will "advance the peaceful growth of relations across the Taiwan Strait and the reunification of China," Li said.

China, meanwhile, decided to increase its military spending in 2022 to 1.45 trillion yuan ($229 billion), a 7.1 percent expansion from last year. The rate of growth was faster than the 6.8 percent year-on-year rise in 2021.

Communist-led China and democratic Taiwan have been governed separately since they split in 1949 as the result of a civil war. Beijing has regarded the island as a renegade province to be reunified with the mainland, by force if necessary.

As for Hong Kong, Li emphasized China will "firmly" uphold the principle that the special administrative region should be "governed by patriots."

Under China's "one country, two systems" policy, Hong Kong was promised it would enjoy the rights and freedoms of a semiautonomous region for 50 years following its return to Chinese rule in 1997.

Nevertheless, Xi's leadership has begun to take harsh actions against the former British colony since large-scale protests sparked by a now-withdrawn extradition bill with mainland China morphed into a pro-democracy movement in 2019.

In 2021, China's economy grew 8.1 percent from a year earlier. In the October-December period, however, it grew a tepid 4.0 percent against a backdrop of worries about potential financial market turmoil and another wave of novel coronavirus infections.

Disruptions to the global supply chain from Western economic sanctions against Russia in the aftermath of its war on Ukraine may also deal a blow to the Chinese economy down the road, analysts say.

With anxiety about the possible bankruptcy of property developer China Evergrande Group, Li said Xi's leadership will make efforts to keep housing and land prices "stable" and to "facilitate positive circulation and sound development in the real estate sector."

The company's main business was significantly affected by government policy designed to prevent real estate prices from spiking. Last year, Evergrande's woes rattled the financial markets worldwide, prompting many investors to reduce their stock holdings.

China's target for 2022 is higher than the economic growth rate projected by the International Monetary Fund.

In its update of the World Economic Outlook report released in late January, the Washington-based institution said that China's economy is estimated to grow 4.8 percent this year on factors such as the nation's radical "zero-COVID" policy.

But Li expressed eagerness to strengthen restrictions to contain the spread of the virus "in a scientific and targeted manner," saying China's anti-epidemic steps have helped ensure "the health and safety of the people and maintained normal order in work and life."

In 2020, China abandoned setting an economic growth target for the year, citing "great uncertainty" over the impact of the pandemic on its economy.

This year's National People's Congress session is scheduled to end next Friday.

Related coverage:

China vows to maintain radical "zero COVID policy" to curb outbreaks

China urges Ukraine to resolve conflict with Russia through dialogue

FOCUS: After Olympics, China's provocations against Taiwan next focus
KYODO NEWS - Mar 5, 2022 - 18:13 | World, All

The Islamic State group has claimed responsibility for a suicide bombing that killed at least 56 people and injured 194 on Friday at a Shiite Muslim mosque in Pakistan's northwestern city of Peshawar.

The militant group said in a statement Friday night that an Afghan bomber, identified as Julaybib Kabulia, carried out the strike against the Shiite place of worship.

The bombing was the deadliest attack in Peshawar, capital of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, in years.

Eyewitnesses and police officials have said that the attacker first fired gunshots at two police guards posted outside the mosque, killing one of them on the spot and injuring the other before forcing his way into the mosque where he detonated his suicide vest.

Islamic State has long targeted Shiites in Pakistan and Afghanistan, the minority Muslim sect in the countries.

Prime Minister Imran Khan tweeted that law enforcement agencies had identified the origin of the attack and were "going after them with full force."
Yemenis soldiers prepare seized hashish and other drugs for destruction in Hajjah Province, northern Yemen, on March 3, 2022. (Photo by Mohammed Al-Wafi/Xinhua)



HAJJAH, Yemen, March 4 (Xinhua) -- Yemen's government forces have burned 1,100 kg of hashish and 8,000 narcotic pills seized from smugglers in the past four months in the northwestern province of Hajjah, a security official said Friday.

The destruction was carried out on Thursday in the government-controlled Red Sea city of Midi, in the presence of representatives of the court, public prosecution and the security services.

"We have burned 1,100 kg of hashish and 8,000 Captagon and amphetamine pills seized by the security services after foiling seven attempts of smuggling since November last year in the border area near Saudi Arabia," the official told Xinhua on condition of anonymity.

A Yemeni soldier stands before the fire used to destroy seized hashish and other drugs in Hajjah Province, northern Yemen, on March 3, 2022. (Photo by Mohammed Al-Wafi/Xinhua)



This is the fifth time the government forces to burn drugs seized in the border area in three years.

In October 2021, the government services burned 1,167 kg of hashish and 48,000 narcotic pills seized by the security services in the same area.

Yemen has been mired in a civil war since 2014 when the Iran-backed Houthi militia took control of several northern provinces and forced the Saudi-backed government of President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi out of the capital Sanaa. 
The Akagera National Park located in Rwanda's eastern province has embarked on improving conservation efforts to protect wildlife, natural habitat and increase tourism revenues.

KIGALI, March 4 (Xinhua) -- The Akagera National Park located in Rwanda's eastern province has embarked on improving conservation efforts to protect wildlife, natural habitat and increase tourism revenues.

The park which is Rwanda's only protected savannah region with a wide range of animals has intensified efforts to ensure that it is run for the public benefit.

"In order to boost wildlife conservation at Akagera National Park, in 2010, the government of Rwanda entered into public-private partnership with African Parks to effectively manage the park," said Jean Paul Karinganire, assistant tourism and marketing manager of Akagera Management Company in an interview with Xinhua at the park.

He said that along with wildlife conservation and community engagement, the park has evolved in the last decade.

"We have put in much efforts in engaging the communities surrounding the national park to participate in activities of the park which has boosted wildlife conservation efforts and reduced poaching in the park," said Karinganire.

According to him, the park has seen re-introduction of lions in 2015, black rhinos in 2017 and white rhinos in 2021 as part of the efforts to ensure wildlife conservation and increased tourism revenues.

"Akagera National Park reintroduced seven lions 2015 and now the number has grown to around 40. We introduced black rhinos in 2017 and they have had calves. Last year, we received white rhinos and they have now adapted to the park conditions," explained Karinganire.

In order to secure the park, Karinganire said that the park has ensured effective law enforcement, good working team of rangers and collaboration with the communities around the park.

"Our efforts to ensure animals to thrive in the park will lead to increased tourism activities and revenues. We are doing all these in line with the government of Rwanda's policy of becoming a conservation destination having a national park which is well protected and benefiting the people surrounding the national park," he said.

According to Karinganire, following the lion and rhino reintroductions, Akagera officially became a "Big Five" park in 2017.

In order to ensure security and safety of the wildlife in the Akagera, the park also introduced K9 unit, which is used for rapid deployment in conjunction with law enforcement patrols on the ground.

K9 unit is tasked to combat poaching and human-wildlife conflict, which continue to represent a threat to Akagera's people and wildlife.

"Everyday at K9, we work with dogs in patrol and also train them the knowledge of obstacle crossing, obedience exercise and human scent tracking and detection," William Habimana, deputy head of K9 unit told Xinhua in the interview.

He added that K9 is a law enforcement unit in Akagera National Park which has been effective in apprehending people doing illegal activities in the park.

In January this year, the Akagera park launched the first hot air balloon as part of the efforts to boost wildlife conservation and tourism promotion at the park.

In 2010, the Rwanda Development Board (RDB) and African Parks signed a joint management agreement establishing the Akagera Management Company to manage Akagera, transforming the park into one of the most coveted wildlife destinations in Africa and a sustainable revenue source for the region's communities.

The Akagera National Park located in Rwanda's eastern province has embarked on improving conservation efforts to protect wildlife, natural habitat and increase tourism revenues. (Xinhua)
The fifth session of the 13th National People's Congress (NPC) opens at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 5, 2022. (Xinhua/Ju Peng)

BEIJING, March 5 (Xinhua) -- China's national lawmakers and political advisors have gathered in Beijing for the annual sessions of the National People's Congress (NPC) and the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), also known as the "two sessions."

Chinese President Xi Jinping is expected to join in discussions to set the national agenda for the year. His remarks, including those he made in the previous gatherings of the "two sessions," can offer guidance for the international community to comprehend China's development path, and have resonated with many experts across the globe.

Aerial panoramic photo taken on Dec. 19, 2021 shows China's Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical Radio Telescope (FAST) under maintenance in southwest China's Guizhou Province. (Xinhua/Ou Dongqu)

INNOVATION

Implementing a strategy of innovation-driven development will be fundamental in accelerating the transformation of China's growth pattern, solving deep-rooted problems concerning economic development and enhancing economic vitality, Xi said in 2013 while participating in a panel discussion with political advisors from the science and technology sector at the annual session of the CPPCC National Committee.

Speaking of innovation, Anna Malindog-Uy, a professor and researcher with Manila-based think tank Philippines-BRICS Strategic Studies, told Xinhua that China's push for high-quality innovation and entrepreneurship "is no doubt a phenomenal success," which has led to the rapid transition of China to a new economic development phase based on high-tech production and national breakthrough technologies.

Because of these steps, she noted, the Chinese economy has transitioned to a more technology-driven one, adding that the Philippines should learn from China to tap economic potential and enhance competitiveness.

Kiyoyuki Seguchi, research director at Japan's Canon Institute for Global Studies, pointed out that innovation capacity will be the driving force of China's macro-economy in the future.

Aerial photo taken on Nov. 3, 2021 shows a wind power field in Luduo Township of Baoying County of Yangzhou, east China's Jiangsu Province. (Xinhua/Li Bo)

COORDINATED, GREEN DEVELOPMENT

In March 2021, Xi joined discussions with fellow lawmakers from northwest China's Qinghai Province, saying that local authorities should promote coordinated development between rural and urban areas, advance rural vitalization on all fronts, improve people's well-being and build a new socialist countryside that is beautiful, prosperous and harmonious.

Nadia Helmy, an assistant professor of political science at Egypt's Beni Suef University, said that China has followed a positive path in improving education, eliminating poverty and boosting development and prosperity in all provinces and cities.

The living standards of the Chinese people have improved and their rights have become better protected, Helmy observed, adding that China also shared its experience with the rest of world and made a great contribution to the international cause of human rights.

In March 2015, Xi asked the Chinese people to protect the environment as if they were "caring for one's own eyes and life," while reviewing the work report of the State Council together with national lawmakers from eastern Jiangxi Province.

"Protecting environment is ensuring livelihood," Xi stressed.

British author and political commentator Carlos Martinez said that China, as a responsible country with significant economic strength and technological capability, has ensured the Beijing Winter Olympics as the greenest games ever -- with zero-carbon venues, zero-carbon transport, low-carbon artificial snow production, and the re-use of venues.

This has set a crucial example for the world to battle climate breakdown, he added.

Aerial photo taken on Dec. 5, 2021 shows the sunrise scenery of the Yangpu international container port at Yangpu economic development zone in south China's Hainan Province. (Xinhua/Pu Xiaoxu)

OPENNESS

When joining a panel discussion attended by national political advisors from the economic sector in 2020, Xi called for unwavering efforts to make economic globalization more open, inclusive and balanced so that its benefits are shared by all, and to build an open world economy.

Cavince Adhere, a Kenya-based international relations scholar, said that China is a staunch supporter of multilateralism and economic globalization.

The Global Development Initiative, the Belt and Road Initiative and other initiatives proposed by China have shown that China is ready to build a new pattern of global cooperation with peace and development as its main pillars, said Adhere.

In the view of Serik Korzhumbayev, editor-in-chief of the Delovoy Kazakhstan newspaper, the international community has benefited from China's opening-up and gained experience in such fields as research and development of new technologies, information technology, industrial development and logistics.

A staff member checks vials of inactivated COVID-19 vaccine on an automated packaging line of Sinovac Life Sciences Co., Ltd. in Beijing, capital of China, Dec. 23, 2020. (Xinhua/Zhang Yuwei)

SHARED BY ALL

In a deliberation with fellow lawmakers from Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region at the third session of the 13th NPC in May 2020, Xi stressed acting on the people-centered philosophy in every aspect of work.

He also stressed adhering to "people first" in coordinating epidemic control and economic and social development.

Jose Ignacio Martinez Cortes, a researcher at the National Autonomous University of Mexico, said China reached out a helping hand in time during the critical period of the COVID-19 pandemic to Mexico and other countries.

He added that China has provided solid support to others in fighting COVID-19 and helped them tackle the pandemic and shortage of vaccines.

Humphrey Moshi, director of the Center for Chinese Studies at the University of Dar es Salaam of Tanzania, pointed out that China's success in poverty alleviation has set a good example for other countries and China's polices are practical and effective.

In particular, China's targeted poverty alleviation strategy has brought real changes to poor households, he noted, adding that developing countries, especially African countries, can learn from China's experience. 
People work at the construction site of the second phase of Iran's Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant in Bushehr, southern Iran, on Nov. 10, 2019. (Photo by Ahmad Halabisaz/Xinhua)

Iran and the IAEA agreed to exchange required documents by mid-June to settle remaining issues.

TEHRAN, March 5 (Xinhua) -- Iran and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on Saturday agreed to "exchange documents" by mid-June to settle remaining issues, official IRNA news agency reported.

Mohammad Eslami, head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI), made the remarks at a joint press conference with Rafael Grossi, visiting head of the IAEA in Iranian capital Tehran.

"Today, we reviewed the remaining issues with Mr. Grossi... and reached a conclusion. It was decided to exchange the required documents between Iran and the IAEA by the end of (Iranian month of) Khordad," which falls on June 21, said Eslami.

"At this stage of the negotiations in Vienna and in the final stages of the talks, one of the red lines of Iran is that the alleged cases should be closed forever and do not cause any inconvenience," he added.

Photo taken on Dec. 9, 2021 shows a meeting of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) Joint Commission in Vienna, Austria. (EU Delegation in Vienna/Handout via Xinhua)

Political influences and lobbying should not affect the decisions of the UN nuclear watchdog, Eslami said, adding that Iran and the IAEA should follow the issues in a completely professional way and behave within the framework of expertise, as there is no room for any political measures.

The AEOI head blamed Israel for creating "obstacles" in the way of Iran's "peaceful nuclear program," saying that if someone wants to obstruct the Vienna negotiations with false claims, Iran will use its authority and deal with it.

For his part, Grossi said that there are still some specific issues that need to be resolved hence, they had now "decided to try a practical, pragmatic approach" to overcome them.

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)

He stressed the Vienna talks and the Iran-IAEA cooperation are interrelated, adding if Iran and the IAEA do not reach an agreement on safeguards issues, it will be difficult to reach an agreement in the Austrian capital.

"It is very important to reach a mutual understanding for cooperation. Nuclear energy is very important for the development of countries, including Iran," he said.

Iran and the remaining parties to the 2015 nuclear deal, formally known as the JCPOA, are currently involved in negotiations in Vienna seeking to settle disputes about the revival of the JCPOA.

Iran signed the JCPOA with world powers in July 2015. However, former U.S. President Donald Trump pulled Washington out of the agreement in May 2018 and reimposed unilateral sanctions on Iran, which prompted the latter to drop some of its nuclear commitments one year later and advance its halted nuclear programs. 
BAMAKO, March 4 (Xinhua) -- Twenty-seven soldiers and 70 terrorists were killed in a terrorist attack against the Malian Armed Forces (FAMa) security post in Mondoro, in the center of the country, said a press release of the Malian government on Friday.

According to the press release, the post suffered "a complex attack" with the use of vehicle bombs Friday morning. Provisional toll is 27 dead, 33 injured, and 7 missing in the ranks of the FAMa, who also suffered significant material damage.

The special forces quickly deployed in the area killed 47 terrorists in the morning and 23 in the early afternoon.

Since 2012, Mali has been facing deep and multifaceted security, political and economic crises. Separatist insurrections, jihadi incursions and inter-communal violence have left thousands dead and hundreds of thousands more displaced in this West African country. 
Aerial photo taken on Dec. 1, 2021 shows the container terminal in Lianyungang, east China's Jiangsu Province. (Photo by Si Wei/Xinhua)

SHANGHAI, March 5 (Xinhua) -- China's index of export container transport edged down in the past week ending Friday, according to the Shanghai Shipping Exchange.

The average China Containerized Freight Index (CCFI) went down 1.1 percent to 3,388.59, said the exchange.

The sub-reading for the South America service led the decline with a week-on-week drop of 5.3 percent, followed by that for the Australia/New Zealand service, which went down 4 percent from the previous week.

Bucking the trend, the sub-reading for the Mediterranean service reported a week-on-week gain of 2.2 percent.

The CCFI tracks spot and contractual freight rates from Chinese container ports for 12 shipping routes across the globe, based on data from 22 international carriers.

The index was set at 1,000 on Jan. 1, 1998. 
Video: The United Nations Security Council held an emergency meeting on March 4, 2022 on the safety of nuclear facilities in Ukraine. (Xinhua)

"We encourage Russia and Ukraine to remain committed to the overall direction of political settlement, and reach a negotiated solution that accommodates the legitimate concerns of the two parties and contributes to Europe's lasting peace and security," says Zhang Jun.



UNITED NATIONS, March 5 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese envoy on Friday called on parties to the Ukraine conflict to act with caution and work together, with the assistance of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), to ensure the safety of relevant nuclear facilities inside Ukraine.

China pays close attention to the latest developments in Ukraine and expresses its concern over the relevant reports about the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, said Zhang Jun, China's permanent representative to the United Nations.

According to information the IAEA received from the Ukrainian nuclear authority, the main equipment of the nuclear power plant remains intact, and the level of radiation unchanged. China also takes note of the information and clarification provided by Russia on the relevant matters, Zhang told a Security Council emergency meeting.

Noting the Ukraine crisis is still undergoing complex changes, he said the most important thing right now is to ease tension, avoid more civilian casualties, intensify diplomatic efforts, and get back as soon as possible to the track of political settlement.

Zhang Jun, China's permanent representative to the United Nations, speaks during a Security Council emergency meeting at UN Headquarters in New York, March 4, 2022. (Xinhua/Xie E)

Russia and Ukraine have held two rounds of direct dialogue and negotiations and have reached preliminary agreement on setting up humanitarian corridors. China welcomes this and hopes that it can facilitate better protection of civilians and help with the safe evacuation of all foreign nationals, including Chinese nationals, Zhang said.

"We encourage Russia and Ukraine to remain committed to the overall direction of political settlement, and reach a negotiated solution that accommodates the legitimate concerns of the two parties and contributes to Europe's lasting peace and security," he said.

China welcomes all diplomatic efforts conducive to a political settlement, and China has played and will continue to play a constructive role to this end.

The international community should stay cool-headed and rational, and adopt a responsible, impartial and objective attitude in order to create a sound atmosphere and conditions for direct negotiations between the parties concerned, said Zhang.

"Any action must contribute to de-escalation and diplomatic settlement, rather than adding fuel to fire, leading to further escalation and deterioration of the situation." 
Chinese Premier Li Keqiang delivers a government work report at the opening meeting of the fifth session of the 13th National People's Congress at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 5, 2022. (Xinhua/Yao Dawei)

BEIJING, March 5 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier Li Keqiang started delivering a government work report on behalf of the State Council at the opening meeting of the fifth session of the 13th National People's Congress, held at the Great Hall of the People on Saturday morning. 
By Azernews





By Vugar Khalilov

Officers from Azerbaijan's Emergencies Ministry seized a batch of ammunition in Baku's Garadagh district, Azertag reported on March 4.

Following an inspection of the ammunition storage area in Garadagh, the ministry's mobile team specialists discovered two 125 mm BK-14M shells, two 125 mm OF-26 shells, one PQ-9 jet grenade, three OQ-9, one OQ-7V training grenade, nine PQ-9 jet grenades, and 33 PQ-7 VM and OQ-9 grenade parts.

The ammunition was removed from the area for defusing by rescue team specialists.

During the additional search at the scene and in the surrounding area, no other dangerous or suspicious objects were discovered.
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Rafael Grossi (L) and Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian (R) pose for pictures in Tehran, Iran, on March 5, 2022. (Iranian Foreign Ministry/Handout via Xinhua)



TEHRAN, March 5 (Xinhua) -- Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian highlighted on Saturday the need for an independent, professional and impartial approach by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to Iran, according to the foreign ministry website.

Abdollahian made the remarks during his meeting with visiting Rafael Grossi, director general of the UN nuclear watchdog, where he also stressed the importance of strengthening the agency's relations and cooperation with Iran in areas beyond oversight and inspection of nuclear facilities, including supporting Iran's peaceful nuclear industry.

During the meeting, the two sides described the cooperation between the IAEA and the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) as positive and successful.

In his earlier press conference with Mohammad Eslami, head of the AEOI, Grossi said they have "decided to try a practical, pragmatic approach" to the remaining specific issues that need to be resolved.

International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Rafael Grossi (2nd R) meets with Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian (3rd L) in Tehran, Iran, on March 5, 2022. (Iranian Foreign Ministry/Handout via Xinhua)



The Vienna talks and the Iran-IAEA cooperation are interrelated, he noted, adding it will be difficult to reach an agreement in the Austrian capital if Iran and the IAEA do not agree on safeguards issues.



Iran and the remaining parties to the 2015 nuclear deal, formally known as the JCPOA, are currently involved in negotiations in Vienna seeking to settle disputes on the revival of the JCPOA.

Iran signed the JCPOA with world powers in July 2015. However, former U.S. President Donald Trump pulled Washington out of the accord in May 2018 and reimposed unilateral sanctions on Iran, which prompted the latter to drop some of its nuclear commitments one year later and advance its halted nuclear program. 
Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, takes part in a deliberation with his fellow deputies from the delegation of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, at the fifth session of the 13th National People's Congress (NPC) in Beijing, capital of China, March 5, 2022. (Xinhua/Li Tao)

BEIJING, March 5 (Xinhua) -- Xi Jinping, General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC), President of the People's Republic of China and Chairman of the Central Military Commission, participated in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region delegation's deliberation at the Fifth Session of the 13th National People's Congress on Saturday.

Xi himself is a member of the delegation. He stressed that ethnic unity is the lifeline of all ethnic groups in the country and a strong sense of community is key to ethnic unity. Efforts must be made to strengthen such sense by furthering education on ethnic unity, he added. Efforts should also be made to let people cultivate the awareness that people from all ethnicities are in the same community, where they share weal and woe, stick together in life and death, Xi said. Seeds in a pomegranate are what Xi used to describe how all ethnic groups can stick together as long as the sense of Chinese nation as a community being the foundation for ethnic unity can be laid. Only with ethnic unity will people from all ethnic groups join hands in building our country, Xi said. A stable and healthy economic environment is important, and so is social stability and political integrity. Ethnic unity is essential to all these, Xi said. We must do a good job in all areas to greet the convening of the 20th National Congress of the CPC, he said.

The atmosphere was warm and active in the delegation's panel deliberation. Deputies Zhang Lei, Guo Yanling, Jia Run'an, Wang Xiaohong, Feng Yanli, Zhao Huijie and Shi Yudong shared their opinions with others on how the new development philosophy can be carried out in an accurate, extensive and down-to-earth manner in the conservation of grassland ecology. They also talked about how the philosophy can be materialized in furthering the coal chemical industry to contribute to carbon emissions peaking and carbon neutrality. Cultivating a sense of community for the Chinese nation can be integrated into the entire process of school education, they said. High-quality development, rural revitalization and better development of the dairy industry are also topics they talked about. Xi took down notes of what they said and once in a while would put in a word.

Having listened carefully to the deputies, Xi made a speech. First, he expressed approval of the Report on the Work of the Government and recognition of Inner Mongolia's work in the past year. He hoped that the people in Inner Mongolia would resolutely implement the decisions and arrangements of the CPC Central Committee, coordinate efforts in epidemic control and economic and social development, unswervingly follow the path of high-quality development that prioritizes ecological conservation and pursues green development, and fully fulfill their political responsibilities of safeguarding national ecological, energy, food and industrial security. He also hoped the region would forge a strong sense of community for the Chinese nation, push forward the full and rigorous self-governance of the Party, add more charm to the northern border region, and write a new chapter of high-quality development in the new era.

In 2021, China has made comprehensive advancements in reform, development and stability, with new and major achievements attained in the pursuit of the cause of the Party and the country, Xi noted. The CPC has solemnly celebrated the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Party, carried out the initiatives to study the Party's history, held the sixth plenary session of its 19th Central Committee, and adopted a resolution on the Party's historical experience and achievements over the past century. Having won the critical battle against poverty and completed the building of a moderately prosperous society in all respects on schedule, China is striding forward on a new journey toward the second centenary goal of fully building a modern socialist country. Always putting the people and their lives first, China has guarded against both imported COVID-19 cases and domestic resurgences, and adhered to a dynamic zero-COVID approach in a science-based and targeted way. While ensuring constant efforts on routine epidemic prevention and control, China has maintained a leading position in both economic growth rate and epidemic control globally, and got the 14th Five-Year Plan off to a good start. China has also successfully hosted the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympic Games by presenting a simple, safe and splendid event to the world. The Chinese athletes strived and achieved the country's best-ever results at the Winter Games. These achievements bear a great significance to the pursuit of the cause of the Party and the country.

Xi Jinping stressed that, in reviewing the Party and the people's endeavors in the new era, we have acquired a stronger understanding of the following:

First of all, upholding the overall Party leadership is the path we must take to stick to and develop socialism with Chinese characteristics. As long as we unswervingly uphold the overall Party leadership and safeguard the Party Central Committee's authority and centralized, unified leadership, we will definitely be able to ensure that the whole Party and the country have the strong political cohesiveness to unite the people to work together, develop confidence, bring together the strong power of innovation on the basis of what has been done in the past and unity as one to surmount all difficulties, and form an anchor for the nation in the face of adversity.

Second, socialism with Chinese characteristics is the path we must take to realize the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. As long as we unwaveringly keep to the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics, we will definitely be able to consistently see our people realize their aspirations for a better life and promote common prosperity for all the people.

Third, working hard in unity is the path the Chinese people must take to make historic achievements. As long as the people from all ethnic groups across the country, under the Party's leadership, unite together with one heart and one mind and bravely and readily stand out for ourselves, we will definitely be able to overcome all the difficulties and challenges on our road ahead, and continue to create new impressive miracles.

Fourth, putting into practice our new development philosophy is the path we must take to develop our country into a strong nation in the new era. As long as we apply the new development philosophy in full, in the right way and in all fields of endeavor, accelerate efforts to create a new development pattern, promote high-quality development and speed up strengthening our country's science and technology capacity, we will definitely be able to consistently improve the competitiveness and sustainability of our country's development, seize the initiative and embrace a good future in the increasingly fierce global competition.

Fifth, exercising full and rigorous self-governance of the Party is the path we must take to maintain the Party's vigor and vitality and ensure its success on the new journey. China's success hinges on the Party and its self-governance. As long as we make great efforts to carry forward the great founding spirit of the Party, stay true to our founding mission, have the courage to reform ourselves, consistently remove all elements that harm the Party's advanced nature and integrity and eliminate all viruses that erode its health, we will definitely be able to ensure that the Party preserves its essence, color and character.

Xi pointed out that China is a unified nation of many ethnic groups. Only when all ethnic groups live in unity and harmony can there be a prosperous country, a stable society and a happy people. Without ethnic unity and harmony, the country would decline, society would be destabilized and the people would suffer. The CPC Central Committee has made fostering a strong sense of community for the Chinese nation the main task in its work related to ethnic affairs in the new era. It is a major decision made to maintain the great unity of the Chinese nation and to realize the Chinese Dream of national rejuvenation. It is also an important conclusion drawn from a thorough review of the historical experience and lessons.

Xi stressed that what Inner Mongolia has achieved today is the results of the concerted efforts of people of all ethnic groups, and the bright future of the autonomous region would not be achieved without the unity and hard work of people of all ethnic groups. To foster a strong sense of community for the Chinese nation, we should not only deliver work that can be seen and felt, but also make much "inconspicuous and subtle" efforts. In order to foster a shared sense of belonging for the Chinese nation and to promote exchanges, interactions and integration among different ethnic groups, we should do various concrete and detailed work that can be seen and felt and be effective. Officials of all ethnic groups should fully comprehend and carry out the Party's ethnic theories and policies, and always bear in mind the overall work of the Party and the country and the overall interests of the Chinese nation when contemplating a problem, making a decision and doing their work. Any work that is conducive to fostering a strong sense of community for the Chinese nation should be done in a thorough, detailed and concrete manner. Any activity that is harmful to fostering such sense should be resolutely forbidden.

The requirements for fostering a strong sense of community for the Chinese nation should be carried out in relevant fields across the whole autonomous region, including historical and cultural education and publicity, construction of public cultural infrastructure and urban landmark structures, and exhibitions and displays in tourism sites. The relationship between the Chinese culture and the culture of an ethnic group must be dealt with properly. With all these efforts, we can lay a solid theoretical and cultural foundation for fostering a strong sense of community for the Chinese nation.

Xi pointed out that Inner Mongolia, as a border area with a large ethnic minority population, shoulders a major responsibility for safeguarding ethnic solidarity and the stability of our border. We should tell big pictures from observing details, be more mindful of difficulties ahead, maintain a strategic perspective, and take effective measures to guard against all types of risks and hidden dangers in the work related to ethnic affairs and ensure the security and stability on the north border of our country.

Xi also stressed that it is essential to respond to the COVID-19 and pursue economic and social development in a well-coordinated way. We should put into effect all measures for routine epidemic prevention and control, improve the mechanisms for routine containment and emergency response, give priority to epidemic control at port-of-entry areas, and ensure that no large-scale resurgences arise. We will take proactive and prudent steps to advance carbon emissions peaking and carbon neutrality initiatives. In light of our country's energy situation rich in coal and poor in oil and gas resources, we should act on the national plans and arrangements for carbon emissions peaking and carbon neutrality, apply systems thinking, stay committed to the principle of pursuing progress while ensuring stability step by step, and coordinate efforts to reduce carbon emissions, address pollution, promote green development, and maintain continued growth. When carrying out carbon reductions, we must also ensure the security of energy, food, and industrial and supply chains, as well as the normal life and work of our people. We must not distant ourselves from realities and rush for quick results.

With the attitude and resolve to persevere in the never-ending fight against corruption, we have made integrated efforts to see that officials do not have the opportunity, desire, or audacity to engage in corruption. We remain firm in fighting corruption, removing its roots, and clearing away its negative influence. We will make strictly carrying out intra-Party political activities as the basic groundwork for further ensuring full and rigorous self-governance of the Party, and work faster to ensure intra-Party political activities are carried out in a healthy and procedure-based way, Xi said.

We will consolidate what we have achieved in studying the history of the CPC, set up long-term institutions, and educate and guide Party members and officials in taking the study and application of the CPC history as a lifelong compulsory task. We will remain confident in our history, raise our political awareness, carry forward the great founding spirit of the CPC, and forge ahead with confident strides on the new journey and make still greater achievements in the new era, Xi said. 
HERAT, Afghanistan, March 5 (Xinhua) -- Five members of a family were stabbed to death in Afghanistan's western Herat province, a provincial official said on Saturday.

"The incident happened late on Friday night when unidentified individuals broke into a house, stabbing to death a man, a woman and three children in Khawja Surma village, Enjil district," Sabit Heravi, a spokesman to provincial intelligence directorate, told Xinhua.

The motive behind the deadly attack was not clear, and an investigation was still on to identify and arrest the murderers, the source added.

The province, some 640 km to the west of Kabul, capital of Afghanistan, has suffered insecurity in terms of theft, kidnapping and other criminal activities. 
Afghan police officers take part in a graduation ceremony in Kabul, Afghanistan, March 5, 2022. A total of 377 recruits graduated as police officers from the Afghan National Police Academy at a ceremony held here on Saturday. (Photo by Saifurahman Safi/Xinhua)

KABUL, March 5 (Xinhua) -- A total of 377 recruits graduated as police officers from the Afghan National Police Academy at a ceremony held here on Saturday.

"All qualified graduates will begin their careers in the armed forces to serve the nation," said Sheikh Mohammad Nazar Shinwari, commander of the academy.

Among the high-ranking officials who attended the ceremony were Deputy Prime Minister Mawlawi Abdul Salam Hanafi and acting Minister of Interior Khalifa Sirajuddin Haqqani.

The Taliban-led caretaker government has been working to establish a 350,000-strong security forces, Hanafi said in his address to the ceremony, adding that the members of the proposed army and police would be well-trained and disciplined.

In addition, Haqqani told the ceremony that efforts were underway to improve the professionalism of the national police and build the capacity of police personnel since the takeover of Afghanistan by the Taliban in August 2021.

Haqqani also called on security forces members who have left the country after the Taliban's takeover to return, saying that there would be no threat to them under the amnesty announced by the caretaker government.

The recruits also held a parade during the ceremony, showing their abilities to combat drug trafficking, kidnapping and crimes. 

Acting Minister of Interior of the Taliban-led caretaker government Khalifa Sirajuddin Haqqani (front R) attends a graduation ceremony in Kabul, Afghanistan, March 5, 2022. A total of 377 recruits graduated as police officers from the Afghan National Police Academy at a ceremony held here on Saturday. (Photo by Saifurahman Safi/Xinhua)
New Delhi:

As experts have advised to reduce mass gatherings to avoid the spread of coronavirus scare, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Wednesday that he will not to participate in any Holi milan programme. Taking to Twitter, PM Modi wrote, Experts across the world have advised to reduce mass gatherings to avoid the spread of COVID19 Novel Coronavirus. Hence this year, I have decided not to participate in any Holi milan programme, the PM tweeted. This year, Holi is on March 10.

With the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) virus spreading to more countries and two more confirmed cases reported in India, seaports and airports have been put under high alert.

As concerns over the spread of the virus mounted, Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a high-profile meeting to review the inter-departmental preparedness to combat outbreak in India. The Prime Minister took to Twitter to appeal for calm. There is no need to panic. We need to work together, take small yet important measures to ensure self-protection, PM Modi tweeted along with a set of preventive measures.

Talking about the key meet, PM Modi said that, had an extensive review regarding preparedness on the COVID-19 Novel Coronavirus. Different ministries & states are working together, from screening people arriving in India to providing prompt medical attention (sic).

On Tuesday, two private schools in Noida were shut for next few days after father of one of their students tested positive for coronavirus, while several people, including his family members, were quarantined or kept in isolation as authorities stepped up prevention efforts including extending suspension of existing regular and e visas to nationals of four other affected countries.

Meanwhile, the Union Health Ministry said all regular visas/e-visas granted on or before March 3 to nationals of Italy, Iran, South Korea and Japan, who have not yet entered India, stand suspended in view of the emerging global scenarios regarding COVID19 disease.

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New Delhi:

The Delhi Police crime branch will only investigate murder cases that were filed after the violence in northeast part of the national capital, sources said on Wednesday. They said the cases of riots with section pertaining to murder will be investigated by the special investigation team (SIT) of the crime branch, while regular police teams would probe rest of the cases. Police have registered four FIRs against expelled AAP councillor Tahir Hussain and his house was searched and he was found absconding, police said, adding efforts are being made to arrest him.

Shahrukh Pathan, whose picture of pointing a gun at an unarmed policeman during the communal riots in Northeast Delhi went viral, was on Tuesday arrested from Uttar Pradesh's Shamli district. On Wednesday, Pathan was taken to Shamli for the recovery of pistol and other things he used him during the period. Police said the pistol that he had used during the violence to open fire, is yet to be recovered. They are also verifying if any police cases were registered against him outside Delhi. On February 23, clashes broke out between pro and anti-CAA groups near Jaffrabad in northeast Delhi.

The violence in Jaffrabad, Maujpur, Babarpur, Chand Bagh, Shiv Vihar, Bhajan Pura, Yamuna Vihar and Mustafabad areas of northeast Delhi claimed at least 42 lives and left over 200 injured. A large number of properties have been damaged as frenzied mobs had torched houses, shops, vehicles, a petrol pump and pelted stones at locals and police personnel.

Meanwhile, Rahul Gandhi along with other Congress leaders on Wednesday visited a school gutted in communal clashes and interacted with affected people in northeast Delhi where police continued to maintain a tight vigil to restore confidence among residents. The police have been conducting flag march and holding meetings with the locals in Jaffrabad, Maujpur, Babarpur, Chand Bagh, Shiv Vihar, Bhajanpura, Yamuna Vihar and Mustafabad where the violence, that started during the protests over the amended Citizenship Act, was the most intense.

The police said they have registered 531 cases, and 1,647 people have either been detained or arrested. Delhi Police Commissioner SN Shrivastava met Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla in Parliament.

"Everything is under control and we are on top of the situation," he told PTI after the hour-long meeting. Hundreds of traumatised people were still staying in relief camps and elsewhere after escaping the violence which erupted on February 23 and continued for the next three days.

Khajuri resident Abdul Wahab, who has taken refuge in Chandu Nagar, said his house was destroyed by rioters and now he is left with no money now. His biggest worry, he said, is how to take care of children now. Shabnam, who also lost her house as well her employment, faces the same problem. "I lost my house in the riots. The scrap shop I worked in was also destroyed. Now I don't know how to sustain," she said.

The Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) stepped in to help its former jawan Aish Mohammed with a cheque of Rs 11 lakh as his house was damaged in the clashes.
Chennai:

Veteran DMK leader K Anbhazhagan passed away in Chennai on Saturday following a brief illness. A nine-time MLA, Anbhazhagan was the party's general secretary for 43 years. He had been staying away from active politics for some time due to his illness.

Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) chief M K Stalin said, "Anbhazhagan (98), the seniormost DMK leader and a close friend of late party patriarch M Karunanidhi, was not keeping well for some time due to age-related ailments and was admitted to the Apollo Hospitals on February 24 after his health conditions deteriorated."

In a statement, Stalin said Anbhazhagan passed away at 1 am and party flags would fly at half mast for seven days. "All the DMK programmes were postponed for a week," he added.

Also Read: Coronavirus Outbreak Live Updates | Positive Cases In India Rises To 31, Harsh Vardhan To Meet PM Modi LIVE

Known as "Perasiriyar" (professor) in the DMK circles, Anbhazhagan had served as the Tamil Nadu finance minister and minister of public welfare. Stalin had visited the ailing DMK leader when he was admitted to the hospital. After his demise, Anbhazhagan's was taken to his residence in the city.

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New Delhi:

A Delhi court is expected to issue fresh date for the execution of four death-row convicts in the 2012 Nirbhaya gang rape and murder case on Thursday. The Delhi government had moved to the court on Wednesday seeking fresh death warrants for the four convicts saying their all legal remedies are exhausted. The government made the move after President Ram Nath Kovind rejected the mercy petition of Pawan Kumar Gupta, one of the four convicts, in the case. The President has already rejected the mercy petitions of Mukesh Kumar Singh, Vinay Sharma and Akshay Singh Thakur.

The trial court had on February 17 had issued a fresh date, March 3 at 6 am, for the execution of death warrants for the four convicts -- Mukesh (32), Pawan (25), Vinay (26) and Akshay (31) -- in the case. However, the court on Monday had to defer the hanging the convicts till further order due to Pawan's mercy plea being pending. The execution of their death warrants has been deferred thrice so far due to delays by them in exhausting legal remedies. All the convicts in the case are to be hanged together.

A 23-year-old physiotherapy intern, who came to be known as 'Nirbhaya' (fearless), was gang raped and savagely assaulted in a moving bus in South Delhi on December 16, 2012. She had died after a fortnight due to her injuries. Six people, including the four convicts and a juvenile, were named as accused. Ram Singh, the sixth accused, allegedly committed suicide in Tihar jail days after the trial began in the case. The juvenile was released in 2015 after spending three years in a correctional home.

(With PTI Inputs)

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New Delhi:

The Central government on Friday asked all the ministries and departments to exempt their employees from marking biometric attendance till March 31, 2020. "In view of coronavirus, all Ministries/Departments are requested to exempt their employees to mark biometric attendance in Aadhaar-based Biometric Attendance System till 31 March, 2020. However, all employees are required to mark their attendance in the register," the government said in a statement.

The move is part of preventive measures taken by the government to stop COVID-19 from spreading. "Though only a small number of novel coronavirus cases are reported in our country but keeping in view the nature of the virus, it is a must to take all possible preventive measures to stop the spread of the virus," the statement reads.

"It is learnt that the most common method of transmission of virus seems to be through infected surfaces. Therefore, it is desirable to avoid touching surfaces, which might be infected due to human touch," it added.

Family members quarantined

Meanwhile, seven family members of a man who tested positive for coronavirus after his visit to Thailand have been quarantined at their residence in west Delhi, a health official said on Friday.

The 25-year-old man, who also travelled to Malaysia, has tested positive for COVID-19, taking the total number of confirmed coronavirus cases in the national capital to three.

"The family of the patient comprising his wife, parents, brother, sister-in-law and their two kids has been home quarantined. Their samples have been taken for testing," the Delhi government health official said.

The office of the patient, who has been shifted to the Safdarjung Hopsital for treatment, is in Gurgaon but he operated from his residence.

"The patient, his wife, brother and sister-in-law worked from home," the official said, adding that they are trying to trace the other people the patient came in contact with. A Paytm employee who tested positive for coronavirus is also a resident of west Delhi.

So far, 31 people have tested positive for coronavirus in India, according to the Union Health Ministry.

With PTI Inputs

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Saudi-based Umm Al Qura for Development and Construction said it has signed an agreement with Al Diar Al Arabiya Company for the construction of 10 new residential towers at Masar residential community development within Makkah city at an investment of SR3 billion ($798 million).

Masar is an urban destination with a development and investment vision that enhances the quality of life for the residents of Makkah and its guests of pilgrims and Umrah pilgrims, and is characterised by its strategic location in the centre of the Saudi city.

The development of Masar destination, where King Abdul Aziz Road is the core component, has been carefully planned according to a modern holistic concept based on complementary, interrelated foundations, including environmental and urban aspects, stated the Saudi developer.

Located on a 1.25 million sq m area in Makkah, the project boasts a 3,650-m-long boulevard as a natural extension of Makkah mosque in addition to green spaces, and many integrated cultural and social facilities.

It also encompasses two malls, together with five, four and three-star international hotels and serviced apartments. Once complete, the project will offer 33,300 parking lots.

According to Umm Al Qura, the plans take into account the geological aspects of Makkah, especially where the implementation of utilities such as car parking facility, telecommunications, electricity and the sewage network are concerned.-TradeArabia News Service
New Delhi:

The Supreme Court has refused to scrap the SSC CGL 2017 Exam. Earlier, SSC CGL Paper Leak petition was filed in the Supreme Court to put a stay order on issuing the joining letter to the shortlisted candidates in the SSC Combined Graduate Level (CGL) Examination 2017. The Supreme Court also formed a seven-member committee with the objective to make entrance examinations for jobs and admission to educational institutions fool proof.

SSC CGL 2017 Paper Leak

The SSC CGL Paper Leak petition was filed by advocate Gaurav Gupta in the context of several malpractices and use of unfair means that came into light during the SSC CGL 2017 exam. The petition filed by Gaurav Gupta said, "During the conduct of CGLE-17 on February 21, 2018, several malpractices and illegalities came to light. The irregularities reported related to cheating through screen sharing software, sharing of answer key on social media even before the commencement of the exam.

2017 SSC examination paper leak petitions in the Supreme Court: Supreme Court refuses to scrap the 2017 CGL (Combined Graduate Level) examinations conducted by the SSC  ANI (@ANI) March 5, 2020

Also Read: SSC CHSL Tier 1 2019 Admit Card Released For These Regions, Get Direct Link Here

Earlier, a plea was also filed by Shantanu Kumar that demanded to look thoroughly into the case of SSC CGL Paper Leak 2017 case and charge sheets filed by CBI. The plea also sought to look after the bail orders that were passed by a trail court in the context of SSC CGL Question paper 2017 leak case. The plea filed by Kumar said, "seeking interim directions to stay the entire process of CGLE-2017, and for issuance of directions for staying the issuance of joining letters/appointment letters to the selected candidates until the submission of the report".

The plea was sought to restrict the Staff Selection Commission for conducting any further Combined Graduate Level Exam until a concrete report on the SSC CGL 2017 Paper Leak case is presented.
New Delhi:

8950000946  In case you are living in Delhi-NCR, this is the number you need save in your mobile phone today! No, this is not about any lucrative scheme. This is the Delhi governments special helpline number that can help you in fighting the menace of inflammatory messages on the social media after the communal violence. The WhatsApp number was issued by the Delhi State Assemblys Committee on Peace and Harmony. In the advertisements published in the national dailies on Thursday, the officials have urged the people to remain vigilant about provocative messages. Attention! Sharing inflammatory messages on WhatsApp can land you in jail for three years, the ad said. If you find anyone sharing communally inflammatory messages or video on WhatsApp or any social media (Facebook, twitter, Instagram, etc) then immediately send the screenshot or the video to us on the number, the circular added. Also, if an FIR is lodged on the basis of the complaint, the person will be get a reward of Rs 10,000.

Swaraj India leader and senior political expert Yogendra Yadav took a dig at the authorities over the WhatsApp helpline. But delivering inflammatory speeches in public with a police officer standing next to you will get you Y-security. @DelhiPolice has its priorities set right, Yadav said on the micro-blogging site. Yadav was refereeing to the recent development over increased security cover for BJPs Kapil Mishra, who is known for making several controversial speeches.

Mishra has been in limelight since his call for pro-CAA march in North-East Delhi just a day before the riots erupted in the region. Many people have accused Mishra of instigating the violence. The Delhi BJP leader who lost the state elections last month from Model Town constituency has defended himself saying that he never wanted any kind of violence but was against people blocking roads in name of protests.

The worst violence that National Capital has witnessed in last four decades, 48 people have died and nearly 300 have been injured. A strange disquiet looms over the areas of North-East Delhi. An Aaj Tak report said that the civic authorities recovered 20 tonnes of bricks and stones from the roads of the area. The Home Minister is facing extra scrutiny as the Delhi Police comes under his purview. The Opposition has repeatedly raised allegations against the Delhi Police for its apathy and inaction during the peak of Delhi riots. A civic society report found out that hundreds of distress calls by panicked residents were not answered by the cops for nearly 72 hours.

(With agency inputs)
New Delhi:

One more case of novel coronavirus was reported in Ghaziabad in the national capital region, taking the total number in the country to 30 so far, official sources said on Thursday. The patient is a middle-aged man with a recent travel history to Iran, they said. Amid rising cases of coronavirus, the Union Health Ministry on Thursday asked states to form rapid response teams at district, block and village levels, stating cases of community transmission have been observed. As of now, the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in the country stands at 30, including 16 Italian tourists. The figure includes the first three cases reported from Kerala last month who have already been discharged following recovery.

Earlier today, a leading Indian researcher and scientist said that four of five people who have tested positive for coronavirus will get better on their own and there is no need for Indians to panic about the viral outbreak yet. Testing for the disease should also be done only when recommended, said Gagandeep Kang as the number of coronavirus cases in India rose to 30, including 16 Italian tourists as well as three patients in Kerala who have recovered.

Also Read | Rahul Gandhi Must Be Screened For Coronavirus Infection, Says Nagaur MP Hanuman Beniwal

"Please let public health authorities know about exposure to known infected persons or travel to areas where infections are known to be prevalent," the Christian Medical College professor, who last year became the first Indian woman to be elected fellow of the Royal Society in London, told PTI in an interview. Noting that all treatments are not curative but only supportive at the moment, she said four of five people will get better on their own and may need nothing more than drugs like paracetamol for fever and cough.

"The fifth person may need to see a doctor or be hospitalised. If you have breathing difficulty, you should see a doctor as soon as possible," said Kang, also vice-chair of the Norway-based International Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) that aims to derail epidemics by speeding up the development of vaccines.

For everyone, there is no need to worry too much or panic. We are exposed to viruses every day. Make sure you wash your hands well, wipe down or use disinfectants on surfaces. Avoid touching your face, she said. The coronavirus (CoV) is a large family of viruses that causes illnesses ranging from the common cold to acute respiratory syndromes. COVID-19 that has killed over 3,000 people worldwide and infected more than 90,000 is a novel strain not seen before.

Over 53,000 people have recovered from the infection globally, according to an interactive map compiled by the Johns Hopkins Center for Systems Science and Engineering. The World Health Organisation has already declared the outbreak a global emergency, stopping short of terming it a pandemic. Nose and throat swabs are used as specimens for detecting the coronavirus.

The test takes at least 12-24 hours for the confirmation. It a gene-based assay called polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and a more sensitive form called reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RTPCR). According to Kang, known for her inter-disciplinary research studying the transmission, development and prevention of intestinal infections, there are still more cases of flu in India and around the world than of the COVID-19.

Also Read | MP: Congress Accuses BJP Of Abducting 14 MLAs, Says 'Fever' To Destabilise State Govts Rises Before Rajya Sabha Polls

This is important to know and understand. It looks like this infection causes diseases that are more severe than the flu, but less severe than Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), she said. SARS is a viral respiratory illness caused by a coronavirus called SARS-associated coronavirus (SARS-CoV). At the moment, it seems that COVID-19, unlike the flu, does not cause severe disease in children.

It does, however, cause more severe disease in the elderly, and in people who have cardiovascular disease, hypertension and diabetes, said Kang, who was awarded the prestigious Infosys Prize in Life Sciences in 2016. She said many drugs against the viral infection are being tested, including vaccines which may be ready by next year.

There are currently no vaccines, but there are many in development. If all goes well with vaccine development efforts we might have a vaccine next year. But vaccine candidates do not always succeed, she said. Kang emphasised that people must inform public health authorities if they suspect they have been exposed to the virus.

She also advised people to work from home if they have a fever and a cough. Stay six-10 feet away from people who are coughing or sneezing, she said. Remember that with most respiratory viruses, most people exposed and sick with relatively minor symptoms recover and have some protection against reinfection, she said.

Kang added that with the novel coronavirus, getting infected does not mean that every infected person will be severely ill. The scientist is also executive director of the Translational Health Science and Technology Institute (THSTI), an autonomous institution of the Department of Biotechnology.

(With agency inputs)

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New Delhi:

India celebrates Shaheed Diwas on March 23 to remember the sacrifices of three brave freedom fighters Bhagat Singh, Shivaram Rajguru and Sukhdev Thapar who hanged for launching an attack on British officials, ending up in the death of John P. Saunders. The young revolutionaries had a dream for free India that they so badly wanted but did not live to see.

Considered one of the most influential revolutionaries of the Indian Independence Movement Bhagat Singh, along with his contemporaries were hanged in the Lahore jail by Britishers. Their bodies were then cremated on the banks of the Sutlej River in Firozepur district of Punjab. Bhagat Singh could not be silenced even after his death as his revolutionary words paved the path for many young revolutionaries who wanted to free India from colonial rule and continue to inspire the youth of every generation.

Here are some of his inspirational words because as Bhagat Singh says,

Bombs and pistols do not make a revolution. The sword of revolution is sharpened on the whetting stone of ideas.

A rebellion is not a revolution. It may ultimately lead to that end.

"By crushing individuals they cannot kill ideas.

The aim of life is no more to control the mind, but to develop it harmoniously; not to achieve salvation here after, but to make the best use of it here below".

Every tiny molecule of Ash is in motion with my heat I am such a Lunatic that I am free even in Jail.

But man's duty is to try and endeavour, success depends upon chance and environments.

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Pune:

In what could be a major breakthrough in the murder case of rationalist Narendra Dabholkar, the CBI has recovered a firearm from a creek in neighbouring Thane district of Maharashtra, sources in the probe agency said. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) hired services of a foreign sea explorer agency to search and recover the firearm used in the killing of Dabholkar.

The CBI earlier claimed in a Pune court that one of the accused shooter, Sharad Kalaskar, dismantled the firearm used in commission of the crime and threw it in a creek in Thane.

"A weapon has been recovered during the search operation, but whether it is related to the crime or not will only be confirmed after the ballistic report from the forensic laboratory," a CBI official told PTI on Thursday, on condition of anonymity. He, however, refused to divulge any further details about the recovered weapon.

Advocate Sanjeev Punalekar, one of the accused in the case who was arrested and is currently on bail, is alleged to advised Kalaskar to destroy the firearms used in the crime. Punalekar, before his arrest, had represented members of the Sanatan Sanstha and other activists in various cases in courts.

The CBI earlier claimed that during the investigation, it came to light that in June 2018, Kalaskar visited Punalekar's chamber in Mumbai where he explained his role in the killing of Dabholkar.

"Punalekar then told Kalaskar to destroy the firearms used in the killings, including of journalist Gauri Lankesh (in Bengaluru)," the CBI earlier claimed before the Pune court.

The agency also told the court that on July 23, 2018, Kalaskar dismantled four country-made pistols (by taking out barrels and sliders) and threw them from a bridge in Thane creek while on way to Nallasopara (in adjoining Palghar district) from Pune.

Dabholkar, a well-known anti-superstition activist, was shot dead on August 20, 2013 in Pune.

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New Delhi:

As Yes Bank crisis deepens with every passing hour, everyone is waiting for the ultimate bailout package that will soothe the frayed nerves of troubled corporate investors and retail customers. Reserve Bank of India Governor Shaktikanta Das may have hailed the swift action by the central bank, the ground reality is people are worried and panicked depositors can be seen outside every ATM across India. Similar scenes are playing out, which many say are the rerun of the PMC and demonetisation days! Indian Twitter is abuzz with wild speculations on the whereabouts of Yes Bank founder Rana Kapoor. Netizens are drawing comparisons between Kapoor and absconding businessman Vijay Mallya and Naresh Goyal, former boss of now-grounded Jet Airways. So, what is everyone talking about? Heres a lowdown on top Twitter trends. Cautionary note - News Nation doesnt vouch for the authenticity of Twitter claims.

These are the top five talking points on Indian Twitter about Yes Bank crisis:
Under the US-Taliban pact signed in Doha, the US has agreed to reduce its troops in Afghanistan from 13,000 to 8,600. (Photo Credit: Twitter/ @realDonaldTrump)

Washington:

US President Donald Trump spoke to deputy Taliban leader Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar and discussed progress towards achieving peace in Afghanistan, the White House has said, the first known call between an American president and the militant group. The historic telephonic conversation took place a day after the Taliban ended the partial truce amidst renewed violence in the war-torn country, raising doubt over the intra-Afghan negotiations that are scheduled to begin on March 10.

During the call on Tuesday, Trump emphasised the need to continue the reduction in violence, which made possible the signing of the historic United States-Taliban agreement on February 29, the White House said in a readout of the telephonic conversation.

The president stated that the US stands ready to continue its support for the Afghan people as they pursue a peace settlement, it said.

Also Read: 'Will Meet Taliban Leaders In Not-Too-Distant Future': Donald Trump After Peace Deal

He (Trump) also urged the Taliban to participate in intra-Afghan negotiations with representatives of the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, as well as other Afghans, with the goal of ending more than 40 years of war, the White House said.

I spoke to the leader of the Taliban today. We had a very good talk, Trump told reporters. After 18 years of war, the US and the Taliban signed the peace deal in Doha on Saturday to facilitate intra-Afghan dialogue in Oslo this month and the withdrawal of all foreign forces from Afghanistan in 14 months.

p>In Doha in the presence of Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, Baradar had signed the agreement with the US. Special US Representative for Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad had signed the agreement on behalf of the United States.

The intra-Afghan negotiations are due to begin on March 10, according to the US-Taliban deal, but a dispute over prisoner swap has raised questions. The agreement includes a commitment for the Taliban to release up to 1,000 prisoners and for the Afghan government to free around 5,000 insurgent captivessomething the militants have cited as a prerequisite for talks.

Also Read: May Never Be Excited About A Crowd Again After Going To India, Says US President Donald Trump

However, President Ashraf Ghani has refused to do it before the negotiations begin. Under the US-Taliban pact signed in Doha, the US has agreed to reduce its troops in Afghanistan from 13,000 to 8,600 in the next 130 days and withdraw all its soldiers in 14 months.

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New Delhi:

Tahir Hussain, accused in the murder of IB personnel Ankit Sharma during the violence in Northeast Delhi, was arrested by Delhi Police on Thursday. Tahir Hussain was arrested while attempting to surrender in the Rouse Avenue Court. He had moved a surrender plea before Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (ACMM) Vishal Pahuja through his lawyer Mukesh Kalia, according to ANI. However, the court rejected the plea sying the matter was not in its jurisdiction.

Ankit Sharma, whose body was found in a drain near his home in Jaffrabad, was allegedly attacked by a mob and stabbed to death on his way home during the violence that erupted in the region on Ferbruary 24. The post-mortem report indicated multiple stab wounds across his body. His family had accused Hussain and his supporters of killing Sharma.

The suspended Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) councillor has been absconding since being booked in the murder case.

Hussain has denied the allegations and said his family and he "went to a safe place in the presence of police on 24th" and never returned home after that. Delhi Police Commissioner SN Shrivastava has said that the police were taking appropriate legal action against Hussain and would soon present him before the law.

Meanwhile, Hussian has also been booked in an attempt to murder case during the violence. According to sources, the new case has been lodged in the Khazuri Khas police station. The complainant, who received a bullet injury during the Delhi violence, has said in the FIR that Hussain was among the rioters who opened fire at him.

(With Agency Inputs)
New Delhi:

The Supreme Court on Thursday said it will hear pleas challenging the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) after arguments in the Sabarimala matter are over. A bench headed by Chief Justice S A Bobde said this after senior advocate Kapil Sibal sought urgent hearing of CAA matters and said that till date, the Centre has not filed a reply in the matter.

Attorney General K K Venugopal told the bench also comprising justices B R Gavai and Surya Kant that the Centre would be filing a reply in a few days.

A nine-judge bench is re-examining various religious issues, including the entry of women into the Sabarimala temple and mosques, and the practice of female genital mutilation in the Dawoodi Bohra community.

The Supreme Court on Thursday said it will set up a vacation bench for the seven-day Holi break to hear urgent matters. A bench headed by Chief Justice S A Bobde said it will not be on the day of Holi but during the week. Till now, the apex court had a vacation bench during the summer break of nearly two months. The CJI made the statement after a lawyer mentioned a case and sought urgent hearing.

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New Delhi:

As the world is grappling with the COVID-19 outbreak, a Lok Sabha lawmaker made a cryptic demand that triggered protest by the Congress leaders in the Lower House on Thursday. Hanuman Beniwal, Rashtriya Loktantrik Partys MP from Rajasthan, asked the Narendra Modi for Rahul Gandhis thermal screening to detect coronavirus infection. This did not go down well with the Congress lawmakers and they asked Beniwal to apologise for the inappropriate remark. Not just the Wayanad MP, Beniwal also asked screening for interim Congress chief Sonia Gandhi. The Lok Sabha was adjourned due to the pandemonium. So far, Beniwal has not issued any apology or clarification about his remark in the Lower House. Coronavirus LIVE UPDATES

Beniwal is not the first or only leader who has asked for Gandhis screening over COVID-19 scare. On Wednesday, BJP lawmaker Ramesh Bidhuri said that Rahul Gandhi should disclose details about his recent foreign travel. "Rahul Gandhi has recently returned from Italy. I don't know if he was checked at the airport. Before going among the people, he should first tell whether he underwent medical checkup for detection of coronavirus. It is important for the safety of the people," Bidhuri said after Gandhi visited the violence-affected areas Wednesday. The coronavirus that was first reported from Chinas Wuhan has claimed 3,286 lives across the world.

As per latest reports, 95,509 cases have been reported globally. Around 50,000 patients have recovered from the COVID-19 disease. Meanwhile, former Congress chief has slammed the Modi government over lack of preparedness to fight coronavirus. The Health Minister saying that the Indian Govt has the #coronavirus crisis under control, is like the Capt of the Titanic telling passengers not to panic as his ship was unsinkable. It's time the Govt made public an action plan backed by solid resources to tackle this crisis, Gandhi said on Twitter.

Gandhi has been raising concerns over the coronavirus infection since long. In a February 12 tweet, he had said coronavirus is an extremely serious threat to "our people and our economy". "My sense is the government is not taking this threat seriously. Timely action is critical," he had said. Earlier this week, Gandhi had hit out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the detection of fresh coronavirus cases in the country, saying he should quit wasting India's time "playing the clown" with his social media accounts when India is facing an emergency. With the message of "Here's how it's done", Gandhi had also tweeted a video of Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong addressing Singaporeans on how to deal with the coronavirus. The number of coronavirus cases in India is 29, including 16 Italians, the government had said on Wednesday, adding all international passengers will now be screened at airports, amid growing concern over the spread of the respiratory infection.

(With agency inputs)

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Technology Innovation Institute (TII), a global research centre and applied research pillar of Abu Dhabi's Advanced Technology Research Council (ATRC), has announced the launch of its Advanced Materials Research Centres (AMRC) Impact Lab.

The new project marks a first for the Mena region and provides an ideal testbed for trialling state-of-the-art materials, laminates and composites.

The cutting-edge lab is well aligned with the AMRC's vision to bring advanced materials to a stage where they are ready to transition from lab to industry.

Tests are conducted under a range of impact-related environments, from assessing structures on their velocities, temperatures and energy absorption rates. The state-of-the-art equipment will be used to evaluate the behaviour of the materials that help develop breakthrough solutions, said the statement from TII.

Capable of characterising metallic, polymeric, ceramic and composite materials at speed into prototypes with real-world applications, the key outcomes that the lab is presently working towards will help prevent space rovers from crashing and create helmets, bumpers, tyres, and car batteries that can withstand explosions  to highlight just a few. Innovative lightweight structures designed to absorb impact energy can also be used in helmets for sport, riding motorcycles, and horseback riding.

The AMRCs research team attributes these findings to impact and material science, it added.

On the achievement, CEO Dr Ray O. Johnson said: "This is an extremely encouraging note on which to start the new year. We are confident that our research centres will continue to achieve similar wins  one breakthrough at a time."

"At the TII, we are committed to offering our researchers an enabling environment to work on their collaborative and proprietary research projects and fast-track innovations to the marketplace," he added.

Dr Mohamed AlTeneiji, Chief Researcher, Advanced Materials Research Centre, said: "We are proud to launch this lab, the outcome of months of planning and hard work, to ensure that it is capable of testing new technologies related to materials impact, and new manufacturing processes."

"We aim to provide cutting-edge tech solutions to companies in the UAE and around the world, and to contribute through developing IP and filing patents to the regions tech autonomy," he added.

Among the futuristic tech devices available at the lab is the Universal Testing Machine that determines the materials tensile, compression, and bending properties. The Split Hopkinson Pressure Bar, a first in the region, measures the material properties during impact and can read temperatures from as low as -60 C to as high as 225 C.

The Gas-Gun Projectile Launcher is also one of a kind in the Middle East. Capable of simulating ballistic, space debris, or bird impacts on aircraft, this device launches a gas-like substance at up to 1,000 m/s with a high-velocity impact.

Meanwhile, the Drop Tower studies effects on material structures similar to those in a car crash or on a helmet following an accident. The machine can configure impacts of up to 25 m/s in a low-velocity impact setting, allowing researchers to optimise results to meet user needs and step up the safeguards to cushion them from severe impacts.

Dr Rafael Santiago, Lead Researcher on the Energy Absorption team at the AMRC, said the Impact Lab was fully compliant with international safety regulations and equipped with cutting-edge facilities to study and explore new materials to analyse their impact and blast properties.

With such experiments being conducted in the region for the first time, he hoped the lab could provide new solutions to pressing challenges in the real world - for the wider benefit of progressing the science, noted Dr Santiago.

One of 10 initial dedicated research centres at TII AMRC was established to create a global centre of excellence in the development of applied research on metals and composites, including meta-, nano-, smart-, self-healing-, energy absorbing-, and additive manufacturing materials, he added.
The number of coronavirus cases in India reached 31, including 16 Italians touring through Rajasthan, the government announced on Wednesday. (Photo Credit: File)

New Delhi:

An employee of Paytm in Gurugram has tested positive for novel coronavirus, the company said in a statement on Wednesday. It said the employee had recently returned from a vacation in Italy, one of the worst-hit countries from coronavirus. Paytm has advised all its employees to work from home for the next couple of days while the Gurugram unit gets sanitised, according to the statement.

"One of our colleagues based out of Gurgaon office who recently returned from Italy has sadly been tested positive for Coronavirus. He is receiving appropriate treatment. As a precautionary measure, we have suggested his team members to get health tests done immediately," the statement said.

The latest report comes soon after two fresh cases of novel Co nonavirus were reported from Ghaziabad on Wednesday. The patients have been transferred to Delhi's Ram Manohar Lohia and Safdargunj hospitals.

The number of coronavirus cases in India reached 31, including 16 Italians touring through Rajasthan, the government announced on Wednesday as consternation bordering on panic over the contagious disease with flu like symptoms spread across the country.

All international passengers will henceforth be screened at airports, Health Minister Harsh Vardhan said at a press conference. Earlier, travellers from only 12 countries were screened at airports for the disease that has claimed over 3,000 lives and infected more than 90,000 worldwide.

Also Read | Coronavirus: Two Suspected Case From Ghaziabad, Patients Shifted To RML And Safdarjung Hospitals

With Holi less than a week away on March 10, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, BJP president JP Nadda and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said they would not celebrate the festival of colours or hold any Holi Milan gathering. President Ram Nath Kovind's office also said Rashtrapati Bhavan will not hold any Holi gathering.

Experts across the world have advised to reduce mass gatherings to avoid the spread of COVID19 Novel Coronavirus. Hence this year, I have decided not to participate in any 'Holi milan' programme, the prime minister tweeted.

Giving a break-up of the cases in the country, Health Minister Harsh Vardhan said one patient is from Delhi, six more, his relatives, are from Agra, one is from Telangana and there are 16 Italians as well as their Indian driver in Rajasthan. The figure includes three earlier cases in Kerala who have been discharged.

The minister said the government has adopted a cluster approach, as part of which health authorities will check and sensitise every household within a three kilometre radius of the house of the infected person.

The government also intends to set up a laboratory in Iran so Indians there can be tested for possible exposure to the virus before being brought back, he said. An estimated 1,200 Indians, mostly students and pilgrims, are in Iran.

As Indians all over came to grips with the global epidemic, the health crisis was discussed at a meeting of the Union cabinet. Union minister Prakash Javadekar said over six lakh people had been screened for coronavirus symptoms in 21 airports.

Also Read | Coronavirus: Saudi Arabia Bans People From Performing Muslim Pilgrimage In Mecca

Briefing reporters, the Information and Broadcasting minister said more than 10 lakh people entering India from the open borders with Nepal, Bhutan and Myanmar have also been screened.

While only the virology institute based in Pune is fit for conducting coronavirus tests, the government has now set up 15 more labs and is in the process of establishing 19 additional centres, he said.

The government is proactively engaged in dealing with coronavirus. The prime minister is monitoring the situation daily, he said. Several state governments, including in Rajasthan and Delhi, screened visitors and others for the disease in hotels and guesthouses.

(With PTI inputs)
New Delhi:

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has superseded the board of Yes Bank with immediate effect and capped withdrawals at Rs 50,000 per account till further orders. A moratorium has also been imposed on the capital-starved bank, the RBI said in a late evening statement. Former SBI CFO Prashant Kumar has been appointed as administrator for Yes Bank.

The latest development comes six months after the regulator did the same with the city-based cooperative lender PMC Bank after a large scam was unearthed. Yes Bank has been grappling with mounting bad loans.

Reserve Bank of India: RBI has in consultation with the Central Govt, superseded the Board of Directors of Yes Bank Ltd for a period of 30 days owing to a serious deterioration in the financial position of Bank. Prashant Kumar, ex-DMD & CFO of SBI appointed as the administrator. https://t.co/bBmn5KeekB  ANI (@ANI) March 5, 2020

Earlier in the day, public sector lender SBI along with some other financial institutions will bail out capital-starved Yes Bank, with the government giving the go-ahead, sources said on Thursday.

In a day of rapid developments, which also included a board meeting of SBI, there were reports that LIC has been asked to team up with the public sector bank for the stake buy. Together, their holding has been pegged at 49 per cent.

LIC already owns 8 per cent of the crisis-hit Yes Bank.

Significantly, a few weeks ago amid speculations of a state bailout of Yes Bank, SBI Chairman Rajnish Kumar had said the troubled bank will "not be allowed to fail".

The Mumbai-headquartered Yes Bank, once the darling of investors, has been facing difficulties ever since new chief executive Ravneet Gill took charge last March and revealed massive stress in the loan book. It had to provide against the stress and was also forced to go slow on fresh loans.

Yes Bank has been struggling to raise USD 2 billion in equity for the last few months. Many proposals came up for discussions, but none fructified.

Reports have pointed out to difficulties on the capital position at Yes Bank, speculating if it can meet the minimum thresholds by March in the absence of an infusion.

With PTI Inputs
New Delhi: As part of the ongoing 'Operation Ganga,' the Indian Air Force (IAF) returned 629 evacuated Indian nationals from Ukraine's neighbouring countries of Romania, Slovakia, and Poland on Saturday.

"Three C-17 heavy-lift transport aircraft of the Indian Air Force, which took off from Hindan Airbase on Friday, landed back at the base with the evacuated Indians on Saturday morning," according to the official release. "On the outbound journey, they carried 16.5 tonnes of relief material," the IAF tweeted.

So far, the IAF has flown 10 flights, returning 2,056 passengers while taking 26 tonnes of relief supplies to these three countries. Earlier in the day, V Muraleedharan, Minister of State for External Affairs, announced that over 11,000 Indians have been evacuated from Ukraine.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi presided over a meeting on Friday to discuss the ongoing evacuation of Indian nationals as well as the situation in conflict-torn Ukraine. In addition, the government has deployed 'special envoys' to four neighbouring countries bordering Ukraine to coordinate and supervise the evacuation of Indian nationals.

On February 24, Russian forces launched military operations in Ukraine, three days after Moscow recognised Ukraine's breakaway regions - Donetsk and Luhansk - as independent entities

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MUMBAI: Another 183 Indians, largely students, arrived at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport on Saturday after flying from Budapest through Kuwait on an Air India Express flight.

There are a maximum of 40 people from Kerala aboard aircraft IX-1603, as well as 36 people from Andhra Pradesh, 30 people from Telangana, 28 people from Tamil Nadu, and 11 people from Maharashtra.

Bihar has eight people, Punjab has seven, West Bengal has five, Haryana has five, Uttar Pradesh has three, Karnataka has two, Rajasthan has two, and Odisha has one. Uttarakhand, Gujarat, and Himachal Pradesh each have one.

Following the Covid-19 guidelines, the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport officials took special measures to expedite the exit and luggage clearance of Ukraine evacuees.

Later, representatives from several states took care of their citizens to assist them with housing, boarding, and continuing travel plans by train or flight.

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Despite the fact that many students were able to safely return home from war-torn Ukraine as part of India's Operation Ganga, two students from Tinsukia district studying at Ukraine's Kharkiv National Medical University have yet to be evacuated and have taken refuge in a bunker near the Ukraine-Russia border amid fear and uncertainty.

Of these two, one is Nirup Kumar Panda, son of Dr K. Panda, Associate Professor, Sadiya College, Chapakhowa, and the other is Hrikesh Deka, son of Sanjib Kumar Deka of Rupaisiding, Doomdooma. Dr K. Panda said that his son Nirup could not board the train at Kharkiv Railway station. So he, along with more than 500 other students, had to walk about 15 km from there to Pisochyn on Wednesday as per government advice and got stuck there. They had to take shelter inside a bunker and spend the night without any food.

"Kindly evacuate these innocent souls through safe passage," Dr. K Panda tweeted to the Prime Minister's Office (PMO), the External Affairs Minister's office, and the President of India, seeing no other option.

The reassuring factor is that, according to the latest information, Nirup could board a bus arranged at the request of Orissa Chief Minister Nabin Patnaik in consultation with the Ukrainian government to travel to the western side of Ukraine, where they would enter either Poland or Romania before returning to India safely, informed Dr K. Panda. "Kindly evacuate these innocent souls through safe passage," Dr. K Panda tweeted to the Prime Minister's Office (PMO), the External Affairs Minister's office, and the President of India, seeing no other option.

The reassuring factor is that, according to the latest information, Nirup could board a bus arranged at the request of Orissa Chief Minister Nabin Patnaik in consultation with the Ukrainian government to travel to the western side of Ukraine, where they would enter either Poland or Romania before returning to India safely, informed Dr K. Panda.

On the other side, roughly 40-50 of the 400-500 Indian students trapped in Sumy are from Assam, according to Hrishikesh Deka, who spoke to his parents over the phone on Thursday to alert them of his dilemma. ", he explained "We are barely 53 kilometres from the Russian border, thus our lives are in danger. We are unable to go out and get food, and the supply stores are rapidly running out of supplies. In addition, our ATM cards aren't working."

He then went on to say, "We have made touch with the Indian Embassy in this city, and officials there have assured us that they are doing all possible to evacuate us. But we're stuck here for the time being." Hrishikesh's father, Sanjib Deka, stated that the situation remained unaltered till the filing of this report, and that they were spent their days in severe misery and uncertainty.

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United Nations: On Friday, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned a suicide bombing inside a Shiite mosque in Peshawar, Pakistan.

"Houses of worship should be safe havens, no targets. I strongly condemn today's atrocity at a mosque in Peshawar, Pakistan, during Friday prayers "He tweeted about it. "My heartfelt condolences go out to those who have lost loved ones, and I stand in solidarity with the people of Pakistan."

According to hospital and police officials, the suicide bombing killed at least 56 people and injured nearly 200 more. As per Peshawar Police Chief Muhammed Ejaz Khan, the violence began when an armed attacker opened fire on police outside a mosque in the city's old quarter. During the gunfight, one officer was killed and another was injured. The assailant then dashed into the mosque and detonated his suicide vest.

According to Moazzam Jah Ansari, the top police official for Khyber Pukhtunkhwa province, where Peshawar is the capital, the suicide bomber strapped a powerful explosive device to his body, packed with 5 kilogrammes (12 pounds) of explosives.

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KABUL: The United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (Unicef) said that it has raised 15% of its USD 2 billion goal to help children in Afghanistan cope with the ongoing humanitarian crisis.

"The Unicef Afghanistan Humanitarian Action for Children (HAC) appeal, valued at $2 billion for 2022, is the largest in the organization's history. The appeal is currently 15% financed thanks to generous contributions from partners "According to a report by TOLO News, the UN agency stated.

According to the report, Afghanistan's destroyed economy has had a range of impacts on children, with many suffering from acute hunger and other ailments, and many others forced to work as children to support their families.

According to the Unicef study, basic primary healthcare services were delivered to 2,475,535 persons in 17 provinces by 10,200 health workers in 1,031 facilities. A four-day statewide national polio immunisation programme began in mid-January 2022 reached 8.6 million children under the age of five. Through 8,982 community-based education sessions, a total of 281,302 children were served with education programmes.

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New Delhi: Even after nine days of the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine, all the Indian students stranded in Ukraine could not be brought back. Thousands of Indian students are still stranded in conflict zones in Ukraine. Meanwhile, an Indian student who returned from Ukraine has levelled serious allegations against the Indian Embassy officials. Pratibha Vinistia, a resident of Saharsa in Bihar, said, "The people of Romania helped us a lot, gave us a place to stay and fed us a full stomach. The Indian Embassy people we met in Romania and treated us very dirty. They offered us that whoever cleans the bathroom, we will take him to India first and others later.''

According to the talent, the students had to take the initiative themselves to go to the Romania border. The busmen charged 6,000 rupees per student to go to the border. The student raised doubts and said that both the agents and the embassy members were involved in it. Pratibha further said, "After a 14-hour journey by bus, we reached the Romania border. The students were so tired that no one had the courage to clean the bathroom, but they also wanted to go back to India as soon as possible. There was so much eagerness to go home that some students reached to clean the toilet.''

Pratibha, a fourth-year student of the medical university, said that at first, the embassy people were not replying to calls or messages. After this, when one of our friends posted a video on Facebook to show the reality, immediately a call came from the embassy and pressured to delete the video.

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Well-poised to meet the needs of the evolved luxury traveller is the inimitable creator of stylish hotels and resorts, General Hotel Management Ltd (GHM), known for delivering unrivalled lifestyle experiences.

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For three decades, GHM has earned critical acclaim as an inimitable creator of stylish hotels and resorts. In the new era of travel, these thoughtfully enhanced touchpoints reinforce our 30-year legacy of hospitality excellence by elevating our Guest Experience Signatures so as to captivate the evolved luxury traveller. Each distinct experience has been refined to deliver unique and inspiring moments with unparalleled attention to detail, said Tommy Lai, chief executive officer of GHM.

This year, GHM will be celebrating its pearl anniversary in commemoration of 30 years of A Style to Remember. Milestones in 2022 include the highly anticipated opening of The Chedi Katara Hotel & Resort in Doha, Qatar, where GHMs Guest Experience Signatures will be incorporated as its backbone of exclusive offerings, dedicated services and personalised experiences that are unique to this landmark property.-- TradeArabia News Service


Arokiasamy Vincent Raj, popularly known as Evidence Kathir works to defend the rights of Dalits in Tamil Nadu. His organization has recently won the prestigious 2022 Raoul Wallenberg Prize.

Afra Abubacker | TwoCircles.net

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50-year-old Arokiasamy Vincent Raj, best known as Evidence Kathir for his tireless work with the Madurai-based organization called Evidence, which he founded, has won the 2022 Raoul Wallenberg Prize. Evidence has been instrumental in identifying the magnitude of caste-based violence, honour killings in Tamil Nadu and fighting them in court and rehabilitating the victims.

In this interview with TwoCircles.net, Evidence Kathir talks about how he took up fighting caste-based violence, how caste still works in modern India and the challenges he faces in court.

Below are the edited excerpts:

You have been fighting caste-based violence for the last 25 years. How did it start?

I started as an environmental activist. I was part of Peoples Watch and a civil rights-based organization in Madurai. I left Peoples Watch to take up human rights violations cases and focus on caste-based violence. That is how Evidence was established in 2005.

How has the journey been?

It wasnt easy. It was full of struggles and challenges but it was fruitful also. We were able to touch peoples lives. We have rescued many people and were able to help many to get justice. In Madurai, there are no mortuaries or police stations that I have not stepped into.

Our walk is towards justice but we dont stop there.

In 2013, on an early morning, a 13-year-old girl was brought to the Evidence office. She was raped by three upper-caste Hindu men in Krishnagiri (Tamil Nadu). Even before taking her to the hospital, she was brought to the Evidence office. Her parents were afraid to go to the hospital without any assistance. Not only were those three men convicted, but the girl also continued her studies and cleared the NEET exam. We dont save individuals, we empower a generation.

What are some of the common cases of caste-based violence?

Caste-based violence happens on almost everythingfor instance, for speeding a bike, for excelling in ones work, for falling behind in ones work or for even walking with dignity etc.

In the early days, I felt helpless in front of these many acts of violence in the state. However, after twenty-five years of dealing with caste-based violence, I realized that human beings also have the power to stop this type of violence. I realized that we may not necessarily win all cases but the very attempt to legally fight caste-based violence is a victory in itself. Dragging the perpetrators to courts for years for their actions itself is a victorious beginning.

How do you understand the prevalence of caste in modern India?

Caste is the capital of India. India is a modern caste state. Irrespective of education or rural-urban divide, caste consciousness is still prevalent. There is also caste discrimination amongst the sub-castes in Dalits. That is the very nature of casteto mistreat every other caste that is socio-economically below you.

Those who say caste is important and should be followed, I can understand them and there is a chance of bringing change in them. But those who think caste discrimination doesnt exist are the most dangerous of all.

You played an instrumental role in documenting honour killings in Tamil Nadu. What was that process like?

In Tamil Nadu, the first honour killing was recorded in 2005. In Dindigul, a Naikar girl and Dalit boy had eloped. The couple were found and the girl was brought back to the village. She was tied to a tree and treated like a dog. Three days later, she was poisoned and killed. When I went to the village, the temple looked freshly painted as if a festival had just ended. The temple had been purified with the money collected from people.

I had a difficult time convincing the media to record the case as honour killing. Until then, these types of killings were called caste-based killings. It was also a common belief that honour killings only happen in north India and that there are no khap panchayats in states like Tamil Nadu. However, Evidence has found that caste panchayats are prevalent in Tamil Nadu also and these caste panchayats are organized and brutal.

You have asked for a special act against honour killing. You have also raised the concern to categorize honour-based crimes. How helpful can that be?

Apart from honour killings inflicted on girls, there are several other crimes done in the name of protecting the honour of the caste. Girls are kidnapped and brought back home when they elope. They are placed under house arrest. They are mentally tortured and suicides happen.

Moreover, honour killings are sensitive cases as it is the family that kills their girls. Interestingly, not many people strongly justify honour killings. Most people are sympathetic to the sentiments of parents and the family. They say that killing is bad, but they feel sorry for the parents pain which made them kill their child. The sympathy towards the parents is also found with police and courts.

Evidence has conducted many fact-finding reports on caste-based violence. What guides your investigations?

An activist investigation is much different from that of police or media. Police come searching for the accused and the media is there for sensationalism.

Our work requires sensitivity and building trust with victims. Many a time, in cases of inter-caste relationships, families hesitate to say that their son loved a non-Dalit girl. It is up to us to convince them that loving an upper-caste girl is no crime legally and that it can be recorded in the complaint. Witnesses need to be protected and victims strengthened. Social perspective and knowing the values and beliefs of the people that we work for are more important.

Evidence meticulously documents cases. How elaborate is your documentation?

I trust documents more than people. I listen to people, but I dont take people in distress for every word they say. We cant expect a victim to say only complete truths. Nor can we expect a victim to have been only righteous throughout their actions. People might exaggerate or slip facts out of confusion or fear. People say, Oorey kalavaram aayiduchu (The whole village rioted). But if we check it might only be a group of five people. Such professional skills of verifying reports come with practice.

In our case files, we record the victims and perpetrators details. The details of Evidence fact-finding are kept along with that of police records. Later the complaints are tracked and we check what action the police have taken etc. A case file would record all these along with the copies of supporting documents and follow the case to its current status.

What are the major challenges you face fighting these cases?

Every case is investigated by several departments and the lack of coherence between departments is the major challenge we face. Sometimes, cases dont stand because the time entered in FIR and the post mortem does not fall in place.

Moreover, although the cases of caste-based violence in the state are more and there is a lack of resources in the police department. The police force is not updated nor do they upskill themselves. The other challenge is the lack of reform within the police department.

Afra Abubacker is an independent journalist based in Kerala. She tweets at @afra_abubacker
Virginia State Police authorities say they will continue investigating sexual assault claims against a retired Spotsylvania County doctor who was found dead in Loudoun County on Thursday.

The death of Michael B. OBrien, 66, is being investigated by the Loudoun Sheriffs Office. OBriens body has been taken to the medical examiners office in Manassas for autopsy and examination.

State police Sgt. Brent Coffey said that as of Friday, there was no indication of foul play and that OBriens death appears to be self-inflicted.

OBrien was arrested last week following a raid at his home in Spotsylvania. He was charged with forcible sodomy of a child under 13, an offense that carries a potential life sentence. Court records show that the charge stems from 1987 during OBriens career as an orthopedic surgery specialist in the Fredericksburg area. At the time of his arrest, police said more charges were pending.

OBrien was placed in the Rappahannock Regional Jail and released on bond a few days later.

Coffey said authorities are still encouraging anyone with information regarding the investigation to call State Police at 888/300-0156 or email questions@vsp.virginia.gov.

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A Spotsylvania man was arrested Thursday following a lengthy pursuit that went through much of Spotsylvania and two other counties, police said.

John Bernard Lillis, 40, is charged with possession of illegal drugs with the intent to distribute, felony eluding and driving on a revoked license. He is being held without bond in the Rappahannock Regional Jail.

Sheriffs Maj. Troy Skebo said the pursuit started about 8:30 p.m. when detectives stopped Lillis pickup truck in the area of U.S. 1 and Mine Road in Spotsylvania. Detectives had Lillis under surveillance as part of a drug investigation, Skebo said.

After handing over his drivers license, Skebo said, the suspect drove off for what turned out to be about an hour-long pursuit. The pursuit route in Spotsylvania included Courthouse Road to Leavells Road, passing the YMCA to Massaponax Church Road.

The pursuit continued on to the courthouse area, where Skebo said the suspect got back onto Courthouse Road and headed toward the Snell area. Police used tire deflation devices in the Marshall Park area that flattened the suspects tires and turned the pursuit into a low-speed chase, but the suspect kept going.

Skebo said the driver entered Louisa County via Arritt Road, then drove through Louisa and well into Hanover County before finally giving up.

Skebo said police seized capsules believed to contain fentanyl. Lillis criminal history includes a drug distribution conviction in Stafford County, court records show.

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One man was shot and another was beaten during an altercation at Spotsylvania Towne Centre early Saturday, police said.

Spotsylvania Sheriffs Capt. Liz Scott said deputies went to the Cancun Margarita Bar & Grill shortly after midnight in response to a reported disturbance. Fredericksburg and Virginia State Police officers also showed up to assist.

Scott said deputies found a 37-year-old man bleeding from head trauma and his 40-year-old brother-in-law suffering from a gunshot wound. Police said the bullet went through the victims left hip area and exited his left buttocks.

Both victims were transported to a hospital to be treated for non-life-threatening injuries. Police scoured the area for suspects, Scott said, but no one had been apprehended as of Saturday afternoon.

The gunshot victim told police he and his brother-in-law had been drinking beer for about two hours when a man he didnt know purposely bumped into him.

After an exchange of words, the victim said he was challenged to go outside. He accepted the challenge and continued to argue with the stranger, as well as others who appeared to be his associates, according to the victim.

Shortly after getting outside, the man told police he heard a gunshot and felt a sting to his leg. The man said he didnt initially realize hed been shot and didnt see the shooter, police said. He dropped to the ground and was made to go back into the bar for his safety.

The brother-in-law told police he tried to pull the shooting victim away after seeing him getting jumped. He saw a man with a gun but didnt see him fire it, Scott said.

After the shooting victim was taken back into the restaurant, the second victim said he was beaten by a group of people. He told police he saw several people take out knives, but they took off running after hearing sirens. Scott said the man said he was beaten only with hands.

That victim suffered a laceration to the back of his head that required staples and a large contusion to his forehead.

The victims indicated the shooter was not the man who they claim started the altercation.

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Jim Kjeldgaard slept on the couch overnight at Fremont Municipal Airport to make sure pilots got much-needed fuel to rescue people during the historic 2019 flood.

In the days to come, Kjeldgaard, president of Fremont Aviation, and his staff steadily manned their posts at the airport as stranded people were flown in and out of the city. Planes few supplies into a city that basically became an island surrounded by flood waters.

Today, the city-owned airport on the west end of Fremont continues to provide a wide array of services, from fuel and aircraft maintenance to flight instruction to sight-seeing tours and transportation for survey-takers.

It even offers aircraft rental.

More than 50 aircraft  from a two-seater airplane to a 10-seat jet - are based at the airport, which has about 30 city-owned hangars along with privately owned ones.

A new terminal is set to open this year, providing an updated rest stop for pilots and passengers, with community office rental and meeting space.

Passengers can take a courtesy car to get a meal or conduct business.

Fremont Aviation has long-tenured mechanics and knowledgeable flight instructors at an airport, which has a long history  and which serves as a modern gateway to the community.

The airport dates back to 1940, when John T. Siems became its Fixed Base Operator.

FBOs operate an airport and provide an array aeronautical services.

Siems and his father built a two-stall hangar on an 80-acre stubble field where the present airport stands.

With World War II on the horizon, Siems became a local flight instructor for the federal governments Civilian Pilot Program.

Siems remained active in flying until he retired in 1968.

Fremont Aviation

Kjeldgaard, the current FBO, was educated at what was called Western Nebraska Vocational Technical School in Sidney.

He began working for the Siems family as an aircraft mechanic at the Fremont airport in 1971.

In 1994, he bought out what was called Woodaire in 1994.

Kjeldgaards son, Greg, began a three-year aircraft apprenticeship in 2002. After earning his aircraft and power plant mechanic license test, he worked another two years to earn his inspectors license.

Jim Kjeldgaard has had his inspectors license since 1974.

Kjeldgaard, his son and John Ahrens are mechanics at Fremont Aviation. Deb Mullally is office manager. Four line boys fuel and wash airplanes, clean the terminal and mow the lawn.

The airport provides fuel for corporate jets that fly into town. Its current terminal is a place where pilots can relax, while customers are doing business in town.

A medical helicopter lands here for fuel. Sometimes, it has offloaded patients here as well.

Learn to fly

Besides aircraft maintenance, inspection and fueling, Fremont Aviation has a flight department through which people can learn to fly aircraft.

We have rentals or we can teach you in your airplane, said Greg Kjeldgaard, Fremont Aviation vice president.

Alison Adams is a Fremont Aviation flight instructor, who has been at the airport for four years, and Warren Higgins is a part-time instructor.

In the time since Ive been here, weve helped probably around 40 students get licenses, Adams said.

That includes teaching ground school, where students learn what the Federal Aviation Administration requires to be safe pilots, and going up in the airplane with them as they perform maneuvers to set expectations to obtain their pilots license.

Students can get private and commercial pilots licenses, instrument ratings and flight instructor certifications.

Adams has had students as young as 15. And, she has also flown with an 85-year-old who had license, but couldnt fly without a licensed pilot.

Adams also gives flight reviews, which include changes in regulations, to current pilots.

Seeing the sights

For those whod rather be a passenger, Fremont Aviation provides sight-seeing flights, too.

People can purchase a gift certificate for a special occasion, such as a birthday or holiday. Gift recipients may want to fly over their home, where they grew up or just experience flight.

Costs vary on the length of the flight and number of people on the flight.

Fremont Aviation has flown researchers during a variety of endeavors. They include:

 Animal tracking: The University of Nebraska-Lincoln has released animals, such as deer, with tracking devices throughout the years. Its utilized the airport in surveys of pallid sturgeon, deer, birds and bats.

We fly around and check their travel patterns, Kjeldgaard said.

Another time, researchers tracked to see where logs were ending up on the Missouri River.

 Fish and flooding: Fremont Aviation has flown a photographer for the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission to look at fish hatcheries and changes flooding produced in the track of the rivers.

 Capturing nature in photos: Game and Parks representatives flew out of this airport and took photos of state parks which appeared in Nebraskaland magazine.

 Crop changes and ice jams: Years ago, the United States Department of Agriculture had Fremont Aviation fly a photographer, who took photos of field.

Another time, a camera was attached to an aircraft. Infrared photography showed how a crop was changing over a season based on chemical treatments and soil conditions.

Fremont Aviation also flew an emergency manager over a river to see ice jams.

Crop dusters arent based at the airport, but some use it during the summer.

Making an impression

Mullally points out that Fremont Aviation staffers are the first folks that people meet when they fly into the city.

We make the first impression, Adams added.

Economic benefits

Fremont Aviation and the airport benefit the city.

We bring a lot of economic impact to the city of Fremont, because business aircraft come here, Kjeldgaard said.

Greg Kjeldgaard added that new and established businesses use the airport.

And the airport played a critical role during recent times.

Serving the community

If we would not have had an airport, Fremont would really have been in sad shape during the 2019 flood, Jim Kjeldgaard said. There was no way to get in and no way to get out. General and business aviation provided people ways in and out of Fremont. These owners and pilots took it upon themselves to help people they didnt even know.

Kjeldgaard slept on the couch on March 14, 2019, because he thought the Blackhawk medevac helicopter that went to rescue seven first-responders out of the turbulent Elkhorn River might need more fuel.

And it did.

After battling 50 to 60 miles per hour winds and managing to dodge powerlines in the pitch black skies, the crew  which hadnt had time to refuel before making the rescue  flew the helicopter to the airport to offload the first-responders, all of whom were in some state of hypothermia.

Crew members later said they hadnt known if theyd even have enough fuel to rescue all seven men. But they did and afterward refueled at Fremonts airport and went to make other rescues.

Had there not been an airport, the helicopter couldnt have gotten more fuel and couldnt even have landed in a field as land in this area was flooded or at least wet and muddy.

Looking ahead, Kjeldgaard said Fremont Aviation plans to keep growing.

Adams added that a corporate hangar is needed. Other hangars are needed, too.

We get called weekly from people wanting to rent hangars, Kjeldgaard said.

As always, Fremont Aviation is looking toward the horizon to see how it can serve customers and the community.

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After 45 years of service to Fremont and surrounding communities, Skip and Judy Sawyer have sold their car wash to fellow Nebraskan Brian Fox, owner of Cornhusker Express Lube in Fremont as well as the Cornhusker Auto Wash in Bellevue.

For 45 years, recalled Fox, Skip and Judy have run their business the right way. By keeping their employees , customers, and community first. To me Skip and Judy are the definition of integrity.

On Monday, Feb. 28, the Fremont Chamber of Commerce presented the Sawyers with a Certificate of Honorary Lifetime Membership.

Skip and Judy have helped shaped and advance the Fremont area as a vibrant, family-focused business community, said Jacob Herre, director of membership and development. The Fremont Area Chamber thanks them for their many years of dedicated service and commitment to making Fremont a great place to live.

Another way the Chamber showed their gratitude to the Sawyers was by having members of the community chalk their cars with words of thanks before driving through the car wash one last time under the Sawyer Car Wash banner.

Becky Mullin had some very special memories to share about her mom and dad.

They bought the carwash when they were pretty young. They had a one-and-a half-year old and my mom was pregnant with me, said Mullin.

It was a bit of a leap of faith, but they had every intention of making it work, Mullin added. I think 45 years and 3 months worth of dedication proves how invested they were in this business!

As a parent, Mullin can easily imagine the inconvenience of having little kids running around while trying to work.

My dad would be doing the maintenance and repairs, and Mom would be doing the bookwork. But I never felt like we were in the way. They always kept us busy helping out in the dog house, which is what the money booth used to be called when there were also gas pumps.

My dad would let my sister and I design new labels for the Coke machine options, said Mullin. We even put in a mystery option where we would refill that slot with random soda flavors! Probably not a great money maker, but they let us have our fun.

In the past 14 years, Mullins added, they have created some great memorable experiences for my kidsthey loved going to Grandma and Grandpas to visit and work at the wash.

As important as business was to the owners of Sawyer Car Wash, parenting was always their top priority.

One of the perks of having parents that owned their own business, said Mullin, was that no matter what school activity, sporting event, etc. was going on, they were always there to support us kids. From pre-K through high school and beyond, they were always there to cheer us on. I am sure it wasnt always easy to get away, but it was important to them, so they made it happen.

Through the years, Mullin and her siblings noticed how their parents dedication extended equally to their employees, customers, friends, and community.

I think if you ask anyone that has worked for my parents, they would tell you my parents helped shape them as well. Being a boss isnt always easy, and even in those tough moments with employees, they would find a way to help the kids learn from the experience.

The only thing I can think of that isnt in there would be a sign we found on a family trip to Jackson Hole, Wyoming, about 35 years ago that still hangs in the carwash today, daughter Jill said. It says, Hire a teenager while they still know everything. Many of the employees they have hired in the last 45 years have come back to thank them for all of the lessons they learned while working at the carwash, even when they thought they knew everything. 

She continued adding, One thing my dad made sure of was the carwash was a place for kids to learn how to have a job and how to leave a job. My dad leads by example. He was at the carwash every day and many nights making sure it was ready for business the next morning. It isnt very often you see the owner of a business out doing the job they have hired high school students to do.

He was even washing cars on their last day of business.

Mullin also commented on her dads unique way of dealing with an employees error. Sometimes he would say, I have a short memory, meaning we all make mistakes, learn from them and move on. Grudges were not held. Its a learning experience, and we all grow from them.

The Sawyers were great mentors to many of the kids in their community. Another fond memory Mullin shared was the special way her dad was honored on his 70th birthday.

My sister, brother, and I contacted old employees and asked if they would send a little note to be included in a book we put together for him, Mullin said. Reading those notes from former employees really was amazing.

As their daughter, I know they are great people and they would do anything for us, Mullin added, but to hear the impact they made on kids while they worked at the carwash (and beyond those years) was really humbling and inspiring!

One former employee, Nik Beninato, benefitted so much from Skip and Judys leadership that he went on to achieve great success in Fremonts business community. He now is co-owner of Don Peterson and Associates.

Skip and Judy were the best bosses Ive ever had, said Beninato. I started working there the day after I turned 15 and was there through high school graduation. During college breaks, Skip would basically create work for myself and a couple former employees while we were home.

Beninato recalls applying for a job at a car wash in Kearney while he was in college. I was told they didnt need any extra help. Skip knew the owner and called him for me, and I had a job the next week. He is so well respected.

Generous is a word Beninato thinks of right away when reflecting on his experience with the Sawyers. If it was good for the community, they were interested and involved. Im extremely proud to call them friends, and super proud of all theyve accomplished in their work. Theyve definitely earned their retirement.

Selling the car wash was bittersweet for the Sawyers. Mullins commented that her parents did not want to sell it to just anyone.

So many people that get into the carwash business these days are investors in large chains, she said. They arent there day in and day out, making it a community business. Knowing Brian and his tradition of a family-run business has made it easier.

Although Sawyer Car Wash has a new owner and a new name, all of the employees will remain and will continue providing the excellent service their customers have always enjoyed.

The new Cornhusker Auto Wash will be associated with the Cornhusker Express Lube down the street. Everyone who gets an oil change will receive a free car wash.

An active member of the Fremont community, Brian Fox will be supporting various organizations by donating a portion of every dollar customers spend at Cornhusker Auto Wash on Bell Street.

The Tribune is happy to share a special message Skip and Judy Sawyer posted on their website:

We would like to thank each and every one of you for being a loyal customer and friend. We are so blessed to have had your support throughout the past 45 years!

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The acting minister of the Taliban-led government in Afghanistan and a longtime leader of the so-called Haqqani network with a U.S. terrorist bounty on his head, Sirajuddin Haqqani, has appeared in front of media for the first time.

Haqqani, nicknamed Khalifa, attended a graduation ceremony in Kabul for hundreds of newly trained Afghan police on March 5.

He also addressed the gathering, saying the fundamentalist militant group was committed to the Doha agreement signed with the United States in 2020 that paved the way to a pullout of U.S.-led international troops that culminated in late August.

Haqqani told the graduating cadets that the world faces no threat from Afghanistan.

Haqqani has repeatedly praised suicide and some of the most notorious attacks on civilians and departed U.S. forces since the Taliban-led administration took control of Kabul in mid-August.

He had never allowed himself to be filmed, and an FBI notice of a $10 million bounty on his head for alleged terrorist activities featured only a blurry image of a bearded man mostly shrouded by a blanket.

Taliban militants swept into control of nearly all of Afghanistan in the months leading up to the international pullout, outgunning local police and military until the UN-backed administration of President Ashraf Ghani fled on August 15.

The international community still has not recognized the Taliban-led government, which is accused of egregious rights offenses, particularly against women and minorities, and revenge killings against perceived cooperators with the West during the two-decade war in Afghanistan that followed the 9/11 attacks.

But the United States recently eased restrictions on trade licenses involving Afghanistan in an effort that President Joe Biden's administration said was aimed at alleviating Afghanistan's ongoing humanitarian crisis.

Based on reporting by dpa and AP
Nearly 38% of Coloradans are estimated to have been infected with the novel coronavirus through January, a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention study found, putting the Centennial State ahead of much of the rest of the nation.
U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet (D-Denver), right, looks on as U.S. Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.) talks with members of the media outside Schriever Space Force Base east of Colorado Springs on Friday, March 4, 2022. The two met with senior leaders at the base to learn how guardians are gathering and sharing intelligence to help allies following Russia's large-scale invasion of Ukraine. (David Bitton/The Gazette)
Americas decades-old casual drug habit has suddenly shifted into a new nightmare realm.

No longer are illicit drugs a recreational, renegade, college kind of thing to do. Now they could actually kill you in seconds.

Because drugs of all sorts are being laced with the powerful opioid fentanyl, dying of a drug overdose is no longer just a phenomenon of addicts or people with mental health issues. Folks who are not intending on abusing drugs but think they're simply taking a Xanax, a party drug like cocaine or even Adderall are now dropping dead of overdoses.

Thats apparently what happened in Commerce City recently, when five people who thought they were doing cocaine at a party all wound up dead in what is being called the worst single case of mass fentanyl overdose in the country.

"This is the nightmare scenario, 17th Judicial District Attorney, Brian Mason, told our reporter, Lindsey Toomer. This is five people dying without realizing the drug they're putting into their bodies.

Our reporters have documented far too many heart-breaking cases in Colorado lately in which parents have lost children who had no idea they were taking a deadly drug. As a father of two college-age kids, these stories keep me awake at night worrying about their safety.

So after hearing from several of our reporters about the noxious deadliness of this new scourge, Ive assembled a Horrified Dads Blatantly Alarmist Guide to the Dangers of Fentanyl. To wit:

Are the risks of my kids dying from fentanyl higher in Colorado?

Yes. The number of fentanyl fatalities in Colorado is rising faster than in every other state, except Alaska. In 2021, illegal fentanyl killed 709 people in Colorado  which is 645 more people than in 2015, according to CDC data from Families Against Fentanyl.

Why is this so bad in Colorado?

Colorados highways  I-25 and I-70  are major transport corridors for fentanyl smuggled in from Mexico. Colorado had more drug seizures, per pound, from 2017 through 2021 than any other state in the country, a 403 percent increase, according to the Denver field division of the Drug Enforcement Administration. And right now, possession of less than four grams of fentanyl in Colorado is only a misdemeanor, which many in law enforcement believe encourages dealers to come here.

What should I tell my kids about the risks of fentanyl?

Tell them what DA Mason said: No drug is safe right now. Tell them fentanyl has been found mixed with cocaine, meth, heroin, oxycontin, Adderall, Xanax, and in some cases, even marijuana, so they should stay away from everything except their prescriptions.

Why would drug dealers sell something that can kill their clients?

David Olesky, acting special agent in charge of the DEA office in Denver, told our reporters that fentanyl is so cheap, available and powerful it increases the potency of the drugs they sell, making them more addictive, and that in turn increases their profit margins.

"The nature of how cheap it is," Olesky told our reporter "and there is no care for human life by the traffickers when they are deciding what to put inside their package, their concoction, so to speak. They're not concerned about the end user and their wellbeing."

If a drug dealer knowingly sells someone a lethal dose of fentanyl, isnt that attempted murder?

Yes.

In Boulder County, the local drug task force is investigating four recent overdose deaths in hopes of filing criminal charges, possibly homicide, according to an Associated Press report.

Federal prosecutors can now levy a distribution resulting in death charge, but they must show that the fentanyl sold to the person was the sole cause of their death and that the dealer knew it was fentanyl.

Attorney General Phil Weiser said he supports a sentence enhancement or additional homicide charge for dealers in Colorado, but others worry that such charges would be further criminalizing drug use rather than focusing on public health efforts to solve the fentanyl problem.

How deadly is fentanyl?

Fentanyl is 50 to 100 times more potent than morphine and heroin, according to Denver Police Chief Paul Pazen.

According to the DEA, 2 milligrams of fentanyl is generally considered a lethal dose for most people. One pound of fentanyl could kill as many people as have died to date in the U.S. from the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the DEA.

Is China trying to purposefully kill Americans with fentanyl?

Good question. Currently, China is the primary source of fentanyl and fentanyl-related substances trafficked into the United States, according to the DEA.

James Rauh, founder of Families Against Fentanyl, has filed a wrongful-death lawsuit alleging that Chinese supplier Fujing Zheng and others shipped the fentanyl that killed Rauhs son. Rauh wants the Chinese government also held accountable for not doing more to stop the trafficking.

How does fentanyl work?

Fentanyl works by binding to the body's opioid receptors, which are found in areas of the brain that control pain and emotions. Its effects include extreme happiness, drowsiness, nausea, confusion, constipation, sedation, tolerance, addiction, respiratory depression and arrest, unconsciousness, coma, and death, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse.

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How do people use fentanyl?

When prescribed by a doctor, fentanyl can be given as a shot, a patch that is put on a persons skin, or as lozenges that are sucked like cough drops, according to NIDA.

The illegally used fentanyl most often associated with recent overdoses is made in labs. This synthetic fentanyl is sold illegally as a powder, dropped onto blotter paper, put in eye droppers and nasal sprays, or made into pills that look like other prescription opioids, according to NIDA.

How do you treat someone who has taken fentanyl?

Naloxone is a medicine that can reverse a fentanyl overdose when given right away.

Medication combined with behavioral therapies has been shown to be effective in treating people with an addiction to fentanyl and other opioids.

Can I do anything to help my kids avoid fentanyl?

Three things: Education. Education. Education. And the Colorado Health Network provides fentanyl test strips that can detect the presence of fentanyl in substances and naloxone to anyone that asks for it.

What do I do if I think my son or daughter has overdosed?

Call 911 immediately. Once medical personnel arrive, they will administer naloxone if they suspect an opioid drug is involved.

If I catch a dealer trying to sell drugs to my kids, what should I do?

I refuse to answer that on the grounds that it may incriminate me.
It may not have been the president addressing the nation from the heart of the House of Representatives chamber, but the Academy School Distr
As Colorado's legislature becomes younger, policymakers find themselves contending with how to tackle parental leaves, particularly because no specific rule governs such situations and it's complicated to write rules for politicians, who are elected by the people and not hired by the state.
The Rev. Al Hathaway states his case: Justice Thurgood Marshall should be to Baltimore what the Rev. Martin Luther King is to Atlanta.

Hes been working hard to get a school the Supreme Court justice attended restored and sparkling again.

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Look for the Justice Thurgood Marshall Amenity Center to start construction this summer.

And how fitting that the Baltimore-born lawyer, who pressed the fabled Brown v. Board of Education case, will be honored with a $12 million restoration of the segregated school where he learned to read and write?

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This is my vision to promote the Thurgood Marshall legacy, Hathaway said the other day as he stood outside 1315 Division St. in Upton in West Baltimore.

I was born at the old Provident Hospital and lived at 1211 Druid Hill Ave. This is my neighborhood, said Hathaway, the former pastor of the Union Baptist Church.

The Rev. Alvin C. Hathaway, pastor of Union Baptist Church, is leading the restoration of PS 103, (behind him) which will become the Justice Thurgood Marshall Amenity Center. Justice Marshall attended elementary school there. (Barbara Haddock Taylor/Baltimore Sun)

Hathaway says he is working with the National Park Service to get an important federal designation for the old school, so that Park Rangers would be assigned here, as they are at Baltimores other federal site, Fort McHenry.

Hathaway has been the champion of the old school for years, although he did not attend it. He went to Gwynns Falls Junior High School, where he formed a friendship with another student, future member of Congress Elijah Cummings.

Former Rep. Cummings helped with the legislation so that the school would become an asset of the National Park Service.

Johns Hopkins, director of Baltimore Heritage, said: The school, P.S. 103, is a signature heritage site for Baltimore. Its restoration will really help set Baltimore on the map for our contributions to the national civil rights movement.

Hathaway sees the school as becoming a tangible symbol of Brown v. Board of Education.

Baltimore was a pioneering city in that our school system in a city south of the Mason-Dixon Line, desegregated early, very early, he said.

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Hathaway understands, as a native Baltimorean, why this school is important and why the Upton community needs recognition.

Ive been around this country but I found my ministry in a four-square block around the school, he said of his time served at Pennsylvania Avenue Zion African Methodist Church and Union Baptist Church, where he succeeded the Rev. Vernon Dobson.

Hes lined up funding and late last year, $1 million was approved for the school under the $1 trillion infrastructure package signed by President Joe Biden.

Public School 103 is best known for its most famous student, Thurgood Marshall (1908-1993), who attended the school from 1914 to 1920. It was at this school that Thurgood shortened his name from the original Thoroughgood, said a statement from the preservation organization, Baltimore Heritage. Thurgood sat in the first row, as his classmate Agnes Peterson later recalled, he was always playing, and so they had to keep right on top of him.

When it opened in 1877, the school was known as the Male and Female Grammar School No. 6. There were separate male and female principals.

The school, a handsome brick building trimmed in Baltimore County limestone, was designed by Baltimores favorite municipal architect, George Frederick, who designed City Hall, numerous structures in city parks and the old Baltimore City College on Howard Street.

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The initial students were white, often of German ancestry. Black families began moving to the neighborhood, and by 1910, the school was changed to all African American status. It was also named for Henry Highland Garnet, a minister, educator and orator who had been born into slavery in Kent County.

Baltimores largest Black community began to be established and then flourished along Madison and Druid Hill avenues and Division and McCulloh streets more than a century ago.

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Thurgood Marshalls family ran a grocery store. Soon the leading lights of Baltimores Black professionals lived not far away.

Clarence Mitchell Jr. and his wife, Juanita Jackson Mitchell, who fought alongside Marshall to desegregate public spaces in the 1940s and 1950s, were residents of the neighborhood.

The school functioned until the early 1970s, then served until the 1990s as the Upton Cultural and Arts Center.

The school was converted to a community center and was the office of Lena J. Boone, the driving force for the neighborhood and advocate for better housing. Boone, who died in 2000, was the director of the Upton Planning Committee. She was recalled as one of the citys most dynamic leaders.

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The city stepped in to replace the roof and stabilize the building after a 2016 three-alarm fire.

Hopkins believes the area around the school, which also includes the Marble Hill neighborhood, will be included in a civil rights heritage curriculum being taught in Baltimore City Schools.

We are now seeing school buses come to the neighborhood so children can learn why this area is important, said Hopkins.
Former Vice President Mike Pence will urge Republicans to move on from the 2020 election and will declare that there is no room in this party for apologists for Putin as he further cements his break from former President Donald Trump.

Pence, in a speech Friday evening to the partys top donors in New Orleans, will take on those in his party who have failed to forcefully condemn Russian President Vladimir Putin for his unprovoked invasion of Ukraine.

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Former Vice President Mike Pence speaks at the National Press Club in Washington, Nov. 30, 2021. Pence will urge Republicans to move on from the 2020 election. And he will say "there is no room in this party for apologists for Putin" as he escalates his break with former President Donald Trump. (Manuel Balce Ceneta/AP)

Where would Russian tanks be today if NATO had not expanded the borders of freedom? There is no room in this party for apologists for Putin, Pence will say, according to excerpts from the speech. There is only room for champions of freedom.

Pence does not directly reference the former president in excerpts shared ahead of his remarks. But Trump has repeatedly used language that has been criticized as deferential to Putin, including calling the Russian leader smart while insisting the attack never would have happened on his watch.

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Pence will also continue to push back on Trumps lies about the 2020 election as he lays the groundwork for a possible 2024 presidential run. Trump, who has been teasing his own comeback bid that could potentially put the two in direct competition, has continued to falsely insist that Pence had the power to overturn the 2020 election, which he did not.

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Elections are about the future, Pence will say. My fellow Republicans, we can only win if we are united around an optimistic vision for the future based on our highest values. We cannot win by fighting yesterdays battles, or by relitigating the past.

Pence has been increasingly willing to challenge Trump  a dramatic departure from his deferential posture as vice president.

Pence has said the two men will likely never see eye to eye on the Capitol insurrection of Jan. 6, 2021, when Trump supporters stormed the building in an effort to stop certification of Joe Bidens election victory And last month, he directly rebutted Trumps false claims that he, as vice president, could have overturned the results, telling a gathering of lawyers in Florida that Trump was wrong.

Still, he will join the oft-stated view of Trump and others in the Republican Party Friday evening in blaming President Biden for Putins actions, accusing the current president of having squandered the deterrence that our administration put in place to keep Putin and Russia from even trying to redraw international boundaries by force.

Its no coincidence that Russia waited until 2022 to invade Ukraine, Pence will say, according to excerpts. Weakness arouses evil, and the magnitude of evil sweeping across Ukraine speaks volumes about this president.

While Pence allies believe that he can forge a coalition that brings together movement conservatives, white Evangelical Christians and more establishment-minded Republicans, Trumps attacks on Pence have made him deeply unpopular with large swaths of Trumps loyal base, potentially complicating his bid for the Republican presidential nomination.

Pence on Jan. 6 had to be whisked to safety with his family as a mob of Trump supporters breached the Capitol building, some chanting Hang Mike Pence!
Jimmy Sengenberger is host of The Jimmy Sengenberger Show Saturdays from 6-9am on News/Talk 710 KNUS. He also hosts Jimmy at the Crossroads, a webshow and podcast in partnership with The Washington Examiner.
The Colorado Supreme Court has clarified the circumstances under which prosecutors may face professional sanctions for failing to disclose information that they know, or should know, would cast doubt on the guilt of the criminally accused.
David is a Senior Investigative Reporter at The Gazette and has worked in Colorado for more than two decades. His work has been recognized by, among others, Investigative Reporters and Editors, the Society of Professional Journalists, the Scripps Howard Foundation, the Society of Business Editors and Writers, the National Association of Real Estate Editors, at the National Headliner Awards. He has worked at publications in New York City, St. Louis, Detroit and Denver over a journalism career that began in 1982.
The history of the world as well as the history of America is too often the story of neighbors acting unneighborly with one another.

Russia's invasion of Ukraine is the latest and most outrageous example of this. North and South Koreans are mostly related to each other, yet they are deadlocked in animosity. Afghanistan's 30 million inhabitants surely have much in common, yet they are fractured into an almost impossible to understand distrust of feuding religions and ethnic tribes.

Yet make no mistake, this is also an American challenge. We are an experiment in inventing and creating a constitutional Republic. But we are also an exceptional experiment in our striving to welcome and to integrate the most diverse populations of any major nation in history.

The Statue of Liberty in New York harbor has this poetic mantra: Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free. Those words came well after our founding as a nation, but they are as central to the idea of America as our aspirations for constitutionalism and kindred American Dream ideals.

Working things out amicably with one's neighbors has never been easy. Look at Athens and Sparta, or Northern Ireland, or Palestine and the Israelis, or contemporary Libya, or the millions of mostly Muslim Uyghurs being "reeducated" by China.

Why did Alexander the Great act as he did? Why did Hitler act as he did? Why is Putin acting the way he is doing right now? Why did we have slavery, serfdom, feudalism, colonialism, gangs and imperialism?

There are a few simple answers. Power and glory are intoxicating. Bullying often works at least in the short-term. Religious differences and ethnic and identity politics contribute in unclear yet disruptive ways. Paranoia and fear, as amplified in the novel and movie "The Lord of the Flies," is sometimes a factor as well.

Fear, poverty, lack of security, inequality and excessive pride are probably just a few of the contributing factors as to why gangs form and neighborhoods go to war with one another.

American movies and novels remind us of our own struggles to transcend neighborhood feuds. Helen Hunt Jackson's writings, especially "Ramona" (1884) and its dozens of theatrical adaptations (plus a 1936 movie), vividly described how West Coast Anglos and Hispanics exploited and poorly treated Native Americans.

John Nichols "The Milagro Beanfield War" movie (1988) captures, sometimes humorously, how long-term Hispanics in a New Mexican township became manipulated by wealthy and political elites who were the opposite of good neighbors  especially when it came to water rights.

The cult film "The Salt of the Earth" (1954) tells how hardworking Mexican Americans were fought by mine owners and local political authorities when they tried to organize a labor union for better wages and working conditions. This film, union funded and made mostly using real workers as opposed to actors, was considered communist propaganda at the time of its release.

"Blood In Blood Out" (1993) takes us inside Los Angeles gangs and California prisons and tells us about Latino struggles. The Hollywood classic "West Side Story" (1961 and again in 2021) focuses on gangs versus gangs, one of which is Puerto Rican. The two West Side Story films do not describe neighbors working and playing together. They are great movies and musicals, yet they often promote stereotypes and are the antithesis of the "Will you be my neighbor?" themes offered in Fred Rogers aspirational television series for children.

Two World War II-era classics, "Snow Falling on Cedars" (1999) and "Bad Day at Black Rock" (1955), depict European Americans at their most embarrassing behavior  persecuting patriotic Japanese Americans who had fought for and supported the United States during World War II.

Black-white relationships in America instruct us how powerfully slow it has been for our country to live up to its Jeffersonian ideals that all persons are created equal.

Two of the bestselling American movies a century ago were "Birth of a Nation" (1915) and "Gone with the Wind" (1939). These films were overtly racist, supported white supremacy, and encouraged Ku Klux Klan (KKK) activities and they were the most watched movies in their generation.

Southern white novelist Harper Lee's novel and movie "To Kill a Mockingbird" (1961) tried to portray a South that was trying to change. The film at least had some white locals who would stand up and defend their fellow Black neighbors. But her bestselling novel and terrific movie were full of old stereotypes and devoid of African American heroes. And injustice, not justice, prevailed.

One of the most instructive correctives to the "Gone with the Wind" narrative was Solomon Northups "Twelve Years a Slave." Northrup describes being born into freedom but captured and forced into the harshest form of slavery on Deep South plantations. His memoir was written in the 1850s, around the time of Harriet Beecher Stowe's novel "Uncle Tom's Cabin." The film "12 Years a Slave" (2013) took a long time to become a movie, but it will endure as one of the best testimonials to America's original sin.

Toni Morrison's novel "Beloved" is far superior to the film (1998) with Oprah Winfrey, but both novel and film are important if we want to remember our past. They are justifiably part of the American canon.

"Glory" (1989) is a must-see movie documenting the North's first all-Black Army regiment. The 54th Massachusetts infantry was recruited in Boston in 1862 and moved South to eventual combat in Georgia and South Carolina.

Their officers were white, but the story here is that the soldiers proved to be every much as capable and patriotic as any other regiment. Even though they failed at the second battle of Fort Wagner on July 7, 1863, their value and bravery led President Lincoln to recruit many more such African American regiments, totaling nearly 200,000 men. Some scholars suggest the example of the 54th regiment and the engagement of these additional troops may have been a critical turning point in the success of the North.

"A Raisin in the Sun" (1961) should be watched and rewatched for several reasons. It was the breakout movie for Sidney Poitier, who gives a brilliant performance as an anguished working-class African American trying to make a living in racist Chicago in the 1950s. He and his family buy into the American dream  the goals of a home of their own, better jobs, and college educations. But the obstacles are great. This is a consciousness raising film and, in some ways, a parallel story to Steinbeck's classic film "The Grapes of Wrath" (1940).

"Raisin in the Sun" has more optimism in it than Richard Wrights brutal classic novel "Native Son," which was also based in Chicago a generation or two earlier. Unfortunately, a good movie of Wrights novel has yet to be made.

Sticking with Chicago for a moment, we recommend watching "Judas and the Black Messiah" (2021). Be warned, this is not an easy film to watch. It is the story of the Black Panther Party in Chicago in the 1960s. It profiles Panther leader Fred Hampton as a charismatic organizer who becomes a cult leader as he tries to deliver community services and form a Rainbow Coalition to combat Mayor Richard Daleys political machine in Chicago.

The Judas in this story is an FBI informant who, in exchange for being let off from a long prison sentence, agrees to help infiltrate the Panthers organization and gather evidence to help convict Hampton.

The movie and a subsequent successful lawsuit suggest that the FBI essentially killed Fred Hampton. This of course was the same FBI that also infiltrated the Malcolm X and Martin Luther King, Jr. organizations in the same era.

Two good coming of age films are set in African American neighborhoods. "Boyz n the Hood" (1991) is a superb yet disturbing story of growing up as a young man in gang-ridden south central Los Angeles. There is also "Moonlight" (2016), which was the Academy Award winner for best picture in 2017. It shows the coming of age of a poor gay Black youth in Miami. He is the son of a drug addicted single mom, and he is bullied, betrayed and barely makes it. Ironically, he is mentored by the drug dealer who sells drugs to his mom.

And then there are a several Spike Lee classics.

Spike Lee's "Do the Right Thing" (1989) does a remarkable job of capturing a single Brooklyn city block on the hottest day of the summer. Spike Lee is a star in his own movie. He has a Puerto Rican girlfriend, and he works for Sal, the owner of Sal's famous Italian pizza shop across the street from where Spike Lees character lives. He shares stories of a Korean owned grocery store and the local police, who occasionally show up to quiet things down.

Spike Lee's neighborhood memoir is full of nostalgia, restlessness and an urban ethnic angst. Racial and ethnic groups struggle to coexist, and nobody is sure of what is the right thing to do. Lee hints that there is the Martin Luther King Jr. way to do things (moderation), and alternatively there is the Malcolm X approach (confrontation). Lee leaves his viewers to consider all the options even as makes his film in the aftermath of the assassinations of both X and King.

But both of those ideals are questioned by the turn of this movie. The movie will remain a landmark of capturing a neighborhood and its insecurities. This great film raises many more questions than it answers.

"Malcolm X" (1992) is another Spike Lee classic. It is based on autobiographical notes written by the famous Roots author Alex Haley. It stars Denzel Washington.

Malcolm X grew up in the Midwest but moved to Boston, where he became a criminal. He converted to Islam in prison and emerged as a disciple of Elijah Muhammad.

Malcolm X became a changed man, devout religiously and a major advocate of Black supremacy and even racial geographic separation. He became a strident advocate of Black rights and a skilled orator. He was a dogged organizer and shared stirring comments. He dismissed the assassination of President John F. Kennedy in 1963 as an example of the chickens coming home to roost  a judgment that caused a significant backlash to X, including temporary exile from the Islam movement.

In 1964 Malcolm X traveled to Mecca, where he met Muslims of all races. He began to understand the need for tolerance instead of separation. He began to see the need for neighborhoods to collaborate rather than fight each other.

A year later Malcolm X was assassinated by some of his former associates in the Nation of Islam.

Spike Lees film is an empathetic yet realistic portrait of one of America's most famous radicals. Malcolm X seemed to be growing more moderate in his last years. Ironically, as Malcolm X became more moderate, Martin Luther King Jr. was becoming more radical. King did not attend Malcolm X's funeral (which had 30,000 mourners) yet telegraphed X's spouse that "I always had a deep affection for Malcolm and felt that he had the great ability to put his finger on the existence and root of the problem."

One lesson here is that, even as we Americans implore the rest of the world to honor human rights and human freedoms and national sovereignty, we too have struggled  and are still struggling  to live up to our humanitarian ideals.

We need unified communities and neighborhoods that are willing to put common goals ahead of ethnic and geographic sentiments. Identity politics is understandable, yet it can deter a nation and its communities from bringing about progress. We celebrate freedom but want every neighborhood to breathe free in its own way.

Dissent and political opposition can be appropriate. That's why the women's rights, civil rights, and gay rights movements were right in pressing for reforms. In each case, it was a hard-fought struggle. And yet, it was almost always a neighborhood up rather than a leadership down sustained organizational movement that ensured political success.

As James Madison noted, factions are inevitable in any society that allows for freedom. But we also need to learn that a hyper-factionalized nation, where neighbors do not act like neighbors and where gangs and bullies are tolerated, is a nation that probably will not long flourish.

Tom Cronin and Bob Loevy write about national and state politics.
I was saddened to learn of the passing of John Jack Breihan, professor emeritus of Loyola University of Maryland (John R. Jack Breihan, history professor and co-author of books on Maryland aviation, dies, Feb. 23).

When I decided to do a communal memoir of Cherry Hill in 2016, I searched Cherry Hill on the internet to see what work had already been done. Dr. Breihans 30-page history came up noting that it was available at Pratt Library. When I could not find it at Pratt, I reached out to Dr. Breihan through Loyola University. I explained to him that about 60 of the first generation of children to be raised in Cherry Hill were coming together to write about our experiences in our wonderful new community. He was delighted and he very graciously agreed to send me a copy of the history, as well as copies of the transcripts of the interviews that his students conducted.

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The material was indispensable to documenting the diversity and beauty of the architecture of the homes and the physical layout of this first planned community to be built by the federal government. Dr. Breihan noted that the planners, some of whom had designed Roland Park, Guilford and Homeland, decided to make Cherry Hill a city on the hilltop. Dr. Breihan noted in his history that he hoped residents would come together to share a more complete look at the community.

The book, Cherry Hill: Raising Successful Black Children in Jim Crow Baltimore, was published in 2018 and I sent him a copy. He was so pleased with it that he requested several more to share with his friends. I am so honored that our paths crossed and I will always be indebted to him for caring enough to help us to understand our story better. My condolences to his family and friends.

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Linda G. Morris, Germantown

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Daily dashboard updates this week  if taken at face value  showed a sudden rise in virus infections for Danville and Pittsylvania County. But the reality is delayed reporting, not new cases, caused the spike.

About 80% of the 375 new cases reported over a three-day span this week are from mid-January, according to Christopher Garrett, the local health emergency coordinator with the Pittsylvania-Danville Health District.

Over the course of the pandemic, this has sometimes happened for one reason or another. Sometimes the health department receives a delayed bulk batch of COVID-19 results from a variety of sources.

The current rise in cases is from a reporting issue, Garrett told the Register & Bee this week.

Mid-January was the local peak of the omicron wave, a surge that brought record infection levels across the Dan River Region. Driven by a highly transmissible version of the novel coronavirus, the area was averaging about 237 new daily cases Jan. 14.

Infections have significantly dwindled since and were down to about 34 cases a day before this weeks artificial bump skewed the data.

Health officials previously acknowledged last months official recordings likely didnt capture the true impact of the surge. For example, results from home test kits arent reported to the state. In addition, not everyone who showed signs of COVID-19 sought out a test, and those who did faced a hard time finding one.

Deaths are another common lag in COVID-19 reporting. Last week, 16 new fatalities  two Pittsylvania County residents and 14 from Danville  made it into the official record logs. But those deaths almost certainty happened weeks earlier because of a time-consuming process officials use to verify fatalities are linked to COVID-19. That includes waiting for the official death certificate and conducting follow-up investigations if there are any questions.

So far, 435 residents of Danville and Pittsylvania County have died of COVID-19 since the first death was reported nearly two years ago.

Current state

Danville has shifted into the medium level of COVID-19 risk, according to the Centers for Disease Controls new view on impact to communities. The CDC now calculates the burden on local health care systems to determine if the risk is low, medium or high.

A week ago, the federal agency pegged Danville in the low  green  category, meaning face masks were no longer recommended in public indoor settings. However, the medium level suggests those at a high risk for severe illness talk to health care providers to determine if the induvial should continue to mask up. Otherwise, masks are no longer suggested.

Pittsylvania County remains in the medium level noted by a yellow color. Localities to the north at still in a high risk, labeled orange on the newly debuted system.

Before the switch, the CDC viewed community transmission was the critical point in determining if face masks should be used. By those metrics, both Danville and Pittsylvania County are still considered to be at a high risk for COVID-19 spread. Pittsylvania Countys positivity rate  a figure that calculates positive results against overall tests given  was at 29% on Friday, far above the 5% benchmark recommended by the CDC. Danvilles still-elevated figure was at 12%.

Downward march

Dr. Scott Spillmann, director of the Pittsylvania-Danville Health District, is upbeat on the future path of the virus after two years of up-and-down struggles.

Absent further troublesome mutation variants of significance we anticipate the downward trend to continue for the next several months, he told the Register & Bee this week. By the summer of 2022, if not sooner, we truly hope COVID will transition from pandemic to epidemic to endemic.

In the political world, that switch is already racing across the country. What few mandates remained have fallen recently, especially with the CDCs new guidance. However, health experts havent been as quick to declare a victory, knowing how many times the novel coronavirus has changed course in the snap of a finger.

Once it reaches this last stage it will be much easier for us to go about our lives more normally  learning to live with this coronavirus, Spillmann explained. Over time it might join the ranks of four of its coronavirus relatives that chase the common cold.

Supporting the theory the virus still poses a threat, Spillmann continues to beat the drum of vaccinations and booster shots, along with staying home when ill.

He also said to apply the 3 Ws appropriately, meaning wearing a mask, watching distance and washing hands.

In addition to advice like getting enough sleep and exercise, Spillmann offered other thoughts that arent not necessarily geared toward medicine, but can equally impact the outcomes of health.

Engage safely with friends and family; be good to yourself; take pleasure in life each day; have some fun; dont forget to laugh, he told the Register & Bee.

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After its failure militarily and politically, Damascus government resorted to reconciliations project for the people of Raqqa, however goals of this project became obvious after they saw what happened to those who struck settlements in southern Syria, where they were pushed into battles of Al- Badia with ISIS gangs to liquidate those who struck these settlements.

Individual settlements by Damascus government to the people of Raqqa and its countryside met with popular rejection from all the people and dignitaries of the region.

Notable of the Al-Ghanim clan Al-Zahir, Mustafa Abdi, confirmed during his speech to ANHA that "The security in NE Syria has achieved by the solidarity of peoples with each other and standing of elders, dignitaries and clan members with the Syrian Democratic Forces, and said, " Damascus government is trying, through what is called reconciliation, to undermine security in the region.

Abdi made the point clear that, "Reconciliation is individual and not collective, basically the person who performs the reconciliation process is a person who fingerprints a paper proving his incrimination and conviction, even if he has not committed these crimes. The person fingerprints on a paper written in English, which proves that he is a criminal or a terrorist, they formulated it. as they want".

Abdi stressed that "The real reconciliation that we are satisfied with is reconciliation for all the Syrian territories otherwise it is all rejected.

In this way it is called reconciliation. As for individual reconciliation, it is a statistical process sent to the United Nations through which the number of criminals is indicated. who asked for pardon from the Damascus government.

Abdi said," Damascus government should look at the Turkish transgressions in NE Syria, as it repeatedly bombs our lands, kills innocents and burns trees, even livestock were not spared from Turkish bombardment, in return we see Damascus government calling on our people to stamp on their incriminating paper.

Talal Al-Sibat notable of Al-Jaabat tribe said " We in NE Syria are looking for a unified and comprehensive solution for all Syrian territories, and this solution is linked to sitting at the Syrian-Syrian dialogue table, there is no way to solve the Syrian crisis except through dialogue and the participation of all Syrian parties in the negotiations, including the Autonomous Administration of NE Syria".

Al-Sibat noted, "Negotiations and sitting at the dialogue table are not complete without Autonomous Administration of NE Syria and consensus of all parties.

A.K

ANHA
Last Wednesday marked the beginning of Lent in the Christian calendar. Lent is the 40 days, not counting Sundays, between Ash Wednesday and Easter morning. It is a time of spiritual pilgrimage where Christians all over the world practice purposeful introspection in order to honor God and the sacrifice of Jesus for the sins of all humanity.

This somber and reflective period of 40 days is followed by the ecstatic celebration of Easter morning, and the resurrection of Jesus confirms that all he taught was true and we can indeed experience life after death through faith in him.

Jesus temptation by the devil in the wilderness in the subject of this coming Sundays reading. For 40 days Jesus remained in the inhospitable desert country of Israel while prayerfully fasting. The devil comes and tests Jesus three times, trying to derail the mission of the Messiah before it even gets started. He attacks Jesus by coming after his hunger, pride, and sense of identity. Jesus wards off each of the temptations by referencing what he knows to be true.

In his weakest of moments and during the most difficult of circumstances, Jesus trusts in his Heavenly Father and in his timing. Jesus source of strength is the Jewish holy scriptures, or what Christians refer to as the Old Testament.

It is a universal truth that times of stress and difficulty not only build character but reveal our character. Those lessons we have learned through past experience and the truths we have absorbed into our hearts will expressed themselves when we are hard pressed. More important than the outward show of our religion, the inward state of our hearts and souls is revealed when we are stressed.

This truth is universal because we can see the principle play out, well universally. For instance, the term GIGO is shorthand for "Garbage In, Garbage Out." GIGO is a computer science acronym that affirms the truth that bad input will result in bad output. Computers operate using strict logic, so it is clear to see how invalid input or programming may produce unrecognizable output, or "garbage." While we may be tempted to toss the hardware (a laptop, phone, or tablet) across the room when something isnt working right, its the programming  the software  that is likely to blame.

In school I had a teacher that referred to test and quizzes as learning opportunities! He was quite serious and I learned an important lesson from his reframing of the term test in an academic setting. A test is a learning opportunity because it teaches us how well we have prepared for the moment of testing. If I had been doing my daily work, attending class regularly, and asking questions along the way to seek clarification, then I was prepared to test well and enjoy the learning opportunity rather than dread it.

I am sure you can see how this principle plays out in other areas? Recently, I was struck by the eloquence of Ukrainian mother Olena Gnes who was able to passionately speak about motherhood, patriotism, justice, and world politics while holding her daughter in one arm and video chatting with her phone in the opposite hand. Huddled with others in a bomb shelter, she was able to speak truthfully to her situation and the dilemma before her countrymen without a script or prepared words. In a time of extreme stress, what was in her came pouring out in a compassionate plea that moved all who heard her.

The way these examples and Jesus experience of being tested in the wilderness apply to our lives should be fairly plain by now. Jesus could withstand temptation because he had cultivated his relationship with God the Father over years of prayer and study. It wasnt just about memorizing scripture passages and verbalizing them in his time of weakness! Gods Word had penetrated into his being and became so much a part of him that it would have been impossible for him to express anything other than those truths and live them out faithfully.

This kind of relationship is what God wants with us: an intimate walk that emphasizes perseverance, not perfection. Gods words leading us to Gods heart for Gods world. This is a key point and our compass rose on the journey of faith. Why? Well, because Jesus wasnt the only one to reference scripture during his temptation. No, the devil also quoted Gods word with some skill and precision. But, because his purpose and his character were set against Gods design, his application of Gods word was deceptive and false. Gods truth was twisted to harm and destroy rather than to reveal and heal.

You can read this fascinating encounter in both Matthew and Luke, turning to the fourth chapter. I hope you will join me this Lent in looking for ways to practice putting good in, so when stressful times come, good comes out. (A positive spin on GIGO?) May we also build purposefully into those relationships that strengthen our character and integrity, so when tempted we can stand firm.

The Reverend Chris Haughee is a licensed minister of the Evangelical Covenant Church and is the Church Relations liaison for Intermountain. An adoptive father to two, Chris is an advocate for greater inclusion of foster and adoptive families in the life and ministry of local congregations. Chris is the author of several devotional books including his latest, Hope for Healing, which is available at Amazon.com or by directly contacting Intermountain at 406-457-4804.

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Spurred by recent deaths at the state psychiatric hospital, Montana lawmakers agreed Friday to begin drafting legislation to address population management and oversight at the facility in Warm Springs.

A special meeting called by the Children, Families, Health and Human Services Interim Legislative Committee Friday went into the evening hours as lawmakers sought some definition to a path forward on short- and long-term solutions to problems that have affected the Montana State Hospital for years.

The committee on Friday agreed to begin the drafting process for two pieces of legislation, and deadlocked on the proposal to issue a letter to the state health department, which oversees the state hospital, urging additional measures to augment the current staffing crisis.

The two bills that reached a majority consensus of the committee deal with the hospital population and independent oversight. The first, a proposal by Rep. Danny Tenenbaum, D-Missoula, would stop the placement of patients with dementia in the Spratt Unit, the geriatric wing of state hospital. He said he hopes to follow the model the 2015 Legislature took when it passed legislation to wind down the Montana Developmental Center in Boulder.

The facility was never intended to provide care for dementia patients, but a 2020 report found the core of many issues at the state hospital was the reality that the facility is forced to provide both skilled nursing care for dementia patients and inpatient psychiatric care for people with severe mental illness. Dementia patients have been admitted to the hospital by way of involuntary commitments by the courts. The state hospital serves as the "safety net" provider in Montana, the last stop when these patients have nowhere else to go.

Tenenbaum urged the committee to take up the effort to end the practice of institutionalizing people with dementia and instead find placement in Montana communities, closer to their families who themselves can serve as reporters when they see institutions failing. He mentioned Kathy Toavs, a Wolf Point woman who was living with dementia when she was admitted to the state hospital in 2021. Toavs died Jan. 30 after suffering 13 falls in less than two months at the hospital with inconsistent assistance to keep her from falling.

"We have an opportunity now to fix this problem and to make sure that people like Kathy Toavs don't die avoidable deaths in the state hospital," he said.

The motion quickly saw bipartisan support. Rep. Jennifer Carlson, R-Manhattan, said she often sees government as getting involved in too many jobs, but that this, however, was different.

"I think taking care of marginalized people actually is our job," she said. "It needs to be a priority.  No big problem that needs a big solution is easy, and it's never been that way."

Committee chair Ed Stafman, a Bozeman Democrat, also got a consensus of the committee to move forward on drafting a bill to give more oversight over the state hospital's reports to Disability Rights Montana, a federally mandated civil rights protection and advocacy unit. Bernadette Franks-Ongoy, the organization's executive director, said DRM used its abilities this week to enter the facility unannounced. There they found one patient had recently been hospitalized with another fall, another patient was "actively dying," although with the hospital's ongoing staffing crisis, "he may die alone."

Franks-Ongoy said state law does not give DRM express ability to review patient reports as it does with other mental health facilities around the state, and could do so with a standalone bill granting them that access. Stafman said two lawmakers would take the lead on the effort.

Half the committee did not intend to leave Friday's hearing without addressing the immediacy of the conditions at the state hospital. In early February the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services uncovered two federal health rules  failing to prevent falls and operating without a COVID infection control plan  so far from compliance that they put the state hospital on "immediate jeopardy" status. Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services Director Adam Meier testified Friday that in a follow up visit from CMS, inspectors found a third deficiency warranting the immediate jeopardy designation, finding the facility failed to demonstrate facility-wide education had taken place specific to the definition of what a "chemical restraint" is.

Meier's report furnished to the committee stated the immediate jeopardy designation had been resolved on the chemical restraint issue by Feb. 25.

The other immediate jeopardy designations are still in place pending a return visit from CMS, but he provided a list of policy tweaks that he hopes will satisfy the federal rules and retain the hospital's agreement for federal reimbursement dollars. Patients who are a "high fall risk," for example, will now wear yellow wrist bands to identify that risk. The hospital has also developed and implemented an infection control plan as required by CMS, according to Meier's report.

There appeared to be no appetite Friday for the removal of state hospital administrator Kyle Fouts, who several employees during the meeting credited for the thinning ranks of long-term employees and openly poor morale at the facility.

"Please do not let the MSH administration get away with externalizing blame to the COVID pandemic," Marla Lemons, a clinical psychologist at Warm Springs for 19 years, told the committee. "Many former MSH employees worked all the way through the first year or more of the pandemic."

A number of panelists and hospital staff cited the mass exodus of long-time staff and a significant increase in the number of traveling staff, who make much higher wages despite sometimes not having the same level of training, as a major strain on the hospital. The facility has 40% of positions open, many of those filled by traveling nurses working under short-term contracts.

Meier said he has approved pay increases for some staff as high as 29%, some of which should have already taken affect on workers paychecks, in an effort to bring wages closer to the current market.

Jack Griswold, who recently became president of one of the employee unions in Warm Springs because the last president resigned, urged some accountability for the hospital administration's role in undoing a well-trained and well-resourced staff.

"If you're going to be a leader, you're not going to please everybody," Griswold told the committee. "You've got to hold people accountable, even if for a moment that means being uncomfortable."

Rep. Mary Caferro, D-Helena, at the end of Friday's meeting, proposed the committee issue a letter to DPHHS asking for COVID-era protocols to go back into place to help with the current conditions. The CMS report found 87 of 107 patients had contracted COVID in an outbreak in January; three had died due to the hospital's failure to keep its infection control plan in place. Caferro's proposed letter would urge the department to bring back the National Guard to perform non-medical tasks like laundry and food delivery, and to bring back the supplemental pay for health care workers, considering the state's unused federal aid dollars tied to addressing the effects of the pandemic.

Meier told the committee on Friday that the case count in Warm Springs is now zero, and Republican lawmakers opposed sending the letter, instead allowing Meier to control the short-term solutions of the hospital. The committee, made up of equal parts Republicans and Democrats, deadlocked on the vote to issue a letter on a 5-5 vote, and the motion died.

The committee staffer Sue O'Connell said she would begin gathering materials to begin work on the bill drafts. The committee meets again March 15.

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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 Street (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). (Jerry Jackson/Baltimore Sun)

In the recent article, Developer pulls plan for rooftop bar in Fells Point after outcry from neighbors (Feb. 26), the previous owner of the Thames Street property was incorrectly identified as the Historical Preservation Society for Federal Hill and Fells Point. The correct name of the previous owner is the Society for the Preservation of Federal Hill and Fells Point, Inc. Known as the Preservation Society, it is celebrating the 55th anniversary of its founding. Without the vision and action of the original founding members of the society, any development in Federal Hill, Fells Point, the Inner Harbor and the rest of the urban waterfront over the past 50 years would never have happened.

Alarmed by the proposed construction of a federal highway through Fells Point and over the top of Federal Hill in the early 1960s, the Preservation Society initiated legal measures against the city of Baltimore to prevent the further acquisition of property for the road and the implementation of newly-issued federal programs for historic preservation that successfully prevented the highway from destroying the historic cores of Federal Hill and Fells Point. Without this landmark intervention, the highway would have been constructed leaving a brownfields landscape around the harbor that had little chance of being redeveloped. The society is dedicated to the preservation of the historic character and buildings of both Federal Hill and Fells Point as well as to programs that encourage appropriate growth and development at a scale that is complementary and that enhances this historic character.

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Additionally, the Preservation Society restored the Robert Long House, mentioned in the article, to its original 1765 appearance. This colonial era structure was vacant and derelict at the time of its purchased by the society. Through a fundraising campaign, the society raised over $500,000 to restore, rebuild and furnish this important part of Baltimores architectural and social history as a house museum focusing on colonial life in Fells Point. Today, the society, in partnership with the Friends of 612-614 South Wolfe Street, is involved in the equally important restoration and reconstruction project of the Caulkers Houses, which will illuminate the unknown story of Black caulkers who lived in these houses and who provided crucial labor in the construction of wooden sailing ships launched in Fells Point prior to the Civil War. When completed, these two small houses will offer an educational opportunity to look into the lives of pre-Civil War Black society and recognize and understand its substantial contributions to Baltimore and Maryland.

For further information on the Society for the Preservation of Federal Hill and Fells Point Inc. the societys website is: www.preservationsociety.com.

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David H. Gleason, Baltimore

The writer is president of the Society for the Preservation of Federal Hill and Fells Point Inc.

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DECATUR  Apollo was having a multitude of health problems: anemia, heart failure, pleural effusion, pericardial effusion, atrial fibrillation.

A room full of student nurses at Richland Community College gathered around him to discuss how to treat his woes. Fortunately for Apollo, he's a sim  a robotic patient who can breathe and blink and display all sorts of symptoms of normal and abnormal functions of the human body  and students can practice on him so that when they are in real hospitals with real human patients, they're confident and ready.

Thanks to a $3.2 million grant from Decatur Memorial Foundation, Richland will be able to significantly expand its health care program, with triple the number of students over the next four years, and help ease the nursing shortage.

A great deal of it is going to be scholarship-based, said Rebekah Zuniga, director of EnRich's health care program at Richland. A big goal is to increase the amount of nurses in the nursing program, therefore increasing the amount of nurses in the health care field.

We have lots of plans on the beginning end of things as far as early intervention, realizing what those gatekeeper classes are, helping students with whatever they need, figuring out what barriers exist right now that we can help with to help them be successful in the nursing program.

That includes tutoring, mentors and programs in cooperation with Decatur Memorial Hospital to give students early hands-on experience.

The additional efforts come as health care staffing shortages, an issue that began before the pandemic, are exacerbated by the challenging circumstances related to COVID-19. Nationally, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics expects 500,000 more nurses to quit this year, leaving the nation short 1.1 million nurses.

Zuniga is herself a registered nurse, and she said there are other career fields in health care besides nursing that are critical to good patient care. The grant will also assist in helping students interested in those other fields to be successful. In some cases, students who begin as nursing assistants, licensed practical nurses or phlebotomists might want to continue their educations and become registered nurses, for example.

Cortney Conrad has been a certified nurse assistant since 2017. She loves her job and the residents she cared for, she said, and wanted to go further in her training.

I decided to give it a shot and honestly, it's the best decision of my entire life, she said.

Sims like Apollo give the students a chance to practice various case scenarios, she said, and she's already been offered a job at HSHS St. Mary's Hospital as an operating room nurse.

It helps us become a better nurse, she said.

Kenyota Hudson was a medical assistant for seven years and is working toward becoming a nurse midwife.

There's so much hands-on you can do, she said. Each semester you build upon your skills and each semester, you're doing something different, whether it's psych or critical care, like we're doing now, and each semester you're still building on those general skills.

Alisha Thomas and Dierre Guyse are navigators, who will recruit high school students with an interest in the health care field and help students access the assistance they'll need to successfully complete the training and pursue those careers.

A big part of what we want to do on the intervention side is educating students in high school on the different areas, whether it's (radiology) tech, ultrasound, phlebotomy, nursing assistants, those are great professions, Zuniga said. We certainly want to encourage that and increase those numbers in other programs as well.

Tribune News Service and The Associated Press contributed to this story.

Contact Valerie Wells at (217) 421-7982. Follow her on Twitter: @modgirlreporter

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DECATUR  After having to improvise last year with a virtual setting, the Polar Plunge returned on Saturday to Lake Decatur.

"Our weather couldn't be better," said Joanie Keyes, Special Olympics Illinois Region I director. "I would encourage anyone to just try it once and check it off your bucket list."

With the water sitting at a cool 35 degrees, plungers from all over Macon County attended the 21st annual Decatur Polar Plunge to take a dip in the frigid water.

By noon, Lakeshore Landing was packed with about 300 plungers and others looking on as participants wearing superhero costumes and bathing suits prepared to enter the bone-chilling water in front of them.

For 7-year-old Emma Six, it was her first time taking the plunge with her grandmother Taunia Rentfrow, 49.

"It was colder than I expected," Six said. "I want to do it again."

Since the inaugural Polar Plunge in 1999, the event has grown to become a yearly staple in 23 communities around the state as part of the Illinois Law Enforcement Torch Run Polar Plunge for Special Olympics.

Rentfrow, who has participated in every plunge in the past, said she now does it in honor of Emma, who was born with spina bifida, a condition that affects the spine. This year, she wanted Emma to be involved as well.

"It helps keep everybody involved with it and I love that our community hosts the Special Olympics," Rentfrow said. "This helps fund activities and things for them to do, so I just want to continue doing it."

It's also a major fundraiser for Special Olympics Illinois, as participants are tasked with collecting at least $100 in pledges before earning the honor to run or jump into a freezing cold body of water.

St. Teresa High School sophomores Aidan McGregor, 16, and his friends Brian Sharp, 15, and Rafael Onate, 16, did their first-ever plunge on Saturday and also helped with the setup and tear-down of the event.

"I've heard of it before, but I never really knew exactly what it is," McGregor said. "It's nice to come out here and see how big of an event it is with all these people."

McGregor and Sharp did not mind the cold water, but Onate said he could do without it.

"To be honest, I kind of hated it, but I knew all I had to do was get to the rope," he said. "That was my only focus, so it wasn't that bad."

Other participants included members from Macon Resources, which serves community members with developmental disabilities and offers programs for children and adults.

Macon Resources President Amy Bliefnick said the last time she took part in the plunge was in 2002, and she thought this year it would be a good idea to bring out employees from the office to dip their toes for the first time.

"It's a fun event and it's great to see so many people of all ages participate," Bliefnick said. "People can get involved in the community without having to commit a lot time or effort, and it's something fun to do on a Saturday afternoon."

Region I contains 17 counties, and four Polar Plunges are held annually, with the Effingham Plunge in Lake Sara Beach and Eastern Illinois University's Glow Plunge having already happened Feb. 26 and Feb. 27.

The event has already raised $44,484 as of registration, and more plungers were expected to sign up Saturday to help reach their goal of $88,000. Keyes said the funds will help pay for equipment, uniforms and sometimes transportation for the hundreds of Special Olympics athletes who compete in the 17 events a year from this region.

"This really provides them that opportunity to excel as an athlete and provide for their family in a way that they may not have been able to provide them and make them proud," Keyes said. "I encourage anyone that has never participated as a volunteer for Special Olympics to come out and be a volunteer and to work one-on-one with our athletes and experience the joy that they have for what they're doing and for the others around them."

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DECATUR  As Russian forces continue their war on Ukraine, Macon County farmers spoke with a Ukrainian farmer about their operations, how they are dealing with the conflict and what people in Central Illinois can do to help.

"All our people, all our farmers, are doing everything to help our army," said Constantine Khomenko, a farmer in Ukraine, during a virtual meeting Friday. "There is no area in Ukraine where (it is) 100% safe. We have areas where (there are) more bombs and we have areas where (there are) less bombs."

Board members of the Macon County Farm Bureau and Dawn Equipment Company, of Sycamore, hosted the virtual discussion at the farm bureau office in Decatur to provide an opportunity to learn more about farming in Ukraine and the current aggression from Russia.

Paul Butler, board member of the bureau, said the meeting between Khomenko and farmers came about in a Facebook group where the CEO of Dawn Equipment, Joseph Bassett, and Loran Steinlage, owner of FLOLO Farms in West Union, Iowa, said they knew someone in Ukraine whom was willing to speak with farmers in America.

Dawn Equipment, which primarily sells strip-tillers and other farming equipment, works with farmers in Ukraine like Khomenko to provide machinery and is now in the process of shipping Khomenko replacement parts and a new tiller.

"You're seeing their operation and that they're farmers like us," Butler said. "They're taking the equipment we have like the fertilizer tanks on the front of our tractors for our planters and they're filling them with diesel to run out and fuel tanks. It's hard to conceptualize that."

In a normal season, Khomenko said Ukraine cultivates a large amount of corn, wheat, sunflowers, and soybeans, but now, amid the invasion, some farmers have had a difficult time getting started because of Russian military vehicles driving through and sometimes being left behind in fields.

Instead of focusing on their loses, Khomenko said he and other farmers are helping the Ukrainian army in any way they can, which includes creating mobile gas stations to provide diesel for military vehicles and creating spike strips out of scrap metal to stop Russian convoys from advancing.

"When Ukraine wins this war, I would like to be part of a group that helps rebuild Ukraine into the most advanced agricultural society because farms truly are strength and the soil of Ukraine is part of the strength of Ukraine," Bassett said. "The only thing we can do now is to empathize with the real human side of this war and to talk about the war in Ukraine with anyone you meet."

Russia launched a full-scale invasion of neighboring Ukraine on Feb. 24, the largest ground war in Europe since World War II. Russian forces continued to press a campaign that has brought global condemnation. People across Ukraine have taken up arms and sought shelter. More than 1.2 million people have fled to neighboring countries, the U.N. refugee agency said Friday.

Toward the end of the discussion, Khomenko asked for everyone in the meeting to reach out to their local lawmakers and tell them about what he and other Ukrainians are doing, and urge them to provide air support against Russian cruise missiles.

"People of Ukraine are dying, sometimes children, sometimes mothers," Khomenko said. "We will never forgive Russians."

So far, NATO is refusing to police a no-fly zone over Ukraine. The 30-nation military organization believes that such a move could provoke widespread war in Europe with Russia.

Taken aback by what he was hearing during the meeting, Lance Muirheid of Muirheid Farms in Oakley, said it was a humbling experience to learn more about the situation in Ukraine and to get Khomenko's perspective as a farmer during a war.

"I came because I thought there was nothing I could do to help because I have nothing in common," Muirheid said. "It's very humbling to hear that from somebody on the other side of the world, but that could be me and now I know how to help and what to do."

Blue Mound farmer Clinton Gorden said he really did not know what was going on in Ukraine before the meeting, thinking it may be a war over resources. Even after the meeting, he said it still wasn't clear what prompted the Russian invasion.

"I can't get over how tough they are," Gorden said. "And that's a real question that was brought up there too. How many of us would be willing to do what they're doing?"

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BLOOMINGTON  Another convoy of truckers heralding messages of freedom is set to pass through Central Illinois on Saturday.

Statements and images posted this week to the "Freedom Illinois" page on Facebook show The American Freedom Convoy's Saturday route extending from Rockford to Indianapolis, by way of Bloomington via Interstate 39.

The fleet  originating from Minot, North Dakota  is expected to arrive by 11 a.m. Saturday in South Beloit at the interchange for I-90 and I-39, later convening with two other conveys at 2 p.m. in Oglesby.

The groups of truckers and other vehicles will then cruise under the overpass for Exit 8 on I-39, just south of Kappa on East County Road 2500 North. Supporters plan to meet at that bridge at 2 p.m. and cheer on the convoy that will make its pass between 2:30 and 3:30 p.m. Saturday.

The trucks will then navigate east on Interstate 74, reaching Oakwood by 4 p.m. and stopping for the night in Spiceland, Indiana. The convoy's final destination is Maryland.

The event follows five days after a similar convoy rolled through LeRoy. The Pantagraph reported around 100 people appeared at the Shell gas station on Tuesday in support of the caravan, which was expected to link with The People's Convey that left Southern California last week for Washington, D.C.

The People's Convey published demands on its website for the immediate lifting of national COVID-19 emergency rules. Several people told The Pantagraph on Tuesday in LeRoy that workers shouldn't be forced to get vaccinated by threat of employment termination.

The convoy also comes at a time when the national average price for gas has surged 29 cents since Russia's invasion of Ukraine, according to a Friday report published by CNN, and the rate of diesel is now up to $4.26 per gallon.

Contact Brendan Denison at (309) 820-3238. Follow Brendan Denison on Twitter: @BrendanDenison

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After all the epic upheaval in the 1970s over the Equal Rights Amendment, some are arguing that the constitutional amendment declaring, simply, that women must be afforded the same rights as men officially became law last month  two years after Virginia ratified it and put it over the 38-state threshold for addition to the Constitution.

Or not.

As galling as it might sound that even in 2022, a handful of Republican senators have moved to make sure the ERA isnt stamped into law, there are in fact some remaining issues that need to be resolved.

There are questions about whether Congress can retroactively waive a decades-old deadline that was missed, and whether some states that have rescinded their ratification had the power to do that. Those issues can and should be addressed  and then this long-overdue amendment should, finally, be enshrined in the Constitution.

The burning debate from the 1960s and 1970s of whether women should have the same rights as men is hardly debatable today. Consider the single sentence behind all these decades worth of controversy: Equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any state on account of sex. How could any modern American, regardless of gender or party, seriously oppose that sentiment?

The main reason, opponents say today, is that they believe that language will strengthen the standing of abortion rights advocates in court. Thats a virtual admission that even conservatives understand that restriction of abortion rights is inherently the restriction of womens rights.

But issues of gender equality go far beyond abortion. Most notably, women on average still make less money for the same work as men do, and are still largely locked out of the prime leadership positions in corporate America. The glass ceiling certainly has been cracked in recent years, but no one could rationally claim its been shattered.

Opponents also make some of the usual histrionic arguments that earlier generations made against the amendment: That it would tear down gender barriers, outlawing separate bathrooms and other public accommodations, a silly scare tactic. Or they assert it would potentially subject women to the military draft  a more reasonable prediction, but one that should be addressed within the wider debate of whether a military draft (of either gender) is just or workable in modern times.

All of this said, proponents who are pushing to formally certify the amendment despite technical questions about its passage potentially hurt their own just cause. If and when this amendment becomes part of the Constitution, it must be without the kind of asterisk that would result from cutting corners. That would also set a dangerous precedent for others who would change the Constitution in less-positive ways.

This one is too important not to do it right. But it should get done.

St. Louis Post-Dispatch

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The initial reaction to the appointment of a new ethics watchdog for Illinois state government has centered on the troubling way in which former judge Michael McCuskey was chosen for the job.

To be sure, that process was deeply flawed in ways that longtime watchers of Illinois government can only greet with an eye roll and a long, exasperated sigh. But there is even more and greater exasperation ahead if we let this all-too-familiar partisan disappointment overshadow the reason the legislative inspector general position was open in the first place.

On that score, direct your attention to the description of the job from the previous person who held it: paper tiger.

The legislative inspector general is supposed to investigate ethics complaints against members of the Illinois General Assembly. When, last July, former appellate judge Carol Pope announced her resignation from the post two years early, she complained that restrictions on the position made it all but impossible to achieve its goals. It was a familiar refrain, virtually mirroring complaints from her predecessor, Julie Porter. Porter, by the way, had been brought in during an embarrassing 2017 #MeToo scandal in the legislature because the job had been vacant since 2014.

Pope announced her resignation in July and left the job a month and a half ago. Democrats pointed to the delays and what they described as a political stalemate regarding her successor as the justification for ramrodding McCuskey through the House and Senate last week.

But before we rush to celebrate their sense of urgency, consider what lawmakers have done to respond to Popes and Porters concerns. They decided the inspector general can open a case without first seeking the blessing of the state Ethics Commission.

Thats it.

They have not granted the watchdog subpoena powers critical to getting testimony and information. They actually made the job tougher by requiring a formal complaint to open an investigation rather than allowing the watchdog to pursue cases based on media or public reports.

Neither party gets any points, of course, for trying to break the Ethics Commission impasse over two finalists. They both contributed to the stalemate, and neither showed any inclination to try to solve it, until Senate President Don Harmon, an Oak Park Democrat, brought forth McCuskey.

So now, at least, we have an official watchdog to oversee ethics issues in the General Assembly. And, by all accounts -- even those of people who voted against him because of the process -- the former judge is respected for his independence and integrity.

But Pope and, before her, Porter both came into the role with similar credentials and reputations. And both left frustrated and disappointed. So, the key issue now isnt that we have an inspector general, nor even the unsavory tactics that put him in place. Its whether hes going to be allowed to do his job or will step away in disgust a few years hence.

If either party truly cares about currying the publics confidence and respect, thats where theyll concentrate their attention.

Arlington Heights Daily-Herald

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New Braunfels, TX (78130)

Today

Scattered thunderstorms in the morning becoming more widespread in the afternoon. A few storms may be severe. High around 85F. Winds SSW at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 60%..

Tonight

Partly cloudy skies. Low 64F. Winds NE at 5 to 10 mph.
During Sunday rites, worshippers in the Orthodox Church in America are led through a tour of the faiths music, with hymns from Russia, Romania, Georgia, Bulgaria and beyond.

The faithful know many by heart, including the ancient Trisagion hymn  Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us  in a haunting setting that for centuries has simply been called Kievan Chant.

With Great Lent approaching, Archbishop Alexander Golitzin of the Diocese of Dallas and the South instructed parishes (including my own in East Tennessee) to add prayers for Ukraine in every Divine Liturgy: Again, we ask Thy great mercy on our brothers and sisters who are presently involved in conflict. Remove from their midst all hostility, confusion and hatred. Lead everyone along the path of reconciliation and peace.

The OCAs Metropolitan Tikhon, leader of a church that began with Russian missionary work in 1794, has urged that hostilities be ceased immediately and that President Putin put an end to the military operations. As Orthodox Christians, we condemn violence and aggression.

In Slavic Orthodox history, all roads lead to Kiev, now called Kyiv in the West.

Orthodox leaders with ties to the European Union, and to highly European Western Ukraine, have issued fierce statements after the Russian invasion. Metropolitan Epiphanius I of the independent Ukrainian Orthodox Church, launched in 2018 by Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew of Istanbul, has said the spirit of the Antichrist operates in the leader of Russia.

However, its significant that leaders of many Orthodox churches with roots in Russian Orthodoxy have also condemned the invasion and urged a ceasefire. The leader of Ukraines oldest Orthodox body  one with centuries of ecclesiastical ties to Moscow  condemned the invasion in a statement addressed directly to Vladimir Putin.

Defending the sovereignty and integrity of Ukraine, we appeal to the President of Russia and ask him to immediately stop the fratricidal war, said Metropolitan Onuphry, primate of Kyiv and All Ukraine. The Ukrainian and Russian peoples came out of the Dnieper Baptismal font, and the war between these peoples is a repetition of the sin of Cain, who killed his own brother out of envy. Such a war has no justification either from God or from people.

Metropolitan Onuphry, a native of Western Ukraine, added: I call you, above all, to intensified penitential prayer for Ukraine, for our army and our people, and I entreat you to lay aside mutual strife and misunderstandings and unite in love for God and our motherland.

The synod of bishops went further, urging Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia to personally seek cessation of fratricidal bloodshed on Ukrainian land, and to call on the leadership of the Russian Federation to immediately stop the military actions that are already threatening to turn into a world war.

The synod added: Bringing nuclear weapons to a state of high combat readiness in general sharply calls into question the prospects for the further existence of mankind. Praising those defending Ukraine, the bishops said their sacrifice is a powerful testimony to how its possible to fulfill the words of our Lord Jesus Christ: Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.

Meanwhile, inside Russia, numerous Orthodox priests and abbots  200-plus early this week, speaking each on our own behalf  began signing an online petition calling for the cessation of the fratricidal war in Ukraine and urging negotiations. We respect God-given human freedom, and we believe that the people of Ukraine should make their choice independently, not at gunpoint, without pressure from the West or the East, said the text.

Noting that this was written after the Sunday of the Last Judgment on the Orthodox calendar, they added: The Last Judgment awaits every person. No earthly authority, no doctors, no guards will protect from this judgment. Concerned about the salvation of every person who considers himself a child of the Russian Orthodox Church, we do not want him to appear at this judgment bearing the heavy burden of mothers curses.

We remind you that the Blood of Christ, shed by the Savior for the life of the world, will be received in the sacrament of Communion by those people who give murderous orders not into life, but into eternal torment.

The petition closed with: Stop the war.

Terry Mattingly leads GetReligion.org and lives in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. He is a senior fellow at the Overby Center at the University of Mississippi.
The first time Allie Evangelista ever saw a slot machine was when she began working at a casino. Before becoming manager of another casino, she didnt know a deck contained 52 cards.

Growing up in Brazil, Evangelista dreamed of being a travel agent or traveling the world as a flight attendant but a bottom-to-top 16-year career in the gaming industry now has her poised to oversee Virginias first casino  the Bristol Casino, future home of Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Bristol  opening later this year at the former Bristol Mall.

It has been a long, eventful adventure for someone whose first job in this country was working as a hotel housekeeper.

I wanted to visit the world, I wanted to learn cultures and see what people were like and cultures were like everywhere else, Evangelista said of her youthful wanderlust.

Twenty-three years ago, she moved to the U.S. and settled in Florida.

I worked at Walt Disney World while I was in college and met my husband there. When I finished college in Brazil I decided I would take a shot. When I first was able to get a job, which takes a little time, I started as a hotel housekeeper, she said. My goal was to get to the front desk and I was able to do that. I set up breakfast in the morning for the customers. It was on International Drive near Walt Disney World, so there was a lot of tourism.

During her time in the hospitality industry she learned every aspect of hotel operations before being offered a job at a Missouri riverboat casino in 2006.

I started in slots, and I had never seen a slot machine in my life until we actually went there, she said. It was a big place, very lively, very, very vibrant. There was a lot of noise and energy in the air. It was a Friday afternoon and busyI remember the energy on the gaming floor, the machines and the music, it was like being in a night club; that I was at a party.

That party kicked off 16 years working at multiple locations with opportunities to learn the bread and butter of the industry  slots, card games, table games.

We had dealers schools for managers at night so I had to go to class and learn craps and blackjack. We had to go to class to certify, but when I went into table games, I didnt know how many cards were in a deck, Evangelista said. But you need to be humble enough to know that people have been doing this for years. Theyre there to help you and teach you. It was exciting.

She later spent two years at the Hollywood Casino at The Meadows near Pittsburgh, where she became general manager and had to quickly learn the harness racing industry as the casinos adjoining track ran about 300 days per year.

It was a very intense operation, a very active race track, and I had to learn everything about horse racing. It was a lot of fun and, again, you rely on people that understand the business, and let them teach you what they know and together, you can make the business better.

From there, she became vice president and general manager of the Hollywood Gaming casino and race track in Ohio.

When I got to Ohio, I thought, Ive got this horse racing thing. Then I get there, and its a completely different business - thoroughbred rather than harness, she said. I used to go pet the horses if I was having a bad day at The Meadows but in Ohio the horses are not even that friendly. Just the business is so much different so that was another learning curve for me. But I like the unknown.

Evangelista had barely landed at her most recent job  at Hollywood Casino Perryville in Maryland in 2021  when a new opportunity appeared.

Even though gaming is a very large industry, we all know each other. I had friends I worked with in prior jobs who are now with Hard Rock telling me how amazing the company is and how they loved their job. So I started paying close attention, she said. They (Hard Rock) reached out to see if I was interested in a job. I had just arrived in Maryland so I was not ready to move again, I was well taken care of by my company, but I was willing to look at it.

She ultimately visited Bristol, met with Hard Rock Chief Operating Officer Jon Lucas and Bristol project partners Jim McGlothlin and Clyde Stacy and decided it was the right time to join the company.

The brand was the main reason. I want this to be the last company I work for, so I wanted to make the right decision, Evangelista said. The one thing that stood out to me for Bristol was, in all the years and casinos Ive worked for or locations I worked in, small town America has always been welcoming to me, have benefitted from casinos and embraced the culture of gaming.

When I came here and understood they had embraced this project and voted the project in, I knew it would be a good transition. It also gives me an opportunity to do what I do, which is give back to the community  not just the taxes  but to see what this is going to look like two years from now, five years from now, 10 years from now. Its going to change peoples lives, she said.

While the full resort is a couple of years away, the temporary gaming space is quickly becoming a reality inside the former Belk womens store on one end of the property.

It is a very good thing that we can operate the temporary facility at the same location where the permanent facility will be. When we open the doors well have this fun place for people to come in  the Bristol Casino, Future Home of Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Bristol  we open the doors and focus on the business while construction can focus on building the project, and were not sitting and waiting, Evangelista said.

Also, people who may not have as much experience will have an opportunity to learn the business while were still operating a smaller scale before we scale into this major resort that were going to become, she added.

Evangelista knows this will be Virginias first casino, which will attract a lot of attention.

We want to be a place for people to come and have some fun. We want people to feel comfortable, have a great time, be well taken care of Ive worked in places where the local community is our main guests. Theyre there every night, or twice a week. We know each other by name so it becomes a big family between team members and guests.

And we want to take great care of our team members. We know each other by name. Team members have access to me 24/7. I know everyone that works with me; were truly family. To me, team members being happy and wanting to work is a priority. Its not just my priority, Hard Rock is known for being an employer of choice, she said. Casinos will be great for Virginia. They will be great for Bristol but Hard Rock is a great match for this location.

While shes only been in town for a few days, Evangelista has been touched by the hospitality and the attitudes of people shes met  whether at last weeks hiring event, eating at a local restaurant or buying groceries.

Everybody is so welcoming and so friendly and so personable, she said. Which makes this position even more exciting, because I know these are the people that are going to be working on my team.

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ANNAPOLIS  Maryland Comptroller Peter Franchot is urging legislative leaders to pass a state income tax credit for contributions to humanitarian aid for Ukrainians, as over 1 million refugees flee the country amid Russian attacks.

The tax credit would boost support from Marylanders for the crisis in Eastern Europe, said Franchot, a Democrat running for governor.

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Given our states historic surplus, we are in a sound financial position to provide an income tax credit to incentivize contributions from individuals and businesses toward humanitarian aid to the people of Ukraine, Franchot said in a letter Thursday to House Speaker Adrienne Jones, a Baltimore County Democrat, and Senate President Bill Ferguson, a Baltimore Democrat.

At a news conference Friday, Ferguson said he had not yet read the letter but was open to exploring all ideas to help support Ukrainians. Most charitable donations are already deductible from income, he said.

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We are looking at how to make Maryland a more tax-competitive place this year, Ferguson said. We are in very intense conversations about what potential policies we can do, including support for Ukraine.

We are having a very comprehensive look at our tax code this year to see with a [budget] surplus, can we be financially sustainable and reasonable, while also becoming more competitive with our tax brackets.

Maryland Policy & Politics Weekdays Keep up to date with Maryland politics, elections and important decisions made by federal, state and local government officials. >

Franchot had not received a response from Ferguson or Jones by Friday, according to his office.

Throughout the week, Marylands leaders have drawn attention to the Ukrainian crisis. Gov. Larry Hogan, a Republican, hosted a Ukraine Solidarity candlelight vigil Wednesday in front of the State House.

Here in Maryland, we stand on the side of peace and freedom, Hogan said at the event. This truly has united the people of Maryland, of America and the world.

Hogan terminated Marylands sister-state partnership Monday with Russias Leningrad Oblast region, which had stood since 1993.

The Maryland State Retirement and Pension System took steps this week to divest its declining holdings of Russian assets, officials told the legislatures Joint Committee on Pensions Thursday.

At the beginning of February, the system had $197 million in Russian assets.

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We want to make sure that Maryland is not contributing to an international crisis, Sen. Sarah Elfreth, D-Anne Arundel, who co-chairs the joint committee, said at the meeting.
At first blush, despite a number of legislative setbacks, it looks like the two-year budget under consideration in the Virginia General Assemblys 2022 session might actually pick up the long-languishing school construction crisis and run it toward a productive goal, instead of kicking it down the road like an empty soda can.

That soda can, by the way, is all dented thanks to years of exactly that treatment  and thats how we got to where we are now, with about 1,000 of Virginias 2,000 school buildings 50 years old or older, and a growing need for repair, renovation and replacement of those school buildings that tops $25 billion.

The competing versions of the budget differ as to how they would address school construction and modernization. The Senate version includes $500 million in one-time grants while the House version contains an approximately $542 million loan rebate program to help school districts pay off loans.

Either way, its progress, right? Something would at least be better than nothing.

Except that, given real world costs of construction, both versions cover the price of, at most, about five high schools, when so many more new schools are needed.

And the House version especially fails to address the core of the problem  the fact that so many schools in Virginia have become dilapidated because financially strained local governments cant afford to take out loans of the size needed to fund a school construction project. A rebate program wont solve that.

By the midpoint of this legislative session, the time of the ritual known as crossover, when the two houses exchange bills, the Virginia Senate had passed five pieces of legislation based on solutions recommended by the School Construction and Modernization Commission formed in 2020 by the General Assembly to study the problem.

Backed by emphatic bipartisan support and championed by Sen. Jennifer McClellan, D-Richmond (who came in third in the 2021 Democratic primary for governor), and Sen. Bill Stanley, R-Franklin County (whose credentials as a conservative are unassailable), these bills would have made a lot more progress toward solving the crumbling schools crisis than whats currently on the table.

However, the House versions of those bills never made it out of committee, meaning the Senate versions arrived with their fates sealed. Some of the executions took place last Friday.

If their House versions have already been killed, theres nothing from my experience that would indicate that the House is going to pass a Senate bill, said Del. David Reid, D-Loudoun, who was first elected in 2017.

Though his constituents live in the wealthiest county in Virginia, Reid knows first-hand the experience of growing up in poverty. I was born in what was then Stonewall Jackson Memorial Hospital in Lexington, he said. In Rockbridge County, we lived in a four-room cinder block house that had a cistern for water. We had an outhouse, and my dad would heat the house with a wood stove during the winter. He would actually heat up bricks and then put them at the bottom of the bed to keep the bed warm, because as the night goes on the wood stove burns out.

In other words, I grew up as a poor boy from the mountains.

Reid does not serve on the school construction commission. He attempted to come up with his own solution independent of the commissions recommendations, introducing budget amendments for school construction funding that were modeled on Virginias process for allocating money for road and bridge repair.

The two parts of the SMART SCALE acronym stand for System for the Management and Allocation of Resources for Transportation and the factors evaluated in prioritizing a project: Safety, Congestion reduction, Accessibility, Land use, Economic development and the Environment. Adopted in 2014, the SMART SCALE process set objective criteria for deciding which transportation needs must be funded soonest.

Everyone is really very much in agreement that SMART SCALE for Transportation has taken the politics out of deciding where transportation funding is going to go, and my goal was to take the politics out of deciding where school funding was going to go, Reid said.

Alas, his proposals were not included in the House version of the budget. I really was hoping that we were going to take a very thoughtful approach and be willing to look at a different way of doing things to address what has been identified now as a $25 billion problem, Reid said. His plan, if fully implemented, was designed to raise $12 billion, almost half of the current need.

Reid pointed out that even under the Senates budget plan, if we do it $500 million a year, then it means its going to take 50 years. If you have a school in your locality thats already just on the newer end of being only 50 years old  by the time that you get around to replacing that one, itll be 100 years old.

Right now, the state has an unprecedented, perhaps never-to-be-repeated opportunity to address the crumbling schools crisis in a way that provides long haul solutions, and that opportunity is once again being squandered.

As Reid puts it, Were going to be running somewhere in the neighborhood of $13.4 (billion) to $13.8 billion in surpluses over the next three years, and if we really want to take the issue of school construction and school renovation seriously, then we need to look at being able to allocate some of that money to address this, because the localities who need it the most dont have the money to be able to meet the qualifications for loans or for being able to fund it locally. If they did, theyd already be doing it.

A big source of the problem boils down to myopic, calcified thinking on the part of legislators who insist that school construction funding is solely the responsibility of local governments and refuse to budge on this point, despite the overwhelming evidence that the problem is too big for local governments to solve.

There needs to be a paradigm shift, Reid said. If these localities had the money to fund a $25 million to $36 million elementary school, they would already be delivering it, but they dont have the money. Therefore, if were really going to be serious about providing the children around the commonwealth with a safe and healthy and welcoming learning environment, then the state government must step up. Were going to have to get involved.

What will it take to get Virginias representatives in Richmond to acknowledge this resoundingly self-evident truth?
How would you feel if your home was broken into and robbed?

Would you feel anger, disappointment, fear?

Back in December, this was the situation the Catawba County United Way faced. Around midnight on a Saturday, a window at the CCUW building was shattered and alarms were activated as someone entered and stole several items.

Instead of being overwhelmed by negative emotions, the United Way decided to respond with compassion. It ended up that what was taken during the break-in were just some canned sodas and a backpack.

This told us a lot about the desperation behind that crime, CCUW Executive Director Mark Bumgarner said. They left valuable items, TVs, laptops, monitors and took what most of us take for granted.

So, in response to the robbery, the CCUW had a blessings box built.

For many in our community, these basic needs have grown since the start of the pandemic.

In the last year in Catawba County, there were 1,140 calls for help with housing made to the United Way of North Carolina help line, 2-1-1. Overall, in the state, there were more than 5,000 calls for help to find food resources and more than 2,400 calls for help about buying clothes and other essential household items, according to nc.211counts.org/.

It was CCUW Board President Amy Guyer from RHF/Century, who had the idea of a blessings box, seeing it as a good response and fit with the United Ways mission of increasing the organized capacity of people to help others.

Blessings boxes have become a popular way for local organizations to provide basic resources to those in need. They are generally a simple box or container filled with nonperishable food and other seasonal items like gloves or blankets and hygiene products.

We had a great connection with Mays Chapel United Methodist (in Maiden) and reached out to them, since they had built one for themselves, Bumgarner said. We are so thankful for their help.

After building it for the CCUW, the church delivered and installed the blessings box on Feb. 26. So now, instead of just being focused on securing its building, the Catawba County United Way can also provide immediate, basic resources to those who need it the most.

They dont have to resort to desperate measures to have things we all take for granted like food, something to drink, a way to stay warm, hygiene products, Bumgarner said.

Mays Chapel United Methodist had built their own blessings box in November 2019, right before the pandemic.

We didnt have any idea how big a need it was going to meet. Then after COVID hit there was a huge need, the churchs senior pastor Jason Guyer said. It was a way for us to give back and a way for people to help others behind the scenes, by supporting the blessings box.

Currently, the church has around 50 people take items from their box every two weeks.

Whats really interesting is to see people sort through the items. They dont take what they dont need. Its very encouraging, Guyer said.

At the CCUW, Bumgarner hopes other organizations and businesses will get behind the United Ways blessings box and help sponsor it on a month-to-month basis to help keep it stocked.

Were proud we can lead our community as an example of how we respond with compassion, Bumgarner said.

If your company or agency would like to help the Catawba County United Way keep the blessings box stocked, call 828-327-6851 or email mbumgarner@ccunitedway.com.

Catawba County United Way is at 2760 Tate Blvd. SE.
Over the past couple of weeks, North Carolina politicos have focused intently on the outcome of the states latest redistricting saga. After the GOP-majority General Assembly saw its original set of electoral districts thrown out by the courts, lawmakers tried again. Their new legislative maps were accepted. A three-judge panel rejected the Republicans newly crafted congressional districts, however, and enacted a remedial map for the 2022 cycle.

As all this was going on, however, average North Carolinians were paying closer attention to events unfolding thousands of miles away.

Russias invasion of Ukraine is a tragedy, an outrage, and a wake-up call about the continued threat to liberty and order posed by dictators pursuing 19th-century aims with 21st-century arms. Here in North Carolina, it also represents a potential inflection point in our midterm elections.

This became clear on Feb. 26 when three Republican candidates  former Gov. Pat McCrory, former U.S. Rep. Mark Walker, and Marjorie Eastman, an Army veteran and businesswoman  faced off in the first televised debate of the U.S. Senate primary. Held at the John Locke Foundations Carolina Liberty Conference in Raleigh, the debate made statewide headlines not only because of what the participants said but also because of the identity of their frequent target, U.S. Rep. Ted Budd.

He wasnt there. He declined the invitation, saying he wouldnt agree even to discuss a GOP debate until the candidate-filing period closed. Event organizers put a lectern on the stage to underline his absence.

With the Russian invasion occurring in real time, Budds decision not to participate proved costly. The congressman is vulnerable on the issue. In the past, he sometimes voted against bills to sanction Russia for its conduct in Ukraine. More recently, Budd was in the audience when former President Donald Trump, who endorsed Budd, called Vladimir Putin pretty smart for launching his current invasion of Russias southern neighbor.

The day before the Senate debate, McCrory formally filed for the office and told reporters that Budd had been defending Russia and defending Putin when its indefensible. During the debate, McCrory and the other participants doubled down on the subject. Eastman called the dictator a thug and his invasion unprovoked and unjustified. Walker argued that the U.S. and its allies ought to go after Putin directly.

Asked later to respond, Budd told CBS-17 that Putin was evil and an international thug but also that he was intelligent, so we have to treat him as such. Not surprisingly, both the McCrory campaign and the Democratic Party spent the next 24 hours making hay of Budds foolish choice of words. Hed been better off showing up for the debate and defending his record, which is actually more mixed on Russia than his critics suggest.

The Senate primary isnt the only race where the issue is likely to bite. Last week, GOP congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene spoke to a white-nationalist organization in Orlando where the organizer asked the audience to give a round of applause for Russia and got chants of Putin! Putin! in response. Greene tried to pretend later she didnt know what shed gotten herself into, but no one believed her. Some GOP candidates here in North Carolina have sought her endorsement or been on stage with her. Youre going to hear a lot more about that in the coming weeks.

On the Democratic side, President Bidens disastrous first year in office has set up his party for a disastrous midterm election. Now Democrats are hoping his efforts to organize an anti-Putin coalition will not only get results in Ukraine but also bring voters around to the Democratic ticket.

North Carolinians do care. In a pre-invasion High Point University poll, 47% said Russias military build-up on the Ukraine border was a major threat to U.S. interests, with another 27% calling it a minor threat.

Most voters dont favor direct American military invention, of course, which isnt in the cards anyway. They do favor tough talk and tougher sanctions. And theyre right.

John Hood is a John Locke Foundation board member and author of the novel Mountain Folk, a historical fantasy set during the American Revolution (MountainFolkBook.com).
The Nebraska women's gymnastics team claimed three event titles at the Masters Classic on senior night.

Kynsee Roby led the night with a 9.900 on beam, a season-high for the senior, to claim the event title. Sophomore Martina Comin shined on vault, notching a personal best of 9.900, to claim the event title. Freshman Emma Spence competed in the all-around, earning a 39.200 and claiming the title. led the night with a 9.900 on beam, a season-high for the senior, to claim the event title. Sophomoreshined on vault, notching a personal best of 9.900, to claim the event title. Freshmancompeted in the all-around, earning a 39.200 and claiming the title.

George Washington won the team title with a score of 195.850. Nebraska finished in second with a 194.925 while Lindenwood finished in third with a 193.350.

Rotation One

Martina Comin led the team with a career-high 9.900 to claim the event title. Davis matched her career-high with a 9.875 while Ayzhia Hall earned a 9.825. Makayla Curtis finished with a 9.775. Emma Spence and Kylie Piringer rounded out the rotation, each earning a 9.750. The Huskers started the meet on vault, earning a team score of 49.125.led the team with a career-high 9.900 to claim the event title. Davis matched her career-high with a 9.875 whileearned a 9.825.finished with a 9.775.androunded out the rotation, each earning a 9.750.

George Washington started on floor earning a team score of 48.825. Olivia Raymond and Payton Lynch led the Colonials with a 9.750.

Lindenwood started on beam earning a team score of 47.600. Hannah Appleget led the Lions with a 9.775.

Rotation Two

Kathryn Thaler started the rotation with a 9.225. Emma Spence followed with a 9.825. Clara Colombo and Kynsee Davis each earned a 9.750. Kinsey Davis notched a 9.875 while Emma Simpton finished with a 9.275. Nebraska moved to uneven bars, earning a team score of 48.475.started the rotation with a 9.225.followed with a 9.825.and Kynsee Davis each earned a 9.750.notched a 9.875 whilefinished with a 9.275.

George Washington competed on vault, earning a team score of 48.950. Deja Chambliss led the Colonials with a 9.875.

Lindenwood competed on floor, earning a team score of 48.650. Hadley Roberts led the Lions with a 9.750.

Rotation Three

Emma Spence started the rotation off with a 9.800. Makayla Curtis followed with a 9.800. Kynsee Roby notched a 9.900 for a season-high, to claim the event title. Kaitlyn Higgins earned a 9.775. Kinsey Davis and Kathryn Thaler both finished with a 9.850. During rotation three the Big Red earned a team score of 49.200 on beam.started the rotation off with a 9.800.followed with a 9.800.notched a 9.900 for a season-high, to claim the event title.earned a 9.775.andboth finished with a 9.850.

George Washington was on uneven bars for the third rotation finishing with a team score of 49.150. Libby Garfoot led the Colonials with a 9.900 to claim the uneven bars title.

Lindenwood was on vault, finishing with a team score of 48.225. Riley Daniels led the Lions with a 9.750.

Rotation Four

Emma Spence started the rotation with a 9.825. Ayzhia Hall earned an 8.675. Makayla Curtis followed with a 9.750. Katie Kuenemann notched a 9.550. Kylie Piringer tallied a 9.825 while Kaitlyn Higgins finished with a 9.175. In the final rotation of the night, the Huskers competed on floor, finishing with a team score of 48.125.started the rotation with a 9.825.earned an 8.675.followed with a 9.750.notched a 9.550.tallied a 9.825 whilefinished with a 9.175.

George Washington finished on beam with a team score of 48.925. Sarah Zois led the Colonials with a 9.850.

Lindenwood finished on uneven bars with a team score of 48.825. Hannah Appleget led the Lions with a 9.775.

All-Around

Emma Spence competed in the all-around, finishing with a 39.200, and claiming the title. Deja Chambliss finished in second with a 48.825. competed in the all-around, finishing with a 39.200, and claiming the title. Deja Chambliss finished in second with a 48.825.

Up Next

The Huskers travel to Denver, Colo., for the final regular-season matchup next Sunday, March 13. Nebraska will take on Denver, Arkansas and Oregon State at 3 p.m. CT.
The Kannapolis City Council has established a Youth Council. The Councils goal is to create opportunities for students to become engaged in leadership development, provide avenues for high school students to volunteer, develop leadership skills, develop high standards for behavior, to refine communication abilities, practice teamwork and have a line of communication to the adult leadership in the decision-making process of the city.

The formation of the Youth Council is the result of conversations between council members and area high school students.

High-school-aged students who live within the Kannapolis city limits are eligible to apply to be on the Youth Council. Applications are due by 5 p.m. March 31. Apply online at https://www.kannapolisnc.gov/Government-Departments/Boards-Commissions/Youth-Council.

To the greatest extent possible, the Youth Council will represent the geographic and educational diversity of the city with participants from the two public high schools in the city, students living in the city but attending other public high schools, home school students, charter schools and private high schools.

We look forward to getting the Youth Council organized. It is an item that has been on our wish list, and during our conversations with members of our youth population, we felt like it was the right time to form a youth council. Our youth are a valuable asset to our city. We want to cultivate their enthusiasm for our city and community and will be announcing next steps for the Youth Council soon, commented Kannapolis Mayor Darrell Hinnant.

City Council members, Mayor Hinnant and Doug Wilson, as well as staff members, serve as liaisons to the group.

For more information, contact Annette Privette Keller, director of communications, at 704-920-4311 or aprivettekeller@kannapolisnc.gov.
Atrium Health has chosen The Pearl as the name of its planned $1.5 billion Charlotte innovation district, which will have the second campus of Wake Forest School of Medicine as an anchor.

The name was chosen in large part to pay homage to the midtown Charlotte area formerly known as Brooklyn, which served as a city within a city for the African-American community until urban development projects overtook the area in the 1950s and 1960s.

The main element of that legacy that survives, and has been recently renovated, is Pearl Street Park.

The Pearl logo that debuted Thursday is linked to the logo of Winston-Salems Innovation Quarter, with bubble-like circles representing the P in Pearl and Q in Innovation Quarter.

Officials involved in the Charlotte innovation district stressed their view that the two districts will be complementary, and not competitive, as they attempt to attract research and new tenants.

They emphasized that some research, business and nonprofit groups will chose to have a presence in both districts, while Wexford and other development officials will help steer those groups to where they best fit within the collaboration.

There is for the first time in North America a common university and school of medicine partner ... a common clinical partner ... common programming, common entrepreneurial resources in two cities, said Thomas Osha, executive vice president for Wexford.

That collaboration can allow research to go to scale in Charlotte and in Winston-Salem, acting as a super corridor of activity and engagement.

We believe there will be a complementary set of companies in Charlotte to what is happening in Winston-Salem.

Atrium has not disclosed how much it plans on spending on The Pearl marketing.

Atrium chief executive Eugene Woods said the branding is meant to begin a new chapter to this story and honor this special place as we empower the neighborhoods around it, which are shaped by diverse people and perspectives, rooted in inclusivity and belonging, and filled with endless potential.

The 40-acre district includes the planned Wake Forest School of Medicine campus, with construction slated to begin in the third quarter and for opening in 2024. Charlotte is the nations largest city without a four-year medical school.

Just like a pearl, our journey to build an innovation district will, no doubt, require time, energy and determination. However, with the support and the strength of our friends and partners ... to create the crowning jewel of the Queen City, Woods said.

Atrium and developer Wexford Science & Technology LLC have proposed that at least 11,500 new jobs, including potentially between 3,450 and 4,600 that wont require a four-year college degree, would be created over 15 years associated with the initiative. About 5,500 would be situated within the district.

The district is slated to feature mixed-use development featuring education, retail, apartments, a hotel and an open community space.

Local collaboration impact

Atrium formed a partnership with Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center in November 2019 with the intent of establishing a Charlotte medical school.

Atrium went on to acquire Wake Forest Baptist in October 2020, recently changing Baptists branding to Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist as part of magnifying the awareness of its ownership in the Triad market.

Besides the Ardmore campus of Wake Forest School of Medicine, it also governs Innovation Quarter, which currently covers 1.2 million square feet, under the auspices of Wake Forest University.

Graydon Pleasants, head of development for the Innovation Quarter, expressed confidence that Atrium will apply elements of the local build-out to its development.

As of June, the total public and private investment in Innovation Quarter is more than $841 million. The citys overall investment has been at least $56 million, along with at least $5.85 million from Forsyth County.

In June, Innovation Quarter officials announced that Wexford would be the main developer for Phase II of its district which could yield as many as 10 buildings and up to 2.7 million square feet of medical and mixed-use development on a 28-acre site.

Osha said Wexford is talking with researchers, potential medical school faculty, physicians and private companies in Charlotte and nationally who have an interest in locating in this kind of innovation, Osha said.

There are opportunities for some of these businesses to be able to go through startup in Innovation Quarter and to have some scale-up activity in Charlotte, and vice versa.
Gov. Roy Cooper and public safety officials conducted a briefing last week with five chancellors of historically black colleges and universities in North Carolina, including N.C. A&T, that recently received bomb threats.

Through a spokesperson, Chancellor Harold Martin declined to comment about the briefing or the A&T threat.

The FBI is investigating 58 threats at HBCUs across the country. In addition to A&T, North Carolina schools include N.C. Central, Winston-Salem State, Fayetteville State and, most recently, Elizabeth City State.

The FBI is investigating these cases as hate crimes. So far, though, no explosive devices have been found.

Winston-Salem State received a bomb scare in mid-February, but university officials determined that the threat wasnt credible enough to evacuate the campus.

Other schools have handled the threats differently.

Still, real or not, the bomb scares are having the intended effect.

College campuses should be safe places to learn without fear of violence, and it is particularly disturbing that these threats are happening predominantly to our HBCUs, Cooper said. Were fortunate to be home to many distinguished HBCUs in North Carolina and will use every tool to protect the safety of students and faculty on these campuses.

Secretary Eddie Buffaloe of the N.C. Department of Public Safety said that his agency is taking these threats seriously.

And (we) have zero tolerance for hate crimes that cause such fear and terror within our community, Buffaloe said. I can assure you that our law enforcement agencies ... are working with our federal partners and will utilize the resources we have to assist in the investigations.

The bomb threats have been made through phone calls, emails and anonymous online posts, according to the FBI, and agents are conducting hundreds of interviews and gathering a variety of electronic evidence for analysis.
Aeroflot is suspending all foreign flights starting March 8, apart from Minsk (Belarus), the Russian flagship carrier said in a statement.

The cancellation also applies to international destinations in the schedules of Rossiya and Aurora airlines flights.

Earlier on Saturday, Russia's Federal Air Transport Agency (Rosaviatsia) recommended that Russian airlines suspend all international flights as of March 6 amid mass seizures of aircraft abroad. This recommendation concerns Russian airlines that have aircraft registered in the registers of foreign states under a leasing agreement with a foreign organization.
Ukrainians and foreigners transferred more than UAH 10 billion in equivalent to a special account opened by the National Bank of Ukraine (NBU) to support the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU), including UAH 2.8 billion in foreign currency from abroad equivalent, the regulator said on its website on Saturday.

The National Bank said the money came from the United States, Great Britain, Poland, Germany, Sweden, Finland, Czech Republic, China, France and Canada.

According to the regulator, the balance on the special account amounted to UAH 4.3 billion.

In addition, over UAH 46.4 million in equivalent was transferred to the account of the Ministry of Social Policy, which the NBU opened for humanitarian purposes.

As reported, the National Bank opened a special multi-currency account UA843000010000000047330992708 to raise funds for the needs of the army due to the introduction of martial law in Ukraine, the Russian armed aggression and the danger to the state independence of Ukraine, its territorial integrity.
MATTOON  Legacy Performing Arts of Central Illinois brings musicians of all ages and abilities together to perform in a unique and dynamic musical setting.

In 2021 Legacy welcomed over 60 musicians throughout their performance season and featured musicians from all over Central Illinois.

Instrumentation includes wood wind, brass, string, percussion, piano, guitar, bass, synth, drumline and more. Music includes a variety of greatest hits and popular movie soundtracks. Sheet music is available for all ability levels including beginners.

Legacy Performing Arts of Central Illinois encourages musicians of all walks of life to participate in this family friendly, community music ensemble. This includes amateurs, families, seasoned musicians, beginners, school and college students, band directors, cover musicians and more.

Rehearsals are on select Sundays in March at Broadway Christian Church in Mattoon and performances begin in May. Musicians are welcome to participate at one or all rehearsals and performances.

A full list of rehearsals and performances for Legacy Performing Arts are available at www.ChrisKMusic.com/Legacy.

To participate or learn more about Legacy visit www.ChrisKMusic.com/Legacy or email LegacyPAEnsemble@gmail.com.

Legacy Performing Arts of Central Illinois is under the Direction of Chris Keniley and a music program provided by Chris K Music Lessons and Instrument Repairs.

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Melissa demonstrates a dedication to nursing. She is pleasant, warm, knowledgeable, and very professional in the performance of her responsibilities. The qualifications could describe all of the nurses and staff who helped me during my stay in the Emergency Department and on 3 East. Thanks to all!

Melissa demonstrated great empathy when I shared concerns about transportation. My husband insisted on picking me up from SBL the next day, but several attempts to phone each other had failed. Finally, we spoke. He had been in front of Entrance A for a long while, unable to go in because his walker was at home. As Melissa became aware, she took over! She owned the situation, and without hesitation went to Entrance A and got a wheelchair for my husband. While he waiting inside the building, she had the car parked, then pushed him to my room. She assisted us in ordering dinner and made sure we were comfortable. Melissas compassionate, personal investment in our situation was not part of her regular nursing duties. I felt like I was leaving a friend behind. We are grateful.
The impact of the 2020 census cant be underscored enough.

As reporter Brenden Moore recently chronicled, the constitutionally mandated decennial census gives us a deeper look at the demographic movements taking hold.

Some of those plot lines are familiar  the biggest being a troubling statewide population loss dating back years.

Not only are people leaving the state, but fewer are moving in, especially compared to states like Utah, Washington and Texas.

For Illinois, that means fewer reimbursements and grants from the U.S. government. About $400 billion is apportioned to states based on population numbers.

So severe are the changes that weve lost a seat in Congress and endured a political battle to redraw the district boundaries.

The gap is likely to widen.

As Moore reported, there are also deep concerns about areas with universities, which were dealt a nearly impossible puzzle during the last census count.

The population count in communities with schools  such as Macomb, Carbondale, Urbana, Normal and Charleston  depend on student numbers when the census is taken. Students count as residents, and residents count on the census.

However, COVID meant students werent on campus to be counted. Then outreach efforts stalled as the pandemic took hold.

Despite extended deadlines, many areas with colleges took big hits during the most recent count. (An exception was Normal and McLean County, which saw a slight uptick.)

Those communities are now left to sort out how to move forward. They can opt to conduct a special census to get a more accurate count, but those cost money. Essentially they have to weigh whether its worth spending more to fight being shortchanged.

How this has played out has been frustrating to watch.

Communities have been undercounted. And thats not in the spirit of what the census is mandated to accomplish.

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Audie Murphy

Audie Leon Murphy (June 20, 1925-May 28, 1971) was an American soldier during World War II who received every military combat award for valor available from the United States Army. He also received both French and Belgian awards for heroism. He was also a well-deserved Medal of Honor recipient.

At the young age of 19, he single-handedly held off an entire company of German soldiers for an hour at Colmar Pocket in France occurring in January 1945. He then led a successful counterattack while wounded and out of ammunition.

Born into a very large family of sharecroppers in Texas, his father abandoned the family and his mother died when Audie was a teenager.

Having no choice, Audie dropped out of school while still enrolled in the fifth grade to pick cotton to help support his family. Audie also developed a skill for hunting to help feed his family.

When the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, Murphys older sister assisted Audie in falsify documents about his birthdate in order to meet the minimum-age requirement for enlisting in the Army.

Murphy first saw action in the 1943 invasion of Sicily. Later, he participated in the Battle of Anzio, liberation of Rome, and the invasion of southern France.

Following the end of the war, Murphy turned his attention to acting. Although the majority of the films he appeared in were Westerns, he played himself in the 1955 autobiographical film "To Hell and Back," based on his heroic actions in France.

While in Hollywood, he appeared as a guest celebrity on television shows. He also appeared in the series "Whispering Smith."

Due to his war experiences, he would suffer from post- traumatic stress disorder. It was reported that he slept with a loaded handgun under his pillow. Murphy became addicted to sleeping pills, but did not seek help from any doctors to overcome both his addition and stress.

During his last few years, he had financial problems.

Murphys financial problems were the result of his investing large sums of money in his hobby of breeding quarter horses at his ranches in both California and Arizona. Murphy also had a gambling addition that left his finances in shambles.

He later stated that he lost $260,000 in an Algerian oil deal and was dealing with the Internal Revenue Service over unpaid taxes. However, he refused offers to appear in alcohol and cigarette commercials as he did not want to set a bad example for the youth of the country.

Murphys personal life revealed that he first married Wanda Hendrix in 1949, only to seek a divorce two years later in 1951. Four days later, he married an airline hostess by the name of Pamela Archer. With his second marriage he had two sons, Terry Michael and James Shannon.

On May 28, 1971, Murphy was killed when the private plane in which he was a passenger crashed into Brush Mountain, near Catawba. Virginia.

Murphy was only 45 years old at the time of his death.

He is buried in Arlington National Cemetery.

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A Winston-Salem man was shot and killed Friday morning in the 2800 block of Indiana Avenue, authorities said.

Winston-Salem police responded to a shooting call at 3:24 a.m. at a business at 2805 Indiana Ave., police said. When officers arrived, they found Marcus Daiquin Montgomery, 25, of Rosemary Drive unresponsive with an apparent gunshot wound, police said.

Officers summoned medical help for Montgomery, but emergency medical technicians pronounced him dead at the scene, police said.

Investigators believe that Montgomery was struck by gunfire, and the person responsible left the area in a vehicle, police said. Police did not identify the business.

Detectives are working to identify the shooter.

Montgomerys death is the citys eighth homicide so far this year, as compared with six homicides during same period in 2021, police said.

Winston-Salem police are asking for the publics help in this case.

Anyone with information regarding this shooting can call Winston-Salem police at 336-773-7700, Crime Stoppers at 336-727-2800 or its Spanish line at 336-728-3904. Crime Stoppers of Winston-Salem/Forsyth County is on Facebook.

The Text-A-Tip program at 336-276-1717 allows people to text tips, photos and videos to the Winston-Salem police.

Sign up for our Crime & Courts newsletter Get the latest in local public safety news with this weekly email. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy.
In March and April, Christians and Jews will be involved in religious celebrations. Purim, (March 16-17), is the celebration of Queen Esthers brave action to save Jewish people.

Passover starts on April 15 and ends on the evening of April 23. Jewish people will celebrate the importance of human freedom as they retell the story of their freedom from slavery in Egypt.

The Christian season of Lent began on Ash Wednesday, March 2, and will end on April 14 before Easter Sunday on April 17. Christians prepare for Jesus crucifixion and celebrate His resurrection. These celebrations teach the lessons of moral and spiritual values which are desperately needed in the world today.

People of the world are challenged to eliminate the suffering that comes from violence, poverty and injustice. The need for protection of marginalized people remains a challenge, but we have been taught to help each other. The words in Psalm 133:1 explains how good it would be if people lived together in unity.

This week a reader sent a comment about Ukraines President Volodymyr Zelensky. He praised him for remaining in his country to face the challenges of the invasion. President Zelenskyy refused an American offer to evacuate; he decided to stay and fight with his people. He has answered the criticism about his lack of experience with the comment that being a president does not require experience, but it requires a president to be a decent human being.

This point should be one of the requirements for all political leaders. People from around the world have called Zelenskyy a brave hero for democracy.

This conflict could be called political, but people of the world are horrified and responding to what they consider to be an immoral and unjustifiable invasion. It is a cautionary story. Leaders who command their soldiers to attack peaceful people are disregarding human rights and violating the sacredness of human life. To read or hear about innocent people indiscriminately blown away by cluster bombs is chilling. This dangerous invasion will cause a heavy loss of lives from both countries and destroy economic stability in many countries.

Ukraines story reminded me of the David and Goliath. David was motivated by his faith and Goliaths disrespect for God. Ukraines president is motivated by his love of his country and its people. The Bible reveals the sacrifices of early Christians who did not face a war but were tortured and many lost their lives for their faith. During World War II, many people of faith were threatened, imprisoned, tortured and murdered. Many theologians preached and wrote about this horrific period. They endangered their lives by living the values of their faith.

Karl Barth, a Swiss theologian, was an influential Christian. His public rejection of Nazism was brave. He supported workers, and he taught the words of Jesus to prisoners. Barth was named by Pope Pius XII as the greatest theologian since Thomas Aquinas. Stanley Hauerwas in his book, Fully Alive: The Apocalyptic Humanism of Karl Barth presents Barths theological views as a training manual that can help us maintain our humanity in a world in crisis. https://www.upress.virginia.edu/title/5773)

Dietrich Bonhoeffer wrote The Cost of Discipleship in 1937 in which he was critical of comfortable Christianity. Cheap grace is preaching forgiveness without requiring repentance, baptism without church discipline, communion without confession.  cheap grace without Jesus Christ, living and incarnate. (https://www.christianitytoday.com/history/people/martyrs/dietrich-bonhoeffer.html) He was one of the theologians who paid a price for his faith. He opposed Nazism and helped Jews escape persecution.

He joined the people who were plotting to overthrow Hitler, which led to his imprisonment and death in 1945. While in prison, he wrote letters to his friend, Eberhard Bethge, about his thoughts on Christian spirituality and the need to focus on Gods sufferings in the world. Letters and Papers from Prison was published posthumously in 1951.(https://www.britannica.com/biography/Dietrich-Bonhoeffer/Ethical-and-religious-thought#ref211983) Additional information can be found in many Bonhoeffer biographies including Eberhard Bethges Dietrich Bonhoeffer: A Biography and Martin Martys, Dietrich Bonhoeffers Letters and Papers from Prison: A Biography.

Pray for the suffering people in Ukraine, and the people in Russia who did not want to invade Ukraine. Pray for a peaceful ending to Russias invasion.

If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up. Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken. Ecclesiastes 4:10,12

Earl Crows column is published Saturdays in the Winston-Salem Journal. Email him at ecrow1@ triad.rr.com.
Since The New York Times bought Wordle in late January, some players have become convinced the viral word game has become more difficult than ever before. While that claim remains unproven, a new study shows that cheating while playing Wordle has become more prevalent since the Times takeover.

WordFinderX, a word games reference tool, conducted a study using Google Trends data to show just how many people are searching for the answer to the days Wordle.

According to the study, which looked at data through Feb. 20, Google searches for todays Wordle increased by 196% since The New York Times bought the free game.

Search interest for the days Wordle had the largest one week increase from February 6 to 13, when interest jumped from nearly 70 on Googles popularity scale to 100.

The New York Times bought Wordle on Jan. 31, and the Wordle domain officially redirected to a Times website on Feb. 10.

The two most difficult words  and most popular days for cheating  for players appear to be Feb. 15s AROMA, and Feb. 19s SWILL.

Not only did the study analyze the searches over the past three months, but they were able to pinpoint which state these cheaters live from.

The biggest cheaters, according to WordFinderX, can be found in the northeast.

New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont, as well as Washington D.C., Massachusetts and Maine all had the highest number of todays Wordle searches in that time period.

When McClatchy News ran its own search of Google Trends data, we found the least likely offenders were from Alaska, followed by Mississippi, New Mexico and Kentucky.

These cheaters also commonly play in the morning. The study says the searches were most often done between 7 and 8 a.m.

The graph provided by the study does indicate that cheating has become more prevalent since the New York Times takeover, but it also may be due to the games rising popularity  since more people playing means more opportunities to cheat. Regardless, it does appear that cheating at the simple word game has increased, especially since the start of February.
American democracy is an incredible tradition that has been the envy of the world and remained resilient through two centuries. Though it has had to adapt to constantly reach for our ideals of equality and effectiveness, it has endured.

Yet, the project is straining under the stresses of destructive factionalism our Founders warned us about at the outset of the republic, and it appears near the breaking point. The Economist Intelligence Units new Democracy Index 2021 has ranked the United States as 26th in the world and rated our country as a flawed democracy for the sixth year running. It is time for a serious reflection on the flaws plaguing our democracy and what we can do to fix them.

The EIU report cites extremely high levels of political polarization as a key problem. Our country is largely divided into political camps that define the other camp as an existential threat. Extreme competition for congressional majority compels politicians to ramp up practices like gerrymandering electoral districts for partisan advantage, which serves to destroy faith in politics and to further polarize the behavior of officials whose elections depend primarily on the sentiments of the most extreme party faithful. Closed primaries concentrate power on the fringes, as the primary is the only competitive election in most congressional districts.

Lack of cooperation and resulting gridlock has rendered Congress largely dysfunctional, racked by increasingly common government shutdowns and an inability to complete sensible budgets on time or at all, while sectarianism prevents the basic cooperation our democracy requires to function. Political opponents are framed as such evil destructive forces that keeping them from power becomes more important than having a democracy at all. Discordant politicians have failed to come together even in the face of a concerted effort by a president to overturn a presidential election, an act which still defies a common assessment or response despite its attendant political violence. The cycle only seems to be spiraling further downward.

America is facing twin crises of dysfunctional politics and a lack of faith in our democracy. The bottom line is that our political system no longer provides incentive for elected officials to cooperate. Our electoral system is stacked in the favor of the most extreme voters, rewarding sectarian battling over cooperation, while our media is inclined to promote dramatic narratives and bombastic attention-grabbing personalities, further rewarding extremism.

If we fail to solve our fundamental incentive problem, we will remain unable to bridge the divides that tear at our country and leave us unable to rally to our greatest challenges at home and abroad.

In order to break this cycle, we must accomplish two things:

Reform our electoral system to incentivize elected officials to cooperate more, demonize less

Partisan gerrymandering, closed primaries and winner-take-all systems are products of political party invention and not protected by the Constitution. They can be changed. Various states have already implemented fixes such as independent commissions or criteria for districting, open primaries and ranked-choice selection methods, all of which incentivize candidates to appeal to a broader group of voters, thereby promoting greater cooperation. We should promote these in all states.

Federal legislation would also be ideal for systemic reforms that are most party-agnostic when implemented across all states simultaneously, such as gerrymandering reform, and for reforms that prevent racial discrimination, such as preclearance rules. But a federal legislative strategy that combines a large comprehensive set of reforms is difficult to explain to voters plainly and unlikely to be successful.

A better strategy would entail a piecemeal approach, starting with reforms that enjoy broad support among voters of all stripes or that have traditionally enjoyed bipartisan backing, including preclearance rules and gerrymandering reforms, and devoting more debate time to these issues. Even though progress in Congress is difficult, a more robust public debate would serve to educate voters and move sentiment in favor of reasonable reforms.

De-escalate the partisan war over voting methods and rules

American partisans, engaged in scorched-earth warfare over voting methodology across numerous states, are poisoning the well for rational compromise on standards that could provide for easy, efficient and secure voting.

The same malincentives that prevent cooperation over fundamental responsibilities like budgeting cause officials to pursue voting rules satisfying to the knee-jerk sentiments of partisan base voters but often connected to outdated or outright false perceptions  or at worst specifically designed to discourage voting among groups that might be more likely to vote for the other team. A constant swing in rules defining absentee ballot usage, early voting opportunities or acceptable voter IDs  all dependent on which party holds the majority in a state legislature  is a sure-fire way to destroy faith in the process and intensify the heated partisan mistrust that derails opportunities to find common ground.

Fixing this would require the participation of trusted nonpartisan actors, such as respected private sector CEOs, who could broker a tension-reducing set of negotiations over voting rules using a data-driven process that eschews simplistic partisan talking points. A reduction in tensions across this front might blunt the destructive power of dramatic political personalities to constantly stoke sectarian tendencies.

It is also dangerous to allow partisan competitors to police the rules of electoral competition. This is akin to having the referees in a football game also be members of the opposing teams. The elimination of partisan secretaries of state would be a good start in returning the referees to neutral status and restoring faith that elections can be conducted without partisan leaning or undue influence.

The resolution of our dire polarization will take a concerted effort to change incentives and break the cycle of partisan warfare. Fortunately the solutions, however difficult, are known and proven at smaller scales. Though focusing on systemic reform and reducing tensions is not as sexy as the next campaign or charismatic personality, our country deserves our dedication to make this effort a national priority.

Glenn Nye is the president and CEO of the Center for the Study of the Presidency and Congress and a former member of Congress from Virginia. The Fulcrum, a nonprofit, nonpartisan new platform, covers efforts to fix our governing systems. Sign up for our newsletter at thefulcrum.us.
Electric vehicles are coming to North Carolina. More than 16,000 are already on the Tarheel States roads. Thousands more will soon join them. Three years ago, Gov. Roy Cooper issued an executive order calling for 80,000 zero-emission vehicles in the state by 2025.

Additionally, the federal government may aid that effort. The U.S. House of Representatives recently green-lit legislation that would provide $100 million to North Carolina for EV charging stations. That could be a boon in particular to the one-third of our residents who live in rural areas, where charging infrastructure is scarce.

If North Carolina is to reach its EV adoption goals, the states auto dealerships will be among the chief reasons why. Theyre already in every corner of the state  and theyre spending millions to retool themselves for a future powered by electricity rather than gasoline.

According to a Pew Research Center poll, almost 40% of Americans will likely go electric the next time theyre in the market for a new ride. Manufacturers can scarcely turn out enough electric vehicles to keep up with consumer demand.

Some EV makers have taken that as a sign that theyd be smarter to sell direct to consumers, without working through dealers, as car manufacturers have for decades. But thats an ill-judged position.

Look at things from the perspective of the consumer  and at the numerous ways North Carolinas 600 car dealerships provide critical consumer information and value. Not only do local dealerships sell vehicles  they buy them, trade them, service them and help drivers register them. Its hard to imagine EV manufacturers headquartered hundreds or thousands of miles away providing all those services with the same level of consumer-focused convenience and enthusiasm. Its not part of their core competence, honed  as in the case of dealers  over decades of serving North Carolinians.

Local dealerships are energized by the prospect of selling EVs. Theyve already invested significant sums in new equipment, new gear for performing maintenance and employee training in preparation for the dozens of new EV models  including numerous trucks and SUVs  that will be hitting their showrooms in the next few years. And this is just the beginning.

Theres also a bigger socio-economic picture to consider. Local auto dealerships confer sizable benefits on North Carolinas economy. These businesses employ nearly 37,000 workers and pay an average salary of more than $57,000  almost double our states average per capita income. The state receives $532 million every year in tax revenue from the economic ecosystem sustained by local dealerships.

Additionally, North Carolina dealers have been supporting North Carolina towns and communities for decades. From supporting World War II veterans with Flights of Honor a decade ago to supporting North Carolinas first responders as part of the Hometown Heroes program, local dealers are committed to local communities and local customers.

Then theres the knowledge problem. A local salesperson knows just how accessible charging stations are in her town, or how an EV will hold up during one of those infamous North Carolina ice storms. An out-of-state manufacturer simply cant provide the same level of personalized advice.

Finally, a thriving network of local car dealerships is good for North Carolinians wallets. An EV manufacturer who controls distribution directly can sell on whatever terms it likes. But when multiple dealerships are selling EVs, they have to compete for customers on price and quality. This competitive menu keeps prices down while widening consumer choice.

North Carolinas leaders have rightly embraced the promise of an electric vehicle revolution. The states auto dealerships are key to making that revolution a reality.

Mike Alford is president of Marine Chevrolet Cadillac in Jacksonville and Trent Buick GMC Cadillac in New Bern. He is also board chairman of the National Automobile Dealers Association.
Two people died on Nebraska roads over the past weekend in separate one-vehicle rollover crashes.

Jacob Johnston, 15, of Chapman, died Sunday in a one-vehicle crash in Merrick County. Johnston was a freshman at Central City High School.

The crash occurred at about 6:40 p.m. on Fifth Road, according to the Merrick County Sheriff's Office. Investigators determined that the vehicle left the road and rolled before stopping.

Johnston, who was not wearing a seat belt, was pronounced dead at the scene. Chapman is about 12 miles northeast of Grand Island.

Jeff Jensen, superintendent of Central City Public Schools, said the community "is deeply saddened by the loss of Jacob. He was a kind, considerate and compassionate young man." He noted that the district's crisis team, which includes counselors and other professionals, has been available this week to students and staff.

A 44-year-old woman from Oakland died in a one-vehicle crash at about 4:30 a.m. Saturday. Burt County Sheriff Eric Nick said Angela Harney was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash, which was about 3 miles west of Decatur.

Investigators determined that Harney was driving on Nebraska 51 when her vehicle left the road and rolled before coming to a stop. It's not known whether she was wearing a seat belt.

Decatur is about 60 miles north of Omaha.

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A 20-year-old Lincoln man shot in the head in a drug deal gone wrong in the parking lot of Edgewood Cinema last August pleaded guilty to related drug and gun charges Thursday in U.S. District Court.

Jayden Prentice now faces a minimum of five years in federal prison and up to life at his sentencing in June.

The U.S. Attorney's Office charged Prentice in October, along with Christopher Duncan and Riley Mills, for possession with intent to distribute marijuana, cocaine and psilocyn and possession of two firearms in furtherance of the drug crime.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Matt Molsen said on Aug. 2, Lincoln police were called to the parking lot near 56th Street and Nebraska 2 about a shooting and arrived to find Mills standing by Duncan's Mercedes, Prentice in the passenger seat with a gunshot wound to his head and Duncan lying on the ground nearby with multiple gunshot wounds.

He said police found a Mini Draco, described as an AK-47-style firearm, on the ground near the car, a 9 mm handgun near Prentice's feet and $3,929 cash spilling out of the backseat and in Duncan's and Prentice's pockets.

Molsen said they found a half-pound of marijuana at Prentice's feet, as well as 23 grams of cocaine, 3 grams of psilocyn and more marijuana in the car.

Prentice had arranged to meet there to sell a half-pound of marijuana, he said.

Prentice told Magistrate Judge Cheryl Zwart it was true.

As a result of the shooting, a bullet tore through his cheek and neck before lodging near his spinal cord, ear canal and throat, requiring extensive surgeries and ongoing therapy.

Duncan's leg had to be amputated as a result of the shooting.

Mills wasn't injured.

Two weeks later, Buongkhoy Wal, 17, was charged in state court with first-degree assault and use of a deadly weapon to commit a felony for his alleged role in the shooting.

Wal is set for arraignment in Lancaster County District Court later this month.

In court records, police allege Wal arrived in a Kia, fired at the three, all then-teenagers, striking Prentice, but said investigators believe there were additional passengers in the Kia, which was found days later with two bullet holes on the passenger side.

The alleged driver, Xavier Gary, 17, also was charged with being an accessory to the shooting.

Police said Wal had arranged to meet with Prentice and Duncan in the theater parking lot and described the shooting as "targeted."

Federal prosecutors have said it likely was a robbery.

Duncan and Mills have pleaded not guilty and are set for trial in June.

Reach the writer at 402-473-7237 or lpilger@journalstar.com. On Twitter @LJSpilger

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Dale Young's legacy holds a spot on the Lincoln skyline.

Young, who died Tuesday at the age of 93, is credited for not allowing a downtown Lincoln staple  one-way streets  to stagnate one of the city's signature projects.

Lincoln's mayor for only six months, Young's tenure included leading a delegation of civic leaders to meet John Q. Hammons in Springfield, Missouri, and revive plans to build the downtown Embassy Suites on P Street.

He was a big believer in Lincoln, Philip Young said of his father.

In an interview Friday, Philip Young said he remembers his father as a man who spent his life trying to make Lincoln a better place.

As a businessman, Young climbed the ranks from teller at First National Bank and Trust to senior executive vice president at FirsTier Bank. His public service included duty in World War II and the Korean War.

But, at home, Young's focus was on his family and the community. The list of local organizations and foundations he was a part of would rival that of any city leader, and he could play cards, too. Young's name showed up almost every week that the Journal Star published results of the Lincoln Duplicate Bridge Club.

Young was elected to the Lincoln City Council in 1991 and served seven years before taking over as mayor in December 1998 after Mike Johanns was elected governor. He served until May 1999, a short stint but a source of tremendous pride, his son said.

He felt it was such an honor to be one of Lincolns mayors, even if it was for such a short period of time, because he just truly loved the city, Philip Young said.

At the time, Dale Young said he was chosen mayor to avoid a political battle. That was fitting, his son said, describing his dad as a team player who strove to hear and collaborate with everyone.

Though he was a devoted Republican, Dale Young hired Deane Finnegan, a former executive director of the state Democratic Party, to be his chief of staff.

His ability to work with people of different ideologies was just one of Dale Youngs rare qualities, his son said. He had an irreplaceable joy and kindheartedness that everyone around him appreciated.

He was just the most jovial guy.

Dale Youngs public service would inspire his two children, Philip and Shalla, to pursue careers in politics. Shalla Young worked for a time at the National Chamber of Commerce, and Philip Young worked in the White House press office under President Ronald Reagan.

Their paths were the result of years of hearing their father talk about his job at the dinner table, Philip Young said.

Dale Young loved his cabin along the Platte River, and spending weekends with his family, including his three grandchildren: Allison, Lauren and Elizabeth.

A memorial service for Young will be held Wednesday at 11 a.m. at Westminster Presbyterian Church, 2110 Sheridan Blvd.

Reach the writer at jthompson@journalstar.com

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Tyler Whites capstone political science seminar focused on the return of global power politics wasnt slated to begin discussing Russia until after spring break.

Then came Feb. 24, and the Russian invasion of Ukraine, an independent country of 43 million people that was once a part of the Soviet Union.

White, an assistant professor of practice at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, said his students couldnt help but divert discussion away from China  the topic of the first half of the semester  to the images they were seeing on Twitter and TikTok.

As well as how those images were connecting with the themes and concepts they were learning about in class.

All of the things were talking about are playing themselves out in real time, White said.

On a sunny Tuesday in a green space just outside of Oldfather Hall on UNLs City Campus, that discussion continued.

The students roped in the developments of the day  how once-hesitant allies such as Sweden, Finland and Switzerland joined the opposition to Russias action  as well as broader themes like the limitations of institutions like the European Union and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.

They also talked about the skill with which Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and the Ukrainian people have communicated with the rest of the world through social media platforms and had humanized the conflict for a new generation.

Ukrainians have quickly dismantled Russian claims that the invasion was launched with the goal of de-Nazifying the country, one student pointed out, and have disabused the notion that the Russian military would quickly take control of its smaller neighbor.

I feel like all the things were seeing from the Ukrainian people is kind of debunking the Russian narrative that they are the hard-asses, said Kennedy Zuroff, a senior from North Dakota.

White said that older generations  Generation X and even some older millennials  grew up understanding the difference between the freedom of the west, and the totalitarian regimes in the Soviet Union.

For the generation that grew up after 9/11, during the War on Terror, the Great Recession, a global pandemic and political polarization at home, White said the war in Eastern Europe revived those old feelings.

What you see in Ukraine distilled to its most basic form is that struggle to determine your own future, he said. It is well beyond the scope of, I dont want to wear a mask. I dont want to get a vaccine.

The political science students also said the conflict was being brought home for them in new ways.

With crippling sanctions being imposed on Russia, many said they expected economic impacts at home, including higher gas prices, even a recession, but said they believed and felt their peers did, too, that it was a price to pay for democracy.

Two months ago, everyone was taking a picture of the gas pumps, but now that we are taking one for Ukraine, pretty much, theres no talk about gas, said Ashton Krebs, a senior from Neligh.

Others said the war in Ukraine had made them realize for the first time how they or their peers might be deployed, or the possibility of a nuclear war.

White, who is the faculty lead for the Office of the Director of National Intelligence Center for Academic Excellence at UNL and has studied nuclear policy and deterrence, said hes watching how Russia acts in the days and weeks ahead.

He believes the situation will get worse in Ukraine and could spill over into neighboring countries, which would further complicate the conflict.

I think the tension between the U.S. and Russia is the highest its been since 1983 in that respect, White said in an interview. There is a non-zero possibility we do end up engaged in some kind of war or conflict with the Russians.

White said he believes the U.S. and its partners are going to do everything they can to steer clear of that.

But that danger does exist.

Much of the nuclear saber-rattling done by Russian President Vladimir Putin fits in with his previous actions on the world stage, White said, where the former KGB officer has deployed a doctrine he calls escalate to deescalate.

Often, that includes a reminder that Russia has the worlds largest nuclear arsenal.

A war in Ukraine, where the U.S. and other countries are offering lethal aid, could further escalate the situation, White said.

Intelligence analysts worry Russia could launch a small nuclear weapon on the battlefield to halt the conflict and start negotiations  something that runs counter to the way many think of nuclear escalation.

The reaction (to the Russian invasion) has been so swift and so universal, he (Putin) might say 'What else do I have to lose? White said. Especially if the Russian economy collapses, or he faces his biggest fear, which is domestic opposition.

If Putin chooses that option, how should the U.S. and its partners on the world stage respond? No one, including those in Whites seminar class, has a good answer.

White said agencies like the U.S. Strategic Command are working around the clock to prevent that fear from coming to pass.

How do we offer him an off-ramp and get him to take it? White asked. Thats a really interesting and tricky question.

Reach the writer at 402-473-7120 or cdunker@journalstar.com. On Twitter @ChrisDunkerLJS

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Lincoln, and especially members of the citys transgender community, lost an advocate Thursday.

Milo Winslow, 30, who testified in support of the City Councils ordinance to expand protections to the LBGTQ+ community and had 19,000 followers on a TikTok account dedicated to his advocacy, died Thursday by suicide.

I think how fierce of an advocate he was for anyone whos in a position of being oppressed, especially our youth said Khalisha Casey, a friend. It was amazing he was able to continue the fight as long as he did. It was inspirational.

Winslow was the only transgender individual to testify last month at the City Council in support of an ordinance that broadly updates Title 11, the city code dealing with equal opportunity. The ordinance includes numerous changes, but the one that has created the most controversy is expanding protections to include sexual orientation and gender expression.

Winslow was interviewed later, along with other members of Lincolns transgender community, about their concerns: that opponents of the ordinance, which passed 5-0, would target the transgender community, that the ordinance was ill-timed and supporters were not adequately prepared to defend it at the ballot box.

In his interview, Winslow spoke about the damage hateful views can cause to transgender people when such legislation arises locally.

Still, he said he would fight for the ordinance now that it had passed, and friends say he was helping on the campaign being organized to defend it after a referendum petition gathered more than four times the number of signatures needed to require the City Council either to rescind the ordinance or put it to a vote.

Sarah Cohen Walker first met Winslow outside the City Council chambers in March 2021 when they both came to testify in support of an ordinance to ban conversion therapy on youth. Shed connected with him earlier through a mutual friend who knew Winslow was interested in getting involved.

They became friends because of their passion for political advocacy, but for other reasons, too. They both loved cats  Winslows was named Cornelia, and theyd both faced similar struggles with their families and faith communities.

Winslow, she said, did the heart work.

Not the fiery advocacy that goes viral on social media, but honest discussions about his experiences, marked by empathy and compassion and meeting people where they were, finding ways to help them understand.

He started creating content online and speaking and doing it in a way that brings people along, Cohen Walker said. To lead with the heart. I think leading with the heart is the hard work that a lot of people dont have patience for.

The Trevor Project The Trevor Project provides crisis intervention and suicide prevention services to LGBTQ struggling with coming out, LGBTQ identity and depression. Crisis counselors are trained to answer calls, chats or texts 24 hours a day, seven days a week. On the web: thetrevorproject.org Call: 1-866-488-7386 A GoFundMe has also been set up in Milo's memory.

Casey said Winslow had suffered much trauma in his life. His family did not accept him when he came out as gay prior to his transition, and later he left a church that wouldnt accept him. He found support from members of the gay community who then were unsupportive when he transitioned.

Beyond his public fights and battles, what he was advocating for were personal ones, too, that took a toll, she said. He has already put up with a lot more than anybody would have to for longer than anyone should have to.

Learning the petition drive to put the fairness ordinance on the ballot had collected 18,500 signatures was hard for him, his friends said.

A day before he died, he sent an email to friends and posted a message on TikTok that he was going to step back from his advocacy and work on the campaign because it was too emotionally taxing, saying he didnt feel he had the support system he needed to continue the work.

Cohen Walker worries about others in the transgender community.

Im just afraid, because I dont think Milo is alone in this, she said.

Reach the writer at 402-473-7226 or mreist@journalstar.com. On Twitter @LJSreist

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The female mountain lion was wearing a radio collar, and her behavior in northwest Nebraska in 2018 was telling a story.

State biologists tracking her movements  and watching her repeatedly returning to the same area  could tell she was building a den, that she was expecting.

And that August, in the Pine Ridge area near Chadron, they found her two kittens. They collected DNA samples and  because the animals were too small to be collared  they attached yellow ear tags.

The kitten wearing tag NE 78 grew up and, like most young males, set off, searching for a mate and his own territory.

Mountain lions leaving northwest Nebraska and the Niobrara River Valley often make the news when they head south and east, and are tracked in Norfolk, hit by cars near Fullerton and Arlington, or captured by trail cams and shot by poachers on the edges of Lincoln  all of which happened in the past six months.

But not all of them go south and east.

They can go in any direction, said Sam Wilson, furbearer and carnivore manager for the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission. They all dont go in the same direction.

Barbed-wire fences dont stop Nebraska cats from crossing the borders into South Dakota and Wyoming, and lions from those states visit Nebraska, Wilson said.

Its likely always been the case that males born in Nebraska travel hundreds of miles and that might take them out of state. We get lots of back and forth.

NE 78 headed north at some point, and he kept going. He crossed Interstate 90 and put the Black Hills behind him. He walked more than 250 miles, ending up near Ekalaka, Montana, in that states southeast corner.

Wilson knows this because his office was contacted last month by a biologist at the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks. NE 78 had been killed during Montanas hunting season, and officials there could tell by its ear tag that it was a Nebraska native.

That was a first for Nebraska  its mountain lions have been killed in neighboring states, but never in one more than a state away, Wilson said.

Still, its life and death don't add much to what his office knows about mountain lions. Without a radio collar, it has no idea how the 3-year-old ended up near Ekalaka, no path of its travels.

We have one piece of data, where the kitten was tagged, and they have one piece of data, where it was harvested. And thats the only thing we can learn from it.

It was also a first for Montana. Officials there have long suspected lions from other states  particularly the nearby Dakotas  have moved into the area. But the tagged lion confirmed that, said Emily Mitchell, a Montana wildlife biologist.

And thats important, she said, because it maintains biodiversity in the population.

Its good to see that lions are coming in.

Reach the writer at 402-473-7254 or psalter@journalstar.com. On Twitter @LJSPeterSalter

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The primary elections in Ohio and Indiana on Tuesday stood as the first real test of former President Donald Trump's status as the Republican 
The University of Maryland started construction this week on a memorial to honor Lt. Richard Collins III near the site of his 2017 murder on the campus, officials announced.

Collins, a 23-year-old Black student at Bowie State University, was a newly commissioned second lieutenant in the U.S. Army when he was fatally stabbed at a College Park bus stop in May 2017. His killer, a white student formerly enrolled at the University of Maryland, was convicted of first-degree murder two years later.

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Students and other members of both universities for years have called on University of Maryland to honor Collinss life with a physical memorial. Darryll J. Pines, the universitys president, outlined plans to build one on campus during a social justice symposium in April 2021.

Officials, including Pines, Bowie State President Aminta H. Breaux and the Collins family, held a private ceremony on Wednesday to break ground on the project. The memorial  which will be spread across a plaza and feature a fountain, laser-engraved granite plaque and mural  will be located near Montgomery and Annapolis halls on the southern part of campus and not far from the bus stop where Collins was killed.

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The Collins memorial is designed to be a place of reflection and bring positive energy to a part of campus marked by tragedy, Pines said. The memorial will have two entryways, meant to welcome the community inside.

It is to invite the community in to, first, learn about Lieutenant Richard Collins III, but also to reflect about how each individual can contribute in a positive way to social justice issues locally, nationally, in the state of Maryland or just in their community, Pines said in an interview.

The plaza is expected to be finished in May, in time for the fifth anniversary of Collinss death.

Collins was visiting friends on Marylands campus when he was attacked the morning of May 20, 2017.

Sean Urbanski was convicted of first-degree murder in 2019 in Collinss death. A judge dismissed a hate-crime charge against Urbanski, ruling that prosecutors had not proved Collinss race was the sole reason he was murdered  despite racist content Urbanski had on his phone and his membership in the Facebook group Alt-Reich: Nation.

Urbanski was sentenced to life in prison in early 2021.

Days after Collinss death, a black graduation gown was draped over an empty chair at what would have been his graduation ceremony. He was posthumously promoted to first lieutenant.

Collinss mother, Dawn Collins, said she hopes her sons memorial will be a symbolic place that repudiates all forms of hate and bigotry.

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We wanted a place that reflects the best of us, Dawn Collins said at the Wednesday groundbreaking. When you visit the plaza, meditate on your hopes and your dreams. Draw on the spirit of my son, his patriotism, his dedication to his career in the military and his passion for pursuing his dreams.

Breaux also shared remarks.

My hope is that each person who sees this plaza will think about the legacy left to us by Lieutenant Collins and will be reminded of the charge we have as members of the greater community to take personal responsibility against the issues negatively impacting our society and demand change, she said in a statement.

In 2020, the University of Maryland and Bowie State unveiled a partnership to promote social justice, honor Collinss life and further research about racism and injustice. The BSU-UMD Social Justice Alliance also hosts symposiums and has an event planned in April.
COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa  An Iowa man has been sentenced to more than 33 years in federal prison for kidnapping and sexual assaulting two Omaha teenagers nearly 20 years ago.

Myron Lee Brandon, 43, of Pacific Junction, was sentenced Wednesday to 405 months in prison, federal prosecutors in western Iowa said in a news release.

Brandon was found guilty in October of two counts of kidnapping and two counts of transportation of a minor with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity.

Prosecutors said Brandon met the then-14- and 15-year-old girls in downtown Omaha in 2003. He drove them to a rural road outside Pacific Junction, where he held them at knifepoint, bound them with rope, sexually assaulted them and burned them with a cigarette.

The teens escaped and walked to Interstate 29, where they were picked up by a motorist and taken to safety, officials said.

Brandon wasnt linked to the crime until years later, when a 2015 initiative to reexamination of old laboratory evidence linked him to DNA collected in rape kits at the time of the crime.

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The state Capitol will be illuminated in blue and yellow in a sign of solidarity and support for the people of Ukraine beginning Saturday night and continuing through next week.

"The Capitol lighting is taking place out of respect for Ukrainians who have lost their lives defending their homeland," Gov. Pete Ricketts said Friday in announcing the decision.

Blue and yellow are the colors of the Ukrainian flag.

Ricketts encouraged businesses and government entities throughout Nebraska to light up their buildings to demonstrate support for Ukraine.

"Russia's unprovoked aggression against Ukraine cannot be tolerated," the governor said.

"The United States and our allies should step up sanctions on Russia's energy exports to cut off funding of Putin's war machine.

"I encourage Nebraskans to pray for the Ukrainian people as they suffer this ruthless Russian invasion," Ricketts said.

"The free world must unite to punish Putin and isolate Russia."

The Capitol lighting will demonstrate support for Ukraine's sovereignty and independence, Ricketts said, and continue through March 13.

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Nebraskans have always considered the Sandhills one of the states jewels.

Now a study by the University of Nebraska-Lincoln has underscored how significant that jewel is.

Work by UNL researchers Dirac Twidwell and Rheinhardt Scholtz has concluded that the Sandhills are Earths largest remaining intact, temperate grassland.

Thats probably a surprise to some, because the Sandhills arent well-known outside the state, Twidwell said.

While the Sandhills are recognized here, they havent gained the recognition internationally of other grasslands, he said.

The duos research found that the Sandhills are among seven large-scale grasslands of any type that remain mostly intact. Another is in the Wyoming Basin, two others in Asia and one each in Africa, South America and Australia.

Of these, the Sandhills are the only region that doesnt have an internationally focused conservation strategy, he said. That may be because the region lies wholly within one state and one country and doesnt straddle borders requiring international cooperation.

The Sandhills, in northwest and north-central Nebraska, cover about a quarter of the state, and more than 90% of the land is privately owned.

One of the groups already working to protect the area is the rancher-led nonprofit Sandhills Task Force. The organizations goal is to promote profitable ranching hand-in-hand with conservation, said Shelly Kelly, executive director.

Kelly said the key to success in the Sandhills is collaboration between ranchers and conservation organizations.

Because we are ranchers, we have trust and credibility, she said. Weve built partnerships.

Her group and the UNL researchers identified the same major threat to the Sandhills: invasive eastern red cedar trees.

Its our No. 1 threat, Kelly said.

The seedy evergreens, often planted as windbreaks, spread rapidly. Eradicating them takes a major, year-after-year effort, Kelly said.

The UNL research distinguishes between types of grassland-like regions based on climate and vegetation.

Africas Serengeti, for example, is larger than the Sandhills, but its a savannah, not a grassland, Twidwell said. The Serengeti naturally supports trees, but trees are not a natural part of the Sandhills landscape.

Likewise, there are shrubby desert grasslands that are more intact than the Sandhills, but they arent found in a temperate climate, Twidwell said.

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Scheduled, canceled and rescheduled again.

The first public update on the Foxconn project in three years, to be hosted in conjunction between the Village of Mount Pleasant and Racine County had been scheduled for Feb. 22. But it was canceled due to inclement weather that day.

It will now be held at 5 p.m. March 22, at the County Board Chambers, 14200 Washington Ave., Yorkville. It is expected to be both in person and live-streamed.

The update is expected to include news on Foxconns presence in Racine County and possibilities for the rest of the tax increment district around it. The county and Mount Pleasant, along with the Racine County Economic Development Corp., continue to look for developers and businesses to fill in the space that Foxconn has left unused.

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BURLINGTON  Aiming to unite Racine County leaders into a potent new organization, County Executive Jonathan Delagrave is urging all 17 municipalities to join forces.

Delagrave has proposed creating an Intergovernmental Cooperation Council for regular meetings that will include representatives from all 17 cities, towns and villages in the county.

The county executive hopes that improving communication will allow neighboring communities to work together in confronting problems and, if necessary, lobby for change.

The concept is based on a similar organization in Milwaukee County that has existed for decades and has recently united local officials in that county to examine such issues as taxes, public health and racial equality.

Racine County municipalities City of Racine: 77,816 Mount Pleasant: 27,732 Caledonia: 25,361 City of Burlington: 11,047 Norway: 7,948 Sturtevant: 6,919 Town of Waterford: 6,514 Town of Burlington: 6,502 Village of Waterford: 5,542 Union Grove: 4,978 Dover: 4,193 Raymond: 3,988 Rochester: 3,800 Yorkville: 3,139 Wind Point: 1,689 Elmwood Park: 491 North Bay: 234 According to 2020 U.S. Census unless population is less than 5,000, then estimates are according to Racine County as of Jan. 1, 2018

M.T. Boyle, community project manager for Racine County, pitched the idea March 1 to the Burlington City Council, seeking Burlingtons participation in the new group.

We can start collaborating in ways that we havent before, Boyle told the council. This is something we want to do countywide.

Burlington aldermen have not yet acted on the proposal, but City Administrator Carina Walters voiced support for the concept.

Walters cited state-imposed tax caps as an example of issues that faces all municipalities, and on which the new countywide council could enjoy more leverage in seeking reform at the state level.

Its really an opportunity for the communities of Racine County to collaborate, she said, to take formal action regarding issues or challenges or opportunities between all of the communities.

Municipalities that already have signed on to the Intergovernmental Cooperation Council include the villages of Caledonia, Sturtevant, Union Grove and Yorkville, and the towns of Dover and Norway.

Delagrave and his staff plan to seek the involvement of all 17 municipalities, and to convene the first-ever meeting of the new countywide group in May. The group will start out meeting every two months.

The meetings would be open to the public.

Plans call for each municipality to be represented by its mayor or other highest elected official. Each will have one vote on the council, which means that the countys smallest villages will have equal representation with the largest municipalities.

Could be a very effective tool

Racine City Administrator Paul Vornholt said he would not predict how Racine aldermen will view the concept.

Vornholt, however, said he participated in the Milwaukee County Intergovernmental Cooperation Council when he worked for the City of Milwaukee, and he found it useful in helping diverse communities find common ground on important issues.

As an example, he cited a need for state reform on dark store taxation, which helps big-box retailers lower their property tax bills, often at the expense of other local taxpayers.

Thats its strength, Vornholt said the countywide council idea. It can be a very effective tool.

The Milwaukee County organization was created in 1967, and today brings together 20 municipal representatives for monthly meetings.

Seeking more activity

Delagrave, who was elected Racine County executive in 2015, has been considering a similar organization for several years. It will replace a Heads Of Government group that meets about twice a year.

Boyle said she has been encouraged while visiting cities, towns and villages to seek participation in the new council. There have been no objections or serious concerns raised, she said.

Its been overwhelmingly positive, she said.

Sturtevant Village President Mike Rosenbaum said he likes the fact that, when it comes to staking out positions, his community of 7,000 people will have equal representation with Racine and its 78,000 residents.

Rosenbaum said such an organization would have been helpful during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, when all municipalities were struggling to figure out how to respond. Rather than having a patchwork of local policies and practices to control the outbreak, Racine County could have pursued a uniform countywide approach.

Rosenbaum said the intergovernmental concept sounds promising.

I do believe its going to be good for us, he said. It works really well with what we need to do.

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MILWAUKEE  A former Walworth County sheriff's deputy has been charged with multiple counts of sexual assaults.

The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported Friday that Walworth County Sheriff's Deputy Gerardo Baca was charged Wednesday with 19 felonies, including multiple counts of second- and third-degree sexual assault involving an intoxicated victim and capturing intimate images of people. Other counts include stalking, child enticement and threats to communicate derogatory information.

Baca, 36, of Delavan, was charged in Walwoth County but Waukesha County District Attorney Susan Opper is prosecuting him, online court records show.

The criminal complaint detailing the allegations against him has been sealed at Opper's request, but many of the sexual offenses allegedly occurred while Baca was off-duty, the Journal Sentinel reported.

A news release from Walworth County Sheriff Kurt Picknell said his office received information about Baca's possible off-duty misconduct on Feb. 1. The sheriff said he placed Baca on administrative leave and asked the Waukesha County Sheriff's Department to investigate. His agency is conducting an internal probe as well, Picknell said.

Baca resigned as a deputy on Friday. Online court records show he remains in custody on $500,000 cash bail. His attorney, identified in the records as Jessa Nicholson, didn't immediately return an email Friday afternoon from The Associated Press seeking comment.

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The few dozen UW-Madison students living in one of the states last student housing cooperatives are pleading with the university for a solution to their destined-to-be-demolished building.

The university plans to tear down Zoe Bayliss Womens Cooperative sometime after the 2022-23 school year to make room for a new academic building.

The UW-owned Zoe Bayliss co-op, 915 W. Johnson St., is one of the few affordable housing options left for students, residents said. The cooperative rents from UW-Madison and residents pay the co-op about $5,000 per year, several thousand dollars less than what most students pay to live in a UW dorm.

Its sad  this is the only place on campus left like this, said UW-Madison graduate student Melissa Schmidt-Landin, who has lived in the co-op for six years and described it as the place where she came out of her shell.

Established in 1955, the co-op will continue to house students through May 14, 2023. Demolition is slated for sometime later that year. In its place will be the Irving and Dorothy Levy Hall, the new academic home for the College of Letters and Science. The scheduled fall 2025 opening of Levy Hall will clear the way for the eventual teardown of the dilapidated Humanities Building.

University Housing director Jeff Novak said staff are exploring alternatives for Zoe Bayliss and committed to finding a workable solution. Students who live there were informed about UW-Madisons long-term plans for the site beginning at least four or five years ago, he said, but he understands the reality of the situation is becoming more urgent.

UW-Madison junior and co-op president Angela Maloney lived in Zoe Bayliss her freshman year because she said she couldnt afford the universitys dorms.

Room rates in residence halls next year begin at $6,500. Students living in dorms are also required to have a meal plan, which start at $3,800.

The co-op encourages students to connect with those outside of their class. Maloney, for example, roomed with a Ph.D. student her freshman year. A law student is living in the building this year. The dynamic exposes students to others who are at different stages of their academic careers.

You dont have this experience anywhere else on campus, especially at this price, said UW-Madison sophomore Ishata Arora, who lived in a dorm her freshman year and said she struggled to make friends there.

The co-op operates primarily as an all-female housing option, though it is accepting of transgender and nonbinary individuals, too. The setup fosters a close-knit community that Maloney said will be tough to replicate elsewhere. Students share kitchen and cleaning duties. They can learn leadership skills by running for one of the officer positions. A chef hired by the co-op cooks lunch and dinner for students on weekdays.

Im not sure how that would work in a dorm hall, she said.

On the move?

Moving the co-op to an undergraduate dorm is one of the alternatives proposed by University Housing. Novak said staff are exploring renovation of particular floors or wings to make the space more conducive to the cooperative style of living. But those at Zoe Bayliss raised concerns that such an arrangement wouldnt operate as a true co-op, where the group renting the facility sets the rates for individuals living there. They also said the option would be more costly for students.

Zoe Bayliss residents would pay more living in a dorm, Novak acknowledged, but their rental rate would align more closely with what other Madison housing cooperatives charge, not what dorm residents pay. Thats because co-ops cover services, such as cleaning and maintenance, that UW-Madison provides dorm residents.

Another idea University Housing has floated is remodeling space in Eagle Heights, a university-owned apartment complex where mostly graduate students live, to feel more like a co-op. Students, however, worried its location was too far from the academic core of campus, Novak said.

Novak said hes even looked off campus, contacting local landlords to see if theres a house the co-op could rent. But even in the lowest-priced housing available in Madison, he said landlords would have to charge double what UW-Madison asks the co-op to pay in order to make it work.

I think we have been very accommodating in what we have charged for the rental rate through the years, Novak said in an interview. Weve kept it lower while communicating (the building) was eventually going away. ... As we explore more options, we just ask for them to give us a little time to see what we can find for a reasonable solution here.

Last of its kind?

The UW Center for Cooperatives was unable to confirm Zoe Bayliss is the last student housing co-op left in Wisconsin. Of the 49 housing cooperatives listed in the centers database, just one other co-op appeared to cater exclusively to students. The Babcock House is another UW-Madison co-op, housing about two dozen students.

Thirty of Wisconsins housing co-ops are located in Madison, and Skye Gia Garcia, a community organizer who lives in one of them, said Zoe Bayliss demise would be a loss because it offers a safe home and a culture focused on well-being.

About 34 students live in Zoe Bayliss this semester, though theres room for about 45 students, Maloney said. Typically half of the house returns each year.

Were hopeful, Maloney said of the co-ops conversations with UW-Madison. Were not trying to be uncooperative, but we also didnt ask to be displaced. If the university is making this choice, they should replace what they have displaced us from.

Maloney and others in the house suggested UW-Madison offer a stand-alone building or funding to buy a house so Zoe Bayliss can continue operating the way it has for nearly 70 years.

I dont know if we can replicate every aspect of cooperative living, Novak said in response to their ask. But I feel confident we can get to a place that is reasonably amenable to all.

Editor's note: This story has been updated to correct the number of student housing cooperatives left on campus and in Wisconsin.

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Killeen, TX (76540)

Today

Showers and thunderstorms likely. Thunderstorms could be strong and possibly severe in the afternoon. Damaging winds and large hail with some storms. High 78F. SSW winds shifting to NW at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 100%..

Tonight

Clear. Low around 60F. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph.
Philadelphia  A jury cleared an Amtrak engineer Friday of all charges stemming from a derailment that left eight people dead and hundreds injured in Philadelphia in 2015, concluding that his operation of the train at more than twice the speed limit on a curve didnt constitute criminal negligence.

The jury took just over an hour to acquit Brandon Bostian, 38, of causing a catastrophe, involuntary manslaughter and reckless endangerment  one count for each injury and death. Amtrak had earlier settled civil litigation over the crash for $265 million.

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The train rounded a curve at about 106 mph, more than twice the 50 mph speed limit, before it derailed in north Philadelphia.

Bostians lawyer described him as a lifelong train buff who had a perfect work record until he was distracted by reports of people throwing rocks in the area just before the crash. He could have been sent to prison for years, or even for life, if convicted, given the high number of counts against him.

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Its been seven years for him wondering if hell ever get his life back. Today the jury gave him his life back, defense lawyer Brian McMonagle said after the verdict. Weve been saying from the beginning there was never a crime committed here by Brandon.

In closing arguments, McMonagle said the criminal actors in the case were those who threw the rocks at the train ahead. No one was ever apprehended.

Federal safety investigators concluded that Bostian lost what they call situational awareness on the track, thinking he was past an S-curve and on a straightaway when he accelerated from about 65 mph to 106 mph. In fact, he was in the middle of the S-curve. Investigators found no evidence he was impaired, fatigued or using his cellphone at the time.

The key question for the jury was whether Bostian  who no longer works for Amtrak  sped up intentionally, knowing the risks.

The case has a long legal history, with judges debating whether Bostians actions constituted a crime. Common Pleas Judge Barbara McDermott, who presided at the seven-day trial, questioned whether the evidence was enough but said she would consider the issue after taking a jury verdict. The point now appears to be moot.

Prosecutors say Bostian acted with reckless disregard for the safety of his passengers, who were traveling from Washington to New York that Tuesday evening. The train had stopped at Philadelphias 30th Street station about 10 minutes earlier and was heading north.

One trial witness, former New York firefighter Charles Gildersleeve, told jurors how he spent two days searching hospitals for his brother after the crash, only to learn he had died. Robert Gildersleeve had been heading to New York for a work conference after attending his sons lacrosse practice that evening.

Another witness, Blair Berman, described running into Bostian amid the wreckage and asking to borrow his phone. He did not tell her he had been driving the train. She asked him where they were, and Bostian told her, accurately, they were in an area called Franklin Junction.

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Prosecutors used the point to argue that Bostian knew where he was when he crashed and should have known the speed limit.

Afternoon Update Weekdays Updating you on the day's biggest news before the evening commute. >

Lawyer Tom Kline, who represents both witnesses, along with other Amtrak 188 families, said the verdict does not negate the public accountability that the trial brought. The victims finally heard Bostians lawyer acknowledge that the engineer made mistakes, he said.

That provides some measure of closure to the eight families who lost loved ones, and the scores of others who were catastrophically injured by Mr. Bostians conduct that day, Kline said.

Justin Zemser, a Naval Academy midshipman, and Bob Gildersleeve, who lived near Baltimore and a vice president of a food-safety company called Ecolab, were among those killed.

Philadelphias top prosecutor had declined to pursue criminal charges, but the Attorney Generals Office later took it over.

There is no question that the excessive speed of the train that the defendant operated resulted in death and injury to his passengers, the state Attorney Generals Office said in a statement.

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The crash led Congress to raise the previous $200 million limit on settlements for individual Amtrak crashes to $295 million.

The jury had begun weighing the charges Friday morning when an alternate had to step in because one juror had a death in the family. The jury then began its deliberations over from the start.
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  When Darian Wilson first read the script for Silent Sky, she objected to the fictionalized character of a scientist who falls in love with Henrietta Leavitt.

The hardest part for me was that Peter Shaw, my love interest, is not a real person, said Wilson who plays the part of Henrietta in University Theatre at Kearneys production.

At the beginning, I just despised that the love interest existed because I knew, historically, it didnt. I felt that it didnt make sense in the script, Wilson said.

After Wilson delved into the script by playwright Lauren Gunderson, she began to change her mind about the part of Peter.

Once I let go of that structural and historical knowledge, I just let it be a romance; you know, something sweet, she said. I had to just let go of all my thoughts and just feel it.

That approach to the main character in Silent Sky helped Wilson, a junior studying English theater education, tell a powerful and compelling story about a woman scientist facing discrimination in a male-dominated world at the turn of the century in the early 1900s.

I wrote an essay about the feminist past the play creates within the script, she said. I really connected with the character. Once I got cast, I really analyzed every part of the play, took apart every word, looked at the Oxford English Dictionary for exactly what that word would have meant at that time. I looked at the show through its historical sense from a Marxist angle, a philosophical angle  whatever I needed to do.

The result can be seen in University Theatre at Kearneys production of Silent Sky, continuing today through Sunday at the Miriam Drake Theatre in the Fine Arts Building on the University of Nebraska at Kearney campus. General admission tickets are $10.

Director Janice Fronczak, professor of theater at UNK, started working on the production during the 2019-20 theater season. The pandemic shut down the school in March 2020, along with all work on the show. Two years later, Fronczak picked up where she left off, cast the show and used the set designs from before the pandemic.

The play tells the mostly accurate story of American astronomer Henrietta Leavitt. Born in 1868, she finished her studies in 1892 and began working as one of the women computers at the Harvard College Observatory. Observatory director Edward Charles Pickering hired Leavitt to measure and catalog the brightness of stars as they appeared in the observatorys photographic plate collection.

An illness around 1900 led to Leavitts progressive hearing loss, something that affects the character in Silent Sky. as well. Wilson feels strongly about keeping that important aspect of Leavitts personality.

I believe that people with disabilities are extremely underrepresented in theater and media everywhere, Wilson noted. If we do actually have a historical figure that was deaf or hard of hearing, it is so important to showcase that  and to showcase how much she was able to do with that.

While doing difficult mathematical equations, Leavitt would often take out her hearing aids to avoid the distraction of idle conversation.

When we can showcase these disabilities as a power possessed by someone and a part of someones life, that is more important than anything else we can do within theater, Wilson said.

The performer believes that Silent Sky tells a valuable story because it brings the historical figure of Leavitt alive, even at the expense of a love interest.

When I first read the play, I rolled my eyes every time Peter came on, Wilson said. But the more that Ive sat with it  and we actually had the opportunity of speaking with a historian on opening night  the more I realized that this is the playwright, Lauren Gunderson, giving a gift of romance to the historical Henrietta. Yes, Henrietta did not get married, but that does not mean that she didnt have romance.

At that time, more than 120 years ago, many women had to choose between a career or a relationship.

For white middle class women, that was the choice, Wilson said. I think its important to show that she literally had to give up the romance. And I think that makes it more meaningful for the audience.

Wilson worked closely with Fronczak, the director, in forming her portrayal of Henrietta.

She directed me in a very subtle way, Wilson said. I would say a line a certain way and she would say, I want you to think about that more. Color it a different way. Or sometimes she would ask me to find one word in a passage and emphasize it.

That one word often helped Wilson better understand the passage  and portray it to the audience.

Its those small nuances that Janice knew for herself that mattered, Wilson said. She wanted us to find our own conclusions about that line.

For Wilson, all of this matters. One day she hopes to teach theater to high school students and possibly direct her own students on stage.
MADISON, Wis.  The application for the Wisconsin Agriculture Youth Council is now available. The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) encourages students who will be high school seniors during the 2022-2023 school year to apply to be a member of this elite group.

I am pleased to recruit the third membership of the Wisconsin Agriculture Youth Council, said DATCP Secretary Randy Romanski. I am consistently impressed with the students interest in agriculture and their commitment to the industrys future.

The purpose of the Wisconsin Agriculture Youth Council is to encourage young people to engage with state government and increase their awareness of DATCPs interactions with Wisconsins agriculture industry. Members participate in virtual monthly sessions, listening to presentations, engaging in discussions, and networking with professionals across the agriculture industry.

In each council session, we highlight the many agricultural-related career opportunities available, including those in government, added Romanski. I hope students from across the state apply now to gain this valuable experience before advancing their education or starting their career.

The Wisconsin Agriculture Youth Council is comprised of 15 members. DATCP seeks to have at least one member from each of the nine council districts. The remaining seats are filled with at-large members. A map and listing of which counties are located in each of the nine districts is available at AgYouthCouncil.wi.gov.

To apply, students must complete an application form, which includes a brief essay. Applicants must also submit a one-minute video and letter of recommendation. Students serve a one-year term and receive a certificate at the completion of their term.

I highly, highly recommend applying for the DATCP Wisconsin Agriculture Youth Council. It is a great way to get involved with and learn about different aspects of Wisconsin agriculture, said current council member Lauren Breunig of Sauk City. Through this opportunity, I was exposed to careers and programs within DATCP that I otherwise would not have known about. If you are considering a job within Wisconsin agriculture, this is a great way to increase your knowledge and understanding within the industry.

DATCP will accept applications through March 31. For the application and additional information, visit AgYouthCouncil.wi.gov.

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A group of truckers calling themselves the American Truckers Freedom Convoy pulled through the village of Oakdale in Monroe County on Friday afternoon.

The truckers described the convoy as a peaceful expression against vaccine mandates, policies that deter energy production and "big tech/government censorship."

The convoy arrived in Oakdale around 3:30 p.m. and was greeted by supporters waving American flags, Trump 2024 banners and signs opposing President Joe Biden.

Up to 500 semis were expected to make the trip. The convoy is running from Minot, North Dakota, to Washington, D.C., and was scheduled to also make stops in Hudson and Portage.

Due to the expected traffic congestion, the Tomah Area School District closed schools two hours early Friday. An elementary school in Oakdale is located one block from the convoy route.

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Former Lt. Gov. Rebecca Kleefisch has been the odds-on favorite to win the Republican nomination to challenge Democratic Gov. Tony Evers since before she formally entered the race last September, but recent developments have shown she is not the consensus pick.

Since the beginning of the year, two anti-establishment candidates  former Marine Kevin Nicholson and Rep. Timothy Ramthun, R-Campbellsport  have joined the race, and one of the partys most prominent figures, former four-time elected Gov. Tommy Thompson, has left open the possibility that he could run again. Meanwhile, former President Donald Trump has yet to endorse.

Kleefisch has picked up support from former Gov. Scott Walker, with whom she served for eight years; Trumps former White House spokesperson Sarah Huckabee Sanders; and groups like Wisconsin Right to Life and the Milwaukee Police Association. Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce, the states largest business organization, endorsed Kleefisch in January  the first time the group endorsed a gubernatorial candidate before the primary since 2010, when it backed Walker.

I think Kleefisch is the clear front-runner at this point in time, said Bill McCoshen, a lobbyist who was mulling a run for governor before deciding against it last September. If youre picking lanes, shes filling out the establishment lane, Nicholson is in sort of the outsider lane and Ramthun is in the insurgent lane.

Another potential candidate, Madison businessman Eric Hovde, said just because Kleefisch was the first of the three top candidates to announce doesnt mean shes favored to win.

Do I think this is a settled race? Hovde said. No, by no means.

I think a lot of people are tired of professional politicians and insiders and how theyve led our country, Hovde said. I think there is a growing desire by many people to see outsiders come into the political process and bring different sets of skills, experiences and views.

Kleefisch declined to be interviewed for this story, but said in an email she welcomes a GOP primary  the former television journalist came out on top in a five-way primary for lieutenant governor in 2010  and her campaign is largely focused on unseating Evers.

We cant have four more years of this weak leadership, Kleefisch said. My campaign is for the long haul. Our opponent is Tony Evers.

Thompson has said hell make a decision about his future by the end of April, after his time as University of Wisconsin president ends March 18. In an interview he said that includes whether hed make an endorsement if he doesnt run.

I have been completely nonpolitical for 20 months and Im not going to violate my position by talking politics now, he said. Im not going to be hurried up to make any decisions until I get a chance to sit down with my advisers, my friends, my family and see whats available out there.

McCoshen, former chief of staff to Thompson, said its possible the former governor joins the field.

Thompson is in a unique position where he could get in a lot later than anybody else because of the name ID he already has and because of his favorability rating statewide, which is very, very high, McCoshen said.

Poll signals

With the GOP primary almost five months away, the first Marquette Law School Poll of the year, released Wednesday, found among Republicans and independents who say they will vote in the GOP primary that 30% support Kleefisch, 8% support Nicholson, 5% support Ramthun, and 54% have no preference.

Half of respondents said they havent heard of or have no opinion of Kleefisch, compared with 80% for Nicholson and 86% for Ramthun.

Kleefischs name recognition has remained relatively level in polls dating back to May 2012, when 44% of respondents said they had no opinion of her. Just under 70% of voters had no opinion of Nicholson in July 2018 leading up to his primary loss for U.S. Senate that year to former state Sen. Leah Vukmir, who went on to lose to Democratic Sen. Tammy Baldwin.

Were not going into the primaries with lots of voters who have firm opinions, and of course name recognition and familiarity is playing a large role at this point, poll director Charles Franklin said. The candidates, even those who served in office or ran for office before, are not all that familiar to voters at this point.

Kleefisch is no stranger to a contested primary, though her lead in the polls is a turnabout from 2010, when she was the first candidate voted off the endorsement ballot at the state GOPs convention. Kleefisch went on to win that years primary, shocking GOP insiders in the process, and joined Walker on the gubernatorial ticket.

We ushered in a golden era of conservative reforms, and when I become governor I plan to do that again, Kleefisch said. I dont do revisionist history. ... I lived through all of the fights to be where I am today, and I will continue to fight for Wisconsin.

Not so fast

But a growing push among some Trump supporters to oust establishment Republicans and what Nicholson has dubbed the Madison machine  including Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, R-Rochester, who earlier this year urged Nicholson not to run while deeming Kleefisch the best choice to defeat Evers  has some wondering if fissures within the party could derail her candidacy.

Do we want to keep bumping along in Robin Vos jalopy not accomplishing anything or do we want to take a different approach, Nicholson said. Any misguided belief on the part of the Madison machine that they are just going to waltz through a primary and then go into the general (election) and people are suddenly going to like them is absurd.

Doubling down on his anti-establishment campaign, Nicholson last month told the state Republican Party he is not seeking the partys endorsement and urged the party not to endorse any candidates before the primary.

I believe that the RPW endorsement process is an attempt on the part of party insiders to improperly aid hand-picked insider candidates, he wrote in a letter to the party. Again, this is a process that has yielded losses in 11 out of the last 12 statewide general elections in Wisconsin.

The state Republican Party plans to hold endorsement votes at its May convention. About half a dozen county parties are also planning to sit out the state partys endorsement process. Further underscoring a potential rift among Republicans, a handful of county parties have called on Vos to resign under the slogan toss Vos.

In 2010, the Republican Party was unified, they were marching in single file, Democratic strategist Mike Tate said. Now they are wandering around lost in a field. The contrast couldnt be more stark.

Longtime Republican strategist Brandon Scholz said anti-establishment Republicans make up a small sample of the overall party and predicted Nicholson and Ramthun will split that vote, benefiting Kleefisch.

Those guys are going to split 15% of the vote in the primary ... unless one of them collapses, Scholz said.

The Trump card

Another lingering question in Wisconsins GOP race is who will secure backing from Trump, which McCoshen described as the most important endorsement thats outstanding, no question about it.

It moves GOP primary voters more than anything else, which is why its so coveted, McCoshen said. If Kleefisch were to get that, I think the race is over and shell win the primary and I think shell be well positioned to win the general. If Thompson or Nicholson or one of the outsiders were to get that, theyre going to level the playing field the day the president makes that announcement  it becomes a new ballgame overnight.

Trump has not formally endorsed any of the Republicans currently in the race, although he did call on retired U.S. Rep. Sean Duffy to run for governor last October, which the former lumberjack athlete later declined.

Ramthun, who has falsely claimed that Trump won Wisconsins 2020 election, has drawn praise from the former president, who called the state lawmaker in early December to thank him for his efforts to overturn the election, Rolling Stone reported last month. Trump has continued to falsely claim he won the 2020 election, despite recounts, audits and court decisions affirming that President Joe Biden defeated Trump in Wisconsin by almost 21,000 votes.

While Ramthun repeats the lie that Trump won Wisconsin and is largely focused on reclaiming the states 10 electoral college votes for the former president, Nicholson has conceded that Biden won, albeit in a messy, sloppy, messed-up election, as he told WDJT-TV.

For her part, Kleefisch said about five months ago that Biden won the state. She has since walked back those comments and now questions whether the president fairly won, citing ongoing GOP-ordered reviews of the 2020 election.

Two scenarios

Strategists say a contested primary results in two potential outcomes: Either a heated campaign that results in a battle-tested candidate better positioned to challenge the incumbent, or messy infighting that drags down the whole field.

Evers is running largely on the kitchen table issues that helped him unseat Walker in 2018 with hopes of bucking historical trends that often spell midterm challenges for the party in the White House. The incumbent governor said last month the current GOP primary seems to be pushing Republicans further to the right.

It is a radical agenda and I dont know if radicalism in the state of Wisconsin is something that a lot of people embrace, but that said thats exactly whats happening  every day one is leapfrogging over the other to be more conservative, Evers said.

Scholz drew comparisons to the GOP primary leading up to the states 2012 U.S. Senate race, in which a contested GOP primary ended with Thompson securing the nomination, but the four-term governor was unable to rebound in the months that followed and ultimately lost to Baldwin.

When people talk about worrying about an ugly primary, its exactly for that reason, Scholz said. You would have to spend a lot of money to defend yourself against frivolous attacks ... but when you go negative to take your opponent down, youve got to remember you drive your negatives up. Its high risk.

A bit of history

Only four incumbent governors have lost reelection bids over the last 50 years in Wisconsin. All four lost to a challenger who came out of a contested primary.

In 1978, UW-Stevens Point Chancellor Lee Dreyfus defeated then-U.S. Sen. Bob Kasten in the GOP primary before going on to unseat Democratic incumbent Gov. Martin Schreiber with about 54% of the vote.

Democrat Tony Earl ran for a second term in 1986, but ultimately lost to Thompson, then the Assembly Minority Leader, who came out of a heated GOP primary to secure more than 56% of the vote to win the first of his four consecutive terms as governor.

In 2002, then-Attorney General Jim Doyle secured a little over one-third of the vote in a contested Democratic primary before going on to defeat incumbent Republican Gov. Scott McCallum.

Then-state superintendent Evers faced a crowded Democratic field that at one time included more than a dozen candidates leading up to the 2018 primary, where he won with about 40% of the vote. Evers went on to narrowly defeat incumbent Walker by a little over 1% of the vote.

Just looking at gubernatorial incumbent defeats since 1970, there have been two Democrats and two Republicans who have lost  all four of them were defeated by someone who first won in a competitive primary, McCoshen said.

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MILWAUKEE  Wisconsin's two U.S. senators are moving to end protections for gray wolves across most of the United States.

The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported Friday that Republican Ron Johnson and Democrat Tammy Baldwin introduced a bill earlier this week to remove protections for the wolf. Wyoming's two Republican U.S. senators, Cynthia Lummis and John Barrasso, have joined them.

The bill comes after a federal judge in California last month ordered protections be restored for wolves across most of the U.S. after the Trump administration removed them from the endangered species list. Re-listing wolves on the list effectively banned any wolf hunting or trapping seasons and prohibited farmers and ranchers from killing wolves preying on livestock.

Johnson said in a statement that Wisconsin residents should have a say in wolf management. Baldwin issued a statement saying she believes the wolf population is strong and federal officials should let the state manage the animal.

In addition, all five Republican representatives from Wisconsin signed a letter from Rep. Tom Tiffany pushing such legislation in the House.

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Afghan refugee Mozhgan Entazari, right, talks about the challenge to find proper housing for her family in Southern California, during an interview at a hotel lobby in Irvine, Calif., Tuesday, Feb. 15, 2022. (Damian Dovarganes/AP)

After fleeing her home in now-Taliban controlled Afghanistan, Mozhgan Entazari did everything she could to find a new one for her family in the sunny, palm tree-lined communities of Southern California.

The 34-year-old mother of two scoured options on Zillow with her husband, while the family lived at a hotel in Irvine, south of Los Angeles. She spent $200 for an Uber ride to see an apartment 90 minutes away only to find it had been rented.

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Entazari needed a place not just for her immediate family but for seven members of her extended family.

In the end, it took four months. On Sunday, they will move into a five-bedroom house in Corona, about 50 miles southeast of LA, which is renting for $4,000.

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The familys struggles are emblematic of what tens of thousands of Afghans are finding since they moved off U.S. military bases and into American cities and towns following last summers dramatic airlift operation. Many hope to settle in Southern California and the Washington, D.C., area, where Afghans previously established vibrant communities with Halal grocery stores and mosques.

But these communities also are among the countrys priciest housing markets, and units, especially those suitable for often larger Afghan families, are in short supply. Resettlement agencies report its taking longer to get refugees out of temporary housing like hotels, Airbnbs and churches.

Entazari will share a roof with her husband and kids, along with her mother, teen sister and her brother and his family.

Without a job, credit history or co-signer, she said it was incredibly difficult to find housing. And without an address, she said she and her husband couldnt get jobs and her kids couldnt enroll in school.

Afghan refugee Mozhgan Entazari, right, comments on the challenge of finding proper housing for her family in Southern California, during an interview at a hotel lobby in Irvine, Calif., Tuesday, Feb. 15, 2022. (Damian Dovarganes/AP)

All our life depends on housing, Entazari said in Farsi through a volunteer interpreter.

They had to pay two months of rent to move in, and are getting help from an organization that will fund a portion of the monthly rent until next year.

The search for housing for Afghans comes amid a tightening housing market as the U.S. crawls out of the pandemic. The nationwide vacancy rate for rental units dropped about one percentage point, to 5.6%, in the last quarter of 2020, according to recently released U.S. Census data. The typical U.S. rent was up nearly 16% to more than $1,850 in January compared to last January, according to the online real estate marketplace Zillow, which launched an effort in November to help connect landlords with newly arrived Afghans.

In northern Virginia, Ahmad Saeed Totakhail was lucky to find permanent housing in Dale City, a suburb about 25 miles south of Washington.

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His sister, who housed him until he got a place of his own, lives there. He was hired to work in nearby Arlington, by the same nonprofit that employed him in Kabul.

The areas stunning mosques and plentiful Afghan eateries have softened the blow of leaving his homeland. But he was shocked by the high price for his familys safe haven  $2,000 a month for rent.

Its quite expensive, he said. I have friends here. I have my relatives here. But we never discussed the economics.

About half of all Afghan immigrants to the United States, many who came decades ago, live in five major metropolitan areas  Washington, Sacramento, California, San Francisco, New York and Los Angeles, according to the Migration Policy Institute. As a result, these areas are often attractive for Afghan newcomers, and many list the names of relatives or acquaintances already living there as contacts when resettlement agencies are considering where to send them.

But with some 76,000 Afghans arriving in the United States since the Taliban takeover of their country last year, many of these cities are reaching their saturation point, said Krish OMara Vignarajah, president and CEO of the Lutheran Immigration Refugee Service.

The resettlement agency has teamed with Airbnb to provide temporary housing while talking to property management companies to find a more permanent solution. Theyve opened offices in more affordable markets to meet the housing demand. But the places also must have a robust job market and institutions and businesses that support Afghan families, such as mosques and Halal markets, she said.

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The U.S. State Department says it doesnt track how many of the Afghans are in temporary accommodations. The top states for Afghans arriving following the Taliban takeover are Texas (nearly 10,500); California (over 8,200), Virginia (over 5,100) and Washington (over 2,800), according to State Department data.

Near the nations capital, Lutheran Social Services has helped settle more than 4,000 Afghans since last summer. For many, the benefits of a community that is like a second Kabul outweigh the high housing costs, said Zabi, a housing coordinator for LSS and relatively recent refugee from Afghanistan who asked to be identified by his nickname because he still has family who could be targeted there because of his prior work with the U.S. military.

Zabi is working to convince area landlords and property owners that Afghan refugees are worth granting some leeway.

Theyre gonna pay their rent, thats for sure, he said, adding many find employment quickly, with help from the agency and the existing Afghan community.

In Newburyport, Massachusetts, churches opened their doors to temporarily house four Afghan families. The Rev. Jarred Mercer said helping them set down permanent roots is daunting given the high cost of living in the largely white, affluent community near the New Hampshire state line.

He and another pastor are working with city officials and hope to bring local property owners and nonprofits on board to help tackle the housing question. In the meantime, theyve raised funds and formed volunteer committees to coordinate everything from teaching English classes to driving the families around town.

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Theyre getting more and more entrenched in town, especially the children, and it would just be more trauma to uproot them and start the whole process over again, Mercer said.

That already happened to several Afghan families who were asked to try a new location after searching for months for a home in Southern California, said Sonik Sadozai, a volunteer with Afghan Refugee Relief.

Sadozai, who came to the country as a refugee four decades ago from Afghanistan, said shes been doing this work for years and never faced so many hurdles.

She said she was able to help Entazari and her family move out of the Irvine hotel partly because of luck: An Afghan man she had helped find housing four years ago reached out to her about a Syrian friend who had a house for rent.

But she worries she wont be so lucky with the more than 100 other Afghan families she is helping in their search.

Many landlords walloped by the pandemic are asking for the first two months and last two months of rent up front  a tall order for arriving families, especially those needing larger units, she said.

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I have a family of 13, she said. Where am I going to send them?
A day after the Wisconsin Supreme Court adopted Democratic Gov. Tony Evers proposal for the states 10-year congressional and legislative district maps, the Wisconsin Legislature filed a motion with the court for a stay on the ruling pending appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court.

The Legislature intends to request an appeal with the U.S. Supreme Court on Monday, the motion states, after it maintained Friday that Evers maps violate federal law by moving too many people around to create majority-minority Assembly districts. If the U.S. Supreme Court doesnt take the case, the states ruling will remain in place.

The Legislature in its motion focuses on Evers decision to include seven majority-Black Assembly districts in Milwaukee, all of which include about 50% Black populations. The states high court, the Legislature argues, never decided whether those districts were required by the Voting Rights Act, referencing the majority opinion Thursday that the justices had good reasons to believe they were required.

There can be no good reasons for maximizing the number of majority-minority districts by dialing down the existing Black population in the existing majority-Black districts to a 50-percent, as the ordered plans indisputably do, attorney Kevin St. John states in the 18-page motion.

The Legislature called for the stay Friday arguing that its appeal, built upon the allegation that Evers districts cannot be justified by any reasonable interpretation of the Voting Rights Act, would likely be held up by the U.S. Supreme Court.

Asked for comment, Evers spokesperson Britt Cudaback referred to the governors statement from Thursday, which said the maps I submitted to the Court that were selected today are a vast improvement from the gerrymandered maps Wisconsin has had for the last decade and the even more gerrymandered Republican maps that I vetoed last year.

The Legislature in the motion states that moving forward with racially gerrymandered maps would create irreparable harm, while the state Supreme Court issuing a stay would not.

Part of the harm, St. John writes in the motion, would be the money and time state officials put into implementing and enforcing Evers plan that the U.S. Supreme Court is likely to reverse. The federal high court would probably alert the state Legislature within three weeks of its emergency relief request filing on whether it would accept the appeal, St. John said.

The Republican Legislature filed the motion one day after the court issued a 4-3 split decision adopting Evers boundaries that would maintain Republican majorities in the Legislature but likely prevent them from claiming a veto-proof supermajority.

Conservative Justice Brian Hagedorn, a regular swing vote on the court, sided with liberal justices Rebecca Dallet, Ann Walsh Bradley and Jill Karofsky in the ruling.

The ruling Thursday came months after Hagedorn and the courts conservatives ruled 4-3 that they would follow a least change approach from the current maps, which are considered some of the most gerrymandered in the nation.

The Legislature in the motion Friday states it had repeatedly argued that Evers maps were unconstitutional despite Hagedorn writing in Thursdays majority opinion that nobody suggested the maps violated the Voting Rights Act or Equal Protection Clause.

The Republican Legislature added that seven is the maximum number of majority-Black Assembly districts possible in Milwaukee.

A redistricting plan cannot survive strict scrutiny based on a partys mere assertion that an additional district is possible, the motion states.

Evers set up the court battle over the states next decennial maps when he vetoed GOP-drawn boundaries in mid-November. The governor had championed boundaries drawn by the Peoples Maps Commission, but those maps failed to get universal support among legislative Democrats, with some criticizing the boundaries for potentially diminishing Black and Hispanic representation in the Legislature.

After the state Supreme Court ruled in favor of a least change approach, Evers submitted new maps that made fewer changes than the Republican proposal, while also slightly reducing the projected Republican advantage in the Legislature.

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SACRAMENTO, Calif.

Thirty-two years ago, I saw something in Odessa, Ukraine, that still fascinates me.

We were at a popular park on the Black Sea. A long line of Ukrainians  maybe 50  were at a booth where T-shirts, snacks and newspapers were being sold. People were there for the newspapers.

Even back then, this was a remarkable sight. Americans werent lining up for newspapers three decades ago and certainly arent these days.

Ukrainians were grabbing up newspapers because their parliament had just  on July 16, 1990  declared the nations independence from the Soviet Union.

They couldnt read enough about it. This was their July 4, 1776.

But there were no fireworks. No high-fives. Not even much talk. It was eerily quiet. People sat at picnic tables, on benches or on the grass immersed in a paper. Their faces showed confusion and concern.

You could see them thinking: Now what? How does this affect me? What will the Russians do?

It took a while, but they began to get an answer 24 years later when Russia annexed  seized  Ukraines Crimean Peninsula.

The full answer came last Thursday when Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered a brutish attack on Ukraine by land, sea and air.

In Odessa, people awoke to exploding missiles. Russian troops and tanks moved north from the Crimea. In the Black Sea, where our cruise ship had sailed placidly in 1990, foreign commercial vessels reported being hit by bombs and missiles.

It reminds us of the difference a national leader can make. In 1990, Russia was led by a friendly reformer, Mikhail Gorbachev. Now, its being dangerously steered off course by a Soviet throwback bully.

The collapse of the Soviet Union and emergence of democracies in Eastern Europe was an exciting time in the 1990s and early 2000s  especially for American political consultants and activists who were drawn to the struggle for democratization.

One such political junkie was Sean Garrett, a 24-year-old press aide for Gov. Pete Wilson.

Garretts birth mother was a Lithuanian immigrant and hed always been curious about his roots. So in 1992 he wrangled a job helping the pro-democracy side in Lithuanias second free election.

Everyone in the governors office thought I was insane, Garrett, now 54, recalled last week.

Garrett became an instant celebrity in Lithuania.

Not only was I from America, I was from California, he told me later. For them, California meant the ultimate dream  Hollywood, beaches .

The easiest way to get a laugh was to tell them that California now had problems, and that Californians didnt like California so much anymore. Theyd just start laughing. They couldnt grasp it. They were cold, hungry, out of work, out of gasoline.

Garrett constantly urged democracy advocates to keep their message simple. One day he provided an example. At a rock concert, he suddenly was asked to address the 5,000 young people there.

I walked out, he recalled, and said, Ive got one question for the future of Lithuania: Do you want Lenin, or do you want Levis?

They went nuts. Levis. Levis.

Four years later, Garrett worked in Ukraine helping people adjust to a free market economy.

But for most of his career, he has been a public relations consultant for Bay Area tech firms.

A lot of people who have only been to Western Europe still think of Eastern Europe as a Soviet bloc, Garrett says. If youve been to Paris or Munich, youve been to Ukraine. Its very European.

In 1996, three top Wilson strategists were hired covertly to help Russian President Boris N. Yeltsin win reelection. His image was in the dumpster. But being Americans, they couldnt be seen working with the Kremlin leader. So, they secretly dealt with his influential 36-year-old daughter.

Yeltsin beat a hard-core communist.

Youre dealing with the oligarchs in Russia, lead strategist George Gorton later recalled. It can be frightening.  I was very happy to get out in one piece.

Before he ran Arnold Schwarzeneggers successful 2003 recall campaign that toppled Gov. Gray Davis, consultant Mike Murphy worked for capitalist causes in Romania and Georgia.

In Romania, he scrounged up money for a newspaper backing the opposition so it could bribe a nightwatchman to obtain a railroad car full of newsprint. The government was blocking the papers access to it.

In Georgia, he advised pro-democracy candidates running against a Russian-backed party.

Western consultants rely on mass communication, persuasion and organizing, he says. Russians just tell the head of the railroad to call in everyone for emergency work on election day so they cant vote. We put up a negative TV ad in Georgia, and they just turned off the power. Pretty slick.

As for Putin, at the end of this hell be a pariah, Murphy says. Putin may win a few military battles, but hes going into a quagmire. Hes delusional.

For one, Russias economy is only half the size of Californias.

State budget nerds in Sacramento are trying to assess what financial effect the war and sanctions will have on California.

It wont amount to a hill of beans for the fifth-largest economy in the world, says finance department spokesman H.D. Palmer.

Both Ukraine and Russia are relatively small trading partners. Russia constitutes 0.3% of Californias total exports and 0.5% of imports.

Its a given gas prices will rise.

Murphys right: Putin will score short-term military wins, but in the long run hell be branded a loser  a power-mad thug who brutalized a neighbor and threw his own country under the avtobus.

Odessans will love reading about it in their newspaper.

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As a former Houston County Commissioner, and current president of the Semcac Board of Directors, I would like to thank the Houston County Board of CommissionersDewey Severson, Eric Johnson, Bob Burns, Teresa Walter, and Greg Myhrefor allocating American Rescue Plan Act funding to the Semcac Houston County Food Shelf and Contact Center in Caledonia.

The American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), signed by President Biden on March 11, 2021, provides for the distribution of federal fiscal recovery funding to states, tribal governments, metropolitan cities, counties, and non-entitlement units (NEUs) of local governments, which generally have populations below 50,000.

The Houston County Board recently voted to use $50,000 of this federal funding source to help update Semcacs Food Shelf, located in Caledonia. These funds will be used for much-needed concrete and entryway repairs to the building, as well as restroom improvements and providing a handicap accessible door. The Semcac Houston County Food Shelf provides emergency food to any household experiencing food insecurity, from families with young children to the elderly.

I am grateful to the Houston County Board for being good stewards of the American Rescue Plan Act funding at this critical time. Allocating these resources to those in need reflect our communitys values of helping our neighbors.

Larry Connery

Houston

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While COVID-19 presented numerous challenges for houses of worship, it also opened a few doors.

The pandemic opened opportunities through technology to connect with people in their homes, says Rabbi Jack Paskoff, leader of Congregation Shaarai Shomayim in Lancaster.

The congregations latest offering takes full advantage of that opportunity. Sofa Spirituality, a three-week series, will offer interfaith conversation between Jewish and non-Jewish religious leaders from around the nation via Zoom. Attendees will learn virtually about diverse spiritual traditions during the sessions, which take place on Monday evenings beginning March 14.

People of all faiths come together from the comfort of their living room sofas, says Rev. Liddy Barlow, executive minister of Christian Associates of Southwest PA in Pittsburgh, who is one of Sofa Spiritualitys creators.

The idea for Shaarai Shomayim to host the dialogue series came from Paskoffs childhood friend, Rabbi Ron Symons, director of the Jewish Community Center of Pittsburgh Center for Loving Kindness. They grew up together in Long Island, New York.

Knowing Jack, I felt Sofa Spirituality would be a valuable tool for the Lancaster community, Symons says. Paskoff agrees and looks forward to his synagogue introducing the virtual spiritual leader interviews followed by engaging dialogues with participants.

The Sofa Spirituality model was created by Symons, Barlow and Melissa Hiller, director of American Jewish Museum of JCC of Pittsburgh.

Christian Associates and the Jewish Community Center have worked together since 2017 to bring spiritual leaders together for programs addressing violence, immigration, opioid addiction and more.

The two organizations realized the most important part of the interfaith gatherings was the opportunity for neighbors to be in dialogue with each other.

With the COVID-19 shutdown in the Spring of 2020, the Sofa Spirituality model was born.

The Zoom format offers holy and safe places to connect and encourage exploration of diversity of faith traditions to a national audience, Barlow says.

Interviews with spiritual leaders conducted by Barlow and Symons are prerecorded and shown to Zoom participants during scheduled series hosted by partners around the nation. Following the video, the reverend and rabbi facilitate the dialogue starting with questions. Barlow says people share their spiritual stories with engaging conversation.

Spiritual leaders for the series come from across the country as well as around the world. Past Sofa Spirituality interview videos are available to view on the Jewish Community Center of Pittsburgh website at jccpgh.org

The series is funded by The Russell Berrie Foundation, Heinz Endowments, Opportunity Fund and The Pittsburgh Foundation.

Both Barlow and Symons hope Lancaster-area participants will be inspired to share humanity across real and perceived differences, and come together in dialogue to help avoid spiritual isolation.

Sofa Spirituality brings interfaith neighbors together to build relationships grounded in trust, curiosity, respect and shared values: real-world relationships that lead to shared action for healthier and more connected communities, Symons says.
RETIREMENT FAIR: A Retirement Fair to assist upcoming school retirees from Pennsylvania schools will be held 3:30-6 p.m. Tuesday, March 8, at the Farm and Home Center, 1383 Arcadia Road. Register by March 6. For more information or to register, email jeanlyoung@aol.com.

BREAKFAST BENEFIT: The Lititz Springs Post 1463 of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, 14 N. Spruce St., Lititz, will sponsor the Benefit Breakfast for the Jesse Jones Composite Squadron of the Civil Air Patrol from 8-11 a.m. Sunday, March 6. Donation is $10 per person. The cadet program for teenagers, aged 12 and above, offers them opportunities to learn leadership skills, character development and physical fitness while learning about military life, engaging in search and rescue activities, and experiencing aerospace as a potential career choice. For more information, visit GoCivilAirPatrol.com or CAP.news, or email Glenn Knight at gknight@cap.gov.

Community Calendar runs as space is available. Three weeks notice of an event is appreciated. Please place the date of the event or the deadline date to register at the top of the press release. Email your information to news@lnpnews.com.
A former Ephrata lawyer intends to plead guilty Monday in federal court to one count of threatening to murder a U.S. official.

Kenelm Shirk, 72, indicated his intent in a signed plea agreement filed Thursday in U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania.

Shirk has been in custody since he was arrested around 8:45 p.m. on Jan. 21, 2021  the day after President Joe Biden was inaugurated  at a gas station near Shippensburg. State police were acting on a be on the lookout bulletin.

Shirks ex-wife, with whom he lived in Cornwall, Lebanon County, had called 911 about 90 minutes earlier and reported that Shirk threatened to kill her and intended to go to the nations capital to kill U.S. senators. Other court documents specified Democratic senators.

She said Shirk had been planning this for a while and bought a new silver Subaru for this mission; he had been depressed lately; and he would not be returning, as he intended to commit suicide by cop, according to court documents.

Police said they found an AR-15 rifle, two handguns, ammunition, rope, gloves and about $5,000 in his Subaru Forester.

As part of the plea agreement, Shirk agreed to forfeit the guns.

Shirk's attorney, John Abom, did not immediately respond to a request for comment Friday. He previously told LNP | LancasterOnline that Shirk wasnt planning to harm anyone and had been in a domestic incident with his ex-wife.

A court filing last year characterized Shirks actions as an isolated incident of behavior made worse by drinking.

The agreement does not specify a sentence; that will be up to Judge Jennifer Wilson at a later date. The crime Shirk agreed to plead guilty to carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison.

Shirk's former firm, Shirk Law Associates, was the longtime solicitor for Akron Borough. Akron dropped the firm shortly after Shirks arrest. The state Supreme Court disbarred him in May.

Shirk comes from a family with a history of community service and political involvement. His father, K. L. Shirk, who died in 2006, was an attorney and long active in Lancaster Countys Republican Committee, serving as chairman of the party from 1964-71. Shirks grandfather served as Lancaster County district attorney in the early 1940s and later was elected to the Lancaster city council.
Among the first refugees to receive help from the church were Rezniks second cousin Elena and her teenage son and daughter.

Elenas husband was not able to leave Ukraine with them because of a rule imposed under martial law banning any man from the age of 18 to 60 from leaving the country and urging them to join the army. Reznik withheld the familys last name out of concerns for their safety.

They were separated at the border, and it was a very dramatic goodbye because they dont know if theyll ever see each other, Reznik said. Its a war, and who knows how long its going to last and what its going to be like.

After Elena crossed the Polish border with her son and daughter, she stayed the night at a temporary shelter set up by the American and Polish militaries. The next day the three were transported to a cabin in Poland where they can stay for about a month. Reznik said they are trying to settle Elena and her children in permanent housing in Poland or the U.S.

Reznik also told LNP | LancasterOnline that he talked to a refugee named Victoria on Thursday who was fleeing bombardment in the northeastern Ukrainian city of Kharkiv.

Victorias son and husband, who is a pastor, stayed in Kharkiv with other pastors, church leaders and men to feed people and help those evacuating the city. Victoria fled the city with a group of 10 people, which included her younger children and other women who left their husbands behind. Victoria plans to cross the border into Poland.

Wednesday, Victorias husband was distributing food to people in need in the streets of Kharkiv. Reznik said, as soon as the men left, that area was bombed, and all of the windows of their church were blown out.

So, its very real, Reznik said. I keep on telling them, I cant tell you I understand you, but were crying with you and were praying with you because Ive never been shelled by bombs. I dont know what it feels like. I dont understand you, but Im praying with you. I feel your pain.
When: Lancaster City Council meeting, March 1, held in council chambers and streamed online.

What happened: During this committee meeting, council members were apprised of state funds that will provide $140 million of gaming revenue to support public projects across the state, potentially some in Lancaster.

Why its important: The city has until March 15 to submit applications on behalf of organizations seeking some of that money. The funds must be used for capital projects, not operating projects.

Applicants: Council reviewed five proposed resolutions authorizing the city to move forward as middleman for the applicants at the March 8 council meeting. The applicants are: Tenfold, The Spanish American Civic Association, YMCA Lancaster, South Ann Concerned Neighbors and the City of Lancaster.

Background: Jess King, the citys chief of staff, went into detail about the grant application process. It opened in late January, the deadline to submit is mid-March and we need a resolution to do so. The only organizations that can apply for these funds are local units of government. So these organizations came to us and asked the city to apply, she explained.

Quotable: Our plan is that the organizations really need to do the legwork to the application. If awarded, thats where we would be doing the administrative heavy lifting for the duration of the grant, King said. The grant would essentially flow through the city, and the city is allowed to request 2% of the total grant award as a reimbursement.

Binns Park: The city can apply for gaming revenue to support a capital project. If awarded, the citys share of funds would support renovation and upgrades of Binns Park in the 100 block of North Queen Street.

Supporting Ukraine: Also moved forward to voting next week was a resolution stating Lancaster City Council stands with the people of Ukraine. The reason why I brought this resolution forward was because I feel that the invasion of Ukraine has been very devastating, and we need to denounce this immoral progression, council member Janet Diaz said.

Whats next: Lancaster City Council will meet again March 8.
AME Church Supports SCOTUS Nominee Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson

On behalf of the membership of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, the AME Council of Bishops commends President Joe Biden for his nomination of Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson to serve on the United States Supreme Court. Further, we take note of Vice President Kamala Harris involvement in this momentous step toward equity and justice and urge all who have a role in making a swift confirmation the highest priority.

Judge Brown Jacksons unparalleled accomplishments, character, and integrity, as well as her experience as a public defender and federal judge, will result in the US Supreme Court achieving a needed balance in perspective. The highest court in the land needs to have input from a seasoned jurist whose perspective on the issues from voting rights to criminal justice will expand the deliberations to reflect better the people who depend upon receiving justice in the courts of their homeland.

The AME Churchs 6,000 congregations with 2.5 million members will be educating its communities of service about the importance of this nomination and contacting the United States Senators who serve them to advocate for Judge Brown Jacksons confirmation.

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Bishop Anne Henning Byfield, President, Council of Bishops and Chair, Social Action Commission

Bishop Adam J. Richardson, Senior Bishop

Bishop Paul Jones Mulenga Kawimbe, President, General Board
Saturday, March 5, 2022

CNBC recently reported on BlackRocks previously-announced plan to permit pass-through voting for institutional investors in its index funds. According to the report, the plan will cover about 40% of those funds, which works out to about $1.92 trillion of assets.

It seems obvious to me that BlackRock is feeling the political/regulatory heat from its existing voting power  theres been lots of GOP pushback on its climate policies, concerns about antitrust (including FTC proposals that would paralyze BlackRock with regulation), it gets protestors outside its offices due to its control over particular companies, all of which caused BlackRock to go on an  obviously failed  campaign to convince people that it does not hold the power it holds (as I described in my book chapter, ESG Investing, or if you can't beat 'em, join 'em). Pass through voting feels like BlackRock voluntarily giving up at least some of its tremendous influence in the face of that scrutiny. Or, to put it another way, perhaps that power does not translate into financial benefits to BlackRock, at least, not enough to make it worth the regulatory costs.

I have no idea how this will play out or what this will look like, but I have so many thoughts and questions. Here are a few, in no particular order:

1) Is this something investors will seek out, which will give BlackRock a competitive edge? The CNBC article linked above suggests so.

2) What are the fiduciary duties of institutions in this scenario? The article suggests many of them already have voting policies for shares they directly own, but if they dont, or if BlackRocks policy expands, how do institutions make this call? Do they decide whether the expense of determining their vote  maybe paying for a proxy advisor  is equal to the benefit? Do they have to choose BlackRock over another fund complex because of the benefits of pass through voting?

3) If an institution decides to cast its own votes, does it get a reduction on fees from BlackRock, since its no longer paying for voting services?

4) Will clients have the option of going with BlackRock on some issues and not others? Sean Griffith, for example, has proposed that pass through voting apply to ESG matters and not other kinds of votes, like mergers, where the fund has more expertise.

5) If so, will clients know in advance how BlackRock intends to vote? Will that be nonpublic information? There are proposals for better disclosure on mutual funds voting patterns; I gather clients may not always know how BlackRock is casting its votes, let alone know in advance of the vote itself, but that may be relevant information if theres a pass-through option.

6) Also on lending: How will BlackRock manage the share lending program, given that votes often are sacrificed for the lending fees?

7) Speaking of disclosure of mutual fund voting, how will BlackRock disclose the pass through votes? Can BlackRock take advantage of the informational content of those votes before they are disclosed (leave aside any active trading that BlackRock handles; as Joshua Mitts points out, even passive funds can use information to dictate their share lending programs).

8) As the CNBC article points out, if BlackRock hands its voting power to its clients, it will lose leverage with portfolio companies and  due to the dispersed nature of its own client base  thats leverage that will not be recaptured. So that may mean less shareholder power overall. Among other things, will Delaware react  by, for example, relaxing things like the Corwin doctrine?

9) If BlackRock maintains a significant amount of voting power, it presumably will continue to have some influence in the boardroom. Will its fiduciary duties be altered if it lobbies for governance changes that appear to be at odds with how the pass-through votes are cast?

Thats all Ive got for starters - anything else?

https://lawprofessors.typepad.com/business_law/2022/03/power-concedes-nothing-without-a-demand.html
On the same day that Russian forces began invading Ukraine, Russian and Ukrainian troops battled for control of the Chernobyl nuclear center. Ukrainian officials said Russian forces won the battle and took control.

Chernobyl is the site of the worlds most severe nuclear accident. In 1986, a reactor at the nuclear power center exploded and caught fire. The disaster released large amounts of radiation that caused widespread harm to people and other living things in the surrounding area.

The site is enclosed within a 2,600-square-kilometer restricted area of forest surrounding the former power center, or plant.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said his nations forces fought to defend Chernobyl so that the tragedy of 1986 will not be repeated. The countrys Ministry of Environmental Protection warned of a possible new catastrophe if those controlling the plant did not effectively protect the area.

Areas of the plant still contain large amounts of nuclear material in the form of spent fuel and other radioactive waste. Ukrainian officials said last week that radiation levels had increased in areas around the plant after the fighting.

The Atomic Energy Agency, IAEA, said in a statement that the higher radiation levels could have been caused by soil being moved around by heavy military vehicles entering the area. But it added that the levels it measured remain within the operational range and presented no danger to the public.

The IAEA said it was informed on March 2 that Ukrainian employees had remained at the site since Russian forces took control. Ukrainian officials reported to the IAEA that no operation involving nuclear material had been carried out at Chernobyl since February 24, the day of Russias invasion.

IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi said it was extremely important that employees working at the plant are able to do their job safely and effectively. He called for the personal wellbeing of the workers to be guaranteed by those who have taken control.

Russia has not publicly commented on operations at the Chernobyl plant since its forces took control. Several military experts said Russia likely took over the plant because it is on the shortest path from Belarus to Kyiv. Belarus is an ally of Russia and was a launching point for Russian ground troops.

"It was the quickest way from A to B," James Acton told Reuters. He is with the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace policy center in Washington, D.C.

Edwin Lyman is the director of nuclear power safety at the U.S.-based Union of Concerned Scientists. He told The Associated Press, I cant imagine how it would be in Russias interest to allow any facilities at Chernobyl to be damaged."

Lyman was most worried about spent nuclear fuel stored there. He said if the power to cooling equipment is cut off or fuel storage tanks are damaged, the results could be disastrous.

Germanys vice chancellor and economy minister, Robert Habeck, told the AP that Russia would not need to take nuclear material from Chernobyl because it already has large supplies of its own.

Carmel Mothersill is a professor and the Canada research chair in Environmental Radiobiology at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario. In an article for The Conversation, she expresses concerns about how the war in Ukraine might affect future research on radioactivity and wildlife in areas around Chernobyl.

Some studies have found that many forms of wildlife have thrived in the human-free environment around the plant. These include bears, bison, wolves, lynxes, wild horses and many species of birds. But other studies suggest the effects of radiation have caused problems across different species.

Mothersill and other scientists want to keep studying wildlife populations in areas around Chernobyl. But for this to happen, there needs to be continued collaboration from those in control of the plant to support research operations.

At the present time, Mothersill said, None of us knows what will happen to these collaborations that have lasted for years.

Im Bryan Lynn.

Bryan Lynn wrote this story for VOA Learning English, based on reports from The Associated Press, Reuters, Agence France-Presse, the IAEA and The Conversation.

We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments section, and visit our Facebook page.

________________________________________________________________

Words in This Story

tragedy  n. an event or situation that is very sad, often involving death

catastrophe  n. an extremely bad event that causes a lot of suffering or destruction

allow  v. to permit

facility  n. a place where a particular activity happens

thrive  v. to grow and develop very well

species  n. a group of animals or plants that are similar and can produce young animals or plants

collaboration  n. the activity of working together to create or achieve the same thing
There is growing support in Finland and Sweden for the countries to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).

Recent public opinion studies, or polls, showed that citizens in both nations now favor membership in the Western military alliance.

In Finland, broadcaster YLE carried out this week. It found that 53 percent of citizens, a majority, were in favor of the country joining NATO. About 28 percent were against it.

In Sweden, a poll in late February by broadcaster SVT found that 41 percent of the public supported NATO membership. Thirty-five percent opposed it. It was the first time an opinion study in Sweden had found more people in favor of the country joining NATO than were against it.

Both nations are seen as important partners for NATO in the Baltic Sea area. Russia has greatly increased its military exercises in the Baltic in the past 10 years. But leaders in the two countries have expressed that they will not be pressured and any decision on NATO membership will be their own.

Support for NATO membership rises and falls and currently no clear majority in either nations parliament approves joining.

Some security experts point to the rise in support as a sign that Russias invasion of Ukraine changed Europes security situation.

The attack on Ukraine led both Finland and Sweden to break with earlier policies not to provide arms to countries at war. Both countries are sending guns and anti-tank weapons to Ukraine. For Sweden, it is the first time it has offered military aid since 1939, when it assisted Finland against the Soviet Union.

The unthinkable might start to become thinkable, tweeted former Swedish Prime Minister Carl Bildt. He has supported NATO membership.

There are no set requirements for joining NATO. But candidate nations must meet some political and other considerations. Many observers believe Finland and Sweden would qualify for quick entry into NATO without a long negotiation process.

Though not members, Finland and Sweden already cooperate with NATO. They permit the alliances troops to hold exercises on their territory. Finland and Sweden have also intensified their defense cooperation in recent years. Both have secured close military cooperation with the U.S., Britain and neighboring NATO member Norway.

Matti Pesu is with the Finnish Institute of International Affairs. He told The Associated Press the Finnish public has been very consistent in its opinion about NATO membership for the past 30 years. It seems now to have changed completely, he said.

Pesu said the recent studies are the only sign of a change in public opinion. But he noted that no similar change came after Russias 2008 war with Georgia or Russias 2014 takeover of the Crimean Peninsula. So this is an exception, Pesu said.

Russias Foreign Ministry voiced concern last week about what it described as efforts by the United States and some of its allies to drag Finland and Sweden into NATO. It warned that Russia would be forced to take measures against the nations if they chose to join the alliance.

Im Jill Robbins.

The Associated Press reported on this story. Bryan Lynn adapted the report for VOA Learning English.

We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments section, and visit our Facebook page.

________________________________________________________________

Words in This Story

qualify  v. to meet a set of requirements to do or become something

consistent  adj. always behaving or happening in a similar way

drag  v. to make someone go somewhere they do not want to go
The United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) is warning that the life of the Great Barrier Reef is in serious danger.

The IPCC released its sixth major report on the health of the planet Monday. It said if Pacific Ocean temperatures continue to rise, bleaching will kill the remaining corals that make up Australias Great Barrier Reef.

Bleaching is the result of higher-than-normal ocean temperatures. Warmer water causes corals to release the plants that feed them and make them colorful. They turn white and sicken, often dying very quickly.

The report predicts the warming will continue and bleaching events will happen more often.

The Great Barrier Reef is the largest living structure on Earth. The reef is over 2,300 kilometers long. It is home to thousands of kinds of fish and other animals. Giant clams, whales, dolphins and birds are among the others that depend on the reef to live.

Humanity also profits from the reef. It is a very popular with visitors, who bring a lot of money to the area. Before the start of the COVID-19 crisis, reef tourism was worth $4.6 billion yearly to the Australian economy. The industry also supported over 60,000 jobs.

The reef was the center of Tony Fontes 40 year career. The professional diver taught the sport and led dive trips to the reef.

Fontes said he has seen the reef after a bleaching event. He described the water turning white from the floating remains of dead corals. He compared the destruction to that from a forest fire.

You just realize youve just swum across a reef that a couple weeks ago was full of life and vibrant and now a bushfire has gone through it and the coral is dead, he said, adding, and the rest of the marine life will just have to move on or die off."

Ava Shearer also got a close look at a bleaching when she swam at the reef two years ago. The sight made her cry.

The reef used to look like a busy capital city, she said, but that day, it was empty.

The now 17-year old Shearer is a sea life student at nearby James Cook University. She is worried about the reefs future.

I fear there might not be anything for me to study, she said.

In 2016, the Great Barrier Reef had its worst bleaching on record. Over 90 percent of the reef was sickened. The IPCC says the northern and middle parts of the reef were hit hard by a series of bleachings that followed. The report described the reef there to be in a highly degraded state.

That bleaching will continue along the reef is almost certain, the IPCC says in the report. In fact, the report suggests it may simply be too late to stop bleaching completely. Even if the world is able to meet an international goal on temperature reduction, bleaching events will still take place, the IPCC found.

The IPCC says warming ocean water will hurt reefs around the world and reports that there have been mass deaths of some coral species.

It will not be easy for Australia to reduce its effect on the world environment, however. The nations economy depends on exports of coal and natural gas. It also burns coal for power.

Even with warnings about the state of the reef and its economic importance, the nation has not been moving fast on such issues. Climate action is a difficult subject in Australia, one of the worlds biggest exporters of coal and natural gas.

The Australian government said recently it would provide $1 billion to help the reef. Critics said that alone will not keep ocean temperatures from going up.

The IPCC report noted that if the bleaching continues, Australias economy will lose almost $1 billion and 10,000 jobs per year from reduced tourism.

Scott Heron is a physics professor and a reef science expert at James Cook. He said 1 billion people in the world depend on healthy reefs to make a living. If the world does not work to slow climate change there could be serious problems for humans, he said.

Its going to affect real people and real peoples lives, he said.

Climate change, the report said, will hurt more than just the reef in Australia. The IPCC predicts deadly wildfires will also increase in number and severity.

IPCC panelist Mark Howden is director of the climate school at Australian National University. He said conditions that scientists predicted for the future are appearing pretty much now.

However, Howden said Australians should focus on the solutions to the problems and not lose hope. He said the report offers ideas that can reduce pressure on the reef and help Australia reduce its negative impact on the environment.

He said Australians should be concerned about all the problems discussed in the report. But, he said the IPCC also wrote about ways to prevent worst-case scenarios in the future.

Im Caty Weaver. And Im Dan Friedell.

Dan Friedell adapted this story for Learning English based a report by The Associated Press.

Do you think Australia will be able to help the reef with more than just money? Write to us in the Comments Section and visit our Facebook page.

Words in This Story

vibrant n. bright, colorful and full of life

bush fire n. a fire in an undeveloped area that has not been used for farming

degrade  v. to break down

species n. a group of animals or plants that are similar

focus n. a subject that is being discussed or given attention

negative adj. harmful or bad

stress - n. tension and worry or a bad effect

scenario - n. a description of what could happen
The number of book bannings around the country has reached a level not seen for many years.

Censorship efforts have happened in places like Florida and Tennessee. One Tennessee school board banned Art Spiegelman's graphic novel about the Holocaust, Maus. Other states have tried to pass similar measures.

There have also been strong reactions from individuals and free speech organizations. Stephana Ferrell is a mother of two in Orange County, Florida. At a local school board meeting, some officials criticized Maia Kobabes graphic novel Gender Queer: A Memoir. The county decided last autumn to remove it from high schools.

Ferrell said, By winter break, we realized this was happening all over the state and needed to start a project to rally parents to protect access to information and ideas in school.

With another Orange County parent, she founded the Florida Freedom to Read Project. The group works with other parent groups in the state on a number of educational issues. Ferrell said they also work to keep or get back books that have gone under challenge or have been banned.

Over the past year, book challenges and bans have reached levels not seen in many years. That information comes from officials at the American Library Association, the National Coalition Against Censorship, or NCAC, and other supporters of free speech.

There are some books with pornography and pedophilia that should absolutely be removed from K through 12 school libraries, said Yael Levin. She is a spokesperson for No Left Turn in Education. The nationwide group opposes what it calls a Leftist agenda for public schools.

Bills have been proposed that restrict classroom reading and discussion around the country, says PEN America. The group works to defend free speech in the U.S. Almost all of the bills, it says, center on sexuality, gender identity or race.

In Missouri, a proposed bill would ban teachers from using The 1619 Project. That is a special project of the New York Times Magazine that centers around slavery in American history. It was released last year as a book.

In an answer to such moves, group like the American Civil Liberties Union, PEN America and the NCAC have been working with local activists, educators and families around the country.

The head of book publisher Penguin Random House, Markus Dohle, has said he will personally donate $500,000 for a book defense fund. Hachette Book Group has announced emergency donations to PEN, NCAC and the Authors Guild.

In Missouri, the American Civil Liberties Union, or ACLU, sought action in federal court last month. The organization was hoping to prevent the Wentzville school district from removing books including Gender Queer, Toni Morrisons The Bluest Eye and Keise Laymons Heavy.

Vera Eidelman is a lawyer with the ACLU Speech, Privacy and Technology Project. She said the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in 1982 that local school boards may not remove books from school library shelves simply because they dislike the ideas contained in those books.

However, Eidelman said, school officials are permitted to ban books for reasons other than not approving of the ideas in the books. Officials might decide, for example, that the book uses too much vulgar language.

But the meaning of vulgarity can change and be unclear, she said. And that can be used by the government to ban books.

Two anti-banning measures were started in Pennsylvania. In Kutztown, student Joslyn Diffenbaugh formed a banned book club that began with a reading of George Orwells Animal Farm. And the Pennridge Improvement Project has started a drive to purchase books that have been removed from schools and put them in small free libraries around the area.

Im Dan Novak.

Dan Novak adapted this story for VOA Learning English from reporting by The Associated Press.

Quiz- US Parents Oppose School Book Bans Start the Quiz to find out Start Quiz

____________________________________________________________________

Words in This Story

censorship  n. the system or practice of censoring books, movies, letters, etc.

graphic novel  n. cartoon drawings that tell a story and are published as a book

access  n. a way of being able to use or get something

challenge  n. an action, statement, etc., that is against something : a refusal to accept something as true, correct, or legal

pornography n. movies, pictures, magazines, etc., that show or describe naked people or sex in a very open and direct way in order to cause sexual excitement

pedophilia  n. sexual feelings or activities that involve children

agenda n. a plan or goal that guides someone's behavior and that is often kept secret

gender  n. the state of being male or female

district  n. an area established by a government for official government business

vulgar  adj. not having or showing good manners, good taste, or politeness
Sean Gallagher will serve as the acting Superintendent of the Alsea School District until a permanent superintendent can be hired.
BLOCKED FROM POSTING LINKS TO THIS VERY NEWS SITE ON FACEBOOK (its executives involved in case since 1996/1997 - far before one even existed...
LEXINGTON  In the second day of the trial of an Omaha woman accused of killing her husband, Joshua Jourdan, the jury viewed body camera footage from the scene, interrogation footage and heard from a forensic pathologist.

Kathleen Jourdan, now 33, of Omaha, is charged with second-degree murder and use of a deadly weapon to commit a felony. She has claimed she acted in self-defense.

She pleaded not guilty to the charges in June 2020.

Dawson County Attorney Elizabeth Waterman is prosecuting the case. Brian Davis and Brian Copley are representing Jourdan.

Waterman called Cozad Police Officer John Pedan to testify and he detailed how he arrived on the scene on June 17, 2020. His body camera footage was shown to the jury of how they first approached the vehicle and took Kathleen into custody.

Pedan later spoke to Kathleen where she was shown on the body camera stating, Im sorry, I wanted out, and expressing concern for her two children who were in the pickup at the time of the shooting.

Pedan testified he was the one who first secured the Glock pistol, cleared it and placed it on the ground, it was later put on the pickups running board by another officer.

The state also called Nebraska State Patrol Trooper James Roberts, he testified that after he had arrived on scene he had check Joshua for a pulse but found none.

NSP Investigator Dion Neumiller was also called to the stand and he took part in the investigation of the crime scene. He also took part in securing Joshuas body for the autopsy.

The jury was shown the Glock firearm in a protective case.

NSP Sgt. Eric Hesser was called and he testified to taking several photos of the vehicle exterior and Joshuas body inside the vehicle, the jury was shown 10 different photos from the scene.

The most the lengthy testimony was heard from Dr. Matthias Okoye, a forensic pathologist, who had conducted around 15,000 autopsies over the years, around 3,000 of those were gunshot wound victims, and 20 percent of those suffered multiple gunshots.

Dr. Okoye was the one who conducted the autopsy on Joshuas body and several of the photos of the gunshot wounds, one on the lower right side and front center of the right chest were shown to the jury.

He noted the first round, after entering the body, traveled downward and damaged the lung, the diaphragm, the liver and small intestine. Dr. Okoye testified that in his opinion, this was the first bullet that entered Joshuas body.

The second shot was through the center chest, traveled between the ribs, through the right lung and across the top of the heart, transecting the aorta, the largest blood vessel in the body.

He said he found around 5,100 cubic centimeters (cc) of blood that had settled in different cavities of the body, nearly the total volume of blood in a human.

Dr. Okoye testified that after reading the interrogation transcript, he was of the opinion that Kathleens telling of the events was not consistent with the findings of the autopsy.

Upon cross examination, Davis asked Dr. Okoye if he could be sure of the order of the bullets entering the body. Dr. Okoye said he was not speculating but basing his findings off of his experience and training in his field.

For the final witness of the second day, NSP investigator Mike Dowling was called back to the stand and the jury viewed the interrogation tape when Dowling interviewed Kathleen the day of the shooting.

In the tape, Kathleen expressed she had reached a, breaking point, after their relationship with Joshua had become strained since 2013. She said she had thought of killing Joshua as a, curiosity thought, at the time.

Dowling said Kathleen alleged Joshua had abused her in multiple ways, including physical abuse, verbal abuse and would pressure her to have sexual intercourse with him. If she would refuse, Kathleen said Joshua would accuse her of infidelity or being a bad wife.

When asked about the shooting, Kathleen said she had allegedly seen the same, look, Joshua showed on the side of I-80 as he had when he had strangled her in Grenada in 2015. As for the Glock pistol, Kathleen said her husband always had it there, at the ready, in case he felt he needed to use it.

After Dowling asked how she felt that Joshua was dead, Kathleen said, As horrible as it sounds, I am relieved, and noted she didnt have to fear for her or her childrens safety anymore.

The trial was then recessed until Monday morning, where more testimony from state witnesses will be heard.
Lapwai, ID (83501)

Today

Cloudy with occasional rain in the afternoon. High around 60F. Winds NW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall near a quarter of an inch..

Tonight

Overcast with rain showers at times. Low 47F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 70%.
The price for regular unleaded in the Santa Maria-Lompoc-Santa Barbara metro area set another record Monday, as it did for California and for the nation.

Many Santa Maria area drivers say theyre taking to the roads less; those who are self-employed and rely on their vehicles for jobs say they are taking a hard financial hit and may have to raise their prices; and some fueling station operators say their sales are plunging.
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'Care in a better way': No detail overlooked in providing comfort for sex assault victims during SANE exam

JOEL ANDREWS/The Lufkin Daily News Kim Riddle, a SANE (Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner) nurse, discusses the care sexual assault victims will receive. JOEL ANDREWS/The Lufkin Daily News Components of an evidence collection kit sit on a table. JOEL ANDREWS/The Lufkin Daily News Backpacks are provided by Project Beloved, a service created by a woman whose daughter was sexually assaulted. The woman, in memoriam of her daughter, put together care bags for victims that come with some clothes, a journal and a toy. JOEL ANDREWS/The Lufkin Daily News SANE nurse Kim Riddle keeps clean, warm gowns folded neatly for sexual assault victims. JOEL ANDREWS/The Lufkin Daily News An evidence collection kit sits on a table.

EDITORS NOTE: This story is one in an occasional series on crimes against women.

Tucked away in a brick-faced building hidden in plain sight, professionals in the field of trauma care bustle quickly and quietly about their tasks.

Though it was a chilly, rainy day, the office was cozy. Kim Riddle, a nurse specializing in conducting Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner exams, scarfed down what was left of her lunch in the middle of a busy day before going to meet her guests. Riddle was nervous her office would smell like the remains of her food.

It is important the office looks and smells clean and comforting.

The nurse is a small woman who speaks calmly, with a lilting East Texas accent. A small gold cross stands out against her blue uniform.

Of course, we know there are a lot of misconceptions about the SANE exam and what happens to survivors, she said. Dont get me wrong  every area is different.

The cold, clinical atmosphere is not how its going to go in our program. All our nurses are very empathetic. They are just trained to provide care in a better way.

A SANE exam is a medical forensic exam conducted by a specialized nurse who has had training to deal with victims of sexual assault, child abuse, elder abuse and more.

Riddle is the SANE program coordinator and she works with four other nurses. This number of nurses is very important and unusual for a community, Riddle said. She works with other coordinators across the state and has seen how there is a lot of turnover in other areas.

Most of the time, you have hospital programs, but sometimes you have community programs like ours, she said. But it depends on your community.  We have area agencies that are willing to make sure we have the resources we need so we can provide those services.

A study funded by the U.S. Department of Justice found significant success in the prosecution of sexual assault cases when a SANE exam is conducted and a Sexual Assault Response Team intervenes.

SANE/SART intervention is also a factor in the identification and arrest of a suspect, the strongest predictor that charges will be filed, and helps to increase the likelihood of conviction, the report states.

Texas established the requirement of communities statewide to create SART teams, and Angelina Countys local team began meeting in 2021. The goals of the Angelina County group are to begin working together and addressing gaps in care for victims.

This would serve the community on two fronts: one, making sure victims are given the care they need; and two, establishing a procedure from the minute the incident is reported until it is taken to court  if that is the course of action the victim wants.

To have that consistency across the county, thats what prosecutors are hoping for, Angelina County Assistant District Attorney Stephanie Stroud said at the meeting.

So when it comes to us, its going to look the same every time. So everybody, no matter who the prosecutor is, will be able to know this came in, went to the hospital, the sheriffs office and then to Kim (Riddle). These are the steps it went through so there is some consistency.

Riddle wants each victim to be medically cleared before they receive a SANE exam, but that does not always happen. She is careful to make sure the victim knows nothing will happen without their consent.

The hospitals or law enforcement agencies will contact the hotline managed by the Family Crisis Center regardless of what time it is. The hotline worker will set up a meeting with the patient, law enforcement, an advocate and a SANE nurse.

The victim will sit in the family room, which is a quiet space with a couch and a play area for children. The advocate will try to make them comfortable and ask them for their basic information, making notes so the victim is not asked the same questions a hundred times, Riddle said.

The SANE nurse, meanwhile, will be setting up the evidence collection kit. The officer will fill out the law enforcement authorization form the nurse will send to the state so the victim is never billed for the exam.

The examination room is warm, with stuffed animals and art decorating the space. A large painting sits next to the examination table, and Riddle said child victims will often ask to touch it.

The large windows are covered with drapes, so victims do not feel exposed. Riddle keeps the gowns clean and warm and folded neatly. This is important, because the victim already feels rough and they should not have a crumpled gown tossed at them, she said.

I dont want it to be so clinical that they feel its a cold environment because thats kind of the beauty of being here, she said. I am very particular. I want this room to be clean. I want them to walk in and it smells clean and fresh.

It sounds maybe trivial, but its really not. I think all these details are important.

Then the victim and nurse will go through what will happen in the exam and the nurse will ask for consent. Victims have options all along the way; the exam will be stopped if the victim consents to it in the beginning and changes their mind halfway through.

Its all about giving some control to that patient, who has had that control taken away from them, Riddle said.

The exam will begin by placing the patient in the examination chair, which is set above the nurses chair in order to help the patient feel more in control of what is happening.

The nurse will do a head-to-toe assessment of the patient to search for any type of trauma. But the nurse will make sure to ask each time whether it is OK for them to be touched anywhere.

And then anything we can do to let them participate in that exam, like maybe they can check their head and say, Oh, I have pain back here  a knot. That just lets them be a part so its not happening to them, they are a part of the exam, Riddle said.

This is part of being trauma informed, something all SANE nurses are required to be. These nurses are highly empathetic and are trained to use language patients are not triggered by while they are undergoing an exam.

Like our language, Im not going to cover you with this sheet. We say, I am going to cover you with this drape because maybe they were sexually assaulted on a bed with a sheet, Riddle said.

There are heavier blankets to warm the victim if they need it. The stirrups at the foot of the table to prop up the victims feet are not called stirrups, they are footrests. And a local church sewed together soft fabric sleeves to cover them so they are less intimidating, as well, she said.

We do a lot of explaining of anatomy, Riddle said. People do not understand anatomy. And we just try to help them where theyre at.

There may be a tiny injury or no injury, but this exam can help the patient to feel more secure in what has happened to their body. And just because there was no injury does not mean the assault did not happen, Riddle said.

They sometimes feel like its a giant injury they sustained, because thats how it feels, she said. But if you think about when you get a paper cut; it hurts really bad, but its a little bitty cut. So maybe they have an injury, and it is really small, but it feels really big.

There is not much difference in the way the exams will be conducted whether the victim is a man, woman or child.

We know that sexual assault happens to men as well as women, but that its also harder for them to come forward, Riddle said. So we want to be sure that we are using the correct terms and making them feel comfortable. Whatever that takes.

Everyone has different emotions when they come in. Some may be crying, some not. Some may be angry or they could be laughing because it has not hit them yet what they went through, Riddle said.

They may be in different stages when we see them. Maybe they already cried and now theyre angry. Or maybe it hasnt set in yet what has happened.

The exam also can serve as the first time a victim has truly gone over the entire incident, Riddle said. Getting it out in a safe place can be healing, Riddle said.

Giving them a choice and listening to what they have to say. Their history guides so much of the exam, so what theyre telling us is what were going to use as far as where we need to assess them.

The patient also will be offered referrals to begin managing any other health problems arising as a result of the assault.

The information from the exam will be held for evidence, even if the person does not want to report at the time. The evidence will be stored for five years in case the survivor decides they want to pursue charges. Victims also can decide not to have any of the information stored for evidence  its their choice, Riddle said.

I would want a survivor to know, really, there is help for you, Riddle said. You can report or not report, that is your choice. I hope that we would never provide an exam that made you feel worse when you left than when you came. Our goal, of course, is to make sure youre OK.
Mark Martin and Sue Foote-Martin have worked for more than four decades to protect, restore and share their passion for Wisconsin wildlife.

Both retired conservation biologists for the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, the Martins continue to volunteer their services as citizen scientists as part of the longest-running auditory frog and toad survey in North America.

Since 1979 they have been resident managers of Goose Pond Sanctuary, Madison Audubons 730-acre nature preserve in Arlington, in Columbia County, where theyve spearheaded dozens of habitat restoration and public education projects.

Gathering Waters, an alliance of more than 40 Wisconsin land trusts, honored the couple last year with a lifetime achievement award that cited their decades-long passion and tireless commitment.

The Martins conservation legacy will last for generations, the group declared.

Sue, 74, is a self-taught naturalist with degrees in business and marketing who joined the DNR in 1980 as education coordinator at the MacKenzie Environmental Education Center in Poynette. She later moved into conservation, designing endangered species license plates and the Great Wisconsin Birding and Nature Trail, a self-guided driving tour with five regional guidebooks.

Having a degree in marketing was really a shoo-in for me, she said. I was able to jump on these projects that none of the scientists would ever spend two minutes on.

Mark, 72, grew up in Marshall and studied wildlife management at UW-Stevens Point before going to work for the DNR in 1971.

Though they followed different career paths, both were raised in families that embraced the outdoors  Mark hunting and trapping, Sue birdwatching and fishing.

Getting out and exploring nature on our own terms, and just learning to be at home in it, Sue said. And this is what we loved.

What is Goose Pond?

Mark Martin: Goose Pond is a prairie wetland in the middle of a former 150,000 acres of mesic prairie. And now its owned by Madison Audubon where we are providing wildlife habitat, especially to benefit waterfowl, shorebirds and grassland birds and restore mesic prairie. And its a place for the public to come out and appreciate nature.

From a bird standpoint, weve got 270 species that have been seen out here, which is a lot of birds.

It was purchased to stop the hunting in the fall on the ducks and so people could come in from Madison and bird watch in the fall as well as in the spring. They didnt think anything at all about planting prairie for grassland birds.

Audubon didnt have much money in 69 and 68. So they bought the house over there and the farm for $30,000. But since then weve got 730 acres and now our big focus is for mesic prairie. It used to be like 800,000 acres in the state. Theres less than 100 (native) acres left in maybe 15 different spots. And weve got almost 500 acres restored now. So the people can come out and get a little idea what a treeless prairie looks like.

You mentioned it was part of the Empire Prairie. What is that?

Mark Martin: The topography was fairly rolling. There were few wetlands. And there were not large changes in elevation. So the Native Americans set fires. They just moved across the whole area. So this is basically all treeless prairie weve got here.

There were two woods in Dane County in 1830. Two. Maple Bluff on the east side of Lake Mendota. The western winds and the wetlands around there stopped the fires. And then Goose Lake between Marshall and Deerfield. Theres those drumlin fields, high drumlins with wetland in between them and that was a woods because the fires just didnt get there.

Sue Foote-Martin: So as the settlers came, the fires stopped. They fought the fires, they kept the fires out. And now we have woods everywhere. It changed the landscape.

Goose Pond Sanctuary Located just outside Arlington, a 20-minute drive from Madison, Goose Pond Sanctuary is a 730-acre public nature preserve featuring restored tall-grass prairie and 12 miles of hiking trails. To learn more visit madisonaudubon.org/goose-pond or check out go.madison.com/pondcam to see what's happening on the high-definition pond cam, which has captured a tree full of pheasants, a snacking bald eagle and even a young hooded merganser narrowly escaping a mink.

How did you end up living at Goose Pond?

Mark Martin: When I was at DNR, Madison Audubon decided to plant prairie  8 acres. We started pre-planning research. And so we volunteered to help out, get the seeds  they came from the Arboretum in Madison. So thats how we got familiar with Goose Pond here.

Sue Foote-Martin: We met at a meeting to set up the first sandhill crane count in the state. It must have been 1977. He represented the DNR and I was with Audubon. We sat across the table from each other and discovered that we liked the same things. Mark asked me to go snowshoeing with him on the weekend. He brought me past Goose Pond. He said, You see that little house down at the end of that dented road on Prairie Lane? Im going to live there someday.

There was an opening for the resident manager job (in 1979), and he applied and got it. So when we were married we moved in, and weve been here ever since.

What sort of threats are wildlife facing?

Sue Foote-Martin: Id say climate change, because the land is protected.

Mark Martin: The birds dont do good if we have droughts. And if we have cold, wet springs, like the pheasant population, if you get cold, they just dont do very well.

Sue Foote-Martin: Its also the encroachment of populations. If youre coming up here on (Highway) 51, youre getting to DeForest, and thats all thats gonna be solid between Madison and DeForest. Its gonna come all the way through here, and its gonna go all the way up to Poynette and then eventually itll go up to Portage.

What are your plans for the future?

Sue Foote-Martin: Goose Pond is our legacy. I mean, this is what we do. This is what weve been doing for 43 years. And this is what were going to continue to do. Well just keep going and going. The more you do, the more it matters.

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One newcomer is challenging the incumbent in the race for the 1st District seat on the Fitchburg City Council in the April 5 election. The term is for two years.

Mark Fairchild

Age: 36

Address: 2532 Valley Forge Drive

Family: Married with two children

Job: Area property manager, Eenhoorn, LLC

Prior elected office: None

Other public service: Board of Directors member, Make Music Madison 2016-18; and founder and president, #SmallWins Foundation, 2022

Education: Bachelors degree in music education from UW-Platteville

Email or website: VoteFairchild@gmail.com

Joe Maldonado (I)

Age: 39

Address: 4610 New Freedom Lane

Family: Married with two children

Job: Community youth development program manager, UW-Madison Division of Extension

Prior elected office: Fitchburg City Council, two years

Other public service: Treasurer, Allied Dunns Marsh Neighborhood Association; Social media and community engagement director, Lunas Groceries; more than 15 years career experience in youth development, college access, adult learning and philanthropy through the Boys & Girls Clubs of Dane County, Madison Area Technical College, Madison Metropolitan School District and UW-Madison

Education: Bachelors degree in sociology and Afro American studies, UW-Madison; masters degree in Afro American studies, UW-Madison; graduate certificate in sustainability leadership, Edgewood College

Email or website: joe4fitchburgwi.com

Q&AWhat unique expertise or experience would you bring to this office?

Fairchild: I have over 12 years of multifamily property management experience which includes the operational and financial oversight of tens of millions of dollars in assets across Wisconsin. Annually, I am responsible for budgeting multimillion dollar funds while simultaneous overseeing small communities. This experience is much like managing a small city. I have also owned and operated a small music production company since 2005 which has instilled the importance of local business and community in me.

Maldonado: I have over a decade of experience working with youth, families, and community organizations to provide creative solutions to large scale challenges. In my first term I introduced policy to make voting more accessible, create community spaces for youth, and center equity in city decision making. I have sponsored or organized events and giveaways in our parks and neighborhoods and have collaborated with our businesses, nonprofits, local governments, and schools to provide resources.

What is the most important issue in this election and how would you address it?

Fairchild: My primary goal with the Fitchburg City Council is to keep the objective of city government in perspective. The most important thing to me will be to ensure basic public services are met while assuring a safe, affordable, middle-class family lifestyle is achievable in Fitchburg.

Maldonado: The COVID-19 pandemic has led to an increase in social isolation, financial insecurity and community violence in Fitchburg and beyond. We must take a public health approach to violence prevention, which includes supporting healthy and thriving neighborhoods, collecting and disseminating reliable data, and strengthening the capacity of people and organizations to coordinate violence prevention efforts.

What is a new idea you have for making local government more efficient?

Fairchild: All too frequently outside influence impacts the course of local government. There should be more time spent listening to the needs of the middle-class and working families in Fitchburg. I will listen to all members of our wonderfully diverse community. I will keep things grounded locally without compromising city services.

Maldonado: We must make local government as accessible as possible in as many ways as possible. This may not be efficient or easy but it is just and effective. I am committed to ensuring our policies are shaped by those impacted by our decisions. This includes but is not limited to: targeted outreach and input seeking in specific communities, increasing diversity on committees and commissions, increasing advertising in large apartment complexes, and including youth in decision making/community engagement.
Three candidates are vying for two seats on the Verona School Board in the April 5 election. The terms are for three years.

Joe Hanes (I)

Age: 40

Address: 535 Aspen Court, Verona

Family: Married with five children

Job: Corporate counsel, UW Health

Prior elected office: Verona Area School District Board member since 2021

Other public service: Board member, University of Wisconsin Health Sciences Institutional Review Board, 2011-20

Education: Neenah High School; bachelor's degree in classics and political science, magna cum laude, Macalester College; law degree, UW-Madison Law School

Jo Ellen Kilkenny

Age: 63

Address: 2550 White Crossing Road, Verona

Family: Married with three children and seven grandchildren including five in Verona schools

Job: Retired RN and social worker

Prior elected office: None

Other public service: PEP (Parents Educating Parents); Briarpatch Youth Services peer counselor; board member and volunteer, Arc WI; president, Arc of Dane County; Family Support and Resource Center; participant in multiple state and local task forces relating to disability, aging and home health care; VASD volunteer (>10 years): room parent, health room, Great Books facilitator, classroom/teacher helper; GS Cookie chair; volunteer, St. Christopher Catholic Parish

Education: No response

Nicole Vafadari (I)

Age: 35

Address: 2840 Osmundsen Road

Family: Married with two children

Job: Senior director of application implementations at Mercury Healthcare

Prior elected office: Verona Area School District Board member, seven months (appointed)

Other public service: None

Education: Bachelor's degree in international comparative politics, communications and Spanish

Email or website: www.nicolevafadari.com

Q&A

Why are you the best candidate for this office?

Hanes: These are challenging times for public schools. We need board members who recognize our challenges and can ignore distractions and keep the focus on improving student outcomes. We also need members who have the experience to oversee administration in a way that empowers them to meet our goals. I have board experience and professional history with board governance. I am also a parent of five VASD students. I believe this experience and perspective make me well suited for a position on the Board.

Kilkenny: I have been a committed community member in Verona for 34 years. I have three children who benefited from the variety of VASD opportunities. My son with severe disabilities required a team effort with multiple professionals and IEP's, he alone was in the school system for 18 years. My daughters took advantage of extra curriculars and advanced classes. All three blossomed with the opportunities available. Now I have five grandchildren in the district. I have history, experience and perspective.

Vafadari: I've been serving my community for the past seven months as a member of the school board, working on our new governing model, which focuses the board back on students and the staff and families who support them. We are all here for our children and we've taken a purposeful step to focus our work around them and what serves them best. As a new parent to the school system, I bring a different perspective rooted in deep respect for education to the board table.

What is the most important issue in this election and how would you address it?

Hanes: Improving student outcomes. Our overall performance results are strong, but there are significant gaps among certain focus groups. We must make it a priority to reduce those gaps in student performance by applying an equity framework to our decision-making, ensuring that our priorities and resources are allocated in ways that support all our students. We also must support teachers and give them the resources they need to help our students, rather than asking them to do more with less.

Kilkenny: Literacy. DPI website: ~50% of the 2019-20 VASD students do not meet proficiency in English language arts and math. The percentage of those not proficient has increased over the last decade for all categories! Blacks and Latinos are faring the worst: only 15% are considered proficient! White students are faring better but one-third are not meeting proficiency. This decline must stop NOW. We must equip teachers with the training and tools they need to identify and then help struggling readers ASAP.

Vafadari: The biggest thing I can do to make sure your children and community are supported is to work tirelessly to ensure funding through smart budget choices and exploring all possible avenues for additional revenue, including a referendum. Our teachers have done amazing work this past year and have worked tirelessly to make sure our students are successful. We need to support them, and in turn our students, by putting our treasure where are values are.

What would you ask lawmakers to include in the next state budget to improve K-12 education in your district?

Hanes: My first request would be to fully fund public education by either increasing general aid or significantly increasing state-imposed revenue limits. These revenue limits prevent districts like VASD that have exercised fiscal responsibility from utilizing the benefits of that responsibility to address state funding shortfalls. I would also ask for increases in targeted funding for special education, and social/emotional support for students and teachers.

Kilkenny: Literacy involves the skills to actually read, comprehend, write and analyze the written word, which results in critical thinking ability. Our state should support this for our future! Politicians must fund schools to support professional development training, research-based curriculum and follow up support for literacy implementation at all levels. If insufficient funds; stakeholders will need to prioritize resources and shift funds to support this most fundamental educational need of students.

Vafadari: Any funding at all for public schools. It is disappointing and downright shameful that our legislature has decided to fund our public schools at the resounding rate of $0 per pupil. Zero dollars. I have seen the life-changing benefits of a free and quality public education for all and our lawmakers owe us more than a declaration that education doesn't matter. Fund our schools.
MILWAUKEE  Wisconsin's two U.S. senators are moving to end protections for gray wolves across most of the United States.

The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported Friday that Republican Ron Johnson and Democrat Tammy Baldwin introduced a bill earlier this week to remove protections for the wolf. Wyoming's two Republican U.S. senators, Cynthia Lummis and John Barrasso, have joined them.

The bill comes after a federal judge in California last month ordered protections be restored for wolves across most of the U.S. after the Trump administration removed them from the endangered species list. Re-listing wolves on the list effectively banned any wolf hunting or trapping seasons and prohibited farmers and ranchers from killing wolves preying on livestock.

Johnson said in a statement that Wisconsin residents should have a say in wolf management. Baldwin issued a statement saying she believes the wolf population is strong and federal officials should let the state manage the animal.

In addition, all five Republican representatives from Wisconsin signed a letter from Rep. Tom Tiffany pushing such legislation in the House.
The Wisconsin Elections Commission  targeted for elimination by a Republican review of the 2020 election  struck back Friday against chief investigator Michael Gablemans recent report, saying it contains erroneous claims and lacks context.

The commission pushed back on several claims in the former Supreme Court justices sprawling 136-page report, including that the millions of dollars of private grants allocated to cities to help administer the election amid the pandemic constituted bribery.

The commission noted that courts have repeatedly rejected that claim, adding that a federal judge concluded theres no state prohibition on local governments accepting private money to run elections.

A ban on private grants would require a new law to be passed, the Elections Commission said.

In a sweeping critique of current election rules, Gableman on Tuesday called for the elimination and dismantling of the bipartisan Wisconsin Elections Commission after it instructed clerks in 2020 that they did not need to send election workers into nursing homes to assist with absentee voting after many were turned away due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The bipartisan group noted Gablemans report omitted evidence to support some of his conclusions, including his claim that some Wisconsin nursing homes had 100% voter participation.

The report does not provide a list of specific nursing homes, nor supporting evidence, nor a methodology, for how he calculated the turnout rates for particular nursing homes, the Elections Commission said.

The commission provided contrary Milwaukee data showing a smaller percentage of voters in nursing homes returned absentee ballots in November 2020 than in November 2016.

The Elections Commission also disputed Gablemans description of how the commission makes available for purchase voter registration data, sells that information for $12,500, but doesnt make the information available in real time and doesnt charge special interest groups.

Every claim above is false, the commission stated, adding that the median transaction cost for customers purchasing voting data sets was $55 and that no fees are waived for anyone.

The Elections Commission also rejected Gablemans claim that it issued guidance enabling clerks to open envelopes before the statutorily mandated deadline, stating it had actually never issued guidance, rules or other directives to that effect.

Also, the Elections Commission corrected Gablemans claim that the commission unlawfully encouraged voters to register as indefinitely confined, thus allowing them to avoid the photo ID requirement to vote. In fact, the commission advised the opposite, and noted the Wisconsin Supreme Court agreed with its guidance.

Gableman said Tuesday that his review was not complete and that his contract, which expired months ago, remains valid, though he has not provided more updated terms.

All reasonable people can now see this is a thinly veiled effort to undercut the publics confidence in our state electoral system, said Madison Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway, whom Gableman had threatened to jail if she didnt comply with a list of demands.

For all of their bluster and allegations of wrongdoing by Wisconsins public servants and voters, Gableman and (Assembly Speaker Robin Vos) are the only actors in this saga who have been found in violation of Wisconsin law and fined by a court, Rhodes-Conway continued. On Wednesday, a Dane County judge ruled that Vos, R-Rochester, and Gableman arbitrarily and capriciously denied or delayed access to public records related to the GOP-ordered review of the states 2020 election.

Artifice fades

Gableman reviews partial focus on decertifying the 2020 election has been previously shot down by the Republican Partys leadership, and embraced especially by one fringe Republican lawmaker and recently announced gubernatorial candidate, Rep. Timothy Ramthun, R-Campbellsport.

The Marquette Law School Poll found Republicans are growing more confident in the accuracy of the election, with 38% saying they are confident compared with 29% who said the same in August 2021.

A recount and court decisions have affirmed that President Joe Biden defeated former President Donald Trump in Wisconsin by almost 21,000 votes. Reviews by the nonpartisan Legislative Audit Bureau and the conservative Wisconsin Institute for Law and Liberty found no evidence of widespread fraud. Multiple court rulings have also found no evidence of irregularities.

Gablemans office administrator, Zakory Niemierowicz, declined to comment on Gablemans behalf. Vos spokesperson Angela Joyce didnt respond to a message seeking comment.

Ad campaign

In another sign of pushback against Republican attempts to undermine the states election system, a coalition of groups representing local government officials is set to launch an ad campaign to reassure Wisconsin voters that they can trust election workers.

The League of Wisconsin Municipalities, the Wisconsin Counties Association and the Wisconsin Towns Association said the ads will appear on television and radio stations statewide as well as on multiple digital platforms beginning Monday and run through the April 5 election.

The spots feature town of Neenah Clerk Ellen Skerke, village of Kohler Deputy Clerk Cindi Gamb and village of Cobb Clerk Lisa Riley. The clerks tell viewers that election workers are Wisconsin residents neighbors and family members and can be trusted to run fair contests.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Under heavy rain Saturday morning, supporters of a convoy of vehicles protesting COVID-19 vaccine and mask requirements, among other issues, waved American flags, held signs of support and cheered on the group as it passed through Madison.

About 20 people gathered on the Buckeye Road overpass of Interstate 39-90 as the American Truckers Freedom Convoy continued its route through Wisconsin after participants stayed in Portage Friday night. Semis, pickup trucks, cars and campers  many flying American, Gadsden and Donald Trump flags  passed underneath, honking out to those above.

Joe Shumate, whos lived in Madison about 30 years, said he believes the reaction to COVID-19 and related restrictions went a little overboard.

Shumate said he wasnt able to work from home when Wisconsin shuttered most businesses in the spring of 2020 and in the eyes of some he went from an essential worker to an anti-vaxxer, criminal worker in less than a year.

He said hes not downplaying how serious the coronavirus can be, as his brother spent 70 days in a hospital, including 12 days on a ventilator.

It almost killed him, so I understand the seriousness of it, Shumate said. But I also understand that you have to let the economy do what it does and not hamper business and society.

After truckers formed blockades and caused other disruptions in Canada to protest COVID-19 restrictions, similar convoys have cropped up in the U.S. According to the website for the American Truckers Freedom Convoy, which has several starting points and routes, the protesters are driving to Washington, D.C., on other issues such as energy, immigration, agricultural regulations and big tech/government censorship.

Authorities initially estimated potentially 500 vehicles could pass through Wisconsin this weekend as part of the convoy. It was unclear how many drove past Madison on Saturday, and there was no visible disruption of traffic flow.

Shortly after noon, the convoy had made its way out of Wisconsin and was stopped in Oglesby, Illinois, according to a livestream that was posted in the Facebook group for the Freedom Convoys Midwest group.

The protest comes as many states and local governments with mask mandates, including Dane County, lift the orders and other restrictions with the omicron surge subsiding.

In January, the Biden administration withdrew its vaccination-or-test requirement for large employers after the U.S. Supreme Court blocked implementation of the rule. A federal requirement for certain health care employees to be vaccinated, though, remains in place, and some private businesses have their own requirements for COVID-19 vaccines, which public health officials say continue to be effective at preventing serious illness and death.

Others supporting the convoy as it passed through Madison offered reasons beyond COVID-19 restrictions as to why they came out.

Jefferson County resident James Topel was waving an American flag as the sound of truck horns blared and rain soaked those without umbrellas.

He said he was protesting against government tyranny from the local to the federal level. Topel called COVID-19 measures one tool of the tyrannical government, theyve got so many more that so many people dont realize.

I did four years in the Army, so Ive seen more than most people have in their whole life, Ill tell ya, Topel said. You get into different countries and realize what we have, thats when you dont take it for granted. And thats what so many people in our country do right now, is taking everything for granted.

Heather Barrie drove with her son from Washington County  the first of two trips to Dane County planned on Saturday  to cheer on the convoy, which she said was a historical moment for the country.

Ive been watching this convoy and everything it represents, she said. I just felt it was my patriotic duty to be out here and support them.

Barrie, a School Board candidate in the Hartford Union High School District, said she had a candidate forum to attend later in the afternoon before a birthday celebration in Sun Prairie.

What motivated Barrie to make the Saturday morning drive, she said, was a desire to restore humankind, to restore our country, to restore our patriotism, to restore just our faith in being good people again. We have a lot of nastiness going on right now.

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A group of truckers calling themselves the American Truckers Freedom Convoy pulled through the village of Oakdale in Monroe County on Friday afternoon.

The truckers described the convoy as a peaceful expression against vaccine mandates, policies that deter energy production and "big tech/government censorship."

The convoy arrived in Oakdale around 3:30 p.m. and was greeted by supporters waving American flags, Trump 2024 banners and signs opposing President Joe Biden.

Up to 500 semis were expected to make the trip. The convoy is running from Minot, North Dakota, to Washington, D.C., and was scheduled to also make stops in Hudson and Portage.

Due to the expected traffic congestion, the Tomah Area School District closed schools two hours early Friday. An elementary school in Oakdale is located one block from the convoy route.

Several convoys have cropped up in the U.S. after truckers formed blockades and caused other disruptions in Canada to protest COVID-19 restrictions.

The Monroe County Sheriffs Office and the State Patrol had said their main priority was keeping truckers and residents safe as the convoy passes through.

WisDOTs primary goal is to make sure everyone is able to travel through the state safely, the State Patrol said.

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I must respond to the Feb. 26 editorial from the Wall Street Journal on how the presidents energy policy empowers Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Wall Street Journal: Joe Biden's regulators empower Putin We live in strange and contradictory times. President Joe Biden is trying mightily to deter 

The editorial told us that obsessive climate politics are getting more destructive by the week. It told us the emission of greenhouse gasses should not be considered in the approval of natural gas pipelines and export terminals. In effect, i contended that if we do not harvest and export more liquified natural gas, the world will simply find it elsewhere, and that anyway they will have no impact on downstream emissions.

Folks, the Wall Street Journal is wrong. The only way to begin to ameliorate our already rapidly worsening climate crisis is to stop.

Stop harvesting planet-destroying tar sand oil in Canada. Stop fracking oil and natural gas from oil shale here in the United States. Stop burning coal. Stop building pipelines to transport more fossil fuels. We have to just stop. The result of anything less than a full-scale rethinking of our world energy system is global suicide, not climate virtue signaling.

I can only think they are representing Wall Street and its minions, who seem happy to continue our disastrous path while they add to their billions, now justifying it by waving a patriotic flag against Russia. Shame on the State Journal for spreading this perspective.

Hari Carnes, Madison
BOISE  Idaho Gov. Brad Little is asking for $250,000 to launch project Operation Esto Perpetua, an initiative he said will connect law enforcement, policymakers and families to fight fentanyl and other drugs in the state.

Little unveiled the initiative during a press conference Thursday afternoon at the Idaho State Capitol after originally previewing it during Januarys State of the State address. Esto Perpetua is the state motto, and it means let it be perpetual, or may it endure forever in Latin.

The initiative creates a new law enforcement panel and a new citizens action group, which Little said will conduct public meetings around Idaho over the next two months with the goal of reducing the flow of fentanyl and meth into Idaho.

We need to hear from Idahoans about the impacts of fentanyl and meth in the lives of their loved ones, Little said.

Little and Col. Kedrick Wills, director of the Idaho State Police, said in one instance last week, Idaho State Police in Coeur dAlene seized 100,000 fentanyl pills in a traffic stop.

One-fourth of those pills, or 25,000 pills, could contain a lethal dose of the drug, Little said.

That is why there is the urgency we have, Little told reporters Thursday.

Wills, Canyon County Sheriff Kieran Donahue, Boise Police Department Detective Mike Miraglia, Sen. Abby Lee, R-Fruitland, and former prosecutor and legislator Luke Malek joined Little at Thursdays announcement and will participate in the new action group or citizens panel.

The $250,000 would be one-time funding that would come from the general fund of the state budget, Little and his aides said.

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TWIN FALLS  Ten law-enforcement and first-response agencies from around the valley attended a 40-hour Crisis Intervention Team training over the past week to learn skills to deal with folks in crisis.

The program was sponsored by the National Alliance on Mental Illness  better known as NAMI  the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare and the Twin Falls Police Department.

The majority of our calls deal with people in crisis, Twin Falls Police Chief Craig Kingsbury said. Training offered in the program gives the tools needed to handle such calls and teaches indicators as to what type of crisis the person may be in, be it drugs, alcohol or mental illness.

A mental health crisis can affect anybody at any time in their life, said Police Officer Shauna Peterson, who graduated from the program on Friday.

The last thing we want to do is use force with people having a mental health crisis, Kingsbury said. And the last place we want them is in jail.

Twin Falls County Sheriff Tom Carter told the Times-News this kind of training was not available when he first sat behind the wheel of a patrol car.

I wish wed had it, Carter said, but there was no such thing.

The training, however, is not new. Law enforcement here introduced crisis training 16 years ago, said Twin Falls County Sheriffs Sgt. Ken Mencl, who led this weeks program with Twin Falls Police Sgt. Dusty Soloman.

Kingsbury went through a similar training after he was hired as police chief in late 2016.

It really opened my eyes up to understanding how people in crisis think, he said.

And the training is not for law enforcement alone.

Training is offered to all first-responders, including firefighters, paramedics and 911 dispatchers, Kingsbury said.

We plan to do another training in the fall, he said. Wed like to do two per year to keep up to speed with all the training.

The police chief spoke Friday to more than two dozen graduates of the program, including members of Twin Falls Police Department, Twin Falls Sheriffs Office, Jerome Police Department, Jerome County Sheriffs Office, Heyburn Police Department, Bellevue Marshals Office, Hailey Police Department, St. Lukes Security, Magic Valley Paramedics and Twin Falls County Misdemeanor Probation Office.

You will use (this training) probably a little more than youd hoped, Kingsbury said.

Jumping right in: New Heyburn police chief is on the job After months of not having a leader while the former police chief was under investigation, the new Heyburn chief is already making some upgrades.

'More good days than bad': Jerome police chief looks back on 40-year career Jerome Police Chief Dan Hall will retire Feb. 18 after 38 years with law enforcement in the Magic Valley.

Law enforcement in the Magic Valley is feeling a staffing pinch Twin Falls Police Department recently received a federal grant to hire four new patrol officers. But while the grant will help pay for the additional positions, the department has another six positions open, and, not enough people are applying for the jobs.

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BOISE  A Senate panel on Friday gave the OK for a possible public hearing for a proposed voter law that would require a valid Idaho drivers license or state-issued identification card to vote in Idaho elections.

The Senate State Affairs Committee voted to introduce the legislation that would eliminate military and student identification cards as acceptable proof.

Republican Sen. Mary Souza said neither of those identification forms requires proof the holder is a resident of Idaho.

We are trying to increase the security of our voter ID, Souza told the panel.

Residents without drivers licenses would need to get a state-issued identification card to vote. Residents who couldnt afford a state-issued identification card would get one for free, Souza said.

Additionally, the bill would eliminate in 2023 personal affidavits for voting. A personal affidavit allows someone to sign a form under penalty of perjury they are who they say and are eligible to vote.

The bill would also require that absentee ballots have a signature and the last four digits of an acceptable identification card.

Another requirement is that absentee ballots be returned by mail or hand-delivered to election staff.

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BOISE  Idahoans still value outdoor recreation and conservation, according to a recent poll, but Idaho lags behind other Western states in how severe it considers environmental issues like climate change and wildfires.

Last week, Colorado College  a private college in Colorado Springs  released the results of its annual State of the Rockies poll, which asks registered voters in eight states where they stand on issues like public lands, water and climate change. Though the poll is in its 12th year, Idaho has only been included since 2018. The poll also includes Colorado, Wyoming, Montana, Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico and Utah.

Idaho residents responses have remained consistent in some areas over the past five years. About two-thirds of respondents said they feel wildfires are becoming more severe and a bigger issue for the West. Ninety percent of Idahoans said they recreate on public lands, and roughly three-quarters think outdoor recreation is important for the states economy.

In 2022, Idahoans appear to be growing more concerned about climate change, habitat loss, poorly planned development and adequate water supply, according to the polls results. About 20% of Idaho respondents said they consider climate change an extremely serious problem, an eight-point increase from 2019, when the question was first posed. About 19% of Idahoans said habitat loss was seriously concerning, up 10 points from 2018. In 2018, 11.7% of Idaho respondents said poorly planned growth and development was a serious concern. That number skyrocketed to nearly 29% in 2022.

And in 2022  the year after a widespread drought  22% of Idaho respondents said they felt inadequate water supply was a serious issue, up from 8% in 2018.

Respondents across the West  including 60% of Idahoans  said they felt more worried than hopeful about the future of nature and natural resources. But compared to other Western States, Idaho was frequently less supportive of conservation and environment issues.

Thirty-five percent of Idaho respondents said they didnt believe climate change was a problem  second only to Wyoming  while in most other states, that percentage was less than one-quarter. On related issues, like drought, snowpack, river levels, extreme weather and wildfire severity, Idahoans were among the respondents least likely to express concern.

Idaho respondents also had one of the lowest levels of support for ensuring access to public lands (74%), addressing maintenance backlogs on existing outdoor infrastructure (83%) and creating new sites for outdoor recreation (73%).

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The Uptown Partnership unleashed an ambitious vision plan for revitalizing the uptown Martinsville area in a virtual presentation Friday morning.

Kathy Deacon, the Uptown Partnership executive director, said the information shared with 25 participants at the virtual event would be shared with the public next as part of a larger rollout followed by monthly meetings so its their voice and their vision.

Chuck DAprix with Downtown Economics in Richmond has been contracted to be the project director with funds through the Harvest Foundation. He walked everyone through a slide presentation on Friday.

We conducted a deep dive into what the community desires for itself, said DAprix. Among the things we heard most were more two-way streets, gateways, streetscape improvements and a farmers market expansion.

DAprix said his group met with people uptown, outside of Walmart in Henry County and at church meetings. He said he even went to Danville and talked with leaders there to find out what they would like to see in Martinsville.

This really serves as a basis for this vision, said DAprix.

From door hangers to full newspaper ads driving people to a website to complete a survey, over 300 people responded, DAprix said.

The demographics presented of those surveyed showed 56% of the respondents were white and 38% were Black and while 55% were female, 44% were male.

Along with DArpix, Jodi Dubyoski a Richmond architect and researcher and Veronica Fleming of Community Engagement and Charrette Associates, also of Richmond, shared an hour-long presentation with the results they had gathered and then they presented a plan of action.

What they found

DAprix said his group discovered there was a need for places to gather, a desire to celebrate a more diverse narrative of history, a desire for more shopping and dining options, a need for more housing and amenities, a need to provide spaces for culturally diverse events and a desire to preserve the historic architecture.

Racial divisions have affected the vitality of uptown with the legacy of the Martinsville Seven, a decline of the Fayette Street corridor, and New College Institute physically dividing the community, said DAprix. As a result, the Black community does not support the uptown business community in large numbers.

Seven Black men, often referred to as the Martinsville Seven, were executed in 1949 after being found guilty by an all-white jury of raping a woman. Last year former Governor Ralph Northam posthumously pardoned the men saying they were denied due process because of race.

The vision

Fleming said the plan of action included recommendations to actively promote diversity, inclusion, equity and anti-racism.

The plan calls for the implementation of strategies to ensure that all voices are heard, regardless of race, age, gender identity, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or religious affiliation, said Fleming.

The design

Dubyoski had taken pictures of the uptown area and superimposed suggested design changes.

Among her suggestions were to convert Church and Main streets to two-way streets, close Walnut Street to cars, create an additional pedestrian connection between Church and Main streets, create a new bikeway along Main and Fayette streets and connect it with the Dick and Willie Passage Rail Trail with a new bike lane on Ford Street.

As part of a green space master plan, Dubyoski said the largest trees in the uptown area currently provide shade for parked cars but they should also be there for the benefit of people, so she suggested converting half of the parking lot at Main and Bridge Streets to a grassy park with a small amphitheater.

This would provide a place for food trucks to gather, and provides the perfect location for an evening of family fun, said Dubyoski.

A large civic park was proposed in Dubyoskis design plans in the large city block between Church and Market streets and Ellsworth Street and Cleveland Avenue.

The Fayette Street corridor links the historically Black business district with the rest of uptown, said Dubyoski. This is a prime location for space dedicated to supporting Black-owned small business and entrepreneurs.

The past meets the future

DAprix said that Martinsville has not made historic preservation a priority in the past and to do so would encourage economic development, support tourism, encourage reinvestment and ensure environmental sustainability.

Many of the buildings in uptown can be preserved and restored, and we have provided several recommendations educating building owners about historic preservation, said DAprix.

With historic preservation in mind, DAprix said the uptown area should be branded as the future center of entrepreneurship with the creation of an entrepreneurship village including a new building for entrepreneurs at the corner of Fayette and Market Streets.

Pop-up stores, street vendors, a community kitchen and heavy support for minority business ownership should be established, he said.

While the Martinsville Farmers Market has enthusiastic vendors, DAprix said there were relatively few participants and the lot remains relatively unwelcoming.

Examples that will work

DAprix said the uptown area of Martinsville was ripe for a microbrewery, pizza and sandwich shop, a bakery and a distillery. Other businesses tapped to succeed included a day spa, tech repair shop, pet grooming store, antique store, gift boutiques, a visitors kiosk and an online selling facilitation center.

These additions would compliment the already successful Piedmont Arts Association and Virginia Museum of Natural History nearby, said DAprix.

Leadership recommendations

Fleming said in order to create an ongoing, multi-layered, racially and culturally diverse community engagement process, the Harvest Foundation should hire an experienced community engagement professional to work out of the Harvest Foundation headquarters on East Church Street, and a full-time community engagement professional should be hired to work out of the Uptown Partnership offices on Franklin Street.

And we need to establish a steering committee for implementation of this vision, said Fleming.

Deacon said in an email after the presentation that her organization would be moving quickly toward the establishment of the steering committee and prioritizing action items from the recommendations.

The Uptown Partnership is slated to provide an update on their plans to Martinsville City Council at a regular meeting on Tuesday at 7 p.m.

Said Deacon: We look forward to working with all of you to create an Uptown commercial district that is welcoming to all and is a thriving community where people want to live, work and play.

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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LOS ANGELES  The gruesome killing of Christina Yuna Lee in New York City in February rattled many women who could imagine themselves in the same situation. Lee was followed home after a night out with friends and stabbed to death in her Chinatown apartment. Asian American women have been on especially high alert with reports of anti-Asian harassment rising in the last two years.

It was a wake-up call, said Riffat Rahman, the program coordinator of the South Asian Networks gender-based violence prevention unit based in Artesia.

Rahman does safety planning with survivors of domestic violence and helps them come out of an unsafe environment. But in the last week, she found herself thinking about how she should advise her clients, family and friends to prepare for situations that are random and unexpected.

Those who work with sexual assault and domestic violence survivors  like Rahman and Jong-Ling Wu, the community services program manager for the Los Angeles-based Center for the Pacific Asian Family  are quick to remind people that the majority of these violent incidents come from someone you know. In most cases, the attacker is not a stranger jumping out of the bushes.

But some of the conversations around stranger danger that took hold in the 80s and 90s are coming back, Wu said, with the rise of hate incidents across the nation. A recent study from the Center for Hate and Extremism at Cal State San Bernardino reported that Los Angeles recorded the most hate crimes among large U.S. cities in 2021  a 71% jump in the incidents and the third-highest annual total in any U.S. city since the 1970s.

How do you prepare for the worst, without being constantly terrified?

Its like learning how to drive, said Wu. If you fixate on the pot holes, youll hit the pot holes. Its more helpful to steer toward the smooth road. Look for where you want to go, so youre not stuck scared, because thats an awful place to be.

The Times asked Wu; Rahman; Katherine Yeom, the executive director of Korean American Family Services, based in LA's Koreatown; Jenae Williams, director of victim and survivor services at the National Center for Victims of Crime; Manjusha Kulkarni, executive director of the Asian Pacific Policy & Planning Council and co-founder of Stop AAPI Hate; and LAPD Officer Drake Madison to share ways people can be more prepared to handle an emergency.

What to do if you think you're being followed

The simple answer is to get out of that situation as fast as you can, whether that means taking a different route or putting a barrier between you and a potential attacker  or running.

The key is not to be alone, said Yeom. Call someone who can keep track of where you are. Enter a nearby store or business. Go knock on a neighbors door instead of going home.

Madison, a Los Angeles Police Department spokesman, recommends going to a populated, well-lit area or a police station.

If confronted by armed suspects, give them what they want and dont resist, he said.

Williams said VictimConnect Resource Centers anonymous hotline specialists will sometimes suggest reaching out to police, but they recognize that is not a safe option for everyone.

People in small communities who may have a distrust in law enforcement might not feel comfortable reaching out, she said. So other things we talk about (include) leaning on an existing social network.

Be mentally prepared

Wu said often people find themselves in a vicious cycle, where something scares them and theyre not sure if they should be scared, then they feel guilty or paranoid for being scared. None of that is helpful, she said.

She thinks this is especially common among children of immigrants whose parents come to the U.S. for a better life. If someones parents came here fleeing war, she said, it can feel as though youre overreacting to be scared of something you see on the news.

It can skew our view of what is serious, she said.

Kulkarni, who has been collecting data on anti-Asian American discrimination through Stop AAPI Hate, said its a constant balance not to instill fear but also to acknowledge that even if not all of these incidents are officially characterized as hate crimes, this continues to be a worrisome issue for the community.

She said that the vast majority of hate incidents and harassment do not rise to the level of a crime, but can still leave people feeling fearful that itll escalate to a more violent situation.

Even if people are able to escape worst-case scenarios, its still traumatizing, Wu said.

Honor that emotion, she said. Take time to process it, feel the feelings, then think about what you can do.

Build your support network

A basic hello can go a long way, said Yeom, whether youre creating a relationship with your neighbor or talking to the person who runs the business under your apartment. Because it takes time after calling 911 for law enforcement to arrive, if someone is following you home, you might need more immediate help.

Familiarize yourself with your phones emergency options

Some may not realize their phones can quickly call for help in an emergency. This is especially helpful when you need assistance but its unsafe to dial a number or speak out loud.

For Apple users with an iPhone 8 or newer, you can press and hold the side button and one of the volume buttons until the emergency SOS slider appears. Drag the slider to call the local emergency number. If you continue to hold the side and volume buttons, a countdown begins and an alert sounds. Check Apples website for older phones features.

After the call ends, your iPhone sends your emergency contacts a text message with your current location, unless you choose to cancel. Itll also make sure your location services are on and alert your contacts if your location changes.

You can add emergency contacts by opening the Health app, tapping medical ID, then edit. Scroll to emergency contacts.

For Android users, press the power button five or more times quickly to call emergency services.

The emergency SOS can be set up by opening the phones Settings app and going to Safety & Emergency. Options may vary depending on the model, but you can add emergency contacts and medical information that emergency responders can access even if your phone is locked. You can also opt to set up your phone to send SOS messages, auto call people, attach photos taken with both the front and rear cameras, and attach a five-second audio recording.

Know how to share your location in an emergency

Anyone with Google Maps on their phone can share their location with friends by setting up location sharing from the apps menu.

iPhone users can share their location with other iPhone users for a certain amount of time  an hour, a day, indefinitely  by going to their contact card and selecting Send My Current Location or Share My Location.

Or you can always screenshot a map of your location and text it to someone.

Look into safety apps

Many apps can help with safety planning. Noonlight, which has partnered with Tinder, is an example of a free app that allows you to discreetly press an on-screen button and trigger emergency services if you feel unsafe.

Other apps will allow you to hold a button while youre walking to your destination and call 911 or a trusted contact if you let go, said Williams. Other apps might text someone on your behalf if you dont input your arrival to a safe place.

Wired has a guide to various personal safety devices, apps and alarms.

But beyond technology, its good practice to have someone who generally knows where you are going and when you are expected to be back  someone checking up on you if something goes awry.

Understand how your brain reacts to trauma

Some fear and anxiety come from the assumption that theres a right way to act when something traumatic happens to you  and a worry that youll do something wrong if youre in an unsafe situation. This leads to victim blaming, Wu said.

But we all respond differently to trauma, and those responses are hard to predict. Most people have heard of the fight or flight response, for example. But Wu pointed to three other Fs that are less discussed. Some people freeze: They cannot move or speak. Others fawn (sometimes referred to as friend): This is when people try to appease an assailant. It can look confusing because they are being nice, but the idea is to minimize the danger, Wu said. And the last F is flop, which refers to when people become entirely physically or mentally unresponsive; for example, if someone is so paralyzed by fear that they faint.

If you know that you freeze, then perhaps its a good idea to get a personal alarm, because its easier to pull it than to scream, she said. And if you feel yourself freezing, you can think, I know what this is. Acknowledging it can help you break out of the fear.

These are all normal and natural responses to safety, she said. And to know that we did the best that we could at the given moment, and if were here to talk about it, it worked. It got us to this point.

What can you do to prepare yourself physically?

Everyone has their own protective bubble, and if someone crosses it, you naturally feel tense. The closer someone is to you, the less time you have to respond or get out of the way.

Wu said you can think about a general attack range as an arms reach, plus one step. Thats the distance that would make it hard to quickly defend yourself from a quick punch, grab or other violent act.

But you have to consider relative distance, she said. For example, if someone is holding a weapon or if they have something they can throw at you, the attack range is larger. Again, in an emergency, its helpful to not only create distance between you and your attacker, but also to use your environment to create barriers  for example, by running behind a counter.

Take a self-defense class

Sign up for a class. Even if you intellectually understand how to break free from an arm grab versus a neck grab, its not the same as practicing the physical maneuvers, Wu said.

If youre going to use pepper spray or an alarm, practice

Wu emphasized that if youre going to carry an accessory, such as pepper spray or a safety alarm, its imperative that youre comfortable using it.

Dont panic, have it taken away and used against you, she said.

If you carry it in your purse, make sure you can pull it out quickly, so youre not fumbling around for it.

Its also helpful to know that there are different types of pepper sprays. Foggers go everywhere and therefore would not be helpful in windy or indoor situations. Directional sprays can be aimed at an attackers eyes  youre less likely pepper-spray everyone, but it requires skill and practice, she said.

Check your local laws too. In California, it is legal to buy, carry and use pepper spray, but the container cannot exceed 2.5 ounces.

Assess your own situation

Typically on the hotline, we spend time talking with survivors about safety planning that matches their needs, Williams said. The things we suggest are never concrete, and survivors can choose their level of comfort with each.

It really comes down to being aware of what and who is around you, the LAPDs Madison said.

This includes not having your head buried in your cellphone and being aware of people or vehicles that might be following you, he said.

Rahman also recommends being generally aware of where the emergency exits are wherever you are, how to get your neighborhood alerts, where youd go if you couldnt go home, and what red flags to look out for if something doesnt seem right.

Even if 99% of time, you dont utilize it, if you use it 1% of the time, it makes a difference, she said.
An electron micrograph of the measles virus. Credit: CDC/ Courtesy of Cynthia S. Goldsmith

Despite vaccinating her first child, Vanja drew a line when it came time to inoculate her second and decided he would not be receiving the measles shot.

The 44-year-old psychologist living in Montenegro's capital Podgorica gave a host of reasons why she changed her mind, all after binging on a deluge of information shared in an online group she belongs to.

"I don't trust the vaccination system. We lack information and education," Vanja told AFP, asking that her surname be withheld.

"I feel great responsibility and it wasn't a simple and easy decision to make."

Vanja's position is increasingly common in Montenegro which has the lowest measles vaccine uptake globally with just 23.8 percent of infants inoculated in 2020 with the first of two shots, according to World Health Organization data.

The dramatic decline in inoculation rates has public health experts bracing for an imminent measles outbreak in Montenegro and its nearby Balkan neighbours where vaccination uptake has also plummeted, largely due to a rise in misinformation, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.

"The risk of a measles outbreak is high," Dragan Jankovic, an immunisation official with the WHO, told AFP.

"Importation of the measles virus is only a question of time... as soon as it is imported into a susceptible population, an outbreak will start."

In neighbouring North Macedonia, 63 percent of children were inoculated with the first shot of the combined measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine, while in Serbia 78 percent have had the jab.

'Perfect storm'

Experts say a uptake of at least 95 percent of the two-dose jab is needed to avoid the spread of measles, a highly contagious airborne disease that can be fatal.

The virus can cause complications that include blindness, brain swelling and pneumonia, and unvaccinated children are at the highest risk of developing serious casesincluding death.

But for decades, there has been an aversion to the MMR shot, rooted in rampant misinformation tied to a widely debunked 1998 study that suggested a link between autism and the vaccine.

The United Nations has repeatedly warned that a "perfect storm" was brewing for new outbreaks of preventable diseases, with the pandemic disrupting routine vaccinations.

And even after the measles killed over 207,000 people worldwide in 2019, vaccination rates still dropped in many parts of the globe.

The first-dose vaccination rate dropped from 86 to 84 percent globally between 2019 and 2020, while only 70 percent received a second dose during the same period, according to WHO data.

In the Balkans, epidemiologists chalk up the growing anti-vax sentiment to several factors, including distrust in the government, a lack of serious enforcement measures, and a deluge of misinformation that overwhelmed social media during the pandemic.

In Montenegro, doctors have called on the government to take the issue more seriously, saying small fines on parents who refuse mandatory vaccine mandates have done little to reverse the country's anti-vax shift.

"The MMR vaccine is currently not a condition for enrolment in schools and kindergartens," Milena Popovic Samardzic, an epidemiologist from Montenegro's Institute of Public Health, told AFP.

Almost one-third of Montenegrins believe a conspiracy theory that alleges doctors and government seek to vaccinate children with shots that cause autism, according to an Ipsos survey published in 2021.

The same report also found that over half of the country's population are convinced that "global elites" created the coronavirus in order to slash the planet's population.

'Fed up'

In Serbia, the vaccine is mandatory for student enrolment but experts say officials often turn a blind eye to the problem until an outbreak forces their hand.

"The state only needs to follow the rules they set out," said Georgios Konstantinidis, the head of Serbia's paediatrics association.

"But nobody doesneither the parents nor the people in kindergartens who enrol kids through 'connections'."

Serbia was last hit by a measles outbreak in 2017, resulting in 3,800 recorded cases and 12 deaths, including two children.

In wake of the outbreak, state prosecutors launched proceedings against 43 prominent anti-vaxers for "causing panic", but none were convicted, according to Vladimir Cimerman, a Belgrade doctor who helped bring a lawsuit.

Doctors in Serbia are increasingly frustrated that warnings go ignored.

"We lack social responsibility. I'm fed up with everything," said Konstantinidis.

"Basic humanity has vanished from this society, and the whole world for that matter."

Explore further WHO, CDC warn of measles threat after 22 million infants miss shots during pandemic

 2022 AFP
Students at Chief Charlo Elementary recently learned over 20 different signs from Plains Indian Sign Language through an initiative grant impacting education across the Missoula County district and beyond.

Aspen Decker visited Jennifer Carlsons class earlier this week to share cultural knowledge, history and language with students in the fourth-grade classroom.

Decker is one of only a handful of people who can speak Salish fluently. She and her four children are now among the first generation of bilingual speakers of her community in nearly 75 years.

More than 200 Indigenous languages in the United States have gone extinct in the last 400 years, according to the Language Conservancy.

She was joined by her daughter, Maninp Xexcin, who is the same age as the students in Carlsons class. Maninp is the great-great-great-grandchild of Chief Charlo.

Decker started the lesson by speaking about the schools namesake, Chief Charlo, or Smxe Qoxqeys in Salish, meaning Claw of the Little Grizzly. He was head chief of the Bitterroot Salish people from 1870 to 1910.

Decker walked students through how to sign Chief Charlo's name in Plains Indian Sign Language by making a motion for "little" with her right hand, placing her hands above her head, resembling bear claws, and then pulling her hands down to her waist.

Decker asked the students how long they thought the Bitterroot Salish people inhabited the area now commonly referred to as Missoula  some students estimated 100 years, another shouted out 10,000.

In reality, the Bitterroot Salish people have inhabited the area for closer to 14,000 to 16,000 years, back when Glacial Lake Missoula filled the valley, Decker said.

At that time, the area was referred to as Nmesuletk, or "place of the freezing water."

So this is like the land that were on, Decker said, extending an arm in front of her parallel to the ground. The sign for cold and then a big water, its like youre scooping up a bucket and then youre going up to your face.

The Salish language is incredibly nuanced and many of the words resemble what something looks like or how an animal acts. Some words are also derived from onomatopoeia.

The same can be said for many words in Plains Indian Sign Language. For example, the sign to describe a white tail deer mimics its tail as it runs away. There are 12 individual words to describe different developmental stages of a deer, Decker said.

So our signs and the Salish language that goes along with it are descriptive of whatever those nouns are, Decker said.

Later in the lesson, Decker explained the nomadic habits of the Bitterroot Salish people and their nuanced names for specific locations.

After Glacial Lake Missoula was no more, the Salish name for the area transitioned to Nayccstm, or "place of the little bull trout," which is on the Clark Fork River near the University of Montana. Near the Clark Forks confluence with the Blackfoot River is known as "the place of bull trout" because larger fish could be found there.

Every hill, every bend in the river has its own name, Decker said. So Salish, its very descriptive.

Decker also shared the history of her people, explaining that the Lewis and Clark Corps of Discovery was not perceived as a heroic feat to Indigenous people already residing on the land they sought to explore.

We already knew the land, we know everything about these animals, these plants, because Salish people are scientists, Decker said.

Chief Charlo refused to sign treaties that would remove his people from their land and move them onto reservations, she said. But nearly 20 years after the U.S. government attempted to get his signature on the Hellgate Treaty of 1855, his signature was forged and they were moved to the Flathead Reservation with the promise of housing and food.

In preparation for the move, Salish people sold their heating stoves and did not plant crops. By the time they were forced to move to the reservation, many people were starving. Many died on their walk from the Hamilton area to the Flathead Reservation.

Its a lot of really hard history thats important to know though, because thats what happened to the Salish people. They were removed, they were forced into boarding schools and thats why a lot of our language loss occurred, Decker said.

Toward the end of the lesson, Decker led students through a series of signs used to describe all of the steps from hunting an animal, giving thanks, processing the meat and storing it. There were nearly 10 individual signs used to describe each step.

The students used these signs in a game, where two hunters had to interact with their classmates roaming the room, making signs for different animals. When the animals were tapped by the hunters, the hunter had to demonstrate each sign in the correct order before the animal was moved to their individual camp. The hunter with the most animals stored at their camp won.

Deckers husband Cameron, an artist, and their son Nstews Xexcin paid a visit to Carlsons classroom to present a gift Cameron created for the school. Nstews is also a descendant of Chief Charlo.

I just asked if there was a painting of Chief Charlo at all, or what was the imagery like for Chief Charlo and I just was really inspired to want to give you a gift, Cameron said.

He unveiled a portrait of Chief Charlo to be displayed in the school, whose curriculum focuses on science, technology, engineering, art and math.

Our ancestors were scientists, engineers, mathematicians, artists and theres a long tradition here, especially in this place, and so this connection here is shared values and thats what I hope this represents, Cameron said.

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Spurred by recent deaths at the state psychiatric hospital, Montana lawmakers agreed Friday to begin drafting legislation to address population management and oversight at the facility in Warm Springs.

A special meeting called by the Children, Families, Health and Human Services Interim Legislative Committee Friday went into the evening hours as lawmakers sought some definition to a path forward on short- and long-term solutions to problems that have affected the Montana State Hospital for years.

The committee on Friday agreed to begin the drafting process for two pieces of legislation, and deadlocked on the proposal to issue a letter to the state health department, which oversees the state hospital, urging additional measures to augment the current staffing crisis.

The two bills that reached a majority consensus of the committee deal with the hospital population and independent oversight. The first, a proposal by Rep. Danny Tenenbaum, D-Missoula, would stop the placement of patients with dementia in the Spratt Unit, the geriatric wing of state hospital. He said he hopes to follow the model the 2015 Legislature took when it passed legislation to wind down the Montana Developmental Center in Boulder.

The facility was never intended to provide care for dementia patients, but a 2020 report found the core of many issues at the state hospital was the reality that the facility is forced to provide both skilled nursing care for dementia patients and inpatient psychiatric care for people with severe mental illness. Dementia patients have been admitted to the hospital by way of involuntary commitments by the courts. The state hospital serves as the "safety net" provider in Montana, the last stop when these patients have nowhere else to go.

Tenenbaum urged the committee to take up the effort to end the practice of institutionalizing people with dementia and instead find placement in Montana communities, closer to their families who themselves can serve as reporters when they see institutions failing. He mentioned Kathy Toavs, a Wolf Point woman who was living with dementia when she was admitted to the state hospital in 2021. Toavs died Jan. 30 after suffering 13 falls in less than two months at the hospital with inconsistent assistance to keep her from falling.

"We have an opportunity now to fix this problem and to make sure that people like Kathy Toavs don't die avoidable deaths in the state hospital," he said.

The motion quickly saw bipartisan support. Rep. Jennifer Carlson, R-Manhattan, said she often sees government as getting involved in too many jobs, but that this, however, was different.

"I think taking care of marginalized people actually is our job," she said. "It needs to be a priority.  No big problem that needs a big solution is easy, and it's never been that way."

Committee chair Ed Stafman, a Bozeman Democrat, also got a consensus of the committee to move forward on drafting a bill to give more oversight over the state hospital's reports to Disability Rights Montana, a federally mandated civil rights protection and advocacy unit. Bernadette Franks-Ongoy, the organization's executive director, said DRM used its abilities this week to enter the facility unannounced. There they found one patient had recently been hospitalized with another fall, another patient was "actively dying," although with the hospital's ongoing staffing crisis, "he may die alone."

Franks-Ongoy said state law does not give DRM express ability to review patient reports as it does with other mental health facilities around the state, and could do so with a standalone bill granting them that access. Stafman said two lawmakers would take the lead on the effort.

Half the committee did not intend to leave Friday's hearing without addressing the immediacy of the conditions at the state hospital. In early February the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services uncovered two federal health rules  failing to prevent falls and operating without a COVID infection control plan  so far from compliance that they put the state hospital on "immediate jeopardy" status. Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services Director Adam Meier testified Friday that in a follow up visit from CMS, inspectors found a third deficiency warranting the immediate jeopardy designation, finding the facility failed to demonstrate facility-wide education had taken place specific to the definition of what a "chemical restraint" is.

Meier's report furnished to the committee stated the immediate jeopardy designation had been resolved on the chemical restraint issue by Feb. 25.

The other immediate jeopardy designations are still in place pending a return visit from CMS, but he provided a list of policy tweaks that he hopes will satisfy the federal rules and retain the hospital's agreement for federal reimbursement dollars. Patients who are a "high fall risk," for example, will now wear yellow wrist bands to identify that risk. The hospital has also developed and implemented an infection control plan as required by CMS, according to Meier's report.

There appeared to be no appetite Friday for the removal of state hospital administrator Kyle Fouts, who several employees during the meeting credited for the thinning ranks of long-term employees and openly poor morale at the facility.

"Please do not let the MSH administration get away with externalizing blame to the COVID pandemic," Marla Lemons, a clinical psychologist at Warm Springs for 19 years, told the committee. "Many former MSH employees worked all the way through the first year or more of the pandemic."

A number of panelists and hospital staff cited the mass exodus of long-time staff and a significant increase in the number of traveling staff, who make much higher wages despite sometimes not having the same level of training, as a major strain on the hospital. The facility has 40% of positions open, many of those filled by traveling nurses working under short-term contracts.

Meier said he has approved pay increases for some staff as high as 29%, some of which should have already taken affect on workers paychecks, in an effort to bring wages closer to the current market.

Jack Griswold, who recently became president of one of the employee unions in Warm Springs because the last president resigned, urged some accountability for the hospital administration's role in undoing a well-trained and well-resourced staff.

"If you're going to be a leader, you're not going to please everybody," Griswold told the committee. "You've got to hold people accountable, even if for a moment that means being uncomfortable."

Rep. Mary Caferro, D-Helena, at the end of Friday's meeting, proposed the committee issue a letter to DPHHS asking for COVID-era protocols to go back into place to help with the current conditions. The CMS report found 87 of 107 patients had contracted COVID in an outbreak in January; three had died due to the hospital's failure to keep its infection control plan in place. Caferro's proposed letter would urge the department to bring back the National Guard to perform non-medical tasks like laundry and food delivery, and to bring back the supplemental pay for health care workers, considering the state's unused federal aid dollars tied to addressing the effects of the pandemic.

Meier told the committee on Friday that the case count in Warm Springs is now zero, and Republican lawmakers opposed sending the letter, instead allowing Meier to control the short-term solutions of the hospital. The committee, made up of equal parts Republicans and Democrats, deadlocked on the vote to issue a letter on a 5-5 vote, and the motion died.

The committee staffer Sue O'Connell said she would begin gathering materials to begin work on the bill drafts. The committee meets again March 15.

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Before I heard Monica Tranel speak for the first time, I was deeply troubled by the separateness not only in our nation but in our neighborhoods, fearful for the strength and sanctity of our democracy, and in mourning for a stable future that I could no longer promise to my daughters here in Montana.

Although her words didnt take those feelings away, they became my prayer of hope and gratitude towards a better future for all Montanans.

Monica has always lived and worked in the middle  as a middle child, as a rower in the middle of the boat, and as a protector of the middle class. Some think of the middle as a pejorative place where our beliefs and values are compromised. But I think of the middle as a needed meeting place of fertile ground, where we Montanans join together, roll up our sleeves, and dig in to plant the seeds that will nourish our future. Praying and expressing gratitude are both expressed by placing our hands in the middle of our body, at our heart center.

As youre casting your vote for Congress, please choose the candidate who lives, works and fights for the heart of Montana.

Kali Lindner,

Missoula

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Adam DesLauriers is the director of Nordic and backcountry and co-owner at Bolton Valley, Vermont.

Hes got the loneliest job in ski country.

The uphill lift pass checker at Bolton Valley stood alone unflinchingly in the zero-degree cold on a recent Saturday at the northern Vermont ski areas gateway to a vast backcountry Alpine touring playground in Mount Mansfield State Forest and around the Catamount and Long trails.

The young sentinel  lets call him by his first name, Mike  smiled broadly as my touring partner, Larry Sher of Arlington, Virginia, and I fished for our passes among our many wicking and insulation layers.

We then headed up the storied Bryant Trail for an hour-and-45-minute, uphill-downhill loop through at times dense and then thinned-out woods that ultimately delivered us back to the base of Boltons Nordic-backcountry sports center for a brown-bag lunch and welcome warmth.

On the trail of pass evaders

Passes for a day of unlimited uphill trail access are $25, but that reasonable fee doesnt stop some skinners (as AT practitioners call themselves after the climbing skins they affix to the bases of their skis) on $1,000-plus touring rigs from trying to evade Boltons solitary pass checker.

The skinners apparently crawl through brush, hide behind trees and take evasive routes around the sports center to avoid the modest fee, most often with the pass checker in close pursuit following their stolen tracks through the snow.

God love that guy. Its taken a long time to work that out. For a while, it was hard to really dedicate one paid employee to be doing that all the time, said Adam DesLauriers, 48, director of Nordic and backcountry and a Bolton Valley co-owner. But its popular enough where we need it because its a steady stream of customers.

Youd be surprised at the lengths people go to. I have a perfect view of it from my office, DesLauriers said during a lunchtime chat at the sports center before Sher and I headed out for another, longer lap. Just people sneaking around and Mike darting back and forth. Love Mike.

Story continues

Its a good problem to have and reflects just how popular backcountry touring has become (the sports explosive growth has also been spurred by the get outside pandemic mentality) since the DesLauriers family bought back Bolton Valley in 2017 and launched what was the first Alpine touring operation of its kind in the East.

Boltons prominent role

Adam DesLauriers sister, Lindsay, is president of Bolton Valley. Brother Evan heads up special projects. Their father, Ralph DesLauriers, built the resort in the 1960s and owned and ran it for 30 years until he sold it to a bank in 1997. The elder DesLauriers is president of the board and less involved now in day-to-day operations but has been overseeing a hotel and base lodge renovation.

While other independent New England ski areas, notably Black Mountain in New Hampshire and Magic Mountain in Vermont, also have made Alpine touring a priority in recent years, Boltons operation is unique.

The ski area serves as a portal to 10,000 acres of backcountry that is mostly not owned by the ski area but is directly adjacent to and beyond it. Bolton, along with several nonprofit groups, maintains the uphill trails in the warm-weather months and provides some rescue services with a Nordic ski patrol and ski patrollers from the inbounds ski area.

Boltons perch on the edge of a ski-able wilderness, even though it is only 40 minutes from Vermonts biggest city, Burlington, addresses the Eastern backcountry access problem that Bolton and some nonprofit groups, such as the Granite Backcountry Alliance in New Hampshire and Vermonts RASTA, have been working on.

By contrast, backcountry skiing is so much bigger in western ski country in part because of the exponentially greater number of access points that people can drive to or even get to using public transit.

Here's the plentiful backcountry terrain at Bolton Valley in Vermont.

In any event, Bolton has done more than any group to promote Alpine touring in the East  and the $25 day uphill pass and $180 season pass dont produce all that much revenue, though they bring in some.

Boltons Alpine touring rental fleet of Dynafit skis boots, skins and poles is ample and up to date. Its (ungroomed) uphill trail network is extensive. The backcountry downhill routes that skiers and split boarders (snowboarders equipped to go uphill with skins) can access are nearly limitless. Meanwhile, customers can also ski up two cool routes within the resort boundaries.

Bolton offers the services of 30 backcountry guides.

Book one now.

Ski area parking and the lack thereof

Amid widespread unhappiness across the country and in New England with ski area crowding, scarce parking on busy days and the advent of paid parking at Vail Resorts-owned Mount Snow in particular, one ski area has received lots of positive media attention somehow for its new and radical parking and transit strategy.

That place is Crystal Mountain, Washington, the ski area colossus near mighty Mount Rainier that offers 2,600 acres and 3,100 vertical feet of terrain just two hours from Seattle.

As it happens, my younger brother, Adam Sutner, is vice president of business development for Crystal, which is owned by Vail Resorts competitor Alterra Mountain Co. Adam was formerly chief marketing officer at Jackson Hole and marketing director at Vail.

New ski parking paradigm

This season, Crystal drew nationwide attention when it said it would charge daily parking fees, require parking reservations on weekends and also provide free regular luxury bus service to the mountain from the closest big community  Enumclaw, a city of 12,190 about 42 miles from Seattle and 43 miles from Crystal.

We approached this not so much as a nice-to-have amenity that we would add, but a significant attempt at shifting an age-old paradigm, which is skiers hopping in their car and driving to the slopes and expecting a parking spot right at the foot of the resort, Adam said. Those days are probably over, and this is the way of the future.

That last stretch from Enumclaw to splendidly isolated Crystal on the infamous mostly two-lane state highway 410 East has become a traffic quagmire in recent years as Crystal has become more and more popular as a daytrip and overnight destination.

In addition to frequent elk crossings, compounding the nightmarish traffic is that Crystal has severely limited parking mostly because the resort is situated on U.S. Forest Service land and cant expand its base footprint or parking.

So Crystal decided it would be logistically and ecologically sounder to charge $20 to $30 day Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays for vehicles that are not fully occupied and offer a steady stream of buses even amid COVID-19 hesitancy.

The bus program has been a success, Crystals data shows, according to my brother.

That 56-seat luxury coaches are equipped with bathrooms and WiFi (unlike most of highway 410) and are operated by drivers empowered to enforce mandatory masking, has helped. Crystal employees are also present at every loading to check for masks.

The parking changes, "are coupled with significant transportation options, which, in addition to being good for the environment and the experience, offer guests the opportunity to neither pay for parking nor make parking reservations, Adam said.

Friday morning buses depart hourly and require reservations. Saturdays and Sundays feature a shuttle system with a load and go policy: people show up and grab the first available bus.

Crystal balances bus frequency with capacity limits at the ski area. On weekends, the overall bus capacity is for 1,200 passengers in both directions, which can amount to about 20 percent of the mountains total skier volume on a given weekend day.

So that takes about 600 people off the road, according to Crystals metric of about 2.2 passengers per car. Meanwhile, carpooling is up to 150 to 200 a weekend, which takes another 100 cars off the road.

Since instituting all the charge-for-parking and free bus program, Crystal says it has eliminated park out weekend days, when parking lots are full and the resort has to turn away visitors.

Our objective with this program was twofold: one was to reduce road traffic by 10 percent and the other was to increase the average number of people per car similarly by another 10 percent, Adam said. The combination of those two thus far the season has basically eradicated our major congestion issues on Saturday and Sunday.

Adam noted that a few other big ski areas, including Alta, Utah  an Alterra Ikon Pass affiliate  that are also suffering from traffic congestion are trying new parking and public transport approaches, and several other Alterra resorts are studying how they could do it.

Also, some New England ski areas are working on the parking problem. At busy Wachusett Mountain in Princeton, where three auxiliary lots often fill up at peak periods, a shuttle van picks up customers at a nearby train station who arrive on the ski train commuter service from Boston.

Meanwhile, for apres-ski aficionados, I should note that alcoholic beverages are not permitted on Crystal buses.

But some drivers are more easygoing than others, Adam said with a chuckle. To my knowledge, there have been no recorded incidents of alcohol consumption.

Olympic success for New England ski racers

Last week, on the first day of the 2002 Beijing Winter Olympics, I quoted 1988 Olympian ski racer and longtime U.S. Ski Team member Pam Fletcher, a Westford native and product of her familys Nashoba Valley Ski area, about the U.S. teams chances this time.

She said she thought the team had a good chance to compete and win medals in China.

Fletcher was right.

Silver for Vermont-raised racer

Green Mountain State-bred Ryan Cochran-Siegel pulled of a spectacular silver medal-winning super giant slalom performance on Monday on the Yanqing track, joining his mother, Barbara Ann Cochran, who won a gold medal in slalom at the 1972 Winter Games in Sapporo, Japan.

Cochran-Siegel had scared ski racing fans when he nearly crashed but made a spectacular recovery in a downhill training run last week.

Ryan just works so hard. He watches and analyzes video more than anyone, Fletcher told me this week. And it was a brilliant run too, especially after his wild ride on the first training run.

And Charlemont resident Paula Moltzan, ranked world 45th in the event going into the Olympics, finished a surprising 12th in Sundays giant slalom, which is the slalom specialists second-best discipline.

Crushing early U.S. hopes for gold, though, superstar Mikaela Shiffrin crashed and skied out of the race. And a promising U.S. skier, Nina OBrien, fell just feet from the finish in a painful tumble that left her with a fractured left leg.

I am sad for Nina, Fletcher said. She was skiing so well.

Sadly, Shiffrin, probably the greatest slalom skier of all time of any gender, crashed soon out of the gate in Tuesdays slalom. It was shocking to see Shiffrin, a model of consistent winning excellence over the years, ski out in what was arguably the biggest race of her life.

But then again, the Olympics are just another race for elite skiers like Shiffrin, Cochran-Siegel and Moltzan, who ply the World Cup circuit year after year on considerably tougher courses with just as challenging weather.

Loss for the Worcester skiing community

Mark Welch, manager and veteran ski salesman extraordinaire at Strands ski shop in Worcester, who I profiled in the column last year, died unexpectedly on Sunday.

He was 51. The former ski race coach and instructor worked at the citys 72-year ski institution for more than 22 years.

He was a great guy, personable and very knowledgeable, with a lot of friends, said Leif Mikkelsen, who with his twin brother Roy has run Strands for decades. He studied the industry.

My condolences to Welchs family and friends. I enjoyed my friendship with Mark over the years.

Contact Shaun Sutner by e-mail at s_sutner@yahoo.com.

This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: Bolton Valley in Vermont provides popular Alpine touring, backcountry ski experience
While cases continue to decline, COVID-19 has claimed 11 more Burke County lives.

The Burke County Health Department reported the additional deaths on Friday, saying the people were in their 50s, 60s, 70s and 80s and the deaths occurred between Jan. 22 and Feb. 25.

It said 10 of the people died from COVID-related complications and one was a COVID-associated death. The department said six were hospitalized prior to dying.

We extend our deepest sympathies out to the family and friends of these individuals, the departments Friday briefing said.

The 11 deaths bring the death toll in the county due to the virus up to 333, the department reported.

The health department also reported 68 new cases of the virus between Tuesday and Thursday for a total of 25,176 cases since the first case was reported in Burke County on March 24, 2020.

As of Friday, the county had 260 active cases of COVID-19 with a 7.05% positivity rate, the department said.

UNC Health Blue Ridge reported it had 12 COVID-19 patientsnine unvaccinatedwith three of themtwo unvaccinatedin the intensive care unit on Friday. The health care system also reported 18 patients in its COVID-19 virtual hospital.

Statewide, the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services reported 2,646 with a 4.3% daily percent positive rate on Friday. It also reported 1,336 people hospitalized and a total of 22,763 deaths, up from 22,725 total deaths on Thursday.

The health department said it will resume testing on Monday, with hours from 8-11 a.m. and 1-3:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 8-11 a.m. on Friday, and as need in the afternoon, the release said.

The health department is encouraging people to remember the COVID-19 protocols they have learned over the past two years. It said people should stay home when they do not feel well, practice good hand hygiene, keep a safe distance from others in crowded spaces, start better managing any chronic health conditions as soon as possible, and get a COVID vaccine and booster when eligible.

These are all important factors to keep in mind as we move our way out of this pandemic, the department said in its Friday briefing.

Appointments are needed and can be made by calling the department at 828-764-9150.

The health department, located at 700 E. Parker Road, Morganton, offers COVID vaccines from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Fridays. The department offers Pfizer, Moderna and J&J COVID-19 vaccines. Appointments are needed and can be made by calling 828-764-9150.

For general questions about COVID-19, call the county health department public information line at 828-764-9150 or visit the COVID-19 webpage at burkenc.org/COVID-19.
RALEIGH  Over the past couple of weeks, North Carolina politicos have focused intently on the outcome of the states latest redistricting saga. After the GOP-majority General Assembly saw its original set of electoral districts thrown out by the courts, lawmakers tried again. Their new legislative maps were accepted. A three-judge panel rejected the Republicans newly crafted congressional districts, however, and enacted a remedial map for the 2022 cycle.

As all this was going on, however, average North Carolinians were paying closer attention to events unfolding thousands of miles away.

Russias invasion of Ukraine is a tragedy, an outrage and a wake-up call about the continued threat to liberty and order posed by dictators pursuing 19th-century aims with 21st-century arms. Here in North Carolina, it also represents a potential inflection point in our midterm elections.

This became clear on Feb. 26 when three Republican candidates  former Gov. Pat McCrory, former U.S. Rep. Mark Walker and Marjorie Eastman, an Army veteran and businesswoman  faced off in the first televised debate of the U.S. Senate primary. Held at the John Locke Foundations Carolina Liberty Conference in Raleigh, the debate made statewide headlines not only because of what the participants said but also because of the identity of their frequent target, U.S. Rep. Ted Budd.

He wasnt there. He declined the invitation, saying he wouldnt agree even to discuss a GOP debate until the candidate-filing period closed. Event organizers put a lectern on the stage to underline his absence.

With the Russian invasion occurring in real time, Budds decision not to participate proved costly. The congressman is vulnerable on the issue. In the past, he sometimes voted against bills to sanction Russia for its conduct in Ukraine. More recently, Budd was in the audience when former President Donald Trump, who endorsed Budd, called Vladimir Putin pretty smart for launching his current invasion of Russias southern neighbor.

The day before the Senate debate, McCrory formally filed for the office and told reporters that Budd had been defending Russia and defending Putin when its indefensible. During the debate, McCrory and the other participants doubled down on the subject. Eastman called the dictator a thug and his invasion unprovoked and unjustified. Walker argued that the U.S. and its allies ought to go after Putin directly.

Asked later to respond, Budd told CBS-17 that Putin was evil and an international thug but also that he was intelligent, so we have to treat him as such. Not surprisingly, both the McCrory campaign and the Democratic Party spent the next 24 hours making hay of Budds foolish choice of words. Hed been better off showing up for the debate and defending his record, which is actually more mixed on Russia than his critics suggest.

The Senate primary isnt the only race where the issue is likely to bite. Last week, GOP congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene spoke to a white-nationalist organization in Orlando where the organizer asked the audience to give a round of applause for Russia and got chants of Putin! Putin! in response. Greene tried to pretend later she didnt know what shed gotten herself into, but no one believed her. Some GOP candidates here in North Carolina have sought her endorsement or been on stage with her. Youre going to hear a lot more about that in the coming weeks.

On the Democratic side, President Bidens disastrous first year in office has set up his party for a disastrous midterm election. Now Democrats are hoping his efforts to organize an anti-Putin coalition will not only get results in Ukraine but also bring voters around to the Democratic ticket.

North Carolinians do care. In a pre-invasion High Point University poll, 47% said Russias military build-up on the Ukraine border was a major threat to U.S. interests, with another 27% calling it a minor threat.

Most voters dont favor direct American military invention, of course, which isnt in the cards anyway. They do favor tough talk and tougher sanctions. And theyre right.

John Hood is a John Locke Foundation board member and author of the novel Mountain Folk, a historical fantasy set during the American Revolution (MountainFolkBook.com).
A three-judge panel is expected to rule soon on whether to redraw the political districts for Montanas Public Service Commission following a Friday trial in U.S. District Court in Missoula.

Justices noted the tension caused by the possibility of a federal court intervening to bring state political maps into constitutional compliance. Redrawing the five districts of the Montana Public Service Commission is clearly the work of the state, but its also work thats been done by the Montana Legislature just once in 50 years.

There had been an attempt by lawmakers to meet in special session this spring to redraw the maps in order to avoid handing the job to the court. That effort failed after lawmakers tried to expand the session beyond the map issue, something Gov. Greg Gianforte said was a deal breaker.

The justices hearing the case Friday were U.S. District Judge Don Molloy of Missoula, District Judge Brian Morris of Great Falls, and Ninth Circuit Judge Paul Watford of Pasadena, California.

The PSC 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 commission also regulates monopoly garbage and water services, pipelines and taxi services.

Rapid growth in the Western part of the state and population declines in Eastern Montana have resulted in districts that vary by as much as 53,000 people. The imbalance prompted a lawsuit by voters Bob Brown, a former Republican Secretary of State; Donald Seifert, a former Republican Gallatin County commissioner; and Hailey Sinoff, a Gallatin County resident. The gist of the lawsuit is that voters in the sparsely populated districts get just as much representation as voters in the most populated ones, a violation of the one-person, one-vote provision of the 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.

The voters sued Secretary of State Christi Jacobsen, Montanas top election official, to stop PSC elections from occurring until the districts are brought into balance. PSC seats  one representing north-central Montana and the Hi-Line, the other anchored by Flathead and Lewis and Clark counties  are up for election this year.

Both the voters and Jacobsen produced potential replacement maps for the court to consider. Defending Jacobsen, Department of Justice attorney Brent Mead argued that if the justices intent was to recognize Montanas right to draw political districts without federal interference, then the court had to accept Jacobsens map, provided the map met the criteria previously used by the Montana Legislature.

So long as her map complies with all local, state and federal laws, then the court must accept her map, Mead told the court.

But there are issues with the map submitted by the secretary of state, said Constance Van Kley, attorney for the voters. Namely, the Jacobsen map split the Blackfeet Reservation between two districts, raising a concern about negatively affecting the political clout of the Blackfeet community.

Couldnt the Jacobsen map have kept the Blackfeet Reservation in one district, asked Judge Molloy?

Mead agreed the reservation could have been in a single district had Glacier and Pondera counties both been drawn into the district representing north-central Montana and the Hi-Line. The objective of the secretary of state was to bring the districts into compliance, while keeping the changes to the current districts to a minimum.

The map added Glacier County to the north-central region, as well as Musselshell County. It then relocated Deer Lodge County to a district anchored by Missoula. The Deer Lodge move reduced the population of the states most populated PSC district, which is anchored by Bozeman and the fastest-growing region in Montana.

A primary goal of the Legislature when it last redrew PSC districts was to keep counties whole, Mead said.

But none of the three maps submitted by the plaintiffs met the Legislatures objective to keep counties whole, Judge Watford pointed out. The plaintiffs maps had sought to keep reservations whole, specifically Flathead Reservation, which included portions of three counties, Lake, Missoula and Sanders.

Van Kley asserted that the 2003 Legislature, the last group to draw PSC districts, also wanted the districts to balance in population. All three of the maps submitted by plaintiffs kept district populations within less than 1.5% of each other

The justices promised a ruling ahead of the March 14 deadline for Montana candidate filings. Both the issue of whether to redraw the districts, and whether to prevent Jacobsen from carrying out PSC elections in 2022 will be decided.

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Several hundred semis could roll along Interstate 80 to Interstate 74 and to Peoria, Ill,. on their way to Washington, D.C. as part of the Midwest American Truckers Freedom Convoy spreading its message against medical mandates.

According to the groups Facebook page, the convoy is expected to do a slow roll through Iowa City at 10 a.m. Saturday and a slow roll through Davenport at 11 a.m. From Davenport, the trucks will get on Interstate 74 to head for Peoria, Ill. At about 10:30 a.m. the convoy is expected to pass Wilton. The convoy is mimicking a similar convoy in Canada that drove across the country to the Canadian capital of Ottawa to protest vaccine mandates.

The two states the convoy will pass through in the area seem to have different manners of dealing with the trucks. According to the Iowa Highway Patrol headquarters in Stockton, no special precautions will be taken.

We know its coming and we have reached out to local communities to see if they need help, Highway Patrol Sgt. Saldivar said. Its not an issue for us, and we hope its not an issue. We arent going to be following the convoy or keeping track of it.

He said weekend traffic is heavy along I-80 and he did not believe traffic would be different than most weekends. He said if anything happened the Iowa State Patrol would be there to help but was not planning on changing its operations. He said nothing had led the state patrol to believe the convoy was anything but a peaceful protest.

The Illinois State Police issued a statement earlier this week warning motorists who engage in acts that could endanger the safety of the motoring public could be arrested. The press release said the convoy could cause traffic delays and potential crashes.

Though the Illinois State Police respects the rights of citizens to express their opinions in a lawful manner, there is great concern with any event that is designed to impede or block the normal and reasonable movement of traffic. Illinois State Police Division of Patrol Col. Margaret McGreal said. Traffic backups are a major contributing cause to traffic crashes, which can lead to property damage, personal injury and even death. A planned event designed to impede normal traffic flow is dangerous to the innocent motoring public. Those who choose to participate in events that intentionally endanger the public and violate Illinois law will be subject to the enforcement of applicable laws and could potentially be held liable for traffic crashes occurring as a result of their actions.

On Thursday, hundreds of semis sporting American and Canadian flags reportedly rolled through Cheyenne, Wyo., on Interstate 80. The towns along the way reported that many people turned out to wave flags and cheer the truckers on as they roll past.

Similar convoys have been organized across the country to oppose vaccine mandates supported by the Biden administration, as well as local and school mandates on mask use.

Last week Iowa City lifted mask mandates for city buildings and Des Moines schools became mask optional. Based on guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control. Under the new guidance, indoor mask-wearing is no longer recommended in communities with low or moderate virus spread.

Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker ended mask mandates in schools last week after the Illinois Supreme Court refused to hear the governors appeal on the decision of a lawsuit challenging his mask mandate.

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MUSCATINE  Several speakers approached the Muscatine City Council Thursday during its regular meeting to discuss keeping containers in Muscatine neighborhoods.

Resident Wayne Hovell raised concerns about storage containers. He said that there are 80 such containers in Muscatine. He said he did not wish for the city to approve any kind of ordinance that would ban or limit their use.

"There have been containers in places in this town for over 20 years, and I know because I grew up in this town," he said.

Council members last month discussed implementing a new rule restricting the placement of cargo containers in residential areas, and sent an overview of a proposed amendment to city code to the planning and zoning committee for a recommendation. Among the possible changes would be limiting the placement to locations with minimal visual impact on surrounding areas.

Former council member Kelcey Brackett encouraged the council not to discuss a resolution banning such containers in the city, but to work on a code to regulate their appearance.

Resident Richard Hovell said he planned to paint the containers on his property once the weather improved. Hovell said the containers cost him $14,000 and that the city zoning department had signed on their use.

Hovell, along with resident Ron Hendeson, argued city officials have been selective in their enforcement of city code. Hovell, too, warned that if the city ordered owners to get rid of the containers, it would likely lead to legal action.

The council also:

Held a public hearing on the maximum tax levy for 2022/23. The maximum rate is $15.97 per $1,000 of taxable income, a 1.7% increase. With rising property values, total revenue for the city is projected to increase by $275,785. No comments were made. The council approved the new rate, with council member John Jindrich opposed

During the budget discussion, Brackett encouraged the city council not to spend down the general fund surplus, saying he expects challenges to the city with changes in the state tax code

Held a public hearing on the borrowing of $5,715,000 for street, water and sewer improvements, emergency funds, and street lighting and signage. No comments were made.

Held a public hearing to borrow $170,000 for repairs to the Aquatic Center. No comments were made.

Held a public hearing to borrow $625,000 for several projects in municipal facilities. No comments were made.

Approved a settlement with several Muscatine firefighters

Set a budget hearing for March 17

Approved the second reading of an ordinance that would align Muscatine penalties with Iowa code

Approved the final reading of an ordinance that would amend the citys code of animal regulations. The pit bull ban was not one of the items addressed.

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WILTON  The group of about 60 people who lined the overpass at Highway 38 and Interstate 80 Saturday morning adopted the tongueincheek nickname Deplorables for Truckers.

They gathered on the overpass, many waving American flags, to cheer on the Midwest American Truckers Freedom Convoy as it rolled past, making its way to Washington, D.C. to protest mask and vaccine mandates. On Saturday, the convoy began its trip in Des Moines, making its way to Iowa City for a slow roll along the interstate, and traveled to Davenport for another slow roll as the trucks turned on to Interstate 74 to travel into Illinois. The group planned on making its next stop in Peoria.

The convoy is the American version of the Canadian Freedom Convoy that rolled into the capital city of Ottawa to protest vaccine mandates along the border. For the American convoy, truckers are traveling from all 50 states to Washington, D.C.

Mary Gish and Teresa Noa, both from Wapello, were on the overpass well before the convoy was scheduled to travel by. They waved large flags to the traffic about 20 feet below on Interstate 80. They reported most of the motorists were happy to see them and honked or waved to them. They did say a few drivers had given them a one-fingered salute, but the vast majority were happy to see them.

Were just showing our support and that we believe in what they are doing, Gish said. Its not about the mandates anymore. Its about our freedom and our rights.

Throughout the crowd, the feeling was one that American freedoms were being eroded and hope that the convoy would send the message that American freedom needed to remain intact.

Gish was concerned some people would think the show of support was about supporting former President Donald Trump. She said this is not the case.

Its about American and doing whats right, she said. Its about standing up for our freedom.

John Rhodes of Muscatine is an over-the-road trucker and came out to support the cause. He listened to a scanner app on his phone to let the others on the overpass know when the convoy was due. He also said about 50 trucks were coming down the highway, which was less than several hundred reported in other states.

Many came out to the overpass as families, bringing their children to watch the trucks going by. Matt Miller of Muscatine brought his wife, two daughters, and a dog to the event.

We are here to celebrate and support the truckers who are going across the country and to back them, he said. This is about freedom. This is about choice. This is about our rights.

He commented there are many people living in countries where they do not have freedom. He said the goal is to teach his children that freedom is special and something all Americans benefit from.

A shout went out the convoy was coming. A large semitractor-trailer flying two American flags and a POW/MIA symbol on its grill led the convoy. The semitractor-trailers did not travel in a line but intertwined with traffic. As the trucks went by many blew their horns at the people on the overpass.

On the overpass, the crowd showed excitement to see the trucks rolling by. Flags waved and people cheered. Overall, the feeling on the overpass was very positive.

The difference between this protest and the protests we saw two summers ago is that nothing is getting burned down or destroyed, Becky Hawn from Mercer County, Illinois commented.

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A Scott County probationer has been sentenced to three years in federal prison after he pleaded guilty to possessing a firearm as a convicted felon.

During a sentencing hearing Monday in U.S. District Court, Davenport, District Chief Judge Stephanie Rose also ordered Marshall Eugene Popp, 31, of Davenport, to serve three years on supervised release once he completes his prison sentence.

Popp will receive credit for the time he served in custody awaiting trial and sentencing.

There is no parole in the federal system.

Popp was arrested by Davenport Police on March 25, 2021, for being a felon in possession of a handgun and misdemeanor possession of methamphetamine.

Scott County prosecutors added a third count against Popp for being a convicted domestic abuse offender in possession of a firearm.

According to the arrest affidavit filed by Davenport Police Officer Robert Myers, Popp was in possession of a loaded .22-caliber Ruger pistol. The weapon had one bullet in the chamber and six bullets in the magazine.

At the time of his arrest on the gun and drug charges, Popp was on probation in Scott County after pleading guilty to misdemeanor domestic abuse and second-degree criminal mischief, the latter charge being a Class D felony under Iowa law that carries a prison sentence of five years. He was sentenced to two years on supervised probation in the cases during a hearing March 3, 2020, in Scott County District Court.

Federal authorities took over the gun charge on July 22. Popp pleaded guilty to the charge on Nov. 1.

A probation revocation hearing on the Scott County convictions is scheduled for March 14 in district court.

Popps criminal history in Scott County dates back to 2014 when on May 27 of that year he was arrested on a charge of first-degree arson, a Class B felony under Iowa law that carries a prison sentence of 25 years.

According to police, Popp set a fire in the bathroom at Lumpys Bar and Grill, 1509 Harrison St., about 11 p.m. April 4, while several people were in the building.

Popp pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of second-degree arson, a Class C felony that carries 10 years. During a sentencing hearing March 18, 2015, District Court Judge Tom Reidel sentenced Popp to serve three years on supervised probation. He completed that probation on Feb. 19, 2018.

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Just think of it: First in the world.

How many cultural institutions can make that claim?

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In the Chicago area, at least one could in 2017: The Illinois Holocaust Museum & Education Center, in Skokie, unveiled a theater in which visitors can speak with holographic images of Holocaust survivors.

Thanks to leading-edge technology developed by the USC Shoah Foundation in Los Angeles, anyone who steps into the museums Abe & Ida Cooper Survivor Stories Experience can behold the flickering, 3-D likeness of a Holocaust survivor, ask questions and hear the answers. The hologram  which looks at you, blinks, gestures and responds to your specific inquiry  will be able to converse with visitors for all time.

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Though uncounted engineers, designers, cinematographers, donors, fundraisers and others made possible the $5 million Take a Stand Center  which houses the holographic theater  two visionaries spearheaded the effort. Museum CEO Susan Abrams and project manager, Vice President Shoshana Buchholz-Miller, worked for three years to turn a daring, sci-fi concept into reality.

It was an incredibly complex process, from visioning, to gathering the resources, to bringing others along with the vision and re-imagining something that is beyond what we at the very beginning imagined, says Abrams.

I think it was challenging in the best way, says Buchholz-Miller. It was intellectually challenging to determine what we wanted to convey to the visitor. How can we keep them engaged and entertained but also give them something meaningful? All of us are passionate about telling the story of the Holocaust, but also about conveying these lessons.

So rather than rely entirely on the theaters spectacular technology, the museum leaders conceived it as the opening portion of the sprawling Take a Stand Center. After visitors spend time with the hologram, they step out of the theater and into the Goodman Upstander Gallery, where they see a reproduction of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (created by the United Nations General Assembly in Paris in 1948).

From there, visitors can watch short films on specific human rights and interact with displays of upstanders who have championed humanity, from Ruby Bridges to Malala Yousafzai.

Then visitors arrive at the Take a Stand Lab, where they learn how to take action in defense of human rights, from writing articles to organizing demonstrations. Finally, guests exit through the Act of Art Gallery, which features not only works themed on social justice but commentary from the artists themselves.

Why such an ambitious effort?

Almost immediately when I got here, says Abrams, who was appointed in 2014, what surprised me was how little was being done nationally and globally to develop content in innovative ways for the future. And, serendipitously, our board member Jim Goodman had a great idea and realized that the USC Shoah Foundation was working on this remarkable innovation.

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Abrams, Buchholz-Miller and colleagues traveled to institutions and consulted with experts across the country to learn what was possible. But those illuminating encounters only took them so far, because we were breaking new ground, says Abrams.

Indeed, USC Shoah Foundation executive director Stephen Smith recently called the museum the first institution in the world to present fully interactive video biographies in a permanent exhibition space.

A key concern, of course, centered on funding: How would it be possible to pay for all this while also trying to whittle down debt on the institutions spacious building?

The answer, museum officials decided, was to link the two.

This project has been integral to our fundraising success, says Abrams. Raising money for debt repayment is not so sexy.

But raising money for a project in which you are leading globally and revolutionizing Holocaust education  that gets peoples attention and captures their imagination and brings them along to want to be part of it.

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We were successful in shaping opportunities to be part of the success of the Take a Stand Center.

To date, the institution has generated $28.5 million toward its $30 million capital campaign to retire the debt on a building that opened on April 19, 2009. (Before that, the museum operated out of a cramped storefront on Main Street in Skokie.) The museum has an annual budget of $10 million.

Though Abrams and Buchholz-Millers work on the Take a Stand Center overlapped, and though they led a curatorial team, each executive had specific responsibilities.

My primary and most important role was vision, says Abrams, who before taking on the museums top job was chief operating officer for JCC Chicago, a Jewish community organization.

Because of my love and interest in the project, and my background and experience in program management and general project work, I was able to dive in selectively in some of the details.

As for Buchholz-Miller, who joined the museum in 2015 after her years at Arabella Advisors and the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, I tried to work with every element and every partner, and make sure of the practical elements of timing and budget and problem-solving. But also thinking about the big picture: What is it we want to convey, and is the content we are creating achieving that?

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For both managers, though, working on the Take a Stand Center had personal resonances, as well.

My mother-in-law is a Holocaust survivor, says Buchholz-Miller. That experience obviously shaped her life, shaped my husbands life, made him who he is today. Human rights is my passion and my academic background. The opportunity to work in a Holocaust Museum and be able to tell these stories is kind of a culmination of my familys identity, in a way.

Abrams adds that my passion also is human rights and social justice, and particularly as it applies to kids and education. So the opportunity to do this work is very meaningful. I was a history and finance major as an undergraduate. So its a nice circle: Im able to apply my love of history. Every day Im learning more about the past and about the present.

Ah, yes, the present. Considering events such as the deadly riot in Charlottesville, Va., the police killings of unarmed black men and similar, identity-based torments of our time, the Take a Stand Center seems tragically timely.

In the past year-plus we have seen an outgrowth of hate and intolerance in our world, says Buchholz-Miller, and that what we were doing was really important and would make a difference. That the stakes were very high for us to make a difference.

In other words, explains Abrams, the museum has tried to deliver on the social justice and human rights aspects of this (the Holocaust). Its the ultimate human rights tragedy, and now we can create the lessons from it for our world today.

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The impact of those lessons was palpably clear in October, when students from St. Paul of the Cross School in Park Ridge and St. Juliana School in Chicago were among the first to attend the Survivor Stories Experience. Shock, sorrow and sadness played across their faces as they heard the often unnerving answers to their questions provided by the holographic likeness of survivor and museum President Fritzie Fritzshall.

I was watching, remembers Buchholz-Miller. I had to remove myself from the theater, because I was so overcome by emotion.

It was seeing this vision realized, and understanding that while the technology is incredible, these students were so moved by the story.

And that was what we wanted to accomplish. I really was overcome. I had to leave. I felt wed really done it.

Indeed they have. And visitors from Chicago and around the world who attend the Take a Stand Center are the beneficiaries of their efforts.

Howard Reich is a Tribune critic.

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hreich@chicagotribune.com

Twitter @howardreich

[ RELATED: How to talk to Holocaust survivors in the future ]

[ New technology brings Holocaust survivors' stories to life ]

[ Reawakening the ghosts of Skokie ]
In better times, Ukrainian drone enthusiasts flew their gadgets into the sky to photograph weddings, fertilize soybean fields or race other drones for fun.

Now some are risking their lives by forming a volunteer drone force to help their country repel the Russian invasion.

Kyiv needs you and your drone at this moment of fury! read a Facebook post late last week from the Ukrainian military, calling for citizens to donate hobby drones and to volunteer as experienced pilots to operate them.

One entrepreneur who runs a retail store selling consumer drones in the capital said its entire stock of some 300 drones made by Chinese company DJI has been dispersed for the cause. Others are working to get more drones across the border from friends and colleagues in Poland and elsewhere in Europe.

Why are we doing this? We have no other choice. This is our land, our home, said Denys Sushko, head of operations at Kyiv-based industrial drone technology company DroneUA, which before the war was helping to provide drone services to farmers and energy companies.

Read the full story:

Formed in a fury to counter Russias blitzkrieg attack, Ukraines hundreds-strong volunteer hacker corps is much more than a paramilitary cyberattack force in Europe's first major war of the internet age. It is crucial to information combat and to crowdsourcing intelligence .

We are really a swarm. A self-organizing swarm," said Roman Zakharov, a 37-year-old IT executive at the center of Ukraine's bootstrap digital army.

Inventions of the volunteer hackers range from software tools that let smartphone and computer owners anywhere participate in distributed denial-of-service attacks on official Russian websites to bots on the Telegram messaging platform that block disinformation, let people report Russian troop locations and offer instructions on assembling Molotov cocktails and basic first aid.

Read full story:

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Samsung has suspended product shipments to Russia due to current geopolitical developments, joining a growing list of companies from Apple to Microsoft that are halting sales and services in the country following its invasion of Ukraine last week.

The South Korean tech giant is actively monitoring the complex situation, the company said in an emailed statement to Bloomberg. Exports to Russia of all Samsung products ranging from chips to smartphones and consumer electronics have been suspended, according to a person familiar with the matter.

Our thoughts are with everyone who has been impacted and our priority is to ensure the safety of all our employees and their families, Samsung said in the statement. The company is donating $6 million, including $1 million in consumer electronics products, to humanitarian efforts in the region.

Tensions increased on Friday after Ukraine said that Russian forces attacked a nuclear power plant in the southeast part of the country, raising the stakes in the war and prompting calls for an even more robust response to the Kremlins aggression.

The EU, U.S. and U.K. have compiled an extensive list of sanctions in an effort to isolate the country, financially, economically and technologically.

Beyond concerns about the war, operating in Russia has become challenging for outside companies, given the sanctions, a U.S. ban on transactions with the countrys central bank and a precipitous decline in the ruble.

Microsoft on Friday condemned Russias unjustified, unprovoked and unlawful invasion of Ukraine and said its suspending all new sales of products and services in Russia.

Apple has halted sales of iPhones and started limiting Apple Pay services and other popular products in Russia, and removed the RT News and Sputnik News applications from App Stores outside the country. HP Inc., the largest supplier of PCs to Russia, has stopped exports to the country as has Intel Corp.

@Samsung, I urge you to take a step towards world peace! As long as Russian tanks and missiles bomb kindergartens and hospitals in Ukraine, your cool equipment cannot be used by Russians! pic.twitter.com/xjOInduclD  Mykhailo Fedorov (@FedorovMykhailo) March 4, 2022

Ahead of the Samsung announcement, Mykhailo Fedorov, who serves as Ukraines vice prime minister and oversees digital operations, sent a letter to Samsung vice chairman Han Jong-hee to urge the Korean tech giant to temporarily cease supplying services and products to Russia.

We believe that such actions will motivate the youth and active population of Russia to proactively stop the disgraceful military aggression, Fedorov said in the letter which was posted on Friday on his twitter account.

We need your support  in 2022, modern technology is perhaps the best answer to the tanks, multiple rocket launchers and missiles targeting residential neighborhoods, kindergartens, and hospitals. Stay with Ukraine and save millions of innocent lives!

Suwon, Korea-based Samsung is the leading smartphone seller in Russia, with a market share thats slightly above 30%. Smartphone sales in Russia account for about 4% of the companys global revenue from the devices.

Semiconductor sales account for less than 0.1%, according to a report by Hana Financial Investment. Samsung also has a TV production plant in Kaluga, Russia.

Although South Korea has received an exemption from the U.S. export controls on Russia, the suspension of shipping channels and flights into the country would make it difficult for Korean companies to send products to the region anyway.

Korean Air Lines Co. said on Friday that it would skip its cargo services to Moscow for two weeks, while ocean carrier HMM Co. halted bookings in and out of St. Petersburg.

The Korean government said last week that the war in Ukraine would have a limited impact on the economy in the short term as its trade exposure is minimal. It warned that prolonged tensions could turn negative due to supply disruptions, uncertainties in financial markets and a slow economic recovery.

Exports to Russia accounted for 1.5% of South Koreas total exports last year, while imports totaled 2.8%, according to the finance ministry.
The city of St. Helena and Pacaso have spent the last year in court arguing over whether the citys timeshare ban applies to the company's home co-ownership model.

Now the city is getting ready to rewrite its code to remove all doubt.

The St. Helena Planning Commission voted 5-0 Tuesday in support of an ordinance that would overhaul the citys timeshare regulations for the first time since 1982 and redefine time-share to explicitly ban fractional ownership plans like Pacasos in residential zoning districts.

Neighbors who oppose Pacaso are hailing the proposed ordinance as an important step toward preserving the integrity of residential neighborhoods, preventing the noise and parking nuisances associated with short-term stays, and protecting St. Helenas precious housing stock.

We are pleased to at last see our city join others fighting Pacaso, the pending lawsuit notwithstanding, wrote St. Helena resident Susan McWilliams in a letter to the Planning Commission. It is just unfortunate that the ordinance offers no relief to the aggrieved neighbors of existing Pacaso houses, who will continue to suffer the intrusions that living adjacent to a hotel bring.

Connie Wilson, who has organized neighborhood protests in front of several Pacaso homes, called the proposed ordinance thoughtful and correct.

This ordinance fortifies and protects our residential neighborhoods from commercial encroachment from companies such as Pacaso, Wilson wrote.

Pacaso claims that its homes are not timeshares. The company forms a limited liability company (LLC) to take ownership of each property, and then allows up to eight parties to buy shares in the LLC.

According to Pacasos website, each 1/8 owner can use the property in increments of between two and 14 days, for up to 44 days per year.

Pacasos website currently advertises 1/8 shares in St. Helena homes on Hillview Place ($418,000), Riesling Way ($455,000) and Madrona Avenue ($614,000).

Naseem Moeel, a public affairs manager for Pacaso who lives in St. Helena, called the ordinance an overreaction and said the city should instead be focused on issues like water and wildfires.

Pacasos model is not quite a timeshare, Moeel told the commission.

These are co-ownerships, she said. These are people who want to invest in our community. Its not taking away housing stock either.

People who would like to be involved in Napa Valleys lifestyle are now being asked to own a whole home to be involved in that community, Moeel said.

City staff initially delayed changing the ordinance in light of the ongoing litigation, according to City Attorney Ethan Walsh. However, staff decided to move forward due to the continued marketing of time share uses within the City, Walsh wrote in a staff report.

The ordinance now heads to the City Council for possible adoption.

You can reach Jesse Duarte at 967-6803 or jduarte@sthelenastar.com.

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American Canyon is one Napa County community that isnt going through handwringing about having to comply with new state house-building mandates.

The south county city must make room for 446 new homes from 2023-31. Forty percent of them are to be affordable.

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Plus, American Canyon has transfer agreements with Napa County that takes some of the state-mandated new homes assigned to rural, unincorporated wine country. The county has requested the city take on another 176 homes.

That means American Canyon over eight years must make room for at least 622 new homes. City leaders during Tuesdays City Council meeting seemed to take the number in stride.

American Canyon is fortunate to have the land to build on, Mayor Leon Garcia said.

Unfortunately, some areas  well, cities to the north of us in this county  theyre very constrained, he said.

The city in recent years approved Watson Ranch, which is to someday have about 1,200 homes. It approved its Broadway District Specific Plan that allows 1,200 new housing units along Highway 29. Both efforts will take years to come to fruition.

City Councilmember Mark Joseph said the city is in a position to have a little bit of bragging rights, to say, We can deliver. 

California assigned 441,176 new housing units to the Bay Area for 2023-31, compared to 187,990 for the present housing cycle. The Association of Bay Area Governments split the regional number up among nine Bay Area counties and their cities.

The number is called the Regional Housing Needs Assessment allocation. American Canyon must update its general plan housing element to show how it will meet its mandated number. The housing element must be certified by the state by Jan. 31, 2023.

That means identifying where those 622 new housing units will go.

Having a state-certified housing element avoids state litigation. It maintains local control over housing. It maintains state funding eligibility for housing, parks, transit, bike lanes, and other projects, said Luke Lindenbusch of the Napa Sonoma Collaborative.

Hearing the progress American Canyon is making, Im not too worried about American Canyon getting a certified housing element, or needing to be too worried about this, he told the City Council.

He recommended the city plan for more homes than its housing mandate number, creating a buffer in case some sites dont work out.

The state is checking to make sure your inventory remains valid with every year, he said.

Garcia saw an advantage to creating the housing.

If youve got housing, you can draw corporate business into town," he said. "They need it for their workforce.

American Canyon presently has about 6,300 housing units.

Housing mandates have caused bigger headaches for other jurisdictions. For example, Napa County is struggling to find room for 106 state-mandated homes, 61 of them low-income, within the unincorporated county outside of cities. Constraints include agricultural protections, wildfire danger and a lack of water lines, sewer lines, and mass transit.

You can reach Barry Eberling at 256-2253 or beberling@napanews.com.

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Pikeville, KY (41501)

Today

Cloudy skies early, then partly cloudy this afternoon. High around 80F. Winds light and variable..

Tonight

Cloudy with occasional showers overnight. Thunder possible. Low 67F. Winds ESE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 60%.
EU to ban Russians from buying European real estate

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Fifty years ago, the political activist and anarchist Abbie Hoffman, a co-founder of the Yippies, was arrested at the 1968 Democratic National Convention in Chicago. Along with other members of the so-called Chicago Eight  which, following the separation of one prosecution, later became the Chicago Seven  Hoffman was charged with conspiracy and intent to riot.

But what is most fascinating in the history of Chicago comedy is what happened in 1969, the year that the events of August 1968 were put on trial, and Hoffman and his alleged co-conspirators all stood in the courtroom of Judge Julius J. Hoffman  Hoffman liked to call him Julie  as part of a trial that dragged on more than four months.

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By day, Hoffman was in the courtroom. By night, Hoffman regularly appeared at The Second City. His favorite character: Judge Julie. His favorite verdict on himself? Guilty.

At the time, pretty much everyone at Second City was convinced they were all being used by the ever-savvy and slippery Hoffman as part of an alibi.

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But first, some context.

The year 1968 had been very weird at Second City in Chicago. Founded by intellectual nerds and squares from the University of Chicago, the comedy company did not have an easy time adjusting to the changes on the streets outside its doors.

But one new arrival that year was Harold Ramis; his life-changing career at the comedy theater had been set up by Richard Christiansen, formerly of the Tribune, then a Chicago Daily News critic, who introduced the young writer from Playboy to friend Michael Miller, who was directing at Second City. That audition landed Ramis in the touring company, which performed in Chicago on Monday nights and prided itself on having edgier jokes and longer hair than the mainstage troupe. The material was more radical politics and drugs and hippie stuff, was the way Ramis explained it to the former Chicago Sun-Times journalist Mike Thomas many years later.

Once the 1968 protesters had been pushed out of Lincoln Park around 11 each night of the convention, they tended to run down North Avenue and toward Second Citys theater, meaning that the actors could see clashes between rioters and police outside the Walgreens across the street. In many cases, the police assumed that the Second Citys performers were, in fact, protesters, even though many of them were wearing suits and ties.

Right after the 1968 convention, Second City opened a new show.

Although the cast was experienced in the older ways, A Plague on Both Your Houses made an attempt to reflect what was going on in the city. In the first scene (which is recounted in a 2001 book by Amy E. Seham), a Chicago police officer was seen beating up a protester.

Wait, said the victim, Im a reporter.

The officer stopped the beating, took out a gun and shot the reporter.

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Improv historian Jeffrey Sweets book, Something Wonderful Right Away described the audience reaction to the 1968 show and its title song as singularly intense. The entire audience got up, tears in their eyes, Sweet quotes J.J. Barry as recalling, and the arms went up in peace symbols. It was like a revival, man!

But within Second City, Plague came to be seen as a show that was too angry to be funny. The next revue retreated to a safer space.

Ramis also told Sheldon Patinkin  who also wrote a book about Second City  that all kinds of problems happened with the touring company that year, a company that Second Citys co-founder Bernie Sahlins had booked into West Point where the long-haired material did not go down especially well. And at a show in Louisville, Ky., Ramis told Patinkin, not only was the show received in stony silence but someone threw a glass at the performers, who just manged to dodge before it smashed. Ramis told Patinkin that the company rewrote its flopping show in a panic, throwing in some of the jokes they had heard told in the Playboy mansion, and even writing a country usong, If Id a Known She Was Dead, Id Never Have Asked Her to Dance.

That, they thought, would be safe.

But in fall 1969, Sahlins, who ran the company, decided to move the entire mainstage cast to New York (which was one of his preferred ways of shaking things up). Ramis and his young touring pals became, in essence, the replacements. They had long hair, wore bell-bottoms, preferred more political content and called their show the Next Generation. They were a shock to the system. One review opined that if this were the next generation, it might be preferable to have the old one back.

This was the end of the early Second City uniform of skinny ties for guys and black dresses for women. It was a sea change. On the other hand, the cast also was regularly cavorting with the bunnies in Hugh Hefner's Playboy mansion, along with the naked cast of Hair, which was playing downtown Chicago. It was a complicated time.

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And by then, Hoffman was on trial in Chicago.

He was no stranger to performance, of course. In an article just last year, no less than Smithsonian magazine argued that Hoffman was the inventor of improvised guerrilla theater, if you define that term as the marriage of absurd humor and disruption to make a political point. In 1967, Hoffman had showed up at the New York Stock Exchange and first showered dollar bills on the trading floor and then set fire to a five-dollar bill. At the 1968 convention protests, he proposed a pig for president. And even in 1969, when he was staring down jail time, he was determined to make a mockery of the trial of the Chicago Seven, showing up in, and then stomping on, judicial robes. It went so far that he earned himself a citation for contempt of court, adding to his legal troubles.

Expand Autoplay Image 1 of 37 Six of the Chicago 7 defendants appear in 1970. Abbie Hoffman, from left, John Froines, Lee Weiner, Jerry Rubin, Rennie Davis and Tom Hayden were acquitted of conspiracy, but five were convicted of other charges. The guilty verdicts were later overturned. (William Yates / Chicago Tribune)

But even Hoffman surely knew that it would not be good for his courtroom fate if he was seen to be, or assumed to be, roaming the Chicago streets with the Weathermen, the militant group that came to be known as the Weather Underground, who were smashing cars pretty much outside the door of the theater. And so he came to Second City almost every night, usually losing the investigators he assumed to be on his tail by melting into the night as fast as he arrived. He may have had motives beyond his own legal aid or anarchistic impulses. One of the cast members, Roberta Maguire, told Thomas that she and Hoffman were lovers, for a time.

So if you were watching comedy at Second City in 1969, as Hoffman and the disturbances of the long hot Chicago summer of 1968 went on trial, you likely were seeing one of the defendants, often poking fun at the very judge with the power to send him to jail. As author Sam Wasson recounted in his 2017 book, Improv Nation, Hoffman really did regularly show up in a sketch all about his own ongoing trial, playing the judge. Hoffman found the Next Generation guilty, every night.

Was that the greatest moment ever at Second City? There were many over the years. Plenty of celebrities would show up to do the improv set, especially when Oprah Winfrey was in town. One night not long ago, Paul Simon sang an a capella version of The Sound of Silence.

But if another real-life defendant in a sensational and politicized trial  the high-profile consequence of one of the more tumultuous summers in the history of Chicago  ever made regular and reportedly hilarious appearances in a sketch all about himself, well then no one ever has told me.

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Chris Jones is a Tribune critic.

cjones5@chicagotribune.com

[ MORE COVERAGE: The Chicago Seven put their fate in her hands. One juror's rarely seen trial journals reveal how that changed her forever ]

[ Mike Royko: Fond memories of 68 convention ]

[ From 2014: Sheldon Patinkin, a giant of Chicago comedy and theater, dies at 79 ]
A federal judge has dismissed Chicago radio host Melissa McGurrens defamation lawsuit against her former employer, Hubbard Radio Chicago, whom she alleged falsely branded her a liar while responding to her harassment claims against former co-host Eric Ferguson.

McGurren brought the $10 million claim in October in response to an email in which the company told its staff that it had thoroughly investigated her U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission complaint against Ferguson and did not agree with Melissas characterization of events.

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McGurren alleged the statement attacked her credibility and integrity and that a thorough review was never conducted or, at a minimum, was a sham investigation, according to her lawsuit.

In his recent written ruling, Judge Ronald Guzman found Hubbard Vice President Jeff Englands comments were nonactionable statements of opinion and did not fall into any of the five categories that Illinois law deems to be defamatory.

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The judge granted Hubbards motion to dismiss McGurrens lawsuit on March 1. Her attorney, Carmen D. Caruso, said in a statement he is disappointed in the courts ruling and is reviewing the path forward. And we are confident of our clients underlying claims against Hubbard and look forward to our hearing in arbitration.

Attorneys for Hubbard, meanwhile, quickly seized on the ruling as a victory. On Friday, they asked another federal judge presiding over an earlier defamation lawsuit against Hubbard to adopt Guzmans reasoning and dismiss that claim as well.

In that earlier federal lawsuit, former assistant producer Cynthia DeNicolo alleged Hubbard defamed her in statements that it found no evidence to corroborate allegations of illegal workplace conduct after she accused Ferguson of coercing her into sexual acts in 2004.

DeNicolo also has filed a separate lawsuit against Ferguson in Cook County court. Ferguson was sidelined from the morning program he led for 25 years in late October, shortly after the Tribune reported that DeNicolo had sued him earlier in the year.

More allegations against Ferguson followed from three other women who used to work at The Mix, including McGurren, who said in court filings that she left the show after Ferguson created an unbearably hostile work environment. She and the other women allege management protected him because of his popularity.

Ferguson has not spoken publicly about the allegations, but through his lawyers and in legal filings he has denied inappropriate workplace conduct.

Station management initially said Ferguson would be off the air through October. Then, in late October, a statement from Ferguson was circulated to station employees announcing he planned to step away from the show and felt confident that at the end of the day the courts will rule and the right outcome will prevail.

WTMX afternoon host Chris Petlak succeeded Ferguson as host of the morning show in January.

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DeNicolo contends Ferguson orchestrated her dismissal in May 2020 using COVID-19 as a pretext. Her suit against Ferguson states that in 2004 she stopped providing oral sex in response to his demands, for which he allegedly used the code words I need a back rub. She said Ferguson taunted her with the phrase throughout her tenure at the station.

In her federal defamation claim, DeNicolo included a written statement from a former sales employee who said Ferguson groped the employee at WTMXs 2003 Christmas party in full view of her husband and co-workers.

McGurren worked for The Mix for more than two decades. Her abrupt departure from the airwaves stunned her fans in December 2020. When she left, Hubbard said in a public statement it was surprised and disappointed she had declined a contract extension  a comment McGurren disputes.

In court filings, McGurren said Ferguson demeaned, harassed and ridiculed her. She described him as a serial abuser of women and said management failed to respond and then forced her out when she demanded that the alleged harassment stop.

McGurren accused the company in the defamation suit of intending to injure her and jeopardize her new career. She now co-hosts a morning show on the Audacy-owned station WUSN-FM 99.5.

Her lawsuit included an affidavit from a former Mix colleague, Jennifer Ashrafi, who went by Jennifer Roberts on air and said Fergusons abusive behavior is open and known by all at The Mix.

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McGurren argued Hubbard had ample notice of Fergusons alleged conduct and thus knowingly made the false statement that it disagreed with her characterization of events regarding her EEOC complaint. In granting Hubbards motion to dismiss the lawsuit, Guzman ruled the companys emailed statement to employees did not defame her.

Taken in context, a reasonable reader would not understand the internal email by England to have been made for the purpose of causing harm to (McGurrens) reputation or lowering her standing in the community, but rather to acknowledge the existence of the EEOC claim, convey to the radio stations employees that the matter is being investigated, and indicate that the radio station does not agree with (McGurrens) interpretation, the judge wrote.

cmgutowski@chicagotribune.com

tswartz@tribpub.com
The Russian side has not yet received information from Ukraine about the dates for the third round of talks, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov told a press conference on Saturday, TASS reported.

"We are ready, as was well known to our Ukrainian colleagues, to move forward last night to hold such a third round," Lavrov added.

Ukraine is constantly making excuses to delay the start of the next round of talks with Russia, said the FM.

As per Lavrov, the Russian negotiators are still waiting for information from Ukraine, but now the respective situation "seems strange."

Lavrov said that Russia has clearly outlined the conditions it deems necessary for the settlement of the Ukrainian crisis.

"We have spoken, both in the speeches of the [Russian] President and in the speeches of our delegation in the mentioned negotiations, about the conditions which we consider absolutely indivisible for the settlement of this crisis, in order to eliminate the threat being posed for many years against Russia in the territory of Ukraine by the members of the North Atlantic Alliance," said the Russian FM.
Sydney Stewart was named a 2022 Fulbright Alumni Ambassador.

OSU Alumnus named as 2022 Fulbright Alumni Ambassador

Media Contact: Lyn Putnam | Communications Specialist | 405-744-5496 | lyn.putnam@okstate.edu

The Fulbright U.S. Student Alumni Ambassador Program has named Oklahoma State University graduate Sydney Stewart as a Fulbright Alumni Ambassador.

Stewart  who earned a bachelor's degree in animal science in 2017 and an animal science master's degree in 2020  will serve as a representative, recruiter, and a voice for the Fulbright Program.

Stewart studied agriculture in Germany as a Fulbright grantee in 2017. Her research included various biosecurity and husbandry strategies of local livestock producers responding to federal regulations and negative consumer perceptions. While in Germany, Sydney consulted on several projects on herd health, animal welfare and food safety.

Upon her return from Germany, Sydney transitioned into the field of emergency management consulting and currently works as an analyst for a nonprofit research and analysis firm based in Arlington, Virginia. There, she specializes in emergency management, public health, and safety and infrastructure resilience.

The Fulbright U.S. Student Alumni Ambassador Program identifies and trains about 20 alumni each year to serve as representatives. They are selected through recommendations and come from a worldwide array of different socioeconomic backgrounds, institutions, fields of study and economic backgrounds.

Fulbright Alumni Ambassadors provide testimonials about their experiences at conferences and campus presentations and offer application tips in written articles, video and podcast interviews, webinars and at special events throughout the United States.

Ambassadors play a key role in assisting potential applicants, explaining what a Fulbright grant is like and all the challenges that may occur. Most importantly, they play a significant role in increasing knowledge about Fulbright opportunities.
Beijing upholds patriots-only rule in HK: premier

Premier Li Keqiang said Beijing fully supports the work of the SAR government in accordance with the law. Image: Shutterstock

Premier Li Keqiang said on Saturday that Beijing will uphold the principle that only patriots will govern Hong Kong, while reaffirming the spirit of the one country two systems principle and Hong Kong people administering Hong Kong.



Delivering the government's work report during the opening meeting of the National People's Congress in the capital, Li said Beijing will fully support the work of the SAR government in accordance with the law.



"We will ensure that the central government exercise overall jurisdiction over the two SARs and also uphold the principle that Hong Kong and Macau should be governed by patriots," he said.



"And we will help Hong Kong and Macau develop their economies and improve the people's wellbeing, and see that the two regions better integrate themselves into the country's overall development, and maintain long-term prosperity and stability.



He said Beijing will continue to implement the principles of One Country, Two Systems, Hong Kong people governing Hong Kong and a high degree of autonomy accurately and staunchly.



On Taiwan, the premier said people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait should come together to advance the cause of Chinas rejuvenation and unification.



He said Beijing is resolutely against pro-independence separatist behaviour and any interference of foreign powers.
Russian forces blockade Ukrainian port of Mariupol

Russian forces blockade Ukrainian port of Mariupol

Russian troops have blockaded the strategic Ukrainian port city Mariupol, its mayor announced on Saturday, as Moscow and Kyiv aimed to hold new talks over the weekend.



While laying siege to Mariupol for days, Russian forces also cut its electricity, food, water, heating and transportation in the depths of winter, prompting comparisons to the Nazi blockade of Leningrad in World War II.



"For now, we are looking for solutions to humanitarian problems and all possible ways to get Mariupol out of the blockade," said mayor Vadim Boychenko. He called for a ceasefire and a humanitarian corridor for food and medicine.



Since President Vladimir Putin's army attacked on February 24, Russia has pummelled Ukrainian cities, killed hundreds of civilians and assaulted Europe's largest atomic power plant.



The offensive has drawn condemnation and severe sanctions from Western nations balancing punishment of the Kremlin with fears of a hazardous escalation.



Moscow has seized two key cities in its 10-day-long invasion, Berdiansk and Kherson on Ukraine's southern Black Sea coast.



But capturing Mariupol, a city of about 450,000 people on the Azov Sea, would represent a bigger prize for Russian forces as it would deal a severe blow to Ukraine's maritime access and connect troops coming from annexed Crimea and the Donbas.



Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said late on Friday that Moscow was waiting for a third round of talks with Ukraine in Belarus, and one of Kyiv's negotiators said it hoped to hold them this weekend.



"The third leg could take place tomorrow or the day after, we are in constant contact," Ukrainian presidential advisor Mykhailo Podolyak said on Friday.



As Russia bombed cities across the country, the Ukrainian military said on Facebook that Moscow's main focus was to encircle Kyiv.



In a hospital in the Ukrainian capital, wounded soldiers told of their grim battle against the Russian advance, and vowed to return to the frontline.



"We were on reconnaissance and came across an enemy column that had made a breakthrough," said Motyka, 29, who was hit by shrapnel on his right side.



"We fought them and killed their soldiers on foot, but they showered us with mortar fire."



Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was set to appeal to Washington for more assistance on Saturday. He will address the US Senate as some lawmakers urged President Joe Biden to take tougher measures, including banning Russia's oil imports.



Zelenskyy had earlier criticised Nato for ruling out a no-fly zone, saying the Western military alliance had essentially given "the green light for further bombing of Ukrainian cities and villages".



In the northern city Chernihiv, 47 people died on Thursday when Russian forces bombed residential areas, including schools and a high-rise apartment block, according to local officials.



"We are faced together with what is President Putin's war of choice, unprovoked, unjustified, and a war that is having horrific, horrific consequences," US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in Brussels.



"We're committed to doing everything we can to make it stop."



Putin on Friday told his Belarusian counterpart Alexander Lukashenko that "the tasks set for the (Ukraine) operations are going according to plan and will be fulfilled in their entirety".



With fears growing of nuclear conflict, the US and Russian armed forces have set up a new direct phone line to reduce the risks of "miscalculation," the Pentagon said on Friday.



Russian forces attacked and seized the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant on Friday, pushing Kyiv to accuse Moscow of "nuclear terror".



Ukrainian monitors say there has been no spike in radiation after a fire in a training facility.



Moscow denied it had shelled the plant.



Peskov called on Russians "to unite around our president" after thousands braved mass arrests at anti-war demonstrations this week.



In an apparent response to the unrest, Russian authorities have imposed a news blackout and several media outlets have halted operations.



Multiple media websites, including the BBC, were partially inaccessible in Russia.



Twitter was restricted and Facebook blocked.



The BBC and Bloomberg said they were suspending work in Russia after lawmakers in Moscow approved legislation to impose fines and jail terms of up to 15 years for anyone publishing "fake news" about the army.



"This legislation appears to criminalise the process of independent journalism," BBC Director-General Tim Davie said in a statement.



CNN said it would halt broadcasting in Russia, while independent Russian newspaper Novaya Gazeta said it would remove Ukraine content in the wake of the new law.



Putin has been unmoved as Russia has become an economic, sporting and cultural pariah.



But UN prosecutors at The Hague are investigating a possible war crime in the eastern city of Kharkiv, where authorities say residential areas were indiscriminately shelled.



Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba demanded a special tribunal, alleging there were "numerous cases of, unfortunately, when Russian soldiers rape women in the Ukrainian cities".



In Geneva, the UN Human Rights Council voted to create a top-level investigation into violations committed in the offensive.



"The message to Putin has been clear: you're isolated on a global level and the whole world is against you," Ukrainian ambassador Yevheniia Filipenko said after the vote.



The UN Security Council will hold an emergency meeting on Monday on the humanitarian crisis in Ukraine and discuss a possible draft resolution, diplomats said on Friday.



The UN says more than 1.2 million refugees have flooded into neighbouring countries.



The global body's food agency has warned the conflict will create a food crisis in Ukraine and worsen global food insecurity, with Moscow and Kyiv providing around 29 percent of the global wheat trade.



"The bullets and bombs in Ukraine could take the global hunger crisis to levels beyond anything we've seen before," said agency director David Beasley. (AFP)
A 54-year-old man was shot shortly after midnight while he was in his living room in the Stony Island Park neighborhood, Chicago police said.

He was in the 8400 block of South Cregier Avenue when he heard shots and felt pain. A bullet had pierced through a front window, hitting him in the thigh, police said.

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He was taken to the University of Chicago Medical Center where he was listed in good condition.

No one was in custody and detectives were investigating.
UC Santa Cruz Associate Professor of Sociology Hillary Angelo was selected among a group of 25 world-leading social science researchers and academics to be a member of the Institute for Advanced Study (IAS). The Institutes 2022-2023 members in the School of Social Science will focus on the theme Climate Crisis Politics, and Angelo will contribute her expertise as an urban and environmental sociologist.

Im really excited to be a part of this, and its especially wonderful to see the IAS School of Social Science focusing on climate change, Angelo said. It acknowledges the existential importance of this issue for our future, and its cultivating good interdisciplinary scholarship, which is exactly the kind of thinking that climate change requires.

Angelos membership in the IAS will include joining a residential community at the Institutes campus in Princeton, New Jersey, from fall 2022 through spring 2023, during which time shell collaborate with other scholars in the cohort and focus on her individual research. Shes currently working on a book that explores how the shift from fossil fuels to renewable energy can either transform or reproduce existing land use policies, perceptions of nature, and political and economic relationships.

In particular, Angelo will study these issues on public lands in the United States, with examples from areas like Bears Ears National Monument, on the border of Utah and Arizona, and deserts in California and Nevada.

In southern Utah and northern Arizona, we see the decline of fossil fuels and hydropower, and theres been a big involvement of Indigenous groups, huge recreational interest, and coordinated efforts among natural scientists, archaeologists, and tribes to preserve these landscapes and treat them in new ways, she said. Ive been contrasting that to the buildout of renewable energy in the Nevada and California desert, where some of these new resources are being developed within the same old patterns as fossil fuels.

Angelos member position with the IAS will allow her to focus on writing for the new book, and she also plans to conduct additional archival research. She says shes grateful for the opportunity to focus on the project and is looking forward to collaborating with IAS members.

It's an amazing group of people, she said. It's always exciting to have time to do research and writing, but its even better to have time with people who can help me think through new ideas.
"As approved by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet, the Central Government here appoints Justice D.N. Patel, Chief Justice of Delhi High Court to the post of Chairperson, Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal in the salary of Rs 2,50,000 (fixed) p.m., for a period of four years, or until further orders, whichever is the earliest," read an official order.

As per the order, the posting will be for a period of four years from the date of assumption of charge or till attaining 70 years age, whichever is the earliest.

The conditions of service will be governed by the provisions of the Tribunals Reforms Act, 2021 and the Tribunal (Conditions of Service) Rules, 2021, the order said.

Born on March 13, 1960, Justice Patel was elevated as Chief Justice of Delhi High Court on June 7, 2019.

Previously, he has served as Acting Chief Justice of Jharkhand High Court and also served as Judge of Jharkhand High Court and Gujarat High Court

The current Chairperson's term ended last year, but the Supreme Court extended it until June 2021 because the post had not been filled.

--IANS jw/vd

( 231 Words)

2022-03-04-22:30:06 (IANS)
New Delhi [India], March 5 (ANI/NewsVoir): Rise Infraventures, a Gurugram Headquartered real estate consultancy company is ready to capture the real estate market of Delhi with the target to achieve incremental sales of Rs. 300 crore, with the vision to establish and be recognized as amongst real estate consultants on a Pan - India level. The Company is already flourishing and generating a monthly sale of Rs. 100 crore (GMV) through its Gurugram Office. The dynamics of the Delhi real estate market is changing quickly and indicating the trend of premium and luxury houses. The hit of COVID waves has brought the trend of luxury homes with a massive increase in the market. This significant increase has created an opportunity for Rise Infrastructures to accomplish its goal of 300 crores (GMV) through the Delhi office. The market for residential and commercial project categories is the appropriate way to expand revenue generation. The investors are also looking for valuable and reputable project deals in the market. Currently, the market is offering a broad range of business opportunities in both residential and commercial projects. Looking at the emerging growth, the company aims to move forward with the legacy of Rise Infraventures to become the best. The determined experts of the company always come up with good strategies to provide the best solutions. As per the market research, there is 25 per cent of total premium and luxury launches this year. In comparison to previous years, the growth is quite significant. "The ability to deliver excellent projects on time is a testament to our resolute enactment. The impeccable stature within the fraternity combined with a qualified and professional team of Rise Infraventures ensures 100 per cent customer satisfaction. As per the market analysis, the injunction for residential projects has been increased. It is a good time for Rise Infraventures Limited to capture the market with our unexplored and inventive commercial, residential projects. Advancing demand after post-COVID situation in the industry is a pre boost for our launches. The prime focus is to deliver the best luxury residential projects around the city. The developed need for luxury residential will create new pinnacles of triumph in the real estate industry," added Sachin Gawri, CEO & Founder Rise Infraventures Limited. Rise Infraventures is delivering a high standard of services in residential and commercial projects. Building the properties with new-age marketing tools to create a dream property for customers and to reach the goal. This story is provided by NewsVoir. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/NewsVoir)
China on Saturday said its gross domestic product (GDP) is expected to grow at 5.5 per cent in 2022, the lowest in more than 30 years. China's GDP growth target for 2022 is sharply lower than 8.1 per cent expansion in the economy achieved in 2021. The annual official growth target was revealed by Premier Li Keqiang in the Government Work Report that was delivered to the opening of the annual session of the National People's Congress (NPC), the country's top legislature, on Saturday morning, Global Times reported. India has emerged as the fastest-growing major economy. The Indian economy is projected to grow by 9.2 per cent in the financial year ending March 2022. For the financial year 2022-23, India has set GDP growth target of 8 to 8.5 per cent. Though China's target is for the calendar year while India's target is for the financial year that runs from April to March, the economic expansion of India is set to be much faster than that of China. According to Economic Survey 2021-22 tabled in parliament by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on January 31, India has emerged as the fastest-growing major economy in the world and is projected to occupy that position for at least the next two years. China's GDP growth target of 5.5 per cent for 2022, is the lowest since 1991. Another closely-watched data is China's deficit-to-GDP ratio, which was set at around 2.8 per cent for 2022, according to the Government Work Report. (ANI)
Mudhol (Karnataka) [India], March 5 (ANI/ATK): The Nirani Sugars Limited of the MRN Group of Companies has crossed yet another important milestone by creating a national record in sugarcane crushing capacity. The unit based in Mudhol taluk of Bagalkot district in Karnataka, has created a national record by crushing over 20 lakh metric tonnes of sugarcane in just 107 days making it one of the most efficient sugar factories in the country. The new feat of Nirani Sugars Limited, the leading sugar manufacturer in the country, has once again put the spotlight on the MRN Group which is known for meeting high standards, good work culture and fair business practices in the sugar industry. By crushing over 20 lakh metric tonnes of sugarcane in just 107 days, the MRN Group has set the bar high in India's sugar industry. This is the highest sugarcane crushing record ever registered in the entire country. Nirani Sugars Ltd plans to crush more than 25 lakh metric tonnes of sugarcane by the end of this sugarcane crushing season, which will make it the highest ever sugarcane crushed in the country. The MRN Group had earlier created a record by reaching the highest sugarcane crushing capacity this year. The group had created a record by crushing 60,975.983 metric tonnes of sugarcane in a single day. This was the highest crushing record registered in entire south India. Almost all the units that come under MRN Group have achieved their highest crushing capacity this year thus making it one of the most efficient, successful and trusted sugar manufacturing entities in the country. Expressing happiness over the new record created by his company, the Managing Director of the MRN Group, Vijay Nirani credited farmers and his employees for the feat. "We are a people-centric organisation with great emphasis on efficiency and technology, which has allowed us to break a national record. With the support of our farmers that are more than 1.5 lakh and our beloved employees who are working with a great zeal and enthusiasm, we have been able to achieve this feat. At Nirani Sugars Ltd, we also ensure that our factories are equipped with the latest technology that allows us to further enhance our production, not just in terms of quantity but also in quality. We are looking forward to a great end of this current sugarcane crushing season," said a beaming Nirani. The group has been making giant strides in the sugar industry by reaching new milestones with high quality sugar products thus carving a niche for itself in the world of sugar manufacturing. Established in 1995, the MRN group is a diversified conglomerate with successful business entities across Karnataka. The group has diversified business interests in the areas of sugar, ethanol, agro industries, cement, biofuel, renewable energy, banking, healthcare and education. The group has set up one of the Asia's largest ethanol production units in Karnataka. Over 70,000 people have been employed in the MRN Group, with over 1.4 lakh farmer families dependent on it for a sustainable livelihood. The MRN Group was founded by dynamic Large and Medium Industries Minister Murugesh R Nirani. He was born into a humble farmer family at Basava Hanchinal village in Bilagi taluk of Bagalkot district. After graduation in Civil Engineering at BVB College of Engineering & Technology in Hubballi and a PG Diploma in Business Management in Pune, Nirani decided to start his own venture instead of finding a job. He was always concerned about the plight of farmers in his hometown and wanted to do something to improve their lives. After witnessing the hardships faced by the sugarcane farmers in his hometown, he decided to set up a small sugarcane crushing unit in Mudhol in 1995 with a 500 TCD capacity to alleviate the sufferings of farmers and help them increase their income and provide jobs to local people. The MRN Group today operates six sugar mills including Nirani Sugars Ltd., Shri Sai Priya Sugars Ltd., MRN Cane Power India Ltd., Kedarnath Sugars Ltd., and Badami Sugars Ltd., with a consolidated capacity of over 70,000 TCD per day. Over 12 different products are being produced with sugarcane as the base material. The group has been manufacturing over 6 variants and grades of sugar. Nirani, after successfully establishing his industry, decided to step down so that he could concentrate on his public life and dedicate more time for the party and government affairs. He handed over the responsibility to his son Vijay Nirani. Elated over the new national record in sugarcane crushing set by his Group, Large and Medium Industries Minister Murugesh R Nirani, the founder of the MRN Group, lauded the efforts of his son Vijay Nirani, the Managing Director of the group and also thanked the farmers and employees for the new achievement. "I am elated to see this great achievement of the MRN Group. I congratulate every stakeholder from the management to farmers, employees and everyone who is part of this feat. The MRN Group has set a benchmark in the sugar industry in the entire country. I'm sure that the group will scale greater heights and contribute immensely to the economic growth. I extend my wishes to everyone involved for greater success in their future endeavours," said the proud minister. The MRN Group is also making big strides in the field of biofuel and bio energy by setting new standards and making huge contributions towards reaching India's goal of clean energy, renewable energy for sustainable growth. The group is making a mark in the manufacture and supply of eco-friendly fuel at affordable rates. This story is provided by ATK. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/ATK)
Gandhinagar (Gujarat) [India], March 5 (ANI/PNN): Dr Hemant Garg, an officer with the International Finance Services Centres Authority's (IFSCA) Fintech and Regulatory division, is the first resident to acquire a passport displaying the famed address of Gandhinagar's Gujarat International Finance Tec-City (GIFT) city. Dr Garg who is trained Commercial Arbitrator with Doctarate in International Commercial Arbitration and an MBA from UK has been a resident in GIFT City's first residential housing scheme, Janadhar Mangla, since assuming his duties as an IFSCA officer in 2020. He is also posted as Nodal officer for Social Media Outreach for his organization. On April 27, 2020, the International Financial Services Centres Authority (IFSCA) was founded under the International Financial Services Centres Authority Act, 2019. The Authority is headquartered in Gujarat's GIFT City. The GIFT City is Gandhinagar's central business centre. It is India's first operational greenfield smart city and international financial services hub, which was pitched as a greenfield project by the Gujarat government. On the banks of the Sabarmati River, the city is approximately 12 kilometres from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport. Residents may stroll to work in this metropolis, which contains commercial, financial, and residential facilities. The IFSCA is world's first 'Unified Regulator' responsible for developing and regulating financial products, financial services, and financial institutions in India's International Financial Services Centre (IFSC). At the moment, the GIFT IFSC is India's first international financial services facility. Before the foundation of IFSCA, the IFSC business was governed by the local financial authorities, including the RBI, SEBI, PFRDA, and IRDAI. With the establishment of IFSCA, all the Regulatory function of RBI, SEBI, PFRDA, and IRDAI have come under this unified regulator which is statutory established to develop and regulate all Fintech related acivities in all IFSC's in India. The main objective of the IFSCA is to develop a strong global connection and focus on the needs of the Indian economy as well as to serve as an international financial platform for the entire region and the global economy as a whole. IFSCA have been given the status of Co-Developer in 2021 to develop and regulate the financial products, financial services and financial institutions in the GIFT City. Additionally, the GIFT SEZ is India's first International Financial Services Centre (IFSC) established under the Special Economic Zones Act, 2005. It is being built as a financial services centre for the world. GIFT IFSC is a 105-hectare Multi-Services Special Economic Zone that opened for operation in April 2015. Prime Minister Narendra Modi's ambition is for GIFT IFSC to establish itself as a global financial services hub. GIFT IFSC enables global enterprises to establish operations in a diverse range of business verticals, including banking, insurance, fund/asset management, capital markets and trading, information technology services, and ITeS/BPO services. The Government of India has provided numerous tax and regulatory advantages to businesses founded in IFSCs in each of these segments. PM Narendra Modi during his speech on separate occasion stating, "The future of FinTech and Industry 4.0 is emerging in India. Just as India will learn from others, we will share our experience and expertise with the world. Because what drives India also holds hope for others. And, we dream for India is what we also wish for the world. This is a common journey for all." Presenting the Union Budget 2020-21, Union Minister for Finance Corporate Affairs, Nirmala Sitharaman announced to support a "World Class FinTech Hub" at GIFT IFSC, country's first IFSC" In December-2021, the IFSCA, in collaboration with GIFT City, Bloomberg, Invest India, and FICCI, hosted the world's first and largest Fintech thought leadership event, Infinity Forum, which attracted the industry's top leaders. As partner countries, the United Kingdom, South Africa, and Indonesia took part. Speaking at the inauguration of the Infinity Forum via video-conferencing, PM Narendra Modi said that the GIFT City in Gandhinagar houses the country's IFSC, represents India's openness to ideas and investment. "GIFT City is not merely a premise. It represents the promise of India. GIFT City is a gateway to the global fintech world. IFSC at GIFT City was born out of the vision that finance combined with technology will be an important part of India's future development," said PM Modi. He said that the aim was to provide the best international financial services not just for India but for the world. This story is provided by PNN. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/PNN)
PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PHDCCI) in association with the State Bank of India (SBI) organised an outreach programme in Amritsar to help small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Punjab that have been affected by COVID pandemic. 'SBI-PHDCCI Industry Roundtable Meet' at Amritsar was attended by the key policymakers from SBI and Punjab's industries to ideate the way forward for ever closer cooperation between SBI and industry entities in the state to support the economic fundamentals and strengthen the business ecosystem, PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry said in a statement on Saturday. "In the post-pandemic times, it was one of the early interventions for supporting Punjab's SMEs and exporters. The deliberations of Meet are expected to help the state's industry units to directly explore the financing and other banking services available with SBI in Punjab," it said. The meeting was organised on March 4. Speaking at the occasion Anukool Bhatnagar, SBI's Chief General Manager, Chandigarh Local Headquarter & Head-Nepal Desk, said SBI is open for meeting the financing requirements of Punjab's industries of all sizes (SMEs and large corporates). Bhatnagar assured the industry participants attending the meet about SBI's unwavering support for their businesses and Punjab's development at large. Atul K Thakur, Joint Secretary, State Development Council & Nodal Coordinator, India-Nepal Centre, PHDCCI, said PHDCCI in collaboration with SBI has planned a series of the outreach programme to help businesses, especially the SMEs, who have been badly affected by the COVID pandemic. "A change in approach is much needed at this point of time, before the fundamentals of the world order go in reset mode, there should be determination to revive the SMEs financing to support the much-needed demand factor of the economy," Thakur said. (ANI)
The Duchess of Sussex Meghan Markle's half-sister has sued her for allegedly making "false" statements in the 2021 Oprah Winfrey interview that she and Prince Harry gave. According to Fox News, the lawsuit filed by Samantha Markle, who shares father Thomas Markle with the duchess, has accused Meghan of defamation. It has been "based on demonstrably false and malicious statements" made by Meghan in the sit-down interview viewed by millions around the world on March 7, 2021. Samantha has claimed that Meghan had lied about the last time she saw her and about being an "only child". The lawsuit further alleged that Meghan had falsely said that Samantha changed her last name to Markle only after she had started dating Prince Harry. The court documents suggest that Samantha has claimed Meghan's "lies" were "designed to destroy [her] reputation" and have subjected her to "humiliation, shame and hatred on a worldwide scale." Meghan's half-sister went on to allege that the duchess had instructed her communications secretary Jason Knauf to "disseminate" false statements for the biography 'Finding Freedom: Harry and Meghan and the Making of a Modern Royal Family' by Omid Scobie. Highlighting their father's past work in Hollywood as a "successful television lighting director for 45 years," Samantha also accused Meghan of damaging their father's reputation "in order to preserve and promote the false 'rags-to-royalty' narrative." Samantha concluded by stating that the truths of Meghan's life story "directly contradict the false narrative and 'fairy tale life story' [Meghan] fabricated." She is seeking damages in excess of USD 75,000. This lawsuit has been termed as "baseless" by Meghan's attorney Michael Kump, reported Fox News. "This baseless and absurd lawsuit is just a continuation of a pattern of disturbing behavior. We will give it the minimum attention necessary, which is all it deserves," Kump said. (ANI)
Four months after Alec Baldwin discharged a prop gun that killed cinematographer Halyna Hutchins, the actor's wife, Hilaria Baldwin, announced that she is taking a break from social media. The 38-year-old yoga instructor, who tied the knot with Alec in 2012 and shares six children with him, told her fans that she was taking a step back from social media with a post shared on her Instagram account on Friday. She wrote, "Hey friends! I'm gonna take a social break. I promise I'll be back. I love you all and know you worry, so want to give you a heads up. I might check in from time to time, dropping you a photo, and letting you know we are ok." She added, "Be good to yourselves and so much love and good energy to you. See you soon. hb." A source told People magazine, "Hilaria wants to focus on her family without the distraction of social media. Nothing is wrong -- she just is going to take a step back for a while and enjoy time with her kids." Hilaria's social media hiatus comes nearly four months after Alec accidentally discharged a prop gun on the New Mexico set of 'Rust', killing 42-year-old cinematographer Halyna Hutchins and injuring director Joel Souza on October 22, 2021. As per People magazine, Alec was recently sued by Hutchins's husband Matthew Hutchins. He filed the complaint on behalf of himself and their 9-year-old son Andros. In the complaint, the family claimed that Alec and other defendants listed in the suit "failed to perform industry-standard safety checks and follow basic gun safety rules while using real guns to produce the movie Rust, with fatal consequences." In response to the suit, attorneys for Alec told E! News in February, "Any claim that Alec was reckless is entirely false. He, Halyna and the rest of the crew relied on the statement by the two professionals responsible for checking the gun that it was a 'cold gun'--meaning there is no possibility of a discharge, blank or otherwise." During a December ABC News interview, Alec said, "Someone is responsible for what happened, and I can't say who that is, but it's not me." The Sante Fe Sheriff's Office has not charged anyone in the incident yet. (ANI)
Following reports of a toxic work environment on the 'Euphoria' set, HBO released a statement addressing the recent claims about the hit series. The network in a statement to Variety said that "the well-being of cast and crew on our productions is always a top priority." HBO also stated 'Euphoria' Season 2 was shot in "full compliance with all safety guidelines and guild protocols." The full statement reads, "The well-being of cast and crew on our productions is always a top priority. The production was in full compliance with all safety guidelines and guild protocols. It's not uncommon for drama series to have complex shoots, and COVID protocols add an additional layer. We maintain an open line of communication with all the guilds, including SAG-AFTRA. There were never any formal inquiries raised." HBO's statement comes after The Daily Beast published a story on Friday in which background actors made claims of mistreatment due to the demanding filming schedule of 'Euphoria'. The report stated that "multiple complaints were made to SAG-AFTRA over production failing to provide them meals on time and refusing to let people use the bathroom." Additionally, The Daily Beast reported that extras were not provided with a proper holding area between scenes and were offered "two space heaters" during cold evening shoots. "I understand that I'm doing background work," one background actor told The Daily Beast. "I'm not the most important person there, I know where I am on the totem pole. But it got to a point where I was like, I'm still a person, I'm still human. Please let me go to the restroom, don't tell me I can't go for 30 minutes or tell me I can't get a snack when you're not going to feed me and it's 4 a.m. It just very much felt like we didn't exist as people," added the actor. Another extra said, "It was the most disorganized set that I've ever been a part of because I don't think anybody knew what was going on." Actor Jacob Elordi, who plays Nate on the series, spoke to The Hollywood Reporter last month about his experiences on set. "We do shoot really long days; sometimes 16-hour days. It's kind of like the labor and the love of the work. You can't do that stuff in a short amount of time. At the end of it all, it's quite cathartic to work so hard and long on something and have a product that you're proud of come out," he said. 'Euphoria' follows high schooler Rue (Zendaya), who looks for hope while balancing love, loss and addiction in the town of East Highland. The cast also includes Nika King, Eric Dane, Algee Smith, Alexa Demie, Barbie Ferreira, Maude Apatow, Javon Walton, Dominic Fike, Storm Reid and Austin Abrams, reported The Hollywood Reporter. The HBO series, for which Zendaya won her first Emmy, was renewed for season 3 earlier this month. The show's season 2 finale aired on February 27. (ANI)
Two and three flat buildings on the 1200 block of West Newport Avenue in Chicago's Lake View neighborhood on March 2, 2022. (Jose M. Osorio / Chicago Tribune)

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Already disappearing before COVID-19, Chicagos two-, three- and four-flats, long seen as sources of affordable homeownership and rental opportunities, may emerge from the pandemic with an identity crisis.

The uncertainty of the past two years could alter some of the signature benefits for renters as landlords change their management style to adapt or consider selling altogether, a recent study found.

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That would mean one more hurdle for tenants, and one more challenge for communities as the city looks to combat a shortage of affordable housing.

The findings were outlined in a December report by researchers from the American Bar Foundation and the University of Illinois at Chicago, which examined small, independently-owned rental properties in Chicago, such as two- and three-flats. The buildings make up a large portion of the countrys supply of unsubsidized affordable housing, and many of the landlords manage their properties in ways that benefit tenants, such as limiting rent increases, forgoing fees and being more flexible on partial or late payments, according to the study.

But the basis for that management style might be more precarious than it once seemed. As small landlords grapple with financial challenges during the pandemic, some are considering reining in that flexibility.

Multi-floor apartment buildings line the 3200 block of Fulton Boulevard in Chicago's East Garfield Park neighborhood on March 1, 2022. (Terrence Antonio James / Chicago Tribune)

In interviews with 51 small Chicago-area landlords during the pandemic, researchers found 10 who said they would take steps such as raising rents, adding fees or screening tenants more closely. The researchers referred to that figure as a sizable minority, and said the shifts have the potential to undermine the relative affordability and accessibility of this type of rental unit.

When landlords take these shifts to more rigid approaches, they end up passing the risks of this crisis, the financial crisis, onto tenants, researcher Allison Suppan Helmuth said.

The findings follow a 2021 study from the Institute for Housing Studies at DePaul University that detailed how Chicagos two-, three- and four-flats were disappearing even before the pandemic, often replaced with single-family homes or empty lots. The researchers fear the pandemic could hasten the loss of small rental housing and make two- and three-flats less appealing as a path to homeownership.

This sector of the rental market is really important because: one, it is more affordable, and two, theres an understanding, somewhat supported by previous research, that landlords have these more flexible, lenient, tenant-friendly practices in this sector, researcher Anna Reosti said.

Most of the landlords interviewed for the study were two- or three-flat owners, but two other small, independent landlords reported similar trends, they said.

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One small owner rethinking being a landlord is Richard Fisk, who began renting out the Barrington condo he owned after he moved out of state for a job.

The tenants living there were behind on rent before the pandemic shutdowns began, Fisk said. He tried to work with them, and thought they would likely leave in March 2020, when their lease expired, he said.

Then the pandemic hit. An eviction moratorium meant the tenants stayed. Fisk lost his tech industry job for a time. And he had a mortgage and homeowners association fees due.

I try to be flexible with people and not super rigid, and not coming down on people, he said. Like, if they miss a month of rent, well figure it out. ... This just put me under an extreme level of pressure financially.

Eventually, Fisk sought to evict the tenants, and was approved for pandemic rental assistance as part of the court process, he said. With several months of rent covered, the tenants remained in the home, but again fell behind, he said.

Fisk now wants to sell the condo.

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Ive completely rethought everything, he said. Im going to sell my property and just get out of this. Because at this point if I cant get the support that I need, I have to do whats right for my family.

Other landlords are determined to hold onto their buildings, despite pandemic challenges. Peg Olson, who for more than four decades has owned the West Rogers Park three-flat where she lives, said whether she changes her management philosophy will depend on what the future brings. But she knows she wants to continue helping tenants as much as possible. And she wants to keep her building, because the alternative is to leave her longtime home.

Peg Olson with her plant collection at her home, a three-flat in West Rogers Park, where she rents out the other two units on March 3, 2022, in Chicago. (Erin Hooley / Chicago Tribune)

Before the pandemic, she agreed to rent one of her units at a lower-than-usual rate, she said. During the pandemic, the tenant fell behind.

Olson, a former nurse, no longer works regularly so she couldnt pick up extra shifts to cover her costs, she said. She has had to weigh her grocery list against her bills.

I still have my mortgage, I still have heating, I still have taxes, she said.

Olson worked with a Rogers Park organization and received pandemic rental assistance in the second half of 2021, which she said helped her keep her building.

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Peg Olson's home, a three-flat where she rents out the other two units, on March 3, 2022, in Chicago. (Erin Hooley / Chicago Tribune)

Olson has long completed background checks and researched prospective tenants, but she says she should think more like a businessperson, rather than a nurse. She would like to be able to pay her bills without feeling like she is scraping by.

Still, she wants to try to continue being flexible with tenants.

I am a nurse, first and foremost, she said. People need to be cared for. People need compassion and caring. Theres too much cruelty in the world today. I dont want to be part of the problem, I want to be part of the solution.

Olsons and Fisks experiences mirror what the nonprofit homeownership organization Neighborhood Housing Services of Chicago has seen, said Chief Operating Officer Donna Clarke. While some small landlords are getting by, others are struggling or pulling rental units off the market, she said.

The studys findings are a concern for the organization, which has teamed with other groups to try to preserve and rehab two- and four-flats, maintain rental affordability, and help homeowners build wealth.

I think it ends up pushing out, unfortunately, the Black and Latinx community, she said. It makes homeownership that much more difficult for them. It destabilizes their housing. Because a lot of these units are falling in these communities.

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An owner who decides to screen tenants more closely, fearing they might not otherwise be able to pay rent, could make it more difficult for a renter in the country illegally to find a home, she said. Requiring security deposits can be prohibitive for some renters.

But less flexibility on the part of landlords doesnt have to limit affordability, Clarke said. Formalizing a lease can help both tenants and landlords.

More research will be needed to see what ultimately plays out, Reosti said. More landlords reported changing their management practices toward the end of their research in 2021, and it remains to be seen whether that trend will continue or whether access to more rental assistance will cause it to shift.

Landlords said clearer guidance about rental assistance and stronger mortgage protections would have helped, the study found.

We heard people say they felt like they were on their own, Helmuth said.

Eviction mediation programs, which help resolve disputes with tenants before an eviction takes place, have also helped, especially when they include money for rental assistance, Reosti said.

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Fisk agreed. He didnt oppose the moratorium on evictions that kept his tenants in place, but said better communication and consideration of small landlords would have helped. A direct payment program to homeowners could have allowed him to cover his expenses.

We all go through hard times, he said. And for me, this has changed my outlook on ownership and the struggles with that.

sfreishtat@chicagotribune.com
'This Is Us' star Milo Ventimiglia has been tapped to star in the ABC drama 'The Company You Keep', which has received a formal pilot order at the Disney-backed broadcast network. As per Variety, the actor will also serve as an executive producer on the project. The show is based on the Korean drama 'My Fellow Citizens', which aired in 2019. The actor will be seen playing a conman in the drama from writer Julia Cohen, known for her work in 'The Royals' and 'A Million Little Things'. Apart from writing, Cohen is also executive producing 'The Company You Keep'. Jon M. Chu and Caitlin Foito of Electric Somewhere will also executive produce, along with Russ Cundiff of DiVide Pictures, Todd Harthan, and Lindsay Goffman. Deanna Harris of DiVide will produce. 20th Television is the studio, with DiVide currently under an overall deal there. ABC's formal description of the project reads, "A night of passion leads to love between con-man Charlie (Ventimiglia) and undercover CIA officer Emma, who are unknowingly on a collision course professionally. While Charlie ramps up the 'family business' so he can get out for good, Emma's closing in on the vengeful criminal who holds Charlie's family debts in-hand -- forcing them to reckon with the lies they've told so they can save themselves and their families from disastrous consequences." Coming back to Ventimiglia, he is widely known for playing family man Jack Pearson on NBC's 'This Is Us' for the past six seasons. The series is currently in the midst of its sixth and final season, which wraps up with the show finale on May 24. While 'The Company You Keep' marks the Emmy-nominated actor's first leading venture in his post-Jack era, he recently filmed a guest-starring role on the fourth season of 'The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel'. The appearance reunited him with the show's creator Amy Sherman-Palladino, who also created 'Gilmore Girls', where Ventimiglia played Jess, the boyfriend of Alexis Bledel's Rory. Ventimiglia has also starred in films such as 'Rocky Balboa', 'The Art of Racing in the Rain', and 'Pathology'. (ANI)
It is often seen that a perfectly healthy young person, who is not just fit but also active, gets diagnosed with diabetes. The reason? Their genes! But what about complications like a kidney tumour? A recent study has made a shocking discovery that one-third of children with a kidney tumour have a hereditary predisposition for the disease. In the study, published in the 'Journal of Clinical Oncology', researchers at the Princess Maxima Center for pediatric oncology in Utrecht, the Netherlands, mapped out hereditary information from all children diagnosed with a Wilms' tumour between 2015-2020. It was the first time that information on hereditary predisposition was collected together with clinical data in all children with a Wilms' tumour in a national cohort. The researchers collected information about the hereditary predisposition of 126 children with a Wilms' tumour who had been treated in the Netherlands between 2015-2020. Janna Hol, a PhD candidate in the Van den Heuvel-Eibrink and Kuiper groups at the Princess Maxima Center, who worked on the study, said, "We found hereditary factors in 42 of 126 children, so one-third of the patients. That was much more than we expected." "For many children with a hereditary predisposition, we can reassure the family," continued Hol. "We see, for example, that the predisposition in the child arose shortly after fertilization. Sometimes the predisposition is only found in kidney tissue, and not in blood. Then we know that siblings do not have an increased risk of developing a Wilms' tumour. If the hereditary predisposition does come from one or both parents, siblings can get a genetic test. They are then screened extra carefully." One of the hereditary factors that the researchers found was the so-called DIS3L2 gene. That gene was already known - children who inherit a faulty copy from both parents have a rare syndrome that can lead to a Wilms' tumour. Janna Hol said, "Our study showed that five children had only one faulty copy of this gene, inherited from a healthy parent. We found the second gene fault in the tumour itself, where it had arisen spontaneously." The researchers believed that this made the DIS3L2 gene less important for early detection of tumours, but scientifically very interesting for understanding how Wilms' tumours arise." Dr Marjolijn Jongmans, a clinical geneticist at UMC Utrecht and co-principal investigator of the Kuipers group, explained, "On the basis of our research, all children with a Wilms' tumor in the Netherlands are now offered extensive genetic diagnostics. Children are tested for changes in the most important genes that are currently known, including the genes that emerged from our study." (ANI)
The findings of a recent study have shown that greater body fat is a risk factor for reduced cognitive function, such as processing speed in adults. When the researchers took cardiovascular risk factors (such as diabetes or high blood pressure) or vascular brain injury into account, the coalition between body fat and lower cognitive scores remained. This suggested other not yet confirmed pathways that linked excess body fat to reduced cognitive function. The study was published in the journal, 'JAMA Network open'. In the study, 9,166 participants were measured by bioelectrical impedance analysis to assess their total body fat. As well, 6,733 of the participants underwent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to measure abdominal fat packed around the organs known as visceral fat, and the MRI also assessed vascular brain injury -- areas in the brain affected by reduced blood flow to the brain. "Our results suggest that strategies to prevent or reduce having too much body fat may preserve cognitive function," said lead author Sonia Anand, a professor of medicine of McMaster University's Michael G. DeGroote School of Medicine and a vascular medicine specialist at Hamilton Health Sciences (HHS). She is also a senior scientist of the Population Health Research Institute of McMaster and HHS. She added that "the effect of increased body fat persisted even after adjusting for its effect on increasing cardiovascular risk factors like diabetes and high blood pressure, as well as vascular brain injury, which should prompt researchers to investigate which other pathways may link excess fat to reduced cognitive function." Co-author Eric Smith, a neurologist, scientist, and associate professor of clinical neurosciences at the University of Calgary said that "preserving cognitive function is one of the best ways to prevent dementia in old age. This study suggests that one of the ways that good nutrition and physical activity prevent dementia maybe by maintaining healthy weight and body fat percentage." Smith is head of the brain core lab for the two population cohorts used for this new analysis- the Canadian Alliance for Healthy Hearts and Minds (CAHHM) and PURE Mind- a sub-study of the large, international Prospective Urban Rural Epidemiological (PURE) study. The participants were in the age range of 30 to 75 with an average age of about 58. Just over 56 per cent were women; they all lived in either Canada or Poland. The majority were White European origin, with about 16 per cent other ethnic backgrounds. Individuals with known cardiovascular disease were excluded. (ANI)
A bench of Justice Manoj Kumar Ohri was dealing with the Waqf Noard's plea for reopening of the religious place considering recent guidelines issued by the Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA).

During the course of the hearing, advocate Wajeeh Shafiq, representing the board, argued for the reopening of the premises in view of the festival of Shab e-Barat and the coming month of Ramzaan for religious purposes.

Advocate Rajat Nair, appearing on behalf of the Centre, said that the offering of 'namaz' by five people was allowed earlier, and can be done this year also in the religious festival.

While asking the Markaz's counsel to place on record the order concerned of the DDMA, the court slated the hearing for March 11.

The Nizamuddin Markaz was shut following the incident of a spurt of Covid positive cases in the premises in 2020.

--IANS jw/vd

( 199 Words)

2022-03-04-20:38:03 (IANS)
The Centre has initiated an airlift operation to evacuate Indians, who have found their way to neighbouring countries of war-torn Ukraine. It has deployed a number of special charter as well as Indian Air Force flights to ferry back the citizens.

"Tomorrow, 11 special civilian flights are expected to bring back more than 2,200 Indians, with 10 landing in New Delhi and one in Mumbai," a statement by the Ministry of Civil Aviation said.

"Five flights will originate from Budapest, 2 from Rzeszow and 4 from Suceava. Four C-17 aircraft are airborne for Romania, Poland and Slovakia, which are expected to reach late at night and early morning tomorrow."

On Friday, 17 special flights arrived back to India from Ukraine's neighbouring countries, including 14 civilian flights and three C-17 IAF flights.

"One more civilian flight is expected to arrive later in the day. While civilian flights carried 3,142 persons, C-17 flights evacuated 630 passengers."

As per the statement, so far, over 9,364 Indians have been evacuated by 43 special civilian flights.

"Seven flights of C-17 have so far evacuated 1,428 passengers and taken 9.7 tonnes of relief material. Today's civilian flights included 4 from Bucharest, 2 from Kosice, 4 from Budapest, 3 from Rzeszow and 2 from Suceava, while IAF flew 2 flights from Bucharest and 1 from Budapest."

The Centre has also sent four Union Ministers -- Hardeep Singh Puri, Kiren Rijiju, Jyotiraditya Scindia and Gen V.K. Singh (retd) -- to countries adjoining Ukraine to support and supervise the ongoing evacuation operations.

--IANS rv/vd

( 283 Words)

2022-03-04-20:40:04 (IANS)
A Kanpur court will on Saturday pronounce its order on the bail plea of perfume businessman Peeyush Jain who was arrested by The Directorate General of GST Intelligence (DGGI) in November last year. Sixty six days after his arrest, Jain through his counsel Chinmay Pathak, has moved the bail plea of 182 pages including 53 pages of his medical report, before the court of the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (CMM). His counsel said that he is not a flight risk as he does not have a passport. "The chargesheet in the matter has been filed but also DGGI has failed to claim GST against my client. Now he deserves bail," said Jain's counsel. Ambrish Jain who was appearing for the DGGI opposed the move of the defence and said that the accused has not disclosed the source of the cash seized from his house and hence his plea should be dismissed. The CMM after hearing the four-hour-long arguments noted all the points. The court heard the contention of the defence and the prosecution and reserved it's order. The Directorate General of GST Intelligence had in December last year conducted raids at Odochem Industries, being run by Peeyush Jain, a manufacturer of perfumery compounds. The DGGI had recovered Rs 197.49 crore, 23 kg of gold and offending goods of high value from two premises belonging to Peeyush Jain. Earlier it was said that the DGGI has decided to treat the cash recovered from the premises of Peeyush Jain as the turnover of his company. It was also stated that after admitting his liability Peeyush Jain, with the approval of the DGGI, will deposit Rs 52 crore as tax dues and will be freed from all allegations. It was also learnt that the DGGI has agreed with the deposition of Peeyush Jain and finalised the tax liability accordingly. However, the DGGI made it clear that there was nothing like that. The DGGI had refuted all the claims. "Based on his voluntary admission of guilt and the evidence available on record, Peeyush Jain was arrested on December 26 under section 132 of the CGST Act," the DGGI had said. --IANS atk/bg ( 371 Words) 2022-03-04-20:52:03 (IANS)
The Indian Embassy in Slovakia on Friday said that Indian nationals from western and north-western Ukraine are now coming to the newly-identified border checkpoint at Vysne Nemecke to ramp up the evacuation. According to the officials in the Indian mission, Vysne Nemecke is a small village on the Slovakia- Ukraine border and opposite Ukraine's Uzhhorod city. From here, the evacuated Indians are transported to the regional capital, Kosice, from where the Indian flights under 'Operation Ganga' are being operated. The officials in the Indian mission in Slovakia have made arrangements for Indian nationals entering Slovakia from Vysne Nemecke. Union Minister Kiren Rijiju has personally visited the site to see the arrangement made there for Indian students who have been advised to get to Slovakia's Kosice, instead of going to Budapest in Hungary. Rijiju also received the first group of Indian nationals, mostly students, on Thursday evening at Vysne Nemecke, before they were transported to Kosice, from where they were flown out to India on an Indian Air Force transport aircraft. The first SpiceJet flight with evacuated Indian nationals took off from Kosice in Slovakia on March 1. Government sources said that since the Russian has started military actions in other cities too, the government wants to scale up the evacuation mission to airlift Indians. Similar attempts have been made in other countries too in coordination with local governments, the sources further said. Meanwhile, another Special Envoy, Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri, stationed in Budapest, on Friday afternoon said that a group of 1,000 Indian nationals who came into Hungary via Zahony, are being sent to Budapest by train. "Over 90 youngsters boarded the 12 p.m. train to Budapest while the rest of them will be sent by another at 2 p.m.," Puri tweeted this evening. He also said that all of them will be sent back to India in five flights scheduled for Friday. Earlier the day, Puri himself visited Zohony to assess the situation at the checkpoint at the Hungary-Ukraine border. He also said that already over 3,000 Indians including students have been sent back to India and a total of seven flights are scheduled for Saturday to take the rest of the Indians assembled in Budapest, who arrived from different places in Ukraine. --IANS ams/vd ( 391 Words) 2022-03-04-20:54:05 (IANS)
With the Meteorological department reporting the possibility of heavy rains in northern Tamil Nadu in the next few days following a depression in the southwest Bay of Bengal, farmers have geared up to save the harvest by shifting it to Direct Procurement Centres (DPCs) of the Civil Supplies department. Yellow and Orange alert has been issued on Thursday in delta and coastal districts of the state for the next 48 hours. The state agriculture department has also directed the farmers to plan the harvest, if any, before the rains using more manpower and to take steps to save the harvest-ready crops. The Met department has stated that the depression in the Bay of Bengal is likely to intensify into a deep depression and to move northwestwards and off the east coast of Sri Lanka towards the North Tamil Nadu coast in the next 48 hours. According to the state agriculture department, most of the paddy has been harvested but still 30 per cent of Samba and Thalady season paddy has to be harvested. In addition to this, several tonnes of harvested paddy is kept outside DPCs for sale. K. Subramanian, Secretary of Cauvery Delta farmers association told IANS, "Even after completing the harvest, we have kept our paddy outside the local DPCs but with the rains being announced by Met department, we have to erect tarpaulins covers and to guard our paddy from being destroyed. If the paddy gets wet, we will have to spend heavily to dry it and repack it which is a big loss for us. We want the Tamil Nadu Civil Supplies department to quickly procure the paddy." Chief Minister has already directed the Civil Supplies department to immediately take steps to procure the paddy from the DPCs and to open more DPCs in coastal and delta districts. The agriculture department has also directed farmers who have not harvested their paddy to immediately do so. A senior officer of the state civil supplies department told IANS, "We are on a war footing at around 15 districts of the state for procuring paddy and we have more or less 50 DPCs in each district. Each DPC is procuring around 1000 bags per day and each DPC has about 4500 bags which they have procured earlier. Around 18 DPCs will be opened in each district to increase the procurement of Paddy and for this, the respective district collectors have already issued orders." The official said that special guidelines have been given to DPC workers to immediately move the procured paddy into government warehouses and tarpaulins in large quantities have been provided to each DPC for preventing the loss of harvested paddy from sudden rains. P.R. Rajamuthu, a farmer from Tiruchi district told IANS, "We were slowly recovering after the Covid pandemic and the previous year's rains that destroyed our crops. We urge the civil supplies and agricultural departments to jointly work in an emergency manner and to help us procure the harvested paddy and store it in warehouses so that the paddy farmers of the state are not devastated if sudden unseasonal rains come as predicted by the IMD." --IANS aal/shs ( 536 Words) 2022-03-04-21:04:02 (IANS)
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Friday told the Delhi High Court that it has completed probe into the murder angle of Tihar inmate Ankit Gujjar, who was found dead in the jail premises, but sought more time to complete the investigation and for the final status report. Special Public Prosecutor Rajesh Kumar, appearing on behalf of CBI, told the bench of Justice Manoj Kumar Ohri that though they have completed the investigation for murder, the extortion probe is still going on. The court then allowed the probe agency and more time and slated the matter for further hearing on May 6. It also stressed at continuing adequate security to the co-accused in the case. Earlier, the prison authorities have been asked by the court to provide adequate security to the co-accused in judicial custody. On August 4 last year, Gujjar was found dead with multiple injuries on his body inside the premises of Central Jail No. A3. As per the court's directions, the investigation of the case is being conducted by the CBI. The court was dealing with the plea filed by Ankit's family, who had alleged pre-planned conspiracy behind the incident and he was being harassed by jail officials. During the course of the hearing, advocate Mehmood Pracha, appearing for the petitioners, argued that the status report filed by CBI contained some incorrect facts and that he wished to file a reply in the same. --IANS jw/vd ( 257 Words) 2022-03-04-21:06:03 (IANS)
The police said that in 2018, the accused had hatched a conspiracy with his live-in-partner and killed the latter's husband.

According to the police, the accused, who has been identified as Surender alias Dudhiya, was arrested on Friday from Sector-43.

Surender, a resident of Delhi, was in a live-in relationship with a 44-year-old woman, a widow, who was living with her son in Kanhai village in Gurugram in rented accommodation.

The woman's son stated in his police complaint that Surender was residing with his mother for three years after his father had gone missing.

The accused disclosed before the police that he had developed a relationship with the woman, Kamla Devi, in 2014 in Delhi.

"When the woman's husband, Mahesh, came to know about their illegal relationship, the duo hatched a conspiracy following which Surender killed Mahesh in 2018 and threw his body in a canal in Delhi. After the incident, the woman had filed a missing complaint in Delhi. They later shifted to Gurugram and started staying together," said Subhash Boken, spokesperson for Gurugram police.

The accused also revealed that he was jobless and due to this there was a dispute between them. On March 1, he smothered her to death and fled the spot, the accused told the police.

--IANS str/arm

( 239 Words)

2022-03-04-21:58:05 (IANS)
Gov't approves policy to organise flights repatriating Vietnamese from Ukraine

The Government has approved the policy to arrange flights to bring Vietnamese people from Ukraine home.









The Government has approved the policy to arrange flights to bring Vietnamese people from Ukraine home (Photo: VNA)

Accordingly, with spirit of humanity and placing the highest priority to the protection of Vietnamese citizens, the Government allows the organisation of flights repatriating Vietnamese people and their families, with the initial number of 900 Vietnamese people, who will depart from Poland, Romania or Moldova.



They will receive COVID-19 tests upon their arrival in Vietnam and take necessary medical measures in line with the Ministry of Healths instruction.



The Government assigned the Ministry of Transport to take the major charge of arranging the flights, while the Ministry of Finance was asked to finance the flights.



As part of efforts to implement the Prime Ministers direction, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has worked with the Ministry of Transport to conduct two repatriation flights, one departing from Romania on March 7 and the other from Poland on March 8.



The Ministry of Foreign Affairs plans to coordinate with relevant agencies to continue to arrange flights to evacuate Vietnamese people and their family members from dangerous areas in Ukraine to neighbouring countries, and bring those who wish to return to Vietnam depending on the real situation and capacity of Vietnam.



In recent days, Vietnamese representative offices in Ukraine and neighbouring countries have coordinated closely with local authorities and Vietnamese associations in host countries to support the Vietnamese community to evacuate from war areas and provide them with temporary accommodations and essential necessities.



According to the offices, as of March 4, almost of Vietnamese people in Kiev and Odessa and hundreds of people in Kharkov had been evacuated to neighbouring countries. Of them, 370 had come to Romania, 200 had been on the way from Moldova to Romania, 600 from Ukraine had arrived in Poland, about 125 had reached to Hungary and about 40 had come to Slovakia.



The Ministry of Foreign Affairs group for citizen protection and representative offices are keeping a close watch on the situation and receiving requests from Vietnamese people through citizen protection hotlines.



Vietnamese in Ukraine and neighbouring who need support or wish to flee from war areas can contact the ministry and representative offices in countries through following phone numbers:



Ministry of Foreign Affairs: 84-965411118, 84-981848484; Email: baohocongdan@gmail.com

Vietnamese Embassy in Ukraine: 380 (63) 8638999

Vietnamese Embassy in Russia: 79916821617

Vietnamese Embassy in Poland: 0048782257359

Vietnamese Embassy in Romania: 0040744645037

Vietnamese Embassy in Slovakia: 421 2 5245 1263, 421 915 419 568./.
On March 2, Ambassador Qin Gang delivered a video keynote speech at the opening session of U.S.-China Dialogue Series: Forum on Innovation in Energy, the Environment and Sustainability.





Ambassador Qin said, there are plenty of challenges in the current China-U.S. relationship, which is not in the fundamental interests of the two peoples, while it is peoples aspiration to create opportunities for a better relationship. Last November, President Xi Jinping held a virtual summit with President Joe Biden, providing the direction and guidance for China-U.S. relations in the new era. China is ready to work with the U.S. to implement the spirit of the summit and inject more positive energy into our relations.





Ambassador Qin said, cooperation on climate just provides such positive energy. It also sets a great example for our two countries to overcome challenges and create opportunities. Climate change is a common challenge for all, and it concerns the well-being of our future generations. It does not treat countries differently according to their ideology, political system, development stage or cultural traditions. In recent years, frequent extreme weather events, such as hurricane, drought and flood, have highlighted the urgency of the climate crisis, and turned it from a future challenge to an ongoing one.





Ambassador Qin pointed out, guided by the vision of a community of life for man and Nature, China pursues a path of green, low-carbon and sustainable development. China has taken the initiative to intensify our climate actions. In the past 10 years, we have phased out 120 million kilowatts of outdated coal-fired power capacity. Last year, the construction of the first batch of wind and photo-voltaic power stations with a total capacity of 100 million kilowatts was launched. China will strive to peak its CO2 emissions before 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality before 2060. As the largest developing country, China will make the worlds biggest cut in carbon emission intensity, and transition from carbon peaking to carbon neutrality in the shortest time in history.





Ambassador Qin pointed out, China and the U.S. have greater agreement than differences on climate issues. Both sides underscore the need to jointly lead ambitious global actions. Based on such understanding, the two sides signed the China-U.S. Joint Statement Addressing the Climate Change last April, and issued the China-U.S. Joint Glasgow Declaration on Enhancing Climate Action in the 2020s last November, outlining actions and tasks to jointly combat the climate crisis.





Ambassador Qin emphasized, the whole world is expecting China and the U.S. to jointly lead global actions on climate change. Our two countries will try our best to fulfill Paris Agreements aim to hold the global average temperature increase to well below 2 degrees Celsius and to limit it to 1.5 degrees Celsius. We will work with other parties to achieve ambitious, balanced and inclusive outcome on mitigation, adaptation and support, reflecting the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities. We will take concrete actions and strengthen cooperation in the development of carbon pollution-free electricity, phase-down of coal consumption, management and control of methane, and elimination of global illegal deforestation. We will establish a Working Group on Enhancing Climate Action in the 2020s, advance policy and technical exchanges, and facilitate participation by local governments, enterprises, think tanks and academics.





Ambassador Qin stressed, nowadays, new challenges keep arising one after another. There are so many areas where China and the U.S. should and must cooperate. China is the biggest developing country, and the U.S. the biggest developed country. Both countries are permanent members of the UN Security Council with special international responsibilities and obligations. Our two countries should bear in mind the overall interests of mankind, take up our responsibilities and put in our wisdom to take climate change as a signpost in China-U.S. cooperation, in line with the trend of the times and the wishes of people of the whole world, strengthen cooperation in various areas, and deliver greater benefits to people of both countries and the world.




Eyebrows were raised on Friday when the CPI-M's Kerala state Secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan announced the name of controversial senior party leader P. Sasi in the 88-member state committee. The 23rd State Party Conference of the CPI-M ended at Kochi on Friday and the new team was selected to run the party's state unit for the next three years. Sasi, who hails from Kannur, was dropped following a scandal where he misbehaved with the daughter of a CPI-M leader a decade back. Powerful when E.K. Nayanar was the Chief Minister during 1996-2001 and later he became the Kannur district party Secretary. Later following the complaint, a party committee probed it and concluded it was true, leading to his ouster. But Balakrishnan said that he was not dropped on the reason for what the media now says. "He was not dropped for the reason as you are saying now (misbehaviour), instead it was for defying the party organisational policies. There is nothing wrong in he being taken back as those who correct themselves will be always welcome," he said. Pouncing on the induction of Sasi into the State Committee was top Congress leader Bindu Krishna who said it is the most intriguing decision, as in the four day CPI-M party meeting, all heard the report of what state Higher Education Minister R.Bindhu highlighted about it being a tough time for women in the party. "This can only be done by the CPI-M, who speaks from the rooftop on women empowerment and what not. Now see, a leader like Sasi who was kept out for misbehaviour is brought back to the party state unit's crucial decision making body. The CPI-M speaks one thing and does the opposite and there is no better party than the CPI-M who deceives," he said. On Wednesday, Minister Bindhu is reported to have expressed her displeasure at the attitude of the male leaders towards the women members, while speaking at the internal meeting of the party members. Sources said that she minced no words as she said the attitude of male leaders towards the women members in the party is "bad" and things go from bad to worse, if a complaint is raised. --IANS sg/vd ( 381 Words) 2022-03-04-22:06:03 (IANS)
Around 600 Indian students in Ukraine's Sumy have urged the Indian government to rescue them as soon as possible, as water, and food has run out and they have nothing to eat, and are very afraid. In a video, they have requested Prime Minister Narendra Modi to save their lives. "PM Modi, please don't let us die. Help us. Save our lives. We are in Sumy. Buses are stationed at Russian border which are far. In minus degree temperatures we can't move without any transportation," they said in the video, a copy of which is with IANS. They also sent fresh videos to IANS narrating how the situations had turned worse during last two days. The students said that the area is being bombarded by the Russian forces and a few bombs exploded near their university building where they have presently taken shelter. "We are stuck here. We are horrified. Last night air strike happened here. If not evacuated, we all will die," they said in the video. The situation has turned so worse as they have to melt ice to get water, they said. The Indian government is talking about routes for 2 days but students have are now scared and panicked. "We are stuck in Sumy since the beginning. No one has been evacuated so far. Yesterday night, air strike happened. Then there was no electricity for hours. Now we don't have drinking water. We haven't eaten since last night. No action has been taken so save us. Borders are very far from here.If we go to Kharkiv it will take around four hours and so will going to Kiev. Then it will take another 1o hours journey to reach Poland and Hungary border," the students said in the video. --IANS atk/vd ( 309 Words) 2022-03-04-22:10:01 (IANS)
The Gujarat Assembly on Friday passed two bills pertaining to amendments in the Gujarat Land Grabbing (Prohibition) Act of 2020 and the Gujarat Organic Agricultural University Act of 2017. The bills were passed in absence of the Opposition as the Congress MLAs staged a walkout immediately after Question Hour to protest against the suspension of senior legislator Punja Vansh for seven days. The Gujarat Land Grabbing (Prohibition)(Amendment) Bill-2022, tabled by the state Revenue Minister Rajendra Trivedi, proposed that the word 'land' in the original act "shall not include the land in respect of which applications for grants are pending on the date of commencement of this Act under the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights), Act, 2006". The amendment would to protect tribals from any penal action under the Land Grabbing Act if they have already applied for allocation of land under Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, the minister said. Another amendment proposed was about the provision of appeals against orders issued by special courts constituted under the Land Grabbing Act. The minister said that now aggrieved persons can file an appeal in the High Court against the special court orders within 30 days, something which was not there in the present Act. "Under the Land Grabbing Act, a total of 12,342 applications have been received, of them 818 requests relating to 1014.61 hectare land have been approved by the committee. Meanwhile, a total of 586 FIRs have been filed against 2,256 people," said Trivedi. The Assembly also passed the Gujarat Organic Agricultural University (Amendment) Bill on Friday, which proposed to rename Gujarat Organic Agricultural University as Gujarat Natural Farming and Organic Agricultural University. The Gujarat Organic Agricultural University came into existence after the Assembly passed a bill in 2017, and is currently functioning from the Anand Agricultural University campus in Anand town. --IANS amc/shs ( 332 Words) 2022-03-04-22:20:02 (IANS)
Led by Jairam Ramesh and Salman Khurshid, the Congress delegation submitted a memorandum to the EC officials.

The Congress alleged that the BJP-led Manipur government released funds -- Rs 15.70 crore on February 1 and Rs 92.65 lakh on March 1 -- to banned militant groups under 'Suspension of Operation' when the Model Code of Conduct was in place in the state.

The party said that a statement issued by the President of banned Kuki National Organisation intimidated the electorate to vote for the BJP or face dire consequences if the instructions are not followed.

"Poll violence and criminal intimidation was witnessed by Congress leaders and workers during their campaign for the Manipur Assembly elections," Ramesh said.

The second and final phase of Assembly elections in Manipur will be held on Saturday. The votes will be counted on March 10.

--IANS miz/arm

( 179 Words)

2022-03-04-22:46:01 (IANS)
A top Nagaland government official told IANS on condition of anonymity that Isak-Muivah faction of the National Socialist Council of Nagalim (NSCN-IM) leader Muivah, 88, was airlifted from NSCN-IM's headquarters' in Hebron in Nagaland to a hospital in Dimapur. His condition is stable now, the official said, adding that he had some stomach upset due to indigestion.

Last year in July, Muivah was admitted to the Dimapur hospital after he tested positive for Covid-19.

The dominant Naga outfit headed by Muviah and the Indian government have been engaged in peace negotiations for over two decades. The NSCN-IM, the leading group among the several Naga outfits, and the Centre had inked a Framework Agreement in August 2015.

The Central government has been separately holding peace talks with the NSCN-IM and eight other Naga outfits, which came together a few years ago under the banner of 'Naga National Political Groups' (NNPGs).

The NSCN-IM and other outfits entered into a ceasefire agreement with the Centre in 1997 and in the subsequent years, held more than 85 rounds of political negotiations with the government since then.

--IANS sc/vd

( 215 Words)

2022-03-04-22:54:03 (IANS)
Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar said on Friday that the Haryana Prevention of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Bill, 2022, has been introduced on the third day of the Assembly session with an aim to maintain communal harmony and brotherhood and not divide the society. He said that in the past, many incidents have been reported from Yamunanagar, Panipat, Faridabad, Gurugram and Nuh wherein forced conversions were done by allurement, fake promises of taking abroad, expanding business and running away from home. Such incidents have become a matter of great concern, said the Chief Minister. FIRs have also been registered in many cases. Such incidents are happening all over the country and different states have made their own laws to stop such incidents, said Khattar. The Chief Minister said this while addressing the media after the debate on Governor's address during the ongoing session of Vidhan Sabha here. He said the Bill does not bar a person from willful conversion, provided that such person submits an application before the District Magistrate one month in advance. Although the provisions in the Indian Penal Code too call for action against those involved in forced conversion, this does not provide complete solution to this problem, hence enactment of this law is the need of the hour, the Chief Minister clarified. While responding to another question, Khattar said that after this Bill is passed, it will surely be brought into force. But if any complaint is received in older cases, action will be taken as per the law. --IANS vg/arm ( 266 Words) 2022-03-04-23:00:04 (IANS)
"Today, an army patrol was fire upon by terrorists in Dand Kadal area of Langat, which was retaliated. In the meantime, additional reinforcement of police/security forces rushed to the spot followed by a joint cordon and search operation by the police, Rashtriya Rifles and CRPF," the police said.

During the search operation, one injured terrorist was apprehended by the joint team. He has been identified as Abrar, a resident of Azadgunj Baramulla.

"As per police records, Abrar was a stone-pelter earlier and several FIRs were registered against him. He joined the proscribed terror outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba recently," the police said.

Incriminating materials, arms and ammunition, including one pistol, one magazine and two rounds, and cash worth Rs 1,41,500 were recovered from his possession.

"The cordon and search operation in the nearby areas is still going on," the police said.

--IANS zi/arm

( 177 Words)

2022-03-04-23:08:02 (IANS)
With Russia state media reporting Russian authorities have arranged 130 buses for evacuation of Indian students from war-battered Sumy and Kharkiv in Ukraine, India on Friday said that pulling them out was not possible without a ceasefire as the gunfights and bombing are continuing in these areas. Russian news agency TASS said that the Russia is ready to send 130 buses to evacuate stranded Indian students and other foreigners from war-torn Ukraine's Kharkiv and Sumy cities to its Belgorod Region, quoting top Russian military official Colonel-General Mikhail Mizintsev. TASS had also said that this came a day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to Russian President Vladimir Putin and discussed the safe evacuation of Indians from the war-torn Ukraine. Over 700 Indian students are stuck in Sumy and they are running out of basic necessities like food and water and they have been urging the Indian government to get them evacuated from there. Meanwhile, the government sources said that the Indian officials have been deputed in Belgorod to make the necessary arrangements for the Indian nationals including students stuck in Sumy and Kharkiv and once the safe passage is provided or in case of ceasefire, they will be evacuated from these places. India's prime concern is to evacuate its nationals from the conflict zones of Kharkiv and Sumy in eastern Ukraine, Ministry of External Affairs spokesman Arindam Bagchi said. --IANS ams/vd ( 248 Words) 2022-03-04-23:12:03 (IANS)
There were six delegates along with the Australian High Commissioner during his visit to Southern Naval Command,

The Australian High Commissioner and Australian Consul General, Chennai consulate interacted with Rear Admiral TVN Prasanna, VSM, Chief Staff Officer (Training) of Headquarters Southern Naval Command on Friday.

They held discussions to explore avenues to enhance the cooperation between the countries.

The delegation also visited the Naval training facility Damage Control Training Facility at Naval Base. The visit to Southern Naval Command has consolidated bilateral relations and enhanced the defence cooperation between India and Australia. (ANI)
Attacking the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) ahead of the final phase of the Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Friday said the ruling party in the state seeks votes on the "basis of lies." The Congress leader was in Varanasi to campaign for the party ahead of the last phase of the Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections. Addressing an election rally in Pindra, Varanasi, Rahul Gandhi said, "I will die but will never tell you that I will deposit Rs 15 lakh to your bank accounts. I do not care if it makes you feel good or bad. I respect you all enough to never lie on your faces. Modi Ji lies and says he protects Hinduism. No, he protects lies. They talk about the Hindu religion all over the country. Tell me what is the Hindu religion? It is nothing but the truth. They do not seek votes on the name of the Hindu religion, but on the basis of lies." The former Congress chief's attack on the ruling party in Uttar Pradesh came on the day when Prime Minister Narendra Modi was also in Varanasi for the campaign. Varanasi is the parliamentary constituency of Prime Minister Modi. Referring to the Ukraine crisis, the Congress leader said, "A war is underway in Ukraine, thousands of our youth are stranded. But when these youth ask for help, BJP members say that they went to Ukraine as they could not take admission in a college in India. Are they (Centre) not responsible for their protection? They always make excuses." Polling for six phases of the seven-phased Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections has already concluded. The seventh phase of polling will be held on March 7. The counting of votes will take place on March 10. (ANI)




A fossil of an ancient fish species living about 436 million years ago has been uncovered in Xiushan Tujia and Miao autonomous county, Southwest China's Chongqing municipality.

The ancient fish named "Binhai Yongdong fish," or Yongdongaspis littoralis, is a type of Galeaspida. Only 4 to 5 cm long, the fish was endemic to East Asia and mainly lived in shallow sea and coastal environments, said the municipal planning and natural resources bureau on Friday.

The uncovered fossil shows a layer of hard bone on the fish's head, making the ancient fish look like it is wearing a semicircular helmet. A paper on the relevant study has been published online in the journal Acta Geologica Sinica (English Edition).

The discovery of the new ancient species can help exhibit some transitional states during the evolution of Galeaspida, said Chen Yang, first author of the paper and senior engineer of the Chongqing Institute of Geology and Mineral Resources.

The Silurian period in which the fish existed was a critical period of the earth's evolution. During the period, the planet underwent violent geological tectonic movements which formed marine red beds. Due to the lack of sufficient fossils found, the exact geological age of the red beds remains an unsolved mystery.

The fossil found in Chongqing is expected to provide new evidence of the subdivision and correlation of the Upper Red Beds in southern China, according to Zhu Min, professor of the Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology, Chinese Academy of Sciences.
The minister received 170 Indian citizens at Indira Gandhi International Airport who were evacuated from Ukraine.

Taking to Twitter, Muraleedharan said, "Operation Ganga is in full swing, with over 11,000 Indians evacuated from Ukraine so far. Happy to have received a group of 170 Indians at New Delhi airport, evacuated through AirAsia India. Thank our Missions, foreign governments, and volunteers for their constant support."

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday chaired a meeting to discuss the ongoing evacuation drive of Indian nationals and the situation in conflict-hit Ukraine.

The government has also deployed 'special envoys' to four neighbouring countries bordering Ukraine to coordinate and oversee the evacuation process of Indian nationals.

The Ministry of External Affairs said on Friday that 16 flights were scheduled for the next 24 hours including Indian Air Force's C-17 aircraft under Operation Ganga.

Russian forces launched military operations in Ukraine on February 24, three days after Moscow recognized Ukraine's breakaway regions - Donetsk and Luhansk - as independent entities. (ANI)
Delhi Police said a complaint of ransom call was received by Preet Vihar Police on Friday morning. Complainant Mahesh Aggarwal, a wholesaler of gold jewellery, alleged that his son received a phone call in the night from some unknown person who claimed to be a member of Neeraj Bawana gang and demanded a ransom of Rs 60 lakhs otherwise he would be killed in 15 days.

Acting on the complaint, the police formed two teams. The technical team collected and analysed the technical data and in pursuance, thereof raids were conducted in Shaheen Bagh, Ghaziabad and Noida. Police apprehended the accused from Noida while he was about to leave his rented house.

He was identified as Sohail (22), a resident of the Shamli district of Uttar Pradesh. The mobile phone used in the crime was recovered with all the evidence.

Police said the accused carried no previous records. (ANI)
A series of complex and advanced exercises were undertaken in all three dimensions of Naval operations to enhance compatibility, interoperability, mutual understanding and maritime cooperation amongst the partner Navies.

The closing ceremony of MILAN 22 was held in a unique format with Commanding Officers of participating ships arriving by helicopters and boats onboard INS Jalashwa at anchorage. Six foreign ships attended the closing ceremony in virtual mode. The ceremony was presided over by RAdm Sanjay Bhalla, NM, Flag Officer Commanding Eastern Fleet.

The ceremony included a debrief of the exercises conducted at sea. Commanding Officers of participating countries expressed their appreciation for the well-conducted harbour and sea phase of MILAN 22.

The Sea Phase of MILAN 2022 was held between March 1-4 aiming to enhance interoperability and maritime cooperation, and share best practices amongst the participating navies. It included weapon firings, seamanship evolutions, advanced anti-submarine warfare exercises, cross deck helicopter landings, simulation of complex operational scenarios and tactical manoeuvres. (ANI)
"I am a Dalit woman and the CM has given me the position of Mayor of Chennai Corporation. I am thankful to him,' said Priya.

The 28-year-old councillor is the youngest and the third woman mayor of Chennai. Later, she said that she will discharge her duty as a Mayor responsibly.

"I will consult with the Chief Minister whenever required to perform my duties efficiently," she added.

Priya, who is the first Dalit woman to hold the post of mayor of Chennai, was elected as a councillor of ward 74 Mangalapuram in the recently-concluded civic body polls.

A mayor was sworn into the Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) for the first time after a hiatus of 11 years. (ANI)
Union Minister of State L Murugan received students at the Indira Gandhi International Airport.

Earlier in the day, Minister of State for External Affairs V Muraleedharan informed that over 11,000 Indians have so far been evacuated from Ukraine.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday chaired a meeting to discuss the ongoing evacuation drive of Indian nationals and the situation in conflict-hit Ukraine.

The government has also deployed 'special envoys' to four neighbouring countries bordering Ukraine to coordinate and oversee the evacuation process of Indian nationals.

Russian forces launched military operations in Ukraine on February 24, three days after Moscow recognized Ukraine's breakaway regions - Donetsk and Luhansk - as independent entities. (ANI)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday called upon the voters in Manipur to vote in large numbers for the second and final phase of the state Assembly elections, exhorting them to "mark the festival of democracy". "Today is the second phase of the Manipur Assembly elections. Calling upon all those whose constituencies are polling today to vote in large numbers and mark the festival of democracy," PM Modi tweeted. Polling is underway for the second and last phase of state Assembly elections today in 22 constituencies spread across six districts. As many as 92 candidates, including two women, are in the fray whose electoral fate will be decided in the second phase of the Assembly polls. The 22 Assembly constituencies going for the polls today are Lilong, Thoubal, Wangkhem, Heirok, Wangjing Tentha, Khangabo, Wabgai, Kakching, Hiyanglam, Sugnoo, Jiribam, Chandel (ST), Tengnoupal (ST), Phungyar (ST), Ukhrul (ST), Chingai (ST), Karong (ST), Mao (ST), Tadubi (ST), Tamei (ST), Tamenglong (ST), and Nungba (ST). There are 1,247 polling stations in the second phase of the Manipur Assembly elections. A total of about 8.38 lakh voters are eligible to exercise their franchise in this phase. Voting began at 7 am and will continue till 4 pm. The voters who are COVID positive or are under quarantine will be allowed to vote in the last hour, between 3 pm to 4 pm, of the polling. The results of the Manipur Assembly elections will be declared on March 10. Campaigning came to an end on March 3 for the second phase of the state Assembly elections.The term of the current Manipur government began on March 20, 2017, and is slated to end on March 19, 2022. Manipur has a total of 60 Assembly constituencies. Polling for 38 Assembly constituencies was held on February 28, with the Election Commission of India (ECI) stating that 78.30 per cent electorate cast their votes. Notably, the incumbent BJP decided to go solo in the state elections, contesting all 60 Assembly seats. On the other hand, Congress has formed an alliance of six political parties 'Manipur Progressive Secular Alliance (MPSA)'. Congress, Communist Party of India (CPI), Communist Party of India (Marxist), Forward Bloc, Revolutionary Socialist Party (RSP), and Janata Dal (Secular) are the constituents of the alliance. In the 2017 Manipur Assembly elections, Congress had emerged as the single largest party, winning 28 seats, followed by the BJP, which had bagged 21 seats. The National People's Party (NPP) and Naga People's Front (NPF) had won four seats each while the Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) managed to secure only one constituency. The BJP had polled 36.28 per cent vote share while Congress had 35.11 per cent of the total votes. Later, the BJP had stitched an alliance with the NPP, NPF, and LJP to form the government in the state under the leadership of Chief Minister N Biren Singh. (ANI)
"Three C-17 heavy-lift transport aircraft of the IAF, which had taken off from Hindan Airbase on Friday, landed back to the base on Saturday morning with the evacuated Indians," said the official release.

"They had carried 16.5 tonnes of relief material on the outbound journey," IAF Tweeted.

So far, the IAF has flown 10 flights to bring back 2,056 passengers while taking 26 tonnes of relief load to these three countries.

Earlier in the day, Minister of State for External Affairs V Muraleedharan informed that over 11,000 Indians have been evacuated from Ukraine so far.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday chaired a meeting to discuss the ongoing evacuation drive of Indian nationals and the situation in conflict-hit Ukraine.

The government has also deployed 'special envoys' to four neighbouring countries bordering Ukraine to coordinate and oversee the evacuation process of Indian nationals.

Russian forces launched military operations in Ukraine on February 24, three days after Moscow recognized Ukraine's breakaway regions - Donetsk and Luhansk - as independent entities. (ANI)
Amid the ongoing evacuation of Indian medical students from Ukraine, the National Medical Commission (NMC) has allowed Foreign Medical Graduates with incomplete internships, due to compelling situations like the Covid19 and war, to apply here in India to complete their internships. "There are some Foreign Medical Graduates with incomplete internship due to compelling situations which is beyond their control such as COVID-19 and war etc", read the order. The relaxation comes with a caveat that the medical student will have to clear the Foreign Medical graduates examination (FMGE) here in India to avail of this benefit. "Considering the agony and stress faced by these foreign medical graduates, their application to complete the remaining part of the internship in India is considered eligible. Accordingly, the same may be processed by State Medical Councils provided that the candidates must have cleared FMGE before applying for completion of internship in India," reads the order. This decision will be helpful for those students who are returning from Ukraine and are on the verge of their final year of MBBS studies. According to the sources, the decision was already under process, coincidently it has come at the time of the Ukraine crisis. Meanwhile, the Indian Medical Association (IMA) on Friday wrote a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya regarding the fate and future of all MBBS students admitted to Medical schools or colleges in Ukraine and now returning to India due to the situation there. "The number of medical students who have sought admission to medical colleges/schools in Ukraine is substantial and they are at various stages of their progression. As a matter of set prescribed rules, an Indian student seeking admission to any foreign medical college is required to procure an eligibility certificate for the said admission from the then Medical Council of India now rechristened as National Medical Commission constituted vide National Medical Commission Act, 2019 repealing Indian Medical Council Act, of 1956." reads the statement by IMA. Minister of State for External Affairs V Muraleedharan on Saturday informed that over 11,000 Indians have been evacuated from Ukraine so far. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday chaired a meeting to discuss the ongoing evacuation drive of Indian nationals and the situation in conflict-hit Ukraine. The government has also deployed 'special envoys' to four neighbouring countries bordering Ukraine to coordinate and oversee the evacuation process of Indian nationals. Russian forces launched military operations in Ukraine on February 24, three days after Moscow recognized Ukraine's breakaway regions - Donetsk and Luhansk - as independent entities. (ANI)
The situation worsened as there were a lot of obstructions on the pathway. It became an uphill task for the people living in the villages of the valley, the army vehicles, and soldiers to reach the border.

The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) was seen clearing out the road so as to bring swift transportation back on road.

"These days, due to changing weather trends, the BRO is caught up in multiple pathway clearance activities. Currently, the BRO has undertaken the task of opening the Badrinath Highway and the snow removal from the Malari-Niti border road." said the BRO station commander.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecasted thunderstorms, lightning, and hail at isolated places likely over Himachal Pradesh. White lightning at isolated places over Jammu-Kashmir-Ladakh-Gilgit-Baltistan-Muzzafarabad, south coastal areas. (ANI)
Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut on Saturday alleged that phones of Goa leaders, including MLA Sudin Dhavalikar, MLA Vijai Sardesai, former Chief Minister Digambar Kamat and state Congress President Girish Chodankar, had been tapped. Talking to the media persons in Mumbai, Raut said, "The phones of many leaders who are the leaders of the opposition in this country and especially wherever elections are being held, are being tapped. The public got big information in Goa phone tapping case from Congress only yesterday." "It is true that the same thing happened in Maharashtra which is on record. The same Maharashtra pattern is going on in Goa. It is a matter of coincidence that the leader of Maharashtra at that time is in charge of Goa. Phone tapping may be going on in Uttar Pradesh too, I am also worried about Akhilesh Yadav," he added. Polling in Goa on 40 Assembly seats was held on February 14 and the counting of votes will take place on March 10. "The way phones of Maharashtra leaders were tapped, the same pattern of phone surveillance is being replicated in Goa. Calls of Sudin Dhavalikar, Vijai Sardesai, Digambar Kamat and Girish Chodankar are being tapped. The nation wants to know: Who is the 'Rashmi Shukla' of Goa behind this tapping?" Raut tweeted. Former Pune Police Commissioner Rashmi Shukla was accused by Maharashtra Home Minister Dilip Walse Patil of tapping the phones of leaders like Nana Patole, Bachchu Kadu, Sanjay Kakade and Ashish Deshmukh. Maharashtra government formed a three-member high-level committee constituted which found out that the phone tapping was done during the tenure of then Pune Police Commissioner Rashmi Shukla Consequently, Pune police registered an FIR against Shukla in the Maharashtra phone tapping case. The case was registered under section 26 of the Indian Telegraph Act. (ANI)
During the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-2025), China has increased its input in support programs that provide work for people in need as a form of relief, the country's top economic planner has said.

To date, 90 billion yuan (about 14.22 billion U.S. dollars) has been invested in relevant programs that have created 1.5 million jobs for rural residents, according to the National Development and Reform Commission.

The programs are mainly related to production and living in rural areas, transportation, water conservancy, culture and tourism, and infrastructure related to forestry and grasslands.

Rural residents who have been lifted out of poverty and low-income earners will be encouraged to participate in these work-relief programs to help them find jobs and to boost incomes in areas close to their homes.
The missile hit its intended target with pinpoint accuracy after traversing an extended range trajectory and performing complex manoeuvres, added the Navy officials.

Both Brahmos missile and INS Chennai are indigenously built and highlight the cutting-edge of Indian missile and ship-building prowess. They reinforce the Indian Navy's contribution towards the Atma Nirbhar Bharat and Make in India endeavours, stated Navy officials.

This achievement established the Indian Navy's ability to strike even deeper and influence land operations further away from the sea when and where required, as per the Navy officials. (ANI)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday came down heavily on the Opposition for politicizing the Ukraine crisis, saying that "dynasts always look for opportunities to serve their self-interests". "Blind opposition, continuous opposition, acute frustration, and negativity have become their political ideology," PM Modi said in his sharp attack on the Opposition. PM Modi while campaigning for the last phase of the Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections said that the Opposition parties look for political interests even when the nation faces challenges, making the situation even more critical. His statement came amidst India stepping up the evacuation of the stranded Indian nationals under 'Operation Ganga'. Addressing an election rally in his Parliamentary constituency Varanasi, the Prime Minister said, "Whenever some challenges crop up before the nation, these dynasts look for their political interests. If India's security forces and people deal with a crisis, the Opposition parties do everything to make the situation more critical. We saw this during the pandemic and today during the Ukraine crisis." The Opposition, mainly Congress, has been slamming the Centre over 'Operation Ganga', alleging late reaction in the evacuation of Indians. Earlier in the day, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi slammed the Centre, citing a media report claiming that students were asked to clean toilets to return to India. "It is an insult of the entire country," remarked Gandhi on the media report. He had earlier said that "evacuation is a duty and not a favour". For the past two years, the Prime Minister said free ration is being made available to over 80 crore poor, Dalits, backward, and tribals. "The entire world is amazed at the rollout of the foodgrains scheme. But I am happy that the poor is happy," he added. "Those who live in palaces don't know the troubles that a poor mother goes through in absence of a toilet at home. They have to either think of answering nature's call before sunrise or bear the pain throughout the day and do so only after sunset," the Prime Minister said. PM Modi has been camping in Varanasi for the last two days. His Parliamentary constituency will go to the polls in the last phase of the state Assembly elections. Campaigning for the seventh phase of the polls will end on Friday evening. A total of 54 Assembly seats across nine districts including Azamgarh, Mau, Jaunpur, Ghazipur, Chandauli, Varanasi, Mirzapur, Bhadohi and Sonbhadra, will go to polls on March 7. (ANI)
An Indian student stranded in Ukraine amid Russian military operations, turned good Samaritan when he helped a Pakistani girl studying in Kyiv reach the Romanian border from where she was evacuated to her homeland. Ankit Yadav, who recently returned from the conflict-hit Ukraine recounted to ANI that he helped her reach the Pakistani embassy from where she was evacuated to her homeland. "I met her at a bunker on the evening of February 24. I was the only Indian and she was the only Pakistani in that bunker which was filled with Ukrainians. Due to the language barrier, we could not speak to anybody else. With rising tensions in Ukraine, we decided to make a plan to flee the city. We had planned to leave on February 26, but a curfew was imposed and we failed in our first attempt," Yadav said. Narrating his ordeal after landing at the Delhi international airport, Yadav who is studying at a Kyiv institute said that due to continuous shelling and Russia's military operations they were not allowed to leave the bunker. He said that getting food was an issue as Ukrainians were mostly consuming non-vegetarian food and supplies were depleting. "When I requested, they allowed to let me leave the bunker on February 27 to getting a nasal spray. That is when I fled to my hostel with a curfew in place, cooked food for both of us and returned," Yadav said. "With not enough food, on the night of February 27 we only consumed rice provided to us by the Ukrainians and slept," he added. On February 28 when curfew lifted, Yadav said they managed to flee the bunker and find a store to replenish their supplies and then began planning to leave the city. "About that time she received a call from the Pakistani Embassy. When she told them that she was still in Kyiv and did not have any other person from her country with her, the officials of the embassy requested that I accompany her to the border for safety concerns," he said. After trudging for about 5 km to the railway station, Yadav said that they met some more students but could not board the overcrowded train because of which they missed first three trains. "Luckily, we got the next train but there no empty seats left and we had to sit on the floor. Sometime later we heard a blast in our train and eventually, the train began to move slowly and took us to our destination," Yadav said. The Pakistani girl, he said, then contacted her embassy, which arranged a taxi and arranged a bus with other Pakistani nationals to evacuate them to the Romania border. Meanwhile, earlier in the day, Minister of State for External Affairs V Muraleedharan informed that over 11,000 Indians have been evacuated from Ukraine so far. The government has deployed 'special envoys' to four neighbouring countries bordering Ukraine to coordinate and oversee the evacuation process of Indian nationals. Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas Hardeep Singh Puri is overseeing evacuation efforts in Hungary, Union Law Minister Kiren Rijiju in Slovakia, Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia in Romania and Gen VK Singh in Poland. (ANI)
Advocates Sunil Sonawane has lodged a police complaint in Azad Maidan against Sameet Thakkar for spreading false information about BMC chief.

Sameet Thakkar on Friday in a tweet said, "Big breaking, According to top sources of @Income Tax India is all set to inquire BMC Commissioner Iqbal Singh Chahal in a standing committee chairman Yashwant Jadhav case. Notice in this regard has been served according to my source."

BMC commissioner Chahal said that no notice has been received from Income Tax Department and a police complaint has been filed against Thakkar for spreading false and mischievous news.

"The following tweet is false. A complaint is filed against this individual for spreading false news, with malicious intent. No notice has been received for the inquiry against BMC Commissioner by Income Tax Office of India," BMC said in a tweet. (ANI)
Addressing reporters today after the meeting, Delhi Congress in-charge Shakti Singh Gohil said that in the upcoming corporation elections, Congress will give tickets to the deserving candidates in a transparent manner.

"Rahul Gandhi instructed the leaders to fight the corporation elections unitedly," he said.

Gohil also informed that he along with state president Anil Chaudhary will hold meetings every week with former state presidents like Ajay Maken, JP Agarwal, Arvinder Singh Lovely and Subhash Chopra.

The dates for the Delhi Municipal Corporation elections will be announced within a few weeks.

The last time Congress won the Delhi Municipal Corporation elections was about 20 years ago in 2002. (ANI)
Ahead of the seventh and the last phase of Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Saturday launched a scathing attack at the Samajwadi Party stating that it did not have sympathy for poor people, farmers and safety of women in the state, instead the SP was "sympathetic only towards terrorists". Addressing a public rally in UP's Azamgarh today, Adityanath said that the SP only had sympathy for the terrorists who are in jail. "Samajwadi Party neither had sympathies for development, poor and youth nor for farmers and safety of women. They were sympathetic only towards getting terrorists out of jail," the chief minister said. Continuing taking a jibe at previous governments of Uttar Pradesh, he said, "SP and BSP workers are troubled that from where we are getting money and undertaking development works. I must say that there is no shortage of money but the difference of intention and priorities." The Chief Minister also announced that the amount given to the girl during her marriage under 'Saamuhik Vivah Yojana' which is currently Rs 50,000 will be increased to Rs 1 lakh gradually during the next term of the BJP. Yogi also said that one free gas cylinder will be provided to the beneficiaries of Ujjawala Yojana during Holi and Diwali for the next five years. Polling for six phases of the seven-phase Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections has already been concluded. In the seventh phase, voting will be held in 54 assembly constituencies in nine districts on March 7. A total of 54 Assembly seats across nine districts in Uttar Pradesh, including Azamgarh, Mau, Jaunpur, Ghazipur, Chandauli, Varanasi, Mirzapur, Bhadohi, and Sonbhadra, will go to polls in the seventh and final phase on March 7. The counting of the votes will take place on March 10. (ANI)
A Delhi Court on Saturday dismissed the bail plea moved by former AAP Councilor Tahir Hussain in a money laundering case registered by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in connection with the alleged funding of Northeast Delhi violence of February 2020. Additional Sessions Judge Amitabh Rawat dismissed the bail plea on Saturday. He had reserved the order on 8 February after hearing the arguments of counsel of the prosecution and accused. Tahir Hussain is accused in many riots related cases and in custody for one and half years. He is also an accused in the riots conspiracy case. Enforcement Directorate (ED) had registered a complaint against him in connection with the alleged funding of riots. Advocate N. K. Matta, Special Prosecutor for ED had argued that there is sufficient material on record against the accused and a case of Money laundering is made out against him. SPP had also argued that there is sufficient evidence and witnesses to the effect that the accused was involved in the funding of riots. He distributed money to other accused persons for riots and procuring the weapons. On the other hand, Advocate Rizwan, counsel for Tahir Hussain had concluded that no case of money laundering is made out against his client. He had argued that the basis of the Enforcement Directorate case is an alleged transaction of Rs 1.5 crore on fake and bogus invoices. He had argued that in the light of the said transaction only a case of GST is made out against him for transaction through fake and bogus invoices. Counsel for the accused had questioned the reliability of the prosecution witness including Rahul Kasana. The prosecution has relied upon many witnesses who deposed that Tahir Hussain distributed money to Suleman Siddiqui, Gulfisha including others at protest sites. He argued that Tahir Hussain has been made accused of money laundering along with Amit Gupta. He argued that Amit Gupta has not been made an accused of the riots case on the basis of which this money laundering case was registered. He had also argued that the punishment in the instant case is seven years and he cannot be convicted without conviction in the main riots cases and that will take years to be completed. The accused has already undergone a period of one and half years in jail. In this situation, the applicant can't be kept in jail for a prolonged period. According to the Delhi Police, Tahir Hussain is one of the prime accused in connection with North East Delhi Violence of February 2020. ED had registered a complaint against him and other accused in the Prevention of Money Laundering (PMLA) Act. In northeast Delhi, violence 53 people died and hundreds were injured. (ANI)
The arrest was made based on an intelligence report shared by the Special Branch of Assam from Howly, Barpeta and Kalgachia area of the state, informed the Assam Police.

"During the preliminary investigation concluded so far, it is found that Saiful Islam alias Harun Rashid alias Mohammad Suman who is a citizen of Bangladesh having illegally entered India was working as a teacher of Dhakaliapara Masjid", stated the police.

Saiful Islam had successfully indoctrinated and motivated four others to join the module Ansarullah Bangla Team (ABT) with a view to developing Barpeta district as a base for 'Jehadi' work and unlawful activities of Al-Qaeda, said the official release.

The police have found incriminating documents and electronic devices in their possession. (ANI)
The Supreme Court has dismissed an appeal filed by the CBI against bail granted to CPI(M) members accused in a case relating to the murder of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) member Elanthottathil Manoj in Kannur district, Kerala, in September 2014. A bench of Justices Sanjay Kishan Kaul and MM Sundresh declined the plea of CBI and noted that the order granting bail was passed on February 23, 2021, and the investigating agency has not brought up the matter before the top court for more than a year. CBI had challenged in the top court the February 23 order of the Kerala High Court granting bail to CPI(M) members accused of "brutally killing" Manoj. "The order granting bail was passed on February 23, 2021. We have some grave reservations on the factual findings given the legal position in respect of granting bail but considering that the CBI itself has not brought up the matter before the Court formore than a year and no aggravating circumstances have been shown after the respondents were released in pursuance to the impugned order, we are not inclined to interfere in the matter while leaving the question of law open. The special leave petition stands dismissed accordingly," the apex court bench stated in its order. Total 15 accused in the case were granted bail by the High Court last year. The High Court while allowing the bail pleas had observed that having considered the entire facts and circumstances in the case, the accused were prima facie, guilty of committing the offences alleged against them. But they have been in custody for more than six years and therefore, their further incarceration without trial might not be justified, it had added. CBI had submitted that the accused were involved in a very ghastly crime committed in broad daylight openly defying law and order. It had said that the accused had repeatedly exploded country-made bombs to strike terror among the public and thereafter, killed Manoj in a gruesome manner. The 42-year-old Manoj, a district functionary of RSS, was hacked to death in Kathiroor in Kannur district on September 1, 2014, allegedly by a group of CPI(M) workers. (ANI)
About 3,000 Indians have been airlifted on Saturday by 15 special flights from Ukraine's neighbouring countries under 'Operation Ganga' to rescue Indian citizens, according to the press release issued by the Ministry of Civil Aviation today. These 15 special flights included 12 special civilian and 3 Indian Air Force flights, the ministry said. With this, more than 13,700 Indians have been brought back since the special flights began on February 22, 2022. The number of Indians brought back by 55 special civilian flights goes up to 11,728. To date, the IAF has flown 10 sorties to bring back 2,056 passengers, while taking 26 tonnes of relief load to these countries, as part of Operation Ganga, it said. Further, the ministry said, "Three C-17 heavy-lift transport aircraft of the IAF, which had taken off yesterday from the Hindan airbase, landed back at Hindan today morning. These flights evacuated 629 Indian nationals from Romania, Slovakia and Poland. These flights also carried 16.5 tonnes of relief load from India to these countries." "All Civilian flights, except one, had landed during the morning today, while a flight from Kosice to Delhi is expected to arrive late in the evening. Today's civilian flights included 5 from Budapest, 4 from Suceava, 1 from Kosice and 2 from Rzeszow," it added. A total of 11 special flights are expected to operate from Budapest, Kosice, Rzeszow and Bucharest tomorrow, bringing in more than 2,200 Indians back home, it said. (ANI)
The following are the schedules for the fifth session of the 13th National People's Congress (NPC) and the fifth session of the 13th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) on Saturday.

-- At 9 a.m., the fifth session of the 13th NPC will hold its opening meeting at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.

-- NPC deputies will hear the government work report delivered by Premier Li Keqiang.

-- NPC deputies will review the report on the implementation of the 2021 plan and on the 2022 draft plan for national economic and social development, and the draft plan for national economic and social development in 2022.

-- NPC deputies will review the report on the execution of the central and local budgets for 2021 and on the draft central and local budgets for 2022, and the draft central and local budgets for 2022.

-- NPC deputies will hear explanations on the draft amendment to the Organic Law of the Local People's Congresses and Local People's Governments, the draft decision on the number of deputies to the 14th NPC and their election, the draft method for the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) to elect deputies to the 14th NPC, and the draft method for the Macao SAR to elect deputies to the 14th NPC.

-- NPC delegations will hold meetings to deliberate the government work report.

-- Members of the CPPCC National Committee will sit in on the opening meeting of the NPC session as non-voting participants.

-- Members of the CPPCC National Committee will hold group meetings to deliberate the work report of the Standing Committee of the CPPCC National Committee and a report on how the proposals from political advisors have been handled.
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Saturday, after meeting the students who returned from Ukraine amid crisis, said he is in touch with the Union Ministers who have been sent to the neighbouring countries of Ukraine to coordinate the evacuation of Indians, and added that bringing back the remaining ones is a "priority". CM Dhami held a meeting with the residents of the state who returned today at Uttarakhand Sadan in Delhi. Speaking to ANI, the Chief Minister said, "The Union Ministers have been given the responsibility of bringing all the students who are stranded in various places back to the country. I along with my officials are in contact with those Ministers and the Foreign Ministry." "I am meeting with the students who are returning to the country. I have met all of them who have come in the past two to three days. I have spoken to them on phones and also to their guardians. We are making efforts to bring all of them back safely," Dhami added. The Chief Minister further informed that as per the registered data in the state, nearly 287 residents have gone to Ukraine, out of which 160 have returned so far. "160 students have returned so far. We thank PM Modi for starting Operation Ganga under which 160 students have returned and more students continue to return. The effort for the same is on to bring back all our remaining students. We have 287 registered students who are there in total. Bringing them back is our priority. For that the Ministry of External Affairs, our local commissioner's office, we are continuously coordinating," he said. Meanwhile, the Uttarakhand government has appointed a nodal officer for students of the state returning from Ukraine and a toll-free number has been also launched, where people can give information about students stuck in Ukraine. Notably, the Indian Air Force on Saturday brought back 629 evacuated Indian nationals from Ukraine's neighbouring countries Romania, Slovakia and Poland as part of the ongoing 'Operation Ganga'. The government has deployed 'special envoys' to four neighbouring countries bordering Ukraine to coordinate and oversee the evacuation process of Indian nationals. Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas Hardeep Singh Puri is overseeing evacuation efforts in Hungary, Union Law Minister Kiren Rijiju in Slovakia, Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia in Romania and Gen VK Singh in Poland. Prime Minister Narendra Modi also chaired several meetings on the evacuation of Indian nationals from Ukraine. In the meeting, he chaired on Friday, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, Minister of Commerce & Industry Piyush Goyal, Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla, National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval and other senior officials were present. (ANI)
The NCP chief further alleged that the BJP links any of his party workers belonging to the "Muslim" community with Dawood.

Notably, Malik was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in connection with the money laundering case.

"Nawab Malik's arrest is politically motivated, he is being linked with Dawood just because he's a Muslim," Pawar said while addressing a press conference here.

Asked about BJP's persistent demand for the Minister's resignation over the matter, the NCP chief hit out at the Opposition party in the state and said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi should explain why his Minister Narayan Rane did not tender resignation when he was arrested.

"PM Modi should explain why Narayan Rane didn't resign when he was arrested but BJP keeps asking for Nawab Malik's resignation," he said.

Notably, Rane had accused Thackeray of ignorance about the year of India's independence at an event and said "I would have given (him) a tight slap."

Meanwhile, the special PMLA court on Thursday extended the Enforcement Directorate (ED) custody of Nawab Malik till March 7 in connection with the Dawood Ibrahim money laundering case.

Earlier in February, the ED conducted raids at the residence of Dawood Ibrahim's sister Haseena Parkar in Mumbai in connection with the money laundering case.

Searches were carried out by the ED at several places linked to people associated with the underworld in Mumbai, informed sources said.

Meanwhile, Bharatiya Janata Party has demanded the resignation of the Malik but the Maha Vikas Agadhi (MVA-- comprising Shiv Sena, Congress and NCP) government has rejected the demand. (ANI)
Bharatiya Janata Party on Saturday exuded confidence that the party will retain power in Manipur and added that governments both at the Centre and the State have worked together in harmony to end the differences between hills and valleys. BJP National President Jagat Prakash Nadda and Home Minister Amit Shah addressed a joint press conference at the party headquarters in New Delhi on Saturday. Speaking here today, Shah said, "BJP will form a government in Manipur again. The state has transformed from blockades, bandhs, violence, drugs to organic farming, medical institutions and more. PM Modi and our CM of Manipur have worked hard to end the differences between hills and valleys." Assembly elections are being held in Manipur from February 28 to March 5, 2022, in two phases, to elect 60 members of the Manipur Legislative Assembly. Former BJP chief Shah emphasized that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is enjoying maximum popularity among all the Prime Ministers of India since independence and BJP will benefit from it in these poll-bound states. "For almost 7 and a half years, BJP's full majority government is running in the country under the leadership of Narendra Modi. Our government under the leadership of the Prime Minister has made the people of the country realize that an elected government wants to raise the standard of living of the citizens," he said. Shah added, "In these five states, the popularity of PM Narendra Modi ji was seen above the popularity of any Prime Minister of independent India and BJP is getting direct benefit of this in this election." 2022 Legislative Assembly elections are being held in five states namely Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Goa, Punjab and Manipur. The results will be declared on March 10. (ANI)
The meeting is being attended by Union Minister for External Affairs S Jaishankar, Foreign Secretary of India Harsh Vardhan Shringla and other officials.

Previously, the Prime Minister has held regular high-level meetings over the Ukraine crisis. Over 13,300 people have returned to India so far under Operation Ganga from crisis-ridden Ukraine.

Tensions have escalated following Russia's military action against Ukraine.

The External Affairs Ministry on Saturday said that almost all Indians have left Kharkiv city in Ukraine and the main focus of the government is to evacuate citizens from the Sumy area as it is challenging amid ongoing violence and lack of transportation.

The government has also deployed 'special envoys' to four neighbouring countries bordering Ukraine to coordinate and oversee the evacuation process of Indian nationals.

Russian forces launched military operations in Ukraine on February 24, three days after Moscow recognized Ukraine's breakaway regions - Donetsk and Luhansk - as independent entities. (ANI)
Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel said that Samajwadi Party (SP) and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) fought Uttar Pradesh elections on issues similar to Congress, hours after campaigning for the seventh and the final phase of Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections concluded on Saturday. Baghel, who is also the Congress party's senior observer for Uttar Pradesh elections, told reporters today, "We fought elections on issues in Uttar Pradesh. Seeing us, the Samajwadi Party and BJP also had to come to the same issues. For the first time, SP, BJP had to leave their issues and come to our issues." "Congress has nothing to lose in Uttar Pradesh, everything has to be gained. The more the BJP talks about PM Modi, the more they are going to regret it," he said. The Chief Minister slammed the Centre for failing to save the people of India impacted in the Ukraine crisis. "The government failed to save its people. Half a million people were brought back from the Gulf countries during the Inder Kumar Gujral's government. Today there is no food and water for the Indians trapped in Ukraine. If we recall all these things, Congress will benefit in UP polls. The country will wait for the 10th of March." The Chief Minister said, as soon as the elections are over, the price of petrol will increase within one hour after 5 pm. Polling for six phases of the seven-phased Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections has already concluded. Voting for the seventh and final round will be held on March 7. The results will be declared on March 10. (ANI)
In a tweet today, Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan expressed condolences on the demise of Pareek and said that he had worked to nurture innumerable workers with nationalist ideas, human values and ideals.

"Deeply saddened by the news of the passing away of Shri Shiv Kumar Pareek ji, a close associate of Prime Minister Shri Atal ji before the era of Jana Sangh. He also worked to nurture innumerable workers with nationalist ideas, human values and ideals," tweeted Pradhan today.

Uttar Pradesh Law Minister Brajesh Pathak also expressed condolences on the demise of Pareek.

"The sad news of the demise of Shri Shiv Kumar Pareek ji, the personal secretary of former Prime Minister Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayeeji, who supported Atal ji like a shadow for almost 60 years, is heart-wrenching. May God grant the 'Punyatama', a place at his feet and strength to his family members and well-wishers," tweeted Brajesh Pathak in Hindi today.

Shiv Kumar Pareek used to work with AB Vajpayee as a personal assistant. On many occasions, Atal Bihari Vajpayee had also participated in programs held at Shiv Kumar Pareek's house.

Vajpayee had passed away on August 16, 2018. (ANI)
A recent study conducted by a group of researchers from Finland, found that long-term poverty undermined many prerequisites for inclusion and well-being. The research was carried out by the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL). The results of the study were published in 'Journal of Social and Political Psychology'. The social and psychological impacts of long-term poverty were examined in two studies analysing the follow-up material for 2006 and 2012 from the Everyday Experiences of Poverty writing competition. "Long-lasting difficulties, such as low income, unemployment, uncertainty, addictions, pain and illnesses, can plunge a person into a vicious cycle where the force upholding life weakens. Participation in joint activities decreases and experiences of meaningfulness diminish," said Anna-Maria Isola, Research Manager at THL. Planning for the future is difficult if you have to focus on simply making it through each day and anticipating the worst. In these circumstances you might not recognise positive opportunities available, nor will you strive for things that you find difficult to achieve. The studies found key factors that supported people's ability to lead their own lives, strive for things that are important to them and make decisions that support their well-being. These factors include the manageability and predictability of one's own life and the surrounding world, financial resources, a sense of belonging, equal opportunities for participation and experiencing meaning in life. "When life has economic, social and psychological stability and room for manoeuvre, more positive opportunities will be seen instead of negative risks. A person experiences less feelings of worthlessness when they are able to live life according to their own liking, but also in line with the expectations of others," said Lotta Virrankari, a researcher at THL. As its name suggests, social security provides security that was found to create faith in the future. At its best, Finnish social security was predictable, but social assistance and labour policy statements, in particular, were sometimes seen as erratic. "There is a risk that in fear of losing subsidies people might not have the courage to, for example, participate in volunteer work, which would help them to stay in touch with the community and bring meaning to life. Participation in other joint activities might also gradually decrease, and eventually, uncertainty will undermine one's self-confidence," Isola described. Research Professor Heikki Hiilamo at THL emphasised that the adequacy of social security must be assessed in relation to how well it enables the poorest to participate in the prevailing way of life. "The opportunity to move around the city, participate in cultural events and even go out for dinner sometimes can create meaningful experiences that encourage people to improve their well-being." However, social security and its related services alone cannot provide sufficient experiences of meaningfulness. Open spaces and events, where it is easy to engage with others and where different people can meet and do things together, are also needed. Equal encounters also dismantle attitudes and beliefs that are harmful to the most vulnerable. (ANI)
Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia on Saturday informed that a total 6,222 Indian nationals have been evacuated from Romania and Moldova in the last seven days under 'Operation Ganga'. Sharing an update on the status of evacuation of Indian nationals from neighbouring countries of war-struck Ukraine, Scindia tweeted, "Evacuated 6,222 Indians in the last 7 days from Romania and Moldova... 1,050 students to be sent home in the next 2 days". In the same tweet, Scindia said that India got a new airport to operate flights in Suceava, 50 km from border, instead of transporting students to Bucharest which is 500 km from border. He also added that 1,050 more students will be sent home in the next 2 days. "In the last 7 days, a total of 29 flights from Romania alone have flown our students back to India. Jai Hind!" he added in a subsequent tweet. Meanwhile, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Saturday advised Indian students stranded in Sumy, Ukraine to stay inside while assuring a safe corridor for students to pass is being negotiated with both the Russian and Ukrainian governments. --IANS avr/skp/ ( 200 Words) 2022-03-05-19:10:04 (IANS)
The Centre has initiated an airlift operation to evacuate Indian nationals, who have found their way to the neighbouring countries of war-torn Ukraine. It has deployed a number of special charter flights as well as Indian Air Force aircraft to ferry back Indian citizens.

"Tomorrow (Sunday), 11 special flights are expected to operate from Budapest, Kosice, Rzeszow and Bucharest, bringing more than 2,200 Indians back home," a statement issued by the Ministry of Civil Aviation said.

"Under Operation Ganga, about 3,000 Indians have been airlifted on Saturday by 15 special flights from Ukraine's neighbouring countries," it added.

According to the statement, Saturday's operations were conducted via 12 special civilian and 3 IAF flights.

The civilian flights were operated from Budapest, Suceva, Kosice and Rzeszow.

"With this, more than 13,700 Indians have been brought back since the special flight operations began on February 22," the statement said.

Besides, the ministry said that 11,728 Indians have been brought back by 55 special civilian flights.

Till date, the IAF has flown 10 sorties to bring back 2,056 passengers, besides taking 26 tonnes of relief load to the Ukraine's neghbouring countries as part of Operation Ganga.

"Three IAF C-17 heavy lift transport aircraft, which had taken off from the Hindon air base on Friday, landed back on Saturday morning. These flights evacuated 629 Indian nationals from Romania, Slovakia and Poland. These flights also carried 16.5 tonnes of relief load from India to these countries," a statement said.

--IANS rv/arm

( 281 Words)

2022-03-05-19:26:01 (IANS)
In a shocking incident, a panchayat of Bihar's Saharsa district directed a rape accused to pay Rs 70,000 as compensation to the victim, an official said on Saturday. The accused has been identified as Sarfaraz. He was arrested by local police on Saturday afternoon. The accused was involved in sexually assaulting a Dalit girl a fortnight ago in a village which comes under Basnahi police station. According to an official of the police station, the accused applied pressure on the victim and her family members for the compromise. "On the pressure of the accused and his family members, a Panchayat was held in the village a week ago where Sarpanch and Mukhiya (village head) imposed financial punishment on the accused. They directed the accused to pay Rs 70,000 to the victim," JP Singh, an investigating officer of the case said. This shocker came to the knowledge of a social organization, the officials of which took the statement of the victim and gave a written complaint to Basnahi police station. "Following the written complaint of the victim, we have arrested the accused. He has confessed the crime. He also said that he and his family members applied pressure on the victim for the compromise," he said. --IANS ajk/skp/ ( 222 Words) 2022-03-05-20:34:03 (IANS)
You are here: China

China's Ministry of Education has urged off-campus tutoring institutions to suspend or dismiss unqualified practitioners or transfer them to other positions based on the result of a recent survey.

An official off-campus tutoring institution survey for high and primary school students and kindergarten children nationwide found that 2.91 percent of the practitioners were unqualified for the work, the ministry said Friday.

Launched in November 2021, the three-month survey covered nearly 770,000 practitioners at tutoring institutions for both curricular and extra-curricular courses.

Some practitioners had faked or exaggerated their education and working backgrounds, and some were not certified to teach the subjects they were tutoring on, said the ministry.

The survey also found a few practitioners with law violating or criminal records.

Relevant localities should blacklist the 64 practitioners with severe violations from off-campus tutoring institutions, according to the ministry.
The incident occurred in Badabakpur village under Mahakalpada police station of the Kendrapara district in broad daylight.

According to the police, three armed miscreants barged into the house of Mishra on Saturday afternoon and opened fire at him. When Mishra's wife Minati tried to protect him, the criminals also fired on the lady.

While Mishra died on the spot, his wife Minati was critically injured in the gun attack. Later, she was admitted to a local hospital. Arabinda was a retired employee of the Kendrapara block office.

Being informed about the incident, locals ran after the miscreants and were able to catch two of the accused, while the third managed to escape. The accused have been handed over to the police. The irate villagers have torched the motorcycle of the miscreants.

However, the reason behind the attack is yet to be ascertained by police. Amiya Kumar Nayak, former sarpanch of the village, suspected that family dispute might be the reason behind the murder.

--IANS bbm/skp/

( 194 Words)

2022-03-05-20:52:03 (IANS)
Police said six cases have been registered against the accused Sujeesh PS who runs a tattoo studio at Edappally at Kochi.

An 18-year-old girl alleged that she was raped by Sujeesh inside the tattoo studio while she was getting inked.

Kochi City Police Commissioner CH Nagaraju said that Sujeesh has been taken into custody and that further proceedings will be done on Sunday.

Sujeesh was taken into custody by Cheranalloor Police. Cases under sections 354 and 376 of the Indian Penal Code have been registered against him. The investigation is underway. (ANI)
Following the commotion, a few BJP workers were taken into custody.

Narayan Rane and son Nitesh appeared before Mumbai Police on Saturday in connection with the Disha Salian death case. The interrogation lasted for around nine hours at Malvani police station.

"We were released only after I called Amit Shah. Our statement was recorded then that Disha Salian did not die by suicide but was murdered. Mumbai Mayor Kishori Pednekar provoked Disha Salian's mother after which she complained stating defamation," Rane told mediapersons while leaving Malvani police station after nine hours of interrogation.

"After the demise of Sushant Singh Rajput and Disha Salian, Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray called me twice urging me to say it was not a minister's car. This is an attempt to pressurize us," added the Union Minister.

The father-son due had allegedly made defamatory remarks against late actor Sushant Singh Rajput's former manager Disha Salian.

On February 27, a case was registered against Narayan Rane and Nitesh Rane for allegedly spreading false information about the death of Salian. (ANI)
According to a research, a new species of one of the most recognisable types of dinosaurs is the oldest stegosaur ever found in Asia. It is one of the earliest unearthed anywhere in the world. The study was published in the journal, 'Journal of Verterbrate Paleontology.' Stegosaur was relatively small and fearsome looking. It is measured about 2.8 metres (9 feet) from nose to tail -but scientists can't tell whether the remains are those of an adult or juvenile. Remains of the stegosaur, which included bones from the back, shoulder, thigh, feet, and ribs, as well as several armour plates, date to the Bajocian stage of the Middle Jurassic period - much earlier than most known stegosaurs. A team from the Chongqing Bureau of Geological and Mineral Resource Exploration and Development in China and London's Natural History Museum named it Bashanosaurus primitivus - "Bashan" in reference to the ancient name for the area of Chongqing in China where the dinosaur was found, and the Latin for 'first' - primitivus. The new dinosaur, which roamed the planet 168 million years ago, plays a part in uncovering how the stegosaurs evolved - of which, to this day, little is known. It has a smaller and less developed should blade, narrower and thicker bases to its armour plates and other features that are different from all other Middle Jurassic stegosaurs discovered so far. However, it does have similarities with some of the first armoured dinosaurs, which are over 20 million years older. "All these features are clues to the stegosaurs' place on the dinosaur family tree", said Dr Dai Hui from Chongqing Bureau of Geological and Mineral Resource Exploration and Development who led the research. "Bashanosaurus can be distinguished from other Middle Jurassic stegosaurs, and clearly represents a new species," he added. "What's more, our analysis of the family tree indicates that it is one of the earliest-diverging stegosaurs along with the Chongqing Lizard (Chungkingosaurus) and Huayangosaurus. These were all unearthed from the Middle to Late Jurassic Shaximiao Formation in China, suggesting that stegosaurs might have originated in Asia", added Hui. Instantly recognisable by the huge back plates, long tail spikes and tiny head, stegosaurs were four-legged, plant-eating dinosaurs that lived during the Jurassic and early Cretaceous periods. Stegosaur fossils have been found on all continents except for Antarctica and Australia, and 14 species of stegosaur have been identified so far. Well-known members of Stegosauria include Huayangosaurus (one of the most primitive stegosaurs), Gigantspinosaurus, notable for its enormous shoulder spines, and Miragaia for its extremely long neck. However, the fragmentary fossil material has hindered attempts to understand how the stegosaurs evolved and how they relate to one another. With the discovery of this new species the mystery has started to clear up. Bashanosaurus primitivus has several primitive features that are similar to the earliest stegosaurs like Huayangosaurus and Gigantspinosaurus and early-branching thyreophorans (armoured dinosaurs). These include longer tail vertebrae, a shoulder blade that is narrower and flares out, and features of the back vertebrae that are similar to the early armoured dinosaur Scelidosaurus, which lived during the Early Jurassic. The fossilised remains of Bashanosaurus also revealed a host of features that make it unique from other known stegosaurs. For example, the bony point at the end of the shoulder blade is small and less well developed than in other stegosaurs; a bony projection of the thighbone (fourth trochanter) is positioned below the middle of the shaft, and the bases of the armour plates curve outwards and are thicker than the plates on the backs of its later relatives. "The discovery of this stegosaur from the Middle Jurassic of China adds to an increasing body of evidence that the group evolved in the early Middle Jurassic, or perhaps even in the Early Jurassic, and as such represent some of the earliest known bird-hipped dinosaurs," said Dr Susannah Maidment, co-author and palaeontologist at London's Natural History Museum. "China seems to have been a hotspot for stegosaur diversity, with numerous species now known from the Middle Jurassic right the way through until the end of the Early Cretaceous period," she added. (ANI)
Speaking at the special briefing on Operation Ganga to bring back Indian citizens from Ukraine amid Russia's military operations, the Ministry of External Affairs said on Friday that over 20,000 Indians have left Ukraine since our first travel advisory was issued. During a daily briefing, the official spokesperson of MEA Arindam Bagchi said that there are more people, but it's reassuring to see that these many people have left Ukraine. "Over 20,000 Indians have left the Ukraine borders since we issued our advisories. There are more people, but it's reassuring to see that these many people have left Ukrainian borders," he said. "During the 24 hours, 18 flights have landed in India with around 4,000 Indians on board. The total number of flights that have landed have been 48, carrying 10348 Indians," he said. He mentioned that sixteen flights were scheduled for the next 24 hours including Indian Air Force's C-17 aircraft. Bagchi also said that India has requested Ukrainian authorities for special trains to help in the evacuation of the Indian nationals, however, buses have been arranged. "We had requested Ukrainian authorities for special trains but haven't heard anything yet. Meanwhile, we are arranging buses," he said. Meanwhile, a total of 5,245 Indian nationals were airlifted from Romania to the country till March 3 amid Russia's military operations in Ukraine, informed the Government of India on Friday. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, today chaired a meeting to discuss the ongoing evacuation drive of Indian nationals and the situation in conflict-hit Ukraine. The government has also deployed 'special envoys' to four neighbouring countries bordering Ukraine to coordinate and oversee the evacuation process of Indian nationals. Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas Hardeep Singh Puri is overseeing evacuation efforts in Hungary, Union Law Minister Kiren Rijiju in Slovakia, Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia in Romania and Minister of State for Road Transport & Highways and Civil Aviation Gen VK Singh in Poland. Russian forces launched military operations in Ukraine on February 24, three days after Moscow recognized Ukraine's breakaway regions - Donetsk and Luhansk - as independent entities. (ANI)
The United States condemned the horrific blast that occurred at the mosque in Pakistan's Peshawar on Friday, claiming over 56 lives and leaving at least 194 others injured. "We condemn the horrific attack at the mosque in Peshawar that left many peaceful worshippers dead or injured. Our sincere condolences to the victims' families and friends. The United States mourns in solidarity with Pakistan," the Department of State said. The explosion occurred at a Shia mosque today. Mohammad Asim, a spokesperson for Lady Reading Hospital (LRH), confirmed the casualties, adding that some of the injured were in critical condition. Meanwhile, Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan has ordered an inquiry into the blast and directed the concerned to provide immediate medical aid to injured people. Officials, who termed the incident a suicide attack, initially said that two attackers were involved. However, CCTV footage released later in the day showed a lone attacker clad in a black shalwar kameez reaching the mosque in the city's Qissa Khwani Bazaar on foot and brandishing a pistol, the Dawn reported. Speaking to the media, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Inspector General of Police Moazzam Jah Ansari said two police officials were deputed at the mosque for security. He opened fire on police personnel deployed outside the main entrance for security before running inside. The attacker also opened fire on a man who tried to stop him and managed to enter the mosque, where worshippers had gathered for Friday prayers, after which an explosion took place. He said that one constable was martyred, while another police officer was in critical condition. The senior police officer said that around five to six kilogrammes of explosive material were used, adding that there were no prior reports about the attack. Capital City Police Officer (CCPO) Peshawar Mohammad Ijaz Khan confirmed the chain of events, adding that one police official was martyred in the gunfight outside the mosque. (ANI)
Outrightly rejecting to police a no-fly zone over Ukraine, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg on Friday warned that such a move could provoke widespread war in Europe with Russia as the Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba called for urgent help from NATO and European countries. The remarks came during the extraordinary meeting of the NATO Foreign Ministers in Brussels on Friday. Foreign Ministers of Finland and Sweden and the European Union High Representative were also present in the meeting. Stoltenberg made clear that NATO would not impose a no-fly zone over Ukraine saying, "no-fly zone was mentioned during NATO meeting but allies agreed NATO should not have planes operating over Ukraine", quoted Sputnik. "If you don't (help us), I am afraid you (NATO) will have to share responsibility for the lives and suffering of the Ukrainian civilians who die because of ruthless Russian pilots dropping bombs on them," Dmytro Kuleba said in a video message to the meeting. Posting his video message to the meeting on Twitter, Kuleba again called for NATO to act before it's too late. "Act now before it's too late. Don't let Putin turn Ukraine into Syria. We are ready to fight. We will continue fighting. But we need partners to help us with concrete, resolute and swift actions, now," Kuleba tweeted. "We have made it clear that we are not going to move into Ukraine neither on the ground nor in the Ukrainian airspace, and of course, the only way to implement a no-fly zone is to send NATO fighter planes into the Ukrainian airspace and then impose this no-fly zone by shooting down Russian planes. Our assessment is that we understand the desperation but we believe that if we do that we end up with something that it could end in a full-fledged war in Europe involving many more countries causing much more human suffering," Stoltenberg explained. NATO Secretary-General made clear that NATO has no plans to enter into the conflict in Ukraine. He said, "We are not part of this conflict", adding that NATO has "a responsibility to ensure it does not escalate and spread beyond Ukraine. That would be even more devastating and dangerous." In addition to the thousands more troops that Allies have already sent to the eastern part of the Alliance, NATO is deploying its Response Force for the first time, it has over 130 jets at high alert and over 200 ships from the High North to the Mediterranean. Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken began his trip in Brussels where he participated in the NATO Foreign Ministerial. Blinken will also meet with EU counterparts, participate in a G7 Ministerial Meeting, and hold additional meetings with partners to discuss the global response to Russia's invasion, including Allies and partners continued coordination on imposing massive consequences and severe economic costs on Russia. (ANI)
Washington [US], March 4 (ANI/Sputnik): The United States and its European allies have requested an emergency meeting on Ukraine over recent developments near the Zaporizhzhia NPP, with the meeting scheduled for 11:30 EST (16:30 GMT), a source told Sputnik on Friday. "We have just received a request [from] US, UK, Albania, France, Norway and Ireland," the source said. Earlier in the day, the Russian Defense Ministry said that Ukrainian authorities attempted a provocation overnight by accusing Russia of creating a source of radioactive contamination at Zaporizhzhia NPP. While patrolling the area adjacent to the station, a group of the Russian National Guard was attacked by a Ukrainian sabotage unit who opened fire on them from the windows of several floors of an educational and training complex located outside the NPP. The firing points of the Ukrainian sabotage group were suppressed by return fire. Leaving the building, the sabotage group set it on fire. The fire was put out and the NPP is working as usual, with radiation background at normal level, the Russian military said. (ANI/Sputnik)
"The assault was clearly intended to target Shia worshippers and bears the hallmarks of sectarian outfits that have been allowed to run amok in recent years," the HRCP said in a statement.

An explosion occurred at a Shia mosque on Friday in which 56 people were killed and 194 others were injured. Local hospital officials confirmed the casualties, adding that some of the injured were in critical condition.

Officials, who termed the incident a suicide attack, initially said that two attackers were involved. However, CCTV footage released later in the day showed a lone attacker clad in a black shalwar kameez reaching the mosque in the city's Qissa Khwani Bazaar on foot and brandishing a pistol, the Dawn newspaper reported.

While condemning the Peshawar blast, the HRCP said the assault was clearly intended to target Shia worshippers and bears the hallmarks of sectarian outfits that have been allowed to run amok in recent years.

"Every concession--political or otherwise--made to religious or sectarian extremism emboldens perpetrators for whom the right to life (much less the right to freedom of religion or belief) holds no meaning," the statement added.

The rights commission also expressed condolences to all those who have lost family and friends in this attack. (ANI)
Heads of state raised a united plea for multilateral action this week marking the 50th anniversary of the UN Environment Programme (UNEP). The special session of the UN Environment Assembly, which wrapped up on Friday in Nairobi, addresses how to build a resilient and inclusive post-pandemic world. The two-day event was an important highlight among a number of activities and events over the past year to recognise the significant progress made on tackling climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution, and address the challenges to come. Kenya's President, Uhuru Kenyatta, Nigeria's Muhammadu Buhari, Botswana's Mokgweetsi Masisi of Botswana, and Central African Republic Prime Minister Felix Molula joined Ministers of Environment and other representatives from 175 nations for the event. In his opening speech on Thursday, President Kenyatta recalled some notable environment successes of UN member states, coordinated through UNEP, including historic conferences like the Rio 1992 Earth Summit and the 1987 Montreal Convention to protect the ozone layer. "I want to commend all Member States for the dedication and diligence that you've shown in prioritising the issues that affect our planet. We cannot talk of development, peace, and security without highlighting the nexus with climate change," he said. The President praised UNEP as an "ecological conscience," and "a credible platform for nations to come together and act boldly to advance the global environmental agenda". In the spirit of celebrating UNEP@50, President Kenyatta concluded by announcing a new bi-annual award of $25,000 from the people of Kenya to persons or institutions who champion environmental sustainability and peace. President Buhari said: "It's time to bolster international cooperation and stimulate collective action to address the triple crisis of climate change, biodiversity loss and rising levels of pollution and waste. No country or continent can achieve this alone. Each nation has an essential role to play." Pledging to continue working with other countries to achieve the goals of the Paris Agreement, he went on to say: "We recognise that restoring key ecosystems is crucial to help combat climate change and achieve sustainable development." President Masisi said: "Economic activity and population growth has compounded the already enormous strain on the world's natural resources and ecosystems. Climate change, desertification, loss of biodiversity and growing levels of poverty are painful realities of our times." Detailing Botswana's record on sustainable management of its biodiversity -- 40 per cent of its land is under protected area status -- and integrating environmental considerations into national planning processes, he affirmed his country's commitment to Multilateral Environmental Agreements, urging "green philanthropists, private sector, research institutions and development agenciesa(to) incentivise success in conservation." The 1972 UN Conference on the Human Environment in Stockholm is regarded as one of the first major multilateral meetings on the environment; it spurred the formation of environment ministries and agencies around the world, kickstarted a host of new global agreements to collectively protect the environment and led to the formation of UNEP -- the only UN agency whose headquarters is in Africa. For five decades, Kenya has been the host of UNEP and over the past week it has hosted the resumed 5th session of the UN Environment Assembly (UNEA-5.2). Inger Andersen, Executive Director of UNEP, extended gratitude to Kenya for hosting UNEP for 50 years, and for the country's unwavering support for UNEA-5.2. "UNEP is now at the heart of protecting the asset upon which we all rely, the environment. The world has realised that we cannot pollute our way to development and clean up after. We have a human right to a healthy environment. Youth are demanding change. Governments, cities and regions are acting. Businesses are acting. Investors are acting," she said. "None of this was in place 50 years ago." "However, our journey will only conclude when we ensure that humanity can thrive without skewing the delicate balance of life on this glorious planet," she added. The special session to commemorate the establishment of UNEP follows the three-day UNEA-5.2, which drew about 3,000 participants in-person and 1,500 online from 175 UN Member States, including 79 ministers and 17 high-level officials. The Assembly adopted 14 resolutions, two declarations and one decision on curbing pollution and for the protection and restoration of nature. Among these are a historic resolution to forge an international legally binding deal to end plastic pollution, the establishment of a science policy panel on the sound management of chemicals and waste, and on the definition and implementation of nature-based solutions. (Vishal Gulati can be reached at vishal.g@ians.in) --IANS vg/vd ( 759 Words) 2022-03-04-20:06:03 (IANS)
China's whole-process people's democracy is underpinned by a well-established set of institutional procedures and full participation and practice, a spokesperson said.

China's National People's Congress (NPC) serves as an important institutional vehicle for the country's whole-process democracy, Zhang Yesui, spokesperson for the fifth session of the 13th National People's Congress, told a press conference in Beijing on March 4.

The system of people's congresses is China's fundamental political system. Congresses at all levels are made up by deputies who represent the interests and will of the people and take part in the exercise of state power in accordance with the law. China has five levels of deputies to the people's congresses, all elected through democratic procedures with a five-year term.

"People's congresses at all levels shoulder important duties and responsibilities in developing the whole process people's democracy. Under the leadership of the Party, they work to expand the orderly political participation of the people, strengthen the legal protection of human rights, ensure that the people enjoy extensive rights and freedoms as prescribed by law, and see to it that people's rights to be informed, to participate, to be heard, and to oversee is implemented in every aspect of the NPC's work," Zhang said.

"Democracy is about solving problems for the people. Whether a country is democratic or not, practice speaks the loudest, and the people of that country have the biggest say," the spokesperson noted.

Practice has proven that the socialist democratic system with Chinese characteristics is a genuine and effective democracy that is rooted in China's history and culture and is tailored to China's reality, providing answers to China's problems, he added.

The fifth session of the 13th National People's Congress (NPC) is scheduled to open on March 5-11, with 10 items on the agenda.
Union Minister Kiren Rijiju, who is currently in Slovakia as a part of Operation Ganga, on Friday called on the prime minister of the Slovak Republic and conveyed Prime Minister Narendra Modi's message of gratitude for the help extended in evacuating of Indian nationals from Ukraine. "Called on Prime Minister of Slovak Republic HE @eduardheger and conveyed Prime Minister @narendramodi Ji's message, and expressed gratitude for the critical help extended in evacuating back to India the Indian nationals who have come from Ukraine," Kiren Rijiju tweeted. On Thursday, Rijiju had interacted with Indian students there and assured them that the government is ensuring their safe return to India. As many as 20,000 Indians have left Ukraine since the embassy issued its first travel advisory. Addressing the special briefing on Operation Ganga, External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi on Friday said that there are more people left in Ukraine. "During the 24 hours, 18 flights have landed in India with around 4,000 Indians on board. The total number of flights that have landed have been 48, carrying 10348 Indians," Bagchi said. UN humanitarians on Friday described as "unprecedented," the continuing outflow of children and families fleeing the "relentless shelling" of Russian military action in Ukraine - as they await assurances for the safe passage of relief teams to provide urgently needed assistance. "500,000 children have been forced to flee their homes in just seven days... unprecedented in scale and speed," James Elder, spokesperson for the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF), said via video link from Lviv in western Ukraine. (ANI)
The press service of the Kremlin, in a statement, said: "It is emphasised that the main danger comes from neo-Nazi military formations that commit numerous war crimes using terrorist methods, placing strike weapons in residential areas, cynically hiding behind the civilian population."

Separately, Putin stressed in a conversation that nationalists use foreign citizens as human shields, RT reported.

"In addition, in fact, more than 6,000 foreign citizens, mostly students, were taken hostage, who are used by the radicals as human shields. Attempts to leave the areas controlled by the Ukrainian security forces are suppressed with the help of weapons," the statement said.

"Vladimir Putin outlined the Russian principled approaches in the context of conducting a special military operation to protect the population of Donbass, explained in detail its goals and objectives, which will certainly be implemented," the statement added.

The President of Russia confirmed that Moscow is open to dialogue with all parties who want peace in Ukraine, but subject to the fulfilment of all Russian requirements.

--IANS san/d

( 207 Words)

2022-03-04-22:34:04 (IANS)
A video was making rounds on the social media platform showing a Taliban official complaining about the quality of Pakistani wheat. "Wheat donated by Pakistan is not edible: Taliban Official," Afghan journalist Abdulhaq Omeri tweeted as he posted a video of the Taliban official.

Afghan people were seen thanking India on Twitter for the "good quality wheat."

"Thank you India for your continued support to the Afghan people. Our Public to public-friendly relations will be forever. Jai Hind," Hamdullah Arbab tweeted.

Another user named Najib Farhodis said, "Wheat donated by Pakistan to Afghanistan All Pakistani wheat is worn out and spoiled that can not be used. India has always helped Afghanistan."

Apparently, the Taliban official, who had made these remarks on the poor nature of Pakistani wheat, was dismissed from his post.

Last month, India started sending wheat to the Afghan people as humanitarian assistance.

The second convoy of India's humanitarian assistance carrying 2000 MTs of wheat left Attari, Amritsar on Thursday for Jalalabad, Afghanistan, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said.

This is part of India's commitment of 50,000 MTs of wheat for the Afghan people and will be distributed by United Nations' World Food Programme.

"India remains committed to its special relationship with the people of Afghanistan," MEA Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said in a tweet.

Earlier this month, India had announced that it will send 50,000 metric tonnes (MT) of wheat to Afghanistan overland through Pakistan. Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla had flagged off the first such consignment from Amritsar. (ANI)
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Saeed Khatibzadeh said the attack was aimed at sowing discord, the official news agency of Iran reported.

The Iranian spokesperson also expressed condolences to the families of the victims of the "inhuman and brutal" attack and wished the wounded a quick recovery.

Khatibzadeh also hoped that the Pakistani government would prevent such criminal acts by taking required measures and making decisive moves.

On Friday, an explosion at a Shia mosque in Peshawar had claimed the lives of 56 people and injured nearly 200. City officials termed the incident a suicide attack and said that two attackers were involved in the incident.

A Pakistani journalist on Friday condemned the Peshawar suicide blast, saying that the local media is silent on the religious identity of the explosion that claimed the lives of more than 50 people.

Dozens of people from the Shia community have been targeted in sectarian violence. However, the persecution of Shias in Pakistan is not a new phenomenon.

In recent years, Pakistan has seen an unprecedented rise in attacks and arrests of its Shia population, who make up 15 to 20 per cent of the population in the country.

"The bombed mosque in Peshawar was a Shia mosque. But the local media is silent on the religious identity when it should focus on why Shias are being killed in Pakistan and expose how anti-Shia policies of the Pakistan Army have led to this slow #ShiaGenocide in the country," Pakistani journalist Taha Siddiqui tweeted. (ANI)
A retired Uyghur postal worker in China's Xinjiang region, released from an internment camp due to health issues, was rearrested in 2020 and sentenced to 10 years of imprisonment for participating in "illegal religious activities", said a media report. First detained in 2017, Ba'imhan Mamut, a retired postal worker in Hotan prefecture, was released after two years due to her critical health condition, Radio Free Asia (RFA) reported citing Ba'imhan's daughter Nurbia who lives in the US. Ba'imhan and other detainees in the internment camp were stripped of their socks and shoes while being held in cold cells, according to Nurbia who believes that her mother's health may have been affected by such conditions. "She was later released due to her health condition, particularly not being able to stand or walk. I learned that even the detainees in camps were not given socks let alone shoes," the media outlet quoted Nurbia as saying. Ba'imhan, who underwent treatment post her release in 2019, was rearrested in 2020 and sentenced to 10 years of imprisonment. She is currently serving her sentence in a prison in Kashgar, as per Nurbia. Sentenced for her crime of "religious extremism", Ba'imhan is over 60 years old, RFA reported citing an officer from a police station near the Hotan prefectural post office. Notably, China has been rebuked globally for the crackdown on Uyghur Muslims by sending them to mass detention camps, interfering in their religious activities, and sending members of the community to undergo some form of forcible re-education or indoctrination. The Chinese government, which stepped up its crackdown on Uyghurs in 2017, is said to have held 1.8 million Uyghurs and other Turkic minorities in a network of detention camps in Xinjiang since 2017. (ANI)
Of the new local cases, 46 were reported in Guangdong, 19 in Jilin, eight in Inner Mongolia, six in Hebei, five in Shandong, three each in Tianjin, Shanghai and Guangxi, two each in Hainan and Yunnan, and one each in Shanxi, Heilongjiang, Hubei, Hunan and Sichuan, Xinhua reported citing the commission's daily report.

As many as 179 imported COVID-19 cases were also reported on Friday, according to the commission.

No deaths from COVID-19 were reported in the past 24 hours.

A total of five new suspected cases, all arriving from outside the mainland, were reported in Shanghai, the news agency reported citing the commission. (ANI)
After many in Pakistan expressed their happiness at the victory of the Taliban in Afghanistan in August last year, the euphoria is now subsiding in the face of increased terrorism at home while Pakistani authorities continue to provide support and protection to the Taliban regime, a report said on Thursday. The Pakistan government had hoped that a friendly regime in Afghanistan would ease its concerns about the Pakistani Taliban, known as the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). What has happened instead is a spike in terror attacks in recent months, said a Canada-based think tank, International Forum for Rights and Security (IFFRAS) Pakistan claims that many of the terror attacks were planned by militants hiding inside Afghanistan. So, while Pakistan wants to help the new Taliban government, it must also contend with growing security and economic risks to Pakistan that have arisen with the coming of the Taliban regime, the report further said. Citing Pakistan Institute of Peace Studies (PIPS) data, the report noted that terror incidents in Pakistan increased by a massive 42 per cent over the previous year in 2021, with a significant surge in the number of incidents following the Taliban's takeover of Kabul in August. The PIPS report also went on to say that the change in Afghanistan is "not helping in any way Pakistan's efforts to deal with the militant groups threatening its security." Moreover, the TTP, which was considerably weakened by late 2020, has regrouped and is involved in running extortion rackets throughout Pakistan. The TTP has been using Afghanistan sim cards to call affluent Pakistani traders to get extortion money. According to PIPS, the TTP was alone accounted for 87 attacks that killed 158 people, an increase of 84 per cent relative to 2020. The IFFRAS report further said that the recent links established between the TTP and the Afghan Taliban pose another security challenge for Pakistan as low-level Afghan Taliban cadres are said to maintain their links with the TTP, a fact recognized by the senior Afghan Taliban leadership. The larger challenge for Pakistan is that the Afghan Taliban is in power in Kabul. As long as the Taliban was a force on the ground and, in opposition to the Afghan government, Pakistan was able to control its cadres. It even gave the Haqqanis, the Pakistan ISI's favourite, prominent positions in the Taliban hierarchy. Today, with the Taliban in power the situation has changed and recent events on the border relating to the fencing of the Durand line show the difference in positions. The Afghan Taliban is infuriated by a fence Islamabad is erecting along their 2,700-kilometre (1,600-mile) border, known as the Durand Line. Taliban doesn't recognise the Durand Line as the border between Pakistan and Afghanistan. Another headache for Pakistan's security establishment is the thriving weapons markets along the Afghan-Pakistan border and terrorist/insurgent groups buying the weapons left behind by the US and its allies. As a result of these factors, Pakistan is sitting on a tinderbox, the report said, adding that instability in Afghanistan is one factor that will constantly impact Pakistan and Pakistan's optimism with the Afghan Taliban as singing its tune may be misplaced. (ANI)
The Indian delegation was led by Commerce Secretary Shri BVR Subrahmanyam, while the visiting Bangladeshi delegation was led by Senior Secretary, Ministry of Commerce Tapan Kanti Ghosh.

Both sides held extensive discussions on a variety of issues, including the development of railway infrastructure, port infrastructure, Joint Study on Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), border Haats, regional connectivity through multi-modal transportation, harmonization of standards and mutual recognition agreement, the press release said.

The two delegations also discussed the progress of the bilateral ties between the two countries in recent years with an emphasis on the development of Railway infrastructure and accompanying logistical facilities to increase commerce between the two countries.

Notably, Bangladesh is the 6th largest trade partner of India.

Earlier on Wednesday, the 14th meeting of the Joint Working Group (JWG) on Trade, at the level of Joint/Additional Secretaries of India and Bangladesh had taken place to discuss issues of mutual interest.

It was also agreed that the next meetings of the JWG and Commerce Secretaries will be held in Bangladesh, at mutually convenient dates. (ANI)
The first air raid warning was issued for the city of Chernihiv.

"Air raid alerts in Chernihiv. Residents should go to the nearest shelter," The Kyiv Independent tweeted.

Subsequent alerts were issued for the capital city Kyiv, followed by an alert for the entire Kyiv Oblast and the city of Zhytomyr, followed by an alert for the city of Sumy. Residents in all these places were requested to go to the nearby shelters.

A building of the military faculty of Sumy State University in Ukraine's northeastern city Sumy was shelled on Thursday by Russian forces.

Meanwhile, Ukraine plans to hold the third round of talks with Russian officials to try a negotiated settlement to end the fighting triggered by Moscow's invasion this weekend, said one of Kyiv's negotiators.

The Mayor of the South-Eastern city of Mariupol Vadym Boychenko informed today that the city has been blockaded by the Russian forces, after days of sustained attacks.

Mariupol, with a population of 450,000 people, is of strategic importance to Russian forces, as by taking Mariupol, they can complete a land corridor that would link Crimea with southern Russia, reported CNN.

Russian forces launched military operations in Ukraine on February 24, three days after Moscow recognized Ukraine's breakaway regions, Donetsk and Luhansk as independent republics followed by the announcement of a "special military operation" to "demilitarize" and "denazify" Ukraine. (ANI)
"Today, on March 5, starting at 10 a.m. Moscow time [07:00 GMT], Russia is declaring a ceasefire and humanitarian corridors are opening for civilians to leave Mariupol and Volnovakha," said the ministry on Saturday.

The ministry added that the corridors and the evacuation routes have been agreed upon with Ukraine.

Earlier, Mariupol Mayor Vadym Boychenko had informed that Russian forces have blockaded Ukraine's port city of Mariupol. Notably, Mariupol is of strategic importance to Russian forces, as by taking the city, they can secure a land corridor that would link Crimea with southern Russia.

Russian forces launched military operations in Ukraine on February 24, three days after Moscow recognized Ukraine's breakaway regions - Donetsk and Luhansk - as independent entities.

Amid the Ukraine-Russia crisis raging for over a week now, Ukraine plans to hold the third round of talks with Russian officials to try to end the fighting triggered by Moscow's invasion this weekend, said one of Kyiv's negotiators. (ANI)
China's national lawmakers and political advisors have gathered in Beijing for the annual sessions of the National People's Congress (NPC) and the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), also known as the "two sessions."

Chinese President Xi Jinping is expected to join in discussions to set the national agenda for the year. His remarks, including those he made in the previous gatherings of the "two sessions," can offer guidance for the international community to comprehend China's development path, and have resonated with many experts across the globe.

INNOVATION

Implementing a strategy of innovation-driven development will be fundamental in accelerating the transformation of China's growth pattern, solving deep-rooted problems concerning economic development and enhancing economic vitality, Xi said in 2013 while participating in a panel discussion with political advisors from the science and technology sector at the annual session of the CPPCC National Committee.

Speaking of innovation, Anna Malindog-Uy, a professor and researcher with Manila-based think tank Philippines-BRICS Strategic Studies, told Xinhua that China's push for high-quality innovation and entrepreneurship "is no doubt a phenomenal success," which has led to the rapid transition of China to a new economic development phase based on high-tech production and national breakthrough technologies.

Because of these steps, she noted, the Chinese economy has transitioned to a more technology-driven one, adding that the Philippines should learn from China to tap economic potential and enhance competitiveness.

Kiyoyuki Seguchi, research director at Japan's Canon Institute for Global Studies, pointed out that innovation capacity will be the driving force of China's macro-economy in the future.

COORDINATED, GREEN DEVELOPMENT

In March 2021, Xi joined discussions with fellow lawmakers from northwest China's Qinghai Province, saying that local authorities should promote coordinated development between rural and urban areas, advance rural vitalization on all fronts, improve people's well-being and build a new socialist countryside that is beautiful, prosperous and harmonious.

Nadia Helmy, an assistant professor of political science at Egypt's Beni Suef University, said that China has followed a positive path in improving education, eliminating poverty and boosting development and prosperity in all provinces and cities.

The living standards of the Chinese people have improved and their rights have become better protected, Helmy observed, adding that China also shared its experience with the rest of world and made a great contribution to the international cause of human rights.

In March 2015, Xi asked the Chinese people to protect the environment as if they were "caring for one's own eyes and life," while reviewing the work report of the State Council together with national lawmakers from eastern Jiangxi Province.

"Protecting environment is ensuring livelihood," Xi stressed.

British author and political commentator Carlos Martinez said that China, as a responsible country with significant economic strength and technological capability, has ensured the Beijing Winter Olympics as the greenest games ever -- with zero-carbon venues, zero-carbon transport, low-carbon artificial snow production, and the re-use of venues.

This has set a crucial example for the world to battle climate breakdown, he added.

OPENNESS

When joining a panel discussion attended by national political advisors from the economic sector in 2020, Xi called for unwavering efforts to make economic globalization more open, inclusive and balanced so that its benefits are shared by all, and to build an open world economy.

Cavince Adhere, a Kenya-based international relations scholar, said that China is a staunch supporter of multilateralism and economic globalization.

The Global Development Initiative, the Belt and Road Initiative and other initiatives proposed by China have shown that China is ready to build a new pattern of global cooperation with peace and development as its main pillars, said Adhere.

In the view of Serik Korzhumbayev, editor-in-chief of the Delovoy Kazakhstan newspaper, the international community has benefited from China's opening-up and gained experience in such fields as research and development of new technologies, information technology, industrial development and logistics.

SHARED BY ALL

In a deliberation with fellow lawmakers from Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region at the third session of the 13th NPC in May 2020, Xi stressed acting on the people-centered philosophy in every aspect of work.

He also stressed adhering to "people first" in coordinating epidemic control and economic and social development.

Jose Ignacio Martinez Cortes, a researcher at the National Autonomous University of Mexico, said China reached out a helping hand in time during the critical period of the COVID-19 pandemic to Mexico and other countries.

He added that China has provided solid support to others in fighting COVID-19 and helped them tackle the pandemic and shortage of vaccines.

Humphrey Moshi, director of the Center for Chinese Studies at the University of Dar es Salaam of Tanzania, pointed out that China's success in poverty alleviation has set a good example for other countries and China's polices are practical and effective.

In particular, China's targeted poverty alleviation strategy has brought real changes to poor households, he noted, adding that developing countries, especially African countries, can learn from China's experience.
Washoku is a traditional Japanese cooking competition, which has been attracting chefs from all over the world for the different delicacies, cooking methods, ingredients and beautiful presentation. An international cooking competition - `Washoku World Challenge' was recently organized via an online platform. Six finalists from countries like the USA, United Kingdom, Brazil, and Asia were nominated for cooking creative Washoku dishes. They got the opportunity to learn authentic Washoku cooking from Japanese chefs. This lecture was delivered via YouTube. "My name is Lee Hyeon Jeong, and I work in a Japanese food company in Korea. Thank you very much for giving me this valuable opportunity," said Lee Hyeon Jeong, a finalist from South Korea, whose final dish was fish soup. First of all, Japanese Cuisine Goodwill Ambassador, KimioNonaga, reviewed Lee's dish. Lee used ingredients that were difficult to get in Korea. "Wow, it's beautiful and delicious. And we're going to do it with motivation, and it's our hospitality to provide customers with joy," KimioNonaga said. Japanese cuisine is conscious of the spirit of hospitality. In the lesson, KimioNonaga taught how to handle ingredients, how to use a Japanese knife, and how to arrange dishes considering their colour. "It makes it easy to eat and looks pretty. All the basics of Japanese food are packed. The arrangement of dishes on the plate is settled up from left and down to right. It's Korea, but Japanese food tailored to Koreans is important. In the future, I think it's more important for people in this era to arrange food based on the basics of Japanese cooking. If you learn the basics of how to arrange Japanese food, when you see it, you think it's Japanese food. And I think the customers will be happy," said KimioNonaga. The continuous effort of Japanese authorities to popularize Washoku contributes to expanding Japanese cuisine all around the world. (ANI)
A seven-hour ceasefire has begun in Mariupol and Volnovakha cities of Ukraine to set up humanitarian corridors for the evacuation of civilians and delivery of food and medicines, said a media report. "Temporary ceasefire begins in Mariupol and Volnovakha to set up humanitarian corridors. The corridors will serve to evacuate civilians and deliver food and medicine to the cities that have been cut off from the world by Russian attackers," tweeted The Kyiv Independent, a Ukraine media outlet. The media outlet informed that the ceasefire will aid the evacuation of 440,000 people of Mariupol and 21,000 people of Volnovakha. "The ceasefire is declared for 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. today. The evacuation of civilians is set to start at 11 a.m. Mariupol, of 440,000 people, and Volnovakha, of 21,000 people, have been largely cut off water, heat, and electricity," it tweeted. Earlier, Mykhailo Podoliyak, the advisor to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, informed that humanitarian evacuation corridors are being prepared for opening in Mariupol and Volnovakha. "In Mariupol and Volnovakha, humanitarian evacuation corridors are being prepared for opening, columns are being formed from those who are subject to evacuation. The parties temporarily ceased fire in the area of the corridors...," he tweeted. This comes as the Russian defence ministry declared a ceasefire for the evacuation of civilians in Mariupol and Volnovakha, adding that the corridors and the evacuation routes had been agreed upon with Ukraine. Russian forces launched military operations in Ukraine on February 24, three days after Moscow recognized Ukraine's breakaway regions - Donetsk and Luhansk - as independent entities. Amid the Ukraine-Russia crisis raging for over a week now, Ukraine plans to hold the third round of talks with Russian officials to try to end the fighting triggered by Moscow's invasion this weekend, said one of Kyiv's negotiators. (ANI)
Following a strain in Pakistan's ties with the Western countries due to its stance on the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict, Pakistan's National Security Advisor (NSA) Moeed Yusuf's visit to the UK next week has been called off by the British government on Friday without assigning any reason. The NSA was scheduled to visit the UK next week. The visit was called off owing to Pakistan's policy towards the standoff between Russia and Ukraine, The News International reported. The report also hinted that the reaction from the UK might be associated with the Pakistan government's response to the joint press release by the Islamabad-based heads of missions of the European Union countries, along with Japan, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Australia. The joint press release on Tuesday had urged Pakistan to join them (the EU countries) in condemning Russia's actions and to voice support for "upholding the UN Charter and the founding principles of international law in Ukraine". Pakistan expressed its dismay over the statement terming it undiplomatic and unacceptable. Asim Iftikhar, spokesman for the Foreign Office in his media interaction on Friday made it clear that Pakistan had taken note of the joint statement issued by a group of EU envoys posted in Islamabad. The spokesman maintained, "We expressed concern over the statement because as I said that is not the way diplomacy should be practised, and I think they have realised," quoted The News International. The spokesperson, however, denied that the cancellation of the NSA visit was linked to Pakistan's reaction to the EU press release. Pakistan's relationship with the Western countries has taken a hit since the visit of Prime Minister Imran Khan to Moscow on the day Russia launched its military operations in Ukraine and the subsequent stance of Pakistan in United Nations resolutions against Russia where Pakistan abstained. (ANI)
Under Operation Ganga, in the last 7 days, a total of 29 flights from Romania alone have flown many students back to India, said Union Minister of Civil Aviation, Jyotiraditya M. Scindia on Saturday. He also said that 6222 Indians have been evacuated in the last 7 days and 1050 students will reach home in the next two days. Scindia, on his Twitter handle gave details of Operation Ganga in Romania and Moldova in terms of evacuation. A new airport is now functional in Suceava (Romania), 50 kilometres from the border and will be helpful as Bucharest is 500 kilometres from the border and the route to Suceava will be shorter, he added. Taking to Twitter Scindia wrote, "Update on #OperationGanga in Romania & Moldova: - Evacuated 6222 Indians in the last 7 days - Got a new airport to operate flights in Suceava (50 km from the border) instead of transporting students to Bucharest (500 km from the border) - 1050 students to be sent home in the next 2 days," adding "In the last 7 days, a total of 29 flights from Romania alone have flown our students back to India." Meanwhile, Russian Embassy in India on Saturday said that the Russian side declared a ceasefire and opened humanitarian corridors for civilians to leave Mariupol and Volnovakha amid the ongoing tensions in Ukraine. "Today, on March 5, from 10 a.m. Moscow time, the Russian side declared a regime of silence and opened humanitarian corridors for civilians to leave Mariupol & Volnovakha. Humanitarian corridors & exit routes have been coordinated with the Ukrainian side," it said in a Facebook post. Russian forces launched military operations in Ukraine on February 24, three days after Moscow recognized Ukraine's breakaway regions - Donetsk and Luhansk - as independent entities. Amid the Ukraine-Russia crisis raging for over a week now, Ukraine plans to hold the third round of talks with Russian officials to try to end the fighting triggered by Moscow's invasion this weekend, said one of Kyiv's negotiators. (ANI)
The cultivation of poppy for opium production has surged in Afghanistan's Helmand and Kandahar provinces in 2022 as compared to last year, local media reported citing farmers. "There is nothing else to cultivate. We were growing wheat before. This year--we want to cultivate poppy. Previously they were asking for bribes every day but we don't have that problem this year," a farmer said, according to Tolo News. As per the media outlet, opium and other drugs are being sold in open markets in the southern provinces. The two provinces of Kandahar and Helmand have been recognized as one of the top poppy producers, Tolo News reported. Mohammad Kareem is a farmer who has been growing poppy for the past 15 years. Kareem is expecting his harvest to be ready within the next month. "If we don't cultivate poppy, we don't get a good return, the wheat doesn't provide a good income," he said. "There are no restrictions this year. If the Taliban want to ban it, they must let us grow it this year at least," said Peer Mohammad, a farmer. Multiple reports indicate that poppy cultivation and drug trafficking provide a big income source for the Taliban, mainly in the southern and northern parts of the country. Most of the drug smuggling goes through Iran and the Taliban make a big money from it. Afghanistan has been among the world's top illicit drug-producing countries. There are scores of drug addicts currently on the streets.Taliban so far have a crackdown on small drug dealers but big dealers have been largely given a free pass. (ANI)
Ukraine's Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba on Saturday called on the European countries to close all their ports for the Russian ships amid the heightened tensions in Ukraine. Taking to Twitter, Kuleba said, "Help us stop Putin. Close all European ports for Russian ships. The time to act is now." In a separate tweet, Ukraine's Ministry of Defence shared a video of a shot-down aircraft falling from the sky adding, "Just on the outskirts of Chernihiv, air defence specialists shot down another enemy attack aircraft!" Earlier, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said that Turkey has also warned all coastal and non-coastal countries it would not allow warships through its straits Bosporus and the Dardanelles as a part of the Montreux Convention adopted in 1936. "We warned all riparian and non-riparian countries not to let warships go through the straits," Cavusoglu told reporters, as quoted by the Anadolu agency. "To date, there has been no request for passage through the straits." The Montreux Convention was adopted in 1936. It ensures the freedom of passage through the straits for merchant ships both in times of peace and war, but regulations may differ by country. The document also limits the period of stay in the Black Sea of warships of non-Black Sea states to three weeks. In emergency situations, Turkey has the right to prohibit or restrict the passage of military ships through the Bosporus and the Dardanelles. Russia launched a military operation against Ukraine on February 26, 2022. This comes at a time when tensions have escalated between Russia and Ukraine after Russian President Vladimir Putin announced the recognition of the independence of two Ukraine breakaway regions. (ANI)
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will travel to UK, Latvia, Germany and Poland from March 6 to 11 to coordinate additional responses to Russia's blatant violation of international law and the United Nations Charter. He will also strengthen Canada's solidarity with its European partners and allies in the face of Russia's 'unwarranted invasion of Ukraine'. "Canada stands united with our partners and allies in support of Ukraine," the government release said in its statement. During the visit, the Prime Minister will engage with close allies to build on our coordinated response to Russia's 'unprovoked and unjustifiable military aggression' against Ukraine. He will also express Canada's support to address the significant humanitarian challenges emerging in Ukraine and as refugees flee from Ukraine. The Prime Minister will further advance shared key priorities with international partners and allies, including trade, economic growth, climate action, and human rights. "The Prime Minister will travel to London, United Kingdom, on March 6, 2022, where he will meet with Prime Minister Boris Johnson, and be joined by the Prime Minister of the Netherlands Mark Rutte, to coordinate additional responses to Russia's blatant violation of international law and the United Nations Charter. During his visit to the United Kingdom, the Prime Minister will also have an audience with Her Majesty The Queen," it added. Furthermore, as per the statement, "The Prime Minister will then travel to Riga, Latvia, on March 8, 2022, to meet with Prime Minister Krisjanis Karins. The leaders will review current security challenges, NATO's assurance and deterrence measures, and discuss ways to further strengthen the bilateral relationship. Prime ministers Trudeau and Karins will be joined for a meeting by the Prime Minister of Estonia, Kaja Kallas, and the Prime Minister of Lithuania, Ingrida Simonyte, to work together on additional support for Ukraine and other shared priorities. The Prime Minister will also meet with Latvia's President, Egils Levits." While in Latvia, the PM will also meet with NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg to discuss the Alliance's response to Russia's ongoing attacks on Ukraine, Canada's unwavering support for NATO's eastern flank, and the importance of continued coordination and collaboration amongst allies and partners in their support of Ukraine's sovereignty, territorial integrity and independence. Canadian PM will also meet with the Canadian Armed Forces members in Latvia as part of Operation REASSURANCE to "thank them for their ongoing work to help make Europe stronger and more secure." The Prime Minister will then travel to Berlin, Germany, on March 9, 2022, where he will meet with Germany's Chancellor, Olaf Scholz. Together, the leaders will discuss peace and security in Europe, including through "their shared dedication to democracy and multilateralism." Prime Minister Trudeau and Chancellor Scholz will also explore avenues to deepen bilateral cooperation to enhance trade, fight climate change and build the economy of the future, including through the transition to clean energy. The Prime Minister will also meet with German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier. Finally, Trudeau will travel to Warsaw, Poland, on March 10, 2022, where he will meet with Polish President Andrzej Duda, to further discuss security concerns in Eastern Europe and convey Canada's support to Poland as it grapples with hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians fleeing the Russian invasion. During his trip, Trudeau will highlight the successes of the Canada-European Union Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) in creating jobs and growing middle-class, and emphasize that Canada stands by its allies in these challenging times as a stable and trusted partner. (ANI)
A student from Kerala stranded in war-hit Ukraine who earned praises for his struggle to return with his pet cat, will finally land in India soon. It was a great challenge for young 21-year-old Akhil Radhakrishnan to not only make sure that his life was safe from the conflict-ridden Ukraine where he has been studying in Kharkiv National Medical University for the last two years but also to ensure that his pet cat also reaches India safely. Ammini, the pet cat, was handed over to Akhil by his senior in college four months ago and since then the two have been inseparable. "She is very lovely and I can't separate from her and I am glad that the Embassy of India in Ukraine is now allowing me to take her along," Akhil said while heaving a huge sigh of relief. It has been very difficult for the last two weeks for this young student who was trying to come from safely to Budapest. "I got onto a train from a car and reached Kyiv. Then, I took a bus to come to Chop.... By taking another two trains, I managed to reach Budapest," said Akhil. The train ride certainly was not easy says Akhil. "We sat in front of the bathroom and I had only an inch of space to travel but the most important thing was to reach safely," Radhakrishnan added. A delighted Akhil is now waiting to board the Indian Air Force flight to India from where he will head back to his home in Kerala and most importantly with the love of his life his pet cat in tow. The government has also deployed 'special envoys' to four neighbouring countries bordering Ukraine to coordinate and oversee the evacuation process of Indian nationals. Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas Hardeep Singh Puri is overseeing evacuation efforts in Hungary, Union Law Minister Kiren Rijiju in Slovakia, Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia in Romania and Minister of State for Road Transport & Highways and Civil Aviation Gen VK Singh in Poland. Russian forces launched military operations in Ukraine on February 24, three days after Moscow recognized Ukraine's breakaway regions - Donetsk and Luhansk - as independent entities. (ANI)
It said the UK, Denmark, Latvia, Poland and Croatia "have officially allowed their citizens to participate in hostilities on the territory of Ukraine".

"The US launched a large-scale campaign to recruit private military outfits such as Academi, Cubic and DynCorp. The French Foreign Legiion also plans to send ethnic Ukrainians. A number of fighters are expected to come from Germany. In total, according to Ukrainian President Zelensky, around 16,000 foreign fighters are expected in Ukraine," the statement said.

" About 200 of mercenaries from Croatia have already entered the country through Poland and joined uncontrollable nationalist units in the South East of Ukraine," it added.

The statement accused the foreign fighters of sabotage and raids on the Russian transport, trying to disrupt the evacuation of the wounded and the supply of ammunition.

"Using Javelin and NLAW anti-tank weapons, as well as Stinger portable air-defence systems foreign fighters commit provocations as well as sabotage and raids on the Russian transport, trying to disrupt the evacuation of the wounded and the supply of ammunition. Some of them represent neo-Nazi organizations of their countries," the statement said.

It said mercenaries of all kinds are not combatants under international humanitarian law and are not entitled to prisoner of war status.

"The best thing that awaits such people upon arrest is criminal prosecution," the Russian Embassy said.

The military operations of Russia in Ukraine entered the tenth day on Saturday. (ANI)
Moscow [Russia], March 5 (ANI/Sputnik): The Russian government has no plans to declare a state of emergency or make any other extraordinary provisions, President Vladimir Putin said on Saturday. According to him, Russia normally implements so-called "special provisions" in cases of large-scale internal threats, while the state of emergency can be implemented regionally or throughout the country in the event of man-made or natural disasters. "But, thank god, we do not have that right now. We do not plan to introduce any special provisions on the territory of the Russian Federation, we have no such plans as there is no such need today," Putin said at a meeting with female flight crews of Russian airlines. (ANI/Sputnik)
Around 13,300 people returned to India from Ukraine so far by 63 flights under Operation Ganga, Ministery of External Affairs said on Saturday, adding that 15 flights have landed in the last 24 hours carrying around 2,900 onboard. In a daily briefing, the MEA official spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said: "15 flights have landed in the last 24 hours with around 2,900 onboard. Approximately 13,300 people returned to India so far by 63 flights under Operation Ganga. 13 flights scheduled for the next 24 hours." He noted that over 21,000 people have left Ukraine. Bagchi also said that almost all Indians have left Kharkiv city of Ukraine and the main focus of the government is to evacuate citizens from Sumy where Indian students are stuck right now. Speaking at the special briefing on Operation Ganga, to evacuate all Indian nationals from Ukraine, MEA Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said, "From Pisochyn and Kharkiv, we should be able to clear out everyone in the next few hours, so far I know almost all Indians have left Kharkiv. The main focus is on Sumy now, the challenge remains ongoing violence and lack of transportation and the best option would be a ceasefire." Bagchi further said that so far 298 students have been evacuated from Pisochyn. "We will now be looking at how many are still in Ukraine. The embassy will contact those who happen to be there but haven't registered... In nearby Pisochyn...we have moved (evacuated) 298 students, hoping to complete it by today," he said. He also said that three buses arranged by the Government of India have reached Pisochyn and will shortly be making their way westwards. Bagchi added that probably one Nepali citizen will be coming today (onboard Indian flight), and Bangladeshi national is also expected later. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, yesterday chaired a meeting to discuss the ongoing evacuation drive of Indian nationals and the situation in conflict-hit Ukraine. The government has also deployed "special envoys" to four neighbouring countries bordering Ukraine to coordinate and oversee the evacuation process of Indian nationals. Russian forces launched military operations in Ukraine on February 24, three days after Moscow recognized Ukraine's breakaway regions - Donetsk and Luhansk - as independent entities. (ANI)
Earlier in the day, Russia's Defense Ministry announced a ceasefire to allow civilians in the port city of Mariupol and the town of Volnovakha for facilitating the evacuation of civilians.

Ukraine's Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba on Saturday called on the European countries to close all their ports for the Russian ships amid the heightened tensions in Ukraine.

Taking to Twitter, Kuleba said, "Help us stop Putin. Close all European ports for Russian ships. The time to act is now."

Earlier, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said that Turkey has also warned all coastal and non-coastal countries it would not allow warships through its straits Bosporus and the Dardanelles as a part of the Montreux Convention adopted in 1936.

Russian forces launched military operations in Ukraine on February 24, three days after Moscow recognized Ukraine's breakaway regions - Donetsk and Luhansk - as independent entities.

Amid the Ukraine-Russia crisis raging for over a week now, Ukraine plans to hold the third round of talks with Russian officials to try to end the fighting triggered by Moscow's invasion this weekend, said one of Kyiv's negotiators. (ANI)
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Saturday said that almost all Indians have left Kharkiv city of Ukraine and the main focus of the government is to evacuate citizens from Sumy as it is challenging amid ongoing violence and lack of transportation. Speaking at the special briefing on Operation Ganga, to evacuate all Indian nationals from Ukraine, MEA Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said, "From Pisochyn and Kharkiv, we should be able to clear out everyone in the next few hours, so far I know almost all Indians have left Kharkiv. The main focus is on Sumy now, the challenge remains ongoing violence and lack of transportation and the best option would be a ceasefire." Bagchi further said that so far 298 students have been evacuated from Pisochyn. "We will now be looking at how many are still in Ukraine. The embassy will contact those who happen to be there but haven't registered... In nearby Pisochyn...we have moved (evacuated) 298 students, hoping to complete it by today," he said. Bagchi said that the evacuation is a problem is in Sumy but assured that Indian students are safe in the campus. "Problem is in Sumy. We strongly urge both sides for a ceasefire, hope it happens soon as there is shelling, can risk lives. Indian students are safe in campus... We have our teams now moving towards the East...The problem is shelling," he added. The MEA said that approximately 13,300 people returned to India so far and 13 flights are scheduled for the next 24 hours. He said a total of 15 flights have landed in the last 24 hours with around 2,900 onboard. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, yesterday chaired a meeting to discuss the ongoing evacuation drive of Indian nationals and the situation in conflict-hit Ukraine. The government has also deployed 'special envoys' to four neighbouring countries bordering Ukraine to coordinate and oversee the evacuation process of Indian nationals. Russian forces launched military operations in Ukraine on February 24, three days after Moscow recognized Ukraine's breakaway regions - Donetsk and Luhansk - as independent entities. (ANI)
These protestors had placards in their hands with slogans "don't steal from our salaries under the pretext of dollar differences" written on them.

"Doctors and employees of Sar-e-pul province COVID19 hospital, in a gathering asked for receiving all of their salaries. They say that with different excuses, their salaries have decreased," said Reporterly, an Afghanistan-based news media outlet.

In a different incident, Reporterly sources say that Sayed Baqir Mohsini, a university teacher has disappeared since Friday evening and his phone is unavailable.

Notably, Mohsini had allegedly criticized the Taliban several times earlier. The Taliban's swift ascension to power in Afghanistan occurred in mid-August, triggering economic disarray and a dire humanitarian crisis.

The economy in Afghanistan has been collapsing, leading to mass starvation that is, in turn, creating an enormous and destabilizing new wave of refugees -- and raising a clear need for extensive spending on humanitarian relief.

Despite repeated calls from all around the world, the Taliban have failed to deliver its promises on the safety of Afghan people and their assurance of an inclusive government. (ANI)
Citing a statement, Khaama Press reported that the chief spokesman of the IEA Zabiullah Mujahid said that to prevent further continuation of the ongoing "clean-up" operations people would better hand over all government property.

"The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan asks all Afghans to hand over weapons, government property, and illegal items and share information about kidnappers and thieves before the searching teams reach out to their houses. We ask people to cooperate with the IEA and voluntarily hand over weapons." the statement read.

This comes as a number of international organizations slammed the operations accusing the Taliban to be intimidating families and violating people's privacy. (ANI)
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said that Taiwan is an inalienable part of China as well as the country's internal affair and asked the US to return to the One-China principle. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said in a phone call with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, "The main task for our countries is still to implement all the agreements that were adopted by our leaders. Some of US actions have lately been contrary to these agreements, which is a cause for serious concern in China. Taiwan is an inalienable part of China, and the issue of Taiwan is a Chinese internal affair." The Chinese foreign minister remarked that the US should return to the One-China principle and start "supporting Chinese-US relations by real actions," reported Sputnik. Blinken spoke with Wang Yi about Moscow's 'unjustified ongoing attack against Ukraine'. Following the talks Blinken tweeted, "I spoke with PRC State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi about Moscow's unjustified ongoing attack against Ukraine. The world is watching to see which nations stand up for the basic principles of sovereignty, as Moscow pays a high price for its unconscionable actions." Furthermore, China is calling on Russia and Ukraine to hold direct talks, which should be supported by the international community. "We are urging Russia and Ukraine to have direct talks, and even if negotiations do not always run smoothly, the international community should continue supporting and assisting them until they bring result and peace," the diplomat said, as quoted by the Chinese Foreign Ministry. (ANI)
Taking a blunt stand regarding the end of prophethood, speakers and participants in the conference said that there can be no compromise on the Khatm-e-Nabuwat.

Maulana Zahid Al-Rashidi, Secretary-General of Pakistan Shariat Council warned that the rulers, political parties, and the opposition should expel secular elements and pro-Qadiani lobbies from their ranks, as per media reports.

Defending the Islamic provisions of the constitution is dearer to us than life itself and the government should abandon its support for the perpetrators of blasphemy, according to the Maulana Zahid Al-Rashidi.

He added that political, social, and economic stability could not be established in the country unless the agenda of anti-Islamic forces was rejected.

Further, the resolutions of the conference demanded that the PTI ensure the establishment of the state of Madinah as promised.

The conference also demanded that the sharia punishment for apostasy be imposed in light of the recommendations of the Islamic Ideological Council.

Another speaker, Dr Mohammad Omar Farooq Ahrar has said that the process of paying homage to the martyrs of the end of prophethood will continue throughout the month of March in the form of conferences.

Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan had promised to deliver to his citizens a Naya Pakistan based on Medina, a city founded by Prophet Muhammad. (ANI)
As the Russian military operation in Ukraine entered the tenth day today, Russian President Vladimir Putin on Saturday said any country trying to impose a no-fly zone over Kyiv would be a party to the military conflict. On the other hand, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will address the bipartisan group of US senators. "We will immediately consider them as participants in a military conflict, and it doesn't matter members of which organizations they are," Putin said in a meeting with flight crewmembers of Russian national airlines, CNN reported. "It is impossible to do it, on the very territory of Ukraine, it's possible only from the territory of some neighbouring states. But any movement in this direction will be considered by us as participation in an armed conflict," he added. Meanwhile, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said that Volodymyr Zelenskyy is trying to provoke a conflict between Russia and NATO. "I have a question. If he (Zelenskyy) is so upset that NATO did not step up for him as he hoped, it means that he did hope for the conflict's resolution through the involvement of NATO in this whole affair, rather than by negotiating," Lavrov told a briefing. Following it, Russian flag carrier Aeroflot halted all international flights from March 8, reported The Moscow Times on Saturday citing news agencies. Russia's Defense Ministry announced a ceasefire today to allow civilians in the port city of Mariupol and the town of Volnovakha for facilitating the evacuation of civilians. Ukraine's Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba called on the European countries to close all their ports for the Russian ships amid the heightened tensions in Ukraine. The Ukrainian Embassy in Washington extended an invitation to Democratic and Republican US senators to attend a Zoom meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Saturday amid the ongoing Ukraine-Russia conflict. The meeting which includes the bipartisan group of US senators and Zelenskyy is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. ET Saturday, according to one of the sources, reported CNN News. Moreover, Zelenskyy spoke with the Prime Minister of Australia Scott Morrison and discussed the ongoing invasion of Ukraine by Russia and the threat to Ukrainian nuclear facilities. He thanked Morrison for defence and humanitarian support. Earliar today Russia declared a ceasefire in Ukraine for opening up humanitarian corridors for civilians to be evacuated. "Today, March 5, from 10 am Moscow time, the Russian side declares a regime of silence and opens humanitarian corridors for the exit of civilians from Mariupol and Volnovakha," Sputnik news agency reported citing the Russian defence ministry. According to the ministry, the opening up of the corridors would enable residents of the cities of Mariupol and Volnovakha, including the strategic port town of Mariupol, to evacuate. "Russia Declares Ceasefire in Ukraine From 06:00 GMT to Open Humanitarian Corridors for Civilians," tweeted Sputnik. Moscow recognized Ukraine's breakaway regions - Donetsk and Luhansk - as independent entitiesMeanwhile, Ukraine plans to hold the third round of talks with Russian officials to try to end the fighting triggered by Moscow's invasion this weekend, said one of Kyiv's negotiators. (ANI)
Earlier on Wednesday, Putin spoke to Bennett where both discussed the special military operation to "protect" Donbas, reported Times of Israel.

"Vladimir Putin discussed the special military operation to protect Donbas with Prime Minister of Israel Naftali Bennett," President of Russia had tweeted.

Israeli Prime Minister also offered his country's intermediary services on Ukraine to Putin. "Naftali Bennett offered Israel's intermediary services to suspend military actions," the Kremlin said.

Earlier, Putin said special military operations are being launched "to protect" the people in the Donbas region. Putin 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.

Russian forces launched military operations in Ukraine on February 24, three days after Moscow recognized Ukraine's breakaway regions - Donetsk and Luhansk - as independent entities. (ANI)
Citing Ukrainian news outlet Strana.ua, the Russian agency said on Telegram that the date was suggested by Kiev, and Moscow was yet to respond.

On March 4, Russia and Ukraine agreed to organize humanitarian corridors to evacuate civilians in the second round of talks in Belarus. (ANI)
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The U.S. side has repeatedly spread false information related to the Ukraine issue to smear and discredit China in order to shirk their own responsibility, which is hypocritical and despicable, a Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson said Friday.

Wang Wenbin made the remarks when asked to comment on the report that an unnamed senior U.S. defense official said on Thursday that China continues to express concerns over the situation in Ukraine, but is unwilling to condemn and sanction Russia like other countries, and has no intention of participating in any form of diplomatic solution to the Ukraine issue.

"Spreading false information cannot cover up the responsibility of the initiators of the Ukrainian crisis, but rather exposes the real intention of the U.S. side to take advantage of the crisis," Wang said.

He said the United States should honestly answer the following questions:

-- The United States claimed that promoting NATO expansion is for the sake of peace. Has it achieved this?

-- The United States claimed it would prevent war in Europe. Has it done so?

-- The United States claimed to be committed to a peaceful solution to the crisis. But apart from providing military aid and increasing deterrence, what has the U.S. side done for peace?

China always decides its own position and policy based on the merits of the matter itself, Wang said.

"We welcome all diplomatic efforts conducive to the political settlement of the Ukraine issue, and support Russia and Ukraine in seeking a political solution through dialogue and negotiation that accommodates the legitimate concerns of both sides and is conducive to lasting peace and stability in Europe," Wang said.

China will continue to play a constructive role in seeking and realizing peace, he added.
The people, who were demonstrating, were heard chanting slogans like "Free Tibet," "Tibet belongs to Tibetans" and "Tibet needs human rights," Taiwan Focus reported.

The Tibetan Uprising Day, observed every year on March 10, will mark the 62nd anniversary this year to commemorate the 1959 Tibetan peaceful uprising against Communist China's repression in the Tibetan capital of Lhasa.

Tenzin Namdak, who is the President of the Taiwan Tibetan Welfare Association, in his speech said that exiled Tibetans all over the world commemorate the rebellion on March 10 each year.

Namdak condemned China, saying that "Communism does not equal China," and that Taiwan should pay more attention to issues surrounding Tibet.

Wu'er Kaixi, a prominent student leader of Uyghur descent, said it was shameful to have to witness the oppression of Uyghurs.

Earlier this week, Tibetan and other Rights groups in Taiwan held a press conference on March 2 in front of the Parliament in Taipei to announce their protest program to commemorate the Tibetan uprising on March 10.

The suppression of minorities and other dissenting voices has become the norm in China, and even during Winter Olympics, Chinese authorities kept arresting the activists. (ANI)
Amin Awad, the United Nations Crisis Coordinator for Ukraine has called for an "immediate humanitarian pause" in fighting between Russian and Ukrainian forces, as UN aid supplies arrive in the country. Awad, the newly appointed Ukraine crisis chief said that his immediate aim was to "urgently prioritize geographical areas, and sectors, where there are pressing humanitarian needs to scale up the delivery of life-saving aid", in extremely challenging circumstances. He welcomed the outcome of the second round of talks between Ukraine and Russia on the ceasefire and called for the "urgent translation of the letters of the agreement into action on the ground" so that relief can be provided to people. Earlier, UNICEF had noted that a humanitarian pause would allow families in the worst affected areas of Ukraine to leave bunkers and other shelters to find food and seek shelter. Despite the uncertainty surrounding the talks between the two sides, and the ongoing fighting, the UN continues to send humanitarian aid to the country. On Saturday, the first batch of UNICEF supplies arrived in Lviv, western Ukraine. "The situation for children and families in Ukraine is increasingly desperate," said Murat Sahin, UNICEF Representative in Ukraine. "These supplies will help provide much-needed support to women, children and health care workers." Since the conflict in Ukraine escalated, families have been sheltering underground, cut off from basic services. Hospitals and maternity wards have moved their patient to basements and, across the country, hundreds of thousands of people are without safe drinking water. (ANI)
The first batch of UNICEF humanitarian supplies has arrived today in Lviv, western Ukraine, from UNICEF's Global Supply and Logistics Hub in Copenhagen. It is part of a six-truck convoy containing an estimated 62 tonnes of supplies on its way to the war-ravaged country. In a press statement, the UNICEF said that the supplies include personal protective equipment to protect health workers from COVID-19 as they respond to the critical health needs of children and families, as well as desperately needed medical supplies, including medicine, first aid kits, midwifery kits and surgical equipment, and early childhood and recreational kits. "The situation for children and families in Ukraine is increasingly desperate," said Murat Sahin, UNICEF Representative in Ukraine. "These supplies will help provide much-needed support to women, children and health care workers." Since the conflict escalated, families have been sheltering underground, cut off from basic services. Hospitals and maternity wards have moved their patient to basements. Across the country, hundreds of thousands of people are without safe drinking water due to damage to water system infrastructure. The country is running low on critical medical supplies and has had to halt urgent efforts to curb a polio outbreak. An additional batch of supplies including 17,000 blankets and warm winter clothing for children are also en route via Poland from UNICEF's Turkey Country Office warehouse in Mersin. "UNICEF is working around the clock, preparing to scale up operations as soon as access and security restrictions are eased and humanitarian assistance can be deployed to the hardest-hit areas," said Sahin. The UN agency said that it is scaling up its response to meet the urgent needs of children and families crossing into neighbouring countries. These efforts include setting up 'Blue Dot' safe spaces along transit routes for children and mothers to access services. UNICEF Ukraine Crises Response for Children is appealing for a total of USD 349 million that includes USD 276 million for its programmes inside Ukraine and requires an additional USD 73 million to assist children in neighbouring countries. Furthermore, UNICEF has renewed its call for an immediate suspension of hostilities in Ukraine to allow humanitarian help to reach those in need. (ANI)
Russia will not forget Britain's desire to cooperate with ultra-nationalist forces in Ukraine and the supply of British weapons to the Kiev regime, the Russian Foreign Ministry said on Saturday. "Let's not forget the cooperation of the British with the Kiev regime and ultra-nationalist forces in Ukraine, the continued supply of British weapons these days, which are being used against the civilian population of Donbass and the Russian military," the Russian Foreign Ministry said. In fact, London has completely subordinated its foreign policy to the task of causing as much damage as possible to Russian national interests, Moscow noted. "For now, British Foreign Minister Elizabeth Truss is calling on her compatriots to go fight for Ukraine, and there are calls in the House of Commons to send all Russians out of Britain," the ministry said, RT reported. The official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry, Maria Zakharova, said that Russia would not allow the Anglo-Saxons to interfere in the affairs of the country. "We will not tolerate the attempts of the Anglo-Saxons to interfere in the internal political processes in our country, to destabilize the situation, to instill values that are alien to us," she said. --IANS san/arm ( 212 Words) 2022-03-05-21:00:06 (IANS)
A 23-year-old Chinese woman has accused a high-ranking executive of pressuring her into abortions, media reports said. Taking to Chinese microblogging website Sina Weibo, the aggrieved woman who goes by the name of Wan, claimed she had two abortions during her relationship with a former chief economist at a state-run infrastructure company. In a social media post, Wan said that she had a relationship with Wang Xingli, the former chief economist at China Communications First Bureau. But over time, the ties quickly took a "dark turn," Vision Times reported. She said the high-ranking executive became increasingly "possessive and emotionally manipulative." "My life started to revolve around him; he was very good at making me happy, but slowly, he began to belittle me, filling me with self-doubt and self-denial. According to him, it was my greatest fortune to have met him, and for that, I ought to be grateful and obedient." According to her account, Wang allegedly pressured Wan into having two abortions so as to avoid taking responsibility. Earlier in January, the woman had posted videos in which she came out with her real name and accused the executive of using his power to manipulate her for sex. She had claimed that Wang Xingli concealed his marital status, had accepted bribes, and abused his position to have improper sexual relationships with multiple other women. According to Chinese media reports, Wang Xingli was recently looked into for suspected corruption. Reportedly, Wang formally left the company in January and was subject to an investigation set up by the state-owned enterprise. However, the 23-year-old Chinese woman said that the authorities had not really punished Wang and that he managed to keep his position despite what was officially reported. (ANI)
Mongolia, a landlocked country in East Asia, is dependent on mineral exports to its neighbours China and Russia. Protests are commonplace in Ulaanbaatar over Beijing's language policy in Inner Mongolia.

Critics of the policy say it mirrors moves in other areas such as Xinjiang and Tibet to assimilate local minorities into the dominant Han culture and eradicate minority languages.

Munkhbayar Chuluundorj, a human rights activist who advocates freedom for the region, was arrested last month in the capital city of Ulaanbaatar on suspicion of "receiving instructions and funds from a foreign intelligence group".

The General Intelligence Agency (GIA), the country's spy agency said Munkhbayar had "engaged in illegal cooperation activities".

According to the Tibet Press, authorities had made the accusation without disclosing further details about the case.

Critics argue that Munkhbayar's criticism of the Chinese dominance in Mongolia has caused disregard to the government which brought him under the surveillance of authorities.

Supporters suspect that the arrest is part of a cleansing campaign by China to eradicate the Chinese critics in Mongolia.

In the recent past, Chinese authorities have intensified their crackdown in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region on ethnic Mongolians who are staging protests against measures to reduce education in their native language.

Munkhbayar had strongly criticized the policies that violated the democratic rights of ethnic minorities.

He even conducted various meetings, conferences and organized movements against the human rights abuse of China in Mongolia.

Munkhbayar had also demanded the resignation of Mongolian Prime Minister Luvsannamsrain Oyun-Erdene for his close relations with China.

His arrest triggered outrage and several activists claimed that it was a plan instructed by Beijing. (ANI)
Sirajuddin Haqqani, the acting minister of the Taliban-led government in Afghanistan and a longtime leader of the so-called Haqqani network with a US terrorist bounty on his head, has appeared in front of the media for the first time, RFE/RL reported. Haqqani, nicknamed Khalifa, attended a graduation ceremony in Kabul for hundreds of newly-trained Afghan police on Saturday. He also addressed the gathering, saying the fundamentalist militant group is committed to the Doha agreement signed with the United States in 2020 that paved the way to a pullout of US-led international troops that culminated in late August last year. Haqqani told the graduating cadets that the world faces no threat from Afghanistan, the report said. Haqqani has repeatedly praised suicide and some of the most notorious attacks on civilians and departed US forces since the Taliban-led administration took control of Kabul in mid-August last year. He had never allowed himself to be filmed, and an FBI notice of $10 million bounty on his head for alleged terrorist activities featured only a blurry image of a bearded man mostly shrouded by a blanket. Previously, he has only been photographed clearly from behind -- even since the Taliban seized power in Afghanistan last August, Dawn reported. "For your satisfaction and for building your trust... I am appearing in the media in a public meeting with you," he said in a speech at the parade. "I appeared in front of the media for the first time because of your credibility and to value you," he told police officials. Pictures of Haqqani were being widely shared on social media on Saturday by Taliban officials who had previously only posted photographs that didn't show his face or those in which it had been digitally blurred. At the police parade, Haqqani was dressed like many of the other senior Taliban officials -- very heavily bearded and wearing a black turban and white shawl, Dawn reported. Haqqani was among the first senior leaders who had entered Kabul in August last year but kept a low profile over the past few months. He would meet foreign dignitaries and Taliban officials but photographs from such meetings would always be blurred. He once appeared on a television interview but his face was not shown. Haqqani heads his own group called the Haqqani network, which has been designated a terror outfit by the US for carrying out several major attacks on foreign and Afghan forces during the 20-year-long war in Afghanistan. However, the Taliban insist that there is no separate faction within the group. --IANS san/arm ( 436 Words) 2022-03-05-22:00:02 (IANS)
This comes after the Russian defense ministry declared a pause in fire in the southeastern cities of Mariupol and Volnovakha to facilitate the opening of evacuation corridors.

The ministry said that evacuation was not taking place as civilian populations were being "held by nationalist formations as human shields".

"Russia's proposed ceasefire in Mariupol was likely an attempt to deflect international condemnation while resetting its forces for renewed offensive activity. By accusing Ukraine of breaking the agreement, Russia is likely seeking to shift responsibility for current and future civilian casualties in the city," the UK ministry said in its statement posted to Twitter.

Earlier, the UK government had announced a range of economic, humanitarian, and defensive military assistance to Ukraine.

It has provided humanitarian aid for vital medical supplies and other help, including supporting non-governmental organisation responders through public donations.

Also, it has provided defensive military aid to Ukraine, continuing to work with international partners to supply vital weapons to the Ukrainian Armed Forces.

The UK government said that it is coordinating with partners on sanctions aimed at starving the Russian government of funds to further its unprovoked war against Ukraine, imposing wide-ranging sanctions on Russian businesses, banks and individuals. (ANI)
Moscow [Russia], March 6 (ANI/Sputnik): Russia has simplified entry procedures for foreign nationals coming from Ukraine and the Donetsk and Luhansk People's Republics (DPR and LPR), the Kremlin press service said citing a relevant decree. According to the decree, starting from March 5, 2022, foreign citizens and stateless persons will be able to enter the Russian Federation from the territories of the LPR, DPR and Ukraine, and exit the Russian Federation to the countries of their citizenship or permanent residence without the registration of visas. The Kremlin press service specified on Saturday that such persons will only need a valid document proving their identity and recognized by Russia, or a document proving their identity the validity of which has expired. (ANI/Sputnik)
The "unidentified board" of the Rossiya company, heading from St. Petersburg to Washington, was immediately passed off by the fighters of the information front as both "the flight of the Russians" and "Moscow's attempt to get in touch with the Americans", Zakharova wrote, RT reported.

She noted that this was not the case.

"I will disappoint. This plane will return to their homeland Russian diplomats, whom the US government has declared persona non grata," added Zakharova.

Earlier, the official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry promised to respond to the United States for the expluslion of a Russian employee of the UN Secretariat.

On February 28, Russia's Permanent Representative to the UN, Vasily Nebenzya, announced that the United States had declared 12 Russian diplomats persona non grata.

--IANS san/arm

( 164 Words)

2022-03-05-22:48:02 (IANS)
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The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) fired an unidentified projectile, presumed to be a ballistic missile, into its eastern waters, South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said on Saturday.

The JCS said it detected the suspected ballistic missile launched from the Sunan area in Pyongyang at about 8:48 a.m. local time (2348 GMT Friday).

The JCS noted in a statement that the South Korean military was tracing relevant situations and maintaining defense readiness posture in preparations for possible further launches.

South Korea's presidential Blue House convened an emergency meeting of the National Security Council after the projectile launch.

It was the DPRK's ninth missile test this year. The DPRK said that it conducted a reconnaissance satellite development test on Feb. 27, which South Korea called a ballistic missile launch.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba on Saturday held talks with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken at the Polish border and discussed anti-Russia sanctions and the strengthening of Kyiv's defense capabilities. "Met with my U.S. counterpart and friend @SecBlinken at the Ukrainian-Polish border. We held talks on further deliveries of necessary weapons for Ukraine, ways to ensure the efficiency of sanctions and increase pressure," Kuleba tweeted on Saturday. The Ukrainian foreign minister said the talks were "productive" and the two sides affirmed the "effectiveness" of the sanctions already imposed against Russia. Lauding the leadership shown by Kuleba, Blinken said the United States and the world will continue to stand with them and the people of Ukraine. "It was inspiring to meet today with my friend @DmytroKuleba at the Ukrainian-Polish border. The leadership and courage that he and @ZelenskyyUa have demonstrated are remarkable, and the United States and the world will continue to stand with them and the people of Ukraine," Blinken tweeted. During a press conference on Saturday, Blinken said that the US, along with its allies, will put more pressure on Russia. "But I thought it was important when we met - symbolically - to cross the border and to have us stand together in Ukraine, because we're standing together for Ukraine. And we work very closely, and for me, it's making sure that I understand as best possible what our Ukrainian friends and partners need, what we can do to continue to support them as well as to put the pressure on Russia," he said. (ANI)
A Hong Kong district court gave terms of imprisonment between 42 months to 45 months, Xinhua news agency reported.

The judge said that there were people at the scene attacking police with petrol bombs and bricks, while some threw tear gas grenades at the police station.

The 2019 Hong Kong protests were a series of demonstrations in response to the introduction of the extradition bill by the Hong Kong government.

Earlier this week, another activist was convicted on charges linked to pro-democracy street protests two years ago, in a ruling that critics say deals blow to the city's rapidly decreasing freedom of expression.

Rights activists argue that the city's security law is designed to extinguish political opposition to the Chinese Communist Party in the former British colony Hong Kong. (ANI)
Activision Blizzard booth is seen during the 2019 Electronic Entertainment Expo in Los Angeles





Gaming company Activision Blizzard is facing a lawsuit from the family of a former employee after she died by suicide.

The parents of Kerri Moynihan filed the complaint on Thursday in the Los Angeles Superior Court, alleging that sexual harassment by a supervisor at the company contributed to Moynihan's death, The Washington Post reported.

Moynihan, the company's former finance manager, died by suicide in 2017 during a company retreat.

Her parents, Paul and Janet Moynihan, allege that sexual harassment was a "significant factor" in her death.

They claim in the lawsuit that Moynihan's boss, Greg Restituito, lied to investigators about a sexual relationship he had with Moynihan to try to hide the relationship after she died, according to the Post.

The lawsuit says Restituito spoke to Moynihan during the company retreat and texted her the morning of April 27, 2017, "Please don't do that. Not tonight. Think about it and make your decision when your mind is clear." She was dead less than an hour after the text was sent, according to the lawsuit.

The lawsuit also alleges the company would not give police Moynihan's or Restituito's company cell phones or laptops.

"The harassment to which Kerri was subjected was a substantial factor in causing harm to Kerri ... tragically culminating in Kerri's death at the age of 32," the suit says, according to the Post.

The complaint accuses Restituito and Activision Blizzard of covering up her death and says the Anaheim Police Department performed a "perfunctory and incomplete investigation," the outlet noted.

It says the police allegedly did not question Restitutio about the text message he sent to Moynihan shortly before her death or dust for fingerprints.

The company is "deeply saddened by the tragic death of Ms. Moynihan, who was a valued member of the company. We will address the complaint through the legal process as appropriate, and out of respect for the family we have no further comment at this time," a spokesperson told the Post.

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In a statement to The Hill, the police department said "our heart go out to the Moynihan family but we stand by our investigation and it's findings."

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is currently investigating Activision Blizzard for its handling of allegations of sexual harassment and discrimination.

The Hill has reached out to the company and lawyers for Moynihan's parents for comment.
A federal judge will allow accused kidnapper and pedophile Nathan Larson to defend himself against charges he kidnapped a 12-year-old girl from Fresno because he intended to sexually assault her.

In a hearing Friday, United States District Judge Jennifer L. Thurston granted Nathan Larsons request to serve as his own defense attorney.

The 41-year-old Larson, an admitted pedophile, is charged with several felonies that could put him in prison for life, if he is found guilty.

The judge also allowed Larson of Virginia to designate defense attorney Peter Jones as his standby counsel.

Jones described his role Friday as being more of a legal consultant. He will represent himself fully, Jones said. I am not his attorney of record.

A status hearing is scheduled for April 1. It is unclear when Larsons trial would begin.

He has pleaded not guilty to charges of kidnapping, transportation of a minor with the intent to engage in illegal sexual activity, coercion and enticement of a minor, sexual exploitation of a minor, and receipt and distribution of material involving the sexual exploitation of minors.

Larson was arrested on December, 14 2020 at the Denver International Airport. He was attempting to take the 12-year-old Fresno girl to his home in Virginia where his plan was to sexually assault her and impregnate her when she turned 13, according to court records.

He allegedly began grooming her online after he found her on a rape/kidnap fetish website he operated from his home in Virginia, according to court records.

Larson is an accountant whose criminal history includes, a prison sentence in 2008 for threatening to assassinate President George W. Bush.

In 2018, Larson ran for Congress in Virginias 10th Congressional District but later withdrew. In a Huffington Post article about his candidacy, he was reported to have endorsed child rape, father-daughter marriage, killing women and raping virgins.

Last year, federal prosecutors raised a doubt about Larsons mental competency and asked a judge to have him be evaluated by a mental health professional with the Bureau of Prisons.

A forensic evaluation was done and in January it was determined that there was no reasonable cause to believe Larson is currently incompetent to stand trial...
Mike Scarpitti, an instructor at the Akron CNC Training Center, explains what a Computerized Numerical Control (CNC) machine is and how it works at the training facility in Tallmadge.

Mackenzee Slatten had good timing.

The 22-year-old Barberton resident in 2019 entered cosmetology school, became a hairdresser and got a job at an Akron-area salon. Then, just a few months ago, Laurie Norval, founder and director of the Akron CNC Training Center on Brittain Road in Tallmadge, walked into the salon and became her client.

They talked as Slatten worked on Norval's hair. At the end of the session, Norval had a new hairdo. And Slatten was started on a new career path that offered a promise of better pay and benefits.

"[Norval] told me about the school," Slatten said. "I thought about it and took the leap."

Barberton resident Mackenzee Slatten, 22, worked as a cosmetologist and is now going to school to become a machinist.

She talked with her boyfriend and her father, both of whom are machinists. Then Slatten signed up at the Akron CNC Training Center. She will soon join the industry making such things as parts and tools out of solid pieces of metal using sophisticated computer numerically controlled, or CNC, technology. The machinists, or operators, program the specialized machines to cut and shape steel, titanium and other metals into precise shapes.

CNC training program is four months long

The training center is trying to turn out enough graduates through its four-month-long programs to meet strong local demand for machinists and tool-and-die makers, said Norval. She estimates there are about 1,100 CNC machining shops within an hour's drive from the school. The school itself is located within a large machine shop, Lehner Screw Machine, owned by contract manufacturer OGS Industries, on the Akron-Tallmadge line.

The school aims to teach people the basics so that they can get their first skilled labor job in the industry, Norval said. Most students live in the Greater Akron area.

Laurie Norval, director of the Akron CNC Training Center looks inside a CNC machine at the training facility in Tallmadge.

"More and more companies are having us train their employees," she said. "They can't find workers. I say, do you have anyone who shows up and has a good work ethic? ... Why not train the [entry level] ones you have?"

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Machine shops, deemed essential businesses, never stopped working during the COVID-19 pandemic, Norval said. But machine shops that are dealing with an aging workforce in many cases are also finding it hard to find new employees, she said.

"It's a huge struggle," Norval said.

No experience necessary to attend Akron CNC Training Center

The Akron CNC Training Center, a partner with the Cleveland Industrial Training Center, dedicates itself to training people who have no to limited machine shop experience. Norval and her machinist business owner father, Lee Combs, founded the Summit County school about 15 years ago.

Students have the option of taking morning classes from 8 a.m. to noon, or evening classes 5 p.m. to 9 p.m, Monday through Thursday. Cost is $5,400, with many people eligible for federal and state job training funds. Some have their employers pay for the program, Norval said. There are typically 20 students between the day and night classes, she said.

"We have over 1,000 graduates" over the 15-year-period, Norval said. Students come in with all kinds of backgrounds, she said. She recalled one person was an accountant, with others ages 50 and up looking for retraining. Younger people like Mackenzee Slatten who work in the service industry often find that being a machinist pays more money and provides more benefits than their initial career path, she said.

Another current student, Girard resident Amie Altaffer, joined an Akron-area machine shop a little more than a year ago as a driver.

Amie Altaffer talks about how she enrolled at the Akron CNC Training Center in Tallmadge. Altaffa who is a delivery driver for Nemes Machine in Akron was sponsored by her company to learn how to operate a CNC machine.

"It's a small shop," Altaffer said. "I had no idea what a machine shop did."

But she learned. And then the shop management wanted to know if she was interested in becoming a machinist. She said yes and enrolled in the school with her employer as sponsor.

Classroom and practical experience

Students spend time in class learning basics, including math, machine tool safety, quality control and computer-aided design and manufacturing, and have lab days when they learn how to operate the kind of machines they eventually will be working on, Norval said. Graduates come out with basic skills and then get on-the-job experience and training with their employers, she said.

"We always trained some [current] employees," Norval said. With machine shops having a difficult time finding new workers, there has been an increase the last year with them enrolling non-machinist employees in the school, she said.

Demand for machinists and tool-and-die makers is expected to remain strong, according to projections from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. In 2020, the last year figures were available, there were 425,300 jobs in the nation, with expected job growth of 7% annually through 2020.

The industry jobs typically pay well. The national median pay in 2020 was $47,040 per year, or nearly $23 an hour.

Pay can hit $60,000 in a short time

It's not unusual for a local CNC operator with four years experience to make $60,000 a year  more with overtime, said Chris Conrad, plant manager for the OGS facility where the CNC school is located. (Conrad is also an instructor at the school.) New graduates will typically start at $20 an hour, he said, and will be working on machines that cost anywhere from $100,000 to more than $1 million, he said.

"You have a good job forever," he said. "That demand is going to increase."

The demand is definitely there at the OGS/Lehner Screw facility, he said.

"I have eight mills on the floor with three guys," Conrad said. "I need more people."

The company's goal is to become the premier shop of its kind in the area, serving a wide range of industries from aerospace to military to automotive and more, he said. To do that, they have been upgrading with the latest available CNC machines. But they still need more people to operate them, he said.

Ideally, they would have one person per machine, Conrad said.

"Everybody is looking for people," he said.

Tom Bader, vice president of family owned OGS Industries, likewise acknowledged the hiring crunch. OGS has been expanding, buying and combining companies, he said. (OGS started out 60 years ago as a much smaller company, Ohio Gasket and Shim Co.)

"I certainly have more machines than I have labor," Bader said. "If you were smart, you'd go into tool-and-die making."

OGS has a great relationship with the Akron CNC school, he said.

"She'll train some of our rookie employees," Bader said. "It works out real well."

Akron CNC Training Center is a 'launching pad'

Norval said working in the machining industry has benefits over other industry jobs. Compared to some service jobs, people in the machinist trade are treated with more respect and have better benefits, including retirement plans, she said.

"It's lifelong proficiency. It's year-round, it's not seasonal," Norval said. "It's a really good paying job. They're sustainable jobs for everybody."

Akron CNC is not a "master's degree," Norval said. "It's a launching pad."

Beacon Journal reporter Jim Mackinnon can be reached at 330-996-3544 or jmackinnon@thebeaconjournal.com. Follow him @JimMackinnonABJ on Twitter or www.facebook.com/JimMackinnonABJ.

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Akron CNC Training Center opens doors to jobs in machinist industry
A Moscow Mule includes vodka, ginger beer, and lime juice. Yulia-Images/Getty Images

Bar owners in America are renaming Moscow Mules to Kyiv Mules in an act of support to Ukraine.

Many businesses have also boycotted Russian products, following the Ukraine invasion.

"It's just a little token of acknowledgment to the Ukrainian people," one bar owner told CNN.

American bar owners are showing their support for Ukraine by renaming Russian-associated cocktails.

According to CNN, small businesses are replacing Moscow Mules with Kyiv Mules, following Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

"It's just a little token of acknowledgment to the Ukrainian people," Andrea Minoo, the owner of a San Francisco bar told CNN. "We're just trying to raise awareness, and to let people know, we're in support [of Ukraine]," she added.

A Moscow Mule is a cocktail that includes vodka, ginger beer, and lime juice. Minoo told the outlet her bar doesn't serve Russian vodka so is keeping all ingredients the same for the Kyiv Mule.

Michael Krouse, the owner of San Francisco-based Madrone Art Bar also introduced the Kyiv Mule to his menu in recent days, per CNN.

The owners' actions follow decisions by some of the US's biggest retailers to take Russian vodka off store shelves. Kroger, Publix, and Sam's Club among others recently decided to do so in an effort to stand with Ukraine.

Last week, the governors of Texas and Utah called for Russian products to be removed from shelves in support of Ukraine. Gov. Greg Abbott tweeted to say that he had requested restaurants, bars, and retailers pull such products.

Gov. Spencer J. Cox asked the Utah Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control to make a similar decision.

Other companies, including Spotify, Apple, and Nike, have pulled out of Russia, following the invasion of Ukraine.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Bo Zaunders/Getty Images

A growing number of US veterans are seeking to fight alongside Ukraine against Russia, per the NYT.

For many American veterans, the call to service in Ukraine's dire situation is too great to ignore.

James, a medic who fought in Iraq and Afghanistan, told The Times that he couldn't "stand by" and watch Russia's assault on Ukraine.

A growing number of American veterans are preparing to join Ukrainians in their battle against Russian military forces, The New York Times reported.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has in recent days called for an "international legion" of volunteers, and many civilians from other countries, such as the United Kingdom, have heeded his call.

Dmytro Kuleba, the Ukrainian minister of foreign affairs, last week echoed the sentiment, encouraging volunteers to come to the country to battle Russia, while also highlighting the German occupation during World War II.

"Foreigners willing to defend Ukraine and world order as part of the International Legion of Territorial Defense of Ukraine, I invite you to contact foreign diplomatic missions of Ukraine in your respective countries. Together we defeated Hitler, and we will defeat Putin, too," he said.

Across the United States, countless veterans have witnessed Ukrainians fight back against Russian President Vladimir Putin's incursion into their country, and many have been overwhelmed by their sense of duty to push back against the unfolding threat against democracy.

Hector, a former Marine from Tampa Bay, Fla. who served in Iraq, told The Times said that Ukrainian citizens were suffering and he believed that he could provide immediate relief.

"Sanctions can help, but sanctions can't help right now, and people need help right now," said Hector, who asked the paper to only use his first name. "I can help right now."

He left the US on Friday to volunteer in Ukraine, bringing along rifle scopes and body armor that were given to him by fellow US veterans, he told The Times.

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"A lot of veterans, we have a calling to serve, and we trained our whole career for this kind of war," he told The Times. "Sitting by and doing nothing? I had to do that when Afghanistan fell apart, and it weighted heavily on me. I had to act."

President Joe Biden last week issued two rounds of sanctions against Russia, with the US, Canada, and its European allies also agreeing to block "selected" Russian banks from SWIFT. The measures, which were crafted to isolate Russia, have already had a huge impact on the country's economy, with the ruble tanking and billions in assets that have already been frozen.

Ukrainian Army soldiers gather to celebrate a Day of Unity in Odessa, Ukraine, on February 16, 2022. Emilio Morenatti/AP

'It's the innocent people being attacked  the kids'

In cities and towns across the nation, veterans are strategizing how to join in the fight, assembling passports and other materials that they'll need in order to enter Ukraine.

And many former service members are encouraged by the firm resistance of Ukrainians against Russia, savoring the chance to fight alongside citizens who are committed to protecting democracy, as opposed to some of the past experiences of veterans who fought in countries where their efforts weren't always embraced by citizens.

David Ribardo, an ex-Army officer and business owner in Allentown, Pa., told The Times that the Russia-Ukraine conflict is clearly defined.

"It's a conflict that has a clear good and bad side, and maybe that stands apart from other recent conflicts," he told the newspaper. "A lot of us are watching what is happening and just want to grab a rifle and go over there."

Ribardo, who is aiding veterans who are seeking to fight overseas through the group Volunteers for Ukraine, remarked on the outpouring of support for the larger effort.

"It was very quickly overwhelming, almost too many people wanted to help," he told The Times.

While Ribardo's group is not specifically calling on veterans to fight, he is connecting vetted former service members with people who have offered to donate plane tickets.

The Ukrainian government has asked interested veterans to reach out to its consulates, with several veterans telling The Times that they were still waiting to hear back from officials.

Zelensky on Thursday said that 16,000 volunteers had joined the international brigade, according to The Washington Post.

Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov on Thursday informed the Russian News Agency that international fighters would be classified as mercenaries  not as soldiers  and would be exempt from rules guiding the treatment of prisoners of war.

"At best, they can expect to be prosecuted as criminals," he said. "We are urging all foreign citizens who may have plans to go and fight for Kyiv's nationalist regime to think a dozen times before getting on the way."

When asked about US veterans who sought to fight in Ukraine, Secretary of State Antony Blinken this week said that there were a plethora of ways in which Americans could help the country.

"For those who want to help Ukraine and help its people, there are many ways to do that, including by supporting and helping the many NGOs that are working to provide humanitarian assistance; providing resources themselves to groups that are trying to help Ukraine by being advocates for Ukraine and for peaceful resolution to this crisis that was created by Russia," he said.

However, many veterans simply cannot turn their heads away from playing an active role in the conflict.

James, a medic who fought in Iraq and Afghanistan and chose to omit his last name, told The Times that he wanted to help Ukraine after seeing the Russian advance.

"Combat has a cost, that's for sure; you think you can come back from war the same, but you can't," he told the newspaper as he waited for word from Ukrainian officials. "But I feel obligated. It's the innocent people being attacked  the kids. It's the kids, man. I just can't stand by."

Read the original article on Business Insider
Progressives have criticized European nations for supposedly being more welcoming to Ukrainian refugees than they have been of other people.

A scene from aboard a train transporting Ukranian refugees from Lviv to Krakow. The journey took 28 hours, said Sofia Kedruk, who arrived in Krakow Monday and took these images while on the train.

Ukrainian families now huddle in bomb shelters and dig trenches to fight off Vladimir Putin's murderous regime. Their battle is for life and death; there is no time for debates about political correctness.

No, those are concerns for the outside world that sits, watches, judges and tweets about a war not outside its door.

This is not to say there aren't problems with how Western societies, the news media and governments perceive (and refuse to receive) nonwhite refugees from countries and regions such as Palestine, Syria, Afghanistan, Libya, Kurdistan, Eritrea, Yemen, Honduras, Haiti, Congo, Guinea Bissau and Mexico.

As a matter of international law, no one group has any more right than another in its struggle for self-determination.

And every time a journalist refers to a white refugee as "civilized," they should be called out for it  it is racist nonsense, and we ought to know better and hold public figures more accountable for backward, cruel and dangerous utterances.

It is that kind of language that helped to fuel the ethnic and religious hatred that drove the Balkans war in the 1990s.

Broad strokes are unhelpful at best

We also ought to know better than to paint with broad strokes about how Ukrainian refugees are being embraced by the world.

Ukraine, like any other conflict, is not happening in a vacuum. Complicated historical and cultural factors merit attention and cannot be easily glossed over. People turn refugees away for all kinds of (right and wrong) reasons  even when they look like "them."

My USA TODAY colleague Thuan Elston fled Vietnam with her family in 1975 shortly before the fall of Saigon. She wrote in a 2015 column about the Syrian refugee crisis: "Just as some European nations are turning away today's refugees and migrants, not all of Vietnam's neighbors were welcoming. Malaysia and Thailand frequently pushed boats full of desperate refugees away from their coastlines, sometimes after first giving them food and gasoline."

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War criminal?:Thermobaric weapons. Targeting hospitals. Case against Putin as a war criminal is strong.

In an attempt to be inclusive, those of us on the political left sometimes lump all refugees into the same bucket as if the circumstances are the same. We also demand that the same rules apply no matter the nature of the conflict  or the geographical and demographic factors at play in specific cases.

This week, progressives have criticized European nations for supposedly being more welcoming to Ukrainian refugees than they have been of migrants from Africa, Asia and the Middle East.

But you can't draw a straight line from one conflict to another. Kyiv is less a day's drive from Berlin. Kabul, Afghanistan, is nearly 3,000 miles away.

We can expect, merely because of proximity, that countries in the European Union like Poland and Germany will more quickly respond to a refugee crisis so close to their borders.

Why all the unity?:Biden State of the Union address divisively demanded unity, and I'm mad about it!

In situations of oppression  whether Ukraine, Afghanistan or another country  we need action, not just arguments. And receiving refugees, any refugee, is certainly action. As Slavoj Zizek says in his book, "Heaven in Disorder," in these times "decent people are not the enemy."

In the past week I have been in touch with several people in Ukraine, including a man who has said that he will die protecting kids with cancer as their city is bombed. I have met a father of four, an author and filmmaker, who has left his family to fight for his country.

We must stand united

There is a time to question policies and actions by the international community in response to the Russian attack on the sovereign nation of Ukraine. But my biggest concern now is for the people in the bomb shelters hoping to make it through the night.

My priority now is the Russians who, at great risk to themselves, are protesting the Kremlin's terrifying and illegal aggression.

How do we save lives? How do we stop the suffering?

That is how I approach any human rights violation or war crime, regardless of whether it's an illegal bombing in Gaza, white supremacists in Minnesota or human rights abuses against asylum seekers at the U.S.-Mexico border.

In the media, as in government, we must focus on the kids losing their fathers in a senseless war. There will come a time for commissions of truth and inquiry. There will come a time for justice in response to systemic human rights abuses. But for now, we must stand united with Ukraine and the Russian resistance to Putin.

Most important, we must stand together.

Carli Pierson is an attorney, former professor of human rights, writer and member of USA TODAY's Editorial Board. You can follow her on Twitter: @CarliPiersonEsq

This article originally appeared on Wichita Falls Times Record News: Amid Ukrainian refugee crisis, don't judge Europeans for past mistakes
PHOENIX  An Arizona-based ammunition company is offering to donate 1 million bullets to Ukraines military amid Russias invasion of its European neighbor.

CEO Fred Wagenhals of AMMO Inc. on Friday said it was his response to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyys appeal for international assistance.

There was no immediate indication whether the U.S. government will approve the proposed export of the ammunition, which has a retail of about $700,000, Phoenix television station KSAZ-TV reported.

The company is based in Scottsdale, a Phoenix suburb.

This story was originally featured on Fortune.com
China's "two sessions" start in crucial year for modernization

Xinhua) 07:57, March 05, 2022

* The Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference National Committee, China's top political advisory body, started annual session in Beijing on Friday.

* The National People's Congress, China's top legislature, will convene annual session on Saturday.

* The "two sessions" are of great importance in the country's political calendar, during which development targets will be made for the year and beyond.

BEIJING, March 4 (Xinhua) -- China's top political advisory body started its annual session on Friday, marking the beginning of the country's major political gatherings in a crucial year for its march toward modernization.

President Xi Jinping and other Chinese leaders attended the opening meeting of the fifth session of the 13th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.

In the past year, the CPPCC National Committee and its standing committee had performed their duties with a focus on getting a five-year blueprint off to a great start, further built the CPPCC as a special consultative body to improve the performance of the CPPCC system, and made new contributions to the cause of the Party and the country, Wang Yang, chairman of the CPPCC National Committee, said at the meeting.

In 2022, the CPPCC committees will see their work revolving around the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, said Wang.

The fifth session of the 13th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) opens at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 4, 2022. (Xinhua/Ding Lin)

Dubbed the "two sessions," China's major political season also includes the annual gathering of the National People's Congress (NPC), the country's top legislature. The NPC session will open on Saturday.

The "two sessions" are of great importance in the country's political calendar, during which development targets will be made for the year and beyond.

This year's "two sessions" carry extra weight, as the Party will convene its national congress in the second half of the year. Meanwhile, the gatherings are held in the second year of the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-2025) and at a time the world is reeling from the lingering COVID-19 pandemic, weak economic recovery and volatile regional situations.

Liu Zhongmin, a national political advisor, said the "two sessions" will forge a synergy among the Chinese people and firm up their confidence in overcoming difficulties.

The government work report, to be unveiled on Saturday, sits high on the agenda of the "two sessions," and a slew of key economic targets, such as gross domestic product (GDP) growth, employment and foreign trade, are set to be announced.

Despite sporadic COVID-19 resurgences and a complicated external environment, China's GDP in 2021 expanded 8.1 percent to 114.4 trillion yuan (about 18 trillion U.S. dollars), while its GDP per capita rose to 12,500 U.S. dollars, surpassing the global average.

Observers say that China's role in the global economic recovery is extremely important, and it is perhaps the only major power that can play such a role today.

Zhang Lianqi, a member of the CPPCC National Committee, said the "two sessions," held at a new crucial juncture, will specify goals and missions in reform and development in the "crucial year."

Economic stability will be a priority for policymaking. Although the targets for economic and social development will not be unveiled until Saturday, experts have been optimistic about the economic outlook.

"As long as China stabilizes the economy, it can overcome the adverse effects of the pandemic, maintain people's livelihoods and get a head start in the new round of development," said Zhang Liqun, a researcher with the Development Research Center of the State Council.

Having successfully eliminated absolute poverty and realized the goal of building a moderately prosperous society in all respects, China is now striding forward on a new journey of building a modern socialist country. A focus of the "two sessions" will be how to make progress in key fields.

Earlier this year, China unveiled its "No. 1 central document" for 2022, outlining vital tasks to comprehensively advance rural vitalization. The year 2022 will be a crucial year for aligning the efforts of consolidating and expanding poverty alleviation achievements with rural vitalization endeavors.

Promoting common prosperity and improving people's lives are also poised to be included in the roadmap for the new journey.

Liu Xueliang, a researcher with the Institute of Economics, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, said that high-quality development is the foundation for common prosperity. Liu highlighted efforts to address problems such as regional, urban-rural and income disparities.

Stabilizing employment is an issue that garners widespread attention, as it is a key to protecting people's livelihoods.

Guo Weimin, a spokesperson for the fifth session of the 13th National Committee of the CPPCC, told a press conference on Thursday that China's continued economic recovery and robust growth in new industries and business models will help stabilize employment by creating more jobs.

Journalists raise hands to ask questions during a press conference of the fifth session of the 13th National People's Congress (NPC) via video link in Beijing, capital of China, March 4, 2022. (Xinhua/Chen Zhonghao)

Members of the CPPCC National Committee have advised that special attention be paid to key groups, such as university graduates, migrant workers and people with difficulties, calling for targeted assistance to these groups, Guo said.

In addition, a wide range of topics, such as housing, child policy, and elderly care, are expected to be discussed.

At the NPC annual session, Chinese lawmakers will review a draft amendment to the Organic Law of the Local People's Congresses and Local People's Governments. Adopted in 1979, the law will go through its sixth amendment, in which a people-centered philosophy of development and whole-process people's democracy are highlighted.

Lawmakers will deliberate a draft decision on the number of deputies to the 14th NPC and their election. They will also review two draft methods for the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) and the Macao SAR to elect their deputies to the 14th NPC.

On the diplomatic front, it is highly anticipated that China will continue to play a vital role in the multilateral agenda of global governance in 2022.

Ruan Zongze, executive vice president of the China Institute of International Studies, said that by leveraging the leading role of head-of-state diplomacy, China will further expand its circle of friends and cooperation with other countries for win-win results.

Zhou Hanmin, a national political advisor from Shanghai, said that the Chinese people often say victory should be secured at the starting line, and the principle applies to the goal of basically achieving socialist modernization by 2035.

"The year 2035 is not far away. We should seize every minute," Zhou said.

(Web editor: Xia Peiyao, Du Mingming)
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The Russian military has captured the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, the largest one in Europe, in southern Ukraine, Ukrainian authorities said Friday.

The plant was seized following a shelling which caused a fire at the plant, the State Inspectorate for Nuclear Regulation of Ukraine said in a statement on Facebook.

Currently, Ukrainian personnel continue to operate the plant, the agency said.

Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov confirmed on Friday that Russia's armed forces have taken control of the nuclear power plant.

Earlier on Friday, a fire broke out in a training building outside the plant, which the mayor of the nearby town of Energodar claimed was "a result of continuous enemy shelling of buildings and units" of the nuclear power plant.

The Russian Defense Ministry refuted the claim, saying the fire was the result of a provocation by Kiev aimed at accusing Russia of creating a hotbed of radioactive contamination.

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said Friday that it was informed by the Ukrainian regulatory authorities that there has been no leak of radiation at the plant.

The plant's six reactors were not affected by the blaze, which has been extinguished, IAEA Director-General Rafael Grossi told a press conference.
Mar. 4BELFAST, Maine  A Belfast woman raised $1,500 overnight this week by selling special peace-themed stickers, with the goal of donating the money to a Polish humanitarian agency assisting Ukrainian refugees.

For Kasia Gardner, 40, it's critically important to do something to help.

"I have been really involved from the beginning [of the war]," she said. "I used to study Ukrainian language and literature. It is an amazing place with amazing culture. It's just really hard to watch it being destroyed."

Gardner, who was born in Wroclaw, in the west of Poland, decided to use her family's small business, VeloInk, to raise money for organizations supporting refugees. She and her husband, Chris Gardner, started VeloInk in 2012 to make personalized stickers for bikes, helmets, water bottles and more.

She reached out to four Polish artists who had created peace posters to get their permission to use their designs on a new "Support Ukraine" sticker set.

The artists agreed, and the Gardners spent Thursday night making the $10 sets, which are vibrant shades of gold, blue and green. All the funds raised will go to Polish Humanitarian Action, an organization that has been around since the 1990s and has a solid track record.

"I know they know what to get," she said of the nonprofit organization's employees. "I think they are maybe the only ones right now who can cross the border and help refugees who are waiting in line for days."

The Gardners reached out to VeloInk's customer base and email list to tell people about the fundraising effort.

"I thought that would be the quickest way to spread the word and get the fastest money," Kasia Gardner said. "Because time is an issue at this point."

By the time the couple woke up Friday morning, they had sold $1,500 worth of stickers. Most of the orders came from the U.S., but some also came from Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Germany and Poland. Local orders began coming in Friday "and they keep coming," she said.

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"It's kind of overwhelming," she said.

This isn't the only way that Gardner has been helping, though. She's also been translating messages from people in the Ukraine for people in Poland, so that the Ukrainian people would know that there was support for them across the border.

"I've been translating really heartbreaking messages for about a week," she said.

Most of those messages had been coming from people stuck in long lines on the border, waiting to cross into Poland. The messages were "super short," she said, likely because the refugees are conserving their cellphone batteries. They included information such as how many people were in a group and which border crossing they were at.

But now the messages are changing.

"More of the messages are coming from people who are actually trapped in shelters," Gardner said. "There's no way to help them. It's getting more and more heartbreaking."

With more than half a million Ukrainian refugees entering Poland since the invasion began, according to the United Nations, a lot of Polish people are doing everything they can to help out. Many are opening their homes to the refugees and donating the food and supplies they need. Her family in Poland is hosting a family from Lviv for a few days, she said.

"When the war started ... my head was in Poland with my family, trying to help other people," she said. "I think everybody in Poland now is in helping mode. There was one day of fear and then full action to help."

Watching that has been amazing, she said, because for a long time, the Polish government was not known for its humanitarian actions and the drive to help has come from ordinary Polish people, like her and her family members.

"To be honest, this helping really started from within, with the Polish people," Gardner said.

More articles from the BDN
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke on Saturday with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi about "Moscow's premeditated, unprovoked, and unjustified war against Ukraine," a U.S. State Department spokesperson said.

"The Secretary noted the world is watching to see which nations stand up for the basic principles of freedom, self-determination and sovereignty," spokesperson Ned Price said in a statement.

"He underscored that the world is acting in unison to repudiate and respond to the Russian aggression, ensuring that Moscow will pay a high price," Price added.

Meanwhile, China's foreign ministry also said that Wang spoke with Blinken on the phone.

According to a statement posted on its official website, Wang "encouraged the United States, NATO, the European Union and Russia to engage in dialogue on an equal footing, face up to the contradictions and problems accumulated over the years, and pay attention to the negative impact of NATO's continuous eastward expansion on Russia's security environment."

(Reporting by Rami Ayyub; Editing by Daniel Wallis and Chizu Nomiyama)
LONDON (Reuters) - Britain urged its nationals on Saturday to consider leaving Russia after Moscow's decision to invade Ukraine.

"If your presence in Russia is not essential, we strongly advise that you consider leaving by remaining commercial routes," the British government said in a statement.

On Monday, Britain advised its citizens against all travel to Russia due to a lack of available flight options and increased economic volatility.

(Editing by William Schomberg, Editing by Louise Heavens)
The goal for the Kansas State mens basketball team is simple.

Bruce Weber wants the Wildcats to finish the regular season in the strongest way possible, which means winning the Big 12 Tournament and securing an automatic berth into March Madness.

But what happens if K-State (14-15, 6-11 Big 12) falls short of that lofty aspiration? Lets say the Wildcats beat Oklahoma in a 3 p.m. Saturday game at Bramlage Coliseum and then wins two games in Kansas City. That would give them a winning record and late-season momentum, but it would not get them into the NCAA Tournament.

What then?

Well, Weber hopes the Wildcats will have an opportunity to keep playing, potentially in the NIT.

Theres no doubt, Weber said during a video conference with reporters on Friday. I want these guys to have a chance to play in the postseason. I have said all along that I think were good enough to be an NCAA team ... We have got a lot of things that are on our side. I would like these guys to have a chance to play in something.

K-State has not played in a postseason tournament since it reached the Big Dance in 2019. It has not participated in the NIT since 2009.

Obviously, our goal is still the NCAA, Weber said. We have talked about having a great week starting tomorrow. Lets have a special March and see if we can change the tide and the outcomes. When it comes to the NIT, its not what our goal was, but at the same time it would give these guys a nice experience and a reward for how theyve persevered and all theyve gone through.

Playing for a trophy later this month is so important to Weber that he is exploring the possibility of adding a replacement game to K-States schedule, potentially against Northern Illinois, on Monday at Bramlage to help the Wildcats finish with a more attractive record.

Though there is no rule against the NIT selecting a team with a losing record, it has never done so before.

You wont find K-State on any of the current NIT projections, but that could change quickly if the Wildcats are able to string together some wins.

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The Wildcats can finish as high as sixth in the Big 12 standings. That, combined with a NET ranking of 64 and one of the nations toughest schedules, could certainly warrant an invitation.

The NIT is a 32-team tournament consisting of teams that narrowly miss out on the NCAA Tournament. Games are scheduled to begin on March 15 on campuses and end on March 31 with the final four teams playing at Madison Square Garden in New York.

No one at K-State is using the NIT as a rallying cry or as extra motivation as the season draws to a close.

But it is being viewed as a consolation prize, not something the Wildcats would ignore.

That is one reason why K-State players voted in favor of playing a replacement game next week, should one be added to the schedule.

One win just puts us above .500, K-State senior guard Mike McGuirl said. There are a lot of teams out there that have good records, just because they had some easy games. We have a tough schedule, and it would be nice to add another one to the win column just to fall back on in case we dont make the NCAA Tournament.
OTTAWA (Reuters) - Canada told its citizens on Saturday to leave Russia "while commercial means are still available," saying security conditions were unpredictable and could deteriorate without notice.

"Flight availability is becoming extremely limited ... The ability of our embassy to provide consular services in Russia may become severely limited," Canada's foreign ministry said in a travel advisory. Canada, like many other Western nations, imposed broad sanctions on Russia after the invasion of Ukraine.

(Reporting by David Ljunggren; Editing by Paul Simao)
When the church bells of faith communities from Orleans to Falmouth ring in unison on Saturday, Pastor Nancy McHugh said people will join together and support the people of Ukraine.

This is a very simple but powerful action that gives people an opportunity to have their voices heard, said McHugh, who is a pastor at Dennis Union Church. People can let the people of Ukraine know they are not alone.

Roughly 12 individual faith communities on Cape Cod will participate in the bell ringing at noon, in response to Russias invasion of Ukraine, said the Rev. Nell Fields of Waquoit Congregational Church. The cohesive action is to shed light on struggles the Ukrainian people are currently facing, and to bring hope to those who support them, she said.

The 1806 Paul Revere bell waits in the steeple of the West Parish Meetinghouse in West Barnstable. It will be rung as part of an across the Cape bell ringing on Saturday to show solidarity with Ukraine.

People feel helpless, and they want to do something, she said. The bell ringing gives them an opportunity to be a public witness against atrocities happening in Ukraine.

Throughout the action, each congregation will ring its bells 107 times, said Fields, to represent the 107 people who died in 2014 during the Maidan Revolution, also known as the Revolution of Dignity. The series of actions and protests, at that time eventually led to the ousting of former President Viktor Yanukovych, and to the election of Petro Poroshenko as president, according to Open Society Foundations.

The Revolution that took place in Kyiv from Feb.18 to 23, 2014 led to the ousting of a Ukraine leader aligned with Russia. It is an extremely important event for Ukraine, Fields said. It is one of hope.

The Rev. Nell Fields, pastor of the Waquoit Congregational Church.

Each congregation is planning individual events surrounding the bell ringing, and both McHugh's and Fields congregations will sing songs, light candles of hope, and offer prayers for the people of Ukraine.

Our faith calls us to stand with those who are in need and who are suffering, said McHugh.

For Fields, the action is also a way to support local people who have direct connections to Ukraine.

This hits close to home for us. Weve been flying the flag of Ukraine outside our church campus and people drive into our parking lot to take pictures, she said. We just try to let everyone know that the horrible things going on impact us all.

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The Rev. Nancy McHugh at the Dennis Union Church.

Kathie Mount, a Falmouth resident, will attend the bell ringing in honor of her daughter who was assigned to the American Embassy in Kyiv. Although Mounts family was evacuated safely at the end of January, she said they still worry about friends who remain in Ukraine.

They are very much in touch with people who are still in Ukraine and our grandson has friends who are still there, she said. Thats why I think an event like this is so great to show support for Ukraine. One of the good things that has come from this (the conflict between Russian and Ukraine) is that our country is pulling together and the world is pulling together.

More: Buzzards Bay woman's mother in Ukraine bombed at her workplace

For McHugh, the bell ringing event can help more people connect in a humanitarian way.

When we come together in larger numbers theres a sense of connection to one another and to people around the world, she said. That offers us an opportunity to be in community  symbolizing being a part of a larger world community.

Fields agreed and said there are horrible things going on that impact us all. She said "the face of the world is changing.

More: Ukrainian Cape Cod woman weeps and prays over the Russian invasion of her homeland

If we dont think it matters on the Cape, were fooling ourselves, she said. People say to me, oh, do you really think that stand out is going to change the world? And I say, I dont know. But, I stand out so it doesnt change me.

Contact Rachael Devaney at rdevaney@capecodonline.com. Follow her on Twitter: @RachaelDevaneyCCT.

This article originally appeared on Cape Cod Times: Cape Cod church bells to ring 107 times for Ukraine, Maidan Revolution
Mar. 5PLATTSBURGH  The North Country Chamber of Commerce looked north when deciding who to name as 2022 Small Business of Year at its 110th Annual Business Awards Dinner Friday night.

The honor went to Lakeside Coffee, a Rouses Point cafe owned by Norm and Sonya Lague. The couple extended thanks to the chamber and those involved in the selection process, their dedicated staff and their customers who epitomize the phase "community strong."

"From day one when the pandemic hit and the border was closed, we had community members come in and tell us, 'We won't let you fail,'" Norm told the Press-Republican. "So that was a pretty sobering phrase to tell us that ... 'We're going to be here for you and we're going to work with you to make sure that you're part of our community.'"

INFUSE WITH COMMUNITY

The Lagues try to reciprocate that by running their business in a way that infuses it with the community, whether that's holding blood drives and hat and mitten giveaways, bringing in local children to make Valentine's Day cards for senior citizens or taking donations for the local food shelf.

A couple years ago, they bought a small park across the street from their cafe on Lake Street which serves as a stop for cyclists and allows the Lagues to host events, such as an artisan market.

Chamber Vice President of Marketing and Tourism Kristy Kennedy described Lakeside Coffee as a true gem of Rouses Point and the Northern Tier.

"Norm and Sonya have taken what could be a simple coffee shop and made it into a community space in downtown," she said, pointing to innovative offerings and their roles on various boards and committees.

"Congratulations to the Lague family and thank you for investing in the Adirondack Coast!"

WHOLESALE GAINS

The last couple years have brought a different mixture of clientele to Lakeside.

With the northern border restrictions in place, fewer Canadians have come through, while new visitors to the area from places like New York City have stopped in.

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"This has made us independent to a degree and brought in some different folks, and if you couple that with the border opening up and people being able to come down and fill the marinas up, I think that's going to make us that much stronger," Norm said.

The business's wholesale side saw the biggest gains in 2021.

"We're confident that as our name grows and gets out there that that part of our business is going to expand exponentially," Norm said.

"We love partnering with local businesses," he continued. "We're a locally-produced product, so it gives them the opportunity to talk about supporting local, so it gives them a good name, so I think there's some benefit on both sides."

FAMILY, ROASTING

Prior to when the Lagues bought Lakeside, they discussed making it a family-run business as a way to teach their kids, 17-year-olds Peyton and Kayla, work ethic and how to engage with the public.

"They come in, they help us after hours, they help us decorate the shop," Norm said. "If we need a fill-in, they come and work if somebody can't make it in. So they do a lot to make us a successful place as well."

Their takeover also coincided with the start of Norm's roasting career. He began by educating himself through online courses and some schooling before going over the procedures with the previous owner, Kris Duus, who Sonya used to work for.

One of Norm's original products is 60/30/10, a blend that brings together three different beans in what is described as "medium body with rich taste and citrus-like acidity" with "notes of caramel and chocolate."

Since he roasts all Lakeside's beans manually rather than relying on a computer, Norm likes to think he gets to put his own flare on the profiles.

"It's a lot more work for me, but I wouldn't have it any other way."

JOY YOU BRING

Asked for advice to those who want to start or take on a small business, Norm said it's very rewarding to deal with members of the public who come in, like senior citizens who tell him and Sonya their cafe helps them get out of the house in the winter.

"So the rewards, they're not all monetary. Some of them are seeing the effect that you have on the community and the joy that you bring to people."

Email Cara Chapman:

cchapman@pressrepublican.com

Twitter: @PPR_carachapman
ST. PETERSBURG  Early on Saturday morning a 22-foot-long boat overturned in Tampa Bay and the U.S. Coast Guard rescued four people, a Coast Guard statement said.

Coast Guard Sector St. Petersburg watchstanders received a 911 call from a motorist reporting two red flares north of the Sunshine Skyway Bridge around 5:25 a.m, the statement said. The Coast Guard dispatched a 45-foot response boat and rescued four men, who were taken to Williams Park in Riverview.

The men had no reported injuries.

The Coast Guard said all boaters should remember to have enough life jackets for everyone on a vessel, a working safety flare, all required safety gear and a float plan. They also recommended checking the weather and water conditions before sailing.
Ukrayinska Pravda

VALENTYNA ROMANENKO - WEDNESDAY, 4 MAY 2022, 17:33 Ukrainian defenders continue to destroy units of the Russian occupiers and their equipment with great professionalism. Source: the press centre of the DShV command [Command of the Assault Troops of the Armed Forces of Ukraine] and the press service of the National Guard Details: The assault troops showed a video with the aftermath of the Russian armoured vehicles, together with their crews, destroyed by the artillery of one of the units of the D
Disney on Monday announced it would pause all theatrical releases in Russia. Kent Phillips/ABC via Getty Images

Critics are urging The Walt Disney Company to denounce Florida's "Don't Say Gay" bill.

The legislation would prohibit discussions of sexuality and gender in classrooms.

Disney has steered clear of publically speaking out on the matter.

Bicoastal protests by LGBTQ+ rights advocates outside theme parks in California and Florida hoped to persuade The Walt Disney Company to publically denounce legislation that would prohibit the discussion of sexuality and gender in classrooms, but the company has so far rejected doing so, The Wrap reported.

Formally known as the Parental Rights in Education bill, the Florida legislation  the "Don't Say Gay" bill to critics  would bar talk in "primary grade levels" about sex and gender, while encouraging parents to sue schools or teachers that address the topic. It has currently being considered in the state senate after passing out of the state house.

In a statement, Disney sidestepped the legislation.

"We understand how important this issue is to our LGBTQ+ employees and many others," the company said in a statement. "For nearly a century, Disney has been a unifying force that brings people together. We are determined that it remains a place where everyone is treated with dignity and respect."

"The biggest impact we can have in creating a more inclusive world is through the inspiring content we produce, the welcoming culture we create here and the diverse community organizations we support, including those representing the LGBTQ+ community," the company added.

Michael Kahane, a demonstrator and member of the AIDS Healthcare Foundation, told Orlando television outlet WKMG that he was unhappy with the company's position.

"To turn your back on your guests and your employees because someone doesn't think they should be able to talk about sexual orientation or get guidance or counseling... is hate speech," he said.

President Joe Biden has denounced the bill.

Read the original article on Business Insider
 Flash

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said on Friday that his country and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) will not play an active role in the Ukraine conflict.

"It is absolutely clear to us that there will be no NATO military involvement in this conflict," Scholz said at a press conference after visiting the Bundeswehr's operations command. "We will rule that out with all that we do."

Scholz said that the German government would use all diplomatic means "to ensure that the possibility of a joint way out of this crisis is attempted, although it has already come this far."

Meanwhile, he said it would be necessary to ensure that no attacks occurred on NATO territory. Efforts to secure the allies' borders with Russia and Ukraine had been stepped up, Scholz added. "But they are purely defensive and they remain on NATO territory."
Photo Illustration by Kelly Caminero/The Daily Beast/Getty

As Donald Trump weighs another run for the White House, the twice-impeached former president has made a point of embarking on new business opportunities to increase his wealth and maintain his personal brand. But unfortunately for Trump, one of his most heavily promoted venturesTruth Socialis currently looking less like a success and more like an embarrassing dud.

Even for a soft launch, Truth Socials launch has been particularly soft. And after a botched rollout where most prospective users were simply added to a wait list, Trump has been grumbling about the app behind the scenes, according to two sources familiar with the matter, even as hes tried to put on a brave face publicly.

In recent weeks, sources have heard the former president on the phone swearing gratuitously and asking things like, What the fuck is going on with Truth Social.

Hes repeatedly groused about the negative press and the less-than-stellar optics of the rollout, these sources said. And hes demanded to know why more people arent using itwhy the app isnt swiftly dominating the competition.

Something Went Wrong: Trumps Twitter Knockoff Suffers Bumpy Launch

During his presidency and in the years prior to his political rise, Trump had a famous reputation for berating underlings for failures that were mostly his own fault. Throughout all those years, his short attention span was a constant; he tends to quickly lose interest in novel business ideas, partnerships, and money-making gimmicks that oftentimes rapidly go nowhereif not worse.

But if the preliminary traffic numbers are of any indication, the former president and current wannabe social-media mogul has a point.

The Daily Beast reviewed analyses of visits to Truth Socials performed by SimilarWeb, which tracks website traffic from public and private sources. The companys figures for the MAGA social networkwhile only an estimate based on incomplete dataare nonetheless anemic. Trumps own social media platform is doing either worse or the same as other MAGA social sites like Gabanother pro-Trump competitor website thats especially beloved by, well, Nazisand Gettr, a platform fronted by one of Trumps former top political aides, Jason Miller.

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SimilarWebs estimates show a sharp spike of around 2 million daily visits to the site when it first debuted, before traffic dipped to an average of approximately 300,000 visits each day, putting the site on par with Gettr. Meanwhile, the far-right Gab has averaged around 650,000 daily average visits in the same time period.

As of Friday, Truth Social was the 72nd most popular free app in Apples AppStore, a far cry from Facebook (5th) and his formerly beloved Twitter (22), both of which booted the ex-president after the Jan. 6 Capitol riot.

The relatively light traffic could be explained in part by Truth Socials waitlistMAGA fans who want to join the platform have now racked up a million-strong backlog of users looking to join during the apps soft launch. The app is also only available on Apple devices, denying access to owners of Android phones.

The extreme-right Gab, however, has managed to rack up twice the web traffic as Truth Social, despite its mobile apps being banned from both Apple and Googles app stores.

Trumps Truth Social Verifies White Nationalist Nick Fuentes Account

The odd sluggishness of the waitlist could also explain why, at this early stage of Trumps website, the MAGA fans who have visited Truth Social also dont tend to stay very long, according to SimilarWebs analytical tools. The company estimates that the average visitor to Trumps site stays for just 90 secondsa far cry from the seven minutes users tend to spend on Gettr and nine minutes spent on Gab.

In an appearance at the annual Conservative Political Action Conference in Orlando last week, Trump said the apps launch was still ongoing. Its slowly been opened, people are getting on and theyre loving the product and were getting a voice, he claimed to a reporter from the pro-MAGA Right Side Broadcasting Network.

Its been an incredible success, he claimed. We have hundreds of thousands of people trying to get on and were doing it very slowly.

Even though Team Trump might be eager to spin this as standard growing pains as opposed to conspicuous shortcomings, Truth Socials lackluster performance is notable given the deep pockets behind the company.

Trump Media & Technology GroupTruth Socials parent companyraised a billion dollars from investors when it went public in late 2021. The company had also partnered, as The Daily Beast first reported in December, with another well-funded right-wing social media contender, Rumble, which markets itself as an alternative to Big Tech staples like YouTube and Amazon Web Services.

Still, it is likely not helping the fortunes of the 45th U.S. presidents new company given that he doesnt even seem all that interested in using it right now. As Axios pointed out this week, Trump hasn't posted a single time since the launch, despite an international crisis that has captivated the country. Instead, he's given his comments to radio and TV hosts.

With Twitter being an obvious exception, Trump has long been skeptical, or just plain hostile, toward the concept of personally using new apps and technology.

Seth Meyers Brutally Mocks Trumps Clusterfuck Truth Social Launch

He is rarely seen operating a computer himself, and he doesnt even email. Instead, he relies on an assistant to send messages for him. He even gets irrationally angry at websites and online forums that dont make sense to him.

When Trump (ostensibly) hosted a Reddit AMA during his 2016 presidential campaign and was asked by his staff to pose for a photo of him participating via laptop, the then-future leader of the free world got annoyed and barked at his aides. He said the whole exercise was a waste of his time, and he stormed out of the room, according to two people with knowledge of the matter.

At the time, while aboard his private plane, Trump added that one reason he stormed off was that he felt some of his campaign aides were making fun of him for looking like he didnt know how to use a computer.

Still, Truth Social could be critical at some point for Trumps expected campaign for president.

Twitter and Facebook were crucial to his successful 2016 and barely unsuccessful 2020 campaigns. And during his presidency, Trump routinely marveled at how he was able to instantaneously change cable-news bottom-halves and regularly drive entire news cycles with a flick of a tweet. Trump even told his former attorney general Bill Barr that the way to write a truly good tweet was to inject just the right amount of crazy, according to Barrs account.

Its just that, right now, he seems to be sticking with long, characteristically incoherent statements that his aides screenshot and post to Twitter.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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(left to right) NWTF CEO Becky Humphries, Missouri Department of Conservation Director Sara Parker Pauley and NWTF Board Chairman Harlan Starr.

A couple of weeks ago, I attended the National Wild Turkey Federations (NWFT) annual convention in Nashville, Tennessee. It was the first consumer show Ive been to in a couple of years.

As soon as I stepped through the doors, I was reminded of how much I love sport shows. Rows and rows of booths filled with like-minded sportsmen selling hunts and gear. I peruse them all. Walking the aisles chewing on jerky and stuffing brochures into a bag just like I did as a kid.

Turkey hunting has become one of my absolute top passions. I think a lot of it has to do with the fact that wild turkeys didnt exist in Northern Indiana while I was growing up. Its a species I have been able to watch return to the landscape.

Now Ive spent a couple decades coming to know these birds intimately through untold hours of hunting and habitat work. Hearing the gobble of wild turkey fills me with hope, because it symbolizes our ability to right wrongs in this country.

There are a lot of partners to thank for the restoration of the wild turkey across much of North America. The dedicated employees of state and federal agencies played a huge role, as did many, many private landowners. But I think it is safe to say we wouldnt be here today if not for the bold work of the NWTF. At its peak, the organization swelled to a half-million members. Their dues and volunteer spirit returned the wild turkey to the forests from which it had disappeared.

Some of those NWTF members have served turkeys professionally. Some even spent entire careers working on turkeys. But only few have made a life serving turkeys and conservation. Where work and play all wrap into one.

The National Wild Turkey Federation recognized one such individual at their convention this year when they awarded Sara Parker Pauley, director of the Missouri Department of Conservation, with the Lynn Boykin Hunting Heritage Award for her contributions to conservation and the preservation of our hunting heritage.

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As someone who has spent my entire career championing the conservation mission, including as a former NWTF employee, it is truly an honor to be recognized for the Lynn Boykin Hunting Heritage Award, said Pauley, who was an NWTF Women in the Outdoors regional coordinator from 1999-2000.

She was a role model to women conservation leaders and her legacy of furthering the hunting heritage in this country has made a lasting impact. Its a humbling experience to be recognized by NWTF  an organization I care so deeply about  and I will do my best to keep shining the light on this important conservation work we continue to work on together.

According to the NWTF, the Lynn Boykin Hunting Heritage Awards namesake was a former president and chairperson of the NWTFs National Board of Directors. During her tenure, she emphasized the importance of hunting heritage and helped create a new outlook for the organization. Today, the NWTFs mission to celebrate and preserve North Americas hunting heritage is some of its most important work.

Pauley and Boykin are kindred spirits. Both devoted their life to working for the advancement of our nations outdoors traditions. Pauley is the ninth director of the Missouri Department of Conservation since its inception in 1937 and the agencys first female director. She is also a former president of the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies.

We are especially thankful for Saras service to Missouris great conservation story and her leadership as director, NWTF CEO Becky Humphries said. Her determination to diversify the outdoors and make Americas conservation story inclusive of people of all walks of life has earned her the prestigious Lynn Boykin Award.

Pauley is a native of Columbia, and still makes her home in rural Boone County with her husband, Scott. Prior to becoming the director of the MDC, she served as director of the Missouri Department of Natural Resources from 2011-16, making her one of the most qualified natural resources professionals in the country.

But ask her why she does her job, and shell tell you the truth  she has a deep passion for the outdoors. When it comes to her accomplishments as a turkey hunter, well, lets just say she is in an elite class.

On a personal note, I am fortunate to know Pauley. She is a friend, a mentor, a leader Im proud to follow and the finest example of a public servant youll ever find. Yet what means the most about Pauley to me is the example she sets for all young women. As the father of two teenage girls, Im thankful there are women like her blazing trails for females in the conservation and natural resources world. She sets a shining example for my daughters and all young women with outdoors aspirations.

Congratulations, Sara, on a well-deserved award. Thank you for all you do for conservation.

See you down the trail.

For more Driftwood Outdoors, check out the podcast on www.driftwoodoutdoors.com or anywhere podcasts are streamed.

This article originally appeared on Columbia Daily Tribune: NWFT gathers to celebrate turkeys and turkey hunters
Elsa Klensch was one of CNN's first hires. (Anderew Eccles)

Elsa Klensch, who over two decades brought fashion news to CNN's global TV audience, has died in New York City, according to the network.

CNN did not give a cause of death. Klensch was 92.

Klensch hosted the weekly series "Style With Elsa Klensch" from 1980 to 2001. She traveled to major fashion centers around the world and presented trends and designers every Saturday morning.

"Style" became one of CNN's most popular programs in its early years and Klensch emerged as one of the network's signature on-air talents, especially as the channel's reach expanded internationally.

Klensch gave dedicated followers of fashion in-depth reporting in an age before social media and bloggers, when consumer coverage of the industry was largely the province of glossy monthly print magazines. Broadcast TV network news divisions covered fashion, but did not have the time that CNN was able to provide as a 24-hour news service starting out in the 1980s.

For years, Klensch was the only TV reporter at many fashion shows, elevating her status and giving her greater access to big names as coverage of the industry became more prevalent.

Designers such as Miuccia Prada, Marc Jacobs and Karl Lagerfeld and supermodels such as Naomi Campbell and Christy Turlington all sat for Klensch interviews. Journalists covering fashion today cite Klensch as an inspiration.

In 1999, the New Yorker said Klensch "reports on developments in design, on innovations in fabrics, and on mutations of hemlines as soberly as if she were covering the State Department."

Klensch became a style icon herself, inducted into the International Best-Dressed Hall of Fame in 1990. She did not accept garments from the companies she covered and received no clothing allowance from CNN, which was notoriously tight-fisted in its early years.

Born Elsa Aeuschbacher just outside Sydney, Australia, Klensch began her journalism career in London in the 1960s. She began as a freelance business writer for Women's Wear Daily. While working in Hong Kong, she met her husband, journalist Charles Klensch, then the Saigon bureau chief for ABC News. They were married in Vietnam in 1966.

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Klensch moved to New York in the 1970s and toiled as a fashion editor for WWD, Vogue and Harper's Bazaar. She freelanced for New York newspapers until an 84-day strike shut them down in 1978, which led her to try television.

Klensch was among the original cadre of specialty correspondents and experts hired by CNN founder Ted Turner when the network launched in 1980  a hedge against the possibility of slow news periods.

Klensch left CNN in 2001 after its then-parent Time Warner merged with AOL. She continued to write and lecture on fashion and wrote several mystery novels.





This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Door County's air has improved enough for the entire county to meet national standards for ground-level ozone, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

People in Door County are breathing cleaner, healthier air due to EPAs partnership with the state, EPA Region 5 Administrator Debra Shore said. Reducing ozone pollution in the air is especially helpful for vulnerable populations.

The EPA on Thursday announced a plan to redesignate a portion of Door County as meeting ground-level ozone standards. The EPA will accept comments on the proposal through April 4. Submit your comments, identified by Docket ID No. EPA-R05-OAR-2022-0008, at www.regulations.gov or via email to arra.sarah@epa.gov.

In late 2017, the EPA began expressing concern for a portion of the county north of the Sturgeon Bay canal. The area south of the canal has been designated as attaining the national standard since 2018.

To reach the standard, the three-year average of the annual fourth-highest daily maximum eight-hour average ozone concentrations at each monitor must not exceed 0.070 ppm. The 2019-2021 average was recorded as 0.070 ppm.

FOR SUBSCRIBERS: A Door County candle maker has relative in Ukraine. She wanted to help. Then she had an idea.

FOR MORE DOOR COUNTY NEWS: Check out our homepage

The EPA credits the improvement in air quality due to state and EPA programs to reduce nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compounds emissions from industrial facilities and electric utilities in Wisconsin and upwind areas including Chicago. Motor vehicle exhaust, gasoline vapors and chemical solvents are other major sources of the air pollutants.

Reducing ozone will help people to experience fewer health problems including chest pain, coughing, throat irritation and congestion. Less ground-level ozone also will help to avoid worsening conditions such as bronchitis, emphysema and asthma, and it will help to avoid reducing lung function or inflaming the linings of the lungs.

This article originally appeared on Green Bay Press-Gazette: EPA proposes Door County meets federal air quality standard for ozone
Elon Musk, Tesla CEO, stands on a stage at the Tesla Gigafactory for the open day in Grunheide, east of Berlin. Patrick Pleul/picture alliance via Getty Images

Russian exports of oil and gas are plunging after Russia invaded Ukraine.

Tesla CEO Elon Musk said the US needs to step up its oil and gas output.

Musk said sustainable energy solutions can't quickly offset Russia's exports.

Tesla CEO Elon Musk said the US needs to increase its oil and gas output following Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

"Hate to say it, but we need to increase oil & gas output immediately," Musk said in a tweet on Friday. "Extraordinary times demand extraordinary measures."

In a follow-up tweet, Musk noted that while it would be bad for his electric car company, sustainable energy solutions aren't immediately available quickly enough to offset limited Russian oil and gas exports.

"Obviously, this would negatively affect Tesla, but sustainable energy solutions simply cannot react instantaneously to make up for Russian oil & gas exports," Musk wrote.

Many countries, including the US, have imposed tough sanctions on Russia after it invaded Ukraine last week. While sanctions targeted banks, oligarchs, and other financial institutions, countries "refrained from sanctioning Russia's pivotal energy sector," Insider reported.

However, Russian oil and gas exports are still declining as international refiners and banks refuse to do business with the country.

In follow-up tweets, Musk expressed for the Ukrainian people and also sympathized with Russians, who he said "don't want this."

Read the original article on Business Insider
Morgan Lee

BEDFORD  Former Bedford Police Department officer Morgan Lee was arrested Friday night on felony charges of official misconduct and strangulation as well as a misdemeanor charge of battery.

Lee, 45, was booked into the Lawrence County Jail around 6:40 p.m. on charges of:

Official misconduct, a Level 6 felony

Strangulation, a Level 6 felony

Battery, a Class B misdemeanor

According to a Saturday morning press release from the Indiana State Police, Sgt. Brock Werne with ISP "filed and received an arrest warrant" for Lee "following an investigation into Battery that allegedly occurred on Jan. 8, 2021, in Lawrence County."

"The investigation started when Bedford Chief of Police, Terry Moore, contacted the Indiana State Police after receiving a complaint from a citizen that Lee had battered them," ISP states in its release.

Wernes findings were submitted to a special prosecutor for review in the case.

The charges against Lee, according to the ISP release, were filed by Senior Prosecuting Attorney Chris Gaal.

Lee resigned from the department amid controversy on July 29, 2021, after an internal investigation from BPD, sparked by a citizen complaint, found he had he violated multiple department rules and regulations.

Local news: Fire protection territory proposed for Shawswick and Guthrie townships would raise taxes.

The matter was set for a hearing with the Bedford Board of Works and Safety on July 30, 2021; one day after Lee submitted his letter of resignation.

Around that time, Indiana State Police launched an investigation into Lee for criminal misconduct.

The Times-Mail attempted to obtain records of the investigation, including relevant body camera footage, in October 2021.

The request, made to the city of Bedford and BPD, was denied, with city attorney Greg Pittman stating the investigation was ongoing and any release of the information could impact investigatory efforts.

Times-Mail editor Lance Gideon contributed to this story.

Noah Dalton is a reporter in Bedford, IN. He can be reached at ndalton@tmnews.com

This article originally appeared on The Times-Mail: Former Bedford officer Morgan Lee arrested for battery, strangulation
 Flash

The Iraqi Council of Representatives (parliament) on Saturday voted to reopen the nomination for the post of president of the country.

A statement by the parliament said that 203 lawmakers voted in favor of opening the candidacy, while 62 deputies abstained.

The decision came after the Federal Supreme Court ruled that the reopening decision for nomination might be valid if it was made through the legislative body instead of the speaker.

The parliament had previously scheduled Feb. 7 as the date for electing the country's president. However, only 58 lawmakers attended the session, well below the quorum of two-thirds of the 329-seat chamber. One day later, the parliamentary speaker announced the reopening of registration for presidential candidates.

On Oct. 10, 2021, Iraq held the parliamentary election, where Shiite Muslim cleric Moqtada al-Sadr's Sadrist Movement emerged as the biggest winner with 73 out of the 329 seats.

Under Iraq's power-sharing system, the president should be an ethnic Kurd, the prime minister a Shiite, and the parliament speaker a Sunni. Once elected, the new president will ask the largest parliamentary bloc to name a prime minister-designate to form a government within 30 days.
WASHINGTON  A former member of the Texas Three Percenters militant group testified Friday that both he and Guy Reffitt  the first Jan. 6 defendant to stand trial  traveled to Washington, DC, with rifles and handguns, carrying the latter with them as they made their way to the US Capitol during the insurrection.

Reffitt is facing a five-count indictment that includes charges that he brought weapons to DC to support a civil disorder and illegally carried a firearm onto restricted grounds at the Capitol. Proving that Reffitt not only traveled to DC with guns, but also that he brought a handgun to the Capitol, is central to the governments case.

The jury heard Friday from Rocky Hardie, who signed an immunity agreement with the government for his testimony; the prosecutor had him explain that he understood he could still be prosecuted for his actions on Jan. 6, but the deal meant that any charges couldnt be based on information hed given the government or testified about as part of the agreement.

Late in the day, the jury then saw the weapons that the FBI seized from Reffitts house and that Hardie said Reffitt brought to Washington: a Smith & Wesson .40-caliber handgun and an AR-15-style rifle. The prosecutor showed a zoomed-in image of Reffitts back while he was on a stairway in front of the Capitol, and an FBI agent identified a dark object near Reffitts waist as a matte black holster, with a silvery metallic linear object that the government has alleged was the handgun.

Hardie told the jury that he lived outside of Austin and ran a business manufacturing in-ear audio devices for listening to music. He explained that hed joined the Texas Three Percenters militant group motivated by what he described as videos hed seen of protests where antifa was burning things down, breaking windows, and throwing firebombs.

Hardie said he was worried that he didnt have people in his community who could watch his back and that he was looking for people who were like-minded. He said that when he joined TTP, he asked if they were racist, white supremacist, or anti-government, and was told no. Asked what the group did believe in, Hardie said they supported law enforcement and the Constitution, and they believed in supporting the government as long as it follows the Constitution.

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During a meet-up with Reffitt at a park, Hardie said they talked about how the country was going down the tubes and shared a dislike of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, referring to her as evil incarnate.

The prosecutor asked if Hardie believed the election had been stolen before Jan. 6. He said he did. Asked if he still believed that now, he replied, Yes, I do.

Hardie testified that he felt inspired by Reffitts Telegram messages calling on members of the TTP to go with him to Washington when Congress was due to certify the Electoral College, and they arranged to drive together. He said that Reffitt had talked about how corrupt people in DC needed to be dragged out, but Hardie said he didnt think it was something that anybody was going to act on. In his mind, he said, he thought the crowd would listen to then-president Donald Trump speak and then go to the Capitol, and hopefully their presence would give lawmakers inside pause.

Hardie told the jury that he and Reffitt discussed bringing guns with them on the trip; he believed it would be for self-defense. He said they knew DC had firearm prohibitions, but he and Reffitt shared the opinion that its better to be tried by a jury of 12 than carried by six, meaning they would rather face legal consequences than die. Hardie said they each brought an AR-15-style rifle and a handgun, and that they pulled over in Virginia to put the handguns and ammunition in locked cases; theyd disassembled the rifles for the trip, he said.

The pair arrived in DC the night of Jan. 5, and the jury saw a selfie that Hardie said he took of the two of them in their hotel room; Reffitt is wearing a black shirt with Oath Keepers Texas in yellow writing. On the morning of Jan. 6, Hardie said Reffitt gave him a few plastic zip-tie handcuffs  to use in case they needed to detain people, he said Reffitt told him  and Hardie made sure they each had a working handheld radio to communicate.

As for the guns, Hardie said they each assembled their rifles and left them locked in the car so that theyd be ready if they needed them. Asked why they might need the rifles later, Hardie said they were concerned about their safety and the safety of other people, again bringing up the threat posed by antifa. Hardie said he carried a loaded .45-caliber handgun and extra ammunition in a shoulder holster, and he believed Reffitt was carrying his handgun on his hip.

Hardie and Reffitt walked from their hotel to the Ellipse, where the Stop the Steal rally was taking place in the morning. He said he listened to Trump speak on and off, but he couldnt hear well and was more focused on the crowd. After the speech, the crowd moved like a herd of cattle, he said, and someone called for medical attention and Reffitt volunteered to help, at which point Hardie lost track of him. He said they remained in radio communication, but he didnt see Reffitt again until they were back at the hotel later in the day.

Hardie made his way to the Capitol, saying that from a distance, the people climbing up scaffolding in front of the building looked like spiders crawling up the walls. He watched people break through the police barricade and said he got close enough to the exterior of the Capitol that he could have touched a wall. On the radio, he said Reffitt talked about trying to get inside the building, but being unable to get there after being pepper-sprayed.

Back at the hotel, Reffitt was in pain from being sprayed and shot at with projectiles, Hardie said; the jury saw a photo Hardie took of Reffitts bruised legs. Reffitt bragged about his confrontation with a woman police officer who was shooting at him; the jury heard earlier this week from that former US Capitol Police officer, Shauni Kerkhoff. Hardie recalled Reffitt saying that he made it possible for the rest of the crowd to go forward; the governments theory is that although Reffitt didnt go inside the building, he served as the tip of the mobs spear.

After Hardie and Reffitt returned to Texas, Reffitt messaged a Telegram group on Jan. 10, 2021, that TTPs state leader Russ Teer had been taken in for questioning by law enforcement. Asked by a prosecutor Friday what was going through his mind at the time, Hardie said, Uh-oh. Hardie said that after Reffitt sent another message that read, Start purge of all previous conversations, he deleted certain messages. Hardie said he decided to leave the militant group after he was visited by the FBI a few weeks after the attack.

Reffitts lawyer, William Welch III, briefly questioned Hardie, having him confirm that although his immunity agreement did not completely shield him against prosecution, he hadnt been charged to date. Welch asked Hardie if Reffitt bragged. He said yes. Welch asked if Reffitt used hyperbole. When Hardie said yes, Welch asked if that happened a lot. From time to time, Hardie replied.

State of alarm

Friday began with a brief civics lesson for the jury, with a former general counsel to the secretary of the Senate, Daniel Schwager, walking through the structure of Congress and the constitutionally-mandated duties that members were fulfilling when they met in a joint session on Jan. 6, 2021, to certify the Electoral College results.

Schwager was in the Senate chamber when the Capitol was breached and identified himself in a video from that day moving to the dais area from the back of the room. When he saw thenvice president Mike Pence leave the chamber, he said, I knew we were in a dangerous situation and that we were about to go into some protocols we had drilled on for locking down, for when the chamber was under threat. He testified about watching US Capitol Police officers lock the doors  one smaller officer had to jump up because some of the ornate wooden doors are so large, he recalled  and how one officer stood holding a very large and very long gun.

I was already in a state of alarm and things like that frankly comforted me because  my perception already was that we were under severe threat, Schwager said of seeing the officer with the gun.

The second witness was US Secret Service Special Agent Paul Wade, who managed security for Secret Service protectees  like the president and vice president  when they visited the Capitol. When he arrived at the Capitol on Jan. 6, he said that he saw the metal bike rack security perimeter around the complex and thought it seemed adequate. After escorting Pences wife and daughter to the Senate gallery to observe the joint session that afternoon, Wade said he went to the basement but soon heard scuffling and running; he learned from officers that the building had been breached and immediately went back upstairs.

Wade testified that he stayed with the Pence family until Congress was able to resume the joint session in the evening once the building was cleared; he identified himself in surveillance camera footage that recorded the Pences evacuation from the Senate chamber. Reffitts lawyer William Welch asked Wade if hed seen his client at all that day, and Wade said no. Assistant US Attorney Jeffrey Nestler then asked Wade if the Secret Service took emergency action because of one persons activities; Wade said no, that it was because they were advised that hundreds of people were breaching the building.

The jury also heard from an FBI photographer who documented the search of Reffitts house, Karla Kennedy, and the lead FBI agent on the Texas side of the investigation, Laird Hightower. Hightower talked about seeing a tip submitted by Reffitts then-18-year-old son, Jackson, about his fathers plan to travel to DC  Jackson had submitted the tip online on Dec. 24, but Hightower said he didnt see it until Jan. 6, after the crowd had reached the Capitol. Hightower met with Jackson on Jan. 11 at a restaurant, and said the teenager seemed worried, concerned, and quiet.

A day earlier, Jackson had taken the stand to describe the events leading up to his decision to submit the tip in December, as well as the secret recordings he made of his father after Reffitt returned home from DC. At the Jan. 11 meeting, Hightower confirmed that Jackson had turned over those recordings as well as screenshots of texts that Reffitt sent his family group chat. The agent said he took Jackson seriously, and their meeting spurred the opening of a full investigation into Reffitt.

The jury saw the handgun and the rifle seized from Reffitts house, the helmet he wore to the Capitol, and the plastic flex cuffs that Hardie said Reffitt brought, as well as a tactical vest filled with 22 pounds of ballistic plates, according to Hightower. The FBI didnt take the holster they found in Reffitts house, so Hightower used one that was the same model that the government had purchased to demonstrate how it attached to a persons pants and how the gun found in Reffitts house would fit into it.

Welch briefly questioned Hightower, including on the reliability of the video that the government had used to capture the image of what they said showed the holster on Reffitts waist. He also asked Hightower if Jackson had talked to him about his fathers drinking habits and about whether his father had a job.

Assistant US Attorney Jeffrey Nestler told the judge that the government expected to rest its case midday Monday. Welch said he did not intend to present any witnesses.

More on this
This story was written by Sallie Gaines based on reports from Aaron Gold and Andy Knott in Chicago and Ronald Yates in California, and originally ran in the Chicago Tribune on March 6, 1982.

Actor John Belushi, who went from Chicagos Second City to television and movie stardom, died in a Los Angeles hotel Friday. He was 33.

The comedian, who became a national hit on TVs original Saturday Night Live and in the movie Animal House, died in a bungalow he had rented at the Chateau Marmont Hotel along Hollywoods Sunset Strip.

Lt. Dan Cooke of the Los Angeles Police Department said a heart attack was a possible cause of death. He said an autopsy would be performed, probably this weekend. A security guard at the hotel said it appeared that Mr. Belushi had choked on some food.

It appears to be death by natural causes, Cooke said. The detectives here found nothing to make it seem suspicious.

(Editors note: A coroners report later concluded Belushi died of acute cocaine and heroin intoxication.)

Cooke said one of Mr. Belushis friends, later identified as his physical trainer, William Wallace, found the comedians naked body at 12:15 p.m. on a bed in the bungalow. Wallace, who often traveled with the comedian during filming, trained Mr. Belushi for some of the scenes he did in the film Continental Divide.

Mr. Belushi appeared to have been dead for two or three hours when Wallace arrived, Cooke said.

He tried to administer mouth-to-mouth resuscitation, and the paramedics were called, Cooke said.

A woman who arrived at the bungalow while police were there was handcuffed and taken to a police station for questioning. Police, who did not identify the woman, said she was a potential witness and the handcuffs were just standard procedure.

Cooke said the woman apparently was with Mr. Belushi when he woke up on Friday morning. He said she was questioned for four hours late Friday and then was released.

We had to question her because initially we didnt knew her involvement, so she was taken into custody, Cooke said. Weve determined she had no criminal involvement, so we are releasing her.

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(Editors note: Cathy Evelyn Smith was sentenced to three years in prison in 1986 for injecting Belushi with a fatal dose of cocaine and heroin. She was released in 1988.)

When she woke up this morning, Cooke said, the woman found Mr. Belushi breathing heavily. He had some nasal congestion. She asked him if he was all right and he said, Yes.

She gave him a glass of water and she left an hour later, thinking Mr. Belushi was OK.

Cooke said the woman signed a room-service receipt for breakfast at 8 a.m.

Homicide detective Tony Diaz said the woman may have been the last person to see Mr. Belushi alive.

A source at Mr. Belushis public relations firm in Los Angeles speculated that the woman who later arrived at Mr. Belushis bungalow driving his Mercedes-Benz was Wallaces wife, Smoky. The woman didnt know the actor was dead when she arrived, police said.

It was not unusual, when Mr. Belushi was in training, for Wallace or his wife to be with him around the clock to keep him from breaking training.

Mr. Belushi, who lived in New York with his wife, Judith, checked into the hotel last Sunday. He was in Los Angeles to make a movie.

Bruce Beckler, a hotel gardener and day security guard, said the hotel desk manager became concerned Friday morning because Mr. Belushi didnt answer his phone.

We knew he was in his room because he checks out with the desk if he leaves, Beckler said. We suspected something was wrong.

He said the assistant hotel manager asked him to check on Mr. Belushi.

When I got there, his friend Bill (Wallace) was there already, he said. I asked, Is Mr. Belushi OK? He says, No, hes dead. I said, Weve got to do something, and the paramedics were summoned.

Judith Belushi, who was in New York when she learned of her husbands death, was joined by actors Dan Aykroyd and Tim Kazurinsky. Aykroyd was Mr. Belushis comedy Blues Brothers partner and a star in Saturday Night Live. He also costarred in the film Neighbors. Kazurinsky followed Mr. Belushi in Second City and later joined the case of Saturday Night Live.

Mr. Belushis sister, Marian, who lives in Chicago, asked a doctor to join her in the western suburb of Addison, where their mother was staying. Marian Belushi said she didnt want to tell her mother about the death without a doctor being present.

Mr. Belushis father, Adam, and younger brother, Billy, were at the Julian, Calif., ranch the comedian had bought for them several years ago. The family has maintained an apartment in Addison for trips to the Midwest.

The other Belushi star, Jim, who was also a Second City actor, was at Chicagos Shubert Theatre, where he is starring in The Pirates of Penzance, when he learned of his brothers death. He went ahead with Friday nights show because John would have wanted me to, a theater spokesman said. No special observance was made of Mr. Belushis death.

First word of Mr. Belushis death came from his public relations agency in Los Angeles.

Yes, hes dead. He died here, said Laurie Johnson of the firm Solters, Roskin and Friedman, which represented him.

Funeral arrangements were incomplete, but it was believed that services would be in Chicago or at Mr. Belushis second home in Marthas Vineyard, Mass.

(Editors note: The funeral and burial took place in Massachusetts.)

Patent on the outlandish was ticket to stardom

This story written by Gene Siskel and Larry Kart originally ran in the Chicago Tribune on March 6, 1982.

There are some people to whom stardom in the movies comes immediately. By dint of a look or an emotional presence they immediately speak to millions.

John Belushi was one of those people. His moment for movie stardom came at the beginning of his first film, National Lampoons Animal House (1977), in the role of John Bluto Blutarsky, the campus pig who majored in food fights and toga parties.

In the middle of a fraternity rush party, a drunken Bluto takes a guitar from the hands of a wimpy classmate who is singing an insipid song about giving his true love a flower. After listening to the sugarplum music, Bluto fixes the singer with an arched eyebrow, grabs the guitar, and smashes it against the fraternity house wall. Audiences went wild, and Animal House became what was then the top-grossing comedy of all time.

THAT was Bluto. That was Mr. Belushi, a marvelous physical comedian who appeared to be on a lifelong mission to wreck everything that smacked of pretense and pomposity.

I hate to admit it, Mr. Belushi said in a Tribune interview at his New York home last August, but its true. I am Bluto.

In addition to Bluto, Mr. Belushis stardom derived from his TV appearances on Saturday Night Live in such characters as a Samurai warrior, a killer bee and a violent TV news commentator.

He was a member of the first Saturday Night Live cast in 1975 and one of the original Not Ready for Prime Time Players, along with Dan Aykroyd, Garret Morris, Chevy Chase, Jane Cutin, Laraine Newman, and Gilda Radner.

He was the shows top physical comedian, with his partner Dan Aykroyd handing the more cerebral material. Belushi was the one who did a spastic impersonation of rock singer Joe Cocker. And as the shows hysterical news commentator, he added a phrase to a generations lexicon: But nooooo.

Along with Aykroyd he invented the characters known as the Blues Brothers, a soul-singing duo who wore black suits, black hats, and black sunglasses. Aykroyd was the blues freak who turned Mr. Belushi on to the music that was born in part in Chicago.

Mr. Belushi was born in Chicago on Jan. 24, 1949, the child of Albanian immigrants.

Growing up in Wheaton, he exhibited the same frantic energy that later distinguished his comedy. At Central High School, he was captain of the football team and participated in wrestling, baseball, track, forensics, and music. He was a drummer in the school band and Homecoming King in 1967.

He married his high school sweetheart, Judith Jacklin, on New Years Day, 1976. They divided their time between a brownstone home in Greenwich Village and a summer house in Marthas Vineyard, Mass. They had just purchased the New York home and were in the process of renovating it.

After he graduated from Wheaton Central High School in 1967, he and two friends founded their own improvisational comedy troupe.

Performing for a $1 admission charge at a Universal Life church and sharing a $35-a-week apartment, Mr. Belushi and his friends, Steve Bashekas and Tino Insana, were invited to audition at Second City in 1971. Mr. Belushi was accepted and immediately made the most of his big break.

You did eight performances a week, Mr. Belushi once told an interviewer, so you didnt have to get desperate. They expected you to fail a third of the time, and you learned to write on your feet. From Del Close (a frequent Second City director and one of the gurus of improvisational comedy) I learned whats good and whats cheap. You can pull out cheap jokes on the stage when youre dying, but you cant write them in  or depend on them.

What Mr. Belushi was able to depend on at Second City, and throughout his career, was a sublimely physical, almost animalistic sense of humor.

It was at Second City that Mr. Belushis gifts developed, and among the characters he created during his brief but explosive stay there was the Samurai warrior that became one of his trademarks on Saturday Night Live.

Then, in 1972, an editor of National Lampoon took in one of Mr. Belushis performances and asked him to join the cast of the magazines stage show, Lemmings. It was a somewhat different type of humor than Second Citys  hipper, nastier, more politically aggressive and more drug-oriented.

But Mr. Belushi continued to rely on the methods he had learned back in Chicago  the give-and-take of improvisation (both onstage and in writing sessions) and the ability to instantly establish a powerful presence and then maintain it no matter how intense the onstage competition became. With two graduates of Second Citys Toronto troupe  Aykroyd and Radner  in the cast of Lemmings, Mr. Belushi was surrounded by performers who knew what he was up to and gave him a run for the money.

From Lemmings, where he developed his devastating takeoff on rock star Joe Cocker, it was on to Saturday Night Live, thanks to producer Lorne Michaels, who was one of the writers for the National Lampoon show.

Long-haired and uncharacteristically subdued during much of the first season of Saturday Night Live, perhaps because the initial spotlight fell on Chevy Chase, Mr. Belushi eventually found characters into which he could pour his burly, macho passion.

As soon as Hollywood cast him in the spectacularly successful Animal House, Mr. Belushi became a larger-than-life part of the Saturday Night Live cast, a fact that was frequently acknowledged in skits where he played a puffed up, egomaniacal star.

But now the Saturday Night Live scene that lingers in the mind is the one in which, as a gray-haired old man, he walked through a graveyard and gazed down at the tombstones of all his fellow Saturday Night Live performers.

And they always thought, Mr. Belushi said, that I would be the first to go.

The Bluto characterization in Animal House made Mr. Belushi a star with international appeal and gave him a pipeline to young people everywhere. For example, The Blues Brothers, in which he and Aykroyd tore apart Chicago, earned one-third of its profits outside of the United States.

Mr. Belushis film career consists of seven films: Animal House, Old Boyfriends, Goin South, 1941, The Blues Brothers, Continental Divide and Neighbors.

That list contains two certified hits, Animal House and The Blues Brothers; two likable but commercially tepid pictures, Continental Divide and Neighbors; and two artistic and box-office bombs, 1941 and Old Boyfriends.

The temptation may be to hold back on any extreme praise of Mr. Belushi, considering the apparent brevity of his career. But if one were to total the hundreds of live appearances he made at Chicagos Second City comedy theater and add the dozens of Saturday Night Live television shows, it could be argued that John Belushi truly was a major comic actor of his time.

At the time of his death, his professional goal was to continue to broaden his range as an actor. In Continental Divide, his second-to-last film, made in part in Chicago, Mr. Belushi attempted romantic comedy for the first time in the movies; and most critics agreed that he did a credible job. In a word, he was lovable in the role of a supposedly gruff Chicago newspaper columnist.

In Neighbors, his last film, Mr. Belushi chose to extend himself by taking on the tole of the films most serious character, an uptight, burned-out businessman who liked to lose his mind in front of a TV set.

I want to try to play every kind of part I can, Mr. Belushi said in an interview. Serious things and comic things.

Movie stardom can be measured in many ways. Did he stop traffic wherever he went? Yes, people were always shouting out to him tag lines from his latest role. Toga! Toga! and Food Fight! they yelled after Animal House. People on the street did love him.

Another measure of movie stardom is the ability of the actor to sell tickets to any film, regardless of its quality. Few if any actors have ever passed that test, and Mr. Belushi did have his share of bombs.

However, one other test of stardom Mr. Belushi passed with flying colors  that was the sense of anticipation and joy that greeted his first appearance in a film. You just felt that something funny was going to happen. A comic explosion was coming.

Stars have an aura, and John Belushi certainly had that.

Likability was an important factor, but that explanation fails to acknowledge his performing ability. Plenty of likable people are not movie stars. Thats where his considerable acting experience came in.

Asked recently to explain why he and his Second City cohort, Bill Murray, were among the top comedians in the nation, Mr. Belushi gave credit to his Second City training.

Were not stand-up comedians. We dont tell jokes. Im lousy at telling jokes. What we learned at Second City was how to act with others in comic and dramatic situations. Thats what the movies are all about, and thats why I think we were able to make the transition from stage to TV to film.

Sign up to receive the Vintage Chicago Tribune newsletter for more photos and stories from the citys past and the Tribunes archives.
Green Bay police are looking for Jeromy Finke for questioning about a fatal shooting that happened Friday at west-side Walgreens.

GREEN BAY  Police are looking for a man for questioning after a person was shot and killed Friday after a shooting outside a west-side Walgreens.

Officers responded to the shooting around 1:15 p.m. Friday at West Mason Street and South Oneida Street, according to Green Bay police.

Police officials said officers found a 15-year-old from Milwaukee a short distance away, along with a handgun they believe was used in the shooting. Officers arrested the 15-year-old and took him to a detention facility.

A 31-year-old Green Bay man was shot, and he died at a local hospital, according to Green Bay police.

A 15-year-old male from Milwaukee was charged as an adult with first-degree intentional homicide Monday in Brown County Circuit Court, according to Wisconsin Circuit Court Access website.

More: Green Bay police have one person in custody but seek second suspect after shooting near Oneida, West Mason streets

More: Green Bay man to stand trial in drug debt murder case

Police officials are asking for the publics help to find Jeromy D. Finke, 41, whos wanted for questioning about the shooting. Finke has a tattoo below his right eye.

Police officials believe he might have had a knife during the incident. Anyone who sees Finke is asked to call Green Bay police at 920-448-3208 and reference case no. 22-208468.

Anonymous tips can be made through Crime Stoppers at 920-432-7867, online at 432stop.com or the P3 Tips app.

Contact Jake Prinsen at jprinsen@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter at @PrinsenJake.

This article originally appeared on Green Bay Press-Gazette: Green Bay Police seek man for questioning after a person was shot
A second truck convoy protesting government mandates rolled into Washington County late Friday afternoon, with the rigs blasting their horns to elated crowds that gathered to watch the procession along U.S. 40.

The People's Convoy, arriving from California along Interstate 70, exited onto Interstate 81, then traveled north to the U.S. 40 interchange where they got on the two-lane highway to head to the Hagerstown Speedway for the night.

The People's Convoy rolls along U.S. 40 at Greencastle Pike Friday afternoon.

The drivers met up with other truckers at the speedway who arrived there Thursday evening as part of a Northeast convoy. The truckers planned to stay in their rigs overnight Friday before leaving for the nation's capital on Saturday.

Convoy organizers say they plan to stop in the Washington area without entering D.C. proper to send a message that it's time to reopen the country after the COVID-19 pandemic. They said the pandemic has been a "rough road" on spiritual, emotional, physical and financial levels.

A large crowd gathered at the Sheetz store at U.S. 40 and Greencastle Pike on Friday afternoon to wait for the caravan. The store's parking lot and other accessory roads near the store were full of vehicles, and people stood along the highway to wait for the convoy.

A large crowd also gathered just up the road on a hillside next to Emanuel Baptist Temple.

A hoisted American flag welcome truckers in the convoy into the Hagerstown Speedway Friday night.

John and Yelena Wagner of Littlestown, Pa., in Adams County stood with the crowd at the Sheetz store. The couple said they went to Chambersburg, Pa., Friday in an attempt to catch a glimpse of the Northeast convoy. But they were not sure of the route, and when they didn't see it, they headed to Washington County.

John Wagner said he has a big problem with government mandates. If a government wants to implement such a rule with legislation, that's one thing. But to just hand down commands is not the way to do it, he said.

"The mandate thing is like dictatorship. This is supposed to be a free country," Wagner said.

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Jessie Toms of Waynesboro, Pa., traveled to the county to see the convoy and show her support. Toms said she, too, has a big problem with mask mandates, like the one that was imposed by the school system where she lives to help control the spread of the COVID-19 virus. Toms said she believes it should be her choice, not the school system, to decide whether her child should wear a mask to school.

Barbara Beauchamp of Hagerstown waves an American flag at The People's Convoy rolls along U.S. 40 at Greencastle Pike Friday.

Carol Willison of Hancock said the convoy made her remember the 1970s energy crisis and how truckers at that time protested high fuel prices. She came to support the truckers and their concerns again.

"This (is) actually the first time of something like this that I've ever been to in my life," said Willison. "It's just time for America to unite."

Explaining her frustration with the world today, Willison said she never watches national news on TV.

"I haven't watched it for years," said Willison, saying she opts instead to turn on a program that's cheerful.

Background: Protest convoy rolls into Hagerstown Speedway on it's way to Washington, D.C.

More: Washington County Board of Education, law enforcement ready for truck convoy's arrival

Truck after truck passed the intersection on the way to the speedway. With nightfall arriving, the procession slowed to a crawl as the rigs slowly made their way into the track. People gathered all along the route, snapping photos, pumping their arms in hopes to get a blast from a truck horn and waving political and American flags.

A Maryland State Police spokesman said there were no major problems, other than a pedestrian who was "bumped" by a vehicle along U.S. 40 in a minor incident. Westbound traffic on U.S. 40 was not closed to allow the convoy in, although motorists were in for a slow ride if they got caught in the procession, the spokesman said.

It was unclear how many trucks participated.

Later in the night, U.S. 40 at the entrance to the track was clogged with traffic and people. A guitar player using an amplifier played music while Washington County Sheriff's Office deputies directed traffic at the entrance.

Inside the track grounds, Brian McMullen was sitting in his rig when he agreed to answer a few questions from a Herald-Mail Media reporter. McMullen, an independent trucker, said he traveled from northeast Maryland to join Friday's convoy.

Christy McMunn of Martinsburg, W.Va., left, and Carol Willison of Hancock welcome rigs in The People's Convoy as they pass along U.S. 40 at Greencastle Pike Friday.

"This is incredible. There are no words for this," McMullen said.

When asked what he hoped the convoy would achieve, he had one word: "Notification."

Notification to authorities that the people need to be heard, he said.

Truck driver Duane Burtoft of Pittsburgh came down with his wife, but they used a car.

"I love it," Burtoft said of the convoy.

Burtoft said he is upset over mandates related to the trucking industry. He mentioned "electronic log books" that often don't work and "stupid DOT (department of transportation) inspections."

He also vented over a rule that truckers are no longer able to sleep in their rigs on highway ramps.

"So what are you going to do?" Burtoft said.

This article originally appeared on The Herald-Mail: A second national truck convoy to protest government mandates arrives
(iStock)

Luxury fashion brands such as Hermes, Chanel and Gucci will temporarily cease trading in Russia following the countrys invasion of Ukraine.

Hermes, maker of the Birkin bag, and Richemont, which owns Cartier, were among the first parent companies of fashion brands to announce store closures, followed by LVMH, Kering and Chanel.

LVMH owns brands like Kenzo, Givenchy and Christian Dior, while Kering is the parent company to fashion houses like Bottega Veneta, Gucci and Saint Laurent.

Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine on Thursday 24 February. Since then, the UK, the US and the EU have imposed sanctions on Russia.

In a LinkedIn post, Chanel wrote: Given our increasing concerns about the current situation, the growing uncertainty and the complexity to operate, Chanel decided to temporarily pause its business in Russia.

LMVH confirmed to Reuters that all of its 124 stores in Russia will close, but it will continue to pay its 3,500 employees in the country.

Kering, LMVH and LOreal, one of the worlds leading beauty companies, have all pledged financial support to help Ukrainian refugees.

Its estimated that over 1 million Ukrainians have fled the country since Russia invaded a little over a week ago.

Ikea has also announced that it has suspended activities in Russia and Belarus due to the war.

In a statement posted to its website, it said that the Ikea Foundation has donated 20 million (17 million) for humanitarian assistance to those who have been forcibly displaced as a result of the conflict in Ukraine.

Other fashion brands like Asos, Nike and Boohoo have also ceased trading in Russia.

Asos said in a statement earlier this week that its priority is the safety of its colleagues and partners in Ukraine and Russia.

Against the backdrop of the continuing war, Asos has decided that it is neither practical nor right to continue to trade in Russia, and has therefore today suspended our sales there, the statement read.
HUDSON VALLEY, NY  Check out the week's top police news covered by the region's 24 Patch sites. Stories include a driver accused of intentionally hitting a pedestrian and a three-time convicted felon faces 23 drug, weapon charges.

Fugitive From Justice Accused Of Assaulting, Choking Woman



Police said the New Hampshire man threw the woman to the ground and punched her in the face ... read more

FBI: Westchester Mom Videotaped Her Sexual Abuse Of Her Son

The man who talked her into it engaged in similar conversations with other women online, prosecutors said. They're looking for more victims ... read more

Funeral Home Owner Sentenced In Pre-Paid Burial Fund Scam



He defrauded 88 victims out of almost $500,000 ... read more

United Passenger From Yonkers Arrested After Airport Tirade



"Yo, pal, don't even come over here  you're gonna end up dead," the 34-year-old can be heard saying in footage of the violent outburst ... read more

Prison Nurse Accused Of Rape, Providing Illegal Drugs



The medical worker who worked at Sullivan Correctional Facility was accused of rape and having illegal drugs ... read more

ALSO THIS WEEK:

This article originally appeared on the New Rochelle Patch
Embedded content: https://https://players.brightcove.net/1942203455001/B1CSR9sVf_default/index.html?videoId=6262749231001

Crews in Florida are racing to contain two growing wildfires that forced the evacuation of hundreds of homes. Warm weather, ongoing dry conditions, and significant tree debris left behind from 2018s Hurricane Michael contributed to the infernos near Panama City, located on the states Panhandle.

Sunrise on Saturday saw more than a dozen active wildfires on the Florida Panhandle at the beginning of the weekend. The two most serious blazes are burning just east of Panama City, which is home to almost 40,000 people. The Bertha Swamp Road and Adkins Avenue fires have consumed almost 17 square kilometres in total as of Saturday afternoon.

Florida Wildfire Status

The Adkins Avenue fire is the most pressing concern for firefighters and residents, burning in a wooded area on the eastern edge of Panama City proper.

The Florida Forest Service reported on Saturday that the Adkins Avenue fire had consumed 560 hectares of land and was just 30 percent contained. The agency said in a Saturday press release that the blaze forced the evacuation of 600 homes, burned two structures, and damaged a dozen more.

The Panama City News Herald reported Saturday morning that the Adkins Avenue blaze may have started with a trash fire on private property.

WATCH: HURRICANE MICHAEL MAKES LANDFALL NEAR PANAMA CITY ON OCTOBER 10, 2018

Many of these wildfires are a testament to the long-term effects of major hurricanes years after they make landfall.

Hurricane Michael made landfall just east of Panama City back on October 10, 2018. The scale-topping category five hurricane roared ashore with 260 km/h winds, causing immense and widespread damage across the Panhandle. The Florida Forest Service said on Friday that the fires were fuelled by 72 million tonnes of lingering tree debris left behind by Michaels intense winds.

(NOAA/NESDIS) Visible satellite image of Florida wildfire March 5, 2022

A visible satellite image of wildfire smoke over the Florida Panhandle on March 5, 2022 (NOAA/NESDIS)

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Tree debris is only part of the equation. Weather conditions across the Florida Panhandle have been favourable for wildfires in recent days. Its been warm and dry here latelythe same pattern that brought unseasonable warmth to parts of Eastern Canada this week allowed temperatures to soar into the upper 20s to near 30C in parts of the southeastern United States.

The dry and stagnant pattern that built over the southeastern U.S. this winter also contributed to an ongoing drought in the region. Last weeks update of the United States Drought Monitor found moderate drought conditions existed around and east of Panama City, right where the fires sparked this week.

With files from Panama City News Herald.
 Flash

Iran and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on Saturday agreed to "exchange documents" by mid-June to settle remaining issues, official IRNA news agency reported.

Mohammad Eslami, head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI), made the remarks at a joint press conference with Rafael Grossi, visiting head of the IAEA in Iranian capital Tehran.

"Today, we reviewed the remaining issues with Mr. Grossi... and reached a conclusion. It was decided to exchange the required documents between Iran and the IAEA by the end of (Iranian month of) Khordad," which falls on June 21, said Eslami.

"At this stage of the negotiations in Vienna and in the final stages of the talks, one of the red lines of Iran is that the alleged cases should be closed forever and do not cause any inconvenience," he added.

Political influences and lobbying should not affect the decisions of the UN nuclear watchdog, Eslami said, adding that Iran and the IAEA should follow the issues in a completely professional way and behave within the framework of expertise, as there is no room for any political measures.

The AEOI head blamed Israel for creating "obstacles" in the way of Iran's "peaceful nuclear program," saying that if someone wants to obstruct the Vienna negotiations with false claims, Iran will use its authority and deal with it.

For his part, Grossi said that there are still some specific issues that need to be resolved hence, they had now "decided to try a practical, pragmatic approach" to overcome them.

He stressed the Vienna talks and the Iran-IAEA cooperation are interrelated, adding if Iran and the IAEA do not reach an agreement on safeguards issues, it will be difficult to reach an agreement in the Austrian capital.

"It is very important to reach a mutual understanding for cooperation. Nuclear energy is very important for the development of countries, including Iran," he said.

Iran and the remaining parties to the 2015 nuclear deal, formally known as the JCPOA, are currently involved in negotiations in Vienna seeking to settle disputes about the revival of the JCPOA.

Iran signed the JCPOA with world powers in July 2015. However, former U.S. President Donald Trump pulled Washington out of the agreement in May 2018 and reimposed unilateral sanctions on Iran, which prompted the latter to drop some of its nuclear commitments one year later and advance its halted nuclear programs.
Mar. 4The Idaho State Board of Education called a special meeting late Thursday morning to discuss some of the topics moving through the Idaho Legislature.

Shortly before the state board's meeting, the House Education Committee voted to do away with the Common Core standards adopted in 2011 in favor of new science, math and English language arts standards for K-12 students.

"We've made some tweaks but the perception of the public is these are the Common Core standards and they are still not happy," state superintendent Sherri Ybarra said. "We've made enough excuses. The people of Idaho are unhappy."

Common Core is a term for the current literacy standards in math and English language arts that outline what students should be able to perform by the end of each grade

The State Board ultimately chose not to take any action regarding the legislation; however, members appeared to be in favor of changing the standards.

Two proposals  House Bill 716 and House Concurrent Resolution 39  were approved by the House Education Committee on Thursday. House Bill 716 would codify the new content standards while House Concurrent Resolution 39 would void the old ones.

"There are concerns around the impact that it would have in our school districts at a time when they're still struggling with issues around the pandemic and what it means to change content standards," said Tracie Bent, chief planning and policy officer for the state board. "And then, potentially, another unknown, (having) to change curriculum at the local level."

She added that if the state switches to a new assessment, it could influence the way student progress is tracked to determine gaps in learning loss.

State Board member Linda Clark said she believes it would be a "dangerous precedent" to support the standards bills without knowing their fiscal impact.

"I don't believe there's any precedent for this board adopting or supporting anything without knowing the fiscal impact," Clark said. "That's a dangerous precedent for us to set. And I believe the state entities that deal with finance were involved in this decision not to take this forward because there was no fiscal impact."

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Ybarra said the new standards are estimated to cost upward of $44 million over a three-year period, along with an extra $10 million in costs to school districts and charter schools for curriculum committees.

State Board president Kurt Liebich said it was the first time he'd heard of those numbers.

"I apologize if I missed something in a previous board packet or a previous conversation," Liebich said. "That's the first time I've heard that number or was aware of that number. I would just ask that the number include potentially incremental professional development to occur to make sure our teachers are prepared and or any changes to local curriculum."

The State Board decided not to take any action regarding the new standards Thursday.

"I ask again, what do we achieve by voting on anything at this point?" State Board member David Hill said. "We have no guarantee that the Legislature understands or is willing to fund that."

Palermo can be reached at apalermo@dnews.com or on Twitter @apalermotweets.
Many investors define successful investing as beating the market average over the long term. But the risk of stock picking is that you will likely buy under-performing companies. Unfortunately, that's been the case for longer term Fuller, Smith & Turner P.L.C. (LON:FSTA) shareholders, since the share price is down 40% in the last three years, falling well short of the market decline of around 8.7%. And the ride hasn't got any smoother in recent times over the last year, with the price 25% lower in that time. And the share price decline continued over the last week, dropping some 13%. However, this move may have been influenced by the broader market, which fell 8.9% in that time.

If the past week is anything to go by, investor sentiment for Fuller Smith & Turner isn't positive, so let's see if there's a mismatch between fundamentals and the share price.

See our latest analysis for Fuller Smith & Turner

Fuller Smith & Turner isn't currently profitable, so most analysts would look to revenue growth to get an idea of how fast the underlying business is growing. Shareholders of unprofitable companies usually expect strong revenue growth. That's because it's hard to be confident a company will be sustainable if revenue growth is negligible, and it never makes a profit.

In the last three years Fuller Smith & Turner saw its revenue shrink by 36% per year. That's definitely a weaker result than most pre-profit companies report. With revenue in decline, the share price decline of 12% per year is hardly undeserved. The key question now is whether the company has the capacity to fund itself to profitability, without more cash. The company will need to return to revenue growth as quickly as possible, if it wants to see some enthusiasm from investors.

The company's revenue and earnings (over time) are depicted in the image below (click to see the exact numbers).

This free interactive report on Fuller Smith & Turner's balance sheet strength is a great place to start, if you want to investigate the stock further.

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What About Dividends?

When looking at investment returns, it is important to consider the difference between total shareholder return (TSR) and share price return. The TSR is a return calculation that accounts for the value of cash dividends (assuming that any dividend received was reinvested) and the calculated value of any discounted capital raisings and spin-offs. So for companies that pay a generous dividend, the TSR is often a lot higher than the share price return. As it happens, Fuller Smith & Turner's TSR for the last 3 years was -32%, which exceeds the share price return mentioned earlier. This is largely a result of its dividend payments!

A Different Perspective

We regret to report that Fuller Smith & Turner shareholders are down 24% for the year (even including dividends). Unfortunately, that's worse than the broader market decline of 1.2%. However, it could simply be that the share price has been impacted by broader market jitters. It might be worth keeping an eye on the fundamentals, in case there's a good opportunity. Unfortunately, last year's performance may indicate unresolved challenges, given that it was worse than the annualised loss of 4% over the last half decade. We realise that Baron Rothschild has said investors should "buy when there is blood on the streets", but we caution that investors should first be sure they are buying a high quality business. It's always interesting to track share price performance over the longer term. But to understand Fuller Smith & Turner better, we need to consider many other factors. For instance, we've identified 1 warning sign for Fuller Smith & Turner that you should be aware of.

If you are like me, then you will not want to miss this free list of growing companies that insiders are buying.

Please note, the market returns quoted in this article reflect the market weighted average returns of stocks that currently trade on GB exchanges.

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.
ROME (Reuters) - Italian banks were instructed by the Bank of Italy's financial intelligence division on Friday to urgently let it know of all measures taken to freeze the assets of people and entities targeted by sanctions against Russia.

Western allies have moved to isolate Russia's economy and financial system since its invasion of Ukraine, including sanctioning its central bank and oligarchs who amassed fortunes and political influence under Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The Bank of Italy division, known as UIF, said in a statement that all notifications from banks had to give details of the subjects involved and the value and nature of the assets, and to be sent "as soon as possible".

Its request comes after the Italian Treasury's financial security committee met on Thursday to review what had already been done as well as the planned actions to freeze the assets, the finance ministry said in a separate statement.

The Treasury added the committee had intensified activities to ensure the effectiveness of the sanctions, which apply to both real estate and financial resources.

French authorities said on Thursday they had seized four cargo vessels and a luxury yacht linked to oligarchs, while in Germany a nearly $600 million palatial pleasure craft owned by Russian billionaire Alisher Usmanov, also on the EU's sanctions list, was sitting in a Hamburg shipyard.

Uzbekistan-born metals and telecoms tycoon Usmanov is well known in Italy for owning properties on the island of Sardinia.

Mirko Idili, a coordinator of the CISL union in Sardinia, said sanctions and a reduced presence of rich Russians could negatively affect the island's economy and put more than 1,000 jobs at risk.

(Reporting by Giuseppe Fonte in Rome and Federico Maccioni in Milan, Editing by William Maclean and Alexander Smith)
Kate Middleton in 2011 (left) and 2022 (right) (PA)

The Duchess of Cambridge has re-worn a pair of boots she first wore over a decade ago.

During an engagement in Wales this week, Kate Middleton wore a pair of 245 Aquatalia Rouge boots  the same pair she was first seen wearing during one of her first engagements as a to-be royal in 2011.

She also wore the boots in 2012 to one of her first solo royal engagements after she married Prince William in 2011.

The sartorial selection comes as the Duchess appears to be making a more conscious choice to rewear clothes from her royal wardrobe.

Last year, Kate wore the same Alexander McQueen jacket to the Remembrance Sunday service that she wore in 2018.

2021 also saw the Duchess rewear a pair of Penelope Chilvers long tassel boots that shes worn to various engagements for the past 18 years and she wore a sparkly green Jenny Packham gown to the 2021 Royal Variety Performance that she had initially worn in 2019.

During the inaugural Earthshot Prize Awards last year, which was set up by William to award environmental innovators, the Duke and Duchess encouraged attendees to make sustainable choices with what they wore.

To the awards ceremony, Kate donned an Alexander McQueen gown she last wore a decade ago, while William complemented his green velvet blazer and dark turtleneck with a pair of 20-year old trousers.

Other celebrities at the awards included Emma Watson, who walked the green carpet wearing a custom Harris Reed outfit made of 10 upcycled wedding dresses from Oxfam.

Dame Emma Thompson also made an appearance, sporting a dark blue suit paired with white trainers  a look she last wore in 2018 when she received her damehood.
From the Arizona Capitol to the Fountain Hills fountain, landmarks around metro Phoenix are lighting up in yellow and blue in support of Ukraine as Russian forces continued their assault on Friday.

Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego tweeted on Monday that City Hall would be lit up in "blue and gold" every night this week in solidarity with Ukraine.

"For those afar and here at home, we stand with you in support of freedom. Donate to help at https://usaid.gov," she tweeted.

The state Capitol was also lit up at the start of March, Gov. Doug Ducey announced in a tweet this week.

"The Arizona State Capitol is lit yellow and blue this week in honor of the brave people of Ukraine, and in support of their unwavering fight for freedom," Ducey said.

Tempe joined in the support by lighting its City Hall in Ukrainian colors as well. "Tempe City Hall shines with the colors of their flag," a post shared on the Facebook account of the City of Tempe Government said.

On Feb. 27, the Gilbert Water Tower was also lit up in the colors of the Ukrainian flag in solidarity, a post shared by the Gilbert Town Hall account stated.

Each evening this week, Phoenix City Hall will light up in blue & gold, signifying our solidarity with the people of Ukraine. For those afar and here at home, we stand with you in support of freedom. Donate to help at https://t.co/pRzhSSL3sp. pic.twitter.com/OaIlqQqguO  Mayor Kate Gallego (@MayorGallego) February 28, 2022

The Arizona State Capitol is lit yellow and blue this week in honor of the brave people of Ukraine, and in support of their unwavering fight for freedom.  pic.twitter.com/zm1gYcy5Vs  Doug Ducey (@dougducey) March 2, 2022

Meanwhile, Scottsdale addressed the ongoing conflict during a City Council meeting Tuesday and held a moment of silence.

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Mayor David Ortega said he was "moved by (Ukrainian) bravery and selflessness as they fight for their families and their country," according to a spokesperson.

As an additional show of support, the city is hosting a community forum on March 8 in collaboration with the Elizabeth Dole Foundation to help its residents understand what is happening in Ukraine and learn about resources available to locals impacted by the conflict.

Residents can sign up for the online event here: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_2pPcBas5QdmrSgMLF587tg.

Veterans, military families, caregivers and survivors - we know the events in Ukraine are difficult to digest. Join this forum hosted by the @DoleFoundation March 8 for support, up-to-date info and tools you can use to cope with fast-moving developments: https://t.co/IQGJhYRUNm pic.twitter.com/HcWyppS9Yg  City of Scottsdale (@scottsdaleazgov) March 3, 2022

Tovrea Castle at Carraro Heights also shared a photo of the building lit up in blue and yellow on Facebook.

"The Castle will be glowing in blue and yellow in solidarity with Ukraine every night. It is Tovrea Carraro Societys honor to be able to light the skies for the brave peoples of Ukraine. We pray for peace," said Tamera Zivic, president of the Tovrea Carraro Society.

Fountain Hills also showed its support when it shared on Twitter that the Fountain Hills fountain will be lit up every Wednesday night in March with the Ukrainian colors to show support.

Around the Valley, residents have also shown their support by coming together in public and private spaces, calling for an end to the Russian invasion.

Hundred of people rallied in Phoenix in late February to support Ukraine and call for Russia to end the invasion, and Masses across the Valley were dedicated to praying for Ukrainians as the Christian Lenten season kicked off.

Russian troops invaded Ukraine on Feb. 24. Explosions have been reported in the capital city of Kyiv as well as other major cities in the country.

Russian President Vladimir Putin claims the invasion of Ukraine is meant to defend the Russian-speaking, self-declared republics of Donetsk and Luhansk, which left Ukrainian control in 2014.

The desire from Ukraine to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization has also been deemed as a hostile act by Putin, spurring the invasion by Russia.

USA TODAY reporter Gabriela Miranda contributed to this article.

Reach breaking news intern Jane Florance at jflorance@arizonarepublic.com or on Twitter @Florance_Jane.

Support local journalism. Subscribe to azcentral.com today.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Phoenix landmarks are lighting up in Ukraine's colors to show support
FRANKFURT (Reuters) - Around 30,000 protesters gathered in Hamburg on Saturday to demonstrate against Russia's invasion of Ukraine, local police said.

The protests in Germany's second-largest city took place under the slogan "Peace in Ukraine and Security in Europe" against the military assault which has forced nearly 1.5 million refugees to flee westward into the European Union.

"Let us jointly say no to war," Iryna Tybinka, consul general of Ukraine in Hamburg, told protesters during a speech, according to local broadcaster NDR, adding the fight would continue and "we must win it".

In France, several thousands protesters gathered in the Place de la Republique in Paris to express their solidarity with Ukraine and opposition to the Russian invasion. Many waved Ukrainian national flags and banners denouncing President Vladimir Putin.

Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo, who was at the demonstration, said it was important to deliver arms to Ukraine while also ensuring the conflict did not spread.

"I totally support what is being done at a European-wide level," she said. "We need to show Vladimir Putin that he is isolated."

(Reporting by Christoph Steitz in Frankfurt and Manuel Ausloos and Sudip Kar-Gupta in Paris; Editing by Mike Harrison)
This story was updated around 12 a.m. on March 5.

LAS CRUCES - Las Cruces police arrested a man suspected of shooting a woman before getting into a shootout with an officer Friday in Las Cruces. The woman the man is suspected of shooting is in critical condition, police said.

The announcement was made several hours after police blocked off the area of South Espina Street and University Avenue around 5:30 p.m. March 4.

LCPD Det. Frank Torres said in a news release that Julian Valenzuela, 34, was arrested and charged with attempted murder, aggravated assault on a peace officer, aggravated fleeing of a peace officer and other charges.

At University Ave and Espina St: police have taped off the intersection and partial surrounding blocks. Witnesses heard a barrage of gun shots. pic.twitter.com/Yl3tRBH78x  Miranda Cyr (@mirandabcyr) March 5, 2022

Torres said that police responded to 700 block of Shannon Street around 5:30 p.m. after receiving calls about gunfire in the area. Police then discovered a woman suffering from at least one gunshot wound at that location, Torres said. The woman claimed Valenzuela shot her and was able to give a description to police.

Soon after, an officer located Valenzuela near the 2000 block of South Espina Street. Torres said that Valenzuela shot at the officer. The officer then returned fire before Valenzuela fled toward University Avenue.

Valenzuela then crashed into a passing vehicle at the University and Espina intersection, where he was taken into custody, Torres said.

The woman was flown to an El Paso Hospital and remains is in critical condition, according to Torres.

The shooting and subsequent chase shuttered a busy intersection in Las Cruces for several hours on Friday evening. It even drew the attention of State Sen. Joe Cervantes, D-Las Cruces.

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Cervantes acknowledged the shooting in a tweet sent at 5:40 p.m.: "Gunshots and heavy police presence on University at Espina Las Cruces. Firearms drawn."

Police asked witnesses or anyone with information regarding the incident to contact LCPD at 575-526-0795.

Others are reading:

This article originally appeared on Las Cruces Sun-News: Las Cruces police respond to shooting, crash at University and Espina
Editor, Register-Mail: Lately, we have seen more politicians propose bills related to school curriculum content. It is shocking to read the proposed bills and realize that legal problems could arise for school districts and their staff members from those proposals. For example, Sen. Neil Anderson (R-Andalusia, IL), recently introduced a bill that would require schools to post specific, in-depth information about class activities and learning materials twice a year.

Similar bills in other states have specified that all teachers must post detailed lesson plans, worksheets, assignments, rubrics, and articles that will be assigned and discussed. Potential copyright infringement suits could take place.

Besides teaching for more than 50 years, I have worked for an educational publishing company. Profit is based upon direct sales of texts, workbooks, videos, and other classroom materials. Most material purchased for classrooms specifies that items cannot be posted on open, online locations.

While fair use rules allow teachers to copy a small portion of a book or article for in-class use, the proposed state bills will require publicly accessible online postings that would violate the rights of authors and publishing companies.

The danger of the online posting classroom material can be seen in a 2016 copyright infringement case in Texas. A high school principal purchased a few copies of 38 DynaStudy subject study guides. Photocopies were distributed to students and staff. Some guides were publicly posted and later found online in other states. After a three-year legal battle, Houston Independent School District was ordered to pay $9.2 million.

Bills that require online posting of classroom resources could create years of expensive legal entanglements. Community members need to be aware of the potential financial consequences and express their concerns to legislators.  Sheryl Hinman, Galesburg

This article originally appeared on Galesburg Register-Mail: LETTER: Posting school classroom material creates legal liability
The latest developments on the Russia-Ukraine war:

KYIV, Ukraine  A Ukrainian paramedic who was shot while on her way to evacuate injured people from the outskirts of Kyiv was buried in the countrys capital on Saturday.

Valentyna Pushych was known locally as Romashka, which means Daisy. A friend described her as a daredevil, who was never afraid to get under bullets.

She was always running to the most dangerous places to rescue to the injured, Nataliia Voronkova said.

Pushych used to be a well-paid worker at a transport and logistic company. But in 2016, she joined the army as a paramedic in response to the separatist conflict in eastern Ukraine.

Several women, including some dressed in camouflage jackets, cried as her body lay in a casket at a service. A portrait of Pushych was on a wall nearby.

At the cemetery, red roses were placed on Pushychs body. After she was buried, the dirt was covered with the flag of Ukraine.

___

KYIV, Ukraine  Crowds of men have been lining up in Kyiv to join the Ukrainian army.

An order from Ukraines government prohibited men between the ages of 18 and 60 from leaving the country to keep them available for military conscription.

But some like Volodymyr Onysko volunteered to fight.

We know why we are here. We know why we defend our country. And our guys that are actually standing there and fighting Russian military forces, he told Britains Sky News. We know what we are doing and thats why we will win.

Others, like British Army veteran Mark Ayres, travelled to Ukraine to help.

Ayres said the Ukrainian people have been inspiring and its galvanized everybody.

Ive got no illusions. Ive got no romantic ideas of war or like Im going to be some hero or make a difference  but it is what I do, Ayres said.

___

BEIJING  Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi told U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken that China opposes any moves that add fuel to the flames in Ukraine.

Blinken says the world is watching to see which nations stand up for the principles of freedom and sovereignty.

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The two spoke by phone on Saturday, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said.

Wang called for negotiations to resolve the immediate crisis, as well as talks on creating a balanced European security mechanism. Wang says the U.S. and Europe should pay attention to the negative impact of NATOs eastward expansion on Russias security.

The U.S. State Department says Blinken underscored that the world is acting in unison in response to Russian aggression and ensuring that Moscow will pay a high price.

China has broken with the U.S., Europe and others that have imposed sanctions on Russia after its invasion of Ukraine. China says that the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all nations should be respected, but that sanctions create new issues and disrupt the process of political settlement.

___

WASHINGTON  U.S. President Joe Biden has called Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to discuss ongoing efforts to impose economic costs on Russia and to speed U.S. military, humanitarian and economic assistance to Ukraine.

The White House said the pair also discussed talks between Russia and Ukraine during the more than 30-minute call early Sunday in Ukraine, but offered no additional details.

Zelenskyy said on Twitter the two presidents discussed security, financial support for Ukraine and the continuation of sanctions against Russia.

___

LVIV, Ukraine  Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy thanked SpaceX chief executive Elon Musk for giving Ukraine access to his companys satellite-internet system, called Starlink.

Im grateful to him for supporting Ukraine with words and deeds Zelenskyy said in a tweet. Next week we will receive another batch of Starlink systems for destroyed cities. He joked that they discussed possible space projects, which he would talk about after the war.

Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko on Saturday showed off a shipment of the Starlink systems that had arrived in the capital city. He said Starlink would help secure the work of critical infrastructure and the defense of the city.

Several large Ukrainian cities remained without internet or phone connection after being shelled by Russian troops.

___

CHERNIHIV, Ukraine  Russia has dropped powerful bombs on residential areas of the city of Chernihiv, a regional official said Saturday.

Vyacheslav Chaus posted a photo of what he said was an undetonated FAB-500, a Soviet-designed 500-kilogram (1,100-pound) air-dropped bomb.

Usually this weapon is used against military-industrial facilities and fortified structures, said Chaus, head of the same-named region of Chernihiv. But in Chernihiv, against residential areas.

The city of Chernihiv, located north of Kyiv and with a population of 290,000, has come under heavy fire from Russian forces. Officials said 17 people in the region were killed in the shelling.

A video released Saturday by the Ukrainian government showed people cheering as they watched a Russian military plane fall from the sky and crash.

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NEW YORK  Mastercard and Visa are suspending their operations in Russia, the companies said Saturday,

Mastercard said cards issued by Russian banks will no longer be supported by its network and any card issued outside the country will not work at Russian stores or ATMs in the latest blow to the countrys financial system after its invasion of Ukraine.

Mastercard said it made its decision after discussions with customers, partners and governments.

Visa said its working with clients and partners in Russia to cease all Visa transactions over the coming days.

The suspensions are a follow-up to more limited moves earlier in the week to block financial institutions from the networks that serve as arteries for the payments system. Russian people have already been hit hard by heavy sanctions and financial penalties imposed by the U.S. government and others.

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LVIV, Ukraine  Russian forces have intensified shelling in the port city of Mariupol, including with the use of airplanes, the mayor said Saturday night.

The city is in a very, very difficult state of siege, Vadym Boychenko told Ukrainian TV. Relentless shelling of residential blocks is ongoing, airplanes have been dropping bombs on residential areas."

Boychenko said that thousands of children, women and the elderly came under fire as they arrived in the morning for a possible evacuation through a safe passage corridor. Russia promised to stop the shelling of Mariupol, a port city of 430,000, and Volnovakha, a city in the east, but violated the cease-fire.

Russia has made significant advances in the south, clearly seeking to cut off Ukraines access to the sea. Capturing Mariupol, which has been fending off the attack for six days, could allow Russia to build a land corridor to Crimea, which it annexed in 2014.

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KYIV, Ukraine  Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba on Saturday echoed the president's assertion that Russia has lost more than 10,000 troops.

Kuleba also said in a video message released by the Ukrainian government that the Russians had lost dozens of aircraft and hundreds of armored vehicles.

The claim could not be independently verified. The Russian military doesnt offer regular updates on their casualties. On Wednesday, military officials revealed a death toll of 498.

Russians keep bearing devastating losses on the ground, and I cannot understand how mothers, wives and daughters of these Russian soldiers bear this pain, seeing how President Putin sends more and more of their beloved ones to Ukraine, Kuleba said.

Kuleba added, Ukraine is bleeding but Ukraine has not fallen and stands (with) both feet on the ground.

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NEW YORK  U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres says the United Nations is committed to scaling up its humanitarian operations to help both those who have stayed in Ukraine and the more than 1 million who have fled.

Guterres relayed the promise to Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba in a phone call on Saturday, U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric said.

Dujarric said the two also discussed the conditions for safely evacuating civilians, including foreigners, from combat zones.

Ten days into Russias invasion of Ukraine, 1.45 million people have fled the battered country, according to the U.N.-affiliated Organization for Migration in Geneva. The U.N. has predicted that the total number of refugees could swell to 4 million, to become the biggest such crisis this century.

The U.N. Security Council will hold a meeting Monday afternoon on the escalating humanitarian needs that have arisen since Russias invasion of Ukraine.

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NEW YORK  Hundreds of people rallied in New York Citys Times Square on Saturday to show solidarity with Ukraine.

Many attendees were waving Ukrainian flags or draped the flag around their shoulders at the afternoon demonstration.

Others brought signs decrying Russian President Vladimir Putin or calling for a no-fly zone to be imposed over Ukraine.

About 140,000 people of Ukrainian descent live in New York, making it the largest Ukrainian population in the U.S., according to population data from the federal government.

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PHOENIX  An Arizona-based ammunition company is offering to donate 1 million bullets to Ukraines military amid Russias invasion of its European neighbor.

CEO Fred Wagenhals of AMMO Inc. on Friday said it was his response to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyys appeal for international assistance.

There was no immediate indication whether the U.S. government will approve the proposed export of the ammunition, which has a retail of about $700,000, Phoenix television station KSAZ-TV reported.

The company is based in Scottsdale, a Phoenix suburb.

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MARIUPOL, Ukraine  Doctors relied on light filtering in through windows and emitted from cellphones to tend to wounded Ukrainian soldiers Saturday at a hospital in the besieged port city of Mariupol, where a promised cease-fire collapsed.

Dr. Evgeniy said the hospital had no power or heat. Patients were lined up in beds along the corridors, and some people were curled up on the floor to protect themselves.

We have some issues with supplies, not enough analgesics, Dubrov said. Weve worked more than a week without a break.

A soldier, Svyatoslav Borodin, said a blast blurred his vision, and he thought he might have lost his legs. Another soldier applied a tourniquet.

Scary, he said. Very scary.

In the city of Irpin, near Kyiv, a sea of people on foot and in wheelbarrows trudged over the remains of a destroyed bridge to cross a river and evacuate.

Assisted by Ukrainian soldiers, they lugged pets, infants, purses and flimsy bags stuffed with minimal possessions. Some of the weak and elderly were carried along the path in blankets and carts.

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SIRET, Romania  Romanian President Klaus Iohannis visited a refugee camp in Siret on Saturday and declared that no Ukrainian would be denied entry to his country.

He pledged food, clothing, transportation and help with personal documents.

It is a situation that no Ukrainian and no Romanian wanted, but we are very determined to deal with it here in Romania, as it should be, Iohannis said.

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KYIV, Ukraine  The next round of talks between Ukraine and Russia will be held on Monday, Ukrainian official Davyd Arakhamia said Saturday.

Arakhamia is head of the parliamentary faction of President Volodymyr Zelenskyys Servant of the People party and a member of Ukraines delegation at the talks.

Monday's will be the third round of talks as the two sides try to negotiate a cease-fire and safe passage corridors for civilians.

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LVIV, Ukraine  Russian forces have now seized two Ukrainian nuclear power plants and are advancing toward a third, Ukraines president said during a call with U.S. senators Saturday.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the third plant currently under threat is the Yuzhnoukrainsk nuclear power plant, located 120 kilometers (75 miles) north of Mykolaiv, one of several cities the Russians were trying to keep encircled Saturday.

One of the plants under the Russians' control is the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant in the southeastern city of Enerhodar, the biggest nuclear power plant in Europe. The other is Chernobyl, which is not active but is still staffed and maintained. Previous Russian shelling sparked a fire at the Zaporizhzhia plant that was extinguished without a release of radiation.

Technical safety systems are intact and radiation levels are still normal at the Zaporizhzhia plant, according to the countrys nuclear regulator, the International Atomic Energy Agency said Saturday.

Ukraine has four nuclear plants with a total of 15 reactors.

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WASHINGTON  Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy urged U.S. lawmakers to sanction Russias oil and gas sector and suspend credit card access, and backed an idea to ban Russian oil imports to the U.S. thats been gaining support in Congress.

Sen. Lindsey Graham, a Republican from South Carolina, said Zelenskyy emphasized during a private call Saturday with the U.S. lawmakers that the energy sector needs to be sanctioned.

Anything that could hurt the Russian economy will help the Ukrainian people and may make this war more difficult for Russian President Vladimir Putin, Graham said in a video.

During the call, Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia asked Zelenskyy about the idea of banning Russian oil to the U.S., according to two people granted anonymity to discuss the private call.

Zelenskyy indicated he was 100% on board with banning Russian oil to the U.S. and told the senators it would be very helpful, the people said.

Zelensky also asked them to suspend access to Visa and Mastercard credit cards in Russia, according to another person granted anonymity to discuss the call.

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Associated Press writers Lisa Mascaro, Michael Balsamo and Mary Clare Jalonick in Washington contributed to this report.

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JERUSALEM  Israels prime minister met with Russian President Vladimir Putin for several hours in Moscow on Saturday.

Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett's office confirmed the meeting at the Kremlin, which came just days after Bennett spoke over the phone with both Russian and Ukrainian leaders.

Bennett's office said he departed early Saturday morning for Moscow, accompanied by Russian-speaking Cabinet minister Zeev Elkin, who was born in Ukraine. Both men are observant Jews and wouldnt normally travel on the Sabbath.

Israel is one of the few countries that has good working relations with both sides. The country has delivered humanitarian aid to Ukraine, but also maintains ties with Moscow to make sure that Israeli and Russian warplanes do not come into conflict in neighboring Syria.

The meeting ended after about three hours, according to an Israeli official who spoke on condition of anonymity. The official said the meeting was coordinated with the U.S., Germany and France and that Bennett is in ongoing dialogue with Ukraine.

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Associated Press writer Ilan Ben Zion in Jerusalem contributed to this report.

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CAIRO  Egypt says it has transferred to Europe about 4,000 Ukrainian tourists who were stranded in the Middle Eastern nation after Russia invaded their country.

The tourists were brought to countries neighboring Ukraine on free flights operated by state-run airliners, and more flights are scheduled in the coming days, government spokesman Nader Saad said Saturday. He did not elaborate.

Following Russias invasion and the closure of Ukrainian airspace, the Egyptian government has allowed Ukrainian tourists to extend their stay for free in hotels and resorts, Saad said.

Ukraines embassy in Cairo has said there were about 20,000 Ukrainian tourists in Egypt, a touristic hub for tourists from eastern Europe and Russia.

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WASHINGTON  A Russian airliner has received an exception to the U.S. airspace ban in order to return Russian diplomats expelled from the U.S to Russia.

The Ilyushin Il-62 is flying from St. Petersburg to Washington Dulles International Airport outside the U.S. Capitol. A U.S. government official confirmed it had been granted a waiver from the airspace restriction put in place in retaliation for Russias invasion of Ukraine in order to retrieve the Russian diplomats.

The U.S. expelled 12 Russians at its mission to the United Nations accusing them of being intelligence operatives.

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Associated Press writer Zeke Miller in Wilmington, Delaware, contributed to this report.

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LONDON  Ukraines foreign minister on Saturday criticized Shell for continuing to buy Russian oil, lashing out at the energy giant for continuing to do business with Vladimir Putins regime after the company announced it was exiting investments in Russia.

Dmytro Kuleba said he had been told Shell discreetly bought the oil on Friday. He appealed to the public to pressure the company and other international firms to halt such purchases in light of Russias invasion of Ukraine.

Earlier this week, Shell said it was shocked by the loss of life in Ukraine and would end its joint ventures with Gazprom, the massive oil and gas company that is controlled by the Russian government.

Shell on Saturday said it has already stopped most activities involving Russian oil, although it continues to buy some products from Russia to supply the needs of its refineries and chemical plants. These purchases are necessary to ensure fuel supplies for customers, Shell said.

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WASHINGTON  Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy made a desperate plea to U.S. senators on Saturday to send more planes to help the country fight the Russian invasion.

Zelenskyy made the request on a call joined by more than 300 people, including senators, some House lawmakers and aides.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, a Democrat from New York, said in a statement that Zelenskyy made a desperate plea for Eastern European countries to provide Russian-made planes to Ukraine."

I will do all I can to help the administration to facilitate their transfer, Schumer said.

Schumer told Zelenskyy the U.S. lawmakers are inspired by him and by the strength and courage of the Ukrainian people, according to another person on the call who was granted anonymity to discuss it.

The U.S. Congress also is working on a $10 billion package of military and humanitarian aide, and Schumer told Zelenskyy that lawmakers hope to send it quickly to Ukraine, the person said.

Zelenskyy told senators he needs planes and drones more than other security tools, according to a senior Senate aide granted anonymity to discuss the private meeting.

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Associated Press reporter Lisa Mascaro in Washington contributed to this report.

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WASHINGTON  The U.S. State Department has updated an earlier travel advisory and is now recommending that U.S. citizens leave Russia immediately.

The notice offers this guidance: If you wish to depart Russia, you should make arrangements on your own as soon as possible. If you plan to stay in Russia, understand the U.S. Embassy has severe limitations on its ability to assist U.S. citizens, and conditions, including transportation options, may change suddenly.

The department already has advised Americans not to travel to Russia. That warning cites the unprovoked and unjustified attack by Russian military forces in Ukraine and the potential for harassment against U.S. citizens by Russian government security officials, among other things.



TIRANA, Albania  Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama said he spoke by phone with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Saturday to express his country's support.

Albania has joined the European Union in imposing hard-hitting sanctions against Russia's top officials and institutions.

The country is also collecting and sending assistance to the Ukrainian refugees.

Albanian Foreign Minister Olta Xhacka, meanwhile, vehemently shot down Russian President Vladimir Putin's assertsions that Albanian mercenaries are operating in Ukraine, calling it a lie that Moscow keeps repeating shamelessly!

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KYIV, Ukraine  Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Ukrainian forces were holding key cities in the central and southeastern part of the country Saturday, while the Russians were trying to block and keep encircled Kharkiv, Mykolaiv, Chernihiv and Sumy.

Were inflicting losses on the occupants they could not see in their worst nightmare, Zelenskyy said. He alleged that 10,000 Russian troops were killed in the 10 days of the war, a claim that could not be independently verified. The Russian military doesn't offer regular updates on their casualties. Only once, on Wednesday, they revealed a death toll of nearly 500.

This is horrible, Zelenskyy said. Guys 18, 20 years old ... soldiers who werent even explained what they were going to fight for.

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WARSAW, Poland  The head of Ukraines Supreme Court has appealed for Russias top court to be excluded from a body of Central and Eastern Europes chief justices because of Russias invasion of Ukraine.

Ukraines top court president, Vsevolod Kniaziev, said the Supreme Court of Russia should be excluded from the Conference of Chief Justices of Central & Eastern Europe as it represents a country that brought terror, death and crimes against humanity in Ukraine.

Kniazievs letter of appeal was received Saturday by Malgorzata Manowska, the president of the Supreme Court in Poland, which borders Ukraine.

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NEW YORK -- Russian President Vladimir Putin says there is nothing that warrants imposing martial law in Russia at this point.

Putins comment on Saturday followed days of speculation that the introduction of martial law could be imminent.

Putin said that martial law is imposed in a country ... in the event of external aggression, including in specific areas of hostilities. But we dont have such a situation, and I hope we wont.



ROME  Italian state broadcaster Rai is suspending reporting by its correspondents in Russia.

Rai's measure, effective Saturday, follows similar moves by some other foreign media. Rai said the measure is necessary to safeguard the safety of its journalists in the place as well as the maximum freedom of information about the country."

Russia on Friday passed a law foreseeing prison sentences of up to 15 years for spreading what is deemed to be fake information about its armed forces.



NEW YORK  Russian President Vladimir Putin says Moscow would consider any third-party declaration of a no-fly zone over Ukraine as participation in the armed conflict.

Speaking at a meeting with female pilots on Saturday, Putin said Russia would view any move in this direction as an intervention that will pose a threat to our service members.

That very second, we will view them as participants of the military conflict, and it would not matter what members they are, the Russian president said.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has pushed NATO to impose a no-fly zone over his country, warning that all the people who die from this day forward will also die because of you.

NATO has said a no-fly zone, which would bar all unauthorized aircraft from flying over Ukraine, could provoke widespread war in Europe with nuclear-armed Russia.



BERLIN -- The U.N. human rights office says it has confirmed the deaths of 351 civilians in Ukraine since the Russian invasion began.

The Geneva-based office said that another 707 civilians were injured between Feb. 24 and midnight Friday.

The rights office uses strict methodology and only reports casualties it has confirmed. It said Saturday it believes the real figures are considerably higher, especially in government-controlled territory and especially in recent days, as the receipt of information from some places where there was intense fighting was delayed and many reports were still undergoing corroboration.

Ukrainian officials have presented far higher numbers.



NEW YORK  Aeroflot, Russias flagship carrier, has announced that it will halt all international flights except to Belarus starting March 8.

The move by Russias biggest state-owned airline comes after the countrys aviation agency, Rosaviatsiya, recommended that all Russian airlines with foreign-leased planes halt both passenger and cargo flights abroad.

It cited a high risk of foreign-leased planes being impounded as part of Western sanctions that ban leasing of planes to Russia.

Rosaviatsiyas recommendation doesnt apply to Russian airlines that use Russian planes or foreign planes that aren't at risk of being impounded. Aeroflot's statement Saturday cited circumstances that hinder operating flights as a reason for its move.

Another Russian airline, low-cost carrier Pobeda, said Saturday that also would halt all international flights starting March 8.



BERLIN -- German public broadcasters ARD and ZDF say they are suspending reporting from their Moscow studios after Russia passed a law foreseeing prison sentences of up to 15 years for spreading what is deemed to be fake information about its armed forces.

The measure was signed into law by President Vladimir Putin on Friday and already prompted some foreign media including the BBC and Bloomberg to say they were suspending operations within Russia.

ARD and ZDF said in a statement that they are examining the consequences of the new legislation and suspending reporting from the Moscow studios for now.

The passing of the law comes amid a broader crackdown on media outlets and social media in Russia.

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Follow APs coverage of the tensions between Russia and Ukraine at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine
For veterans who only know the military and its structure, transitioning into the civilian workforce is a daunting task.

It can be especially challenging for veterans who have the skillsets needed to be a skilled tradesperson in the civilian world, but may not have obtained the accreditation or certification that employers look for when vetting job candidates.

A lot of times, its almost like two ships passing in the night, said Eric Eversole, President of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Hiring Our Heroes program, an organization with a goal of helping veterans, transitioning service members and military spouses find employment opportunities. In the military, you have this talented, committed, hard-working force that, quite candidly, often looks quite different than what the civilian workforce is used to recruiting. That can be challenging.

Eversole, himself a veteran of the Indiana Air National Guard and United States Navy JAG Corps and a current member of the U.S. Navy Reserve, said he tells transitioning service members to plan for their future civilian employment as they would a military mission.

In his eyes, that means having a clear objective and getting a head start well ahead of being discharged.

First and foremost, you want to define your operation, he said. Second, do your intelligence work. What skills do you have? How do those skills translate into the civilian world? What do you want to do? Where do you want to live? Then you have to look around and see what services are available to you. If you want to obtain certification as a skilled tradesperson, before you leave the military, you need to do your pre-work. You should start a year before you plan on leaving the military, meeting with a transition team and taking advantage of the services offered by the military to help you transition.

Trane Technologies is one of the Top 100 Best For Vets employers in the nation. Eric Weiss, technical trainer for Trane Technologies residential HVAC and supply, said there are several options for military members and veterans looking to obtain certification when entering the civilian workforce.

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Some HVAC dealers will hire an untrained tech into an entry position where they will teach them the needed skills and help them acquire the proper certification while on the job, Weiss said. A more formal path would be to enroll in a school programfrom associates degrees to HVAC-only specialty schoolsto learn the skills either before or while working for a company.

For example, Trane Technologies offers several different education and training programs for employees of its equipment dealers and installers. They include online training for entry-level, advanced and systems installations technicians, as well as a program that blends online education and virtual training for installation technicians.

Our company is also developing another option through another pilot programTrade Warriorsthat brings HVAC certification opportunities to military personnel before they leave the service, said Weiss. That program is in its infancy, and we hope to soon share more about it in the near future.

Eversole said that in the ever-changing economy, military members looking to enter a skilled trades profession should be able to do so fairly seamlessly, especially if they are willing to plan ahead.

We are at one of those junctures, from a workforce standpoint, where the opportunities for skilled laborers are abundant. We encourage our military members to start planning for that life while they are still in the military.
A Pennsylvania man is accused of breaking into a womans home and hiding in the attic after they met on the social media platform OnlyFans.

Mauricio Damian Guerrero, 20, of Bensalem, Pennsylvania, broke into the womans home in Somersworth, New Hampshire, multiple times last month, according to the Somersworth Police Department.

The woman told law enforcement officials she awoke to someone standing in her doorway on Feb 9, according to an affidavit from the police department obtained by USA TODAY. Police heard footsteps on the roof, where they said they found Guerrero.

The man was detained, and the woman confirmed that she met him through her OnlyFans account in October 2021. She said she had given the man her address after he said he wanted to buy her a television and fireplace.

The woman said Guerrero admitted to her before he was arrested that he had been to an apartment where she once resided. He once appeared outside her home, and she let him in for about two hours, according to the affidavit.

Police said Guerrero told officials he went to the womans home to take back the fireplace and television and went into the attic when he heard people in the home. The woman found food in the attic, as well as urine in a cup. Officials also found a Bluetooth tracking device.

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Police said the man admitted taking videos of the woman naked without her knowledge in the home. He also said he planned to put the tracking device on her car, according to the affidavit.

The woman, who has a child, told police she noticed that in the days before Guerreros arrest her keys were temporarily missing in her home. Mauricio told officers after he was arrested that he had taken the womans key and made a copy.

Guerrero faces four felony burglary charges.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: OnlyFans: Man allegedly broke into woman's home, took naked video
Standing in front of the Jackson County courthouse Friday, Cameron Lambs mother said while the former Kansas City police detective who killed her son has learned his sentence, her anguish would remain.

The mental pain that I deal with, thats not gonna go away, Laurie Bey said. I just stay prayerful that each day it will get better.

Bey spoke with relatives by her side after a Jackson County judge sentenced Eric DeValkenaere, the former detective, to six years in prison in her sons 2019 killing. DeValkenaere will remain free on bond as he appeals.

DeValkenaere, 43, was convicted in November of second-degree involuntary manslaughter and armed criminal action in the Dec. 3, 2019, fatal shooting at 4154 College Ave. It marked the first time a KCPD officer was convicted in the killing of a Black man.

Lamb, 26, was backing his pickup truck into his garage when DeValkenaere fired several shots, killing him. DeValkenaere claimed Lamb was armed and pointed a gun at his partner, but prosecutors have contended the gun found near him was planted.

This has been just a hurtful tragedy for our family, Bey told reporters Friday. The healing is just not there yet.

Led by Dion Sankar, assistant prosecuting attorney, Laurie Bey, mother of Cameron, heads to the witness stand to give a statement. Former Kansas City police detective Eric DeValkenaere, seated at table, left, was sentenced to six years in the Dec. 3, 2019, killing of Cameon Lamb. Circuit Court Judge J. Dale Youngs announced the sentence Friday, May 4, 2022.

Jackson County County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker said the rule of law spoke.

People often have this notion that they want this to be the great fixer, the great equalizer somehow, she said of the criminal justice system. What I tell victims family when they come in is, the harm has already happened. Ill never be able to erase that harm; I will be able to address it.

Social justice advocates said DeValkenaeres six-year sentence was not adequate, while DeValkenaeres lawyers vowed to work to exonerate him for what they believe was his defense of his police partner that day.

Lora McDonald, executive director of MORE2, a local social justice organization, called the sentence inequitable compared to sentences imposed on other defendants.

We continue to believe law enforcement officers should be held to a higher standard, not lower than community members, she said.

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Gwen Grant, president of the Urban League of Greater Kansas City, said she was disappointed in the sentence and the judges previous decision to allow this convicted felon to remain free on bond while he appeals.

Yet another slap in the face to our community, she said.

One of DeValkenaeres lawyers, Sean McCauley, said compliance by Lamb could have prevented the shooting. He described DeValkenaeres life as having been turned upside down.

He does not deserve what has happened to him for doing what was necessary to protect his partner, McCauley said.

During the sentencing hearing, Dion Sankar, Jackson Countys chief deputy prosecutor, sought a nine-year sentence for DeValkenaere. He said the law requires equal treatment, as it does in neighborhoods across the country.

The law applies west of Troost the same as it does east of Troost, Sankar said of Troost Avenue, which has become known as Kansas Citys racial dividing line.

One of DeValkenaeres lawyers, Molly Hastings, argued that DeValkenaeres partner, Troy Schwalm, is alive today because of his necessary decision. She said the medias distortion that the shooting was racially motivated in any way was blatantly false.

The voracious appetite for scandal when none exists has been profoundly damaging to the accuracy of what happened in this case, she said. Manufactured conspiracy theories have only made this worse.

At the hearing, DeValkenaeres son and father also addressed the judge. The former detective wiped tears from his eyes during their testimony.

Former Kansas City police detective Eric DeValkenaere, center, became emotional as he listened to his father, Albert DeValkenaere, give a statement during his sentencing hearing Friday, May 4, 2022. Seated near DeValkenaere were attorneys Dawn Parsons, left, and Molly Hastings. DeValkenaere was sentenced to six years in the Dec. 3, 2019, killing of Cameon Lamb.

In announcing the sentence, Jackson County Circuit Court Judge J. Dale Youngs explained that murder and involuntary manslaughter are different legal concepts.

Eric DeValkenaere is not Derek Chauvin who murdered George Floyd, Youngs said. Eric DeValkenaere is not one of the three men in Georgia convicted of murdering Ahmaud Arbery.

The 2019 shooting unfolded after officers investigating an unrelated vehicle crash reported a red pickup chasing a purple Ford Mustang. Helicopter officers spotted the truck driven by Lamb and followed the vehicle to his residence.

DeValkenaere said he fired several shots after Lamb pointed a gun at his partner, Schwalm. Police found Lamb inside the truck with his left arm and head hanging out of the drivers side window. A handgun was found on the ground near Lambs left hand, police said.

During the criminal trial, prosecutors alleged the crime scene was staged and evidence was planted. They also said it took only nine seconds from the time DeValkenaere arrived at the front yard of the house to the moment he fatally shot Lamb.

Youngs determined DeValkenaere and Schwalm did not have a search warrant or probable cause to be on Lambs property.
A Meridian man who killed his wife in March 2019 was sentenced Friday to life in prison without the possibility of parole, the Ada County Prosecutors Office said in a news release.

Eric Steiner hit his wife, Christine Tolmie-Steiner, in the face with a crowbar and then fatally shot her in the head on March 5 three years ago, according to the release. Steiner called 911 about six hours later and said he killed his wife. During a preliminary hearing in the case, the 911 dispatcher who took the call testified that Steiner said he was the shooter.

The Ada County Prosecutors Office recommended that Steiners punishment be life in prison, and 4th District Judge Samuel Hoagland issued that sentence. Hoagland said the murder was cold-hearted and cold-blooded, and also said the defendant showed no real remorse and accepts no real responsibility, according to the release.

Steiner first pleaded guilty in February 2020 to a first-degree murder charge. He later tried unsuccessfully to withdraw that plea.

I want to send my condolences to the victims family and thank them for their patience during a lengthy court process, Ada County Prosecutor Jan Bennetts said in the release.

Need help?

The Womens and Childrens Alliance in Boise is available at 208-343-7025 for victims of domestic violence or online at wcaboise.org.

The Faces of Hope Victim Center is available for victims in need of emergency services at 417 S. 6th St. in Boise. Victims should call 911 in emergencies or call 208-577-4400 on weekdays during business hours. Faces of Hope provides free medical care and forensic examinations for victims, as well as assistance with filing police reports and mental health care after an assault.

Anyone in need of help or who believes they may be in a violent relationship is encouraged to contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE (7233).
Tributes have poured in for Shane Warne, who died aged 52 (AP Photo/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake) (AP)

Nasser Hussain credits Shane Warne with the revival of leg-spin and said he had brilliance, genius and fight.

Tributes have poured in from across the world for the former Australia leg-spinner after cricket lost one of its greatest ever figures at the age of 52.

Warne took 708 Test wickets, the second-highest ever, in 145 matches across an illustrious 15-year international career.

The charismatic star also claimed 293 wickets in one-day internationals and helped Australia win the World Cup in 1999.

Leg spin was a dying art before Shane Warne burst onto the scene, we had never heard of a delivery called a flipper and then suddenly he used to set us up with it, Hussain told Sky Sports.

He used to bowl a delivery that was short and youd think Shane lost it today and the very next ball was the flipper and it would go straight through us.

He was an outstanding cricketer.

A tribute note and flowers lie at the statue of Shane Warne (AP Photo/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake) (AP)

Some people are brilliant at the game, some people have genius and some people have fight and Shane Warne had everything in abundance.

He was also a very, very smart cricketer as weve seen in the commentary box since he retired from the game.

When asked about his legacy, the former England captain said: Hes not going to be defined by the London Spirit or Big Bash or the Rajasthan Royals, hes going to be defined as the greatest spin bowler thats every played the game, he was box office.

He was Shane Warne, thats all I can say. You speak to cricketers, former cricketers, you look at the reaction on social media today, he was Shane Warne, there will never be another Shane Warne.

Glenn McGrath, with whom Warne formed a formidable strike partnership for their country, paid a warm tribute to his friend.

Just absolutely devastated today, he wrote on Instagram. Warnie was larger than life. I thought nothing could ever happen to him. He lived more in his life than most people would live in 20.

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He was the ultimate competitor. He thought the game was never lost, that he could turn it around and bring us to victory, which he did so many times. I think he lived his life the same way. There seemed to be never a dull moment.

He was a great mate and a loving father. He loved his kids so much and my thoughts are with Brooke, Jackson and Summer. My thoughts are also with Keith, Bridgette and Jason.

Warne (right) dismissed Gatting with the ball of the century (Phil Noble/PA) (PA Archive)

Rest In Peace my good mate, therell never again be anyone like you.

Warne came to prominence with a wickedly spinning leg-break to Mike Gatting in 1993.

The delivery was named ball of the century as Gatting was left confounded.

Without a doubt, he is number one ever, Gatting told Sky Sports. There has been a lot of great cricketers, great spinners and great leg-spinners, but Warnie will always be certainly from my point of view the number one.

Current Australia Test captain Pat Cummins, on tour in Pakistan, said in a video posted on Cricket Australias Twitter: Warnie was an all-time great, a once-in-a-century type of cricketer and his record will live on forever.

Rest in peace, King. A tribute to Shane Warne from Pat Cummins. pic.twitter.com/nyBMuV8fKj  Cricket Australia (@CricketAus) March 5, 2022

We all grew up watching Warnie, idolising him, we all had posters on our wall, had his earrings. We loved so much his showmanship, his charisma, his tactics. He just willed himself and his team to win games for Australia.

So many guys in this squad still hold him as a hero, their all-time favourite player. The loss were all trying to wrap our heads around is huge. The game was never the same after Warnie emerged and the game will never be the same after his passing. Rest in peace, King.

Fans have placed tributes on the Shane Warne statue at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, while the premier of the Australian state of Victoria, Daniel Andrews, announced the venues Great Southern Stand will be renamed the SK Warne Stand as a permanent tribute to an amazing Victorian.

Andrews has also offered the Warne family a state funeral.




North Korea on Saturday fired a ballistic missile into the sea in an effort to test weapons, The Associated Press reports.

The launch was detected by the South Korean military, and the country's Joint Chiefs of Staff said that the missile flew about 270 kilometers (168 miles) at a maximum altitude of 560 kilometers (348 miles) and landed in the sea between Korea and Japan.

The missile was fired from a location in the Sunan area, near the North Korean capital of Pyongyang.

U.S. and South Korean intelligence officials are analyzing the launch, according to the South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff.

The missile test was North Korea's ninth round of launches in 2022, following a slew of launches in January.

North Korean officials said in late January that it might resume nuclear tests due to what it described as the hostility of the U.S.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un's Workers' Party of Korea accused the U.S. of "recklessly faulting for no reason the DPRK's legitimate exercise of sovereignty."

North Korea's latest launch occurred Sunday and also originated in the Sunan area.

Sunday's launch was to test a camera system North Korea wants to install on a spy satellite, according to North Korea.

Japanese Defense Minister Nobuo Kishi called the launch "absolutely unacceptable."

"The missile was fired just as the international community is responding to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, while also in the middle of the Beijing Paralympics," Kishi said.
coronavirus COVID-19 community spread new york NYU medical school grossman graduate early MDs help volunteer fight virus





Three Asian students at New York University reported being attacked over the past month.

At least six students in total were assaulted in February, college newspaper the Washington Square News reported last month. Most of the victims said they were walking alone when they were struck from behind.

Three of the first four victims were Asian, NBC News confirmed.

Students were upset at a slow response from campus police. But in an email to the student body obtained by NBC News, the university's vice president for Global Campus Safety pledged to increase campus patrols and improve lighting on campus.

"We are conscious of the unease that Asian members of the NYU community may be feeling right now," said Fountain Walker, according to NBC. "We stand united in full support of them, and want them to know they have our support and that we are determined to make them feel secure on our campus."

Anti-Asian hate crimes have soared during the pandemic, fueled in part by the origin of the novel coronavirus in Wuhan, China.

Anti-Asian hate crimes soared 339 percent last year compared to 2020.

In response, the U.S. Congress passed the COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act last year to bolster reporting, education and other measures to combat the issue.
LVIV, Ukraine (Reuters) - Ukrainian Defence Minister Oleksii Reznikov said on Saturday that 66,224 Ukrainian men had returned from abroad to join the fight against Russia's invasion.

"That's how many men returned from abroad at this moment to defend their country from the horde. These are 12 more combat and motivated brigades! Ukrainians, we are invincible," Reznikov said in an online post.

(Reporting by Pavel Polityuk; Writing by Alessandra Prentice; Editing by Catherine Evans)
PANAMA CITY BEACH  The Panama City Beach Chamber of Commerce honored six top members at its annual Celebratory Awards Dinner at Edgewater Beach & Golf Resort on Thursday.

"It was great getting the membership together to recognize business leaders for everything they do to help the chamber and community," said President/CEO Kristopher McLane.

The Past Chair Award was given to 2021 Chairman of the Board Jeff DiBenedictis of BancorpSouth for his dedicated service and commitment to leading the Beach Chamber.

Kristopher McLane, president/CEO of the Panama City Beach Chamber of Commerce.

Related ceremony: Bay County Chamber of Commerce hosts 109th Annual Dinner and Awards Ceremony

Teacher of year: Woman who left retirement to teach in Bay County wins 2022 Teacher of the Year award

Lauren Hopkins of Coastal Waste & Recycling received the Young Professional of the Year Award. Hopkins influences growth, prosperity, and quality of life in the community, according to the chamber.

The Ambassador of the Year Award went to Jenna Hall of Hallin Hearts. According to the chamber, Hall goes above and beyond, whether it's Ambassador events, ribbon cuttings or volunteering her time.

The Business Excellence Award was given to Kristian Millirons of 3P America for contributions to the community and to the Beach Chamber. 3P America continues to evolve and recently launched a state-of-the-art testing, vaccine verification, and compliance platform as the intelligent solution for employers navigating coronavirus mandates.

Larry Thompson of Grand Slam Sports Tournaments received the Community Impact Award for encouraging growth and prosperity in Panama City Beach and Bay County year after year.

The Pioneer of the Year Award went to Richard Sanders of Visit Panama City Beach for leadership, dedication, and lasting influence on the community and to the chamber.

This article originally appeared on The News Herald: Panama City Beach Florida business leaders honored at chamber dinner
Mike Blake/File Photo via Reuters

A Southern California couple whose daughter died by suicide at a three-day Activision Blizzard employee retreat is suing the video game giant for allegedly engendering a culture of brutal workplace sexual harassment that they say led directly to her death.

In the 50-page civil suit, which was filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court on Thursday, Paul and Janet Moynihan accuse Activision Blizzardwhich is in the process of being acquired by Microsoft for $68.7 billionof failing to rein in the bad behavior they believe was a substantial factor in bringing about 32-year-old Kerri Moynihans decision to take her own life.

The filing blames Activision Blizzard for having fostered and permitted a sexually hostile work environment to exist in which female employees were routinely sexually harassed, belittled, disparaged and discriminated against, and Activision failed and refused to take corrective action or reasonable steps to prevent that harassment.

Employees Walk Out as Activision Blizzard Backs Besieged CEOAgain

Examples of such sexual harassment included cube crawls, in which inebriated male employees crawled through office cubicles and groped or engaged in other inappropriate conduct toward female employees; unwanted sexual comments, advances and physical touching directed toward female employees by male co-workers (including, in some cases, by high-ranking male executives); open banter by male employees about their sexual conquests and female bodies; and jokes about rape, it says.

Activision Blizzard has been under fire since last year, when the State of California sued the company for allegedly fostering a pervasive frat boy workplace culture under which sexual harassment was not just tolerated, but largely welcomed. The company, which is behind such blockbuster video game titles as Call of Duty, also agreed to set up an $18 million fund for harassment victims following a separate lawsuit by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission over discriminatory workplace practices.

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There is no place anywhere at our company for discrimination, harassment, or unequal treatment of any kind, and I am grateful to the employees who bravely shared their experiences, CEO Bobby Kotick said in a statement at the time. I am sorry that anyone had to experience inappropriate conduct, and I remain unwavering in my commitment to make Activision Blizzard one of the worlds most inclusive, respected, and respectful workplaces.

On April 27, 2017, a security guard at Disneys Grand Californian Hotel & Spa, where Activisions global sales and finance teams were meeting, found Kerri Moynihan, a CPA and finance manager at Activisions Santa Monica headquarters, dead in her room, her parents lawsuit explains.

Kerri, at the time, was romantically involved with her supervisor, a married man with a newborn son identified in the filing as Greg Restituito. Having a sexual relationship with a subordinate is contrary to Activision policy, the Moynihans suit points out.

On the evening of April 26, Kerri joined a group of co-workers for dinner, explains the lawsuit. She was scheduled to give a presentation to her colleagues the next day, it says. At around 11 p.m., Kerri and some work friends headed to the Grand Californians bar for drinks.

A photo included in the Moynihans' lawsuit, showing their daughter, Kerri, just a few hours before her death. Los Angeles County Superior Court

About 90 minutes later, Kerri spoke with Restituito in the hotels lobby, then returned to the bar, the filing continues. A few minutes after that, Restituito sent Kerri a text message reading: Please dont do that. Not tonight. Think about it and make your decision when your mind is clear.

Shortly before 2 a.m., Kerri left the bar and returned to her room. Restituito was staying directly across the hall, states the lawsuit, which was first reported by The Washington Post.

According to data from Restituitos room keycard, beginning at approximately 2:15 a.m., Restituito repeatedly left his room for short intervals, it goes on. The next morning, beginning at approximately 8:30 a.m., Restituito tried contacting Kerri. At approximately 9:00 a.m., Restituito contacted hotel security.

Kerris body was discovered just before 9:30.

One of Restituitos room keys was found in Kerris hotel room, according to the lawsuit. But Restituito and Activision Blizzard stonewalled investigators, and attempted to cover up what had happened, the Moynihans allege.

Restituito told detectives that he had been in Kerris room to prepare for a presentation at the conference, the suit explains. According to a police report cited in the filing, Restituito made seemingly unusual inquiries with other employees who were present with [Kerri] the night preceding her death.

The lawsuit also contends that Restituito later went to Kerris apartment and cleaned it and removed items from it.Restituito denied having a sexual relationship with Kerri, and lied to the police about his reason for having a key to Kerris apartment, the suit says, pointing out that Restituito finally came clean about the affair under a second round of questioning by detectives.

Restituito did not immediately respond to The Daily Beasts requests for comment. Activision Blizzard, according to the Moynihans, refused to turn over Kerris work-issued laptop to police, and told investigators that her work-issued cell phone had been wiped.

The Moynihans state in their lawsuit that Kerris suicide (if that) was the product of an uncontrollable impulse, listing several reasons, including the fact that she did not leave behind a suicide note; there is no proof of any pre-planning; she never intimated to anyone that she was considering suicide; she had plans to attend a country music festival a few days later; she was soon going to serve as the maid-of-honor at a friends wedding for which she had already bought plane tickets; and that she would never have left her beloved cat, Mr. Leo, alone without making advance plans for him to be cared for.

In an emailed statement to The Daily Beast on Friday night, an Activision Blizzard spokesperson said, We at Activision Blizzard were, and continue to be, deeply saddened by the tragic death of Ms. Moynihan, who was a valued member of the company. We will address the complaint through the legal process as appropriate, and out of respect for the family we have no further comment at this time.

Restituito worked as a senior finance director for Activision Blizzard until May 2017, the month after Moynihans death, according to a LinkedIn profile cited by the Post.

The Moynihans lawsuit makes reference to a July 2021 lawsuit by the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing (DFEH), which cited a female Activision Blizzard employee who died by suicide on a company trip with her male boss, but did not identify Kerri Moynihan by name. It also refers to an incident in or about December 2016, in which male co-workers passed around a photograph of Kerris vagina at an Activision holiday party.

Los Angeles County Superior Court

After the DFEH lawsuit was filed, Activision Blizzard called it distorted, and in many cases false, saying the company was sickened by the reprehensible conduct of the DFEH to drag into the complaint the tragic suicide of an employee whose passing has no bearing whatsoever on this case and with no regard for her grieving family."

The Moynihans, whose attorneys declined to comment on the record for this article, obviously see things very differently.

Kerri, a Massachusetts native, graduated cum laude from Northeastern University in 2008 with a degree in business administration, her parents note in their lawsuit. She became a Certified Public Accountant the following year, passing the CPA exam on her first try. Kerri was Paul and Janets only child, the suit states. She was a loving, caring daughter to her parents, with whom she was extremely close. Kerri emailed her parents on a daily basis and usually spoke to at least one of them every day. Kerri and her parents went on family vacations together and Kerri frequently visited them during the holidays.

Activision Blizzard, for its part, did not take all reasonable steps to prevent their daughter from being harassed at work, which the Moynihans say was a substantial factor in causing harm to Kerri, including, without limitation, humiliation, embarrassment, belittlement, sadness, discomfort, emotional distress, mental anguish and pain and suffering, all to her detriment and damage and tragically culminating in Kerris death.

They are seeking damages of at least $1 million.

If you or a loved one are struggling with suicidal thoughts, please reach out to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255), or contact the Crisis Text Line by texting TALK to 741741.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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By Paresh Dave

(Reuters) - Payments company PayPal Holdings Inc shut down its services early on Saturday in Russia, citing "the current circumstances," joining many financial and tech companies in suspending operations there after the invasion of Ukraine.

"Under the current circumstances, we are suspending PayPal services in Russia," President and Chief Executive Dan Schulman said in a statement. He added that the company "stands with the international community in condemning Russia's violent military aggression in Ukraine."

A company spokesperson said PayPal will support withdrawals "for a period of time, ensuring that account balances are dispersed in line with applicable laws and regulations.

PayPal, which had only allowed cross-border transactions by users in Russia, stopped accepting new users in the country on Wednesday.

Ukrainian government officials had been calling on PayPal to quit Russia and help them with fundraising.

PayPal said on Friday that "since the beginning of the invasion, PayPal has helped raise over $150 million for charities supporting response efforts in Ukraine, one of the largest efforts we've seen in such a short period of time.

PayPal's suspension in Russia also applies to its money transfer tool Xoom. Rivals Wise and Remitly earlier suspended some services in Russia.

(Reporting by Paresh Dave; Editing by Christian Schmollinger)
Cincinnati police have identified the man killed in Walnut Hills Friday night.

Police said Marquell Wilcox, 21, was fatally shot in the 2900 block of Gilbert Avenue around 10 p.m.

Emergency personnel transported Wilcox to the University of Cincinnati Medical Center, where he died from his injuries, police said.

Police are investigating the shooting. Anyone with information is asked to call the Homicide Unit at 513-352-3542.

The Enquirer will update this story as more information becomes available.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Police identify 21-year-old killed Friday night in Walnut Hills
GREEN BAY  Police arrested a 41-year-old Milwaukee man Thursday wanted for questioning about a fatal shooting outside a Walgreens in Green Bay.

Police sought the public's assistance in locating Jeromy D. Finke after the shooting, which occurred Feb. 18 in a park at 1165 W. Mason St. A 31-year-old Green Bay man died after getting shot four times in the back, and a 15-year-old Milwaukee boy is being charged as an adult for first-degree homicide.

RELATED: 15-year-old boy charged as adult with homicide in Feb. 18 shooting outside west-side Walgreens in Green Bay

The teen, Jeremiah L. Robinson, faces additional charges including possession with intent to deliver heroin, possession of a firearm on grounds of a school, and first-degree recklessly endangering safety with use of a dangerous weapon  all of which are felonies. Robinson's next appearance in court will be March 23 for a status conference.

Finke was charged Thursday in Brown County with possession with intent to deliver heroin as party to a crime on the night of the fatal shooting. Police said Finke may have had a knife at the time of the shooting.

Finke does not yet have any scheduled court dates.

Contact Kelli Arseneau at (920) 213-3721 or karseneau@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter at @ArseneauKelli.

This article originally appeared on Green Bay Press-Gazette: Green Bay Walgreens shooting: Police arrest man wanted for questioning
A gunshot fired into the air during an argument outside a Nashville bar hit a woman inside an apartment across the street, according to police.

The shooting occurred at about 1 a.m. Saturday outside 3000 Bar on Demonbreun Street, police said.

Police say the suspect, a 28-year-old woman, indiscriminately fired a gunshot during a verbal argument, which continued after she and several others were asked to leave the bar, police said. After the first shot, police say the suspect walked away and fired again.

The bullet that hit the 48-year-old woman entered the base of the apartment window then went through the arm of a couch, where she was sleeping, according to the initial investigation.

She was treated at a hospital and released, police said.

The victim reported hearing two additional gunshots after she was hit.

The suspect is charged with reckless endangerment, resisting arrest, disorderly conduct, public intoxication and possession of a handgun while under the influence. She is free on $10,000 bond.

Reach Andy Humbles at ahumbles@tennessean.com or 615-726-5939 and on Twitter @ AndyHumbles.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Gunshot outside Nashville bar hits woman in apartment, police say
White House press secretary Jen Psaki said calling for the assassination of Vladimir Putin is not the position of the United States government on Friday after Senator Lindsey Graham (R., S.C.) suggested someone close to the Russian president should take this guy out.

On Thursday, Graham tweeted asking if there is a Brutus in Russia, referring to Marcus Junius Brutus, the Roman politician who led the conspiracy that resulted in the assassination of Julius Caesar.

Is there a more successful Colonel Stauffenberg in the Russian military? Graham added, referencing Claus von Stauffenberg, a German army officer who unsuccessfully tried to kill Adolf Hitler.

The only way this ends is for somebody in Russia to take this guy out. You would be doing your country  and the world  a great service, Graham said one week after Russia began its invasion of Ukraine.

Is there a Brutus in Russia? Is there a more successful Colonel Stauffenberg in the Russian military? The only way this ends is for somebody in Russia to take this guy out. You would be doing your country  and the world  a great service.  Lindsey Graham (@LindseyGrahamSC) March 4, 2022

Asked about Grahams remarks at a press briefing on Friday, Psaki said: That is not the position of the United States government and certainly not a statement youd hear come from the mouths of anybody working in this administration.

Psaki was also asked to respond to Grahams suggestion that a diplomatic solution with Russia is impossible with Putin in power. She replied: President Putin has the ability to deescalate.

We have left the door open for months now to be engaged through deescalation, Psaki said. But no, we are not advocating for killing the leader of a foreign country or regime change. That is not the policy of the United States.

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Grahams tweet calling for Putins assassination sparked outcry among several other members of Congress from both sides of the aisle.

Senator Ted Cruz (R., Texas) said it was an exceptionally bad idea, and Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene (R., Ga.) said the comments were irresponsible, dangerous & unhinged, while Representative Ilhan Omar (D., Minn.) said, Seriously, wtf?

Amid the backlash, Grahams communications director, Kevin Bishop, noted that the senator previously said on NewsMax that he was okay with a coup to remove Putin as well.

Basic point, Putin has to go, Bishop wrote in a Tweet. He also noted it will be  has to be  the Russian people who do it. They control the off ramp to this ordeal.

More from National Review
Mar. 5A novel that began as a fairy tale, another about love on the Iron Range, and a look at Queen Elizabeth's fashion leadership are fiction and nonfiction offerings this week.

"The Ogress and the Orphans" by Kelly Barnhill (Algonquin Young Readers, $19.95)

An Ogress, a hateful dragon in disguise, kind and smart orphans, talking crows, cats and sheep, and a town that once was "lovely."

Minnesotan Kelly Barnhill, winner of the 2017 Newbery Medal for "The Girl who Drank the Moon," gives us another life-affirming story in "The Ogress and the Orphans," which is sure to touch many hearts with its message of how kindness can bind a community and the meaning of "neighbor."

In an unspecified time and place, there is a little town where neighbor used to help neighbor and everyone was happy. They strolled under the abundant trees, picked fruit, cared for one another. But then a fire started in the library (did someone catch a glimpse of a dragon tail?) and spread throughout the town, consuming the library the citizens loved, and the schoolhouse.

People grew indifferent to one another as jobs dried up and ashes blew everywhere. The beautiful trees were all gone. Then, a new mayor with a mesmerizing voice took over, telling the citizens he was the only one who could keep the peace. He urged them to keep an eye on their neighbors and to be suspicious of outsiders.

As people closed themselves off in their houses, the mayor fed their fear of outsiders, including the kind Ogress who lived in a crooked house on the edge of town. They didn't know that the very, very old Ogress quietly left baked treats on their doorsteps in the dead of night, watched over by her friends the crows.

The Ogress is especially fond of the children at the Orphan House, who she watches through her handmade periscope. They are nice kids, very worried about old Matron and her husband, Myron. In the days when the town was "lovely," the orphans were fed and clothed by donations from the town but, since the fires, the money stopped. And when one of the little girls runs away, the Ogress returns her. But that doesn't stop some of the citizens, urged on by the mayor, who attack the confused Ogress, tearing up her garden and throwing rocks at her. But the crows attack the crowd and the Ogress is left in tears.

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Will the town ever be "lovely" again? Can reading and shared books save them?

Barnhill says the middle grade novel was inspired by a conversation with her twin nieces about philosophy (there is a young philosopher among the orphans).

"My niece Adeline informed me that the problem with philosophy is that there aren't enough animals in it. And not enough people being nice," Barnhill recalls. "I told her that I absolutely agreed, and that if I were to write a book about philosophy, it would absolutely be about kindness. And generosity too. What happens to us  at our very core  when we give to others? What happens to the soul when we turn away? What happens to a community when compassion is compounded? What happens to a community where empathy is stunted or thwarted or lost?"

Young readers of "The Ogress and the Orphans" may not realize how closely the mayor resembles a former president, but adults will.

"There was a moment during the last presidential administration when it felt like the news was uniformly terrible  cruelty had become normalized, nastiness was a new form of currency, and all our progress toward justice and equality seemed to be going backwards," she said. "I did what I often do when I need to heal my soul and regenerate a bit  I started writing fairy tales ... very quickly this story didn't seem to behave like the others. It stood apart. It had eyes and skin and breath and soul. It was separate from me."

In the end, it is the Ogress whose wisdom is at the heart of this book: "The more you give, the more you have."

Barnhill will celebrate publication with an in-person launch party at 6 p.m. Tuesday, March 8, at Red Balloon Bookshop, 891 Grand Ave., St. Paul. There will be party favors and a book-signing line. Tickets are $20, which includes a copy of the book. Space is limited and tickets are required. Go to: redballoonbookshop.com. She will also sign books at 5:30 p.m. March 28 at Magers & Quinn, 3038 Hennepin Ave. S., Mpls., and will talk with fellow Algonquin author Brian Farrey, whose new book is "The Counterclockwise Heart," March 31 at Moon Palace Books, 3032 Minnehaha Ave., Mpls.

"Steel" by Kathleen Novak ( Black Cat Text, $15)

On the cover of Kathleen Novak's new novel, a young miner stands on one end of the Hull-Rust-Mahoning open pit iron mine near Hibbing. The photo was taken by St. Paul native John Vachon for the Farm Security Administration in the 1930s. But his subject, who stares directly into the camera, could be Tony, the driven young man at the center of "Steel."

Novak, granddaughter of Croatians and Italians, was born and raised in Hibbing and her sense of place and residents is palpable, from the immigrant women's constant cooking to the pressures of the young men and women born in America, and especially the young women's determination to break the hold of their fathers' Old World thinking about how to behave properly. She says the novel is a fictional version of a secret about the oldest son's destiny that her father's family kept for nearly 100 years.

Tony is the Golden Boy of the nine kids in the Croatian Babic family living in a mining town in the 1920s. He is the hero, the smart one, adored by his little brothers, a football player and all-around nice guy.

When Tony meets Vita, magic happens. Novak, a poet whose work has appeared in literary magazines, tells the story of Tony and Vita's summer of passion in tender prose that captures the all-consuming feelings of first love nobody ever forgets.

Tony, who wants to be considered a man, drops out of high school against Vita's wishes and takes a job in the mines so he can save money for their wedding. But something happens. Vita graduates from high school (a big deal among immigrant families) and her love dries up when she realizes she wants more than marriage and the babies that will arrive so often.

Tony, still so much in love, doesn't hear her protests and goes on making plans. Until he gets her letter of rejection.

The reader knows from the beginning that something happens to Tony, especially in the sections narrated in the future by his brother, Johnny, when the rest of the family is dead. Johnny muses on how little the family had when he was growing up, and the bounty of cars and boats that came after World War II.

A parallel story is about the family's boarder, Luka, who becomes a cop in Chicago during the heyday of criminal activity headed by Al Capone and others. Luka saw that most everyone was on the take, including some of his fellow police officers.

Novak does a nice job of juxtaposing the dead-end lives of the mining families with the corruption of big Chicago. And she does it with an economy of words. In only 208 pages in a 57-inch format, she brings the reader into the minds and hearts of her characters.

Readers won't soon forget the poignant love story of Tony and Vita.

Novak's previous books are: "Do Not Find Me," its companion, "The Autobiography of Corrine Bernard," and "Rare Birds."

"The Queen: 70 Years of Majestic Style" by Bethan Holt (Ryland Peters and Small ($24.99)

When Queen Elizabeth II turned 90 in 2016, Vanity Fair's International Best-Dressed List gave her a special citation: "Politics, culture, and class structure in the empire  all of that shifts constantly, but she doesn't. She's a beacon."

"The Queen" traces Her Majesty's clothing choices from the time she was a young princess to the present. In 200 color photos, the queen is shown in off-duty riding clothes, in her state robes and wedding gown, evening dress and on tour. There are chapters on her favorite designers and who comes up with her iconic hats.

What all her designers had to keep in mind is that the queen must wear colors that allow her to stand out in a crowd, and her hats must not shade or hide her face.

Everything about her wardrobe is carefully thought out, because everything she wears is scrutinized. When she was married to Prince Philip there was controversy about whether her silk wedding dress was made by Chinese worms from "nationalist China" rather than "enemy" Japanese worms. And she created a stir when she left the hospital after surgery wearing a pants suit.

The most fascinating chapter is about Her Majesty's jewels, including those tiaras we learned about when Megan Markle married Prince Harry. The history of many of the Queen's jewels is revealed, including those bequeathed to her by her grandmother, Queen Mary. Among them is the Cullinan III and IV diamond brooch made up of diamonds cut from a larger one. Only a queen with a large jewelry collection could call this valuable brooch "Granny's chips" as Her Majesty does.

From horseback riding with Ronald Reagan to greeting Pres. and Mrs. John Kennedy, this is a peek into the Queen's careful ability to dress in perfect taste while staying in fashion according to her standards.
Roger Stone, a former adviser and confidante to former U.S. President Donald Trump, addresses reporters in Washington, DC on December 17, 2021.Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images

Roger Stone was furious with Trump for not issuing preemptive pardons for him and other allies, per WaPo.

The Post viewed 20 hours of documentary footage of Stone filmed by Danish filmmakers.

The videos reveal Stone's role in trying to overturn the 2020 election and events surrounding January 6.

Longtime GOP strategist and Trump ally Roger Stone said Donald Trump's presidency was the "greatest single mistake in American history," in footage obtained by The Washington Post.

The Washington Post said it had viewed 20 hours of footage of Stone filmed by Danish filmmakers for an upcoming documentary titled "A Storm Foretold."

Stone was filmed for two years, including on January 6, 2021, as the Capitol riot unfolded.

The footage reveals that Stone was furious with the outgoing president for failing to issue a blanket pardon to protect himself and other Trump allies who had tried to overturn the 2020 election. Stone had even created a "pardon wish list" that included Michael Sessa and Victor Orena, former members of the Colombo crime family serving life sentences for murder and racketeering convictions in the 1990s, according to The Post.

On Inauguration day, Stone was filmed talking to a friend and savagely criticizing Trump's son-in-law and adviser Jared Kushner  "he needs to have a beating"  before rounding on the former president dubbing him the "greatest single mistake in American history."

Stone was also recorded saying he would support Trump's impeachment in a video published by The Post.

"I'm done with this president. I'm going to go public supporting impeachment. I have no choice. He has to go. He has to go. Run again! You'll get your fucking brains beat in," Stone said in the clip, appearing to mock any future presidential runs by Trump.

However, a few weeks later, Stone said he would support a Trump 2024 presidential bid.

In the footage, Stone seemed especially enraged that the former president had on that day pardoned his former chief strategist Steve Bannon, who was facing federal fraud charges, The Post said.

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Stone and Bannon have long feuded after the latter testified in Stone's 2019 obstruction trial, which resulted in him being sentenced to 40 months in prison. Trump later commuted Stone's sentence and then issued a full pardon.

Stone denied any involvement in the Capitol riot

The footage obtained by The Post helps piece together Stone's activities following the 2020 election, as he worked to help overturn the results, and his involvement in the January 6 rallies in Washington culminating in the Capitol attack.

Stone worked behind the scenes to promote the "Stop the Steal" movement, which spread false election fraud conspiracy theories, and galvanized Trump supporters in the lead up to January 6, the outlet reported.

Roger Stone leaves after speaking to supporters of US President Donald Trump outside the US Supreme Court January 5, 2021, in Washington, DC. Brendan Smialowski/ AFP via Getty Images

While Stone was initially billed as a top-tier speaker at the January 6 rally, footage filmed by the Danish filmmakers reveals that Stone ultimately did not attend because organizers had not secured him VIP access to reach the stage.

The filmmakers filmed Stone in his hotel room at the Willard Hotel, packing up to leave DC as he watched the riot unfolding on TV.

Stone appears to condemn the riot, saying: "I think it's really bad for the movement. This hurts. It doesn't help."

However, he repeated false claims about the 2020 election being stolen and suggested that violence was inevitable, The Post said.

The footage also reveals that Stone met with and corresponded with members of far-right militia groups, including Oath Keepers leader Stewart Rhodes and Proud Boys leader Enrique Tarrio, before and after January 6.

The cameras captured Stone being guarded on January 5 by multiple Oath Keepers, including Joshua James and Brian Ulrich, as well as James inside Stone's suite in the hours before the riot, The Post reported.

Rhodes, James, and Ulrich have all been charged with seditious conspiracy concerning the Capitol riot.

Stone denied any involvement in the Capitol riot in an email to The Post.

"Any claim, assertion or implication that I knew about, was involved in or condoned the illegal acts at the Capitol on Jan 6 is categorically false and there is no witness or document that proves otherwise," he said.

He also suggested without proof that the video clips of him could be "deep fakes."

Insider reached out to Roger Stone for comment but had not heard back at the time of publishing.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Russian President Vladimir Putin likened Western sanctions to a declaration of war Saturday and warned that any move to create a no-fly zone above Ukraine would be viewed as participation in the conflict.

Putins latest rhetorical escalation of tensions came hours after an effort to evacuate civilians from the besieged city of Mariupol was suspended when Ukraine said Russian forces violated a temporary cease-fire with an ongoing barrage of shelling.

The apparent collapse of the first agreement to create humanitarian corridors in the country underscored the perilous existence of civilians facing a Russian assault that has brought death and destruction to its democratic neighbor.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy continued his efforts Saturday to bolster support for his embattled country and for added pressure on Russia.

On a video conference call with about 300 members of Congress on Saturday morning, Zelenskyy doubled down on the need to establish a no-fly zone over Ukrainian airspace, multiple sources on the call told NBC News.

He also requested that Visa and Mastercard suspend operations in Russia, according to three people on the call, which both financial services corporations did Saturday.

President Joe Biden and Zelenskyy spoke for about 30 minutes Saturday evening, and Biden said the decision by Visa and Mastercard was welcomed, according to a readout of the call provided by the White House.

Zelenskyy said in a tweet that the two presidents had discussed issues of security, financial support for Ukraine and the continuation of sanctions.

Latest developments on Ukraine:

Visa and Mastercard announce they are suspending operations in Russia

Putin says western sanctions are the equivalent of war.

Zelenskyy accuses NATO of giving Russia green light to continue shelling his country.

Some Americans try to join the fight in Ukraine

Zelenskyy speaks with about 300 members of Congress, explaining a need to establish a no-fly zone over Ukrainian airspace.

Ukrainian officials have leaned on the messaging app Telegram to spread information

Story continues

Also on Saturday Israels prime minister met with Putin in Moscow. Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennetts office confirmed the meeting at the Kremlin, which came just days after Bennett spoke over the phone with both Russia and Ukrainian leaders.

Zelenskyy in his latest national address via his Telegram channel told Ukrainians in all our cities where the enemy has entered, feel it, go on the offensive!

When you do not have weapons, and you are answered with shots  you do not run, Zelenskyy said Saturday afternoon. Occupation  is temporary and artificial. Ukrainians do not retreat and do not give up!

No-fly zone

Since Putin launched the invasion nine days ago, he has seen his military struggle against staunch Ukrainian resistance and his country subject to global condemnation, isolation and crippling economic sanctions.

On Saturday, Putin described those sanctions as methods of fighting against Russia.

These sanctions that you can see here are the equivalent of war, but thankfully it has not come to an actual war, he said during a visit to a training center for Russian airline Aeroflot.

Any country that moved to create a no-fly zone above Ukraine would be viewed as participants of this conflict, he added.

The United States and its Western allies have also said that the creation of no-fly zone would be likely to put them on course for a direct military confrontation with Russia and risk a wider war.

However, Zelenskyy has lashed out at NATO for rejecting a no-fly zone, arguing the decision was giving Russia a green light to continue shelling his country.

Zelenskyy also called for the need for a no-fly zone on his call with Congress on Saturday morning, and appealed for fighter jets and other military aid.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., one of the lawmakers on the call, told Zelenskyy that Congress will get the $10 billion in economic, humanitarian, and security assistance to the Ukrainian people quickly, according to two people with knowledge of the call.

A White House spokesperson said Saturday that the Biden administration was in talks with Poland about a deal that would involve Poland donating its old Russian-made MiG fighters to Ukraine, and replacing them with the purchase of U.S.-made F-16 jets.

Also Saturday, the U.S. government allowed an approved Russian government airliner into Dulles, Virginia on Saturday in an effort to facilitate the departure of Russian UN Mission personnel who were expelled for abuse of their privileges of residence, according to a State Department spokeswoman in Brussels.

This comes days after the U.S. Mission to the United Nations said it was expelling a dozen Russian diplomats for conducting espionage. Since then, the U.S. banned Russian planes from U.S. airspace.

This special exception was done in accordance with federal regulations to ensure Russian mission personnel and their families departed by the date we had instructed, she said.

On Saturday, the U.S. Department of State urged Americans to not travel to Russia. The agency is also advising U.S. citizens living or traveling in Russia to depart immediately, pointing out that limited commercial flight options are still available.

It came days after the U.S. Mission to the United Nations said it was expelling a dozen Russian diplomats for conducting espionage. Since then, the U.S. banned Russian planes from U.S. airspace.

"This special exception was done in accordance with federal regulations to ensure Russian mission personnel and their families departed by the date we had instructed," she said.

Do not travel to Russia due to the unprovoked and unjustified attack by Russian military forces in Ukraine, the potential for harassment against U.S. citizens by Russian government security officials, the Embassys limited ability to assist U.S. citizens in Russia, Covid-19 and related entry restrictions, terrorism, limited flights into and out of Russia, and the arbitrary enforcement of local law, the U.S. Department of State said in a statement.

The warning comes amid reports Saturday afternoon that WNBA player Brittney Griner was arrested in Russia after the Russian Federal Customs Service said it discovered cartridges containing hashish oil in her luggage at the Sheremetyevo airport near Moscow.

USA Basketball and her team, Phoenix Mercury, said they are monitoring the situation and are working to get the American athlete home.

Visa, Mastercard halt operations

Adding to the financial measures taken against Russia, Visa and Mastercard announced Saturday that they would be suspending operations in that country.

The suspension, which is effective immediately, means Visa cards issued in Russia would no longer work outside the country, and cards issued outside of Russia wont work within the Russian Federation, Visa said.

We are compelled to act following Russias unprovoked invasion of Ukraine, and the unacceptable events that we have witnessed, Visa Chairman and CEO Al Kelly said in a statement. We regret the impact this will have on our valued colleagues, and on the clients, partners, merchants and cardholders we serve in Russia. This war and the ongoing threat to peace and stability demand we respond in line with our values.

Mastercard said in a statement it has no other choice but to suspend its network in the country in order to comply with global regulators and sanctions that aim to squeeze targeted financial institutions.

We dont take this decision lightly, it said, citing its 25 years of operating in Russia, where nearly 200 of its colleagues work. When it is appropriate, and if it is permissible under the law, we will use their passion and creativity to work to restore operations.

Mastercard accounts issued by Russian banks will no longer work, the company said, and those from outside the country wont be approved at retailers and ATMs inside Russia.

Earlier this week, Visa and Mastercard blocked some Russian financial institutions from their networks but not all.

On Tuesday American Express, which says its presence in Russia is small, said in a statement that it has halted relationships with banks targeted by U.S. and European Union sanctions.

On Feb. 26, the U.S. and its allies announced they were moving to cut Russia off from the SWIFT global financial network that facilitates rapid transactions between institutions around the world.

Evacuation efforts suspended

Putins comments came after an effort to evacuate civilians from the besieged city of Mariupol was suspended Saturday after Ukraine said Russian forces violated a temporary cease-fire announced hours earlier.

Russia and Ukraine both said they had agreed to a temporary cease-fire early Saturday in the key port city, Mariupol, and smaller nearby city Volnovakha to allow the creation of humanitarian corridors to evacuate civilians.

But shortly after the evacuations were set to begin, Mariupols city council said that Russian forces continued shelling the city and surrounding areas.

We ask all Mariupol residents to disperse and follow to the places of shelter, it said in a post on Telegram, adding that negotiations were ongoing to ensure a safe route out of the city, which has been encircled and bombarded for days.

Russia has consistently denied targeting civilians. Without offering evidence, the countrys defense ministry said no one had made use of the corridors and accused Ukrainian nationalists of preventing civilians from leaving, the RIA state news agency reported.

The announcement of a limited cease-fire had appeared to represent the first breakthrough in allowing civilians to escape a Russian assault that has brought death and destruction to the country.

The move came after a second round of talks between the two countries earlier this week produced an agreement on the creation of humanitarian corridors, though no progress was made on a broader halt to Moscows attack on its democratic neighbor.

Since he launched the invasion nine days ago, Putin has seen his military struggle against staunch resistance on the ground and moved increasingly to bombarding cities and towns from the air.

The conflict has fueled a growing humanitarian crisis and left Moscow facing global condemnation.

Russia's attacks on Mariupol, a large southeastern city on the Azov Sea, have hit critical infrastructure and left it without water, heat or electricity.

The strategic port city has remained in Ukrainian hands, but its council has accused Russia of creating a humanitarian catastrophe and hindering the supply of food.

Mariupols city council said evacuations would take place in stages over several days, with the first window between 4 a.m. ET and 9 a.m. ET. Saturday. It said the corridor would extend to the city of Zaporizhzhia, about 140 miles away.

The corridor would allow the restoration of critical infrastructure to begin and make it possible to deliver medicine and other supplies, the council said, adding that civilians would be able to leave using designated bus routes and their own cars. Drivers should fill the vehicles as much as possible, it said.

However just before 6 a.m. ET the city council posted an urgent update telling residents the evacuation was postponed and they should seek shelter, with Russian shelling seemingly ongoing.

Ukraines deputy prime minister, Iryna Vereschuk, also accused Russian forces of shelling Volnovakha with heavy weapons in a video posted to Telegram. She added that there was ongoing fighting on the route between Mariupol and Zaporizhzhia.

I hereby state that Russia has violated this agreement, failed to fulfill its duty, she said.

Russian gains in the south

Russian forces have made key gains in the south in recent days, seizing control of the city of Kherson, further along the coast, and Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, Europes largest, after an attack that sparked a fire and brief fears of nuclear meltdown.

Ukraines nuclear regulator has maintained communications with staff at the plant in southeastern Ukraine, the International Atomic Energy Agency said in a statement Saturday.

Two of the six reactors at the plant are operating, technical safety systems remain intact and radiation levels are normal, the agency said.

But Russia's progress has come with an intensifying aerial assault on civilian areas across Ukraine, driving a rapid exodus that has seen more than 1 million people flee the country while others have been left to shelter in their basements or local metro stations.

In an update early Saturday, Britains ministry of defense said that the overall rate of Russian air and artillery strikes appeared to have fallen in the past 24 hours, however.

It added that Russian forces were probably advancing on the southern port city of Mykolaiv, and it was possible some would continue on to Odessa, a crucial port. If captured it could largely shut the country off from international shipping.

Russias campaign in northern Ukraine has struggled to make similar progress, but the ministry of defense update said that in addition to Mariupol it was highly likely that Kharkiv, Ukraines second-largest city, as well as Sumy and Chernihiv, were encircled by Russian forces. There were also reports of street fighting in Sumy, it said.

Fierce defense in those cities has helped thwart a Russian advance on Kyiv, the capital.

Putins initial aim seemed to be the overthrow of Zelenskyys Western-leaning government in order to install a regime friendlier to the Kremlin and restore Moscow's influence over its neighbors three decades after the fall of the Soviet Union.

But dogged Ukrainian resistance has slowed the advance of Russian troops, fueling fears that Moscow could resort to more brutal violence and escalate what is already one of the most intense military conflicts on the continent since World War II.

Growing casualties and refugees

Since Russia invaded on Feb. 24, there have been 1,058 civilian casualties, including at least 351 civilian deaths and 19 children, the United Nations human rights office said Saturday, although it noted that it believes the "real figures are considerably higher."

Fearing Russian attacks, tens of thousands of people have packed train stations in Kyiv and elsewhere to head west to cities like Lviv, which has become a hub for diplomatic efforts and news media.

Aid agencies have warned of a humanitarian disaster across the country as food, water and medical supplies run short. The number of refugees could rise to 1.5 million by the end of the weekend from a current 1.3 million, the head of the United Nations refugee agency said Saturday.

Image: UKRAINE-RUSSIA-CONFLICT (ARIS MESSINIS / AFP - Getty Images)

Zelenskyy meanwhile, has remained in Kyiv, using social media and video addresses to rally international support and urge Ukrainians to join the fight.

Washington and its allies have focused on supplying Ukraine with aid and weapons, while imposing crippling sanctions that have sent Russias economy spiraling.

News blocked in Moscow

On Saturday, the Biden administration praised U.S. companies for condemning a new wave of censorship from Russia that includes shuttering, restricting or scaring off news outlets independent of the Kremlin. Russia said Friday it would block Facebook and that Twitter would be restricted. And its parliament passed a bill introducing sentences of up to 15 years in prison for intentionally spreading fake information about military action.

National Security Council spokesperson Emily Horne said in a statement released by the White House that the U.S. condemns the fake news law.

"To hide the truth from its own citizens, Russias censorship agency has shuttered independent Russian media outlets, blocked social media, and restricted access in Russia to international news outlets," she added.

The United States will hold accountable media and proxies that help distribute Putin's lies, Horne said. She encouraged American companies and organizations to continue fighting Russia-borne propaganda about the invasion.

Russias communications watchdog has restricted access to the BBC Russian service as well as Voice of America, Radio Liberty and other foreign-based media outlets for spreading what it cast as false information about the conflict.

Amid the country's media crackdown, CNN said it would stop airing in Russia, and the BBC and Bloomberg News suspended reporting on the ground.

The independent radio network Echo of Moscow and the television station TV Rain also said they were halting operations this week.

The countrys security services have also moved to quash any protests against the invasion.
(Reuters) - Russia's foreign ministry called on European Union and NATO countries on Saturday to "stop pumping weapons" to Ukraine, the Russian RIA news agency said.

It said Moscow was particularly worried that portable anti-aerial Stinger missiles could end up in the hands of terrorists, posing a threat to airlines.

(Editing by William Maclean)
Aeroflot has been affected by the international response against the Russian invasion of Ukraine (AFP via Getty Images)

Russias flagship airline, Aeroflot, has said it will halt all international flights - except to Belarus - in the wake of sanctions over the war in Ukraine.

It will stop flying to the rest of the world with the exception of one neighbouring country from Tuesday, it said in a statement.

The flag carrier has been affected by the international response against Russias attack on Ukraine, which has killed hundreds of civilians and forced more than a million to flee the country amid missile strikes on cities and heavy fighting across the nation.

A number of countries and regions - including the UK, the European Union and the US - have banned Russian flights from entering their airspaces in response to the invasion, forcing airplanes to drastically change routes to avoid them.

A travel technology company also removed Aeroflot from its systems used to book flights, preventing customers from reserving seats with the airline.

The Russian flag carrier announced on Saturday it would be suspending nearly all international flights from Tuesday midnight Moscow time due to circumstances impeding operations.

It would also stop passengers boarding international flights from Sunday, where they have a return-trip booked for after the cut-off date of 8 March.

Passengers of cancelled international flights can apply for a full refund of the ticket price, the airline said in its statement.

The only remaining flight overseas would be to Minsk, the capital of Belarus, which has been supporting Russia throughout the invasion.

Also on Saturday, the UK told British nationals to leave Russia by remaining commercial routes if their presence was not necessary in the country attacking neighbouring Ukraine.




Russia's seizure of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear facility in Ukraine - the largest nuclear power plant in Europe - sparked new fears Friday about targeting nuclear infrastructure following past environmental catastrophes at such locations.

The former Soviet republic has 15 nuclear reactors, and the military conflict is the first in European history being carried out on such dangerous ground. Ukraine is also home to the Chernobyl plant, the site of the worst nuclear power plant accident in history.

Experts say that while new safeguards have been implemented since the Chernobyl disaster, the latest event represents a troubling escalation of Russia's targeting of energy infrastructure.

"We're trying to make very clear to Russia the importance of protecting the civilian nuclear power plants and not doing anything that could cause a real incident going forward," a senior Energy Department official told reporters on Friday.

Russian forces took control of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear facility in Ukraine on Friday, drawing concerns and condemnation, even though authorities said the recent actions didn't appear to have caused radioactive materials to spew from the plant.

Russia also recently captured the Chernobyl site, where a deadly 1986 nuclear disaster caused an explosion that killed two people and exposed numerous others to radiation, from which many developed illnesses.

On Friday, observers and officials alike raised concerns about the possible future of nuclear plants in the conflict after the seizure of Zaporizhzhia.

"Nuclear facilities cannot become part of this conflict," said U.S. ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield during an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council.

"Russia must halt any further use of force that might put at further risk all 15 operable reactors across Ukraine - or interfere with Ukraine's ability to maintain the safety and the security of its 37 nuclear facilities and their surrounding populations," she added.

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In a press call Friday, Edwin Lyman, director of nuclear power safety at the Union of Concerned Scientists, expressed "grave concern" and said that despite the built-in safety measures, Ukraine's plants were not built with a goal of withstanding war.

"No nuclear plant has been designed to withstand the potential threat of a full-scale military attack, and the plants in Ukraine are no exception," he said. "The presence of these vulnerable facilities adds a very dangerous dimension to the unfolding humanitarian and environmental catastrophe that's already being caused by Russia's invasion, and all parties involved need to make sure that these plants remain undamaged and functional.

"Nuclear plants have a wide range of vulnerabilities to the kinds of damage that could be caused by military assaults, either explosions or fires that would be able to damage not only directly reactor systems such as the containment reactor core but also the critical auxiliary systems that are needed to provide for instance electricity to power the cooling pumps that keep the radioactive fuel and the spent the fuel that's stored onsite in pools, cool," he added.

Jack Kelly, a visiting fellow at the German Marshall Fund of the United States, said he believes that a big part of why Russia took the Zaporizhzhia and Chernobyl facilities was their location.

Kelly noted that Chernobyl is part of the "quickest route from Belarus down to Kyiv" and added that Zaporizhzhia is "on the way" from Russia's other positions near places like Crimea.

He said other plants in Ukraine that aren't in strategic locations may not become targets.

Kelly also said he didn't believe the plants' designs would allow for significant releases of radioactive material.

"They could maybe pierce a containment vessel for spent fuel, which would maybe locally aerosol some radioactive material, but it wouldn't be anything catastrophic ... or hard to clean up," Kelly said.

The reaction to the fighting at Zaporizhzhia, however, was widely one of worry for what could come next.

"We call on Putin to cease these reckless actions immediately, including conflict around nuclear power plants," tweeted Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm. "We will continue to monitor the situation and we're united against Putin's unprovoked attack on Ukraine."
For more business and finance explainers, check out our Yahoo U page.

Economic sanctions on Russia following the countrys invasion of Ukraine have sent the Russian ruble for a tailspin. Following several measures from Western countries to isolate Russias economy, the ruble lost over 30% of its value against the U.S. dollar.

A devaluing currency makes sense, given sanctions on Russias largest banks and the severance of other firms from the international banking system known as SWIFT.

But the most impactful measure on the Russian ruble is the Western freeze imposed on the nations central bank, the Bank of Russia.

On Feb. 28, the U.S. Treasurys Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) blocked off the Russian central banks access to any of its assets in the U.S. Doing so harms the governments ability to defend the Russian ruble from rapid devaluation.

Several other countries joined the U.S. in essentially freezing the Bank of Russias assets, including Japan, Germany, the United Kingdom, the European Commission, and Italy.

What does it mean to freeze a countrys central bank assets?

The Treasurys actions did not necessarily freeze the Bank of Russia itself, but rather any assets that it holds abroad.

In todays modern financial system, most assets are not physically held but accounted for digitally. For the Bank of Russia, even though it may own reserves of foreign currencies and gold, those bills and bars may be held in Japan or in the United States.

Russian 500 and 1000 denomination ruble banknotes sit in a cashier's tray in London, U.K. Credit: Getty

Those jurisdictions can therefore decide to lock the country from being able to access those reserves  which is exactly what the U.S. and its partners have done against Russia.

This action effectively immobilizes any assets of the Central Bank of the Russian Federation held in the United States or by U.S. persons, wherever located, the U.S. Treasury said of the action. Several European countries have made similar moves, as has Japan.

How does this impact the ruble?

This concerns the Russian central banks $630.2 billion in reserves, which would otherwise have helped the country stabilize the ruble.

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Because a currencys value can fluctuate according to the flow of foreign exchange around the world, central banks often hold a war chest of other countries currencies  and sometimes gold  to counter any risk of devaluation.

When a countrys currency is tumbling, it can buy up its devalued currency using its reserve assets (i.e. U.S. dollars) to prop its value back up.

But if it cannot use those reserve assets because sanctions prevent them from doing so, it becomes vastly more difficult to counteract.

Cant Russia use other reserve assets?

Sure, and thats a big reason why Russia has moved in recent years to reduce its holdings of U.S. dollars.

As of 2021, only about 16.4% of the Bank of Russias reserves are in U.S. dollars, according to the central bank itself. About 21.7% of its holdings are instead in gold and 13.1% in Chinese yuan.

But the international communitys collective efforts make the sanctions more potent. When looking at where the Bank of Russias assets are stored, sanctioning countries make up at least 48.6% of the Bank of Russias foreign exchange and gold assets reserves.

The Bank of Russia's assets are spread out around the world, with China and France serving as the two countries with the largest share of holdings (as of 6/30/2021). Source: Bank of Russia

Making it difficult to access half of a central banks reserves drastically cripples its ability to counter a devaluing currency.

The implications of a weakening ruble are serious; it makes it more expensive to buy imports and stokes concerns about a banking collapse. The risk of bank runs increase as citizens worry about the value of the domestic currency.

Julia Friedlander at the Atlantic Council pointed out to Yahoo Finance Live that this is not the first time that a central bank has been targeted by sanctions, although she noted this is the largest economy by size to face one so far.

I dont really know how this is going to play out, Friedlander said on Feb. 28. But it really does show coordination between the U.S. and its closest allies can really take a hatchet to anything they want to.

Read and watch more of Yahoo U here

Read the latest financial and business news from Yahoo Finance

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Samsung has joined other tech giants in taking a stand against Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Lee Jin-man/AP

Samsung has suspended product shipments to Russia amid its invasion of Ukraine, per reports.

The company said in a statement that it was actively monitoring the situation.

Other tech giants like Apple and Microsoft have also halted sales and services in the country.

Samsung has announced that it is suspending product shipments to Russia, following the country's invasion of Ukraine, Bloomberg reported.

In a statement sent to media outlets, the company says: "We continue to actively monitor this complex situation to determine our next steps," per Reuters.

The South Korean firm joins other major companies such as Apple, Nike, and IKEA stopping sales and services in Russia, Insider reported.

A source told Bloomberg that it will affect all Samsung products, from chips to smartphones and consumer electronics. "Our thoughts are with everyone who has been impacted and our priority is to ensure the safety of all our employees and their families," the statement said.

Samsung did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment, made outside of normal working hours.

On Friday, Ukraine's vice prime minister Mykhailo Fedorov wrote a letter to Samsung vice chairman Han Jong-hee to urge the company to temporarily stop supplying services and products to Russia.

In the letter, which he posted on his Twitter account, Fedorov said: "We believe that such actions will motivate the youth and active population of Russia to proactively stop the disgraceful military aggression."

He called for support, saying that "modern technology is perhaps the best answer to the tanks, multiple rocket launchers, and missiles targeting residential neighborhoods, kindergartens, and hospitals."

He added: "Stay with Ukraine and save millions of innocent lives!"

Per the report, the tech giant is also donating $6 million, including $1 million in consumer electronics products, to humanitarian efforts in Ukraine.

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Non-Russian companies find it challenging to operate in the country due to the sanctions imposed by Western countries, according to Bloomberg. This includes the US banning transactions with the country's central bank.

Insider's Abby Wallace reported on Tuesday that the world's biggest shipping company is also taking a stand against Russia's invasion of Ukraine by suspending business in the region.

Meanwhile, Facebook pulled all ads in Russia and blocked all Russian advertisers globally, while a Moscow court fined Twitter for not taking down posts encouraging protests.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Mar. 4McAlester school board members discussed Friday how to conduct a search for a new superintendent.

McAlester Public Schools Board of Education hired the Oklahoma State School Board Association to help facilitate the search to replace Superintendent Randy Hughes, who announced in February his retirement effective at the end of the academic year in May.

School board members spoke Friday during a special meeting with Stephanie Hyder, director of strategic initiatives and executive search searches for OSSBA, about services the association offers and what the search process will entail.

"It gives them an opportunity to have a voice," Hyder said. "It really creates a sense that the have been involved in the process. Their feedback is really important."

The board agreed to allow Hyder to visit McAlester at a later date to hold meetings with district administrative staff, teachers and staff, specific groups, and the community at large.

Hyder said she will take the anonymous stakeholder input gathered from the meetings and make responses available for board review. OSSBA will form interview questions based on the data and will provide the input to the next superintendent to provide a sense of what the community wants.

"It's just a really good opportunity for the person to have their finger on the pulse of the community before they get started," Hyder said.

Hyder cautioned and recommended the board to not have non-board members involved in the interview process due to confidentiality concerns and to maximize applicants.

"I've had candidates tell me that if it is an open search and there will be other people involved outside the executive session discussion with the board, they won't apply," Hyden said. "And if some of them find out after the fact, they will withdraw their names."

An online survey will also be sent to community members to gather information for the search.

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Along with hosting the meetings, OSSBA will also handle creating communication material for the district to distribute throughout the process and handle the collections of the applications.

Board members will be able to see the applicants as they are received to do their own research on the candidates along with a rubric to help rank the candidates and pick who to invite for an interview.

The board was also given the option for a third-party to verify the information given in the application along with background, social media, and traditional media checks at an additional cost.

A specific date for the meetings was not decided at the Friday meeting  but MPS Board President Joy Tribbey said she wanted it to happen "quick."

Hyder said she expects the application link to go live no later than March 11 at www.ossba.org.

This marks the school's first superintendent search since hiring Hughes in 2016.

Two interim superintendents served the district after Dr. Marsha Gore's firing in 2016. Interim Superintendents Jim Northcutt worked in the district before resigning due to health reasons with Monte Madewell subsequently hired to finish out the school year.

The MPS School Board hired Hughes on July 1, 2016 through its own search.

Board members in the 2016 search choose to conduct the search independently after rescinding a contract with the OSSBA.

School board members at the time told the News-Capital that finances were the main reason for rescinding the contract and the school board believed it could do the same work offered by OSSBA.

Board Member Mike Sossamon, who has been a part of two superintendent searches during his 11-year tenure on the board, said this search will be a more thorough search than previous searches.

"I can say this is, by far, more comprehensive that we've gotten with this than ever before," Sossamon said. "So, this is going to be good."

Contact Derrick James at djames@mcalesternews.com
STORY: Thousands of Serbs waving Russian flags and carrying pictures of President Vladimir Putin marched through Belgrade to the Russian embassy on Friday, in a rare show of public support for Moscow after its invasion of Ukraine.

Serbia is performing a delicate balancing act between its European aspirations, partnership with NATO and its centuries-old religious, ethnic and political alliance with Russia.

Around 4,000 people joined the march after gathering in front of a monument of Russian Tsar Nicholas II in central Belgrade, where they played Russian and Serbian anthems and hailed the two countries as brethren nations.

"This is about saving mankind," said an elderly man carrying a Russian flag. "This is the battle between good and evil. And we know, glory to Lord, the Mother Russia will win.
As many as 185,000 North Carolina residents are now eligible for license restoration

The recent settlement of a class-action lawsuit against the state of North Carolina enables thousands of its low-income drivers to seek restoration of their suspended licenses, which advocates say were revoked unfairly.

As reported by The Charlotte Observer, a federal court on Thursday approved the agreement requiring the N.C. Division of Motor Vehicles to notify approximately 185,000 residents of their right under state law to testify that they didnt have the ability to pay tickets and other financial penalties that led to the suspension of their drivers licenses.

Stock photo of cars in traffic by Life Of Pix from Pexels.

According to the Observer, judges have the power to restore a suspended license for those who demonstrate that they cannot afford the penalties, yet, as the suit claims, the state was not adequately ensuring that residents were even aware of their right to an ability-to-pay hearing.

Per the ACLU of North Carolina, which filed the suit in 2018 alongside the ACLU, the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) and other advocacy groups, this system violates the Fourteenth Amendments promises of due process and equal protection under the law by subjecting residents, primarily people of color, to cycles of debt, traffic violations, and poverty.

The groups additionally argued that people of color are disproportionately impacted by this practice due to longstanding racial and ethnic gaps in poverty and wealth and the inability drive can exacerbate challenges faced by these residents in securing and maintaining employment as well as accessing essential goods and services.

Michael Delgado, staff attorney for the ACLU of N.C., told the Observer that such a revocation process is unnecessarily harsh and punitive and the settlement should lift some of the burden of ticket debt from residents and communities of color.

People should know that theres a process to request a court hearing and possible relief if they believe their drivers licenses were wrongly revoked. The public should have clear information about their rights to a state court hearing regarding their ability to pay traffic-related fines and costs before their license is taken away from them, Delgado told the Observer.

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The outlet reports that a 2021 Duke University study entitled Driving Injustice concluded that upwards of 1.2 million N.C. drivers  or 15% of the states population above driving age  have had their licenses revoked, whether for failure to pay tickets and court costs, failing to attend court hearings, or a combination thereof.

Lawsuit: The poor shouldn't lose licenses over traffic fines: Because he can't pay $228 in traffic fines, Seti Johnson faces revocation of his North Carolina's driver's license, which means he won't be able to drive to the job he hopes to get soon. For https://t.co/Oalutjxkn7 pic.twitter.com/EgvngcU5Mw  Casey Weigel (@TheCaseyWeigel) May 30, 2018

Per the ACLU of N.C., 15% of the states population also lives in poverty, and according to legal aid and justice advocates in the region, poverty is behind most suspensions.

It is important for the integrity of the judicial system and our communities that people come to court when they are told to do so, Jennifer Lechner, executive director of the N.C. Equal Access to Justice Commission, told the Observer. However, just like unpaid fines and fees, the root cause of a large number of failures to appear is a lack of financial resources.

Lechner added: We hear from clients that they missed court because they couldnt get transportation, couldnt get off work, or couldnt find childcare or that they were intimidated by the court process and were afraid to come to court without an attorney. It is my belief that greater equity and transparency around the issuance of fines and fees would also encourage people to show up.

In the settlement, the DMV will now create a website to provide a source for information on avoiding license revocation for inability to pay, as well as resources for free legal assistance, the Observer reports.

Lechner told the outlet that the settlement is an important acknowledgment of the harm of suspensions for unpaid fines and fees, yet added that more work is still needed to hold the state accountable.

Poverty-based license revocation is far from over, Lechner told the Observer. We know that many people who are sent their notices will never receive them, many more will not be able to navigate the court system on their own  and many of those who do will ultimately be denied relief.

She added: Meanwhile, these suspensions will continue to impact hundreds of thousands of North Carolinians.

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The post Settlement approved for low-income NC drivers with suspended licenses appeared first on TheGrio.
The following convicted sex offenders recently registered to live in Pierce County.

Each is categorized as a Level 3 sex offender  those considered most likely to commit similar crimes. None is wanted by law enforcement officers at this time.

All convicted sex offenders registered to live in Tacoma and Pierce County are listed on the Pierce County Sheriffs Departments website at piercesheriff.org.

James R. LaBaum

Age: 35.

Description: 6 feet and 220 pounds, with brown hair and blue eyes.

Where registered to live: 24700 block of 78th Avenue East, Graham.

Criminal history: Convicted in 1999 of indecent liberties with forcible compulsion and unlawful imprisonment in Cowlitz County for sexually assaulting a classmate who uses a wheelchair on three different occasions. Convicted in 2001 of first-degree child molestation and first-degree attempted child rape for trying to have sex with a 7-year-old familial girl.

Sex offender treatment: Records do not state whether LaBaum has participated in a sex offender treatment program.

For more information: Call Pierce County Sheriffs Department at 253-798-7530.

Leland A. James

Age: 28.

Description: 6-foot-6 and 220 pounds, with black hair and hazel eyes.

Where registered to live: 5800 block of North 33rd Street, Tacoma.

Criminal history: Convicted in 2007 of indecent liberties in Pierce County for sexually assaulting a 5-year-old familial girl. Convicted in 2008 of first-degree child molestation in King County for sexually assaulting a familial boy between the ages of 7 to 9 over a two-year period. Convicted in 2013 of attempted communication with a minor for immoral purposes and communication with a minor for immoral purposes in King County for contacting boys, ages 13 and 14, through social media for sexual purposes.

Sex offender treatment: James was terminated from a sex offender treatment program during his most recent incarceration.

For more information: Call Tacoma Police Department detective Nicole Faivre at 253-591-5476 or Christie Yglesias at 253-591-5869.

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Robert Fred Elliott

Age: 47.

Description: 6 feet and 220 pounds, with black hair and brown eyes.

Where registered to live: Registered as transient, Pierce County.

Criminal history: Convicted in 2013 of felony harassment and indecent exposure in Pierce County for masturbating on a public bus in the presence of several female passengers. Convicted in 2015 of indecent exposure in Pierce County for masturbating in a restaurant in the presence of a 26-year-old female employee. Convicted in 2017 of indecent exposure in Pierce County for masturbating in a public building in front of an adult woman. Convicted in 2018 of indecent exposure in Pierce County for masturbating while staring at a 46-year-old woman through her patio door. Convicted in 2019 of indecent exposure with sexual motivation in Pierce County for exposing himself and masturbating in front of a 26-year-old female stranger at the Tacoma Art Museum.

Sex offender treatment: Records do not state whether Elliott has participated in a sex offender treatment program.

For more information: Call Pierce County Sheriffs Department at 253-798-7530.

James Lee Walters

Age: 56.

Description: 5-foot-10 and 170 pounds, with brown hair and blue eyes.

Where registered to live: 28200 block of 76th Avenue East, Graham.

Criminal history: Convicted in 2008 of first-degree kidnapping and indecent liberties with forcible compulsion in Washington state for abducting a 12-year-old girl he knew. He grabbed the girl after she got off a school bus and took her into nearby woods, where he touched her face and bottom before leaving.

Sex offender treatment: Records do not state whether Walters has participated in a sex offender treatment program.

For more information: Call Pierce County Sheriffs Department at 253-798-7530.
A robust system affecting the eastern half of Canada will arrive in the Maritimes on Sunday with a burst of wintry precipitation before temperatures tilt toward the warmer side. Well see a wide spread in conditions across the region, with rain and warmth in the south while the northern Maritimes and Newfoundland deal with a round of snow and ice. The snow and ice could cause power outages and hamper travel. More on the storms timing, impacts, and what to expect heading into next week, below.

Visit our Complete Guide to Spring 2022 for an in-depth look at the Spring Forecast, tips to plan for it and much more!

SUNDAY: SNOW FOR SOME, WARMTH FOR OTHERS

A low-pressure system will bring potentially significant snowfall and freezing rain to the Maritimes by the end of the weekend. Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) has issued special weather statements for the northern half of New Brunswick.

Snow will begin moving into the Maritimes on Sunday morning. Some areas may see mixing or a complete changeover to freezing rain or ice pellets in the afternoon. Freezing rain could last into Monday morning across parts of New Brunswick. The freezing rain may lead to significant ice accretion and hazardous travel conditions. Power outages are also possible.

ATLIce

A batch of snow will develop along the warm front in the Maritimes. The heaviest accumulations are possible in northern New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, and eastern Nova Scotia, where 10-20 cm could fall through Monday morning.

The system will also bring some rainfall amid the warmer temperatures. This wont be a washout by any means. 5-15 mm of rainfall is expected across the Maritimes, with the heaviest totals expected in northern and eastern Nova Scotia.

Conditions are forecast to improve Monday morning as the system departs the region, though sea-effect snow is possible for eastern Nova Scotia in the afternoon.

Mild temperatures will persist across most of the Maritimes heading into the day on Monday, with highs approaching the 10-degree mark in parts of Nova Scotia.

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NEWFOUNDLAND: ANOTHER THUMP OF SNOW FOR THE AVALON

Across the Gulf in Newfoundland, the system will approach the region Sunday evening with snow and continue through the day on Monday. Precipitation should wind down during the afternoon hours.

ATLSnow

Overall, this shouldnt be an overly impactful system for the island, but travellers will feel the effects of the snow. The heaviest totals will fall in western and southern Newfoundland, where 10-15 cm is possible through Monday. St. John's may pick up 5-10 cm.

TUESDAY AND BEYOND: SEVERAL DAYS OF CALM BEFORE THE PATTERN TURNS ACTIVE

Conditions across Atlantic Canada will return to a calmer state once this latest system clears the region on Monday. The week should feature several days of near- to above-seasonal temperatures for the Maritimes, while seasonably cool conditions hang tight up in St. Johns, N.L.

ATLWed

An active pattern could return to the Atlantic provinces by the end of the week, though, potentially lasting into the middle of the month.

Thumbnail courtesy of Frank Bailey, taken in Bridgewater, N.S.

Stay tuned to The Weather Network for the latest on conditions across the East Coast.
The Biden administration has pledged to reform the student-loan bankruptcy process.

However, the Education Department is opposing borrowers' requests in court.

Advocates are urging the department to halt oppositions until it can implement the reforms.

Rosa Perez filed for bankruptcy on her $78,000 student-debt load in January.

As a public-school counselor, Perez has a monthly income of about $3,400, which she said in a court filing was roughly equal to her monthly expenses. Along with paying for her daughter's expenses  she said she received no child support from her daughter's father  Perez has heart complications that have led to big medical bills, she said.

Perez's expenses "are as conservative as they can possibly be, and she still is unable to meet her monthly expenses, without any ability to make a payment on the Student Loans under their terms," the filing said.

Perez requested a discharge of her loans through bankruptcy, but on Monday the Education Department opposed her request. It was one of the latest examples highlighting how, despite promising reforms, President Joe Biden's administration is continuing to fight borrowers in court.

Student-loan borrowers turn to bankruptcy when they feel they have no other way to pay off their debts. Their biggest challenge is the "undue hardship" standard that Biden helped enact in 2005; it requires borrowers to prove that they cannot maintain a minimal standard of living, that their circumstances aren't likely to improve, and that they have made a good-faith effort to repay their debt.

Richard Cordray, the head of the federal student-aid office, told Congress in October that he would work to reform the bankruptcy process and ensure that borrowers who need relief can access it. Since then, the Education Department has prevented several borrowers from getting the debt forgiveness they sought.

"The process doesn't work well. It needs to be reformed  and we're committed to doing that," Cordray told a House education subcommittee last fall. "There have been discussions already with the Justice Department. They, too, are willing to have us revise our approach."

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Now some lawmakers and advocates are getting antsy  especially as the Education Department continues to oppose borrowers' cases in court.

The Education Department has taken steps to block borrowers' student-loan forgiveness

In January, Ryan Wolfson, 35, was granted discharge of his nearly $100,000 student-debt load after a judge ruled that he'd proved undue hardship. Two weeks later, the Education Department appealed the case. Just one day later, though, the department withdrew its appeal.

"The Department of Education has indicated publicly that it is reviewing current bankruptcy policies, a process which remains ongoing," a department spokesperson told Insider at the time. "While the student-loan-payment pause remains in effect, any borrower in an adversary bankruptcy proceeding can request and receive a stay on their proceedings," the spokesperson added.

Along with appeals, the department has continued to file answers opposing borrowers' requests to discharge their debt. On Thursday, the department opposed a discharge request from a 77-year-old former nurse who couldn't get loan forgiveness through the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program, designed to wipe out debt for public servants after 10 years of qualifying payments.

Given that the department oversees federal student loans, its opposition isn't unexpected. But while it has said it would review bankruptcy discharges on a case-by-case basis, some advocates and lawmakers want no oppositions until the administration implements reforms.

Student Defense, an organization that advocates borrower protections, recently joined 16 other advocacy groups in calling on the department to "immediately withdraw oppositions to individuals seeking undue hardship discharges in bankruptcy proceedings while these reforms are being implemented."

And Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said in response to a question from The Daily Poster at a press conference in February that he "absolutely" supported a moratorium on oppositions.

"It's outrageous that other people get to declare bankruptcy but students can't," Schumer said.

An Education Department spokesperson did not say whether the department would consider halting opposition altogether, but told Insider that "borrowers in financial distress should have the ability to discharge their student loans through bankruptcy, but too often the process leads to unfair results. The Department of Education is committed to revising its approach to bankruptcy to streamline the process and ensure that borrowers get a fair shot."

"In the meantime, ED and the Justice Department are working to ensure that the government does not appeal bankruptcy cases where the borrower has proven an undue hardship," the spokesperson added.

Still, advocates are hoping borrowers will not continue to face pushback on their requests for relief.

"While we strongly welcome the Department's commitment to change how it treats student loan borrowers in bankruptcy, in the meantime, it continues to oppose discharges for cancer patients, struggling grandparents and public school employees with serious medical issues," Aaron Ament, the president of Student Defense, told Insider. "We join Senator Schumer in calling for a moratorium on opposing student borrowers in bankruptcy until the Department implements new policies that put the interests of student borrowers first."

Read the original article on Business Insider
Mar. 5RACHEL  A buyer bid $22.23 per pound on Hunter Tennant's 22-pound grand champion ham, then donated the ham right back to the Marion County Technical Center FFA club for resale.

That's the way many of Friday night's auctions went at the 21st Annual Francis Marion Ham, Bacon and Egg Show, where students were given the chance to reap the rewards of their hard work from the majority of the school year.

The auctions were held at the Marion County Technical Center and John Postlethwait, the agriculture science teacher and Future Farmers of America advisor for the school, said the turn out and product output was great this year.

"Overall, I'm satisfied with the quality of the products and I think we put of some good-quality pieces of meat that will serve the buyers well," Postlethwait said. "This is all the students' work. I provide the knowledge and know-how and they do the labor."

Some of the students do all the animal husbandry on the school grounds, where they can rent a plot in the barn for their animals, others, like Hunter, take their animals home to their own farm.

Hunter, a ninth-grader at North Marion High, grew up learning how to raise animals and it paid off Friday night to the tune of about $800. Hunter had both the grand champion ham and bacon. The ham was sold for $500 and the bacon for $300.

Hunter said his parents and grandparents helped him out a lot in the process of raising his pig well and he was pretty surprised he won the prize for both categories. It's not often the two prizes are won by the same pig.

"At first I didn't know what to think, I walked in one day and [Postlethwait] said, 'You're grand champion,'" Hunter said. "Seems like I'm having pretty good luck around here."

Hunter said he's going to put his sales money toward fixing up his truck by the time he gets his driver's license.

The grand champion eggs belonged to Andrew Lyle, who graduated from North Marion in 2021 and is now a freshman at Ohio State University Agriculture Technical Institute studying animal science.

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It takes a lot of animal science to get eggs as nice as the dozen Andrew sold for just over $1,000 Friday night. Making sure the shells are smooth, the yolk sits just right and the weight isn't too much or too little are all factors to consider when farming for grand champion eggs.

Andrew said that his biggest help was his grandfather, who grew up raising farm animals and passed the art to his grandson. His grandfather, David Lee, was the final bidder on the eggs.

Andrew said he's planning to use the money to help pay for his college.

"If done this show for the past few years. I like doing it over and over again because it's exciting," Andrew said. "I like entering into the state competition too and two years ago I got reserve there two years ago."

Postlethwait said that several of his students are planning to submit products to the state competition.

The reserve winners at Friday's competition were Nicole Efaw, a ninth-grader at NMHS, who had award-winning bacon and eggs and Allyson Postlethwait, an eleventh-grader from NMHS, who also had an award-winning ham.

Reach David Kirk at 304-367-2522 or by email at dkirk@timeswv.com.
By Anne Kauranen and Johan Ahlander

HELSINKI (Reuters) - Sweden and Finland will further strengthen their security cooperation in light of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the prime ministers of both countries said on Saturday, but they were non-committal on joining NATO.

"Russia's war against a sovereign European nation puts the European security order at risk. In this changing security environment, Finland and Sweden will further strengthen our cooperation," Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin told reporters in Helsinki at a joint news conference with Swedish Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson.

Sweden and Finland have strong historic ties and a close military cooperation, including joint drills and information sharing.

The invasion, called a "special military operation" by Russia, has also forced a quick change in attitude towards NATO in both countries, which are currently outside the NATO-alliance.

Polls in recent days showed a majority for joining NATO in both countries for the first time ever. Marin said it was "understandable" that more people in both Sweden and Finland now want to join NATO. [L2N2V712H]

"We are now having this discussion in Finland," Marin said. "We will have these discussions within parliament, with the president, within the government and between the parties."

In Sweden, the governing Social Democrats have long resisted calls from the centre-right opposition to join NATO. Andersson said it was natural that the discussion should come up again, but avoided questions on Sweden joining the military alliance.

"The security situation has been altered in a dramatic way," Andersson said. "I have met the party leaders from the other Swedish parties several times in the last week and we are discussing a number of issues," she said.

The two countries already have a close cooperation with NATO and are invited to all consultations on the Ukraine crisis. Secretary General Stoltenberg said in January they could join the alliance "very quickly" if they decided to apply for membership.

Finland's President Sauli Niinisto said on Friday the United States and Nordic countries would "initiate a clear process to step up defense and security cooperation" after a meeting with U.S. President Biden that included a call to Magdalena Andersson.

(Reporting by Anne Kauranen in Helsinki and Johan Ahlander in Stockholm; Editing by Catherine Evans and Christina Fincher)
USA TODAY recently predicted that 2022 could witness the most anti-LGBTQ legislation in state-level political history. Bills to restrict the rights of LGBTQ people, and even discussion of LGBTQ topics in schools are, in fact, proliferating.

In January, Chasten Buttigieg, husband of Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, excoriated Florida lawmakers for advancing their own Dont Say Gay Bill, a version of the notorious Stacey Campfield sponsored bill to ban discussion of non-heterosexual human sexuality in public schools.

Although the Movement Advancement Project already gives Tennessee a negative six out of 42.5 points on their LGBTQ Policy scorecard, this hasnt stopped state politicians who are intent on targeting LGBTQ people from adopting further restrictions.

RG Cravens

Hear from Tennessee's Black voices: Get the weekly newsletter for powerful and critical thinking columns.

In justifying one particular bill (HB 800) this legislative session, the sponsors rely on a false dichotomy about LGBTQ and religious people that mischaracterizes them as mutually exclusive groups  a claim that my own research refutes.

In the bill, the sponsors write, the promotion of LGBT [sic] issues and lifestyles in public schools offends a significant portion of students, parents and Tennessee residents with Christian values.

The sentiment that LGBTQ people are not, or cannot be religious, and especially Christian is not supported by social scientific research.

According to the 2018 Cooperative Congressional Election Study (CCES), one of the largest datasets of LGBTQ survey respondents in the United States, slightly more than 1-in-10 LGBTQ people consider themselves to be atheist while about 3-in-10 consider themselves to be Christian. Overall, more than half of all LGBTQ people in the United States identify with a faith tradition, according to this survey. Some surveys place the number closer to two-thirds.

Hear more Tennessee Voices: Get the weekly opinion newsletter for insightful and thought provoking columns.

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Not only are there more LGBTQ people of faith than these politicians suppose, they also overestimate support for discriminatory laws. For example, according to the Public Religion Research Institutes (PRRI) 2020 American Values Atlas, 77% of Tennesseans support laws that protect LGBTQ people from discrimination.

And, regarding the language in HB 800, PRRI recently found that 37% of white Evangelical Protestants in the United States are comfortable having transgender teachers in their local elementary school. The number is nearly twice as high among non-Evangelical Christians.

In the end, the social science is clear: many LGBTQ people are Christian and most Christians are not offended by LGBTQ people. The science is also clear that anti-LGBTQ policy contributes to poor mental and physical health outcomes among LGBTQ young people by focusing the prejudices of a few politicians on vulnerable children.

It is imperative that state legislators stop using religion to justify divisive and dangerous public policy. The science doesnt support their justifications, and, in fact, demonstrates their harm.

Dr. R.G. Cravens is an Assistant Professor of Political Science at California Polytechnic State University and graduate of the University of Tennessee and Sewanee. He is currently a Public Fellow in LGBTQ Rights at the Public Religion Research Institute in Washington, D.C.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Tennessee seeks to cause harm by adding more anti-LGBTQ legislation
The teenager was jailed at Maidstone Crown Court. (PA)

A teenage boy has been jailed for life after stabbing a disabled girl at least 99 times.

The teenager, who cannot be named for legal reasons, left the 16-year-old victim for dead after attacking her in Sittingbourne, Kent, last July.

He threw away the girl's phone, leaving her alone and soaked in blood for seven hours before she was found.

Following this, he googled whether Britain still had the death penalty.

The assault left the victim with numerous life-threatening injuries but she survived and has since returned to school.

The boy after admitting attempted murder was sentenced to at least a notional tariff of 10 years and should he be released from prison, subject to a whole life licence.

The victim was flown by air ambulance to King's College Hospital in London. (PA)

Maidstone Crown Court heard a dog walker discovered the victim at around 7.30am on Tuesday 22 July in The Orchards in Sittingbourne.

Prosecutor Martin Yale, who said the attacker was just 16 when he committed attempted murder, said: "We say he lured her to the orchard in order to carry out a premeditated attack.

"He began messaging his victim on Snapchat and he instigated a meeting."

The prosecutor said the attacker also carried a bag with him - which is believed to have contained weapons and a change of clothing in which he planned to kill her.

He made an excuse to use the toilet at the orchard, disappeared and then returned when he grabbed her mouth before beginning his stabbing frenzy.

The victim described her attacker as "looking evil" and estimated the attack continued for up to three minutes.

She was flown by air ambulance to King's College Hospital in London and treated for wounds to the liver, pancreas, lungs, kidney and a severed artery.

After her disappearance was discovered the victim's parents began a search after finding she had not slept in her room.

Read more:

Boy, 12, who raped pupil, 9, wasn't prosecuted due to botched school investigation

Masked axe-wielding gang smash truck into high-street jewellers in broad daylight

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Domestic abuser killed ex-wife who was starting to enjoy life again after marriage ended

Mr Yale said that the would-be killer was eventually questioned and claimed to have been with his girlfriend.

When detectives went to his house they discovered he had been viewing images including American serial killer Ted Bundy.

Tana Adkin QC, in mitigation, said the boy had suffered from poor mental health in lockdown and spoke about ending his life.

She said his parents 'did all they could' and it was not until after his arrest that his conditions were diagnosed.

Judge Philip Statman, in sentencing, added: "You had a murderous attempt in your head. This was a savage and brutal attack which was premeditated.

"Your victim remained in her foetal position in The Orchards for six hours yet your victim fought for her life and won."
In June 2021 when Baine Brock first discovered the decentralized finance (DeFi) project, Helios Cash, the Dallas, Texas based appliance repairman thought hed found an investing strategy that could generate returns to make hedge funds blush.

Hed thrown money into Bitcoin and cryptocurrencies for almost 5 years but in recent months he found DeFi where investors could "put their crypto to work" by lending assets to blockchain apps in return for yield.

By investing in Helios Cash, the 39-year old could earn an annual percentage yield (APY) at 1200% without selling his original investment.

Unlike the less than 1% APY traditional banks offer customers, interest-bearing crypto accounts promise massively fatter yields with a lot more risk.

One added risk: higher likelihood investors might allocate funds to "rug pull" scam where crypto con artists set up a project, take in investor capital then bail.

The trend is giving rise to a new breed of "vigilantes" and startup businesses hoping to shed some light in the wild but promising corner of the crypto market as retail investors hunger for basic fraud protection.

Less than a week after he aped in, all $10,000 of Brocks funds, in addition to the Helios Cash website, had mysteriously disappeared.

No, man. Im sorry it's gone :( an anonymous user in a Telegram channel called RugDocs told Brock later that day. Through Google, the investor had stumbled into this online community.

By that time, the RugDocs cohort were well aware of the situation. Stacked at the top of the their website homepage, a banner for Helios Cash flashed in red with a "High Risk" label.

More than a year ago, something similar happened to a couple with Silicon Valley ties who lost around $200,000 to a DeFi scam called MoltenSwap. After investing cryptocurrencies for years then discovering the compelling returns in DeFi through a friend, the couple became intoxicated with the high yields.

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My husband promptly jumped all in, six figures of his money. He got scammed immediately and lost around $200,000. It was horrifying, explained the wife, who now using an online pseudonym "The Rug Doctor," runs RugDocs as its founder and CEO.

The firm rates crypto projects, warning when new ones might scam investors. The idea came in the aftermath of the couple's own money-losing experience.

Whether from the fixation to win their stolen funds back or catch more scammers from hoodwinking other investors, the Rug Doctor immersed herself in arcane smart contract details following her husband's "rug pull" incident.

For fraudsters, rug pulling investors is sometimes as simple as copying an existing protocol's codebase then making a couple discretionary changes.

Getting smart on smart contracts

An image of a woman holding a cell phone in front of the Ethereum logo displayed on a computer screen. On Tuesday, January 12, 2021, in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. (Photo by Artur Widak/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

After learning the programming language called Solidity that's used in most smart contracts, the Rug Doctor found she could evaluate projects in ways akin to reviewing a company's financial statements.

Leaning on programming experience from her graduate work, she trained herself how to spot well designed smart contracts from those like Helios Cash which allowed the creators the option to migrate all investor funds into their personal wallets.

Before she or her husband allocated their funds, she started reviewing a project's smart contracts  and found plenty of scams. That prompted her to begin sharing reviews over social media. The free content quickly took off and by the end of the summer of 2021, the Rug Doctor's free reviews had morphed into a full-on business.

While I cant claim a project I let advertise on the platform will do well, I can at least be pretty certain its not going to hurt users, which the users appreciate.The Rug Doctor

RugDocs now employs over 30 people across the world, including a number of college students based in Malaysia, a communications professional in London, and a grandmother living in Thailand.

Eight of the startup's employees work full time reviewing smart contracts. With each review, they assign a risk rating for how likely a given protocol is to rug pull investors. They also run basic Know Your Customer (KYC) checks on each project's team.

Altogether, the business offers retail investors risk mitigation and monetizes its website traffic by offering advertising to vetted projects.

The system is community-led and not without its loopholes. Positive reviews or badges can be nabbed by illegitimate projects, but thousands of investors allegedly use RugDocs research. When they catch a project unfairly using a "reviewed by RugDocs" badge, they warn the company, which will mark the project as an unvetted investment.

Newer investors may not be as plugged in as the old, but RugDocs still offers one of the better free alternatives for scam protection available in the market, as Baine Brock can attest.

While I cant claim a project I let advertise on the platform will do well, I can at least be pretty certain its not going to hurt users, which the users appreciate, the Rug Doctor told Yahoo Finance.

'Attracted to high returns'

BRAZIL - 2021/09/08: In this photo illustration the Bitcoins are seen on display. It is a decentralized cryptocurrency, being an electronic money for point-to-point transactions. (Photo Illustration by Rafael Henrique/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)

At its November peak, the market capitalization of all DeFi tokens comprised just under 6% of the total crypto market. But that belied breathtaking growth which has made some regulators nervous.

According to research firm Fundstrat, over 2021 coin market cap for DeFi related tokens ballooned from $1.7 billion to $170 billion, with capital that flowed into DeFi protocols from May 2020 to the end of 2021, skyrocketing from $1 billion to $250 billion.

Efforts are unfurling to curtail the money online fraudsters are able to squeeze from unsuspecting investors. Regulators, and firms like RugDocs, have tried to warn investors chasing those high returns, but in volatile and opaque crypto markets, it's impossible to catch every scam.

In particular, DeFi has landed in the crosshairs of Securities and Exchange Commission Chairman Gary Gensler, who has vowed to protect investors and hold firms accountable for what they're selling. Recently, the SEC announced crypto company BlockFi had paid $100 million to settle allegations over high-yield interest-bearing products.

The same day, the agency released a bulletin warning investors that companies offering interest-bearing accounts might look like those offered by a bank or credit union, but aren't nearly as safe.

According to Bankrate, peer-to-peer lending platform Lending Club offers the most competitive interest-bearing savings account this month for fiat currencies, with yields of 0.65%. Lending products from centralized crypto companies like BlockFi and others often give customers 8% APY, or higher.

Similar DeFi fixed income strategies promise yields that border on the incredible and outlandish.

Many are attracted to the high returns but remain wary about avoiding hacks and other smart contract risks that could negatively affect their performance, Jerry Sun, an analyst with crypto research platform, Messari, told Yahoo Finance.

The dynamic, according to Sun, makes investors ravenous for better information. As a report in The Block noted last month, Wall Street is also eager to boost their crypto research capabilities with institutional investors just as hungry to gain exposure to the market.

David Hollerith covers cryptocurrency for Yahoo Finance. Follow him @dshollers.

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By Ted Hesson

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - More than a thousand large trucks, recreational vehicles and cars are gathering on the outskirts of Washington as part of a protest against COVID-19 restrictions that threatens to roll on the U.S. capital in the coming days.

The so-called "People's Convoy," which originated in California and has drawn participants from around the country, is calling for an end to all pandemic-related restrictions. It was inspired by demonstrations last month that paralyzed Ottawa, Canada's capital city.

The convoy's message has been undercut in recent weeks as major U.S. cities have rolled back mask mandates and other measures against COVID-19, which has led to more than 950,000 deaths in the United States but has been mitigated with vaccines and therapeutics. President Joe Biden, a Democrat, signaled in his State of the Union speech on Tuesday that the country was entering a new, more controlled phase of the pandemic without business lockdowns or school closures.

Still, more than 100 18-wheeler trucks amassed with other vehicles on Friday evening at the Hagerstown Speedway, a racetrack about 80 miles (129 km) from downtown Washington, according to Reuters witnesses. Drivers continued to stream into the parking lot on Saturday morning, one witness said.

A website for the protest said they did not plan to enter "D.C. proper" and social media posts suggested they could remain at the racetrack on Saturday. But one participant who described himself as the lead trucker told a cheering crowd at the racetrack on Friday night that he would drive his truck into the heart of the American capital.

"D.C., the government, whomever, can claim that they have all this opposition for us waiting in D.C.," the man said. "But that flag on the back of my truck will go down to Constitution Avenue between the White House and the Washington Monument."

A little more than a year ago, supporters of former Republican President Donald Trump stormed the U.S. Capitol in an attack that left five people dead and more than 100 police officers injured.

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U.S. federal law enforcement agencies have been coordinating with state and local authorities for weeks in preparation for the possible arrival of the convoy, said one U.S. official who requested anonymity to discuss internal operations.

A Feb. 26 U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) bulletin to law enforcement reviewed by Reuters said trucker convoys could hinder emergency responders depending on the size of the protest.

The bulletin said federal law enforcement was not aware of any substantiated threats from domestic violent extremists, but that some extremists "probably will be drawn to the event and could engage in premeditated or opportunistic violence."

DHS said the possibility of an attack could be higher because COVID restrictions have been a "key driver" of domestic extremist violence over the last two years. Federal officials would be unlikely to see violent plotting in online public platforms beforehand due to the use of encrypted apps and private forums, it said.

Federal law enforcement is also cognizant of the need to respect the right to peaceful protest, the official said.

On Friday evening, a woman from nearby Silver Spring, Maryland, who identified herself only as "Dorothy" said she opposed COVID-related restrictions and that the issue had caused divisions in her family and problems at work.

"I think our medical choices are private and we should not be required to disclose them to participate in everyday activities," she told Reuters.

(Reporting by Ted Hesson in Washington, and Leah Millis, Julio-Cesar Chavez and Stephanie Keith in Hagerstown, Maryland; Editing by Daniel Wallis)
BEIJING (Reuters) - The new U.S. ambassador to China, Nicholas Burns, has arrived in the country and will be in quarantine for three weeks, the U.S. embassy said in a tweet on Saturday.

The United States has been without an ambassador in Beijing since Terry Branstad stepped down in October 2020.

Burns, a veteran diplomat and former U.S. ambassador to NATO, arrives at a time when relations between the world's two biggest economies are at their worst in decades.

Recent points of friction include the U.S.-led diplomatic boycott of last month's Beijing Winter Olympics, and China's diplomatic backing of Russia in its invasion of Ukraine.

The embassy tweet said Burns' travel plans had been delayed due to the pandemic and that a group of U.S. mission personnel and their families travelled with him.

President Joe Biden's nomination of Burns for the post was approved by the U.S. Senate on Dec 16.

(Reporting by Yew Lun Tian; Editing by Tony Munroe and Kim Coghill)